MORIC - Chapter 29

Chapter 29: An Early Private Moment

"I know."

"I know, just have the butler get it for me."

Xi Zhoumeng stood by the bed, on a video call with Xi Li. Rain had started to fall outside.

This year, the winter in the Upper World would likely be long, and the cold was exaggerated.

But the weather in this world was very different, sometimes fluctuating between hot and cold with terrifying unpredictability. One couldn't dress according to the four seasons at all.

In the first few years, it was the kind of weather where it might be a warm spring day with blooming flowers yesterday, and snowing the next.

Xi Zhoumeng pulled her coat tighter around herself. "Brother, isn't it about time you got married? Stop bothering me all the time."

The heating in the dorm was turned up high, an AI robot was sweeping the floor, and an antique gramophone Xi Zhoumeng had bought was playing music from nearly a thousand years ago.

On the other end, Xi Li had been gently advising Xi Zhoumeng to get another physical check-up, only to be hit with his sister's urging for him to get married. He instantly flew off the handle. "You find me annoying? Mom recently fainted again from staying up all night writing her thesis. You're not exactly not studying at school, so get your ass over here and see her when you have time."

Xi Li and Xi Zhoumeng were not born of the same Omega.

The first two children came from Xi Mingguang's first marriage, the children of her first male Omega, Lin Yu. Xi Zhoumeng and the third child, Xi Yang, were the children of her current Omega wife, Chu Jing.

Chu Jing was the child of Xi Mingguang's former superior. She had been married before her union with Xi Mingguang, but had no children.

In Xi Zhoumeng's memory, this Omega mother was a woman of great character. She was highly educated, having earned a doctorate in astrophysics. After a failed marriage, she met Xi Mingguang and slowly recovered.

Xi Zhoumeng's relationship with her was decent, but this mother seemed to live in her own world, utterly obsessed with the universe. If not for her poor health, she would have been desperate to continue following Xi Mingguang on her expeditions. To escape the social obligations of a noble's wife, she spent most of her time in sanatoriums or hospitals. She even made only a brief appearance at her third daughter Xi Yang's wedding. Everyone assumed Chu Jing's health was poor and she was in a hurry to rest, but who would have known she was just socially anxious.

This led onlookers to once again lament that Xi Mingguang, stationed with the military year-round, couldn't spend time with her wife and children, and couldn't even attend her own child's wedding to offer her blessings.

To the transmigrated Xi Zhoumeng, this elder brother, Xi Li, was more like a nagging mother.

Being scolded by Xi Li, she actually let out a laugh. "I'm very busy."

Xi Li had just been dumped by an Omega. Among Alphas, aside from his family's advantages, he didn't seem to have much of a personality advantage.

Those who liked him liked his surname; they couldn't care less about him as a person.

That's just how people are; they insist on forcing things.

The thirty-something Alpha was still stubbornly chasing after love, a stark contrast to his youngest sister, who possessed personal charm but had no desire for romance.

"What are you busy with? I saw your test scores for mecha theory. They're worse than terrible!"

Xi Li's voice was about to crack. Xi Zhoumeng found it hilarious and even recorded it, planning to send it to Xi Yang for a good laugh later.

"I'm an Omega, why would I study mecha," Xi Zhoumeng said flatly.

Below the dormitory building, a couple was returning from a walk, still clinging to each other in the rainy weather.

Xi Li was on leave at home today, giving him a perfect opportunity to openly discuss this issue with Xi Zhoumeng. "I advise you not to hold onto that futile hope."

Xi Zhoumeng let out an "oh." "And why is that?"

Xi Li: "Mother called me back. She asked me to find some materials in the storage room, and guess what I found?"

Xi Zhoumeng: "If you're not going to say it, I'm hanging up. I'm busy."

Xi Li: "Alright, alright. I found our maternal grandmother's journal. She had some theories that are very similar to your current situation."

Xi Zhoumeng listened quietly as Xi Li rambled on.

Her expression seemed calm. The fluffy shawl couldn't soften the coldness surrounding her, as if her very essence was a block of ice, utterly devoid of warmth.

"Perhaps when the next Zerg Tide arrives, your pheromone chain will change."

Xi Li didn't understand any of this stuff about genes and pheromone chains; he just felt that the yellowed journal was written in an incredibly complex way. "Once you completely change from an O to an A, your body will also change."

Xi Zhoumeng let out a strange "oh." "So I'll become an Alpha without that thing? Isn't that great?"

Xi Li was about to go crazy. Who would believe that the top noble Omega was this kind of character.

"What are you thinking? If you don't have it, how do you plan to enter an Omega's reproductive cavity? How will you perform a complete marking?"

Xi Zhoumeng gave a perfunctory "mm-hmm." "Hands, toys, aren't there plenty of options?"

Her tone was teasing. "Brother, you're still so lame."

Xi Li couldn't be bothered with her provocations and became much more serious. "I'm more worried about your reaction at that time. It might be very intense."

The next Zerg Tide was, by all accounts, still three years away. By then, Xi Zhoumeng would have already graduated. Xi Li thought it over and decided it was better to keep this time bomb by his side.

Xi Li's spiritual power was only A-rank. Due to his family, he could avoid going on expeditions.

If Xi Zhoumeng became an Alpha with S+ spiritual power, she would be required to join the military. Even if Xi Zhoumeng didn't want to, Xi Mingguang would forcibly take her away.

At that point, Xi Zhoumeng would no longer be a child of the Xi family, but a soldier of the Empire, just like Xi Mingguang.

Xi Li couldn't imagine how this extravagant, pain-averse, and delicate sister of his would survive on a battlefield.

Right now, she slacked off even when forced into mecha theory classes. He was terrified that Xi Zhoumeng would end up getting herself killed through her own actions.

Xi Zhoumeng showed little reaction. "We'll see."

She had never experienced a heat period to this day and had no idea what it felt like.

The Omegas around her all seemed to suffer terribly during their heats, and Xi Zhoumeng had no desire to experience it either.

She thought this was quite good. When she was in the mood, she could take care of it herself. Being completely dominated by instinct was too out of control.

She had always liked to be the one in control.

Xi Li: "By the way, that Omega girl with the 100% compatibility rate with you…"

He had looked up Chi Yueshan's file, and her resume was simply tragic. Even though Xi Li had colleagues who had taken posts in the Lower World and returned with promotions, he never imagined that the lives of Omegas there were basically limited to subsistence.

Xi Zhoumeng: "What about her?"

Xi Li: "How are you two getting along?"

Xi Zhoumeng: "It's alright. She still really likes Wen Xinghuo."

Xi Li let out a whistle. "So you're still love rivals. I really look forward to Wen Xinghuo's reaction when she finds out you're an Alpha."

His tone was full of schadenfreude.

He also felt that his sister, being in this genderless state among a pile of Omegas for so long, might lose her desires.

He sighed melancholically.

Xi Zhoumeng: "She's like that all year round. What kind of reaction could she have?"

Xi Li: "You should stop liking her. Two Alphas together would be sent to court."

Xi Zhoumeng let out a laugh. "You seem to know something."

Xi Li seemed to take a sip of water. "Oh, my dear sister, I've never been able to figure you out since we were little. Of course, I can only go along with you~"

Xi Zhoumeng hung up the call directly.

The rain outside was still pouring. Xi Zhoumeng glanced at her light-brain. Someone had messaged her to ask for leave, saying they would be a few minutes late. Xi Zhoumeng simply postponed the rehearsal by half an hour.

But the door to the common lounge wasn't open yet, so she still had to head over first.

Xi Zhoumeng slowly made her way out. The key code Wen Xinghuo had lost to her in a bet was still saved on her light-brain's storage drive.

She would have to return it to her at the end of the semester.

Xi Zhoumeng was a little reluctant to part with it. The decor of some of the lounges was like opening a blind box; it was just too much fun.

The heavy rain made things exceptionally difficult for Chi Yueshan. By the time she reached the common lounge Xi Zhoumeng had chosen, her jacket was soaked.

She prayed that the heating was on inside.

However, the places Xi Zhoumeng frequented always had good amenities, so Chi Yueshan wasn't too worried.

This building was one of Guyun Academy's old teaching blocks and had no elevator.

The handrails were extravagantly styled, and the ground floor lobby even had Greek-style sculptures in the round.

Chi Yueshan found the lounge. The door was ajar. When she pushed it open, it wasn't filled with people as she had imagined. Only Xi Zhoumeng was sitting on the sofa, and she happened to look up.

The door clicked shut, and for a moment, the only sound was the crackling of firewood in the fireplace.

So retro.

Xi Zhoumeng looked up. "So early?"

She was a little surprised.

On the triangular table were exquisite desserts. For a moment, Chi Yueshan couldn't tell if the tea fragrance was coming from Xi Zhoumeng or from the teapot.

"Early? Isn't it time?" Chi Yueshan glanced at her watch.

Xi Zhoumeng was a little surprised. "I postponed it by half an hour. The rain is too heavy, and it's a bit far from the dining hall."

It was dinnertime, and Chi Yueshan had skipped her meal to get here. For a moment, she was speechless.

Her jacket was soaked. She had left her umbrella outside. The backpack she carried looked a bit old, with a yellow pom-pom for a zipper pull.

Xi Zhoumeng lifted her chin. "Sit. We'll wait for the others."

They hadn't seen each other for a week, and Xi Zhoumeng had a new hairstyle. Long, wavy curls made her look much more mature, but her aura was still the same.

The lounge had large floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out onto the flower garden behind it, where a few students with umbrellas could be seen passing by.

The lounge's AI robot came over and poured Chi Yueshan a cup of hot milk tea.

Chi Yueshan sat down stiffly. She looked as if she wanted to say something but hesitated, while Xi Zhoumeng was still reading a book.

It was the original novel of The Yellow Rose.

"Have something to eat. We'll be rehearsing late tonight."

After speaking, Xi Zhoumeng didn't look at Chi Yueshan again, which made Chi Yueshan feel even more ill at ease.

The aroma of the milk tea was rich, and the pastries were soft. For someone like Chi Yueshan, who usually ate the most basic meal sets at the academy's dining hall, this was a complete treat.

Besides, Chi Yueshan rarely ate these kinds of snacks.

She couldn't help but squint her eyes from the sweetness.

Xi Zhoumeng turned a page of her book. Inside her head, the system was tirelessly reminding her to exercise restraint.

【Xi Zhoumeng: What did I do?】

【System: You look very calm right now, but I can feel your desire value fluctuating.】

【Xi Zhoumeng: I'm a genderless, asexual person right now.】

【System: I'm not used to you acting so calm.】

【Xi Zhoumeng: Should I give in to my beastly nature and do her right here? I'd castrate myself before you even had to do anything.】

Xi Zhoumeng knew it wasn't an illusion. When she was with Chi Yueshan, she always felt a faint, indistinct impulse.

She attributed this to their compatibility rate.

After all, even Xi Li had said that such a high compatibility rate was rare in the Empire. The last couple with a 100% compatibility rate now had who-knows-how-many generations under one roof, and it was said they were harmonious in every aspect.

To the level of soulmates.

Xi Zhoumeng was disgusted by those two words.

She had originally thought she could be physically intimate with people, but she never expected that not only could she not achieve that level of physical intimacy, she was also terrified of emotional intimacy.

To her, that was opium.

Besides, Xi Zhoumeng was unwilling to share that kind of intimacy.

It was too terrifying. The ultimate control would turn into the ultimate defeat.

She couldn't imagine herself willingly yielding one day.

A gambler only cares about winning or losing, while common emotions are like a lotus root that breaks but whose fibers remain connected—impossible to be calculating about.

That's why every one of Xi Zhoumeng's exes in her original world said she was cold-blooded and heartless.

But when they were together normally, they would say, "You're so wonderful."

Chi Yueshan was too embarrassed to eat much. After a few bites, she lowered her head to wipe her hands.

The lounge was so quiet she could hear her own breathing and Xi Zhoumeng's. Chi Yueshan became even more afraid to make a sound.

She thought: It's not like the two of us haven't been alone together before.

In Wen Xinghuo's lounge.

In Xi Zhoumeng's dorm room.

Even in Xi Zhoumeng's bathroom.

But being alone with Xi Zhoumeng is such torture! I feel uncomfortable when she looks at me, but why do I still feel uncomfortable when she doesn't look at me?!!

Chi Yueshan's mind was a mess, and she uncontrollably thought of the way Xi Zhoumeng had dressed her.

If only she could have amnesia.

It would be so much better to be purely love rivals, but it felt like they had done something incredible together.

Chi Yueshan was on pins and needles, so she took out her mecha theory notes and started reading.

She always did this when she couldn't calm her mind.

The notebook was thick and worn, and the sticky notes on it were all wrinkled.

Xi Zhoumeng turned her head and immediately saw the model diagrams on it, which looked like works of art.

Xi Zhoumeng asked casually, "You like mecha?"

I don't remember this. Was it written in the book?

And this isn't just a casual liking, is it? Even someone like Wen Xinghuo, who loves mecha so much, can't draw this well.

【System: That's because she's not the protagonist.】

Xi Zhoumeng thought: That's right. The author only pours all their effort into describing the protagonist. What about the side characters? A life summed up in a few strokes.

Outside the story, what are they like?

Some are living people, and some are just living tools.

Do tool characters also have joys and sorrows, partings and reunions?

For once, Chi Yueshan didn't get her feathers ruffled. She seemed a little embarrassed and uncomfortably closed the notebook.

"Y-Yes, I like them."

She bit her lip, thinking about how the person in front of her, also an Omega, could take the mecha theory class she dreamed of. She took a deep breath—

"C-Can't an Omega like mecha?"

The lighting in the lounge wasn't very bright, just enough to read by. The firewood in the fireplace crackled, and the sound of the rain outside was a noisy backdrop.

Xi Zhoumeng met those beautiful eyes and thought: So cute.

Before the system could electrocute her, she took the initiative to request—

I think I really want to sleep with her. I advise you to electrocute me quickly.

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