MORIC - Chapter 85
Chapter 85: Drinking Culture is Unacceptable
Xi Zhoumeng's tone didn't sound at all like she was eager to listen.
Nor did it have a condescending, lecturing air. It was as if she was just having a normal meal and casually offering an opinion.
Perhaps it was the overly relaxed environment, or perhaps it was because Wen Xinghuo was sitting nearby.
Sheng Yangkui's guilt grew heavier. She lifted her eyes slightly and saw Chi Yueshan looking at her from across the table.
In her memories from her past life, this person was a dazzling ball of light.
In her past life, Sheng Yangkui and Chi Yueshan had not been in the same elective program, nor had they ever had a moment like this.
She had almost no interaction with the people at this table.
With Wen Xinghuo, she'd only had fleeting encounters.
In her past life, Sheng Yangkui's health had been even worse. She was congenitally weak and had a poor constitution to begin with. Even for a delicate Omega, she was exceptionally frail. She was as fragile as a willow in the wind and fell ill easily.
She was bundled up in thick clothes all year round, like a fragile doll.
Such a frail body was already a source of resentment for Sheng Yangkui.
If only her eldest and second sisters' school lives hadn't been so brilliant, if their mockery and bullying hadn't been so blatant, she wouldn't have harbored such hatred.
Sheng Xinggui and Sheng Qiuyu both had people they liked. Even if they couldn't be marked, they could still be in relationships.
No one wanted to sit on that throne, and no one knew who the next queen would be.
They could still associate with the Alphas in the academy. No one would refuse a princess, and almost every night was fulfilling for them.
The triplets had been inseparable since childhood, a symbol of their generation of the royal family.
On the surface, they seemed to share the same food, clothing, and expenses, but no one could ever treat them all with perfect fairness. What Sheng Yangkui wanted was hard to obtain, while Sheng Xinggui and Sheng Qiuyu could get it with ease.
In her second year at Guyun Academy, Wen Xinghuo obtained the War God Mecha.
As a student, she received authorization from Shen Yu, and Guyun Academy held a grand celebration for her.
This fallen noble from the Lower World, as if by divine aid, had obtained an honor that many Alphas could never possess.
Everyone knew she had two very eye-catching female Omegas by her side.
One was Xi Zhoumeng, the youngest daughter of the Xi family. She was beautiful, but her relationship with Wen Xinghuo wasn't very good; it was said the two even held a grudge against each other.
But Wen Xinghuo was famously good-natured and didn't hold it against her.
Xi Zhoumeng still remained close to her.
Many suspected it was because the Xi family wanted to form a marriage alliance with the Wen family, leveraging their noble status.
The other was Chi Yueshan, who also came from the Lower World.
This Omega had known Wen Xinghuo since childhood and had been affectionately clinging to her side since enrolling.
Wen Xinghuo treated her very well, so well that it was hard not to suspect they were in a relationship.
But when asked, she would always shake her head and say that Chi Yueshan was her dearest little sister.
After Chi Yueshan repaired that mecha from the first generation, Wen Xinghuo shone even more brightly.
And because of her connection to Wen Xinghuo, this Omega easily gained the opportunity to study mecha theory.
Sheng Yangkui would occasionally see Chi Yueshan, who was always frequenting the library and the mecha practical training room.
Even Wen Xinghuo's good friend, Xi Shuang, praised her endlessly.
The Omega from the Lower World was poor and scruffy, yet full of vigor.
Xi Zhoumeng was always arguing with Chi Yueshan; it wouldn't be surprising if the two came to blows over Wen Xinghuo.
Whenever Sheng Yangkui went to the public concert hall, she could hear classmates discussing those two Omegas.
- "It's so rude, how can they argue so much?"
- "Where did Xi Zhoumeng's noble etiquette go? Hahahaha, sitting with a commoner from the Lower World is truly beneath her."
- "Keep your voice down, Wen Xinghuo is also from the Lower World. Besides, Chi Yueshan is excellent at mecha theory. I saw her borrowing data from the council's assessment last time, probably preparing for graduation."
- "Sigh, I'm so envious. With Wen Xinghuo protecting her, and them being childhood friends, their practical training is probably done together. Their grades must be A+."
- "They're widely recruiting outstanding Alphas for the military now. The next Zerg Tide will depend on the newcomers."
- "That's the War God Mecha, you know. The Alpha who first piloted it directly eliminated the Zerg Queen."
- "It's really amazing. Doesn't the War God Mecha also come with a sword and armor? That's double the external equipment. I'm so jealous."
- "A top-tier Alpha naturally deserves a top-tier Omega."
- "Xi Zhoumeng? I feel like besides her spiritual power, there's nothing outstanding about her. She has a bad temper and is just an empty title."
- "What about that Chi Yueshan?"
- "From a compatibility standpoint, it works. They're both from the Lower World. I heard there's a life-saving grace involved, which is quite romantic. Setting aside the matching probability, I think Wen Xinghuo really likes Chi Yueshan. She's incredibly good to her."
...
Sheng Yangkui had heard such talk many times and thought she was used to it, but she found she still couldn't get used to it.
Her silent, secret love was destined to end without a resolution.
Even knowing the outcome, she still felt pain.
Before she could even taste the blossoming of her affection, she had already tasted the bitterness of gloom.
It was just a simple act of support on the stairs one evening after a public lecture.
The lady-in-waiting hadn't managed to lead Sheng Yangkui down a different path in time. On the grand, carved marble staircase, Sheng Yangkui's petite figure was easily jostled.
The railing hadn't been repaired yet, and the warning sign had been knocked aside. She nearly fell down the stairs.
A pair of hands reached out, steadily pulling her to the side.
In that dizzying moment, Sheng Yangkui only remembered the massive circular sculpture on the first floor and the scent of Wen Xinghuo's embrace.
An Alpha who wore pheromone patches all day long would rarely have their pheromones leak out.
But Wen Xinghuo spent her years in the training room and changed her clothes frequently. Her clothes carried the scent of being freshly dried in the sun, mixed with a faint aroma of grass and trees.
It enveloped Sheng Yangkui completely.
From birth to death, from her past life to this one, she was utterly captivated by her.
No one would believe that this was Sheng Yangkui's first embrace in her eighteen years of life.
Strong arms, a warm embrace, a concerned voice, and a gentle gaze.
Wen Xinghuo said, "Classmate, are you alright?"
The lady-in-waiting hurried over, anxiously checking on Sheng Yangkui. When Wen Xinghuo met Sheng Yangkui's eyes, she realized the other person was a royal from the academy.
She had, after all, studied noble etiquette. She quickly stepped back and gave Sheng Yangkui a proper noble's bow.
Just then, a cheerful female voice called out, "Xinghuo-jie! Let's go! I just made a biu-biu mechanical doggy, you'll definitely love it."
Wen Xinghuo: "What's 'biu-biu'?"
Chi Yueshan suddenly burst out laughing, "Hahahaha, it means it farts with a biu-biu sound!"
She pulled Wen Xinghuo away.
The not-so-tall Omega's school uniform was a mess, and she, along with the equally un-nobly dressed Wen Xinghuo, disappeared into the crowd.
Sheng Yangkui gazed after them, only able to see a high ponytail tied with a golden ribbon, fluttering into the crowd, yet crashing into her heart with great force.
She's so tall.
So warm.
She's so gentle.
Sheng Yangkui's feelings spiraled out of control, yet she never appeared before Wen Xinghuo again.
She took to observing her from many corners where Wen Xinghuo wouldn't notice.
The more she observed, the more dejected she became. After a long period of mental preparation, she finally wanted to confess her feelings.
But the Queen chose her.
Sheng Yangkui was no longer just a voice; she could no longer have a future.
Extreme disappointment turned into resentment.
The Queen's consciousness occupied her own, bit by bit devouring the sanity of this body's owner.
Her once subtle jealousy was magnified, and her resentment swelled.
In a situation beyond Sheng Yangkui's control, the Xi family was stripped of its status as the top noble family, and Xi Zhoumeng would never have the chance to appear before Wen Xinghuo again.
She would be exiled to a remote planet.
Chi Yueshan died on that small planet during a training exercise.
After that incident, Wen Xinghuo did not continue her studies. She chose to immediately train with Shen Yu.
And then…
Then the Zerg Tide arrived early, and Sheng Yangkui's consciousness became a speck of dust. In her final struggle, she could only sit on that jewel-encrusted throne, waiting for the hero of the entire galaxy to come and kill her, to end the empire's absurd centuries.
Perhaps because Sheng Yangkui had been silent for too long, Wen Xinghuo thought she was still afraid of the incident from that year.
"Let's not talk about this for now."
Wen Xinghuo's voice was the embodiment of Sheng Yangkui's deepest longing from her past life.
But even now, she still felt a sense of unreality, like a flower in a mirror or the moon in the water.
She was afraid that all of this was just an illusion created by that thing, a trick to make Sheng Yangkui obediently accept her demise.
Xi Zhoumeng didn't press the issue. "Alright."
But she knew Chi Yueshan cared. After all, in the original novel, this supporting character little sister cared a great deal about Wen Xinghuo.
The last straw a stray child clings to, a benchmark that practically forced her to grow up, she probably chanted her name countless times in her midnight dreams…
Ah, so annoying. I can't think about it in detail.
The more I think about it, the more bitter I feel. What's going on?
Xi Zhoumeng's hand under the table grabbed Chi Yueshan's.
Chi Yueshan, who still had her eyes lowered, was startled by the sudden grasp and almost flinched.
She turned to look at the person beside her, but Xi Zhoumeng just smiled at her.
Her finger drew a heart on the back of Chi Yueshan's hand.
Chi Yueshan pursed her lips, thinking: How cheesy.
On the other hand, she felt somewhat comforted.
Xi Shuang sighed, "Is this something I'm allowed to hear?"
After saying that, she smiled again and slung an arm around Ling Xun's shoulder. "But can't the few of us be considered a group?"
She was the type to take a mile if you give her an inch. She giggled again, "Then you guys can talk about it next time. I'm not one of the involved parties anyway. It's fine as long as you all talk it out properly."
Xi Shuang was famously good at networking; she had connections with all the nobles in the school. Chi Yueshan suspected that even if Xi Shuang didn't join the military, she could probably become the richest person as a businesswoman.
Sheng Yangkui remained silent for a good while, then looked at the two Omegas across from her again.
Even if she hadn't personally caused the deaths of Xi Zhoumeng and Chi Yueshan in her past life, they were still the consequences of her jealousy.
Her dark side had been infinitely magnified, leading to Xi Zhoumeng's tragic fate and Chi Yueshan's irreversible end.
If they hadn't died, would the Wen Xinghuo at the end have been less lonely?
After a moment, Sheng Yangkui silently stood up. Wen Xinghuo was startled by her.
She noticed that Sheng Yangkui had swapped her milk for alcohol.
She said to Chi Yueshan and Xi Zhoumeng, "I toast you."
Xi Shuang went, "Eh? Starting the drinking culture already? I don't remember the royal family being into this sort of thing."
Chi Yueshan looked bewildered. "Should I be more deferential and fearful?"
Ling Xun was completely out of it. She had just been asking Wen Xinghuo how to exercise and was busy paying for the premium fitness course the other was promoting.
Xi Zhoumeng: "What are you spacing out for? Fill it up."
This person had no intention of standing up, as if it was her due to receive a toast from the princess.
Sheng Yangkui's thoughts were a bit hard for others to guess; perhaps even Wen Xinghuo didn't understand.
But Xi Zhoumeng was certain.
This Sheng Yangkui knew the ending.
Or rather, she came from the ending.
Stealing Chi Yueshan and Wen Xinghuo's first meeting was a bit mean.
But she doesn't seem like she wants to kill me and Chi Yueshan.
What's going on? Does she have another motive?
Xi Zhoumeng asked the system: Are you useful at all? Besides keeping me entertained, what other functions do you have?
【System: I'm not the kind of system that can detect if someone is reborn or transmigrated.】
Its tone gave Xi Zhoumeng an increasingly familiar feeling.
【System: You're so annoying, so wishy-washy. Can't you just be more direct? My data is still recovering.】
Xi Zhoumeng: What else is there to recover? Aren't we just missing the final boss?
The current plot has almost nothing to do with the original novel anymore!
【System: Anyway, you solve it yourself. I was a useless thing to begin with, unworthy of the noble Lady Xi Zhoumeng.】
Xi Zhoumeng: This tone??? It's so familiar!
Chi Yueshan poured Xi Zhoumeng a drink and found her still spacing out. She chided her with dissatisfaction, "What are you doing? Do you really think you're a princess? The actual princess is standing, and you're still sitting."
Xi Shuang: "Yueshan, in all my life, you're the only one I've seen dare to talk to her like that."
Wen Xinghuo deeply agreed.
Xi Zhoumeng stood up perfunctorily, replying distractedly, "Can Junior A'Kui drink? Such a big glass. How about Wen Xinghuo does it for you?"
Chi Yueshan, who had just taken a sip, almost spat it out.
The way she stressed the word "do" made Chi Yueshan extremely wary.
But the others didn't seem to notice.
Wen Xinghuo asked, "Do you need my help?"
The little princess, wearing a small dress with a matching doll-like hair accessory, shook her head. She solemnly raised her glass to Xi Zhoumeng and Chi Yueshan. "I'm sorry."
Chi Yueshan: "Huh?"
Xi Zhoumeng: "Whatever the princess says, goes."
Sheng Yangkui: "Thank you."
Xi Shuang chimed in, "What about me, what about me?"
She felt like she had heard everything and nothing at the same time, and felt the need to join in on the atmosphere.
She also called over Ling Xun, who was engrossed in a tutorial on how to get an eight-pack.
"What are you doing? Pour the drinks."
Ling Xun said, "Oh."
In the end, everyone stood up. The transparent plastic cups filled with liquor clinked together, a sound completely out of line with Xi Zhoumeng's flamboyant style, but it managed to make some noise.
Xi Shuang: "I feel like we should say something. Well then, thanks to Xinghuo for treating us to this expensive meal. I declare that I'm going to go play ring toss for a goose later."
Wen Xinghuo: "The goose toss costs extra."
Xi Shuang: "I know, you're so poor. Does our princess know?"
Sheng Yangkui shook her head.
Xi Shuang: "The semester is over! Let's make a wish."
"I'll go first."
"I hope the practical training next semester goes smoothly. I'm just an ordinary rich second-generation kid. I hope my family can stay rich for a third and fourth generation. Ling Xun, you're next."
Ling Xun went "ah," pushed up her glasses, and hummed for a moment. "I hope I'm not always in second place. It would be nice to be remembered forever."
Xi Shuang: "You've been like this since you were a kid. What's so great about being first? Look at Wen Xinghuo, she's under so much pressure."
Wen Xinghuo: "I wish for world peace."
Xi Shuang made a "pfft" sound.
Xi Zhoumeng: "That's a good one."
No one wants to be a hero; it's too desolate. She wondered if the rewritten ending would be a perfect one.
"Princess first."
Xi Zhoumeng looked at Sheng Yangkui. The other girl was still having a hard time adjusting to such occasions. She said timidly, "I also wish for world peace."
Xi Shuang let out a groan.
Xi Zhoumeng smiled. "I don't have any grand ambitions. I just hope I can maintain an interest in living."
She knew herself well. Love was fleeting, but hatred was long-lasting. She was afraid her feelings for Chi Yueshan would also be as ephemeral as a night-blooming cereus.
She didn't want to betray this one-of-a-kind affection.
The person who rarely drank downed her glass in one go, shedding her usual affectations for a moment of unexpected dash.
Chi Yueshan was last. She looked at everyone at the table.
"I have lots and lots of wishes. Right now, my biggest wish is that we can all sit together and drink like this again next year."
Xi Shuang cried out, "What the heck? Change it, that one's too easy."
Chi Yueshan was annoyed. "Well, I can't just wish to win every goose in the ring toss! How is that possible!"
Xi Zhoumeng: "Why is it impossible! I'll go win you a big one later!"
Comments
Post a Comment