Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Although Queqiu hadn't interacted deeply with many Omegas since arriving in this world, apart from brief contact with an Omega named Dong Kui on the Aili Bizhao, he seemed to understand why Omegas are often perceived as disdainful and arrogant by Alphas and Betas.

"No one likes being forced," Queqiu remarked, "The preferential treatment you give them – us – is it genuinely altruistic, or is it just another form of compensation disguised as kindness?"

Queqiu corrected himself mid-sentence, switching from 'them' to 'us,' realizing that the school doctor had included him among the twenty-seven Omega students. It dawned on him that, whether he accepted it or not, the world had already categorized him as an Omega.

In other words, he was seen as a valuable resource, just like the others.

As long as he remained within this vast empire’s societal structure, he was no different from the other Omegas. Perhaps soon, he too would be 'utilized'.

Even if he claims to be a defective Omega, neither carrying plant genes like a healing Omega nor able to release pheromones like a typical one, Queqiu suspects he'd still be expected to take his turn on duty.

After all, no matter what, he is still a precious, rare "Omega."

The school doctor's response confirmed Queqiu's thoughts: he was right from the start. Omegas may seem glorious on the surface, but in reality, they're merely a cure for genetic diseases, to be utilized as needed.

To his current question, the school doctor didn't directly respond but rather lamented, "You're not the first to say this, little Omega. You're all so naïve and selfish, thinking the sky is falling with the slightest grievance. Always expecting preferential treatment without wanting to give back to the Empire—"

The doctor turned around, his face etched with profound disappointment.

"Do you know the birth rate of Omegas in the Empire? Do you realize how many resources are allocated to this smallest demographic? And all we ask for is a little contribution from you, yet you're unwilling. Isn't that unfair to us Alphas and Betas who don't receive such favors? You lose a little, almost negligible, freedom; whereas Alphas and Betas lose health, dignity, even life."

Facing the doctor's accusation, Queqiu scoffed.

The so-called preferential treatment and resources, in his view, were nothing but gifts with a price tag; a sweet coating over a hidden, chilling cage.

Queqiu no longer wished to stay, unwilling to be an object of scrutiny and demand.

He rarely experienced unnecessary emotions, as they were superfluous and energy-consuming in a plant's growth process.

Yet, this time, before leaving, he seldomly displayed a hint of anger, furrowing his brows and coldly addressing the doctor.

"What causes Alphas and Betas to lose what you mentioned isn't because of Omegas. Omegas are never the naive and selfish ones you describe. Don't leave your stereotypes with me, and stop making demands of other Omegas."

With that, he left the medical room without looking back.

Perhaps not the first time being ridiculed by an Omega, the doctor was no longer surprised. Leaning against the window sill, he murmured to the empty waiting room, "Not the first time... after all, you Omegas are all the same."

He had hoped this beautiful Omega would be more understanding, but to his surprise, Queqiu was still quite temperamental.

"It's okay, after all, he's an Omega..."

The doctor consoled himself. Although he could normally handle such situations with equanimity, for some reason, facing Queqiu's coldness, he felt an unusual sense of loss.

The school doctor, disheartened, knocked on the door of the resting room and informed the Alpha inside, “If you're awake, you can go back now. There's nothing seriously wrong with your body. Just rest for a few days and try to keep your emotions stable.”

“Remember to come in for a routine check-up every day for the next few days.”

Feige, silent, dressed and left the medical room, nodding at the doctor without a word.

Queqiu hadn't left long ago, and the trail from the medical room seemed to still carry the warm, fragrant scent of his presence.

The tiger Alpha, Feige, looked up, his once fierce eyes now filled with confusion.

He wandered aimlessly around the campus, like a lost child unable to find his way home, while passing students eyed him curiously or whispered rumors behind his back.

Feige's mind was in disarray, but thinking of Queqiu brought some clarity to his purpose.

For some reason, he now only wanted to be with Queqiu. It seemed only near the Omega could his chaotic thoughts find some peace.

He lifted his head, searching for the Omega's figure.

But there was no sign of him. He couldn’t find…

He couldn’t find that Omega.

Fear engulfed Feige, and he dared not take another step, as if every direction held a gaping maw ready to tear him apart at any movement.

Trembling with fear, the large tiger Alpha felt an overwhelming terror.

Suddenly, a familiar, pleasant voice came from behind.

“Feige? Why are you here?”

Feige turned around excitedly, and upon seeing Queqiu, tears of relief involuntarily streamed down his face.

Unable to hold back, he buried his large head in Queqiu’s shoulder, sobbing softly, “Why? Why couldn't he wait until after the assessment? Why did he have to execute our captain right then?”

Feige didn’t know how to vent his inner anguish, repeatedly murmuring the same words. Within these sentences, he seemed to relive the moment he witnessed his close companion being ruthlessly executed by An Wei Ran.

Regarding that incident, Queqiu only heard a rough account from An Wei Ran and wasn't clear on the details. Undoubtedly, aside from the Alpha executed by An Wei Ran for a genetic disease outbreak, the most affected was the tiger Alpha, Feige, right before him.

Although they hadn't spent much time together, Feige had always seemed optimistic and trustworthy to Queqiu, who couldn't have imagined him now, weeping inconsolably on his shoulder like a child who had lost his most precious toy.

“It's okay, it's okay,” Queqiu softly comforted him, “Cry if you need to, I'll take you home.”

Queqiu’s gentle voice, like a mother's lullaby, easily stabilized the emotionally unstable Alpha, even reducing the intensity of his shoulder sobs.

The school was bustling, hardly a place for such conversations. Queqiu took Feige back to the dorm first, the large tiger Alpha following him like a clingy puppy, not leaving his side.

Fortunately, the dorm was empty, with Tang Butian and Xu Feng likely still at the training ground, which spared them the awkwardness of a crowded situation. Queqiu asked Feige if he wanted to go to his own room or Queqiu’s, and the Alpha, sniffling, unhesitatingly pointed to Queqiu’s room.

“Come in,” Queqiu led Feige into his room like guiding a lost child, letting him sit on the soft mattress.

“Want some water?”

Feige shook his head, his voice hoarse from crying, “No, thanks.”

Queqiu pulled a chair over, sitting in front of him, trying to maintain eye contact to convey a sense of safety and reliability.

“Can you tell me what exactly happened during that final assessment?”

If it were anyone else, Feige wouldn’t have opened up so easily, but Queqiu was different. In front of him, Feige was willing to expose his most vulnerable side.

As Queqiu's question brought him back to that smoke-filled battlefield, Feige seemed to return to being that terrified student hiding in a damp corner, watching the S-rank snow wolf Alpha ruthlessly execute his close companion.

Warm blood and brain matter splattered onto his face, the only thing visible in his eyes being the vivid red and his slowly falling comrade.

His comrade's forehead had a charred hole, surrounded by singed skin that emitted a faint smell of burnt fat, mixed with the pungent odor of blood, penetrating his nostrils uncontrollably, causing Feige to vomit on the spot.

As his comrade fell before him, fear and despair in his eyes, a cloud of dust rose.

And as the dust cleared, Feige, lying in disarray, looked up to see a black, smoking gun barrel.

The gun was aimed where his comrade had fallen, and until that moment, none of them had imagined that their instructor, who had promised to bring them back safely, would turn his gun on his own students.

“I asked him like I just asked you, why he had to kill our captain — the Alpha who died was the leader of our squad.”

"Do you know how An Wei Ran answered me when I asked him? He holstered his gun and said coldly, 'He had to be executed immediately because he triggered the genetic disease.'"

"But if the captain hadn't strayed from the main force to protect me, he wouldn't have exhausted his mental strength due to continuous intense combat, and he wouldn’t have..."

Tears dropped one after another onto Feige's dark work pants, dampening the fabric around them, making it even darker.

He hung his head, not wanting Queqiu to see the sadness in his eyes, nor did he want to appear as a weak and incapable Alpha.

"If it weren't for me, the captain wouldn't have triggered the genetic disease..."

"Before that damned disease, the captain always protected me. Apart from exterminating the bug race, he never aimed his weapon at any innocent person. Even when his genetic disease was triggered, he hadn’t harmed anyone before An Wei Ran ruthlessly shot him dead."

Queqiu listened quietly, without interrupting.

Feige clenched his fists. Even after more than a hundred days and nights, his conversation with An Wei Ran that day was still vivid in his memory. Bringing it up again, it was as fresh and terrifying as if it had just happened yesterday.

"I stood there frozen, watching An Wei Ran's face twist into that of a callous demon—what did he think he was? A righteous judge? An absolute dictator? How could he kill his own student without any psychological barrier?! He even told all of us in the combat class that the captain was the best student he had ever trained!"

"Even in the throes of the genetic disease, the captain never doubted his teacher would kill him! He trusted An Wei Ran with his back, with his faith, but what he got in return was a merciless execution."

As he spoke, Feige's emotions completely crumbled. He buried his face in his hands, his shoulders shaking violently, unable to control his incessant sobs despite exerting all his strength.

"I rushed to kill An Wei Ran, but he didn’t take me seriously at all, not even glancing at the captain's body, just stepping over it!"

"Why did the captain have to be the one with the genetic disease? Why couldn't it have been me!"

Feige pounded his head in agony, unable to forgive himself for failing to save the captain who died innocently, and hating his own powerlessness to avenge him.

Seeing this, Queqiu leaned forward slightly and gently embraced him.

"This isn't your fault. Don't punish yourself for what's already happened."

Queqiu's fingertips gathered some pure golden luminescence, channeling it all into Feige's body.

The life-giving energy from the canary, symbolizing vitality, quickly took effect, merging into the Alpha’s swiftly circulating blood and spreading throughout his body.

Wherever it passed, it carefully washed away obstructions, smoothing and opening them bit by bit;

And where there were tiny wounds and cracks, it tenderly filled them in.

Soon, under the influence of Queqiu’s energy, Feige's emotions calmed down. The tiger Alpha stopped his self-harming behavior, collapsing powerlessly into the Omega's arms, silently shedding tears.

Queqiu looked down, feeling some distress for Feige.

He must have been held back a grade because of this incident.

Queqiu hadn't realized the severity and aftermath of the accident were so tragic, nor had he anticipated the challenges Alphas faced were far more daunting than he had imagined.

An Jie Lie—at least, until An Jie Lie was declared beyond salvation, no one in Duo Cao Street was willing to give up on him. Even when they had to destroy him, they only sent him to the Gobi Desert on Dark Star to fend for himself. Perhaps the residents of Duo Cao Street also harbored an unrealistic hope that An Jie Lie, transformed into a beast, might survive in the heart of the desert, even though there had never been a precedent of an Alpha with a genetic disease outbreak surviving.

After arriving at Dark Star Military Academy, however, he learned that once genetic disease is triggered, the patient is executed on the spot; even if just the values exceed the norm, they are immediately sent to the treatment room for intervention.

If not for An Wei Ran’s protection, Feige might now be muzzled with a dog’s bite guard, handcuffed and shackled, confined in the treatment room awaiting that so-called, merciless "unknown fate."

It turns out that what Yang Shu and Dr. Will said was correct; the outcome for An Jie Lie was, in retrospect, a merciful end.

For the first time, Queqiu felt a sense of powerlessness, no longer disappointed in this world but left with an unspeakable weariness.

He closed his eyes and released Feige.

"Do you feel better now?"

Feige nodded. After venting his emotions, he felt somewhat embarrassed. He quickly wiped away his tears, his fluffy tiger ears bashfully drooping on his head.

"Yes, I'm better now."

Strangely, it seemed that just being near Queqiu naturally dissolved the turmoil within him, bringing relaxation and peace.

He had received routine guidance and consolation before, but the experience with Queqiu was incomparably different from other Omegas.

It was a completely unique feeling, like a weary traveler returning to the embrace of his mother after enduring the vicissitudes of life, basking in her warm and gentle comfort. The hardships endured before melted away like snow under the sun.

Queqiu's consolation was like a spring rain, life-giving moisture evenly falling on parched and barren soil, leading to a resurgence of life, with lush grass and chirping birds.

In Queqiu, Feige sensed a force of life.

This force stood in stark contrast to the deprivation of life caused by genetic diseases.

He wanted to ask something but hesitated, fearing overstepping his bounds.

Queqiu, perceiving his hesitation, took the initiative: "What's on your mind?"

Feige hesitated, seeming a bit shy, and asked softly, "Did you just provide me with pheromone consolation? Otherwise, how could I feel so much relief, both mentally and physically?"

Queqiu was taken aback by the comment; his previous recipients of spirit energy were either the utterly trustworthy Morfa or the unconscious An Jie Lie. He had forgotten that Feige was a fully aware, functioning Alpha.

After a moment's hesitation, Queqiu shook his head, denying, "You've forgotten, haven't you? I'm a defective Omega. I can't produce pheromones and can't provide mental guidance."

Healing Omegas carrying plant genes can use both mental guidance and pheromone consolation, while ordinary Omegas who fail the genetic grade test can use pheromone consolation. As for Queqiu, who can neither produce nor sense Alpha pheromones, he's considered the lowest grade, a defective Omega. Strictly speaking, he's even incapable of offering pheromone consolation.

"As for you feeling lighter, it might be because you shared a deeply held secret with me, reducing some of your stress," Queqiu casually fabricated a reason.

As soon as Queqiu finished speaking, Feige immediately understood and believed his words, regretting raising a topic that might upset the Omega. He quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, you were helping me, and yet I..."

"It's okay, whether it's you, Tang Butian, or Xu Feng, you don't need to be overly cautious around me," Queqiu reassured.

Queqiu added, "I'm not a porcelain doll that shatters at a touch. In fact, you already know from our encounter at the training field that you can't even defeat me."

Feige now genuinely felt embarrassed. As an A-level Alpha, he was defeated by an apparently delicate Omega, even if it was during his uncontrollable state.

"Oh no, now I'll become the laughing stock of the entire Dark Star Military Academy."

But then, if it was by this particular Omega...

Feige sneaked a glance at Queqiu, thinking it wasn't entirely unacceptable.

The tiger Alpha couldn't help but let out an inward howl of amusement, his round, striped tail wagging uncontrollably, dazzling Queqiu.

Queqiu couldn't resist and pressed down on Feige's tail, making a somewhat demanding yet reasonable request, "As a reward for listening and comforting you, may I touch your ears?"

Tigers are big cats, and all cats are meant to be petted, right?

Feige's eyes widened in surprise, "But I am the king of beasts—"

Yet his body was more honest than his words, obediently extending his head, resting his chin in Queqiu's palm, presenting his fluffy, reddish-yellow striped ears to the Omega's hands.

"They're so soft and springy," Queqiu marveled as he vigorously rubbed the ears, appreciating the tactile pleasure of a furry mammal.

Suddenly, the fuzzy caterpillar brooch on his chest opened its pale gray eyes, indignantly bumping its antennae against the pocket.

Feige blinked, his tiger ears twitching in Queqiu's hands, "Is your caterpillar brooch actually alive?"

Queqiu hummed in response, then glanced down warningly at Morfa, nudging him back into place, casually remarking, "You must be seeing things due to your mental exhaustion today."

Author's Note:

Queqiu: Furry mammals are just more satisfying to pet than mollusks.

Short-sleeve shirt (menacingly to Feige): Better sleep with one eye open tonight.

(Regularly tormenting short-sleeve shirt)