Chapter 25

Chapter 25

025

Silly "younger brother."

Chu Li paused and turned to look, only to see Chu Heyang and Shu Chenghang standing behind them, their hands intertwined. Shu Chenghang seemed to have not expected to encounter Chu Li here, his face filled with awkwardness, his body stiff as if he was ready to leave Chu Heyang at any moment.

However, Chu Heyang held onto his hand tightly, preventing him from leaving.

With just a glance at their linked arms, Chu Li understood the dynamics between the two. He couldn't help but sigh. Shu Chenghang clearly still had feelings for the original owner, so why was Chu Heyang not nurturing their relationship properly, but instead constantly appearing before him?

He felt that the leaf on his head should be placed on Chu Heyang's.

Chu Li had no intention of acknowledging Chu Heyang and simply lowered his head to continue eating. Liu Wei was an introvert and even less inclined to get involved at this point, wishing he could bury his head in his bowl. Zhan Jiaqing, being astute, understood the situation after hearing Chu Heyang's ambiguous tone and observing Chu Li's attitude. She sat aside, smiling warmly as she watched Chu Heyang and Shu Chenghang without saying a word.

Finding himself ignored after speaking, Chu Heyang stood there awkwardly. Still, he didn't leave but pulled Shu Chenghang over to Chu Li's table, asking, "There are no other seats available. Can we sit here, big brother?"

He deliberately emphasized the word "big brother," forcing Chu Li to lift his head. Chu Li took out a tissue to wipe his mouth before saying helplessly, "You can sit down, but don't call me big brother."

After all, the dining hall chairs were public property, and he didn't have the authority to decide otherwise.

But he had no intention of acknowledging this "younger brother" at all.

If it weren't for the original owner's departure due to his bond with that app, Chu Li would consider their family the prime culprits behind the original owner's death. Grateful for the original owner's kindness, Chu Li couldn't muster any affection for them.

Chu Heyang also didn't expect Chu Li to be so blunt, causing another wave of embarrassment on his face. Shu Chenghang, feeling uncomfortable, tugged at Chu Heyang's arm and whispered, "Isn't there a seat over there? Let's go sit there."

But Chu Heyang angrily shrugged off his hand, retorting, "What do you mean by that? Are you afraid to see him because you have something to hide? Shu Chenghang, wake up! He has never taken you seriously. In just a few days, he not only got permanently marked but also found a new Alpha! Are you still hung up on him?! Does he even spare you a glance?"

Shu Chenghang: "…"

The wealthy nobleman had never been verbally attacked like this before. Despite Shu Chenghang's good temper and guilty conscience, his expression darkened.

Chu Li, however, threw the tissue into the trash can with a composed look and added, "Indeed."

Everyone else in the room: "…"

No one anticipated Chu Li's response. Zhan Jiaqing, the "new Alpha" mentioned by Chu Heyang, was astonished as his eyes widened, "How come I don't know about such good fortune?"

The handsome younger brother had rejected her long ago!

Feeling helpless, Chu Li turned to Zhan Jiaqing and said, "I meant that I truly didn't take him seriously. It's not about you, Sister. We're just pure classmates who happened to have a meal together. Perhaps in their eyes, Omegas aren't even allowed to sit with Alphas while eating. Sitting together implies a relationship."

Finished speaking, Chu Li smiled at Chu Heyang. "Don't you think so?"

Chu Heyang: "…"

Shu Chenghang's darkened face turned both black and red. He felt ashamed of Chu Heyang, yet he was also embarrassed by Chu Li's words.

Of course, he remembered Chu Li rejecting him many times and even telling him that she had someone she liked. But he couldn't let go of Chu Li. Agreeing to bring Chu Heyang here, he actually wanted to see her again.

Now that he had met her, he was indirectly scolded by Chu Li. He felt a bit guilty, but the more guilty he felt, the more he couldn't help noticing Chu Li sitting at the table, casually wiping her mouth, and saying such biting remarks... Her image kept piercing his heart.

The more embarrassed he was, the more he couldn't forget.

It became a vicious cycle.

"Little Li, I just wanted to come and see you. I heard that you've... been causing quite some trouble lately," Shu Chenghang looked at Chu Li with a complicated expression, as if he wanted to say more but held back.

Chu Li couldn't help but sigh.

He put down his chopsticks and wiped his hands. "This has nothing to do with you. I can handle my own life, so please take care of yourself too."

Shu Chenghang understood the message and looked at Chu Li with added uncertainty in his eyes.

Seeing that look, Chu Li sighed inwardly. How indecisive for a grown man. But then again, he himself didn't quite fit into the category of 'grown man' anymore. With that thought, he packed up his lunch box, stood up, and said to Zhan Jiaqing and Liu Wei, "Sorry for disrupting your meal with personal matters. You carry on eating, I'll be going now."

After a glance at Shu Chenghang, he left with his food.

Shu Chenghang assumed Chu Li wanted to talk to him and hastily followed.

Chu Heyang never expected Shu Chenghang to still be so smitten with Chu Li like an adolescent! He instantly regretted bringing Shu Chenghang along to show off and rushed out after them.

Only after they had left did Liu Wei lift her head from her bowl. She had overheard their conversation and was intrigued by the complex dynamics between the three of them.

Zhan Jiaqing, sitting beside her, was even more straightforward. "That handsome little brother is something else, huh?"

First, there was Peng Zihao's failed confession and subsequent withdrawal from school, and now an Alpha chasing after him all the way to the cafeteria. From the tone of that Alpha's words just now... He seemed quite infatuated.

She stroked her chin, the corners of her lips curving even more.

Shu Chenghang assumed Chu Li had something to tell him, but Chu Li had no intention of engaging in further conversation.

Leaving the canteen was simply to avoid creating a scene later when Chu Heyang started causing trouble, affecting Zhan Jiaqing and Liu Wei. With Liu Wei's social anxiety, she might faint on the spot if Chu Heyang were to cause a commotion nearby.

Therefore, Chu Li didn't wait for anyone and quickened her pace after leaving the canteen. By the time Shu Chenghang emerged, she was nowhere to be found.

Shu Chenghang anxiously searched around before being tugged by Chu Heyang. "Shu Chenghang, what's your game?"

The noise from Chu Heyang gave Shu Chenghang a headache, causing him to turn and look at his friend for the first time with impatience. "What game? Didn't you bring me to this canteen for this exact reason? What's there to be angry about?"

Recently, his family had been urging him to get engaged, but now he felt that the decision to choose a wife based on compatibility might not be the right one.

---

Chu Li paid no attention to the argument between Chu Heyang and Shu Chenghang. She hurried back to her dormitory.

Not getting involved in the drama at the canteen, having dinner with her little Li Hua Cat at home sounded pleasant too.

Sure enough, as soon as he opened the door, Chu Li saw Little Li Hua Cat jump down from the sofa, the sleepy kitten mewing at him in confusion.

Chu Li placed the food on a side table and walked over to the sofa, gently rubbing the indentation left by the cat's sleep, still warm to the touch.

His bad mood vanished. He reached out to stroke Little Li Hua Cat's head and whispered, "I'm back to have dinner with you."

"Meow—" The two-legged creature was so kind, understanding its loneliness as a single cat at home and willing to return to keep it company.

The little cat circled around Chu Li's legs, leaning against his ankle and rubbing its forehead against it. It then walked around his feet, its tail slightly curved, looping around Chu Li's ankle, exuding allure.

Chu Li paused but still couldn't resist the feline temptation. He bent down and picked the cat up from the ground.

During dinner, Chu Li sent messages to Zhan Jiaqing and Liu Wei, apologizing for his earlier behavior. Liu Wei, with her social anxiety, naturally didn't dare to comment on what had happened. Zhan Jiaqing, on the other hand, seized the opportunity to tease Chu Li, even asking if he would consider being pursued by other Alphas.

Chu Li replied earnestly to Zhan Jiaqing, "I already have an Alpha who has marked me. Although he's not here right now, I have no intention of being unfaithful. Sorry about that."

Zhan Jiaqing responded with a laughing emoji, "Got it. I'll be more mindful in the future. But you know I love to joke around, so I hope you don't take offense."

Chu Li was quite tolerant of his friends, as long as they didn't engage in any bothersome actions like blocking him at the library. He could handle that.

Just as Chu Li finished his message, he felt an itch on his little finger. Looking down, he found Li Hua Cat had somehow jumped onto the table and was lying beside his hand, its whiskers tickling his fingers, causing the itch.

He reached out to stroke the kitten, then glanced at its empty food bowl. Chu Li got up to clean up.

He had been living here for a few months now, and his life had gradually settled into a routine, with inklings of future plans forming in his mind.

However, Li Hua Cat seemed no different from before, showing no signs of growth. Male cats should not be so slender, Chu Li thought as he washed the dishes. He couldn't help but sigh. "Have I been too casual calling you 'Little Li Hua Cat'? Should I give you a proper name?"

The kitten sat beside him, seemingly understanding the conversation. It tilted its head to look at Chu Li. "Meow?"

Chu Li pondered for a moment. "How about Mimi?"

Li Hua Cat: "..." Meow! Two-legged creature, not every kitten is named Mimi!

Chu Li chuckled. "Let's stick with 'Little Li Hua Cat' then."

When addressing his cat, Chu Li didn't follow conventional rules. Even if he gave it a name, he still preferred using various 'nicknames'. The most frequent one was 'Kitty Mimi', followed by 'Babe', 'Sweetheart', 'Little Cutie', and other random affectionate terms. Whatever came to mind, he would use it.

There was nothing he could do; who could blame him for loving cats so much?

---

Chu Li didn't pay much attention to Chu Heyang, but Chu Heyang couldn't help but break down. The next day when Chu Li went to class, the Beta sitting in front of him whispered, "Have you heard the rumors about the Omega Academy?"

Chu Li was arranging his stationery and was slightly taken aback by the question. "What rumor?"

The Beta looked anxious. "You really don't know? Some people are saying that you're..."

He suddenly stopped in the middle of his sentence, clearly because the words were too unpleasant.

After a moment of silence, the Beta said, "You should just go read the forums yourself!"

Chu Li realized that people in this era were all internet addicts. No matter what happened, they loved discussing it on forums.

This was similar to his previous life, and it made Chu Li feel a faint sense of familiarity.

He smiled helplessly and opened his personal terminal, navigating to the school forum, where he indeed found many posts related to him.

Upon a general reading, the post seemed to suggest that Chu Li transferred to the healthcare department for attention-seeking purposes, and that there were hidden motives behind the school leaders' approval. Although not explicitly stated, the post hinted at an ambiguous relationship between him and a certain teacher. It also portrayed him as someone with a particular disposition, enjoying interactions with various Alphas. According to the post, Peng Zihao was influenced by his subtle hints and pursued him relentlessly, only to be discarded once Chu Li developed feelings for another person.

The narrative was so convincing that if the protagonist weren't himself, Chu Li might have believed it.

After finishing, he could easily guess who the sender was.

With its sour tone, it had to be Chu Heyang.

Just as Chu Li finished reading, the teacher entered the classroom. Today's class would be taught by Wen Renjian.

The quality of teachers in the school varied, and when it came to Wen Renjian's class, Chu Li would always be more focused. He switched off his personal terminal, ignoring the online forums, and started to concentrate on his studies.

There was an apt saying.

"Unplug the internet, and all grudges go to hell."

Chu Heyang probably didn't have the courage to confront Chu Li face-to-face. Chu Li was unaware of the effort Wen Renjian had put into posting so many threads or the jealousy he must have felt while doing so. All that would be for naught if he himself didn't read them.

Chu Heyang's actions amused Chu Li, but at the same time, they made him realize how pathetic and pitiful Chu Heyang's life was. He vowed not to end up like that.

As the course progressed, Chu Li found himself struggling to keep up. He had set high goals for himself, juggling academics and laboratory work, which made him increasingly busy. Sometimes he wouldn't return to his dorm until late at night, just in time to pet his cat, read a book, and go to bed. There was no spare moment left to browse the forums.

Chu Heyang never imagined that the rumors he had painstakingly fabricated would only catch Chu Li's fleeting attention. When he noticed Chu Li's absence from the forum, he assumed that he had been intimidated. Buoyed by this assumption, Chu Heyang gloated for two days. But as the interest of onlookers waned, his subsequent posts were met with skepticism.

"You keep posting about this. Are you harboring some personal vendetta against Chu Li? You've been at it for days without providing any solid evidence."

"Yeah, I'm in the same class as Chu Li. He's part of Professor Wenren's research group, and he's swamped with work every day. It's completely different from what you're describing. If it's true, you need to provide proof. You say he's flirting with many Alphas – at least give us some pictures, right?"

Pictures?

Of course, there were none.

The chorus of skepticism on the forum grew louder, and despite Chu Heyang's prowess, he was but one person.

Two fists couldn't fend off numerous adversaries. Not only were people speaking up for Chu Li, but their words were becoming increasingly harsh.

In the end, Chu Heyang angrily shut down his personal terminal.

Why didn't these people believe him? What was so great about that Chu Li? He had clearly violated the 'rules' by forcefully transferring to the Healthcare Department, yet why did everyone seem to accept him so easily?

Frustration swelled within Chu Heyang, and just then, an advertisement popped up on his personal terminal.

"The Comprehensive School's upcoming grand celebration has it that Prince Lancelot Butler of the Imperial House will be attending his alma mater's centennial festivities."

---

"There is a unique substance in the Dusklight that enables its cells to restructure the body by shedding unnecessary parts as it approaches old age. Coupled with the Dusklight's peculiar mode of development, it can undergo a transformation from new life to old. However, the reproduction of Dusklights is incredibly challenging. In the past, when humans first arrived in this part of space aboard their Arks, they were greeted by vast, breathtaking vistas of Dusklights. But with the development of star systems, such scenes are rare to witness now."

"One can only catch glimpses of the Dusklight's remnants in remote, untouched corners of the universe."

In the laboratory, Wen Renjian lectured the three students with unwavering patience. As he spoke in his calm, measured voice, Chu Li couldn't help but visualize a magnificent cosmic landscape.

Having been ill for so long in his previous life, he hadn't even stepped out of his house, let alone traveled. The last time he basked in sunlight was half a year before his death.

Longing for health and freedom, Chu Li found this world much larger and more intriguing than his previous one. Listening to Wen Renjian describe sights he had never seen, his eyes shimmered with yearning.

Wen Renjian noticed and asked Chu Li with a smile, "Have you ever traveled to other star systems?"

Chu Li shook his head gently.

He was an outsider, so naturally, he didn't have that.

The original owner probably didn't either.

Forget about whether Chu Heyang's family could afford interstellar travel; even if they could, it was unlikely that the original owner would have been included.

Wen Renjian smiled and said, "The Medical Department has military internships at the end of the year. Maybe you can try to secure a spot and go see outer space with them."

"Really?" Chu Li's eyes lit up.

However, Zhan Jiaqing frowned and said, "Outer space is very dangerous, it's not really suitable for someone like you, an…" Omega.

Before she could finish her sentence, Wen Renjian interrupted, "Jiaqing."

He looked calmly at Zhan Jiaqing, who quickly realized that she had said something inappropriate. She turned to apologize to Chu Li, "I'm sorry, I…"

"It's alright." Chu Li smiled before she could complete her apology.

People in this world had deeply ingrained stereotypes about Omegas, and it wasn't easy to change their minds. Chu Li had no intention of correcting others' perceptions of Omegas; he just needed to focus on his own affairs.

Chu Li's casual apology made Zhan Jiaqing feel even more awkward.

She had always joked with Chu Li. It was impossible not to have some affection for someone as good-looking as him. However, since he had been permanently imprinted and clearly rejected her, she would never do anything to bother him.

Zhan Jiaqing believed she was different from Peng Zihao; she held an absolute respect for Chu Li. But now, she realized that she still instinctively treated Chu Li as a delicate Omega who needed protection. Even though they sat in the same classroom, learning the same knowledge, she couldn't help but view him with admiration, thinking, "He's amazing" or "An Omega can be so intelligent."

It was praise, but on a deeper level, it was also a form of arrogance.

Putting herself in others' shoes, perhaps not all Omegas were as weak and in need of protection as she had imagined. But when everyone assumed that, they were forced into that stereotype.

Realizing this, Zhan Jiaqing appreciated Chu Li's decision to change majors even more and felt a deeper admiration for him.

Although Chu Li had already said it was okay, she still apologized again sincerely.

Her earnest attitude took Chu Li aback.

Wen Renjian stood on the platform, watching the interaction among his students, a gentle smile appearing on his refined face. His eyes carried a hint of nostalgia, reminiscing about many years ago when he had a female student... very much like Chu Li.

As they spent more time in the lab, Wen Renjian gradually allowed them to handle more significant matters. Today, before leaving, he assigned them homework: to purify a substance called 'Teng Hui 03' found in the remnants of the sunset, requiring their combined efforts.

The remaining sunlight was highly delicate, making its purification without harming the host an arduous task.

They worked until dusk before barely accomplishing their mission. Chu Li glanced at the purity of 'Tenghui 03,' which fell far short of the experimental requirements.

Zhan Jiaqing suggested, "It's too late. Let's go back for now and continue tomorrow... Professor didn't say we have to get it right in one go. He probably knows we can't finish tonight."

Chu Li checked the time; it was already half past eleven. It would take around ten more minutes to reach his dormitory. Li Hua Cat must be waiting for him at home. After some thought, he nodded in agreement. "Alright, we'll come back tomorrow then."

After the day's events, Zhan Jiaqing's attitude toward him had changed significantly. However, seeing his current demeanor, she couldn't help but tease, "To those who know, they'd understand you're eager to return home to see your cat. To those who don't, they might think you're hiding your Alpha in your dorm."

Chu Li never hid the fact that he was permanently marked. Mentioning his Alpha, his expression remained as natural as ever.

Assuming he had a harmonious relationship with his Alpha, Zhan Jiaqing didn't suspect anything.

After discussing, the trio packed up and left. Chu Li brought up the rear, locking the door behind them. Zhan Jiaqing then asked if he needed a ride back to his dorm.

Chu Li declined, and Zhan Jiaqing didn't insist. She left with Liu Wei, leaving Chu Li to walk alone towards his dormitory.

At ten-thirty on the campus, there were still straggling students around. A group of Alpha athletes passed by Chu Li, catching his attention for a moment longer.

Back when he was sick, he had fantasized about what life would be like after recovery. In those daydreams, there was a scene where he was dressed in sportswear, playing ball with two or three friends, laughing and joking as they strolled through bustling streets, possibly attracting the glances of a few members of the opposite sex.

However... that scenario seemed unlikely to come true now.

Chu Li shook his head helplessly, dismissing his wandering thoughts, and continued walking. But after only a few steps, he heard a familiar meow from the shadows nearby.

"Meow~"

Chu Li: "..."

He had to admit that watching that group of Alpha athletes pass by, he felt a twinge of envy.

In this world, the only people who could really talk to him were the two classmates in his experimental group. But Zhan Jiaqing was an Alpha, and she couldn't understand an Omega, nor could she fully understand Chu Li, leaving him feeling isolated.

But at this very moment, seeing the small Li Hua Cat crouched on the flower bed, Chu Li suddenly felt less alone.

He had family, even if his family was a cat.