Chapter 27

Chapter 27

027

Severing Ties

The atmosphere couldn't have been more awkward – the furious Chu family and the bewildered staff standing in stark contrast.

After a brief, tense exchange of glances, Chu Li suddenly chuckled. He turned to the two staff members and said, "My room is this way, please follow me. There's not much to pack, but please be careful not to damage anything."

With that, he led the staff inside.

Chu Deyue finally snapped out of his stupor and bellowed, "What are you doing?!"

Chu Li turned his head coolly and replied, "This family doesn't welcome me, so I'll leave. From now on, we have no ties. As for Shu Chengxing..."

He sneered. "Sorry, I really don't know this person. When you two lovers have a conflict, look inward and find the problem within yourselves. Don't always blame others. Maybe it's not because he has taken a liking to me that he didn't propose to you... Perhaps he simply doesn't fancy you at all?"

Upon hearing Chu Li's words, Chu Heyang's face grew even more flushed, his eyes gradually reddening as if he was about to cry.

Zhu Wei's heart ached terribly. She hastily embraced her son and whispered soothingly, "Don't believe him! He's just spouting nonsense. Our Yang Yang is so wonderful, how could Little Shu not like him?"

The staff member had already reached Chu Li's room, but upon hearing this, couldn't resist turning back for a glance—ah, it was a domestic drama! Such melodrama didn't occur often, so it was worth an extra look.

Noticing the staff member's gaze, Chu Deyue's face darkened. Zhu Wei was about to speak, but he held her back.

Family matters should be kept within the family. With these two outsiders present, it would be best not to say any more!

The more they spoke, the more embarrassing it would be!

Chu Li didn't expect Chu Deyue to know the concept of embarrassment, but his lack of intervention was a huge help to him.

He didn't have many belongings, so he packed up quickly.

After the staff left, Chu Li also stepped out of the room. Holding the doorknob, he smiled at the family inside and said, "I sincerely advise you: if someone doesn't like you, don't cling on stubbornly. That Shu Chenghang is fickle-minded and not a suitable match anyway. You only see his wealth but ignore your own incapability to match him. Pursuing him might bring you disaster instead. Given that you've taken care of me for all these years, I genuinely advise you... But I doubt you'll listen, so that's my parting advice. Farewell."

Before leaving, Chu Li kindly closed the door for the family.

Exiting the corridor, the staff member asked, "Shall we head to Azure Stripes Comprehensive College?"

Chu Li nodded and got into the car with them.

By the time they returned to the school, it was already dark. As he turned on his personal terminal to pay for the ride, he noticed that Chu Heyang and Chu Deyue had called him multiple times. However, since his phone was on silent mode, he hadn't heard any of the calls.

Feeling too lazy to argue with them, Chu Li simply blocked their numbers.

The moving van was not allowed within the school premises, but there were automatic trolleys for delivering packages at the entrance. Chu Li placed his belongings on one of these trolleys and transported them to his dormitory bit by bit, just like an ant carrying food.

In truth, he didn't have many items. After three trips, everything was moved.

After finishing the move, he didn't rush to unpack. Instead, he went to the cafeteria for dinner, and upon returning to the dorm, he ate together with Little Li Hua Cat before starting to organize his things.

There really wasn't much to sort through. The original owner, knowing that he wouldn't return to this world, had destroyed all private items related to himself. What remained were 'living guides' written for Chu Li.

There were diaries explaining the background story and study notes from Omega Academy. Although the course content was subpar, the original owner had studied diligently, neatly documenting any rare bits of knowledge. There were also everyday essentials, such as a hand-drawn map, new clothing, and so on.

Even the scribbles in a notepad were included.

Chu Li often felt that the original owner had treated his future self as a friend, relying on these 'letters' to persevere.

He had placed great expectations upon himself.

He wished that he could be stronger than himself, capable of standing up to the Chu Heyang family... The more Chu Li sorted through his thoughts, the more saddened he felt. If there was a chance in the future, it would be wonderful to meet the original owner.

Sometime without notice, Little Li Hua Cat had come to Chu Li's side. Sensing his melancholy mood, the cat obediently laid down beside him and meowed softly.

Chu Li reached out to stroke Little Li Hua Cat's head, feeling that his cat was incredibly perceptive. Not only was it well-behaved, obedient, and affectionate, but it also understood his emotions and knew how to comfort him.

Unable to resist, Chu Li picked up the fluffy creature from the ground. In this world, people believed that Omegas were fragile and needed an Alpha's protection. However, Chu Li felt that having his cat was enough for him.

Alpha? What was an Alpha?

---

The next day, when Chu Li went to class, he noticed that the Beta sitting in front of him had been staring at him the entire time.

From before class until after it ended.

As he packed up his things, the Beta finally seemed to feel guilty for his behavior and found a minute amidst his busy schedule to ask Chu Li, "Why have you been looking at me the whole time?"

As a Beta who had known Chu Li for quite some time, he was well aware that the omega maintained a certain distance with others.

While they did have conversations, they were never particularly intimate.

Yet, he had been eager to discuss this particular matter with Chu Li. After holding back throughout an entire class, he could no longer contain his excitement.

Finally, when Chu Li took the initiative to speak, the student in front of him blinked eagerly, "Do you know that for this military training exercise, the Expeditionary Force has confirmed they'll be coming here?"

"Ah?" Chu Li responded, "Didn't they say they would come last time?"

The Beta grew even more excited. If not for the taboo against close physical contact between males, he might have grabbed Chu Li's hand right then and there.

"No, no!! That was just a rumor! A mere speculation! This time, it's confirmed!"

From the excitement in his tone, Chu Li deduced a piece of information, "Are you a fan of the Expeditionary Force?"

"..." The student in front of him suddenly fell silent. A deep flush colored his dark skin, and after a moment, he blushed, "How did you know?"

Chu Li: "..." Buddy, you're one step away from branding 'die-hard fan' on your forehead.

Chu Li slowed his pace of gathering his books, a rare hint of curiosity creeping into his tone. "You seem so enamored with the Expeditionary Force. What exactly do they do?"

From Chu Li's understanding of this world, there were two human 'nations,' but they were currently at peace.

In times of peace, how could an army still have such fervent fans?

At the mention of the Expeditionary Force, the student in front of him visibly brightened. "Although there isn't any major warfare going on now, don't underestimate the Expeditionary Force. Their mission to explore new planets is no easy task! Everything on those new planets is unknown, and danger can present itself at any moment. Besides, the Alliance is constantly on the lookout for planets to develop. The Expeditionary Force tends to downplay their difficulties; I'm sure they've clashed with the Alliance forces many times behind closed doors!"

"The deputy of the highest commander of the Expeditionary Force, General Jing Bai... is coming here personally to conduct military drills for our school. The results from the drills at military academies like ours will be considered in their final graduation assessment. Haha, those students really have it tough! Everyone knows that the Expeditionary Force has strict standards!"

Chu Li: "..." He spoke as if he had witnessed everything firsthand.

Moreover, he was so excited just because a deputy had come.

Chu Li had initially thought that the general himself would visit.

However...

He recalled something else. "Didn't the Expeditionary Force suffer a defeat on a new planet recently?"

Referring to his own dark past, the classmate in front of him clearly became more somber. "Well... that's because the royal family didn't provide the Expeditionary Force with adequate funding, forcing them to use outdated equipment against the Alliance. Also, you can blame the cunning of the Alliance; it's rumored they planted spies within the Expeditionary Force!"

Chu Li understood now – it seemed none of it was the Expeditionary Force's fault.

He recognized this state of passionate bias and knew not to trust anything his classmate said at this moment.

He asked again, "I've heard Admiral Jing Bai was injured. Is he recovered by now?"

This time, it was his classmate's turn to fall silent.

Chu Li had expected some words like, "Admiral Jing Bai is so powerful, how could he possibly be injured?" or "It was just a minor injury, he must have healed long ago."

To his surprise, the classmate fell silent.

After a moment, the classmate shook his head gently. "I don't know. He hasn't appeared in public since he was injured. Nobody knows what his condition is really like... However, with today's advanced medical technology, even severed limbs can regenerate. Unless it's a genetic illness, I don't see why it couldn't be treated..."

As he spoke, his tone lacked conviction.

Of course, illnesses and injuries could be treated.

For such a long time without any news, one can't help but wonder if... they're no longer with us.

Chu Li naturally entertained this thought, his gaze filled with sympathy as he looked at the student in front of him.

During their idle chat, he had already tidied up the books beside him.

Chu Li stood up and said, "This doesn't really concern us. If you truly admire the Expeditionary Force that much, you should focus on your studies and strive to be transferred to the military school for practical training."

"You're right," the student in front of him nodded repeatedly. "The royal family doesn't even know the situation with the Expeditionary Force, so it's just me blindly speculating here. I might as well concentrate on my own studies..."

With that, he didn't even finish his meal, turning around immediately to bury his head on the desk, pretending to 'study diligently'.

Seeing this, Chu Li shook his head helplessly, packed his things, and left.

After leaving the classroom, he went to check on the lab and changed into his lab coat to feed Duskglow.

Just as he was bonding with Duskglow, Zhan Jiaqing arrived.

Liu Wei followed behind her as usual.

Zhan Jiaqing chuckled. "You're here too. Perfect, let's go eat together."

With Chu Li's tasks completed and nothing else to do, he nodded in agreement.

The trio headed for the cafeteria.

After their previous encounter with Chu Heyang in the cafeteria, Chu Li had developed a shadow over that place, so they opted for a different one this time.

Upon entering, they noticed a large television screen mounted on the wall directly opposite the entrance, broadcasting the school's promotional video.

Promotional videos were familiar to Chu Li from his past life; their purpose was to exaggerate and self-praise.

Standing by the entrance, he watched for a while and realized that the school itself was impressive. As the military training exercise approached, the content displayed was predominantly related to the military academy.

Although Chu Li disliked the ABO gender system and the country's treatment of Omegas, the abundance of Alpha soldiers with long legs on the screen left him momentarily breathless... It was... somewhat intriguing.

Unbeknownst to Chu Li, Zhan Jiaqing had finished getting their food and walked up beside him, laughing. "Stop staring, your saliva is about to drip."

Chu Li quickly regained his composure, not realizing that Zhan Jiaqing was joking. He hastily wiped the corners of his mouth.

Only after wiping did he realize it was dry.

Zhan Jiaqing stood by, her smile audacious.

Even Liu Wei's lips curled up slightly.

Heat rose to Chu Li's ears as he explained, "I heard there'll be military drills soon. I was just checking it out."

"But looking won't help," Zhan Jiaqing said, carrying the dishes to the side. "Military academy drills are completely closed off. The mecha and warship command simulations take place online, so we have no chance of seeing them... Oh, wait, I should say, neither you nor I, but you, as a nursing student, might have a chance if you work hard enough to be selected as a nurse."

After her previous slip-up, Zhan Jiaqing had adjusted her mindset and no longer subconsciously viewed Chu Li as a fragile person in need of protection.

While speaking, she found a table, sat down, and teasingly joked with Chu Li, "But the military academy is full of Alphas. Won't your Alpha get jealous if you go?"

Chu Li: "No."

He didn't even know where his Alpha was or if he was still alive.

The reason he didn't seek him out was that, as someone from Earth, he couldn't accept the ABO values and didn't want to bond with a stranger Alpha.

The other party was an Alpha born and bred on this planet who had permanently imprinted with an Omega yet showed no intention of searching for them. There was a high chance that their actions were fueled by the allure of pheromones, their lower body controlling their upper body... Well, one could optimistically speculate that perhaps he didn't want to find Chu Li but had unfortunately perished outside.

Chu Li calmly stood up. "I'll go fetch our meal."

Since he didn't need to deliver food to Little Li Hua Cat during lunchtime, he prepared a more pungent dish with plenty of chili peppers.

When he returned to the table, Zhan Jiaqing was in the midst of discussing the Expeditionary Force with Liu Wei. Liu Wei's eyes were unusually gleaming, and he spoke more frequently, clearly an avid fan of the Expeditionary Force.

As Zhan Jiaqing spoke about the Expeditionary Force, her tone was filled with envy.

Chu Li took a seat across from them, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "I don't quite get it. Aren't expeditionary forces just about exploring new territories? Why do you all hold them in such high esteem?"

Zhan Jiaqing said, "While you are indeed good-looking, I must remark that your understanding of the Expeditionary Force is lacking."

She said, "While the expeditionary force might seem to be about mapping new territories, the dangers on these uncharted planets are by no means lower than those of war. Moreover, do you truly believe that if a planet is discovered with resources desperately needed by humanity, the Alliance would abide by the Interstellar Court's constitution and willingly surrender it?"

Chu Li: "..." Well, it does seem like he's not quite skilled in that aspect.

"So," Zhan Jiaqing said, "the Expeditionary Force's reputation was earned through battles. The Empire owes much of its current standing to their efforts. It's just regrettable that..."

Sighing, she lowered her head and slightly furrowed her brow.

Chu Li asked, "What's so regrettable?"

Zhan Jiaqing replied, "Ever since the conflict with the Alliance, Colonel Jing Bai of the Expeditionary Force hasn't appeared in public after being injured. He returned to Blue Stripe Star for recovery but didn't show up… I'm really worried about his condition."

Zhan Jiaqing obviously shared the same thoughts as Chu Li. In this era where medical technology was so advanced, it was natural for people to suspect that someone's injury was severe and untreatable if they didn't appear in public after being hurt… Or worse, they might even speculate that the person had already passed away due to their illness.

However, Chu Li possessed basic emotional intelligence. After being educated about the Expeditionary Force by two people within a short time, and considering the other party's obvious fondness for the Expeditionary Force, he couldn't say anything too harsh.

He said, "What if he just doesn't have the time to make an appearance?"

Zhan Jiaqing looked at Chu Li helplessly. "Do you know how shallow your comforting words sound?"

Chu Li couldn't help but laugh.

He indeed wasn't interested in any generals, as he wasn't from this era and didn't know what the Expeditionary Force had done. Thus, he couldn't empathize genuinely.

Zhan Jiaqing shook her head and sighed. After a moment, she said, "I heard that the Expeditionary Force will send someone over during this military training. Little Brother Chu Li, you must work hard. Only by being selected for the military training nursing role can you get close to the Expeditionary Force and help us uncover the truth!"

"Aah?" Chu Li was in the middle of drinking his porridge when he found himself inexplicably burdened with great responsibility.

Even Liu Wei looked at him, as if he had something to say.

Liu Wei's social anxiety was severe. After staring at Chu Li for a while, he stammered out, "G-Good luck! Keep going!"

Chu Li chuckled and didn't bother explaining. He simply nodded and said, "Alright, I'll do my best."

Author's Note:

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival, everyone! Have you eaten your mooncakes yet?