Chapter 50

Chapter 50

050

It had to be because the teacher assigned too little homework.

The personal terminal's screen was merely a flat display, impervious to touch by others.

The kitten stubbornly punched towards the screen, its tiny fists seemingly piercing through the digital barrier and nearly landing on Chu Li's face.

Chu Li: "...."

The kitten didn't intend to harm Chu Li. Upon realizing that its cat-like punches had crossed the screen, it promptly retracted its paws, avoiding contact with Chu Li.

However, it was clearly disgruntled, dashing between Chu Li and the screen, and meowing at him, "Meow-!"

Chu Li: "...."

He could read the kitten's thoughts and, therefore, deliberately teased it, continuing to fiddle with the screen.

The little key was highly dissatisfied. It jumped out of Chu Li's arms and circled around him twice. Seeing that Chu Li still didn't react, it unexpectedly went behind him and leaped onto his shoulder.

Chu Li: "…."

Satisfied now, the little key started purring as it kneaded on Chu Li's shoulder.

This left Chu Li in a dilemma, amused yet helpless. He quickly removed the cat from his shoulder.

If this were his previous life, he wouldn't have minded. But in this life, there was a vital gland at the back of his neck.

He no longer dared to be distracted by his personal terminal and simply turned it off, focusing solely on accompanying the little key as they slept.

In his heart, he addressed Jing Baiyuan, "Don't blame me; it's the cat who doesn't allow it."

---

After Jing Baiyuan's departure, Chu Li's life returned to its routine.

He continued to shuttle between the school classroom and laboratory every day. The only change was that instead of spending late nights in the lab, he left promptly at closing time. The house Jing Baiyuan had purchased was conveniently close to the school, with a commute of just ten minutes. Concerned about the little key at home, Chu Li seldom ate dinner outside.

Both of them would usually bring home meals from the cafeteria or buy some ingredients on the way back to cook for themselves at home.

He was originally a young master who had never done any household chores, but after living independently for a while, his cooking skills improved dramatically.

Aside from daily life, he also met Jing Baiyuan in virtual space regularly. Those who were close to him in real life appeared distant in the digital realm. Chu Li pondered over this for a long time before he couldn't resist asking.

Jing Baiyuan replied, "Every move we make is recorded as data. I don't want them to know..."

Only then did Chu Li understand that Jing Baiyuan's polite and courteous behavior towards him wasn't because he didn't want to be intimate, but rather... he simply didn't wish to expose their privacy.

In Chu Li's previous life, people no longer cared much about online privacy. They were unbothered by the fierce wolves and tigers of chat records being logged by software companies. He never expected that in this more open era of information technology, there would still be someone like Jing Baiyuan, an old-fashioned relic.

He understood Jing Baiyuan and obediently cooperated, keeping his distance and not giving Jing Baiyuan any chance to get close to him.

However, after only two weeks, Jing Baiyuan's gaze towards him took on an odd quality. Despite doing nothing, Chu Li felt that Jing Baiyuan looked at him like a wolf eyeing its prey. Yet, Chu Li pretended not to notice.

Whether they were intimate or not was a minor issue, but certain things truly shouldn't be discussed online. Since Jing Baiyuan didn't mention it, Chu Li was still concerned about the Expeditionary Force and could only search for news in hidden corners. He knew that the content was processed, but with so much information, he could still piece together the recent happenings of the Expeditionary Force.

For example, soon after Jing Baiyuan left, a major incident occurred within the Expeditionary Force. It was rumored that the Imperial Censorate, which accompanied the military, colluded with the Alliance, betraying the Empire's interests. The Censorate was appointed by the royal family, and while the Expeditionary Force sought to abolish the position, they were blocked by the royal family. After half a year of bickering, the Censorate remained in their post, while individuals holding other ranks were gradually removed.

Opinions varied in the outside world, but most agreed that the Expeditionary Force was discontent with the emperor and using this opportunity to suppress the royal family by removing all royal sympathizers within their ranks.

At the height of the turmoil, there were rumors that Jing Baiyuan's title of Supreme Commander might be revoked. Yet Jing Baiyuan still didn't meet with Chu Li as scheduled, appearing relaxed during their eventual encounter, seemingly unaffected by the swirling controversies.

Chu Li was concerned but also understood that Jing Baiyuan was capable of managing the situation within the Expeditionary Force.

He didn't pry, instead focusing more intently on his studies and fulfilling his responsibilities.

In the blink of an eye, nearly a year passed.

---

"Doctor Little Chu, leaving?"

Little Zhao, dressed in a blue-and-white striped patient gown, passed by the office door and noticed Chu Li changing clothes. He grinned and asked, "When are you graduating? Come work at our hospital."

As a frequent visitor to the hospital, Little Zhao suffered from an aggressive cancer that had spread. While medical equipment could suppress it, there was no cure. Every few weeks, he would stay in the hospital for a period.

Over the past year, Chu Li had interned at this hospital three times, coinciding with Little Zhao's hospital stays each time. As a result, they had become quite familiar with each other.

He watched as Chu Li progressed from interning under Shen Fengbei to assisting doctors and eventually to the point where he could run his own clinic – albeit for minor ailments that could be easily treated with medical equipment.

With his gentle demeanor and Omega status, he naturally exuded an aura of approachability, making many patients in the hospital fond of him.

Little Zhao, in particular, adored having Chu Li check up on him. Every time, he would engage the young man in conversation about everyday matters.

If not for the knowledge that Chu Li was already permanently bonded to his Alpha, he would have introduced him to a hundred potential matches by now.

Despite this, Little Zhao remained undeterred, eagerly vying to lure Jing Baiyuan away from his partner.

Chu Li took these comments as playful banter and didn't give them much thought. Hearing Little Zhao greet him, he simply smiled in response. "Yes, my internship is over. I'm preparing to return to school."

Little Zhao tsked. "When will you graduate? Hurry up and come work at the hospital full-time. I can't bear to see you go back to your classes."

Chu Li chuckled. Although he studied healthcare, he might not necessarily stay on Blue Vein Star. However, he appreciated the kind sentiment and saw no need to elaborate further.

Instead of giving a direct answer, he changed clothes and bid farewell to Little Zhao. As he reached the door, he encountered Shen Fengbei.

Over the past year, Shen Fengbei's temperament had become increasingly impatient. Chu Li, having spent more time in the hospital, had also heard whispers about his story with his Alpha. Shen Fengbei, being a Beta and male, was infertile – a classification considered non-reproductive according to the Empire's definition.

Despite the numerous obstacles they faced being together, Shen Fengbei was particularly bothered by his inability to detect an Alpha's pheromones. During the Alphas' sensitive periods, he appeared even more irritable than the Alphas themselves.

Back when he first met Chu Li, Shen Fengbei had sensed something amiss in Chu Li's gaze merely because he was an Omega who could perceive Alpha pheromones.

However, professionally, he was an excellent doctor with abundant experience and a calm, rational demeanor that allowed him to handle emergencies deftly. Chu Li admired this aspect of his character, and after several internships, they had become friends.

Shen Fengbei had come specifically to see Chu Li off. Seeing that he was ready, he simply said, "Let's go."

They were both reserved, and as they left the hospital, Chu Li hailed a taxi on the side of the road – he was leaving earlier than the other students.

---

Upon returning to campus, Chu Li headed straight for his classroom.

From afar, he spotted three familiar figures: his former roommates Ning Yue, Xu Dongfeng, and Lin Chengming.

He hurried over and asked, "What are you guys doing here?"

Ning Yue replied, "We came to visit you. We heard you're taking the promotion exam?"

The school's promotional exams were held twice a year. Passing these exams allowed students to advance to the next grade.

Chu Li had already taken part in one this year and was now in his second year. If he took it again, he would become a third-year student.

Out of the four of them, only Lin Chengming was a third-year student, while Ning Yue and Xu Dongfeng were both second-year students. Ning Yue had sat for the second-year exam twice, and Xu Dongfeng had done so thrice.

All three of them had only taken the exams once a year.

Passing both rounds of exams in a single year was beyond their wildest dreams.

Chu Li chuckled lightly. "Yes, the exam is tomorrow."

That was why he had ended his internship early and returned.

Ning Yue shook his head, feeling amazed. "I never expected our dorm to produce a genius... Alright, to welcome you back and wish you good luck on your exam, let's eat outside today!"

It was the weekend, and all three of them were free.

Chu Li glanced at Lin Chengming. This man was usually very busy; it was unexpected that he could spare the time to join them.

Unable to reject such kindness, Chu Li nodded in agreement.

Chu Li said, "I'll go to the Academic Affairs Office to complete the procedures first."

An hour later, after Chu Li finished the paperwork, the sky had darkened, but it didn't dampen their spirits.

Ning Yue walked at the front, walking backward while smiling at Chu Li, "I know a great hotpot restaurant! Let's go there together!"

His foot caught on a protruding floor tile, nearly causing him to stumble. Xu Dongfeng frowned and complained, "Eat, eat, eat... Can't you walk properly?"

Ning Yue stuck out his tongue, showing a mischievous expression, but he obediently corrected his posture and walked properly.

In the Interstellar Era, the variety of hotpot ingredients was extensive, with many that Chu Li had never tasted before. The four of them ate with glowing faces, refilling the hotpot broth multiple times.

Lin Chengming commented, "Too bad none of you drink. It would be so refreshing to have a bottle of beer now."

In the Interstellar Era, humans had not escaped the allure of alcohol.

However, Chu Li was a medical student, and his health was poor in his previous life. He had never entertained the idea of consuming alcohol. Upon hearing this suggestion, he simply shook his head.

After another round of eating, he put down his chopsticks and said, "I'm going to the restroom."

Everyone nodded, not paying too much attention.

Chu Li left the lively private room and walked alone towards the restroom at the end of the corridor.

As he came out of the restroom and stood by the sink washing his face, he suddenly sensed someone passing behind him. Chu Li subconsciously looked up and was startled to see a familiar face in the mirror.

The other person was equally surprised and stopped in his tracks. "Chu Li?"

Almost a year had passed since he no longer called Chu Li 'brother'.

Chu Li didn't mind much. He grabbed a tissue from the side, wiped his face, and prepared to leave.

"Stop!" The other person persisted. "What are you doing here?"

Chu Li turned back helplessly and gave him a glance. It was none other than Chu Heyang, whom he hadn't seen for a long time.

After separating from Shu Chenghang, Chu Heyang had seldom appeared in front of Chu Li. On the contrary, Chu Li had heard quite a bit about Chu Heyang through others.

Rumor had it that he had attached himself to a powerful Alpha, flaunting the gifts he received from his benefactor on campus every other day. Due to his generosity, he indeed gained quite a following. Some even became envious of his current lifestyle and actively sought out Alphas outside school to be marked.

Of course, the outcomes were mostly unfavorable.

Many were waiting for that Alpha to discard him, but after nearly a year, nothing happened, leading people to assume Chu Heyang had found true love.

Regardless of how Chu Heyang was thriving in the Omega Institute, it was none of Chu Li's concern. He didn't care nor kept tabs on him, only hearing about these matters in passing conversations.

Encountering him here today was quite unexpected. Judging by his current state, it seemed those rumors weren't entirely false; perhaps that Alpha treated him well.

Unfazed, Chu Li gave him a brief glance before preparing to leave.

Chu Heyang, however, chased after him, asking from behind, "You still haven't undergone the gland cleansing surgery? You didn't just find any random Alpha to get you through your heat, did you?"

Chu Li chuckled lightly. "Anyone with half a brain knows that Omegas who have received a permanent mark only respond to their own Alpha's pheromones. Why would I seek out someone else during my heat?"

Chu Heyang's expression darkened. He refused to believe that Chu Li's Alpha would accompany him through his heat... Weren't they... only together because Chu Li had an uncontrolled heat? Logically, Chu Li wouldn't even know who his Alpha was.

Yet, judging from Chu Li's demeanor now, he didn't seem to be troubled by pheromones at all!

What happened?

After Chu Li finished his statement, he left, leaving Chu Heyang alone with a darkened face, lost in speculative thoughts.

Upon returning to the hotpot private room, Chu Li noticed that everyone had stopped eating. As he entered, all three of them lifted their heads.

Lin Chengming asked, "Why did you take so long? We were planning to come look for you."

Chu Li replied, "I ran into an acquaintance in the restroom."

"Who?" Ning Yue inquired.

Chu Li didn't hide the truth. "Chu Heyang."

"Oh him…" A subtle expression appeared on everyone's faces.

What Chu Heyang had done over the past year was far from commendable, and coupled with their familiarity with Chu Li, they knew about the strained relationship between Chu Li and the Chu Heyang family.

Ning Yue, unable to conceal her emotions, said, "He even dared to strike up a conversation with you?"

"Not really, we just exchanged greetings." Chu Li wasn't keen on dwelling on the matter and simply said, "Are you full? Let's head back if you are."

---

After leaving the hotpot restaurant, the four of them parted ways.

Before leaving, Ning Yue looked at Chu Li with envy and said, "When I'm in my third year, I'll definitely move out too."

Chu Li smiled but didn't respond.

---

It was already past nine in the evening when they arrived home. As soon as he stepped in, a petite figure rushed towards him.

With practiced ease, Chu Li bent down to scoop up the small key, petting it briefly before heading to the bathroom.

He reeked of hotpot, so he decided to take a shower first.

It was Sunday, the day he had arranged to meet Jing Baiyuanting. After freshening up, Chu Li eagerly climbed into bed and donned his helmet.

After a brief, familiar dizziness, he found himself in a rejuvenated environment, surrounded by lush green grass and, in the distance, a neatly trimmed, fairy tale-like forest.

Before him stood a small wooden cabin.

Yes, after a year, they had switched to a new meeting place once more.

After all, Jing Baiyuan had taught him almost everything he had promised. Now, their meetings were purely for the sake of seeing each other. They had switched to a more casual, immersive holographic game.

Of course, this game seemed to have a myriad of miscellaneous content, but Chu Li had never experienced any of it.

Arriving early, Chu Li found the cabin empty. He rushed to the kitchen to brew a pot of coffee. Despite being a game, the sensory experience was impressively realistic; the aroma of coffee filled the room as it cooked.

Just as he was tending to the coffee, the door to the cabin creaked open.

Access to this cabin was restricted to only him and Jing Baiyuan. Without turning around, Chu Li knew exactly who it was.

Continuing with his task, Chu Li kept his head down. The person stood beside him for a moment before finally approaching and wrapping his arms around him from behind, whispering, "Why won't you turn around and look at me?"

Indeed, despite Chu Li's cold demeanor, this old-fashioned soul had abandoned his principle of avoiding intimate gestures in holographic games.

Indeed, they hadn't engaged in any intimate actions, limited to leaning against each other and hugging.

The familiar embrace was enough to satisfy Chu Li. He relaxed and leaned back into the person behind him. "What are you looking at?"

Jing Baiyuan: "…."

The man was extremely dissatisfied and was about to lift Chu Li up, but Chu Li beat him to it by pressing down on his wrist. "Don't mess around, my coffee."

Only then did Jing Baiyuan notice the coffee pot in Chu Li's hand, so he had no choice but to stop and stand obediently beside him.

Chu Li turned his back, smiling where Jing Baiyuan couldn't see.

Hmph.

A cat being punished to stand.

Only after Chu Li finished pouring the coffee did he finally allow Jing Baiyuan to pull him into an embrace.

Jing Baiyuan hugged him tightly.

Despite their ability to frequently meet online, both Baiyuan and Chu Li were quite busy in reality, allowing them to see each other only once or twice a week.

Due to Chu Li's internship, they hadn't met for over a week this time.

After more than a week apart, the longing naturally intensified.

Jing Baiyuanting often felt that their meetings in the game space were like drinking poison to quench thirst – not only did it fail to alleviate their yearning, but it intensified it instead. As autumn approached, he could sense it becoming harder to contain.

After hugging, they sat on the sofa, with Jing Baiyuanting's eyes fixed intently on Chu Li. After a moment of silence, he asked, "When is your rut this year?"

He wanted to go back and see him.

Chu Li's eyes flickered slightly. After a brief pause, he replied, "I haven't checked yet."

Here, he told a small lie. In truth, he had already looked it up – it was just two months away.

But he planned to go find Jing Baiyuanting, rather than wait for Jing Baiyuanting to find him.

Entering his third year, his internships would no longer be limited to hospitals; there would be opportunities to go to the frontlines. The deadline for this year's advance internship applications was exactly a month from now. If he calculated correctly, he would arrive at the Expeditionary Force right at the peak of his rut.

If everything went smoothly, there was no need for Jing Baiyuan to return just to see him.

The expeditionary force had not had an easy time these years, and he was well aware of that.

But all of this hinged on his successful promotion to the third year. If he failed the advancement exam, there would be no mention of going to the frontlines.

He decided to take the exam first and discuss it with Jing Baiyuan later.

It would be better not to bring it up now, in case he failed the exam and his words turned out to be meaningless.

Jing Baiyuan didn't doubt Chu Li's explanation. Ever since he entered the room, his eyes had been fixed on Chu Li, leaving him with no energy to discern whether what he said was true or false.

They sat on the sofa chatting, but as they talked, Chu Li grew drowsy and leaned involuntarily to the side, landing on Jing Baiyuan.

Although Jing Baiyuan wanted to stop him, he couldn't bear to push him away. They continued their intermittent conversation like this. Feeling uncomfortable, Chu Li tilted his body further and ended up lying in Jing Baiyuan's arms.

Looking up at Jing Baiyuan, who was still seated, a mischievous smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

Jing Baiyuan's face betrayed his helplessness; he knew without guessing what Chu Li was thinking: "You..."

Refraining from engaging in intimate gestures in the game, Jing Baiyuan's actions left Chu Li discontented. Yet, he didn't voice his displeasure and instead occasionally teased Baiyuan with subtle gestures... Reasonably speaking, with someone nestled in his embrace, how could he bear to push them away?

In the end, Jing Baiyuan couldn't resist and leaned down to graze his lips against Baiyuan's.

Chu Li's smile widened immediately, reaching out to touch Jing Baiyuan's Adam's apple.

Jing Baiyuan: "..."

Swallowing repeatedly, he dared not move a muscle.

The two of them spent roughly an hour in the game. With Chu Li needing to wake up early for an exam the next day and Jing Baiyuan having his own affairs to attend to, they eventually parted ways.

---

That night, Chu Li had a dream where two months flew by, and before he knew it, it was the day of his rut.

Lying in bed, he had taken his medication, preparing to endure the rut alone. However, someone stealthily pushed open his door.

In the darkness, someone embraced him, gently kissing his gland and whispering into his ear, "Why are you so disobedient..."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

In his dream, acts of retribution unfolded unchecked, and in the waking world, Chu Li seemed unable to bear it, moaning and on the verge of tears...

The next morning, Chu Li woke up, staring at his disheveled underwear, questioning the meaning of life.

"..."

It had only been nearly a year since they last saw each other! He had merely couldn't resist touching the other's Adam's apple yesterday!

How could he still indulge in such wanton behavior in his dreams, using his mouth so provocatively?

Chu Li, you weren't like this before.

Why is your mind filled with such... suggestive thoughts now...

With a face of utter mortification, Chu Li got out of bed to clean up the mess. Upon opening the door, he found Little Key crouching outside, waiting for him.

Meeting those clear, feline eyes, he felt even more embarrassed.

——

Query: What to do when one has excessive energy and experiences peculiar dreams?

Response: Clearly, the teacher hasn't assigned enough homework.

——

To divert his wandering thoughts, Chu Li arose early, freshened up, changed clothes, and then pulled out his exam review materials. He projected them onto his personal terminal's holographic screen, studying while cooking, eating, and even walking out the door, never taking his eyes off the screen.

Chu Li, brimming with knowledge, finally managed to expel the chaotic thoughts from his mind. However, the little key squatting beside him, eager for a touch, couldn't quite understand. Why was his master so captivated by that mysterious air screen today? Wasn't the little kitten's touch not good enough anymore?

At exactly 8:05, Chu Li arrived punctually at the examination venue. Just as he was about to enter, he suddenly heard someone calling him from beside.

Glancing sideways, he saw Yuan Tan standing outside the window at the other end of the corridor, waving at him.

Noticing him turn around, I gave him an encouraging gesture, cheering him on.

Chu Li offered him a smile as a gesture of gratitude before turning around and entering the examination hall.

Including the fundamental subjects, the high school entrance examination spanned two days and eight exams in total.

After finishing the tests, Chu Li felt as if half his life had been drained away, leaving no room to recall anyone named Jing Baiyuan or Yuanting.

Upon the conclusion of the exams, students were granted a three-day break, during which teachers worked tirelessly to grade the papers.