Chapter 53

Chapter 53

But Yi Ye thought it looked strange no matter how he looked at it. If it weren't for the cold, he wouldn't have worn it outside. He stuffed the hat into the bottom of the wardrobe, effectively hiding it, then proceeded to unpack and arrange the items from his suitcase. While rummaging through the suitcase, he found a bottle of air freshener. He casually sprayed it, but upon smelling the scent, he suddenly felt something was wrong.

Wait...

This smell of alcohol...

"Why do I smell rum?" came Kaiser's voice from behind.

Help me!

He had completely forgotten that he had used this freshener when he had beaten up Kaiser earlier!

Yi Ye's back stiffened instantly, trying to act dead.

Kaiser stepped closer, his tall figure looming over him, casting a shadow.

"Is this your smell?"

Yi Ye awkwardly swallowed, forcing a smile: "What if I say no, would you believe me?"

Like hell I would!

Kaiser crossed his arms, staring at him, eager to see how far this guy could go with his lies. Previously, he had dragged some idiot to impersonate him, and Kaiser had reluctantly let it slide, waiting for the day this guy would slip up and admit his mistake. He hadn't waited for it during the assessment, but on the very first day of the new term, here he was, delivering himself.

Great! Let's see how he tries to worm his way out of this one!

"Actually—this freshener is pretty common. On Qixing, it's 15 star coins a bottle, buy two get one free. How about I send you one? Free shipping to your door?"

"Yi. Ye. Lan. Li." Kaiser gritted his teeth, "Dare to spout another word of nonsense! It was you who ambushed me with a baseball bat that day, wasn't it? Don't lie, or I'll throw you and your bed out."

Yi Ye immediately stood straight: "Alright, Your Honor, I confess, I surrender."

"Why did you ambush me?"

Of course, Yi Ye couldn't tell the truth, so he stood with his legs together, apologizing to Kaiser with the excuse that "I thought you were going to bully me on campus, so I decided to strike first and hit you with a bat." At the same time, he felt a slight relief about the incident where that senior with the old cucumber face had used Kaiser's name to dirty his bed.

Kaiser was frustrated.

He had a bad temper and had been in countless fights since childhood, but he only resorted to violence against fellow Alphas, and even then, it was more like a PK. Damn it, last time he only kicked that guy named Roger once, which was a loss. Next time he goes to the committee base, if he doesn't break that guy's ribs, he won't be called Odria.

"Your Honor, considering my good sense of admitting mistakes, how about leniency?" Yi Ye clasped his hands together, blinking his eyes.

Kaiser was almost swayed, but then he came to his senses and growled, "No! I want payback!"

"Then, I'll go find you a bat."

"I don't want that."

Yi Ye was puzzled: "Then what do you want?"

Kaiser thought for two seconds, then suddenly pointed to his wardrobe.

A few minutes later, Yi Ye pulled out the cat-eared fluffy hat from the bottom of the wardrobe and, facing the camera, expressionlessly gave a peace sign. The flash went off continuously, click click, Kaiser stared at the screen at the scowling youth, the corner of his mouth twitching imperceptibly. He tried to suppress it, "That's it, as your mugshot."

Yi Ye couldn't laugh.

This is worse than just knocking him out cold!

But apparently Kaiser is quite happy, holding his photo and doing God knows what, tapping away on his terminal. Yiye can only hope that one day in the future, his cat-ear photo won't be plastered everywhere.

He’s got a reputation to maintain. Seriously.

But hey, looking on the bright side, at least he won't have to worry about this anymore (though it seems he never really worried).

Putting the bad stuff aside, it’s still a win overall. Yiye comforts himself like this.

"By the way, did you get your recommendation letter?" Kaiser suddenly asks him, putting the photo into a separate folder.

Yiye: "Got it."

Hearing this, Kaiser smirks with a wicked grin: "That's great, I can't wait to see the faces of those committee members."

...

Meanwhile, on Emerald Star.

The sunlight on the beach is blinding, the shadows of the trees dance and sway, the sun of Emerald Star shines all year round, keeping the place as hot as midsummer.

Under a sun umbrella, a young man sporting sunglasses and pink-blue floral shorts lies on a chair sunbathing. The terminal beside him suddenly lights up; he slides his sunglasses down with two fingers, revealing amber eyes, then impatiently grabs the device: "I'm sunbathing, can you not bug me?"

On the other end, Elia sits stiffly upright, adjusting his glasses with two fingers, his expression serious: "The committee is convening today, Kappel. If you can't reach the villa gate by 6 PM, I will apply to His Highness to remove your official membership."

Kappel shouts, "What the hell!" and sits up. "Gathering today?! Didn't they say tomorrow?"

"Regardless of the day, you should be at the military academy after the start of school."

"Tomorrow is the official start of school! What are you freaking out about! And, shouldn't you tell me in advance if the gathering time is suddenly changed!"

Elia replies expressionlessly, "Due to special circumstances."

Kappel immediately widens his eyes: "Who kicked the bucket?"

Silence drifts by.

When Elia speaks again, his words are tinged with hidden anger, "No one died, it’s Yiye Langley. He's back with General Lin Pei's recommendation letter."

"...!!!!"

Four and a half hours later.

*

Kappel, wearing a bulky coat, still in a black tank top and floral shorts, with flip-flops on his feet, charges madly into the committee base, not even stopping to greet anyone, his eyes darting around fiercely: "Where's the recommendation letter! Where's the recommendation letter!! Where's the recommendation letter!!!"

Franz, clutching a plush toy, mutters under his breath: "Darling, Kappel’s off his rocker again today."

"Franz! Where are they!"

Franz points to the second floor with the toy's paw. Kappel bolts up the stairs, his figure quickly disappearing on the second floor, followed by a loud thud as he slams into the wall.

He barely notices the swelling on his forehead from the collision, pushes open the study door forcefully. His gaze sweeps over several Alphas, fixes on Yiye, then strides through the crowd, directly in front of the black-haired youth.

Yiye looks down, sees one bare foot, one flip-flop.

Wow, what a fashion statement.

"Did you really get the recommendation letter?"

Kappel was incredulous; this news hit him like a meteor crashing through Imperial Star's core. How could it be possible!

"Is it fake? Did you have someone forge it?"

Elia covered his eyes in embarrassment: "Kappel, I've already checked it. The letter bears General Lin Pei's personal seal. It can't be fake."

Knowing that Kappel might still not believe it, he shoved the recommendation letter right under Kappel's nose, clearly and distinctly. Even if one didn't know General Lin Pei's handwriting, the private seal in the bottom right corner was unmistakably genuine, otherwise, it would be a capital crime punishable by death.

"………………"

Kappel squinted at the words, his expression twisted in a mix of emotions.

Yi Ye silently stepped back two steps. He had a feeling this guy was about to lose it.

Sure enough, the next second Kappel suddenly gripped his hand tightly. Several nearby Alphas instinctively moved to step in, hearing Kappel roar: "Please tell me how you did it!"

The others: ?

Kappel's eyes burned with intensity: "How the hell did you get General Lin Pei to notice you? Strength... no, wisdom? Memory? It's memory, right! I know you almost scored full marks in the mecha knowledge exam! If I score full marks, can General Lin Pei see me too!"

Yi Ye's hand was clamped so tightly he couldn't pull away.

Yi Ye sighed, "Do you really want to know?"

"How much money do you want? Just name it, I'll give you anything."

"I don't need your money." Yi Ye said seriously, "Truth is, there's only one reason General Lin Pei recommended me."

"Tell me." Kappel leaned in, eager to hear.

"Because I treat everyone the same, no matter who they are."

"...What do you mean?"

"Well, it's a bit complicated to explain, but simply put." Yi Ye suddenly smiled, "General Lin Pei can't stand those Alphas who think they're better than everyone else, looking down on Omegas and Betas. So, compared to them, I guess he likes me more."

"Maybe you didn't understand, so let me put it simply: he dislikes people like senior Kappel the most. And he also said." Yi Ye opened his clear and innocent eyes, "Guys like senior Kappel? No way they're getting into the Vanguard Legion."

Kappel looked like a deflated balloon, frozen in place.

He forced out his last breath, squeezing out a voice: "I... don't... discriminate..."

Yi Ye: Dude, you can lie to everyone else, but don't lie to yourself.

Kappel shuddered, then bolted out of the room, clutching his head. His last flip-flop was left behind under the desk.

Yi Ye wiped his hand on his clothes and looked at Elia: "Is he okay?"

"He pulled the same stunt when he flunked Ancient Earth Studies last time. You'll get used to his antics."

Elia handed the recommendation letter back to Yi Ye with both hands and made a gesture of apology: "I take back everything I said about you, Yi Ye. You are an outstanding student of the Imperial Honor Military Academy. My arrogance almost cost the committee a talented individual. For that, I am very sorry and ashamed."

"So, am I an official member now?"

Elia nodded.

"Then I'll just pretend those words never happened." Yi Ye waved it off indifferently, "However, I do hope that one day senior Elia will realize that flowers and applause are things every good person deserves, even if they are not military academy students, even if they are beggars, or elders, they are equally worthy. ABO is about gender, not status, right?"

Elia froze.

Yi Ye gave him a faint smile, dropped those words, and left, with the others quickly following suit. In the huge study, only Elia stood there, lost in his thoughts.

"What are you doing here, crashing the party?" Kaiser glared at Bush Meihua, who had just come downstairs, hands in his pockets, grinning at him.

"As an official member, I have to be here."

"Hmph, first time I’ve heard of a committee member flunking with a negative fifty. Too bad your judge dad didn’t knock some sense into you."

"Nah, the Meihua family’s not like the others; we don’t do violence."

Kaiser: "Who are you calling out?"

"I didn’t say who, so why’s Kaiser getting all worked up?"

"You’re full of it!"

Seeing them about to argue again, Yi Ye just wanted out. He grabbed Bai Chuan and whispered, "Let’s bounce before we get dragged into their drama!"

Bai Chuan followed him as they ran quickly.

Seeing this, Kaiser and Bush Meihua immediately stopped their quarrel and chased after them. Wasting time arguing with this idiot? He must be out of his mind!

That day, the Imperial Honor Military Academy students saw four top cadets with honor badges chasing and yelling at each other—a scene that blew up on the forum in no time.

The title was: "Shocking! Four top freshmen caught in a wild campus chase—humanity’s downfall or moral decay? Click for more!"

That night, when Yi Ye stumbled on the viral post: ...

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