Chapter 82

Chapter 82

Doubt and unease settled heavily on everyone. For dozens of seconds, as they waited for Wen Yuan’s reaction, the office was so quiet that only the low rumble of the air conditioning unit could be heard. Even the sensation of sweat trickling down foreheads and along cheekbones felt painfully distinct, like sticky insects crawling across their skin.

Wen Yuan’s mood had similarly plummeted. Shen Xingchuan and the others, being mere military academy students, lacked access to deeper intelligence and thus didn't grasp the full gravity of the situation. But Wen Yuan, having served by General Shi Zangfeng’s side for so many years, understood all too well the significance of this intelligence and what it implied.

What began as a few missing Omega cases had led to an extremist organization, then to the Cuckoo Project—a subject so taboo that all who knew of it spoke of it only in hushed tones. Now, even Bai’ai Higher College and the First Military District were entangled. Link after link, no one could have predicted how complex and intractable the situation would become.

Wen Yuan gripped the recording, his fingers white with tension. After a moment, he finally let out a heavy breath and said in a deep, grave voice, "This is of utmost importance. I must report this to General Shi immediately. Given its sensitivity, you are strictly forbidden from disclosing this to anyone. Any leaks will be treated as a breach of top-secret protocols."

"Yes, sir." Shen Xingchuan and the others, feeling the immense pressure, gave their solemn assurances.

"For the time being, it’s best if you all stay together. Avoid interacting with strangers, just to be safe."

Shen Xingchuan replied, "Then we’ll go back and continue sifting through the call recordings. Perhaps we can uncover more."

"Go ahead."

Just as they turned to leave, Wen Yuan seemed to recall something and called out, "Wait—where’s Shi Jian? Isn’t he usually the one leading you on these matters? For intelligence this critical, why isn't he here?"

"Uh… well…" Shen Xingchuan and the other two exchanged uneasy glances, their evasiveness immediately raising Wen Yuan’s suspicions. "What’s going on?"

Given the magnitude of tonight’s developments, trying to conceal the truth would only invite trouble. Under silent cues from Fu Yan and Sui Bian, Shen Xingchuan took a deep breath and chose to speak honestly. "Shi Jian… went out with his Omega friend. He told us he’d be staying at a hotel tonight and wouldn’t be back. So, he doesn’t know about this yet."

The moment Wen Yuan heard that Shi Jian had gone to a hotel with someone, he nearly crushed the recorder in his hand. A tidal wave of rage and jealousy surged through his chest, threatening to squeeze his heart dry. His vision momentarily blackened, and it took a long while for him to regain some semblance of composure.

He tasted blood—he’d bitten his tongue from clenching his back teeth so hard. But this minor physical pain was nothing compared to the suffocating anguish in his heart. If Shi Jian were standing here right now, he might have broken his own oath, forcefully embraced Shi Jian, bitten his scent gland, and demanded to know why—why, even now that he could also be an "Omega," even after discarding all dignity for him—he still couldn't measure up to others. Why was he denied even the slightest chance?

Wen Yuan’s eyes were bloodshot with intensity, his state alarming Shen Xingchuan and the others, who cautiously asked if they should call a medic.

The military cadets’ voices helped Wen Yuan regain a measure of rationality. The most agonizing part was his inability to act on his impulses, no matter how overwhelming they were. He had sworn never to let Shi Jian suffer again, especially not because of him. So, no matter how bitter or jealous he felt, Wen Yuan had to forcibly suppress the surging emotions that threatened to drown him, maintaining the facade of a rational, flawless superior. With a hand that instinctively trembled, he dismissed them.

Shen Xingchuan and the others exchanged glances, well aware that Wen Yuan had been provoked by their words—which was precisely why they had hesitated to speak. Seeing his reaction now, they couldn’t help but feel a sense of vindication. Once they were well out of Wen Yuan’s office and far enough away that he couldn’t possibly hear them, they burst into laughter.

Shen Xingchuan grinned. "That was so satisfying! Did you see his face, like he was about to lose it? Like his wife cheated on him right in front of his eyes and he couldn’t do a damn thing! That really let out some steam! He deserved it after how he treated Xiao Jian!"

Sui Bian crossed his arms and sneered, "Serves him right."

Though Fu Yan also felt a sense of justice for Shi Jian, he couldn’t help but worry. "You don’t think he’ll take it out on Xiao Jian because of this, do you?"

Shen Xingchuan scoffed. "Relax. Did you see him? Even if Xiao Jian came back pregnant from some random fling tonight, that guy would just fume silently while still taking care of his every need, then raise the kid like it was his own."

The words were harsh but undeniably satisfying. Fu Yan chuckled, a rare hint of mischief in his expression. "You’re too vicious. But he deserves it."

***

Shi Jian felt as though he had returned to a familiar place—an endless expanse of white and a river. In his hazy memories, he seemed to have been here before, but this time, he wasn’t submerged in the water. Instead, he sat on the bank, bare feet immersed in the water, though he couldn’t feel its temperature.

His consciousness was equally blank, a vast whiteness. Only after a long while did his scattered thoughts slowly begin to coalesce.

Without thinking, Shi Jian trailed his fingers through the water. As the ripples shimmered, pieces of forgotten memories—from his past life and this one, both joyful and painful—gradually returned, trickling back like the winding river itself.

Unlike before, there was no blinding headache. His fragile, fragmented nerves were gently cleansed and soothed by the mild current.

Instinctively, Shi Jian reached up to touch the back of his neck. It was still unmarked, but no longer fragile—now fully matured, capable of producing strong, sweet pheromones that granted him boundless, river-like strength.

An S+ Omega.

Shi Jian stood and walked along the riverbank. In the distance, a voice called to him, distant and muffled, as if from underwater.

As he walked, the light ahead grew increasingly dazzling, and the voice grew louder—very familiar, yet instinctively repulsive.

It wasn't until he reached the shimmering halo of light and stepped into its glow that the voice finally surfaced clearly.

Shi Jian opened his eyes to see Yu Chen’s anxious face hovering above him, calling his name with palpable relief. "You’re finally awake."

Shi Jian didn’t respond, surprised to find himself with Yu Chen.

He sat up, ignoring the other man, and cautiously examined his surroundings.

It was a sealed metal chamber, resembling a confinement cell. The specific material of the walls was unclear, but Shi Jian guessed it would be difficult to break through with brute force or an AS.

After confirming that there was no other exit besides a heavy metal door, Shi Jian finally looked directly at Yu Chen, his tone disappointingly cold. "Why are you here? Did you kidnap me? Where’s Lei Yu? Let him go. Don’t hurt him."

Ever since being humiliated by Shi Zangfeng’s pheromone suppression in the hospital, Yu Chen had been forcibly taken away by Yu Wei and confined to their family villa. Apart from seeing Shi Jian awarded the Federal Star on TV, he’d had no further news of him—let alone a chance to meet.

Now that they were face-to-face, Yu Chen had harbored some hope, only for Shi Jian to treat him like an enemy from the moment he woke, his first words a merciless interrogation.

Yu Chen’s smile slowly faded. Though hurt, he no longer dared to resort to verbal abuse as he once had. He lowered his gaze and answered each question meekly. "My father dragged me back. He suddenly threw me in here today. I was pretty upset, but then you were brought in too. You were unconscious, so I stayed by your side in case something happened. As for Lei Yu… whether you believe it or not, I didn’t see him."

Shi Jian watched him closely but found no signs of deception. With no other leads, he could only let it go.

He retreated to a corner, putting distance between them, worried about Lei Yu’s current situation.

But despite the cold shoulder, Yu Chen, seeing Shi Jian after so long, felt an undeniable yearning. He slowly edged closer, trying to bridge the gap. Just as he was within an arm’s length, Shi Jian’s eyes snapped open. "Stay away from me."

"…" Yu Chen hugged himself and silently retreated to his original spot.

Time ticked by, minute by minute, and the air in the metal room grew increasingly stagnant. Shi Jian’s innate talent allowed him to sense how much time had passed since he woke. Precisely because he watched the time they were trapped stretch longer and longer, and waiting would only lead to passive surrender—not to mention clarifying Lei Yu’s safety—he had no choice but to stomach his revulsion and try to extract information from Yu Chen.

"You’re Yu Wei’s biological son. Why would he lock you up too?"

Yu Chen, lacking Shi Jian’s ability to perceive time, was drowsy from waiting. Shi Jian’s voice hit him like a bucket of cold water, startling him awake. He shook his head, both relieved and bewildered. "I don’t know… After he brought me back, he kept me confined at home. He wouldn’t let me rejoin my squad or go back to the First Military Academy."

Shi Jian’s delicate brows furrowed, deepening with concern.

He didn’t understand why Yu Wei would imprison Yu Chen. Was it simply because he felt Yu Chen had disgraced the Yu family?

"Just confinement? Nothing else unusual?"

Yu Chen was taken aback by the question. He instinctively said no, but then unconsciously recalled Yu Wei’s demands and hesitated. "Well, there is… The family doctor checks on me daily and gives me IVs. Does that count?"

"Are you injured?"

Yu Chen, thinking Shi Jian was concerned about him, immediately denied it, afraid he’d be seen as sickly. "Just a few minor scrapes from rescuing you! Nothing serious!"

Shi Jian hummed. "But I heard my father say he severely damaged your scent gland with pheromone suppression."

Yu Chen’s face burned with shame, wishing he could dig a hole and bury himself. He lowered his head deeply and mumbled, "Just pheromone suppression!… It barely had any effect. I have no lingering issues now. Don’t believe me? Try it yourself."

Shi Jian scoffed and deliberately moved even farther away from the already considerable distance between them. "Who wants to smell your burnt pheromones?"

Yu Chen sniffled, "How did you know my pheromones smell like this?"

Before the words had even fully left his mouth, both their expressions changed. The air had already been unknowingly saturated with the scent of charred wood pheromones, permeating every corner of the enclosed space and targeting the only Omega present.

Afraid that Shi Jian would misunderstand him and trigger painful memories, Yu Chen hurriedly explained, "No! I didn’t intentionally release my pheromones! The things I did to you before were awful, and I owe you an apology. I know you won’t forgive me, and you don't care, but at the very least, I’ve sworn to myself that I’d never treat you like that again!"

Shi Jian’s expression darkened—not because he doubted Yu Chen’s words, but because the pheromones were overwhelmingly dense and domineering. Even though he had clearly expressed rejection, they relentlessly tried to forcibly pry open his scent gland, attempting to make this beautiful, unmarked Omega yield to him.

After his initial panic and self-justification, Yu Chen gradually calmed down. At first, he had been afraid his out-of-control pheromones would harm Shi Jian, but the situation… wasn't developing that way?

His pheromones seemed excited, even passionate—not like the competitive, confrontational clash that would happen when encountering a rival Alpha, but more like… they were actively attempting courtship.

Wait, courtship?!

Yu Chen’s eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Shi Jian. "Y-you… didn’t you undergo Secondary Differentiation into an Alpha?! My pheromones…? How… how could…?"

He was so shocked he could barely speak, but Shi Jian remained composed, calmly explaining, "Because that ‘Secondary Differentiation’ was completely fake—an elaborate lie orchestrated by my father, convincing everyone I was an Alpha. But when we destroyed the extremist organization’s base, I was injected with an awakening agent that forced me into my true Secondary Differentiation. So my true secondary gender has always been Omega. What everyone saw was just a lie, an illusion."

Shi Jian paused, as if even he found it absurd, and let out a bitter laugh. "The most ridiculous part is that after my severe injury, my memory was damaged, and I even forgot this truth myself. Only now have I finally remembered."

Yu Chen was stunned, stammering, "T-then… your father… why would he do this? Didn’t he know what an Omega predicted to become a high-level Omega but differentiated into an E-level Alpha would face? Doesn’t that mean all the suffering you endured because of that fake Secondary Differentiation—all the misfortune that should’ve been avoided—was caused by him?"

Yu Chen had seen Shi Zangfeng disregard his status as the First Military District’s heir and severely injure his scent gland for Shi Jian’s sake. He couldn’t believe Shi Zangfeng could be so cruel. Shi Jian was his own son—how could he?!

"When I first found out… I couldn’t believe it either. What kind of father could be so ruthless to his own child?" These things were long past, and now, when speaking of them, Shi Jian no longer felt the heart-wrenching pain of the beginning. His tone was calm, as if he had come to terms with everything. "But I quickly understood. He did this to conceal my true gender, to prevent extremist organizations from targeting me—and that’s exactly what happened. That defunct organization had me as their target from the very beginning."

Shi Jian paused here, implying something more. "And… I suspect it wasn’t just one faction after me. I don’t know if his method truly protected me, but the pain it caused was real. I won’t forget that. Nothing can make up for it."

In truth, given how much Shi Jian trusted and relied on Shi Zangfeng, if Shi Zangfeng had just discussed this decision with him beforehand, the outcome would’ve been entirely different. Shi Jian would’ve been mentally prepared, knowing his father hadn’t truly abandoned him. He wouldn’t have had to endure the isolation and swallow his grievances alone.

The harm wasn’t directly caused by Shi Zangfeng, but it stemmed from him. Even now, Shi Jian couldn’t bring himself to hate his father—but he also couldn’t truly forgive him.

Yu Chen sighed, not wanting to interfere in the father-son matter, but he caught onto another implication in Shi Jian’s words. "You suspect my father?"

Shi Jian didn’t dwell on his somber mood, quickly regaining his composure and staring straight at Yu Chen, making the once-unruly troublemaker shift uncomfortably. "Can I trust you? Setting aside our grudges, if you’re just a first-year cadet at the First Military Academy who’s received over a decade of federal education—can I trust you as a soldier?"

Yu Chen sensed the gravity in Shi Jian’s words. Suppressing the restlessness and agitation in his glands, he solemnly declared, "As an Alpha, my calling is to be a soldier who defends the Federation, fighting for it and its people until my last drop of blood is shed. My comrades can place absolute trust in me. On a personal level… I can’t set aside our grudges, because the one at fault has always been me. What I owe you, what I’ve wronged you for—I’ll repay it a hundred, a thousand times over."

His tone softened then, carrying an indescribable complexity as he gazed at Shi Jian and said softly, "I left too abruptly. I never got the chance to properly apologize to you. I know you despise me—just think of all the awful things I’ve done. Forget you, even I think I’m a monster. So, whether it’s for duty or personal reasons, whatever you ask of me—as long as it doesn’t harm the innocent—even if it means going through hell or high water, I’ll do it for you."

Yu Chen’s words were sincere, so Shi Jian didn’t waste time. He laid it out plainly: "I suspect your father is colluding with Mutants—or… he might be a Mutant himself, disguised as a human, trying to overthrow the Federation’s government."

To prevent any hidden listening devices in the room, Shi Jian relayed this in the coded language Wen Yuan had taught them.

Sure enough, Yu Chen’s face drained of color, his mind nearly shutting down from the sheer weight of the revelation. Even his previously turbulent charred-wood pheromones grew eerily still.

How could he believe this—?

One bombshell after another. First, Shi Jian’s true gender. Then, Shi Zangfeng orchestrating his son’s fake "differentiation." And now, even his own father—the First Military District’s commander—was heavily implicated in ties with Mutants—?

He couldn’t—he simply couldn’t accept it.

Shi Jian had anticipated this reaction. Far from disappointed, it was exactly what he’d expected.

Anyone suddenly told their father was involved with Mutants would struggle to accept it. Dismissing it as nonsense would be normal—accepting it too quickly would be suspicious.

He continued analyzing, "It’s not just Mutants. I strongly suspect your father also had dealings with that extremist organization. Since you were taken back to the First Military District, you wouldn’t know, but during that time, your father pressured mine by directing accusations at me. He secretly had the Inspectorate captain arrest Instructor Muye on fabricated charges. I had to appeal to the Emperor to secure a pardon, and the Federal Security Bureau under the royal family investigated the involved Inspectorate members. Afterward, the captain committed suicide to avoid punishment—but genetic testing revealed he bore a striking resemblance to Mutants, despite looking completely human."

"His ties to Yu Wei run deep. So, did Yu Wei know? Was he involved? Or was he the one giving orders? This connects to a top-secret file—the Cuckoo Project. The first time I heard of it was on the extremist leader’s operating table. Not only did he try to inject me with differentiation stimulants, but he also attempted to involve me in this Cuckoo Project. The former was his own agenda, but the latter was on orders from a mysterious figure."

Shi Jian pieced together the scattered, inconspicuous clues from the past, peeling back layer after layer until the answer—though lacking concrete evidence—was undeniable.

"Extremist organizations, Mutants, the Cuckoo Project, high-level Omegas—these seemingly disjointed threads are like a snapped necklace. If you patiently gather all the scattered beads and string them back in order, the truth will—"

Shi Jian’s eyes turned cold, his ears twitching slightly. "—become clear."

Outside the metal room, faint footsteps approached, stopping right at the door.