Chapter 2 The Counselor’s Second Day If I go up first, the students might…

Chapter 2: Day Two as an Instructor: If I Go Up Now, the Student Might Just…

What can be accomplished in five minutes?

Miao Lin clutched the fabric of his clothes.

One minute.

Cheng Jingnian engaged in close quarters with the front-row bodyguards. The narrow, elongated corridor and White Frost Star's stringent weapon regulations meant only the two leading bodyguards could barely extend their collapsible batons.

Two minutes.

A few pained cries mingled with the sounds of colliding bodies. The dim light obscured their movements from Miao Lin, with only the gleam of Cheng Jingnian’s silver arm guard illuminating two tall, dark figures tumbling on the floor.

Three minutes.

Filthy obscenities were cut short after just two syllables, followed by agonized gasps. Two more figures joined those already on the ground.

Four minutes.

A dull thud echoed as Cheng Jingnian slammed the last bodyguard against the wall. Breathing slightly heavily, he lowered his head and asked, "Instructor Miao, can someone die from biting off their tongue?"

"Probably not…" Though Miao Lin had heard that biting off one’s tongue to commit suicide was a myth, his own tongue tingled sympathetically.

He watched as Cheng Jingnian bent down, seemingly prying open the man’s cheeks to check, his originally cold voice now tinged with a hint of relief: "He didn't bite it off."

And so, in the fifth minute, Miao Lin and Cheng Jingnian both turned their gaze toward the tightly shut door.

Cheng Jingnian motioned for Miao Lin to step back again.

"Bang!"

…

The door was violently kicked open, letting in a rush of fresh air that diluted the room's mix of earthy pheromones and alcohol.

*Who is it? Has someone finally noticed something wrong and come to save me?*

His eyes, swollen from excessive crying, had blurred his vision. Dai Xiaole instinctively reached out, his voice already hoarse as he tried to call for help. The alpha restraining him suddenly intensified his pheromones—a sign of rage—but Dai Xiaole paid no heed, desperate to grasp at this one straw—

The body emitting the repulsive cedar scent was abruptly shoved aside. Cool fingers brushed over his feverish cheeks, wiping away the still-damp tear tracks. He heard a voice, not entirely familiar but incredibly reassuring in that moment: "Don’t be afraid, your instructor is here."

"Waah! Instructor!!!" Tears poured forth as Dai Xiaole threw himself into the instructor’s arms, belatedly feeling the full weight of his indignation. "I was just here to work part-time, boo-hoo-hoo! Why did I get claimed, waaah ah ah ah ah!"

Yes, he was just here to work part-time. Why did it come to this?

Dai Xiaole was born on a remote rural planet in Fornax, orphaned and raised by his grandfather. The produce from their family farm barely covered his ticket to Monoceros and a year’s living expenses. Although First Military Academy waived his tuition and fees under federal policy, and the medical department provided some subsidy due to his irregular heat cycles, Dai Xiaole, desperate to save up for suppressants, living expenses, and a return ticket home, took on various part-time jobs as usual.

Until he saw the high-paying part-time listing at Red Eclipse Bar this morning.

Until he came on the third day of his unresolved heat, despite knowing the risks of the job targeting omegas.

Until, after taking suppressants and applying inhibitor patches, he was forcibly dragged into a private room by an alpha while serving drinks. Amid the fawning calls of "CEO Qin" from others and the imposing presence of tall bodyguards, his sweetvine scent was forcibly drawn out by the cedar aroma. His slender fingers found no purchase on any lifeline, and Dai Xiaole sank deep into a nightmare.

Using the cover of curling up, he managed to send out a distress signal. Overwhelming flames seared his body, and in his last moment before suffocation, he thought:

*Why?*

…

"Why?!"

CEO Qin, interrupted during his afterglow, roared in fury after being thrown to the ground and kicked twice. The omega he already considered his property was now huddled in someone else’s arms, tightly wrapped in another’s coat, those tear-filled eyes not sparing him a single glance.

"Hey!" CEO Qin tried to get the omega’s attention but realized he didn’t even know his name, earning only a disdainful glance from the person holding the omega. CEO Qin noticed that the other’s upright shoulders were equally slender, the warm yellow light catching his waistline, outlining a graceful, orchid-like slenderness.

"Hey." In that brief moment of distraction, an icy voice came from behind CEO Qin, followed by excruciating pain in his wrist.

He cried out undignifiedly, but the person behind him remained unmoved, whispering words that sounded like the devil himself: "Seems like I didn’t hit hard enough?"

Dai Xiaole watched through tears as Drill Instructor Cheng delivered a textbook-perfect beating. Though the bite on his mating gland was still swollen and red, the tears that fell now held no bitterness. Two gentle pats landed on his arm. Instructor Miao, who in his memory was always elegant and proper, now had disheveled hair and had even forgotten his glasses. But the once-terrifying light now fell gently on his face, and the arm holding him felt incredibly reliable. Instructor Miao tightened the coat around him, his slightly curled black hair falling near his eyes, his voice soft yet imbuing Dai Xiaole with boundless strength: "Don’t be afraid, your instructor is here. Whatever you want to do, I’ll support you."

Though he said this, Miao Lin felt a bit uncertain—if this child chose to forgive, he wasn’t sure if his sleep-deprived self would pass out from high blood pressure.

Over there, the alpha’s cries of pain spiked again, clearly because Instructor Cheng was also nervous, his grip slipping slightly.

Fortunately, Dai Xiaole was a good kid. Though he burst into tears once more, his heart was anything but weak: "Instructor, I want to report this to the police! I want the mark cleansed, waaah ah ah ah!"

Miao Lin sighed silently, feeling another damp patch on his shoulder. Cheng Jingnian nodded at him and dragged the alpha, surnamed Qin, away like a dead dog. Miao Lin patted Dai Xiaole’s back: "Can you stand? We’re going to the police station now."

"This isn’t good, we can discuss compensation…" The bar manager, arriving late, rubbed his hands together, his voice obsequious yet threatening. "If this gets out and everyone finds out this young student has been marked, it’ll be hard for an omega to find a mate later—ugh!"

The response was a punch straight to his stomach, sending the manager joining the bodyguards already on the floor.

Cheng Jingnian calmly moved his hand away from blocking the terminal's lens, feigning surprise with blatant insincerity: "How did you trip?"

Using money and reputation to pressure others might work elsewhere, but this was White Frost Star, also known as White Frost Academy. Here, the instructors of First Military Academy were the highest authority when it came to protecting their own. Trying to threaten a student right in front of his instructor?

The tip of an ordinary combat boot lifted the manager’s face. Miao Lin, supporting the weakened Dai Xiaole, smiled with gentle composure, his eyes slightly curved: "Manager, from now on, when you walk at night, you should be *very, very careful*."

The plush carpet muffled the sound of retreating footsteps. The manager, newly arrived from off-world, was still puzzled: why hadn’t his usual tactics worked?

He caught a glimpse of the taller, stronger beta delivering another punch to the stomach of the investor who had come for inspection, then dragging him along as if supporting a drunk friend.

…

Miao Lin’s cool exit lasted only until they stepped out of the bar. The security guard who had been blocking the door was still lying on the ground, likely Cheng Jingnian’s doing before he entered.

The night wind of late summer carried the dampness after rain and lingering warmth, seemingly clearing CEO Qin’s alcohol-clogged nose. He took two deep breaths: "No scent?! You’re betas? You’re a beta!?"

His sudden, violent struggle was so fierce that even Cheng Jingnian lost control for a moment, nearly causing him to kick Miao Lin and Dai Xiaole nearby. Amid CEO Qin’s hysterical ramblings—"How can you be a beta? You must be an alpha masking your pheromones!" and "How can a beta be stronger than an alpha!"—Cheng Jingnian forced him into the back seat of the car.

Miao Lin, who had helped Dai Xiaole into the passenger seat: …?

Cheng Jingnian, pinning down CEO Qin with no free hands: … .

Miao Lin: You want me to drive? Seriously?

He knew how to drive on Earth and was quite skilled, but here in the ABO world, he only had a license in theory!

Cheng Jingnian subdued the thrashing wildly CEO Qin and leaned in slightly: "It’s just like piloting a mech. Very simple."

Piloting a mech? Simple?

Miao Lin: brain: emitting light.jpg

"Very simple, I’ll teach you." In the faint light of dawn, Cheng Jingnian’s deep green eyes were as soft as melted jade. Urged by that gaze, Miao Lin sat in the driver’s seat, put on the connection ring, and activated autopilot—

A clear map displayed before his eyes. The hovercar automatically navigated toward the set destination. The only thing Miao Lin needed to do was stay awake, observe road conditions, and, in case of emergencies, promptly issue commands to the driving system to help correct the vehicle’s movements.

Everything was simple and effortless—no wonder driver's licenses in the ABO world were click-to-get freebies. The only downside was the speed limit in autopilot mode; it was impossible to speed as recklessly as Cheng Jingnian did on the way here.

If mechas also had this kind of autopilot mode, then operating one really would be quite simple, huh~

Miao Lin's confidence increased!

With this confidence, he strode out of the hovercar with bold, spirited steps and, without even looking back, accurately steadied the wobbly-legged Dai Xiaole—what an extremely reliable adult!

The officers they'd contacted earlier led them to a dedicated reception room. Mr. Qin wasn't treated as well; he was quickly transferred from Cheng Jingnian’s custody to the alpha officers and taken to an interrogation room. An omega officer, specially assigned, stayed behind to comfort Dai Xiaole and get the full story. Miao Lin listened from start to finish to the tale of Dai Xiaole’s misfortunes.

By the time Cheng Jingnian returned after submitting the bodycam footage, Dai Xiaole was crying and trembling, cowering and trying to hide behind the officer, yet forced to stay seated under some invisible pressure. The officer clearly felt awkward; though Cheng Jingnian could detect a hint of wanting to watch the drama on his face, his morals and professional ethics wouldn’t allow him to indulge it. In the end, he struggled to turn slightly sideways, attempting to provide some cover for the victim.

It didn't help at all.

Cheng Jingnian finally looked toward the source of the dark aura. Miao Lin sat elegantly with his legs crossed, but the hand gripping the water bottle was tense with bulging veins. The murderous intent in his eyes was so palpable even a blind person could sense it.

Just end it all! Explode on the spot, bring on the apocalypse, zombies rising, offering up their brains and spitting, "Ugh! Don’t eat this!"

Miao Lin was losing it. He wished the transmigration agency he’d signed with would manifest one more time, letting him go back an hour and retract his words, "Teacher supports all your decisions."

The mere thought of running to a bar in the early hours, then to the police station, and soon to the hospital—all because this goddamn kid had a sudden impulse—made him want to kill someone! And then imagining all the reports to write, the post-incident reports, reflection meetings, warning briefings, and being used as a cautionary example for who knows how long—he just wanted to jump off a building!

I'll go first, and no students allowed to follow.jpg

"Dai. Xiao. Le."

"Uh, yes!" Hearing this call that seemed to come straight from hell, Dai Xiaole shuddered, quickly wiped away his tears, and even stifled his sobs.

Miao Lin gritted his teeth and said, "Look. At. Me."

A countdown began spinning automatically, and a green screen only visible to Miao Lin unfolded in the air, text flooding like an avalanche. He raised a hand to press against his throbbing temples, overloaded with information, his gaze icy.

He was going to see exactly how this would end.

Author's Note:

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Teacher Cheng just made a big show; next chapter it's Mr. Miao's turn, hehe.