Chapter 126

Chapter 126

They walked out into the corridor, with people occasionally hurrying past.

Shen Huaixu glanced sideways, looking at the person next to him. "Tired?"

Meng Shijiu hadn't expected that to be his first question. He stopped and looked at the heterochromatic Alpha.

The moment he stopped, he was nearly touching Shen Huaixu.

The two looked at each other quietly for a moment before Meng Shijiu said bluntly, "I thought you had something to tell me."

Shen Huaixu smiled, his gaze shifting past him to the night sky behind him.

Night had deepened.

"If you're tired, I'll take you home first," Shen Huaixu's voice was gentle, yet it left no room for argument. "Whatever it is, we can talk about it tomorrow."

Meng Shijiu blinked but said nothing.

The distant clamor of arguments and all the unresolved matters were left behind as Shen Huaixu escorted Meng Shijiu home.

Just before entering, Meng Shijiu suddenly turned around.

Shen Huaixu stood not far away, slightly taken aback by him glancing back.

He saw the corners of the silver-haired Alpha's eyes curve up slightly before he silently mouthed: Get some sleep early too.

Shen Huaixu watched him for a long moment, then finally nodded, watching him go inside.

*

First Academy.

When Shen Huaixu returned, Wen Yunye was already waiting for him.

Wen Yunye sighed. "You really took him home?"

"Why did he suddenly hit Paul?"

Shen Huaixu replied without much emotion. "Served him right."

Wen Yunye walked alongside him. "The competition results are out. We're just waiting for the award ceremony now."

Wen Yunye glanced at him. "It definitely won't be today."

Shen Huaixu paused.

Wen Yunye looked at him curiously, only to see Shen Huaixu turn around and say, "Then there's nothing more to discuss. I'm leaving."

Seeing Shen Huaixu actually starting to leave, Wen Yunye quickly followed. "Really leaving? Not going to deal with it?"

Shen Huaixu gave a faint nod. "...Get some rest."

*

The next day.

Cloud Shadow Live.

"Slept at 3 AM, woke at 3 PM—that's me right now."

"Scrolled through gossip on the forums all night. Heard the ceremony is today, opened Cloud Shadow, and sure enough, there's a stream."

"So, is it a live broadcast of 19's award ceremony later?"

"Why not last night? Last night was when I was too excited to sleep."

"People weren't all there. Who would have thought someone would be eliminated in the semifinals?"

"I couldn't stay awake last night and crashed early. I heard there's some gossip about the competition?"

"Me too. I heard the map originally didn't have the Tide King, and I also heard there was a fight backstage."

"Really..."

"All I know is the organizers asked if they wanted a rematch, and the players said, 'Are you crazy? Do they still want face? :)'"

"No, what they said was, 'If we get wiped out again, whose fault is it?'"

"Got it. This way, if they lose, they can at least use the accident as an excuse."

"I don't mind them losing again, hehe. I'd love to see it."

"Previous commenter, it seems like it's really about to happen... I saw the planning account already posting recruitment for the next one."

"It's starting, it's starting!!"

The award ceremony followed the same old routine. Due to the special significance of this tournament, the Alliance decided to award honorary prizes to all twenty contestants.

The chief representative of the Federal Military Alliance Association announced that Meng Shijiu, with the highest comprehensive evaluation score, was officially awarded the title of "Federal Special-Class Mecha Consultant," including eligibility for the Alliance's training program...

In the live chat, whether they were listening or not, everyone was looking for Meng Shijiu on the screen. Amidst the lengthy speech, the hype continued to rise.

Only after the award speech did Meng Shijiu finally appear before everyone.

On the screen, the silver-haired Alpha's face appeared first, then the shot widened. The audience could only see him raise his hand.

A transparent pedestal rose in the center of the stage. He placed the sunflower crystal into the device in front of him.

The device rotated like a kaleidoscope.

Under the sky, as if in response, silent, cascading waterfalls of light exploded, countless fine light points drifting down like stardust.

Finally, it transformed into a pure, burning gold, illuminating the silver-haired Alpha's eyes.

Meng Shijiu finally looked at the camera. Unable to think of anything to say for an acceptance speech, he simply smiled.

"See you next time."

The chat flooded in like a tide:

"See you next time"

"See you next time"

"See you next time!"

...

*

Two hours later.

St. Maria.

The principal's office.

"...So, the first appearance of the Tide Monarch was here." Meng Shijiu gazed out the window.

The slanting sunlight turned the dust motes floating in the air a pale gold.

Shen Huaixu nodded.

The creator of the Tide Monarch was the former principal of St. Maria. That mecha possessed a lifelike sentience, and only those who truly belonged here, who felt a sense of belonging, could earn its recognition.

Meng Shijiu lifted his gaze, his tone languid: "Me?"

Shen Huaixu looked at him, a faint smile appearing in his eyes: "That's you."

So this was the reason Shen Huaixu had returned to St. Maria to work.

So this was why Shen Huaixu had given him the acceptance letter.

And what Paul wanted was to find someone capable of piloting the Tide Monarch, then mold that person into a weapon. Shen Huaixu had always known, which was why he had returned to St. Maria first.

Meng Shijiu nodded slightly: "So the incident during the mecha class before was also Paul's doing."

"Yes," Shen Huaixu answered in a low voice. "His target isn't just the Tide Monarch; it's more about creating an invincible weapon he can use. The mecha class was just a test."

He seemed pained, pressing his knuckles against his temple: "Including Ayer... After her family's decline, she was under the King's protection, but many things were done by Paul... coercing her without the King's knowledge."

As if finally unable to hold back, Shen Huaixu suddenly looked up, a tremor in his voice: "Shijiu, I didn't... use you."

The memory of being doubted by Meng Shijiu last time was still sharp and vivid.

He didn't know how to explain.

The list this time wasn't submitted by him; he wasn't involved in planning this competition, and he didn't know anything about Tide's appearance. If he had known, he would never have let Meng Shijiu walk into such a risky situation.

There was no telling what would have happened if the Tide Monarch had attacked Meng Shijiu back then.

When the list was released, Meng Shijiu thought he had signed him up, but it wasn't him who submitted it.

Only later, when he saw the message Meng Shijiu sent him, did he realize the misunderstanding. But by the time he replied, he discovered Meng Shijiu had blocked him.

Shen Huaixu shut his eyes briefly before opening them: "I know I'm explaining this late... Shijiu, I..."

But Meng Shijiu brushed it off: "I know."

Shen Huaixu paused slightly: "Since when?"

Meng Shijiu didn't go into it.

He hadn't doubted Shen Huaixu's intentions back then, and he wouldn't doubt them again.

Meng Shijiu smiled: "Brother Shen, you're such a coward, huh? Took you almost a whole day to say it."

No wonder last night, he seemed like he didn't want any questions.

Shen Huaixu didn't speak, just looked at him, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly.

After a moment, he said solemnly: "Shijiu... I'll get this sorted out very soon. I promise you."

Meng Shijiu nodded.

Shen Huaixu didn't quite get it: "What?"

Meng Shijiu looked at him quietly: "After everything is resolved, will you continue being the principal?"

He couldn't help adding a teasing jab: "Although your being here doesn't make much difference."

Shen Huaixu laughed in confirmation: "...Yes."

"...Alright then, just stop making waves," Meng Shijiu walked out the door, his voice so soft it was almost a whisper, "...It's still a school, a place of learning."

*

By the time he stepped outside, the sun was already beginning to set.

Meng Shijiu wanted to walk alone for a bit, so he didn't let Shen Huaixu accompany him.

Unfortunately, his luck wasn't great. He hadn't gone far when he spotted a certain redheaded Alpha.

The Alpha's red hair glowed dimly in the sunset, its edges a dazzling gold.

He didn't seem to mind getting dirty, sitting sprawled on a flower bed ledge, his figure loose yet tense in the twilight.

When he saw who was approaching, those dark eyes instantly lit up. He began to get up instinctively, but he forcibly stopped halfway and sat back down.

Like a wolfhound recognizing its master, its tail tip almost uncontrollably wanting to thump the ground, yet forcefully suppressing the urge to pounce, only fixing the other with a scorching gaze.

Meng Shijiu was amused. He walked up to him, slightly bent over, hands resting on his knees, and asked with a grin: "Hey, what are you doing? Begging?"

Cui Suifu, seeing him approach on his own, couldn't help a slight twitch of his brow. He snorted: "You still recognize me, huh?"

Meng Shijiu pressed his lips together, holding back a laugh, and straightened up: "Oh. Don't know you."

"Sorry, wrong person. I'm leaving."

He had barely taken a step when his wrist was grabbed.

Cui Suifu's grip was strong, but loosened slightly when Meng Shijiu turned his head.

The redheaded Alpha stood up, pulling him into a hug, the arm around his waist both hot and heavy.

He reached for Meng Shijiu's wrist and placed it against his own face. Then, guiding that hand, he made him touch his nose, eyelids... the bristly lashes brushed against the fingertips, finally stopping on thin, dry lips.

"Feel properly. This is me. Don't mistake me again." Cui Suifu held his wrist, his voice hoarse as he spoke.

He was referring to the lantern festival last time, when Meng Shijiu had mistaken him for Jue Ning.

Meng Shijiu's fingertip pressed against the corner of his mouth.

His fingertip felt the redheaded Alpha's sharp canine through the skin.

He clicked his tongue, pressing down harder, almost maliciously: "Got it. Puppy."

Cui Suifu pretended to bite his fingertip, but couldn't bring himself to, only licking it a few times, insisting: "Feel properly. Don't mistake me next time."

"Who's mistaking you?" Meng Shijiu shook off his hand, walking forward, refusing to admit it.

"You did," Cui Suifu immediately followed.

Meng Shijiu: "Didn't."

Cui Suifu's expression darkened: "You did."

Meng Shijiu leisurely folded his arms. "If I say I didn't recognize you wrong, then I didn't."

"You did..."

"No, no, no..."

"..."

Meng Shijiu kept walking. After a few meaningless barbs, the silver-haired Alpha suddenly quickened his pace.

"Where are you going?" Realizing he was about to be ditched, the red-haired Alpha hurried to catch up.

Meng Shijiu ran, waving behind him, his silver hair fluttering in the wind. "To find a quiet place to soak up some sun."

Cui Suifu clung to his shadow. "What quiet place?"

Meng Shijiu laughed. "The world's a big place. You can always find a quiet spot."

He ran deeper into the dusk, his backlit silhouette burning a warm gold in the setting sun. His voice, though not loud, carried back clearly.

"If there's work to be done, let others deal with it."

Every hurdle is tough, but you get past each one.

The setting sun was sinking calmly below the horizon, scattering shattered gold across the sky and earth.

—The sun set in the west.

Look, the sun has passed another hurdle.

-----------------------

Author's Note: "Easter Egg · The Demon's Curse"

One day, a demon passed through the mortal world. By chance, it stumbled upon a villa and saw a beautiful, pure soul.

The demon was moved. It wanted to snatch this soul away.

It would take him back to the abyss to adorn its magnificent palace.

But when it tried to act, it found the entire world resisting this soul's departure.

Furious, the demon hovered outside the window and, facing the still-sleeping human, spitefully cast a vicious curse.

It said, beautiful human, I curse you—

The next time you open your eyes, every person in this world who loves you will feel deep disgust for you from their very hearts.

Those who adore you will insult you with the vilest words; those who cherish you will burn with bone-deep resentment toward your goodness; those who care for you will turn their gentleness into poison-tipped daggers.

When you wake, the entire mortal realm will personally fit you with the shackles of hell.

At dawn, Meng Shijiu opened his eyes.

...

He had just opened his door when he saw the Alpha standing there.

The Alpha's form was swallowed by the lingering gloom of the hallway, his shadow falling dark and heavy.

Meng Shijiu rubbed his eyes, his voice still thick with sleep as he mumbled a complaint. "What are you doing... playing ghost so early in the morning."

He yawned, reaching out a hand lazily. "Hug."

The Alpha didn't move.

Meng Shijiu's arm froze mid-air, confusion and a thread of unease slowly creeping into his heart.

He looked up.

A near-instinctive sense of crisis pierced his nerves.

He instinctively stepped back.

The Alpha's hand shot out like an iron vise, abruptly seizing the wrist he tried to withdraw.

The grip was immense, crushing Meng Shijiu's wrist bone painfully.

Meng Shijiu hissed in pain, anger surging up, yet long-standing trust wrapped that anger in a tremulous layer of grievance. "Yue Xuanli..."

Hearing his name, the Alpha instead leaned in even closer.

He took a deep, almost greedy sniff of the scent at Meng Shijiu's neck.