Chapter 34 Posting for Help

Chapter 34: Posting for Help

Sunday

Ji Anzhi woke up at seven in the morning, feeling tired for no reason and getting sleepier by the minute.

He blamed it on Qi Yanshen's mech training and combat classes. His physical condition once again reinforced his belief that betas have no business doing stuff that requires serious physical fitness.

What a nightmare!

His endurance this time was slightly better than last, but not by much—he only held out a few minutes longer. Still, for Ji Anzhi, that was acceptable.

After finishing, it was already nine o'clock. Though physically exhausted, he felt wide awake. He went upstairs to shower, calmed down Xiaoxue who wanted to come along, and then, like last week, headed to the trading city to shop.

This time, he searched the temporary trading area for the female alpha he'd bought the fruit from last time. Unfortunately, after circling around, he didn't spot her anywhere. After getting his supplies in the trading city, he returned to the dorm.

Lu Yan was staying in his room due to his rut. Qi Yanshen's check-up yesterday showed his fracture would be fully healed in two days, so his pheromone sensitivity was back to normal. Jian Fuxu was also nearly healed, with his pheromone sensitivity restored. He was well enough to move around today, so only the two of them were in the living room.

The two of them seemed to be in the middle of a discussion, but they switched topics when they heard him coming.

Ji Anzhi guessed it might be news related to the Federal Military Department. After all, both came from high-ranking military families, so it was normal to have topics they needed to avoid.

Ji Anzhi exclaimed, "You're all better!"

Jian Fuxu smiled faintly and shook his head. "Not completely, but I'm almost there. I just need to recuperate a bit more due to some anemia."

Hearing that, Ji Anzhi recommended he eat some blood-nourishing and qi-boosting foods, like red dates and flame plums, which are good for promoting red blood cell production.

Jian Fuxu nodded and said he'd give them a shot.

Qi Yanshen's hard cast wasn't off yet, so for foods hard to scoop, Ji Anzhi, as usual, helped by putting food on his spoon for him.

Although Jian Fuxu had heard about this from Lu Yan, he still had his doubts. Seeing it today, he felt his eyes were about to go blind.

Wasn't Qi Yanshen supposed to be aloof and cold? How could he now throw an alpha's basic dignity out the window?

Qi Yanshen ignored Jian Fuxu's disdainful and questioning gaze. He'd gotten plenty of such looks lately and was used to it by now. The main thing was achieving his goal.

After the meal, Ji Anzhi hurried upstairs, using Xiaoxue needing care as an excuse.

Downstairs, Qi Yanshen and Jian Fuxu stared at each other, the silence between them deafening...

Jian Fuxu's lips moved, and after more than ten seconds, he spoke. "I never thought you were this kind of person..."

Qi Yanshen replied calmly, "As long as the goal is achieved, a little reputation doesn't matter."

That was more than just "a little reputation." You've trampled an alpha's self-respect underfoot...

Where is the dignity?

Where is the chastity?

Where are the principles?

Jian Fuxu suddenly didn't want to continue and changed the subject. "Back to what we were discussing. When I disassembled the mech energy tank, I saw several unfamiliar component structures, and the camera got them. I studied them, and one should be a structure to prevent energy loss. I ran a simple test; it's much better than existing anti-loss tech. The details will need more testing later."

Qi Yanshen pondered, "An anti-loss structure? That's a good design..."

Jian Fuxu continued, "The structure that caused the explosion amplification is still unknown. It might be in a sealed compartment. But comparing the institute's video with mine, the metals inside weren't unrecorded. They're all materials registered with the Federation. No other useful info yet."

This was the best news so far, meaning the raw materials weren't unknown, so the research would go more smoothly.

Worried Jian Fuxu might skip rest to work on the research, Qi Yanshen reminded him, "Don't rush it. Focus on recovering first. The videos won't disappear into thin air. Your main job now is to rest properly. If I find out tomorrow you haven't been resting, you can kiss that pile of gear in your room goodbye for the month."

Knowing Qi Yanshen was serious, Jian Fuxu could only say he understood.

Jian Fuxu suddenly remembered something. "By the way, did Ji Anzhi agree to help the Third Legion correct star charts during the holiday?"

Qi Yanshen nodded. "Yes."

Jian Fuxu asked curiously, "How did you convince him?"

After all, the Star Chart Department's graduation assessment was notoriously difficult. They'd been struggling since first year.

Qi Yanshen said, "I asked him directly."

Jian Fuxu: "..."

Are you incapable of speaking or just too lazy to elaborate?

Would it kill you to say a few more words?

Perhaps sensing his thoughts, Qi Yanshen explained, "I just told him my mother commands the Third Legion and asked what he thought."

Jian Fuxu asked suspiciously, "Did he agree immediately?"

Qi Yanshen replied, "He declined politely at first, but later agreed. He even dragged Andre Gnoss into it."

Jian Fuxu raised an eyebrow. Was this a buy-one-get-two deal?

Seemed Qi Yanshen's dignity was well spent. Though Andre Gnoss wasn't as skilled as Ji Anzhi in star charts, he'd complete the task diligently, and he wasn't a bad guy.

Jian Fuxu said, "Good luck. Andre Gnoss's family is with the Second Legion. Don't let the Fifth Legion poach him this year, especially before the Second Legion has even secured him."

This comment struck Qi Yanshen's sore spots, hitting hard and repeatedly, with the deliverer completely unaware. For a moment, Qi Yanshen was at a loss for words.

His situation seemed precarious. His injury would heal in a couple of days, and then he and Ji Anzhi would go back to being ordinary roommates with little contact. But as Ji Anzhi's classmate, Andre would naturally have much more contact with him...

No! He had to find a way!

Qi Yanshen suddenly stood up, tossed out a "Rest well, I'm going upstairs," and headed straight to his room.

He left a bewildered Jian Fuxu sitting at the table, confused.

...Did I say something wrong?

Back upstairs, Qi Yanshen opened Lu Yan's book, "How to Be 'Friends' with Him," and flipped through it for methods to strengthen their relationship.

He turned to where he left off and continued scanning.

[To build a close relationship, another key point is to be attentive to his every need.]

[For example, if he's cold, immediately offer a jacket or remind him to dress warmly (the former is better). If he gets hurt, carry him for treatment if possible, or at least support him. Be gentle and caring. If he's bullied, first see if he can handle it. If he can, help with the aftermath. If he can't, step in and be the "hero saving the beauty"...]

Why "hero saving the beauty"? Was this a typo missed during publication?

Qi Yanshen didn't dwell on it, assuming the proofreader had simply missed it.

But based on the book's advice, those situations seem unlikely to occur. Ji Anzhi usually drinks warm water, and in the kitchen, even during the hottest days, he only orders slightly chilled mung bean soup. As for injuries, nine times out of ten, they're scratches from Xiaoxue, and they'd probably be almost healed by the time he noticed.

As for being bullied? The teachers in the Star Chart Department are notoriously protective of their own. It might not be obvious usually, but once something happens involving a student from their department, anyone who messes with them is dead.

They only have a few prized students each year; bullying them is no different from bullying their own grandchildren!

Besides, with the three of us—descendants of high-ranking military officials—sharing a dorm with Ji Anzhi, and the four of us appearing friendly in public, plus Andrew, who's determined to become Ji Anzhi's student, anyone with a brain wouldn't dare provoke Ji Anzhi.

...Why isn't Ji Anzhi an alpha?

Alphas can bond through fighting, then go on a few missions together, become comrades-in-arms, and that's the perfect solution.

Qi Yanshen sighed inwardly but quickly composed himself and continued flipping through the book.

[How to make him feel your thoughtfulness when you have little time together]

[First, if you have limited time together, you can prepare some snacks for him based on his schedule, your own availability, and financial situation. Alternatively, buy him things he can use daily. Send messages to check on him—it doesn't matter if he replies or not; what's important is that you send the messages so he feels your sincerity.]

This method is okay, but an alpha suddenly buying things for a beta and frequently messaging him gives off a "weasel greeting a chicken" vibe—it feels like there's an ulterior motive...

Qi Yanshen brushed the thought aside. Let's try another one.

[...If you're willing to sacrifice your own time, you can persistently shadow him. Although this might lower his impression of you initially, the increased time together afterward allows you to gradually correct the impression you've made on him...]

Qi Yanshen silently closed the book. Indeed, he shouldn't have expected much from a book Lu Yan provided. This book isn't suitable for alphas trying to make friends; it's more likely to make people think a beta or omega is pretending to be an alpha.

After pondering for a few seconds, Qi Yanshen decided to ask netizens on the Star Network forum.

Logging into the Star Network, Qi Yanshen anonymously posted a thread.

"Question: Same dorm, I'm a male alpha. How do I build a good relationship with a gentle and refined male beta?"

"1st floor, OP: I usually come across as cold to outsiders. I've never had experience building relationships with betas before. The other person is very gentle and refined. How can I build a good relationship with him?"

Within seconds, netizens replied.

"2nd floor, Can'tDrawEatPaint: An alpha actively trying to build a relationship with a beta? May I ask how your beta roommate looks?"

"3rd floor, OP: Quite handsome."

"4th floor, GaroAishi: I smell something fishy!"

"5th floor, StarRainFlower: I smell something fishy too!"

"6th floor, Orion'sGod: No benefit, no effort. OP, did you fall for your beta roommate?"

"7th floor, Can'tDrawEatPaint: I wanted to ask that too. OP, do you like your beta roommate?"

An AB relationship? I'd have to be insane to get into an AB relationship.

An AB relationship is torture for both parties; neither can gain a sense of security from their partner. What's the difference between that and self-harm?

"12th floor, OP: No, there's another reason for wanting to build a good relationship. He's exceptionally capable, and I want him to work at our family's company. But I've subtly asked before, and his current career direction is the complete opposite of our company's. That's why I want to build a good relationship first, then try harder to see if I can get him to join our company."

"13th floor, SilverFishFavorite: First things first, OP, how big is your family's company?"

"14th floor, OP: Very big, ranked in the top ten in the Federation."

"15th floor, wizhsilw: Holy shit! That's amazing!"

"16th floor, SilverFishFavorite: Damn! With that background, you still need to actively build a relationship?!"

"17th floor, StarRainFlower: Holy shit! OP, just reveal your identity, and wouldn't he be eager to build a relationship with you?"

"18th floor, Can'tDrawEatPaint: OP, if your identity is real, just tell him, right?"

"19th floor, Lily: +1, OP, just reveal your identity."

"20th floor, OP: He knows my identity."

"21st floor, Lily: …………"

"22nd floor, LordofDarkness: …………"

"23rd floor, @: …………"

"…………"

After over a dozen floors of speechlessness, someone finally posted text again.

"39th floor, EndlessSeaofBooks: No wonder OP is asking us commoners. Turns out the other person is strong-willed and won't bow to money or power..."

"40th floor, OmegasAreSoCute: Seems like OP's beta roommate has strong willpower. If it were me, I'd probably be calling him 'daddy' by now..."

"41st floor, SeaofLearningIsAllTears: I'm a bit better than the person above. I'd only kneel and call him 'daddy' if the young master threw 100,000 star coins at me."

"42nd floor, JustanAverageB: The person above is selling themselves short! At least 300,000 star coins to kneel!"

"43rd floor, SeaofLearningIsAllTears: Then a bit higher, 500,000 to kneel and call him 'daddy'..."

"…………"

"56th floor, ILoveStarCoinsMoneyMoneyMoney: So, can I ask, OP, do you know what your beta roommate's background is? Why won't he bow to power?"

"57th floor, OP: From what I understand, his country is a small-to-medium-sized nation. His family seems decent—they can afford natural food, know how to use chopsticks, and he has very good manners."

"58th floor, @: Then this beta's family isn't ordinary either. He actually knows how to use chopsticks? I don't even use spoons much..."

"59th floor, ILoveStarCoinsMoneyMoneyMoney: Then, OP, your roommate's background is definitely still inferior to yours. Building a good relationship might be a bit difficult... How about trying to win him over with money?"

"60th floor, OP: How?"

"61st floor, @: I know this! Buy him whatever he wants!"

"62nd floor, SilverFishFavorite: Shocked! Rich people don't even know how to throw money around? Is it because they have too much? Please send some to this child... QAQ"

"63rd floor, ILoveStarCoinsMoneyMoneyMoney: Throwing money depends on the other person's financial situation. If your conditions allow, spend ten to twenty times his usual consumption level. If even that doesn't move him, then OP, you might consider having one of your employees seduce your roommate."

"64th floor, OP: …………"

"65th floor, GoldenShinyCat: Hahahahahahahahaha! OP's silence speaks volumes."

"66th floor, DancingUnderTheMoon: Looking forward to OP's follow-up on the progress. Let me see if there really is such a rare person who won't bow to money or power. (Also, if you're planning to seduce him, I can introduce my friend. Just 600,000 star coins!)"

"67th floor, NenaweiLeopardLion: How little do you all trust OP? I believe in OP. Actually, OP, you could seduce him yourself! I believe in you!"

"68th floor, JokesOnMe: Hahahahahahahahaha, sorry, not laughing at OP. My brain-computer was acting up on its own, hahahahahahahahaha"

"…………"

Qi Yanshen silently closed his brain-computer. If it could talk and move, it would probably be wailing and threatening to run away from home.

It's just a beta. I refuse to believe I really have to resort to seduction!