Yun Xingze asked Chi Yu to meet him today for one reason—to cancel their ridiculous engagement. Since Chi Yu threatened to break off the engagement, Yun Xingze simply followed along. Even if Chi Yu hadn’t brought it up, Yun Xingze had planned to say it himself.
Chi Yu sat across from Yun Xingze, staring at him with a shocked expression. But the shock didn’t last long. Chi Yu quickly realized what was happening—Yun Xingze was just throwing a tantrum. Thinking this, Chi Yu’s eyes flashed with disdain. He thought to himself, this guy has come up with a new trick—joking about canceling the engagement?
Yun Xingze couldn’t read Chi Yu’s expression. Shouldn’t he be happy? Then why does he look annoyed?
“If there’s nothing else, let’s end it here,” Yun Xingze said after staring at Chi Yu for a while, giving up on trying to understand his reaction. “You can leave now.”
After saying that, Yun Xingze looked down and continued eating his dessert—half a macaron in his left hand, a cup of hot milk tea in his right. He completely ignored Chi Yu.
Chi Yu’s gaze toward Yun Xingze now had a trace of sympathy mixed with contempt. He had heard that some Omegas eat a lot of sweets to cover up their sadness after a breakup. From Yun Xingze’s current behavior, it looked like he didn’t care, but it might just be excessive eating caused by heartbreak.
“Don’t eat too much,” Chi Yu said, showing rare concern in his voice. He was afraid Yun Xingze might suddenly have an emotional breakdown and start crying in public—something Yun Xingze had done before.
Yun Xingze looked at Chi Yu in confusion. Seeing Chi Yu staring at the dessert in his hand, Yun Xingze thought, Could he be expecting a farewell meal or something?
“I’m hungry,” Yun Xingze said simply, then frowned slightly. “Why haven’t you left yet?”
“I didn’t mean to force a breakup,” Chi Yu said seriously, looking at Yun Xingze. “I said those things for your own good. If you study properly, stop being so unreasonable, learn more about mechas at school, and stop causing me trouble, maybe I can still try to get along with you…”
Yun Xingze felt disgusted. In the original story, the reason the original Yun Xingze got angry was because Chi Yu had an ambiguous relationship with Su Zinan. Yet Chi Yu was making it sound like he was the problem.
Chi Yu was ruining his appetite. Yun Xingze put down his macaron and casually said, “I can’t change.”
Chi Yu frowned, thinking Yun Xingze had truly given up on himself. This guy is hopeless, he thought, then snorted coldly. “Fine. As you wish.”
Yun Xingze immediately felt better when he heard that. He smiled at Chi Yu. “Take care.”
From his tone and expression to the way he picked up another dessert, everything showed one thing—he really didn’t care about Chi Yu.
That smile sparked a sudden anger in Chi Yu’s chest.
The Yun family used to be a wealthy mecha business. But with the rise of new mecha technology, they missed their chance to adapt. Their company was shrinking and urgently needed help from the Chi family. Plus, Yun Xingze only got into the school thanks to the Chi family’s connections. Without Chi Yu, he might even get expelled.
Where did Yun Xingze get the nerve to act like this?
“You’re bold today,” Chi Yu said coldly. “But let me remind you—you only got into Starsea Military Academy because of the Chi family. Now that you’ve broken off the engagement… with your current abilities, be prepared to be expelled.”
He waited to see a regretful look on Yun Xingze’s face.
But Yun Xingze just gave a lazy “oh,” not even looking up.
He really didn’t care about being expelled. In his past life, he hadn’t gone to school due to illness, but he had still become a mecha master through self-study.
Chi Yu felt like he had punched a cotton ball. He was extremely frustrated. But then he thought—soon, Yun Xingze would be expelled, and the Yun family would fall even further. Eventually, they’d be in completely different worlds. By then, Yun Xingze would definitely regret everything he did today.
Thinking that, Chi Yu felt a lot better. He stood up, gave Yun Xingze a mocking look, and turned to leave.
But then Yun Xingze suddenly called out, “Wait.”
Chi Yu turned around with a smirk, thinking Yun Xingze had changed his mind.
But Yun Xingze just politely pointed to the coat Chi Yu had left behind and said in a calm, gentle voice, “You forgot your jacket.”
There were crumbs on Yun Xingze’s lips, and the sunlight made his white hoodie and pale skin glow. His eyes held a faint sense of distance.
He didn’t seem any different, but in that moment, Chi Yu suddenly felt a sense of unfamiliarity. Those black eyes made his heart skip a beat.
Chi Yu swallowed hard, took the jacket, and left the café.
After getting rid of the annoying person, Yun Xingze ate even more happily.
But his happiness didn’t last long. About five minutes later, his optical brain received a call. He put on his headset and answered. His mother, Qin Shuang, appeared on the screen with her hands on her hips, yelling, “I heard you just broke off your engagement with Chi Yu?! Are you crazy?!”
Yun Xingze hadn’t expected Chi Yu to report him so quickly—he didn’t even get time to enjoy his dessert.
Facing the angry, beautiful Omega on the screen, Yun Xingze shook his head obediently. “I’m not crazy.”
Qin Shuang glared at him. “Do you even understand our situation?! Mecha technology is advancing every day. Our company’s mechas are getting harder to sell. If the Chi family doesn’t give us military information, what are we supposed to do?!”
Yun Xingze blinked at the words “mecha technology advancement,” about to speak, but Qin Shuang fired off again like a machine gun:
“Your little brother is still in high school. And you? You do nothing all day. Your only skill was pleasing Chi Yu, and now you even messed that up. Are you doing this on purpose?!”
“Mecha technology advancement—” Yun Xingze began, “I can help you guys.”
As a mecha master, Yun Xingze had studied the technology of this world. It was much less advanced than the one in his past life. He was confident he could make the Yun family’s company a leader.
But Qin Shuang clearly didn’t plan to give him that chance. She yelled, “What nonsense are you spouting?!”
Yun Xingze looked serious. “I’m telling the truth… I can really help—”
“If you break off the engagement, you’ll be expelled! Do you understand?!” Qin Shuang jabbed the screen with her finger, almost breaking through it. “Go apologize to Chi Yu right now! If you really get expelled, don’t come back to the Yun family! And until this is resolved, I’m cutting off your allowance!”
“I’ll try my best to stay in school,” Yun Xingze said, ears ringing from her yelling. “But… before you stop my allowance, can I borrow one of the mechas from home…?”
“Is a mecha more important than Chi Yu?!”
“No, I—”
Before he could finish, Qin Shuang hung up.
Yun Xingze sighed and bit into his cookie, but it suddenly didn’t taste good anymore.
He had underestimated the consequences. He thought canceling the engagement would finally let him do what he wanted—but he hadn’t expected such a fierce backlash from Qin Shuang.
Now, he was at risk of getting expelled, losing his allowance, and had no access to mechas. If he wanted his own mecha, he’d have to save up and buy one. But mechas were expensive no matter what world he was in.
Yun Xingze looked at the empty plates on the table and muttered, “Shouldn’t have ordered so much.”
There was still class in the afternoon. Yun Xingze got up to leave. Before he walked out, he glanced toward the mecha training center. The massive black mecha projection was still spinning.
If only I could pilot something like that…
As he was about to pay, a female server saw him staring at the projection and chuckled. “You like Luo Wenchuan’s Lightsaber Mecha too?”
The Lightsaber Mecha was one of the six top-class mechas in this world—simple but efficient, designed to match the human body, with a lightsaber as its weapon. Its performance depended entirely on the pilot’s skill.
“Luo Wenchuan’s mecha?” Yun Xingze blinked, confused. “Isn’t that just a projection?”
“Yes,” the server smiled. “But because Luo Wenchuan led our school into the top eight in last year’s mecha tournament, they made a projection of his mecha.”
“So, the school made a statue for him?” Yun Xingze’s eyes widened as he looked at the projection.
“You know how weak our school’s mecha program is,” the server explained. “Making it to the top eight was a miracle. And I heard Luo Wenchuan didn’t lose a single match, solo or team.”
Yun Xingze thought, This “top player’s” mecha design… still has room for improvement.
“But seriously,” the server gushed, eyes sparkling, “Luo Wenchuan is so tall and handsome—he’s cool no matter if it’s in person or in a mecha! I wish the school made a projection of him instead.”
Tall, handsome, top of the school team, and his mecha made into a monument… Yun Xingze was confused. Someone this strong—why doesn’t he exist in the timeline I remember?
Could Luo Wenchuan be just a background character?
Yun Xingze didn’t have time to think more. His optical brain chimed with a notice from the academic office:
“Mecha Operation Practice Class begins in 10 minutes at Training Room D-201.”
His eyes lit up. Mecha operation class? Does that mean I can actually pilot one?!
Excited, he rushed out of the café, checked the campus map on the light network, and sped toward his destination. His steps were light, like he was walking on clouds.
Once at the training room, Yun Xingze had barely stepped inside when a loud, old voice boomed:
“Yun Xingze! Late again! And you’re smiling? Didn’t I tell you to arrive five minutes early for operation class? How many times has it been this month?!”
“Sorry, sorry…” Yun Xingze apologized as he entered.
As long as he got to pilot a mecha, he didn’t care about being yelled at!
He was in Class E of the first-year mecha combat department—the worst class in the whole school. That was obvious from their instructor, Zhuo Feiyue, whose white hair showed just how much stress he was under.
Zhuo Feiyue looked weak and old. If not for the power in his shout earlier, Yun Xingze would’ve thought he was just the janitor.
His roommate, Lu Ranxu, waved at him. “Xingze, over here.”
Lu Ranxu was an Omega and one of Yun Xingze’s few friends. In the original story, he served as a contrast to Su Zinan.
As soon as Yun Xingze came over, Lu Ranxu started talking. “Why are you late again? Were you on a date with Chi Yu?”
“We broke off the engagement,” Yun Xingze said calmly.
“What?” Lu Ranxu’s eyes widened in shock. Then he looked at Yun Xingze with sympathy, trying to comfort him. “Xingze, I know you liked him, but don’t be sad. He’s great, but you’ll find someone better—”
Wait, does he think Chi Yu dumped me? Yun Xingze thought. “Uh, actually…”
“Quiet in the back!” Zhuo Feiyue shouted, cutting them off. “Today, we’re training your reaction time.”
He began to explain how crucial reaction speed was for mecha pilots. “Mechas respond immediately to the pilot’s movements. The faster your reactions, the faster your mecha will respond…”
The operation methods in this world were just like those in Yun Xingze’s previous life. That made him even more eager to try it.
Zhuo Feiyue continued, “Today, we’ll focus on reaction during combat. But you must also practice more after class.”
Yun Xingze waited, hoping Zhuo Feiyue would take out a spatial cube containing the mechas. But the teacher didn’t move.
Unable to resist anymore, Yun Xingze raised his hand and asked loudly, “Teacher, aren’t we using mechas today?”
The whole room burst into laughter. Lu Ranxu stared at him blankly.
“You’ve only been here for less than a month, and you want to pilot a mecha already?” Zhuo Feiyue glared. “Do you think it’s as easy as playing with a toy, Yun Xingze?”
“Well… not really…” Yun Xingze slowly lowered his hand, disappointment in his eyes.
The actual training involved pairing up and sparring to build reaction speed.
“Pair up freely,” Zhuo Feiyue said. He looked at Yun Xingze and Lu Ranxu and added, “Friends can’t team up.”
Yun Xingze understood. He really wanted to try a mecha, but this kind of combat training was essential. It couldn’t be skipped.
Zhuo Feiyue had a habit—he would watch the sparring closely and count it toward their participation grades. Yun Xingze knew his own score must be terribly low. That’s why he was on the edge of being expelled.
He made up his mind to perform well this time and raise his grade.
But clearly, others had the same idea.
As one of the few Omegas in class—and the worst in combat—Yun Xingze was seen as easy prey. Everyone thought that fighting him meant an easy win.
Soon, a blond Alpha locked onto Yun Xingze. His name was Aurel. He was decent at combat but arrogant, and often mocked Yun Xingze for being an Omega.
They were paired together. Aurel stood before him and sneered, “Don’t worry. I won’t hit you hard. Just beg for mercy, and I’ll let you go.”
Yun Xingze: “…”
How arrogant.
Lu Ranxu stood nearby, glaring at Aurel. “Don’t go too far!”
Then he turned to Yun Xingze and whispered, “Xingze, don’t listen to him.”
Yun Xingze felt a little touched—until Lu Ranxu added, “You can just beg while standing. The teacher will stop it.”
Yun Xingze: “???”
Honestly, he wasn’t afraid of this tall Alpha. In his past life, Yun Xingze had fought countless battles in simulation pods. He just never had the chance to fight physically.
Now, he wanted to test all his training in this real body.
The others saw Yun Xingze paired with Aurel and began teasing:
“Aurel, go easy on him.”
“He’s just an Omega. Be gentle.”
“You’ll win anyway, might as well take it easy.”
Aurel smiled smugly, looking at Yun Xingze with sympathy.
Zhuo Feiyue announced the start of the match.
Aurel warmed up, preparing to strike.
In the next second, Yun Xingze raised both fists, lowered his center of gravity, and took a defensive stance. His eyes locked on Aurel.
For a moment, Aurel’s face showed surprise.
He couldn’t tell if this was the same Yun Xingze he knew.
Because just now…
He felt a trace of killing intent.
