Hearing this, Yun Xingze couldn’t help but stare blankly into Luo Wenchuan’s eyes.
In his memory, Luo Wenchuan had never spoken to him so directly before.
At this moment, perhaps because he was too surprised, or perhaps because it had been so long since they last met, Yun Xingze even found Luo Wenchuan’s voice somewhat unfamiliar.
His heartbeat skipped a beat, and he swallowed hard. Facing those long, beautiful eyes, he suddenly had so much to say but didn’t know where to begin.
After a while, Yun Xingze snapped out of his daze, curled his lips into a smile, and said to Luo Wenchuan, “Long time no see.”
In truth, during this period, Luo Wenchuan had visited Yun Xingze in the hospital whenever he had time, staying by his bedside for hours each visit.
However, every time, he had only seen Yun Xingze in a comatose state. It really had been a long time since he last saw Yun Xingze’s smile.
Under the warm glow of the streetlights, the boy’s fair skin took on a warmer hue, his smile as charming and lively as ever. Just the simple curve of his lips was enough to take one’s breath away.
“…Yeah,” Luo Wenchuan responded softly, his gaze fixed on Yun Xingze. “It’s been a while.”
Yun Xingze studied Luo Wenchuan’s face up close and noticed he had grown much thinner; his jawline sharper, his features more pronounced.
He wondered what kind of emotions Luo Wenchuan had carried with him all this time.
The thought of Luo Wenchuan’s anxious expression at the engagement banquet made Yun Xingze feel a pang of guilt.
Luo Wenchuan noticed Yun Xingze staring but didn’t shy away. Instead, he took a step forward and gently grasped his wrist.
Yun Xingze stiffened slightly.
“Are you hungry?” Luo Wenchuan asked softly, lowering his eyes to meet his gaze. “What would you like to eat?”
The heaviness in Yun Xingze’s expression eased slightly. After a moment of thought, he said, “I think there’s a food street nearby.”
Then, as if suddenly remembering that Luo Wenchuan was the Second Prince, the future antagonist of the original story; he quickly backtracked, “Uh, or maybe you should choose?”
Given Luo Wenchuan’s noble status, Yun Xingze figured it might be inappropriate to drag him to a place like a food street.
“Let’s go to the food street,” Luo Wenchuan said, tugging Yun Xingze toward the aircraft. “Come on.”
Yun Xingze stared blankly at Luo Wenchuan’s retreating figure, surprised by his response.
Before long, Luo Wenchuan drove his expensive aircraft to the bustling food street with Yun Xingze in tow.
After disembarking, Yun Xingze looked around at the lively, down-to-earth stalls before turning to Luo Wenchuan hesitantly. “Is it really okay for me to bring you here?”
He couldn’t shake the feeling that the appearance of a royal heir at a food street might make headlines the next day.
But Luo Wenchuan only gave him a puzzled look. “What’s wrong? We’ve been here before, haven’t we?”
It was as if his status hadn’t changed him at all. He was still the same senior Yun Xingze had always known.
After a brief pause, Yun Xingze’s worries melted away, and he couldn’t help but smile.
The two strolled through the food street for a while before Luo Wenchuan was quickly recognized; along with Yun Xingze, who had previously made the news.
The shopkeepers grew enthusiastic, offering discounts and asking for photos.
To avoid causing further commotion, the two quickly bought some snacks and hurriedly left the food street.
Back on the aircraft, Luo Wenchuan let out a relieved sigh and muttered to himself, “I almost forgot everyone knows who I am now. ”
Over the past few days, Luo Wenchuan had either been visiting Yun Xingze at the hospital or training with the school team, living such a simple life that he’d temporarily forgotten this fact.
Yun Xingze never expected this person to have zero awareness of being a prince probably too accustomed to life on that barren planet.
Seeing Luo Wenchuan’s slightly dazed expression, Yun Xingze couldn’t help but chuckle softly.
Hearing the laughter, Luo Wenchuan paused momentarily before turning to look at him, asking in a muffled voice, “…Are you laughing at me?”
“No, I just think you’re adorable,” Yun Xingze spoke his mind honestly.
Luo Wenchuan frowned deeply, instinctively retorting, “Who’s adorable?”
“You are,” Yun Xingze said earnestly, meeting his gaze. “Luo Wenchuan is adorable. What’s wrong with that? Isn’t it true?”
“It’s not,” Luo Wenchuan pressed his lips together, putting on a stern face. “Don’t describe me like that.”
The amusement in Yun Xingze’s eyes deepened. In the next moment, he handed the burrito in his hand to Luo Wenchuan.
Luo Wenchuan’s serious expression lasted less than three seconds before crumbling.
He directly leaned down to take a bite from the burrito Yun Xingze offered before calmly accepting it.
Watching this tall, handsome man act so childishly inexplicably lifted Yun Xingze’s mood.
He couldn’t help but think. Luo Wenchuan behaving like this definitely meant he hadn’t turned dark.
It was probably due to the butterfly effect that the current situation differed so drastically from the original storyline.
But this was a good thing, considering how the original Luo Wenchuan suffered terribly after his descent into darkness, ultimately meeting a tragic end.
After finishing their snacks aboard the aircraft, Luo Wenchuan started the engine and took Yun Xingze back to the hotel.
The hotel lobby was filled with people waiting for Yun Xingze’s return.
Aside from members of the Starsea school team, there were students from other military academies like Bai Jiashi, Cheng Jun, and Hilbert.
They not only admired Yun Xingze’s competitive prowess but were also deeply moved and impressed by his decision to remove his gland.
The moment Yun Xingze stepped out of the aircraft and entered the hotel, countless eyes turned toward him simultaneously.
Yun Xingze froze for a few seconds.
Then Richard stepped forward and hugged him tightly, his voice trembling slightly, “It’s good that you’re okay… It’s good that you’re okay…”
The school team members gathered around, expressing their concern for Yun Xingze in a chorus of voices.
“Xingze, you probably can’t compete yet, right?” Ke Lei asked. “You should rest properly during this period. Leave the matches to us.”
Aixili nodded in agreement. “Exactly. We’ll definitely win the competition.”
Their teammates’ eyes shone with unwavering determination. For them, victory wasn’t just for the school team, but also for Yun Xingze.
“I want to compete too, but it depends on my recovery,” Yun Xingze scratched his head and said. “Once I pass the observation period, if the competition hasn’t ended yet, I’ll definitely come back to compete with you all.”
Oriel looked like he was about to cry, his eyes red as he said, “Xingze, you have to come back before the finals.”
Seeing Oriel so emotional tugged at Yun Xingze’s heartstrings. He looked at him with moved eyes, “Oriel, I’m sorry for making you worry.”
“I’m just a substitute and now I have to go on stage to get beaten up, this is too hard!” Oliar’s voice trembled on the verge of tears, “You have no idea how terrifying those opponents are, one worse than the other. I’m completely unprepared!”
“…” The warmth in Yun Xingze’s heart instantly vanished. So, this kid was crying from being beaten.
Oliar continued, “Only now do I realize how difficult NCLM matches really are. You’ve had it tough.”
At that moment, Hebrew stepped forward from the side. Seeing the scar on Yun Xingze’s neck, he frowned deeply and said, “Yun Xingze, the finals won’t be worth watching without you, got that?”
Bai Jiashi added, “I take back all my previous dismissive comments about Omegas. You must come back and keep competing.”
Richard looked at Yun Xingze earnestly and said with conviction:
“We need you.”
Hearing these words, Yun Xingze felt a surge of warmth in his heart.
The feeling of being needed gave him a strong sense of belonging to Starsea Military Academy.
Just like when he saw those Omegas holding up protest signs for him.
This world, which had once felt so unfamiliar to him, now seemed incredibly warm and endearing.
Looking at his teammates, he said slowly and deliberately:
“Whether I return or not, you must keep winning. Because you represent the honor of Starsea Military Academy, you’re the hope of all its students.”
Upon hearing this, Luo Wenchuan froze slightly.
So did Richard.
While others might not have noticed, both Luo Wenchuan and Richard knew very well that Yun Xingze had never cared much about winning before.
But now, there was a glimmer of competitive desire in his eyes.
Something about Yun Xingze had quietly changed.
Beyond the team members, many students from Starsea Military Academy sent him emails through various channels, wishing him a speedy recovery and return to the arena.
Classmates like Lu Ranxu had visited the hospital several times during his coma. But later, when the Queen banned unauthorized personnel from approaching Yun Xingze, they could no longer enter the ward.
Lu Ranxu sent a video message updating him on the Omega Mecha Association’s progress: “Because of your performance in NCLM, people at school don’t look down on Omegas like before. Our association keeps growing. You have to get better. We’re waiting for you to come back. There are still snacks we bought for you in the dorm, don’t forget.”
By the end, tears glistened in Lu Ranxu’s eyes, though he stubbornly refused to let them fall.
A few weeks earlier, after Yun Xingze achieved consecutive victories in the campus mecha tournament, the Starsea principal had told him during the awards ceremony:
[“You’re the first Omega to become a formal team member. You must keep striving. Never forget the responsibility you carry.”] At the time, Yun Xingze hadn’t felt particularly moved; he just wanted to modify mechas and enjoy piloting them.
But looking back now, Yun Xingze finally understood what the principal had meant.
He felt increasingly compelled to accelerate his research and return to the arena as soon as possible.
This sense of belonging to the world gave Yun Xingze an unprecedented feeling of responsibility.
