Chi Zhan suddenly realized something—Cen Chi had never shown him the color of his pheromone sample.
But it was probably similar to everyone else’s, he thought.
“The last person before me was an Omega,” the Beta classmate mused. “You wouldn’t believe how delicate he was—whining about the pain the whole time in the infirmary. But his pheromone color was this really pretty pink.”
“……”
“Hmph, Omegas are all pampered little princesses. I’ve got nothing to talk about with them,” Tao Ran snorted.
Chi Zhan couldn’t help wondering—was he really the only one who found it painful? Could it be due to his physical constitution?
Just then, Tao Ran tapped on his wristband. With a startled “Huh?” he exclaimed, “The wilderness drill starts tomorrow?!”
The wilderness drill was a long-standing tradition for third-year cadets at the Imperial Military Academy. Though called a “drill,” it was far more dangerous than anyone imagined. All third-year students would be sent to a desolate, uninhabited island for assessment.
Though the contents of the test were strictly confidential, the cryptic comments from past participants were more than enough to paint a picture—it was no easy challenge. The pass rate each year was a mere 43%, not even half.
Only those who passed were eligible to compete for the honor of “Outstanding Graduate.” Naturally, many chose to withdraw midway or simply went through the motions. But those who endured to the end were, without exception, truly exceptional.
The timing, however, couldn’t have been worse for Chi Zhan. His body hadn’t yet fully recovered. But as a soldier, obedience was paramount. No matter how tough the situation, he had to grit his teeth and power through. Excuses weren’t an option.
“This time, the only real competition you’ll face is probably Tang Ling from Class 2,” a classmate remarked. “He’s incredibly strong and super popular with the Omegas.”
“He’s a transfer student, right? Just arrived a few days ago and already ranked first in the year. His strength is ridiculously hard to gauge,” another chimed in. “And that tear mole of his—man, even I’m a Beta, and I nearly fell for him.”
“He’s practically the ‘cold god’ now among the Omegas. Even the campus belle brings him snacks every day. Says a lot about his pull.”
“Looks don’t win battles,” Tao Ran scoffed. “Even if we’re comparing skills, Chi-Chi would never lose to that Tang Ling guy.”
Chi Zhan, on the other hand, was genuinely intrigued by this yet-unmet rival. Not intimidated—excited. The thrill of encountering a worthy opponent.
Tang Ling must be strong.
If given the chance to spar, there was definitely something to learn from him.
Strangely, alongside that thought, another figure surfaced in his mind—His Highness the Crown Prince.
They hadn’t even exchanged moves, and yet the impression he left was already unforgettable.
“Chi-Chi, didn’t Cen Chi give you a treatment pod voucher? Go get those injuries taken care of. You’ve gotta be in tip-top shape for tomorrow’s drill. I’m counting on you to carry me through this!”
Chi Zhan nodded.
The pheromone sampling center was still packed, but the treatment ward was empty. Chi Zhan chose an available pod and began undressing.
The treatment pods were fully automated. Once a user’s personal data was input, they would enter the pod completely unclothed, submerge in restorative fluid, and select the appropriate healing options.
Chi Zhan lay down inside, sinking into the icy solution. As the blinking lights above dimmed into darkness, a calm voice sounded in his ears—“Treatment initiating.” Then, even that faded into silence…
Click. The door to the treatment room opened.
Two figures slipped inside and quietly shut the door behind them.
Step by step, they approached the lone pod in operation.
“This is the one you were talking about?” one of them asked, casting a doubtful look at the figure inside. But the moment he caught sight of Chi Zhan’s face, his skepticism melted into stunned disbelief.
“He looks just like—” Almost like he was under a spell, he moved in closer, eyes fixed intently as if trying to etch every line and contour of Chi Zhan’s face into memory. That strikingly handsome visage left no room for doubt. “It’s him. I can feel it.”
He froze for three seconds, then finally couldn’t resist. Slowly, he lifted a hand and pressed it against the glass of the treatment pod. As if he could sense the other’s warmth through it. A tiny tear mole shimmered at the corner of his eye as he murmured, “Gege…”
Suddenly, his wrist was yanked back.
“Don’t disturb him.”
He scoffed.
As if you’re not staring at him without blinking.
“If anyone finds us here, how are you going to explain this?” he snapped, clearly annoyed. “You’ll blow your cover in ten seconds flat.”
“I’m not you.”
“Heh. You better not be.” Despite his words, he turned back to gaze at Chi Zhan, unwilling to waste even a second of viewing time. Grumbling, he muttered, “I’ll get my chance eventually. But you—don’t act like some lovestruck idiot.”
Then—
He blinked and glanced at the info screen outside the pod. When he saw the label next to “Secondary Gender,” disappointment flickered in his eyes. “Why is Gege a Beta…”
Not that being a Beta was bad. In fact, Betas—unaffected by pheromones—were often seen as the most rational and stable of all genders.
They had no Heat, no susceptibility periods. Their emotions were steady as still water. Even the strongest Alpha couldn’t provoke a reaction from them using pheromones alone.
And yet—even as a Beta, even lying there quietly and oblivious—he was still like a decadent little cake. Irresistibly tempting.
“Gender doesn’t matter.”
“You’re really something,” the other sneered. “Playing the noble one when you’ve already gathered so much intel. I honestly thought you’d wait till he graduated—because with the way things stand, telling him the truth now would only bring him pain and confusion.”
“But when that time comes… do you really think Gege will be willing to go back with us?”
