“Unlock it.” Chi Zhan drew in a long breath, finally deciding he wasn’t going to play along with this guy any longer. “The ID tag’s in the left chest pocket of my jacket. Take it and go.”
“Can’t unlock it now,” Xiao Xing replied earnestly. “But feel free to try.”
Chi Zhan did just that. Xiao Xing didn’t stop him. After watching him fumble around for quite a while, he finally spoke up, lazily, “You believe me now, don’t you?”
Chi Zhan looked at him like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“What the hell… are you actually trying to do?” he bit out, repeating the same question—but this time with unmistakable emotion behind it.
Compared to earlier, this wasn’t just casual annoyance—this was the kind of restrained fury that made Xiao Xing very sure that if Chi Zhan were unrestrained, he’d beat him senseless.
And he wouldn’t hold back.
Xiao Xing understood that if he tried to play dumb again, Chi Zhan really would snap. So he cut to the chase. “Let’s work together.”
“Not necessary,” Chi Zhan said flatly.
“So cold…” Xiao Xing chuckled softly, tossing out a tempting offer. “What if I help you win first place?”
Chi Zhan didn’t even flinch.
“I can do it on my own.”
Gege had really grown up—so fiercely independent now.
And, perhaps because of that, even more tempting.
Xiao Xing paused, then offered a second bait.
“I can help you find the Crown Prince. Beat him, and you won’t have to deal with anyone else.”
Chi Zhan’s eyelashes fluttered faintly. Finally, he looked up.
“How can you be sure you’ll find His Highness?”
“I have my ways,” Xiao Xing said smoothly, his voice laced with just enough seduction. “We’ll cooperate in the meantime. I won’t take your things—in fact, I’ll hand mine over to you. All I ask is that you trust me.”
Chi Zhan fell silent for a moment. Then: “Fine. Now,” he added coolly, “you can unlock the cuffs.”
“It’s not time yet,” Xiao Xing said, lifting his hand.
Under Chi Zhan’s wary gaze, he rebuttoned the uniform he had previously undone—neatly, one by one—covering up the exposed skin with righteous solemnity.
“No other man is allowed to undo your clothes but me.”
“……”
This guy… was seriously strange.
Under normal circumstances, Chi Zhan would never have agreed to something this absurd. The training simulation was serious business—practically a full-scale exam. Teaming up with some random guy? Unthinkable.
And yet… something told him Xiao Xing wasn’t lying.
Besides, Chi Zhan had to admit—Xiao Xing was strong. Even if he focused all his attention, he couldn’t say for sure he’d win in a fair fight. Having someone like that as an enemy? Too dangerous.
Not that being allies was particularly relaxing either.
“Let’s rest for a bit,” Xiao Xing said, plopping down on the ground. Because of the handcuffs, Chi Zhan had no choice but to crouch beside him. Xiao Xing glanced at him and offered, “You can sit on my lap if you want.”
Chi Zhan pretended not to hear.
Xiao Xing didn’t press. He busied himself rummaging through one backpack while Chi Zhan checked the other—and sure enough, he found some useful gear.
The best finds were a smoke bomb and a collapsible particle sword, both safety-modified. They could cause injury, but nothing fatal. He also found antiseptic supplies, medical bandages, and a few small vials.
Xiao Xing’s fluffy head leaned over.
“Methylpropan… hydro-some-something… what are these for?”
Judging by how badly he butchered the names, it was clear Xiao Xing had no clue what any of the drugs did.
As luck would have it, the labels on the vials had all been rubbed off—probably to make the exercise harder for the students. Anyone without medical knowledge would be completely lost, maybe even toss the meds entirely.
But yesterday, during the pheromone sampling, Doctor Cen had whispered some medication instructions to him to help ease the pain. Even though he’d been half out of his mind with it, those words had somehow burned into his memory.
Having a roommate from the Medical Division really was a blessing.
“I don’t know either,” Chi Zhan said expressionlessly.
Xiao Xing had only been asking out of curiosity and quickly lost interest, returning to his rummaging.
Several of the tiny medicine vials slipped quietly into Chi Zhan’s pocket.
After crouching for so long, Chi Zhan’s legs were starting to go numb. He shifted to stand, hoping to stretch a little—but the moment he rose, the world went black. His step faltered, balance lost, and the pull of the handcuff yanked him sideways into a sudden fall.
He expected to hit the ground.
Instead, he crashed into a chest—firm, but not entirely unkind.
“…Gege? What’s wrong? Are you feeling sick?” a panicked voice buzzed in his ear, blurry at first, then growing clearer with concern.
Chi Zhan slowly opened his eyes, shook his head, and tried to shake off the dizziness.
“…I’m fine.”
Why was Xiao Xing calling him gege?
“If you’re fine, why’d you collapse? You scared the hell out of me!” Xiao Xing scolded, voice gruff with worry. “You’re not getting sick, are you? No way—we’re finding a doctor right now—”
“I said I’m fine,” Chi Zhan quickly grabbed his arm, hesitated, then muttered, “Maybe… just a little hypoglycemia.”
Xiao Xing still looked suspicious, but after carefully studying him, he saw that Chi Zhan seemed to be recovering.
“I knew it. You don’t take care of yourself. So just sit still for now.”
Without waiting for permission, Xiao Xing scooped Chi Zhan into his arms like a doll, settling him onto his lap. Chi Zhan protested immediately, only for Xiao Xing to fix him with a look.
“Or do I need to cuff you again to make you behave?”
Xiao Xing’s eyes were a pale, icy gray. When he threatened people without a trace of emotion, it was strangely persuasive.
Chi Zhan stiffened. For a brief second, he wrestled between two instincts—“rip up the agreement and throw down right now” versus “grit your teeth and survive.”
He chose the latter.
Flexibility… was also a core tenet of the Intelligence Division.
Once Chi Zhan relaxed ever so slightly, Xiao Xing stopped staring and casually held something long and narrow up to his lips.
Chi Zhan was always wary of food handed to him—but Xiao Xing’s movements were so natural that before he realized it, he had already taken a bite.
And only then did he realize something was off.
