Chapter 18: The Villain Joins His Team
He gave them the “one-stop service” of blacklisting.
The screen went completely dark. Xie Huaijin stared at the blackness and slammed his lighter onto the desk.
Bang.
With a crisp sound, the crystal table cracked in a spider-web pattern.
The people nearby hurriedly gathered around. While helping him light a cigarette, they tried to persuade him, “Young Master Xie, there’s no need to get angry over that kind of person. With you here, who dares to join a team with Jiang Chenyan? He’ll eventually come crawling to you in desperation.”
Xie Huaijin didn’t respond. He took the cigarette and took a deep drag. Amidst the swirling smoke, the light in his eyes flickered.
On the other side, Jiang Chenyan had made up his mind. At worst, he and Shen Shiyue would be a team of two, or theyâd find some stragglers and make do.
Teaming up had no progress at all. Shen Shiyue and Jiang Chenyan searched everywhere but couldn’t find anyone.
Jiang Chenyan slumped in his chair and joked, “With this momentum, anyone who didn’t know would think we’d been blackballed by capital.”
Shen Shiyue took it in stride. “Itâs fine. We’ll find someone eventually.” The two had exhausted themselves, so they simply lay on their beds, too lazy to search anymore, planning to wait for the schoolâs unified distribution.
Jiang Chenyan stared at the ceiling for a while before suddenly sitting up and suggesting, “How about we head to the rooftop tonight? The view should be good.” As soon as he said it, he grew excited. This was an Interstellar novel; technology was advanced and environmental protection was good. Since it was clear today, there would surely be a sky full of stars.
“Sure, letâs go.” Shen Shiyue didn’t dampen his spirits at all and readily agreed.
The two walked side-by-side to the rooftop. Jiang Chenyan didn’t care if the ground was cold or dirty and lay down on his back. Shen Shiyue paused, hesitated for a second, and then lay down beside him.
The rooftop breeze was warm. The two chatted idly, feeling quite comfortable. They completely failed to notice someone in the dark holding a device, quietly photographing the rooftop for a long while.
As soon as the photos were posted in a group chat, it exploded:
[No way? Why aren’t they panicking at all? Itâs like they don’t care about being isolated at all.]
[More than just not panicking… they look very leisurely, enjoying the stars and the moon.]
[I suddenly admire them. That mindset.]
…
For some reason, Jiang Chenyan felt an odd sense of presence behind him. His heart stirred, and he instinctively turned his head to look.
Just as he turned, something reflected a beam of light right into his eyes. He instinctively squinted. What just flashed at me?
Almost at the same second, another new photo was posted in the group. The image captured Jiang Chenyan in the moment he turned his headâhis black hair slightly messy, his fair profile looking delicate under the starlight, and his slender fingers visible at the cuff of his loose coat. He looked youthful, yet the arc of his neck as he turned held a touch of seductive sexiness. He was so beautiful it was hard to look away.
The group went silent for several seconds. No one spoke.
Everyoneâs breath hitched the moment they saw the photo. This is way too good-looking.
Jiang Chenyan, unaware of the storm in the shadows, continued chatting with Shen Shiyue. He simply changed his posture after lying down for so long, propping himself up on his elbows and sitting up. His elbows rested on his knees, and his loose clothes shifted with the movement, revealing a small section of his fair waist.
The group went crazy, messages coming one after another:
[Who understands? Photographer, hurry up and take more!]
[Requesting high-def! I’ve already set the previous one as my wallpaper; I need more food.]
[Requesting candid shots! Take more of Jiang Chenyan; that face is peak.]
Facing the flood of demands for updates, the “photographer” stared at his device. “…” Is it possible my mission wasn’t this? Also, why did these people change faces so fast?
Shen Shiyue suddenly reached out and pressed Jiang Chenyanâs shoulder, making him lean back behind him. He pressed his lips to Jiangâs ear, his voice so soft only the two could hear: “Someone is taking photos.”
“No wonder.” Jiang Chenyan frowned. “I felt like a gaze was on my back.”
The group hadn’t seen a photo for a while, and messages demanding more surged again:
[Why did the photographer stop? Weren’t they taking photos so enthusiastically just now?]
[Yeah, yeah! Don’t stop!]
Flustered by the demands, the person grew anxious to take a few final shots. Just as he quietly poked his head out and aimed the device at the rooftop, a figure flashed before his eyes. The two on the rooftop had vanished without a trace.
For a moment, he was completely panicked. Where are they?
“What are you filming? Let me see.”
A cold voice came from behind. His heart skipped a beat. Just as he was about to turn around, he saw Jiang Chenyan standing behind him, most of his figure hidden in the shadows.
Before he could react, Jiang Chenyan kicked him in the back of the knee. Losing his balance, he fell to the ground, his wrist violently pinned behind his back. He gasped from the pain.
The next second, Jiang Chenyan stepped on the voyeurâs lower back to steady himself and reached out to snatch the micro-camera from his palm.
“You took this many?”
Jiang Chenyan frowned as he flipped through the photos. “You didn’t send these to anyone else, did you?”
Shen Shiyue stood before the photographer, his tone devoid of warmth. “Who instructed you?”
“N-No one!” the manâs voice trembled in panic. “I just came to take some night scenery; I didn’t expect you two to enter the frame…”
“Who are you kidding?” Jiang Chenyan sneered. He tapped the camera. “The lens was practically shoved into our faces, and you’re saying you were taking scenery? Even if you don’t say it, I can guessâXie Huaijin sent you, didn’t he?”
“No! It wasn’t him!” The manâs face changed instantly as he hurriedly shook his head. “Don’t guess blindly.”
Shen Shiyue and Jiang Chenyan exchanged a look. Jiang Chenyan produced a length of rope from somewhere and tied the man up securely in a few moves.
Meanwhile, Shen Shiyue opened his optical computer and took several photos of the pale-faced man on the ground, sending them directly to Xie Huaijin: [Your person.]
“The photo has been sent to your employer. Wait here peacefully for him to pick you up.”
The two ignored the man on the ground and were about to leave. Anxious, he began to struggle and shouted at the top of his lungs, “It really wasn’t Young Master Xie! It was Muâ” Halfway through, he suddenly seemed to be choked and stopped abruptly. “Please, I had no choice!”
Jiang Chenyan stopped dead. He was stunned for a second. He took two steps back, his gaze landing on the man. He stated a name directly: “Mu Si’an?”
“I-I really can’t say… please, let me go!”
The two looked at each other; they already had their answer. It was Mu Si’an.
Filming candid shots? Is he a pervert? He looked through them; there were many photos of Shen Shiyue, and he had been caught in quite a few as well.
But Jiang Chenyan thought about itâMu Si’an indeed was a pervert.
He glanced at Shen Shiyue. The moonlight happened to fall on his face, making his eyes look even more handsome and his features more upright.
Thinking this way, the reason Mu Si’an would send someone to take candid photos became clear. It seemed he finally couldn’t hold back and was starting to make his move.
Jiang Chenyan reminded Shen Shiyue, “Be careful in the future. Try to wear a mask when you go out.”
Shen Shiyue: “?”
The two returned to the dorm. Jiang Chenyan casually threw the micro-camera onto the desk and clicked the chat box with Professor Ariel. He attached a photo of the photographer and sent it: [Professor, someone was taking candid photos of us. We’ve controlled the person; please come and sign for him.]
Arielâs reply popped up in less than two seconds.
[Are you sick? Doing ‘bondage’ in the middle of the night and handing the person to me.]
Jiang Chenyan looked at the text on the screen with an expressionless face and sent a follow-up: [There was an accident. Please take the person back and punish him according to the rules.]
Ariel felt his head growing large across the screen. He truly didn’t want to deal with it, but he could only reply: [Got it.] He paused, then suddenly remembered something and asked Jiang Chenyan: [Have you still not found teammates for the team?]
Jiang Chenyanâs fingers flew across the keyboard: [Are you going to help me find some?]
[Not at all.]
Jiang Chenyan: “…”
[I wanted to tell you that teammates can always be found; itâs just that you aren’t working hard enough yet.]
Jiang Chenyan reasonably suspected he was being PUAâd.
Ariel didn’t reply further, turning to instruct his assistant to hand the bound student over to the Academic Affairs Office.
After chatting with the professor, Jiang Chenyan was so tired he fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. He didn’t even cover himself properly, leaving half an arm exposed, until Shen Shiyue helped him pull the blanket to his shoulders and tucked it in.
The next day was the weekend. Jiang Chenyan went alone to the location agreed upon with Kailan to collect the suppressants.
Speaking of which, Kailan indeed was capable. No matter how strict the schoolâs surveillance was, he could always precisely deliver items through various inconspicuous nooks and crannies.
He stuffed the packaged suppressants into his pocket. Just as he was about to head back, a muffled sound of impact mixed with shouting drifted into his ears.
Jiang Chenyan stopped. This was a remote location; few people came here.
Campus bullying? This sort of thing probably happened quite a bit in the military academy.
He hesitated, wanting to turn and leave, but after a few steps, a more violent sound of impact came from the corner.
The muffled thuds of fists and feet hitting flesh grew clearer, mixed with foul insults.
“Just a bastard no one wants. You think youâre worthy of being here?”
“Look at his pathetic state… his gland has long been ruined. What kind of Alpha is he!”
“How can someone like you have the face to be alive?”
Intermittent, low gasps leaked from the corner. A handsome, tall youth was curled up in the corner, covered in injuries, lacking even the strength to resist.
His vision was already blurred with blood, and his consciousness was sinking. Ji Xuan felt as if he were about to die.
Amidst the haze, the angry curses were still in his ears. The next second, a rough hand violently pinched his jaw, forcing him to look up. “That face is actually quite good.”
“Since you’re in this state anyway, why don’t you let us have some fun?”
He used his last bit of strength to resist, but was met with an even harsher slap. His cheek stung instantly.
His clothes were torn and crumpled. In his despair, a figure appeared before him.
Jiang Chenyanâs movements were so fast people couldn’t react. He pulled the men off Ji Xuan and started throwing punches. The men wailed. When they saw who it was, their voices trembled in fear: “It’s Jiang Chenyan.”
“Holy shit! Why did we run into him?”
In the chaos, the men were beaten until they were slumped on the ground. Jiang Chenyan walked straight to Ji Xuan. “Can you stand up?”
Ji Xuanâs fingers clawed the ground, dust getting into his fingernails. “Why save me… just let me die.” He was a piece of trash whose glandâan Alphaâs greatest prideâwas ruined.
Jiang Chenyan let out a light “Tsk.” He didn’t say much, only: “Get up first.”
Ji Xuan remained frozen. Jiang Chenyan had no choice but to bend down and pull his arm.
“Jiang Chenyan, don’t be fooled by his act of pity! He deserves to be treated like this. He doesn’t even have a legitimate background; heâs just a shameful illegitimate son!”
“Exactly.” The people on the ground gritted their teeth. They hadn’t expected to run into Jiang Chenyan. This guy was a “stubborn donkey”; it was hard not to know about him.
“The Ji family abandoned him long ago. He’s a waste; staying in the military academy is a disgrace.”
“The Ji family?” Jiang Chenyan raised an eyebrow. He had naturally heard of them. That was no ordinary family; they held significant influence in the entire Empire and were considered a top-tier power.
His gaze fell back on the silent person on the ground. “Are you Ji Xuan?” The Ji family only had one illegitimate son who had been acknowledgedâthat was Ji Xuan.
Ji Xuan didn’t move, but his fingers curled slightly, acknowledging the identity.
A flash of realization crossed Jiang Chenyanâs eyes, and a meaningful smile hooked his lips. Others only saw Ji Xuan as a discarded pawn with a ruined gland who couldn’t even maintain his Alpha status, but he knew this person was extraordinary.
Ji Xuanâs gland was indeed ruined, and he would later be framed and kicked out of the military academy, suffering greatly at the bottom of society.
But no one expected him to undergo a secondary differentiation. Not only did he regain his Alpha abilities, but he also awakened an incredibly high talent for military combat. He counter-attacked all the way, eventually taking the position of the new Interstellar Commander, becoming an existence the entire Empire looked up to.
However, the trauma of his youth had taken root in his heart. Ji Xuan grew into a paranoid and irritable personality. Later, he took the wrong path, strayed, and joined the enemy forces, becoming a traitor to the Empireâthe villain of the book.
His ending was being jointly annihilated by the gongs.
Jiang Chenyanâs fingers paused. He simply bent down to pull the man up. “For the battlefield simulation test… do you want to join me?”
Hearing this, Ji Xuan looked up abruptly. His pupils contracted, and his whole body froze. Even his breathing slowed by half a beat. He even thought he was hallucinating.
Ji Xuan had always heard of Jiang Chenyanâs reputationâthe highest rank in the school, someone many looked up to. He didn’t even dare think about saying more than a few words to him, let alone being invited to team up.
The words also clearly drifted into the ears of the others. They were stunned, murmuring, “A top-tier Alpha… actually wants to lead Ji Xuan in a team? Is there a mistake?” “He has a ruined gland!” Is Jiang Chenyan crazy?
Jiang Chenyan frowned, his gaze cold as he swept it over the murmuring men. “Shut up. Do you have a say here?”
They went silent instantly, not daring to breathe.
He turned to Ji Xuan. “Are you willing?”
“I am.” Ji Xuan nodded hurriedly, his voice carrying an imperceptible tremor.
Jiang Chenyan reached out and steadily supported his arm, preventing him from falling due to his instability. “Letâs go. I’ll take you to the infirmary to handle your injuries first.”
The men sat slumped on the ground, their brows knit into knots as they watched Jiang Chenyan support Ji Xuan and leave.
…
After walking just a few steps, they were blocked by several unfamiliar people.
Jiang Chenyan stopped. “I didn’t provoke you, did I?”
The leader stepped forward. “Young Master Xie wants to see you. Come with us.”
Jiang Chenyan looked at them. His gaze paused on the sack they hid behind their backs and the vaguely visible medicine bottle. They were clearly prepared, even having knock-out drugs ready.
He was silent for a moment. “Iâll go with you, but please send this student to the infirmary first.”
“Send him where?” The man sneered, his gaze falling on Ji Xuan. “His injuries don’t look heavy. If we’re going, we go together.”
Ji Xuan: “…”
The rumors are indeed true; the two have a blood feud.
Before Ji Xuan could stand steady, he was crudely grabbed by the men, his arm stinging from the pinch.
Jiang Chenyanâs brow instantly knit. Before he could act, the group pushed Ji Xuan forward, clearly refusing to yield.
He suppressed the coldness in his eyes and silently followed. Actually, he didn’t have much of an emotional reaction.
Xie Huaijin wouldn’t dare move him, but he was somewhat mentally ill.
If he were a doctor, then Xie Huaijin was the patient.
To his surprise, those people actually led them to the training field. As soon as he stepped inside, his gaze crossed the empty field to see a black figure leaning against some equipment. The hem of the clothes shifted slightly with the movement.
Hearing the footsteps behind him, Xie Huaijin turned abruptly. The laser gun in his hand was already loaded, the muzzle aimed directly at Jiang Chenyanâs chest. The cold metallic sheen glinted under the lights.
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