Chapter 14
Besides Wen Su, a military administrative official was also in attendance at the meeting today. Following the confidential seminar regarding the establishment of a military academy at Xingyuan University, a public lecture was now underway. The theme: Basic Military Theory and General Knowledge of the Star Source Alliance Military.
The keynote speaker was the administrative official. Wen Su merely needed to sit there for the duration to signify, “Yes, I am indeed present.”
The venue was packed to the rafters. Students filled the seats and even crowded the aisles sitting on the floor. After all, high-ranking military officials rarely visited, so even “basic” knowledge and “general info” represented firsthand information they usually couldn’t access.
More importantly, everyone wanted a look at the legendary “Top-tier Alpha,” the “Alliance’s Strongest Combat Force.”
A real, live, moving one.
The official was charismatic and witty, making the military knowledge engaging and fun. Bursts of laughter erupted from the audience every now and then, people leaning back and forth in amusement…
Everyone except Wen Su.
He sat on the stage, the center of thousands of eyes, yet he looked as if he were alone in his study at home. He was completely unaffected by the outside world, his expression barely shifting a millimeter.
If he hadn’t taken a sip of water once, and shifted his crossed arms once, the students’ expectations of seeing him “move” might have been dashed completely.
“He really does come with a built-in force field of cold isolation, just like the rumors say.”
“But he’s super handsome, has a great figure, and his aura is amazing. Truly a top-tier Alpha.”
“Totally. He’s the only one fit to play those domineering CEO roles. The ones in current dramas are trash compared to him.”
“But at Admiral Wen Su’s level, can he actually find a matching partner?”
“They probably find partners internally through political marriages, right? Or direct Alliance assignment.”
“Oh, right, speaking of that, I just saw Admiral Wen Su sitting on the West Lawn chatting with someone. They seemed to know each other. I didn’t dare get too close, only saw a side profile, but the person dressed like a student and looked like an Omega.”
“Huh? Someone from our school?”
“No idea.”
The students whispered and gossiped while half-listening to the lecture.
Gossip traveled and mutated at the speed of light. Before the lecture was even over, almost half the people present were convinced: “Admiral Wen Su brought an Omega with him, and that Omega is on the West Lawn.”
The final segment was Q&A. The speaker specifically said, “Don’t be afraid, you can ask Admiral Wen Su questions too.”
In the audience, students looked at one another. Despite having bellies full of questions and moments of impulse, one look at Wen Su’s frosty face made them choose to keep their mouths shut tight.
That didn’t stop a good number of them from sprinting toward the West Lawn the moment the lecture ended.
He Yuan, who had set an alarm for an hour, was just waking up, rubbing his eyes groggily in the sunlight.
He sat up and looked around casually. Not far away, several people whoosh-ed behind a tree.
He Yuan: ?
“Isn’t that He Yuan? From Class 2 of our major.”
“Huh? Then maybe Admiral Wen Su’s Omega already left, and he came later?”
“Probably. Anyway, Admiral Wen Su’s Omega definitely wouldn’t be him. He’s an orphan who grew up in the Aid Center and relies on financial aid to attend university.”
“Oh, that’s pretty pitiful.”
“Tell me about it. Sigh, that’s life. Both are Omegas, but one is He Yuan, and the other is Admiral Wen Su’s Omega, who just has to enjoy life every day.”
“…Hey! You… Look!”
Behind the tree, they were bent over, rustling about, their gazes fixed on the distant path. Wen Su’s upright figure was walking over. Standing beside the bench, He Yuan stood on his tiptoes, smiling and waving vigorously.
Everyone: !!!
They looked at each other, eyes wide with shock.
“Admiral, is the lecture over?”
“Mm.”
Wen Su stood before He Yuan, hesitating to speak.
He had long sensed the people observing in the dark. There were several groups, some near, some far, scattered in different spots.
He didn’t know what was so interesting about him and He Yuan, seeing as they hadn’t even defined their relationship yet.
Although he didn’t want to be misunderstood, they were at He Yuan’s school. Unless it became absolutely necessary, it was better to hold back.
He would let them off for now.
“Did you say you wanted to get something to eat?”
“Yes! Our school has several kinds of incredibly delicious sweets!”
The smile on He Yuan’s upturned face was more brilliant than the sunlight today, making Wen Su feel incredibly relaxed. He suddenly felt like he was on vacation.
“Let’s go then. Where is it?”
He Yuan paused.
He had originally intended to have Wen Su wait here while he bought the food and brought it back. After all, Wen Su was Wen Su—he commanded attention like a celebrity and possessed a celebrity-like ability to disrupt order.
Except celebrities attracted people; he repelled them.
If he went to the cafeteria, nobody would probably be able to eat normally.
Plus, there was no need to let the whole world know he was Wen Su’s life assistant.
But now that Admiral Wen Su had expressed such keen interest—a rare occurrence! He should try his best to satisfy it. The cafeteria shouldn’t be too crowded at this hour…
Let’s just go.
“The cafeteria is just over there!”
He Yuan smiled and pointed, then bent down to smooth out Wen Su’s jacket on the bench before picking it up and walking off.
Wen Su followed.
Suddenly, he spoke: “Although your previous research had no meaning, your efforts were not in vain. Perhaps it was useless for that so-called research, but it will surely be internalized through your thinking and, at some point in the future, bring you new surprises in another form. And on another level, sometimes meaninglessness is the meaning.”
He Yuan turned his head blankly.
He gazed at Wen Su’s nearly flawless profile. The afternoon sun plated him in a layer of radiance, dyeing those deep eyes a golden-brown, like a surging ocean at sunset when gold melts into the waves.
He Yuan understood.
When Wen Su left earlier, he had called their research a clumsy novel with no meaning. Now, he must have worried those words had discouraged him, so he was adding an addendum.
The reason he didn’t add it back then was that the Wen Su of that moment hadn’t realized it.
Then, perhaps during the lecture, or perhaps just now, he had fully reviewed the situation, considered He Yuan’s feelings, and chosen his words with care.
He Yuan’s lips curved up. He involuntarily clutched Wen Su’s jacket tighter in his arms, nodding vigorously with a loud “Mm!”, his hair bouncing lively with the motion.
Admiral Wen Su…
Is truly a super, super good person!
What he didn’t yet truly understand was that an Alpha at the pinnacle of the pyramid, possessing unmatched combat power and achievements, never needed to consider social niceties or feelings.
But today, right in this moment, Wen Su had changed.
Meanwhile, in the distance, getting farther and farther away from them—
Several groups of people finally stepped out into the open, faces blank with confusion, jaws practically hitting the ground.
After leaving the cafeteria, they began their journey back.
On the private maglev train, He Yuan was writing his daily work log while considering whether to sing or read poetry for tonight’s sleep aid. Suddenly, Wen Su asked, “What is your ideal?”
He Yuan, who had been writing furiously, paused. He lifted his head and answered earnestly, “To serve my country!”
Wen Su was stunned, clearly not expecting that. He asked, “Is there anything else?”
He Yuan thought about it solemnly and added, “Interstellar peace!”
Wen Su: …
He felt like those should be his ideals.
“Do you have any… less grand ones?”
“Less grand?”
He Yuan frowned. They say ambition should be lofty; how could it be called an ideal if it wasn’t grand?
“Like what? What is your ‘less grand’ ideal, Admiral?”
Wen Su savored the memory of the sweet cafeteria date from moments ago and said, “To taste every sweet treat and find the one I like best.”
“Oh!” He Yuan suddenly understood, smiling casually. “Then mine would probably be… to grow wings and fly? But that can’t be called an ideal. A fantasy is more like it.”
They chatted casually. Upon returning to the base, they went to wash up separately.
After washing and drying off, He Yuan thought about how it was already dusk. Given his harmonious relationship with Wen Su lately, not wearing a formal suit that emphasized his working status shouldn’t be a big issue. So, he changed into a round-neck knitted sweater and casual shorts, with sneakers on his feet.
He went to the courtyard to check on the newly planted roses, pruning branches and watering them, occasionally leaning in to smell them. He was in a particularly good mood.
Suddenly, a clear whistle came from the direction of the back lake. He looked up to see a crystalline mechanical bird spiraling down under the twilight sun, its wings formed by mechanical arms spread wide. And standing on its back was Wen Su!
Th-this was Admiral Wen Su’s customary mech, the Vermilion Bird?!
The one that had attacked him?!
At that time, the Vermilion Bird had been resting at the bottom of the lake, and only a mechanical arm had attacked. This was his first time seeing it in full!
It was huge!
It was so cool!
He Yuan was dumbstruck. The Vermilion Bird flew close to him and landed slowly. One wing draped down elegantly, forming a ramp.
Wen Su reached out his hand.
“Although I cannot make your fantasy of growing wings come true, flying is actually quite easy.”
He Yuan: !!!
For some reason, right at this moment, his face was incredibly hot.
Even his breath felt hot.
His entire body seemed frozen; only his heart went thump-thump-thump, as if it were about to explode the very next second.
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