Fu Siheng narrowed his eyes.
From this distance, only the hull of the ship was visible through the night sky; you couldn’t even make out the deck. He had no idea how Lin Yue was so sure Yan Xun was leading the squad.
“Is he with the Night Patrol?” Fu Siheng asked.
The Night Patrol was a security force established by the Imperial Military. Its captain held the rank of Major General at Defense Headquarters, and every year, they recruited new talent from the Research Institute.
There had always been a subtle, delicate friction between Defense Headquarters and the Galactic Infantry. As the name suggested, the Galactic Infantry was the combat force for the entire galaxy. Defense Headquarters, on the other hand, was Warner’s local force, operating under the Apollo Star System.
A dozen years ago, a massive explosion plunged the entire galaxy back into a chaotic era. Colliding planets and destroying celestial bodies left the environment too hostile for any living thing to survive. It was precisely why the Hera people spent over a decade migrating aboard starships to reach Warner.
When Fu Siheng joined the Infantry after graduation, his very first achievement was leading their mecha division to defeat Warner’s local mecha unit.
Even though his mentor, Fu Shouming, had nagged him more than once about being young and hot-headed, Fu Siheng simply couldn’t bring himself to like Warner soldiers…no matter how much everyone else preached about “peaceful coexistence.”
As for why? He had never mentioned the reason to a single soul.
Knowing Yan Xun was wrapped up with that crowd made Fu Siheng’s brow furrow in disgust.
Noticing none of Fu Siheng’s internal irritation, Lin Yue offered, “He’s the deputy captain of the Night Patrol. He’s leading the night shifts this month.”
Deputy captain, huh? Guess birds of a feather really do flock together, Fu Siheng sneered silently.
As they approached the apartment gates, Lin Yue looked up at the entrance in surprise. “Instructor Fu, you live here too?”
Preoccupied with his own thoughts, Fu Siheng barely registered the comment. “Yeah. See you.”
“T-Then see you at school on Monday! Bye-bye!” Lin Yue waved enthusiastically.
Early Monday morning, Fu Siheng arrived at the academy to report for duty.
At six in the morning, the campus was almost entirely deserted, save for students undergoing morning drills on the field.
The guards at the main gate had just swapped shifts. After checking Fu Siheng’s credentials, they asked him to sign the logbook before stepping inside.
The Alpha guard on duty couldn’t stop sneaking peeks at him. The second Fu Siheng walked past, the guard snagged his comms device out of his pocket while his squad leader wasn’t looking.
He tapped into a group chat titled “Imperial Military Academy Alpha Club · Satisfaction Guaranteed” and rapidly fired off a string of curses.
Li Xiao – On Guard Duty: * Holy shit, holy shit, the new instructor is here! He’s wearing Galactic Infantry gear!*
Nearly every Alpha student at the academy was in this group chat. Later, because the room was practically drowning in pure masculine energy, someone had invited a bunch of Omegas in as well.
Replies flooded in instantly.
Xiao Hai – Suppressant Proxy Purchase (DM me): AHHHHH! An Infantry guy?! I HAVE to pick him! Is he hot? Is he hot??
Cut the Nonsense: Alpha or Omega? How old does he look? Please tell me he isn’t some old creep…
Senior Yan Is So Hot: @Cut the Nonsense, are you running on a 2G network? He’s our direct senior, only twenty-three! But he was a late bloomer, so nobody knows if he’s an Alpha or an Omega yet.
Li Xiao – On Guard Duty: [Image] Only managed to snap his back, but damn, he’s ridiculously handsome. When he asked me for a pen just now, my face literally went red.
Xiao Hai – Suppressant Proxy Purchase (DM me): HOLY…Just from behind, he looks top tier! My ideal type has arrived!!
Senior Yan Is So Hot: …You don’t even know if he’s an Alpha yet! Calm down a notch!
Unaware that he was currently the hottest topic on campus, Fu Siheng walked all the way from the main gates to the Academic Affairs Office without running into many people.
He passed scenery he had looked at for four straight years. The training grounds were still so vast you couldn’t see where they ended, and the academic buildings soared recklessly into the clouds.
Everything about the Imperial Military Academy was grand and over-the-top…from its massive, ten-meter-wide main gate down to its streetlamps carved with fierce beasts. Every single detail practically screamed: We are the absolute best military academy in the Empire!
When he reached the Academic Affairs Office, Fu Siheng realized he had arrived too early; the doors were still locked.
With nothing else to do, he leaned against the wall to wait. He kept his hands stuffed in his pockets, his left leg slightly bent. Years of military life had left him with an effortlessly upright, long-limbed posture that made his figure look remarkably sharp.
Around eight o’clock, noisy chatter echoed from the stairwell.
Judging by the voices, it sounded like a group of students. Since the Academic Affairs Office was inside the administration building, students frequently came by to process paperwork or grab certifications.
As the students rounded the corner mid-conversation, they suddenly froze as if someone had flipped a switch.
A student in a white tank top froze the instant he laid eyes on Fu Siheng, looking like he thought he was dreaming. After two seconds of stunned silence, he whipped around and bolted.
“Brother Fan, what are you running for?!” a classmate shouted after him.
Fu Siheng glanced up, only catching the tail end of the student fleeing in a panic, leaving him staring at the remaining students.
Fu Siheng’s eyes were a cool, tranquil sea-grey-blue.
As the students’ faces twitched awkwardly, Fu Siheng casually averted his gaze, going back to mindlessly scuffing his shoe against the floor.
Five minutes later, the “Imperial Military Academy Alpha Club · Satisfaction Guaranteed” chat blew up with notifications once again.
Yue-zi – Lemon Sparkling Alpha: LIVE UPDATE! The new instructor is at Academic Affairs! Free guessing game time: which department is he getting assigned to?
Xiao Hai – Suppressant Proxy Purchase (DM me): I am BEGGING the Academic Affairs lady! Send him to the Department of Interstellar Relations! AHHHH!
Shi Shi Isn’t Dating: Holy crap, he’s already on campus?
Simping for Chongyang Today: Hahaha, even Senior Shi Shi came out to watch the show? Now I’m really curious…who exactly is this new instructor?
Once the Academic Affairs Office opened, Fu Siheng went inside to complete his onboarding paperwork.
He was assigned to the Department of Military Command…the academy’s flagship department, which accepted exclusively Alpha cadets. It was affectionately dubbed the “Empire’s Powerhouse Hub,” as it bred top-tier tactical leaders, many of whom were destined to become future generals.
Coincidentally, Fu Siheng himself had graduated from this very department.
Before he left, the staff member offered a friendly reminder: “Instructor Fu, your department has a staff meeting at 8:30 AM. Don’t be late!”
Fu Siheng asked, “Thanks. Is it a campus-wide staff meeting?”
“No,” the staff member replied. “Just your department and the Research Institute.”
Fu Siheng: “…”
Of course. Whatever I try to avoid always finds me.
Holding a stack of documents, he paused to calculate his options. Surely missing a meeting on his very first day wouldn’t be the end of the world?
Just as he was trying to rationalize skipping it, his comms device rang.
The call was from Qu Mengda…the Dean of the Department of Military Command, the Vice Principal of the academy, and Fu Siheng’s mentor throughout his four years of college.
The moment the line connected, Qu Mengda boomed loudly, “Xiao Heng! Have you arrived yet? If you’re on campus, come straight to the conference room. We’re discussing a joint project with the Research Institute today.”
Fu Siheng tried one last desperate attempt: “…Mentor, do I really have to go?”
“Of course you do! You just got back…it’s the perfect time to introduce you to everyone,” Qu Mengda said cheerfully. Fu Siheng was his prize pupil, and he couldn’t wait to show him off in front of those old fogies.
Realizing there was no escape, Fu Siheng asked, “What kind of project are we collaborating on with the Institute? Is their whole team coming?”
Qu Mengda explained, “It’s regarding the Excellence Initiative. Since you’re taking over the junior class, you need to understand this project anyway. They won’t all be here…the room couldn’t hold that many people. It’ll just be their Dean and their Student Body President. Oh, right, their President was actually your classmate back then. What was his name… Yan Xun, right?”
Hearing those two dreaded syllables, Fu Siheng’s lips twitched. He opened his mouth, but no words came out.
“Hurry on over, try not to be late,” Qu Mengda urged before hanging up.
Fu Siheng entered a state of mild existential dread.
He couldn’t exactly tell Qu Mengda that he simply didn’t want to see Yan Xun’s face…because then Qu Mengda would inevitably ask why.
And as for that why? He would rather die than let anyone else know.
Because Yan Xun was his goddamn ex-boyfriend.
Back in college, the two of them had played out an utterly cliché, juvenile “enemies-to-lovers” romance.
The reason it was so juvenile was because Fu Siheng hadn’t even awakened his secondary gender back then. He couldn’t even smell sex pheromones. He could, however, catch Yan Xun’s combat pheromones…especially the time he accidentally ingested an Alpha catalyst, and Yan Xun had physically carried him out of the live combat simulation.
Yet their romance lasted for a grand total of one month before Yan Xun dumped him with some ridiculous excuse. Dumped. Him.
Fu Siheng’s very first relationship, and he had been dumped over a reason so absurd it made him laugh out of pure rage.
Who in their right mind wants to see an ex like that?! Just thinking about it pisses me off!
The fact that he hadn’t slapped a riding crop across Yan Xun’s face yet was already an act of utmost restraint.
Taking a few deep breaths, Fu Siheng forced himself to calm down, mentally kicking Yan Xun out of his head.
When he reached the Military Command conference room with his paperwork, a row of instructors was already seated inside.
Fu Siheng had braced himself mentally before opening the door, but to his relief, Yan Xun’s designated seat was empty. He let out a subtle sigh of relief.
Qu Mengda waved him over. “Come on over, Xiao Heng! Sit here.”
Qu Mengda had gained a bit more weight over the last two years, making his tactical belt look painfully tight. Years of field missions had left his skin weathered and dark, and his hairline was retreating at an alarming speed.
The moment he saw Fu Siheng, his usual stoic facade melted into a grin so wide his eyes crinkled into tiny slits, drawing the attention of every instructor in the room.
“Let me introduce everyone…this kid here is back to serve as an instructor! His name is Fu Siheng, one of my students from two classes ago. Don’t let his quiet demeanor fool you; back in the day, he swept up every award in sight,” Qu Mengda boasted proudly.
“I remember him! Hahaha,” one instructor chimed in. “Xiao Fu took my class. Very bright boy, incredibly talented.”
“Dean Qu really breeds outstanding soldiers. Xiao Fu definitely looks like fine commander material.”
Fu Siheng took his seat next to Qu Mengda. Hearing them address him one by one as “Xiao Fu,” he quietly thought to himself: Xiao Fu… sounds like ‘lower abdomen.’ Could you guys maybe call me something that sounds like a person’s name?
Shortly after, the meeting officially commenced.
Yan Xun still hadn’t shown up. In contrast to the lively, cheerful mood on the Military Command side, the Dean of the Research Institute looked like his face was turning green.
While Qu Mengda was busy praising his star pupil, the seat beside the Research Institute’s Dean remained completely vacant.
Just as Qu Mengda began outlining his points, two firm knocks echoed against the conference room door, and it swung open.
“My apologies, everyone. I’m late.”
A deep, magnetic voice echoed through the room, delivered with a slight upward inflection…as though being late and apologizing was something to be immensely proud of.
Hearing that voice made Fu Siheng’s heart instantly drop.
Yan Xun stood framed in the doorway. He wore black combat fatigues, his jacket draped casually over an arm that displayed clear muscular definition. The crest of the Imperial Military Academy was printed across the chest of his short-sleeved undershirt.
He was tall…tall enough to block out most of the ambient light from the hallway outside.
The noisy conference room gradually fell dead silent.
Yan Xun’s gaze swept across the room before finally locking onto Fu Siheng.