Chapter 63: Blocked at the Dorm Door on the First Day of School
It was a notification from Ares Military Academy, informing them about the start of school tomorrow.
Tomorrow would involve class assignments, receiving materials, and getting familiar with the campus.
Shen Zhuo saw the class roster on the notification, listing all 50 students entering the academy.
Now, it should be 49.
All students with an S-rank from the entrance exam were assigned to the same class.
This class was for pre-military training.
Shen Zhuo glanced at the roster.
Xun Qing's name was no longer there.
But then, he received a second message.
[Notification of Adjustments to the Enrollment List.]
Shen Zhuo opened it and saw that the list, originally with 49 names, now had one more person.
Coincidentally, Du Xun had just received a call from the military command.
"You don't have that authority."
Du Xun answered the call, his voice cold, "I want to see him."
Shen Zhuo frowned and, after Du Xun ended the Bluetooth call, he showed him the new roster on his phone.
A new name had been added—
Feng Muya.
The esteemed princess.
The young man's face clearly darkened:
"Is this what it's about?"
Du Xun nodded, "Come with me to the command center."
Shen Zhuo didn’t ask any more questions, "Alright."
The car, which had been stopped at a red light, immediately turned around.
Not long after, Du Xun received a second call.
"What is it?"
The person on the other end only said a single sentence.
The rosemary scent of pheromones in the car suddenly grew much heavier.
Shen Zhuo sensed that Du Xun's mood had plummeted.
After hanging up, Du Xun looked at the young man, "He’s been bailed out."
He was referring to Xun Qing.
"They have people in the military court, too."
The man spoke with a fierce tone, his deep eyes as cold as ice:
"It seems this country is rotten to the core."
Shen Zhuo let out a small, derisive laugh.
"No wonder Xun Qiru was so confident."
It was like rats breeding in the sewers—endless, uncontrollable.
The outwardly glamorous empire was, in fact, damp, moldy, and infested with cockroaches.
"The matter of Xun Qing is being hushed up among the nobles. Someone threatened them, but the military has yet to investigate."
Shen Zhuo leaned back in his seat.
His soft lips parted, his expression calm, "Who else could it be?"
Du Xun’s eyes narrowed slightly, silently agreeing with Shen Zhuo's deduction.
"I just don’t understand—what value does Xun Qing still hold that she’s being protected like this?"
Shen Zhuo sneered, "Xun Qing can’t get close to me anymore."
"Perhaps Xun Qing is just a decoy to distract you."
Du Xun added, "What she really wants is far more complicated."
——
The car smoothly pulled into the command center's parking garage.
Du Xun and Shen Zhuo exited the car simultaneously.
They immediately saw Ji Weishen waiting at the elevator.
His eyes were bloodshot with anxiety.
Upon seeing Du Xun, he quickly approached, "Boss."
The alpha could only get out two words before pressing his lips together. His anxious expression made even Shen Zhuo feel a bit concerned.
Du Xun looked at him, "What’s wrong?"
"He's here."
Ji Weishen was rarely this flustered. At least, Shen Zhuo had never seen him like this.
Du Xun gently squeezed the young man's hand, reassuring him in a soft voice:
"It’s fine. Just stay with me."
He then turned to Ji Weishen, "Lead the way."
The temperature in the conference room was low.
At one end of the long, curved table, a set of gold-lined porcelain cups was placed, with faint wisps of steam rising from them.
Seated at the head of the table was a woman.
Her black formal gown outlined her figure, with intricate lace patterns on the fishtail skirt adorned with tiny rubies.
Her long, ash-blonde curls cascaded down her back. When she saw them, she set down her teacup, a slight smile curling her red lips.
"You're here?" She gestured toward the chairs with a hand, her smile warm but not reaching her eyes. "Have a seat."
Shen Zhuo was the first to bow slightly, his tone carrying a mix of somber and complex emotions.
"Your Majesty, the Queen."
Before learning of her involvement in these matters, Shen Zhuo had always viewed her as a mentor, even as a mother.
But Xun Qiru’s confidence could not have come solely from a few officials.
From the clues they had gathered—
It was highly likely that the Queen had been orchestrating everything behind the scenes.
"Xiao Zhuo, come sit next to me." The Queen smiled tenderly, resting her chin on her hand.
She was incredibly beautiful, easily one of the most striking women in the empire.
Her gray eyes had a silvery sheen in the bright room.
Even at her age, her beauty carried a sharp, predatory allure.
She was like a blood-red flower blooming among thorns and bones, nourished by blood.
There was a decadent, luxurious air of aggression in her beauty.
In the past, Shen Zhuo would have listened to her.
But this time, even if Du Xun wasn’t holding his hand, he wouldn’t have stepped forward.
The conference room was empty, save for them.
The Queen watched as Du Xun, still holding Shen Zhuo’s hand, sat at the other end of the long table.
The man’s demeanor was cold and composed, his gray-blue eyes devoid of any emotion.
The two sat at opposite ends of the long table, as if in a standoff. Yet, the calm, unflinching alpha seemed more like a ruler in control of the situation.
"What brings Your Majesty here?"
Du Xun wasn’t one to exchange pleasantries with this woman.
The Queen narrowed her eyes, studying him for a moment before smiling:
"My daughter will be attending Ares tomorrow."
"The princess has not undergone formal training. She’ll only drag everyone down," Du Xun stated bluntly.
The woman nodded, "That’s why she’ll only be attending theory classes. She won’t participate in any practical exercises."
"This is my daughter’s wish, and as her mother, I must help her fulfill it."
The Queen was not the type to dote on or indulge any of her children.
Shen Zhuo knew this better than anyone.
In the past, she hadn’t interfered in military or political affairs, yet she managed to win over all the nobles.
It had never been because of her royal title.
For her to make such a statement now meant that something must have been arranged with Feng Muya.
Du Xun squeezed Shen Zhuo's hand lightly.
When Shen Zhuo looked up, the alpha’s expression was calm, and he gave him a small smile.
The message in his eyes was clear: Leave this to me.
Shen Zhuo exhaled slowly, resting his chin on the back of his chair.
His hand covered most of his face.
He knew his expression must be grim.
The Queen sipped her tea, the smile in her eyes gradually fading.
When she looked up again, it was as though she had become a different person:
"Ares' enrollment rules clearly state that all students participating in the full curriculum must pass the entrance exam, correct?"
Ares had a separate class for students who hadn’t undergone differentiation, mainly to teach them military theory.
The military also needed administrative staff.
The woman lazily brushed the curls that had fallen over her shoulder:
"It’s just adding one more person to the theory class, Commander Du."
"Muya’s glandular level is A3, which qualifies her for the theory courses at Ares."
The woman seemed to imply something, "This doesn’t violate the school’s regulations."
Du Xun replied, "I’ll have the academy arrange for her to take the entrance exam. She can only attend Ares if she passes."
The man’s tone was cold and indifferent, "This isn’t something you can decide."
The Queen tilted her lips, not responding. Instead, she looked at Shen Zhuo.
"I was surprised when I heard about your marriage, Xiao Zhuo."
"Why didn’t you come to the palace to tell me?"
Shen Zhuo spoke, his voice colder than he had expected: "I was preparing for the entrance exam. I didn’t have time."
The woman seemed not to notice the young man’s aloofness and continued in her usual affectionate tone:
"When you have time, come to the palace more often. I miss you very much."
Shen Zhuo looked at her.
After a moment, he shifted his gaze and said nothing.
The Queen didn’t press further. She tucked her hair behind her ear:
"Alright, I still have matters to attend to at the palace. I’ll take my leave. Congratulations on your marriage."
As she walked out of the office, she opened her pocket watch and glanced at it.
The cover of the watch held a yellowed photograph.
In the picture, a smiling woman wore gold-rimmed glasses.
Her hair was as black and smooth as silk.
And she had calm, gentle, blue-gray eyes.
The Queen closed the pocket watch and didn’t look back.
After watching her leave, Du Xun squeezed Shen Zhuo’s palm again.
Shen Zhuo snapped out of his daze.
This woman was nothing like the Queen who had once treated him as if he were her own child.
Now, in her eyes, he could only see unmasked calculation and scheming.
"I used to think of her as my mother."
Shen Zhuo’s voice was low.
Du Xun stood up, crouched in front of the young man, and gently rubbed his smooth cheek, "People’s hearts are too complex. This isn’t your fault."
"Let’s go home."
——
The next day, An drove Shen Zhuo to Ares.
Du Xun had gone to the military command early in the morning.
When Shen Zhuo had asked Du Xun if he would miss him, knowing that the first six months at the academy didn’t allow for day students, the man had answered with actions.
It wasn’t until Shen Zhuo lay limp in his arms, his limbs weak, that the alpha finally whispered, "I always miss you."
All the S-rank students at Ares were assigned to a single dorm building, with each floor having four rooms.
After greeting his neighbor, Ai Li, Shen Zhuo entered his own room.
It was a roughly 70-square-meter single dorm, complete with a study, kitchen, and various appliances, with no cost for accommodation.
Ares never hesitated to treat its top talents well.
While An and the two housekeepers who had come along tidied up the dorm, Ai Li leaned against the doorframe, chewing on a milk candy.
He fished out a handful of candies from his pocket and handed them to Shen Zhuo.
"Just starting school, and I have a feeling something’s going to happen."
Shen Zhuo unwrapped one, the sweet flavor melting in his mouth.
"I heard that last year, there was an S3 omega named Fu Qishang, who used his rank and noble status to bully a lot of omegas."
Ai Li fiddled with his phone and showed Shen Zhuo a picture:
"People say to stay away from him. He’s got a nasty reputation."
Shen Zhuo glanced at the photo.
It was a decently handsome young man.
He didn’t recognize him and had never met him.
"Oh," Shen Zhuo replied absentmindedly and flipped through his class schedule.
The theory courses were unified for all 50 students, but the practical courses were conducted individually or in groups.
Suddenly, he noticed a name on the instructor list for the Strategic Deployment and Command course.
Du Xun.
The young man raised an eyebrow.
Just as Ai Li was about to say something else, a loud shout echoed from the end of the hallway:
"Who’s Ai Li?!"
Ai Li frowned and looked over, but in the next second, his face went pale as he clutched the back of his neck.
He staggered, breaking out in a cold sweat.
The air was thick with the scent of an S3 pheromone, carrying a clear challenge.
A group of people came up the stairs at the end of the hallway.
The leader shouted as another figure strolled leisurely behind him, hands in his pockets.
Golden hair gleamed under the lights.
The scent of that S3 pheromone was unmistakably coming from him.
Seeing this, Shen Zhuo immediately grabbed Ai Li’s arm.
He pulled him behind, creating a barrier of pheromones.
Ai Li’s face finally regained some color.
"Him…"
The pain of the glands was one of the highest levels of suffering.
And Ai Li had always been particularly sensitive to pain.
"He’s… Fu Qishang."
Ai Li’s lips were pale.
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