Chapter 157: Interstellar (ABO) 11

Yue Yixian’s gaze fell upon the chubby, pink heart-shaped cake as the young man handed over a slice with a beaming smile, saying, "Major, please try this."

"Thank you." Yue Yixian took it, picked up a fork, and took a bite, her movements pausing slightly.

The flavor was indeed exceptional.

She thought silently to herself that if there weren't so many complications—no, if she truly were—

Perhaps he would make a fine partner for marriage after all.

"Is it good?" Ke Yuandao looked at her with sparkling eyes, his gaze so eager it seemed as though an invisible tail were wagging behind him.

"Very good," Yue Yixian gave him an affirmative reply.

Hearing the response, Ke Yuandao looked immensely satisfied. "If it's good, eat a bit more."

Yue Yixian took another bite. Noticing that the youth was resting his chin in both hands and staring at her unblinkingly, she asked, "Aren't you going to eat?"

"I'd rather just watch you eat," Ke Yuandao replied.

Yue Yixian put down her fork, pointed at the heart-shaped cake, and said, "I can't finish this all by myself. Let's eat it together."

My future wife is inviting me to share a meal with her. This is wonderful!

Ke Yuandao chuckled foolishly to himself. Having no idea what was running through his mind, Yue Yixian could only shake her head with a helpless sigh.

Before long, the cake was entirely gone.

"Thank you. Your cake was delicious."

"Shall I make you another one next time, then?" Ke Yuandao blurted out instantly.

A look of hesitation flickered across Yue Yixian's face. After pondering for a moment, she said, "Then I'll have to trouble you."

"No trouble at all! Not a trouble at all!" Ke Yuandao shook his head repeatedly.

He walked out of the office with buoyant, floating steps.

Sitting at her desk, Yue Yixian propped her chin on one hand. Her sleeve slipped down slightly with the movement, exposing a fair wrist adorned with a fiery red bracelet. "Suzaku, contact Feiyi. Have her dispatch someone to investigate Ke Yuandao."

The crimson bracelet flashed a few times and replied, "Understood, Master."

Far away, Mo Feiyi received the message, shook her head, and tutted softly. "What a little pitiful creature. But you had better not let me uncover any hidden secrets about you."

As Ke Yuandao walked back to the dormitory, he caught sight of Ke Yuanya standing downstairs from afar.

She wore a camouflage training uniform, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. Her short, ear-length blonde hair seemed to catch the sunlight and shimmer, drawing appreciative glances from many passing Omegas.

"Yuanya, why are you here?" Ke Yuandao asked as he approached her.

***

Ke Yuanya glanced at him and said, "Xiao Dao, I need to undergo a surgery. Lend me some money."

"???" Ke Yuandao asked in alarm, "Are you sick?"

"No, just some minor ailment," Ke Yuanya shook her head. Subconsciously, the back of her hand brushed the nape of her neck as she continued, "I originally intended to deal with it later, but I can't wait anymore."

"???"

"I don't have much money left. Most of the allowance Mom and Dad gave me went toward upgrading your dormitory," Ke Yuandao said.

"What about the rest?"

"I'm saving that to buy ingredients so I can make delicious treats for the Major." Ke Yuandao made it clear that she should abandon any thoughts of touching that remaining portion.

Ke Yuanya furrowed her brows. "The Major hasn't even touched the things you've sent over. Stop wasting your money and food."

"Who says the Major doesn't eat them? She ate the cake I made today, and she'll keep eating them in the future!" At this, Ke Yuandao beamed with joy. "One day, I will win the Major's heart."

"Pure wishful thinking," Ke Yuanya scoffed with a roll of her eyes.

Back then, she hadn't bothered to stop him; after all, he was now as stubborn as an ox, impossible to pull back no matter how hard one tried.

"What kind of surgery do you need?" Ke Yuandao asked, a hint of worry in his voice.

Dear sister, judging by this trope, you must be the female protagonist of this world. Please don't let anything happen to you.

Then again, if the female protagonist gets into trouble, the male protagonist usually shows up to save the day.

"It's nothing serious," Ke Yuanya deflected, changing the subject. "What kind of cake did you make for the Major today? Are there any leftovers?"

"Yes, some trimmings from when I cut the cake. If you want them, I can go get them for you."

Ke Yuanya looked down at her younger brother, who was a full head shorter than her. In a fit of mock anger, she reached out and ruffled his messy hair fiercely. "I'm your older sister, and you're offering me scraps and trimmings?"

"I can modify them a bit. Do you want them or not?" Ke Yuandao asked, his hair sticking out in all directions.

"I do!" Ke Yuanya answered without a moment's hesitation.

Even scraps would taste good and fill her stomach.

So thought the impoverished Ke Yuanya in her heart.

Days passed by one after another.

The month of freshman training finally came to an end.

On the very first night after it concluded, the Omegas wailed in collective misery, declaring that if it hadn't ended today, they would have all turned into charcoal.

As it happened, Ke Yuanya was passing by to see her brother when she overheard their complaints. She glanced down at her own skin, tanned to a healthy wheatish tone, and then looked at the tofu-smooth, tender arms of the others. The corners of her mouth twitched involuntarily.

***

When she arrived at her brother's dorm, she found him in an unexpectedly cheerful mood. "Military training is over, and the Major is about to leave. Why are you so happy?"

"Of course I am. I asked the Major, and she said she'll be staying at the academy for a while longer," Ke Yuandao hummed a little tune while shaping small cookies.

"Tch, staying behind?" Ke Yuanya thought about how, due to her stellar performance during the month of military training, various factions had constantly tried to approach her—yet none of them were from the Suzaku Unit.

"Yes, I heard she'll be working as a special-appointed instructor at the academy for a period. She'll be in charge of all classes in the Military Department," Ke Yuandao said thoughtfully.

Ke Yuanya detected something fishy. "She even tells you things like that?"

"What do you mean, 'things like that'? It's just a minor detail. Everyone will know when the official announcement comes out tomorrow," Ke Yuandao replied without looking up, placing the cookies onto a baking sheet and sliding them into the preheated oven.

Watching his busy figure, Ke Yuanya shook her head. *You silly boy, don't you realize? This proves the Major already cares about you to some extent. She's proactively telling you her plans so you won't worry.*

"Oh right, I heard Mom and Dad transferred your allowance," Ke Yuanya said, eyeing her younger brother with a smile.

"..."

"Just lend me a portion of it. I promise I'll pay you back later," Ke Yuanya patted her chest in assurance.

"What do you need the money for?" Ke Yuandao asked.

"Didn't I mention it earlier? To have a minor surgery," Ke Yuanya smiled brightly.

Ke Yuandao looked her up and down. "You don't look like you're sick."

"Relax, I'm not sick."

"If you're not sick, why are you getting surgery?"

"Because this thing is a huge nuisance," Ke Yuanya said bluntly, pointing toward the back of her neck.

Following the direction of her finger, Ke Yuandao was momentarily stunned, failing to process the gesture at once.

Then, recollections of ABO lore surfaced in his mind: Omegas entered rut upon reaching adulthood, during which their pheromones would spread everywhere. There were two ways to suppress a rut—either a temporary mark or a permanent mark.

A temporary mark involved biting the back of the neck to leave a transient imprint.

At the same time, that exact spot was the origin point of an Omega's pheromones.

If that was what she meant... was Ke Yuanya planning to castrate herself metaphorically?!