The gathering returned to its proper course, and they finally had a chance to talk properly about Winona enlisting.
The Omega Legion was just a general term. If one were to look at the specific branches of the omega military, its full name was the Imperial Starship Legion. The Empire had a total of five starships, four of which belonged to the Omega Legion. The remaining one was a royal guard ship, under the direct command of the imperial family.
Of course, not all omegas serving on a starship were pilots. Piloting a starship required long and rigorous training at a military academy. The Imperial Omega Military Academy primarily recruited from within the Omega Legion itself. Every June, the academy would select new recruits who had performed well for further training. Based on their performance, they would then be assigned to various posts on the starships.
Each starship possessed enough firepower to independently annihilate a planet. The Omega Legion kept two starships on patrol missions within the home system at all times. This was the fundamental reason why the upper-echelon alphas of the Empire had conceded during the recent crisis—the omegas had the power to flip the entire table.
Thanks to her grandmother’s connections, Tang Jianxi was quite familiar with the Omega Legion. She also knew that Winona had performed well in the recruitment assessment. Combined with Winona’s resilient character, getting into the military academy was practically a sure thing.
“Are you planning to specialize in mechanics?” Tang Jianxi asked, inquiring about Winona’s plans after entering the academy. Considering Winona’s passion for mechanical knowledge, she guessed that Winona would likely want to master the operation or maintenance of a specific weapon system on a starship.
Winona shook her head. “I plan to major in combat.”
Tang Jianxi grew thoughtful. “The guard corps?”
“Yes,” Winona replied softly.
“That’s a tough job.”
Compared to technical positions, combat roles involved much greater training intensity and frequency. Furthermore, due to the unique nature of the Starship Legion, promotions in combat roles were always less straightforward than in technical ones. In times of peace, they were also considered less important.
But if a war were to break out, the combat personnel would be the shield standing in front of the technicians. And right now was the time in the Empire’s three-hundred-year history when war was most likely to occur.
It was, in every sense, a thankless job.
However, Tang Jianxi smiled and said to Winona, “If it’s you, I’m sure you’ll do a great job.”
Winona paused, then smiled a little shyly. “Yes.”
She wanted to repay the Omega Legion. As long as the Omega Legion was strong, Tang Jianxi would have more confidence. This was the only way she could repay Tang Jianxi.
Of course, there was no need to voice these thoughts; that would only sap her motivation to work hard. Winona took a sip of her juice, her gaze resting with a smile on the two people snuggling affectionately across from her. Buried in the depths of her dark green eyes was a gratitude and reverence she was too shy to express.
After the gathering ended, Tang Jianxi and Yun Chuji landed on the hotel’s rooftop parking lot. Tang Jianxi hadn’t fully sobered up and had to lean on Yun Chuji to stand straight.
Although it was only a dozen or so meters to the elevator that would take them directly to their hotel room, the moment Tang Jianxi leaned against her after getting out of the car, Yun Chuji swept her up into her arms.
Tang Jianxi let out a small “ah,” her hand resting on Yun Chuji’s shoulder. She studied her with a peculiar expression for a few seconds and said, “Xiao Ji, have you noticed you’re nothing like that delicate young lady you used to be?”
Then she answered her own question. “Hmm, you’re a bit more like an alpha now.”
Yun Chuji shot a helpless glance at the instigator of this change, gesturing for her to press the elevator button.
Once inside the elevator, she didn’t put her down. With her current physical strength, carrying Tang Jianxi was no different from carrying a bouquet of flowers. In fact, in terms of touch and scent, Tang Jianxi had the clear advantage.
As for the rules and decorum of a young lady, they had become a secondary consideration the moment she fell for Tang Jianxi.
No young lady of proper rules and decorum would secretly pledge her life to someone without her parents’ knowledge, and to a woman no less. There could be nothing more scandalous.
Although objective factors had pushed everything forward, her own heart was entirely subjective. Yun Chuji knew with absolute clarity that even if she didn’t have pheromones, even if her parents from ancient times were still by her side, she would still have fallen hopelessly in love with Tang Jianxi.
Like a pile of firewood is naturally destined to be ignited by a flame.
“Because you’re an omega, Jianxi, I can only be more of an alpha.”
Yun Chuji stared at the constantly changing floor numbers on the elevator display, mustering a bit of courage to utter such a sweet nothing.
Her ears still turned a little red, though.
But thankfully, her hair covered them.
Nestled in her arms, Tang Jianxi indeed laughed happily upon hearing this. The hand on Yun Chuji’s shoulder moved forward to stroke her neck. With the languor and charm of alcohol, she said slowly, “Is Xiao Ji learning to say sweet things now?”
The blush on her ears finally spread beyond the protective cover of her hair, revealing her owner’s not-so-composed interior. Yun Chuji turned her head away, refusing to answer this wicked question.
Tang Jianxi didn’t want to tease her too much. She rubbed that fair, smooth neck again. The omega rested her face against the alpha’s prominent collarbone and kindly changed the subject. “But you were right on the money. Winona really is doing it for Helen’s sake. But I remember you’ve only met Winona three times at most. How do you seem to know her better than I do?”
Just then, the elevator arrived.
Yun Chuji stepped out. The recognition machine at the hotel room door scanned her smart device and opened automatically. Yun Chuji placed Tang Jianxi on the sofa before finally answering, “When Winona killed the leader of the Lone Wolf Gang, she was already prepared to die. With her resources and connections, the chances of finding Helen were minuscule. In the end, when she made up her mind to escape that hell, she had already entrusted her entire life to Helen.”
Yun Chuji brought over a glass of hot water and handed it to Tang Jianxi before continuing, “So she will only ever consider Helen, because Helen saved her life.”
And it wasn’t a life-saving act like theirs; it was giving Winona the will to live.
As long as Helen was there, she would want to live. Otherwise, a person carrying such a past couldn’t face themselves with a clear mind. But for Helen, she would try. And also for Helen, she could give up trying.
In short, it was all about Helen.
Tang Jianxi understood Yun Chuji’s unspoken meaning and couldn’t help but wonder. This person was, at most, seventeen years old in this life. How did she understand human nature so well? Or had she secretly been watching too many romance movies?
Yun Chuji was about to take the empty glass from Tang Jianxi when she looked up and met a pair of slightly scrutinizing eyes. Before the question mark in Yun Chuji’s eyes could fully form, she heard Tang Jianxi whisper, “You understand love quite well now, don’t you?”
Understand love quite well?
How should she interpret that? Yun Chuji slowly looked at the sole source of her romantic experience. Considering that their relationship had more or less reached fruition, she nodded cautiously.
If love were a school, then receiving a degree would probably prove that one understood love, Yun Chuji thought to herself.
After receiving Yun Chuji’s affirmative response, Tang Jianxi seemed to become even more secretive. That bright and clear face gradually took on the look of a lecher.
“Then why don’t you try all forms of love?”
The question mark that had been interrupted in Yun Chuji’s mind now successfully emerged. All forms of love? Was she suggesting she should cheat?
“Love only needs one form,” Yun Chuji said righteously.
“No, there are at least two.” Tang Jianxi’s fragrance slowly drifted onto Yun Chuji’s shoulder and neck. She whispered, “The spiritual, and…”
“The carnal.”
Yun Chuji understood.
But she didn’t want to understand. What was this? Did Tang Jianxi… did she want to act out a movie scene, a drunken one-night stand?
Yun Chuji swallowed silently, then moved back a little, casting that spell: “We are not yet married.”
Tang Jianxi raised an eyebrow, grabbing the collar of the person in front of her and pulling her closer. A tall and sturdy alpha, moving like a big dog on a leash.
The omega’s lips curved up in a good mood. Her other hand moved to the alpha’s waistline, and as expected, it met a large, tense muscle. She kneaded it, but that only made the poor muscle even more rigid.
The side that had already accepted the white flag was not discouraged by this small setback. The slender, jade-like hand representing victory continued its upward climb. It was as if this hand had stolen the magic from Medusa’s eyes; every place it touched was rendered as cold, hard, and lifeless as stone.
Finally, it rested on the place that should have been the softest. Tang Jianxi made no move, but the mere touch was enough to make the heart beneath her palm pound with terror.
Tang Jianxi pressed her lips to Yun Chuji’s ear, not looking at all like a drunk person. Perhaps Yun Chuji shouldn’t have taken such good care of her, so that the weakening effects of the alcohol had been completely overcome by the hot soup, hot water, and warm embrace, leaving only the restlessness that alcohol brings.
And in the end, this restlessness was turned back on the one who had cared for her so meticulously.
“What do you think?”
Yun Chuji was trembling all over. She felt as if she were on a dividing line, with her body on one side and her soul on the other.
Her alpha body on one side, her female soul on the other.
A few seconds later, she let out a heavy breath. Through their clothes, she grasped Tang Jianxi’s hand and kissed the lips that were so close.
A lingering, grinding kiss. This was still within her comfort zone; she had grown accustomed to this level of intimacy.
However, in the next step, when the hand she held couldn’t help but make a move…
She squeezed that hand tightly and said, dejected yet honest, “I don’t think I can do that kind of thing right now.”
Yes, marriage was just a grand excuse.
After all, they had already given themselves to each other in private. Marriage had long lost its original significance in a sexual context.
The real reason was, she couldn’t do it.
She still hadn’t been able to fully accept this strange body.
But Tang Jianxi didn’t seem surprised. Perhaps she had long sensed the truth behind Yun Chuji’s always stopping just short. At this moment, her smile was still so gentle and kind that Yun Chuji could clearly discern the amount of love within it. Her sweet lips dotted Yun Chuji’s cheek, the tip of her nose, the corner of her eye, the curve of her ear, and finally returned to her lips.
“I know. Then we’ll just do what you’re able to do.”
Yun Chuji’s hand relaxed.
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