Perhaps it was his imagination, but Shi Wei's room-change request seemed to be approved unusually quickly. They'd barely finished lunch before its status changed to Accepted. Xu Yan eagerly volunteered to help him move, but Shi Wei stopped him.
“I only arrived today. I haven't even unpacked my suitcase. It'll take one trip. No need to help.”
Xu Yan's eyes darted thoughtfully. Suddenly, he grabbed Shen Li and ran toward the dorms.
“Come on, Boss Shen! Let's tidy the living room and make a good impression on your better half.”
“I told you we're not...”
“Stop denying it. Your buddy understands.”
“What exactly do you understand?”
Their argument faded into the distance.
Watching them go, Shi Wei shook his head lightly. Ah, to be young. Then he paused. It wasn't as though he was old either. Clearly, he needed to spend less time around the Marshal.
Qiu He, abandoned by the other two, gave him an apologetic smile.
“That's just Xu Yan. No filter between his brain and his mouth, but he means well.”
The Federation took rumor-spreading seriously. If the two weren't a couple and genuinely objected to the claims, they could hold Xu Yan accountable.
“It's fine. I don't mind.”
His smile was bright and apparently free of resentment. Qiu He relaxed.
Yet as Shi Wei walked away, Qiu He couldn't shake the sense that something about him didn't quite fit. An air that didn't match his age, perhaps? Then again, maybe he'd simply spent too long in simulation pods. Those things really could turn people into combat maniacs. An unpleasant memory surfaced, and Qiu He shuddered.
Shi Wei didn't have much luggage: one suitcase and a backpack.
Even so, his hands were empty the moment he arrived at the dorm building. Xu Yan had snatched both bags away.
Apparently, Shen Li had thrown him out for talking too much. Xu Yan, of course, hadn't realized he was unwanted. He'd cheerfully appointed himself the welcoming committee.
Taking reception duties this seriously... Well, that was one overworked drudge. Except Xu Yan was different. He worked for free.
Their suite was on the seventh floor, with only two suites to a floor. Though called four-person dorms, each student had a separate bedroom. The Federal Military Academy certainly couldn't be faulted for protecting its students' privacy.
Xu Yan was tremendously enthusiastic, supplying an endless stream of explanations. Even Shi Wei struggled to keep up. Good thing he wasn't socially anxious, or he'd have grabbed his luggage back and fled.
The entrance opened into a shared living room, which Shen Li and Qiu He had already tidied. Shi Wei gave a wolf whistle. “How domestic.”
Xu Yan's expression said: Message received!
“An Alpha as good as Boss Shen? Marry him.”
Shi Wei drew in a sharp breath. As Xu Yan continued dropping colossal hints, a trace of respect entered his gaze. Did this guy have a death wish? Sure, recovery pods could heal most injuries, but that was no reason to ask for trouble.
Even Qiu He, who knew Xu Yan better, thought he'd lost his mind. He was beginning to suspect the guy had acquired one of those systems that made you stronger every time you got beaten up.
Had Xu Yan known what he was thinking, he would certainly have objected. How could ordinary gossip compare to gossip about the boss?
Shen Li took Shi Wei's luggage and gave Xu Yan a look that said, You're dead. Xu Yan ducked his head, wisely shut up, and retreated to a corner to make himself inconspicuous.
To the right of the entrance was the bathroom, followed by Xu Yan's room and Qiu He's. On the left was a small kitchen that, apart from its refrigerator, saw practically no use. Shen Li occupied the first bedroom. The second now belonged to Shi Wei.
Shi Wei surveyed his home for the foreseeable future. It was spacious. Even with a bed, wardrobe, desk, and simulation pod, the room still looked a little empty.
His favorite part was the large sun-facing window. He walked over and stood in the light.
Shen Li followed him in and closed the door behind him.
“I've been meaning to ask. Aren't you hot?”
The Federation had no winter or summer holidays. Classes continued through the heat. Usually, no one cared what peculiar clothes anyone chose to wear. But when the person was someone familiar—well, once familiar—Shen Li couldn't help asking.
Shi Wei answered casually.
“I run cold.”
Remembering the cool hand he'd held earlier, Shen Li felt some of his doubts subside. Still, he eyed the long sleeves suspiciously.
Noticing his gaze, Shi Wei rolled up a sleeve with an amused smile, revealing an unmarked arm.
“Been reading too many novels? Did you think I was hiding an arm covered in needle marks?”
Caught out, Shen Li looked embarrassed and awkwardly changed the subject.
“So... do you need any help?”
“I can manage. Don't you have something else to take care of?”
Shen Li understood the hint and nodded. There was a campus express-delivery service anyway. If Shi Wei needed anything, he could order it on his wrist terminal.
Shen Li opened the door and met the eyes of Xu Yan, who'd been eavesdropping outside. He tilted his head and began loosening his wrists.
“Ah, ha-ha, Boss Shen... Lovely weather today...”
Xu Yan cast a pleading look at Qiu He, seated nearby. Under Shen Li's dangerous gaze, Qiu He picked up the drink on the table and became deeply absorbed in its ingredients label. Ignoring Xu Yan's babble, Shen Li caught him by the collar and headed for the training room.
“Come on. Today I'm definitely installing a functioning speech system in you.”
“Guh. Buh...” Xu Yan said.
“No! I'm sorry!”
He howled all the way there. Naturally, interested bystanders filmed it and posted the footage to the forum.
#SHOCKING! The Real Reason Behind Those Terrifying Screams on Campus...#
A crowd of gossip-hungry loafers gathered.
[ForumIsMyHome: Thought this was some campus secret. Turns out it's just a new batch of Xu the Menace reaction memes. Nothing to see here.]
[SleepsThroughCombat: The news club wore that headline out ages ago. Can we get some originality?]
[PleaseDontHitMeInstructor: What did Xu the Menace do to annoy the Demon King this time? Any eyewitnesses want to spill?]
[SleepsThroughCombat: According to a helpful source who wishes to remain anonymous, Xu the Menace was caught gossiping about the Demon King at lunch.]
[BlackHoleEater: Am I the only one wondering whether the gossip is true? I heard the transfer student already moved into the Demon King's suite.]
[IveGotAnIdea: Tsk, tsk. You should have seen it. The Demon King was so well-behaved around that transfer.]
[FederationsMostDevoted: Bestie, bestie! Here's that Alpha-Alpha romance you wanted.]
[PeaceDoveSoup: The Cybersecurity Bureau is watching you, above.]
[FederationsMostDevoted: And I'm out.]
[IveGotAnIdea: Me too.]
The crowd of troublemakers chattered the thread straight onto the trending list. Shi Wei happened across it while searching the forum for the new-student rules. Though he'd never attended school, he considered himself a law-abiding student. Naturally, he abandoned the rules at once. Entertainment? Count him in.
[InvalidUsername: Why call him the Demon King? Isn't Kitty Shen cuter?]
He refreshed the page and found a screenful of question marks.
[PeaceDoveSoup: A new challenger has entered the chat?]
[IveGotAnIdea: Have you never attended a single combat class?]
[BlackHoleEater: Demon King, get over here! You missed one!!!]
[PeaceDoveSoup: Your Honor, I refuse to believe someone has never been beaten up by the Demon King!]
Shi Wei moved his fingers and typed another line.
[InvalidUsername: Nope. Hee-hee.]