Chapter 10: Who Would Hate a Happy Puppy?

Both of them looked straight ahead. The timer at the finish line displayed—

Participant 699: 800 kg weighted run, five laps completed.
Rank: First place.

Beneath the giant timer, as if sensing their gazes, Ji Laili, who was panting with his hands on his knees, looked up and waved at them.

The two who had been arguing over first place for ages: “…”

Ji Laili’s boundless energy, as if he were injected with adrenaline, made the Alphas who had collapsed from exhaustion start questioning their existence.

The fact that Ji Laili returned completely unscathed, without a single injury, was shocking enough.

Just look at the other Alpha involved—his face was paler than paper, his legs trembling.

When someone asked what Senior Shen had wanted with him and Ji Laili, the guy broke into a cold sweat and muttered, “I was wrong… I was wrong, I can’t say.”

He looked so dazed that the new students were convinced that Shen Yu must have given him a brutal lecture and completely crushed his self-esteem!

Meanwhile, Ji Laili remained unfazed, even tackling the physical training like he was on a sugar high.

And not only that—he was sprinting effortlessly despite carrying 800 kg in weights, leaving everyone else in the dust.

The new students gasped for air, their faces screaming: “Are you even human?”

Even Zhai Yifei, who had been determined to claim first place this time to redeem himself from last time’s humiliation of coming second, looked conflicted.

Wait a minute… If first place is already taken…

Zhai Yifei’s expression tensed. If he didn’t even get second place, wouldn’t that be humiliating?

Glancing to the side—where was Lei Po?

Cursing under his breath, he tightened his weighted straps and picked up the pace.

Ji Laili stood under the timer, waiting for Zhai Yifei and Lei Po to finish.

Looking up, the timer showed them tied for second place.

Zhai Yifei’s expression darkened. Technically, he still lost—Lei Po had been in last place just a moment ago.

“Zhai-ge!” Ji Laili handed him a water bottle. Zhai Yifei took it, steadying his breath, and smiled faintly. “Thanks.”

Zhai Yifei had a good impression of Ji Laili. Seeing that he was still strapped with weights, he couldn’t help but ask, “You don’t seem too tired. Have you trained for this before?”

Ji Laili shook his head. “Nope, first time trying it. It feels great.”

He beamed, clearly having enjoyed the run.

Zhai Yifei couldn’t help but admire him. “You’re impressive, Laili.”

Ji Laili flushed slightly at the praise, coughing lightly. “No, no, you guys are way more impressive.”

He truly believed that. Zhai Yifei had entered with the second-highest score—he was basically a genius!

Ji Laili had only just arrived and still knew very little.

Thanks to the system, he had received memories of this “cannon fodder” character. He had seen the past few days’ combat training, including Zhai Yifei’s and Lei Po’s fights—they were incredible.

Making friends with someone that amazing? Super exciting!

Zhai Yifei, who had barely held onto second place, looked at Ji Laili’s genuine smile and fell silent, unable to say anything.

Lei Po smirked. “Heh.”

Zhai Yifei shot him a cold glare. “You didn’t even run. What are you laughing at?”

Lei Po: “…”

He shut his mouth, whistling as if nothing had happened.

As he whistled, a piece of candy appeared in front of him—wrapped in a vibrant, colorful wrapper.

Lei Po: “?”

The notorious troublemaker, the fiercest Alpha among the freshmen, furrowed his brows. “What the hell is this?”

Ji Laili smiled with squinted eyes. “Making friends, of course.”

Lei Po scoffed, his voice dripping with mockery. His sharp gaze locked onto Ji Laili, aggressive as ever. “Who the hell makes friends with candy? What are you, some little Omega?”

Ji Laili frowned slightly.

Zhai Yifei’s expression darkened at once. “Lei Po, watch your mouth.”

Lei Po clicked his tongue. “What, what did I even say?”

He grinned. “Oh? So you think calling someone an Omega is dirty?”

“Say the word, and I’ll ring up the Omega Protection Association. You can argue it out with them.”

Zhai Yifei’s face turned ice-cold, the low pressure around him making the other Alphas instinctively back away.

Using ‘Omega’ to insult an Alpha was pure provocation.

Zhai Yifei had come to genuinely like Ji Laili as a friend—his sincerity was rare.

Truth be told, Ji Laili suddenly wanting to befriend Lei Po had already rubbed Zhai Yifei the wrong way.

But now, seeing him insulted? His impression of Lei Po plummeted.

“You look down on Omegas?”

Zhai Yifei paused, glancing at Ji Laili.

Ji Laili’s usual bright, harmless smile was gone. Without it, he looked completely different—serious, calm, and composed.

Zhai Yifei was surprised. Was he angry?

Yet even in anger, Ji Laili didn’t radiate hostility or sharpness.

He wasn’t the type to hold grudges or be confrontational, which made the contrast all the more striking.

It almost felt like an achievement to get someone this cheerful to actually get mad.

And as expected, Ji Laili’s usual image was one of warmth and friendliness.

Even people who didn’t know him well had a good impression of him.

After all, who would hate a happy little puppy?

Noticing the commotion, the nearby Alphas all looked over with curiosity.

They had heard of Lei Po before—Zhai Yifei’s rival.

But they hadn’t expected him to be the kind of guy who could piss off even the nicest person in their class.

Conclusion: This Alpha has a bad personality!

Lei Po, feeling the weight of everyone’s judgmental stares: “…”

What the hell are those looks?

And it wasn’t just them—Lei Po suddenly felt a terrifyingly cold gaze wrap around his neck.

A deep sense of crisis jolted him to full alert. He scanned the area and found the source.

Up on the high platform, the famous Shen Yu was watching him, his face expressionless.

His gaze was calm, devoid of emotion.

But the way it wrapped around Lei Po’s neck?

Not calm at all.

Lei Po frowned. What was that supposed to mean? He had never offended Shen Yu before.

Even if he wanted to, he wouldn’t even have the chance.

Before he could figure it out, Ji Laili spoke again, pulling his attention back.

Repeating his question, Ji Laili’s gaze was clear and unwavering. “Do you look down on Omegas?”

Unlike Shen Yu’s unreadable stare, Ji Laili’s emotions were easy to read.

Stern yet righteous, his posture upright, his presence filled with an unshakable sense of justice.

It was the kind of “you need serious moral re-education” look that reminded Lei Po of his childhood.

Specifically, the Federal Interstellar Police officers who had raised him.

They looked at him exactly like this.

For a moment, Lei Po was speechless.

Then, under the weight of all the attention, he scowled and muttered, “Who said I look down on Omegas?”

“…I don’t look down on Omegas.” Lei Po clicked his tongue, crossing his arms. “I just look down on you.”

Ji Laili’s lips curled into a smile. “Oh, is that so? You didn’t outrun me, though. Guess you’re right to look down on yourself.”

Lei Po: “…”