Chapter 79: Something Feels Off Lately

Yesterday’s words had gone unsaid, but Ji Laili had been looking for an opportunity to repeat them ever since.

However, before he could even speak, his attention was drawn to the backpack in Shen Yu’s hand.

Like a curious little puppy, he leaned in close—his soft curls nearly brushing against the bag—as he tried to pry it open for a look.

“What’s this? I don’t remember seeing this bag before…”

Ji Laili thought for a moment before confidently stating, “This wasn’t here before.”

His eyes lit up. “Is it for me?”

It wasn’t an unreasonable guess.

Ever since he moved in two days ago, Shen Yu had spent five-figure star credits per day on all sorts of things—wasabi-flavored chips, the latest gaming console, brand-new weighted bands, and even a variety of dog-themed items: puppy plushies, puppy-themed band-aids…

Not to mention the five or six crates of premium custom nutrient drinks.

It had all started when Ji Laili ran out of a high-end custom drink that Zhai Shao had given him. So Shen Yu ordered five or six whole crates to restock.

Even the Alphas at the delivery point were stunned.

That was probably the most frequently Shen Yu had ever shown up there.

And, of course, everything went straight to Ji Laili.

Ji Laili was quite pleased with it—so much so that he even gave Shen Yu a return gift.

But that only encouraged him to send even more.

So when he suddenly saw a new bag in Shen Yu’s hand, Ji Laili’s first thought was: Is this another gift for me?

His curiosity was uncontainable.

Shen Yu, holding the bag by the strap, glanced at him in response.

Something about that look made Ji Laili feel a little off. “What’s wrong?”

He blinked in confusion, sneaking another glance at the bag.

That expression… Had he guessed wrong?

Maybe it wasn’t a gift.

His interest waned a little, though a trace of lingering doubt remained in his eyes.

“Nothing special.”

As if sensing Ji Laili’s curiosity, Shen Yu replied casually, “Just some scrapped parts from a broken cleaning robot. I’m taking them for disposal.”

So, it was just robot junk.

Ji Laili had heard rumors that several cleaning robots had already been scrapped.

Poor things.

Honestly, if someone started selling cleaning robots here, they might make a small fortune.

Since the incineration chamber for scrapped parts was on the other side, Ji Laili accompanied Shen Yu there.

The flames roared as the bag was tossed in, turning to ash in an instant, its remnants scattering in the air.

---

“Lailai.”

“Send me a copy of your class schedule.”

Ji Laili was caught off guard but still opened his StarBrain to send it over.

At the same time, he asked, “What do you need it for?”

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, his tone lifted with excitement. “Your susceptibility period is over?!”

Shen Yu gave a quiet “Mn.” “It’s over. Now, I have more important things to do.”

Ji Laili immediately followed up, “I have something important to do too.”

Finally finding the right moment, he recited his line like a script,

“I’m going to pursue a little O.”

Shen Yu’s expression remained calm and indifferent, “Oh? Do you already have a plan?”

He sounded utterly uninterested.

A faint, inexplicable sense of loss flickered in Ji Laili’s heart—so fleeting that he barely noticed it.

He vaguely replied, “Still thinking about it. I have to try harder.”

Shen Yu nodded.

Ji Laili let out a silent sigh of relief. He got away with it.

But he needed to refine his plan. If this lie got exposed, what would he do?

Maybe he should discuss it with some friends, especially Zhai-ge.

---

But before he could even meet up with his friends, he saw Shen Yu again.

Ji Laili’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Then—

The shooting instructor grinned, looking like he had just hit the jackpot.

“This is Shen Yu, your senior. I don’t think he needs much of an introduction. From now on, he’ll be your teaching assistant. If you have any questions, ask him first.”

Lei Po immediately leaned back in alarm, his voice low as he whispered to Ji Laili,

“Shit. Why is he here?”

Then, as if something dawned on him, he added, “Wait—could it be that he’s pissed off that you’re getting into a relationship before him?”

Ji Laili whispered back, “That’s fake. Fake. I don’t actually like any little O.”

Lei Po clicked his tongue, his expression practically screaming “Yeah, right.”

Seeing Ji Laili stubbornly refusing to admit it, he half-heartedly went along, “Oh, sure, sure. Fake.”

Ji Laili: “…It really is fake.”

Lei Po: “Right, right, whatever you say.”

But he didn’t believe a word of it.

Ji Laili squinted at him, eyes curving mischievously.

“Po-ge, if you keep spreading rumors, I’ll start one about you and Zhai-ge.”

“Remember that pheromone training session? The one where you yelled ‘baby’? That wasn’t for Zhai-ge, was it?”

Lei Po instantly exploded, his voice booming over the entire training field—even louder than the gunfire.

“LIKE HELL I WOULD CALL THAT VENOMOUS BASTARD ‘BABY’?!”

---

Dead silence.

Every single person turned their heads to stare.

Lei Po turned, only to lock eyes with Zhai Yifei, who was wearing a half-smirk, half-mocking expression.

“Baby?” Zhai Yifei drawled, eyes glinting with amusement. “Didn’t expect you, a crude Alpha, to have such a soft side.”

Lei Po nearly passed out from rage. His little curls practically stood on end.

He shot a glare at Ji Laili, who only grinned innocently.

“Po-ge, I forgot to remind you to keep your voice down.”

“You—”

“What do you mean, ‘you’?! My class isn’t for you to be yelling ‘baby’ in!”

Snickers rippled through the surrounding students.

Hearing the laughter, Lei Po’s expression froze.

Still, he tried to maintain his “tough guy” image, glaring fiercely around.

Only to get his ear yanked.

The instructor chuckled maliciously, about to kick him out, when—

“Wait.” Shen Yu’s voice was low and steady. His dark eyes glinted.

“Why not let him be the target?”

“A free-moving human target. It’d be a waste not to use him.”

The instructor laughed heartily. “Great idea.”

Lei Po cursed Shen Yu to hell and back in his head.

Then, as if that wasn’t enough—

Ji Laili fired over ten shots at him.

Oh well—moving human targets were way more fun than smart ones.

Zhai Yifei? He didn’t hold back at all. He practically chased Lei Po down, shooting non-stop.

By the end, Lei Po looked absolutely miserable, his bulletproof vest covered in training bullets that he couldn’t even pick out.

The entire room fell into a stunned silence, all eyes focused intently.

Lei Po turned his head and met Zhai Yifei’s gaze, which carried a half-smile filled with undisguised mockery.

“Baby? I never would’ve guessed. For such a crude A, you’re quite the closet romantic.”

Lei Po was furious, his small curls practically standing on end.

He shot a fierce glare at Ji Laili, only to receive an innocent chuckle in return.
“Bro, I forgot to remind you to keep your voice down.”

“You—”

“You what? Is my class a place for you to be shouting ‘baby’?”

Muffled laughter rippled through the surroundings. Hearing it, Lei Po’s expression stiffened.

Even so, he kept up his tough-guy act, sweeping a sharp glare around.

Then, he was suddenly grabbed by the ear. The instructor let out a dry chuckle and prepared to toss him out.

“Wait.”

Shen Yu’s dark eyes gleamed as he spoke.

“Why not let him be the target?”

“A free-moving human target—wouldn’t it be a waste not to use it?”

The instructor burst out laughing. “Good idea.”

Lei Po cursed Shen Yu a hundred times in his mind before suffering another blow—from his own friends.

Ji Laili fired over a dozen shots at him.

Well, a moving human target was just more fun than an AI one.

Zhai Yifei, on the other hand, didn’t hold back at all, practically chasing Lei Po down with his shots.

By the end of it, Lei Po’s face was dark as thunder. The special training bullets on his bulletproof vest were so numerous he couldn’t even peel them all off.

Ji Laili smirked as he secretly laughed to himself. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Shen Yu and even waved at him.

His good mood was obvious.

Then—

At the next training ground, he saw Shen Yu again.

The instructor used the same words to introduce him as their teaching assistant.

Ji Laili sighed. “What a coincidence.”

Then, in another class, the instructor announced with satisfaction, “Starting today, Shen Yu will be your teaching assistant.”

Ji Laili: “…This butterfly is everywhere.”

Two hours later, in a Tactical Command course—

A tall Alpha in a black-and-gold uniform stood at the podium. His sharp black eyes scanned the room, exuding an intimidating presence that made the other Alphas instinctively wary.

In a cold voice, he introduced himself:

“Federal First Military Academy, 67th class—Shen Yu.”

This time, he wasn’t an assistant but a student in the course. However, given his reputation, the instructor had pulled him up for an introduction.

Ji Laili: “…”

He silently glanced at his own schedule.

It was an exact match.

But if he remembered correctly, Shen Yu had only received this schedule today…

So, was this just a coincidence?

Ji Laili couldn’t think of another explanation.

Still, seeing the little butterfly every day felt kind of nice.

They ate together, lived together, attended classes and trained together. Everywhere Ji Laili looked, he saw Shen Yu’s figure.

After just two or three days, he had already grown used to it.

If Shen Yu were suddenly absent one day, he would probably find it odd and instinctively look around for him like a little puppy.

Lei Po, however, had a serious expression. “I knew it. Shen Yu is here because of you.”

Ji Laili sipped on his nutrient drink, mumbling, “What are you talking about? He hasn’t done anything to me.”

How was that ‘coming for him’?

Zhai Yifei turned to look at him, his brows furrowed in deep thought. “With Shen Yu’s skill level, he doesn’t need to take these courses. And given how much he dislikes Alphas, there’s no reason for him to be a teaching assistant.”

“So, he’s here to assess your abilities.”

His voice dropped, becoming serious. “Laili, you should always be cautious of others. Since you live with him, you need to be extra careful.”

What could the little butterfly possibly do to him?

Although…

Ji Laili hesitated for a moment. “Lately, some things have been feeling a bit off.”