Chapter 89

Cen Lang turned around to scrutinise Jiang Li, only to find that his younger brother, almost unconsciously, had grown to nearly six feet. During his two years in college, the peak of Jiang Li’s adolescence, there was no trace of childishness on his face.

Every time Cen Lang met him, he only noticed his brother’s attitude towards him, never hearing the sweet calls of “brother” anymore, ignoring the changes in his appearance.

His brother had grown up.

Luckily, he wasn’t an Omega; Alphas in college were like wolves and tigers!

If he were a Beta, he would already have suitors; even daring to call him “big brother-in-law,” would he agree?

Cen Lang sat in the corner, not stealing Jiang Li’s limelight, observing a couple across from them.

Jiang Wanlan had such a big heart; did Lu Jing receive any sex education?

The school would offer classes, but with declining birth rates, teachers emphasised avoiding early relationships while preparing for measures. However, students were informed about marriage policies: they could get married at twenty, and federal support for raising children was available.

At twenty, receiving some certificate, protected like Jiang Li, meant getting married only around forty; otherwise, tragedies of misjudgement could occur.

For his first class in college, Cen Lang decided to attend himself.

After the enrolment banquet, Cen Lang accompanied Jiang Li to see off the guests and then took him to sit  face-to-fac in the garden.

“For college, there are a few things I want to emphasise,” Cen Lang said.

Jiang Li silently looked at him.

Cen Lang: “Study well, no early relationships. Alphas at this age don’t control their desires; it’s mostly pheromones, not genuine feelings. They mature around twenty. Many couples formed due to pheromones end up in resentment, seeking different spiritual companions, essentially cheating.”

Jiang Li: “I know.”

Cen Lang reassured, “If someone pursues you, let me know, and I’ll handle it.”

Jiang Li: “I can handle it.”

Cen Lang: “That’s because you haven’t encountered persistent pursuers.”

Jiang Li: “What are they like?”

Cen Lang described potential scenarios using exhaustive methods. “If you notice such behaviour, tell me.”

Jiang Li felt these examples were trivial and likely to happen. As long as someone didn’t do all those things at once, it wasn’t a big deal. He nodded nonchalantly and said, “Okay.”

Cen Lang: “I worry too much.”

However, he had already graduated and couldn’t intervene much. After accompanying Jiang Li around the school, he had to return to the space forces.

Recently, the Amis Federation had been provocative at the border, and the military anticipated a frontal conflict in the coming years.

The space forces needed to upgrade their arsenal, train soldiers on new warships, and prepare various battle plans. Cen Lang, in a crucial position despite spending two years in the space forces, was essentially a recent graduate. This battle would determine if he could gain the trust and control of the space forces.

He believed the battleground would be near P78 and J56 stars, and he and Lu Jing would charge forward, making Jiang Li worry about both of them. Even the military wouldn’t send two essential pillars of a family to the frontlines simultaneously—basic human care.

Although he and Jiang Li weren’t family, it felt like one.

Cen Lang knew Jiang Li worried more about his father than him. With Lu Jing reassigned, he would step up—the most suitable option.

Commanders might not go to the frontlines, but Cen Lang was a different kind of commander.

Cen Lang issued a military order through Meng Ru, transferring General Lu to the ZM defence line and temporarily taking Lu Jing’s position. The two lines were close, ready to support each other.

Recent military movements were frequent, but a certain Alpha named Jiang, from a prominent family, saw Cen Lang’s action as a ploy.

“Lu Jing’s son is the companion reader for the young master of the Cen family, securing a crucial position for the young master in the space forces. Now that he took over, it’s to prevent Lu Jing from showcasing his capabilities!”

Cen Lang dismissed it with a smile, finding an excuse for Lu Jing.

Jiang Wanlan had indeed proposed such an exchange condition when he sought refuge with the Cen family, but Cen Wei had rejected it.

“We have plenty of rooms in the Cen family; there’s no need for this. Let’s see how far Lu Jing can go.”

However, when a classmate from the Second Military Academy told Cen Lang that this rumour reached Jiang Ping’s ears, things seemed off.

He didn’t demote Lu Jing, and defence lines didn’t have priorities. Any defence line needed strong defence, and there was no overt or covert demotion.

Cen Lang patiently waited for the person behind this to reveal themselves. Finally, after Lu Jing’s call home, someone approached him.

After a long talk, summarised as “Are you willing to let the Cen family control you? Want more significant wealth? Make Jiang Wanlan regret looking down on you. Serve the Cen family; your son will be looked down upon at school. What do you think?”

Lu Jing remained noncommittal, exposing more insiders. In the end, Cen Lang and Lu Jing collaborated, exposing spies and traitors in the Amis Federation and eliminating a bunch of troublemakers.

The first Alpha, surnamed Jiang, who started the gossip, was also dealt with.

“Up to standard, fabricating facts, and handing the enemy a knife” as a reason for expulsion from the space force.

The whole process took one month.

During this period, Cen Lang remained passive, without contacting Jiang Li to clarify or enquire about his thoughts.

Once the matter was resolved, Cen Lang quickly apologised.

Jiang Li’s tone remained unchanged: “I have no thoughts on the matter. I trust you and Dad.”

Cen Lang felt a bit lost; his younger brother was too calm, and even his prepared comforting tactics were of no use.

Even pretending to be a bit spoiled might work!

The Second Military Academy was undergoing winter training, lasting a month during the coldest time of the year, pulling students for field military exercises.

Cen Lang called Jiang Li, advising him to bring a heating patch, drink hot water, and avoid cold drinks.

Meng Ru, on the other hand, was writing official documents and, amidst the nagging, used several words incorrectly. Cen Lang wondered why he assigned writing tasks to him when he possessed such a rich vocabulary.

With a glint in his eyes, Cen Lang closed his computer and casually mentioned, “I heard the Alpha instructors are very strict, treating students like livestock, kicking them if their posture isn’t correct.”

Cen Lang’s face darkened. Jiang Li was so good-looking; what if he encountered an Alpha who disregarded discipline?

Cen Lang stood up abruptly and walked out with large strides.

Meng Ru felt relieved.

Cen Lang’s initial reaction was to become Jiang Li’s instructor, but with military training lasting a month, he was stretched thin.

A few Alphas were jokingly heading to the cafeteria; Cen Lang became increasingly dissatisfied with each one.

Every one of them.

No, there was one more.

Lu Jing.

Every year during the Second Military Academy’s training, personnel were sent from the space force.

He could easily convince Lu Jing to be the chief instructor. The chief instructor did not participate in training; they managed other instructors.

Cen Lang explained Meng Ru’s words to Lu Jing, emphasising his intentions.

“You’re quite considerate.” Lu Jing was initially puzzled about Cen Lang’s sudden move; it couldn’t be that he had foresight about fishing, right?

Now the puzzle is solved.

The space force rotated the areas for sending instructors each year, and this year, it happened to be the Z\M line.

Lu Jing was well-known, and the Second Military Academy annually supplied a large number of soldiers to the space force. Many military leaders valued this opportunity to discover potential talents during training and pull them into their own units.

Lu Jing had no intention of going, given his personality.

Lu Jing felt a bit embarrassed; as a father, he hadn’t expected this. No wonder Jiang Wanlan sometimes scolds him for being too conservative.

Cen Lang’s scheming was unexpectedly deep; was it necessary to plan so much for Jiang Li?

Or was it just a normal military deployment during peacetime?

During Jiang Li’s military training, Lu Jing did not intervene, as long as the training proceeded normally.

Jiang Li trained with a group of Alphas, enduring the harsh winter in the wilderness and camping on the spot. Logistics provided only nutritional supplements; if they wanted hot water, they had to boil it themselves.

Jiang Li was good at boiling water, and when others were too tired to do anything, they went to Jiang Li to ask for water.

Jiang Li willingly shared; when others saw a frostbite on his finger, they helped him the next day.

Eight people shared a tent at night; in winter, everyone was wrapped in thick combat suits, sleeping without taking them off, just in case they were whistled to assemble at any time.

Cen Lang learned about the training conditions and sincerely suggested to the chief instructor, “Can’t we give Jiang Li a special treatment? Like a single tent.”

Cen Lang: “Jiang Li is quite clean, a bit of a neat freak.”

Lu Jing heard from Jiang Wanlan that his son was a bit of a neat freak, but he felt military training was about endurance. Even his son, Lu Jing, couldn’t avoid a bit of hardship.

Lu Jing: “Jiang Li didn’t request it.”

If his son had asked, Lu Jing would have found a solution.

Military training is rearranged daily, testing teamwork. Jiang Li hadn’t slept in the main camp any day, so none of his campmates noticed.

Cen Lang felt uneasy; couldn’t Lu Jing show some fatherly concern?

With so many Alphas sleeping in one tent, someone could easily kick another in their sleep.

Did Lu Jing have to wait for Jiang Li to bring it up?

Cen Lang was a bit frustrated; Jiang Li was even more stubborn than Lu Jing.

During Jiang Li’s free time, Cen Lang hypocritically inquired, “Are you used to group camping?”

Jiang Li: “I can tolerate it.”

“Do you want a separate tent? The military allows Betas to live alone.”

“No need.”

Jiang Li declined; it was just the daily routine for Dad and Cen Lang, and he could endure it.

Cen Lang casually remarked, “I heard many Alphas, after winter training, have lice on their bodies due to poor hygiene. Did you shave your head, Jiang Li?”

Jiang Li’s eyes widened slightly, and he fell silent!