After Differentiation, My Arch-nemesis Thinks I’m Fragrant - Chapter 42

Late autumn.

Outside the school gates, the rows of large trees had turned golden, casting a thin, pale carpet of leaves upon the ground. Occasionally, when the wind blew, the pale gold leaves drifted up, rolling around the students’ feet like cresting waves.

“How do you plan to spend your birthday this year? Mimi says she’s been worrying about it for a long time; she feels like you already have everything you could ever want.”

Pei Yi was beside her, clutching several old textbooks in her arms. Because Shu Youzhan wanted to visit a nearby bookstore today, she hadn’t called for her driver, allowing Pei Yi to walk home with her after school.

In terms of academics, Shu Mi had completely given up. Even with mock exams approaching, she was deeply immersed in her new romance, as if doing so could help her forget about the future.

Hearing this, the girl walking beside her frowned slightly. Even in her silver-white school uniform, she couldn’t hide her elegant curves. She wore her hair in a sharp, short cut with a slanted fringe and a single silver-white streak, making her look both cold and cool.

Despite being dressed like any other student, countless people turned their heads to look at her during this short walk outside the campus.

Shu Youzhan ignored them, merely speaking with a hint of disapproval: “Why worry about that? Putting in the effort to get beautiful grades is far more useful than any of those things—”

“Who is she dating now?”

Perhaps because she had spent her summer and winter breaks training in military camps over the past two years, there was an indescribable, sharp aura in her every movement. The slight dissatisfaction in her voice now made Pei Yi feel a bit trepidatious. Pei Yi often wondered if the secondary gender differentiation test had been wrong—perhaps Shu Youzhan was actually an Alpha.

After a moment’s thought, Pei Yi provided the answer: “I think it’s a ‘school grass’ from No. 2 High School? Surname is… Chou? The one who ranked second, right behind you, in the last city-wide mock exam.”

Shu Youzhan replied without blinking, “Don’t know him.”

Pei Yi: “…”

She choked for two seconds before muttering under her breath, “Aside from Zhao Qinglan, who do you know?”

She glanced at Shu Youzhan’s expression and realized the girl had become increasingly skilled at playing deaf lately. Sighing, Pei Yi changed the subject: “You still haven’t said—how are you spending your birthday?”

“You kept such a low-profile last year. If I hadn’t been watching the date, I would have thought I’d remembered it wrong. It was only the news that night that confirmed it for me—whoa, fighter jets spraying fluorescent colors to wish you a happy birthday… I guess your family really dotes on you.”

Shu Youzhan hadn’t been paying much attention, her gaze scanning the colorful signs of the shops along the road. But when she heard “fighter jets,” her ears twitched.

Suddenly, a trace of a smile appeared in her eyes. She turned her head lazily and asked:

“Who told you that was arranged by my family?”

“It wasn’t?” Pei Yi blinked in surprise.

Thinking of the text message she had received back then and the scene she had witnessed at her front door, the corners of Shu Youzhan’s lips curled slightly before she quickly composed herself, pretending nothing had happened.

She neither followed up with an explanation nor denied it again. Instead, she pivoted: “Birthdays aren’t a big deal. Everyone knows I’ve differentiated as an Omega. Holding a birthday banquet now would change the nature of the event. I don’t have time to deal with the media; that time is better spent doing something more meaningful.”

“Besides…”

“Zhao Qinglan didn’t really celebrate her birthday in the first half of this year. Even her birthday banquet as an heir was ordinary. Why should someone like me, who isn’t even in line for a succession, make such a big fuss?”

Pei Yi: “???”

Pei Yi: “She’s been on leave from school for almost two years. Why are you still comparing yourself to her?”

They were now in their third year of high school. Everyone’s attention was on their own studies and lives. If it weren’t for the occasional headline featuring Zhao Qinglan, no one would even remember they had once been in the same class.

And those news reports about Zhao Qinglan served as constant reminders of the gap between her and these ordinary people.

“Capturing interstellar illegal immigrants in the A234 star system…”

“Leading a team to engage with interstellar pirates and wiping out the gang…”

One feat after another. Forget ordinary high schoolers—hardly any military officers could achieve such things. There were even rumors circulating among the public that the Zhao family had begun redistributing power. When Zhao Xi was the same age, she was merely an outstanding student; yet Zhao Qinglan had already achieved so much, having dealt with the cunning of illegal immigrants and the desperation of outlaws in space. Some believed she would take that top position even before a peaceful transition of power.

While everyone else was getting used to the warm seasons, prosperous economy, and stable order of Planet Blue, the life Zhao Qinglan was experiencing… was perhaps richer than several of their lifetimes combined.

Among their peers, who would dare to arrogantly call her a rival?

At school, stories about Zhao Qinglan and Shu Youzhan were no longer whispered. If they could have been called equals before, most people now felt that if the two were put together, Shu Youzhan would be in a subordinate position… and with Shu Youzhan’s increasingly terrifying performance in physical training at No. 1 High, no one was looking for trouble by saying so to her face.

Shu Youzhan, however, seemed not to understand the fear and awe in Pei Yi’s words. She replied flatly, “Why shouldn’t I compare? She will definitely enroll in the Imperial Military Academy next September. Before that happens, I will pass the exam for that school too.”

“But…” Pei Yi hesitated. “She might not even be at the school often. She’s already been promoted in the military, hasn’t she? After graduation, she’ll be in the military… and the military doesn’t recruit Omegas.”

How would you compete then?

“I will enter the military,” Shu Youzhan interjected calmly, her deep brown eyes filled with unwavering determination. “As long as I enter the military, I will walk the path she has walked. I will meet her at the summit.”

Pei Yi: “…”

She originally wanted to say “Good luck,” but ultimately felt she lacked the conviction. Such encouragement felt more like an insult to her friend, so she could only remain silent.

…

After leaving the bookstore.

Shu Youzhan checked the time. “You go home first; I have something to do.”

Seeing her excellent grades lately, Pei Yi had been curious about what kind of exercise books a top student like her would buy. But after following her out, she saw Shu Youzhan holding “Huanggang Secret Mock Exams for Elementary School” and “Third Grade Lesson-by-Lesson Practice” …

Confused, she asked, “This? Are you going to North Street?”

Due to No. 1 High’s extracurricular practice system, they had used museum visits to fill the requirement in their first year. In their second year, military training was arranged to build physical fitness. Although the third year was busy with academics, extracurricular credits were still required. So, during the summer break of her second year, Shu Youzhan had returned early from the military camp and found a remote social welfare home, where she sponsored several Omegas. It happened to be located in the North Street area.

Seeing the items in Shu Youzhan’s hands, her destination was obvious to Pei Yi.

Nodding, Shu Youzhan said, “I promised them a few days ago. Since tomorrow is the weekend, I’m bringing them some gifts.”

Pei Yi sighed. “You don’t care about your own birthday, but you’re so concerned about a few unrelated kids… Hey, at least take some of your family’s bodyguards. North Street is incredibly chaotic, full of thugs and hooligans.”

With her back to her, Shu Youzhan waved her hand. “It’s fine, it’s still early. Don’t worry about me, just go home.”

An hour and a half later.

Shu Youzhan got off the bus and walked toward a secluded alley. The roads here had been in disrepair for years, permanently riddled with potholes. She had to walk carefully to avoid splashing herself with dirty water.

On her birthday the previous year, she had asked Wei Shuangchi to use her name to set up a foundation using the gifts and money she had received. It was dedicated to helping vulnerable Omegas in society. The welfare home she was visiting now had been on the verge of closing before she sponsored it.

The first time she went, she had brought people with her, but the children always looked at her with fear, and even the kind-faced director was subservient. Shu Youzhan felt that this kind of sponsorship felt like charity and might make people uncomfortable. Since then, she went alone.

She pulled out her phone and checked, confirming that both the battery and signal were normal before continuing deeper into the alley.

Shu Youzhan knew her own limits. She was never overconfident; if she encountered a situation she couldn’t handle, she would definitely call for help. She would never put herself in danger.

…

Planet Blue Docking Station.

A small spacecraft slowly docked. After the high-tech door opened silently, a pure black military boot stepped onto the edge, paused for a moment, and then stepped out.

“How long has it been?” A voice came from behind, filled with emotion. “Over a year, right? I’ve almost forgotten what the air on Planet Blue smells like.”

“Hmm? Is it autumn? I smell the scent of osmanthus. Heavens, I feel like crying.”

Amidst the noisy voices.

The leader stepped out first—a tall figure in a neat black military uniform with metallic buttons that seemed to lower the temperature of the air near the station by ten degrees.

Yet the person was completely oblivious to the effect. After leaving the station, she checked her phone’s signal. Her rock-solid expression softened slightly, and her midnight-black eyes suddenly thawed like breaking ice.

Slender fingers drew the phone from her pocket. Without hesitation, she dialed a string of numbers. After a single “beep,” the call was picked up. The person on the other end was doing something; there was a sound of heavy breathing, though the joy was unmistakable.

“Hello… Hello?”

Zhao Qinglan tilted her head slightly. “What are you doing?”

“Uh, ex… exercising. Wait a second…” The phone’s microphone seemed to be blocked by something, leaving only the sound of muffled grunts and the relentless whistling of wind.

Clearly, she was in a fight.

Zhao Qinglan hadn’t expected to run into this scene the moment she returned. As the people behind her clamored for their local host to treat them, she raised a hand to signal them to stop. Her pace quickened as she walked out. “Where are you? I’m coming to find you.”

“It’ll be over soon, no need—”

“Wait, find me? You’re back?”

The chaotic noise on the other end ceased completely. The other person caught her breath, her tone filled with irrepressible joy.

The corners of Zhao Qinglan’s lips curled up. Returning to her warm harbor allowed her to shed all the thorns and sharp edges she wore outside, revealing her soft and gentle side once more. In the sunset scented with golden osmanthus, she replied slowly:

“Yes, I’m back.”