After Setting Me Up With My Ex, The Aloof Alpha Regrets It - Chapter 15

Chapter 15: She Was, Perhaps, a Little Bit Cute.

On Sunday, both Zhu Shengxi and Shen Qinghe were out. Zhu Jingshan asked Zhu Yunqi at the dinner table, “You haven’t seemed very happy these past few days. Is the progress with Wen Yue not going well?”

Zhu Yunqi flatly denied it. It wasn’t that it wasn’t going well; on the contrary, it was going too smoothly. With her unprecedented support, Wen Yue had agreed so quickly to find a way to break off the engagement. Shi Li was responsible for the nostalgic memories, while she was in charge of creating a cheesy atmosphere. The triple buff of memories, confession, and ambiance made Wen Yue dizzy. Wen Yue even unexpectedly claimed that she had sent the bench full of Rhodes roses. Zhu Yunqi had only intended to use the roses to create atmosphere, but Wen Yue went straight for the goal, claiming they were from her.

Even Shi Li had fallen for it.

Zhu Yunqi, why aren’t you smiling?

Maybe good news about the “canceled engagement” is coming soon. Smile now. Why aren’t you smiling?

Zhu Yunqi roared at herself in her mind. You’re a lunatic.

But the corners of her mouth felt like they were weighed down with oil jugs; she couldn’t push them up with her hands.

Zhu Yunqi sneered, “I might have depression.”

Zhu Jingshan didn’t know what crazy mood she was in this time. She hoped it wasn’t a psychological problem from staying in the Black Star Belt for too long.

Looking at the exquisite food in front of her, Zhu Yunqi had no appetite. She put down her cutlery, wanting to get some air on the balcony. As she went up the stairs, her optical computer suddenly made a “thud” sound, a call notification.

Different from a normal call notification, this was a specific alert tone from the Silver Serpent Legion. It was like the muffled explosion of a starship crashing into a废弃星球, like being struck by a heavy hammer.

The caller was her superior in the Silver Serpent Legion, Colonel Cheng Yin. Cheng Yin’s voice seemed to come from a distant place.

“Silver Coil, I have received your application regarding the family engagement. The military has decided to grant your personal information an A-level protection. No media will be able to leak your personal information. However, we cannot interfere with the engagement itself.”

Silver Coil was Zhu Yunqi’s codename in the Silver Serpent Legion. Her Sea Serpent squad’s missions were generally B-level confidential or higher, and the information of all team members also needed to be kept strictly confidential. Once a member’s identity was made public, they had to leave the team. Zhu Yunqi was worried that if the engagement really happened, major media outlets would come to report on it, so she had submitted a request for information protection to the military in advance.

“Also, there are two temporary missions I need you to handle.”

Zhu Yunqi listened intently.

“First, according to the latest intelligence, a group of interstellar pirates has infiltrated the Upper Star Region and is currently in Z3291. Their specific purpose is unknown. The Federation Security and Guard Departments lack experience in dealing with interstellar pirates and need your assistance in their capture. If you have team members on nearby planets, notify them to get there as soon as possible. The mission is tentatively rated as B-level, which should be a piece of cake for you. I will send the rest of the relevant information to your optical computer later.”

Zhu Yunqi’s spirits lifted. “Copy that.”

“The second one is relatively simple. Last month, the Lower Star Region recycled a batch of scrapped mechs, and some were transported to the Upper Star Region for qualified private companies to study. Z3291 received more than ten units. The lecturer originally sent by the Silver Serpent had an accident with their partner, and since you happen to be in Z3291, I recommended you. You’ve used all those mechs before, so you can just talk about them. No need for prior preparation.”

This wasn’t difficult either. Zhu Yunqi agreed immediately. Cheng Yin was very satisfied with Zhu Yunqi. “Sorry for disturbing your vacation. The military will compensate you with ten times your regular pay as per regulations.”

“Everything for the Federation.”

Zhu Yunqi also said, “Everything for the Federation.”

After ending the call with Colonel Cheng Yin, Zhu Yunqi found the “Sea Serpent Squad” group chat in her contacts and asked everyone to send their locations. Out of the nine-person squad, seven had gone to the Central Galaxy for vacation, and only “Siren” was near Z3291.

In the voice message, Siren’s laugh was very “lewd.” “I can work overtime during my vacation, but as an S-class Alpha, I’m 25 and still single—shouldn’t the organization help me solve my life’s great event? Heh heh, I heard there are many beautiful Omegas in Z3291. Introduce me to one, Captain~”

Siren’s professional abilities were top-notch, but she loved to be a loudmouth. Zhu Yunqi couldn’t be bothered to deal with her.

She opened the message from Cheng Yin and found that the mech lecture was scheduled for Monday, which was tomorrow. Four corporations would be visiting to learn, and the Xing Shang Group was one of them.

As soon as she saw the Xing Shang Group, Zhu Yunqi’s mind flashed with the image of Shi Li working overtime in the design department. She wondered if Shi Li would be among the group coming to study tomorrow.

…

Z3291 Mech Research Center. A minibus slowly stopped in front of the door of Hall 9.

“Xiao Shi, let’s go in together later.”

When they got off the bus, Lin Xiaonan tugged on the strap of Shi Li’s backpack from behind.

“Okay.” Shi Li obediently stopped and waited for Lin Xiaonan to walk alongside her before continuing. Before they left, the department head had emphasized once more that this was a rare opportunity and everyone should study diligently, especially those from the design and innovation control departments.

Lin Xiaonan noticed that Shi Li’s eyes were exceptionally bright today. She was looking around curiously, and her usually calm demeanor showed a hint of liveliness.

“Xiao Shi, you’re so happy to come to a study visit. You’ll have to write a report when we get back,” Lin Xiaonan gossiped. “Could it be that night with your girlfriend in the office…”

“What are you talking about?” Shi Li quickly told Lin Xiaonan to stop. “Because I really like mechs, but it’s so hard to see them normally. Sister Xiaonan, I majored in mech design in college. I used to dream of becoming a mech designer.”

Lin Xiaonan was surprised that Shi Li liked something as rigid as mechs and had never heard her mention it before. When she talked about things she loved, Shi Li spoke much more than before.

“Then why didn’t you become a mech designer?”

Shi Li pursed her lips, and a hint of regret crossed her voice. “The year I graduated, the mech research institute suddenly announced they would no longer accept applications from Omegas. Because the tests require traveling to the Black Star Belt and the Lower Star Region, it’s very difficult for Omegas to apply for a pass.”

“I see, that’s a shame. But at least mech design and robot design have some things in common, so your professional knowledge wasn’t completely wasted.” Lin Xiaonan also felt sorry for Shi Li.

“Yeah. I thought I would never have a chance to work with mechs in this life. I didn’t expect to be able to see them up close.” Shi Li smiled. “I guess it’s a dream fulfilled.”

Hall 9 was a separate exhibition hall, and its overall color was silver-white. Upon entering the door, the first thing that came into view was a dome ten stories high. The starry lights in the blue-black dome shone brightly, as if they had entered the endless universe.

The person in charge of the hall led a tall, slender young woman over.

When Shi Li saw who it was, she froze in place. It was Zhu Yunqi.

“Hello, everyone. This is our lecturer for this mech study visit. All you need to know is that her last name is Zhu and she’s an Alpha. She has extensive experience in operating mechs. She will be leading the tour and giving the lecture. You can ask any questions you don’t understand. Also, please note that no photos or videos are allowed inside the hall. We hope you will comply.”

Lin Xiaonan gasped and “wow’d,” shaking Shi Li’s arm and whispering excitedly, “Xiao Shi, Xiao Shi, look at the beautiful woman. Her eyes are gray, like haze. She’s so cool.”

Shi Li, however, frowned slightly. She recalled the words of the person in charge of the hall.

Extensive experience in operating mechs.

When they first met, Zhu Yunqi had said, “I’ve been in the Black Star Belt.”

She couldn’t find any information about Zhu Yunqi on the internet. She was on vacation…

She could probably guess Zhu Yunqi’s profession. The Black Star Belt was the most desolate and chaotic place in the Federation, and a special forces legion was stationed there for a long time.

Lin Xiaonan was still excited. “She can operate mechs… she must be a federal public official. It’s true that all the beautiful women are handed over to the country. If I didn’t have kids, I’d really want to ask her out for coffee.”

Shi Li said, “They only introduced her last name and didn’t even say her first name. That means her identity needs to be kept confidential. No one can ask her out.”

Lin Xiaonan said dejectedly, “You’re right.” The next second, she became excited again. “Then I’ll just look at her more. It doesn’t hurt to look. When I write my report, just thinking that a beautiful woman with a cold face and gray eyes gave me the lecture will make me write an extra two thousand words.”

Zhu Yunqi had also seen Shi Li long ago.

She had deliberately worn a more formal outfit today. The well-tailored clothes accentuated her already superior physique, with a slender waist and long legs. She wore a blue diamond brooch on her chest and a loose flat knot of dark blue silk at her collar. Her hair was meticulously combed back and held in place with that exquisite hairpin, revealing a perfect head shape that didn’t need any hairstyle to be beautiful. The low bun hairstyle emphasized her commanding aura. She didn’t have to do anything; just standing there made people instinctively want to obey her commands. Her gray eyes calmly observed everything around her, much like a snake ready to strike at any moment.

Their gazes met in mid-air. Shi Li was about to look away when the cold-blooded gray-eyed snake suddenly winked her left eye at her.

Shi Li was caught off guard by the wink and felt a strange blush on her cheeks. This was completely different from the Zhu Yunqi she had in mind. Zhu Yunqi was clearly cold and gentle, like a snake that hunts precisely but, after biting its prey, doesn’t eat it. Instead, she would ask the prey where their home is with an icy face, then escort them to their doorstep, and remind them to be careful of other snakes so they don’t get eaten.

Why would she wink? She was, perhaps, a little bit cute.

Maybe there were too many people, and it was inconvenient to say hello, so the wink was her way of greeting. Or maybe her eye was just bothering her.

Shi Li looked away, unsure of where to look.

Lin Xiaonan was still excited beside her. “Look, Xiao Shi, she just winked at us…”

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