I’m Addicted to your Pheromones from the First Moment We Met - Chapter 19

Brilliant sunlight bathed the earth, and the Dawn Military Academy was brimming with the vibrant energy of new students.

Yu Zhouyao finished the last drop of her nutrient solution, tossed the packet into the trash, and stepped into the classroom exactly on time. In the middle of the crowd, Mu Mingyue was already waving at her.

Mu Mingyue skipped over to her. “Good morning, Zhouyao.” The young miss intentionally elongated the last syllable, her voice landing on Yu Zhouyao’s heart like a soft feather.

“Morning, Miss Mu.”

Mu Mingyue tilted her head with a smile. “Heehee, Zhouyao is so full of energy today. You must have rested well last night?”

Yu Zhouyao stretched her limbs. “Yeah, not bad. Your mental state looks pretty good too. If you feel any discomfort during training later, make sure to tell me.”

Mu Mingyue nodded. “Mm. Thank you, Zhouyao! You really are reliable.”

Yu Zhouyao curled her lips. “Well, as they say, ‘eat the lord’s grain, share the lord’s pain.’ You were the one who suggested I be your bodyguard. Have you forgotten already, my lady?”

Mu Mingyue’s eyes sparkled, her smile overflowing. “Oh, Yu Zhouyao, why are you so cute…” She placed her hand on Yu Zhouyao’s shoulder, lowering her head as she let out a low laugh.

“Mhm, that’s right. I am a frail, noble young lady,” Mu Mingyue paused, looking directly into Zhouyao’s eyes. “As my knight, you must always be mindful of my safety. If you aren’t diligent enough… there will be a punishment.”

Yu Zhouyao caught a faint, metallic scent of blood, a scent familiar to them both.

Right. This is the real Mu Mingyue. She wasn’t some shy, blooming socialite. Dealing with this version of her was Yu Zhouyao’s true comfort zone.

Yu Zhouyao met her gaze, gently touching the hand on her shoulder. She said warmly, “Understood. Like I said, I share your burdens. But you’ll have to trust me more while we’re at school, Miss Mu.”

Mu Mingyue looked up. “Sure, sure.”

Yu Zhouyao casually added, “According to the old rules, if the knight performs well, the mistress is supposed to grant a reward.”

Mu Mingyue let go and stood straight, shoulder-to-shoulder with her. Her brows curved into a soft arc as she said tenderly, “That depends on your performance. Disobedient dogs get punished.”

Yu Zhouyao controlled her movements, but her throat tightened as she swallowed.

The atmosphere was perfect, a mix of ambiguity and tension. The classroom was buzzing with noise, but Yu Zhouyao could only hear her own racing heartbeat and their intertwined breathing. No one else had noticed them yet, and the teacher hadn’t arrived. It was a perfect two or three minutes of suspended reality, allowing them to tacitly test each other’s boundaries.

Yu Zhouyao lost herself for only a moment.

The next second, she adjusted her stance and turned slightly away from Mu Mingyue. She replied nonchalantly, “Is that so? Then you’ll have to teach me well, Mu Mingyue. I’m clumsy and thick-headed. If I ever upset you, I probably won’t even be able to guess why.”

Mu Mingyue tilted her head to look at her, a playful glint flashing in her eyes. Although she didn’t say a word, Yu Zhouyao felt like she understood everything. She couldn’t help but wonder: What does she want to say? What is she thinking? What score would she give my performance right now?

Mu Mingyue’s long hair brushed against Zhouyao’s arm, sending a ticklish sensation through her. Was she doing it on purpose? Was it a warning to a vicious dog, or a reward for a loyal one? Yu Zhouyao didn’t want to dig too deep.

The sound of footsteps echoed in the hallway; the teacher was approaching. In those last few seconds of noise, Mu Mingyue whispered, “You’ve always been clever. A small thing like this isn’t a problem for you.”

In a heartbeat, the classroom fell silent. Mu Mingyue put her mask back on, smiling brightly. “Zhouyao, the teacher is here.”

Yu Zhouyao gave a faint “Mm.” Just like that, they dropped back into the familiar reality of the classroom.

A male teacher with a receding hairline stood at the podium and began roll call. Yu Zhouyao cleared her throat, suppressing her turbulent emotions. Then, inevitably, she began to feel annoyed with herself.

Dammit. I played myself again.

She had intended to just act a little spoiled with the “rich sister,” hoping a few sweet words would lead to a promotion or a raise. But the Eldest Miss was in a different league. Whenever Zhouyao looked at her face or spoke to her, she somehow forgot her original plan.

It’s only human to make mistakes in front of her, she consoled herself. I should stick to the “violence vs. violence” approach. I really am just a simple-minded gorilla. The Monkey King of the Borderlands.

Yu Zhouyao took a few breaths until her gaze cleared. Beside her, Mu Mingyue was listening intently to the lecture. This was a core course: Individual Physical Training (I). True to its name, it was a blunt, brute-force physical education class.

After roll call, Instructor Wang began leading them through stretches. Since the class was held indoors, it meant they would be using equipment or that the instructor wanted to prevent injuries from falls. Yu Zhouyao pursed her lips and silently followed the group for the warm-up run. Running was never a problem for her.

The run was followed by standard muscle strength and endurance training. Instructor Wang had no intention of letting them off easy on their first day. He ramped up the difficulty immediately, doubling the training volume they had grown used to during military training for squats, crunches, and planks.

The students began to wail. “No, Teacher! It hurts too much!” “I can’t do it.” “Argh!”

Instructor Wang’s face remained cold. “Military students bargaining? If your foundation isn’t solid, the whole structure will collapse. If you don’t build a base now, you won’t even know how you died on the battlefield.”

He surveyed the room sternly, checking everyone’s form. In a corner of the room, he spotted Yu Zhouyao and Mu Mingyue. Their plank forms were beautiful; their cores were tight, and they maintained a steady breathing rhythm.

Wang Jiang snapped his roll book shut and roared at the “noobs” on the floor: “If you’re weak, practice more. Just because you can’t do it doesn’t mean others can’t.”

Yu Zhouyao had a bad feeling. She kept her rhythm and lowered her head, chanting doesn’t see me, don’t see me in her mind.

Wang Jiang pointed directly at their corner. “The two of them are doing just fine.”

Yu Zhouyao felt a chill down her back. What a malicious teacher, drawing all the aggro to me. She had no intention of being the “tall poppy” that gets cut down.

The other students’ resentment bubbled up instantly. “Instructor, you’re being unfair!” “Exactly! Those two are SS-rank!” “During military training, they were the only ones who could finish most of the drills!” “I’m in tears, my classmates are too strong.”

Wang Jiang remained unmoved. “If you can’t do it now, do an extra set every day. You’ll get there in ten, twenty, or a hundred days. Everyone, move!”

Under his scolding, the students continued through tears and groans. By the time the bell rang, half the class collapsed before the instructor even called for a break. Yu Zhouyao was near exhaustion; her calves were trembling uncontrollably. Mu Mingyue wasn’t doing much better; her face was pale, and her forehead was soaked with sweat.

Seeing the carnage, Instructor Wang finally relented. “Fine. That’s enough for today. Class dismissed.”

The narrow classroom filled with the sound of heavy panting. Yu Zhouyao braced her hands on her legs and slowly stood up, taking deep breaths to recover. Mu Mingyue used the wall for support to pull herself up.

The surrounding students looked at them with pure envy. “God, Yu Zhouyao, you actually have the strength to stand.” “Is this what a pro looks like? I feel so demoralized.” “I feel paralyzed, but the boss can still walk. The gap between humans is bigger than the gap between humans and dogs.”

Yu Zhouyao’s throat tasted like iron. She pulled out a packet of nutrient solution to save her life. “Muscle tears really hurt. The first time is the hardest. It’ll get better. Rest well and stretch.”

She paced slowly to relieve the pressure on her muscles, then walked over to Mu Mingyue and handed her a packet. “Thirsty, Miss Mu?”

Mu Mingyue smiled, tore it open, and took small sips. Yu Zhouyao leaned against the wall next to her. “Feeling better?”

Mu Mingyue nodded slightly. “Yu Zhouyao, why is your physical endurance so high?”

“It’s alright. Yours isn’t bad either. You’ve asked me this before, haven’t you? Is it really that surprising?” Yu Zhouyao continued stretching her legs as she spoke.

“A little. Your physical condition is even better than I imagined. Your stamina is especially outstanding.”

“Well, it had to be. Kids from the Borderlands who are weak don’t survive. I used to do hard labor.”

“Hard labor?”

“Yeah, at a waste processing station. We were remote, and they couldn’t afford fully automated processors, so they hired laborers to move and sort trash.”

“That sounds exhausting.”

“It was just heavy physical labor. I built up strength doing that as a kid.”

“As a kid? You aren’t exactly old now.”

“Maybe three or five years ago? I forget the exact year.”

Mu Mingyue fell silent.

Yu Zhouyao smiled. “It’s fine, it’s in the past. Survival is just tougher out there. But look, I grew up tall and strong.”

“But, why would you work in a place like that?”

“Oh, they provided food and housing. I was hit by a growth spurt back then and was always starving. There were only a few places on that planet where you could eat your fill, and the waste station was one of them. They said they’d feed me, so I went.” Yu Zhouyao added apologetically, “Sorry, Mu Mingyue. Are you going to laugh at me for saying that?”

Mu Mingyue shook her head. “To come from a Borderland planet all the way to Dawn Planet, you must have worked incredibly hard.” Her gaze deepened. “But lying isn’t good. I’ve never heard of anyone reaching your level just through hard labor.”

Yu Zhouyao licked her lips. She let out a hollow laugh. “Well, of course it wasn’t just that. I practiced hard on my own too. Did you forget, Miss Mu? I’m a legitimate student who tested in from a local school. It wasn’t easy.”

“Is that so?”

“I’m the first college student my village ever produced! And a military student at that! Of course, I have to treasure it and work hard. Anyway, are you done stretching?”

Mu Mingyue nodded. “Yes.”

Yu Zhouyao signaled toward the door. “Then, on to the next class?”

“Sure. Let’s go.”

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