Irreversible - Chapter 25

Chapter 25: Little Poor One’s Military Training (Part 5)

Gu Xizhou became famous overnight. Following her status as the “Internet’s Little Poor One,” she became a hero in the eyes of No. 1 High School students for standing up to bullies.

Su Zhiyi insisted on treating Gu Xizhou’s wounds. During lunch, Gu Xizhou carried two lunch boxes and followed Su Zhiyi up to the sixth floor. Fortunately, her scent-suppressing patch was applied perfectly, making it impossible to distinguish her gender; even so, she walked the path from the second floor to the sixth floor with a heart full of trepidation.

An Omega dormitory… if the instructors find out, I’ll be punished to death!

When it came down to it, wouldn’t it have been fine to apply the medicine downstairs? Why did she have to follow Su Zhiyi back to her room?

The two soon reached the door of the sixth-floor dorm. When Su Zhiyi pushed open the door to the empty room, Gu Xizhou froze on the spot, not daring to move. Unaware, Su Zhiyi turned back and called out softly, “Come in. They haven’t returned yet; no one will see.”

Gu Xizhou’s heart was drumming: The fact that “no one will see” is the biggest problem! I’m an Alpha!

0820 gave a small “tsk,” sounding somewhat disdainful: “Stupid young Alpha!”

Gu Xizhou didn’t usually have such a strong sense of gender awareness, but with 0820’s reminder, she suddenly remembered that this person might be her future “wife.” Her entire ears turned red. With a hot face, she whispered a retort: “Shut up!” If you don’t speak, no one will think you’re a mute.

Despite her tough words, when Su Zhiyi called her again, she still carried the two lunch boxes and entered the female Omega’s dormitory, moving her arms and legs in stiff coordination.

The military training base provided unified uniforms and bedding. Upon entering the dorm, the familiar sight of identical cyan-green blankets folded like tofu blocks sat neatly in rows on white sheets. Su Zhiyi led Gu Xizhou inside and stopped at a cot in the middle. “This is my bed. Have a seat for a moment.”

“Oh…”

The girl with the ponytail, wearing a fresh white T-shirt and military green trousers, crouched by the bed. With one hand on the white sheet and the other reaching underneath, she dragged out that massive 30-inch suitcase. Her shiny black ponytail swept across her slender shoulders, revealing her snow-white neck, making Gu Xizhou’s heart thunder like a drum.

Seeing this, 0820 complained wildly in her head: “Does the military base not have an infirmary? Do such minor injuries even need medicine? She has no guard up, but how can you have such a short memory? You just came because she asked. Ill-intentioned! You deserve to be hit by Su Nanfeng.”

Gu Xizhou’s face turned scarlet as she muttered a rebuttal: “What does this have to do with Su Nanfeng…” She just… she didn’t know what possessed her to agree.

Su Zhiyi dragged out her large suitcase, pulled out a medical kit, and plopped it onto the bed. She turned to Gu Xizhou: “Come here and sit properly. I’ll take care of your wounds.” Her eyes were sparkling, making Gu Xizhou’s ears burn even hotter.

This was a mistake, Gu Xizhou thought. Even so, she obediently nodded, following Su Zhiyi’s lead. She carefully placed the lunch boxes on the small bedside table, lifted the corner of the bedsheet, and sat down cautiously.

Su Zhiyi fished out Band-Aids and alcohol cotton pads. Looking back to see Gu Xizhou lifting the sheet to sit on the hard wooden board, she was surprised. “Just sit down normally, no need to be so particular.”

Gu Xizhou kept her hands on her knees, her lips pressed together. “Pants… dirty…” They had been training all morning, sitting on the ground every other moment. Her pants were covered in dust from the lawn; how could she dare sit on Su Zhiyi’s bed?

Su Zhiyi didn’t mind at all. She said with a smile, “It’s fine. Just a quick pat will fix it.” Holding the alcohol cotton, she signaled for Gu Xizhou to look up. “Come, lift your chin. I’ll clean the wound for you.”

Gu Xizhou pressed her hands into her knees and instinctively tilted her head back, revealing the cut at the corner of her mouth. As Su Zhiyi pressed the alcohol cotton down, she asked warmly, “Does it hurt?”

A familiar cherry scent, mingled with the breath of sunlight, slowly enveloped Gu Xizhou. Amidst her nervousness, she found herself completely entranced by this warm fragrance. Gu Xizhou lost all rational thought; her heart and eyes were filled only with the other’s soft gaze. She answered blankly, “It doesn’t hurt.” The wound had long since scabbed over; where would the pain come from?

Su Zhiyi’s delicate nose wrinkled slightly in dissatisfaction. “The instructor is really something. Punishing you all night and then not even giving you medicine first. A girl’s face is very important.”

Gu Xizhou’s heartbeat was a mess. She gave a random “mm,” not knowing what to say. Su Zhiyi carefully cleaned the wound at the corner of her mouth. Looking at the swollen area that would likely leave a small scar, she said with worry, “Gu Xizhou…”

Gu Xizhou looked up. “Mm?”

Su Zhiyi sighed, looking at the marks on that fair, small face. She hesitated. “I feel a bit sorry… I thought Nanfeng…” She bit her lip, her expression conflicted. “You are just one person, and they are a whole group. I might be able to control Nanfeng, but I can’t control the others. If this happens again, what will you do?”

Last night’s incident was entirely caused by Ding Yi trying to please Su Nanfeng. It would be one thing if it were just Su Nanfeng’s targeting, but now Gu Xizhou had provoked a whole group. If those people targeted Gu Xizhou in their own names, Su Zhiyi didn’t know how to handle it.

Gu Xizhou pursed her lips and thought for a moment before saying to Su Zhiyi, “I’m not afraid of them. They didn’t gain anything either. If they keep trying to mess with me, they won’t have a good time.” Worst case, we all go to juvenile detention. Who’s afraid of whom?

“Alright…” Su Zhiyi said helplessly. She set down the alcohol cotton, unwrapped a Band-Aid with a strawberry logo, and carefully applied it to Gu Xizhou’s face. “If anything happens, go to the teacher. If they find trouble with you later, you can also find me.” Su Zhiyi finished applying the Band-Aid, set the trash aside, and patted Gu Xizhou’s shoulder comfortingly. “I can help you.”

A warmth surged in Gu Xizhou’s heart. The evaporating alcohol stung her eyes slightly. Her hands clenched on her knees. She thought for a while before looking at Su Zhiyi, who was tidying the medical kit, and bit her lip. “Are you only being this nice to me because Su Nanfeng bullied me?”

“Ah?” Su Zhiyi turned back, her bright eyes widening slightly.

Gu Xizhou’s mind was in a whirl. She looked straight at her and said, “If you feel like you need to make amends because Su Nanfeng bullied me… there’s really no need. I’ve said it before: you are you, and she is she. My business with her has nothing to do with you.” She wouldn’t be as “stupid” as her future self, pouring out unvented emotions and revenge on an innocent person. Su Zhiyi was a good person; she deserved better treatment.

Su Zhiyi closed the medical kit, pursing her lips as she thought for a long while before answering, “To say no feels a bit wrong. But to say yes… I feel like you’ll tell me it’s unnecessary.” She sighed softly and leaned down to look at Gu Xizhou. “Can’t you just assume I can’t stand seeing you like this and want to be a bit nicer to you?”

It seems… that’s not impossible.

Gu Xizhou didn’t speak. Su Zhiyi picked up the lunch box from the side and shoved it into her arms. “Alright, let’s eat first. After eating, go back for a nap. There’s more training this afternoon.”

Gu Xizhou held the lunch box blankly. Seeing Su Zhiyi sitting beside her so naturally and generously, she became tense again. Like a cat with its fur standing on end, she jumped up holding the box and said hurriedly, “I… I’ll just go back to our dorm to eat. Thank you for the medicine.”

Gu Xizhou prepared to bolt, but a thin, delicate hand grabbed the hem of her shirt. She turned to see Su Zhiyi sitting on the bed, tugging at her clothes and looking up at her. “Can’t you stay and eat with me?” Su Zhiyi’s lips pulled down slightly, her expression looking disappointed. “And I just gave you medicine…”

Gu Xizhou’s voice got stuck in her throat. Su Zhiyi’s eyes were pleading and watery. “Please, no one is here at noon. Just eat with me.”

“Al… Alright…” Gu Xizhou’s head was spinning; she stammered her reply but sat back down on Su Zhiyi’s bed to accompany her for lunch.

The two opened their lunch boxes in unison and began to eat. The cafeteria food was good—two meats, two vegetables, and a chicken drumstick. Gu Xizhou only wanted to focus on her food, finish quickly, and run.

After two bites, she heard Su Zhiyi ask, “Do you want a chicken drumstick?”

Gu Xizhou turned, confused. “Mm?”

Su Zhiyi placed a drumstick in her lunch box, her expression troubled. “I don’t think I can eat this much, and I don’t want to waste food. Can you help me out?”

Gu Xizhou stared wide-eyed at the extra drumstick in her bowl. Su Zhiyi put on a pitiful, pleading look. “Please, help me out…”

0820 urged in her mind: “Quick, eat some for her! Eat more so you can grow taller.”

Gu Xizhou puffed out her cheeks and said dryly, “Alright…” Alright, alright… what else could she do? What else could she do besides eat?

In the vast dormitory, the two sat on the bed eating together. Su Zhiyi chatted about trivial things, like the mosquitoes from yesterday. This reminded Gu Xizhou of her promise. “I have floral water, repellent, and mosquito stickers. I can bring them to you this afternoon…” Originally, she was going to give them to Su Zhiyi in the morning, but she was too sleepy and forgot.

Su Zhiyi’s eyes lit up instantly. “Great! Then I’ll follow you back to your dorm in a bit to get them.”

Gu Xizhou’s voice turned tense immediately. “No!”

Su Zhiyi blinked, confused. “Is that not allowed? Since you’ve come to our dorm, why can’t I go to yours? Besides, I want to check on Nanfeng and those bad people.” She had to show her face so everyone would know she was protecting Gu Xizhou.

Gu Xizhou’s scalp went numb; she was in a daze. “About that…”

Su Zhiyi held her lunch box, her deer-like eyes looking at her wetly. “Gu Xizhou, is it okay or not?”

Gu Xizhou thought for a moment and gritted her teeth. “No. I’ll bring them up to you in a bit.”

She absolutely would not let Su Zhiyi go to the female Alpha dormitory; otherwise, Su Nanfeng would definitely kill her next time!