The Cannon Fodder Became the Empire's Beloved Omega - Chapter 25

Following the directions given by the Beta girl earlier, Yu Ruan arrived directly in front of the rehearsal room.

Having moved away from the center of the argument, the corridor gradually grew quieter. He reached out and knocked on the door, waiting until he heard a response from inside before pulling it open.

The person in charge of the rehearsal room had a somewhat fierce appearance. “What are you here for?”

“I heard that before the official entrance speech, we need to go through a rehearsal process,” Yu Ruan said, handing over the application card he had obtained from the class assistant earlier. “I’m here to prepare for the rehearsal.”

Upon hearing this, the other person furrowed his brows, accepted the application card with a doubtful expression, and turned around to scan Yu Ruan’s information.

After a moment, he extended a hand and returned the card to Yu Ruan. “All set.”

Taking the card, Yu Ruan thanked him and pushed the door open to enter the studio.

The man snorted dismissively and casually glanced at the information on the screen. Instantly, his eyes widened in disbelief.

An Omega??

He instinctively rubbed his eyes and carefully double-checked the letters in the gender field, nearly dropping his jaw in shock.

It really was an Omega!

Han Ran came to a stop.

The door to the rehearsal room was slightly ajar, and through the door panel, she could hear the murmuring voices inside.

“He actually just came here like that. How bold.”

“Maybe he doesn’t care at all,” someone said. “He’s a connection case, why would he care about the opinions of us nobodies? If you ask me, we should just lock the studio door. After all, he just arrived at the school. Even if he tries to get help, it’ll take a while for anyone to come to Xingyun. We’re sure to make him cry and embarrass himself!”

Han Ran raised an eyebrow and pushed the door open directly. “Who are you planning to bully? Care to share?”

Instantly, the previously whispering rehearsal room fell into complete silence.

Han Ran scanned the room and found that several Xingyun students had gathered in this small rehearsal room. If she hadn’t stepped in, it wouldn’t have been long before this jest turned into reality, causing trouble for the person in the studio.

She immediately frowned.

Although she didn’t like the rumored Omega who had allegedly gotten in through connections, she found this kind of malicious behavior, akin to school bullying, even more detestable. Han Ran’s face turned cold as she suppressed her anger. “Hand over your IDs.”

At her words, the group exchanged uneasy glances.

The student council president before them was notoriously difficult to deal with. If they resisted, they would undoubtedly face severe penalties from Han Ran, possibly even expulsion from the school.

After a moment of consideration, they reluctantly stifled their anger and handed over their ID cards one by one.

Han Ran glanced at the cards and pocketed them. Then, she pulled out a chair from the table, sat down, and gestured with her chin. “Line up over there.”

The group obediently lined up like chicks, heads bowed, ready to be reprimanded.

“Did he come here to rehearse his speech?”

“Yes.”

Han Ran’s heart stirred inexplicably, and as if guided by some unseen force, she reached out and activated the studio’s recording.

Inside the studio.

The equipment in the room was all high-end and didn’t require much specialized knowledge to operate. Yu Ruan pressed the start button on the machine, preset the scene, and put on the headphones and microphone. The screen in front of him flickered, and soon, his surroundings transformed into a packed auditorium filled with a sea of people.

The voice coming through the headphones felt unnervingly real. If not for the lingering sensation on his fingertips reminding him of the truth, Yu Ruan might have truly believed he had stepped into the auditorium.

No wonder Gu Yu had insisted he come here beforehand. So this was the reason.

He took a deep breath, recalling past experiences, and began his trial speech.

Just as Han Ran opened the screen, she happened to witness this scene.

The rehearsal room at Nebula University was divided into two parts, the inner room, where Yu Ruan was, was primarily for speakers to practice their delivery and adjust their stage presence. The outer room, where Han Ran stood, displayed a complete view of the inner room, allowing observers to offer real-time feedback on the speaker’s performance.

With practiced ease, she switched perspectives, pulling the view to that of an audience member below the stage.

Soon, a familiar figure appeared at the podium.

Han Ran watched the screen intently. On it, the delicate-featured Omega seemed slightly nervous, as if unaccustomed to standing before a crowd. But almost immediately, he took a soft breath, and the unease on his face vanished, replaced by a faint smile as he looked in Han Ran’s direction.

Instantly, her heart felt as if something had gently plucked at it a pleasant, ticklish sensation. The tightly furrowed brow she hadn’t even realized she’d been wearing relaxed unconsciously.

For a moment, Han Ran almost thought he had seen her through the thick studio wall, watching him from the outside.

She coughed lightly, unable to help straightening her posture.

On the other side, several Alphas who had initially dismissed Yu Ruan also instinctively straightened their backs upon seeing that smile. They couldn’t help but prick up their ears, curious to hear just what skills this Omega possessed to have earned Nebula’s exceptional admission.

Soon, the young man’s voice, gentle and clear as a flowing stream, filled the rehearsal room. His enunciation was crisp, his tone steady, showing none of the tension one might expect from someone facing a virtual audience of thousands. Instead, he spoke with the seasoned ease of a veteran, drawing listeners effortlessly into his narrative.

For a time, nearly everyone was captivated.

Han Ran stared intently at the Omega on the screen, her emotions gradually churning into a complex mix.

Initially, she had assumed he was just a privileged student who had relied on connections to enter Nebula someone arrogant and spoiled, and she had looked down on such individuals.

But recent events had slightly shifted her opinion of Yu Ruan.

After all, someone with a truly unpleasant disposition would never willingly help someone who had accidentally injured them. The fact that Yu Ruan had stepped up to assist spoke volumes about his character.

As for his abilities, this rehearsal had thoroughly confirmed them.

Such composure and stage presence were rare even in a university as elite as Nebula. How could he possibly be just a “connection-admit”?

Han Ran was almost certain that the Omega before her was nothing like the rumors described, delicate, willful, and unaccomplished. On the contrary, he might very well outshine many Alphas, capable of overshadowing the majority of students at this school.

She cast a sidelong glance at the Alphas beside her and noticed they, too, were listening intently, occasionally furrowing their brows. Clearly, they had been drawn into the rhythm set by the person in the studio.

Seeing this, Han Ran couldn’t help but curl her lips into a smile, crossing her arms and leaning back in her chair.

The speech concluded perfectly.

To be honest, Yu Ruan hadn’t expected the rehearsal to go so smoothly. Having been away from the stage for so many years, he thought he would have grown completely rusty. Yet, it had flowed so effortlessly, a truly pleasant surprise.

Feeling pleased, he removed his equipment and mentally reviewed the details of his performance, quietly noting the parts that needed improvement for further practice later. After a moment’s thought, he couldn’t resist sending a message to Gu Yu, thanking him for his earlier help.

While waiting for a reply, Yu Ruan stood up from his chair, tidied the scattered items on the table, and prepared to leave the studio.

As the speech ended abruptly, the audience outside seemed momentarily stunned. They stared blankly at the Omega on the screen, who was packing up his things, as an indescribable sense of loss quietly spread among them. Their emotions were overwhelmingly complex.

An Omega!

The person who had just delivered such an outstanding speech was actually an Omega!

If they hadn’t heard it with their own ears, they would never have believed that an Omega could perform so exceptionally!

It was no exaggeration to say that the level of skill he displayed was something even many outstanding Alphas struggled to achieve. Yet, in private, they had secretly mocked him as a spoiled, willful fool???

Heavens, what an utterly shameful thing they had done!

Their gazes involuntarily shifted to Yu Ruan, who hadn’t yet left the studio.

On the screen, the Omega’s eyes curved like crescent moons, a gentle smile gracing his features. His lashes were long and curled, his eyes shimmering like brilliant sapphires. With fair skin, a delicate nose, and rosy lips, he was strikingly beautiful enough to make any Alpha’s heart flutter.

Remembering how, not long ago, they had suggested locking such an outstanding and adorable Omega in the studio to let him “enjoy” the privileges of a special student.

Instantly, a wave of guilt washed over everyone present.

After packing up, Yu Ruan turned off the equipment and cheerfully opened the studio door. But the scene that greeted him next left him utterly stunned.

The previously empty rehearsal room was now crowded with several tall, burly Alphas, their eyes red-rimmed and filled with remorse as they fixed their gazes on him.

He blinked in confusion.

Then, in unison, they choked back a sob and exclaimed loudly, “We’re sorry, Classmate Yu, we were wrong! Please scold us as much as you want, and don’t forgive us easily!!”

Yu Ruan: “…?”

What’s wrong with these people? Did they take the wrong medicine or something?

Honestly, seeing several brawny Alphas weeping and sobbing in front of him felt rather strange.

Definitely not something to be happy about.

Yu Ruan looked at the Alpha group with a troubled expression, thought for a moment, and said, “Hello could you please step aside? You’re blocking my way out.”

The Alphas suddenly hiccupped, exchanged glances, and nodded with reddened eyes.

Watching them reluctantly move aside, Yu Ruan felt a bit helpless. He softly muttered “Thank you,” lowered his head, and slipped through the gap they had made.

Gazes filled with guilty affection poured over him, leaving Yu Ruan both bewildered and confused. Flustered, he lowered his head and carefully made his way through the crowd. But just as he approached the door not far away, he spotted a familiar figure.

Leaning casually against the doorframe with her arms crossed, she had a head of cascading wavy hair. Seeing Yu Ruan emerge from the crowd, she stood up and extended a hand toward him:

“Welcome to Nebula,” she said, her voice slightly husky. “My name is Han Ran, Ran as in ‘rising steadily.’ Nice to meet you. Would you like to have dinner together tonight?”

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