The Silly Prince Successfully Cancels the Engagement, But the Fiancée is His Childhood Sweetheart - Chapter 9

Chapter 9: Double Standards

“Your marksmanship is indeed exquisite…”

Before Xiang Zhuo could finish his sentence, an enemy mecha swiftly flew in from his blind spot behind him. Bai Qing, without a word, executed a quick combination of moves, cleanly destroying the enemy mecha’s power source.

—Silently refuting Xiang Zhuo’s words.

It’s not just my shooting technique that is exquisite.

The other Alpha and Beta were still in shock, but Xiang Zhuo, standing in the center of the action, slightly raised an eyebrow.

A dialogue box appeared on his control screen:

[Phoenix-3 applying to join the team. Approve?]

He selected “Yes” without hesitation.

With Bai Qing’s addition, the pressure on the trio instantly lessened significantly. The Phoenix-3 that Bai Qing was piloting was a pure long-range combat mecha. The greater the distance established from the enemy, the greater the Phoenix-3’s power.

Bai Qing hid in the distance, shooting one bullet at a time, hitting the mark with every shot. He calmly and composedly delivered headshots to the enemy mechas amidst the blazing fire, setting off fireworks one after another for his teammates.

Their team’s comprehensive score soared, climbing steadily up the rankings, and quickly securing a spot in the top five.

The Alpha teammate whistled and sighed: “Incredible.”

Xiang Zhuo didn’t say anything more.

He knew Bai Qing was talented. His SSS+ level mental strength made him a natural fit for piloting mecha.

Moreover, how could the young master of the Bai family not know how to pilot a mecha?

He had initially underestimated Bai Qing’s strength, which was indeed a mistake as the team leader.

…

The Mecha Training Class ended in the midst of fire and smoke. With fifteen minutes left until the official class end, the instructor directed everyone to proceed with settlement, grading, and system exit.

Bai Qing looked at the score settlement interface. His damage output was the highest, but his damage taken was the lowest, making his comprehensive score second only to Xiang Zhuo. As for Xiang Zhuo, he had the highest damage taken, and his output was only 1.5% higher than Bai Qing’s. He earned the highest score and the MVP for the entire session.

Moreover, their team’s comprehensive score was the highest, far surpassing the second-place team by over 300 points.

After exiting the simulation system, Bai Qing’s physical strength was nearly depleted. He slumped against the training machine chair back, closed his eyes, and regulated his slightly rapid breathing.

Xiang Zhuo turned his head and looked at Bai Qing, who was sitting by the window in the distance.

Bai Qing seemed physically drained; even piloting a long-range mecha hadn’t left him with the strength to move.

Xiang Zhuo turned back, forcefully wiping away the overly beautiful figure in his mind.

The instructor gave everyone five minutes to rest. Then, in the last ten minutes before dismissal, he announced a major piece of news.

The annual Eternal Empire Mecha Combat Tournament was about to begin.

The competition date was set one month away.

This tournament was highly anticipated across the Empire and was one of the most important competitions within the Empire. Top talents from various higher education institutions would converge here, on the Empire’s capital star, Hele, to compete.

Additionally, this Mecha Combat Tournament would be live-streamed across the entire star network, viewable by all citizens, and was also a primary channel for the military to screen for talent. More importantly, the winner of the tournament would be personally decorated by His Majesty the King and would receive a promise from the King.

The instructor explained the rules of the Mecha Combat Tournament at the podium and encouraged everyone to sign up. Xiang Zhuo’s gaze was incredibly firm.

He must win the championship.

He must make the King agree to break his engagement with Bai Qing!

…

However, Xiang Zhuo did not expect Bai Qing to actively seek him out after class.

Bai Qing looked up: “Shall we go for a walk?”

Xiang Zhuo happened to have no urgent matters. He nodded and courteously stepped aside to let him pass.

Bai Qing led the way out. The Mecha Training Class was held in the Mecha Instruction Center. Emerging from the ten-story building led right to the outdoor basketball court.

Sure enough, no matter where you go, as long as it’s a campus, you can’t escape places like basketball courts.

Xiang Zhuo bought two bottles of soda and handed one to Bai Qing. Bai Qing thanked him and took it but didn’t drink, just holding it in his hand, seemingly to regulate his body temperature.

Xiang Zhuo waited patiently for a long time, but Bai Qing didn’t speak. He was a little helpless: “Young Master Bai, what did you want to talk about?”

Bai Qing looked at him sideways: “His Royal Highness seems to lack an accurate self-assessment of his own status.”

Xiang Zhuo: “…”

Bai Qing got straight to the point: “I intend to take first place in the Mecha Combat Tournament a month from now.”

Xiang Zhuo looked at him, his expression not exactly friendly: “Is that a declaration of war?”

Bai Qing: “When His Majesty the King honors me, I will state my request, which is to dissolve our engagement.”

“I can win first place myself and have the King dissolve our engagement.”

Bai Qing: “The King won’t agree to you winning the championship. You don’t even need to win first place to ask the King to dissolve the engagement. You can bring it up every day. But if the King were going to grant your request, you wouldn’t have come to me for help on the first day.”

This logic was indeed flawless.

Xiang Zhuo was choked up.

Bai Qing continued his ruthless attack: “Nor would the application to dissolve the genetic match still be pending after all this time.”

Xiang Zhuo: “…”

“If you intend to sign up and win first place, you don’t need to come to me. I won’t go easy on you during the competition. Even if the old man refuses my request to dissolve the engagement, I will find another use for the victory. Without a doubt, I will pursue the championship of the tournament by any means necessary.”

Bai Qing watched him quietly: “Since that is the case, a batch of the newest training machines has arrived at my home. Shall we practice together?”

Xiang Zhuo refused without thinking: “That won’t work…”

Xiang Zhuo didn’t look up at this moment, otherwise, he would have definitely seen the confusion and surprise in Bai Qing’s eyes.

Bai Qing was genuinely a little tired; otherwise, with his SSS+ level mental strength, it would be impossible for him not to sense the basketball flying towards him.

Bai Qing didn’t dwell on Xiang Zhuo’s refusal and simply nodded: “Alright, then I won’t trouble you any further. Thank you for the soda.”

Just as Bai Qing was about to get up and leave, he saw a sharp glint in Xiang Zhuo’s eyes. Xiang Zhuo suddenly exerted force and grabbed Bai Qing’s arm. Bai Qing was unprepared, and simultaneously, a strong, aggressive Alpha aura tightly enveloped him.

The physiological submission made Bai Qing extremely uncomfortable, but he couldn’t move.

Xiang Zhuo paid no mind. He restrainedly and courteously placed one arm loosely around Bai Qing’s waist, while his other hand shot forward, his large hand firmly catching a basketball that was rapidly flying over.

Even the unintentional release of pheromones by a high-level Alpha can make others pale and tremble with fear.

Xiang Zhuo’s body moved much faster than his brain. He wasn’t thinking at all in that moment; he subconsciously felt that this ball could not be allowed to hit Bai Qing.

If it hit Bai Qing, this fragile little Omega would definitely cry.

Even a carnivorous plant is still a flower.

He hated seeing people cry the most. Annoying!

Xiang Zhuo used so much force that his five fingers firmly dug into the ball, leaving deep indentations on its surface.

An Alpha in the distance seemed to realize he had caused trouble. He ran over and apologized profusely.

Seeing that his attitude was decent, Xiang Zhuo retracted some of the unconsciously released pheromones, tossed the ball back from a distance, and the ball immediately deflated and lost air upon hitting the ground in front of the Alpha, unable to move again.

The Alpha was terrified into silence, not daring to say an extra word. He just picked up the deflated ball and walked away sheepishly.

Having dealt with the ball, Xiang Zhuo suddenly realized that there was a stiff person still in his arms…

Xiang Zhuo immediately released the strength that had held Bai Qing, took two steps back, and said coldly: “I’m sorry.”

Xiang Zhuo’s deliberate withdrawal finally gave Bai Qing room to breathe fresh air. He lowered his eyes, his face pale, a shadow cast over his lake-blue eyes.

“Thank you.”

Xiang Zhuo’s tone was poor: “Consider it repaying the favor.”

He quietly watched as the sunlight cast a glow on Bai Qing’s silver-white hair and silver eyelashes.

“If that were on the battlefield, your head would have been separated from your body long ago.”

Bai Qing’s gaze slowly lifted: “I know. I’ll be more careful in the future.”

It seemed Xiang Zhuo really disliked him.

Bai Qing gently nodded to Xiang Zhuo: “I’ll go now.”

Xiang Zhuo didn’t know what to say. After a long time, when Bai Qing had already walked away, he took one last look at Bai Qing’s retreating back, then looked away, only to immediately see Jing Yu’s enlarged face: “What are you doing!”

Jing Yu said faintly: “What are you doing standing here? Aren’t you hot from the sun…”

Xiang Zhuo couldn’t be bothered with him. He took a long stride and turned back toward the teaching building.

Jing Yu chased after him, scolding: “Have you no conscience? You didn’t even wait for me… What did you just say to Bai Qing?”

…

The class schedule at the National Defense Military Academy was incredibly packed. Coupled with the announcement earlier that morning about the Eternal Empire Mecha Combat Tournament happening in a month, everyone’s enthusiasm for learning was unprecedentedly high. Even the students in the back row weren’t sleeping or slacking off, uniformly holding their heads up and listening attentively.

This made Ye Sheng, who was sleeping in the back row, stand out as completely incompatible with the rest.

Halfway through the class, Bai Qing suddenly felt his communication wristband vibrate. He lowered his eyes to look and immediately saw Xiang Zhuo’s conspicuous fire-themed avatar.

Bai Qing tapped in to read the message.

[Flaming Phoenix]: Hello. What are you busy with?

[Flaming Phoenix]: The Mecha Combat Tournament is next month. I plan to sign up. What about you? Oh, right, are you free tonight?

Looking at the carefully chosen wording of “Flaming Phoenix,” Bai Qing could barely connect it with Xiang Zhuo himself.

[Cypress Tree]: What is it?

The reply was instantaneous.

[Flaming Phoenix]: It’s nothing much. I just wanted to ask you for a favor. I want to win first place in the Mecha Combat Tournament, but my opponents are very strong. Could you… spar with me a few times and help me practice?

[Flaming Phoenix]: We can just go to the Underground Arena!

Xiang Zhuo seemed afraid he wouldn’t agree, quickly adding that the Underground Arena would be fine.

Bai Qing: “…”

He had asked Xiang Zhuo just that afternoon if he was willing for the two of them to practice a few rounds.

At that time, Xiang Zhuo had resolutely refused.

Now he’s changing his mind?

What is the meaning of this?