The Top-Tier Alpha Refuses to Be Pretty Cannon Fodder - Chapter 3

At the University of Science and Technology library, Lu Yunli was being personally supervised by Wang Su as he selected the books required for his thesis. Halfway through their task, Wang Su was called aside by Huo Yan for a private conversation.

【520: Host, what do you do now?】

Lu Yunli glanced at the two men talking in the distance, his fingers sliding along the library shelves. “I’m going to divorce him!”

【520: The original owner would never divorce Qi Xi.】

Lu Yunli took a deep breath. “Asking me to invite Qi Xi to the school? He’s dreaming!”

【520: But your graduation is at stake. Shouldn’t you yield a little first, Host?】

Lu Yunli refused outright. “No.”

He could write reports and catch up on papers, but bowing his head to Qi Xi? Absolutely impossible.

“If I reach Level 20, can I finally do it?”

【520: What do you plan to do?】

“Farm points, level up, and slay the monsters.” Once the level was high enough, he was getting that divorce immediately.

Huo Yan, standing just a few yards away, was a perfect target for farming points. Lu Yunli picked out his professional textbooks and began walking toward the two men. He stopped one bookshelf away, pulling a random book to act as a cover while he eavesdropped.

Fragments of their conversation drifted over. Piecing them together, Lu Yunli realized they were discussing Artificial Intelligence. It seemed M State was finally beginning to prioritize research in this sector.

Lu Yunli leaned back against the shelf, his eyes dropping to the book in his hand. The title read in bold letters: Dog Training Manual.

He raised an eyebrow, flipping through it with genuine interest.

• How to raise a large breed.
• Breeds and habits.
• Daily maintenance…

Perfect, he thought. That dog Qi Xi is exactly the type that needs proper training.

The “Best Friend” Appears

“Xingxing!”

Lu Yunli’s shoulder suddenly felt heavy. He turned his head to see a flamboyant Omega leaning against him.

【520: Ding-dong! Congratulations, Host, on successfully unlocking a new character: Lin Zhi. Current Level: 3.】

Lu Yunli ignored the mechanical voice and looked at the newcomer. “What are you looking at?”

Lin Zhi followed his gaze. Noticing Wang Su and Huo Yan on the other side of the shelves, he gripped Lu Yunli’s shoulder and whispered, “Lu Yunxing, you’re actually peeping!”

Peeping? Please.

Lu Yunli frowned, digging through the original owner’s memories. This was Lin Zhi—the “best friend” who had egged the original owner into “offering his body” to Qi Xi just yesterday.

Lin Zhi was a rich second-generation kid who got into the university through family connections. He was an unprincipled Omega who spent his time in red-light districts. Though he acted like a confidant, his true loyalty lay with the story’s “Protagonist Shou,” Xie Xingchi. Xie Xingchi loved Qi Xi and saw Lu Yunxing as a thorn in his side. These two had conspired to deceive the original owner, eventually driving him to suicide.

Lu Yunli caught the scent of the Omega’s cloyingly sweet pheromones and winced. This wasn’t an Omega-only college; Lin Zhi was subtly releasing pheromones for one reason: seduction.

Lu Yunli brushed the hand off his shoulder with disgust and turned to leave. He had barely taken a step when a sudden electric shock jolted through his body.

“Why are your legs going weak…?” Lin Zhi asked, confused.

Lu Yunli grabbed the bookshelf for support, his face darkening as he ground his teeth.

【Lu Yunli: Tell me before you shock me next time.】 【520: At your current level, you cannot act Out-of-Character (OOC) in front of supporting characters.】

Fine. Low level means being at everyone’s mercy. I. Need. To. Level. Up.

Lu Yunli took a breath, turned to Lin Zhi, and forced a brilliant smile. “Yesterday… was just exhausting.”

Lin Zhi’s eyes raked over him—a greasy, uncomfortable gaze. Lu Yunli cut to the chase: “Why are you here?”

“I should ask you that. What are you doing in a library?” Lin Zhi didn’t notice the rejection. He glanced at Wang Su and smirked. “Oh, I get it. You were dragged here by the ‘Living Yama’ Wang Su, weren’t you?”

Lu Yunli didn’t bother to deny it.

“He’s famous for being a nightmare,” Lin Zhi continued. “I heard that if you cross him, you might not even graduate.”

“So,” Lin Zhi leaned in, getting straight to the point. “Did you use the method I taught you yesterday?”

Lu Yunli paused, then unbuttoned his cuff and pushed up his sleeve. Under the library lights, his snowy skin was marked with suggestive red bruises—the clear marks of being bound.

Lin Zhi’s eyes lit up. “You… you actually did it!”

This idiot really listens to everything, Lin Zhi thought. Qi Xi must loathe him even more now. It won’t be long before they divorce, and then Xie Xingchi can take his place. I’ll be set for life.

“Qi Xi is an S-grade Alpha,” Lin Zhi pressed eagerly. “How do his pheromones smell? Did you two, last night…?”

Lu Yunli noted the look on Lin Zhi’s face. He pulled his sleeve down, hiding the marks, and nodded shyly, mimicking the original owner’s mannerisms. “It smells like brandy.”

Lin Zhi saw Lu Yunli’s ears turning red and his expression flickered. “You,  you did it?” Damn it, did Qi Xi lose control and mark this fool?

Lu Yunli let him stew in his thoughts for a moment before grabbing Lin Zhi’s sleeve. With red, teary eyes, he asked urgently, “Lin Zhi, what should I do? I did everything you said, but when Brother Qi saw me, he seemed so angry. He even scolded me.”

Lin Zhi grabbed his arm back. “He didn’t mark you?”

“No.” Lu Yunli shook his head, looking utterly dejected.

Lin Zhi let out a long breath of relief. Good. The plan isn’t ruined. He patted Lu Yunli’s shoulder dismissively. “Take it slow. It’s not like he just started hating you yesterday. But I’m telling you, Qi Xi has been very close to Xie Xingchi lately…”

The Opportunist

Lu Yunli stopped listening to Lin Zhi’s nonsense. His attention was locked on the other side of the shelf, where Huo Yan and Wang Su were now discussing the FLP Group.

Wang Su sighed. “To research AI, FLP’s bionic chips are essential. But that man, Lu Yunli, is too powerful; getting a meeting with him is difficult.”

Huo Yan, hands in his lab coat pockets, replied calmly, “I’ll try to reach out later. However, the research department recently hired a new expert and requested a batch of chips from FLP. If this collaboration yields a breakthrough, it will be a qualitative leap for M State.”

Lu Yunli heard his opening.

“I heard Qi Xi at Lanhai Group is also researching AI,” Wang Su added.

“He was the genius of our academy, after all,” Huo Yan said, adjusting his glasses. “In terms of AI research, Qi Xi is indeed very strong.”

Genius? Lu Yunli sneered internally. If I had transmigrated a few years earlier, that title would belong to someone else.

“But if Lanhai Group develops it first.” Wang Su worried aloud.

Huo Yan checked his watch. “I’m actually headed to Lanhai Group right now to discuss this matter.”

Huo Yan is going to Lanhai?

This was the perfect chance to bridge the gap. Lu Yunli pushed Lin Zhi aside and stepped forward.

“Professor Huo!”

Huo Yan stopped. Wang Su, who was seeing him out, frowned deeply when he saw who it was. “Lu Yunxing! What now? Get back to work!”

Lu Yunli didn’t stop. He walked straight up to Huo Yan and bowed respectfully. “Hello, Professor Huo. I’m Lu Yunxing from the Weapons Engineering department. I accidentally overheard your conversation. May I ask if you are heading to the Lanhai Group?”

The student looked familiar humble yet poised. Huo Yan pushed his frames up with a finger. “Yes.”

Lu Yunli straightened up, shot a quick, “pitiful” look at Wang Su, and pleaded with Huo Yan, “Professor Huo, Professor Wang wants me to bring in my guardian. I happen to be going to Lanhai to find Brother Qi. Could you give me a lift?”

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