What Should I Do If My Ex-Girlfriend's Pheromones Smell Too Good? - Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Two Words — The only connection between “Coldly Elegant” and Jin Yan.

Track VII-3 was notoriously difficult. The track floor was marked with a path less than a meter wide; if a mech stepped outside this zone during the run, the system would immediately declare failure.

The first half was scattered with gravel at treacherous angles, while the second half was coated in a layer of slick liquid, making it extremely easy to slip and fall.

“I suspect the person who designed this track had a miserable life,” one spectator remarked. “Maybe they were squeezed dry by their boss and went bald early, or got cheated on by an eccentric ex, or perhaps they bought instant noodles and never found the seasoning packets. Only a tidal wave of resentment could drive someone to create a monstrosity like this to toy with us poor cadets.”

Someone immediately agreed: “You said it. This track isn’t even as wide as a mech’s foot.”

The crowd: “…” Okay, that’s a bit of an exaggeration!

However, upon closer inspection, they realized the mech’s foot width actually was nearly the same as the track. Once Starsea stepped onto the path, there were only five or six centimeters of space left. Consequently, Yan Xiangyu had to control it to move forward awkwardly in a “single-file” gait.

This time, Yan Xiangyu didn’t rush to accelerate. She gauged the difficulty of the track, constantly micro-adjusting her stride length and pace to maintain the mech’s steady balance. After three or four steps, she began to pick up speed, approaching the slime-covered area at a thrilling pace that made the onlookers hold their breath.

Everyone speculated that she would finally slow down now, otherwise, she was guaranteed to take a face-plant in the mud.

However, Yan Xiangyu didn’t just maintain her speed; she increased her pace. The strides she took in Starsea became larger and larger until she was almost leaping. Then, just as she was about to slide off the track, she suddenly vaulted into the air with her legs tucked.

The track was S-shaped, but the direction she jumped was straight toward the finish line. If she fell mid-way, she would surely fail for crossing the lines.

Thud.

She extended her limbs in mid-air, using incredible flexibility and explosive power to jump directly over the “death zone” like a gliding falcon, landing precisely on her predicted spot. Her feet touched the ground lightly, and she even anticipated the short distance she would slide forward on the slime due to inertia. Everything was perfect.

“…Smooth. That was too smooth,” someone in the crowd finally squeezed out.

“Who recorded that part just now?” others were asking those with recording bracelets. “A leap of faith… is she even human?”

Some busybodies had already uploaded the video to the Military University forum, where everyone below was worshiping the pro.

After finishing Track VII-3, Yan Xiangyu didn’t hear the notification for a broken record. She looked up at the big screen and found she was 0.91 seconds slower than the senior named Lin Yuan—likely because she spent a bit too much time testing the waters at the start.

But whether the record was broken didn’t matter now; even without the record, it was an incredibly freakish performance.

Yan Xiangyu, breathing heavily, piloted the mech back toward Shu Qiong and the others. Along the way, the outer shell of Starsea was stealthily touched by quite a few people.

When she arrived, she found that Su Heyi and Jin Yan had both arrived. Both were looking at Starsea with glowing eyes, clearly wanting to give it a try.

Shu Qiong was impartial and firmly refused: “No, I need to hurry to the workshop to make detailed adjustments.” She had to turn in the major assignment for tomorrow morning’s practical class.

Jin Yan immediately started wailing and throwing a tantrum, her face screaming I want to play too: “Daughter, you’re biased!”

Shu Qiong’s ears were ringing, so she had to say: “This one is too basic and not fun. I’ll invite you once I finish the final product for the Design League.”

Only then did Jin Yan reluctantly agree. Su Heyi’s eyes also lit up: “Great, great.”

Yan Xiangyu drove Starsea to the lounge and returned only after sending it back to the workshop. Shu Qiong asked her a few questions as usual, and Yan Xiangyu answered them one by one.

“I’ll optimize it and let you try it again after class tomorrow.” After collecting the feedback, Shu Qiong capped her pen and said seriously, “There was a bit of unnatural stuttering in the joints during the start, which affected your record attempt. It’s a problem with the mech, not you.”

Yan Xiangyu froze. Was she comforting me? “Does this count as Student Shu giving me a cheat code?”

Shu Qiong waved her hand: “This is called ‘mech fine-tuning,’ do you understand? Can something we mech designers do be called a cheat?”

She thought of the standard mech the other girl had left in her workshop and said: “What aspect do you want to modify? Name something other than speed.”

Yan Xiangyu didn’t have any specific ideas: “Just modify it however you see fit, I have no preference.”

Shu Qiong nodded: “The modification will take two to three days. Use my mech for your practical classes for the next few days.”

Hearing such a good deal, Jin Yan immediately raised her hand: “I also apply for a mech modification!” Although the commander major’s assignment was simple, she mainly wanted the chance to play with Starsea.

Shu Qiong accepted all comers, treating it as practice: “…Fine. You’re behind Yan Xiangyu. Provide your own budget.”

Jin Yan, learning from Yan Xiangyu, cleverly showed her loyalty: “No problem! You can change my mech however you want!”

Shu Qiong figured modifying one was fine, so modifying two was no different: “Heyi-jie, does yours need a modification?” Su Heyi wouldn’t refuse and immediately agreed.

Song Lianqiao didn’t go with them to the workshop; she had gained some inspiration from the test run and ran back to her own workshop to tinker.

Shu Qiong rubbed her temples. Modifying standard mechs wasn’t difficult. Her focus would definitely be on the Mech Design League from now on; modifying her friends’ mechs was just a bit of “flavor” for her daily life.

Jin Yan couldn’t understand this “overachiever” style of relaxation. But since Shu Qiong was “holding her mech hostage,” she didn’t dare say anything.

Once Shu Qiong quickly solved the remaining minor issues with Starsea, the group headed to the cafeteria together. It was a bit late, so the cafeteria wasn’t crowded. Shu Qiong was happy she didn’t have to wear a mask to guard against Omega pheromones. She asked Jin Yan: “I haven’t asked yet—why did you come over?”

Jin Yan slapped her forehead and spoke with an exaggerated tone: “You finally asked! I sent you nearly five hundred messages, why didn’t you reply to me?”

Shu Qiong opened her bracelet and saw that Jin Yan had indeed bombarded her with a ton of messages while she was testing the mech.

Jin Yan: Daughter! People on the forum are starting rumors about you and Yan-BKing again! This time they even affected me!

Jin Yan: This is simply outrageous!

Jin Yan: [Link to Military University Forum]

Main Post: Remember that old gossip about the two Alphas, Yan and Shu, fighting over one Omega? It seems there’s a sequel! Yesterday, someone saw an Alpha in a luxury car picking up the Omega. Shortly after, Yan and Shu also showed up [Shocked]. The group seemed to negotiate for a bit, and finally, three Alphas and one Omega all got into the luxury car and drove off to an unknown location. It looks like a white-hot Alpha competition is playing out.

Shu Qiong wanted to complain the moment she saw the post. What? Are Su Heyi and Gu Tiantian, who also participated in the meal, just invisible?

2L: OP has too much free time.

4L: What! Did that Omega get some ‘universal heartthrob’ script?

6L OP: I have photos for proof [Image] [Image].

7L: This car is blinding. Someone who knows their stuff give an estimate—it smells like pure money.

11L: Isn’t this DHL’s limited edition interstellar hovering supercar from last year? It’s not even about the money anymore! Ordinary people don’t even have the channels to buy this! [Drooling] 21L: I think I know who the Alpha driving the luxury car is [Image].

22L: I know too. Check out the post from orientation day numbered xxxx.

23L: Poster above is a saint.

27L: Holy crap.

39L: Holy crap!!!

41L: So it’s the Jin family… [Dizzy]

42L: Changing the subject, this eldest miss of the Jin family is too good-looking! A coldly elegant female Alpha is top-tier stuff. Her sexual tension is so strong [Craving]. If it’s her, I’d be willing even if she had long diamond-encrusted nails [Blushing].

Shu Qiong, seeing this floor: “…”

The excited user on Floor 42 probably wouldn’t know that the only connection between the term “Coldly Elegant” (leng yan) and the “Husky-like” Jin Yan (jin yan) is that they both happen to be two words.