What Should I Do If My Ex-Girlfriend's Pheromones Smell Too Good? - Chapter 87

Chapter 87: Guidance

Inside the mecha, Chang Xichun didn’t even have time to make a sound before she dissolved into a stream of data and vanished. Her consciousness was automatically ejected from the simulation pod.

The pod door hissed open with a clatter. Chang Xichun sat up abruptly, her face as pale as a ghost. Her teammates gathered around, but everyone’s emotions were complex; for a moment, no one could find any comforting words.

That final blow had pierced the Lianzhu’s cockpit entirely from front to back. Although the simulation program dials down pain to ensure no fundamental harm is done, that abnormal sensation lingered in Chang Xichun’s mind, requiring time to recover.

He Xuchou handed her water and tissues, supporting her arm to help her out. Chang Xichun looked as if she had just been fished out of a lake, drenched in cold sweat. More than the physical discomfort, she found it hard to accept that her prowess as a shooter—her greatest source of pride—had been so thoroughly challenged. She touched her abdomen; it was intact and flat with no wounds, only a lingering phantom pain reminding her how absolute her defeat as a Sniper-position pilot had been in that round.

In the final confrontation, she only had time to fire a single shot before being insta-killed by Ou Ye.

Shu Qiong lightly patted Chang Xichun’s shoulder in silent comfort. Then, the group turned their gaze toward the side.

Ou Ye had already stepped out of her simulation pod. She casually flicked the epaulet of her uniform and, seeing the somewhat dispirited Chang Xichun, shook her head with a sigh.

“Junior, look on the bright side—you have plenty of room for improvement.”

Even the most sincere words sounded like a provocation coming from her. “The Alliance has thousands of talents. I’ve fought at least a hundred gold-medal snipers; the endings are all pretty much the same. So don’t be too depressed. It’s because I’m freakishly strong, not because you’re a noob.”

Such a posture could only be described as arrogant. Yet, not a single person spoke up to refute her. Ou Ye’s “show of strength” had been incredibly effective.

Shu Qiong and the others looked at each other before finally centering their gaze on He Xuchou. Ou Ye casually rubbed her neck and thumped her shoulder, asking them, “Who’s next?”

A bet is a bet… He Xuchou steeled herself and stepped forward. “I am.”

Chang Xichun didn’t know about the wager made outside. Seeing He Xuchou’s determined expression—looking as if she were marching toward an execution ground—the phantom pain and sense of failure in her heart actually lessened a bit. Is this the legendary spirit of dauntless sacrifice?

“Excellent. Commendable courage,” Ou Ye said with a half-smile upon seeing the volunteer.

The group grew even more apprehensive, watching He Xuchou’s resolute silhouette as she entered the pod like a doomed hero.

“I remember you’re a Scout-position, so, Captain, what combat environment do you choose?” Ou Ye asked with interest.

He Xuchou remained silent for a long time before squeezing out a few words: “…Default map. Open Arena.”

Chang Xichun’s head filled with question marks. She turned to Shu Qiong. “Is Old He… stupid?”

Shu Qiong was determined not to mention that she was the one who proposed the trap of a bet. She only said earnestly, “Maybe she just really wants to improve.”

Chang Xichun couldn’t understand the logic of choosing to be bullied. She looked at Yan Xiangyu on the other side.

Yan Xiangyu took a deep breath. “The Captain is a role model for our generation.”

Qin Liang, who had also been classified as a loser of the bet for choosing a “draw,” was currently squatting in front of the light screen with a vacant expression. She watched as He Xuchou was swung around, twisted, kicked, and chopped by Ou Ye in the holographic environment… it was practically a rhythmic performance of violence. Qin Liang felt she had already seen her own tragic fate in the next round and squeezed her eyes shut.

He Xuchou had served as the captain of the school team for consecutive years and was respected by her teammates not just for her reliable character. Her actual combat ability was by no means weak; she was extremely skilled at rapid strikes and high-speed evasion, possessing excellent explosive power to push a light, agile Scout mecha to its limits.

Logically, even if she couldn’t defeat an experienced and ruthless fighter like Ou Ye, she should at least be able to dodge. Unfortunately, the arena they were in was too small. For a Scout pilot who relies on constant positioning and evasion, the Open Arena was already cramped; worse, Ou Ye was an expert at cutting off escape routes and blocking movement.

He Xuchou’s moves became increasingly panicked. Many techniques simply couldn’t be executed. She could only watch as her mecha’s damage rate climbed steadily, like a slow-motion death. That long blade in Ou Ye’s hands whistled through the air with every swing. Every time He Xuchou failed to dodge, a new scar—deep or shallow—would appear on her mecha.

The battle lasted twenty minutes. Finally, He Xuchou’s damage rate exceeded 80%, and the simulation pod judged her as having no further combat capability, knocking her out on the spot.

He Xuchou’s exit was different from Chang Xichun’s; she hadn’t been personally struck, so she only suffered from mental exhaustion without the agonizing phantom pain. She was greeted with a warm welcome by her teammates. Losing didn’t matter—being able to hold her own for so long in a disadvantageous matchup while avoiding a fatal blow showed exactly how strong her melee skills were.

Next, the other three took their turns, experiencing Ou Ye’s multi-faceted beatdowns one by one. Each person’s defeat and posture were completely different, but they all shared a profound sense of helplessness. Their impression of Colonel Ou underwent a total transformation.

To get into a special unit and stand out at such a young age in a place filled with geniuses… she was undoubtedly a powerhouse. So what if she was a bit provocative, arrogant, or dressed flashy!

“Total noobs.”

Ou Ye tested the strength of each student and left that remark after exiting the pod. The group cursed silently—So what if you’re a powerhouse! Does that give you the right to just bash people!

That being said, the hidden smugness they felt from being the top of their age group was completely wiped away. Sigh, constant improvement is the only way.

Seeing them silent with relatively calm expressions and decent emotional control, Ou Ye finally nodded. “Your receptivity is okay. Keep it up.”

She then exported the five matches and had them sit in front of the screen. She told them they could sit however they liked—comfort was priority, since “Old Ou” herself didn’t care for rigid formalities.

Ou Ye began a detailed review, dissecting the flaws that appeared during their battles. From start to finish, the group was forced to re-watch their own tragic and embarrassing defeats. They didn’t dare object, swallowing their tears of bitterness. The only comfort was that they were suffering together; everyone had their turn, and no one could escape.

In all fairness, Ou Ye’s eye was incredibly sharp. The problems she pointed out hit the mark exactly. However, she frequently threw in self-praise during the lecture, making the others’ faces twitch.

“Shu Qiong.” Ou Ye paused. She didn’t immediately play Shu Qiong’s footage but squinted at her. “Instructor Chu mentioned you’re a Mecha Master?”

Shu Qiong nodded.

Ou Ye propped up her chin and thought for a moment. “Your mind is quite flexible. Based purely on combat style, you actually look more like a Commander.”

Shu Qiong wasn’t sure if she was being praised or mocked, so she just stared back dryly, waiting for the follow-up.

Ou Ye laughed. “Did you think I was going to say your ability is poor and you only rely on flashy, underhanded tactics? Wrong. I’m not the kind of brute-force pilot who only grows muscle and looks down on people with brains.”

Shu Qiong said with a serious face, “How could that be, Instructor? I wouldn’t dare think that of you. Someone like you is ‘great strength conquering all’!”

She then led the way in clapping for Ou Ye like a sycophant. Yan Xiangyu, nudged by her, also clapped a couple of times with an expressionless face.

Qin Liang played along and clapped too, not forgetting to offer praise: “Instructor Ou, just one word—”

Shu Qiong: “Amazing!”

Qin Liang: “Badass.”

“…Pfft.”

Chang Xichun couldn’t hold it in and snickered behind He Xuchou. The “death glare” Shu Qiong sent toward Chang Xichun was immediately blocked by He Xuchou. He Xuchou laughed helplessly and helped clap a few more times, trying to make up for Chang Xichun’s share.

“Enough,” Ou Ye scolded with a laugh. “You brats—aren’t you all serious when you train individually? Why do you get so weird when you’re together? Stop sucking up and let’s talk business.”

Shu Qiong sat up straight, assuming a listening posture.

Ou Ye leaned back a bit, pausing the video on a specific scene. “Your shooting level is okay, but your melee combat is subpar. Your offensive moves lack technique—it’s just the same few tricks over and over. Look here: I purposely left a opening to test your reaction speed. You clearly noticed it, so why did you take the initiative to retreat and pull away?”

She frowned and asked, “Your reaction is fast, but why don’t you attack when you see an opening? What were you thinking?”

Shu Qiong felt a bit guilty. She rubbed her nose and whispered, “I was reaching for my gun…”

Ou Ye’s sharp eyes swept over her. Catching a glimpse of the identical guilty expression on Chang Xichun’s face, she sneered. “Fine, call it the shared instinct of ‘Big Snipers.’ There were only a few steps between you and the enemy—why was your first reaction to pull a gun? Just hit him!”

Ou Ye was exasperated, wishing she could knock on their heads to see what was inside. “At this distance, you’re still wasting time reaching for a gun or a cannon? Even bare-handed, with the mecha’s enhancement, one punch could cause some damage! By the time you aim your cannon, that small opening or brief pause has already been recovered!”

Thinking of Chang Xichun again, she decided to compare and analyze the videos of these two “problem students” together. After the analysis, she realized the root of their problems was slightly different.

Chang Xichun’s lack of initiative in melee was due to a lack of confidence; she couldn’t let loose because she felt she wasn’t good at it and thought she could just make up for it with shooting.

But Shu Qiong… she seemed to lack the will to attack entirely. Specifically, her evasion skills were great, but once an opportunity to attack arose, she wouldn’t take the initiative. Instead, she’d turn and run behind cover, waiting for a chance to take a silent potshot.

Knowing Shu Qiong was a Mecha Master and not a professional pilot, Ou Ye had been particularly considerate. She didn’t just rush in and beat her up like the others. Instead, she used a teaching-style, guided approach for several rounds before knocking her out of the arena bounds to let the system judge her “out.” This was much gentler compared to Yan Xiangyu being beaten until she nearly vomited by a similar-style pilot, or Qin Liang being kited in circles.

However, the problem Shu Qiong exhibited was quite unique.

Ou Ye complained: “So many issues… do you have social anxiety or do you think fighting someone face-to-face isn’t polite? My ‘refined’ Miss Mecha Master, let me emphasize: this is combat. Learn from the street thugs—do they care if their moves look decent? As long as it’s an effective attack, it’s a good move. Pulling hair, slapping faces, kicking the crotch—do whatever it takes to not lose, understand?”

Ou Ye got more annoyed as she spoke and simply pointed at Yan Xiangyu next to Shu Qiong. “You’re decent in all aspects, a rare balanced ‘hexagon’ player. You analyze what Student Shu’s problem is.”

Yan Xiangyu’s features were cool. She frowned slightly and then relaxed, saying without hesitation: “Xiao Qiong is… too kind.”

“…Pfft!”

Ou Ye turned with a fake smile to Chang Xichun, who was again hiding behind He Xuchou, nearly doubling over with laughter. “Student Chang, you look so happy. I assume you have advice for Student Shu’s problem. Let’s hear it.”

Chang Xichun nodded with mock gravity. She clenched her fist and spoke solemnly: “I believe, Junior Shu, that your kindness must have edges.”

Ou Ye pressed her forehead, slightly regretting taking on this task.

What on earth is going on here?