Chapter 34: Strolling and Chatting
"Senior, did you come to see me specially?"
"By the way."
"Senior, aren't you an alpha? How can you come into O Courtyard?"
"Is the O-courtyard a temple or a church? Temples don't prohibit the opposite sex from entering, and homosexuals who go to church won't be hanged."
Lin Guantang: ...
Huo Shizhen's words were so sharp that he was speechless. After thinking for a while, he couldn't help but ask out of curiosity:
"But the alarms didn't go off. Could it be that because you came, senior, the alarms were turned off?"
Huo Shizhen regretted coming to see him.
There are too many questions.
But now the two of them were strolling on a remote hillside path. There was no one around, and there was no urgent task that required them to leave immediately, so it seemed meaningless to talk nonsense.
So Huo Shizhen chuckled and thought of a random sentence as a reply:
"Do you think I'm some terrible tyrant? I'll give the O Courtyard my orders and it will open the door for me."
Lin Guantang: ...Isn’t it?
But Senior Sikong and the others all call you the Big Devil in private, and even say it to your face, which is enough to show that you are actually very scary.
Lin Guantang complained silently in his heart.
In a way, Lin Guantang's guess was not wrong. Given Huo Shizhen's status, if he insisted on being unreasonable and arbitrarily asked the O Hospital to turn off the testing equipment to let him in, it was not impossible.
But it's not necessary.
Just give an injection of inhibitor and a shot of diluent to reduce the pheromone concentration to a level low enough to pass the entrance test standards of the O Hospital and you can come in. Why bother to do all that troublesome work?
O Academy only recruits omegas, but that doesn't mean there are only omegas in O Academy, nor does it mean that A is absolutely not allowed to enter O Academy. There is no absolute prohibition in the world. Even if there is, it will be tested and broken by those who don't believe in it.
As the saying goes, it is better to guide than to block. Even though O Hospital does not welcome A to enter, it actually has a way for A to enter O Hospital. It’s just that not many people know about it, and the conditions are quite strict. In fact, it is also very simple to say, you just need to be able to pass the entry pheromone concentration test of O Hospital.
The key point is that the O Institute's A-sex entry pheromone concentration testing standard is more than two levels stricter than the normal pheromone concentration standard for public places stipulated by the Empire, which is very embarrassing.
First, high-concentration inhibitors that can achieve this effect are difficult to obtain on the market. Second, if the pheromone concentration is really reduced to this level, it will not be possible to return to normal values within at least two weeks. Even with the medical level of the Central Military Academy, it will take a week to alleviate the effect.
In other words, an A who enters the O hospital in this way will not be able to induce and comfort an omega through pheromones for at least a week. Even if an O is in heat in front of him, he can only be an anxious spectator. At the same time, he cannot suppress other alphas through pheromones. If he forcibly releases pheromones, or if he catches up with the susceptible period, it may even cause pheromone disorder and even be life-threatening.
However, these are not within the scope of Huo Shizhen's concerns. He rarely uses pheromones to suppress others. As for the omega in estrus, what does it have to do with him? He is not a compassionate person.
Huo Shizhen just chose the simplest and most convenient way to enter O Hospital, but others obviously didn't think so. Or rather, it was surprising enough that someone like him who had always ignored O Hospital would come here in person one day.
Not to mention that he came to O College not for himself or for a mission, but for a freshman's course.
Although Huo Shizhen's reason was that thanks to the Thorn Rose who made a scene in the parliament hall all day long, the empire finally decided to try to see if it could make O Academy carry out curriculum reform, abolish various courses that had no practical significance, and add practical courses. Most importantly, the teachers had to be replaced with those with real skills and knowledge.
He also suddenly had the idea of handing this matter over to the Central Military Academy for help. The reason was that the Central Military Academy had rich experience in serving the empire, and the courses of the departments were comprehensive. It knew better what courses could allow O Academy to learn practical and effective skills, so that they could survive independently after graduation.
——In a way, Sikong Tan’s various unrealistic fantasies are actually quite consistent with the empire’s occasional crazy proposals, but Huo Shizhen has no interest in explaining this matter to Sikong Tan.
For him, completing the mission is the first priority. Once the goal is achieved and the mission is completed, there is no need to say anything else.
In short, when everyone else thought this was a ridiculous proposal, Huo Shizhen, as an imperial weapon, also fulfilled his mission at this time, actually came up with a schedule, selected suitable teachers, and then came to O College in person to negotiate.
——It’s more accurate to say it’s a notification rather than a negotiation, because both the courses and teachers are already prepared, and the only thing left is for the school to select suitable students.
One week of observation after the start of school was enough to select the motivated omegas. Others didn't know that Lin Guantang would definitely be chosen. The dean of studies was very clear about this. He even knew that Huo Shizhen had gone to so much trouble to prepare this meal of dumplings just to make Lin Guantang jealous.
Zhou Yuanliang, the principal of O College, was from a branch of the Huo family. He used to frequent the Huo residence and it was not an exaggeration to say that he had watched Huo Shizhen grow up. Of course, he understood Huo Shizhen's decisive character and knew that he would never be interested in such tedious clerical work, but he still agreed to it, obviously with ulterior motives.
This purpose is not difficult to guess, but after guessing it, people have too many doubts.
After discussing the candidates, Zhou Yuanliang learned that Huo Shizhen had no other plans for the next few hours, so he planned to chat with him more and proposed to take him to see Lin Guantang's performance in class. Huo Shizhen had not planned to meet Lin Guantang, but after thinking about it, he had nothing to do anyway, so he agreed to the proposal.
On the way to the archery range, Zhou Yuanliang, as an elder, couldn't help but express his concerns about Huo Shizhen himself:
"Aren't you going on a mission in two days? Is it really okay to suppress your pheromones to this level now? It would be too dangerous if you encountered a situation during the mission that required pheromone suppression. With your self-control, there's no need to use suppressants. Just let me know if you have any questions."
Unfortunately, Huo Shizhen was not moved at all by his thoughtful suggestions, and even sneered:
"Believing that AO has absolute self-control is the most ridiculous lie in the world."
"Not even you?"
“I don’t feel like I’ve transcended being human.”
"I think the fact that you're not confident in your own self-control is telling."
Zhou Yuanliang was already accustomed to Huo Shizhen's sharp tongue, and he even had the leisure to tease him about what he had been doing recently:
"You registered the person under your own name, ordered the school to handle Lin's self-defense incident impartially, and even came here today to discuss matters concerning Lin's course. I now seriously doubt whether you are attracted to Lin."
Huo Shizhen spoke wearily:
"Boring topic."
"Hehehe... You think it's boring, but it makes many people in the empire toss and turn, wanting to verify the truth."
Zhou Yuanliang smiled and shook his head, but he didn't think this topic was boring. When people get older, they always care too much about the emotional issues of the younger generation, especially when a younger generation who is insulated from love suddenly cares so much about a strange omega. How can they not care? How can they not think about whether there is any love between them?
But after thinking about Huo Shizhen's behavior and the dangerous tasks he often undertook, he couldn't help but worry:
"Even if you came up with this method of hiding your intention to improve his strength, your behavior is too blatant. You are not silent about your concern for Lin. At least now, many people already know that you have registered Lin under your name. I am afraid I can't help you warn them one by one to conceal it."
Do people talk more nonsense as they get older? Why didn't I think this person around me was such a talker before?
Huo Shizhen no longer wanted to walk with him, but they were still some distance away from their destination, so he could only respond patiently:
"Did I say I would help keep it secret?"
Zhouyuanliang Road:
"I didn't say it, but you know the saying goes, 'A tall tree attracts the wind.' If you truly like this classmate Lin—even though I don't know when you first connected, since you're interested in him, you should at least consider his safety. Who knows, someone might want to retaliate against you and cause trouble for him, like kidnapping him and threatening you or something like that."
Zhou Yuanliang raised these concerns sincerely, but Huo Shizhen only felt that they were nonsense and not worth listening to. He just said casually:
"So what do you think I should do? Should I suppress my feelings, watch him get bullied and do nothing, so no one can discover my affection for him? Or should I find another unlucky guy and create the illusion of favoritism, making people think that this illusion is what I care about, and then conceal his existence?"
Zhou Yuanliang wanted to nod, but he knew Huo Shizhen too well. If he said it in such a sarcastic tone, it would mean that he disagreed with both approaches. If he really agreed with him and talked about the feasibility of these two methods, then he would be the one to be ridiculed next.
After all, Huo Shizhen doesn't have any good virtue of respecting the elderly.
But after thinking about it, I still think that these two methods are very feasible if they are slightly improved.
So even though he knew he might be ridiculed, Zhou Yuanliang still thought it over carefully and said:
"Actually, there's nothing wrong with hiding his existence for the time being and finding a more visible replacement to attract attention. After all, you're quite popular right now. After a few years, when you're less in the spotlight and things settle down, it won't be too late to announce it after you've taken him to the Huo residence and ensure his full protection."
Huo Shizhen sneered disapprovingly:
"Your words make it hard for me to doubt whether you have Alzheimer's. I live for the empire. Only death can bring peace. So, when you say 'then', do you mean my death or his? There are endless enemies to kill. It's better to die now than to live in fear. At least I can freely choose how to die."
Zhou Yuanliang: ...
It's too brazen to say such things.
Zhou Yuanliang is already an old man over a hundred years old, but he can't stand hearing such talk about death.
Facing Zhou Yuanliang's condemning gaze, Huo Shizhen raised the corner of his mouth and revealed a somewhat evil smile:
"Why do you have to look at me like that? However, since you also think it's more appropriate to find an obvious replacement, then why don't you consider that if I'm so ostentatious with Lin Guantang, others might think that he's just a decoy put forward as a false impression?"
Zhou Yuanliang: ...
Is this even possible?!
It doesn't seem impossible...
If you think about it carefully, there have always been rumors that Huo Shizhen is not interested in O. Suddenly he is so interested in O, a person he has never met. It is hard not to suspect that he is deliberately doing some kind of fishing performance art.
However, this is just a gamble on a possibility.
Zhou Yuanliang expressed this concern:
"What if, I mean what if, the other party thinks he is really the one you like and takes the risk of kidnapping him?"
"It's better to dare to do it."
This is an issue that does not require people to worry about. Even thinking about this possibility makes Huo Shizhen show a somewhat happy expression.
But Zhou Yuanliang looked at the smile on his face and felt a chilling malice coming towards him:
"Serving the Empire requires proof, while revenge for love only requires a purpose—love, as ethereal as it is, strangely manages to evoke empathy in the world. Rich or poor, doctor or fool, no one seems to escape its obsession and its moving influence. So, if I were to go through all the trouble to save my kidnapped lover and achieve my goal, not only would it not attract criticism, but would actually earn me praise, right?"
After hearing what he said, Zhou Yuanliang couldn't help but put his hand over his heart, feeling as if he was having palpitations.
Huo Shizhen is unscrupulous in all matters, but when it comes to missions, he must strictly follow the requirements of the military academy and the empire. Without any definite evidence, he must never take action.
The reason for giving him this command that he must obey was that Huo Shizhen had a very colorful past. He even killed a big shot without being convicted by law or consulting anyone, which caused a huge public opinion storm. The entire Huo family was in turmoil and almost couldn't withstand the pressure, forcing Huo Shizhen to wear shackles that he could not remove for the rest of his life. At the same time, everyone couldn't sleep at night because they were afraid that Huo Shizhen would turn evil in anger, and the entire empire would be plunged into an unprecedented crisis.
Finally, after countless rigorous tests, it was determined that Huo Shizhen still had clear self-awareness and was within the controllable range. After countless negotiations, Huo Shizhen accepted the ban as the final end to the turmoil caused by the murder of that important figure.
When the whole thing was finally declared over, everyone felt exhausted and exhausted. Now, hearing Huo Shizhen say such dangerous words, the nightmare-like past surged into his mind, making Zhou Yuanliang want to call Huo's house immediately and take this monster back for a full body check to see if he had exceeded the danger level again.
...Don’t be so casual about being crazy about love. You are not that kind of person!
But then again, if a cold-blooded person suddenly falls in love, it's easy for them to go from one extreme to another and become a love-crazy person...
But just imagine that Huo Shizhen would become a person crazy because of love. That kind of scene is still too much of a test for one's heart to bear.
At least Zhou Yuanliang accepts his incompetence.
Perhaps he also felt that it was not good for an old man's heart to be tortured like this, so Huo Shizhen finally showed some kindness and said some words that could only be considered comforting:
"Your most important priority right now is to enjoy your retirement. There's no need to waste your energy on things that haven't happened yet. Not everyone can overcome all the defenses and take action against him. Those with such abilities would have to determine Lin Guantang's true position and deduce what I would do before taking action, right? But by then, it's hard to say whether Lin Guantang would still be someone who could be easily held hostage."
Huo Shizhen knows himself well enough that he would never be restrained by an unknown threat. In fact, that would even excite him more.
Similarly, he also understands his biggest enemy well enough. Because of his caution and suspicion, the other party rarely leaves any tails that can be caught. Similarly, because of his caution and suspicion, the other party will be hesitant and trapped in his own web.
In this psychological game, the more ostentatious you are and the more consistent it is with your usual personality, the more confusing it will appear, making people hesitate and dare not take action.
But perhaps, should we also consider the feelings of the other party involved?
When he walked to the archery range, Huo Shizhen happened to see Lin Guantang shooting arrows.
It is only the time it takes to shoot an arrow, so short that it is almost fleeting, yet it makes people feel as if time has stood still forever.
The sun's rays poured down, casting a brilliant halo over Lin Guantang's entire body.
The archery posture is graceful and agile, like a fresh and bright young willow, a nimble and active deer, and a crystal clear dewdrop...
The most vivid and bright images in the world are so complementary to each other when used to refer to him, just like all rivers flowing into the sea, which is an innate spirit.
It would be a pity if such a vibrant life were lost prematurely in our own hands.
What a pity...
Huo Shizhen withdrew his gaze and thought aimlessly, if Lin Guantang had a laurel wreath on his head now, he might really be the young god of love holding a bow and arrow in the mythology of the old era.
According to legend, when the god of love shoots an arrow, the two people who are hit by the arrow will fall in love with each other. However, the myth does not seem to mention that when the beautiful young god of love shoots an arrow towards the bull's eye, is it the target that shakes, or the human heart?
At least at this moment, many people in O College were attracted by him.
***
After bringing the people to the archery range, Zhou Yuanliang withdrew, thinking that he was very considerate in providing the young people with some alone time, but in fact, there seemed to be nothing that they could talk about endlessly.
Outside of missions, Huo Shizhen was not very fond of talking to others. Facing such a person, Lin Guantang found it difficult to generate the desire to have an enthusiastic conversation. After a few boring conversations, he fell completely silent.
After walking in silence for more than ten steps, Lin Guantang suddenly spoke:
"Is that you?"
Huo Shizhen said "Hmm?" Lin Guantang stopped, looked up at his back, and said seriously:
"The school ultimately determined that I was acting in self-defense. Did you help me, senior?"
Huo Shizhen noticed his movements and stopped walking. He turned around and looked at him, saying:
"If you think so, then so be it."
What kind of answer is that?
Lin Guantang felt a little bored and dejected, and couldn't help but say:
"I really have nothing to talk about. Is Senior leaving?"
Huo Shizhen: ...
Lin Guantang met Huo Shizhen's silent gaze and immediately regretted saying this -
He now explains that his original intention was actually to ask him how long he planned to stay with good intentions, rather than to ask him to leave because he was bored. Can he still save the current weird atmosphere in time?
It seems too late.
Huo Shizhen looked up at the sky, and this time he gave a positive "hmm", and then he really planned to leave -
Lin Guantang: ...
You're not really angry, are you? Why are you so stingy?
"Wait wait wait—"
Lin Guantang hurriedly called out to him, but after stopping him, he didn't know what to say next. After thinking for a while, he asked:
"Will you come again? If so, can you tell me in advance when?"
Huo Shizhen stared at him for a moment before giving an answer:
"I won't be in the imperial capital for a month."
Lin Guantang uttered an "oh" and was speechless. Then he heard Huo Shizhen speak:
"You really want to see me?"
Lin Guantang: ...
Who would ask that?
Lin Guantang felt his face suddenly get hot and he had no idea how to answer this question.
It's really strange. It was the other person who said such a terrible thing, but I was the one who felt embarrassed.
But it seemed awkward to remain silent like this. After struggling for a while, Lin Guantang scratched his face and said weakly:
"I feel like the senior is a good person. I want to learn more from him. Well, there's nothing wrong with wanting to get closer to him."
Huo Shizhen chuckled and said casually:
"Even if you get hurt by getting too close to me, do you think it's worth it?"
ah?
Lin Guantang thought about it and felt that this question was a bit too philosophical - at least when he made friends before, he had never heard of considering the interests before making friends.
But looking at Senior Huo's attitude, it seemed that he was asking this question seriously. Lin Guantang shook his arms, then thought slowly and said:
"Who can say for sure about things like injuries? Even if a person is alive, they're bound to suffer various kinds of hurt. Before two people have truly experienced enough, it's hard to say whether the happiness or pain in a relationship is greater. Sometimes, two people meet to redeem themselves from hurt, and they're happy to do so. There's no need to define it as worthwhile. —Senior?"
Lin Guantang's sigh was interrupted halfway because Huo Shizhen suddenly took a few steps towards him. He subconsciously wanted to step back, but being stared at by Huo Shizhen, he felt an indescribable emotion, which made him take only one step back and then stop.
So he watched helplessly as Huo Shizhen walked to the extreme distance where he was only one step away, and then leaned towards him.
As he lowered his head, some of his long, curly silver hair fell like running water. Some of it slid across Lin Guantang's face, leaving behind cold and slightly itchy marks, while some simply rested on his shoulders.
It was as if a misty silver cloud isolated the outside world, leaving only two people whispering in the small space.
The brown eyes and the water-blue eyes looked at each other closely, like blood and spring water meeting. The words that Huo Shizhen said were like the whisper of a devil:
"I have many enemies. If you get too close to me, you'll be implicated and killed by me. If I were you, after the mission at Chaoxi Mansion, I would curse everyone and block them all. I won't let myself fall into a deeper dangerous abyss again."
Lin Guantang blinked once, and then blinked again.
Perhaps it was because they were too close, so close that their breaths could intertwine and converge, causing his heartbeat to speed up, or perhaps it was for other reasons, but it was definitely not because he was frightened by what the person in front of him said.
Since he could remember, he had never looked into anyone's eyes so closely, as if he could see through the other person's thoughts directly through their eyes. Just like now, what he heard in his ears was Huo Shizhen's words of persuasion, but what he thought in his mind was - if he really did this, he would definitely regret it.
"I didn't say I was that timid."
After a moment of silence, Lin Guantang spoke word by word, staring into the other person's eyes through a thin layer of lenses. Without any fear, he instead ignited a strong fighting spirit, making his meaning clear:
"How can you be so sure that if your enemies come looking for me, I will definitely be implicated and killed, rather than being killed in return? Moreover, can you bear the trouble of making friends with me? Omegas are quite fragile, especially someone like me who knows nothing about the imperial capital. I never know when I might offend someone important. At that time, would you be afraid of being troubled by an omega?"
After another period of silent staring, Huo Shizhen smiled at him:
"Of course, if you need me, I will help you solve all the problems outside of the mission. As long as you are sure that you don't regret the decision you made now, that's all."
After saying that, Huo Shizhen stood up straight. Strands of hair slid along with his movements, slowly being withdrawn from Lin Guantang's shoulders, making him feel the subtle itch again.
After Huo Shizhen stood up straight, he reached out and tugged at his gloves, and informed Lin Guantang of the change in his class schedule:
"To improve your chances of survival, starting next week, all your classes will be revamped. Don't forget to take a look at the revised schedule before class to avoid going to the wrong classroom. Be prepared to be scolded. Good teachers inevitably have some unbearable quirks, unlike your current teachers who only read the text. If you really can't stand it, remember to request a transfer immediately. This is a matter concerning you. Hiding it and being stubborn will only delay others."
Hey? Hey hey——
Why are you saying this all of a sudden? He didn't say he wanted to change his department.
Before Lin Guantang could speak, a message came from the terminal. Huo Shizhen motioned him to look at the message first. It was sent by the counselor.
[Counselor]: Guantang, congratulations on being selected as a student in the elite experience class. If you are willing to experience it, please reply with the word "agree".
Lin Guantang looked at the message and read it out subconsciously:
"Elite Experience Class?"
Huo Shizhen stood aside and did simultaneous translation:
"Didn't I tell you before about the secret training program between the Central Military Academy and the All-O Academy?"
After thinking for a while, Huo Shizhen added:
"However, the mission of collaborating with the military cadets is unique to you. It's best not to tell anyone else. Allowing a small number of O Academy students to undergo the transformation experiment is the result of a compromise between all parties. Collaboration with the military cadets is not yet within the scope of the O Academy Board of Directors' acceptance. You should have remembered what the nickname of the entire O Academy is."
Lin Guantang nodded, understanding what Huo Shizhen meant - in the All-O College, also known as the Bride College, most of the omegas are already reserved or are about to become the mistresses of wealthy families.
In this case, there is nothing wrong with learning more useful things, but it is too dangerous to come into contact with too many civilian alphas. Even if they are from the same prominent family, their personalities are very different. If they come into contact with too many people, they may develop a rebellious heart, which will not be worth the loss.
But Lin Guantang, who was born in District 35, had no such concerns at all.
I even got the news before others, so I replied with the word "agree" without any hesitation.
Soon, the counselor sent him a new class schedule.
[Counselor]: There are some minor changes to your class schedule, please remember to check it again.
This is an almost completely unrecognizable change!
After Lin Guantang opened the class schedule, he felt completely unfamiliar.
It can be said that all the names of the teachers have been replaced.
Various appreciation and O-school history classes were eliminated, and dance etiquette classes were reduced to one period. Instead, they were replaced by physical training, close combat, psychological training, and - firearms?!
Lin Guantang thought he had seen it wrong, and subconsciously asked:
"Should I learn to shoot?"
Huo Shizhen: "If you are not interested, you can cross it out. The martial arts and firearms related courses are exclusive to you. The location of the class will be notified separately."
"I will study hard!"
Lin Guantang quickly agreed, with an eager look in his eyes. Who could resist the temptation of holding a gun, let alone the word "exclusive"?
Actually, his family also had an old hunting rifle hidden, but his father only taught Lin Guantang how to shoot when he was a kid playing with him. Later, he forbade him to touch it on the grounds that it was too dangerous.
Now I have another opportunity, which I can't refuse.
After the excitement subsided, Lin Guantang belatedly remembered another question:
"Is this the reason why you came here today, Senior?"
Huo Shizhen did not answer, so Lin Guantang took it as his consent. After thanking him, he was speechless again, but it was not as awkward as before. Instead, he felt an unprecedented closeness.
So Lin Guantang became a little bolder. Looking at the outfit of the man in front of him, he couldn't help but ask the question that had been on his mind since he first saw him:
"Senior, aren't you hot wearing so many clothes?"
Although they are all made of thin materials, a shirt and a jacket are still a bit too much in this weather. Lin Guantang himself is only wearing short sleeves now. Except for feeling a little chill when the wind blows occasionally, he doesn't feel cold.
Huo Shizhen raised his eyebrows, but did not answer the question. He just took off his gloves and stretched his palms up in front of him.
It was a hand that looked strong and powerful, but it was also pale.
Lin Guantang hesitated for a moment, then stretched out his hand and slowly placed it in his palm. Then he felt a cold touch from his fingertips to his heart, and from his heart to his mind, and finally uttered two words.
——So cold!
Lin Guantang had come into contact with people with low body temperatures before, but none of them were as cold as the hand in front of him. It was icy and dry, as if it had no temperature at all.
If it weren't for the fact that the touch response of real human flesh and blood was still real when pressed lightly, and the slight temperature change transmitted when holding one's breath and concentrating, Lin Guantang would even suspect that he was touching a dummy.
Then, he felt the clear lines running vertically and horizontally in his palm and the thin scabs formed over the years. They felt a bit rough to the touch, unlike the smooth appearance of his skin.
Lin Guantang thought for a while before suddenly coming back to his senses. He had been holding his senior's hand for too long, but when he looked up at his senior's expression, it seemed that he didn't care.
Lin Guantang quickly let go of his palm and said hurriedly:
"You, you are so cold."
Huo Shizhen retracted his fingers, put on his gloves again, and responded nonchalantly:
"You're quite hot, like a little steam furnace."
Lin Guantang was stunned for a moment before realizing what he said. He quietly touched his palm and felt some moisture left in it - but that was because he had just practiced archery, and the weather was so hot, it was normal for the palms to sweat after a lot of exercise.
It's not normal for Huo Shizhen to be so cold.
Thinking of this, Lin Guantang felt a little guilty. After all, this kind of comment was a bit impolite. However, Huo Shizhen couldn't guess what he was thinking, and probably didn't care much about his comments. After retracting his finger, he stopped discussing the issue and asked, "What are you talking about?"
"What kind of friends do you like?"
Is there something strange about this question?
Generally speaking, the question should be "What kind of person do you like?"
As for friends, it's not enough to just meet someone you get along with. You can't predict it by making a wish in advance.
Lin Guantang said:
"It's good if we can get along."
Huo Shizhen pondered for a moment, nodded, and said:
"In that case, let's find someone who is good at cooking."
Lin Guantang subconsciously asked:
"Why?"
Huo Shizhen smiled and said slowly:
"Isn't eating very important to you?"
Lin Guantang: ...
Although eating is indeed a very important matter in life, I always feel that saying this on purpose is like saying that he is a glutton.
How could I have left such an impression? It was clearly our first meeting... Wait—
Seriously speaking, the first time I interacted with Huo Shizhen was... in the group chat, when I asked in a very serious tone where I could get food?!
Lin Guantang closed his eyes and wanted to dig a hole to move into, but he didn't expect the memory of the death to suddenly attack him.
But he still faced it all bravely and explained:
"I was really just too hungry at the time, and I wasn't familiar with Didu, so I had no choice but to ask."
Huo Shizhen lowered his eyes and looked at Lin Guantang's thin figure - in fact, according to the standards of an omega, although Lin Guantang was also thin, he was well-proportioned and even taller than the average.
But from Huo Shizhen's perspective, it honestly looked like it would break if it were bent.
So Huo Shizhen just hummed and said:
"You really need to eat more nutritious meals. I'll find you a partner who's good at this."
Lin Guantang vaguely remembered something that he seemed to have forgotten -
"The person Senior is talking about, could it be the person Senior Sikong said he would arrange to find me?"
Huo Shizhen nodded:
"If nothing goes wrong, I'll find someone in the next two days, and he'll officially take up his position at O Hospital next Monday. If you need me on the weekend, I can come to see you in advance."
Lin Guantang: ...
He thought the person had already arrived, but they were only randomly selected now, and they were required to be ready to take up the position at any time?!
Lin Guantang said worriedly, "Isn't it too hasty? Can we really find the right person in two days?"
Huo Shizhen: "Money makes the world go round."
Lin Guantang: ...
He was worrying too much.
Lin Guantang no longer expressed any worries and even wished to find a partner whose cooking style was closer to the taste of District 35.
And looking forward to next Monday.
Although he didn't know that there was another person coming to find him.
***
In a dark room in a secret base, there were whispers of conversation.
[I heard some rumors that Huo Shizhen seems to be interested in a certain omega in O Academy?]
[It seems like he's been directly tagged on the hospital's internal network. This might be a good idea to strike him down. How about tying up this omega and threatening him properly?]
"Are you sure that by kidnapping him, you're not just giving him a reason to attack?"
"The omega chosen by the Empire's weapons has been kidnapped. Isn't that a disgrace to the Empire? With his unscrupulous behavior, he might just be enraged for his beloved and come and take out his anger on our lair. Do you really want to wrap up filming before he even shows up?"
[Without any warning, he publicly announced that he was having an affair with this O. There must be something fishy going on.]
"I think so too. There's no way someone like him would be interested in O. Have you all forgotten the incident where Os went into estrus somewhere? He remained completely indifferent throughout. I doubt he's A at all."
[It can't be Beta. Although he's very good at pretending to be Beta, he doesn't have the wonderful humility that we true Betas have.]
[That's right, maybe he guessed we wanted to make him lose face, so he deliberately threw out a bait to lure us to snatch him back. Maybe this person doesn't exist at all, or he's just pretending to be someone he's not. They're really good at this, so he might not be the real person at all!]
[But it's not impossible. He just guessed that we would think he was putting on a show, so it seems like they really do have that kind of relationship and haven't tried to hide it.]
[It's also possible that we guessed that he guessed that we suspected he was putting on a show, so he used the real one and arranged a fake one to lure people.]
[No more nesting dolls! Don't think I didn't notice you guys were just wasting time in this meeting!]
[Oh, guessing is pointless. Why not find someone to go to O Hospital and test the waters for a while to see if they're truly in love or just having fun?]
So the question is, who is the right person to go to?
【Belphegor.】
[Is it because he's a dramatic actor? Do you think he can attract this omega's attention with his amazing acting skills?]
[Because this is his seventh meeting absence this month, and it's only been a few days. Since he doesn't want to stay in the organization, he might as well go out on field work!]
[Oh, this is such a cruel punishment for a nerd who wants to eat, drink, poop and urinate in bed.]
[I thought you wanted to send him away to some quiet place because he was too noisy and crazy.]
[That's not without reason.]
I'm both annoyed by his constant chatter in meetings and annoyed by his absences. It's torture no matter which choice I make. It's definitely better to send him out there to torture someone else.
"Belphegor will be very sad to hear this, my friends."
With a click, the dark conference room was illuminated by blazing lights. The beautiful girl who pushed the door open looked around, tutted twice, and couldn't help but complain:
"Although we are a villain organization to the Empire, there is no need to be so in line with our character and discuss issues in such a dark environment every time."
Someone in the crowd spoke in surprise:
"Lamiya, didn't you say you couldn't come?"
"I'm not attending the meeting because I don't want to listen to your nonsense."
The woman called Lamia seemed to be truly disgusted with this group of people holding a meeting in the dark. She stood at the door, not even bothering to take a step forward, and stated her purpose:
"As to whether that lovely omega is the one Huo Shizhen has his eyes on, perhaps we can get the answer by just a little probing at the banquet Mr. Wu is hosting at the Hola Hotel this weekend."
As she spoke, she raised the invitation in her hand, with a calculating glint in her eyes.
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