Volume Eight: Those Years When I Was an Alpha
The Exchange
Xi Chen watched as Jiang Yichuan once again fell deep in thought. Although he didn’t know what exactly she was thinking, he had a feeling that Jiang Yichuan must be thinking of Chaoyang.
In fact, this conviction was so strong that he stopped thinking and blurted out a question, “Are you worried about Chaoyang?”
“What?” Jiang Yichuan didn’t catch what Xi Chen said. “What did you just say?”
Xi Chen repeated himself. “Are you worried about Teacher Chaoyang?”
Jiang Yichuan said, “…No.”
“Yichuan, did you know? When you lie, you pause for one or two seconds before answering.”
“What?” Jiang Yichuan’s expression stiffened, as if he had hit a sore spot.
Xi Chen gave a helpless smile. “It was Mu Wen Nuan who told me about this little quirk of yours.”
Jiang Yichuan froze. “Don’t mention her to me.”
“I won’t mention her,” Xi Chen said with a wistful smile. “But when she was in danger, you were the most worried and anxious.”
He looked at Jiang Yichuan. “I can’t even be sure if you truly hate her now.”
For someone who had once hurt her, Jiang Yichuan’s attitude was very strange.
Jiang Yichuan looked up. “What exactly are you trying to say?”
“Do you and Chaoyang know each other?” Xi Chen changed the subject, sensing Jiang Yichuan’s resistance.
He saw Jiang Yichuan’s brow furrow tightly and decided to voice all the doubts in his mind at once.
“I’m not sure how you feel about her, but I can tell she’s not ordinary to you. Anyone can see it, even Quan Yang can see it.”
“At the auction house, she was coerced by Bian Tuo to save you.”
“From what I understand, Chaoyang never lets herself be swayed by emotions or be gentle and soft, indecisive and hesitant, but when you were in danger, her first choice was you.”
Seeing Jiang Yichuan’s face grow darker and darker, Xi Chen paused. “Does Chaoyang like you?”
“Like what about me?” Faced with Xi Chen’s speculation, Jiang Yichuan felt not a single ripple in her heart.
She revealed a sarcastic expression and sneered, “An omega that is neither one thing nor the other1?”
Although she hated her identity as an omega, she was also aware that she was no longer worthy of being one.
She didn’t want to bother with a psycho like Chaoyang, but she had to admit that with Chaoyang’s strength, she deserved a better omega.
She and Bian Tuo were, after all, different.
“You’re not,” Xi Chen retorted.
Jiang Yichuan said self-deprecatingly, “I’m not? Didn’t you see it with your own eyes?”
Xi Chen was speechless. “…I’ve never thought of you that way.”
“I don’t mean to blame you. On the contrary…” Jiang Yichuan touched the black scarf around her neck. “I’m quite grateful to Mu Wen Nuan. She failed to kill me, but instead solved my predicament.”
Now, she didn’t react to any pheromones. In that sense, she ought to feel grateful and bear the virtue2 toward Mu Wen Nuan.
Xi Chen lowered his eyes. “Yichuan, after we settle this, will you marry me?”
Jiang Yichuan’s tone was completely flat. “I don’t like you.”
“I know, but I want to take care of you.”
“There’s no need.” Jiang Yichuan looked at him calmly. “Xi Chen, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”
Xi Chen’s face stiffened. “…Alright.”
“Lying trough!3 What the hell is that?” Quan Yang shouted in shock. “Are those all starships?”
Hearing Quan Yang’s shout, Jiang Yichuan looked out the window, only to see their flyer surrounded by a swarm of large and small starships.
The largest of them blocked the path of their flyer in an extremely domineering and aggressive manner.
A giant skull was emblazoned on that starship. Its empty eye sockets stared at the flyer, its torn mouth looking as if it would swallow the aircraft whole in the next second.
The six of them stood in the cabin and heard a broadcast from the distance.
“Right Now!… Evil Ghost Bandit Gang!”
The roar, as shrill and mournful as a wailing ghost, left the six of them in shock.
Chu Luo’s eyes narrowed. “Bian Tuo really is a person for whom if a canthus is stared at, it will be avenged4. We’ve been caught by the Evil Ghost Bandit Gang.”
No wonder Chaoyang had been so insistent on them leaving. It turned out she had known all along that Bian Tuo would discover the Sun manuscript was incomplete.
Jiang Yichuan said, “We can’t escape.”
Bian Tuo sat casually in a chair, watching as his men dragged the six little friends before him.
The six of them had calm expressions, not a trace of cowardice in them. Instead, they projected an air of brave fearlessness, unafraid of life or death.
Truly young and full of vital energy.
He twirled a lock of his long, shoulder-length blonde hair with his finger, looking at the six with great interest.
“It seems we are bound by fate. How long has it been, and we meet again,” Bian Tuo said with a faint smile, his phoenix eyes narrowing.
Quan Yang snorted coldly. “I’d rather not have this ill-fated bond5.”
Bian Tuo raised his hand, and a member of the Evil Ghost group at his side dragged Quan Yang away for a one-sided beating.
“Quan Yang—”
“Stop—”
Shi Yaqi saw that Quan Yang’s two fists were no match for four hands and was being beaten until he spat blood. She roared, “What kind of hero are you, using many to bully the few?!”
“Little friend, I’m a bandit, not one of your heroes and valiant men. Have you read too many novels and started thinking everyone plays by the rules?” Bian Tuo glanced at the fight and gave a look for them to stop. “Since you think I’m using many to bully the few, how about this? There are six of you, so I’ll send out six of my men. If you win, you can leave. If you lose, I’ll throw you into a wormhole, how about it?”
Six tall and sturdy alphas stepped forward, their gazes savage, looking at them as if they were already corpses.
“Of course, if you lose and don’t want to die, I have another solution for you to choose from. Have Chaoyang hand over the complete Sun manuscript, and I’ll let you go. What do you think?”
At this moment, they had no choice but to accept Bian Tuo’s proposal.
Xi Chen took a deep breath. “Fine.”
“If we lose, just kill us directly,” Jiang Yichuan said, her face full of scorn. “You think beautifully6 if you want the Sun manuscript.”
The six of them knew in their hearts that the Sun manuscript was far more important than their lives. The moment they left Planet Tofis, they were destined for sacrifice.
Bian Tuo looked at Jiang Yichuan, his eyes half-closed, a thoughtful look brewing within them.
The six looked at the six alphas designated by Bian Tuo, in a formidable formation to await the enemy.
Xi Chen looked at Jiang Yichuan, worried. “Can you do this?”
Jiang Yichuan didn’t answer him. Instead, she looked at Bian Tuo. “If we win, I want to take the omega you won at the auction.”
Bian Tuo raised an eyebrow. “Little friend, you are not qualified to negotiate terms with me.”
That Mu Wen Nuan was still useful to him.
“What do you need her for?” Jiang Yichuan didn’t understand. “You’re both omegas.”
Bian Tuo told her in a good mood, “Just a small experiment.”
There was nothing to hide about this matter. His ambitions had already been exposed the moment he won the bid for the Sun manuscript.
Jiang Yichuan instantly understood what kind of experiment Bian Tuo was talking about.
“I’ll take her place,” Jiang Yichuan said. “You want an S-rank omega for your experiment. I’m also an S-rank omega. I meet your conditions, and my physical constitution is better than hers.”
Xi Chen said angrily, “Jiang Yichuan, you’re insane.”
Jiang Yichuan looked at Bian Tuo, who was considering her proposal. “How about it?”
“Jiang Yichuan!” Xi Chen grabbed her. “What kind of talking nonsense eight ways7 are you spouting?”
“Then I’m preparing… to change the terms,” Bian Tuo waved his hand, making the six alphas step back. “I don’t plan on letting any of you go.”
Chu Luo’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”
“The Evil Ghost don’t leave living things behind. If I let you go, wouldn’t I be breaking the Evil Ghost’s rules?”
Bian Tuo looked at the six with great interest. “An S-rank alpha, an S-rank omega, and the remaining four are A-rank alphas and betas. Aren’t they perfect for experiments?”
Everyone’s expression changed.
Jiang Yichuan said, “You want to use us for experiments? In your dreams!” She gripped her mecha loading device. “The self-destruction of six people might not be able to kill you, but it’s not impossible to destroy this starship.”
Quan Yang took out his loading device and said hatefully, “That’s right. Better to be a shattered jade than an intact roof tile8.”
The others also took out their loading devices, ready to return to annihilation together9 with Bian Tuo.
“Very good, very courageous,” Bian Tuo clapped his hands in praise.
He snapped his fingers, and “Mu Wen Nuan” was brought out by two betas.
She looked very weak, like a limp rag being dragged by the two betas. Her mouth was gagged to prevent her from biting her tongue to commit suicide.
Jiang Yichuan’s pupils trembled. She wanted to step forward but was held back by Xi Chen.
Bian Tuo took in Jiang Yichuan’s reaction and smiled. “Since you all want to self-destruct and perish together, I can’t let my brothers who have followed me for so many years suffer. It just so happens there’s a top-quality omega here. Let’s all enjoy her together. It’ll be some fun before we die. What do you all think?”
The people on the starship immediately cheered in agreement. The alphas stared intently at “Mu Wen Nuan’s” body, their lecherous gazes roaming all over her, as if they would pounce and devour her in the next second.
“You dare fucking touch her!” Jiang Yichuan’s eyes looked as if the corners of the eyes are about to tear. “I’ll kill you.”
An alpha behind her kicked her viciously. Jiang Yichuan was knocked to the ground, and two people seized her.
Her eyes were bloodshot as she glared daggers at Bian Tuo, wishing she could slaughter him.
“You don’t want me to touch her? Simple.” Bian Tuo walked up to Jiang Yichuan and pinched her chin. “I can let you and your friends leave safely, and I can also let you take this omega with you. The condition is that you have to bring Chaoyang to me as an exchange. How about it?”
Jiang Yichuan’s pupils widened slightly.
The others watched Bian Tuo speaking with Jiang Yichuan. The two were speaking too softly for them to hear; they could only see Bian Tuo revealing a smile that showed his heart was full and his thoughts satisfied.
Bian Tuo handed something to Jiang Yichuan and said softly, “Make Chaoyang take this medicine. Chaoyang is too powerful, so I need a way to control her. Don’t worry, this medicine won’t kill her.”
“As long as you bring her here, this omega and your friends will all be safe.”
“You can’t lose on this trade, can you?”
Jiang Yichuan’s neck was stiff as she said with difficulty, “…Indeed.”
“I like little friends for whom one who understands the times is a hero10,” Bian Tuo said, looking at an alpha to the side. “Give her a flyer.”
“Yes.”
Bian Tuo stood up and looked down at Jiang Yichuan. “I’m not a patient person, you know,” he said lightly.
Jiang Yichuan clenched her fists and said nothing.
Xi Chen watched as Jiang Yichuan got up and walked out. He called out, “Where are you going?”
Jiang Yichuan didn’t look back. “Wait for me to return.”
“Jiang Yichuan…?!”
Xi Chen watched her pilot the flyer away from the starship. The direction she was heading was actually toward Planet Hertz of the Third System.
He looked at the weakened “Mu Wen Nuan.” He never thought Jiang Yichuan would go to such lengths for her.
Just as she landed on Planet Hertz of the Third System, the communication chip in Jiang Yichuan’s mind alerted her to a message.
She paused, opened it, and sure enough, it was from Chaoyang.
Chaoyang: [Xiao Chuanchuan, did you all arrive safely at Tofis?]
A greeting at this time meant she was timing it perfectly, worrying about them.
And here she was, preparing to repay kindness with enmity.
Jiang Yichuan: [They went back. I’m still in Duobang City. You were injured, so I couldn’t rest easy. Where are you?]
Chaoyang: [Didn’t I tell you all to leave? If the Evil Ghost come back for you, you’ll be in danger.]
Jiang Yichuan: [But I have you, don’t I?]
Jiang Yichuan: [You can protect me, can’t you?]
Wen Nuan looked at Jiang Yichuan’s reply and murmured in disbelief, “What’s… wrong with her?”
This change in attitude made her feel overwhelmed by the favor as if startled11.
The system guessed: 【It’s probably because you saved the female lead and her friends. The female lead is grateful to you, so her attitude has improved. Plus, you were injured for their sake, so it’s only right for her to be concerned about you.】
“Has the blackening value decreased?”
【It hasn’t decreased, nor has it…】 The system looked at the data console. The fluctuation of the blackening value was a bit chaotic, making it unclear if it was about to rise or fall. But seeing as the female lead had come back to show concern for Wen Nuan, it was probably about to decrease.
【Although it hasn’t decreased, I think the blackening value should be dropping soon. The female lead has even come back to care for you. If you ride the victory and pursue the attack12 then, the blackening value will definitely go down.】 The system was full of confidence.
Wen Nuan was encouraged. “Okay.”
She sent her hotel location to Jiang Yichuan and immediately had the hotel staff prepare some food. The two of them could have a meal, drink some wine, and chat about their dreams and such to foster their relationship.
Jiang Yichuan arrived at the place Wen Nuan mentioned. Looking at the door in front of her, she took a deep breath and knocked.
The door opened quickly, and the person appeared before her eyes. It was not hard to see the smile in her clear eyes.
She seemed to have been waiting specifically for her arrival, like an excited puppy waiting for its owner to come home.
Wen Nuan pulled Jiang Yichuan inside. Seeing her face was a little pale, she asked with concern, “Are you feeling okay? Did you treat your injuries?”
“What about you?” Jiang Yichuan looked at Wen Nuan, her gaze lowered, not daring to meet her eyes. “Are your wounds healed?”
Wen Nuan nodded. “Much better.”
Jiang Yichuan looked at the food and wine on the table. “Did you prepare this for me?”
“Mhm, I was afraid you were hungry, so I ordered it especially for you.”
Jiang Yichuan walked forward, opened a bottle of red wine, poured two glasses, and handed one to Wen Nuan. “Drink?”
Wen Nuan accepted it and was about to drink.
“Aren’t you afraid I poisoned it?” she asked.
Wen Nuan smiled. “Not afraid.”
A glint flashed in Jiang Yichuan’s eyes. “Chaoyang, thank you.”
“Thank me for what?”
“For saving us,” Jiang Yichuan said, her eyes downcast.
Wen Nuan thought she was talking about the incident at the auction house. “It’s nothing. I couldn’t just see death and not save13.”
She clinked her glass against Jiang Yichuan’s. “Cheers?”
Jiang Yichuan’s eyes held a deep meaning. “Cheers.”
One glass of wine down, the drug took effect with astonishing speed. Before Chaoyang could react, she passed out in front of her.
Jiang Yichuan caught her, looked at the mask on her face, reached out her hand, then pulled it back.
She whispered, “…I’m sorry.”
Once they were all safely away, she would definitely atone for her crime to Chaoyang.
The system watched the rising blackening value and sighed.
Its hopes had been in vain.
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