After dinner, the twins helped Ye Zhizhou stretch his muscles, causing him to wince in pain.
"Did you not have a daily exercise routine before? This won't do. You'll have to train more in the future; otherwise, you won't survive the quarterly outdoor training in school," Chigita said with a mouthful of beef jerky, patting his shoulder. "From now on, join me and Annette for morning runs. I guarantee that within a year, your physical fitness level will reach grade A!"
Ye Zhizhou looked at him despondently. "I'm not in the mecha department..."
"But even mecha engineering requires physical strength. Do you think mechas are like plastic models that you can assemble with your hands? We have to operate them. You'll spend hours operating a mech, and without physical strength, you won't be able to handle it," Chigita said, plopping unceremoniously on the couch and grabbing a piece of fruit pastry. "Moreover, even if you specialize in design, you'll still need to try assembling the parts yourself. Mecha parts are all made of metal, some weighing several pounds or more. Without strength, you won't be able to manage them."
Ye Zhizhou had already given up hope; it seemed like he was on a collision course with mechas.
"Don't listen to him," Annette said, pulling his brother off the couch and making him sit properly. Then she handed Ye Zhizhou a bottle of water. "In the first year, you'll only be learning basic theory. You can use this time to build your physical foundation. Besides, there are specialized miniaturized and custom-made parts for the design track. You don't necessarily need the full-sized ones."
"Miniaturized and custom-made parts can't replicate the feel of the original components," Chigita grumbled, slyly beckoning Ye Zhizhou with his finger. "Call me 'big brother,' and I'll create a customized training plan for you. How about that? It's a great deal."
Ye Zhizhou rolled his eyes at him without hesitation, got up, waved his hand, and returned to his room to ask Tongtian for a low-grade marrow-cleansing pill. What's so difficult about improving to grade A? Just take a marrow-cleansing pill. Besides, he was bound to fail miserably in the mecha engineering major...
Two minutes later, he rushed to the bathroom. Twenty minutes later, he received a video call request from the student union prefix.
Why now... He wiped his face and returned to his room to answer the call.
The call screen popped up, revealing a silver-haired, black-eyed handsome guy. Then a deep, pleasant voice sounded, "Why did it take so long?"
Who are you, big brother?
Suppressing the urge to complain, he replied earnestly, "The situation was a bit inconvenient just now... May I ask what the student union wants from me?"
The silver-haired handsome guy glanced him up and down, then fixed his gaze on the hem of his shirt that was peeking out of his belt. "Hasn't the instructor taught you to maintain military appearance and decorum at all times?"
Ye Zhizhou silently tucked his shirt back into his pants.
The silver-haired handsome guy was satisfied with the adjustment and continued to stare at him with a rather official and cold tone. "Bring your basic information to the registration office on the second floor of the student union. The list of supplementary applicants for the genetics research program needs to be reconfirmed. The dormitory management has already informed them, so just go over after you provide your student ID."
The screen went dark, ending the call. Ye Zhizhou regained his senses from those black pupils that seemed to want to devour him. Why did it feel like he was in a horror movie? He hadn't seen any other candidates either...
"Excuse me, why are you standing here?"
The sudden clear voice startled him. He turned around and saw a well-dressed, blue-eyed, brown-haired handsome guy emerging from behind a flowerbed, his elegant face carrying a friendly smile. "Oh, you're a new student. Do you have business at the student union?"
Ye Zhizhou took a deep breath to calm his racing heart, raised the folder in his hand, and said, "Senior, I'm here to re-register for the supplementary exam in the Genetics Research program. Um, did I come to the right place? I haven't seen any other candidates..."
The well-dressed handsome guy's eyes flickered as he carefully looked Ye Zhizhou up and down. His smile became even friendlier. "So you're here for registration. You're in the right place. There are only six candidates taking the supplementary exam for the Genetics Research program this year, so it's normal not to see any others. Follow me; I happen to be going to the second-floor registration office. I'll take you there."
Ye Zhizhou breathed a sigh of relief and thanked him. He followed the guy into the building.
"What major are you in, and why did you decide to study Genetics Research?" The well-dressed handsome guy was friendly and talkative, making Ye Zhizhou feel more relaxed as they chatted. His attitude was warm and gentle, making it hard for Ye Zhizhou to remain guarded. "Judging by your accent, you're probably not from the capital planet, right? Are you adjusting well to the climate here on the capital planet?"
"I'm in the Mecha Engineering department, but I'm interested in Genetics Research," Ye Zhizhou replied, accompanying the conversation. His mind gradually eased. "The climate here on the capital planet is quite similar to my hometown, so there's nothing I can't adapt to. Thank you for your concern, senior."
The well-dressed handsome guy's attitude became even friendlier. "No need to be so polite. We're all... students from the same school. Taking care of each other is only natural."
Ye Zhizhou didn't notice the pause in his words and simply nodded with a smile, refraining from saying more polite words.
As the two of them approached the registration office, Ye Zhizhou raised his hand to knock on the door. However, the well-dressed handsome guy stopped him, opened the door directly, and called out loudly, "Hey, I'm here to see you, bro! How many days will you be at school this time?"
"Three days," came the cold response from behind. Ye Zhizhou quickly turned around to see the silver-haired handsome guy who had spoken to him earlier, standing there with a stern expression. In his hand, he held a small box, and his gaze seemed icy. "Chris, why did you come over here?"
"Just to see you," the well-dressed guy named Chris turned around, his face breaking into a wide smile as he opened his arms. "Bro, how about a long-awaited reunion hug?"
Chris?
Ye Zhizhou looked from one to the other and couldn't help but widen his eyes. Chris, the second prince of the Empire, one of the protagonist's harem members. And the person Chris called 'brother'... he looked back at the cold-faced silver-haired handsome guy and paused for a moment, taking in his flawless features. Then he mentally screamed. There were currently only two princes in the Empire! The only person Chris could call 'brother' was the elder prince, Clay! But they were clearly real brothers, so why did they look so different? One was aloof, the other was refined, one had brown hair and blue eyes, the other had silver hair and dark eyes, one was broad-shouldered with long legs, the other was cultured and elegant... How could they be born to the same mother!
Ignoring his brother's expectant eyes, Clay tilted his head slightly to meet Ye Zhizhou's widened eyes and raised his finger, lightly tapping. "Single eyelid."
The touch on his eyelid was extremely gentle, and he blinked involuntarily, then was surprised. When that finger touched him just now, he seemed to have sensed a familiar attack-type spiritual power approaching...
"Wait a minute!" He quickly grabbed the hand that was about to withdraw and pressed it back to his face.
The warmth where the palm covered felt nice, but that familiar spiritual power didn't appear again. He frowned, feeling puzzled... Was it just an illusion?
Clay stood there, allowing him to do as he pleased, as if it were perfectly normal for a stranger to grab his hand. Chris silently retracted his arm, then activated his communicator to send a message to the queen: "Brother has fallen in love at first sight with a beta at school. Prepare for the wedding."
The queen, who was applying a face mask, was so shocked that she almost dropped the scented candle in her hand.
How could there be... Ye Zhizhou moved the guy's hand to his forehead again, gently rubbing it, but still didn't feel that familiar spiritual power.
...So, is this person really his lover?
"Your temperature is normal; you're not sick," Clay suddenly spoke indifferently, then took two steps forward and entered the registration office. His attitude was distant and cold, nothing like the clingy and domineering manner of a lover.
Looking at it this way, it didn't seem like... Ye Zhizhou followed in with a puzzled look, refusing to give up and releasing his spiritual power to float around the surroundings, but still didn't receive any special reaction from the other person.
Could it be true? The paperwork was done quickly, and he withdrew his spiritual power somewhat disheartened, his gaze becoming dim... It didn't make sense for his lover to immediately come forward in every world. Maybe he had just misinterpreted that trace of spiritual power... But when the other person approached, he hadn't sensed anything at all... Wait a minute! He didn't sense the other person approaching?! He stopped and turned his head, only to meet the other person's gaze.
Clay suppressed his emotions, returning to his cold and distant demeanor, and seemed to ask without any attachment, "Is there anything else?"
Damn it! It really was that jerk of a lover! He saw through that possessive look in his eyes just now!
"Yes, there is!" he retorted angrily, then quickly walked over to Chris, who was sitting on the side drinking tea, bent down, and planted a kiss on his face. He exclaimed loudly, "Senior, you're too handsome! I've fallen in love with you at first sight. Let's date!"
Pfft...
Chris sprayed tea directly.
"Pansy!" Clay's pen in his hand had been crushed into two pieces, his voice filled with restrained anger. "Students are not allowed to date!"
Ye Zhizhou turned to glare at him. "I'm not dating, I'm just having a crush!"
"Having a crush is also not allowed!"
"Why not!"
Clay stood up, walked in front of him, forcefully wiped his lips, and bit his tongue in anger. "You can only be mine. If I say no, it's no!"
These lines were so cheesy! Ye Zhizhou bit his lip and then bit Clay's finger hard. He extended his arm to hold Clay's face, pulling it down to his own forehead, gritting his teeth. "You didn't even awaken your spiritual power, you're..."
A vast and profound spiritual power quickly emerged, enveloping Clay, then unhesitatingly flowed into his brain through his ear, rushing towards the location of his spiritual power sea.
Clay moved slightly, then closed his eyes obediently, holding onto him.
With a clang, Chris's teacup fell to the ground. What had he just witnessed? His brother, the serious and powerful Crown Prince Clay, had actually... been manipulated in spiritual power by a military academy freshman?! No, wait, his brother hadn't awakened his spiritual power, so the other person should've been the one manipulating... Wait, his brother not awakening his spiritual power didn't mean he didn't have a spiritual power sea...
So, should he call the police or not?