The Unhinged O Has Designs On Me - Chapter 2

Of course Du Nian was happy to be treated as someone Yue Xing could rely on, but under Shen Jingmian’s gaze, she still leaned close to Yue Xing’s ear and explained in a small voice.

“Senior just said the gangway only has room for one person to pass through.”

Yue Xing reacted at once and immediately dragged Du Nian in front of her. She smoothly hid behind her and smiled apologetically. “Sorry, Senior. We’ll walk like this.”

She was half a head taller than Du Nian, so if Yue Xing wanted to hide, she could not truly hide. Standing like this mainly served as a psychological barrier, better than nothing.

The aura wandering around Shen Jingmian made goosebumps rise straight along Yue Xing’s arms. Subconsciously, she wanted to keep her distance from her.

Besides, Yue Xing thought, since Du Nian was the protagonist, she couldn’t possibly be killed by Shen Jingmian right now.

With Du Nian, this “human shield,” standing in front of her, Yue Xing felt much more at ease and finally raised her head.

The expression on Shen Jingmian’s face was the same as before. Once they had adjusted their positions, she lightly tossed out a “Suit yourself” and was the first to lift her foot.

Worried that Yue Xing was nervous, Du Nian specifically asked her, “Why don’t you keep holding my hand?”

Yue Xing shook her head. What happened earlier had been an accident. Unless the situation was special, she was not enthusiastic about such intimate gestures as holding hands.

But seeing Du Nian look as if she still could not relax, Yue Xing pinched the corner of her clothes and said warmly, “This is fine.”

“Keep up,” Shen Jingmian urged coldly.

She had already taken a few steps forward. Her silver hair swayed in the wind, and when her gray eyes pressed down on them, she looked especially unapproachable.

The two answered in unison and did not dare delay any longer.

Du Nian stepped forward, and Yue Xing followed closely behind while clutching the corner of her clothes.

If grabbing Du Nian’s clothes earlier had been to put Du Nian at ease, then every bit of strength Yue Xing was using now was for herself.

Du Nian, deliver me. Bless me, bless me.

The moment Yue Xing stepped into the cabin, the gangway immediately retracted. After only a few steps, the cabin door also closed.

The inside of the starship was furnished luxuriously, not at all like the metallic style Yue Xing had imagined. There were sofas, a bed, and even a desk with documents placed on it.

After Shen Jingmian came in, she sat down in the chair by the desk, put on an earpiece, and began looking through documents. She seemed extremely busy.

A woman dressed in a black military uniform approached them with a warm smile. “Hello. Come sit over here with me.”

After being led to the sofa, Yue Xing sat with her back to the desk. She kept feeling a chill along her back, but she resisted turning around.

Shen Jingmian’s sudden appearance had shattered all of Yue Xing’s expectations.

She had originally thought their meeting would happen at Chixing, yet Shen Jingmian had appeared before her ahead of time. Was it because of Du Nian? Yue Xing could not be sure.

“Sister, are you also a student at Chixing?” Du Nian asked quietly.

Shen You nodded and answered her in the same quiet voice, “Right now, I’m working part-time as Miss Shen’s temporary guard.” When Du Nian exclaimed in surprise, she smiled. “My name is Shen You. What about you two?”

After the two introduced themselves, Shen You gave them a thumbs-up.

“Being able to get into Chixing means both of you are amazing.”

Du Nian was embarrassed to accept the praise. “I got in through the omega special channel. My score was lowered for admission.”

A strange look flashed through Shen You’s eyes.

“The omega special channel requires mental power of A-rank or above, right? Having A-rank at your age is already outstanding.”

Mental power was ranked with S as the highest, followed by A, B, C, D, and F, with F as the lowest.

Although people’s mental power nowadays could slowly increase over time, among Chixing’s billions of people, more than half would never reach A-rank in their entire lives. Many did not even have any mental power at all.

Those with weak mental power could neither operate advanced mecha nor resist the mental attacks of the Zerg.

At the same time, when facing powerful alphas or omegas, they would bow their heads and submit.

For Du Nian to have A-rank mental power at this age, it could almost be said that she was destined to accomplish great things in the future.

Then Shen You changed the subject and asked the taciturn Yue Xing, “What about you, Yue Xing? Did you also get in through special approval?”

Yue Xing said, “Yes. I took the academic track.”

This time, Shen You’s gaze unconsciously turned toward the desk.

“There really is someone else like that monster, huh?” she muttered. “Someone actually got the second perfect score on that damned exam.”

Yue Xing saw where she was looking. She had originally wanted to stay silent, but her mouth refused to give up. “Who was the first?”

“Me.”

A cold voice sounded from behind her.

Yue Xing’s body stiffened. When had Shen Jingmian walked up behind her?

Shen Jingmian moved over to the sofa on her right, propping her chin on one hand, her aura powerful.

The corner of Yue Xing’s mouth twitched, and she gave a dry smile. “Senior is really amazing.”

Chixing’s exam question bank contained millions of questions. There were many question systems, and the variations were complicated. Precisely because of this, even when only a hundred questions were drawn each time, very few people could reach the passing standard of eighty. A perfect score was even rarer.

Even though Yue Xing had a photographic memory, she had still spent a great deal of energy and time on it.

And Shen Jingmian had also gotten a perfect score.

Yue Xing’s feelings were complicated.

During that hurried glance earlier, Shen Jingmian had caught her red-handed. Putting her combat ability aside, that sharpness alone was already astonishing.

Now there was also a perfect score on the academic exam, which proved she had a good brain and would not easily fall into a trap. Eight or nine times out of ten, she was probably cunning and scheming as well.

Just thinking that such a person was going to kill her made Yue Xing’s scalp prickle nonstop.

The expression on Shen Jingmian’s face did not change because of Yue Xing’s praise. Her long lashes drooped, very cold and indifferent.

Once she sat there, her presence was overwhelming. Du Nian and Yue Xing both subconsciously shut their mouths. In the end, it was Shen You who stepped in to break the silence.

“Yue Xing, good luck. As the second person in our school to get a perfect score on the academic exam, I have high hopes that you’ll catch up to Shen Jingmian!”

Yue Xing lowered her brows and smiled shyly. “Senior is so outstanding. I probably can’t.”

Shen Jingmian propped her chin on one hand. Hearing this, she suddenly let out a faint breath of laughter. Seeing the smile at the corner of Yue Xing’s mouth freeze, the peak of her brow lifted ever so slightly.

Saying she couldn’t, when in the future, she had done plenty of things that climbed right over Shen Jingmian’s head.

What was she pretending to be obedient for now?

Yue Xing could not figure out Shen Jingmian’s temperament. For now, she could only choose to speak less, smile more, and pretend to be good while staying silent.

Du Nian was worried that she was nervous. She pursed her lips in thought, then lightly rested a hand on the back of Yue Xing’s hand. When Yue Xing turned her head, Du Nian’s smiling eyes curved.

Seeing that Yue Xing had indeed relaxed a little, Du Nian smiled even more happily.

Shen You’s senses were sharp. She clearly saw the little movements between the two across from her, and even more clearly sensed the chill around Shen Jingmian.

She rubbed her arms, helpless.

“In front of the two new juniors, can you put away that cold face of yours and smile a little? Forget them, even I’m almost scared by you.”

Shen Jingmian did not give her a pleasant look. “With that little courage, you’ll die on the battlefield sooner or later.”

When she said this, the coldness in her brows and eyes was undisguised.

Yue Xing’s fingertips shrank slightly. Clearly, those words were not directed at her, yet she still felt there was another meaning behind them.

For some reason, Yue Xing could always sense a powerful pressure from Shen Jingmian. She was certain that Du Nian beside her felt nothing of the sort.

Shen You sighed. “I’m begging you. They’ve only just enrolled. Say something nice.”

Shen Jingmian lowered her lashes, clearly uninterested, and fell silent. Shen You let out a breath of relief.

“Don’t worry. According to previous years’ rules, academy freshmen won’t be sent to the battlefield.”

Shen You comforted the two of them. Her gaze swept over Du Nian, and she hesitated before adding, “But you’re an A-rank omega, so your situation might be different.”

Du Nian did not understand. “What do you mean?”

Yue Xing had vaguely guessed it.

Chixing’s exam questions also included school regulations, and Yue Xing had read the detailed rules. Because omegas were scarce in the empire, all omegas above A-rank had to receive the academy’s special courses.

She feared that the “special” part was special precisely because it involved the battlefield. As long as one was an A-rank omega, even a freshman would have to go to the battlefield.

With an omega present, not only could they resist the enemy, they could also exert a restraining effect on the alphas at the front line.

Shen You scratched her head. “I’ve only heard about it too. I don’t know the specifics.”

Her gaze shifted, and when it landed on Shen Jingmian’s side profile, her eyes lit up.

“Shen Jingmian, introduce the A-rank courses to the juniors.”

“Senior Shen is also an A-rank omega?” Du Nian asked in surprise.

Yue Xing looked toward Shen Jingmian along with Du Nian.

Shen Jingmian had her eyes closed as she rested, her brows and eyes cold and clear, like frost and snow, making people afraid to act freely around her.

Shen You did not dare disturb her, so she had no choice but to pick the topic back up herself.

“Chixing currently has about fifty A-rank omegas, but the only one who was A-rank from the moment she enrolled, just like you, is Shen Jingmian.”

Yue Xing’s jaw tightened. Her fingertips lost strength, and the slight pain pressed down the numbness spreading through her entire body.

She had tested her mental power before.

It was zero.

Not even the lowest F-rank.

Du Nian hid behind her hand and asked curiously in secret, “Then has Senior Shen become S-rank?”

S-rank, a top-tier existence among omegas. Their perception was so sharp it could reach the finest details, and under the level suppression of their pheromones, rumor had it that even a single wisp could make a powerful alpha bow down and go mad.

As for A-rank, although there were not many in each academy, there were still some in the end. But S-rank omegas—not to mention Chixing, even throughout the entire interstellar world, they could be counted on one hand.

And among those still alive now, aside from Du Nian after she had grown, there was only Shen Jingmian.

Only Shen Jingmian…

Yue Xing closed her eyes. A sigh no one could hear flashed past and vanished.

Her heart was beating so hard it felt as if it would explode. Her sixth sense repeatedly warned her to stay away from this person.

You will die.

But Yue Xing dug her nails hard into her palm. Even though her limbs were cold, her reason stubbornly nailed her in place.

It was impossible for her, and she would not, change her plans just because of one Shen Jingmian.

She was only an orphan beta. The best way for her to break away from a lower-class planet was to enter Chixing through its once-a-year academic exam. With Chixing as her background and stepping-stone, whether she went into business or politics, she would have great prospects.

No matter how strong Shen Jingmian was, no matter how slim the chance, Yue Xing would not retreat.

Shen You glanced at Shen Jingmian. Seeing that she had no reaction, she said, “Her rank, I—”

“Someone’s here.”

The instant Shen Jingmian’s words fell, a thunderous boom drew close. A sharp alarm suddenly blared wildly inside the ship.

Shen You’s expression changed. “Star pirates!”

The starship was struck violently. The hull tilted, and the sofa abruptly lurched forward.

Shen You reacted swiftly and grabbed Du Nian, but Yue Xing was too far from her. It was too late.

“Yue Xing!” Du Nian reached out anxiously, but failed to catch her.

Caught off guard, Yue Xing was thrown straight out. She urgently tried to brace herself with one foot, but unexpectedly, she failed to steady her body.

Someone grabbed her arm. Yue Xing reacted quickly, using the force to lean toward that side.

But just as she was about to reach that person, they suddenly let go. Yue Xing lost her support and fell to the floor.

Yue Xing opened her eyes. Her fair palm was gripping the carpet, and her mind was still ringing. A pair of black, gleaming long boots stood clearly before her, smooth and luxurious.

That familiar sense of pressure descended. The piercing alarm kept shrieking, making Yue Xing’s heart throb and go numb.

Yue Xing already knew who the owner of those long boots was.

Her neck stiff, she raised her head and crashed into a pair of gray eyes.

Those gray eyes were indifferent. None of the chaos around them had moved her. Shen Jingmian sat there, and no one knew how long she had already been watching Yue Xing.

They were too close. Yue Xing’s fingertips curled, and her body subconsciously wanted to retreat.

The moment she moved, Shen Jingmian seemed to see something in her. As if lowering herself to do Yue Xing a favor, she lifted the tip of her shoe and kicked her, her words cool.

“Scared silly?”

One sat, the other knelt. The starship’s lights flickered from the impact. Yue Xing blinked, and in that flashing instant, she vaguely thought she saw the corners of Shen Jingmian’s eyes curve.

That smile disappeared too quickly. Yue Xing only took it as the light dazzling her eyes.

“I’m fine. Thank you, Senior Shen.”

The starship was shaking severely. Yue Xing had only just managed to stand upright when the tips of her ears moved lightly. She heard the sound of something cutting through the air.

Yue Xing decisively crouched. The object flew over her head without losing momentum and pierced straight through the wall.

In the next second, the reinforced glass shattered one pane after another. Hooks locked into place with clicking sounds, and footsteps landed.

The star pirates clearly knew the identity of the starship’s owner. Although they had already landed, they did not attack right away. Instead, they casually tossed out several smoke bombs and waited amid the hissing sound.

Yue Xing’s eyes sharpened. She arched her back, her vigilance rising, her body leaning forward. She had completely forgotten that she was still kneeling at Shen Jingmian’s feet.

No one knew when the star pirates would close in, yet Shen Jingmian was still sitting there unhurriedly with her chin propped up. The tip of her shoe was lazily raised, moving from time to time.

Yue Xing was focused entirely on guarding against the star pirates, but the disturbance in the edge of her vision would not settle down, thoroughly disrupting her attention.

Shen Jingmian lowered her eyes. The swaying tip of her shoe pressed directly against Yue Xing’s lower abdomen through the thin fabric. Yue Xing’s expression tightened, and then she heard Shen Jingmian ask carelessly,

“Do you like kneeling?”