Forcefully Doting On You - v2c3

 

Chapter 35

Note: Dedicating this chapter (and the next two, which will be posted in one-hour intervals) to Sakuradahl for her generous Ko-Fi donation.

Mu Cai, faced with Mu Feng's reaction, was at a loss for words momentarily.

He was staring at Mu Feng in shock when he heard footsteps approaching from a distance. The people around started to greet someone in unison, "Good day, President Claire!"

Mu Cai hastily turned around and saw Claire in a dark green military uniform stepping towards him in black boots. Behind him, several others, uniformly dressed Alphas, all wearing matching military uniforms, followed.

The Imperial Mecha Academy, at its core, is a place to cultivate talents for the military department. Claire, whether as a fifth-year student in the Mecha Combat Department or as the successor of the Léon family, naturally had early military exposure, spending normal holidays training with all the soldiers in the department.

Hence, the attire he was wearing at this moment was a military uniform, not the student uniform of the Mecha Combat Department.

Carrying an expression as cold as usual on his face, Claire just nodded in response to the greetings from those present. However, when his gaze fell onto Mu Cai's arm enwrapped by Ruan Jia, his pupils constricted sharply, "Mu Cai."

Mu Cai quickly called out, "Brother Claire!"

After shouting, Mu Cai felt a sudden pain in his arm, as if someone had grabbed him fiercely. Subconsciously turning his head, he saw Ruan Jia slowly releasing his grip, showing an apologetic smile on his palm-sized face, "I'm sorry, Cai Cai, I didn't mean to."

As Ruan Jia spoke, he somehow produced a candy from somewhere and coaxed, "Here, Cai Cai, have some candy. It won't hurt after you eat it."

Having said that, he quickly peeled off the wrapper and stuffed the candy into Mu Cai's mouth.

Caught off guard, Mu Cai's eyes lit up.

It's delicious!

This candy was Mu Cai's favorite toffee, with a bit of crushed peanuts inside. When chewed, it was crispy and sweet, with a rich milky flavor.

Mu Cai kept his mouth closed, only his cheeks puffing up as he chewed, looking like a little hamster eating.

Claire saw this scene, his eyebrows visibly furrowing.

The senior Mecha Combat Department Alphas who were previously trying to get close to Mu Feng at the registration point were delighted at the sight of Claire's expression. After all, they had dealt with Claire quite often and knew that, just like them, he disliked overly delicate Omegas.

There have been quite a few Omegas calling Klaire "big brother," and without exception, they all received either a cold face or were ignored, regardless of the Omega's identity.

Unexpectedly, however, Claire did not react as they had hoped. Instead, he looked at Mu Cai and said, "Mu Cai, I'm here to pick you up."

His voice was much gentler than his usual ice-cold tone, frightening the Alphas nearby.

Seeing their attention snatched away, the young people nearby turned their heads upon hearing these words.

As Mu Cai was once again drawn in, Ruan Jia's anger flared. He tightened his grip on Mu Cai's arm and coldly smirked, "There's no need to trouble Senior Claire; we have people to escort us, and our luggage is being taken care of."

After saying this, Ruan Jia patted Mu Cai's arm, intending to take him away.

Ruan Jia needed to quickly get Cai Cai out of Claire's sight, given Cai Cai's fondness for him.

Claire's eyes were fixed intently on Mu Cai's arm, which was being grabbed. He glanced at Ruan Jia with hawk-like eyes and then calmly said, "You can't go in; the academy isn't allowing outsiders to enter right now."

With so many pieces of luggage, Claire's gaze swept over the big and small bags behind them and finally landed on Mu Cai, revealing a polite smile, "I think you might not be able to carry them all."

Ruan Jia's face changed instantly.

However, Claire didn't pay him any mind. Instead, he focused intently on Mu Cai, waiting for his response.

It must be said, Claire was indeed worthy of his character setting in the original script: the protagonist who captivated countless Omegas and Betas. He had brilliant blond hair and his green eyes were like serene, deep pools. While he was being observed by Claire, Mu Cai couldn't help but admire him internally.

As the president of the Imperial Mecha Academy student council, Claire knew the academy's situation like the back of his hand. When he mentioned that outsiders were not allowed in the academy, Mu Cai was inclined to believe it was true. Moreover, Mu Cai felt there was no reason for Claire to deceive him.

Mu Cai was very self-aware. He and Ruan Jia, unlike those capable of being admitted into the Mecha Combat Department like Mu Feng, had the typical Omega physique—delicate and weak. He couldn't possibly carry so many suitcases. Even handling one case down to the dormitory building and transporting it to the dormitory would likely leave him gasping for breath.

Now, with help at hand, Mu Cai was more than grateful. Moreover, following the original character setting, he should be extremely pleased with Claire's proactive assistance.

Therefore, without any hesitation, Mu Cai said, "Thanks, Brother Claire!"

His voice was ethereal and pleasant, seemingly carrying a hint of the crisp sweetness of a juicy peach.

Just like the sweet scent of peaches he smelled that day when Claire sat next to him.

That word, "brother," got to Claire. It sent a wave of comfort through his body.

A hint of a smile spread across Claire's face. The sound of his military boots stepping on the ground relayed a series of brief "clinking" noises. Claire approached the individuals each holding a suitcase, and then turned towards Mu Cai to ask, "Which one is yours?"

After a moment of surprise, Mu Cai hurriedly pointed to a suitcase next to one of the bodyguards, saying, "That one is mine."

Claire, wearing a white glove, effortlessly took the suitcase from the bodyguard with one hand. The people who had come with him naturally relieved Ruan Jia's bodyguard of his suitcase.

Mu Cai felt his arm being clenched tight again.

He knew Ruan Jia didn't like Claire. In the original storyline, Ruan Jia consistently stayed in the same camp as the original character; they were good friends. So, naturally, Ruan Jia was perpetually unhappy with Claire's indifference towards the protagonist.

But now, as Claire was helping them, Ruan Jia shouldn't be this angry. Mu Cai was somewhat confused, but this was not the time for anger. He gently patted Ruan Jia's hand, comforting him by saying, "It's nice to have someone help us with the suitcases, don't be angry."

A soft palm covered his own, and a pair of shiny black eyes looked at him. Two mini versions of himself were reflected in those eyes.

Ruan Jia had been brooding. Seeing Mu Cai being so caring towards him, a lot of his anger dissipated.

Ruan Jia glanced at Claire ahead carrying the suitcase, then looked at his own hand entwined with Mu Cai's, unable to hide his satisfaction.

'So what if he's helping Cai carry the suitcase? He's nothing more than a manual laborer. While Claire is sweating up ahead, Mu Cai and I are comfortably lingering behind, hand in hand.'

From this perspective, Ruan Jia believed he had well and truly won. He puffed out his chest, grasped Mu Cai's hand, and together they entered the dormitory they had previously reserved.

With the help of Claire and his companions, Mu Cai easily moved into a two-person dorm room on the third floor of the dormitory building.

The dorms of the Empire Mecha Academy were beautiful in themselves. The one that Ruan Jia picked was a two-room suite, exceptionally luxurious and well-lit.

After helping to move the suitcases into the room, the few Alphas who had assisted left, taking with them a few pieces of small cake amidst Mu Cai's words of gratitude.

Claire also followed them downstairs to see them off.

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Mu Cai stood in the room, watching them leave. After closing the door, he turned and laid the suitcases on the ground. He and Ruan Jia proceeded to unpack together.

Mu Cai was fine, he had only brought some essential clothing and planned to buy toiletries and the like at school. As such, his suitcase wasn't packed, and it was a quick task to put everything away.

However, Ruan Jia was different. He was a bit neat-freak and very particular, only liking the things he had selected himself. As a result, Ruan Jia had almost emptied his room to pack, from his bedding and sheets to something as small as a toothbrush and towel. He had stuffed them all into his suitcase.

Mu Cai quickly unpacked and arranged his belongings.

He walked over to Ruan Jia, crouched down, and reached out to help him. But he felt his hand being caught.

Mu Cai turned his head and saw Ruan Jia looking at him with wide eyes, his handsome face filled with seriousness. "Cai Cai, I have something to tell you."

Mu Cai also grew serious. "Go on."

Ruan Jia gently stroked the back of Mu Cai's hand under his palm. He found it delicate and smooth, the touch was inexplicably delightful, making him reluctant to stop.

While secretly stroking, he spoke earnestly, "Cai Cai, although Claire helped carry your suitcase this time, you can't just trust him. Don't think he likes you because he's kind. Alphas are unreliable!"

The way Ruan Jia spoke could be considered a model of sincere advice.

Mu Cai thought Ruan Jia's views were a tad extreme. Knowing the plot of the story, he was aware that Claire was only fulfilling his promise for the sake of Auntie Evelyn this time.

Mu Cai did not want to argue with Ruan Jia about what most alphas were like at this moment, so he simply nodded, "I got it."

Ruan Jia was quite satisfied. He reached out and touched Mu Cai's face again, soft and smooth. Ruan Jia simply couldn't get enough. "Cai Cai, how come your skin is getting better and better? It feels so comforting!"

As he spoke, he leaned in a bit closer and his nose twitched. His head was almost buried in Mu Cai's shoulder. "Cai Cai, you smell so sweet. I like it so much..."

Mu Cai and Ruan Jia grew up together. Back when they didn't wear suppression rings, Ruan Jia liked to grab him and smell him, saying he smelled really good.

Mu Cai didn't mind it. He was now busily categorizing his messy suitcase. Simultaneously, he said, "You also smell really good. It's the distinct aroma of coffee."

Ruan Jia's pheromone scent was coffee. Although the suppressant had greatly weakened it, they were so close to each other at this moment, Ruan Jia almost burying himself on him, Mu Cai could smell it.

Ruan Jia pouted, "Coffee is bitter. It's not as sweet as your scent, Cai Cai."

He had always disliked the coffee scent on himself, because it always reminded him of the times when he was deceived by the aroma of coffee, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.

Mu Cai's scent, on the other hand, was both fragrant and sweet, just like the peach juice Ruan Jia had once tried.

As Mu Cai was about to comfort the other person, they suddenly heard the squeaking sound of a door being gently pushed open.

The door had been closed by Claire when they left, perhaps not having closed it properly.

Mu Cai looked up and saw Claire walking in.

A pair of green eyes fixed on them, with a gaze as intense and unyielding as that of a hawk.

The youngest son of the Ruan family was practically pressing on top of Mu Cai. His hand stroked Mu Cai's while his head was buried against him, sniffing here and there.

Claire, the alpha, was struggling with a strong desire to claim possession. Having once experienced the sweet peach fragrance of Mu Cai, he could barely resist his urge to reach out.

His gaze was like a cold, sharp sword, ready to pierce through the person who was monopolizing Mu Cai.

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Author's Note:

Ruan Jia: I was the first, whether it's knowing him or liking him...

Claire: Having someone I like should be a joyful thing. Why did it turn out like this...

Mu Cai: Bai Xuejia, get lost! (Note: I'm not too sure about this, but it looks like a reference to White Album 2 where one of the heroines found the protagonist kissing the other heroine, despite the fact that the first heroine and the protagonist were in a relationship already.)

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