Chapter 37: Clinging to You

Just as the cabin door was about to fully close, Nian Tu’s vision blurred, and she heard the doctor exclaim, "Goodness! It’s escaped!"

The doctor moved quickly to shut the door to the examination room, but as an ordinary male, his speed was no match for the SS-rank Crown Prince, and he was a split second too late.

The white shadow moved with lightning speed, vanishing outside in the blink of an eye.

The doctor hurriedly opened the door again, rushing out with Nian Tu while contacting security and ordering them to capture the cat, which moved with an uncanny swiftness.

"Are you certain it is really a cat?" The doctor wiped his brow, panting, and carefully hinted to Nian Tu, "Its speed is simply too fast. It seems it is extremely resistant to this examination."

Routine check-ups were supposed to be painless, simple procedures. While ordinary small animals might be slightly nervous, they would not be this terrified. It was likely only a male beastman disguised as a pet who, fearing his true identity would be exposed, would go to such desperate lengths to flee.

Nian Tu did not catch the doctor's implication. She gave a perfunctory nod, her eyes scanning the area anxiously as she searched for a glimpse of Marshmallow. She had known Marshmallow was a timid cat, but she hadn’t realized it would be this frightened. Nian Tu felt a pang of regret; she shouldn't have been in such a rush to register him. She secretly vowed that once she found him, she would take him straight home. As for the medical exam and registration, those could wait; there was no need to rush. Once Marshmallow felt secure enough, he would naturally stop being so easily startled.

Perhaps her silent vow and prayers worked. Just as she walked out of the pet registry, feeling distraught and planning to contact Lu Zhan for help, the little white cat—which the security guards had failed to find despite their best efforts—slipped out from a hidden corner and suddenly appeared before her.

"Marshmallow!" Nian Tu was overcome with joy.

The kitten seemed to know it had done wrong; it sat crouched at Nian Tu’s feet, its four paws tucked in primly. It peered cautiously at her expression, letting out a soft, whimpering "meow."

Nian Tu didn't blame it. "Alright, alright," she said, scooping up the kitten and gently patting its back, soothing it softly. "I understand. You’re afraid of the exam. That’s alright, I’m afraid of them too. We won’t do the exam for now..."

To comfort the kitten, Nian Tu made an exception and bought it a treat. The Imperial Crown Prince, in his true form, showed no disdain for the ten-star-coin dried fish, munching on it with great relish. Although it was human food, the salt content was low, so it wouldn't hurt to let the cat have a little.

With the kitten appeased, Nian Tu looked down at her light-brain. She had been so anxious when she couldn't find the cat earlier that she had nearly reached out to Lu Zhan for help. Though she hadn't ended up sending the plea, the chat window was already open, so she simply sent a message.

Nian Tu: [I want to come to the Imperial Military Academy to see you. Is that convenient for you?]

She would only be bored at home, so why not visit Lu Zhan? Today was his first day on the job.

Lu Zhan was currently chatting with several senior professors in his office. These men were top scholars in the field of Imperial medicine and his former teachers. They held him in high regard and had fought hard for him to stay on at the university. When he chose to leave the Central Star to serve as a military doctor, one elderly professor named Li had been so enraged that he had fainted.

Professor Li was present now, his face stern and his beard bristling as he glared at Lu Zhan, refusing to give him a pleasant look. To him, the situation from back then hadn't been a big deal; in his view, Lu Zhan should have just given in to that female and everyone would have been happy. Even if Lu Zhan truly disliked the female named Lin Xinwei and couldn't accept her, they, as his mentors, could have protected him. While the status of females was high, it didn't mean they could do whatever they pleased. The problem could have been solved, yet Lu Zhan had left without a word.

Professor Li snorted coldly. "Why the sudden desire to return to the Central Star? Finally come to your senses? Willing to follow that female now?"

At this, another professor chuckled. "You’ve got it wrong. Our young Lu has found true love, and it’s for that love that he applied for a transfer back to the Central Star."

The professors who had seen the video from the Jade Pavilion began to tease him. Lu Zhan remained composed, neither denying nor confirming the claim.

Professor Li, who hadn't seen what happened at the Jade Pavilion, was astonished. "True love? Didn't you say you were focused on research and intended to be single for life?" That was the excuse Lu Zhan had used years ago to brush him off when he had urged him to stop struggling and accept Lin Xinwei. He had believed all these years that Lu Zhan was truly a proponent of celibacy; he hadn't expected to be deceived.

"Is your true love better than that little female from before? Higher mental power?" Professor Li shook his head. "No, that Lin girl was an A-rank; it couldn't possibly be higher."

The room full of white-haired professors pricked up their ears. Though they were serious researchers, that didn't stop them from being curious about the romantic lives of the younger generation.

Lu Zhan smiled and shook his head, unwilling to turn Nian Tu into a topic of gossip, yet a hint of undeniable tenderness softened his usually cold, frost-like expression.

Just then, Nian Tu’s message pinged. To display research data earlier, Lu Zhan had projected his light-brain into a screen visible to everyone. The entire room fell silent as they read the message. A visit on the very first day of work?

"Ho... your little female is quite attached to you," Professor Li said, adjusting his glasses with a look of wonder.

Lu Zhan felt an indescribable joy filling his heart and bent his head to reply: [I'll come back to pick you up.]

Nian Tu: [No need, I’m already on my way!]

Nian Tu: [Image]

The massive screen displayed a fresh selfie of Nian Tu. The little female was cradling the kitten, seemingly sitting on a public transport shuttle. Even while using such humble transportation, she appeared to be in high spirits; her eyes were curved in a smile, and her youthful vitality seemed to spill off the screen.

The old professors’ hearts were struck instantly. This was the daughter they had always dreamed of!

Lu Zhan cleared his throat, his ears turning red. He urged Nian Tu to be careful before standing up to head to the school gate. The professors, however, all stood up as well, with Professor Li leading the charge, intending to accompany him to greet her.

Lu Zhan: "..."

He rubbed his temples in resignation, trying to talk them out of the ridiculous idea.

While they were still debating, Nian Tu had already arrived. The public shuttle she took didn't stop at the main gate, but at the south gate. Military academies generally didn't allow outsiders to enter, but exceptions were made for females.

Nian Tu had her iris scanned and was admitted without delay. Following the navigation on her light-brain, she moved along the path toward the medical school. Even if she didn't know exactly where Lu Zhan was, the general direction was correct.

The fastest route directed her through a drill field. Nian Tu had assumed it would be empty, but upon approaching, she realized there must be some event going on. The area was packed with tall, strapping young cadets, radiating masculine energy.

She didn't want to get caught up in the crowd and was planning to take a detour when she caught a glimpse of a familiar figure on a sparring ring in the center of the field.

It was that black mamba, what was his name again... Xie Jili?

Was he a military student too?