Chapter 21: Zhu Yiqiao: “You’re an Alpha, Aren’t You?” p2
As the barrage kept updating, Ming Fei turned off her phone.
Compared to the strict standards before her transmigration, the definition of beauty in this world was diverse, with no standard answer. Fair skin was beautiful, dark skin was beautiful, tall was beautiful, short was beautiful, thin was beautiful, strong was beautiful… From height, skin color, body shape to specific facial features, the Independent State of Yi Meng had never defined any boundaries for individual beauty.
—As long as you acknowledge your existence, cherish your existence, and place yourself in the subject position.* Then, you are beautiful.
However, in the Independent State of Yi Meng, where there was no standard answer to beauty, Zhu Yiqiao’s beauty was undeniable. Even a two-year-old like Ming Zaozao, before establishing the concept of beauty, had already called her “Pretty Auntie.” But as a former soldier and the current Chief Judge of the Trial Court, people focused more on her contributions and achievements than her appearance.
Ming Fei collected her thoughts and seemingly casually glanced at the person on the public screen.
At the same time, after the opening ceremony, the first performance, from the Music Academy, took the stage. The professional teachers’ singing was melodious and pleasant, like the sound of nature.
Ming Fei listened quietly, and after watching the special gymnastics performance by the Physical Education Academy, she prepared to leave her seat and go backstage.
“Zaozao, Mommy’s going now.”
The Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Academy’s performance was number five, and Ming Fei had to go backstage to prepare. Her colleagues cheered her on, and Ming Zaozao kissed her on the cheek, also looking forward to her performance.
Most of the performances at the celebration were similar.
During the intermission after the fourth performance, Lan Lubai, sitting in the first row, was already getting restless, especially after learning that her friend’s little girl was also present.
“Min Man, what do you think is next?”
Min Man decided to pass this question to another person: “Yiqiao, you guess.”
Zhu Yiqiao’s expression was unreadable.
“I guess it’s a recitation or a chorus,” Lan Lubai said, resting her chin on her hand. “Music, dance, gymnastics, and magic have all been performed, so that leaves the most classic recitation or chorus.”
Min Man asked, “What if you guess wrong?”
Lan Lubai smiled: “Impossible.”
The bright lights suddenly dimmed, leaving only a single spotlight on the stage in the front area of the auditorium. A human shadow was projected onto the flawless white projection screen.
—To be precise, it was a shadow puppet created with nimble fingers.
The small black shadow figure walked across the screen and soon encountered a paper tiger projected using props. The figure and the tiger began to fight, the battle very intense, the black shadow figure being kicked away several times.
Finally, the black shadow figure emerged victorious, arriving at an open space and starting to build a tall building. Accompanied by the timely playing of the school song, the once empty space gradually transformed into a new school. After several more twists and turns, the school began its first enrollment.
After the official enrollment, the school won many awards and attracted more and more people to study there.
The nimble fingers changed the shadow figure into a number, indicating the passage of time, until the school had been established for a hundred years. Finally, the slender fingers changed the number into the school’s logo and a metaphorical Kunpeng. The shadow puppeteer, at the abrupt end of the school song, spoke at the perfect time.
“—The Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Academy wishes Q University a happy centennial celebration.”
“—May the Kunpeng soar to the Nine Heavens, and may your students spread across the world.”
The female voice from backstage faded, and thunderous applause erupted from the audience.
“What a special gift! Which teacher from the Intelligent Machine Academy is this?”
“So amazing! I haven’t seen this traditional art form for a long time.”
“Right, I remember… it seems to have been lost in our area a long time ago.”
The unexpected shadow play sparked discussion among the students. Ming Fei, the center of attention, packed up her props and quickly left the backstage. She first went outside the auditorium for some fresh air, then put on her hat and returned to the audience to find her daughter.
The moment Ming Zaozao saw her, she turned into a little praise elf, every word expressing her admiration. The colleagues around her also praised her with smiles, and in the end, Ming Fei was a little embarrassed by all the compliments.
The corners of her lips curled up, a bright smile flowing in her eyes, as gentle as the clear wind and bright moon.
At 10:10 pm, Q University’s long-prepared centennial celebration came to an end.
Ming Fei didn’t linger. Holding Ming Zaozao, who was almost asleep, she activated the self-driving car for the return trip.
She had remotely controlled the car to come here this morning because she was worried that Zhu Yiqiao, who was also attending the celebration, would leave first, and she was embarrassed to ask Zhu Yiqiao if they could go back together.
The night outside the window was as thick as ink. Ming Fei leaned against the car window, gradually feeling sleepy. But for safety’s sake, she forced herself to stay awake, watching the blurry night scene all the way.
The self-driving car arrived at the villa area. The moment she got out of the car, the cold wind blew away Ming Fei’s sleepiness. She frowned and quickly entered the living room on the first floor, holding Ming Zaozao.
The indoor temperature was pleasant. Ming Fei didn’t stay on the first floor and took the elevator to the second floor.
Because it was already very late, and children easily caught colds in this weather, Ming Fei gave up on the idea of giving Ming Zaozao a bath. She wet a clean towel with warm water and carefully wiped her face, arms, legs, and feet.
After everything was done, she bent down and kissed Ming Zaozao on the face.
“Goodnight, Zaozao.”
Tomorrow was a day off, so when Ming Fei returned to her room, she happily decided to take a nice hot bath before going to bed.
The bathroom was filled with steam, and many rose petals floated on the warm water’s surface. Ming Fei brushed the wet hair away from her neck and used the mirror to check the condition of her gland.
It still looked no different than usual.
But upon closer inspection, there was a very faint scar in the center of the gland, as if it had been lightly grazed by a sharp blade. Ming Fei stared at the scar for half a minute. After putting down the mirror, she raised the index finger of her left hand and gently touched the scar on her right wrist.
Her thoughts immersed in the accidental injury to her gland, she didn’t notice that the scent in the air was gradually changing. The rich fragrance of roses was now tinged with sweetness.
It wasn’t until she finished her bath and changed into her pajamas that she suddenly realized something was wrong.
…What was that scent?
Ming Fei stopped and sniffed carefully. It was very faint, very sweet, but also a little sour.
Did someone enter her bathroom today? Ming Fei wondered blankly.
She wasn’t sure. She quickly walked out of the bathroom and found that the bedroom was also filled with that faint fragrance.
Ming Fei felt strange. After drying her wet hair, she decided to ask 0619, which hadn’t yet entered sleep mode.
The corridor was quiet. Ming Fei put on a clean, thin coat from the dressing room and went downstairs to find 0619. The crystal chandelier in the living room was brightly lit, and the furnishings were clearly visible. Just as Ming Fei reached the light, she heard a noise from the entrance.
She looked up and made eye contact with Zhu Yiqiao, who had just returned to the villa.
The faint, sweet scent in the air seemed to be enticed and stimulated, suddenly becoming… stronger. Ming Fei, who hadn’t known her own pheromone scent since differentiating, didn’t understand what this abnormality meant. She just felt even stranger.
“…Chief Judge Zhu.”
Ming Fei greeted her and, without waiting for Zhu Yiqiao, who was walking towards the sofa, to respond, was about to give up on the idea of finding 0619 and go back to her room. But the next moment, Zhu Yiqiao’s voice stopped her in her tracks.
“—Ming Fei.”
Ming Fei responded softly, “Mm. Chief Judge Zhu, is there something you need?”
“—Come here.”
This command gave Ming Fei a certain feeling. It was as if she was back to the moment a month ago when Zhu Yiqiao had pointed a gun at her, dangerous, cold, and irresistible.
But Zhu Yiqiao wasn’t dangerous, and she was also very grateful to Zhu Yiqiao.
Therefore, after confirming that Zhu Yiqiao was awake, Ming Fei walked towards her.
“Sit.”
Ming Fei nodded and sat next to Zhu Yiqiao.
In the silence, before she could ask the reason, she felt a cold, hard sensation on her right wrist. She looked down and saw a silver handcuff on her wrist, where there had been nothing before.
And the other end of the handcuff was in Zhu Yiqiao’s hand.
Zhu Yiqiao, dressed in the dark uniform of the Trial Court, stood up and looked down at Ming Fei, who had fallen into the trap.
Just as Ming Fei was extremely surprised, stunned, and confused, and about to struggle and resist, Zhu Yiqiao cuffed the other handcuff to her own left wrist.
The indifference in her eyes finally gave way to a ripple of emotion, and she asked, word by word,
“—Ming Fei.”
“—You’re an Alpha, aren’t you?”
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