IMAO Chapter 26

Song Yirui sprang up from the ground like a coiled spring upon hearing Qiu Jingming’s words through the communicator.

He didn’t dare to contact Jiang Yuan lately, unsure how to face him. Jiang Yuan’s kindness towards him was still vivid in his memory. He knew Jiang Yuan wasn’t one to openly express his feelings, and their relationship had progressed no further than hand-holding, but he could sense Jiang Yuan’s affection. It wasn’t obvious but rather evident in the little things.

Many details that others overlooked, even by his own parents, Jiang Yuan noticed.

Whenever his father compared him to Jiang Yuan, he would inwardly resent Jiang Yuan’s excellence. Yet, he was constantly drawn to Jiang Yuan, falling in love without much resistance.

The childhood jealousy had transformed into affection, mixed with a sense of pride and his own insecurity…

Yes, that was Jiang Yuan – a Beta who, through sheer effort, made him, an Alpha, feel inadequate!

Yet, such an outstanding person liked him. He was aware of Jiang Yuan’s kindness towards him, but being with Jiang Yuan was simply too overwhelming.

A fragile Omega like Qiu Jingming, who needed protection, could satisfy his Alpha pride in a way Jiang Yuan couldn’t. Jiang Yuan’s excellence was his bragging right to others, but also a mountain weighing him down.

The thought of losing all connection with someone as exceptional as Jiang Yuan sent a sharp pain through Song Yirui’s heart.

He thought he understood Jiang Yuan. Even if Qiu Jingming hadn’t gotten pregnant or been marked by him, Jiang Yuan would have chosen to let them be once he found out.

“Jingming, I’ll tell Jiang Yuan about this myself. You don’t need to!” Song Yirui said urgently.

Qiu Jingming’s voice was tearful. “Rui-gege, I’ll handle it.”

Song Yirui: “You’re being reckless! You’ve never traveled far alone, and you’re pregnant now!”

Qiu Jingming cried, “But I don’t want you to keep being scolded and beaten! I saw it that day, I saw Uncle Song whipping you, I saw everything… Rui-gege, my heart aches. I don’t want you to go through this anymore…”

With that, Qiu Jingming hung up and turned off his communicator.

Hearing Qiu Jingming’s words, Song Yirui took a deep breath, seeing how Qiu Jingming cared for him. As an Alpha, could he really watch his Omega kneel and beg others?

He couldn’t. As Song Yirui was about to turn and leave, his father angrily said, “Song Yirui, what are you doing? Kneel down!”

As Father Song pressed down on Song Yirui’s shoulder to make him continue kneeling, Song Yirui suddenly pushed his father away, shouting, “Dad, I know everything is my fault. That day when I discovered Jingming was in heat, I didn’t leave immediately to notify Aunt Fang and Uncle Jiang. The pheromones overwhelmed me, and I couldn’t control myself!

“But what’s done is done. I’ve already marked Jingming, and he’s pregnant. Are you suggesting we remove the mark and abort Jingming’s baby?”

Not just Father Song, even Jiang Tianze was at a loss. After all, Qiu Jingming was his adopted son, and now Jingming had expressed his love for Song Yirui!

“You’ve beaten me, scolded me. Now I must go after Jingming. He’s not safe alone… You don’t want anything to happen to him, do you?”

After Song Yirui finished speaking, the three elders in the room – Fang Shi, Jiang Tianze, and Song Yirui’s father – were speechless.

Seeing no one speak, Song Yirui turned and ran out, booking a spaceship to Earth as he ran. He had to leave as soon as possible. Qiu Jingming was pregnant. Although he trusted Jiang Yuan wouldn’t harm Qiu Jingming, he was still worried something would happen.

Meanwhile, the oblivious Jiang Yuan was happily engaged in an intense Star Wars battle with Ji Rong. Truthfully, Ji Rong was indeed a formidable opponent. Fighting against Ji Rong, Jiang Yuan could clearly feel his own improvement!

After one match, Jiang Yuan felt a bit tired and said softly into the voice system, “I’m done playing. I’m going to take a shower.”

Ji Rong grunted in acknowledgment. After watching Jiang Yuan leave, he glanced down at his current ID [7592102] hovering above his head. Although he had told Jiang Yuan it was to constantly remind himself to surpass him, in reality… he just wanted to be closer to Jiang Yuan.

Ji Rong heaved a long sigh. He was truly beyond help.

If only he had met Jiang Yuan earlier.

…

Early in the morning, Jiang Yuan got up early. Liu Zheng had made some modifications to the mecha again. Jiang Yuan had no classes this morning, so Liu Zheng called him over early to help with the test flight. Besides Ji Rong, some of Ji Yang’s roommates also came along. These days, a crowd always gathered for these tests!

Based on some issues Jiang Yuan had mentioned before, Liu Zheng made further adjustments. As soon as Jiang Yuan finished piloting and got out, Liu Zheng grabbed him and asked, “How was it? Did it feel any better?”

Jiang Yuan shook his head, indicating the changes weren’t satisfactory.

Liu Zheng was anxious. His mentor was coming today, bringing someone along, though he hadn’t said who.

His mentor, Professor Rhodes, had a good relationship with him and was optimistic about the AR-18 structure he designed. He hoped Liu Zheng could perfect this propulsion structure. Liu Zheng didn’t want to disappoint his mentor, but he really couldn’t think of how to improve it lately.

Seeing Liu Zheng looking dejected, Jiang Yuan took the documents and said gravely, “Actually, the AR-18 structure isn’t suitable for installation on the Thunder Fighter. The Thunder Fighter is a light mecha, not a heavy one.”

Liu Zheng replied helplessly, “I know that, but our assigned project is to modify Thunder 7.”

Hearing this, Jiang Yuan waved his hand, gesturing for Liu Zheng to listen as he continued, “Perhaps you could modify the lower body, changing its structure to…”

Jiang Yuan briefly explained. The structures he mentioned were naturally familiar to Liu Zheng, being some of the intricate designs in mechanical engineering that Liu Zheng had studied. But could these structural changes really make Thunder more coordinated after integrating AR-18?

Liu Zheng silently doubted.

Of course, everything Jiang Yuan said was the result of countless data simulations and verifications through Alphonse, essentially the current optimal solution.

Just then, an elderly man strode in, making the Mecha Manufacturing Department students feel like their eyes were playing tricks on them!

This… this was Xu Chen!

A mecha master! It could be said that among the hundreds of mecha in the Federation, this master’s influence was evident in all of them!

Liu Zheng knew his mentor was Xu Chen’s student, but this was his first time seeing Xu Chen in person. If Ji Chong was the highest goal for those in the Mecha Department, then Xu Chen was the ultimate, unattainable goal for these Mecha Manufacturing students.

Xu Chen looked at Jiang Yuan and asked, “Were those all your own ideas you just mentioned?”

Jiang Yuan saw the elderly man who had suddenly entered, but paid no mind, assuming he was a professor from the research institute. He nodded, “Yes.”

Liu Zheng’s mentor followed in. He had been bringing his own mentor, Xu Chen, to see his student’s proud work, but unexpectedly overheard the conversation between Jiang Yuan and Liu Zheng.

He felt his heart racing. Since Liu Zheng had created the AR-18 structural design, he had been quite optimistic about it, constantly holding back Liu Zheng’s group from graduating, hoping they could perfect this structure. Once they graduated, it could gain recognition from the Chinese Academy of Sciences!

Based on his experience, Jiang Yuan’s modification plan was absolutely feasible!

Xu Chen nodded with satisfaction and said to Liu Zheng’s mentor, Rhodes, “Not bad, your student is quite good.”

Rhodes felt awkward, while Liu Zheng raised his hand tremblingly nearby, “Professor Xu… I’m actually Professor Rhodes’ student.”

Hearing this, Xu Chen glanced down at Jiang Yuan, then said, “Well, it seems the Mecha Manufacturing Department has been admitting excellent students in recent years!”

Jiang Yuan said softly, “I’m not from the Manufacturing Department, I’m from the Mecha Department…”

Xu Chen: “???”

Rhodes: “???”

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