IMAO Chapter 27.1

Xu Chen pushed his glasses up his nose and stared oddly at Jiang Yuan. “You… aren’t a student in the Manufacturing Department?”

Without hesitation, Jiang Yuan replied, “No, I’m not.”

Xu Chen narrowed his eyes and stepped forward, opening the test data recorded on the screen. As he perused the information, he recalled Jiang Yuan’s words to Liu Zheng at the door earlier.

He couldn’t help but feel astonished. His student Rhodes had often mentioned the AR-18 structure, which he had only briefly studied. Upon hearing Jiang Yuan’s modification proposal, his vast experience immediately told him it was feasible.

Even so, when he saw the test data, Xu Chen was still taken aback.

The modification plan Jiang Yuan proposed nearly perfectly solved the issues in the test data. It could effectively improve the Thunder Fighter’s performance. Theoretically, it was the best solution. Even if he were to modify it himself, this would be the best he could do.

With his extensive mecha manufacturing experience, creating the optimal solution was natural for him. But the student before him, who was no older than twenty, had done the same. Though there might be some accidental success involved, he was certain the young man possessed an extraordinary talent for mecha manufacturing.

Seeing the old man’s pensive expression as he examined the experimental data, Jiang Yuan refrained from interrupting. He turned to Liu Zheng and said, “Xuezhang, you still need to report your thesis progress. We won’t disturb your meeting.”

“Just contact me when you need me. As long as I don’t have class, I’ll be available anytime,” he added.

Then, Jiang Yuan politely addressed Liu Zheng’s advisor Rhodes and Xu Chen, “Goodbye, professors!”

Hearing Jiang Yuan’s calm voice, Xu Chen was slightly taken aback. This child could remain so composed in his presence. Xu Chen’s gaze swept over the other seniors and Ji Yang’s group, who were all slack-jawed at the sight of him.

This child is calm and collected. Not bad, not bad at all, he thought.

Upon seeing the old man, Jiang Yuan actually felt he looked familiar but couldn’t recall where he’d seen him before. He didn’t bother asking Alphonse.

Ji Yang and his dormmates, though reluctant to leave after seeing the renowned Professor Xu, knew that this master was primarily here for Liu Zheng’s design in the lab. They all obediently bid farewell to Xu Chen and Rhodes before scurrying away.

Once outside the research institute, Ma Lin exclaimed, “My god, that was Xu Chen, the Mecha Patriarch!”

The blond-haired Adelman pushed up his glasses, his face showing unusual excitement. “That’s the first time I’ve seen him in person!”

Ji Yang, needless to say, was so thrilled his ears turned red. He pulled out his communicator and sent a voice message, “Dad, I saw the Mecha Patriarch Xu Chen! Ah! I really saw him!”

Hearing the name Xu Chen, Jiang Yuan finally remembered where he’d seen the old man—on the first page of their Mecha Manufacturing textbook.

Seeing the three Mecha Manufacturing students flushed with excitement, Jiang Yuan chuckled, “Is there really a need to be so excited?”

“Jiang Yuan, you just don’t get it!” Ji Yang brushed aside the hair near his ear and said, “Let me put it this way: if today you’d met War God Ji Chong instead of Professor Xu, you’d definitely be as excited as us!”

Jiang Yuan thought seriously for a moment, then shook his head resolutely. “No, I wouldn’t.”

Hearing Jiang Yuan’s response, Ji Yang’s mouth twitched slightly. He turned and nudged Ji Rong with his elbow. “Ji Rong, you say something!”

Ji Rong answered Ji Yang’s question without hesitation: “I wouldn’t be excited either.” He’d probably see Ji Chong and just call him ‘Dad’. He couldn’t get excited anymore after seeing him since childhood.

Ji Yang: “…”

Ma Lin and Adelman looked at Jiang Yuan and Ji Rong with disdain. Hmph, if they actually met the real person, they’d definitely be more excited than anyone. These Mecha Department guys are so fake!

Well, never mind. After all, they’re good friends. No need to expose them.

“We don’t have classes today. Why don’t we go out and have some fun? We’ve got nothing else to do anyway.”

“Sure, I haven’t been anywhere except school!”

The group left the campus gates together, wandering around aimlessly.

Meanwhile, after Jiang Yuan and his friends left, Xu Chen furrowed his brow and called out to Rhodes, “Make the modifications according to that young man’s method. I want to see the finished product and your data report within a week!”

Rhodes naturally didn’t dare to slack off, repeatedly assuring that he’d guarantee the completion of the modifications within a week, along with conducting data tests to prove Jiang Yuan’s theory.

Xu Chen also inquired about Jiang Yuan’s background from Liu Zheng. He frowned slightly. “Jiang Yuan…”

He hadn’t heard this name before. Probably not the child of any friend he knew.

After pondering for a moment, Xu Chen left.

Liu Zheng remained bewildered. Judging from Professor Xu and his advisor’s reactions, Jiang Yuan’s improvement plan really could work. But… how could Jiang Yuan, a Mecha Department student, know about mecha manufacturing?

After leaving the research institute, Jiang Yuan’s group headed straight for the only large shopping and entertainment complex in the area. For entertainment options near the several universities in this area, this was the only place to go!

After wandering around and buying a few clothes—

“What do you guys want to eat?” Adelman had just asked when he paused, turning his head to look at a group of young boys gathered in the distance.

One of the young men wearing a white shirt noticed Adelman and walked straight towards them, calling out, “Adelman?”

“Oh, Senior Mu An, it’s you. What a coincidence,” Adelman said, looking at the young man before him. Mu An was his former senior and an Omega he once had a secret crush on. However, his unrequited love had come to nothing because Mu An had an Alpha boyfriend at the time.

Mu An smiled and said, “You’ve changed so much. I almost didn’t recognize you.” Then his eyes swept over Jiang Yuan and the others, revealing a faint smile. “You’re in college now, too. Are these all your classmates?”

Adelman nodded, “Yes.”

As Adelman and Mu An exchanged a few casual words, the boys accompanying Mu An overheard their conversation. Learning that Adelman and his friends were all students from the First Military Academy, their hearts, already beating fast, now raced even faster.

Although Jiang Yuan wasn’t particularly sensitive to pheromone scents, because of his younger brother Qiu Jingming, he immediately realized that all these boys were Omegas!

After Mu An was pulled aside by his ‘sisters’ for a quick private chat, he returned and invited Adelman to have dinner with them.

“Back then, when I ate with you, Senior Li beat me up!” Adelman hesitated before saying.

Mu An replied, “Oh, him? We broke up long ago. He can’t control me anymore.”

Hearing this, Adelman didn’t react immediately and reflexively asked, “B-broke up? Why…”

Mu An shrugged, “That guy cheated on me with other Omegas.”

Adelman instantly heard his own heartbeat accelerate, his blood seemingly flowing faster. His senior had broken up with his boyfriend!

The affection from his younger days suddenly surfaced from the depths of his heart. Adelman hurriedly said, “Let’s eat! They’re all free!”

Adelman dashed back to Jiang Yuan and the others, blurting out, “If you’re my brothers, let’s have dinner together! For the sake of my happiness!”

Everyone: ???

…

As they ate, the conversation turned to Mu An’s breakup.

“How did you find out that Senior Li was cheating?” Adelman asked Mu An curiously.

Mu An replied solemnly, “After we graduated, we were in a long-distance relationship. Last month, when I went to visit him, I discovered he had installed an app called ‘Little Peach’ on his communicator.”

Adelman looked confused. “Little Peach? What does that have to do with cheating?”

Seeing Adelman’s confused expression, Mu An explained, “Little Peach is used to predict heat cycles. When I opened it, I saw the recorded heat cycles were different from mine. So I asked him, and he confessed.”

Mu An angrily swung his fist, cursing, “There’s not a single good Alpha out there!”

Mu An’s companions chimed in, noting that there were quite a few Alphas who cheated in long-distance relationships.

Mu An finally sighed, “If they can’t control their third leg, they might as well cut it off!”

The Alphas present unconsciously glanced down at their crotches, feeling a chill run down their spines.

Adelman defended, “Actually, there are some good ones.”

Only then did Mu An realize there were several Alphas present, including his junior. He looked at Adelman, “Sorry, Xuedi. I didn’t mean you!”

Adelman nodded, “I understand, Xuezhang!”

Hearing Mu An’s words, Jiang Yuan suddenly asked, “In long-distance relationships, do Alphas really cheat so easily?”

Mu An didn’t give Jiang Yuan a chance to elaborate, immediately confirming, “That’s how it is with long-distance. We Omegas inject suppressants to control our painful heats, while Alphas turn around and cheat like it’s nothing! Just thinking about it makes me angry.”

“I see…” Jiang Yuan rubbed his chin.

“Jiang Yuan, you’re asking this… Is your partner an Alpha?” Mu An looked at Jiang Yuan, knowing he was a Beta. It’s well known that relationships between Betas and Alphas are quite prone to breakups without a strong emotional foundation, with the probability of cheating skyrocketing.

Jiang Yuan nodded slightly.

Mu An looked sympathetic, “Then Jiang Yuan, you’d better be careful. Watch out for those green sprouts on your head¹Based on “头上长草” (pronounced “tóu shàng zhǎng cǎo”) means that one has been cheated on or cuckolded. The literal translation is “grass growing on one’s head,” which originates from the notion that someone is oblivious or unaware as if they wouldn’t notice grass sprouting from their own head.!”

Jiang Yuan: “…” I’m not afraid of being cheated on, I’m afraid of not being cheated on!

Ji Rong, who had been quiet all day, heard Jiang Yuan’s question and thought he was worried about his boyfriend cheating. He felt uncomfortable and lowered his head to hide the dejection on his face.

After dinner, Adelman clearly didn’t want to part ways with Mu An just yet. He insisted on going singing. Jiang Yuan and the others, knowing Adelman wanted to pursue Mu An, decided to help him out. They joined in, clamoring to sing and not letting Mu An’s group leave.

After Jiang Yuan and Ji Rong, both from the Mecha Department, assured them, the Omegas reluctantly agreed to go to the KTV with them.

After about an hour of singing, Jiang Yuan felt stuffy and left the room to get some air.

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  Based on “头上长草” (pronounced “tóu shàng zhǎng cǎo”) means that one has been cheated on or cuckolded. The literal translation is “grass growing on one’s head,” which originates from the notion that someone is oblivious or unaware as if they wouldn’t notice grass sprouting from their own head.