When Ruan Xing got home, he received a call from Chen Yihang, who hesitantly asked if anything had happened yesterday.

He knew something must have happened.

Ruan Xing let out a strange chuckle. "Well, I didn’t get hurt… I just didn’t sleep well."

Chen Yihang let out a long sigh of relief. "That’s good. If you got injured, you must apply for work injury insurance—the captain will cover it."

Fu Gui: What on earth have you been through?

Chen Yihang exchanged a few more pleasantries and then got down to business. The specialized school was conducting practical training and needed assistant instructors from the Investigation Corps. Each squad had to send two people, and he wanted to know if Ruan Xing was willing to go.

"Are there any restrictions for assistants at the school?" Ruan Xing didn’t refuse immediately.

Chen Yihang: "Not much. They basically have the same authority as instructors."

"I’ll think about it. Who’s the other one?"

Chen Yihang mentioned a name Ruan Xing had never heard before.

The First Squad had quite a few people, but since a small group of them shared an office, Ruan Xing had naturally been drawn into this close-knit circle. It wasn’t surprising that there were still some names he didn’t know.

Ruan Xing: "I’ll give you an answer this afternoon."

Fu Gui: Why are you taking this on? Got too much free time?

It knew Ruan Xing was looking for something but had no leads at the moment, so it couldn’t understand why he was willing to waste time on this.

Ruan Xing: "There are a lot of files on the Investigation Corps that I don’t have access to. The school’s database might provide some clues."

Fu Gui stretched its wings and lazily yawned. "Alright, whatever. If you don’t like it, just quit. It’s not like Fu Zhi would blame you anyway."

At the end, it let out a couple of sly chuckles.

If it hadn’t been brought up, it would’ve been fine. But now that it was, memories from last night swirled in Ruan Xing’s head.

Fu Zhi’s furniture was left in shambles, transforming his home from hotel chic to battlefield wreckage. But Ruan Xing didn’t regret it—in fact, he felt he hadn’t hit hard enough. If he ever encountered another drunk acting up like that, he’d fight them on sight, no questions asked.

Meanwhile, Fu Zhi, who brawled with his own subordinate last night, was still struggling to process the incident.

Staring at the mess around him, Fu Zhi massaged his forehead and leaned against a couch cushion that was torn open, its stuffing spilling out.

Did he drink alcohol last night?

He only remembered taking a sip of a drink to avoid meeting Ruan Xing’s gaze. He thought he’d been careful, but somehow, alcohol had slipped past his defenses.

He was always meticulous—his cup shouldn’t have contained alcohol.

—That cup belonged to Ruan Xing.

Did he really drink from someone else’s cup?!

Fu Zhi sighed in resignation and leaned back against the couch.

Yet, the moment he closed his eyes, the lingering sensation of touch on his body resurfaced—the ticklish brush of hair against his chin. His Adam’s apple bobbed, and his heart raced.

The real problem was—how was he supposed to face Ruan Xing tomorrow?!

As he was agonizing over this, a sudden, sharp pain erupted in his head. His expression changed instantly.

Why now?!

A wave of pain crashed over his brain. Like countless octopus suckers latching onto his mind, pulling in different directions at once. The pain, dense and piercing, seemed to seep not just from his body but from his very soul.

This kind of pain always lasted for several hours. It would be manageable if he were at the base, but in a polluted zone, he wouldn’t be able to stay rational for long.

Ever since he found the pendant, this pain hadn’t returned for a long time. So why was it suddenly back now...

Fu Zhi squeezed his eyes shut. He leaned against the sofa and took deep breaths. Sweat rolled down his forehead, tracing along his brows before disappearing into his hair.

Fortunately, it didn’t last long this time. Ten minutes later, his tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed.

He got up and went to the sink to clean up the mess. Looking at his reflection in the mirror—especially his eyes, which had somehow turned icy blue—he let out a faint sigh.

He took out a pair of contact lenses from the cabinet and put them on with practiced ease.

Looks like I’ll have to wear these again for a few days. What a hassle.

—

The next day, in the Investigation Corps First Squad office.

Su Xiaona circled Ruan Xing curiously. "Looks like the captain still takes good care of the newbies, huh?"

Ruan Xing smiled. "You’re joking, Sister Xiaona. The captain treats everyone equally."

Su Xiaona gave him a knowing look. "Oh, come on, you are too modest."

Ruan Xing: "Just don’t forget to give me the materials."

Su Xiaona smacked her forehead. "Ah, I totally forgot! One sec!"

Before long, Ruan Xing had the registration materials in hand.

The First Squad members were specially recruited, each with outstanding skills and temperament. Most preferred fieldwork and had little interest in desk jobs like this.

But sometimes, orders from above were missions too. After all, they enjoyed top-tier resources, so compliance was part of the deal.

Ruan Xing flipped through the documents. The heading read: Pollution Control Specialized School.

Fu Gui pressed its head against Ruan Xing’s as they read together. "This school has been around for years. It was established by the Tower and has three majors, each corresponding to the three core functions of the Investigation Corps—pollution cleanup, medical support, and equipment manufacturing. The cleanup major is often called the ‘Academy Path’ since graduates go straight into the Investigation Corps with a guaranteed job."

Ruan Xing: "That must mean the school has a lot of students, right?"

Fu Gui sneered. "More dropouts than graduates. Those who aren’t mentally strong, those who regret their choice, those who fail assessments, and those who break the rules. Tons of students are kicked out, so the actual number of graduates each year isn’t as high as you’d think. Otherwise, they wouldn’t need to recruit people from the society to fill the gaps."

Ruan Xing pondered as he looked at the document in his hand. In the photo, the corners of his lips were slightly curved up, making him appear innocent.

Who would have thought that he was actually an evil mage with ulterior motives?

He put away the document. "Is practical training just another name for practical classes?"

Fu Gui: "Yes. Aside from academic lessons, students spend a significant amount of time experiencing firsthand the dangers of pollutants and learning how to properly eliminate them. The specialized school belongs to the Investigation Corps—it's very professional, unlike those useless fools at the Quarantine Center."

"Why do you have a lot of resentment against the Quarantine Center?"

The crow rolled its eyes. "They almost sent me away last time. Why would I have any good feelings toward them?"

Ruan Xing didn’t press the issue.

Fu Gui: "All the instructors here are retired members of the Investigation Corps. Don’t you know how many people envy retiring at 45?! Do you know that in private companies now, the retirement age is 70? And this is the apocalypse! The apocalypse! I don’t even know if I’ll live to 70, and they expect people to work until then? That’s just cruel."

Fu Gui sighed dramatically before adding, "Anyway, you don’t even know the other assistant instructor, so there’s no need to build a relationship. Just hold on tight to Fu Zhi’s thigh—he’s the only real man who dares to go head-to-head with the Tower."

Ruan Xing: "Wasn’t he trained by the Tower? Why would he go against them?"

Fu Gui let out a mocking laugh. "Because the Tower is full of idiots."

Ruan Xing wanted to ask more, but when he saw Fu Zhi push open the door, he instantly shut his mouth.

The man was dressed in formal attire. His black dress shirt and jacket were neatly in place, and his hair was carefully styled—no trace of last night’s dishevelment. As soon as he saw Ruan Xing, he stepped forward and bowed slightly, then spoke without hesitation:

"I'm sorry for my inappropriate behavior last night. I didn't mean to cause you trouble."

The moment the words left his mouth, the office fell into dead silence.

Clatter!

Across the room, Chen Yihang’s tablet slipped from his hands and hit the floor.

The captain actually apologized to Ruan Xing in front of everyone?!

Although he had apologized after beating him (Chen Yihang) before, it was never this formal! And in public with many people around!

Just what the hell had happened between them last night?!

This scene... It almost looked like—

Chen Yihang turned to glance at Su Xiaona. Her nostrils flared, her fists clenched tightly, and she stared at Fu Zhi and Ruan Xing with wide eyes, torn between wanting to watch and not daring to. The look in her eyes already seemed to be playing out a dramatic man vs. man battle scene in her head.

Help! Sister Xiaona was at it again.

Chen Yihang rubbed his temples, then heard Ruan Xing reply indifferently, "It’s fine."

But it absolutely didn't sound like it was fine!

Chen Yihang noticed the tight line of his captain’s lips and the stiffness in his posture. Sensing the awkwardness, Chen Yihang quickly stepped in. "Xingxing, you should familiarize yourself with the materials. You’ll be heading to the school in a few days."

Ruan Xing replied with an "Oh." He lowered his head to focus on the documents, no longer conversing with Fu Gui.

Fu Zhi remained standing there, looking utterly lost.

Chen Yihang and Su Xiaona exchanged looks before dragging him outside.

"Captain, what the hell happened last night? I’ve never seen Ruan Xing this mad before."

Fu Zhi looked bewildered. "I don’t remember. When I woke up, he was lying on top of me, and we were tied together."

Su Xiaona: "Holy sh**! You guys are into that kind of play?"

Chen Yihang clutched his chest in despair. "It’s over, Captain. You have to take responsibility for him now."

Fu Zhi had initially been confident in himself, but at this moment, he started to waver.

Did something really happen?

—

Ruan Xing handed over his ID, and after a quick scan, the staff politely let him in.

The specialized school covered a vast area. Once inside, he had to take a shuttle to the administrative building.

The campus was well-maintained, with lush greenery lining the roads. Students dressed in black uniforms walked in groups. Their attire was similar to that of the Investigation Corps, though with subtle differences and without the Corps' insignia.

On their faces, Ruan Xing saw youthful optimism.

These kids truly believe in a bright future.

But Ruan Xing, who had lived through multiple pollution incidents, wasn’t as hopeful. Unless an immense external force intervened, humanity would only continue to struggle until it finally lost hope.

After the shuttle dropped him off, it picked up a few students and drove away. While waiting to complete his paperwork, Ruan Xing ran into a familiar face.

"Hey, Little Star (*Xiao Xing)! We meet again!"

Qiao Zhi casually reached out to sling an arm around Ruan Xing’s shoulders, but the latter nimbly dodged it.

"Ah, so sad! Xingxing, you don't love me anymore!"

Qiao Zhi wasn’t wearing the standard black uniform. Instead, he had donned his usual flashy white outfit, with the gemstones on his cuffs gleaming with rich guy energy.

Ruan Xing glanced at him. "You’re here as an assistant instructor too?"

Qiao Zhi gave a thumbs-up. "Bingo! We’re totally in sync! I got assigned here too."

Ruan Xing: "Oh."

Qiao Zhi: "By the way, who else is coming from your squad?"

Ruan Xing: "Someone I don’t know."

Qiao Zhi: "I don’t believe you. Why are you trying to distance yourself from the Major General?"

"I’m not. What does this have to do with hi—"

Ruan Xing turned his head and saw Fu Zhi standing nearby, holding a document folder in his hand and looking straight at him with a complicated expression.

Wait.

Wasn’t it supposed to be some random squadmate?

Why is Fu Zhi here?!