Song Liu was thoroughly distracted for the rest of the evening. That look on Wei Ze's face—the intense focus on a simple raspberry cookie—kept playing on a loop in his mind. It was weird. It was unnerving.
He tried to concentrate on his homework for Imperial History, which was mandatory for all cadets, even spoiled Omegas like him. He eventually gave up and decided he needed fresh air, which, in this military complex, meant the small, enclosed roof garden.
He got back to Room 502 around 21:00 to find Wei Ze sitting at his own desk. He wasn't studying. He was meticulously cleaning a piece of intricate equipment—something metallic and deadly-looking that Song Liu certainly hadn't seen in their weapons class.
Song Liu ignored him, dramatically flopping onto his bed on his side of The Line.
"You need to study," Wei Ze stated, without looking up from his dangerous toy.
"I need to mind my own business, which I'm currently doing," Song Liu retorted, pulling out his scent-proof phone to scroll through luxury lifestyle blogs.
"No, you actually need to study," Wei Ze insisted, finally glancing over. "The Imperial History exam is tomorrow morning. It accounts for 40% of the quarter grade."
Song Liu bolted upright. "Excuse me? The exam is tomorrow? No one told me! I thought it was next week!"
"It was posted on the main academic board. You missed morning formation, so you wouldn't have seen the update." Wei Ze's tone was purely factual, not malicious, which somehow made it worse.
Song Liu felt cold dread wash over him. Fail an exam? That was another way to earn a massive public scolding from the Duke. He couldn't risk it.
He scrambled off the bed, grabbed his bulky textbook, and slammed it onto his desk. He opened it to a random page—a dense section about Alpha bloodlines and territorial expansion—and stared at the words, his mind a complete blank.
"I don't get any of this crap," he whined, running a hand through his hair. "It's just names and dates. Why do I care who colonized the Western Frontier in E.R. 850?"
Wei Ze sighed, setting down the metallic piece with a soft click. He stood up, walked over, and stopped precisely one centimeter from The Line.
"The colonization of the Western Frontier in E.R. 850 was led by the Viper House, which consolidated territory vital for current trade routes," Wei Ze explained, his voice softening slightly as he spoke about the material. "It's about understanding the foundation of the current political economy, Song Liu. It's not just dates."
"Oh, sure. Easy for you to say, Mr. Perfect Student," Song Liu muttered, but he was listening.
"The key to this chapter," Wei Ze continued, pointing (without crossing The Line) to a paragraph, "is understanding the motive. The Alphas in power always consolidate resources. It's a fundamental truth of the Empire."
He explained a core concept in five sentences, making it sound logical and almost interesting. Song Liu found himself actually comprehending the material for the first time.
"So, the Lionheart House was against the colonization because they controlled the maritime routes, and this new land route would devalue their position?" Song Liu asked, surprised by his own insight.
Wei Ze nodded once. "Precisely. You understand the political maneuverings."
For the next half hour, Wei Ze stood at the edge of the yellow tape, giving Song Liu an impromptu, rapid-fire tutoring session. He spoke about ancient Alpha dominance rituals and the intricacies of Omega House alliances with a depth of knowledge that was astonishing.
Song Liu realized Wei Ze wasn't just smart; he knew this history backward, forward, and inside out, connecting ancient events to current law.
"That's enough," Wei Ze eventually said, stepping back towards his own side. "Focus on the key motives. You should be able to pass now."
Song Liu looked down at his notes, which were now filled with coherent points, not just frantic scribbles. He actually felt... prepared.
"Thanks, I guess," Song Liu said grudgingly, trying to sound bored instead of genuinely grateful.
Wei Ze was already picking up his cleaning cloth and his dangerous-looking equipment. He didn't acknowledge the thanks.
"But seriously," Song Liu asked, unable to stop the question. "Who are you, Wei Ze? You know too much for a normal cadet. And your... your scent..."
Wei Ze paused, his hand tightening almost imperceptibly around the metal object. He looked up, his blue eyes distant and cold, the playful amusement completely gone.
"I am simply your roommate, Song Liu," he said, his voice flat, a definitive closing of the subject. "And you are the son of a Duke. Focus on keeping that grade above failing. That's all that matters here."
With that, he returned to his cleaning, leaving Song Liu staring at the yellow tape, the unsettling feeling of the Alpha's true scent still lingering faintly in his memory. He knew for sure now: this man was keeping a huge secret.