Wheat Seedlings - Chapter 14

"Stay right here. Don't touch anything."

Mai Miao followed the man called Xiao Yang into another room. Xiao Yang turned back and gave him a once-over: "Can you understand what I'm saying?"

Mai Miao clutched the military-green satchel on his shoulder tightly, like a startled bird.

He hesitated before nodding slightly: "...Mm."

Only after the men left did Mai Miao dare to relax a little.

First, he looked around, pacing a full circle around the room before finally sitting down on a chair.

At the slightest sound of footsteps approaching from behind the door, he would spring to his feet. When the footsteps gradually faded away, he would sit back down dejectedly, lowering his head to count.

"One, two..." Mai Miao slowly counted to ten, then started over again.

Before he knew it, he had counted from one to ten many times over, yet no one came through the door, and Chen Li still hadn't arrived to take him away.

To Mai Miao, it already felt like an eternity had passed.

Mai Miao rubbed his hands against his trousers, his eyes repeatedly darting toward that tightly shut door.

***

Dr. Tang was delivering his report: "Based on the physical examination and blood test results, apart from mild anemia, Chen Mai Miao has no other health issues." He flipped a page and glanced at it. "Well-developed and capable of conception."

The three leaders seated there nodded in unison.

Only Chen Li remained motionless, his hands resting on his knees silently clenching into fists.

"Comrade Chen."

It was Director Liu's turn to speak. He flipped through the file in his hands: "We've studied your situation in detail. Over these years, you must be well aware of the Party's cultivation and regard for you."

Chen Li snapped out of his thoughts and responded: "I've always been grateful for the Party's nurturing."

Deputy Director Wu continued where Director Liu left off: "From what I've learned from colleagues in the capital, in light of your contributions over the years, the Party had planned to grant you special consideration by arranging for you to start a family before the end of this year."

Omegas were exceedingly rare.

Even though there had been fewer battles in recent years and the population had gradually increased, the ratio of Omegas to Alphas—people like Chen Li—remained at approximately 1:50, if not even more disproportionate.

This population gap was primarily due to the physiological characteristics of Omegas.

Their bodies lacked the overly robust masculine traits of Alphas, yet differed from traditional male and female structures. To this day, research on them, both domestically and internationally, remained woefully inadequate.

From the very beginning, the higher-ups had decided that Omegas must be uniformly protected and monitored, while details about their specific conditions—including physical characteristics and so-called estrus cycles—were treated with extreme secrecy.

This explained why even someone like Chen Li knew so little about Mai Miao, only realizing the boy's uniqueness at the most critical moment.

From past to present, Omegas had always been scarce within the population. Even compared to other minorities like Alphas, their numbers remained overwhelmingly disproportionate.

To maintain internal harmony and reduce violent conflicts during these extraordinary times, the Party had no choice but to establish a rigorous vetting system.

An Omega like Mai Miao, fully developed and in good health, would typically be reserved for those with meritorious service and would go through several rounds of matchmaking before being settled.

"Comrade Chen, the organization isn't opposed to your free love."

Deputy Director Wu lowered his voice: "There have been such cases before. First, both parties must have strong mutual willingness. Second, it shouldn't break too many rules. If it were brought up publicly, it wouldn't look good."

Chen Li seemed to have anticipated the outcome of the conversation. He straightened up: "Although I'm no longer within the organization, my loyalty to the country and the Party hasn't been eroded in the slightest by my current comfortable life."

His tone was firm: "As long as the organization still needs me, I'm willing to start again from the grassroots, accept re-education, and contribute my humble efforts to continue serving the people."

Deputy Director Wu and Director Liu nodded in satisfaction.

***

The door opened.

From behind it, Mai Miao cautiously peeked out.

Seeing no one in the corridor, he hesitantly stepped out of the room.

He stood in the long hallway, glancing left and right, gripping his bag tightly. Inside it was the new pinwheel Chen Li had bought him.

The interior of this building was nearly identical throughout.

There didn't seem to be many people working here either. Mai Miao walked quite a distance without encountering anyone.

After descending a flight of stairs, he finally heard voices in the corridor.

Curious, Mai Miao followed the sound. As he got closer to the source, he could hear music too.

He arrived outside a large room with a sign that read "Cultural Troupe." Peeking through the window, he saw many young men and women.

They were dancing in unison to the uplifting music, facing the wall mirrors.

Mai Miao had never seen such a spectacular dance performance before and was completely mesmerized.

***

Director Liu was writing in the file records.

Deputy Director Wu said calmly: "Comrade Chen, we've fully understood your actual situation. Whatever the final outcome, you must be mentally prepared."

Chen Li nodded: "Thank you for giving me this opportunity."

Just when it seemed the meeting was concluding, Director Yu suddenly spoke up: "The sex hormone levels in his blood are extremely high—more than three times the normal value. That's unusual." He asked, "Has Chen Mai Miao always had only you as his Alpha?"

Chen Li returned to his seat and replied: "Yes."

"So you two are a fated pair, then?" Director Yu said almost jokingly. Though he looked young, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes were numerous.

Deputy Director Wu and Director Liu both looked at him silently.

Chen Li met their gaze. His expressionless face carried an inexplicable eeriness.

Director Yu closed the file folder.

"Comrade Chen, have you marked him?"

***

Mai Miao had completely lost track of where he was.

He found himself in an outdoor passageway connected to the building.

Under the scorching sun, a small group was conducting training drills.

There weren't many of them—just over a dozen young men in their early twenties. But each was tall, dressed in military green uniforms, drilling under the blazing sun.

Mai Miao stood by a pillar, squinting in the sunlight.

He seemed to catch a whiff of something and raised his hand uncomfortably to wipe his nose.

The young soldiers in training remained motionless, their eyes fixed on the instructor ahead.

Beneath their caps, sweat trickled down their foreheads, and their nostrils flared slightly with each breath.

A few of them swallowed hard, their eyes involuntarily darting sideways.

"Stay focused! What are you looking at?" the instructor barked sharply.

Despite his words, when he turned his back, he too swallowed and glanced furtively behind him.

But there was no one behind the distant pillar.

Mai Miao sprinted down the corridor, his face a picture of panic, constantly looking over his shoulder as if afraid of being chased.

"Ah!" He suddenly collided with someone's chest.

Looking up, Mai Miao gasped, "...Gege!"

Terrified, he spread his arms and stood on tiptoe to cling tightly to Chen Li, clearly frightened out of his wits.

Chen Li lowered his head slightly, bent his arm, and scooped Mai Miao up into a cradle hold.

<<Chapter List