Leading the way really was just leading the way. Any friend with a slightly closer bond would at least make some small talk to avoid such an oppressive silence.

Yet His Highness Shavri Vitaljevich maintained his silence from start to finish, not uttering a single word.

Chen Nian glanced at him secretly. Shavri stared straight ahead, not even sparing a sidelong glance in his direction.

Huh. Chen Nian quietly smirked. Was this really how his brother and his fiancé usually interacted? What a fascinating dynamic.

He followed Shavri into the dining room. The room was reserved just for them, with no other guests. Shavri walked to a table near the window and pulled out a chair for Chen Nian.

“Thank you,” Chen Nian said casually, sitting down and looking out the window. Choosing a window seat was Chen Ci’s habit, which now suited Chen Nian just fine.

The embroidered lace tablecloth draped softly over the table. A porcelain vase held freshly picked flowers, with delicate tuberoses blooming at the top. Their pristine white petals layered gracefully, hiding pale yellow stamens at their center, releasing a faint, fragrant aroma.

Chen Nian couldn’t help but reach out, his fingers brushing against the cool petals. A drop of dew rolled down, dampening his fingertips.

The dining room was on the third floor, and through the window, Chen Nian could see the wide, pristine streets stretching into the distance. This royal residence area was exceptionally serene, with meticulously tended greenery everywhere.

Chen Nian had only ever seen so many plants in the abandoned industrial zone, and for a moment, he found himself unable to look away.

He tried his best to maintain an indifferent expression, keeping his face neutral no matter how novel or strange the sight. He made every effort to act more like Chen Ci.

Yet the curiosity glinting in his amber eyes couldn’t be fully concealed.

Shavri glanced up to ask what Chen Nian would like to drink, but froze when he saw the look on his face.

Sunlight illuminated the Omega’s eyes, making their hue as clear as glass marbles. The lively spark in them was unlike anything Shavri had ever seen before.

In the end, Shavri chose not to interrupt him. He quietly instructed a servant to bring their usual drinks.

Lunch was soon served, the enticing aroma pulling Chen Nian’s attention back from the window.

“Let’s eat,” Shavri said, picking up his knife and fork. As in countless meals before, he and Chen Ci simply ate their own food, treating the shared meals as obligatory chores arranged by their elders.

The steak was tender, juices flowing at the slightest cut. It was Chen Nian’s first time eating such high-quality food, and his awkward knife skills betrayed his inexperience.

Having already eaten plenty of pastries in the lounge, Chen Nian wasn’t too hungry. Between wrestling with his steak and fiddling with his utensils, he grew bored and started looking for something else to do.

For example…

Chen Nian narrowed his eyes mischievously.

Shavri was focused on his meal when he felt something brush against his leg.

He assumed it was an accidental kick from Chen Ci and moved his leg slightly to the side without even glancing up.

A few seconds later, however, his foot was stepped on.

The pressure wasn’t too heavy but was deliberate enough to demand his attention.

Shavri’s hand paused mid-cut. The foot on his shoe withdrew, only to nudge against his ankle.

When had Chen Ci taken off his shoe?

The bare foot brushed against Shavri’s ankle, then slipped nimbly beneath the hem of his pant leg, moving slowly upward along his calf.

Every inch it traveled sent a jolt through his nerves, the softness of the Omega’s skin transmitting its delicate texture directly to his brain.

The movements were drawn out deliberately, like a small snake winding its way around him.

The hem of Shavri’s pants eventually stopped the foot’s ascent, but it lingered there, swaying gently against his leg, teasing him with subtle, persistent friction.

The sensation was so strange and impossible to ignore that it quickly overwhelmed all other thoughts. Even the food in front of him lost its appeal.

Unable to hold back any longer, Shavri raised his head, only to see the boy across from him propping his chin on one hand. The other hand toyed idly with his dinner knife as he watched Shavri’s reaction with amused interest.

Shavri: …………

Chen Nian, meeting the Alpha’s gaze, showed no sign of guilt for being caught. Instead, he pushed his provocation further, lightly nudging Shavri’s leg again.

The crown prince’s initial flustered expression only delighted Chen Nian.

Raising the knife to his lips, Chen Nian tilted his head slightly and licked off the black pepper sauce clinging to its blade. His tongue curled to gather the sauce before it disappeared behind his lips.

Shavri saw everything in vivid detail. His usually aloof fiancé possessed unexpectedly nimble lips and a remarkably enticing tongue.

A faint fragrance tickled Shavri’s nose, a scent reminiscent of flowers yet tantalizingly elusive. It vanished as quickly as it came, leaving him unable to identify it.

Their eyes met, and Shavri hesitated briefly before tentatively asking, “Are you feeling unwell?”

Chen Ci’s behavior today was bizarre. Shavri couldn’t think of any other explanation—especially since everything had seemed fine when he helped him sneak out earlier that morning.

“A little,” Chen Nian replied casually, curious to see how Shavri would respond.

Chen Nian’s intentions were simple: if Shavri was a scumbag who had let his brother down, why not test the waters?

Chen Nian had never encountered an Alpha immune to his tactics. Now, impersonating Chen Ci gave him even more justification to probe Shavri’s attitude and uncover the identity of the supposed “little vixen” occupying the crown prince’s heart.

With some clever tricks, Chen Nian planned to make Shavri realize who truly deserved his attention. And just as the Alpha began to fall hopelessly for him, he’d deliver a decisive rejection.

Shavri, unaware of the fate awaiting him, called over a servant to replace the iced jasmine lemon tea with a cup of warm water.

“Drink more hot water,” he said earnestly.

Chen Nian: …………

The abrupt banality of Shavri’s advice shattered the atmosphere.

Chen Nian made a noncommittal sound, lowering his gaze as he pulled his foot back, the muffled sound of shoes being slipped back on coming from under the table.

He said nothing further and returned to eating, resuming the same silent demeanor as before. Yet the lowered lashes and faintly downcast look on his face gave the impression of being upset.

Shavri suddenly found his appetite gone.

…Had he done something wrong?

Chen Ci seemed to be feeling unwell due to his heat cycle. Suggesting he drink more hot water shouldn’t have been an issue, right?

But then, if he wasn’t upset, why had he withdrawn his foot? Just moments ago, he’d been rubbing against him…

Wait, wasn’t that behavior completely out of character? Chen Ci normally despised physical contact and would never do something like that.

So technically, his current reserved behavior was more typical.

Shavri took a deep breath, reassuring himself that it was just a minor incident caused by Chen Ci not feeling well.

Meanwhile…

The real Chen Ci had arrived at the cinnabar-red Zone 13 Information Processing District, also known as Underground City, Z Zone.

Unlike Chen Nian, Chen Ci had no intention of seeking out Drake. Chen Nian had only mentioned coming with someone but hadn’t described the Alpha. He might not even remember the details himself.

Fortunately, with Chen Nian’s terminal in hand, Chen Ci could pass the identity verification checks and smoothly enter the underground city.

The ground and upper levels of the Underground City were metal and mechanical beneath their artificial facades.

The Zone 13 Information Processing District was located deep within the city. Overlapping pipelines, power plants, and information storage units above blocked out sunlight entirely.

Countless artificial lights illuminated the area, banishing darkness. Without having just descended from the surface, it would’ve been hard to believe it was midday.

Chen Ci was more curious than uncomfortable. He observed his surroundings silently, taking in the place that Chen Nian had always called home.

What he saw in person felt far more tangible than anything he’d read in reports or books.

Following the crowd to the roadside, Chen Ci checked the address Chen Nian had given him. The residence was still a good distance away—nearly an hour by transit.

However, Chen Ci was hungry now.

Spotting a few small eateries nearby, he decided to eat something before heading home.

Inside the diner, most of the patrons were workers from nearby industries. Their uniforms were smeared with grime and machine oil, and they ate in a hurry, replenishing energy lost during their grueling morning shifts while joking loudly with coworkers.

Chen Ci, a young Omega, stood out among them like an oddity.

He couldn’t help but glance at them. Every month, he’d watch workers repairing the opposite tower from his window, but the scene in front of him now was entirely different.

Their work must be exhausting.

Realizing it was impolite to stare, Chen Ci shifted his attention to the menu on the wall.

Many of the prices had been amended multiple times with tape and marker. Chen Ci, knowing Chen Nian’s circumstances—a sick family member and limited resources—resolved to save money. He opted for the cheapest item to fill his stomach.

Opening Chen Nian’s terminal account, he froze at the sight of the balance: 0.11 Aoji.

Chen Ci: …………

That wasn’t enough to buy even a single candy.

In the noisy restaurant, Chen Ci quietly and swiftly left. It seemed he’d have to wait until he got home to eat.

But with only 0.11 Aoji left, he couldn’t even afford public transit.

What would Chen Nian do if they hadn’t swapped places?

If Chen Nian was with a friend, maybe the friend would help. But Chen Ci had no acquaintances here and no idea how to quickly make money in the Underground City.

He hadn’t expected to face such a headache so soon. Stuck here, his only option was to walk home on an empty stomach—a journey of several hours.

Even in such a predicament, Chen Ci showed no trace of frustration or anger. His expression remained as calm as ever.

Chen Nian hadn’t told him the account balance was nearly zero before sending him alone into this unfamiliar place. Should he be angry? Chen Ci didn’t know.

Setting off along the map’s recommended route, Chen Ci resolved to enjoy the scenery along the way. Walking freely through the streets, unrestricted by time or rules, he could stop whenever he wanted and resume at his leisure—choosing every action for himself.

What he didn’t consider was that an Omega wandering alone in the Underground City was inherently unsafe, especially while using Chen Nian’s identity.

By the time he noticed the unfamiliar Alpha figures ahead, it was too late.

Chen Ci found himself cornered in a narrow alley, surrounded on all sides.

His mental senses quietly assessed the situation. Including the one approaching him from the front, there were six Alphas in total.

Chen Ci froze, ensuring his collar was properly secured. It belonged to Chen Nian and suppressed his pheromones to the lowest possible level, minimizing their allure to Alphas.

“Chen Nian!”

The lead Alpha greeted him with a playful grin, his clothes a garish style Chen Ci couldn’t comprehend. His face was adorned with an assortment of piercings—nose, lips, ears—glinting with over a dozen tiny rings.

The Alpha reached out as if to casually sling an arm over Chen Ci’s shoulder. “Fancy running into you here!”

Chen Ci instinctively sidestepped, avoiding the touch.

Are these Chen Nian’s friends?

Though they didn’t seem trustworthy, Chen Ci opted for politeness, just in case.

“I had some errands to run,” he replied calmly.

“Errands? What kind of errands?”

The Alpha’s tone was dripping with innuendo, making it clear his interpretation was far from innocent.

“Why not let us help out sometime?”

The Alpha behind Chen Ci didn’t give him a chance to escape. A hand landed firmly on his waist, pulling him into an overly intimate embrace.

The instant the stranger’s hand touched him, Chen Ci’s usually serene expression wavered—just slightly.

Then, his mental energy surged forth like a tidal wave, flooding the entire alley in an instant.