The final day of the identity swap, at the top level of Chensha.

Chen Nian arrived at the first floor of the White Tower, where Gui Zhiqi was waiting in the grand hall. Invited by Chen Nian, she had come to this royal sanctuary for the first time. Gui Zhiqi was the first guest to ever be invited into the White Tower.

Previously, Chen Ci had known very few people, let alone invited friends.

Chen Nian and Gui Zhiqi had met at a royal banquet and hit it off quickly. The young girl was smart but lacked ulterior motives—someone Chen Nian felt could be a genuine friend.

“Morning,” Gui Zhiqi greeted him, standing up with a smile. “Is this entire place where you live? It’s huge.”

“It is,” Chen Nian replied with a smile. “But stay inside too long, and even the biggest place gets suffocating.”

Gui Zhiqi nodded in agreement. She had heard plenty of rumors about Chen Ci, even before meeting Chen Nian at the banquet. Many of those rumors painted the Princess Consort as a pitiful Omega locked away in the White Tower.

“Come on, let’s head upstairs.”

Chen Nian led Gui Zhiqi to the ninth floor, which housed a recreation room. A servant immediately brought them desserts and tea.

Gui Zhiqi stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, gazing out at the scenery. From here, she could see the private, off-limits section of the royal gardens. Beneath a canopy of greenery lay a clear blue lake that fed into a winding stream, where white ducks played gleefully.

“So beautiful,” Gui Zhiqi murmured in awe.

“It is,” Chen Nian agreed, leaning back in a chair and picking up a glass of champagne. “I don’t have much to do today, so you can stay and play until evening.”

“Oh, right, the thing you asked me to look into—I’ve done some digging.” Gui Zhiqi turned from the window and sat down beside him.

Chen Nian perked up immediately. “And?”

Gui Zhiqi smiled slyly. “I casually brought up the rumors about you and the crown prince with my family and asked around among friends. I even had someone investigate for me.”

Chen Nian was practically bouncing in his seat. “And? What did you find out?”

Gui Zhiqi shrugged. “It seems there really isn’t any Omega particularly close to His Highness.”

“No one?” Chen Nian frowned, clearly skeptical. “That’s impossible.”

Chen Nian’s reaction betrayed far too much, leaving Gui Zhiqi momentarily stunned. She hesitated before asking softly, “Why? Isn’t this a good thing? Or… have you noticed something already?”

Gui Zhiqi couldn’t help but let her imagination run wild. After all, why else would Chen Ci ask her to investigate the crown prince?

Chen Nian sighed. “Let’s just say I have my suspicions.”

He didn’t elaborate further. Gui Zhiqi’s unexpected answer left him unsure how to proceed. He had been hoping to uncover the identity of the supposed “little temptress” so he could confront them on this final day at the top level.

Could he have misjudged Shavri Vitaljevich?

But then, how could he explain Shavri’s repeated absentmindedness? Just yesterday, during their visit to the botanical garden, the prince had sat on a bench engrossed in his terminal the whole time.

No. Maybe Shavri was just exceptionally discreet. After all, Gui Zhiqi came from an ordinary noble family; investigating secrets about the crown prince would undoubtedly be challenging.

Chen Nian’s contemplative expression made Gui Zhiqi worry. “Does His Highness treat you poorly?” she asked cautiously.

Chen Nian gave her a faint smile. To Gui Zhiqi, it looked sad and forced. “To him, there are things more important than me.”

Gui Zhiqi gasped, her imagination spiraling. The bright-eyed youth, with his lush lashes casting shadows over his downcast eyes, suddenly seemed so fragile. Were his eyes reddened? Were tears about to fall?

His dark hair fell softly at his temples, making his pale complexion even more striking. His swan-like neck hung low, bound tightly by a collar that kept him in check. Even with just Gui Zhiqi as his only Omega friend present, he still had to wear a bite-inhibitor collar.

Gui Zhiqi’s heart ached. How could any Alpha resist Chen Ci’s vulnerable charm? Was Shavri’s heart made of stone to let Chen Ci feel so hurt?

“How could His Highness treat you like this? It’s outrageous!” Gui Zhiqi clenched her fists in indignation. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep investigating and figure out who this person is for you!”

“If it’s too much trouble, don’t—”

“How can you say that? Aren’t we friends? Don’t be so formal with me.” Gui Zhiqi’s resolve burned brightly. “Leave it to me!”

Chen Nian hadn’t lied to her. He was convinced Shavri was hiding something and had used a few subtle tricks to fully draw Gui Zhiqi onto his side.

Chen Nian was the type to demand absolute loyalty from his friends. If you weren’t entirely loyal, then you weren’t a friend at all.

At the same time, if Gui Zhiqi ever faced trouble, he would spare no effort to help her.

The two spent the rest of the morning brainstorming about this nonexistent “little temptress.” Before long, it was lunchtime.

Chen Nian had instructed the kitchen that morning to prepare a variety of dishes from different cuisines. It was his last day on the top level, and he wanted to savor everything.

When they arrived in the dining room, dish after exquisite dish was served. Gui Zhiqi was astonished. “So this is what it’s like to live as the Princess Consort?”

“You can come over more often. I get bored being here alone.”

Tomorrow, Chen Nian would switch back with Chen Ci. Five days was too short a time for him to accomplish much. All he could do was teach Shavri a lesson on Chen Ci’s behalf and find Chen Ci a friend. At least with a friend, Chen Ci wouldn’t be as lonely as before.

Chen Nian and Gui Zhiqi chatted and laughed as they sampled the diverse cuisine. Thanks to the hard work of the chefs, the meal was a feast of variety.

After lunch, they went to the recreation room. As per Chen Nian’s request from the night before, attendants had brought in several claw machines, lining them up in two neat rows.

Chen Nian had always wanted to play claw machines back in the Underground City but couldn’t bear to spend money on them. He would watch others play, longing for a turn.

Now that he had the means, he was determined to indulge.

Playing for free was the best feeling ever. Chen Nian and Gui Zhiqi amassed a mountain of prizes, eventually piling them up against the wall when the couch could no longer hold them.

Chen Nian’s casual and daring demeanor, developed from his time in the Underground City, was new and exciting to Gui Zhiqi, who had grown up in the upper echelons of society. His unique charm gradually made her feel more at ease.

The two played until evening. Then Agnes, one of the maids, approached Chen Nian.

“Your Highness, Shavri Vitaljevich has sent you a gift.”

“A gift?” Chen Nian was caught off guard. “What kind?”

“It’s a present!” Gui Zhiqi’s excitement shot through the roof, as if the gift were for her. “Go see it!”

“I’ll check later,” Chen Nian said dismissively. He doubted Shavri, who was so dull, could send anything worthwhile. Playing pool seemed far more entertaining.

“But what if it’s something you like?” Gui Zhiqi persisted.

“Fine.” Chen Nian put down his cue stick and turned to Agnes. “What is it?”

Agnes led them to the fourth floor, where the gift awaited.

It was much larger than Chen Nian had expected. If not for its elegant packaging, he might have thought it was a shipping container.

The servants began unwrapping it from the corners. As the panels fell away, the gift was revealed inch by inch.

“Wow!” Gui Zhiqi exclaimed, her voice full of amazement. “It’s so… beautiful!”

Chen Nian was momentarily stunned.

It was a massive terrarium.

The transparent glass enclosure housed a complete ecosystem: layers of rock, water zones, and land, all lush with greenery. The soil revealed an ant colony, its maze-like structure pressed against the glass for a clear view of their inner workings. In the water, tiny fish with translucent tails swam gracefully, creating ripples on the surface. Perched on a mossy stone was a familiar frog, resting peacefully.

Chen Nian froze.

Was that… Jin Jili?

He leaned in for a closer look.

Yes, it was Jin Jili. Just a few nights ago, he had secretly slipped the frog into Shavri’s pocket, intending to give the crown prince a “surprise.”

For a moment, Chen Nian didn’t know how to feel. He had assumed the incident was long forgotten.

Seeing Chen Nian’s silence, Gui Zhiqi leaned closer and whispered, “I think His Highness does care about you.”

Chen Nian’s expression remained neutral. “Maybe.”

“Send this to my room,” he finally said after a few more moments of observation. Truth be told, he really liked the terrarium.

Chen Ci would undoubtedly be delighted when he saw it too.

Gui Zhiqi had other matters to attend to that evening and left without staying for dinner.

Meanwhile, Shavri Vitaljevich had just wrapped up an entire day of training. Changing into fresh clothes, he stretched his sore muscles and headed to the dining hall, where he instinctively checked the intelligent housekeeper’s communication log.

Chen Ci hadn’t contacted him all day.

Over the past few days, Shavri had grown used to Chen Ci seeking his company. Now, with a full day of silence, he couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

Why didn’t he contact me?

Distracted, Shavri ate his dinner while pondering this question. By the time he realized something was off, his meal was nearly finished.

Wait… wasn’t it normal for Chen Ci not to contact him?

This should have been an opportunity to relax and catch up on gaming—something he’d barely done over the past few days while spending time with Chen Ci. He was even falling behind in his guild rankings.

But somehow, the thought didn’t cheer him up. His mood remained sour.

Shavri frowned, perplexed by his own emotions. Finally, he put down his knife and fork and asked the intelligent housekeeper, “What has Chen Ci been up to today?”

The housekeeper paused for a moment—it had never been tasked with tracking Chen Ci before, so the White Tower’s permissions had been set to their lowest level. It quickly reestablished full access to the White Tower’s data and replied, “The Princess Consort invited Gui Zhiqi to the White Tower and spent the day with her.”

Spending the day with Gui Zhiqi? Shavri was surprised.

So, Chen Ci had invited a friend over? No wonder he hadn’t reached out.

Up until now, Shavri had believed that Chen Ci relied on him to leave the White Tower. Realizing he wasn’t as indispensable as he thought left the crown prince feeling a bit… unnecessary.

But no, that couldn’t be right. Shavri dismissed the gloomy thought.

Changing the subject, he asked, “Did my gift arrive?”

“It has been delivered to the White Tower. According to the Princess Consort’s personal maid, His Highness seems to like it very much.”

That was a relief. Shavri’s mood improved slightly.

Standing up, he said, “Prepare the car. I’m going to the White Tower.”

Chen Ci had recently asked him for a long-term pass to access Chensha, and Shavri had agreed. He’d finally obtained one and didn’t want to risk it being lost in transit, so he decided to deliver it personally.

Yes, that was the reason. Nothing else.

Ten minutes later, Shavri arrived at the White Tower.

He sent a message to Chen Ci, asking him to come down and collect the pass. The allure of the pass must have been strong, as Shavri didn’t have to wait long before the elevator doors opened to reveal the young Omega.

Those amber eyes still sparkled with liveliness.

“Here’s the pass.” Shavri handed over a small chip. “Insert it into your terminal to activate it. It will allow you access to most of Chensha.”

“Thanks.” Chen Nian took the chip eagerly, examining it before inserting it into his terminal right in front of Shavri.

Shavri asked, “What do you need it for?”

He had asked the same question yesterday, but Chen Nian had evaded it, feeding the seagulls instead.

“Guess,” Chen Nian teased. Of course, he wouldn’t reveal his plans.

Tomorrow, his time at the top level would end, and securing a bit of convenience for himself was only natural.

Shavri couldn’t guess. The silence stretched between them, leaving Shavri unsure of what to say. He had come to deliver the pass—now that it was done, what next?

Chen Nian didn’t leave immediately after receiving the pass. Gui Zhiqi’s departure had left him with time to carefully examine the terrarium again, and he couldn’t help but be impressed by its thoughtful design. It softened his impression of Shavri, albeit only slightly.

Combined with Gui Zhiqi’s findings, Chen Nian briefly questioned his own suspicions. Could he have been wrong? Was there no “little temptress” after all?

But he quickly dismissed the notion. He wouldn’t let himself be fooled by a scumbag’s tricks.

Tomorrow, he would leave, still no closer to uncovering the identity of the mysterious Omega. He planned to leave a note in the journal for Chen Ci as a reminder.

Maybe… he could take advantage of tonight’s last opportunity to probe a little further?

Chen Nian quickly hatched a plan.

The Omega youth finished inspecting the chip and looked up. Stepping forward, he almost stepped on Shavri’s shoes.

As Chen Nian moved closer, Shavri’s mind snapped to full alert.

Along with the proximity came a faint hint of tuberose in the air.

Chen Nian gently tugged at Shavri’s sleeve for balance, tiptoeing slightly to whisper in his ear—

“Thank you.” It was just two words, but the soft tone carried the weight of a private confession.

The warm breath against his ear sent shivers down Shavri’s spine, a wave of electricity coursing through him. He had never realized he could be so sensitive.

Then, something soft brushed against his cheek.

Shavri froze.

Before he could react, Chen Nian released his sleeve and stepped back, the brief contact already over.

The night breeze caressed his cheek where he had been touched, and Shavri slowly realized it wasn’t a kiss.

Chen Nian’s bright eyes met his dazed gaze, and the Omega smiled lightly at the Alpha.

Yes, he could smell it again—that faint, sweet sherry-like scent.

It seemed the crown prince wasn’t completely unfeeling after all.

Perhaps, when Chen Ci returned, things would improve for him.

“Goodnight,” Chen Nian said breezily, turning to walk back into the White Tower.

Shavri watched him go, his hand unconsciously brushing the spot on his cheek where he’d been touched.

A simple cheek-kiss, a common noble greeting, had left his heart skipping a beat.