This farce finally ended with Shavri getting a good beating from the furious Aphro. Shavri took the blame without a word of defense, showing his sincerity toward Chen Nian in a preliminary way.

Chen Nian’s new pet, “Prince,” was temporarily locked in a cage due to its high level of danger. It needed some training and discipline before it could be let out again.

The night deepened, and Chen Nian returned to the White Tower. He plopped down on his bed, lost in thought about everything that had happened that evening. 

Shavri had exposed his identity, but now that he had calmed down, Chen Nian wasn’t particularly shocked. After all, the difference between him and Chen Ci was too obvious. As long as the crown prince wasn’t both blind and stupid, it was only a matter of time before he figured it out.

He opened the drawer of his bedside table. On the outer side of the second layer lay a brass-colored bullet. 

Five days ago, after failing to invite Chen Ci to the harbor base, Shavri had given the bullet to Chen Ci, calling it a previously agreed-upon gift. 

Chen Ci had recorded it in detail in his journal, thinking he had asked Shavri for it, and didn’t suspect a thing. But Chen Nian had never mentioned anything about a bullet. 

It was Shavri’s test, and clearly, the Alpha had succeeded.

Earlier by the lake, Chen Nian had been a bit too agitated. Chen Ci’s confinement and his desperate longing for freedom; the years Jiang Dai had spent hiding him, never allowing him to venture to the upper levels; and the stories Chen Ci had told him about the Chen family—all of these had subconsciously led Chen Nian to believe that being discovered was anything but good. He was desperate to protect himself and Chen Ci.

Fortunately, it was Shavri who had uncovered the truth. As the crown prince had said, Chen Nian had only interacted with him for a few days, but even from those limited encounters and Chen Ci’s years of journal entries, he could tell what kind of person Shavri was.

Surprisingly mild for someone of his royal status, Shavri rarely showed any sharp edges. He never forcefully demanded anything, and aside from his interest in games, he seemed indifferent to most things. He had always been the kind of person who would grant Chen Ci’s every wish.

Unlike his sister Aphro, who put on a facade of intellect and elegance in public, Shavri was consistent inside and out. Some things just couldn’t be faked.

This might actually turn out to be a good thing. If Shavri was truly willing to help them, then the swapped lives of Chen Nian and Chen Ci would become much more stable. They wouldn’t have to live in constant fear anymore. If anything happened, they’d also have someone to discuss solutions with.

Shavri knowing his true identity also meant Chen Nian no longer had to tiptoe around, worrying about Chen Ci’s engagement to Shavri. Maybe he could freely interact with other Alphas, explore interesting relationships, and fulfill his initial wish of turning this top layer into his hunting ground. Shavri was his brother-in-law, after all. He couldn’t exactly meddle in Chen Nian’s social life. As long as Chen Nian didn’t ruin his brother’s reputation, it should be fine.

Hmm… thinking about it, it didn’t sound too bad.

The more Chen Nian thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. He lay down on the bed and recorded everything in detail in his journal, including his thoughts. After all, to those who didn’t know the truth, he was still Chen Ci. If he wanted to do anything, he had to get his brother’s approval first. If Chen Ci thought it would have a bad influence, then Chen Nian wouldn’t do it.

Soon, it was time for Chen Ci’s usual rest period. The intelligent housekeeper reminded Chen Nian, who locked the journal he had just written. A sudden worry popped into his mind—Shavri and Chen Ci had both said that their current terminals were being monitored. Could the journals they wrote also be seen by others?

This thought instantly made Chen Nian uneasy. If even their journals could be seen, then what was the point of their secret identity swap? But since no one had come to arrest him yet, it was probably fine… Right?

Once Shavri got them terminals that weren’t monitored by the intelligent housekeeper, they’d use those to write instead.

Chen Nian rolled over and lazily waved his hand. The bedroom lights dimmed, adjusting to the perfect brightness for sleep.

The night passed quickly.

Early the next morning, Shavri arrived at the White Tower. They had agreed the previous day that once Chen Nian had calmed down, they would have a detailed discussion.

The young man soon stepped out of the elevator. Seeing the crown prince, he instinctively tensed his lips but quickly realized he no longer needed to put on an act in front of Shavri. His expression relaxed.

Chen Nian squinted slightly, letting out a silent yawn, and lazily made his way to the sofa.

Seeing the boy like this, Shavri knew that after a night’s rest, Chen Nian had calmed down. He breathed a sigh of relief and said softly to Chen Nian, “Good morning. Let’s go to the palace to talk.”

If circumstances allowed, Shavri would have preferred to have the conversation in the White Tower, as being in a familiar environment would make Chen Nian more at ease. But the White Tower was filled with surveillance, making it unsafe.

Chen Nian understood Shavri’s concerns. He nodded and followed the crown prince out of the White Tower.

A private car was waiting outside. The White Tower and the palace were in the same area, very close to each other. Otherwise, Aphro wouldn’t have been able to rush from her room to the lake so quickly last night.

In just a few short minutes, Chen Nian got out of the car and looked up at the majestic and ornate building before him. This was his first time visiting the palace.

Chen Nian couldn’t identify the architectural style of the palace, but there was no doubt that every line of the white-and-gold structure exuded a unique beauty. The main building was symmetrical, with tall towers on either side, their peaks inhabited by birds.

He had occasionally caught glimpses of the palace complex from the upper floors of the White Tower.

Shavri gently patted Chen Nian’s shoulder, reminding him to keep moving. Usually, Shavri had been careful to avoid physical contact with Chen Ci, as even the slightest touch made Chen Ci uncomfortable. But clearly, Chen Nian was different from his brother. The boy didn’t mind being touched and had even hugged him voluntarily when he was drunk.

Chen Nian followed Shavri into the palace and once again found himself overwhelmed by the sheer opulence. The interior of the palace was beyond imagination. Countless columns were carved with intricate patterns, and rows of luxurious crystal chandeliers hung heavily from the ceiling, unlit but still sparkling like countless stars.

The second-floor railings, the maze-like complexity of the space, the exquisite paintings on the arched ceiling, and the amber decorations reflecting the sunlight streaming through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows—all of it left Chen Nian in awe.

“Your Highness,” the housekeeper appeared seemingly out of nowhere at Shavri’s side and greeted Chen Nian respectfully, “Your Royal Highness, the Princess Consort.”

Shavri acknowledged him and introduced him to Chen Nian, “This is Housekeeper Vaino. If you need anything in the palace, you can ask him.”

Chen Nian nodded. Shavri continued forward, passing through the main building into a side corridor, then ascending the stairs to the second floor. The thick carpet underfoot absorbed all sound. Shavri led Chen Nian to a room slightly to the left of the center, paused at the door, and glanced back at Chen Nian before pushing it open.

The sight that greeted Chen Nian revealed that this was a bedroom. He immediately looked up at Shavri, but the Alpha stepped inside without hesitation.

It should be fine.

Chen Nian steadied himself and followed Shavri into the bedroom, closing the door behind him.

As an unbound Alpha, bringing an Omega into his bedroom without prior explanation wasn’t exactly proper, but Shavri clarified, “Other places might not be safe. My room has no surveillance equipment. No matter what we say, no one else will hear.”

Chen Nian nodded and looked around, taking in Shavri’s room. It was more like a suite than a simple bedroom. Beyond the entrance was a spacious living area, and aside from the bedroom, there were several other rooms, all with their doors closed.

In front of the floor-to-ceiling windows on the sunny side was a small table with two round sofas that looked incredibly comfortable. Shavri walked over to the table and gestured to Chen Nian, “Come, have a seat.”

Chen Nian didn’t hesitate to sit on the other sofa, immediately sinking into its softness. The sofa was designed with support at the lower back to prevent discomfort from being too soft.

Morning light filled the room. Shavri went to a small bar and asked, “What would you like to drink?”

Chen Nian: “Got any alcohol?”

“Drinking so early in the morning?” Shavri said, but he still took a bottle from the liquor cabinet.

Chen Nian gazed out the window, listening to the clinking of ice cubes falling into a glass. From this angle, he could vaguely see the towering White Tower on the other side of the garden.

Shavri brought over the glass and placed it on the table in front of Chen Nian. The Alpha’s shirt sleeves were rolled up, revealing his sturdy forearms. The silver-white mechanical terminal on his wrist added a touch of modernity and accentuated the youthful man’s unique aura.

Chen Nian picked up the glass, swirled it to let the ice cool the drink, and took a sip. It was a sparkling wine with an orange juice flavor—just the taste he liked.

The intelligent housekeeper in the bedroom had long been turned off by Shavri, and all possible internet-connected devices had been unplugged and shut down to ensure absolute security. Only then did Shavri sit down in the other sofa.

Shavri also took a sip of his drink and called softly, “Chen Nian.”

“Hmm?” Chen Nian turned to look at him, lazily asking, “What do you want to know?”

“Where is Chen Ci now?”

“The Underground City,” Chen Nian answered directly, without beating around the bush. He didn’t miss the momentary dilation of Shavri’s pupils. Before the Alpha could anxiously press further, he added, “But you don’t need to worry. He’s perfectly safe.”

“Which area exactly?”

“Why do you need to know so much?”

“I need to confirm that Chen Ci is truly safe.”

Shavri’s persistent questioning out of concern for Chen Ci didn’t bother Chen Nian. “The 13th Information Processing Zone. It’s where I’ve been living for the past two years. Since we swapped identities, it means my guardian will take care of Chen Ci.”

Shavri frowned, “Your guardian?”

“Yeah, did you think I grew up alone in the Underground City?”

Chen Nian’s words only raised more questions in Shavri’s mind. He was eager to know how Chen Ci and Chen Nian had met, how they had come up with the idea of swapping identities, and whether they weren’t the least bit worried about such a bold move. He wanted to know how Chen Nian, who had supposedly perished in a fire years ago, had lived in the Underground City all this time, who this so-called guardian was, and whether they had known about his true identity before.

He wanted to know how Chen Ci was faring now. As an Omega who had always been pampered in the White Tower, suddenly thrust into the chaos of the Underground City—could he adapt? Was he in any danger?

There was so much Shavri wanted to know, but he decided to be patient and ask one question at a time:

“How long will this swap of yours last?”

“Three weeks. That’s what Chen Ci decided. When the time comes, we’ll switch back.”

Three weeks.

Shavri took note. As expected, Chen Ci was as meticulous as ever. Three weeks from now would be just in time for the “physical examination.” If Chen Ci couldn’t return on time to complete the “physical examination,” exposure would be inevitable.

Judging by Chen Nian’s reaction, Chen Ci probably hadn’t told him the truth about the “physical examination,” or perhaps Chen Nian didn’t even know such a thing existed. This was the older brother’s way of protecting him, even if Chen Ci might only be a few seconds older.

In that case, Shavri decided it was best not to say too much either.