Chapter 21: Another Riot

“No need if you don’t want to,” the omega who had spoken earlier huffed, “I don’t feel like wasting my family’s money.” One million was still a substantial amount of pocket change for an omega from a top-tier family.

Usually, Xi Yi wouldn’t be willing to spend so much money on a custom outfit, and he also couldn’t have access to a designer like Ji Design. This time, however, his father, Xi Songkai, had unexpectedly arranged an appointment with Ji Design for him and gave him a sum of money, instructing him to pay for the omega’s outfit.

Since the other party didn’t need him to pay, why not keep the money for himself? In that instant, Xi Yi thought about the accessories he had wanted to buy but had hesitated on before.

Noticing Shi Chan looking at his terminal, Xi Yi’s beta friend leaned in and laughed, “Hahaha, look at him, is he calculating whether his balance can cover the design fee? He looks so poor and pathetic.”

The voice wasn’t loud, but Shi Chan heard it clearly and glanced at the two of them.

Xi Yi knew deep down that he couldn’t be indifferent about spending one million on a custom suit. Although he could save up for it, he definitely didn’t want to spend that much, let alone for an omega from a third-tier family who had married into the Xi family.

But since he didn’t like this omega, there was no need to defend him, so he joined his friends in mocking Shi Chan.

The other omega, however, hadn’t spoken much and, when Shi Chan looked over, gave a shy smile.

Shi Chan didn’t bother with them and found a seat to wait for the designer, who would receive a five-million-fee.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, everyone,” a fashionable beta walked in, a bright smile on his face and an exaggerated tone, “Wow! Looks like I’m lucky today, all the guests are elegant and noble gentlemen. The moment I see you all, my inspiration is like young shoots in the rain, growing rapidly… I will design the most perfect outfits for you…”

When his eyes fell on Shi Chan, the beta’s face lit up even more, and his smile became more sincere, though he didn’t say anything special. He just excitedly said, “Please step over here for a quick measurement, I’ll sketch out a few preliminary designs, and if you have any specific requests, feel free to let me know now.”

“Ji Design,” Xi Yi was much more polite, standing up and smiling with a shy and cute expression, “I’m hoping my suit can make me look… handsome and a bit cold, if that’s possible?”

“I also…” The other two also made some requests for their outfits.

“And you, sir?” The designer’s eyes finally landed on Shi Chan, his gaze intense as he thought to himself, no matter what you want, I’ll make it happen because of your beauty.

“Uh…” Shi Chan was about to ask if the price could be lowered, but aside from that, he didn’t have many requests. However, in high society, frugality wasn’t seen as a virtue, and the capital star’s extravagant culture made it even worse. While Shi Chan didn’t care much about it and didn’t want to embarrass the Xi family, he just kept quiet.

“I don’t have any requests, do whatever you think is best,” Shi Chan said. After all, he probably wouldn’t be back here. The clothes in the mall were already fine, and if he wanted a personal style, an average designer could do a good job at a much lower price.

As soon as Shi Chan finished speaking, two snickers came from behind him. It was likely more mocking of him being uncultured.

Disagreements among omegas weren’t rare, and the designer wasn’t surprised. He just kept sketching without changing his expression.

Xi Yi and his beta friend leaned in, observing the process and answering the designer’s questions, while Shi Chan sat quietly, checking the time and thinking about when he could leave.

“Are you Shi Chan?” A soft voice sounded from beside him. The omega who had been silent until now had sat down next to Shi Chan, his eyes curious.

“Mm.” Shi Chan glanced at the person beside him in surprise. After years of school, all the omegas he had met were either proud and noble, regardless of their family background, or they were like Lan Ying, always sticking close to him. But this omega seemed fragile and harmless, nothing like the usual omegas from Capital Star.

“Why didn’t you tell the designer your requests?” Bai Wen asked, looking at Shi Chan. “They told me that when the designer asks, we should express our ideas to get the best fit, and it also shows… um, presence? Yes, presence.”

This must be another unspoken rule of top-tier families. Shi Chan had vaguely heard of it before, and noticed it when the others had mentioned their preferences, but since he didn’t care much about it, he didn’t bother to add anything.

Bai Wen, however, seemed eager to talk. Shi Chan asked, “Who told you that?”

“Uh, my family, and also Yi Yi mentioned it,” Bai Wen replied, casting a careful glance at Shi Chan.

Shi Chan felt a bit odd. He hadn’t met an omega who was afraid of him before. The omegas he knew either ignored him or, like Lan Ying, were clingy. None of them were afraid of him.

“What’s your name?” Shi Chan asked, intrigued.

“Bai Wen,” the omega answered.

“Bai Wen,” Shi Chan repeated the name, thinking. The Bai family was one of the top families, though not as strong as the Lu family, but still stronger than the Xi family.

“Who asked you to come here to get clothes made?” He had noticed that Bai Wen didn’t seem familiar with the others.

“My sister asked me to come.” Bai Wen frowned slightly when mentioning his sister. “She said my old clothes are too shabby to wear out, so she told me to get more custom ones made.”

Soon, Bai Wen began to explain his situation without much defense. He was the illegitimate son of the Bai family’s head, just recently brought back from another star system. Since his return, his father ignored him, and the rest of the Bai family looked down on him. Recently, they hadn’t allowed him to go out and had been teaching him the rules of Capital Star.

“Can we be friends?” Bai Wen’s eyes sparkled as he looked at Shi Chan. Since arriving at Capital Star, Shi Chan had been the nicest person he had met.

“Sure.” Shi Chan exchanged terminal numbers with Bai Wen. “But I don’t go out much.”

“Me neither. I have to stay home and study,” Bai Wen said, pouting a bit. He looked at Shi Chan and asked, “Can I find you in the virtual domain? I have a few free hours every day to play there.”

“Sure, but the time is not fixed. I’ll send you my virtual account on your terminal later.” Shi Chan had a lot of friends on his virtual domain account, so he didn’t mind adding one more.

Xi Yi called out, “Bai Wen, it’s your turn.” Bai Wen nodded at Shi Chan before walking over to the designer.

By the time Shi Chan finished, it had been four hours. He missed dinner, and it was already dark outside.

The outfits were confirmed, and a deposit had been paid. Shi Chan was the first to leave the meeting room.

Although Bai Wen’s outfit had to be rushed for the evening, the others would only get theirs in half a month.

The designer asked Shi Chan if he needed a rush order, but Shi Chan wasn’t planning to attend the evening gathering, so he declined.

Besides, he had already paid, and getting a rushed outfit would be a waste.

The Xi family’s spacecraft was waiting outside. The ship was on autopilot, and as soon as Shi Chan entered, the door closed and they headed back to the Xi family.

Before leaving, Shi Chan wasn’t sure when he’d be back, but he had agreed with Xi Ming to have dinner together. So, he thought he would find Xi Ming waiting in the living room when he returned.

But when he entered the Xi family residence, it was completely dark. The living room was empty, and no lights were on in the dining room, which didn’t look like a place where someone was waiting for dinner.

Shi Chan’s heart tightened, and he quickly scanned the area with his spiritual sense, rushing upstairs.

To Xi Ming’s room.

Heavy, pained breathing filled the room, and the strong, aggressive alpha pheromones overwhelmed the space. His spiritual power was like a blade, wreaking havoc, tearing apart the walls and floor to expose the metallic luster of the special materials beneath.

Xi Ming’s wheelchair had already been knocked to a corner, and everything around him was scattered. The radiation patterns on his face appeared again—strange, dangerous, and consuming his vitality.

Shi Chan had just entered when he followed the sound to the inner room, instinctively using his spiritual energy to defend against the pressure from Xi Ming’s spiritual force until he reached his side.

Xi Ming’s bloodshot eyes locked onto the omega who entered, his gaze wild and frantic, yet silent—like a wild beast before death or waiting for the right moment to strike.

Shi Chan released his own spiritual energy, kneeling down to help Xi Ming up. “Why didn’t you call me?” He should have returned sooner.

It wasn’t that Xi Ming didn’t want to call. When his spiritual power went out of control, his terminal was shattered, and after that, his mind was filled with only the need to release his frustration. He couldn’t think of anything else.

Even though Xi Ming’s legs were paralyzed, his dominant and obsessive nature hadn’t diminished at all. Before Shi Chan could fully help him up, the alpha pulled him into his arms and threw him back onto the ground.

“Ugh…” Shi Chan groaned as he hit the ground, pushing aside some objects beneath him.

Xi Ming didn’t shift his gaze from Shi Chan’s body, his attention solely on him as his powerful pheromones engulfed Shi Chan.

Shi Chan’s spiritual power poured out without restraint, surrounding Xi Ming to soothe his chaotic spiritual force.

But Xi Ming showed no signs of calming down, instead burying his face in Shi Chan’s neck, biting and licking, especially around his gland. In no time, Shi Chan’s neck was covered with marks.

Shi Chan’s spiritual energy was beginning to weaken, and he furrowed his brows, realizing the severity of Xi Ming’s mental state. After a brief hesitation, he decided to use his spiritual awareness and spiritual power.

Shi Chan’s pheromones were triggered by the alpha’s actions, and Xi Ming immediately noticed, burying his face in Shi Chan’s neck to inhale deeply. The refreshing scent eased the intense pain in Xi Ming’s head.

Shi Chan, despite the wetness on his neck from the alpha’s actions, focused on calming Xi Ming’s spiritual energy with his own power, while he used his energy to enter Xi Ming’s body, carefully guiding the chaotic energies inside him into himself to alleviate the internal turmoil.

A few broken words drifted to his ears. At first, Shi Chan didn’t understand, but when they repeated, he instinctively listened.

“Stay…”

“Stay…”

Shi Chan sighed quietly and embraced Xi Ming, barely audible, “Okay…”