Fu Tianhe, who had treated Chen Ci to lunch and then sent him home earlier that day, was now holding a wrench and screwdriver, disassembling a neural adapter he’d found in a pile of junk.

Hearing someone call his name, the Alpha turned his head.

Chen Ci stood there in a plain gray tracksuit, the brim of his hat pulled low, a black mask covering most of his face, leaving only his eyes visible.

But Fu Tianhe recognized him instantly.

Chen Ci’s sudden appearance caught him completely off guard. Fu Tianhe froze for two seconds, then straightened up with a bright smile. “What a coincidence! We meet again.”

Chen Ci didn’t know what to say. His gaze drifted to a burlap sack by Fu Tianhe’s feet, filled with scrap metal, mostly metallic parts.

Noticing his gaze, Fu Tianhe shifted to block the sack, hiding his greasy hands behind his back. His right eye—an inorganic golden prosthetic—gleamed brightly, but his real black eye clearly reflected some embarrassment.

Fortunately, one of Fu Tianhe’s best traits was his thick skin.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have had the nerve to approach Chen Ci after the latter had dealt with a group of hooligans earlier that day and boldly invite him to lunch.

Standing tall, Fu Tianhe braced himself as if awaiting judgment, wondering what Chen Ci’s reaction would be.

He grimaced inwardly: Maybe the Omega would sneer and say, “Didn’t think you’d be a scrap picker.” Then, the “big bad wolf” act he had barely managed to pull off for one day would be over.

But Chen Ci’s amber-colored eyes remained calm as always. “Need help?” he asked.

“Huh? What?” Fu Tianhe thought he misheard.

Chen Ci’s eyes, visible between the brim of his hat and the mask, were serious—there wasn’t a hint of jest in them.

This sincerity made Fu Tianhe’s face flush hotter than if he’d been scolded. He quickly waved his hands. “No need, I’m almost done.”

Chen Ci nodded and stepped aside, watching Fu Tianhe in silence. His clean, slender figure looked starkly out of place in the junkyard.

It took Fu Tianhe a moment to realize Chen Ci was waiting for him. He quickly squatted down again, grabbed the neural adapter, and used the screwdriver to remove the last usable component before tossing it into the sack.

Fu Tianhe tied up the bag with practiced ease and slung it over his shoulder. The sack bulged with jagged parts that dug into his Alpha frame.

“I need to drop this off first. Want to come with me? It’s not far.”

“Sure,” Chen Ci replied softly, falling into step behind him as they walked single-file through the narrow, trash-filled trenches.

The path had been created by countless footsteps stomping down various plastic scraps. Fu Tianhe kicked aside anything that might trip Chen Ci, cautioning him, “Watch your step.”

After several minutes, the two emerged from the junkyard, where the sour stench faded noticeably, allowing Chen Ci to finally breathe more freely.

Fu Tianhe led him through a maze of lefts and rights before arriving at a low-lying area filled with makeshift shelters.

The site had been a cooling pond five years ago, abandoned during the thirteenth reconstruction of the Z Zone. It had since become home to the homeless. Many scavengers lived here, their large burlap sacks a common sight.

Fu Tianhe weaved through the corners, casually greeting a scrawny old man listening to the radio before stopping at his own spot. He lifted a heavy waterproof curtain and gestured to Chen Ci. “Here it is.”

Chen Ci ducked under the curtain and stepped inside.

A massive machine bed dominated the center of the space, surrounded by scattered parts. Buckets of machine oil stood in the corner, alongside shelves filled with mechanical tools. Brightly colored wires, thick as an arm, were coiled and stretched along the walls.

Fu Tianhe followed closely behind, setting the sack down by the wall. Rubbing his hands awkwardly, he muttered, “It’s a bit messy, sorry about that.”

He quickly gathered the clothes piled on the sofa, tossed them aside, and dashed into another room behind the curtain. Moments later, he returned with a clean cloth, carefully spreading it over the old sofa.

“Have a seat and rest for a bit.”

The cloth was indeed spotless. Chen Ci sat down, pulling off his mask to reveal his face as he quietly observed Fu Tianhe’s living quarters.

The machine bed held an incomplete project, its exposed chips and circuit boards surrounded by the heavy scent of machine oil. Yet, underneath it all lingered a faint hint of amberwood.

Fu Tianhe soon emerged again, this time with a bottle of Alpha pheromone suppressant, which he sprayed into every corner. The amberwood scent was replaced by a crisp minty aroma.

Only after confirming the suppressant had worked did Fu Tianhe pour a glass of water and sit beside Chen Ci. “The cup’s freshly washed,” he assured.

Chen Ci accepted the heavily chipped thermos cup, cradling it in his hands. He sniffed the water lightly—there was a faint smell of disinfectant.

It was likely a result of the Underground City’s water supply. Chen Nian’s household had a filtration system for drinking water, but it was clear that Fu Tianhe wasn’t as well-off.

Chen Ci had assumed that Fu Tianhe, who had treated him to lunch and paid for his ride home, might have some savings. Yet, upon seeing his circumstances, Chen Ci realized Fu Tianhe was even less financially stable than Chen Nian.

He doesn’t even have enough money for himself but still treated me to lunch…

Chen Ci asked directly, “Are you a scavenger?”

“No, no,” Fu Tianhe scratched his head. “I work as a mechanic in the Southern District during the day. Picking up parts is just a hobby—something I do after hours.”

Chen Ci gave a soft “oh” and fell silent.

Fu Tianhe asked, “So, what brings you here?”

Chen Ci replied, “Had nothing to do, so I went out for a walk.”

“This isn’t exactly the best place for sightseeing,” Fu Tianhe said with a grin, though the unexpected encounter clearly delighted him. “Still, must be fate that we ran into each other.”

Fu Tianhe pulled out his terminal. “By the way, I vaguely recall you agreeing to something earlier today.”

Chen Ci: …

Back at lunch, Fu Tianhe had asked for his number. Chen Ci, wary of creating unnecessary ties while impersonating Chen Nian, had only agreed to exchange numbers if they met again.

The Underground City was vast, and Chen Ci had figured the odds of a second encounter were slim.

Yet, the improbable had happened.

Chen Ci fell silent—a tactic he often used to avoid things he didn’t want to do. Growing up, his silence had always been understood as refusal.

“Trying to back out?” Fu Tianhe asked, tilting his head to observe Chen Ci’s expression. Meeting the Omega’s calm gaze, he smiled. “Remember, you came to me first.”

Chen Ci raised the cup to his lips, pretending to drink to hide his reaction.

True. I saw him first and went over.

“Alright,” Chen Ci finally agreed. He unlocked his terminal with a fingerprint and exchanged numbers with Fu Tianhe—using Chen Nian’s number, of course.

Fu Tianhe gleefully saved the contact under the name “September” and leaned in to watch Chen Ci type “Fu Tianhe” into his own contacts.

Satisfied that his name had been added, Fu Tianhe stood up. “I’ll make us something to eat.”

“You haven’t eaten yet?”

“Nope,” Fu Tianhe replied, shrugging off his jacket as he headed to the kitchen, which was nothing more than a makeshift stove built from cement blocks. Seasonings were stored in cut-off plastic bottle bottoms, and the fridge in the corner looked older than he was.

Watching Fu Tianhe expertly grab ingredients from the fridge, Chen Ci remarked, “I just got paid. Let me treat you to a meal.”

It was a good way to settle the favor from earlier.

“No need,” Fu Tianhe declined immediately. “Cooking at home is cheaper.”

In no time, Fu Tianhe had prepped and chopped the ingredients, signaling for Chen Ci to step outside. “It’s smoky in here. Wait outside.”

The kitchen’s ventilation was minimal, so Chen Ci returned to the living area. Listening to the sound of sizzling oil, he walked over to the machine bed.

On the shelves, intricately crafted electronic trinkets sat alongside other small devices. The craftsmanship was delicate and precise.

Before long, Fu Tianhe emerged with dinner. The dishes were simple—nothing but vegetables, not a trace of meat.

An Alpha as robust as him was eating just this?

Fu Tianhe cleared a small space on the machine bed and pulled up a chair to sit. He ate quickly and hungrily, devouring his meal with gusto.

“Did you really eat lunch earlier?” Chen Ci asked out of the blue.

“Of course,” Fu Tianhe mumbled around a mouthful of steamed bun. “At the cafeteria.”

Chen Ci felt relieved. He had worried Fu Tianhe might have skipped lunch to save money, lying about eating to avoid looking poor.

After finishing his meal in just five minutes, Fu Tianhe washed the dishes and cheerfully said, “Come on, let’s go for a walk nearby.”

“I need to head home,” Chen Ci replied, checking the time. He had already been out for nearly four hours; if he stayed out too late, Jiang Dai might worry.

“Alright, it is getting late,” Fu Tianhe conceded. “How about tomorrow? I’ll show you around some more.”

“Don’t you have work?”

“Lucky timing—I’ve got the day off!” Fu Tianhe beamed. “So, it’s settled. I’ll meet you at the station near your place?”

Fu Tianhe’s enthusiasm was almost overwhelming. No matter his intentions, Chen Ci could sense that the Alpha didn’t mean him any harm.

Having a guide was more efficient than wandering aimlessly, and Chen Ci didn’t dislike him. There was something novel about meeting someone this friendly for the first time.

“Alright,” Chen Ci agreed. After a pause, he added, “Take me to the most interesting places.”

“I’ll do my homework tonight,” Fu Tianhe promised, starting to reach out as if to pat Chen Ci’s shoulder. Midway, he remembered Chen Ci seemed to dislike being touched and stopped himself.

“Let’s go. I’ll walk you to the station.”

Fu Tianhe escorted Chen Ci to the station and waited until he boarded the bus. As the vehicle pulled away, Chen Ci glanced out the window. Fu Tianhe stood by the roadside, waving.

The Alpha’s tall frame, always accompanied by a cheerful smile, radiated a bright energy—even his prosthetic eye seemed to reflect joy.

Chen Ci gave a slight nod before lowering his hat brim and pulling up his mask, concealing his face.

If Fu Tianhe wasn’t lying and he really is a proper mechanic, why is he still this poor?

Forty minutes later, Chen Ci returned home, quietly closing the door behind him.

He hadn’t even turned on the lights when a voice came from the dark.

“You’re back.”

“Yeah, I ran into a friend, so I got back a little late,” Chen Ci replied, switching on the entryway light. Jiang Dai had been waiting on the sofa and looked like he had almost fallen asleep.

“Go rest,” Jiang Dai said without fuss, slowly getting up from the couch. His movements were sluggish, his legs visibly unsteady as he made his way to his bedroom.

Jiang Dai was used to Chen Nian coming home late occasionally. No matter what time it was, he always made sure the boy returned safely before going to bed himself.

If I were Chen Nian, what would I say or do right now?

Chen Ci didn’t know. Jiang Dai had raised Chen Nian for eighteen years, but to Chen Ci, he was just a stranger he met today.

The concept of “family” had never existed in Chen Ci’s life.

After Jiang Dai went to bed, Chen Ci didn’t linger either. He removed his jacket, ready to take a shower.

The anti-bite collar came off, releasing a faint scent of tuberose, soft and ethereal.

After drying his hair in the bathroom, Chen Ci returned to his room and locked the door. Normally, by this time, he would have been fast asleep in the silent White Tower. But in the Underground City, the night was just beginning.

Or rather, the night here never truly ended.

He double-checked the window locks, then lay down and closed his eyes.

Adjusting his breathing, he emptied his mind, as he had done countless nights before.

Twenty minutes passed. Chen Ci turned over, frustrated, and pulled the blanket over his head, pressing his hands against it.

The persistent drip-drip of water from aging pipes onto plastic rooftops was muffled but still audible through layers of insulation.

Underground City residents were long accustomed to it, but Chen Ci couldn’t bear it. He needed complete silence and darkness to sleep.

After another ten minutes, Chen Ci opened his eyes in resignation.

Sitting up, he leaned against the bedhead. Might as well stay awake until I’m too tired to care.

He had an early appointment with Fu Tianhe tomorrow.

Still, he was young; an all-nighter shouldn’t be a problem.

Chen Ci opened the terminal’s memo app and began documenting his first day of swapped identities.

He recorded every detail of his time in the Underground City in plain, emotionless language.

These notes would be crucial when he returned to his own life and swapped back with Chen Nian.

When he got to the part about his plans with Fu Tianhe, Chen Ci paused.

This Alpha I met by chance—he has a golden prosthetic eye and claims to be a mechanic at a major factory in the 13th Information Processing Zone. He lives in one of the poorest areas, scavenging for metal parts after work to make things on his machine bed at home.

His home, cobbled together with tarps and bricks, is filled with the scent of his pheromones—a steady amberwood aroma that doesn’t quite match his lively demeanor.

…A strange person.

That’s how Chen Ci concluded his log entry.

He didn’t know how late it was when he finally succumbed to sleep amidst the unrelenting noise.

It was a dreamless night.

When his alarm went off, Chen Ci groggily opened his eyes. He didn’t have the habit of staying in bed, so he quickly got up, washed his face, and felt slightly more awake.

Jiang Dai was still asleep when Chen Ci donned his hat and mask and left the house.

He arrived at the station ten minutes early and grabbed a quick breakfast while waiting.

Fu Tianhe soon arrived, having taken a bus from the Western District and walked the rest of the way. Spotting Chen Ci from afar, he waved enthusiastically.

As lively as ever, Fu Tianhe wore a simple shirt and jacket, blending in perfectly with other Underground City residents. Without his prosthetic eye, he would’ve looked like just another ordinary Alpha.

“Been waiting long?”

Chen Ci shook his head. “I just got here.”

“Great! I picked out a few places for today,” Fu Tianhe said, briefly introducing them. Chen Ci, knowing little about the Underground City, listened attentively.

The Southern District, where Fu Tianhe worked, was an industrial hub. Workers assisted in maintaining Cinnabar’s massive information-processing network, repairing countless components and ensuring the smooth operation of its extensive pipelines.

After Fu Tianhe’s explanation, the bus arrived. The two boarded, sitting side by side.

“Our processing zones don’t have much natural scenery,” Fu Tianhe admitted. “I can only take you to see the unique sights here.”

“That’s fine,” Chen Ci replied. Every day, he had a view of natural landscapes most people could only dream of. He was far more interested in the distinctiveness of the Underground City.

The plastic bus seats were narrow, and their shoulders bumped occasionally with the bus’s jolts.

Sitting close, Chen Ci caught the cool scent of Fu Tianhe’s pheromone suppressant.

In the Underground City, Chen Ci had noticed how Alphas freely released their pheromones in public spaces. With Betas unable to sense them, it was a way for Alphas to flaunt their dominance and attract Omegas.

The fact that Fu Tianhe went out of his way to suppress his pheromones around him was a rare display of courtesy.

The bus ride took over forty minutes. As before, Chen Ci stared out the window in silence.

Fu Tianhe couldn’t help sneaking glances at Chen Ci, forcing himself to look away each time and focus straight ahead.

Even now, the entire situation felt surreal to him.

Just yesterday, thanks to his thick skin, he’d managed to meet this Omega named “September.” In less than twelve hours, they’d run into each other again, and he’d even gotten September’s contact information.

September hadn’t seemed to mind his poverty. Instead, they’d agreed to go out together.

Is this a date? Does it count?

Fu Tianhe, 21 years old, felt like the luckiest man alive.

He had a million things he wanted to say to Chen Ci. Even though he knew the Omega had given him a fake name, and possibly a fake life story, he still wanted to know more.

Taking a deep breath, Fu Tianhe steeled himself and turned to speak—

Only to find that Chen Ci had fallen asleep, his head leaning lightly against the window.

The boy’s thick eyelashes cast shadows on his cheeks under the bright outdoor lights. A few strands of black hair peeked out from under his hat, brushing his eyebrows. The black mask covering most of his face only made him look more serene.

He had zipped his tracksuit all the way up, hiding the anti-bite collar around his neck. His body swayed slightly with the bus’s movements.

Fu Tianhe froze, every word he had planned stuck in his throat.

Though their acquaintance was brief, Fu Tianhe could tell that Chen Ci was highly vigilant.

The boy had gotten off at a station far from his actual residence, avoided drinking the water Fu Tianhe had offered, given a fake name, and initially refused to exchange contact information.

Yet here he was, sleeping beside him on a moving bus.

Did this mean he was starting to trust him?

Fu Tianhe’s heart leapt at the thought, though he wasn’t sure if it was true.

He faced forward again, trying to suppress the growing excitement.

Is it safe to sleep like that? What if his head bumps against the glass? That would hurt.

Before long, Fu Tianhe couldn’t resist leaning slightly closer to Chen Ci, hoping the boy might rest his head on his shoulder instead.

He spent a good ten minutes like this, but before anything could happen, the bus hit a speed bump, jolting Chen Ci awake.

Chen Ci hadn’t expected to doze off on the bus. Rubbing his eyes, he adjusted his posture and sat upright.

Fu Tianhe immediately straightened as well, pretending nothing had happened, though his face was flushed.

Chen Ci glanced at him for a moment, puzzled, before looking away.

“Didn’t sleep well?” Fu Tianhe asked awkwardly, trying to cover up his embarrassment.

“Yeah,” Chen Ci replied offhandedly. “The pipes outside my room are old and leaking. It was noisy.”

“Oh.” Fu Tianhe nodded and pointed to the screen displaying the stops. “We’re almost there. Get ready to get off.”

The bus stopped in the Southern District, and Chen Ci got his first proper look at the Information Processing Zone.

Everywhere he turned, the colors of rusted or freshly coated metal dominated. The ceiling towered hundreds of meters overhead, crisscrossed with countless pipes. The vast, enclosed space felt more overwhelming than open wilderness, making one feel small and insignificant.

Scaffolding stretched across the metal framework, and the constant hum of machinery filled the air. The core processing unit of Cinnabar was hidden somewhere deep within these layers of protection.

Fu Tianhe patiently let Chen Ci take in the surroundings. To him, this was just another part of daily life in the Underground City.

“So, are you from another region?” Fu Tianhe asked casually.

Chen Ci looked at him for a moment before replying, “I used to live elsewhere.”

“I see.” Fu Tianhe nodded, assuming Chen Ci had grown up in a different section of the Underground City, like the Cooling Tower or Power Room. Each region had its own unique characteristics and aesthetic.

“Let’s go. There’s an abandoned track nearby that’s been turned into a mine cart ride. Let’s check it out.”

Chen Ci followed Fu Tianhe as he explained the purpose of various nearby buildings.

The Southern District was primarily industrial, housing most of the 13th Information Processing Zone’s key operations. The area they were passing through was the Transport Department.

Chen Ci paused to glance at a half-open door.

The Transport Department… That name sounded familiar.

Meanwhile, Drake was chatting with his coworkers when he suddenly fell silent.

He stared at the door, where a fleeting figure had caught his eye. Straightening from where he’d been leaning against a container, his entire demeanor shifted.

“What’s up?” one coworker asked, following his gaze.

Another nudged Drake’s shoulder playfully. “You’ve been distracted lately. Hey, didn’t you say you had good news a couple of days ago?”

“Don’t even bring it up,” Drake snapped irritably.

“Oh, let me guess—did they turn you down?” His colleagues perked up, clearly amused.

“I had everything planned perfectly. Even took him up top,” Drake admitted, his frustration evident. “But the moment I looked away, he disappeared. Since then, every message I’ve sent has been met with excuses about being busy.”

“Maybe someone from the upper levels stole him away?” one of them teased. “Honestly, with the way you were bragging, we thought you’d actually win him over.”

Chen Nian was a well-known figure in their circles. The Omega who worked at the nightclub had never shied away from Alpha advances.

Everyone knew Chen Nian maintained flirtations with multiple Alphas simultaneously, yet none of them ever dared to complain.

Instead, the Alphas focused all their energy on a singular goal—figuring out how to outshine their competition in Chen Nian’s eyes.

The thought of Chen Nian possibly being taken by someone else only soured Drake’s mood further.

But just now… He could’ve sworn he saw someone who looked exactly like him.

“I’ll be back,” Drake said abruptly, striding toward the Transport Department’s entrance without another word.