“Wait a second,” Chen Ci called out softly, stopping Fu Tianhe in his tracks.

Fu Tianhe paused and turned to the boy beside him. “What’s wrong?”

Chen Ci had finally remembered why the place seemed familiar.

The Transport Department—it was the same department Chen Nian mentioned when he explained how a friend had used their access pass to take him up to the higher levels. This “friend” had even messaged Chen Nian yesterday afternoon, and their chat history clearly hinted at an unusual relationship.

This person wasn’t just a casual acquaintance; they were one of Chen Nian’s romantic entanglements. And judging by Chen Nian’s attitude, this friend was probably just a backup option.

Chen Ci had no intention of passing judgment on Chen Nian’s dating style, but there was one undeniable truth: he absolutely couldn’t meet any of Chen Nian’s admirers.

Teaching a few flirtatious hooligans a lesson was one thing. Encountering someone who actually knew Chen Nian well would create complications—not just for himself, but also for Chen Nian once they switched back.

Releasing his mental energy, Chen Ci quickly scanned his surroundings. Someone was exiting the Transport Department. Without hesitation, he stepped into the shadow of a protruding corridor on a nearby building, leaving Fu Tianhe standing there, utterly confused.

Turning to glance behind him, Fu Tianhe saw no one on the road except a blond Alpha stepping out of the Transport Department and looking in their direction.

Drake frowned, scanning the area after the fleeting figure disappeared. He raised his terminal and typed something.

The moment Drake sent the message and looked up, Fu Tianhe heard the unmistakable vibration of a terminal from Chen Ci’s wrist.

Fu Tianhe: ???

Chen Ci: …

Chen Ci lowered his gaze to the screen of his terminal. A message notification popped up—a teasing and probing note, exactly what he’d expected.

Fu Tianhe glanced back at Drake, who scratched his head in frustration and returned inside the Transport Department. Then he looked at Chen Ci again. The boy’s expression remained as calm as ever as he casually turned off his terminal screen.

So… September’s afraid of that guy, Fu Tianhe thought. That Alpha works for the Transport Department, meaning he’s connected to the government.

It didn’t take much for Fu Tianhe to piece things together: the Alpha must have spotted September through a crack in the door, come out to investigate, and then messaged him.

The realization left Fu Tianhe with mixed emotions.

“He’s gone now,” Fu Tianhe said, trying to reassure Chen Ci.

Chen Ci stepped out from his hiding spot with a soft acknowledgment. Fu Tianhe’s expression hinted that he’d figured something out.

An Omega, tangled up with one Alpha while going out with another, and nearly being caught—it wasn’t hard to imagine what Fu Tianhe might be thinking.

Chen Ci looked up at him. Fu Tianhe’s brows furrowed slightly as if he wanted to say something but held back.

The tension lingered for a moment before Fu Tianhe finally took a deep breath and asked, “Do you owe him money?”

Chen Ci: …?

Chen Ci stared at Fu Tianhe, certain he wasn’t joking.

Apparently, Fu Tianhe genuinely believed that Chen Ci was avoiding Drake because of debt.

Seeing Chen Ci remain silent, Fu Tianhe took it as confirmation and earnestly tried to comfort him. “Owing money isn’t a big deal, as long as it’s not too much or to loan sharks. Don’t worry about it.”

After a pause, he added awkwardly, “If I weren’t so strapped for cash myself, I’d help you out. Maybe after I get paid next week, I can see what I can do.”

Chen Ci was speechless.

He was well aware that Fu Tianhe’s initial interest in him was likely born of attraction—something he’d encountered often enough. He’d heard more than his fair share of remarks like, “A top-tier Omega like you, with pheromones that drive every Alpha wild,” from overly enthusiastic researchers.

Chen Ci knew his advantages, even if he didn’t care about them.

But Fu Tianhe’s behavior was oddly pure. Despite knowing each other for less than a day, this man was already offering to use his salary to help “repay his debt.”

It was this sincerity, devoid of any disrespectful undertones, that made Chen Ci agree to spend time with him.

“It’s fine. You don’t need to worry about it,” Chen Ci said vaguely, steering the conversation away. “Where are we headed?”

“Oh, right!” Fu Tianhe suddenly remembered his plans. “We’re almost there.”

The area they arrived at housed an abandoned track, repurposed a few years ago into a minecart attraction. A small amusement park had been built around it, becoming one of the liveliest spots in the 13th Information Processing Zone.

At the entrance, Fu Tianhe bought tickets and led Chen Ci inside.

The park, constructed amidst industrial gaps, featured rides made from discarded facilities and built to take advantage of the unique terrain. Its charm lay in its rugged character.

Cinnabar’s upper levels had larger, more advanced amusement parks, but Chen Ci had never visited one.

Despite living in a place where sunlight never reached, the people of the Underground City still sought out moments of joy. Families brought children here to play, and the energy was infectious.

The minecart ride was the park’s most famous attraction. Luckily, they had arrived early and didn’t have to wait long.

As they waited in line, Fu Tianhe sent a quick message to someone before turning to Chen Ci. “Wait for me here for a moment,” he said, disappearing into the crowd.

Chen Ci stood patiently in line. By the time their turn approached, Fu Tianhe returned, holding two safety helmets in his hands.

Plopping one onto Chen Ci’s head, Fu Tianhe explained, “Just in case. Better safe than sorry.”

Chen Ci: ?

Adjusting the helmet that obstructed his view, Chen Ci watched as Fu Tianhe expertly put on his own helmet and fastened the straps.

“My workplace is just beyond that fence over there,” Fu Tianhe said, gesturing. “I asked a coworker to toss these over for me.”

Chen Ci was baffled by Fu Tianhe’s logic.

If the minecart had a history of accidents, why would he bring me here? If it didn’t, why the helmets?

Still, he decided to play along. After fiddling with the helmet straps for a bit, he managed to secure it.

Seeing that Chen Ci hadn’t done it quite right, Fu Tianhe asked, “Need help?”

“I’ve got it,” Chen Ci replied, adjusting it himself.

Once both of them were properly helmeted, they boarded the minecart. Like most roller coasters, the ride seated two per row. As they waited for others to board, Fu Tianhe suddenly turned to Chen Ci. “Can we switch seats?”

Before Chen Ci could ask why, Fu Tianhe gestured to his prosthetic eye and explained sheepishly, “I can’t see much on my right side. If you sit on my left, I’ll be able to spot anything in time.”

Chen Ci hesitated briefly, then nodded and swapped seats with him.

The staff came by to check their safety belts, and soon the minecart started its ascent. Slowly climbing upward, it reached the peak and nearly stalled before plummeting downward with a roar.

Screams filled the air, but Chen Ci couldn’t hear anything over the rush of wind in his ears.

The adrenaline was unlike anything he’d ever felt. His heart raced, his breathing hitched, and he tightened his grip on the rail, lips pressed firmly together to keep from making a sound. The acceleration threatened to wrest control from his body.

The minecart tilted sharply into a tunnel, and the sudden change in air pressure made his eardrums buzz.

Dim lights flickered along the walls, and for the first time, Chen Ci felt fully immersed in the mechanical heart of this world. Everything vibrated around him, and tiny bits of debris rained down, striking his helmet.

Seconds later, the tunnel opened into a new section, revealing an entirely different view.

They had left the Information Processing Zone, the tracks leading them into an energy purification sector.

Here, vast quantities of raw materials were sampled, refined, and sent to the Power Room.

In this sunlight-deprived expanse, Chen Ci got his first real glimpse of Cinnabar’s true form.

Blue fluid-filled pipes crisscrossed the area, their contents drawn from the depths of the sea and flowing through Cinnabar’s veins for centuries. Beneath these glowing arteries, people had built cities, adapting to live amidst the pulsating hum of machinery and utilizing every inch of space.

Three minutes later, the minecart slowed and returned to the amusement park, stopping at the starting point.

Dusting off his shoulders, Fu Tianhe unfastened his safety belt and asked excitedly, “So, what’d you think?”

Chen Ci nodded, unclenching his sweaty palms from the rail.

Was I… scared?

Fu Tianhe noted the sheen on Chen Ci’s palms and secretly laughed to himself. Even scared, September stays silent. What am I expecting here?

As Fu Tianhe got ready to disembark, Chen Ci remained seated.

He wiped his hands on his jacket, amber eyes locking onto Fu Tianhe.

Finally, he asked, “Can we go again?”

Meanwhile, 3,000 meters above them…

Chen Nian was jolted awake by the incessant noise of his intelligent housekeeper. Groaning in frustration, he opened his bleary eyes.

Like most people his age, Chen Nian thrived at night. Due to his unique job, he often came home late and locked himself in his room for pre-sleep activities.

Last night, after dragging Shavri Vitaljevich for a stroll in the garden, Chen Nian had stayed up until the early hours, following his usual routine before collapsing into bed.

But now, his housekeeper was pestering him to get up.

“Your Highness, you have a piano lesson in half an hour.”

Chen Nian, whose only musical experience involved DJing at the nightclub, frowned and rolled over. “I’m not feeling well. Take the day off.”

“You’re unwell? Shall I contact the lab for a full medical examination?”

“No need,” Chen Nian mumbled, keeping his eyes closed. “I just need more sleep. Cancel all my lessons for the next few days and reschedule them for next week.”

The housekeeper hesitated. Having served Chen Ci for years, it had never encountered such behavior before. Believing Chen Ci to be honest by nature, it didn’t suspect that Chen Nian was faking.

After a brief pause, it canceled the next four days of lessons.

“And tonight’s royal banquet—”

“That’s fine, no need to cancel,” Chen Nian interrupted. He’d been looking forward to the banquet. “Shavri already cleared it with me.”

The housekeeper said no more, finally allowing Chen Nian to return to sleep.

By the time he woke again, it was past ten o’clock.

Slowly getting up, Chen Nian noticed a message from Shavri, sent at 7 a.m., informing him that he’d pick him up at 4:40 p.m. for the banquet.

Combining breakfast and lunch into one meal, Chen Nian sat at the table, eating while jotting down notes in his terminal. He had promised Chen Ci to keep a detailed log of their swapped lives.

Chen Nian recorded everything that had happened yesterday, paying special attention to the “little gift” he’d given Shavri.

Tonight’s royal banquet would be attended by many nobles, most of whom Chen Nian didn’t know. Thankfully, there wasn’t much to worry about.

According to Chen Ci’s detailed logs, this would be the first time the future royal consort appeared before such a crowd.

Only a handful of people had seen Chen Ci in person. This lack of familiarity meant there was little risk of being exposed.

Though unseen, rumors about Chen Ci were abundant.

As a top-tier Omega, his suppression agents were custom-made in a lab exclusively for him. He and Shavri were said to be genetically incompatible, unable to sense each other’s pheromones, and devoid of any romantic connection.

He had never appeared in public. Some whispered that the royal consort’s stunning beauty had been marred by burns in the Chen family fire, leaving him disfigured. Others speculated his pheromones had a repulsive scent, explaining his absence.

A few skeptics even claimed there was no royal consort at all, that Marshal Chen Wei’s child had perished in the fire, and that the entire story was a royal conspiracy.

Chen Ci had compiled these rumors as one of his few sources of entertainment in his otherwise dull life.

Reading them now, Chen Nian chuckled. Disfigured? Loveless marriage? Repulsive pheromones?

Well, since so many people seem to care so deeply about my brother, I suppose I’ll give everyone a little surprise tonight.