Chen Nian had been working nonstop for nine hours. By the time he bid farewell to the last guest, it was already two in the morning. Closing his eyes, Chen Nian flexed his body’s joints as he sat at the bar, finally able to enjoy a drink for himself. During his time entertaining guests, he couldn’t really indulge—after all, who knew what might happen if he got drunk.

Sitting beside him with exquisite makeup, the youth had his slightly curly brown hair tousled, enhancing his cuteness. This was Charlie, the Omega sent by Li Shu to accompany Chen Nian and Nick among others. Charlie was also Chen Nian’s best friend in the Black Box.

Watching Chen Nian down glass after glass, Charlie asked, “Li sister mentioned there was trouble at home; nothing serious, I hope?”

“It’s nothing,” Chen Nian replied, swaying his drink as he sat on the high stool, one foot on the ground, lazily tapping to the electronic beats. “Just felt like taking a couple of days off.”

Charlie’s hand under the table clenched into a fist, gripping the hem of his clothes, as he kept a concerned smile on his face. “That’s good. You hadn’t been around for a few days; I thought something major had happened.”

Chen Nian’s gaze followed the bartender’s dazzling maneuvers with the glasses, leaving Charlie with only a view of his serene profile.

After a while, Chen Nian suddenly asked, “Have you ever thought about leaving?”

“Leaving? Leaving what?”

“Like, quitting this place.”

Charlie was startled. “But you’re the most popular here. Haven’t you always been happy working here? Why bring this up all of a sudden?”

“It suddenly felt meaningless,” Chen Nian clicked his tongue and looked at Charlie playfully. “The Black Box surely wouldn’t shut down just because I left, right?”

Charlie chuckled, “You exaggerate, but without you, the big deals would definitely drop by half. But why think this way? Aren’t you short on money?”

Chen Nian shrugged, “Let’s not talk about that for now. I need to ask Li sister if she can pay my wages in advance.”

Seeing his demeanor, Charlie frowned. “Are you serious?”

“Still thinking about it. Let’s talk in a few days,” Chen Nian said, downing the last of his drink, hopping off the stool, and smoothly donning his coat. “I’m heading home now.”

Charlie watched his carefree departure, pursing his lips. He declined a woman who came to chat him up and stood up to head to the backstage changing room.

As soon as he entered, he heard other colleagues discussing.

“Chen Nian came back today.”

“He did? I thought he was done working here.”

A girl scoffed, “As if he’s a cash tree. Like he could just leave.”

“I don’t know what’s with Alphas these days, all liking that kind.”

“He’s the latest trend in baiting, isn’t he? Li sister wants us all to take note.”

“That sounds nice, ‘baiting’. He’s just selling his reputation, that whore.”

The group burst into laughter, filled with barely concealed jealousy and malice.

Charlie, opening his locker, seemingly offhand, asked, “Who was causing trouble the other day?”

“There was trouble?”

“You weren’t at work; you missed quite the drama. Bryan’s wife from the laundry factory stormed in here the other day, screaming about tearing Chen Nian’s face apart. Security had to step in eventually.”

Someone clucked their tongue, “Always so haughty, it was only a matter of time before someone’s wife cut him down.”

Charlie’s eyes lowered, and he removed the various trinkets from his body, changing back into his regular clothes.

Chen Nian exited the nightclub’s back door. His body reeked of alcohol, masking the delicate scent of night-blooming flowers, making him indistinguishable from any other drunk on the street. The weariness had suddenly emerged today. Usually, Chen Nian never felt anything wrong with this life. But then Chen Ci entered his life, the brother he hadn’t seen in eighteen years, who looked at him earnestly and said, “We are brothers, supposed to live together in the sunlight.” And indeed, he had briefly experienced that sort of life.

Chen Ci had said that if he wanted, he could go up to the top level again in a week. Chen Nian hadn’t yet read the diary Chen Ci left; he didn’t know what had happened in these five days to make his brother want to return to this underground city. There weren’t many things Chen Nian cared about. In this world, the only things he truly cared about were Jiang Dai, who had raised him, and now Chen Ci too. On one hand, he yearned for the life on the top levels; on the other, he didn’t want Chen Ci to suffer by coming down. If they had to switch places for a long time, Chen Nian would never allow Chen Ci to have any connection with his current life.

Resignation was inevitable, but there were too many people in the Underground City who knew him, and the Alphas harbored ill intentions. If Chen Ci used his identity, how would he manage?

He needed to sort everything out first to let Chen Ci come down again. Chen Nian clicked his tongue in annoyance and ruffled his hair as he walked into an alley, taking the shortest route home as he did every day. The alcohol numbed his nerves, and just when he realized someone was approaching from behind, Chen Nian quickly dodged to the side, but his arm was still grabbed.

Then he was pushed against the wall, the impact not gentle, eliciting a muffled grunt of pain from him.

The hand that tried to grasp his chin was blocked by Chen Nian’s sudden raising of his arm, also giving him a clear view of the other’s blond hair and angry expression.

It was Drake, pinning Chen Nian between his body and the wall, his gaze intense as he tried to suppress his anger, “…Where have you been these past few days?”

Oh, it was that person who had taken him to the top levels. What was his name? Drake, right.

Chen Nian relaxed slightly, feigning ignorance with an innocent blink, “What’s wrong?”

“No messages returned, no sign of you when I come looking. Chen Nian, set aside everything else, you owe me an explanation today. Why are you avoiding me?”

Chen Nian could tell Drake was upset about his sudden disappearance and had probably not received the response he wanted from Chen Ci.

This didn’t look good. Chen Nian pondered how to escape as Drake’s hand pressed on his shoulder with the significant strength of an Alpha, genuinely causing him pain.

Chen Nian grasped Drake’s wrist and said softly, “I’m here now, aren’t I?”

“Here now? If I hadn’t come looking for you today, do you think we’d even be talking?”

Drake’s anger surged as he moved closer, and Chen Nian instinctively tried to back away, but trapped against the wall, where could he go?

His alcohol-fogged brain surprisingly cleared at this moment. The dormant sprout of rebellion that had been quiet for years suddenly burst forth, and an indescribable energy rapidly enveloped Chen Nian, protecting him.

It was a power he was unfamiliar with, yet somehow recognized—

Before Chen Nian could react further, a brick slammed into Drake’s back. Drake yelped in pain and turned around just in time for another brick to hit him squarely in the face!

Drake quickly covered his head with his arms, and Chen Nian, freed, took the opportunity to run.

“Where are you going!” Drake reached out to grab Chen Nian, but an Alpha leaped from the wall top, rudely locking his arms around Drake.

“Run!” the Alpha shouted.

Chaos ensued behind him, and Chen Nian looked back to see two large Alphas grappling with each other, the stranger who had helped him sporting black hair. In the midst of the fight, the stranger Alpha looked over, his right golden eye seemingly glowing in the dim light.

Before Chen Nian could get a clear look at his face, Drake punched the Alpha in the face. The Alpha retaliated fiercely, his fighting skills formidable as he managed to hit Drake back, forcing Drake to desperately cling to his collar as both men stumbled and tumbled down to the alley floor.

Chen Nian ran a few more steps, turned the corner, and Drake was out of sight. If he left now, he’d be safe.

But he slowly stopped. Who knew who that Alpha was, but regardless, he had helped him. Chen Nian leaned against the wall, closing his eyes as his heart pounded in his chest from the sprint, his eardrums throbbing.

Inhale—exhale—, inhale—exhale—

The previously felt energy was still there, drifting aimlessly around him.

Chen Nian knew what it was. He had heard that a rare few top-tier Omegas, just like powerful Alphas, possessed mental power, but he had never realized he had it too.

Until he read Chen Ci’s diary. Chen Ci’s mental power was very strong, capable of telekinesis, and as his sibling, he should possess the same talent.

Holding his breath, Chen Nian tried to sense the presence of this mental power, mentally urging: Go help him.

The aimless drifting mental power gathered, forming strands that swiftly extended toward the fighting duo, webbing around Drake who was gradually losing.

Fu Tianhe delivered a punch to Drake’s face, roaring as he grabbed Drake’s neck.

He knew this man would come looking for Jiu Yue to settle scores using such disgraceful methods!

Luckily, he had encountered him by chance today; otherwise, Jiu Yue would definitely have been in danger!

—The entire world seemed different now.

Restraining Drake was all Chen Nian could manage; his head began to ache. He opened his eyes, propped himself against the wall, and retched a couple of times.

He had drunk too much.

Having helped a bit, that Alpha should be able to win, right?

The headache seemed to worsen, and Chen Nian didn’t dare linger outside any longer. He quickened his steps, heading home as fast as possible.

.

“Your Highness.” The voice of the intelligent housekeeper sounded in his ear, “It’s time to get up.”

Chen Ci opened his eyes.

No longer was there a cheap plush toy under his arm, causing him a bit of discomfort.

It had only been two days.

Inside the White Tower, it was exceptionally quiet. Normally, he couldn’t even hear other sounds, and at night the room automatically adjusted to the most suitable sleeping environment, eliminating the need for earplugs and eye masks.

Chen Ci took a moment, then sat up.

The intelligent housekeeper continued with the itinerary: “Today is April 11, 3524, Tuesday, with cloudy skies turning to light rain. You have a scheduled physical examination at the XII Base at nine o’clock.”

“I know,” Chen Ci took the undershirt from the robotic arm and dressed, then got out of bed to wash up.

The cool water flowed through his fingers, the chill taking away the last vestiges of sleepiness.

Chen Ci looked at his reflection in the mirror, his expression as bland as ever, his eyes identical to Chen Ci’s, yet never as bright as his brother’s.

Weary, bored, fearful.

These emotions lay dormant beneath an indifferent glacier, never to be shown.

Chen Ci wiped the mirror with his hand, blurring his reflection with dripping water trails. He grabbed a towel and left the bathroom.

After a breakfast meticulously prepared by the chef, he left with bodyguards for the base.

Chen Ci slightly closed his eyes, unwilling to witness the same route he had to travel at least once a month.

Ten minutes later, he arrived at his destination.

Chen Ci got out of the car and walked into the research institute, where researchers immediately came to greet him, bowing to the noble Princess Consort as they led him deeper into the building.

Chen Ci approached the dedicated elevator, where a researcher swiped an access card. The elevator recognized a level 4 clearance and opened its doors to both sides.

They went underground.

Few knew that beneath the Chensha biological research institute lay a large secret base, the XII Base.

The elevator stopped at level -7.

Accompanied by researchers, Chen Ci walked out, metal corridors on either side separated into various laboratories. Through glass panels, Chen Ci saw the experimental animals being kept.

White rats, rabbits, monkeys, and puppies.

A beagle lying in its cage looked up curiously as someone passed, and a monkey leaned on the railing, its black eyes watching Chen Ci.

Chen Ci was led to a special laboratory, next to which a metal door bore the label “Ashes.”

Many researchers were already waiting inside, dressed in tight protective suits and face masks, revealing only their eyes.

Chen Ci didn’t know what they actually looked like, but he was familiar with the different voices.

The main person in charge was a female Beta, her exposed brown eyes as gentle as her voice: “How have you felt this month? Any discomfort?”

“I’m fine,” Chen Ci settled into the central reclining chair, adjusting his position with the help of mechanical arms, half-lying down.

The enclosure came down, sealing him completely inside, the thick lead door closing, and the lights dimming.

In the darkness, unseen rays penetrated Chen Ci’s body from every angle, conducting the most thorough examination.

Five minutes later, the lights came back on.

“Everything’s normal,” the lead door opened, and the main person in charge approached while the others gathered around the equipment for final adjustments.

“Did you have breakfast?”

“I did.”

The person in charge still brought over a nutritional supplement: “Drink this, it’ll help you feel less unwell later.”

Chen Ci took it, holding the straw in his mouth.

After he had refused to make it taste like strawberries, the only way to describe its taste was dreadful.

Chen Ci downed it in one go, handing back the empty bottle.

The person in charge gave him some water to rinse his mouth.

“We’re ready,” the researcher announced.

The person in charge nodded, bringing over a blanket and covering Chen Ci: “Are you ready?”

“Yes.”

Chen Ci had dressed in short sleeves especially for today, his pale arms exposed directly.

Medical staff came over, carefully disinfecting Chen Ci’s elbow crease, the blue veins under his skin highlighted by the brown iodine.

The needle went in, the sharp pain quickly fading as he adapted.

The right arm was similarly pricked.

The button was pressed, and bright red blood immediately surged out, inch by inch filling the transparent tubing.

The blood flowed into the machine, underwent extraction, mixed with other collected blood, and returned to Chen Ci’s body through another tube.

The laboratory was very clean, even devoid of the faint smell of disinfectant, yet it reminded Chen Ci of a slaughterhouse filled with the heavy scent of blood.

Red and white flesh, rows of ribs, organs hanging on hooks, dying chickens drooping their necks as blood gushed from their ghastly cuts.

And a hand reached out, frustratingly covering his eyes.

Chen Ci closed his eyes.

The “body examination” lasted three hours.

The blood reinfused into his body, processed and returned, couldn’t compare to the original, and Chen Ci sat up feeling dizzy and nauseous.

The medical staff’s needling technique was excellent; his arms weren’t too sore. Chen Ci slowly moved his forearm, enduring the rising nausea.

He should be used to it by now, shouldn’t he?

The researchers tried to restore the composition of his blood and send it back into his body, but perhaps because it lacked the most crucial elements, Chen Ci always felt particularly unwell afterward, needing to lie in bed all day to recover.

Rows of blood samples were placed in the machine, waiting for the next step of concentrated extraction, to be made into doses of serum and sent to epidemic stations across the six beacons.

This was Chen Ci’s greatest “value.”

He was helped out of the laboratory, the beagle he had seen earlier no longer in its cage, the little monkey asleep in a corner, and new lab rats and rabbits being brought in.

Leaving the base, Chen Ci unexpectedly saw someone at the entrance who shouldn’t have been there.

“How are you feeling?” seeing Chen Ci approach, Shavri Vitaljevich immediately stood up.

The youth before him had utterly pale lips, his eyes full of fatigue, no longer showing his usual lively demeanor, even his soft hair slightly disheveled.

His brow was slightly furrowed, his walk slow, supported by researchers.

The fresh needle marks hidden under his clothed arms caught Shavri’s eye, making his lips purse, a sourness in his chest.

This was the fate Chen Ci couldn’t resist, and also the source of his guilt.

“I’m fine,” Chen Ci looked up at Shavri, a bit surprised, “Why are you here?”

If he remembered correctly, he had told Shavri yesterday not to come.

“Just wanted to see how you are.” Shavri struggled to find words, knowing Chen Ci wasn’t feeling well and probably didn’t want to do much else, “You should go back and rest.”

“Hmm.”

Chen Ci got into the car, Shavri standing still as he watched the vehicle drive away.

Researchers at his side mentioned, “Princess Consort Chen Ci’s body data are all very good.”

“I know,” Shavri paused briefly before asking, “How much longer will the extraction continue?”

“Ashes hasn’t been completely cleared yet, perhaps only when the contamination leaked from Moonlight is fully eradicated can it truly end.”

Shavri hmmed, taking a deep breath before exhaling heavily.

There was no scent in the air.

Back at the White Tower, Chen Ci had no appetite; he barely managed to drink a cup of nutrient liquid before falling asleep again.

Only in the late afternoon did he wake up groggily.

Through the window, he saw it was raining outside.

Chen Ci lay in bed, vaguely remembering a dream where he sat in a mining cart, plunging from a height, blue liquid filling massive pipes, sending energy and disease to various parts of Chensha.

An Alpha with a prosthetic eye sat beside him, saying something, but in the dream, Chen Ci couldn’t recall his name.

Fu Tianhe.

He mouthed these three syllables, rubbed his sore eyes, and slowly sat up.

Distant thunder rolled, rain pattering against the glass.

“Open the window,” Chen Ci said.

The window was opened by the intelligent housekeeper, a mechanical arm extending to drape a blanket over his shoulders.

Wind carrying rain blew in, quickly taking away the sleep-inducing warmth; this was Chen Ci’s favorite kind of rainy day, cool and overcast.

He felt a bit more spirited.

Chen Ci wrapped the blanket tighter around himself, quietly watching the rain for a while. On the other wall, the ecosystem tank’s light was on, frogs catching prey, ants already laying eggs in their built nests.

Amid the light rain, Chen Ci opened the terminal’s journal system and began to read what Chen Nian had been up to these past few days.

Chen Nian’s writing was like a grade-schooler’s diary, hammering one thing and then another, writing whatever came to mind, each sentence laced with complaints, though his style was rather cute.

After a lengthy reflection on their reunion and his amazement at the top level’s scenery, Chen Ci came across a detailed analysis about Shavri.

And finally, the conclusion, “He must be seeing someone else to treat brother so coldly that deadbeat man see if I don’t fix him.”

Chen Ci: ?