“Quack quack quack!”

The big white goose let out a triumphant cry, shaking its head and flapping its wings. It stretched its neck, ready to peck at Shavri’s butt again.

For a moment, Shavri seriously considered pulling out his gun and shooting it dead.

Chen Nian couldn’t help but laugh. He really wanted to warn Shavri about the danger behind him, but he was just a step too late.

The crown prince’s expression in that moment was so colorful and dramatic that Chen Nian almost wished he could capture it on camera as a keepsake.

Chen Nian cleared his throat, trying to maintain a serious demeanor as he introduced, “This is my pet.”

“Pet?” Shavri waved his hands to shoo the goose away, frowning as he voiced his genuine confusion.

“Yeah, its name is—”

Chen Nian dragged out his words. Just last night, he had told Agnes he wanted to raise a goose, but he hadn’t expected her to act so quickly. She had already gotten one for him, and he hadn’t even thought of a name yet!

His gaze lingered on Shavri’s bewildered face for a moment before inspiration struck. He clapped his hands together and declared, “Its name is Prince!”

Shavri: “…………”

His hand froze mid-air, and the newly christened “Prince” seized the opportunity. It stretched its neck and chomped down on Shavri’s finger with pinpoint accuracy.

Shavri: “Ouch!”

Shavri quickly retracted his hand, but the audacious goose showed no fear. It hopped around, ready to chase after him again.

“Hey!” Seeing things take a dangerous turn, Chen Nian quickly stepped in front of Shavri. He bent slightly toward the goose, waving his arms to shoo it away. “Go on! Get out of here!”

To the goose, this gesture was a clear challenge.

“Prince” immediately lunged at Chen Nian, its beak wide open, revealing the tiny serrated edges on either side. If it bit into the Omega’s delicate skin, it could easily draw blood!

Oh no!

Shavri moved to protect Chen Nian, but Chen Nian, without even looking, reached out a hand to stop him.

As the goose flew toward him, Chen Nian’s hand shot out like lightning, moving so fast it almost left an afterimage. With lightning speed, he accurately grabbed the goose by the neck!

Then, using the momentum of the goose’s lunge, he swung it around in a circle before letting go!

The goose, carried by inertia, stumbled and fell to the ground. It quickly flapped its wings to steady itself, then turned to face Chen Nian, who had just defeated it in a one-on-one battle.

Chen Nian crouched slightly, ready to strike again, clearly excited. He shouted, “Come on!”

Shavri was completely dumbfounded.

For years, the image of the crown princess, who had lived secluded in the White Tower, never seen by outsiders, and required regular monthly health check-ups, had always been one of delicate fragility in everyone’s minds.

She was a fragile, delicate flower nurtured by the first dewdrops of dawn and the soft, honey-colored glow of twilight, requiring extra care on clear nights.

But the scene before Shavri’s eyes told him the truth: delicate? Fragile? This was no delicate flower—this was a man-eating flower! No, a goose-eating flower!

The goose, refusing to accept defeat, stretched its neck and lunged again. The sound of its wings flapping through the air was enough to tell how much force it was putting into the attack. If it hit someone, it would definitely hurt.

Chen Nian nimbly dodged to the side, and as the goose turned, he seized the moment to grab its neck again!

The majestic goose was sent flying for the second time.

The goose landed in a clumsy heap. After two consecutive defeats, it let out a few quacks, finally showing a hint of fear. It flapped its wings and waddled off to bully someone else.

That’s it?

Chen Nian let out a sigh of relief. He casually brushed the dust off his hands and quickly composed himself, turning back to Shavri with a soft voice, “Are you mad?”

Shavri struggled to snap out of his shock and replied stiffly, “No.”

But his expression clearly said otherwise…

Chen Nian noticed that Shavri’s bitten finger was already turning red. The goose didn’t just bite—it clamped down and twisted the flesh.

It wouldn’t be long before Shavri’s finger swelled up.

What a mess.

This was the first time Chen Nian had seen Shavri silently angry. Up until now, the crown prince had always been gentle and kind, so much so that Chen Nian often forgot that he was an Alpha who had grown up pampered and privileged, holding a high position. He had a temper too.

“I’m sorry,” Chen Nian said, taking Shavri’s injured hand in his own. He puffed out his cheeks and blew gently on the finger, looking up with sincere eyes. “Does it still hurt?”

How could it not hurt?

But as Shavri looked at the boy holding his hand, gently blowing on it with downcast eyes, he found himself speechless.

Chen Nian was slightly shorter than Shavri. From his angle, the boy looked as docile as a cat showing its belly, a far cry from the brave warrior who had just battled a goose.

The last time someone had comforted him like this was when Shavri was five years old.

The Omega’s brows were slightly furrowed as he took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled. His pouted lips were moist and soft, and the cool air he blew onto Shavri’s wound carried a faint hint of tuberose fragrance.

Chen Nian had shed all his playful demeanor, appearing meek and sincere.

Even if Shavri had been a little angry, it was all gone now.

He didn’t even mind that the boy had named the silly goose “Prince.”

…Okay, he still minded a little.

Seeing that Shavri’s expression had returned to normal, Chen Nian finally let go of his hand. His fingertips lightly brushed over the back of Shavri’s hand, almost as if teasing.

The moment that soft, delicate touch disappeared, Shavri felt an inexplicable sense of loss.

—He had just held his hand.

Having thrived in the chaotic Underground City, Chen Nian was a master at reading people.

After all, just the right amount of willfulness could make someone dote on you, but crossing the line would make you seem ungrateful and overbearing.

This was also why Chen Nian was so popular in the Black Box.

When a beautiful and alluring Omega repeatedly tested the boundaries, occasionally bestowing small favors like rewards, the Alpha, blinded by lust, would continuously lower their standards just to make him happy, eventually falling completely into the Omega’s honey trap.

Of course, all of this was an act. Expecting Chen Nian to genuinely care for these Alphas? Dream on.

Shavri, of course, had no idea he had already stepped into Chen Nian’s trap.

He silently savored the feeling of having his hand held by Chen Nian. The slight calluses on the boy’s fingers weren’t thick, but if you paid attention, you could feel their firmness.

The boy was so natural about it, showing none of the previous aversion to being touched, where he would purse his lips and vigorously wipe the spot.

The confusion he had felt before now melted away, becoming crystal clear.

Who had really fallen into whose trap?

The goose, having been chased away, made a big loop and returned to the lake, waddling into the water and floating on the clear surface.

The earlier commotion faded, and the royal garden returned to its tranquil state under the night sky. Shavri thought about what Bai Gei Ying Tao had said to him last night.

—What kind of friend is it? If you’re really close, just ask him directly.

—Not that close? Hmm… then try probing a little. If it’s something that’s got you this confused, it must be pretty outrageous, right?

Although this person was unreliable 22 out of 24 hours a day, this time, Shavri felt that Bai Gei Ying Tao had a point.

Once he was sure Shavri was fine, Chen Nian relaxed again. He walked closer to the lake, crouched down, and began playing with the cool water.

In the Underground City, he had never seen a lake.

Even though it wasn’t his first time seeing one, everything here still felt so new to him. There was always something fresh to discover with just a little exploration.

This was also why, after watching gameplay footage of the Electric Fantasy Kingdom and finding it interesting, Chen Nian hadn’t asked Agnes to get him a neural adapter to dive into the game himself.

He hadn’t even experienced everything the real world had to offer—why waste time in a virtual one?

Chen Ci had swapped identities with him not so he could lounge comfortably in the White Tower playing games!

Chen Nian’s figure reflected in Shavri’s violet eyes, overlapping with countless other images.

The boy in the dining room, resting his chin on his hand, his bare feet sneaking under his pants to lightly rub against Shavri’s calf, his tongue wetting his lips as he watched Shavri’s expression with interest.

The boy in the garden at night, excitedly catching insects in the bushes, holding up a frog to show him, then mischievously slipping it into his pocket.

The boy at the banquet, intimately linking arms with him, pressing close, deftly handling the advances of other scheming noble Omegas.

The boy in the narrow carriage, leaning in close, nuzzling against his neck, inhaling the Alpha pheromones he couldn’t control, the blend of sherry and tuberose intoxicating as he whispered, “You’re so sweet.”

The boy who, after receiving the long-term pass, tugged at his sleeve, stood on tiptoe, and left a soft “thank you” in his ear, along with a fleeting cheek kiss.

All of it overlapped with the scene before him.

Yes, he could tell. Every single time, he could tell.

Shavri took a deep breath. The words in the dossier were etched in his mind, just as his father had told him many times: Marshal Chen Wei had left behind two children.

In the dossier, he had seen another name.

“Chen Nian.”

Shavri called out softly.

Chen Nian froze.

Shavri’s enunciation was clear, and the sound reached his ears from behind. Yes, he had heard it correctly.

The boy flicked the water off his fingertips and slowly stood up, turning to face Shavri.

His face wore just the right amount of confusion.

“Who are you calling?”