Chen Ci finished making dinner and brought the dishes out.

He took off his apron, carefully washed every finger clean, and even changed into fresh clothes to make sure he no longer smelled of oil and smoke.

Before he could call anyone, Jiang Dai had already stepped out of the study on his own and sat down at the dining table.

As usual, dinner was refined and delicate. The portions were small, but the nutritional value was perfectly balanced.

Chen Ci sat across from Jiang Dai. The two didn’t talk much and simply focused on eating.

Chen Ci had long been used to eating in silence. Back in the White Tower, he usually dined alone, with soft music playing in the background. The only sounds were the faint clinks of silverware.

Maids and housekeepers would stand silently nearby, ready to serve but never disturbing him.

When he was very young, he once pestered a familiar maid to join him for a meal. After much coaxing, she finally agreed.

But from that day on, he never saw her again—the maid who had taken care of him for years simply vanished.

The only one who ever shared a meal with him after that was Shavri.

Yet as Chen Ci grew older, he spoke less and less. In the early years, Shavri would try everything to spark conversation at the dinner table, determined to break the silence.

But over time, even Shavri got tired of it.

No one could keep trying forever and keep getting shut out.

He assumed Chen Ci was just annoyed by his chatter and eventually stopped speaking entirely. What was supposed to be a time to build their relationship turned into a perfunctory ritual.

This quietness was what Chen Ci was most familiar with. He ignored others and hoped they would do the same in return.

But Jiang Dai wasn’t used to it.

When Chen Nian was around, they always chatted during meals—random everyday stuff, lighthearted and full of laughter. As the boy got older and spent more time out and about, mealtime became their main opportunity to connect.

Even when Chen Nian was in a bad mood, he wouldn’t go completely silent. Jiang Dai would gently probe to figure out what was bothering him and try his best to comfort him.

Chen Ci finished eating and sat quietly in his chair, waiting so he could clear Jiang Dai’s dishes too.

Jiang Dai ate the last bite, set down his chopsticks, and spoke before Chen Ci could stand up. “No need to rush.”

Chen Ci glanced at him and sat back down.

“Earlier, you said you have enough power to protect yourself,” Jiang Dai said gently. “I didn’t know that all these years. Would you mind showing me?”

Clearly, Jiang Dai had already figured out he wasn’t Chen Nian.

Since the man hadn’t called it out directly, Chen Ci wouldn’t offer up the truth either.

Chen Ci gave a small nod. Sitting up straight and still, he released his mental power without restraint. Instantly, a field formed around him.

With a soft clatter, the chopsticks and spoons on the table floated into the air, hovering near him and moving as he willed them to.

The teenager sat calmly at the table, surrounded by those floating objects, as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world.

Jiang Dai’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Seconds later, the dishes flew straight into the kitchen. They twisted mid-air, maneuvered around the walls, and landed steadily in the sink one after another.

The table was now spotless.

The curtains suddenly rustled. Jiang Dai looked toward the window—at some point, it had been opened. The breeze swept into the living room, quickly dispersing the lingering scent of food.

A few seconds later, the window closed on its own, and the curtains dropped back into place.

Chen Ci hadn’t moved a single muscle through all of it.

The whole thing looked too much like magic, leaving Jiang Dai too stunned to speak.

He’d assumed Chen Ci had received the best training on the upper levels—maybe some self-defense or combat skills. But… he had never imagined this.

Mental power.

Jiang Dai wasn’t unfamiliar with the concept. Marshal Chen Wei, a powerful Alpha, had once possessed awe-inspiring abilities. His vast mental power could even interfere with the machinery of primordial creatures, which was how he’d dealt a critical blow to the Sea King Canglong.

But even the Marshal couldn’t do this—manipulating physical objects with sheer thought.

It was as if Chen Ci’s mental power had become an extension of his body, reaching wherever he desired.

Was this really something a human could possess?

Jiang Dai finally pulled himself out of his shock, only to be struck by another realization.

Great power always came with a price. No matter if they were Alpha or Omega, those with mental power had to undergo long-term stabilization training.

The stronger the mental power, the greater the burden on the brain. Even the Marshal had suffered from chronic headaches for years. With Chen Ci’s level… how could he possibly withstand it?

But Chen Ci’s expression remained perfectly calm, as if he’d just done something mundane.

Jiang Dai steadied himself and said, “I believe you have the ability to protect yourself. But unless it’s absolutely necessary, never use it in front of others.”

“I understand,” Chen Ci replied.

It wasn’t about worrying over mental strain—he just didn’t want to scare people or bring unnecessary trouble.

Jiang Dai finally felt reassured.

The boy who’d taken Chen Nian’s place was far stronger than he’d imagined. After eighteen years apart, he had become someone powerful enough to shock the world.

Those calm eyes reminded Jiang Dai of the past—when Chen Ci’s older brother would quietly watch over him as a baby, never crying or fussing.

He was like the moon in a silent night sky—aloof, pure, untouched by the mortal world.

“I’ll talk to your friend. If everything checks out, you can go,” Jiang Dai finally said. “But you must stay in touch with me throughout the trip. Got it?”

“Okay,” Chen Ci agreed.

He didn’t mind Jiang Dai asking him to report his whereabouts. Fu Tianhe had said the same thing.

Now that Jiang Dai had Fu Tianhe’s contact info, Chen Ci had nothing else to do. He stood and went to wash the dishes.

This whole conversation had gone more smoothly than he’d expected. Both he and Jiang Dai understood the truth, but neither tore off the veil to expose it.

Chen Ci didn’t know what Jiang Dai and Fu Tianhe talked about.

He didn’t ask either—he wasn’t interested in that kind of personal stuff. As long as Jiang Dai gave permission for the trip, that was enough.

Fu Tianhe, on the other hand, was brimming with excitement. After being grilled in detail by Jiang Dai, he did everything in his power to prove he was a good guy.

He was so giddy that night that he, a guy who usually fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow, actually couldn’t sleep.

After all, in an Alpha’s eyes, this basically counted as meeting the family, right?

Chen Ci didn’t care about any of that. He didn’t have the energy either. For the next two days, he spent all his time planning their travel route.

Three weeks wasn’t long, but it wasn’t short either. He had no idea when the truth about the switch would come out, so he had to make the most of the time they had and see as much as possible.

On Monday morning, Fu Tianhe waited at the bus stop near Chen Ci’s home, just as they’d agreed. Before long, he spotted the teen’s figure almost buried under a pile of bags and gear.

He rushed over and took the backpack from Chen Ci, nearly dropping it from the sheer weight.

He hadn’t expected it to be that heavy.

How on earth had Jiu Yue been carrying this while holding other bags and wearing a pack?

“Come on, give it to me.”

Fu Tianhe couldn’t help but feel bad, even though Chen Ci didn’t show a single hint of strain on his face.

Now that someone was helping with the weight, Chen Ci didn’t have to work so hard. He flexed his reddened hands as he and Fu Tianhe waited at the platform.

“I already told Uncle everything,” Fu Tianhe said with a grin. “Told him not to worry. As long as I’m around, I won’t let you suffer even a little bit.”

That was a classic Alpha-protecting-Omega line. Anyone who heard it would catch the subtle subtext.

But Chen Ci was unmoved.

He knew perfectly well that Fu Tianhe had feelings for him. Their very first meeting was clearly sparked by attraction. But so what?

Maybe one day Fu Tianhe would be disappointed—but that wouldn’t be Chen Ci’s fault.

He was the one who came chasing after him.

The bus arrived soon after. They boarded, and Fu Tianhe followed behind, using his hand to support Chen Ci’s backpack so the teen wouldn’t have to carry the full weight.

Their destination was the central elevator—a vertical shaft stretching thousands of meters, taking them all the way to the lowest level of Chensha. It was the very first stop Chen Ci had carefully picked for their journey.

The Abandoned Suburbs.

There were two central elevators, one north and one south. The closest was on the west side of the 13th Information Processing Zone—it also happened to be the same route used when Chen Ci and Chen Nian switched places.

Fu Tianhe, being a certified mechanical worker, had a permit that allowed him to move freely through most of the Underground City. As for Chen Ci, using Chen Nian’s terminal, he had a long-term pass granted by Shavri.

After getting off the bus, they entered the elevator. It was early in the morning, so there weren’t many people. Chen Ci and Fu Tianhe placed their heavy backpacks at their feet and rested.

“I haven’t been out in a long time,” Fu Tianhe said softly. “I don’t know much about the other areas in Chensha, but that just means it’s a fresh journey for both of us.”

Chen Ci nodded in agreement. He tugged his mask down a bit, took out a water bottle, and took a sip. His lips glistened faintly with moisture.

The black mask framed his jaw, and the thin straps pressed lightly into his cheeks, creating a subtle flush and a softness that completely captured Fu Tianhe’s gaze.

Chen Ci had never cared about the aristocratic Omega obsession with skinniness. He ate when he wanted, slept when he wanted—that’s what gave him the stamina and strength he had now.

Before Chen Ci could notice, Fu Tianhe quickly looked away. For some reason, his breathing had quickened slightly.

The faint scent of amberwood drifted out—like a warm forest in the afternoon.

As a top-tier Omega, Chen Ci was sensitive to pheromones. He immediately picked up on Fu Tianhe’s state.

But an Alpha’s pheromones couldn’t affect him that easily.

About ten minutes later, the elevator stopped at the lowest level.

Technically, it could go even deeper—below sea level was a kilometer-long energy extraction layer, accessible only to professionals and not through this public elevator.

They stepped out and entered the CPU side chamber of Chensha.

Anywhere a signal beacon could support life, there were always people living there. Chensha was no exception.

Chen Ci had already booked a hotel online. He and Fu Tianhe took a ride over and dropped off their heavy gear in the room first.

They’d pack something lighter for exploring later. Otherwise, they’d be too exhausted to even breathe after a few hours.

Thanks to Chen Nian’s help, Chen Ci was much more financially comfortable now. The hotel they booked was mid-range.

Fu Tianhe looked around the spacious lobby, his eyes full of curiosity. He really was someone who’d grown up poor.

The front desk clearly assumed they were a couple and handed over just one room key. “Room 304.”

“We booked two rooms,” Chen Ci said.

The clerk checked again. “Sorry, we’ll need the other guest to register as well.”

Fu Tianhe hurried over. The front desk scanned his terminal and performed facial recognition.

Chen Ci stood to the side and happened to catch a glimpse of Fu Tianhe’s registration details.

Place of origin: Top Floor District, Sanshui.