Jiang Dai had gone to rest. Chen Ci stood by the entrance, taking a casual glance around. The house, situated in the slums, was limited in size but tidy, making it feel less cramped.

He walked into Chen Nian’s bedroom, gently closed the door, and sat on the edge of the bed.

The quilt was crumpled into a mess, clearly tossed aside carelessly when its owner got up that morning.

The bed carried the scent of tuberose—Chen Nian’s residual pheromones—a fragrance identical to Chen Ci’s.

The window, locked with several protective mechanisms, was tightly shut, yet faint sounds from the outside could still be heard.

The ceaseless drip of water from pipe joints and the low hum of machinery formed the “white noise” of the area.

Thick curtains blocked the window completely, reinforced with special locks, ensuring no Alpha could sneak in through it.

Chen Nian’s desk wasn’t particularly organized either, with a jumble of items scattered across it. An old-fashioned optical brain device was buried underneath the mess.

Chen Ci casually tossed an empty snack bag from the desk into the trash can and untangled the wires that were knotted together.

While it wasn’t polite to mess with someone else’s things, Chen Ci would be living here for five days. He wasn’t inclined to endure the constant annoyance of a cluttered desk during that time.

After all, ever since the moment of the identity switch, this room effectively became his.

After spending some time tidying the desk, Chen Ci stacked up the colorful cards he found in various corners and placed them in a drawer.

Most of the cards were vibrantly designed business cards with contact information from different people, slipped into the Omega’s pocket in jest.

Chen Nian habitually discarded them offhandedly, but now Chen Ci had gathered them neatly.

In the corner of the room sat a small freezer. Squatting down, Chen Ci inspected it briefly and turned the mechanical dial, inputting the password Chen Nian had provided.

The freezer opened with a burst of cold air, revealing two Omega suppressants inside.

High-strength suppressants from a large pharmaceutical company.

Although not as premium as the custom-made ones Chen Ci used, they were the best available on the market.

Closing the freezer, Chen Ci sat back on the bed, forming a general understanding of Chen Nian’s living conditions.

Chen Nian wasn’t well-off, with a large portion of his family expenses going toward medication.

As an extraordinarily rare Omega, his natural allure to Alphas was overwhelming, forcing him to rely on the best suppressants. In this regard, Chen Nian never dared to cut corners.

Jiang Dai’s medication wasn’t cheap either. To save money, the two had to find ways to increase their income.

Even though Jiang Dai’s eyesight had deteriorated severely, he still persisted with his translation work.

As for Chen Nian’s job…

Chen Ci glanced at the terminal. Earlier, while in the clock tower’s restroom, Chen Nian had hurriedly requested time off from work. Now, his boss had just replied.

The boss was clearly displeased. However, regardless of his opinion on Chen Nian’s five-day leave, the matter was already decided.

Chen Ci had no intention of replacing Chen Nian at work; that would risk exposing the ruse too easily.

For now, there was nothing pressing to handle.

Chen Ci lay down on the bed, finally able to rest a little. After adhering to a strict routine for over a decade, exhaustion now overwhelmed him.

The unfamiliar bed, unfamiliar room, and unfamiliar underground city didn’t bother him as much as expected.

He closed his eyes and, surrounded by the lingering scent of tuberose, quickly drifted into a hazy sleep.

Half-asleep, Chen Ci’s terminal vibrated twice before being ignored.

This nap turned out to be more restful than those in the White Tower.

When he opened his eyes to a pitch-black bedroom, it took Chen Ci two seconds to remember that he was in the underground city.

There was no sunlight here, and naturally, no warm afternoon glow.

It was around 4 p.m. now. Chen Ci didn’t get up immediately. Lying sideways on the bed, he gazed at the faint glow of lights outside through the curtain. The dripping sound of water persisted.

Several unread messages appeared on his terminal, including one from the Alpha who had accompanied Chen Nian to the surface that morning, asking where he had disappeared to.

Chen Ci thought for a moment and replied: “I’m home now.”

The other party quickly responded: “Home? That’s good. This morning, you vanished in the blink of an eye. I searched everywhere and couldn’t reach you.”

Shortly after, another message came in: “Can I come over tonight?”

Of course, Chen Ci wouldn’t let him come over. He didn’t even know the Alpha’s name or anything about him—Chen Nian hadn’t mentioned it at all.

Skimming through their chat history, Chen Ci tried to mimic Chen Nian’s style to turn him down.

The interactions between Chen Nian and this Alpha were unusually flirtatious, hinting at an ambiguous relationship.

Was this someone important to Chen Nian? If so, why didn’t they even have a saved nickname?

To be cautious, Chen Ci checked Chen Nian’s conversations with others as well.

Similar flirtatious tones, teasing invitations, and even provocative photos sent at odd hours.

Chen Ci: ……

Faced with undeniable evidence, Chen Ci struggled to accept the truth—Chen Nian maintained ambiguous relationships with many Alphas at the same time.

No wonder Chen Nian had advised him not to entertain anyone who tried to strike up a conversation.

There were simply too many Alphas trying to get close, including the gang members in the alley earlier, whom Chen Ci had disciplined.

After some hesitation, Chen Ci imitated Chen Nian’s tone and replied: “Tonight might not work… Uncle Jiang asked me to help fix something at home. If I sneak out and get caught, it’d be trouble. Let’s find a time that works for both of us later, okay?”

“Anyway, thanks for taking me up there. I haven’t been that happy in a long time. ;)”

Drake’s plan to solidify his relationship with Chen Nian during their outing fell apart entirely. Naturally, he wasn’t pleased.

Normally, Chen Nian would coax him with feigned sweetness, but now, it was Chen Ci holding the terminal.

Ignoring whatever Drake sent next, Chen Ci got out of bed, ready to change clothes.

He’d had enough of the close-fitting, backless top and low-rise jeans.

Opening the wardrobe, Chen Ci fell silent.

The clothing inside was anything but ordinary.

Piece by piece, he inspected garments with massive cutouts, translucent fabrics, and laser sequins before finally discovering a wrinkled gray tracksuit in a corner.

Letting out a sigh of relief, he found a normal yellow-and-black striped shirt a few minutes later.

Dressed in the shirt and tracksuit, Chen Ci finally felt comfortable. His back was no longer chilly, and his pants no longer seemed on the verge of slipping down.

Exiting the bedroom, Chen Ci saw that Jiang Dai had already woken up and was working in the study. Unwilling to disturb him, Chen Ci released a thread of mental energy, exploring quietly before withdrawing it.

He confirmed Jiang Dai’s true identity—Chen Dai, the former housekeeper.

After rescuing Chen Nian from the inferno, the housekeeper had relocated to the underground city and adopted the name Jiang Dai, using his late wife’s surname.

Even after the turmoil ended, he never returned, concealing Chen Nian’s true origins. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be living a modest life in the slums.

Chen Ci could guess some of the reasons behind this and was certain of one thing: everything Jiang Dai did was for Chen Nian.

This man had raised Chen Nian for eighteen years, and any slip-up might expose Chen Ci’s disguise. To minimize risk, Chen Ci resolved to limit his interactions with Jiang Dai.

For the next five days, he’d explore the city as much as possible.

But first, he needed dinner. With just a single coin on him, venturing out meant going hungry.

Not every day would bring a kind soul willing to treat him to a meal.

Entering the kitchen, Chen Ci opened the fridge to inventory the ingredients. Cooking a meal was second nature to him—it was a skill required of the future crown prince’s consort.

Meanwhile, atop the royal White Tower in the Cinnabar Processor…

“What did you say, Your Highness?” the maid asked in disbelief, wanting to confirm she hadn’t misheard.

“Is it not possible?” Chen Nian raised an eyebrow. “Then forget it.”

“No, of course it’s possible,” the maid hurriedly replied. “I’ll make the arrangements right away. Is there anything else you need?”

“Not for now.”

The maid left to prepare, and the vast bedroom returned to its tranquil state, with only Chen Nian inside.

After lunch, Chen Nian had leaned into Shavri Vitaljevich’s concern, feigning discomfort and perseverance. When Shavri suggested escorting him back, he refused with a polite excuse, claiming he didn’t want to waste the crown prince’s time.

Chen Nian knew exactly how to tug at the heartstrings of Alphas.

Feigning stoicism while enduring discomfort was merely the baseline.

Bound by a forced engagement and unable to sense each other’s pheromones, Chen Ci and Shavri were nothing more than a pair of mismatched AO. Even as he dealt with the distress of an Omega’s heat, Chen Nian had to endure it alone.

With furrowed brows, trembling fingers that clenched and relaxed in cycles, and lips devoid of color yet tinged with an unnatural red, he rejected Shavri’s help with the lightest of smiles.

Shavri didn’t press further, his silence betraying his inner guilt.

Success. It turned out this scumbag prince wasn’t all that clever.

Shortly after, the maid returned with the requested items. Chen Nian had decided to take a bath after his nap.

But not just any bath—Chen Nian wanted a red wine bath.

The maid, Agnes, had served in the White Tower for three years, attending to Chen Ci’s daily needs. This was the first time she had heard such a request from him.

Nobles often indulged in such baths, but for Chen Ci, who had always been simple and accommodating, it seemed out of character.

Still, Agnes was determined to fulfill this rare request flawlessly.

Following the detailed preparation process, the tub was filled with a warm blend of grape extracts, wine sediment, and floral essential oils. Finally, a bottle of the royal family’s “Ship of Theseus” was opened and partially poured in.

With the bath ready, Chen Nian immersed himself in the luxurious tub, soaking in wine and relaxation.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, he gazed longingly at the colorful skies—a sight he could never experience in the underground city.

Unable to resist, Chen Nian suddenly stood up, a burning desire swelling within him.

He wanted to see more—experience the night under the open sky.

After rinsing off, he declared, “I’m going out.”

The intelligent housekeeper replied, “I’m sorry, Your Highness. You cannot leave the White Tower without permission.”

“Oh, right,” Chen Nian muttered.

Pausing, he asked, “What do I need to do to leave?”

“You must either obtain an exit permit or be accompanied by His Highness Shavri.”

Chen Nian thought for a moment before decisively saying:

“Contact Shavri Vitaljevich for me.”