Even in 2048, when technology had developed rapidly, the environment had deteriorated swiftly, and social issues had grown increasingly acute, the upper-class people at the apex of the pyramid in the core zone still maintained the cumbersome etiquette and decorum of old-century nobility.
In a world of extravagant indulgence, formal attire was equivalent to a business card. To attend a banquet, high-end tailored suits had to be meticulously designed, with thoughtful creativity even in accessories like lapel pins, cufflinks, and pocket watch chains. Sometimes, even one of the four cufflinks would be made a different color to highlight the money and time invested in the customization behind the suit.
There was still a month left before the Pei family’s belated coming-of-age banquet for Pei Ying, and custom suits also needed a certain production period. It required first visiting the store for measurements, then crafting a rough half-finished shell based on body data, fitting it for adjustments, and finally completing the finished product.
As expected, things went about the way Xin Hexue had anticipated. Xi Zhengqing could no longer hold back, and using “Pei Guangji’s” identity, told him he was very busy recently and entrusted him to “Xi Zhengqing”.
Xin Hexue thought it was quite amusing to see the other party play a one-man double act.
The next meeting was when Xi Zhengqing, entrusted by “Pei Guangji”, brought his childhood friend’s boyfriend to a handmade custom suit shop in the core zone for initial measurements.
Mosley Suits was a long standing and prestigious brand passed down through generations, founded in the nineteenth century, and now mainly served financial magnates and nobility.
While smiling and communicating with Xin Hexue about his preferences, the designer measured the client’s body data with a cloth measuring tape.
Shoulder width, sleeve length, sleeve circumference, mid-sleeve, cuff…
When measuring the waist, the designer, following routine, measured horizontally around the slimmest part of the young man’s waist and exclaimed, “Sir, your waist is really slender…”
Xin Hexue lowered his eyes and answered politely and calmly, “Thank you.”
The designer realized he had spoken out of turn. Although the daily clients he served were all top figures of the core zone, he had indeed never seen a guest this stunningly beautiful.
Trying to salvage his earlier impropriety, he glanced at Young Master Xi, whose eyes had been glued to the young man all this time, and said politely, “Mr. Xin, you and Mr. Xi are truly a perfect match.”
Before Xin Hexue could respond, Xi Zhengqing cleared his throat and explained calmly, “You misunderstood. We are just friends.”
The designer gave an embarrassed laugh.
‘Really?’
Well, he would never look at his own friends with that kind of gaze.
Xin Hexue glanced at Xi Zhengqing.
The Alpha seemed to have regained the proper demeanor of the Xi family’s young master, maintaining an appropriate distance and decorum.
Catching Xin Hexue’s glance, he even showed a slight, apologetic smile, as if worried that the designer’s untimely words might trouble Xin Hexue.
Xin Hexue said to K: [Did you notice something different about Xi Zhengqing today?]
K asked doubtfully: [What?]
Xin Hexue curved his eyes slightly.
[He put on perfume.]
When Xi Zhengqing came to the Nancheng villa to pick him up, Xin Hexue had already noticed it.
Betas did not have glands and could not smell pheromones, but besides that, Xin Hexue’s sense of smell was sharp, and he immediately detected a scent of pine and ebony clinging to Xi Zhengqing when he approached, with a deep wild musk as the base note.
He suspected that the musk was Xi Zhengqing’s pheromone scent.
Xin Hexue exposed him, [The peacock is spreading its tail; he is courting a mate.]
Advancing by retreating, slowly boiling the frog to pry someone away, perhaps this was the strategy Xi Zhengqing had developed after lying low for a while.
The designer’s earlier comment probably made this Young Master Xi feel even more pleased.
The delayed notification confirmed Xin Hexue’s guess.
[Xi Zhengqing Love Value +3]
………
On the evening when he went to pick up Xin Hexue for the banquet, Xi Zhengqing once again borrowed Pei Guangji’s identity.
After all, if “Pei Guangji” never showed up throughout the whole process and even had to rely on Xi Zhengqing to pick up his boyfriend to go to the Pei family, it would inevitably arouse Xin Hexue’s suspicion.
At that time, before officially entering the banquet hall, he would find an opportunity to temporarily leave Xin Hexue’s side and return under his true identity.
This step was necessary because there would be a lot of people at the banquet. If he stayed beside Xin Hexue as “Pei Guangji”, he would be easily exposed when others came over to greet him.
After all, the real Young Master Pei was still lying in the intensive care unit, with doctors working around the clock to discuss treatment plans.
Xi Zhengqing was not afraid that Xin Hexue would hear any gossip at the Pei family’s banquet and discover the truth, because this time, the underlying meaning behind the Pei family’s belated coming-of-age banquet for Pei Ying was that if Pei Guangji could not wake up, Pei Ying would undoubtedly inherit the Pei Group.
Now, Pei Guangji’s name had become a taboo. Attendees had no reason to bring up this topic at Second Young Master Pei’s event.
Xi Zhengqing planned everything meticulously. He leaned against the side of the aircraft, and from afar, saw the young man walking out from the villa.
When he looked up again, Xi Zhengqing was stunned in place.
From their first meeting until now, Xi Zhengqing’s impression of Xin Hexue had always been light-colored, soft, and warm.
The young man rarely wore dark-colored clothes.
The pitch-black suit had peak lapel satin splicing, with the jacket’s front just covering the hem of the white three-row button deep V vest underneath. The tailored waist and broadened shoulders highlighted the three-dimensional silhouette, and the long legs, slender waist, tall figure, and curves were displayed vividly.
The overall large area of dark tones made people immediately notice the young man’s cold, snow-like fair skin, and that dangerously beautiful face.
After the direct impact of this stunning beauty, Xi Zhengqing shifted his gaze, lowering his eyes to sweep over the glossy black leather shoes on the young man’s feet.
If he sat down and crossed his legs, the trousers would naturally ride up, revealing the slender ankle, tightly wrapped in smooth fabric.
Xi Zhengqing suddenly felt his mouth go dry.
His dog addiction flared up, feeling as if something was missing from his neck.
Xin Hexue walked up to him, “Guangji?”
Xi Zhengqing adjusted his state, [Mm, let’s go.]
………
The main branch of the Pei family occupied a corner of the core zone, with vast grounds, no different from a manor.
When Xi Zhengqing and Xin Hexue got off the aircraft, they happened to meet Pei Ying, who had been waiting early at the gate.
Upon seeing Xin Hexue, Pei Ying’s face lit up with joy and he subconsciously stepped forward.
As the protagonist of tonight’s banquet, his attire was formal and solemn, full of ceremony, and even his silver earrings were removed.
Pei Ying could not hide the excitement in his tone, “You came!”
Xin Hexue could only recognize him by his hair color, “Pei Ying, happy coming-of-age.”
Even though Pei Ying had already come of age more than half a year ago, this was merely a belated ceremony, with the Pei family using this as a show.
Pei Ying still wanted to say something, but when he met Xi Zhengqing’s smiling yet threatening gaze, he pursed his lips.
He took a step back, forced to accompany Xi Zhengqing in acting, and gritted his teeth, “…Gege.”
Xi Zhengqing indeed provided help for him to inherit the Pei family, just like he had said that day. Pei Ying dealt with several of his half-brothers, and with the Xi Group ‘s secret concessions, boosted a few major projects for the Pei Group, which made the old man trust the second son’s abilities without much suspicion.
Xi Zhengqing smiled as he led Xin Hexue past Pei Ying.
It was only early evening, still not yet the time for the banquet to officially begin.
The two were in the garden surrounding the banquet hall.
White wooden fences encircled the flower beds, and the sculpted fountain in the center sprayed water under the sunset’s light, the droplets splashing onto the surrounding flower clusters.
Xi Zhengqing grabbed Xin Hexue’s hand, stopping the young man from walking forward.
[Wait a moment, there’s something I forgot to give you.]
Xi Zhengqing displayed the message he had typed on his communicator for Xin Hexue to see.
Then, he took a small gift box out of his pocket. In the dim light, it was a silver collar chain.
Xi Zhengqing lowered his head and helped Xin Hexue put it on.
One end was placed through the buttonhole on the suit’s lapel, with a long chain leading out. The silver fragments glimmered lightly like stars, and the other end was tucked into the chest pocket.
[It looks good.]
Xin Hexue’s eyelashes drooped slightly. He admired it for a moment and said, “Thank you, I really like it.”
The weather in early spring was still chilly, and by evening, the temperature dropped further.
Xi Zhengqing noticed the slight paleness on Xin Hexue’s face and draped the woolen cashmere coat he had prepared over his shoulders, but noticed that the young man was staring stiffly at a corner.
What’s wrong?
Xi Zhengqing followed Xin Hexue’s gaze and looked toward a patch of flower bushes.
Amid the waist-high flowers, hidden among a few green leaves, a small black-shelled insect lay quietly.
Xin Hexue slowly shuffled two steps behind Xi Zhengqing.
Such a small movement was still caught by Xi Zhengqing.
A soft, tingling warmth spread through his heart. He drove away the bug, then turned back to see Xin Hexue pretending nothing had happened. He glanced at him, then quickly shifted his gaze back to the corner.
He didn’t expose him, but casually typed out a message, [It seems like the gardener hasn’t been doing regular pest control.]
Xin Hexue’s eyelashes were long and slightly curled at the tips. When he averted his gaze, there was an indescribable charm at the corner of his eyes.
His voice was softer than usual, “…Mm.”
Xi Zhengqing’s heart trembled.
‘Damn it, why is Xin Hexue so cute?!’
His Adam’s apple bobbed, and he leaned down, wanting to kiss the young man.
Xin Hexue lowered his head to avoid him and whispered awkwardly, “Guangji… don’t do it here, there are still people over there.”
Xi Zhengqing looked over and frowned deeply.
A blond-haired Alpha who was passing by, with sunglasses perched on his high nose bridge, pointed at the communicator in his hand to signal Xi Zhengqing, then smiled roguishly and walked away.
Xi Zhengqing opened his communicator.
[Qiu Yuan: You’re playing this big?]
[Qiu Yuan: Is he the one from that villa in Nancheng? You blocked my view so I couldn’t see. Does he have some special charm?]
[Qiu Yuan: Whatever method you used, aren’t you afraid that Pei Guangji will go crazy when he wakes up?]
It seemed that Qiu Yuan had eavesdropped when he passed by earlier.
However, from his angle, Xin Hexue happened to be blocked by Xi Zhengqing.
Xi Zhengqing was certain that Qiu Yuan must have secretly sent people to investigate his movements, but he was still unaware of Xin Hexue’s face blindness, so he suspected that Xi Zhengqing had used some special means.
Xi Zhengqing tugged at the corner of his mouth.
[Xi Zhengqing: Mind your own business, don’t interfere with my affairs.]
[Xi Zhengqing: As for Pei Guangji, whether he wakes up or not is still unknown.]
However, after this reminder, Xi Zhengqing did realize something.
He was still using Pei Guangji’s identity. If he kissed Xin Hexue now, wouldn’t it be giving Pei Guangji points?
He turned around and explained to Xin Hexue, [I need to leave for a while. Could you wait for me in the banquet hall on the first floor later, okay?]
Xin Hexue nodded.
Xi Zhengqing prepared to change into another outfit, returning to his own identity before appearing in front of the young man again.
………
The Pei family’s banquet hall was very large. Besides the main hall, there were surrounding walkways, ponds, flower beds, and many luxuriously decorated rooms upstairs and downstairs for guests to rest.
Xin Hexue walked through the main hall filled with bright lights and flowing wine, glasses clinking, and voices mingling.
The long tables and carts were filled with all kinds of food. The aroma of truffle chocolate suffusing the hazelnut cakes, the tender pan-seared beef sizzling with oil, and the air was filled with the scent of red and white wine.
He found a freshly brewed fragrant black tea in a corner.
The teacup touched his lips lightly; after blowing to cool it, he moistened his throat and tongue.
The coming-of-age ceremony for the second heir in line of the Pei family was quite a large-scale banquet. It was certain that, apart from Pei Guangji, all his other mission targets were within this manor, scattered in different areas.
Xin Hexue lowered his eyelashes, hiding the emotions in his eyes.
K thought he was still upset from being scared by the bug earlier, and quietly said, [Puurr purr.]
Xin Hexue: […Shut up.]
K quietly deleted all the high EQ comfort quotes from its database.
His earlier words reminded Xin Hexue again of the black beetle he had just seen, stirring up unpleasant memories.
In his second life, Xin Hexue was reborn into the womb of an abandoned consort in the cold palace of an ancient dynasty.
Perhaps because his soul was incompatible with the world, he rarely had moments of lucidity during his first eighteen years and was mostly in a dazed state. And dragging along this weak body… in short, he was a foolish, sickly, and fragile Fifth Prince.
His mother, who gave birth to him in the cold palace, had long fallen out of favor, and the emperor was cruel and ruthless. Although the palace people did not dare to openly abuse them, in secret, their rations were often deducted or swallowed, and life was very difficult.
Even though his mother endured in every way, there were still people who refused to let them be.
In Xin Hexue’s memory, when he was young, he was once locked into the Five Poisons Room by palace servants. The Five Poisons Room was a place inside the palace used to punish offending palace staff. It was a dark, narrow room, filled with centipedes, snakes, scorpions, geckos, and toads.
He didn’t have a very clear memory of it, because he was rarely conscious at that time. He only remembered being locked inside for two days and one night, until his mother, looking haggard and exhausted, finally found him.
After that, he had a high fever for half a month, and his physical condition worsened day by day.
Although he did not remember exactly what had happened, after that, he developed a subconscious fear and vomiting reaction toward the five poisonous animals, and even insects covered with shells that resembled scorpions.
It was a completely automatic bodily response, having developed to a level almost equivalent to post-traumatic stress disorder.
Xin Hexue took another sip of tea, swallowing down the feeling of discomfort.
………
Kirk had just gotten the job of being a waiter at the Pei family’s manor last week. At the banquet, he was busy serving when the senior who was responsible for guiding him suddenly pulled him aside and handed him a small packet of powder, instructing him, “Alright, Mr. Gerald is resting in room 224 on the second floor. According to the schedule, his lover should have arrived at the banquet hall. You need to add this stimulant powder into the wine, deliver it to Mr. Gerald’s lover, and then lead him to the room.”
The senior added, “Move quickly. Mr. Gerald is a trusted confidant of Old Master Pei and holds a high-ranking position at the Federal Security Bureau.”
Kirk was still a young man who had just entered society. He said blankly, “Isn’t this not very good? Also, I don’t even know who Mr. Gerald’s lover is…”
The butler was waving at him from a distance; there were new tasks to attend to. The senior only left him with vague information, “Mr. Gerald’s lover is called… damn, I forgot too. Anyway, it’s a typical Oriental bloodline. Their names are all complicated. I’ve seen him once; in any case, he’s an extremely beautiful Omega.”
Beautiful, typical Oriental bloodline…
Kirk had no choice but to carry the glass of red wine with the dissolved powder and search around the banquet hall on the first floor, looking for someone with black hair and black eyes.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up.
In the far corner, a stunningly beautiful young man stood tall and graceful. The light fell on his face, and his drooping eyelashes cast a light shadow.
Kirk hurried over, but he stumbled on the red carpet underfoot, and the red wine splashed all over the young man’s clothes before he could dodge.
Realizing he had caused a huge disaster, Kirk panicked and bowed, “I’m truly sorry, sir, truly sorry!”
Seeing him apologizing repeatedly, Xin Hexue sighed, “It’s fine.”
He took a handkerchief to wipe the dripping wine off himself. The back of his hand was also wet, and even his vest and shirt were soaked through with red wine.
Kirk still remembered the senior’s instructions, “Are you Mr. Gerald’s lover? Mr. Gerald is waiting for you in room 224 on the second floor.”
Xin Hexue frowned and sized up the strange waiter, “I don’t know Gerald.”
Upon closer observation, Kirk realized the young man was a Beta. There was not even the slightest hint of Omega pheromones on him, which made him even more flustered, “I’m so sorry, sir, so sorry! Please go to the washroom to handle this! I’ll ask the butler to bring you clean clothes!”
Left with no choice, Xin Hexue accepted the current situation and followed Kirk to the washroom in the side corridor on the first floor.
It was separated into dry and wet zones, clean and bright, with a faint scent of high-end aromatherapy in the air.
Xin Hexue closed the door, but suddenly realized that something was wrong with his body.
He looked at the mirror that covered the wall above the sink. Under the bright lights, he could clearly see that his skin was flushing red from within.
‘An allergic reaction?’
He lightly touched the skin on the side of his neck. His breathing became hot, and his head gradually grew dizzy.
He braced himself against the sink.
After realizing what was happening, he turned on the faucet and scrubbed the back of his hand, the part that had just come into contact with the wine.
But it was already too late.
K: [That glass of wine was wrong.]
Obviously, that glass of wine had been drugged, and it was a strong one.
Xin Hexue’s reaction was even faster and more intense than the last time Xin Bao had drugged him.
A drug that could take effect merely through skin contact reminded Xin Hexue of something he had once heard about, a type of potent drug sold on the black market. If the desire induced by it was not relieved in time, the victim would lose consciousness and die.
Essentially, it was a kind of poison.
Yes, his various mission targets were scattered around different locations within the manor, but he absolutely could not approach any of them. That would disrupt his plans.
He needed to find someone who was obedient enough.
Xin Hexue forced his heavy mind to think quickly.
However, beyond that, there was an even more important factor.
His body simply could not withstand intense physical activity; he would fall apart.
Thinking about it, both paths ahead were dead ends.
The communicator’s notification sound went off.
[Xi Zhengqing: Where are you? Tell me, I’ll come find you, don’t move around.]
[Xi Zhengqing: The security team found someone unconscious outside the garden. There are traces left by a mutant nearby. It’s very dangerous.]
[Xi Zhengqing: Tell me your location and I’ll come find you.]
Xin Hexue wondered if this person had forgotten to switch accounts.
His head was too dizzy. He cupped water from the faucet in his palm and splashed it on his face, regaining a moment of clarity.
K: [I checked. The points are just enough to redeem the antidote.]
Xin Hexue: “Points?”
K: [After the love value exceeds fifty, every additional point will also generate points that can be used to purchase items from the system mall.]
K: [Currently, the points are seventy-eight. The special antidote costs seventy-five points to redeem.]
Xin Hexue did not hesitate, “Redeem it.”
………
The Huozhong organization, which led the mutant resistance activities, had assigned a task to the Cutter this time: to eliminate Gerald, the official from the Federal Security Bureau. Half a year ago, Gerald had proposed a plan to mobilize the army to completely exterminate the mutant species.
And just over a month ago, following orders, the Cutter had dealt with his eldest son, Cook. Now, it was Gerald’s turn.
The Cutter, devoid of human concepts of right and wrong, was merely the organization’s most efficient killing machine. His blade swung at targets without emotion.
Currently, among the mutants, only the Cutter could infiltrate the core area.
One of his abilities was to possess children, minors, or mechanical bodies with weak wills. Of course, those he temporarily possessed were not his targets so he would not harm them.
This time, the Cutter’s operation had encountered some mishaps. He had been spotted. Even though he immediately knocked the person unconscious and left the scene, traces were still quickly found, and now the security team was searching for him everywhere.
The Cutter crawled forward through the ventilation ducts.
The ducts were dark, cold and confined, with only slivers of light shining through when he passed by a vent.
The pipes were complicated and intertwined, and for his size, the space was truly a bit narrow.
The Cutter was more than two meters tall, and that was not even counting the bone-spurred tail.
Moreover, the jet-black armor-like shell covered his entire body, including his face. A pair of jagged scorpion pincers, and these innate traits forced him to crawl slowly through the ventilation pipes to avoid making attention-grabbing noises.
He also had to repeatedly check the ventilation openings to confirm Gerald’s room.
The wind carried over a faint scent of green sandalwood.
The Cutter’s spirit lifted.
He thought of his master.
The young man had named him Number One.
His master was here.
The Cutter destroyed the cover of the vent.
He leapt down from the ceiling, his overly large body casting down a pitch-black shadow.
Xin Hexue’s condition looked very bad.
His cheeks were wet, transparent droplets clinging to his eyebrows, eyelashes, and the tip of his nose.
The once meticulously arranged suit was now in disarray, the jacket already shed.
The snow-white shirt and vest had buttons undone, the sleeves rolled up once, revealing faintly pink-toned, jade-colored skin.
He was bracing himself against the edge of the sink. The shirt’s creases were stretched tight by his thin and sharp frame. He glanced toward the direction of the disturbance, expression cold and guarded, but the corners of his eyes were tinged red.
The Cutter observed his master’s state worriedly. His nerves made him still clumsy in using human language, so he waved his scorpion pincers in an attempt to gesture, the sharp pincers flashing with a cold gleam.
Then, he saw Xin Hexue’s face turn pale as he clutched the edge of the sink, retching uncontrollably.
As if suffering from some pain that made his stomach convulse.
A round white pill fell from his mouth. And because the faucet had not been turned off, the gurgling stream of water flushed it away, carrying the antidote down into the drain!
