Then came the deep, rhythmic thud of a powerful heartbeat.
Unknowingly, all attention shifted away from the conversation between the two men.
Zhou Yi, who had been completely ignored, looked as if he’d just swallowed a live toad—his face had gone deathly pale.
It was one thing for Zhou Yanxing to behave this way; after all, he was just a commoner favored by the Crown Prince. But this Omega—how dare he ignore him too?
If this was instigated by the Crown Prince, then this whole scene was nothing short of a public slap to his face.
Just an Omega? That’s all?
Zhou Yi stood up with a sneer that made everyone’s skin crawl. “Hey, I’m talking to you. You think it’s okay to be this rude in front of my older brother? What, no one taught you basic manners—”
Mid-sentence, he released a burst of pheromones meant to assert dominance, and reached out toward the back of the young man’s neck.
But before his fingers could make contact, a sharp zing split the air—a flash of silver arced like lightning through his vision.
A chilling breeze swept over his arm. The next second, the tip of an icy, slender blade was pressed against his throat, close enough to sting.
Yet what truly terrified Zhou Yi wasn’t the blade or the hand that held it so steadily against his neck—it was the youth nestled in the Crown Prince’s arms, who had finally turned his face to look at him.
Those beautiful, jet-black eyes held a cold, razor-sharp light.
Like staring at a corpse.
Indifferent. Deadly.
“……”
Impossible… He’s just an Omega—how could he withstand his pheromones? No… it was more like he didn’t sense them at all!
Zhou Yanxing, leaning lazily against the chair back, watched it all unfold with amusement flickering in his eyes. Only when Zhou Yi began to tremble did he lazily pat the youth’s waist, a silent signal to ease up.
“Just a joke—no need to scare him like that. My dear little brother is very brave, after all.”
Zhou Yi didn’t even dare breathe. His entire body was drenched in cold sweat. He was terrified that if he made even the slightest sound, that sword would pierce straight through his throat.
After a long moment, the youth slowly withdrew the blade, slipping it back to his waist with a quiet, nonchalant hum.
Zhou Yi nearly pissed himself.
That was just “scaring” him? That was a genuine murder attempt! But now that Zhou Yanxing had brushed it off as a joke, if he pursued the matter any further, he’d look like the one overreacting.
His sleeve had been cleanly sliced in two, drifting to the floor in pathetic scraps, revealing his bare arm. For a member of the royal family, it was humiliating—ridiculous, even.
Zhou Yanxing drawled lazily, “Oops. Accidentally cut your sleeve. Not exactly presentable like that. Better go change before the banquet tonight.”
Zhou Yi only wanted to flee. But the humiliation of being put in his place by a commoner made his body tremble all over. He pointed a shaking finger at Chi Zhan and snarled through gritted teeth, “I don’t want Moy anymore.”
“I. Want. Him!”
It finally dawned on Zhou Yi—Zhou Yanxing had been muddying the waters all along. This Omega was clearly leagues above Moy. Was he the one Zhou Yanxing truly had his eyes on? Had Zhou Yi just happened to stumble upon the truth?
Even if that wasn’t the case, he was going to take this man back—if only to repay the shame he’d just endured.
But the moment those words left his mouth, the faint curve at Zhou Yanxing’s lips vanished.
His fingers circled the rim of his cup, but he said nothing.
Had Zhou Yi calmed down, he might’ve noticed the subtle shift in the air—the atmosphere now thick with tension. But clouded by rage, all he could think about was lashing out, missing entirely the undercurrent in his brother’s expression.
“What’s the big deal? He’s just an Omega. I’ll give you Moy back, and you give him to me. It’s not like you’re short on lovers, right? What’s one more? Father would approve too.”
“Would he now.” Zhou Yanxing’s gaze turned ice cold. “You’re right. Father probably would approve. But…Why don’t you run along and tell him? Be a good little boy and tattle to Daddy.” Zhou Yanxing’s tone turned mocking. “Though I doubt… you’ll get the chance.”
“What do you mean!?”
Zhou Yanxing chuckled darkly.
“Worst case? You’ll end up like that sleeve—cut in half and tossed into a trash incinerator. Whether you’re shredded or cremated… well, that depends on your luck.”
As he said this, Zhou Yi felt a crushing weight settle over him. His knees nearly buckled.
Zhou Yanxing had released his own pheromones—hundreds of times stronger than Zhou Yi’s—and laced with unmistakable killing intent.
“Are… are you threatening me?” Zhou Yi gasped, struggling to breathe. The fear spread like ice through his veins, locking his body in place. His hand, still pointing at Chi Zhan, was trembling.
“Zhou Yanxing… we’re brothers! You’d do this over an Omega—?”
“Try pointing at him again.” Zhou Yanxing’s smile was cruel. “Say another word, and you’ll find out exactly how serious I am.”
Zhou Yi shuddered violently.
He finally realized Zhou Yanxing wasn’t bluffing.
The man was dead serious.
He didn’t dare say another word. Turning on his heel, he fled the room, terrified that if he lingered a moment longer, Zhou Yanxing would actually kill him—brother or not.
Once Zhou Yi was gone, Zhou Yanxing casually retracted his pheromones, as though nothing had happened. He looked down at Chi Zhan and asked, “That scare you?”
“…Your Highness, did I do something wrong?” Chi Zhan asked quietly, a hint of unease in his voice.
When Zhou Yi had reached for the back of his neck, Chi Zhan had been lost in thought. But the moment he sensed that repulsive aura, his body moved before his brain caught up. On instinct, he’d drawn his sword.
“Nothing serious.” Zhou Yanxing leaned his chin against one hand, head tilted as he studied him. “It’s not like you actually did anything to him.”
“……”
Not anything? He’d just held a blade to a royal’s throat.
Striking a member of the royal family was a capital offense. A literal death sentence.
“…If he really does report it, won’t that put you in a tough spot?”
From their exchange just now, Chi Zhan had pieced together a few things. It wasn’t exactly a secret anymore that the second prince was eyeing the throne.
“Let him. Just a child playing pretend—who’d believe him anyway?” Zhou Yanxing’s gaze lingered on Chi Zhan with amusement. “Are you worried about me?”
“…When did you get here?” Chi Zhan deflected, trying to sound nonchalant.
“When you were sneaking around dropping off your little gift.” Zhou Yanxing picked up the nameplate and twirled it between his fingers. “Now hand it back…Is it that you don’t want to be my Secretary?”
