“Your Highness, there are still no Omegas in the gene database with a compatibility rate of 95% or higher with you.” Zhuo Feiyue swallowed hard, his voice gradually lowering.
Luo Wenchuan seemed to have anticipated this result, his eyes showing no fluctuation. Only his fingers involuntarily tightened.
Zhuo Feiyue cautiously asked, “Your Highness, the doctors said only the pheromones of an Omega with over 95% compatibility won’t trigger your allergies. Are you certain you were truly exposed to Yun Xingze’s pheromones that day?”
Luo Wenchuan nodded imperceptibly.
“And you truly didn’t have an allergic reaction?” Zhuo Feiyue pressed.
After a moment of silence, Luo Wenchuan responded with a deep “Mm.”
Zhuo Feiyue pondered for several seconds before frowning. “If you’re truly not allergic to Yun Xingze’s pheromones, then why can’t we find his match in the gene database? Could his pheromones still be bound to Chi Yu’s?”
“Still bound?” Luo Wenchuan looked up at Zhuo Feiyue. “Didn’t they already break off their engagement?”
“Breaking off the engagement doesn’t necessarily mean their pheromone bond is dissolved,” Zhuo Feiyue scratched his head. “What if Yun Xingze still harbors feelings for Chi Yu in his heart? Even if he doesn’t, the Yun and Chi families probably wouldn’t casually dissolve their pheromone bond.”
At this point, Zhuo Feiyue couldn’t help feeling regretful. It was rare for Luo Wenchuan to encounter an Omega whose pheromones didn’t trigger his allergies.
“Should I help you ask Yun Xingze about it?” Zhuo Feiyue tentatively suggested.
Luo Wenchuan frowned, then closed his eyes briefly before speaking in a calm voice, “Forget it. Let’s pretend this never happened.”
With that, Luo Wenchuan turned and left, his tall, straight-backed figure as imposing as ever.
Watching Luo Wenchuan’s retreating figure, Zhuo Feiyue felt complicated emotions.
The second prince had been sent away from the imperial palace as a child, growing up anonymously on a barren planet without companionship, living a life constantly on the edge of danger.
For a long time, Luo Wenchuan had neither familial love nor friendship. Compounded by his pheromone allergies, he couldn’t even approach Omegas after coming of age, earning him the reputation of being “Omega-phobic.”
Now, having finally met an Omega whose pheromones didn’t trigger his allergies, he still couldn’t find a match in the gene database.
It was like seeing hope before his eyes, only for it to burst like a bubble.
Zhuo Feiyue sighed.
After the principal agreed to Luo Wenchuan’s request, Su Zinan and Chi Yu were made to write “confessions of wrongdoing” and “letters of apology,” which were published on the forum and their personal star-net pages.
The moment Su Zinan and Chi Yu’s apology letters were posted, they were met with widespread condemnation.
“Get lost, what good are apologies now?”
“Did you think about the consequences before acting? How vile.”
“Stop with the fake sincerity!”
Additionally, Su Zinan and Chi Yu had to read their apology letters to Yun Xingze over the school broadcast system once daily.
Su Zinan read until his voice grew hoarse, earning an eye roll from the broadcast station manager beside him: “Stop pretending.”
On this day, after finishing his apology, Chi Yu added at the end: “Xingze, I know I failed to cherish you in the past. I hope this can be an opportunity for us to mend the rift between us.”
The broadcast echoed through every corner of the campus via small robots stationed around the school.
Yun Xingze was in the modification room, engrossed in his work on the mecha. He had been listening to Chi Yu’s apology letter being read aloud, the voice growing hoarse from exhaustion, clearly suffering through the ordeal. At first, Yun Xingze had felt rather pleased, but the latter part of the message made him frown instantly.
Since when did apologies come with hidden agendas?
Because the modifications to the Twin-Star Mecha were complex, Yun Xingze needed to draft detailed blueprints. He brushed off Chi Yu’s interruption and continued focusing intently on his sketches.
Just then, an uninvited guest entered the modification room.
Chi Yu had just come from the broadcast studio. It was nearly noon, and he had specifically bought Yun Xingze’s favorite cake early that morning, hoping to surprise him.
Walking up behind Yun Xingze, Chi Yu cleared his throat, his voice rough: “Guess who it is.”
Yun Xingze’s hand paused slightly over the blueprint, his back visibly stiffening.
He didn’t even bother turning around, his voice icy: “Get lost.”
Hearing this, Chi Yu’s fingers tightened around the cake box. He stared at Yun Xingze’s back, his handsome brows furrowing deeply. “Xingze, my apology letter was twice as long as Su Zinan’s. I read it until my voice gave out. Why won’t you forgive me?”
“Unnecessary,” Yun Xingze replied coldly, still facing away. “We have nothing to do with each other anymore.”
Chi Yu pressed his lips together, lowering his gaze as he murmured, “Xingze, I truly didn’t know about the things Su Zinan did. If I had, I would never have let him hurt you. Before, I didn’t realize how amazing you were, but now I know you’re a thousand, no, a million times better than him.”
His tone was earnest, his attitude sincere.
Yun Xingze glanced back at him, irritation flashing in his eyes. “What does it matter to you whether I’m good or not?”
Chi Yu lifted his gaze, his Adam’s apple bobbing as if his heart were being squeezed. His voice grew even rougher. “Xingze, I’m not asking you to forgive me right away. But at least give me a chance to prove myself. Please?”
With that, Chi Yu took a step forward, looking down at Yun Xingze seated at the desk. His sharp eyes were filled with remorse and determination. “Hit me if you want. Yell at me. I won’t fight back.”
Yun Xingze was tempted to punch him, but that would probably just make Chi Yu think he still cared.
So, he replied coldly, “Just leave when you’re done.”
Chi Yu’s lips thinned. Realizing Yun Xingze wouldn’t accept his apology, he hesitated before holding out the cake. “This… I bought it on a whim. For you.”
It was a handmade vanilla cream cake, something Yun Xingze used to love. But back then, Chi Yu had always nagged him to cut back on sweets and exercise more.
Chi Yu had waited in line for hours that morning to get it. In this era, handmade food was rare, highly sought after, and expensive.
“I don’t eat sweets,” Yun Xingze said, eyeing the cake without a trace of delight, only disdain. “I work out now.”
Chi Yu froze.
He hadn’t expected those words.
They were the exact same ones he had once demanded of Yun Xingze. But hearing them now, guilt flooded his chest.
Chi Yu opened his mouth, but no words came out. His outstretched hand hung stiffly in the air, unacknowledged, until it ached from the strain.
Yun Xingze continued sketching his design, the surroundings growing quiet. After about ten minutes, he assumed Chi Yu had already left. Subconsciously glancing back, he was surprised to find Chi Yu still standing in the same spot, head lowered with an unreadable expression.
“…Xingze, do you really have to be like this?” Chi Yu’s voice was so hoarse it was barely audible. “If you still think I’m insincere, tell me what you want me to do.”
“Chi Yu, I don’t want to forgive you, nor do I want anything from you.” Yun Xingze frowned seriously. “I simply don’t like you anymore, understand?”
Chi Yu froze.
His eyes widened in shock as he stared at Yun Xingze, lips trembling slightly. It took him a long moment before he could speak again. “You, what are you saying?”
Never in his wildest dreams had Chi Yu imagined Yun Xingze would outright say he didn’t like him.
Those simple words felt like ice-cold water poured over Chi Yu’s heart, making his breath catch.
Yun Xingze looked at him expressionlessly. “I said, I don’t like you.”
At that moment, Chi Yu felt as though he’d lost something precious he’d possessed for over a decade; something he’d never properly cherished before.
The old Yun Xingze would always follow Chi Yu around, telling him “I like you.”
But back then, Chi Yu had only found him annoying.
Now, Chi Yu was filled with bitter regret for his past behavior.
“Xingze,” Chi Yu closed his eyes briefly, the rims slightly reddened as he asked hoarsely, “why… why don’t you like me anymore?”
Yun Xingze found this guy utterly ridiculous.
The original owner had liked Chi Yu and treated him so well, yet was never appreciated.
Now Chi Yu was asking “why don’t you like me anymore.”
It was truly laughable.
“No particular reason.” Yun Xingze’s tone remained flat. “You can keep the cake for yourself.”
With that, he completely ignored Chi Yu.
Chi Yu’s throat felt parched as he watched Yun Xingze’s retreating figure. He desperately wanted to rush forward and demand, “Are you lying?”
But Yun Xingze’s earlier gaze had made it clear. There truly seemed to be no affection left for Chi Yu.
Forcing himself to regain composure, Chi Yu picked up the cake box and left the modification room. His fingers gripped the cake box handle so tightly it dug painfully into his palm, yet he seemed completely numb to the discomfort.
At the entrance, he encountered Luo Wenchuan.
Chi Yu quickly schooled his gloomy expression, frowning at Luo Wenchuan. “What are you doing here?”
Luo Wenchuan replied impassively, “Here to see my mecha engineer.”
Hearing “mecha engineer,” Chi Yu’s expression stiffened momentarily. Pressing his lips together, his jawline tensed with visible jealousy. “Luo Wenchuan, just how much are you paying him to be your mecha engineer?”
Luo Wenchuan wasn’t in any hurry, answering leisurely, “Probably more than you.”
Noticing Chi Yu leaving the modification room with a poor expression, he thought to himself seems Yun Xingze didn’t give him any preferential treatment.
How could Yun Xingze ever have liked someone like this?
Chi Yu gritted his teeth at the response, glaring at Luo Wenchuan with hostility as the atmosphere between them turned frosty.
Seeing Luo Wenchuan’s composed demeanor, Chi Yu thought there’s no way Yun Xingze would switch affections to Luo Wenchuan, right?
How could Yun Xingze possibly like someone so intimidating?
“I don’t know what your intentions are with Xingze,” Chi Yu felt the need to assert his claim, saying coldly to Luo Wenchuan, “but unfortunately, the person he likes is me. There’s no way he’d ever like you.”
Upon hearing this, a flicker of emotion passed through Luo Wenchuan’s eyes, but he quickly concealed it. Raising an eyebrow, he asked, “After all the despicable things you’ve done, are you sure he still likes you?”
Chi Yu was momentarily at a loss for words, his fists clenching, but he soon regained his composure. Feigning calmness, he retorted, “There are just some misunderstandings between us, but I still have a place in his heart. As an outsider, you’d better not have any ulterior motives toward him.”
Luo Wenchuan stared at him with icy eyes, clearly unconvinced by his words.
“This cake was given to me by Xingze,” Chi Yu said, lifting the cake in his hand with a smug smile. “I’ve always been the one he likes. Even if we’ve had our disagreements, only my pheromones can achieve perfect compatibility with his.”
