After all, Luo Wenchuan paled in comparison to him.
“It’s been a long time since you’ve worn these clothes, hasn’t it?” Luo Yi said with a gentle smile. “I’m happy to see you back here.”
Luo Wenchuan lifted his gaze, his tone indifferent. “Is that so? Thank you, then.”
“However, I heard your pheromone allergy still hasn’t improved.” Luo Yi looked meaningfully at Luo Wenchuan. “Who knows if you’ll even be able to match with an Omega. As your elder brother, I’m quite concerned for you.”
The implication was clear. If Luo Wenchuan couldn’t even match with an Omega, his threat in the competition for the throne would naturally diminish.
Luo Wenchuan’s fingers paused briefly before resuming their natural state: “No need for your concern.”
Luo Yi smiled faintly: “I’m not worried, but I think Father and Mother might be.”
At that moment, a female voice interrupted Luo Yi’s words:
“If that’s the case, there’s no need for you to speak on their behalf, is there?”
The speaker was Third Princess Luo Di.
Princess Luo Di was an Omega female, slightly younger than Luo Wenchuan, straightforward and frank by nature, with no interest in competing for power with her brothers. She was usually passionate about studying mechas.
However, Luo Di’s mental energy wasn’t strong enough to pilot a mecha, so it remained just a hobby.
Luo Yi and Luo Di had never gotten along. His expression stiffened momentarily before he maintained his composure and left the room.
“You have time to visit today?” Luo Wenchuan raised an eyebrow at Luo Di.
“Of course, I’d come for something as important as the heir announcement,” Luo Di replied with a smile. “By the way, I watched the NCLM competition your performance was amazing.”
“You’re still as interested in mechas as ever,” Luo Wenchuan said slowly. “It’s a shame you can’t pilot one.”
“Yeah.” Luo Di lowered her eyes briefly before revealing a mysterious smile. “But I heard the Research Institute is developing a mental energy amplifier, and it’s close to completion.”
A flicker of surprise crossed Luo Wenchuan’s eyes. After a moment, he said, “You’re quite well-informed.”
“Not many know about this,” Luo Di whispered. “I had to pester Uncle Cheng Yuan for a long time before he told me.”
“Developing something like that can’t be easy,” Luo Wenchuan frowned slightly. “It might take a long time.”
“You’re underestimating the Research Institute,” Luo Di continued. “Did you know they recently recruited a genius, someone godlike? I heard there’ll be major developments soon.”
Luo Wenchuan arched an eyebrow. “Is that so? Then the mecha world is about to change.”
“But I have no idea what this genius looks like,” Luo Di said, her eyes brimming with admiration. “Who do you think could single-handedly shock the entire Research Institute?”
Luo Wenchuan was momentarily taken aback. For some reason, Luo Di’s words made him think of Yun Xingze.
Like Luo Di, Yun Xingze loved mechas, but his knowledge far surpassed hers. In Luo Wenchuan’s eyes, he was already at genius level.
If Yun Xingze could join the Mecha Research Institute, he wouldn’t be inferior to anyone.
Meanwhile, elsewhere.
Accompanied by his family, Yun Xingze arrived at the Polis Hotel.
This high-end hotel was exclusive, and only the wealthy or influential could reserve private rooms here.
Yun Changsheng had insisted Yun Xingze dress formally, saying it was to give the Chi family some face.
Yun Xingze casually pulled a suit from his wardrobe. He couldn’t care less about giving the Chi family any face.
Yet his rigorous training had sculpted his physique, making him tall and lean, the perfect clothes hanger.
Standing next to his alpha younger brother Yun Wu, he didn’t appear the least bit inferior.
After arriving at the hotel, Yun Changsheng took Yun Xingze to a lounge and asked him to wait there until the banquet began.
Yun Xingze set down his backpack, which was packed with luggage. He planned to leave the Imperial Star with Luo Wenchuan right after the banquet ended. He didn’t want to stay a moment longer.
It was almost five in the evening.
Unbeknownst to Yun Xingze, guests were streaming into the hotel lobby at that very moment.
Yun Changsheng, Chi Yin, and others stood at the entrance, continuously accepting congratulations from the attendees.
“Ah, I never thought your two families would actually form an alliance through marriage. Congratulations!”
“It wasn’t easy for these two kids to get engaged. They’ll surely have a long and happy future together.”
“By the way, why do we only see Chi Yu? Where’s Xingze?”
Hearing this, Yun Changsheng replied, “Omegas are naturally shy, so he’s waiting upstairs.”
The guests entered the banquet hall on the tenth floor, which was lavishly decorated. It was clear Chi Yin had been preparing for this event for a long time.
Chi Yu could barely contain his excitement.
He was about to get engaged to Yun Xingze!
It felt like a dream.
While Yun Changsheng and Chi Yu were busy entertaining guests, no one noticed Qin Shuang quietly slipping away from the crowd.
Yun Xingze sat in the room on the ninth floor, taking the opportunity to review the design schematics for the connector on his tablet.
Suddenly, the door opened, and Qin Shuang walked in.
Yun Xingze was slightly startled. He closed his tablet and looked at her. “Has the banquet started?”
A flicker of unease passed through Qin Shuang’s eyes. After a moment, she closed the door, took a deep breath, as if suppressing some emotion.
Yun Xingze frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“Xingze,” Qin Shuang closed her eyes briefly before looking at him again, speaking slowly, “there’s something I need to tell you.”
Seeing her expression, Yun Xingze suddenly felt a sense of foreboding.
Under Yun Xingze’s wary gaze, Qin Shuang continued,
“What you’re about to attend isn’t just a banquet, it’s your engagement party with Chi Yu.”
Her voice was soft, trembling slightly, but in the confined space, it hit Yun Xingze like a bomb, leaving him wide-eyed in shock.
A few seconds later, Yun Xingze exclaimed in disbelief,
“Engagement party?!”
His voice was filled with shock and agitation.
Seeing his reaction, Qin Shuang quickly said, “Xingze, I’m telling you this so you can prepare yourself mentally.”
“Are you joking?!” Yun Xingze’s frown deepened, his eyes filled with resistance. “I already clearly rejected the Chi family yesterday! Without my consent, how could an engagement party even happen?!”
“I’m not joking!” Qin Shuang said urgently. “At the five o’clock royal press conference, besides announcing the heir’s identity, they’re also implementing a new law nationwide. Highly compatible alphas and omegas must be together. ”
Her words struck Yun Xingze like a bolt from the blue.
He stood there, mouth agape, unable to process it.
“That’s impossible…” Yun Xingze muttered blankly.
Though he didn’t want to believe it, the experiences of Su Zinan and Eugene reminded him.
This wasn’t entirely out of the question.
The previous “AO mandatory bonding” regulation had only been enforced on barren planets to ensure birth rates.
Now, with tensions rising between the Empire and the Federation, expanding the scope of the ordinance seemed like the most natural course of action.
Qin Shuang watched Yun Xingze’s stunned expression with a pang of guilt. Pressing her lips together, she said softly, “Your father planned to tell you this after you entered the banquet. But I… I didn’t want to deceive you about this.”
“Though I’ve always believed you should marry Chi Yu. I still think you have the right to know before the engagement party begins.”
Yun Xingze had recovered from his shock. He looked at Qin Shuang and let out a cold laugh. “So I should thank you, is that it?”
Qin Shuang knew Yun Xingze would hate her—hate both the Yun and Chi families.
But she had no other choice.
Lowering her eyes, Qin Shuang murmured, “Don’t be angry, Xingze. ”
Yun Xingze knew anger was pointless now. His mind raced, searching for a way to escape the hotel.
But Qin Shuang quickly discerned his thoughts. “Don’t even think about running. Once the law takes effect, your pheromones will be bound to Chi Yu’s. He’s your highest compatibility Alpha by far.”
Unlike her usual tone when persuading Yun Xingze to marry Chi Yu, her words now carried an unmistakable note of resignation.
Yun Xingze clenched his fists. He never imagined something so absurd could happen to him.
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he stared at Qin Shuang. “So this is why you tricked me into coming back? This is what you wanted to see?” His voice dripped with loathing and pain.
“I had no say in this.” Qin Shuang closed her eyes, her voice growing fainter. “I urged you to marry Chi Yu for the family’s sake, your father made me do it. Telling you before the banquet is the most I could do.”
“Qin Shuang,” Yun Xingze said solemnly, locking eyes with her, “do you truly want to see your own son forced into marriage?”
Qin Shuang froze.
