Chapter 32
By the time Xia Ze and Qi Jing emerged from the changing room with disheveled clothes, the night had grown chilly. Those who noticed the bite marks on Xia Ze’s neck understood that General Qi’s abnormal pheromones had been pacified by his Omega.
Such intense abnormalities, calmed so quickly?
It seemed their pheromone compatibility must be exceptionally high.
After Xia Ze and Qi Jing left, military personnel swiftly moved in to clean up all residual pheromones, ensuring not a trace remained for anyone to collect.
The Omega changing room, however, required no cleaning—it was already spotless.
Ding Ruijie, Ding Rumu, Lei Chen, and Xu Chuan took away all the rare roses, along with the floral arrangements stored in the cabinets.
These had been the source of the banquet’s chaos.
No one had anticipated that a grand rose banquet would turn into a crime scene.
Among those directly arrested was Miss Dimoline of the Dier family. As the host of the banquet, she was the first to face consequences.
Dimoline screamed, “Why are you arresting me? I’m from the Dier family! How dare you disrespect me!”
“Father! Mother! Come save me!”
The Duke of Dier wasn’t on the main planet, he had been traveling to other planets recently.
The Duchess of Dier, meanwhile, was trembling in fear. Behind her stood that strange servant, who shook his head and whispered, “If you step forward now, all our efforts will be wasted.”
Right.
If she intervened, it would all be for nothing!
This was just a stepdaughter her arrest meant nothing. Only once this stepdaughter was gone would all the Dier family’s children truly be her own.
The Duchess’s gaze swept over Yi Song. Despite his innocent appearance, he sent chills down her spine.
This entire scheme had been orchestrated by Yi Song, who had even coached her on how to manipulate Dimoline into hosting this banquet.
What a terrifying man.
And yet, he could stand there as if nothing had happened!
Moreover, he had known—that one particular fragrance among the ten rare roses, when combined with the floral scent in the changing rooms, would create a pheromone-inducing agent.
All they had to do was ensure Qi Jing and Xia Ze smelled the roses before sending them separately to the changing rooms, and they would inevitably lose control.
For Xia Ze, other Alphas had been prepared to put on a show for the crowd, demonstrating how to “comfort” General Qi’s Omega.
For Qi Jing, Yi Song himself would step in.
Afterward, they could collect both men’s pheromones.
No matter what kind of compatibility tests were run or with whom, the results would be under their control.
Outwardly, Yi Song pretended to be shocked by the events, but inwardly, he was cursing endlessly.
The plan had been on the verge of success.
But Qi Jing had sensed something amiss, immediately suppressing the effects with his psychic energy and sending word to his subordinates to rescue Xia Ze.
But did Xia Ze even need rescuing?
If Qi Jing’s pheromones had indeed been induced into chaos…
Then Xia Ze hadn’t been affected at all!
Either he had noticed in time, or his suppressants were too potent.
Or—he wasn’t even an Omega!
The last possibility was quickly dismissed. If he weren’t an Omega, how had Qi Jing been pacified after pulling him into the changing room?
Upon reflection…
The biggest flaw in their plan had been Xia Ze.
If he hadn’t reacted so swiftly and rushed to Qi Jing’s side, their scheme would likely have succeeded.
After all, without an Omega’s comfort, Qi Jing would have been left vulnerable.
“Xia Ze.”
“Just where did this Omega come from?”
Yi Song muttered, his eyes burning with madness.
Returning to the Qi family villa, Xia Ze was still held tightly in Qi Jing’s arms as they went straight to Qi Jing’s bedroom.
Even when both of them were lying on the bed, Qi Jing still didn’t let go.
Xia Ze, who had excellent academic performance, knew that this was a pseudo-rut period triggered in an Alpha after pheromone induction, lasting anywhere between two to twenty-four hours.
Xia Ze sighed. If he wanted to hold him, so be it, as long as he was okay.
Seeing the boy not resisting, Qi Jing murmured in a hoarse voice, “So obedient.”
“Stay this obedient forever, okay?”
Qi Jing hugged him tighter and tighter. Their formal attire was still on, and perhaps feeling uncomfortable, Qi Jing reached out and said, “Take it off, okay?”
It was fine in theory, but taking it off, what would that even mean?
Having been in this world for a while now, he had come to understand a little about the differences between Alphas and Omegas. They couldn’t just sleep like this.
But under General Qi’s intense gaze, Xia Ze found himself unable to refuse.
With such a handsome face right in front of him, eyes seemingly focused only on him—who wouldn’t be bewitched?
Xia Ze nodded nervously, feeling General Qi’s fingers undo his formal wear before being pulled into another embrace.
Only the outer layer was removed.
Thank goodness.
Their scents intertwined, and Xia Ze’s pheromones had actually been briefly tempted for a second. Holding out until now had already been a struggle.
Qi Jing, who had forcibly suppressed his pheromones with his strong mental discipline, wasn’t faring much better either.
When Butler Qi came upstairs to check on them, he found the young master and Xia Ze peacefully asleep in each other’s arms and let out a small sigh of relief.
Let them rest for now, he would handle everything else.
As the Qi family’s butler, Butler Qi was no ordinary man. He had once served in the military, and even now, many in the armed forces still respected him.
Descending the stairs, Butler Qi found the four adjutants already waiting.
They quickly uncovered the truth, arresting everyone involved.
The Alpha lurking near the Omega changing room wasn’t spared either. Shockingly, this Alpha was a notorious interstellar rapist who had assaulted countless Omegas.
He should have been in prison—someone must have brought him here.
Had Xia Ze not escaped in time, the consequences would have been unthinkable.
After a full investigation, it became clear the entire banquet had been a trap set for General Qi and Xia Ze.
Whoever could manipulate the rare roses and the plants in the changing room had to be connected to Dimoline’s faction.
But given Dimoline’s usual methods, could they really have orchestrated such a meticulous and malicious plan?
Xu Chuan fell into deep thought. More details would have to wait until the general woke up.
The incident spread like wildfire across the capital planet.
Even Colin, the dean of the Interstellar Academy of Natural Sciences, heard about it in his sleep.
He never expected the rare roses he had cultivated to be used in such a scheme!
While worried about the roses, Colin was equally concerned about Xia Ze, who had been dragged into this mess.
That boy was a rare talent his affinity with plants was extraordinary.
The night was far from peaceful. The military swiftly took control of the estate where Dimoline had hosted the banquet, awaiting them was a thunderous investigation and accountability.
Attempting to harm a general and his future spouse was no minor crime.
At dawn, Xia Ze shifted slightly, only to be pulled back by a pair of strong hands.
Feeling the warmth, he instinctively nuzzled closer, mistaking it for his plush toy.
His movement fully roused Qi Jing.
Only when he pulled the boy into his arms did Qi Jing realize what had happened.
Yesterday’s pseudo-rut had instinctively made Qi Jing hold Xia Ze, and afterward, they had fallen asleep together. The crumpled state of their clothes made it clear the boy had spent the entire night in his arms.
Qi Jing curled his lips, his mood far better than most would expect.
Xia Ze was still sound asleep. Qi Jing held him a while longer before carefully slipping out of bed and heading downstairs.
There was much to deal with today, this matter had to be completely resolved before the wedding.
His aide, Qi Bo, had already compiled a full report on last night’s events.
When Qi Jing saw that a dangerous Alpha convict had been hiding near the Omega dressing room, his expression darkened drastically.
Alphas had absolute dominance over Omegas and Betas. If the boy hadn’t run in time, the consequences would have been unthinkable.
He could still control himself at worst, he’d just release his pheromones on those people.
But if Xia Ze had been harmed? He would never forgive himself.
A storm brewed in Qi Jing’s expression, the oppressive tension palpable among those present. “Deal with them. One by one.”
Qi Jing stood, glancing upstairs, and only then did a trace of softness rise in his heart.
This was his fault.
He had let his guard down before the wedding.
If he had remained vigilant, this wouldn’t have happened.
While Xia Ze rested that morning, both the capital planet and Planet A1 descended into brief chaos.
Every person involved in the incident was tracked down.
Di Molin was directly imprisoned, her spirit long broken under strict interrogation as she tearfully admitted she had wanted Qi Jing to mark her.
As for that Alpha convict? He was exactly what Xia Ze deserved.
“How dare he marry Qi Jing! Someone from a trash planet like him should be with a convict that’s all he’s worth!”
“Me, the eldest daughter of the Dier family shouldn’t it be natural for me to marry Qi Jing?!”
“I want to see my father! And my stepmother! Get them here now!”
“Sign? Never!”
Duke Dier, having just returned from the resort planet, listened to his daughter’s screams from the interrogation room with chilling calm.
He glanced at his wife behind him before addressing the military officials. “She is a noble lady. Without concrete evidence, we can take her home.”
“If further questioning is needed, follow the proper procedures.”
The law enforcer at the interrogation room door didn’t back down. Though he couldn’t meet the duke’s gaze directly, he stood firm. “This case involves an attempt on the general’s life and the assault of an Omega. The suspect is already in custody.”
“Evidence?” Duke Dier scoffed, though he was already weary of his eldest daughter’s arrogance left behind by his ex-wife.
Still, as a member of the Dier family, he had to save her. It was a matter of the family’s dignity.
The iron gate outside slowly swung open, and an overwhelming presence entered.
Dressed in full military uniform, Qi Jing strode forward, each step sending a tremor through every Alpha present.
His gaze swept past Duchess Dier as he stated coldly, “Which is why we suspect Duchess Dier is also involved.”
“You—!” The duchess recoiled in disbelief. “I’m your mother!”
Mother?
Qi Jing’s eyes sharpened. “A mother who tried to use an inducer to make her son lose control in public?”
The duchess paled. She had never been particularly clever, and under his accusation, panic consumed her entirely.
Even though Duke Dill had already guessed part of the truth, fury still burned in his heart. He’d only been away for a few months, and she’d managed to cause so much trouble.
If not for her status as a high-ranking Omega, he would have punished her privately.
But now the decision was no longer his to make.
Qi Jing nodded, and the interrogation team presented an arrest warrant: “Duchess Dill, please cooperate with our investigation.”
“No! She’s your mother, my wife! You can’t take her away!” Duke Dill never expected Qi Jing to be so ruthless, not even sparing his own mother.
“She was doing this for your own good. Wouldn’t marrying a high-ranking Omega of equal status be better? If not for you, would she have done such things? This is just a family matter that should be resolved privately.”
Qi Jing ignored his pleas, his voice cold and rational: “We must get to the bottom of this today. Everyone involved will be arrested.”
Meanwhile, in the royal palace…
Yi Song remained in his room, having stayed awake all night. A servant placed a hand on his shoulder and whispered: “Don’t worry.”
“Get lost!” Yi Song shoved him away. “How could you mess up something so simple?”
Simple?
Evading Qi Jing’s guards and executing such a plan was anything but simple.
The servant suddenly grabbed Yi Song by the throat, forcing him to meet his gaze, his tone suggestive: “Don’t speak to me like that, or else…”
Or else what?
Already on the verge of losing control, Yi Song now felt completely unhinged.
He feared being implicated that would be the end. His aunt the Empress would never forgive him.
Had the plan succeeded, with Qi Jing marking him, everyone would have protected him, allowing him to replace Xia Ze.
But it had failed.
And now he’d provoked this dangerous man.
A mere Beta, yet capable of controlling both Omegas and Alphas.
The servant’s grip tightened: “Or else your photos will be leaked across the Star Network.”
Yi Song could barely breathe. He regretted ever making a deal with such a dangerous person.
This man had no real interest in him, yet had taken countless compromising photos and possessed the ability to drive Omegas mad.
The thought of the videos showing him begging pitifully made Yi Song’s mind go blank. If those were made public, he’d be finished.
The servant looked at him with disgust. Omegas were truly weak creatures.
Alphas weren’t much better—ruled by their instincts, completely unreasonable.
Releasing his grip, the servant allowed Yi Song to gasp for air before changing into black attire and stating coldly: “If my existence is exposed, you’ll die.”
By the time Yi Song processed this, the servant had vanished.
It was over.
Everything was over.
Three minutes later, a team entered the palace with an arrest warrant for Yi Song.
Meanwhile, the Star Network had exploded with activity.
People waking up to shocking news:
[General Qi’s pheromones went berserk at the Rose Banquet???]
[See, Alphas are dangerous and should be locked up!]
[Are you from the B Organization? Hating on Alphas like that, do you despise Omegas too?]
[Enough arguing! We’re discussing last night’s events!]
[General Qi’s fine. He locked the door immediately after regaining control and suppressed his pheromones with his mental power, what a legend.]
【Mental power suppressing pheromones, damn, that’s terrifying.】
【How could he fall for an inducer? That’s so dangerous.】
【They say the culprit was extremely cunning exposure to two different floral scents in sequence at the exhibition could induce pheromone disruption.】
【Impossible to guard against.】
【His Omega was also affected, but since he carried suppressants and inhaled less, he was fine.】
【Not just that, Xia Ze immediately went to General Qi to comfort his Alpha.】
【Heh heh, “comfort.”】
【When they left, so many people saw the bite marks on Xia Ze’s neck. Must’ve been intense.】
【So spicy, anyone wanna write a fic?】
【Looking at it this way, Xia Ze’s pretty impressive to react so quickly.】
【Yeah, and he calmed General Qi down fast, so his genetic rank must be high too. Their compatibility goes without saying.】
【LMAO, who’s gonna dare bring this up again now?】
【But who even did this? Pulling this stunt three days before their wedding were they trying to sabotage it?】
【Rumor has it, two people from the Dier family were involved, plus the Empress’s nephew.】
【Wait, are we allowed to say this? Will this post get nuked?】
No sooner had this comment been posted than the thread was wiped clearly, someone had intervened, likely Duke Dier and the Empress.
But traces remain. With an incident this big, the entire net was talking about it, and deleting posts couldn’t stop the discussion.
That afternoon, the investigation results were released.
Yisong, Duchess Dier, and the eldest daughter of the Dier family, Dimoline, had conspired in this scheme.
Their goal? To obtain General Qi’s pheromones his mother wanted to run a compatibility test.
Duchess Dier could hardly believe it.
Yet it was true, she had egged Dimoline on, and Yisong had merely informed her about the reaction between the two flowers.
In the end, she was the mastermind.
Xia Ze frowned as he read the news at the dining table.
Couldn’t blame anyone else Duchess Dier was just too gullible, used as a pawn.
Further investigation revealed she had even hired the staff involved in the setup.
Dimoline wasn’t any better. That violent felon, a convicted rapist had been brought in by her, unplanned.
Undoubtedly, the goal was to ruin Xia Ze.
Xia Ze pushed his food around, appetite gone as he scrolled through updates.
A sweet aroma drifted from the doorway. Still in his military uniform, Qi Jing returned, carrying pastries from a famous bakery on the capital planet.
So fragrant.
His low spirits instantly lifted. Xia Ze looked up eagerly. “Are those for me?”
“Mn.” Qi Jing’s gaze flickered over the boy’s exposed neck, his simple clothing left the delicate skin bare, bite marks clearly visible.
He forced himself to look away. “Did the doctor come? How’s your checkup?”
Xia Ze took a bite of cake. “Perfectly healthy!”
The doctor was someone the Qi family trusted and hadn’t run any A/O-specific tests, so Xia Ze’s secret remained safe.
Qi Jing ruffled his hair. “This won’t happen again.”
There was still so much left unsaid like that miraculous petal.
And who else had he given petals to?
Qi Jing’s eyes darkened. Might as well take his frustration out on those people.
By that afternoon, the culprits would be behind bars.
Sentences and punishments would vary based on their roles.
At the very least, Dimo Lin from the Dier family would certainly be expelled from the main planet and sent to a remote penal colony.
As for Yisong, since he wasn’t directly involved, he would likely be placed under house arrest for a few months.
The most troublesome case was that of Duchess Dier.
But there was no need to burden the child with these worries, he only needed to know the outcome.
The situation unfolded almost exactly as Qi Jing had predicted. The shocking case came to an end with Dimo Lin sentenced to ten years of exile on a remote planet and Yisong confined to his home for six months.
The only exception was Duchess Dier. Originally, she too was to be exiled, but it was just discovered that she was one month pregnant.
Before this, she already had a three-year-old Alpha son and two Omega daughters, aged two and one.
This was her fourth pregnancy.
Amidst the astonishment, her punishment was changed from exile to house confinement.
As an Omega, she was already entitled to leniency, and now with her pregnancy, the adjustment in sentencing was hardly surprising.
Qi Jing and Xia Ze hadn’t even finished lunch when they heard the news.
Pregnant again.
Xia Ze instinctively touched his own stomach.
This only deepened his fear of pregnancy.
Four children in four years!
What was she trying to do?
Wasn’t Duchess Dier already quite old?
Qi Jing’s expression remained calm, but noticing how shaken the boy seemed, he said, “I’m sorry.”
Xia Ze was puzzled, why was he apologizing?
Then it dawned on him. “They deserve punishment for their crimes, but this seems fair enough.”
Besides, there was no way to prevent a pregnancy.
Indeed, the idea of Omega pregnancies was something he just couldn’t accept.
Even though he was male, he was still an Omega.
If he were forced to bear children like that, Xia Ze felt he would completely break down.
He wouldn’t mind having children but not four in four years!
Xia Ze murmured, “I was just wondering… do all Omegas have to give birth like this?”
Qi Jing realized the misunderstanding, but the question made him think.
“Only some. Those who want to produce so-called ‘high-quality Alphas and Omegas’ act this way.”
Or rather, the higher an Alpha or Omega’s rank, the more likely they were to be reduced to breeding tools.
This was practically standard practice among royalty and nobility.
Xia Ze’s face paled further.
He became even more certain of one thing keeping his identity hidden was absolutely crucial!
Being a Beta was infinitely better than being an Omega!
As all those involved were punished one by one, the turmoil finally subsided.
The Dier family and Yisong’s family suffered heavy blows in every aspect, and many once again witnessed General Qi’s unwavering devotion to his fiancé.
Nearly everyone on the main planet was on edge, hastily reining in their own children to prevent any further reckless ideas.
But Xia Ze had no time to dwell on it.
Two more days!
In just two days, the wedding would take place, and there was still so much to do, endless details awaiting his approval.
Amidst all this, an unexpected visitor arrived.
Dean Colin of the Interstellar Natural Science Academy came to the Qi family villa of his own accord.
His own home was nearby, in fact Xia Ze had even seen him during a morning jog.
This time, Dean Colin paused at the entrance for a while, his eyes widening with delight.
In just over ten days, the stones had become covered in moss, and tufts of soft green grass had sprouted nearby. The sight was breathtaking, perfectly complementing the towering trees both thriving spectacularly.
Colin touched the tree trunk. He had seen these trees countless times before, but over the past ten days or so, they seemed to have grown even better.
The reason undoubtedly lay with Qi Jing’s fiancée her affinity for greenery was truly remarkable.
Thinking about the purpose of his visit today, Colin still felt somewhat hesitant.
But if he didn’t come now, who knew how long it would take for that matter to be addressed.
So Colin wasn’t as arrogant as before when facing Xia Ze, stumbling through his explanation for coming.
After hearing him out, Xia Ze was both amused and exasperated: “I thought it was something serious. Those ten roses should be returnable now let me check for you.”
This all started with Colin borrowing the roses, which he now considered terribly unlucky.
He hadn’t wanted to lend them, but the Dyer family had tempted him with desert roses.
Little did he know they were interested in the flowers’ scent-neutralizing properties to artificially create pheromone inducers.
So Colin came not only to inquire about retrieving the roses but also to apologize: “If I hadn’t lent out those flowers, you wouldn’t have been harmed. I share responsibility for this.”
Xia Ze shook his head: “Not at all. Even without the flowers, they would’ve found another way. The fault lies with them, not you.”
“Besides,” Xia Ze added playfully, “how could flowers ever be at fault?” His lighthearted remark eased Colin’s guilt somewhat.
Colin couldn’t help complaining: “It’s my fault too—the moment they mentioned desert roses, I was hooked. Desert roses, can you imagine!”
“Who knows where they got those photos to trick me.”
Now not only were the desert roses gone, but the location of his precious cultivated roses remained unknown.
Desert roses?
Xia Ze blinked, about to say something when Qi Jing’s message came through.
As Xia Ze suspected, the flowers had been held as evidence but could now be retrieved by Dean Colin at any time.
However, Qi Jing hesitated before sending the final line:
“Those delicate roses… all the moving back and forth probably didn’t do them any favors.”
Xia Ze immediately understood the general was being diplomatic.
The rarer the plant, the harder to cultivate. Having seen those roses yesterday carefully nurtured for years to produce such abundant blooms, he knew their condition must be poor.
With no choice, Xia Ze had to give Colin the honest truth.
Colin grew frantic, jumping up to rush to military headquarters and reclaim his precious roses.
He left in such haste that Xia Ze didn’t get to mention he had desert roses himself, new cuttings would be ready in a few days that he could gift him.
Xia Ze could tell Colin was genuinely skilled, and he always felt kinship with fellow plant enthusiasts.
No sooner had Colin left than Qi Jing returned.
Now no one would dare cause trouble before the wedding.
From top to bottom, all troublemakers had been dealt with.
Qi Jing’s stern expression said it all.
Many were now bitterly regretting targeting Xia Ze.
After this incident, virtually all doubts about Xia Ze disappeared.
Everyone now understood matching percentages, pheromone levels, what truly mattered.
Though the real reason was known only to Xia Ze and Qi Jing.
Leading the general to the greenhouse’s innermost corner, Xia Ze quietly contemplated a single rose.
Qi Jing recognized it the unrealistically beautiful white bloom the young man had always kept separate.
He never imagined this flower could be so powerful.
Carefully removing the glass cover, Xia Ze shared its secret for the first time: “This rose blooms once a month, peaking mid-month. By month’s end, its petals can be harvested.”
“Only the tenderest center portion is effective.”
On this July 4th, it was still in bud, soon to fully blossom. Even when wilting, its suppressor effects remained.
In fact, they were a hundred times more potent than standard inhibitors.
Qi Jing had experienced the wonder of this white flower last night.
“Don’t tell anyone about it. This flower is too unusual.”
If others found out, the kid definitely wouldn’t be able to protect it.
Xia Ze nodded immediately, of course he understood.
Just as Qi Jing was about to touch the flower, he suddenly remembered something and withdrew his hand with a dark expression, his tone flat as he said, “You mentioned yesterday that you’ve used it on someone else. Can they keep it a secret for you?”
Xia Ze froze.
That person was himself, of course he could keep it a secret.
Xia Ze answered with absolute certainty, “Yes, he can be completely trusted.”
This matter-of-fact tone made Qi Jing’s expression darken even further. He remained silent for a long while, and only when Xia Ze gave him a puzzled look did he finally grunt in acknowledgment.
Though the grunt sounded somewhat reluctant.
“If he can be trusted, that’s good. Introduce me to him sometime.”
Xia Ze felt the urge to scratch his head.
How was he supposed to introduce him?
Hello, that person is actually me, I’m an Omega?
Better not.
Too terrifying.
Just thinking about Duchess Dill giving birth to four children in four years made him want to cover his ears no, his stomach.
Since they were both in the greenhouse, Xia Ze took the chance to tidy up the garden a bit.
It was already starting to take shape.
The roses and hydrangeas he had planted were beginning to show their beauty, and in another two days, they would be in full bloom.
Only the three most precious narcissus bulbs were still being cultivated in water, they’d likely have to wait until after the wedding.
The grass in the garden was also much lusher than anywhere else, all thanks to Xia Ze’s daily watering with nutrient powder. He had even replaced much of the soil, tailoring it to the needs of different plants.
Qi Jing, who had been leaving early and returning late these days, only now realized how drastically different the garden looked compared to before.
Even the large tree at the entrance had grown more vibrant.
All of this was the kid’s doing the plants he cultivated were far superior to others’.
After tidying up the garden, Xia Ze measured out a corner and mused, “It’d be nice to have a swing here. I could plant climbing roses behind it, a floral swing wall would look amazing.”
Climbing roses came in three main types: ramblers, climbers, and miniature climbers.
Different types could be used to create different floral walls or arches.
“That’s easy enough. Let’s make the swing right now.” For Qi Jing, something like this was naturally no trouble at all.
By the time Butler Qi returned from his busy wedding preparations and finally had a moment to sip his tea, he found that the young master and his little companion had already finished building the swing.
While I’m running around nonstop, these two are enjoying themselves.
Xia Ze sat on the swing, envisioning how the floral wall behind it should be arranged. Given how quickly plants grew in this era, he was certain that within a month, he’d have a stunning, flower-covered wall!
Qi Jing sat beside Xia Ze, savoring this rare moment of leisure.
Everything here filled him with an extraordinary sense of contentment.
In the two or three days leading up to the wedding, everything remained calm aside from the bustle of preparations.
The entire Qi family villa had been decorated, adorned with lush greenery, tasteful floral arrangements, and impeccably trained servants.
The wedding of the Empire’s general was not something to be taken lightly.
Discussions about the event surged across the StarNet in waves, with countless people clamoring for a live broadcast of the ceremony though their pleas went unanswered.
Since a live broadcast was out of the question, even a few tidbits of insider information would have been welcome.
[Don’t count on even that. The guests are probably sworn to secrecy about the wedding details.]
[“Not really. A friend of mine received an invitation, and it didn’t say anything like that. It’s a normal wedding, nothing’s off-limits for photos.”]
[“!!! Please share details when the time comes!”]
[“What kind of connections do you have to get an invitation? Must be someone important!”]
[“Not really. My friend is a retired soldier who used to know General Qi.”]
[“So jealous! I heard many socialites and nobles are scrambling for invitations. The wedding must be grand.”]
[“Who would’ve thought General Qi wouldn’t marry a noble Omega.”]
[“This Omega is good enough, right? Might look a bit like a trophy spouse, but for Omegas, looks are all that matter.”]
[“Not just that, they need to bear children too.”]
[“Hope they have a beautiful baby.”]
[“I just feel that after such a big incident before the wedding, this ceremony will go smoothly.”]
[“True. As long as the wedding goes well.”]
[“Still can’t believe General Qi is getting married ahhhh! I’m even nervous!”]
[“What’s the point of you being nervous? It’s the two grooms’ reactions that matter.”]
As for one of the grooms, Xia Ze, his reaction was… he’d already given up.
The wedding was tomorrow—what was the point of worrying now?
When General Qi bid him goodnight earlier, he’d also asked if Xia Ze was nervous. But there was nothing to be nervous about.
They’d finally reached this point, he should be overjoyed!
That said, Xia Ze lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. He wanted to talk to someone, but this wasn’t something easily discussed.
In the end, Xia Ze got up and sat at the table, casually turning on his livestream.
Customers of the online flower shop were shocked to see the young owner broadcasting at this hour and eagerly flooded in.
But this time, they didn’t see the usual flower room just a table covered with tools.
Xia Ze spoke up: “Can’t sleep, so I’m making a sealed micro-landscape terrarium.”
[“Quick question, what’s a sealed micro-landscape terrarium?”]
[“Quick question, why can’t you sleep?”]
Xia Ze sighed. “Something important tomorrow, so I’m restless.”
[“Is it because of General Qi’s wedding?!”]
[“Same here! I can’t sleep because of it too!”]
Xia Ze deftly changed the subject. “A micro-landscape is basically putting succulents, plants, and natural stones into a glass container to create a miniature world.”
“A sealed terrarium is completely airtight, simulating a natural ecosystem inside where the mini world can sustain itself.”
[“Wow, that sounds amazing!”]
[“No need to water or fertilize?!”]
[“Does that mean once it’s made, you can keep it by your side forever? Way better than buying plants!”]
One sharp-eyed viewer noticed the key point Xia Ze avoided answering.
On ancient Earth, this was entirely possible. His mother had been a leader in this field, so he was quite skilled.
But the plant characteristics in this world were different, he needed to experiment carefully.
This was still the trial phase.
[“I remember the owner made one in a past livestream and said he gave it away. Who got it?”]
Xia Ze’s hands paused briefly. He glanced regretfully at the nearby door and mumbled, “I think he didn’t want it.”
That had been his first successful micro-landscape.
But he’d never gotten a response.
[“!!! Didn’t want it???]
“Oh my god, he didn’t even take the little boss’s potted plant!”
“Why not?”
“Blind to true worth!”
Xia Ze smiled: “Let’s not talk about it, it’s all in the past.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the middle door was gently knocked.
The only person who owned that door was General Qi.
Xia Ze was surprised: “What’s wrong?”
Then he added: “Come in, I’m live.”
Before entering, Qi Jing first closed the child’s live stream interface, then sat beside him in his pajamas.
The camera only caught a fleeting glimpse of the pajamas, leaving regular viewers scratching their heads in confusion.
Who was that?!
Qi Jing had the same question.
Though the direction was different, the question was absolutely the same.
Who was it?
Who had the child given the miniature landscape plant to?
Qi Jing couldn’t say much during the live stream, but he couldn’t help wondering if it was the same person who had received the petals.
Xia Ze glanced at General Qi, then at the barrage of comments, recalling what had just been said in the live stream. He whispered: “That miniature landscape plant… didn’t you like it?”
“Otherwise, I can give this one to you.”
Qi Jing froze completely.
The first miniature landscape plant… was given to him?
