After a full day of classes, Xia Ze felt like an unwatered sapling, completely wilted.
While waiting for General Qi to pick him up, he noticed two classmates staring at him.
Whenever Xia Ze looked their way, they immediately averted their gaze.
What was going on?
Xia Ze scratched his head and whispered to the two Omegas, “What’s the matter? Is something wrong?”
Feng Qi and Qiao Qinqin exchanged glances. It wasn’t that they wanted to say anything, but since Xia Ze had asked
Well, as classmates, they might as well give him a heads-up.
“Are you really a native of the garbage planet?” Qiao Qinqin tried to keep her tone steady. “Do you know the difference between the garbage planets and the Capital Star?”
Xia Ze certainly knew. At the very least, the Capital Star was far more convenient than the garbage planet.
As for other aspects, he had some understanding.
For example, in the interstellar era, each planet was categorized, with the Capital Star being particularly special, it didn’t participate in planetary rankings. The Empire’s top scientific academies, research institutes, and universities were all located there.
Other planets were divided into six grades based on livability: A, B, C, D, E, and F.
The lowest, F-grade, was commonly known as the garbage planets. Their current planet, F31, was the 31st in the F-grade category.
And there were only thirty-six F-grade planets in total.
Their planet was practically at the bottom even among the garbage planets.
As Qiao Qinqin had mentioned, the difference between the Capital Star and the lowest-tier garbage planet was self-explanatory living conditions were worlds apart, and technological development was incomparable.
After hearing Xia Ze’s explanation, Feng Qi and Qiao Qinqin exchanged another glance.
His understanding was way too superficial.
Feng Qi took a deep breath. “Actually, the Empire has some unwritten rules.”
Among the residents of the Capital Star, the innermost circle consisted of the imperial family, government officials, and scientists with outstanding contributions in various fields. At the very least, they were royal merchants.
A-grade planets were home to both old and new nobility, along with their industries.
B-grade planets were mostly middle-class.
C, D, and E were for ordinary people.
And F-grade? They struggled below the poverty line.
As for Qiao Qinqin and Feng Qi, their families might be somewhat notable on F31, but outside of it, they were nothing.
Of course, they wouldn’t say that outright. Qiao Qinqin said awkwardly, “If it weren’t for General Qi, we could bully you. What do you think will happen when you go to the Capital Star?”
Bully him?
Xia Ze was puzzled. “Have you bullied me?”
The classroom, now empty except for the three of them, fell into silence.
Qiao Qinqin and Feng Qi were baffled.
Hadn’t they?
Especially Feng Qi, he had been the first to provoke Xia Ze at this school!
Xia Ze actually had some idea that there would be trouble when he went to the Capital Star. But since this was a fake marriage anyway, if people said he wasn’t worthy of General Qi well, they weren’t wrong. Why get upset?
He wasn’t planning to live on the Capital Star forever.
Xia Ze still thanked them. “Thanks for the warning. I’m not afraid.”
Even after all that, Xia Ze remained unfazed. Feng Qi said angrily, “Well, we’ve warned you. The Capital Star is already investigating you. Once you go there, you’ll have a hard time.”
“And once the media exposes you, you’ll be hated by the entire interstellar population! Be prepared!”
With that, Feng Qi grabbed Qiao Qinqin and stormed off.
What an idiot!
How could he not be scared at all?
He’ll definitely be bullied by the people from the main planet until he can’t even cry!
What does it matter if his rank is high?
General Qi has too many supporters they’ll nitpick him from every angle.
Yet he’s not afraid at all!
The two left angrily, leaving Xia Ze with a puzzled expression, though he understood they were worried about him.
As for the main planet investigating him and the media attention, Xia Ze had been prepared for that.
After all, he’d seen those persistent inquiries in General Qi’s inbox each message more urgent than the last, all treated as spam by the general.
He’d been ready ever since deciding to repay the favor through this fake marriage.
Seated in the aircraft, Xia Ze was even smiling. General Qi looked at him and asked, “I came late today, yet you’re this happy?”
“Huh? It’s not late, I just got out of school ten minutes ago,” Xia Ze said softly. “I talked a bit more with my classmates today. They’re really nice.”
Those Omegas are nice?
General Qi set down the documents in his hand and sat beside Xia Ze, watching as the boy flipped through a magazine. This issue featured a fresh-faced Omega on the cover, and the kid was staring intently.
General Qi frowned.
Maybe sending this Beta boy to an Omega school was a mistake.
After finishing one magazine, Xia Ze picked up the latest issue and said, “One classmate mentioned they can’t get the newest magazines. Can I share the ones you brought with them?”
Xia Ze had noticed fashion magazines always arrived late on this backwater planet, but General Qi’s deliveries were always the latest editions.
In Omega classes, studying the latest trends from magazines was an important part of the curriculum.
Since they had to learn anyway, why not let everyone study together!
General Qi considered these trivial matters weren’t his concern, and a few magazines shouldn’t matter.
But the kid was praising those Omegas and wanted to look at other Omegas with them?
Noticing the lack of response and General Qi’s frown, Xia Ze grew confused.
Were these magazines important? It was fine if he couldn’t share them.
Before Xia Ze could speak, General Qi lifted his chin, bringing their faces close, one pair of eyes deep and intense, the other wide and dewy, completely contrasting.
General Qi said slowly, “Do you like Omegas?”
Huh???
Where did that come from?
Xia Ze blinked as General Qi continued, “While Beta-Omega relationships are allowed, you can’t have one.”
Imperial marriage laws naturally permitted unions between all genders.
Though rare, Beta-Omega pairings did exist.
And since most Omegas were beautiful, it was common for Betas to like them many celebrity Omegas had large Beta fanbases.
General Qi’s gaze darkened.
Did the kid like Omegas too?
Last time he’d stared at the magazine cover, now this.
Finally understanding, Xia Ze straightened up earnestly and declared, “General Qi, don’t worry! During our fake marriage, I’ll absolutely fulfill my responsibilities!”
General Qi must be reminding him not to forget he was currently posing as an Omega! He couldn’t let other Omegas notice anything unusual.
Probably worried getting too close to others might expose his Beta identity?
Actually, there was no need for concern at all!
Xia Ze, afraid General Qi might worry, pointed to the notes he had taken and proudly displayed the books he had recently read, his face practically screaming “Praise me!”
“Look! This is my homework, all perfect scores!”
“I’ll definitely be a good Omega, General, you can rest assured!”
General Qi’s fingers relaxed as he sighed inwardly.
It seemed like everything had been said, yet nothing had been said at all.
Leaning back in his chair, Qi Jing responded, “Hmm, very good.”
Praise received, Xia Ze sat up even straighter, flipping through the magazine at a slower pace.
He was determined to study its contents thoroughly, he wouldn’t embarrass General Qi.
After all, he’d been praised!
“Can I share these magazines with others?” Xia Ze asked hesitantly.
Qi Jing: “Of course, anything here is yours to decide. No need to ask me.”
Such generosity!
If nothing else, this magnanimity alone made him determined to do his best.
Seeing the boy’s expression, Qi Jing knew he’d misunderstood again.
Ah well, he’s still young.
No point getting angry.
Meanwhile, at the royal palace on the capital planet.
Feng Qi and Qiao Qinqin’s information was slightly delayed. What their families had heard was that the capital was keeping an eye on Xia Ze’s movements.
In reality, the royal family and several major nobles had already obtained Xia Ze’s complete profile.
Naturally, it was the version “edited” by Qi Jing.
Most of the details were true, with only key elements altered.
Xia Ze orphaned at a young age, raised by his grandfather.
Had been an Omega since differentiation, but lived as a Beta for safety reasons after presenting.
This wasn’t particularly unusual.
Besides, with his ordinary appearance, no one questioned his identity.
His encounter with Qi Jing occurred during the garbage planet’s liberation from space pirates.
These worthless planets were considered burdens to the Empire, and the initial consensus among royalty and nobility had been to abandon them.
It was Qi Jing’s father and Qi Jing himself who insisted on reclaiming them.
That’s when they met Xia Ze.
Xia Ze ran a modest flower shop with meager earnings, as unremarkable as himself.
The rest was history, Qi Jing took a liking to him, and that was that.
This was the profile obtained by royalty, nobility, and media alike.
Both his original Beta status on official records and his online flower shop had been carefully concealed.
After extensive study, one noble scoffed, “After all that searching, he picks such a mediocre Omega.”
“Exactly! And they call him the Empire’s youngest general, what terrible taste. My daughter is far superior.”
The queen in the reception hall shot him a look, and the noble immediately realized his blunder.
The position of General Qi’s spouse had long been reserved by the queen for her nephew. How dare he reveal such ambitions in her presence!
The beautiful Omega standing behind the queen also looked up, his face twisted in resentment this was the queen’s nephew, burning with jealousy.
How could such an ordinary Omega marry General Qi? How?!
Fortunately, they shared a common goal, so the queen let it slide for now.
The speaking noble was Jacob, a major aristocrat from Planet A1. In his forties, he had an oily, repulsive appearance.
Trying to recover, Jacob suggested spitefully, “Your Majesty, perhaps we could leak this to the media let the public see what their future general’s wife looks like.”
Others might not know, but the noble Jacob understood the majority of the Star Empire’s media was controlled by the Empress’s family.
Once they made their move, all the citizens of the empire would see this information.
At that point, they wouldn’t even need to say anything the outraged public would never accept such an ordinary Omega marrying Qi Jing.
Even if the public didn’t care, the media would make sure everyone believed that a common Omega wedding General Qi was an affront to justice, branding the Omega as delusional.
Under such overwhelming condemnation, few Omegas could endure it.
Surprisingly, though, the information had been in their hands for days, yet the media remained eerily silent, as if nothing had happened.
Such explosive news, and no one wanted to report it?
A mocking smile curled at the Empress’s lips. Did they think she hadn’t considered such an obvious tactic?
But that sword wasn’t meant to be wielded like this.
Or rather, not yet.
The Empress set down Xia Ze’s file with satisfaction. “What’s the rush? Let him enjoy his happiness a little longer.”
Her nephew, that refined Omega, clenched his teacup, thinking darkly lowborn trash from a junk planet should stay there forever.
Coming to the capital on June 20th, was he?
Soon, there would be quite the spectacle to witness.
