The dispute between General Qi and his fiancée before their wedding eventually spread.
With the wedding venue being prepared and people coming and going, it was no surprise that the news got out.
But this discussion made many people truly start paying attention to General Qi’s fiancée.
Whether on the Star Network or in reality, most people referred to Xia Ze as General Qi Jing’s fiancée, rarely mentioning his name.
Or they simply called him “that Omega,” or “the Omega from the trash planet.”
After this dispute became public, many on the Star Network realized that this Omega seemed to be more than just a pretty face.
[That Omega is called Xia Ze? He’s got guts, daring to stand up to his future mother-in-law.]
[Right? Aren’t Omegas supposed to be soft and gentle? The way he spoke was impressive.]
[I kind of get why General Qi is so determined to marry him now. He’s good-looking and actually understands him.]
[Many people think Qi Jing became a general just because of his genetic rank, but they overlook his hard work. As a former subordinate, I can say his training intensity was way beyond ours. And it wasn’t just physical, he studied military strategy too. The effort he put in was something most couldn’t handle.]
[So his name is Xia Ze? I heard he used to run a flower shop. Maybe he’s good at growing plants too.]
[He really is impressive. After he said his piece, his future mother-in-law looked absolutely furious and stormed off.]
As the wedding date drew closer, these discussions only grew louder.
At the same time, their scent compatibility and matching rate also drew attention.
[Even after Duchess Dier pressured them so much, they still haven’t done a compatibility test?]
[Forget that even their scents are being kept under wraps. We’ve at least heard rumors about General Qi’s scent, Winter Frost, right? But his fiancée’s scent is still a mystery.]
[There’s no rule saying they have to disclose their scents, but usually, noble families announce their compatibility rates before marriage.]
[Exactly. When General Qi’s father married his mother, they announced a 90% match.]
[Duchess Dier and Duke Dier had an 87% match.]
[Not announcing it is really strange. Maybe they did the test privately, and the number was too low to share.]
[That’s possible.]
This question wasn’t just on the public’s mind.
The royal family and nobles of the capital planet were also scratching their heads over it.
But none of them could get close to Xia Ze, let alone Qi Jing. Running a compatibility test was out of the question.
Capital Planet, Royal Palace.
The queen listened to the report from her subordinate and said coldly, “She really is as foolish as she was before she married.”
The subordinate trembled, knowing the queen was referring to Duchess Dier, one of the most prominent figures on the capital planet.
Lately, the royal family had been lying low. The only notable event was Prince Alva’s banquet, which hadn’t harmed Xia Ze in the slightest.
The queen had held back, waiting to see what Duchess Dier would do.
But even with the opportunity handed to her, she still failed.
Not only did she fail to get past Qi Jing, she couldn’t even out-argue an Omega from the trash planet.
She went there in person and returned empty-handed, only to become a laughingstock.
If that wasn’t foolish, what was?
“She’s useless,” the queen said dismissively. “Let it go for now. After their wedding, Qi Jing will return to the battlefield. We’ll wait.”
By then, all of Qi Jing’s deputies would follow him to the battlefield, leaving no one to protect Xia Ze.
Marriage wasn’t the finish line patience was required.
After the empress left, only the unwilling Yi Song remained in the room.
Ever since his differentiation, countless people had told him he could marry General Qi.
All this time, he’d even assumed this identity as his own.
Why should he surrender this opportunity to someone else? He wouldn’t allow it.
He absolutely wouldn’t allow it!
His aunt the empress had promised he would marry General Qi.
Yi Song’s mind flashed with the image of Duchess Dier.
She must be furious too.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Perhaps they could join forces?
That night, Yi Song disguised himself and secretly met with Duchess Dier.
Early the next morning, preparations began for a grand banquet.
The theme was roses.
The Rose Banquet.
The hostess would be Duchess Dier’s stepdaughter, Dimoline.
This banquet wouldn’t be as simple as the last one.
–
Five days remained until the world-renowned wedding.
Xia Ze felt like he never wanted to hold another wedding again!
General Qi was right!
Once was enough!
When they were finally alone, Xia Ze couldn’t help but whisper, “Why is even a fake wedding this exhausting?”
Hearing the word “fake,” Qi Jing’s hand paused slightly.
“It’s not entirely fake. All the procedures are real.”
Xia Ze thought about it that was true.
The lengthy guest list made his head spin, and some who hadn’t been invited were even pulling strings to attend.
Even Xia Ze’s inbox was flooded with self-recommendations, it had never been so full before.
Countless people were inviting him to various events: fashion shows, wine tastings, tea ceremonies. It gave him a headache.
He simply blocked them all, ordinary emails couldn’t get through now!
But one invitation was delivered to both of them personally.
An invitation from the Dier family’s Dimoline, requesting General Qi and Xia Ze attend the Rose Banquet at their estate.
They claimed to have borrowed rare roses from the Natural Science Academy at astronomical prices for this special exhibition.
They said roses symbolized love, so the couple simply had to attend.
Moreover, Duchess Dier would be present.
Other invitations could be ignored, but since Duchess Dier was Qi Jing’s mother, it would be inappropriate not to go.
Qi Jing could manage, but Xia Ze would face more scrutiny.
Everyone knew the battle against the space pirates was imminent, General Qi might leave for the front soon after the wedding, leaving Xia Ze alone on the capital planet.
If nothing else, they shouldn’t remain on bad terms with the Dier family.
Old Qi frowned, “Why must it be right before the wedding? We have so much to prepare.”
Xia Ze asked curiously, “Will there be many such banquets in the future?”
“Plenty. Young master can just pick and choose,” Old Qi said sympathetically.
Xia Ze nodded, “Then let’s go. I’d like to see the roses cultivated by the Natural Science Academy.”
His own roses had already formed buds they’d fully bloom in four or five days, perfect for comparison.
The last time he saw the night-blooming cereus, he’d learned so much.
Qi Jing naturally deferred to Xia Ze, adding, “We can leave early after seeing the flowers.”
“Really?” Xia Ze was only interested in the banquet’s flowers leaving after seeing them would be ideal.
“Really.”
Xia Ze sighed in relief once again, grateful for Old Qi’s help. Thanks to him, the wedding preparations were nearly complete, allowing them some free time to visit.
The roses at the Natural Science Institute must be truly exceptional, right?
Meanwhile, inside the Natural Science Institute…
Dimoline wore an arrogant expression. As the esteemed young lady of the Dier family, she had never stooped to humble herself before.
If it weren’t for the chance to get closer to General Qi, she wouldn’t even bother hosting this banquet!
Her stepmother had assured her this would be the last opportunity to interact with General Qi before the wedding, promising she’d get what she desired.
The mere thought made Dimoline’s face flush with excitement.
Though the banquet preparations weren’t finished, the invitations had already been sent out.
This rose banquet required borrowing flowers from the Natural Science Institute.
“We’re only borrowing these ten rose plants and will definitely return them,” Dimoline declared. “Our family will donate ten sets of the latest equipment in exchange. Is that acceptable?”
Before them, Dean Colin erupted in anger: “Do you have any idea how delicate these roses are?! Transplanting them from the institute could kill them! Could you even compensate for such loss?!”
Having failed to acquire certain rare seeds recently already weighed heavily on old Dean Colin’s heart. Now the Dier family wanted to borrow their most precious flowers?
Borrowing common varieties would be one thing, but they’d picked only the rarest specimens!
Absolutely not!
Dimoline clenched her teeth. “Dean Colin, this banquet is being held at my father’s request. Are you truly refusing us?”
Her words carried an unmistakable threat.
Unfortunately, Colin remained unmoved. In his eyes, the plants mattered more than anything.
A servant standing behind Dimoline stepped forward. She didn’t dare stop him as he spoke: “Dean Colin, we heard you’ve been searching for desert roses, correct?”
Colin’s attention snapped toward them. The servant continued, “Please examine this photograph. Isn’t this what you’ve been seeking?”
Had Xia Ze been present, he would have recognized the photo shown by this peculiar servant, it was one he’d casually taken.
Colin stared transfixed at the image, excitement trembling in his voice: “Yes! Yes! These are desert roses! And they’re being cultivated so well they’ve even been propagated through cuttings!”
Seeing this, Dimoline knew their request would be granted.
Sure enough, the servant said, “Our master knows the desert roses’ location. If you’ll lend the institute’s rare roses, we guarantee delivery of the desert roses within one month.”
“We’ll return all ten rare roses unharmed not a single petal damaged.”
It was merely a temporary loan.
In exchange for desert roses.
Colin was visibly tempted.
He’d coveted desert roses for years. Though named “roses,” these ancient plants from Blue Star didn’t quite resemble true roses.
Their ability to bloom in desert conditions suggested remarkable water storage capabilities within the plants themselves.
Such flowers might boast extended freshness and blooming periods.
Their research and practical value could be immense.
Yet desert roses remained extraordinarily rare.
Few could survive the storms raging across the border planets, let alone gather specimens.
Seeing these thriving desert roses in the photograph made Colin’s very flesh tremble with excitement.
Truly, masters existed among common folk.
First there was General Qi’s fiancée that Omega who could cultivate moss so well.
Now someone had not only retrieved desert roses but kept them alive!
“Deal! One month. You must deliver those desert roses.”
“Otherwise, consider the institute’s doors permanently closed to you.”
Dimoline’s expression darkened at this ultimatum.
These green plants and flowers serve more than just ornamental purposes. Their family purchases large quantities of greenery daily, as the purified air is extremely beneficial to health.
The plants also symbolize status and prestige. Being unable to acquire them would undoubtedly have a significant impact on her.
Dimoline glared at the servant who had spoken. Once outside, she snapped, “I hope you keep your promise. If you fail to secure the desert rose, we’ll see how you handle the consequences!”
The servant replied calmly, “I’ll take care of it. No need to worry.”
This servant was none other than Isong’s trusted aide, sent to oversee the banquet. While Dimoline appeared to be in charge on the surface, he was the one truly pulling the strings.
Dimoline had tried insulting him, but the servant remained unfazed neither humiliated nor angered.
Fuming, Dimoline stormed off, while the servant sent another message to his contacts.
“Find that shop owner at all costs and buy the desert rose.”
With only three days left until the wedding, the atmosphere at the Qi family villa was far from the liveliness of the previous visit by Ansem’s styling team.
This time, only one additional person was present, General Qi.
Ansem carefully styled the general’s hair, stealing a glance at Xia Ze.
Good lord!
How could this Omega remain so composed in front of Qi Jing? The rest of the team worked with nervous efficiency, moving like frightened quails.
Xia Ze, having just changed, noticed that the general’s outfit matched his own both in muted gray tones. He couldn’t help but look a little longer.
It was the first time he’d seen Qi Jing in this color. The shade softened the general’s sharpness but somehow made him appear even more aloof and unapproachable.
Just as Xia Ze was about to look away, Qi Jing turned, their eyes meeting.
“Peeking?”
Xia Ze shook his head. “Looking openly!”
Ansem rolled his eyes.
Great working while being force-fed dog food.
Still, the tension in the room eased slightly.
Ansem added, “A fresh flower would be perfect. Each of you could wear one, especially since the banquet’s theme is roses.”
That was true.
They did have roses here.
Old Qi quietly plucked two buds from the roses Xia Ze had specified small enough to fit neatly in a pocket.
Ansem rubbed his eyes. “These roses are unbelievably delicate. How do you grow them like this?”
Floral accents were often the finishing touch in styling, but Ansem had never seen roses so impeccably maintained.
Xia Ze smiled. “This batch is already spoken for, but I’ll send you a few from the next one.”
He hadn’t forgotten the roses’ purpose, some were destined for General Qi and the military, while the rest would be used for propagation.
Unaware of Xia Ze’s plans, Qi Jing assumed they were for the online shop and said, “Do you need more seeds? We can visit the specialty store later.”
He was referring to the high-end plant seed emporium where the Qi family owned several shops, the same place they had sourced previous seeds.
Xia Ze replied, “Let’s wait. I haven’t even finished planting the last batch.”
Ansem suddenly remembered rumors about Xia Ze owning a small flower shop on the garbage planet.
So his horticultural skills were this impressive.
He couldn’t resist adding, “Xia Ze, have you considered submitting these flowers to the Green Plant Certification Center? They’d definitely score an S-grade.”
That would show everyone that Xia Ze was more than just a pretty face!
Xia Ze thought for a moment before speaking, “This batch is meant for General Qi. I’ll buy my own seeds later.”
Qi Jing, who had been listening to their conversation, turned his head with a puzzled expression. “For me?”
“Yes, for helping me purchase the seeds,” Xia Ze replied with a smile. “And for your subordinates too. Didn’t you say many in the military wanted them? The entire first batch is yours.”
The nearby guards immediately perked up at this!
Those flowers!
Were they really for the General and them?
Qi Jing was genuinely surprised. He had casually mentioned that some military personnel were interested, never expecting the young man to remember.
So the first batch of roses wouldn’t be sold or given to anyone else they were all for him.
Every single one.
Anselm found himself subjected to another dose of romantic display and sighed, “I shouldn’t have joined this conversation. You two make such a perfect alpha-omega pair, I spoke out of turn.”
“What enviable love you have.”
Xia Ze choked on these words.
That wasn’t the case at all.
Unable to explain properly, Xia Ze could only remain silent, only to feel an arm wrap around his waist.
Qi Jing looked down at him, his deep eyes holding only one person as he whispered, “Thank you.”
“I really like them.”
Xia Ze couldn’t help but smile. “I’m glad you like them!”
Anselm took another step back. Maybe he should consider finding an alpha too, why did he suddenly feel like falling in love?
That evening, outside an even more magnificent estate stood countless ordinary roses. Even from a distance, one could sense their natural energy and intoxicating fragrance.
The arrangement of rose scents was masterful anyone approaching could tell great care had gone into planning this banquet.
When the Qi family’s aircraft landed, the crowd watched as General Qi disembarked first, then turned to assist his omega.
Both wore gray suits, Xia Ze’s slightly lighter shade accentuated his beauty, making him seem to glow, while General Qi’s darker gray conveyed stability and noble pride.
Not only were their colors coordinated, but their accessories also matched, each sporting an exceptionally delicate white rose on their lapel.
Their entrance immediately drew all eyes in the venue.
The hostess, Dimoline, personally came forward to greet them, a courtesy Xia Ze hadn’t received at the previous banquet, clearly meant for General Qi.
Dimoline gazed at General Qi with shyness, unable to resist saying, “Qi Jing, why haven’t you visited lately? I’ve learned to make pastries, I’ll make some for you later.”
Qi Jing ignored her, instead looking at the young man beside him. “My fiancé can make them too.”
Xia Ze was full of questions.
Since when could he do that?
Dimoline’s expression darkened as Qi Jing whispered in Xia Ze’s ear, “If you pour me a glass of sweet water, that would be pastry enough for me.”
That counted?
Xia Ze struggled not to laugh as Dimoline’s face turned completely black.
That vixen omega wouldn’t be happy for long!
Soon, Qi Jing would be hers.
Among the banquet guests were many familiar faces.
When Alva saw Xia Ze, his eyes flashed with admiration, though he dared not look too long not with the omega’s fiancé present, their wedding just days away.
Qi Jing’s sharp gaze swept the room as he escorted Xia Ze into the grand hall.
This estate was even more luxurious than the last, with the garden positioned close to the main hall. Not only was the garden filled with fragrant blooms, but the hall itself displayed numerous roses.
The tableware, lighting fixtures, all bore rose patterns, perfectly matching the event’s theme.
However, the ten rarest roses were not on display yet; they would be brought out later by the host of the banquet.
At this event, Xia Ze didn’t need to socialize, he only had to follow behind General Qi, nodding and smiling.
Not long after entering the banquet hall, Xia Ze felt his communicator buzzing with messages again. He had already activated the blocking function, so who was still sending him emails?
When the crowd thinned, he took a moment to check.
It was a high-authority account, contacting him through an online florist to inquire about the desert rose.
They offered to buy it at a high price.
Noticing his frown, Qi Jing asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Someone wants to buy the desert rose, but I refused,” Xia Ze replied. “I’ll take the photo down later.”
He shouldn’t have shown off!
But at the time, he had been so happy that he’d casually included it in the photo while snapping pictures of the cactus.
After removing the image and rejecting the purchase request, Xia Ze reactivated the high-level blocking function.
Now, no unknown senders could get through.
Sure enough, once the stricter filter was in place, his inbox finally fell silent.
As they chatted, a passing server offered them two glasses of champagne. Xia Ze took one, drawn by the elegant design even the stem of the glass was adorned with delicate, faintly etched roses.
Qi Jing glanced at him. “Do you drink?”
Xia Ze hesitated. Did being a lightweight count as knowing how to drink?
Qi Jing chuckled and took the glass from his hand, replacing it with a non-alcoholic beverage.
Their interaction didn’t go unnoticed.
Among those watching were Alva and Qiao Xi on the second floor, along with the young lady of the Dier family, Dimolin, and the queen’s nephew, Yisong.
All four held prestigious statuses, Alwa was practically royalty, while Qiao Xi, Dimolin, and Yisong represented different old noble families.
The first two Alphas stared obsessively at Xia Ze, while the latter two Omegas, Dimolin and Yisong, fixed their gazes on Qi Jing.
After a moment, the four snapped out of their thoughts, each dismissing the others with disdain.
If not for ulterior motives, they wouldn’t have bothered standing together.
Dimolin sneered, “Some people have the queen’s backing, but what good does it do? They still can’t marry him.”
Yisong, maintaining a calm tone, eyed the dim-witted Dimolin. “And what about you? Didn’t your stepmother, Duchess Dier, promise to help you? How’s that working out?”
His words instantly ignited Dimolin’s temper.
Her birth mother had died young, and when her stepmother, now Duchess Dier entered the household in her teens, she had been kind, even vowing to help Dimolin marry General Qi. Their relationship had been close.
But now, none of those promises mattered.
Her stepmother couldn’t even control her own son!
At least she had been sensible enough to assist at the last moment.
No matter what Yisong said, he had no idea about her plans tonight.
Seeing her expression, Yisong couldn’t help but smirk.
This fool was just like her stepmother—easily baited.
Qiao Xi shot Dimolin a look, and she bristled like a powder keg. “What are you staring at? If you hadn’t stopped me at the last banquet, I would’ve torn him apart!”
Qiao Xi’s face darkened at the reminder. He hadn’t forgotten Xia Ze’s tone when he’d called him meddlesome as if he were trash.
Each of them nursed their own schemes, maintaining only a veneer of harmony.
When the time came, Dimolin was reminded by a servant behind her and announced for everyone to view the roses borrowed from the Natural Science Academy.
“As expected of the royal family only they could secure such precious roses.”
“Indeed, we could smell the fragrance from far away.”
“Truly impressive.”
“This banquet is exceptionally well done, even better than the last time we watched the night-blooming cereus together.”
The distance from the banquet hall to the garden wasn’t far. Xia Ze and Qi Jing followed the crowd and, just as everyone had said, could already catch the scent before even arriving.
The garden was not only filled with roses but also adorned with various other flowers and shrubs to complement them.
It was overwhelmingly fragrant.
Yet the scents were chaotic.
While the rose fragrance at the entrance had been neatly categorized, why was the aroma here so disorderly?
Xia Ze didn’t have time to ponder, as his attention was immediately captured by the large roses before him.
Truly worthy of being rare roses, ten of them were shrub roses, each bearing at least five or six blooms, every flower as large as a palm. Most had fully bloomed, displaying a dazzling array of colors, breathtakingly beautiful.
“So fragrant.”
“I never knew roses could be this stunning.”
“No wonder people go crazy over plants and flowers, I’m losing my mind too.”
“When will we ever achieve ‘rose freedom,’ where everyone can have their own roses?”
Xia Ze instinctively tightened his grip on Qi Jing, his eyes shining brightly. “These are perennial roses. The longer they grow, the more beautiful they become.”
“I want to grow them too.”
The roses he had planted before were mostly annuals, fast-growing but short-lived, a common flaw in plants of the interstellar era.
Large, well-established shrub roses like these were practically a dream variety.
Qi Jing nodded. “Alright, I’ll buy some for you later.”
Xia Ze laughed at his own words. “No need, they’re too expensive. I’ll grow them myself.”
“Then I’ll buy you the seeds.”
Xia Ze was about to refuse, but too many curious eyes were watching them, and he felt the arm around his waist tighten slightly.
Right, he couldn’t openly reject him in front of so many people.
After all, they were “fiancés” about to get married.
Xia Ze reluctantly nodded, and the large hand at his waist loosened slightly.
“Seeds for rare roses are astronomically priced, though of course, that’s nothing for General Qi,” Yi Song remarked smoothly as he approached. “But it would be a shame if they were ruined. I’ve studied plants a bit, and even I wouldn’t dare waste them.”
Di Molin chimed in, “Exactly. Don’t ruin things. Always grabbing at what’s good typical of someone from a trash planet.”
Xia Ze was about to retort when General Qi spoke. “What’s a trash planet?”
It’s just an F-grade planet.
Before anyone could answer, the crowd fell silent.
Such a discriminatory term was fine to use in private, but saying it openly could invite legal consequences.
And General Qi was the enforcer or rather, the enforcer’s superior.
With just one sentence, everyone shut their mouths.
Xia Ze nearly laughed, burying his face against Qi Jing’s shoulder to hide his amusement. To outsiders, it simply looked like an intimate gesture, unaware of how delighted he was.
The butler had no choice but to step in and smooth things over.
The guests here were all either wealthy or noble, no one could afford to offend anyone.
Under the butler’s guidance, the atmosphere livened up again, with waiters weaving through the crowd carrying glasses of wine.
Xia Ze didn’t drink, so he could only gaze longingly at the elegant rose-patterned glass in General Qi’s hand, the champagne inside looking utterly tempting.
Unable to resist teasing him, Qi Jing asked, “Want a taste?”
Just as Xia Ze reached for it, Qi Jing covered the rim and murmured, “Try it at home.”
“At home, I won’t worry if you get drunk.”
He might not even get drunk!
The two sat in a quiet corner of the garden, enjoying the romantic ambiance of the roses like any other couple at the party.
A passing waitress instinctively glanced their way, about to refill General Qi’s glass, when an inexplicable force sent her stumbling forward.
The Omega waiter’s tray was laden with pastries and champagne, threatening to spill all over Xia Ze and Qi Jing.
Qi Jing reacted swiftly, pulling the boy back a few steps.
Even so, Xia Ze’s formal attire was splattered with cream, and Qi Jing’s sleeve caught some champagne as he shielded Xia Ze from the spill.
“What happened?”
“How could the waiter make such a mistake?”
“Oh no, what should we do?”
Dimoline, visibly flustered, hurried over and scolded, “What’s wrong with you? Apologize immediately, and never set foot in this manor again!”
The plan was at a critical stage, no mistakes were allowed!
Xia Ze looked up and was surprised to recognize the waiter, it was the same girl who had greeted him at the last banquet. Seeing her on the verge of tears, he said, “It’s just a little mess on the clothes. No harm done.”
He had been about to suggest they leave, but if they did now, the waiter would likely face further punishment.
This girl had warned him to be careful of the Dier family last time. Better to let it slide.
Qi Jing’s gaze lingered on Xia Ze, noticing his familiarity with the waiter, and he studied her for a moment.
The butler, mistaking Qi Jing’s silence for displeasure, quickly intervened, “Please, let’s get you both to the changing room. We have spare outfits prepared just a quick change of jackets should suffice.”
As they left, Xia Ze added, “Don’t blame her. It was just an accident.”
Qi Jing tightened his grip on Xia Ze’s hand, quickening their pace.
But when they reached the changing area, the attendant informed them, “Alpha and Omega changing rooms are separate. Please follow us.”
This division was standard, but Qi Jing was still preoccupied with the look Xia Ze had given the waiter earlier. He squeezed his hand and murmured, “I’ll explain later.”
Xia Ze was puzzled.
Explain what?
That was so random.
Qi Jing pinched his cheek lightly before walking away.
A nearby attendant chuckled, “General Qi, are you jealous of an Omega?”
Xia Ze was stunned. Jealous?
Wait, General Qi thought he was a Beta. And wasn’t it normal for Betas to be attracted to Omegas?
But honestly, he was far too professional for that kind of thing.
Xia Ze muttered, “Let’s talk after changing.”
The attendant was still smiling as Xia Ze entered the changing room. He couldn’t help but admire the meticulousness of the banquet, even the changing room was adorned with exquisite floral arrangements.
Just as Xia Ze reached for the wardrobe, the attendant quietly exited. The overwhelming fragrance from inside hit him instantly, making his head spin.
Xia Ze’s eyes widened, and he immediately held his breath.
Something was wrong. The scent was far too potent.
When he spotted the flowers inside the wardrobe, his mind flashed back to the roses in the garden.
Both scents were unnatural!
He dug his nails into his palm to ground himself, then quickly opened the small crystal box he carried, no larger than his palm containing two petals of Gabriel’s Archangel Rose.
He had brought them as a precaution, fearing an Omega scent leak.
Now, they proved invaluable.
Still, the combined fragrance from the wardrobe and the garden roses had already triggered his instincts for a brief moment.
Biting his tongue to stay focused, Xia Ze pressed the Gabriel petals against his scent gland, calming the rising agitation.
This was bad.
General Qi.
Perhaps General Qi had also fallen into the same trap!
Those people would stop at nothing to obtain both his and General Qi’s pheromones.
His own didn’t matter much—at worst, his Omega identity would be exposed, and he believed General Qi wouldn’t blame him for that.
But if they got their hands on General Qi’s pheromones, they would undoubtedly conduct arbitrary matches, subjecting his scent to endless pairings by royal nobles.
Such humiliation was absolutely not what General Qi would ever want.
Xia Ze struggled to keep himself upright, stumbling as he ran out. By the time he regained his composure, his steps had become unnaturally light, allowing him to slip past the staff unnoticed.
When Xia Ze reached the corridor outside the Alpha changing room, he was overwhelmed by the icy aura emanating from within. Yet, this aura didn’t seem hostile toward him instead, it enveloped him with complete acceptance.
His own faintly leaking pheromones merged strangely with this presence, warming his body slightly.
But for others, it was devastating. Any Alpha or Omega who attempted to approach collapsed to the ground, paralyzed.
The commotion inside had already reached the guests, and chaos erupted outside, with screams echoing nonstop.
“What’s happening? Which Alpha’s pheromones are leaking?”
“It’s already been contained, but just that brief exposure was terrifying.”
“Even without fully sensing it, it was horrifying.”
“This isn’t just pheromone leakage, it’s a riot triggered by an Alpha forcibly suppressing his pheromones with mental energy!”
The last statement sent everyone recoiling.
Mental energy overpowering pheromones? How was that possible?
And the resulting riot was far too frightening.
Xia Ze didn’t have time to listen. As he passed a paralyzed Omega in the hallway, he spotted a familiar face someone named Yi Song?
Yi Song, completely immobilized, could only watch in disbelief as Xia Ze pushed open the door to the Alpha changing room.
How?
They were both Omegas, why was Xia Ze unaffected?
There were only two possibilities.
Either Xia Ze wasn’t an Omega at all, or his Omega rank was so high it could match General Qi’s.
That was the only explanation for his immunity.
Xia Ze didn’t have time to dwell on it. He pushed hard against the Alpha changing room door, which was clearly locked from the inside. “It’s me, Qi Jing. It’s me.”
“General Qi, open the door!”
The door cracked open slightly, and a pair of slender, well-defined fingers reached out, pulling Xia Ze inside before slamming it shut again, barring any prying eyes.
Before Xia Ze could react, he was pulled into a tight embrace by Qi Jing, held so firmly he could barely breathe.
Xia Ze didn’t resist. Instead, he soothed, “It’s okay. It’s alright. The scent from the roses in the garden mixed with the floral fragrance in the wardrobe, creating a pheromone-inducing aroma.”
“Do you have suppressants? Did you bring any?” Xia Ze asked, though Qi Jing only held him tighter in response.
Qi Jing’s voice was muffled against him. “No.”
His pheromones had never been unstable before this was purely an accident.
Even so, he had suppressed them well. He just needed to hold on a little longer.
Feeling General Qi’s ragged breathing, Xia Ze reassured him, “It’s alright. Everything will be fine.”
With that, Xia Ze retrieved another petal of the Archangel Gabriel flower, its pure white form resting on his left fingertips.
He wasn’t sure if it would work on an Alpha, but he had to try.
This couldn’t go on any longer.
Xia Ze had no choice but to use his right hand to pull at General Qi’s collar, searching for the scent gland on his neck.
But the moment he tugged at the collar, Qi Jing abruptly raised his head, his gaze burning with desire as he stared at Xia Ze.
His voice was hoarse. “What are you doing?”
Xia Ze quickly explained, “This, this thing might help suppress pheromones. Let me try it on you.”
“Where is your scent gland?”
“I’ll help you apply it.”
Though he didn’t know what the boy was holding, Qi Jing instinctively trusted him. His eyes darkened as he grasped Xia Ze’s hand, lowering his head to let the boy’s fingers trace the area around his scent gland.
When Xia Ze’s warm fingertips brushed against the sensitive skin near the gland, Qi Jing shuddered involuntarily. Suppressing his pheromones with effort, he let out a soft, satisfied sigh.
Just as Xia Ze was about to press the petal onto the gland, a series of urgent knocks sounded at the door, followed by the jingling of keys attempting to unlock it.
“It’s locked, it won’t open!”
“General Qi, we’ve brought suppressants. Open the door!”
“General Qi, the doctor is here!”
Then came a few sharp rebukes: “Not needed. Step back!”
The voices belonged to General Qi’s adjutants.
“How is it not needed? You know better than anyone how strong General Qi’s psychic energy is. If it triggers chaos here, who can bear the responsibility?”
“There are nobles and even members of the royal family here. Let the doctor stabilize the situation!”
Lei Chen’s voice was icy. “If you’re so worried about them, evacuate the crowd immediately instead of letting them gather here!”
“Besides, General Qi’s Omega is inside. Your concern is unnecessary!”
Xu Chuan added coldly, “We will investigate this thoroughly. A perfectly fine banquet, why would it trigger the General’s pheromones? You know exactly why.”
The thinly veiled threat silenced the voices outside.
Amid the arguing, some still tried to force their way in, only to be blocked again.
Xia Ze glanced worriedly at the door.
Qi Jing murmured in a low voice, “We can’t use their suppressants now.”
“And the doctor can’t come in.”
Not even the door could be opened again, if it was, someone would undoubtedly slip in to collect residual pheromones.
Their intentions were obvious.
If not for the adjutants guarding the door, Qi Jing was certain they would have broken it down by force.
After all, this was their closest chance to obtain his pheromones.
Xia Ze unconsciously bit his lower lip. He knew how desperate people were to match with General Qi, but he hadn’t expected them to go to such extremes.
Tonight no, this entire banquet was likely a trap set for them.
His fingers lightly brushed Qi Jing’s scent gland again as he explained, “This thing should help suppress pheromones. I… I’ve tried it on someone else before. At the very least, it won’t do any harm.”
Xia Ze didn’t notice how Qi Jing’s breathing grew uneven at the mention of testing it on someone else.
Fortunately, in the next moment, Xia Ze pressed the petal onto Qi Jing’s scent gland.
Almost instantly, all the agitation subsided. The turbulent psychic energy gradually receded.
Qi Jing took a deep breath, finding his mind unusually clear.
The pheromone disturbance caused by the two conflicting scents had completely vanished.
He had recovered.
This delicate petal seemed far more effective than any suppressant on the market.
Qi Jing instinctively pulled Xia Ze into his arms again, enveloping the young man completely as he inhaled his scent, feeling that dizzying intoxication creeping over him once more.
Xia Ze, thinking the petals from Archangel Gabriel had failed, was about to panic when he suddenly felt a weight on his shoulder. General Qi’s muffled voice sounded in his ear: “Explain.”
Explain?
Xia Ze struggled to gather his thoughts.
Oh, the matter with the waitress.
He lowered his voice as he recounted what had happened at the last banquet: “She warned me to be careful of the Dyer family. This time didn’t seem intentional either she’s just a young girl. I didn’t want to make things difficult for her.”
Qi Jing remained buried against his shoulder, giving no indication of whether he’d heard.
Xia Ze was a little dazed after finishing. Was that explanation enough?
Qi Jing parted his lips. That wasn’t what he wanted to ask.
Why did the kid know these petals could suppress pheromones?
Who else had he used them on?
An Omega? Or an Alpha?
After pheromones were triggered, there was a brief period resembling a rut.
It pissed him off.
Pissed him off that the kid showed special regard for someone else.
Pissed him off at that unknown A or O.
He should’ve tied the kid to his side long ago.
Qi Jing took a deep breath, fingers tracing the nape of Xia Ze’s neck before he suddenly bit down.
Xia Ze tensed all over.
What was this about?!
Only after biting him did Qi Jing slowly explain: “Giving them a reason.”
“Tell them we did a temporary mark to stabilize the pheromones.”
Right—aside from suppressants, this was another way to restore an Alpha’s rationality.
The petals absolutely couldn’t be exposed.
Something like that was far too rare, and Xia Ze hadn’t even fully researched them yet.
Then he felt General Qi’s fingers brushing over the bite mark, dipping slightly lower—close to his scent gland.
If he were a Beta, it wouldn’t matter. The gland would be numb. But he was an Omega, and their pheromones had just settled. They didn’t have any petals left.
If this continued, they wouldn’t be leaving this room today.
Xia Ze quickly grabbed Qi Jing’s hand. “Y-you okay now?”
Qi Jing hummed in response, his voice still rough. His mood improved slightly as he took in the kid’s disheveled state.
His hair mussed by him.
His clothes wrinkled by him.
His neck, marked by him.
He was his.
Qi Jing inhaled deeply, forcing the thoughts away. It didn’t matter. The kid was his anyway.
Outside, people were practically burning with impatience, but inside, Qi Jing remained unhurried as he murmured, “My head hurts. Let me hold you a little longer. Okay?”
