He really had no choice but to find a part-time job.
But for now, something else was even more urgent…
Chi Zhan: Do you know where I can get a professional pheromone screening done? Not a big hospital—somewhere discreet, where no one will find out and the results can’t be tampered with.
S seemed to be busy—or perhaps just ignoring a future hire’s weird question. The message remained unread.
Chi Zhan returned to browsing the major part-time job sites. It seemed like the freshman job rush had already peaked—most positions were filled. And with the academy’s military training schedule so tight, his only free day was Sunday, which left even fewer options.
Even if he only bought the cheapest nutrient solution, he only had enough left for another week. But his scholarship wouldn’t be distributed for another two weeks. He couldn’t exactly survive on air alone, could he? Chi Zhan sighed silently.
Even a hero can be brought low by a single coin.
He’d have to borrow some emergency funds from Tao Ran for now and keep checking the job boards. Something would turn up eventually.
Chi Zhan drifted off to sleep in a daze. When he woke, there was a message waiting on his phone.
S: Go to Darkport. Anything can be done there.
Darkport—that was where he’d met S for their last deal.
Was that place really that magical? Chi Zhan figured he’d see for himself soon enough.
A week passed quickly, and the day of the meeting with S finally arrived.
Military uniforms were out of the question in public—they stood out too much and would blow his cover. Chi Zhan opted for the safest choice: a button-up shirt and black trousers. But since he’d been living off low-grade nutrient solution all week, his tucked-in shirt still looked limp and hollow on his frame.
He arrived at the “Twilight” Bar at the agreed time. Staring up at the sign, he thought it looked like the most ordinary place imaginable.
But at the entrance, he was stopped by a security guard. “Please present your pass.”
Naturally, Chi Zhan didn’t have one. He hesitated for a second, then sent S a message. Looking up again, he said, “I’m here at S’s invitation.”
The guard nodded and handed him a metal tag.
Chi Zhan accepted it without understanding, noting that it felt a lot like the ID tags they wore during military drills—cool, silver-white, and engraved with a strange design.
Was that… an angel? With feathers?
As he studied the pattern, another staff member stepped forward.
“I’ll need to search you, sir.”
Chi Zhan had brought a voice recorder, which wasn’t allowed inside.
It was just a precaution, but judging by how thorough the search was, no wonder S had said this place was secure.
Next, someone approached with a strip of black cloth, explaining politely that they needed to cover his eyes.
Chi Zhan frowned.
“Is that really necessary? I won’t say a word about what I see.”
“It’s protocol, sir.”
There was no way Chi Zhan would allow himself to be blindfolded. That was far too dangerous—completely devoid of any sense of security.
The two sides were at a standstill.
“What’s going on here? Why are you all blocking the entrance?” A blond man in a floral shirt stepped out from inside, smiling.
“Lord Laiyi.”
Chi Zhan looked over. He didn’t recognize the man at all.
Laiyi smiled warmly.
“They say the customer is always right—we should show a little more respect, don’t you think? But rules are rules. No one gets to break them easily. Isn’t that fair?”
As he spoke, his gaze fell on Chi Zhan. The smile vanished from his eyes, replaced by a dangerous glint. His pheromones seeped out, and a powerful pressure filled the air.
It wasn’t uncommon for troublemakers to show up—some were tabloid reporters hoping to fish in murky waters, others unknown agents poking around for information. The simplest and most effective way to deal with them was brute force.
But after a full minute passed, Chi Zhan remained standing there, calm and unmoved.
…A Beta? Laiyi frowned slightly. Betas were rare in a place like this. He gave the young man another once-over and noticed his upright posture and composed bearing. Definitely from the military academy. Still looked like a student.
Military academy… Beta… student?
Laiyi’s mind flashed back to something Zhou Yanxing had said.
Well, well—could this be the secretary Zhou Yanxing had his eye on?
A genuine smile spread across Laiyi’s face. “Oh well, if you don’t want the blindfold, that’s fine. I’ll take you in myself. You meeting someone?”
While Chi Zhan was distracted, Laiyi discreetly snapped a photo with a miniature camera and sent it to His Highness the Second Prince.
Laiyi: Looks like I’ve stumbled across someone interesting.
***
Chi Zhan followed the blond man into the building. The way the staff had treated this “Laiyi” guy with such deference—was he the one in charge here? The level of control seemed extremely strict. They even required blindfolds to enter… Was there something here that outsiders weren’t allowed to see?
Without a word, Chi Zhan subtly scanned his surroundings. The corridor was long and winding like a maze, lined with countless doors. The lighting was dim to the point of near darkness—he could barely make out the path ahead even with his sharp eyesight.
“Someone invited you?” Laiyi asked casually.
His tone was oddly familiar—more like chatting with an old friend than speaking to a stranger he’d just met. Chi Zhan replied with a noncommittal “Mm,” clearly not in the mood for conversation.
Laiyi had known about Chi Zhan’s arrival the moment he showed up at the door. He also knew it was someone named S who had sent the invitation. But did Zhou Yanxing know about this?
Darkport wasn’t the kind of place one could enter and leave unscathed—not without connections. And this one… such a pure little kitten, clueless and unguarded. One wrong move, and things could go very badly.
The message he’d sent earlier still hadn’t been answered. Torn between watching the drama unfold and intervening, Laiyi chose to walk a middle path.
“We’re here,” he said at last, stopping in front of one of the many doors. He looked at Chi Zhan, his tone suddenly tinged with meaning. “Doing business in a place like this… is a risky thing.”
“Do you know me?”
“You’ll find out eventually.” He studied Chi Zhan’s face, then gestured to the nearby attendant, who brought over a mask.
Another rule?
Chi Zhan took it and put it on.
The mask was beautifully crafted—pure white with delicate feathered patterns, fitting snugly across his face. It covered most of his features, leaving only the elegant bridge of his nose and pale lips visible.
