Seeing Li Xiao walk away without a word, Song Jin caught up and dragged him back. “Test a few more times.”

Li Xiao felt waves of nausea and looked at him languidly. “Fine. I’ll give you a rotten tomato, we’ll both smell it, and the first person to throw up loses.”

Song Jin: “…Is it really that disgusting?”

Li Xiao: “Do you want to bet on whether I throw up on you?”

Song Jin recoiled in disgust: “…”

Thinking of Li Xiao’s unconscious state when he was hit by the sonic bomb, a flicker of pity crossed Song Jin’s eyes. Between being deafened and having his sense of smell ruined, such a fine beauty has become completely useless.

Signaling the beta school doctor to pause, Song Jin led Li Xiao to the office next door to rest.

“There’s water over there. Pour it yourself,” Song Jin said casually.

Li Xiao sat by the window and opened it for ventilation. “I want coffee made by you. Not hand-ground, don’t bother.”

Song Jin: “Do your own chores.”

Li Xiao stood up: “Then do the rest of the work yourself.”

He had barely taken a step before Song Jin blocked his path.

“Coffee, right?” Song Jin gave a chilling smile. “Fine. Your husband will make it for you.”

Li Xiao sat back down slowly and unhurriedly: “No sugar.”

Song Jin rolled up his sleeves and headed to the pantry. As he moved, the lines from his forearm to his wrist and fingertips were smooth and full of tension—a pair of very beautiful hands.

Li Xiao couldn’t help but look twice, then silently turned toward the window once he snapped out of it. Once the scent of rotten tomatoes disappeared, his discomfort vanished immediately.

“What’s the deal with those four types of pheromones?”

“Four types?” Song Jin ground the coffee beans, raising his eyes to look over. “Aren’t they all just the smell of rotten tomatoes? How do you know there are four?”

Li Xiao: “Different tomatoes smell different when they rot. What do you smell?”

Song Jin: “Fruit wine, but like fruit wine that hasn’t fermented properly. Not much different from an ordinary person’s.”

The fact that Li Xiao smelled something different from everyone else—regardless of the reason—pointed to one thing: the pheromones of Qi Ge and his group had powerful camouflage capabilities. Most people couldn’t distinguish them and wouldn’t be able to detect the danger until it was too late. The student council vice-president was living proof.

Song Jin brought over two cups of coffee, handed one to Li Xiao, and leaned casually against the windowsill. “I remember you saying you could gauge someone’s physical condition from their pheromones. What problems did you smell in those four?”

Li Xiao lifted his coffee cup: “Testing me?”

Song Jin: “Polite inquiry.”

Li Xiao: “What about the service fee?”

Song Jin tipped his chin: “Isn’t it already in your hand?”

Li Xiao took a sip and nearly spat it out. Is this something a human is supposed to drink?

Song Jin urged: “Hurry up. Do you believe I’ll have someone bring the instruments over here?”

Thinking of his own bottom-tier credit rating, Li Xiao felt he needed to recoup some losses.

“Pheromone deterioration means the internal environment of the body has undergone significant changes. Whether it’s good or bad is hard to say, but to smell this rotten… I’m afraid they’ll even have trouble finding a partner.”

Song Jin: “…” Is your focus even remotely in the right place?

Li Xiao asked: “Whose pheromones are those four?”

“All from Danse exchange students. Like you, they can all see the hidden surveillance equipment.” Song Jin looked him in the eyes, pretending to joke. “Your Danse empire isn’t secretly researching some heaven-defying human experiments, are you?”

Li Xiao was lost in thought, his fingertips unconsciously brushing the rim of his cup. The little lion’s words seemed to have helped him grasp a key point, but the known clues were too sparse to piece together the full picture.

“You must have tested my pheromones already.” Seeing Song Jin didn’t deny it, Li Xiao continued, “What were the results?”

Since they were already at this point, Song Jin accessed his terminal and pulled up a series of blood test reports, intending to probe Li Xiao’s reaction. Among the pile of problematic blood samples, the one that caught Li Xiao’s attention first was Hu Jiang’s.

“My pheromone curve is consistent with this one?”

“Not yours, but both of you match the pheromone curve of the Bique tribe.” Song Jin’s tone was chilly. “As far as I know, the vast majority of the Bique tribe lives in the Nanming constellation. Did your family immigrate to the Tianjiang constellation?”

“Mm,” Li Xiao replied perfunctorily, his mind on other things. It wasn’t a huge surprise that Hu Jiang and his group could make it to the final stage of the Cube if they were of the Bique tribe, but that final “protect yourself” had been over the line for people meeting for the first time. Being from the same tribe, does Hu Jiang know my father? Is that why he was so surprised when he heard my name?

As Li Xiao pondered, his chin was caught and turned; he was met with Song Jin’s face, magnified.

Song Jin leaned over, resting his weight on the back of the chair and lifting Li Xiao’s chin, forcing him to meet his gaze. “You still haven’t told me how you felt when you were attacked by Qi Ge at the test site.”

Smelling the sweet, bitter scent of coffee, Li Xiao looked into those amber eyes and asked coolly: “Does this count as torture and coerced confession?”

“You don’t know how many people have begged me on their knees to use torture on them.” Song Jin stroked his jawline and scoffed. “Don’t miss the blessings you have.”

Li Xiao remained unmoved and pulled his hand away: “Don’t learn from adults when you’re a child. Sit down.”

Song Jin: “…”

Li Xiao: “The moment I smelled the pheromones, I felt like a marionette. My sense of self vanished; I could only obey the other person’s commands.”

Song Jin: “Sounds like an alpha’s pheromone dominance over an omega.”

Alpha is the natural dominator. In AO relationships, omegas often struggle to resist alphas, especially during heat, where they are easily dominated.

Li Xiao shook his head: “It’s different. The attraction between AOs depends on their compatibility, and even when dominated, the omega’s sense of self doesn’t vanish—they can resist or cater based on personal preference. But Qi Ge’s pheromone control has nothing to do with personal preference.”

Song Jin: “So, the difference between an aphrodisiac and a mind-control drug?”

Li Xiao: “…I suppose so.”

Song Jin: “But you didn’t lose consciousness?”

Li Xiao: “Not necessarily.”

Song Jin: “What do you mean ‘not necessarily’?”

Li Xiao: “When the vice-president was attacked, didn’t he lose his memory? I think Qi Ge used his pheromones to plant a post-hypnotic suggestion, whereas mine was a direct command to act.”

The more we talk, the more it sounds like a Super Omega. But a Super Omega required 100% pheromone matching to control an alpha. How could Qi Ge attack indiscriminately? No, that’s not it either.

Song Jin straightened up: “You regained your self-awareness before you jumped, which means his mental control has a very short duration, or perhaps it has a distance limit?”

Li Xiao: “My case is special. I can’t answer that.”

Song Jin followed up: “You wouldn’t happen to have mind-control abilities too, would you?”

Li Xiao: “If I could control people, do you think I’d still be unable to see him?”

Song Jin: “…”

“Done asking? Now it’s my turn.” Li Xiao stood up slowly. “The blood you snatched at N2533—is that related to this? Do you suspect Qi Ge’s special physique is linked to the Bique tribe? Are you wary of their mind-control abilities, or does Shengya intend to conduct some heaven-defying human experiments of its own?”

Usually, Li Xiao deliberately restrained his aura, and combined with his feigned easy-going personality, people weren’t afraid to get close. But being this close, Song Jin felt himself being surrounded by Li Xiao’s imposing aura. He experienced firsthand what it was like to have his territory invaded by an alpha of equal standing.

Song Jin met Li Xiao’s gaze: “Everything you asked is classified. I can’t answer that.”

Li Xiao didn’t expect him to be honest, so he nodded: “Keep sharing the subsequent intelligence with me.”

Seeing he was about to leave, Song Jin called out: “Aren’t you worried at all? What if they kidnap you to use as an experimental subject?”

Li Xiao: “You already dragged me here to be an experimental subject.”

Song Jin huffed and walked out side-by-side with him. “Your nose is going to waste. Why not lend it to me?”

One devious principle after another. Li Xiao couldn’t help but look at him sideways: “And your body is going to waste. Why not lend it to me?”

Song Jin: “What do you want it for?”

Li Xiao: “Little kids shouldn’t know so much.”

Song Jin: “…”

Song Jin: “What happened to your intermittent ‘good guy’ persona?”

Li Xiao was dead serious: “I also have ‘Sudden Scumbag Syndrome’ and ‘Persistent Schizophrenia.’”

Song Jin: “You’re just full of illnesses.”

Li Xiao: “Anyway, since my body is going to waste, it’s not cost-effective not to be sick.”

Song Jin: “…………”

Is his mental state really okay? Did he smell rotten tomatoes until he went insane?

The two talked nonsense, but neither felt particularly relaxed inside. What mind control represented, they knew better than anyone.

Song Jin thought of those Super Omegas controlled on Snow Star, and his parents who had to stay there long-term because of it.

In Li Xiao’s mind, he kept seeing his previous life—rushing into the King’s bedchamber, the room full of medical equipment, and his brother’s bloodless face on the hospital bed. He had questions he wanted to ask, words he wanted to say, but it was too late. His brother was gone.

When he was attacked by Qi Ge a second time in the corridor, Qi Ge had followed him the whole way. This means that under normal circumstances, mental control can only be achieved within a high concentration of pheromones. Exceeding that range might allow the target to wake up.

If this is only temporary control, my brother won’t be in danger before the Meng family completely gains control of the Tianjiang constellation. Even if they controlled my brother to sign official documents, he would expose them the moment he woke up. A regime change can’t be completed overnight… unless the person with mental control stays by his side long-term.

At this thought, Li Xiao’s heart sank. It’s not entirely impossible to achieve.

My brother is thirty-three already, long past marriageable age. Haven’t they thought about sending an omega into the palace?

In the dormitory, Da Bei was sitting in the living room reading technical posts on the military academy forum. Seeing Li Xiao return, he hurriedly poured a cup of hot tea for him: “Brother, are you tired? Want to rest early?”

Li Xiao took the cup: “Have you heard your cousin talking about any gossip from back home lately?”

Da Bei gave a dry laugh: “What aspect do you want to hear about?”

Li Xiao didn’t know what he was thinking, but his expression was a bit despondent: “I know my brother doesn’t like me being back. No one wants me back; they’re afraid I’ll threaten his position.”

Da Bei was startled and said in a panic: “N-no! Don’t think like that.”

Li Xiao looked at him suspiciously: “So I’m curious—why doesn’t he get married? If he had a few more kids, wouldn’t I be unable to threaten him?”

Da Bei didn’t expect such a devious angle to the question and couldn’t think of a response for a moment: “…That does make a lot of sense.”

Li Xiao: “Haven’t people been advising him to get married early all these years?”

Da Bei scratched his hair, looking troubled: “Actually, there are quite a lot of people trying to get close to His Majesty at every reception. Maybe His Majesty just hasn’t taken a liking to any of them?”

Li Xiao asked sincerely: “Does he have some kind of hidden ailment?”

Da Bei: “…”

That night, Da Bei returned to his room, hesitated for a while, and eventually reported Li Xiao’s movements to the palace in full detail. His mission was to report truthfully, without any processing or concealment.

After hitting send, Da Bei covered his face: “…” Will His Majesty be angry to death? I truly can’t imagine it.

[The Second Prince asked why Your Majesty doesn’t get married, and whether you have a hidden ailment.]

The special assistant’s pupils dilated; he carefully peeked at Li Ji’s expression: “Your Majesty, the Second Prince might just be asking offhandedly. Please don’t take it to heart.”

Li Ji stood in front of the screen with a sour face, glaring at the text for a long time: “Reply to him: Our functions are working perfectly fine, he doesn’t need to worry about them!”

Special Assistant: “…Yes.”

Li Ji scoffed: “Is getting married something to boast about? I’ll break them up in a couple of days, they’re nothing!”

Special Assistant: “…”

Seeing Li Ji storming out of the office in anger, the assistant suddenly remembered something and hurried to catch up: “The news about Qiu Yuefeng’s bribery has been hanging on the internet for the past two days; it’s causing quite a stir.”

Two days after the case materials were suppressed, Qiu Yuefeng hit the hot searches on all major platforms. The story became more and more bizarre; the bribe amount had more than doubled a hundred times over, and all sorts of so-called mistresses and lovers came out to write exposes, pointing directly to Qiu Yuefeng’s extravagance and debauchery.

One didn’t need to use their toes to guess who was operating behind the scenes.

Li Ji didn’t even look back: “I don’t know.”

The assistant silently shut his mouth. That’s a clear indication that he doesn’t intend to care.

The next morning at 6:00, Li Xiao got up on time for his morning workout in the training room.

The bribery case continued to ferment on the Danse network. Li Xiao watched the news for two days, but there was still no record of the case being accepted on the local court’s public page. Public opinion alone couldn’t take down a parliamentarian; the Meng family must have already made sufficient preparations. Given the current results, either the Yi family had intercepted the whistleblower materials, or his brother had intervened.

Regardless of who did it, it was good news for him.

Half an hour later, Da Bei walked in and began warming up in the empty space nearby.

“Brother, I asked my cousin about your question from last night.”

Li Xiao: “What did he say?”

Da Bei straightened his back and replied in a full, broadcast-announcer voice: “My cousin said, His Majesty’s functions are extremely powerful, there is absolutely no need to worry about problems in that regard!”

Li Xiao: “…” Is that really how you use the word ‘powerful’?

Li Xiao stopped, bit the binding of his boxing gloves to tear them open, and picked up a towel to wipe off his sweat.

“Then why hasn’t he gotten married yet? Could it be that he likes alphas just like me? In that case, couldn’t Old Liu be his secret lover?”

Da Bei was already sweating profusely before he’d even started his workout.

“…Old Liu is over fifty.”

Li Xiao: “Is he? He looks quite young.”

Da Bei: “…………” Are you serious?!

Danse Palace. Li Ji had just finished his day’s work when his assistant received another report from Da Bei.

[The Second Prince asked if Your Majesty likes alphas. He also asked if you are His Majesty’s secret lover.]

The air in the Political Affairs Hall solidified instantly.

Special Assistant Old Liu nearly burst into tears: “Y-Your Majesty…”

Li Ji glared at him in disgust: “Get lost! Stop wandering in front of me when there’s nothing to do.”

The assistant answered aggrievedly: “…Yes.”

The bell rang, and Li Xiao packed his books and walked out of the classroom, meeting Qin Le at the entrance of the classroom diagonally opposite.

“How’s the case going?” Li Xiao asked.

Qin Le: “Still organizing. There’s hope.”

Li Xiao nodded: “If there’s anything I can help with, let me know.”

Qin Le looked at him for a long time. He seemed to have the attitude of ‘avoiding trouble’ when meeting Jiang Mu before, so why the sudden change? Is it really true that ‘those who take gifts have short hands’ [it’s hard to refuse someone after accepting their gift]?

As they were talking, an arm stretched over Li Xiao’s shoulder from behind. He turned to look and saw it was Song Jin again.

Li Xiao: “I have a date at noon.”

“Cancel it.” Song Jin walked Li Xiao forward with big strides. “Gege taking you to eat something good.”

Li Xiao: “…” Here we go again.

In the garage, Song Jin opened the passenger door, shoved him inside, buckled his seatbelt himself, rounded the hood, sat in the driver’s seat, and zoomed off.

Li Xiao sighed helplessly: “This is kidnapping.”

Song Jin watched the road ahead: “Voluntary acts don’t count.”

Li Xiao, the ‘voluntarily’ kidnapped: “…”

The car stopped at Restaurant No. 32 in the DF District. Song Jin listened to the reports from his subordinates on the bug and took Li Xiao to sit by the window on the second floor.

Four third-year exchange students were sitting in front of and behind them. It wasn’t easy to collect the blood of every exchange student without attracting attention, but it was convenient with Li Xiao there; one sniff was all it took to judge whether they were problematic.

Li Xiao discriminated between the scents of each person amidst the aroma of various dishes, shooting a blank expression toward Song Jin, who was seriously ordering dessert.

Feeling Li Xiao’s gaze, Song Jin signaled with his eyes: [Found a problem?]

Li Xiao nodded: [I want savory dessert.]

Song Jin continued to signal: [Which one is the problem?]

Li Xiao: [It’s impossible for there not to be one, keep looking.]

Song Jin frowned, looking confused: [Which one, exactly?]

Li Xiao pointed at the screen: [That one.]

Song Jin looked down and saw it was a scallion-flavored cookie ice cream.

“…” What kind of chaotic mess is that?

After confirming there were no problems with the four exchange students, the two acted as if they had simply come over for a meal.

“Li Xiao, what a coincidence.”

A gentle baritone sounded in his ear. Song Jin and Li Xiao looked over simultaneously to see an omega dressed in a Danse military uniform walking over.

The other man had micro-curled dark gray hair, slightly dark skin, and wore ornate ear-chains connected to a metal collar on his neck, which was encrusted with jewels.

The surrounding students targeted him like radar, stealing glances and pricking their ears to listen. A pretty omega is hitting on Li Xiao!

Li Xiao scanned the badge on the omega’s collar—it was a second-year student.

“And you are, senior?”

“I’m Wei Ming, an exchange student like you.” The omega smiled and walked up to the table. “You performed excellently in the last live combat assessment. I wanted to meet you earlier, but my studies were too busy; I couldn’t find an opportunity.”

Being close, Li Xiao caught a faint, strange odor from the omega. He shifted into the booth and signaled for the omega to sit down: “Have you eaten, senior? Want to order something more?”

The smile on Wei Ming’s lips deepened as he sat down beside Li Xiao, casting a glance at Song Jin: “Then I’ll be an intrusion. Your companion wouldn’t mind, would he?”

Song Jin grinned: “Not at all. We love playing with omegas… oh, a slip of the tongue. I mean, we love playing together with omegas.”

Li Xiao: “…” I hope that was a slip of the tongue.

The surrounding students: “…?” What does ‘playing together’ mean?

Wei Ming’s smile stiffened slightly, though he quickly returned to a natural state while assessing Song Jin: “Xiao Jin, you’re better looking than most omegas. No wonder Xiao Xiao likes you; unlike me, I’m exposed to wind and sun all year, my skin is so rough.”

Calling an alpha better looking than an omega wasn’t a compliment, especially in a place like a military academy.

Song Jin ate his ice cream and gave him a casual look: “It is indeed rougher than the linen curtains in my hometown, but there’s a different feel to ‘rough.’ We aren’t picky, right, Babe?”

Li Xiao: “…………” Damn brat, what are you saying?

The surrounding students: “…?” Song Jin, you’re very ‘not right’ right now.

“Xiao Jin, you really know how to joke, ha-ha…” Wei Ming laughed and pointed to the ice cream in Song Jin’s hand. “Is your dessert the new arrival? I’ve been here many times and haven’t seen it. Looks delicious.”

Song Jin: “It is delicious. If you want some, order it yourself.”

“I can’t finish one serving,” Wei Ming looked at the portion by Li Xiao’s hand. “Xiao Xiao’s also looks good. How about we share…”

Li Xiao: “One portion isn’t enough for me.”

Wei Ming: “…”

Song Jin: “Senior, do you have class during the first period this afternoon?”

Wei Ming smiled: “The first period is Ideological and Moral Cultivation. What about you two?”

“We just skip those classes,” Song Jin said, opening his terminal, switching to public mode, and skillfully clicking into the hotel booking page. “Time is limited at noon, let’s find a close one. Babe, what style do you want?”

Li Xiao: “The Morandi pink heart-shaped bed. Your favorite.”

Song Jin: “…” I wish it were my favorite.

Seeing them booking a hotel, the smile on Wei Ming’s face grew stiff: “May I ask… are you two going out at noon?”

Song Jin looked innocent: “Didn’t we just agree to go have fun together? The three of us.”

The surrounding students held their breath: “…!!!” Three people going to a hotel to play?!!

Wei Ming was stunned: “I… did I agree to that?”

“It’s fine, it’s not too late to agree now.” Li Xiao offered understandingly: “Eat quickly, or we won’t have time later.”

Song Jin: “Eat more, otherwise you won’t be able to handle it.”

Wei Ming: “…………” Is this a ‘last meal’? Who could eat this?!

Watching the two of them eating happily, Wei Ming weighed his options repeatedly. Going to a hotel room with two alphas—if this gets back to Danse, my reputation will be ruined. Furthermore, he wasn’t confident in controlling both of them at once.

Wei Ming gritted his teeth and put down his chopsticks: “Oh my, I suddenly remembered my roommate asked me to bring something back. So sorry, let’s meet again next time, okay?”

Li Xiao: “What is it? We can have someone deliver it.”

“It’s a very important item!” Wei Ming got up and ran.

The onlookers: “…!!!” Whoa! You really scared an omega away, you guys are something else!

Once he was out of sight, Song Jin wiped his mouth and signaled Li Xiao to leave: “The blind massage at that hotel is actually really good. Are you Danse people afraid of massages? Why did senior run so fast?”

The onlookers: “…???” After all that, it was just blind massage?

Facing the fervent gazes of the students, Li Xiao said with disappointment: “Just looking at his accessories, you know he’s from a noble background. In our country, nobles won’t go out with commoners like me. Forget it, don’t force him.”

Song Jin: “Don’t be sad. We won’t be friends with people who look down on you.”

Li Xiao: “Mm.”

The students heard this and thought, Huh, so that omega wasn’t hitting on him, he was there to show off his superiority?! Danse people really have bizarre circuits in their brains.

“Li Xiao, we won’t look down on you either!”

“You were right to marry into Shengya! Don’t go back!”

The students in the restaurant offered their encouragement.

Li Xiao kept a wooden face: “Thank you.”

What happened in the restaurant spread through various alumni groups at an unimaginable speed. Before the afternoon classes, everyone knew that there was an exchange student in the second year named Wei Ming who had taken advantage of lunch to go and humiliate Li Xiao. By the time Wei Ming went to class in the afternoon, the entire class was looking at him with subtle expressions.

Wei Ming: “??” What’s going on?!

After eating, they returned to the garage. Li Xiao sat in the passenger seat and saw Song Jin lying on the steering wheel, his shoulders shaking with laughter.

Li Xiao pulled the seatbelt: “Still got the face to laugh. My innocence of several decades was almost ruined by you.”

Song Jin sent a message to his subordinates to have people follow Wei Ming, then looked at Li Xiao: “What do you want your innocence for? Want a second marriage with some honest man? I don’t have an opinion, but you’ll have to attend the divorce training course yourself.”

Li Xiao: “…”

Compared to attending a training course, innocence isn’t that important.