FRGL chapter 77

During his recovery, Luo Hai never once asked Eugene where he went every day from nine to five.

He could tell that, whether out of concern or some subtle form of caution, Eugene didn’t want to reveal too much about the Lightwing Society.

Since Eugene didn’t say, Luo Hai didn’t ask. But to claim he wasn’t curious at all would have been a lie.

The investigation in Nantes had been ongoing for half a month. Though it hadn’t yet reached Lansai, the wanted posters were everywhere. Even the least news-savvy Lansai resident had likely seen Eugene’s face plastered on them. Yet despite the risks, Eugene still insisted on going out every day. Luo Hai couldn’t imagine what he was up to.

Eugene found a white hoodie for Luo Hai and pulled the hood up over his head before they left. As for himself, he wore a black coat, sunglasses, and a mask, looking every bit like a movie spy as he led Luo Hai through the crowded streets.

For the first time in his life, despite being fully clothed, Luo Hai felt utterly exposed.

He could no longer hide. The people passing by might not see his face clearly, but they could immediately tell his gender. It was like a newborn being exposed to scorching stares for the first time—completely defenseless.

Unmarked Omegas were probably rare in Lansai. Luo Hai could clearly feel the weight of the gazes trailing behind him. Some didn’t even bother to wait until they had passed him; they just openly stared, their assessing eyes sizing him up like a product with a price tag.

Suddenly, his hand, hanging at his side, was grasped, and the slightly higher temperature of an Alpha’s palm spread into his own.

“Don’t be afraid,” Eugene said in a low voice.

“Who’s afraid?” Luo Hai frowned.

“Your hand is shaking, but you’re still pretending to be tough.” Eugene chuckled softly and tightened his grip on Luo Hai’s fingers. “I’m here.”

Luo Hai felt a surge of irritation, wanting to argue back but unable to find the words. And yet, those few simple words from Eugene settled in his stomach like a calming pill, dispelling his restlessness and unease.

Eugene didn’t let go of his hand as he led him into a narrow alley. The alley was filthy and cluttered, with only a few startled rats and sparrows scurrying away, aside from a scruffy, bearded homeless man holding a chipped bowl.

Luo Hai immediately noticed that the man’s eyes were too sharp—nothing like someone who had gone hungry for days.

“A contact?” he asked quietly.

“Impressive.” Eugene raised an eyebrow.

“Who do you take me for?” Luo Hai shot him a look. “If I hadn’t been holding back, you wouldn’t even know how many times I’ve caught you by now.”

“Yes, yes, no doubt—Prosecutor Luo Hai, truly impressive.”

Eugene walked over to the homeless man and dropped a silver token into his bowl. The man shook the bowl lightly, then turned and opened a rusty, inconspicuous metal door behind him.

Luo Hai hadn’t even noticed the door before. But once it opened, he realized there was a large space beyond it.

A rusted metal staircase led underground. Eugene took him down, and with each step, the darkness grew deeper until he could barely see the next step.

Luo Hai frowned. “Are you sure it’s okay to bring me in just like this?”

“What’s the problem?”

“I don’t know who you’re meeting, but officially, I’m still a prosecutor at the Nantes Prosecutor’s Office—your kidnapped hostage. Even if you explain that I’m siding with the Lightwing Society, they may not necessarily believe you. I’m worried this might affect your—”

Before Luo Hai could finish, Eugene suddenly cut him off. “Stay here. Don’t move. Wait for me.”

Before he could react, Eugene had already vanished.

The downward hallway was pitch dark, almost completely devoid of light. Luo Hai reached out, trying to grab onto something, but his hands found only cold metal and rough walls.

“Eugene?” Luo Hai called out, holding back his frustration, but there was no response.

A bad feeling surged in his chest. In this grimy underground space, he caught the scent of more than one type of pheromone. The mingling of different scents heightened his unease—he took a sudden step forward, trying to grasp something in the darkness.

“Eugene!” he called again, still met with silence. Just as he took a few more steps forward, preparing to shout a third time, a sudden burst of bright light flooded his vision, forcing him to raise his hand to shield his eyes.

Then came an earth-shattering roar of cheers, waves of sound crashing one after another, mixed with stomping and the noise of people waving things in the air.

For a few seconds, Luo Hai’s mind went completely blank.

Then, lowering his arm, he saw—

A small stage built out of discarded materials, surrounded by strings of old, multicolored bulbs. The crowd beneath it was packed with excited, shouting people. And standing in the center of the stage—

Eugene.

At some point, he had changed into an outrageously flashy purple suit covered in glitter and sequins. A guitar hung at his waist. As the crowd roared, he casually strummed the strings once, and a powerful, electrifying sound erupted, echoing throughout the underground space.

Luo Hai stared in stunned disbelief, at a complete loss for words.

“You here for the show?” A man in front of him turned impatiently, waving him forward. “Then hurry up and get in! Don’t block the entrance!”

Luo Hai stepped forward, and the sea of cheers swallowed him whole.

Everyone’s eyes were on Eugene, who stood on stage like he had been born for it, effortlessly absorbing the energy of the crowd. Then, as if riding the waves of their excitement, he began to play.

Eugene had once claimed he played guitar better than violin, but Luo Hai had never gotten the chance to hear it for himself.

Now, seeing it firsthand, he realized just how modest Eugene’s words had been.

Eugene’s playing wasn’t just good—it was far beyond professional. His long fingers danced over the strings, as if each one were an extension of his own body. The notes flowed like water, both fierce and crystal clear.

The crowd was a chaotic mix like nothing Luo Hai had ever seen elsewhere.

Alphas, Betas, and Omegas stood shoulder to shoulder, with no regard for rank or status. A male Alpha in a flowing pink dress swayed beside a female Omega with a buzz cut. No one seemed to find anything strange about anyone else. They were all completely immersed in the rhythm, going wild with every note Eugene played.

Through the dense throng of bodies, Luo Hai’s eyes locked onto Eugene’s.

The dim stage lights cast a glow on the side of Eugene’s face, making his irises look as translucent as glass.

Across the sea of people, Eugene met his gaze.

His soft, thin lips curved into a faint smile just beyond the reach of the lights. As his fingers strummed, his voice intertwined with the rhythm of his guitar.

A frog eats mud.

Red rain falls on the street.

A child cries, saying, “I want to fly too.”

They say, “Then first, you must sell your wings.”

The one I love holds their feathers,

Trading them for a rotting weed.

…

The guitar burst into a sharp, intense note, accompanied by a dazzling display of technique. The audience erupted into cheers, circling the stage in a frenzy.

It was as if they were cheering for Eugene, yet at the same time, it felt like they weren’t even looking at him. They were simply screaming, venting, purging their suppressed emotions.

Tonight, the world didn’t exist.

Tonight, there was only the madness of celebration.

Luo Hai stood on the outskirts of the crowd, like a speck of dust abandoned by a hurricane. Just as he hesitated between continuing to watch or turning to leave, Eugene suddenly jumped down from the stage, guitar in hand, and walked straight toward him.

He gave Luo Hai no time to react.

He simply took his hand and pulled him onto the stage.

“What are you doing?” Luo Hai was startled.

The noise was deafening. Eugene leaned in and shouted, “Play accompaniment for me!”

As he spoke, he pointed to an electric keyboard sitting in the corner of the stage. It was covered in dust—Luo Hai even doubted if it still worked.

This was completely beyond Luo Hai’s comprehension. His eyes widened as he barely managed to get out three words: “I can’t play!”

“You can!” Eugene shouted back, completely unfazed by Luo Hai’s hesitation. He grinned and gave Luo Hai a gentle push at the waist.

The crowd erupted into cheers and applause, as if they didn’t care who got on stage or whether the performance would be ruined.

Luo Hai had never encountered anything like this in his life. His mind—usually known for its sharp logic—went completely blank. By the time he regained his senses, he was already seated on the bench in front of the keyboard.

On the other side of the stage, Eugene had already started the introduction on his guitar.

To Luo Hai’s astonishment, he actually recognized the melody.

Before his mind could catch up with his body, his fingers were already pressing down on the keys.

The old electric keyboard produced a harsh, distorted sound, but when combined with the guitar, it somehow transformed into a wild rock tune.

“Smile! Dance! Shake your ass!” Eugene shouted to the crowd while strumming his guitar. “Use your damn asses to crush this shitty world!”

The audience immediately responded with maximum enthusiasm.

“Crush this shitty world!”

There were no words to describe Luo Hai’s feelings at that moment. He was so overwhelmed that he couldn’t stop himself from laughing. And once he started, he couldn’t stop. His laughter merged with the music at his fingertips and the crowd’s roaring chants.

Then, he finally remembered why this melody was so familiar.

Many, many years ago, back when Eugene Oddis was just an ordinary boy in an orphanage, he used to hum this tune while running through the yard.

So many years had passed that Luo Hai had completely forgotten he had ever heard this melody. But the moment his fingers touched the keys, his body instinctively followed Eugene’s rhythm.

Eugene noticed the smile on Luo Hai’s lips, so he turned and shouted at him across the stage: “Sounds good, doesn’t it?”

The place was filled with noise—waves upon waves of it crashing into Luo Hai’s ears. He had to shout back at full volume: “What did you say?”

“I said I’m handsome! Awesome! Amazing!” Eugene continued shouting. “And also, that little Omega in the front row is really good-looking!”

Luo Hai let out a laugh of disbelief. “Screw you! I heard that last part!”

Eugene laughed even harder. The stage lights reflected in his eyes, making them shine with an untamed brilliance. He raised his hand high and played an even wilder riff, sending a cascade of frenzied notes blasting through the speakers.