You Que was dressed in a perfectly tailored suit today, the understated elegance of black accentuating his air of mystery. A silver-gray tie adorned with a simple diamond tie clip completed his look, free from any excessive embellishments.
The chandelier above the banquet hall cast a dazzling brilliance, yet it was far less captivating than You Que’s chiseled features. His aura was cold and composed, exuding effortless confidence—a stark contrast to the frivolity and delicacy often associated with other male zergs. Even the most powerful female zergs couldn’t help but feel a desire to be conquered when they saw him.
Among the guests, quite a few female zergs found their legs weakening the moment they laid eyes on You Que. They stared at him with a fervent gaze akin to one seen only during their estrus period, unconsciously swallowing hard.
As expected of a pureblood male zerg, they thought. His looks and physique are flawless. If I could spend just one night with His Highness, I’d die with no regrets.
Marlon’s expression froze momentarily when he saw You Que enter, but he quickly regained his composure. With a smile, he stepped forward to greet him. “Your Highness You Que, your presence here truly graces us. Welcome, welcome! Please, come in.”
At least half the attendees were aware of the long-standing grudge between Marlon and Sanya. If You Que were too cordial, it would have seemed odd, so he maintained a distant demeanor and merely offered a brief word of thanks.
While speaking, You Que suddenly noticed Chief Harrington and his party. Taking the initiative, he approached them and said, “Chief Harrington, Major General Blairand, what a coincidence. I didn’t expect to see you here.”
Hearing this, Ah Sui quietly peeked out from behind and pointed to himself. “And me—I’m here too!” he added.
You Que chuckled. “You came here just to have fun?”
Ah Sui replied matter-of-factly, “I came to have fun with you, of course.”
In the entire banquet hall, they were the only two with black hair, making them stand out all the more.
Chief Harrington was long accustomed to Ah Sui’s playful and carefree nature. Hearing this, he shook his head slightly and said to You Que with a hint of helplessness, “Ah Sui only recently arrived in the South and doesn’t have many friends here. When he heard you’d be attending the banquet today, he dragged us along. I hope you don’t mind.”
You Que and Ah Sui were from the same hometown, so their relationship was naturally different. Taking a glass of red wine from a waiter’s tray, You Que lightly clinked glasses with Chief Harrington. “It’s no problem. I don’t have many friends either. If Ah Sui ever feels bored, he’s welcome to visit my place more often.”
Ah Sui’s eyes lit up at these words. “Really? Then next time, I’ll definitely come over to your house!”
Hearing this, Blairand silently reached out to ruffle Ah Sui’s soft, fluffy hair. A twinge of guilt crept into his heart—he’d been so preoccupied with military duties lately that he hadn’t had the time to properly accompany his male lord.
Although Marlon was the host of this banquet, You Que’s lively conversation with Blairand and the others left him feeling completely overshadowed, his presence all but nonexistent. The awkwardness was palpable.
Throughout the evening, several female zergs approached with glasses of wine, trying to strike up conversations. Yet with just a single glance from You Que, their faces turned red, their hearts raced, and they were left utterly flustered, as though swept up in a flood of infatuation.
“Your Highness, I’ve heard you recently arrived in the South. If you’d like to explore the area, I’d be more than happy to assist you.”
“Would I have the honor of inviting you for a dance?”
“Your Highness, you’ve only recently recovered and been discharged from the hospital. Strenuous activities aren’t suitable just yet. I happen to have an S-grade recovery potion at home. If you have the time, you’re welcome to come by and pick it up yourself.”
Faced with the rarity of a pureblood male zerg, the female zergs abandoned their usual reserved demeanor, either extending olive branches or flaunting their prestigious family backgrounds, all in the hopes of earning even a single glance from You Que.
However, You Que’s expression remained largely unchanged. He politely declined their advances, using the excuse that he needed to speak with Ah Sui. Together, they retreated to a quiet corner by the window to have a low-voiced conversation.
Ah Sui fetched a piece of cake from a nearby table and, while eating, curiously asked, “Why didn’t you bring your partner along today? Otherwise, when it’s time to dance, you’ll have no one to accompany you.”
You Que gently set his glass of wine down on the decorative table, not offering much of an explanation. “He has a feud with Marlon’s family. Didn’t you hear about it when you arrived?”
Ah Sui had heard about it, but had momentarily forgotten. He angrily bit down on his fork, his brows furrowing. “How could there be such a terrible male zerg in the world? He actually stole your partner’s wings. Blairand’s wings are so beautiful; every time I touch them, I do it so gently!”
You Que had never seen what the wings of a southern female zerg looked like, nor had he ever witnessed the beauty that belonged to Sanya. For a moment, he didn’t know how to respond. His gaze wandered absentmindedly, and he suddenly noticed a dark figure standing in a corner, watching him silently, their eyes narrowing with quiet intensity.
“I’ll go to the restroom for a moment, I’ll be right back.”
After saying this to Ah Sui, You Que turned and disappeared into the crowd of guests. Many of the female zergs quietly followed, only to find the male zerg entering the restroom, leaving them awkwardly halting in their tracks.
The banquet had only just begun, and the restroom was empty and quiet. When You Que entered, he saw Aegis standing inside. The male was dressed in a black suit, which was quite decent, but his demeanor was weary, his posture somewhat hesitant and withdrawn.
You Que took a cigarette from his pocket, lighting it as the smell of tobacco quickly overwhelmed the overpowering scent of the restroom’s air freshener. He lowered his gaze, the flame flickering, and spoke in a calm voice, “So, what’s the result? Have you found what I asked for?”
Aegis, trembling, nodded. “Y-Yes… The thing you wanted is in Beowen’s bedroom. The first room at the corner of the second floor. His bedroom has a secret room, and the mechanism is behind a painting on the wall…”
Before coming, You Que had specifically reviewed the files. He glanced up at Aegis, raising an eyebrow and replying, “If I wanted to know this, why didn’t I just go to the police station to access the files? Why go through all the trouble of pulling you out?”
The police had records of everything Aegis mentioned, and in fact, they had searched the secret room back then, but no trace of Sanya’s wings was found.
Upon hearing this, Aegis’s face went pale, fearing that You Que might send him back into custody. He quickly waved his hands in denial. “No, no, no… Actually, there’s a small compartment in the secret room, where the truly hidden items are kept. I was close to Beowen back then, and I once saw him showing off. But I only remember that the mechanism is under the table. I don’t know the code. He wouldn’t let me see it.”
You Que casually tapped the ash off his cigarette, his voice oddly laced with a hint of danger. “Are you sure you don’t know the code?”
Aegis wiped the sweat from his forehead, his face contorted with guilt. “Although I was close to Beowen, we were just… acquaintances, nothing more. The code was only known to him. And ever since Beowen died, his bedroom has been locked by Marlon. No one is allowed to enter.”
You Que furrowed his brows, remaining silent. He couldn’t shake the feeling that this deal wasn’t worth it—after all the trouble, all he had gotten from Aegis was this rather useless bit of information.
“…”
The suffocating silence was the most torturous for Aegis. After not hearing You Que respond for so long, he was nearly on the verge of tears, almost ready to kneel. “I-I… I really only know this much. I don’t know anything else, I swear.”
In an apparent attempt to redeem himself, he reluctantly added, “I did hear something else, though. Today, during the banquet, Laimi and Laixing are here as well.”
You Que froze for a moment, his hand pausing as he held his cigarette. His brows furrowed even more tightly. “How did they end up here?”
Marlon hadn’t even invited Sanya, so why would he invite Laimi and Laixing for no reason?
Aegis explained, “A lot of officers came to the banquet today, and their subordinates followed along. Laimi and Laixing’s superior officers are also on Marlon’s invitation list. It seems Marlon still hasn’t given up.”
You Que, too, suspected that Marlon’s intentions weren’t pure. As he thought about it, he frowned, extinguishing his cigarette. “I’ll go out and take a look. If you get any news, let me know immediately.”
After speaking, You Que turned and left the restroom. Aegis lingered inside for another ten minutes or so, making sure no one had noticed, before finally exiting the restroom as well.
When You Que returned to the banquet hall, he discreetly began scanning the crowd for Laimi and Laixing. After some time, he finally spotted them at the outer edge of the guests. Holding their glasses of wine, he walked toward them.
Laimi and Laixing clearly didn’t want to participate in the banquet. They stayed close behind their superior the entire time, their brows tightly furrowed, silent and aloof.
Count Kirk had long been eyeing the beautiful twin pair. Their faces were identical, and he imagined they’d be quite the amusement in bed. While he appeared to be chatting with the officers, his attention was entirely focused on Laimi and Laixing, his lascivious gaze fixed on them the entire time.
“Laimi, Laixing.”
A deep, familiar voice suddenly sounded near their ears, startling both of them. They turned in surprise and saw You Que had somehow appeared behind them. Their expressions immediately relaxed, as though they had just seen a savior. “Your Highness?!”
You Que gave a slight nod. “When did you arrive at the banquet? Why didn’t you come find me?”
Laimi and Laixing had originally intended to seek out You Que, but with so many leaders and high-ranking officials surrounding him, it had felt inconvenient to approach.
Laimi spoke up to explain, “We came with our superior. We saw you were busy earlier, so we didn’t want to interrupt.”
You Que, knowing that this was a dangerous situation, furrowed his brow and said, “You should head back. Sanya is at home.”
Just as Laimi and Laixing were about to respond, Count Kirk suddenly spoke up. “Your Highness, the military life is dry and dull, and it’s rare to have such a banquet. Why spoil the mood? Leaving in the middle of the event isn’t a polite thing to do, and Laimi and Laixing would also have trouble explaining themselves to their superior.”
You Que turned to look in the direction of the voice, and saw a slender, pale male zerg. The male was wearing a luxurious purple-gold corduroy tuxedo, which gleamed brilliantly.
You Que clearly wasn’t concerned with such matters. He ignored Count Kirk entirely, turning his head to ask Laimi, “Do you have a car?”
Laimi and Laixing nodded. “We do.”
You Que’s response was simple. “Go home now. If your superior disagrees, have him come find me.”
Laimi and Laixing’s eyes brightened at You Que’s words. They hurriedly left the banquet, while Count Kirk stood aside, his face turning green with anger. He felt that You Que was being utterly arrogant, as if he didn’t even consider him worth his attention.
Marlon stood in the distance, watching the scene unfold, his thoughts unclear.
Count Kirk sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. “Your Highness, you certainly have quite the influence!”
You Que responded coolly, “I’m just handling personal matters. You seem a bit too concerned, don’t you think?”
It was as if he was about to call him a meddler, interfering in matters that weren’t his business.
Count Kirk was momentarily taken aback, his face twitching in frustration. “You!”
You Que didn’t want to waste time arguing with him, so he turned and went to find Ah Sui. He approached the male zerg who was absorbed in eating cake, leaned close to his ear, and whispered something. Ah Sui froze for a moment, surprised. “Are you sure?”
You Que nodded. “I’m worried something might go wrong. You’re skilled, so keep an eye on things quietly for me.”
Ah Sui, still holding his fork, didn’t hesitate and quickly agreed. “Alright, you go ahead. I’ll handle this.”
By then, the banquet had already begun. Guests were scattered around, choosing their dance partners, and You Que had returned to the center of the hall. No one noticed that Blairand and Ah Sui had quietly left the banquet hall.
You Que gently swirled his wine glass, contemplating how he could make his way to the second floor without raising suspicion. Unfortunately, many of the females were watching him closely, and if he left for too long, it would surely be noticed.
Meanwhile, Marlon had somehow been joined by a young, beautiful sub-female. He had a mass of seaweed-like long hair, long legs, a slim waist, and eyes full of flirtation. Almost half of the male zergs in the room had their attention captivated by him; calling him a temptress would not be an exaggeration.
Someone beside You Que introduced, “This is Lord Marlon’s youngest son, Nalandor. Your Highness, this sub-female must be infatuated with you—he’s been staring at you the entire time.”
You Que’s mind was entirely focused on the second floor, but at those words, he finally noticed the beautiful sub-female standing next to Marlon. He followed his gaze, their eyes meeting mid-air, and then he sent him a seductive glance.
You Que took a sip of his wine, his expression unchanged.
Nalandor, however, was already walking toward You Que, holding a glass of wine. His tall figure moved gracefully, his steps almost as if painted into existence. His voice carried a subtle, seductive tone.
“Your Highness, I’ve heard so much about you. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person. My name is Nalandor, it’s a pleasure.”
As he spoke, he gave a soft shoulder bow, and the sweet fragrance around him drifted toward You Que, carrying the unmistakable, instinctual hint of courtship, making the surrounding male zergs envious.
You Que wasn’t sure what this sub-female wanted, so he decided to wait and see. “Nice to meet you.”
Nalandor straightened up, his alluring eyes swirling around You Que. “You don’t like to dance, do you?”
You Que smiled, though the smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Why do you ask?”
Nalandor’s eyes were narrow, giving him a more calculated look than most military females. “I noticed many females approaching you to dance earlier, but you turned them all down.”
You Que casually replied, “What if I just didn’t find a suitable dance partner?”
At those words, Nalandor seemed to pick up on some sort of “hint” from You Que. A deeper smile appeared in his eyes as he extended a slender, fair hand. “Then, may I have the honor?”
Of course.
You Que thought to himself, as long as Nalandor could get him to the second floor, he would have that “honor.”
“It is my honor,” he replied.
You Que placed his glass on a server’s tray, unexpectedly agreeing to Nalandor’s invitation to dance. He took the hand that Nalandor extended to him, and together they stepped into the dance floor under the watchful eyes of the guests.
One guest remarked to Marlon, “Nalandor’s beauty is well-known, even a pureblood noble can’t help but be captivated. Lord Marlon, you have raised a fine son.”
Marlon’s expression remained neutral, but it was clear he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. “You flatter me,” he replied.
He finished speaking, casting a glance at the attendant beside him. Taking advantage of the distraction of the other guests, he whispered, “Tell them it’s time to act, and remember to personally deliver the ‘item.'”
You Que and Nalandor were in the center of the dance floor, and he took in this scene with his eyes. He casually looked away, though whether by intention or accident, when they spun, his footstep faltered for a moment, causing Nalandor to stumble and step on his foot.
“Apologies, Your Excellency!”
Nalandor felt a moment of panic, unable to believe that he had made such a huge mistake. He quickly grabbed onto You Que, nervously asking, “Did I hurt your foot?”
You Que didn’t respond immediately, just furrowing his brows and flexing his toes. “It’s fine, it’s not serious. However, I may not be able to continue dancing. Could you find me a room to rest?”
After speaking, he glanced around, subconsciously looking up toward the second floor.
In fact, there was a resting room downstairs, but remembering Marlon’s instructions, a flash of dark intent crossed Nalandor’s eyes. He leaned in to support You Que and whispered seductively, “There’s a resting room on the second floor. Let me help you up.”
After speaking, he guided You Que upstairs, and the latter did not refuse. The remaining guests, upon seeing this, quickly understood, and an intense feeling of jealousy surged within them.
Resting? Let’s just hope these two zergs don’t end up resting on a bed!
You Que limped up the stairs, accidentally brushing his hand against Nalandor’s, but he didn’t change his expression as he quickly withdrew his hand.
Nalandor’s hands were delicate and soft, with no visible scars or rough patches, clearly a product of a life of luxury and sweetness. The heaviest thing he had likely ever held was a pair of chopsticks.
It was very different from Sanya’s hands…
Sanya had once been a soldier, his hands marked by distinct knuckles and thin calluses, having gripped guns, held knives, and seen blood. He could crawl out of a pile of corpses in Blackstone Prison, yet he could also gently caress You Que’s face in bed, whispering to him as his lord.
You Que suddenly realized that after only a brief separation from Sanya, he was already starting to miss this untamed female…
Support me on ko-fi for more additional updates~ ʚ(´꒳`)ɞ
