The aide, hand on his holstered gun, strode quickly toward Lance and Zhan Pingchuan. He scrutinized them with a piercing gaze and coldly demanded: “Which district are you from?”
Lance studied him as well.
This aide’s age and attire were similar to Kluova and Boras, suggesting he held a certain position in Blue Pivot.
Since this was District Two, he was probably second only to Si Hongche in rank.
“We’re new interns, assigned by Teacher Robert to deliver meals to District Two,” Lance replied humbly and calmly.
The aide, seeing that Lance didn’t appear to be lying, frowned and muttered: “These people, really giving me headaches, daring to order meals to the seventh floor today.”
While complaining, he took out his phone and called Robert. Although he already believed Lance’s words, years of work habits kept him highly cautious.
Robert answered quickly.
Aide: “Did you assign Star University interns to deliver meals to our District Two?”
Robert: “Uh, yes… yes.”
The aide took a deep breath and confirmed again: “And you assigned two of them?”
He knew that cliques existed within Blue Pivot—veterans bullying newcomers, alumni bullying non-alumni was common, and giving the dirty, tiring work to the least popular person had become an unspoken rule.
But everything had its limits. Having two Star University Challenge Cup champions deliver meals in Blue Pivot’s District Two seemed excessive if word got out.
It made Blue Pivot look like it was bullying students.
Robert dryly replied: “Not two, just one. The other is his partner who skipped duties to go to your place today. I was planning to put him in solitary confinement as punishment.”
Actually, Robert had grown increasingly uneasy afterward. He didn’t know what had come over him yesterday to actually assign an intern to deliver meals to District Two.
He wasn’t usually the type to abuse his authority like that.
The aide ended the conversation with an unfriendly tone: “I see.”
Although he didn’t approve of Robert’s arrangement, he wouldn’t argue with a District One inspection team member in front of interns, which would give the interns a chance to complain.
The aide moved his hand away from his gun and looked at Lance and Zhan Pingchuan again: “Which one of you is responsible for delivering meals, and which one just tagged along?”
This time Zhan Pingchuan answered first, curling his lips with spring-like enthusiasm: “Sir, I’m the one who tagged along.”
The aide’s eyebrows shot up, his face darkening, his finger joints making cracking sounds: “Who allowed you to act without orders!”
His voice was full of rebuke but kept very low, as if afraid of disturbing someone.
Zhan Pingchuan seemed to have an exceptionally long reaction time, completely oblivious to the aide’s concerns and anger. He even raised his voice, saying lazily: “Sir, you don’t know how heavy this cart of boxed meals is. If it were you, could you bear to let your beautiful, delicate, cute roommate suffer?”
Zhan Pingchuan’s voice was naturally deep and magnetic with strong penetration. Combined with his deliberately loud tone, it echoed throughout the corridor.
The aide’s expression changed drastically. His shoulders trembled, every pore exuding tension.
He quickly glanced behind him, then sharply looked back, furiously saying: “Shut up! Get down immediately!”
However, Zhan Pingchuan’s voice had successfully disturbed the person he intended to disturb.
From the farthest door on this floor from the elevator came a cold, angry voice: “Let him deliver.”
The aide immediately fell silent, glaring fiercely at Zhan Pingchuan.
“At least this colleague understands the restless hearts of us single Alphas.” Zhan Pingchuan pushed the cart past the aide, craning his neck to call out, “Thanks, buddy!”
The moment the elevator doors opened, Zhan Pingchuan had recovered his old memories.
Although Blue Pivot’s internal structure had changed greatly and been renovated several times over the years, when he looked out at Qian Yun through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the balcony, he found the angle strangely familiar.
At the same time, he sensed the presence of many barriers. In this space, his ability pheromones were restricted, and the restricting force was concentrated in one location—
The room where Oliver was imprisoned.
Judging from the aide’s changing expression and consistently lowered voice, Si Hongche himself was likely inside that confinement room.
What was happening inside? Zhan Pingchuan could guess with his knees—Si Hongche certainly wasn’t having a sudden attack of conscience, going in to clean floors, wash clothes, and tidy up.
But with his current identity, he couldn’t openly instigate Oliver to escape, so he could only disrupt Si Hongche’s good mood.
The aide’s face turned extremely ugly. He slowly made way, silently mouthing two words to Zhan Pingchuan—
“Seeking death.”
On this special day, even he had to choose his words carefully, yet Zhan Pingchuan repeatedly touched Si Hongche’s reverse scale, as if he found life too long.
Lance somewhat regretted letting Zhan Pingchuan accompany him to the seventh floor.
The little idiot was naturally free-spirited, lazy, and unrestrained. When faced with authority, he couldn’t resist excitedly testing it—the typical mindset of a newborn calf.
He didn’t have the bad habit of bullying others with his S-level status, but he did have the pride and confidence befitting an S-level.
If they were at the Black Lantern Society or High Tower Guild right now, Lance would pull the little idiot to his side, indulgently tilt up his chin, kiss the corner of his lips and his gland, encouraging him to continue being as proud as a little tiger.
But now they were at Blue Pivot, in front of Si Hongche, and being arrogant would truly lead to suffering.
Inside the confinement room, chaos reigned.
Oliver was curled up at the foot of the bed, a standard leather coat covering his naked body.
His legs extended beyond the coat, his fair skin covered with ambiguous pinch marks and bruises from impacts, clearly revealing the perpetrator’s brutality.
The air was filled with complex scents—the smell of blood, olive pheromones, and the faint chestnut blossom musk after intercourse.
Only one thing was missing—the scent of Alpha pheromones.
This indicated that the Omega who had endured everything hadn’t received any soothing Alpha pheromones.
Oliver’s body was still trembling uncontrollably. Although his mind was numb, the pain didn’t disappear, and the immense emptiness after being forcibly marked and possessed made him crave embraces and caresses.
Fortunately, both his physical strength and rationality prevented him from begging Si Hongche for mercy.
The olive pheromones rampaged through the small space, pitifully unable to find the familiar Alpha scent. This anxiety was fed back to the host, forcing Oliver to rub his gland against the leather coat, extracting that tiny bit of scent to alleviate his suffering.
Si Hongche gripped his fragile, slender neck from behind, mercilessly pressing on his red, swollen gland that had been marked.
He leaned close to Oliver’s ear, cruelly sneering: “Listen, I once said such absurdly ridiculous things too.”
Because I couldn’t bear to see you suffer, I was willing to do everything for you, to let you remain innocent and lively forever.
Oliver whimpered in pain, tears flowing from his vacant, unfocused eyes into his disheveled golden hair.
“…If you do this, Sui Sui will be scared.”
His voice was already difficult, his throat hoarse. Uttering each word seemed to require all his strength.
Hearing him mention his sister’s name, Si Hongche’s eyes bloodshot, his grip involuntarily tightening: “You dare mention her? What scared her most in her life was that night—the night your brother harmed her, defiled her.”
“No……”
“How does it feel to be forced? Does it hurt? Are you afraid? I should record you like this and let Uriel know what his escape has brought about.”
“I……”
“Then again, if he really cared about you, he wouldn’t have lived in hiding for eighteen years, letting me torment you.” Si Hongche cruelly struck at Oliver’s deepest wound.
Oliver’s fingers, which had been clutching the sheets tightly, finally released weakly. The trembling of his body gradually subsided.
No answer, no resistance. Oliver’s face continued to flush, his lips turning purple, the veins at his temples protruding.
Si Hongche suddenly pulled himself out of his emotions, abruptly releasing his grip. Tequila pheromones finally flowed from him toward the dying Omega.
After a long while, Oliver coughed heavily twice, his upper body convulsing, barely recovering his breath.
Si Hongche, still shaken, tightly gripped his slightly trembling right hand and said hatefully: “Sui Sui was kind and liked you very much. She might forgive you, but I won’t. You can’t die. Every year on the anniversary of her death, you must suffer a hundred times more than she did!”
After these words, Oliver’s eyelids moved slightly, his heart softening momentarily amidst the thousand wounds.
Sui Sui, may you rest in peace.
Si Hongche threw the leather coat there and turned to leave. The barrier locked heavily again, and the confinement room fell into darkness.
“Director!” The aide hurriedly greeted.
Si Hongche wiped the crystalline fluid and blood traces from his fingertips, his eyes lowering to look at the calm-faced Lance and the nonchalant Zhan Pingchuan.
These two people—every time he saw them, he couldn’t help but feel disgust. College roommates, in the prime of youth, intimate and inseparable, so similar, so ironic.
Si Hongche cleaned his fingers, his gaze falling on Zhan Pingchuan, his tone carrying irrefutable authority: “You’re very devoted, aren’t you? Go to District Five and receive twenty lashes, then spend a day in solitary confinement.”
After giving his order, Si Hongche didn’t wait for any reaction. His expression was indifferent, as if dealing with insignificant ants, and he strode toward the seventh-floor washroom.
Lance watched Si Hongche’s retreating figure, killing intent flashing in his eyes.
He hadn’t even had the heart to discipline this little idiot, who did Si Hongche think he was?
But with surveillance cameras all around, Lance quickly hid his emotions and looked worriedly at Zhan Pingchuan beside him, his amber eyes moistening: “Classmate Zhan……”
Zhan Pingchuan raised an eyebrow, not taking the twenty lashes seriously.
First, he was S-level, his physical condition far exceeding normal people, so these injuries were nothing. Second, he had a vial of Chu Fu’s high-concentration pheromones—just a small sprinkle would instantly heal even severe wounds.
However—
Zhan Pingchuan looked at the little red fox’s tearful appearance and decided not to use that vial of pheromones.
“Don’t be afraid.” Zhan Pingchuan pinched the soft tips of Lance’s hair, thoughtfully suggesting, “If you’re worried, remember to come to my room tonight and cry just for me.”
Lance: “……” Big idiot.
The aide sneered: “Still acting tough? You’ll behave once you feel the whip. Come with me!”
Without further ado, the aide escorted Zhan Pingchuan into the elevator and pressed the tenth floor.
Zhan Pingchuan had accomplished his mission for the day. He had ruled out the possibility of sneaking into the third basement level via elevator, familiarized himself with the structural differences of the three Blue Pivot buildings, understood District Two’s operational style, and confirmed his old friend’s detention location.
He just wasn’t sure if his shout had actually helped his old friend.
Si Hongche hitting him was more or less triggered by his sentence loaded with keywords. Zhan Pingchuan remembered the way Si Hongche looked at Oliver in the video materials Lance had shown him.
Fourteen years—he didn’t know how Oliver had survived with such perseverance. If there were hidden truths behind what happened back then, how would Si Hongche face his years of cruel treatment when the truth came to light?
People should always leave room for redemption; otherwise, when the accumulated feathers sink the boat, there truly is no turning back.
Lance was left alone on the seventh floor, watching as the elevator took away Zhan Pingchuan, who was smiling and waving at him.
He quickly withdrew his gaze, lowering his eyes to look at the few remaining meal boxes in the cart.
One of those meal boxes had been tampered with when Zhan Pingchuan wasn’t paying attention.
Lance pushed the cart forward. The further he went, the stronger the chaotic scent became. Without guessing, he knew what had just happened in that room.
His food cart stopped at the door of the solitary confinement room covered with barriers. Inside was as quiet as death, without a sound.
Mad Clown’s voice came carefully through the earpiece: “Have you seen him?”
Lance didn’t answer. Through the gaps in the barrier, he could only see torn, shredded sleepwear scattered on the floor.
He realized that rescuing this person couldn’t be delayed any longer; otherwise, his spirit might not be able to support his body to continue living.
Mad Clown’s voice sounded somewhat impatient: “Can my anchor point be thrown on him? I’ll take him away tonight.”
Lance took a heavy breath, signifying a negative response.
He could feel that as soon as he approached this barrier door, all his abilities failed. Mad Clown’s anchor point naturally couldn’t pass through here either.
Mad Clown: “Damn, then how are you going to contact him?”
Lance took out a meal box, crouched down, and finally saw a small opening at the bottom of the barrier door, just big enough for a meal box to pass through.
Oliver had just been tormented by Si Hongche and certainly wouldn’t want to respond to the outside world. But if this box of food was ignored and taken away, he would never be able to establish contact with Oliver.
Lance slowly pushed the meal box into the opening. The box made a slight sound as it scraped against the floor. His fingers touched the air inside the confinement room, the tips of his fingers entering the shadows.
Suddenly, Lance narrowed his fox-like eyes and, as his hand moved forward, he deliberately scraped it against the barrier.
“Ah!”
He cried out in pain as the back of his hand was scraped raw, blood trickling down between his fingers.
“What is this thing? It hurts so much!”
Lance cursed inwardly. Si Hongche, that split personality, had installed barriers but smoothed the fibers, almost causing him to not apply enough force to injure himself.
There was indeed some movement from inside the room, and a very light, weak voice uncertainly asked: “Are you hurt?”
##
(advanced chapters available on kofi)
