"Colonel Xia, over here."

Upon seeing Xia Shizhao's identification badge, the guard immediately led her to her parking space.

Xia Shizhao got out of the car and walked to the door. After being searched, he looked inside. There were quite a few people at the banquet. As for students, he glanced around and didn't see any. Most of the people there were people of some status or those who were on good terms with the leader.

However, many of them brought their partners and children with them.

In the dimly lit banquet, men and women held exquisite glasses, swirling their drinks inside. The glasses clinked together, producing a crisp, clear sound, while the melodious piano music was punctuated by their intimate whispers.

Many promising young unmarried alphas wander around inviting others to dance with them, and then invite omegas brought by their elders.

Xia Shizhao, who came alone, was speechless. After refusing invitations to the ball countless times, he sighed deeply, feeling a little envious of Liu Ruxuan, who was too busy to attend such events.

Meanwhile, Liu Ruxuan, who was busy with official business, was lying on the table, looking at Xia Shizhao with envy. Heaven knows how much she wanted to go to the banquet.

Xia Shizhao, dressed in a tailcoat, slowly approached the sofa next to the champagne tower.

She didn't want to socialize; she didn't know these people and didn't want to know them.

She wouldn't have come if it weren't to find out what kind of gourd General Wu was selling; studying machinery and medicine would have been so much more comfortable.

After waiting quietly for ten minutes, everyone should have gradually arrived.

The host of the banquet finally appeared, accompanied by a gentle woman with an unhealthy pale complexion. Her aura was calm and peaceful, as quiet as a night breeze; you wouldn't notice her presence unless you looked at her.

Xia Shizhao raised an eyebrow, tilted his head slightly, and met Ye Qiuling's gaze, who was also sitting on the other side observing the banquet.

Then, the two sides inadvertently looked away and quietly watched the two people on the podium, who were protected by guards, and everything seemed perfectly normal.

After Major General Wu finished speaking, many people went up to congratulate and chat with him, bringing their own gifts.

Xia Shizhao sat on the sofa and thought for a while about whether to go when there were fewer people or go now.

After hesitating for a moment, Ye Qiuling stood up, and Xia Shizhao stood up briskly and walked towards Major General Wu from a distance that was neither too close nor too far.

After Ye Qiuling finished giving her the gift, Xia Shizhao immediately cut in line behind her, handed her the gift, said a few nice words, and left.

Nothing happened during the entire process.

Just then, a waiter passed by carrying a wine tray, and Xia Shizhao casually grabbed a glass of red wine.

With so many people, they probably won't touch the drinks.

Xia Shizhao glanced at the red wine hesitantly, pondered for a few seconds, and then decisively began to swirl the wine glass in his hand as if it were a decoration.

What if this old scoundrel plans to target everyone?

Just in case, Xia Shizhao decided not to drink it. He looked up and found that Ye Qiuling was surrounded by people. A group of shy omegas stood behind their elders, each one of them looking at Ye Qiuling with affection in their eyes.

Surrounding Ye Qiuling were other generals. There were actually quite a few generals in the Star Alliance, but there were still differences in their status. The number of planets they managed affected their status. After all, as long as one successfully managed a planet, one could be considered a general. Ye Qiuling managed the most planets and had the best economic development, so it was natural that many people fawned over her because of her high status.

But what were those men and women behind her doing? Looking blankly at Ye Qiuling, who was surrounded by a group of people, Xia Shizhao thought for a while and then figured it out.

So this was supposed to be an introduction for Ye Qiuling. Well, he's incredibly good-looking and incredibly capable, yet he's still single. Plus, with his prominent status, he's practically a piece of moving fat—no, fat is a bit disgusting, more like pork belly.

Xia Shizhao sat on the sofa, looking at them listlessly. After a while, she lost interest. These people were exactly the same as the people she had seen in her previous life. Her gaze swept indifferently toward the shimmering chandelier.

I don't understand why birthdays are celebrated at night.

After thinking for a moment, Xia Shizhao raised his hand and waved, beckoning over the waiter who was standing quietly by the banquet. He placed the wine glass on it and looked up at him: "Where is the juice?"

The waiter turned slightly to the side and pointed towards the stage, "Across from the dance floor."

They were quite far apart, so Xia Shizhao stood up to go over.

"Colonel Xia."

A familiar voice rang in her ears. Xia Shizhao turned her head and saw Luo Chuyi smiling with her eyes crinkling. She bowed with a gentlemanly air and asked, "May I invite you to dance?"

Xia Shizhao chuckled, crossed his arms, tilted his head to the side, and asked teasingly, "What if I don't agree?"

"Then I'll have to leave with regret."

Luo Chuyi lowered her head and said in a somber tone.

Xia Shizhao chuckled and said with amusement, "Then I'll reluctantly agree."

"My pleasure."

Luo Chuyi's eyes were filled with joy.

Gently taking Xia Shizhao's hand, she walked towards the dance floor, and they danced to the rhythm one after the other. The two outstandingly beautiful people still shone brightly on the dance floor, and the lights seemed to be attracted to them as well.

Surrounded by the crowd and unable to escape, Ye Qiuling's eyes darkened, and the aura around her became even more chilling. However, the people surrounding her seemed oblivious. Only after Ye Qiuling, with a dark expression, spoke up to show her stance did they leave with a smile.

After Xia Shizhao and Luo Chuyi finished dancing, they walked to the sofa and sat down to chat.

Xia Shizhao felt the sofa next to her sink in, turned her head to look at her, then ignored her and continued chatting enthusiastically with Luo Chuyi.

"You mean Major General Bai still hasn't won over Xiao Nan?"

"Yes, back then, Zhan Nan ran away from home in the middle of the night, planning to elope with him, but when he picked her up, he sent her back home instead. I heard that her sister locked her up at home for more than half a year before letting her out. Then, in just a few years, he worked his way up to a certain position, but who knew that now when he's chasing after her, she just tilts her head and doesn't agree, and he hangs around in front of her every day, grinning and asking her a few questions, and he gets yelled at."

After saying that, Luo Chuyi couldn't help but laugh when she thought of her friend drinking alone and crying.

"But that omega is really bold. It's rare to see a rich omega who isn't spoiled and has her own opinions. But this kind of behavior is still very unsafe. Who knows if the person she eloped with is the right one?"

Luo Chuyi's tone was a mix of praise and disapproval, and she added, "If my sister did that, I'd break her legs."

Xia Shizhao was happy to hear that Zhan Nan was doing well, so he nodded, but his tone was slightly reproachful, "But eloping is indeed irrational."

Luo Chuyi stroked his chin: "Yes, her good friend is also quite... capable? She became a war correspondent. She looks gentle and weak, but she is much stronger than an alpha and beta. Even when faced with emergencies, she is very rational, unlike ordinary omegas."

Xia Shizhao nodded thoughtfully, then asked, "What are omegas like in your eyes?"

"Delicate, thin, physically weak and easily frightened."

Luo Chuyi answered without hesitation.

Xia Shizhao nodded, looking at her with a wistful gaze: "But... I'm an omega too."

"Forehead……"

Luo Chuyi was speechless for a long time before finally saying, "You are different from them."

I'll treat you the same as them.

Xia Shizhao choked, helplessly rubbed her forehead, and drank the juice. She noticed that Ye Qiuling had also drunk it, which meant it was safe. There was nothing else to it; she believed in the female lead's luck.

"I'm going out for some fresh air."

After saying that, she stood up. Luo Chuyi originally wanted to follow, but Ye Qiuling called her to do something else and move the person who was in the way. Only then did Ye Qiuling leisurely follow Xia Shizhao around, but Xia Shizhao found out that she had lost him.