The starlight reflected in the boy's eyes and sprinkled on his slightly wrinkled brows. The clear water fell silently from his fingertips, fell into the lake, and stirred up circles of ripples.

He heard an unfamiliar name. No, it was not completely unfamiliar. It was a name he had seen many times in files and had hidden in his heart for many years.

But it came out of Shafley's mouth.

The angle of the eyes, the arc when turning the body, the size of the lips, the degree of muscle tension, and even the number of times the eyelashes tremble are all perfect.

Even the harshest critics cannot find any fault with him. Chen Nian is like the best actor in a sitcom. The mountains, forests, lakes, rivers, wind blowing across the stars, and the grand world are all sets built specifically for him.

But Shafla knew he had made the right bet.

If it were just a cliché, there would definitely not be such a vivid reaction.

Chen Ci would at most raise his head, his eyes calm and his brows relaxed, as if he had just heard something insignificant. Even if he had doubts, it would only be a thin question mark slowly appearing above his head, and he would say indifferently, "What?"

Instead of expressing the most normal doubts like now.

After all, Chen Nian didn't know his brother as well as Chen Ci, who had known him for more than ten years.

"Do you know this name?" asked Shafley.

Chen Nian nodded slightly: "If my brother were still alive, he would be called this name."

Shafley stared at him for a few seconds. The boy's eyes were still innocent, without any trace of guilt after telling a lie.

"Where is Chen Ci?"

"What?"

"I mean, where is the real Chen Ci?" Shafley paused and said softly, "Since you came to the White Tower as him, what about Chen Ci? Where is he now?"

"I don't know what you are talking about." Chen Nian's voice was normal, but the look in his amber eyes turned cold.

Shafley smiled slightly, shook his head as if he was looking at a kid making a fuss, and said, "Don't hide it from me anymore."

"What are you hiding?"

Shafley: "Don't you think your personality has changed a lot in recent times?"

Chen Nian looked at him quietly for a few seconds and closed his eyes: "Did you find it?"

When he opened his eyes again, they were as calm as frozen water. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hide it on purpose. I just thought... the fewer people who know about this, the better."

"I don't know when it started, but I often hear the voice of another person speaking in my head. That voice can even occupy my mind and control my body, claiming to be another personality of mine."

Shafley: ?

He didn't expect that Chen Nian would even come up with such an outrageous explanation of having a double personality in order to get away with it.

If someone who is not very familiar with Chen Ci were to face such a big change in personality, they might believe it.

But Shafulai is the eldest prince who knows the Chen family files and a lot of secrets.

"I didn't dare tell anyone, so I could only try my best to keep it secret..."

Chen Nian was still talking, but Shafley took a step forward.

He lowered his head and moved to the boy's neck. His nose touched the black collar and he sniffed gently at the moment when his voice stopped.

The faint floral scent quickly overwhelmed all her senses. It was the charming tuberose blooming in the night, which reminded Shable of the lavender reflected by the moonstone, as beautiful as glass.

Pheromones were quietly released by Shavlei. Although he was a very powerful Alpha, the sweet sherry did not show strong pressure, but rather gently approached, wrapping the Omega completely——

Chen Nian knew that there was no need to pretend anymore.

Shafley's determination was no longer something that could be glossed over by mere acting. Yes, Alpha had shown signs of being abnormal since he had just returned this time.

After all, the difference between him and Chen Ci was too great. He simply could not always maintain his brother's calm and self-control. Any nature that he could not help but reveal became evidence for Shaffley to expose him.

But...so what?

The pretended expression of doubt disappeared without a trace, Chen Nian's eyebrows slightly raised, the ends of her beautiful eyes hooked a little provocative, and the corners of her lips also raised again, with a hint of a smile.

At this moment, she was no longer a fake prince's consort using a fake identity, but had truly turned back into the shrewd young man who wandered among many Alphas in the dungeon, perfectly maintaining a balance among all parties and not entrusting his true heart to anyone.

Chen Nian sighed softly, unmoved by the Alpha's seductive pheromones. He faced Shafulai and tilted his head slightly: "So?"

so what?

This was a question that Shafley had not expected. He just wanted to find out the boy's identity, that's all.

Chen Nian took a step forward and almost collided with Shafulai's chest.

His sudden approach made Shaflay stand up subconsciously. The boy raised his head, looked directly into his eyes, and said something coldly into his ears:

"What do you want to gain from this opportunity? Tell more people about this, report it to the higher-ups, let the White Tower continue to trap me, and then find Chen Ci and capture him as well?"

Chen Nian stepped forward step by step, and finally took off his disguise, revealing his body full of fangs and spikes.

Shafley was forced to retreat continuously. He wanted to explain, but he didn't even have a chance to speak.

"Or do you think that this is equivalent to holding a handle on me and Chen Ci, and from now on, you can do whatever you want?"

Chen Nian stopped abruptly and chuckled:

"Oh, I forgot. You are the noble prince. You have the right to judge. You don't need any so-called handle or authority. After all, my poor brother is your fiancée."

At this moment, the young man's eyes were so cold that Shafulai was sure that if given the chance, Chen Nian would even push him directly into the lake to destroy his body.

"You misunderstood."

Shafley took a deep breath and clenched his fists at his sides. The aggressive look in the Omega boy's eyes actually made him nervous, as if his heart was being cut open for cold scrutiny.

You know, even when he was facing his father and many serious generals on the training ground, he never felt this way.

Shafley slowed down his tone and said as gently as possible: "I don't mean anything else, I just want to confirm it. Whether it is confirmed or wrong, whether you are making a statement or an idea, I want to help you."

Chen Nian narrowed his eyes: "Help us?"

"Chen Ci is under very strict restrictions. The entire White Tower is under strict surveillance, and data related to Chen Ci is collected at all times. If you are not careful and cause fluctuations in your body data, you will be discovered immediately."

"With my help and protection, you can at least last a little longer. You will also have fewer shackles on your body while you are making statements. Even if you are exposed in the future, I will do my best to take responsibility."

Chen Nian's eyes were cautious, as if he was trying to determine how feasible his words were.

"You and Chen Ci had your first exchange two weeks ago. Strictly speaking, we haven't been together for a long time, but you should have a general idea of ​​what kind of person I am."

"I have no intention of harming anyone, and I have always felt guilty about Chen Ci's current situation. Now that there is an opportunity to change, I also want to try with you."

"I will try my best to help cover for you in the coming days. Chen Nian, are you willing to let me be your teammate?"

Shafulai pursed his lips, looking extremely sincere. At least it was the first time that Chen Nian saw such a serious expression on the eldest prince's face.

Chen Nian looked at him intently for more than ten seconds and suddenly laughed.

"Teammate? Do you think this is a game?"

The boy lowered his head, casually scratched the grass with his toes, and kicked away a small stone.

He looked at Shaflay again, with a faint smile on his lips.

——The shrewd wolf faced the unfamiliar hunter and leisurely adjusted the soft sheepskin on his body.

"Okay, I can trust you." Chen Nian smiled even more deeply and held up a finger. "First, you need to prove to me that you have the ability to cover for us."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Lift the ban on the White Tower."

"Impossible," Shafley said, "The ban cannot be lifted by my ability alone, but I may be able to make it work in another form."

"Oh?" Chen Nian didn't expect Shafulai to actually agree. He was just testing him.

But since it can change, it couldn’t be better: “Then I’ll wait and see.”

"Also, from now on, don't call me by that name anymore."

"In the eyes of people like you, Chen Nian died eighteen years ago."

Shafley hummed, and the tension finally subsided slowly. He loosened his hands and found a thin layer of sweat on his clenched palms.

...What is he afraid of?

Shafley took a deep breath, and there was a faint scent of tuberose in the air.

Silently proclaiming the identity of an Omega boy.

That night, he tried to call out the name that only appeared in the Chen family files, confirming all his speculations.

The boy who should not have existed in this world took off his disguise in front of him. He was so lively and clever, and he showed an aggressiveness that wanted to stab everyone, but there was a breathtaking beauty in his eyes.

Schaffrey won the gamble.

Now, he needed to wait for Chen Nian to calm down before asking other questions.

Especially the whereabouts of Chen Ci now.

There are definitely more than just one or two reasons why Chen Ci was confined to the White Tower. The whereabouts of the Omega, who had always been treated like a treasure and cared for, is unknown. Although judging from Chen Nian's performance, Chen Ci should be safe, Shafulai still can't help but worry.

It's true that there is no deeper relationship between him and Chen Ci, but for many years, they have regarded each other as good friends, and he has the responsibility to take good care of Chen Ci.

The tense and dangerous atmosphere gradually faded away, and the starry sky and the lake became gentle again. From this moment on, Chen Nian no longer needed to pretend in front of Shafulai.

He was about to squat down and play in the water again when he suddenly heard a scream piercing the night sky from afar.

“Aaaaaaah——!”

All of a sudden, the birds living in the woods woke up from their night sleep and flew up in a large flock.

Chen Nian raised her head. That voice seemed a little familiar?

After a few seconds, Chen Nian knew why it felt familiar.

The big white goose flew out from the bushes in panic, and the tall girl followed closely behind it, leaping behind it in one leap.

She was wearing a silk nightgown that revealed her long, snow-white legs. She was wearing slippers, and her blonde hair was tied up in a bun. Her face mask looked pale in the moonlight, revealing only a pair of angry violet eyes.

Chen Nian narrowed his eyes and took some time to recognize that this was Shafulai's sister, the second princess Afro.

"Get out! Get out! Get out now!"

Afro roared with full force, and even the big goose that was so arrogant as to peck the eldest prince's butt and fight Chen Nian head-on for two rounds could only flee in panic after being frightened by this.

Shafley: "Afu--"

Afro: "Get lost!!!"

Shafley: ………………

The big goose was so panicked that it ran towards Chen Nian, flapping its fan.

Chen Nian stood up, stretched out his hand calmly, and grabbed the goose's neck accurately at the moment it flew past.

Aphrodite rushed over quickly. If eyes had substance, the goose would have been cooked into a stew in an iron pot by the female Alpha as a midnight snack.

"Sister Afuluo." Chen Nian called out to the furious Second Princess and blinked innocently, "What happened?"

"It bit my duck!" Aphrodite was so angry that she didn't even care if her mask would wrinkle. "Who put the goose in the garden?"

Chen Nian: ………………

Chen Nian was speechless. He was embarrassed to tell Afro that this was a pet he wanted on a whim. He silently turned his head to look at the struggling goose, and stuffed it into Shafulai's hands.

"This is your highness's new pet. It was pecking at your highness's butt just now!"