The overall atmosphere of the birthday party was relatively relaxed, and most of the people who came were people of the same age. Compared with the previous royal dinners attended by many senior officials, it made people feel more cheerful.

Even Lu Heng, who was originally on tour in the underground city, came over. This time he was unusually quiet, as if he had not yet recovered from the bad news of being hit by Chen Nian. He looked visibly depressed.

There was even a piano on the table, but Lu Heng did not go up to show off as he usually did.

There were other Omegas and their friends who played a song together using various instruments.

As expected of nobles who had received the best education since childhood, Chen Nian and Shafley sat together to enjoy the performance. But when the performance ended and the leading girl walked towards them, Chen Nian knew that things were not that simple.

She looked to be in her mid-twenties, with long red hair tied up behind her head and a swan-like neck. She wore a dark red necklace and two thin chains hanging down, paired with an off-shoulder dress, looking noble and elegant.

Chen Nian didn't recognize her, but Schaffre introduced her in a low voice: "This is the granddaughter of Archduke Ferdinand, Chloe Ferdinand."

There were so many messy officials and nobles in the upper society, and Chen Nian had never recognized them systematically, so he couldn't remember them for a while. While he was thinking about it, Chloe had already arrived in front of him.

"Your Highness," Chloe said in a gentle and polite voice, "We are planning to hold a small private concert this Sunday. All the people who will attend are music lovers. I heard that Your Highness is proficient in many musical instruments. Would you like to come and participate?"

"Your Highness has been living in the White Tower and has never shown up. Now you live in the palace and have less contact with everyone. Although your status is not as noble as your Highness, everyone wants to be friends with you. I wonder if your Highness is willing to give us this opportunity."

Chloe smiled and invited the princess on the grounds that she wanted to be friends with her. If Chen Nian refused directly, she would appear to be aloof and arrogant.

Even if Chen Nian had no such intention, the many Omegas who were watching the situation with eager eyes would definitely exaggerate the matter and spread the story as if the princess was unwilling to be friends with them of lowly status.

"Sunday? I might have something else to do on Sunday."

Chen Niancai would not fall into the trap. He smiled apologetically and said, "Shapley and I are going to travel together. This is a schedule that has been set a long time ago. Otherwise, I would also like to attend the concert with everyone. After all, it is not easy to get the opportunity to meet new friends."

Chloe seemed to be prepared: "If the princess is willing, we can change it to another time. Anyway, everyone is not too busy recently, and I believe they will be willing to change the time for your highness."

Now Chen Nian couldn't use the excuse of schedule conflict to get out of the situation.

It was obvious that they had made a plan in advance and wanted Chen Nian to participate no matter what.

Chen Nian glanced at Lu Heng, who was in the corner, also secretly watching what was happening here. He had a frown on his face and his hands were clenched into fists.

With just one glance, Chen Nian was sure that this invitation had something to do with him.

Lu Heng went back that day in a daze. Perhaps after being calm for a few days, he finally realized that he might have been deceived. He still wanted to use his piano skills to verify whether the person he saw in the dungeon was Chen Ci.

If Chen Nian did not agree, he would be considered a loner. Even if he agreed, but refused to play at the concert, it would mean that the princess's previous claim of outstanding piano skills was a lie.

If they are willing to play, that's even better, Lu Heng can make a judgment based on the style.

No matter how Chen Nian responded, he was under their spell.

Countless pairs of eyes were staring at this side, waiting for Chen Nian's answer.

Shafley frowned and was about to help Chen Nian out when he heard the boy say with a smile, "Okay, how about we make an appointment on Monday night?"

"Sure." Chloe agreed. She didn't expect Chen Nian to agree so readily. Didn't Lu Heng say that he had something to hide?

But Chloe didn't mind. She came to ask Chen Nian just to repay Lu Heng a favor. Whatever the situation was at that time, it had nothing to do with her.

She is not like some people who are blinded by their extravagant expectations and do not look at their own level.

"What will everyone do at the concert?" Chen Nian asked.

"Play music, sing, or dance together. Your Highness, there is no need to prepare too much in advance. We just want to make more friends."

Chen Nian nodded: "Okay, I understand."

Chloe achieved her goal and stopped bothering the two of them. She said goodbye gracefully and left.

Shafley leaned over anxiously and whispered to Chen Nian, "What did you agree to?"

"Why can't you agree?"

"Do you play any musical instrument?"

"No." Chen Nian answered frankly, "I didn't have the opportunity to learn these things before. If I must say that I have some talent, I could go up and play a disc for them or do some pole dancing, but I'm afraid I might scare them, so forget it."

Shafley: "...You can dance on a pole?"

Chen Nian then realized that he had let the cat out of the bag: "I just thought it was fun. I learned a little bit, and the same goes for DJing. After all, it sounds pretty cool."

Shafley nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

Chen Nian breathed a sigh of relief. He learned DJing and pole dancing in nightclubs. It would be terrible if Shafulai found out.

Shafley: "So you're going to learn piano now? There's no such thing as quick learning of any instrument."

"No." Chen Nian looked at him, "Chen Ci will be back next Monday."

Shafla was stunned.

Alpha then reacted. Yes, the second exchange between the two brothers lasted for twenty-one days and was about to end.

If Chen Ci could come back on time, he wouldn't need to play the piano when he went to the concert, because in addition to that, Chen Ci was also proficient in the clarinet, violin and timpani. He could complete the communication by just using any one of these skills, and avoid the possibility of Lu Heng judging his identity by the sound of the piano.

Shaflay was silent.

After being with Chen Nian for a long time, he almost forgot that the two brothers still needed to be replaced.

Chen Ci travels freely in the dungeon, and even robs when he has nothing to do. Chen Nian studies painting and practices mental strength on the top floor, working hard to improve himself.

Everything is so natural.

But they have to change back, and Chen Ci has to come back for a physical examination, otherwise Chen Nian's existence will be exposed immediately.

Thinking of this, he only had three short days left to spend with Chen Nian.

Chen Ci adapted very well to life in the dungeon. He was the one who initiated the initial exchange. Shafulai knew that the two brothers would continue to exchange, and this behavior would continue as long as the matter was not exposed.

But there is still some unavoidable uneasiness in my heart.

Unlike Shafla's sadness, Chen Nian didn't feel anything when he realized that there were only three days left for the exchange.

Just keep a normal mind. He just wanted to go back and see Uncle Jiang. He hadn't seen Uncle Jiang for nearly three weeks and Chen Nian missed him especially.

Shafley would not allow such a socially deadly scene as everyone singing birthday songs in the dark at his birthday party, but cutting the cake was a must.

The attendants pushed the food cart over. Shaffley's birthday cake had ten layers. In Chen Nian's eighteen years of life, this was the first time he had seen such a big cake. Each layer was so exquisite that it was like a work of art.

As the birthday boy, of course Shafley had to make the first cut himself.

Alpha turned his head and accurately captured Chen Nian's figure in the crowd.

"Want to come with me?" he asked.

Everyone's eyes were turned towards the young man. Chen Nian didn't feel shy. Since Shafulai had proposed it, how could he refuse the birthday star?

Chen Nian came to Shafley's side, he held the handle of the table knife, and Shafley's hand gently held his.

Hold hands.

Shafulai's palms were dry yet warm, and Chen Nian suddenly remembered the time when she went to the shooting range with him.

He lay prone on the grass, holding the sniper rifle with clumsy movements. Alpha's body was propped above him, careful not to touch him too much, and his hands helped him adjust his posture.

Both of them held the knife in their right hands. Chen Nian stood in front of Shaflay, and it seemed as if he was being embraced by the Alpha.

The first knife fell and cut the cake accurately.

Cheers rang out all around, and no matter how jarring the scene might seem to others who might be interested, they still had to put on a smile.

This was the first time for Chen Nian to play like this, and he found it quite interesting. He turned around and subconsciously wanted to share it with Shafla.

The two of them were already very close, with their backs pressed against each other's chests. Now that Chen Nian turned his head, it seemed that his lips were about to brush against Shaffley's cheek. Even the air flow caused by his breathing could be clearly felt through his skin.

Light and slightly cool.

Shaflay lowered his eyes slightly, and the moment they looked at each other, it was more like he was falling into the other's eyes, drowning deeply in the depths, and being hidden in the darkness.

Chen Nian seemed to see some kind of emotion that was being suppressed.

He was stunned for a moment, then reacted quickly and pretended not to notice anything.

There were no more large-scale activities after that. Chen Nian stood in the corner, drinking by himself.

He didn't even go to look for Gui Zhiqi. He just stayed alone quietly, thinking about what had happened tonight.

After two glasses of champagne, my spirits were lifted a little. It was obviously the best royal wine, but it seemed to have lost some of its flavor when I tasted it.

His drinking seemed to have improved a lot since he met Shafley.

In the past, Chen Nian would get drunk at least twice a month. He didn't dare drink to his heart's content in nightclubs, so he drank secretly at home.

Chen Nian doesn't remember when he became addicted to alcohol, but he is addicted to the various feelings that come with having his nervous system calmed by alcohol. He doesn't have to think about anything, worry about his family or making money, and he can truly relax.

However, the mellow aroma of top-grade sherry often permeated Alpha's body, silently influencing Chen Nian and causing him to gradually lose interest in other wines. Even the purest and finest wines pale in comparison to the sherry.

Chen Nian never paid much attention to it before, after all, drinking less alcohol is good for health.

But today, he couldn't help but think seriously about the reasons.

Chen Nian thought for a few minutes and then sighed.

I can only say it's all Shafla's fault. He has made his taste very picky.

Chen Nian didn't think about it any further for the time being because Antonio came up to him again.

In Antonio's eyes, Chen Nian was clearly a poor little person who longed for happiness but was constantly neglected and needed him, a knight, to come and save her.

In the past, Chen Nian would have played a good trick on Antonio, but now he was in no mood and even thought Antonio was a little annoying.

Chen Nian listened absentmindedly to Alpha's words full of secret hints. He raised his eyes to look for Shafulai, and saw that the eldest prince was surrounded by beautiful girls.

Many Omegas sent him birthday wishes one after another. Out of courtesy, Shaflay couldn't avoid them and could only accept the toasts. Seeing this, Chen Nian put down his glass and walked away without saying a word.

He leaned into the crowd, unceremoniously took Shafley's arm, and said softly, "Drink less. I don't want to take care of you so late at night."

This sentence may seem like just an ordinary complaint, but it contains many additional meanings.

"What the princess said is true. Even if Your Highness is a little drunk, there will be a smart butler to take care of him. You can rest assured."

Chen Nian shook his head and said, "You don't know, when he's drunk he acts like a kid, even though he's already 25 years old. Shafulai doesn't want others to see him like that, so when we're together, we always turn off the smart butler."

The air stagnated for a moment.

Chen Nian's move was both a way of helping him out and a way of fighting back. Shafley's mood suddenly improved a lot. He gently patted Chen Nian's hand and whispered, "Okay, then I won't drink any more."

Many Omegas who firmly believed that Shaflay and Chen Ci had an emotional rift could not help but fall into deep doubt.

Is this really a sign of a bad relationship?

Even if the words and actions can be disguised, the look in His Highness' eyes...

Chen Nian dragged Shafulai out of the crowd.

"I'm not happy to see you like this." In a deserted corner, Chen Nian lowered his voice and said to Alpha, "You are still engaged to my brother, so can you be more restrained?"

If you only listen to the second half, it does sound like jealousy.

But Shafley couldn't automatically ignore the first half of Chen Nian's sentence.

Yes, he was still engaged to Chen Ci, so no matter how much he could no longer suppress his feelings for Chen Nian, he had to suppress them.

Shafulai exhaled softly and said, "I understand. I won't do this next time."

In fact, the only close friend of Chen Nian in the whole banquet was Gui Zhiqi. Seeing that everyone was chatting in groups, Shafulai suggested, "Let me introduce you to a few friends."

"Your friend? Not like Antonio?"

“No, they are all very nice people.”

Shafulai took Chen Nian to meet his friend. As they got closer, Chen Nian realized that he had long noticed this group of young people who were very different from the children of noble families.

From the very beginning, the guests at the birthday party were divided into two groups, one group was children of aristocratic families like Chloe Luheng, and the other group was friends invited by Shafley.

They were classmates that Shafley knew in class. Most of them were Betas. Although they did not come from prominent families, each one was better than the other.

Everyone was very interesting, and Chen Nian felt much more relaxed without having to constantly be on guard against language traps.

The most special one was an Omega girl named Ollie. She was a cadet and she and Shaflay met each other after they were randomly teamed up in a military exercise.

It was the first time that Chen Nian saw an Omega who graduated from a military academy.

Oled has a forthright personality, and the two soon became familiar with each other. It turns out that it is faster to let someone you trust introduce you than to make friends by yourself.

Chen Nian didn't have many close friends in the underground city. During his school years, he moved frequently and changed schools frequently, so he was not familiar with his classmates. When he worked in a nightclub, his colleagues were scheming against each other, and his so-called good friend Charlie even set many traps for him in secret, but Chen Nian was too lazy to care.

Friendships made when there are no conflicts of interest are more pure...

Shaflay's two younger sisters were also there. Chen Nian had met the second princess Afro several times before, but this was the first time he met the youngest princess Yelena. Yelena, who was only sixteen years old, was studying in a boarding school and would only come back during holidays or important days.

Compared to her taciturn brother and loud sister, Yelena is just the right amount of quiet. It is said that she has an amazing talent for chemistry and has been working as a research assistant in the laboratory at such a young age.

Chen Nian quite liked Shafulai's family. Apart from the fact that he was a little confused about the emperor and had not yet met Shafulai's mother, all the brothers and sisters were very nice.

The birthday party didn't last long and ended at 9:30 in the evening. Chen Nian got to know many of Shafley's friends throughout the party and was quite happy.

They returned to their respective rooms, reeking of alcohol.

The etiquette officer has delivered all the gifts received to Shafulai's room. Shafulai has not forgotten the mysterious look on Chen Nian's face when he presented the gifts, and he can't wait to find the one that belongs to Chen Nian among the pile of boxes in the living room.

Shaflay weighed it and found it was not very heavy. He could not tell what was inside from the shaking sound.

Chen Nian said that she hoped he would try it no matter what. What would it be?

Full of anticipation, Shaflay opened the box.

Even though he was anxious, he did not tear the paper off roughly. Instead, he used a knife to patiently cut along the gap between the stickers. In the end, even the wrapping paper was still intact.

Shafley folded the wrapping paper and put it aside, which was also part of the gift Chen Nian gave him.

Finally, there was only one step left. Shafulai took a deep breath and opened it with excitement.

When he saw what was in the gift box, he was stunned.

After a few seconds, Shaflay reached out his hand hesitantly and took out a... big furry tail?

The tail is quite fluffy and feels very smooth. The end of the white hair gradually turns silver-gray. It is long and large. There is a small motor hidden under the base of the tail. Shafle guessed that after turning it on, it can shake continuously.

The tail was fixed to the hips with a transparent strap, but fortunately it was not the way he imagined.

In addition to the tail, the box also contains a pair of furry triangular ears and a black leather collar with silver rivets.

A complete orc three-piece set.

Shaflay fell into a brief silence.

Is this the gift that Chen Nian mentioned, “He really likes it, but doesn’t know if he can accept it”?

To be honest, it's... quite cute.

It took Shafley half a minute to accept the reality. Thinking of Chen Nian's request that he must give it a try no matter what, he tried to put the headband on his head with extremely complicated emotions.

Shafley glanced at the mirror, quickly turned his face away, then slowly turned his head and glanced a few times secretly.

...seems pretty good?

Alpha slowly put down the worry in his heart.

Since Shaflay can use an androgynous appearance in the game and has persisted in being called a beauty countless times over the past nine years, it shows that deep down he is not a serious person.

Shaflay stood up, lifted the hem of his shirt, and fastened the tail between his hips with a tie. It was quite sturdy and would not fall off even if he swayed from side to side.

He tried to turn on the small motor at the base, and the tail immediately began to wag. It kept swinging so much that Shaffley thought for a moment that he had become a big dog.

Finally, the collar.

Shaflay put the leather collar around his neck. He was an Alpha, and unlike Omegas, he didn't have to wear an anti-bite collar all year round, so he was a little uncomfortable with it.

The tip of the silver rivet was actually quite round, so there was no risk of cutting anyone. He inserted two fingers between the collar and the neck to loosen it, and accidentally touched the buckle for tying the lead rope.

Somehow it feels like one of those sex toys.

Shafla couldn't help but look into the box again to make sure there was no rope.

Bah! What is he thinking!

The Alpha in the mirror was standing beside the bed. He had a pair of pointed silver ears growing out of his platinum-blond hair, a leather collar with rivets around his neck, and a thick, long tail hanging behind him.

The style of the accessories is more like a Siberian wolf than a fox.

Chen Nian had pretty good taste, and the clothes fit him unexpectedly well. Shafulai was admiring himself in the mirror when he heard a knock on the door.

Is it Chen Nian who is here?

I wonder what Omega’s reaction would be when he sees that he has already put on the gift?

I should be very happy.

Shafley's heartbeat couldn't help but speed up. He took a deep breath, raised his hand and touched the fur on the tip of his ear, got rid of the last bit of awkwardness in his heart, and went to open the door.

He stood at the door, closed his eyes for the last time, calmed himself down, and then opened the door.

Just when Shafley thought he would hear Chen Nian's joyful voice, he was met with a pair of the same violet eyes.

At this moment, Shafley experienced what it meant to have cardiopulmonary arrest.

emperor:………………

Shafley: ………………

The emperor stood outside the door, silently looking at his eldest son with animal ears in front of him. His eyes stayed on the sexy collar on Shafulai's neck for a moment, and finally moved down to fix on the big tail that hung naturally behind Shafulai.

For a moment Shafla saw a certain meaningful suspicion in his father's eyes.

Shafley's mind went blank. In the critical moment, he didn't even have time to think about what he was going to say, and he started to explain:

"Dad, listen to me, this is a pendant, not a plug-in!"