At the entrance of another base.
Two people walked in one after the other.
The one leading was a rebellious-looking street punk. But the moment he stepped into the base, his whole demeanor changed, his back straightened, expression sobered. He carefully wrapped the bitter gum in his mouth in a tissue and dropped it neatly into the trash bin.
With every step toward his workstation, it was as if the color drained from his rebellious persona, leaving behind a clean-cut, earnest young man.
He greeted his seniors politely, his voice crisp and well-behaved.
“Older Sister Little Li, Senior Zheng, Senior Ji, hello!”
Little Li turned and smiled. “Ah, Little Kai, you’re back. How was it? Was this mission tiring?”
Gone was the street-thug act. Fang Kai’s eyes were calm and obedient as he replied, “Not tiring. Thank you, Sister Little Li, for helping me so much as a rookie. Besides, Minister Hou mostly assigned me intel-gathering tasks, nothing as difficult or heavy as your missions, seniors. You’re the ones who really have it hard.”
Hearing that, Little Li smiled even more warmly, covering her mouth with a laugh. She patted Zheng Wang’s back and said teasingly, “Haha, we’re all doing it for the glory of the Empire… But Little Kai really knows how to talk! Zheng Wang, you should learn from him!”
Zheng Wang brushed off her hand, dusting nonexistent lint from his suit jacket. With the air of a slick, self-styled gentleman, he gave a mocking chuckle. “I’m the oldest one here, with the longest service record. If anyone should be showing respect, it’s you, Zhu Little Li, to your senior.”
Zhu Little Li blinked, then suddenly said in surprise, “Oh, that’s true. Now that I think about it, the youngest among us must be either Little Kai or Shenwen.”
Zheng Wang grew curious. “How old are you guys, anyway?”
Fang Kai answered honestly, “Twenty-one, sir.”
Zheng Wang stroked his chin and looked toward Ji Shenwen. “And you, Ji Shenwen? You’re about the same age as His Highness, right?”
Ji Shenwen, dazed and distracted, seemed slow to react to his own name. Maybe it was the lingering effects of alcohol and medication, his mind couldn’t quite focus.
It took him nearly ten seconds to respond. He pointed at himself blankly. “Me?”
Zheng Wang perked up, eyes glinting with interest. “Of course you. Who else? You studied with the Crown Prince, didn’t you? You should be about the same age.”
Ji Shenwen lowered his eyes and shook his head. “Not exactly. I’m twenty-three. Gu Heng, oh no, I mean, His Highness, he’s a few years younger than me.”
Zhu Little Li gasped. “So the youngest of us is still Little Kai, but the Crown Prince is even younger than him?”
Ji Shenwen hesitated, then nodded slightly.
He didn’t really have a concrete sense of the Crown Prince’s age. What mattered wasn’t how old His Highness was, but his experience and capability, and more often than not, it was he who received the Crown Prince’s protection and care, not the other way around.
After all, he was someone who had grown up sheltered in an ivory tower, never having experienced real hardship or setbacks, nothing like His Highness the Crown Prince, who had already weathered so much and become calm, composed, and mature.
Unlike him.
When Ji Shenwen saw Yu Lizhu standing on the high platform in her wedding dress, his mind went completely blank. He didn’t even know what he was supposed to do.
He just stood there foolishly, staring for a long time.
If it hadn’t been for his teammate’s voice urging him through the earpiece, Ji Shenwen thought he might have kept standing there like an idiot until the people from the Zuo family caught him, and even then, he wouldn’t have moved a muscle.
How could he ever compare to Gu Heng, His Highness the Crown Prince?
That man actually had the courage to, in front of everyone, snatch away the Alpha groom at the center of attention during the engagement banquet, and escape with him.
In comparison to the Crown Prince…
Ji Shenwen felt utterly clumsy and worthless.
He could only stand there, staring dumbly for so long, without the courage to ask Yu Lizhu, to ask her whether she had been playing with him all along, deceiving him for her own amusement.
Even if… even if her answer was “yes.”
Ji Shenwen realized he still couldn’t bring himself to be angry.
Maybe it was because that day, Yu Lizhu had looked so beautiful, so graceful and radiant, her delicate smile pure and elegant, her luxurious white wedding gown making her seem holy, like a camellia swaying gently in bloom.
If Yu Lizhu could truly obtain the happiness she wanted, then so be it, she could fool him all she liked.
After all… he too had hidden his true identity from her. If Yu Lizhu had already made her decision, then he was willing to accept the breakup without complaint.
As long as she could be happy.
But the wedding was interrupted.
And Ji Shenwen’s heart was torn between a painful, contradictory mix of joy and grief.
On one hand, he felt a despicable thrill, a selfish, shameful relief that Yu Lizhu wouldn’t be marrying another Alpha.
On the other, he was consumed by anger and sorrow on her behalf.
How could anyone abandon Yu Lizhu, the woman he had cherished like a treasure?
To abandon the bride in front of everyone’s eyes, elope with another person, and leave Yu Lizhu to become a laughingstock…
In Ji Shenwen’s eyes, it was nothing short of humiliation and disrespect. Fury surged in his chest with nowhere to go, mixed with a deep ache of sympathy and distress for Yu Lizhu.
But he didn’t even know what position he could take anymore.
Could he still comfort Yu Lizhu?
As her boyfriend, or her ex-boyfriend?
What right did he have to comfort the woman who’d hidden from him the fact she was marrying another Alpha, only for that man to cruelly abandon her and run off with someone else?
The irony of it all…
This entire farce of an elopement and humiliation, he himself had been one of the people who helped plan it.
Ji Shenwen let out a bitter, self-deprecating laugh, helplessly sighing at how fate toyed with people. The alcohol he had poured into himself the night before churned restlessly in his stomach, burning hot.
He was both drunk and painfully sober.
The voices of his teammates’ lively chatter reached him faintly, muffled, indistinct.
He didn’t care anymore. Nothing could be worse than yesterday, could it?
Ji Shenwen sat slumped in his chair, pale and hollow-eyed. His breath came slow and shallow as he tried to suppress the rising taste of alcohol in his throat.
His coworkers kept chatting enthusiastically.
Ji Shenwen drifted off, not catching a single word.
If they hadn’t kept mentioning his name again and again, he wouldn’t have responded at all. He didn’t want to join the conversation, didn’t want to say a thing. He just wanted to retreat into his own world and shut everything out.
But unfortunately, he couldn’t.
“Little Kai’s already young enough, but I didn’t expect His Highness to be even younger.”
“Not surprising! I heard the Crown Prince went to the battlefield really early, before he even came of age.”
“How could His Majesty bear to let the Crown Prince go to war? My mom used to worry sick just letting me bike ten minutes to school.”
“Maybe the Imperial Family has its own methods of education. My family made me start training early too, even hired a mecha instructor, hoping I’d get into the Imperial Military Academy.”
“Then why’d you end up a hacker instead of piloting mechas?” Zhu Little Li teased Zheng Wang.
Zheng Wang rubbed his nose awkwardly. “Well… I get motion sickness in mechas. Even though I passed the mecha driving test for the academy, one of the examiners noticed right away. Luckily, my scores in network and tech were solid, so they recommended I switch specialties.”
He straightened up with mock pride. “And look at me now, living just fine off my hacking skills! Besides, I can still pilot a mecha!”
Zhu Little Li raised an eyebrow. “So confident, huh? Why don’t you spar with Little Kai sometime? I remember he’s from the gifted youth class, right? Passed the mecha driving exam early and even earned that intermediate pilot license with only a twenty-percent pass rate.”
Fang Kai blushed, giving a modest smile. “You flatter me, Senior. It was all thanks to my teacher’s careful guidance that I was able to earn that certificate.”
Zheng Wang laughed awkwardly. “Well, I haven’t touched a mecha in years, no way I could compete with a professional pilot like him!”
He waved it off and added, “If anyone’s going to challenge someone, Little Kai should challenge His Highness instead. The Crown Prince’s mecha piloting skills are on another level!”
Fang Kai’s eyes lit up instantly. “My instructor said the same thing! He told me His Highness is the most outstanding pilot he’s ever seen, even back in the Imperial Academy, the teachers couldn’t teach him anything more. His skills already surpassed theirs!”
“By now, His Highness must be even more incredible. I really hope I’ll get the chance to spar with him someday, to have him personally give me some guidance on piloting techniques!”
Fang Kai’s entire face glowed with youthful excitement, his shy expression brightened by a flush of eagerness, his eyes sparkling like tiny stars.
Zheng Wang, sitting beside him, found the sight dazzling, he couldn’t even look straight at him.
Silently, he thought in amazement:
He never expected this kid to be so bold, to actually want to challenge the Crown Prince himself. Truly, the fearlessness of a newborn calf facing a tiger.
But still… if His Highness were ever willing to offer this kid some personal instruction, Zheng Wang thought with a sting of envy in his chest,
Even if it meant getting beaten black and blue in a match, he too would give anything for the chance to be taught by the Crown Prince up close.
Since the Crown Prince was mentioned, something suddenly came to mind.
Zheng Wang asked with a subtle expression, “About yesterday’s incident, everyone must have heard by now, so, His Highness really does like that person from the Federation’s Zuo family?”
Zhu Little Li couldn’t help showing a trace of dejection, then forced herself to perk up and said, “Yesterday’s emergency mission happened so suddenly, a lot of things are still unclear. Maybe…”
Zheng Wang’s eyes lit up. “Maybe what?”
Zhu Little Li rubbed her forehead and continued, “Maybe His Highness has some deeper plan, a special infiltration operation in the Federation, perhaps, intending to use the opportunity to get close to the Zuo family and obtain more intelligence.”
Zheng Wang immediately echoed, “That’s very possible!”
But only a few seconds later,
The two exchanged looks, both letting out identical sighs of worry.
Anyone who had truly interacted with the Crown Prince would know there was almost no chance of that.
How could the noble and proud Crown Prince ever lower himself for the sake of some Imperial mission, to seduce, of all things, a mere Federation man?
What, was everyone else in the Empire dead, that it would come to His Highness performing such a shameful, base operation?
If anyone within the Empire dared suggest a “honey trap” like that, they’d be scolded bloody!
How could their Imperial Crown Prince debase himself to go and seduce a Federation citizen?! Even if it were the Federation’s president himself, impossible!
So there was only one possibility left.
The Crown Prince did it of his own will. No one forced him.
If they had to assign blame, then it must be that cunning Federation man, who must have used some despicable, deceitful means to beguile His Highness!
They could only hope His Highness wouldn’t actually elope with that Federation man in the end.
Just thinking of it made Zhu Little Li and Zheng Wang sigh in unison again, each seeing in the other’s eyes the same helpless worry and melancholy.
Beside them, Fang Kai didn’t understand why his seniors were sighing, his face still innocent and dazed.
“Senior, what’s wrong?” he asked blankly.
Zhu Little Li sighed, “Little Kai, aren’t you worried that His Highness might be bewitched by that Federation man?”
Zheng Wang joined in, frowning, “Exactly! The Empire has so many people, tall, short, thin, beautiful, all kinds of beauties! How did His Highness end up choosing a Federation man?”
And the worst part, that man was an Alpha. The thought made them both more anxious.
Fang Kai smiled shyly. “Why worry? His Highness is very strong. He must have his reasons. We just follow his orders.”
That did make some sense.
Still, as Imperial citizens, Zhu Little Li and Zheng Wang couldn’t shake their unease. Seeing Fang Kai’s blind optimism only made them more anxious.
So they decided to ask someone who was closest to the Crown Prince for information.
And that, of course, was Ji Shenwen.
“Shenwen,” Zheng Wang called, “it’s been a while since yesterday. Did His Highness contact you?”
The man addressed didn’t react at first. Ji Shenwen’s eyes were downcast and unfocused, pretending to be absorbed in work, but really lost in his own world, avoiding everything.
“Shenwen?” Zhu Little Li called again, puzzled.
This time, Ji Shenwen lifted his head and forced a smile. “What is it?”
Zheng Wang repeated, “Did you get any message from His Highness?”
Ji Shenwen’s gaze dimmed. His lips moved faintly. “Not yet.”
Before anyone could ask further about the Crown Prince,
A tall, somewhat disheveled figure walked over, his voice low and hoarse. “Ji Shenwen, come with me to the office.”
The newcomer was a man with slightly wavy black hair, dressed in a loose, unkempt, mature style. His chin bore rough stubble, outlining a faintly sensual jawline that hinted at the handsome charm he must’ve had in his youth.
Even though now he looked like a down-on-his-luck middle-aged drifter, unshaven, hair messy, the very picture of dishevelment, everyone who saw him immediately straightened and greeted with respect: “Minister Hou!”
Hou Dingfeng lazily lifted his eyes and nodded. “Mm. You all can sit for a while. I’ll have something to assign you later.”
“Yes, Minister Hou!”
Then Hou Dingfeng gave Ji Shenwen a brief look, tapped the table once as a signal, and turned to leave without another word.
Ji Shenwen silently followed.
***
Base, Office.
Ji Shenwen asked respectfully, “Minister Hou, what did you need me for?”
Hou Dingfeng tapped his finger on the desk, his calm gaze on him. “Sit down first. You’ve been running around since last night. I’ll let you go rest for a few hours.”
Ji Shenwen straightened his posture. “Yes, thank you for your consideration, Minister Hou.”
“Sit,” Hou Dingfeng said again.
Ji Shenwen hesitated briefly, then took a seat.
Hou Dingfeng laced his fingers together, his eyes sharp beneath the fringe of his long black hair. “Didn’t you go rest? Why do you look so pale, and reek of alcohol? You didn’t actually rest, did you?”
Ji Shenwen replied, “My apologies. I’ll reflect on it.”
Hou Dingfeng gave a mild, reassuring smile. “No need to apologize. Even with the kind of work we do, you still deserve some time to unwind. A few drinks aren’t the end of the world.”
He paused, voice faintly amused. “Besides… Ji Shenwen, you’ve always been a good kid. Even after drinking, you still took hangover medicine before work, didn’t you?”
Ji Shenwen’s expression stiffened.
Hou Dingfeng’s gaze swept over his fingernails and cuffs, noticing faint white powder traces, the residue of hangover medicine, and that lingering smell of alcohol. His overall look was tired and dazed, yet still just sober enough to function.
It could be concluded that after going home yesterday, Ji Shenwen had been drinking, but he took hangover medicine and came to work on time.
From both a professional and personal standpoint, Hou Dingfeng couldn’t really scold him for that.
Besides, Hou Dingfeng wasn’t particularly concerned about whether Ji Shenwen drank or not, in their line of work, stress was high, so having a drink was normal.
As long as Ji Shenwen didn’t drink during work hours in front of him or cause disruptions by getting drunk, it was fine for him to drink privately.
The issue wasn’t really the drinking.
Hou Dingfeng’s gaze sharpened as he scrutinized Ji Shenwen. The real problem was the negative influence this man had on the Crown Prince.
If Ji Shenwen hadn’t been from a respectable family, an Imperial family with a good standing in the Empire, and if he hadn’t been a companion student alongside the Crown Prince at the Imperial Military Academy after passing multiple background checks…
Hou Dingfeng would have seriously suspected him of being a spy sent by the Federation.
How could anyone let their Empire’s highly respected and long-awaited Crown Prince go astray, elope, and run away with a Federation man, and an Alpha at that?!
Everyone in the Empire looked forward to the day of the Crown Prince’s grand wedding, but the spouse would never be a Federation Alpha!
Just thinking of it made Hou Dingfeng’s blood boil. He clenched his fists, teeth grinding.
He had stayed up all night, sorting through every bit of information about the incident, constantly receiving anxious inquiries from distant Imperial colleagues, and urgently mobilizing Imperial spy agents stationed on the Federation’s homeworld to handle the aftermath.
He hadn’t slept at all.
And he didn’t even want to.
His bloodshot eyes stared wide, reviewing the reports of how the Crown Prince had met that Federation Alpha, gotten to know him, and even fallen in love…
Much of it had started because Ji Shenwen had been involved with a Federation Omega girlfriend!
Normally, this wouldn’t be a big deal. A brief fling while stationed in the Federation could be expected, and even Hou Dingfeng wouldn’t interfere with a subordinate’s personal affairs, as long as things were wrapped up properly.
The condition: it mustn’t involve the Crown Prince.
Now Hou Dingfeng’s headache worsened.
If the Crown Prince was genuinely serious about that Federation Alpha, then… well, the Crown Prince was still very young, and it wasn’t unreasonable for him to be persistent in matters of affection.
Bringing one or two Federation beauties back to the Empire could be accommodated, Hou Dingfeng would cooperate and support the Crown Prince.
Once the Crown Prince was done, any Federation beauties could be dealt with.
But this time, the Crown Prince seemed serious, even going so far as to stage a public “kidnapping” at the wedding, catching everyone completely off guard.
Yes.
Everyone. Including Hou Dingfeng and a host of loyal Imperial subordinates.
God knew how utterly collapsed Hou Dingfeng felt upon receiving this news.
He couldn’t imagine the inquiries from the Imperial Palace factions to come, the pressure would fall entirely on him. And as for the Crown Prince, where could he possibly interfere? How could he?
The thought alone made Hou Dingfeng’s head pound. His mood collapsed further, and he couldn’t even maintain composure toward the culprit in front of him.
Hou Dingfeng’s face darkened. “Shenwen, I remember you were the Crown Prince’s companion student, right?”
Ji Shenwen nodded. “Yes.”
Hou Dingfeng’s gaze sharpened. “Weren’t you taught what to say and not say, what to do and not do, in front of the Crown Prince?”
Ji Shenwen took a deep breath. “I was taught. I… apologize. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have let my selfish and impulsive actions affect His Highness.”
Hou Dingfeng sneered. “Now you finally realize. But it’s too late. How are you going to fix this mess now?”
Ji Shenwen clenched his fists. “I’ll do my best to correct this mistake.” I won’t act recklessly again… and I shouldn’t hope for a happy ending with Yu Lizhu.
Hou Dingfeng narrowed his eyes and slammed the table. “Can you really do it? It’s too late now. Who can stop what the Crown Prince has decided?”
Ji Shenwen hung his head low, silent.
Hou Dingfeng continued, “You should be grateful that the Crown Prince treats you as a close retainer. Even I can’t interfere with your affairs casually, otherwise, I would have reported you to the higher-ups and sent you back to the Empire to relearn what you should have known!”
Ji Shenwen felt so guilty and shaken that he could barely speak, even more remorseful toward the Empire and his family.
Before Hou Dingfeng could say more, a phone call suddenly grabbed everyone’s attention.
Hou Dingfeng frowned, displeased. “Who’s calling?”
Ji Shenwen checked his communicator and replied, “It’s His Highness, the Crown Prince.”
Hou Dingfeng’s eyes lit up immediately. “Answer it quickly! Don’t keep His Highness waiting, it might be urgent.”
Ji Shenwen: “Yes, ”
He pressed to connect.
Before he could speak, Gu Heng’s voice came from the other end: “Are you there, Ji Shenwen?”
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