The engagement banquet venue.
A classical band played a soft, soothing melody.
The beautiful sound of violins echoed beneath the domed ceiling. Light filtered through the stained-glass rose windows, scattering into vivid hues that shifted and flowed across the ancient, magnificent murals—remnants of a bygone age.
The church itself had long since collapsed and disappeared.
Since humanity’s venture into space, such ancient architectural styles had become rare. The intricate murals, sculptures, and crumbling walls all originated from the churches of old Earth.
Though thousands of years of time, war, fire, and weather had stripped away their colors and buried the ruins in the sands of history, the owner of this hotel had excavated and restored them, allowing their brilliance to shine once more.
Half of the venue was a resplendent church; the other half opened up to the open sky and drifting white clouds.
A half-open wedding hall.
From afar, under the blue sky and white clouds, one floating car after another descended. From these sleek, high-tech vehicles stepped guests dressed in exquisite gowns and tailored suits, walking into the elegant, ancient-style church—
To attend a union between two of the most powerful families at the very peak of the Federation’s elite.
Glasses clinked and laughter rose. Everyone present belonged to the Federation’s uppermost echelons—political and financial magnates who practically held the Federation’s lifelines in their hands. If anything went wrong here, even the entire Federation’s stability might waver.
Officials and conglomerate presidents who could usually only be glimpsed on the news were now so common here that they seemed like cabbages scattered on the ground.
There were several Federation senators among the guests; even those standing quietly in corners were CEOs of major listed companies, heirs of powerful families, renowned collectors, or top-tier artists within their fields.
But the majority of the invited guests had military backgrounds.
After all, the Zuo family’s Blue Eagle Group supplied most of the Federation army’s latest weapons. Many high-ranking officers in uniform had made time to attend the banquet, giving face to the Zuo family and its heir—
And, incidentally, to meet the young successor they might one day work with.
“Congratulations, old Zuo! I heard your hard-found Alpha heir is quite the talent—so impressive it’s hard to believe he’s actually your kid!”
“Old Cao, what the h*ll are you saying? If today weren’t my son’s big day, I’d have punched you for that. …Anyway, Zuo Shihuan! Come here, let me introduce you to an old b*stard.”
Cigar in hand, Zuo Zoujian grabbed his son—who had just been chatting with a military officer—and proudly pushed him in front of his longtime friend.
“This is Old Cao—Cao Jianye. We’re of the same generation. Back in the day, we used to fight over business. Now he’s become the Federation’s energy tycoon, monopolizing sixty percent of the advanced energy supply. Even our Blue Eagle mechas rely on his company’s energy to function.”
Zuo Shihuan mentally pulled up the man’s profile. The square-faced middle-aged man before him—Cao Jianye—was indeed formidable. In his youth, he’d been an adventurous pioneer, bold enough to open up new star systems, even battling local star pirates to seize territory.
The Zuo family had once been strangled by his energy monopoly—he was not someone easy to deal with.
Zuo Shihuan’s gaze deepened, his tone respectful and polite, with the deference of a younger generation addressing a seasoned elder.
“Uncle Cao, I’ve heard much about your achievements from my father—your energy reform plans, your ventures into uncharted star systems, leading teams across galaxies to secure early control of energy sources. Truly admirable. I can only look up to such accomplishments.”
Cao Jianye raised an eyebrow and laughed heartily, patting Zuo Shihuan on the shoulder before turning to Zuo Zoujian, who was smugly puffing on his cigar.
“Your Alpha son’s quite something! Even knows all about my old history. My own kids and grandkids don’t even know how I built my empire!”
He gave Zuo Zoujian a sour look—envious of this shameless old scoundrel who somehow had such an outstanding Alpha heir, the kind that made everyone else’s children seem second-rate.
Zuo Zoujian’s wrinkled face split into a grin, cigar smoke curling around him as he boasted, “Old Cao, that’s not something you can envy. You’ve always been just a bit worse than me—wasn’t as good-looking back then, and even now, you don’t have an Alpha kid as remarkable as my Zuo Shihuan.”
Cao Jianye’s face darkened, his fists tightening.
Even Zuo Shihuan could only give an awkward smile. He knew his father was trying to introduce him to older connections—but to outsiders, it looked more like he was helping him make enemies.
Thankfully, Yu Lizhu stepped in to ease the tension.
Her smile bloomed like a flower as she said gently, “Uncle Cao, doesn’t your Alpha granddaughter take after your adventurous spirit? I heard she led an archaeological fleet across multiple star systems, excavating many ancient Earth fossils—and even received the Federation Academy’s Outstanding Youth Medal recently.”
Cao Jianye’s face brightened considerably.
He began talking—half complaining, half boasting—about his granddaughter’s awards and achievements. Though he pretended to lament that she was rarely home, he was clearly proud that she shared his fearless spirit, braving dangerous conditions and even skirmishes with star pirates in pursuit of fossils.
Under Yu Lizhu’s warm, graceful praise, Old Cao’s expression grew rosier, his mood lifted, and he spoke with greater enthusiasm—while Zuo Zoujian stood by, puffing his cigar with a mocking “tsk” here and there.
Finally, Old Cao sighed sourly, “You’re one lucky b*stard, Old Zuo. I was planning to have my family propose to Miss Yu myself, but you beat me to it.”
“Well, that’s just how it is, Old Cao. Luck’s never been on your side,” Zuo Zoujian replied smugly, cigar tilted high, looking every bit the self-satisfied peacock.
Old Cao ground his teeth. “You d*mn fox—don’t you know how to be modest at all?!”
Seeing that the two were about to start arguing again, the younger ones, Zuo Shihuan and Yu Lizhu, could only quietly slip away. They still had many guests to entertain, and even Madam Zuo was so busy she had the butler hurry them along.
Before long—
Zuo Shihuan and Yu Lizhu, the engaged couple at the center of it all, found themselves surrounded by circles of people. Zuo Shihuan had just finished greeting a Federation officer when another government official approached, and beyond them stretched a long line of businessmen eager to strike a deal with the Blue Eagle Group.
Zuo Shihuan couldn’t refuse anyone in this kind of setting, nor could he escape. He maintained a calm and elegant demeanor as he conversed, but in his mind, he was constantly flipping through profiles of the people before him, all while staying acutely aware of etiquette and conversation topics.
As time dragged on—
Zuo Shihuan still looked composed on the surface, but in truth his mouth was dry, his eyes gradually losing their luster. His perfectly tailored white suit was being rumpled by the crowd, and his pockets were stuffed full of business cards.
Yu Lizhu had expected this kind of chaos. She had chosen a relatively light, short fishtail-style wedding gown, yet even so, standing beside Zuo Shihuan left her exhausted, her face nearly frozen from smiling. Her petite clutch bag was now also filled with business cards on Zuo Shihuan’s behalf.
Compared to the overwhelmed Zuo Shihuan,
Yu Lizhu was faring slightly better. She managed to steal a moment of rest, quietly sipping a cocktail. Having eaten almost nothing that morning to fit into her gown, she even popped the cherry garnish into her mouth with a discreet hand over her lips.
Of course, this did not escape Zuo Shihuan’s notice.
While he was parched and drained, he caught sight of his fiancée—supposedly his partner in suffering—gracefully covering her mouth with a ladylike smile, her cheeks subtly puffed as she enjoyed her snack. His eyes immediately filled with wordless grievance.
Sensing a strange, guilt-inducing gaze, Yu Lizhu looked up and met Zuo Shihuan’s soulful expression as he quietly asked, “Is that cocktail good?”
Yu Lizhu: “…”
She froze, glass in hand, unable to move—nor dare to spit out the cherry stem.
Feeling guilty, Yu Lizhu silently took over his duties, stepping into the crowd to continue chatting and smiling until her face stiffened completely. Meanwhile, Zuo Shihuan finally had a chance to breathe and slip away from the crowd.
He wasn’t at all worried about leaving her to handle guests alone.
Compared to him—new to high society and still unfamiliar with its unspoken rules—Yu Lizhu, raised as the well-groomed daughter of the Yu family, handled social interactions with ease. She was also far more attuned to the hidden flow of insider information that outsiders could never touch.
More than once, she had discreetly reminded Zuo Shihuan of certain unspoken codes of the upper circle—what to watch for, and that not every Omega or companion brought to an event was necessarily a legitimate spouse…
Just during this engagement banquet alone, while Zuo Shihuan was busy building connections, he also followed Yu Lizhu’s lead in observing the gossip around them.
They saw a “harmonious” couple awkwardly bump into each other with their respective lovers in tow. Others openly flaunted new spouses or paramours. Even the children they held hands with weren’t necessarily their own.
Honestly, Zuo Shihuan’s personal database of profiles couldn’t update fast enough to keep up with how quickly these people changed partners.
Finally, stealing a rare moment of rest, he picked up a glass of champagne, smiling faintly as he watched Yu Lizhu’s increasingly forced smile from afar.
Unfortunately, after taking one sip—
Zuo Shihuan still couldn’t understand what people saw in alcohol. He’d much rather have a cheap bottle of nutrient solution.
Perhaps it was true—no matter how a mountain boar dresses up, it still can’t stomach fine bran.
Even dressed in a tailored suit and standing amid the upper class, deep down, Zuo Shihuan remained the same Beta who had crawled his way up from the slums.
Yet, ever since coming to the Zuo family, he hadn’t tasted a drop of nutrient solution again.
That thought brought a faint pang of nostalgia. He took another sip of champagne anyway, forcing it down with a frown, only to cough twice from the sting of the alcohol.
“Young Master Zuo Shihuan, please take this towel. I’ve also prepared some purified water for you.”
The ever-attentive Butler Lin quickly appeared by his side. Having long understood Zuo Shihuan’s habits—his dislike of alcohol in particular—he had come prepared.
After drinking a few sips of water, Zuo Shihuan felt his throat ease. He smiled gently and said, “Thank you, Butler Lin. Good thing you’re here.”
The butler’s ears reddened slightly. He then offered some small cakes and fruit, saying, “Would you like a little something to eat, Young Master Zuo? You didn’t have much appetite this morning, and there’s still quite a while before the banquet ends. Perhaps you should have a bite.”
This time, Zuo Shihuan declined.
Instead, he handed over the bulging stack of business cards from his pockets. As Butler Lin carefully organized them, Zuo Shihuan roughly estimated that he had already met about fifty or sixty people.
And that was just a small fraction.
More than three thousand guests had been invited—already a reduced number due to the short notice of the engagement banquet.
Of course, Zuo Shihuan couldn’t possibly meet everyone. If he did, he’d be there until nightfall. Still, as he moved about the banquet hall, he realized one person had yet to appear—Dr. Ji Zhaohe.
“Butler Lin, could you check if Dr. Ji Zhaohe has arrived? I asked that invitations be sent to him and his family.”
“Yes, Young Master, the invitations were sent… but Dr. Ji hasn’t come yet. Should I call to confirm?”
“No need,” Zuo Shihuan replied, a flicker of shadow passing through his eyes before he dismissed the thought.
After all, he barely knew Dr. Ji, and they rarely interacted. It was just that the recent museum murder case had left a faint unease lingering in his mind.
After resting a bit, Zuo Shihuan decided to return to the center of the crowd— after all, leaving Yu Lizhu alone there would make him seem like an unfaithful partner.
Definitely not because, from afar, he could see her smile stiffening and her eerie, resentful gaze locked onto him the entire time.
Zuo Shihuan felt a twinge of guilt.
He was just about to walk over when two people blocked his path.
Zuo Shihuan’s expression instantly turned cold.
“Mr. Zuo, hello. You probably haven’t met me before. I’m Yu Lizhu’s brother-in-law—Bai Geping.”
A sharp-featured Alpha man with a faintly sinister air stood before him, supporting another drunken Alpha. Smiling with half-lidded, narrow eyes, he extended a hand toward Zuo Shihuan.
Out of social courtesy, Zuo Shihuan should have shaken it—but he merely turned slightly to the side, avoiding Bai Geping’s hand. Instead, he reached out with one arm to steady the drunken Yu Dongying—Yu Lizhu’s older brother, and nominally his future brother-in-law.
“He’s drunk. I’ll have a waiter take him to a guest room to rest. You can go now.”
His distant, frosty tone made it clear he had no interest in conversation.
Bai Geping froze for a second, then smoothly withdrew his hand, pretending nothing had happened. A glint of malice flickered in his cold eyes. As he helped Yu Dongying up, he pinched him sharply in the waist.
The pain startled Yu Dongying awake. Blinking bleary eyes, he recognized his brilliant soon-to-be brother-in-law and broke into a foolish grin.
“Zuo Shihuan! My good brother-in-law! So many people were talking to me just now, drinking with me, introducing these investment projects that sound like real money-makers. Why don’t we invest together? Make money together!”
Zuo Shihuan frowned. “No. You should rest.”
Of course, the Zuo family had already thoroughly investigated the Yu family’s relationships.
The Yu family patriarch and matriarch had three daughters and one son—the youngest being Yu Lizhu. Her elder brother, the Alpha Yu Dongying now before him, had gotten himself disgracefully drunk at his own sister’s engagement banquet. Mediocre in ability but swollen with arrogance, he’d poured money into several ill-advised ventures, costing the Yu family a fortune.
Part of the dowry the Zuo family gave to Yu Lizhu had even been used to patch that financial hole.
This had enraged the Yu patriarch, a shrewd and profit-driven businessman, who forbade his foolish Alpha son from touching the family business again. But that was unrealistic—eventually, everything would pass into the hands of that one Alpha heir.
Yu Lizhu’s other sister, Yu Liyi, an Omega, had once been a renowned beauty in high society—gentle, elegant, and much sought after. Yet she ended up marrying into the rather ordinary Bai family.
Her husband was none other than the Alpha now supporting Yu Dongying—Bai Geping.
By reason, as Yu Lizhu’s dearest elder sister, Yu Liyi should have been present at her sister’s engagement. But she could not possibly appear.
Because she was now in a vegetative state.
Years after marrying into the Bai family, she had mysteriously fallen down a flight of stairs, lost her unborn child to massive bleeding, and never woke up again.
“What are you doing here?!” Yu Lizhu rushed over, glaring at Bai Geping with hatred.
Bai Geping dusted off his suit, the corners of his narrow eyes lifting into a smile. Though his words were directed at Yu Lizhu, his gaze was clearly aimed at Zuo Shihuan.
“As your brother-in-law, I naturally care about your happiness too. I came to see the man you’re marrying—indeed, Mr. Zuo is quite the young and talented Alpha. If you don’t mind, our Bai family has a number of projects that might…”
“Bai Geping, what the h*ll do you want?” Yu Lizhu ground out between her teeth.
His smile didn’t waver, though a chill crept into his tone. “I’m just concerned for you. It’s been a while since you last visited your sister, hasn’t it? Why don’t you make some time this weekend? The doctor says her physical indicators are improving.”
Yu Lizhu’s pupils trembled; her hands dropped silently to her sides.
Emboldened, Bai Geping continued, trying to cozy up to Zuo Shihuan—eager to secure a connection to the powerful Zuo family. He rambled on about how one of Blue Eagle Group’s subsidiaries happened to align perfectly with the Bai family’s core business, making it clear he’d been eyeing this opportunity for some time.
Zuo Shihuan cast a sidelong glance at Yu Lizhu, who stood uncharacteristically silent—nothing like the poised, radiant lady from moments before.
While Bai Geping talked endlessly about business partnerships, Zuo Shihuan concealed the cold impatience flickering in his eyes. Outwardly calm, he accepted the business card offered to him, appearing as if he were genuinely considering collaboration.
But after Bai Geping left—
Zuo Shihuan handed the card to Yu Lizhu and asked evenly, “Between a business partner who looks like a scheming snake and one who’s trustworthy, I’d prefer the latter. Yu Lizhu, what do you want me to do with this?”
Yu Lizhu hesitated, lowering her eyes, voice heavy with suppressed pain. “My… my sister is in his hands. My father, mother, and brother don’t care about her. Even after she became a vegetable, all they wanted was financial compensation from the Bai family—they just regret she lost her value to them…”
Zuo Shihuan stayed silent, eyes deep as he waited patiently.
Soon, after releasing the words she’d been holding in, Yu Lizhu’s apricot eyes grew sharp and resolute.
Even a caged songbird, when cornered, will bare its claws.
And Yu Lizhu was far from the kind of Omega who could be raised into useless obedience.
Tearing the business card in half, her gaze hardened with a fierce glint. “Then I’ll destroy Bai Geping—and take my sister back.”
Zuo Shihuan smiled.
This was the Yu Lizhu he knew—not the timid, beaten-down version, but the defiant, unyielding one.
After all, this was the same Omega who had once dragged her nominal fiancé to a bar to catch Ji Shenwen red-handed.
If Yu Lizhu truly sank into despair and let the Bai family control her, then Zuo Shihuan would have a real headache.
Because Bai Geping—who dared to flaunt his malice and exploit Yu Lizhu’s weakness right in front of him—was, frankly, a revolting little man.
And Zuo Shihuan knew far more than Yu Lizhu about what really went on.
On the day her sister became a “vegetable,” the Bai family’s surveillance footage had mysteriously disappeared—and there had been marks on her body that couldn’t have come from a simple fall.
Coincidentally, Bai Geping had gone home that day.
The servants said they’d heard the two arguing—then came the sound of someone tumbling down the stairs.
A flash of cold light passed through Zuo Shihuan’s eyes.
No matter when or where, these filthy scandals of wealthy families were always nauseating. The endless struggles for profit were like whirlpools—once drawn in, whether willingly or not, one could never get out.
He had long since been unable to get out.
Just like Zuo Shihuan now.
He was more accustomed to drinking a bottle of nutrient solution to fill his stomach on the streets of the slums.
Yet here he was, dressed in dazzling finery, attending the upper class’s gatherings, sipping pretentious champagne—and soon, he would have to greet the arrival of the Federation’s President.
Suddenly, the hall went silent.
Under the strict escort of two lines of armed guards, a tall, mature Alpha woman entered. She wore a deep blue uniform and long boots; her deep brown eyes were calm and smiling, the crow’s feet at their corners adding a touch of seasoned charm. She shook hands with Zuo Zoujian, who had been waiting at the door, and said with a smile, “Something held me up, so I’m a bit later than expected. Sorry for the trouble. This is a gift for the newly engaged couple.”
Zuo Zoujian’s face glowed with delight. “Madam President, your presence is already the greatest blessing for the young couple! Allow me to introduce my son and his fiancée—”
Zuo Shihuan saluted the President with respectful composure, and beside him, Yu Lizhu lifted her gown slightly and curtsied in turn.
The President’s gaze swept calmly over the pair’s faces. With a warm smile, she said, “Truly a fine young couple of the Federation. I hope you’ll both contribute much to our nation’s future—the Federation will rely on promising youths like you.”
At those words, Zuo Shihuan’s heart gave a few extra beats. He realized that even in front of the Federation’s supreme ruler, he was not as unmoved as he’d thought.
***
Not long after, the President departed on other business.
Zuo Shihuan and Yu Lizhu were to prepare for the next part of the engagement ceremony—the ring exchange—and went off to change into new attire.
Even after their exit, the hall buzzed with excitement. Guests chattered endlessly, amazed that the powerful Zuo family had managed to invite the Federation’s President, and they flocked even more eagerly around the family members.
But a few guests arrived late.
“So this is the Zuos’ engagement party, huh? Didn’t think the walk from the parking lot would take this long.”
Ji Zhaohe tugged at the collar of his fitted suit. Without his usual lab coat, he looked visibly uncomfortable.
Ji Sener, holding up the skirt of her pale-yellow princess dress, frowned and complained, “That’s because you came so late! I told you to get ready earlier!”
Ji Zhaohe spread his hands helplessly. “I had urgent work. Besides, weren’t you the one spending all morning picking a dress? I really don’t get you Omegas—don’t all dresses look the same?”
Ji Sener glared fiercely at his clueless face. If she hadn’t stopped him, he would’ve walked in wearing that lab coat.
Before they could argue further, Ji Zhaohe’s communicator chimed with a new message. He opened it—and his expression instantly darkened.
【Bad news. The Beta we were ordered to hunt down—he found out we were tailing him. Knocked out several of us. He’s got a very skilled companion. Some of our people have already been handed over to the police.】
【Now they’ve taken our car and are chasing us! We’re afraid to stop, but we can’t go back to base either. Sir, what should we do?】
Ji Zhaohe didn’t forget his plan—to divert the trouble toward Gu Fulian and make him suffer the fallout. Keeping calm, he typed a reply:
【Then keep sending people. You’re authorized to use weapons in the Federation’s central district if needed. Even if they reach our base—there are plenty of you. Don’t tell me you can’t stop two people?】
【Understood, we’ll act immediately!】
But half a minute later, there was still no response.
Ji Zhaohe frowned, puzzled—until another message popped up.
【I’m coming for you.】
For an instant, Ji Zhaohe’s eyes went cold and sharp. He tried to contact his subordinates again, but none of them answered. They’d clearly been caught.
His communicator’s tracker had been hacked.
Ji Zhaohe stood abruptly. Turning to Ji Sener, who was still waiting eagerly for the newlyweds’ appearance, he said in an icy tone, “We need to leave.”
Ji Sener blinked. “Why? We just got here.”
Ji Zhaohe replied, “This place isn’t safe anymore. We have to go—if we don’t, soon he’ll—”
Then he froze mid-sentence.
His anti-tracking system showed that the target had already reached the hotel venue. Taking Ji Sener with him would make escape difficult.
Ji Zhaohe frowned in thought.
Then, glancing at the highly secured Zuo family banquet, surrounded by countless guests, an idea came to him. He stripped off every tech device that could reveal his location, grabbed Ji Sener’s hand, and melted into the crowd.
Meanwhile—
Gu Heng arrived at the hotel, covered in dust from travel. Seeing the lavish decorations, the romantic pink flowers, and the elegant splendor everywhere, he raised an eyebrow.
“Whose wedding is it today? Looks kind of pretty.”
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