 Chapter 56: The Trap Set for the Xun Family / Beginning of the White Lotus Abuse
—
“In the dream, we were just like this.”
Alpha’s voice was calm: “But one day, you left me.”
“No matter what I did, you refused to stay.”
“I could only watch⌠watch you leave.”
Du Xun held the boy tightly, as if only by doing so could he truly feel that he existed.
“The dream repeated itself for many years.”
Thatâs why the manor was called Baimeng.
It wasnât for a hundred sweet dreams.
Shen Zhuo turned around, gently caressing Alpha’s cheek.
His head pressed against the side of the man’s face, giving a soft kiss, then rubbing affectionately.
“Theyâre just dreams,” he whispered, “They’re not real.”
For someone like Du Xun, being trapped in a dream was rather normal.
No one can be completely strong.
Just as no one can be completely without emotions.
And Du Xun’s most vulnerable point, perhaps, lay here.
Du Xun said nothing, burying his head into the boyâs shoulder, absorbing the calming pheromones emanating from him.
“Hmm, I know.”
“I wonât leave.” The boy smiled, “You treat me so well, how could I bear to?”
The man lifted his head, his eyes tinged with bloodshot veins.
“Not good enough,” he repeated softly, “Still not good enough…”
Shen Zhuo knew this wasn’t the entirety of what troubled Du Xun.
But the fact that his Alpha was willing to open up even this much was already a huge step forward.
There was no need to push for everything at once.
“Yes, youâre not good enough.” The little Omegaâs expression turned serious.
Du Xun stared at him, somewhat at a loss.
“You want to kiss me, you want to hug me, why just think about it?”
Shen Zhuo knelt on the sofa, now taller than Du Xun, cupping his face with both hands and forcing Alpha to look at him.
Those blue-grey eyes were filled with emotion, and when he was with Shen Zhuo, they were as clear as a gemstone.
Du Xunâs gaze flickered:
“I was afraid you wouldnât want to.”
“You canât always make the Omega take the initiative, don’t you know that?”
Du Xun was silent for a moment.
Then suddenly, he grabbed the boyâs arm.
Pulling him into his embrace, he lowered his head and kissed him.
“Mm⌠Du⌔
Du Xun raised his hand, pressing it against the back of the boyâs head, stopping him from retreating.
Forcing his lips open, he entered the warm, moist, red depths.
With his waist and the back of his head both held firmly, Shen Zhuo couldnât move at all.
The air was gradually taken from him, and tears welled up in his eyes as his body reacted.
Only when Shen Zhuoâs breaths became uneven, and he began pushing against him, did the man finally stop.
“I⌠I wasnât done talking…”
Shen Zhuo’s chest heaved, his eyes and cheeks tinged with a misty layer of pink.
“I know what Madam wanted to say.”
Du Xunâs voice was deep, but soon a smile appeared again.
“Iâm much better now. Thank you, Madam, for your guidance.”
Shen Zhuo frowned.
He lifted his head and bit down hard on Du Xunâs lip.
“Hmph.”
—
The palace dance festival hosted by the Xun family was the third stop of the entire ceremony.
Currently, the royal family had two Alpha princes and one Omega princess.
Other than Feng Ming, the Third Prince had recently been confined.
Thus, the responsibility of hosting the palace dance festival fell to the Xun family.
Unlike Feng Muyaâs lavish banquet hall, the Xun family, which had been in politics for generations, appeared solemn and dignified on the surface.
The entire banquet hall was decorated with shades of blue and black, with the flowers on the tables replaced by metallic statues or candle holders.
Shen Zhuo changed into his blue-and-white tailcoat. Still predominantly white, with blue accents, it gave him a cool and gentle appearance.
Ai Li wore a pale gold gown, elegant but understated. His hair had grown a bit longer, styled up and adorned with a headpiece.
While holding a wine glass and exchanging pleasantries with those around him, Shen Zhuo entered with a blank expression.
“Over here!”
Ai Li waved at him.
“I donât think Iâve ever seen you in formal wear,” Ai Li clicked his tongue twice, “Not bad at all, I declare that we are equally matched.”
Shen Zhuo took the wine glass and glanced toward the front.
That was where Xun Qingâs parents were seated.
Shen Zhuo lowered his gaze, took a sip of wine, and touched the ring on his finger. “Howâs the matter I mentioned to you last night?”
“Just a small thing.”
Ai Li raised his glass in a distant toast to a high-ranking political figure who had just entered the banquet, lowering his voice. “Do you think my socializing with them is just a game?”
“Rest assured, the audience will definitely be brought to the scene.”
Shen Zhuo clinked glasses with him. “I trust you.”
This time, there were no annoying Alphas bothering him.
It was likely that Du Xunâs words from before had left everyone in fear.
No one dared to compete with Commander Du for someone.
At the front of the banquet hall, Xun Qing was nowhere to be seen. Xunâs father noticed Shen Zhuo first.
After exchanging pleasantries with the others, he approached with Xunâs mother.
“Ah, young Zhuo is here too.”
Xunâs father appeared scholarly and solemn, but when he saw Shen Zhuo, a glint of something flashed in his eyes.
Shen Zhuo pretended not to notice, politely nodding.
“Mr. Xun.”
“Why so distant?” Xunâs mother stepped forward warmly, taking his hand. “Itâs been a while since youâve visited Yue Ning. How are your father and dad?”
Shen Zhuo withdrew his hand, his tone cold. “Theyâre fine.”
Xunâs mother looked visibly awkward, glancing helplessly at her husband.
But Xunâs father, experienced as he was, smiled gently.
“We knew you’d be attending tonight, so we prepared a small gift to congratulate you for ranking first at Ares Military Academy.”
Xunâs mother immediately chimed in, “Yes, young Zhuo, as an S5, this must have made your parents incredibly proud. Please accept this small token of our appreciation.”
They were, of course, referring to Shen Xuyin and Jiang Yuening.
Jiang Yuening had once saved her.
Saved a thankless ingrate.
Shen Zhuo, still thinking about how to create a private moment, looked up at these words.
“Alright.” A faint smile appeared on the boyâs lips, melting the coldness on his face. “In fact, Iâve also prepared a surprise for you both.”
Xunâs father stepped aside, smiling.
“The gift is upstairs. Young Zhuo, why donât you come up with us?”
Xunâs mother, delighted, took his hand.
“I knew young Zhuo still thought of us the same as before, right?”
As they climbed the stairs to the second floor, the orchestra below began playing the soft music marking the start of the banquet.
Through the crowd, Shen Zhuo exchanged a glance with Ai Li.
Ai Li raised his glass in acknowledgment.
With Xunâs parents absent, Ai Li now held the highest status in the room, after Shen Zhuo.
The power to control the event naturally fell into Ai Liâs hands.
As the future heir to the Armory, Ai Liâs position was even more significant than that of the palace nobles.
So when Ai Li, with his beautiful blue eyes, ascended to the stage and raised his glass to the crowd,
Everyone fell silent.
Waiting for the future Armory heirâs speech.
“Just now, Mr. Xun mentioned that before the ball begins, thereâs a small surprise for everyone.”
“Please step outside the hall,”
The boy raised his hand, pointing to a newly appeared, unfamiliar building opposite the banquet hall.
“A spectacular play is about to beginâ”
—
Shen Zhuo reached the second floor but hadnât yet seen the so-called gift.
A servant hurriedly ascended from the other side, rushing to Xunâs father and whispering something in his ear.
Immediately, the middle-aged manâs expression became more serious.
“It has to be now?”
The servant nodded.
Xunâs father glanced at Xunâs mother.
She immediately understood: “Young Zhuo, come with me. I know youâll love this. Your Uncle Xun and I searched for it for a long time.”
But the servant quickly added that Xunâs mother was also needed.
The woman hesitated, looking between her husband and Shen Zhuo.
“Young Zhuo⌠this⌔
“Itâs fine. I can go myself.” Shen Zhuo maintained a calm expression, “You both go ahead.”
Xunâs mother, relieved, said warmly, “Qing Qing isnât feeling well today, or he would have come to see you. I know there was some friction during the entrance exam, but it was all just a misunderstanding…”
“Miwei, we donât have time.” Xunâs father gave an apologetic look, “Weâll be back soon.”
The man turned to the servant. “Take young master Shen to retrieve the gift.”
The hurried footsteps of the two adults faded in Shen Zhuoâs dark eyes.
“Young master Shen, follow me please.” The servant bent slightly.
Shen Zhuo didnât look at him, his tone indifferent: “No need. Just tell me where it is. I can go myself. You go handle your tasks.”
The servant smiled gratefully at him, pointed to a certain room, and hurried downstairs.
Now, the second floor was empty, except for him.
The gift wasnât urgent, of course.
Shen Zhuo walked toward the window by the back door, undoing his formal coat.
With one hand on the window sill, the boy flipped over, bending his knees to cushion the landing, and landed steadily on the ground.
In the shadow of the building, someone was already waiting.
They took his coat and handed him a black full-face mask.
That person was also wearing a mask, obscuring their face. “Apologies.”
It was Ji Weishenâs voice.
Once Shen Zhuo put on the mask, his vision was further covered by a black hood, and he felt something sprayed onto the back of his neck, near his gland.
Ji Weishen then guided him into a small cage, just large enough for one person.
“Donât worry, boss is right there, youâll be fine.”
Ji Weishen whispered in a hushed tone.
Shen Zhuo nodded.
Soon, he felt the cage come to a stop.
Ji Weishen fiddled with something, then spoke again, his voice now different.
It was a tone Shen Zhuo hadnât heard before.
Footsteps approached from not far away.
“Someone offered fifteen billion, and since youâre old clients, we came,” Ji Weishen said, his tone businesslike, “Either pay now, or weâre leaving.”
“Donât leave!”
It was Xunâs fatherâs voice.
“You’re sure itâs an unregistered S3 gland? We need to verify it.”
“Heh, how many times have we done business together? You should know better by now. Weâre all businesspeople, no need for lies.”
Ji Weishen sneered, “Out of respect for your business, our boss⌠made a personal appearance. Isnât that enough assurance?”
Shen Zhuo could hear that the word “boss” was almost said as “big brother,” but Ji Weishen quickly corrected himself.
“No, no, we just need to confirm. Just a quick check.”
Xunâs mother stepped in to smooth things over, “After all, fifteen billion isnât a small sum. We just need to confirm the match.”
The cage door opened.
Shen Zhuo heard Ji Weishen whisper, “Sorry about this.”
Immediately, Shen Zhuo pretended to be unconscious, being half-dragged and half-carried out of the cage.
His hood was lifted slightly, revealing the gland at the back of his neck.
“This is the young master of some noble family. Youâd better make up your mind quickly. If you donât want him, there are plenty of others who will.”
Shen Zhuo felt a sharp pain at his gland, something piercing through to extract a small sample of blood.
“This pheromone…”
“What, you recognize it?” Ji Weishenâs tone was impatient. “Take it or leave it, donât waste time with all this talk.”
“Fine.” Xunâs father stared at the test strip in his hand.
The match between it and his sonâs gland was as high as 85%.
The man gritted his teeth. “Fifteen billion. Iâll have it sent to the usual place later.”
“Hold on.”
At that moment, the “boss” who had remained silent stood up.
He began walking toward them.
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