Yumian Made a Decision

At the other end of the alley, Merico was so frightened he nearly lost his soul. He hurried over at once.

"Goddess bless us, what happened?! Young Master, are you all right?"

After checking Yumian over, he turned to Shi Sheng. "Madam, how could you leave Merico behind and run off so quickly by yourself?!"

Shi Sheng hurriedly apologized and helped him support Yumian as they headed outside.

Hovis had actually been following behind them all along.

Two beautiful Omegas walking through the decadent Sky Street naturally attracted countless ill-intentioned gazes. But whether Alpha or Beta with ulterior motives, none dared make a move in front of Hovis.

After all, he clearly wasn't an Alpha to be trifled with.

During the walk from Sky Street to the aircraft, Yumian gradually seemed to return to normal. His eyes were no longer blood-red.

Neon lights reflected off his pale face as he turned back to look at Hovis.

"Aren't you going to arrest me, Director Hovis?"

Hovis stood several steps away. "If you really want to go to the Capital Police Bureau, I can bring that bastard back for you right now."

Only then did Yumian get a clear look at what he was wearing today.

He was no longer dressed in that careless way, with his uniform jacket slung over his shoulders.

The tall Alpha had changed into a suit, though it was neither a rigid three-piece nor formal evening wear. It was a looser cut that did not hug his body too closely. His jacket hung open, and the buttons of his white shirt were fastened casually, revealing a little of his muscular chest.

At a glance, it was obvious he had come from some less-than-respectable social engagement.

Yumian lowered his long lashes, concealing the chill in his eyes.

Watching Merico send Shi Sheng onto the aircraft, Hovis said to Yumian, "Go home. Don't come to places like this again."

Rather than asking how Yumian had ended up here, Hovis's reaction displeased him.

"What kind of place is this?" Yumian lifted his gaze and let it sweep over Hovis. "And what is Director Hovis doing here?"

He had already prepared himself for Hovis's cold remarks, only to see the Alpha tug irritably at his collar.

Then he heard him say, "It was just a social engagement. Do you think that old man in the Cabinet who handles finances belongs to my family?"

Yumian pursed his lips without speaking, then suddenly sensed Hovis move.

The tall Alpha's body cast a shadow over him, enveloping him completely.

Shi Sheng could not hear their conversation from inside the aircraft. Seeing Hovis suddenly approach Yumian, he immediately grew anxious.

Hovis wasn't going to hit Yumian, was he?!

Forgetting his own frail physique, he hurriedly rolled up his sleeves and prepared to jump down.

But Hovis merely raised a hand and briefly brushed the top of Yumian's head.

"Go home, take a shower, and get some proper rest. What happened today ends here. Forget it."

He meant Yumian stabbing that Alpha in the eye.

Yumian's lashes trembled, but Hovis quickly withdrew his hand and put distance between them again.

The resentment in his heart surged up, and he finally remembered that he had come to Hovis for something legitimate.

"I came to see you." Yumian raised his eyes. "I came here to find you."

Hovis looked somewhat surprised. "What is it?"

Yumian held out one hand, palm up. "My dagger. Give it back."

After the chaos at the Crown Prince's birthday banquet, he had never gotten his dagger back.

Hovis seemed to remember it only now as well.

"I don't have it on me. I'll have someone deliver it to Carlos tomorrow."

Yumian said, "It's very valuable. You're just going to hand it over to someone else?"

Hovis frowned. "Then what do you want?"

"Deliver it personally." Yumian slowly raised his eyes. "The gemstone on my dagger is the only one of its kind on the market. If it gets damaged in any way, I'll hold you responsible."

Hovis met his gaze and gave a scoffing laugh. "Got it, Young Master."

His attitude made Yumian somewhat unhappy.

With the Huo family's wealth, they certainly did not lack money for a gemstone. Yumian knew that.

But he wanted Hovis to make the trip himself. He wanted Hovis to be inconvenienced.

Before boarding the aircraft, Yumian heard Hovis call his name.

"Yumian."

The Alpha, whose voice had always been cold, said to him, "Behave yourself. You're not a child anymore."

A voice from his memories suddenly overlapped with the present.

[Go back, Yumian.]

Yumian abruptly turned around.

The cold neon glow of Sky Street outlined Hovis's tall figure while hiding his face in shadow.

But Yumian knew that face must be indifferent, not impatient.

His heart was battered by enormous waves.

A vast unwillingness drowned him.

Yumian thought Hovis truly hated him.

But just as learning that Noah would originally have framed him had instead stirred up his desire to compete with Noah—

At this moment, a powerful feeling suddenly rose within Yumian.

Hovis, I will have you.

Even if it seems I will die by your hand,

Yumian smiled. When he turned away, he did not say goodbye to Hovis.

On the way back, Yumian turned several times as though he wanted to say something to Shi Sheng. Each time, he began to speak before swallowing the words again.

Shi Sheng looked at him and asked through his voice device, "Yumian, what's wrong?"

Only then did Yumian say, "I pushed you earlier. I'm sorry, I..."

He clenched his hand and said somewhat dejectedly, "I didn't mean to."

Shi Sheng kindly put an arm around Yumian's shoulders and patted him.

This time, Yumian did not awkwardly reject him. He let Shi Sheng hold him and asked quietly, "You weren't hurt, were you?"

Shaking his head, Shi Sheng released Yumian and wiped away the blood that had splattered onto his face when he stabbed that Alpha.

Yumian froze for a moment. Instinctively, he wanted to avoid someone else's touch, but he stopped himself.

He lowered his eyes and cooperated with Shi Sheng's movements, appearing unusually obedient.

Ever since his mother had died, it seemed that only Merico had wiped dirt from his face like this.

But even that had been before he turned fifteen.

Ever since learning the Carlos family's secret, Shi Sheng had actually felt sorry for Yumian.

Though he seemed somewhat proud and domineering to outsiders, and was still the vicious villain in the plot—

Yumian had only just come of age. He was still completely a child.

Shi Sheng hesitated before asking through his voice device, "Yumian, do you have something on your mind?"

When Yumian did not speak, though he did not seem resistant either, Shi Sheng asked again:

"Why did you have to come here today to find Hovis?"

Yumian fell silent for a while before saying, "I don't know. I just wanted to..."

"I wanted to argue with him."

Shi Sheng tilted his head, as though he did not quite understand.

He was the sort of person who always expressed his feelings when he liked someone, so naturally he could not understand Yumian's mindset.

"Yumian, the person you said you liked before."

"Was it Hovis?"

Yumian's lashes trembled, and his face looked a little pale beneath the lights.

That was not the expression someone should have when mentioning a person they liked, yet he nodded and said, "Yes."

This time, he spoke bluntly. "But I know he will never become my Alpha in this lifetime."

"No one wants to marry an Omega from the Carlos family."

Yumian smiled and asked Shi Sheng, "Do you know why I didn't reject Lanreese's advances before?"

"Because aside from the royal family, only House Lan knows part of the Carlos family's secret. Only Lanreese doesn't mind my curse."

"And the reason he doesn't mind is because I agreed that after marriage, he would not have to mark me and could go out and have fun."

"Anyway, I have to marry someone. The royal family will not allow anyone from the Carlos family to remain single, much less allow us to enter advantageous marriages."

"Back then, I thought, Lanreese it is, then. At least he wasn't someone else."

"I didn't mind that he didn't like me."

"But." A complicated emotion flashed through Yumian's eyes. "I still minded that he harmed me for someone else."

Shi Sheng immediately felt even sorrier for him.

Even if it was only a friend he had known since childhood, Yumian looked this heartbroken after learning that the other person had betrayed him.

Then what if Hovis truly hurt Yumian for Noah, just as the plot said he would?

What would Yumian do?

[But Noah is already dead, and I haven't heard of him having any contact with Hovis.]

[Hopefully, everything is fine now.]

Naturally, Yumian could hear Shi Sheng's thoughts.

He lowered his eyes, and some desire in his heart grew ever stronger.

Of course, what happened on Sky Street could not be kept from Elaine.

The Alpha had his adjutant, Alrid, following behind him. He had clearly just returned from the Military Department.

Only after Elaine confirmed that Shi Sheng was unharmed did he say coldly, "Merico, if there is a next time, Carlos may no longer need a butler."

Merico's face turned pale even beneath his beard, and he apologized repeatedly.

Shi Sheng tugged at Elaine and told him it was not Merico's fault.

Merico looked somewhat ashen. "Madam must be hungry. I'll have someone prepare dinner."

As he turned to leave, even the old man's beard drooped.

Yumian said, "I was the one who wanted to go out. Why are you scolding Merico?"

Elaine said flatly, "Yumian, knowing full well that Merico would be implicated because of you, did you still insist on going to such a dangerous place?"

Yumian froze for a moment, then stubbornly turned his head away and fell silent.

Shi Sheng looked from one to the other, feeling a little anxious and unsure whom he should persuade.

"Go get some rest." Elaine's tone softened instead. "Remember to come eat on time."

Yumian said nothing and turned to leave.

Shi Sheng wanted to call after him, but his hand was caught first.

Elaine bent down and carefully wiped the dirt from Shi Sheng's palm with a handkerchief. His voice had already become gentle. "Did you fall anywhere?"

Only then did Shi Sheng remember that he was covered in quite a bit of dust as well.

He shook his head and held Elaine's hand.

Elaine led Shi Sheng back to wash up. As they passed the corridor, his steps paused almost imperceptibly.

From this direction, they could see Merico busily working outside the dining room.

The old man was not constantly wiping sweat as before, and the way he directed the servants remained as professional as ever.

Only, he still looked rather downcast.

Shi Sheng felt guilty and gestured to Elaine. "Going to the southern district today, and going to find Yumian, were both my decisions."

"Don't blame Merico, because you said he had to listen to me."

Elaine withdrew his gaze. "I know."

He rubbed Shi Sheng's head. "I'm not blaming Merico, and I'm not blaming you either, Shengsheng."

"I was only worried about you..." The Alpha's voice paused. "And Yumian's safety."