The Imperial Palace's central square was already bustling with activity.
The musicians played a lively tune, and the singers' voices were bright and full of life. The lights turned the cloud-covered night sky as bright as day.
In the palace facing the square, two people walked one behind the other through an exceptionally quiet corridor.
One side of the corridor was lined with windows. The soundproofing was excellent, and the deafening music became muffled and distant after passing through the glass.
Looking through the clear window, Ye Nanxun glanced at the sculpture standing in the center of the square.
He quickly turned back, and the alpha walking ahead of him came into view.
A living, breathing Yan Beiyou was less than a meter in front of him.
The alpha was in the prime of his life, with none of the youthful immaturity he had once possessed. His back was broad, his legs long, and even from behind, he exuded the mature charm of a top-tier alpha.
Yan Beiyou's steps were steady and unhurried, his hands naturally swinging at his sides.
The fingers concealed within his sleeves were clearly jointed, naturally curved into an arc.
"Your Majesty."
A strange voice suddenly sounded beside him. Ye Nanxun halted, realizing he had been staring at the alpha's back all this time.
Without realizing it, they had reached the end of the corridor.
Yan Beiyou stopped and began speaking with several staff members who had appeared at the end of the hall.
Ye Nanxun neither followed him over nor paid attention to their conversation.
Standing beside the window, he briefly separated his hearing and vision from his body, passing through the glass and across space to borrow the senses of a tiny Mushroom Spore.
The tiny Mushroom Spore clung to Xu Wenyan, clearly picking up the conversation between Xu Wenyan and Zhou Zhixia.
It also saw the intense, burning desire in Xu Wenyan's eyes as he looked up at the Emperor's statue.
"Ye Nanxun."
The voice that reached his ears sounded as though it had passed through a layer of water, distant and indistinct.
Quickly drawing back his five senses, Ye Nanxun blinked rapidly. Through the spotless glass window, he saw the tall alpha standing beside him at some point.
Compared to other people's Companion Beasts, his was difficult to detect. Mushroom Spores were as tiny as grains of salt; amid falling snow in winter, they could blend in with the drifting flakes without anyone noticing.
Xu Wenyan had not noticed it, and neither had Ji Yunqi, who had briefly stayed near Xu Wenyan.
But what about Yan Beiyou?
Right under Yan Beiyou's nose, while the alpha had been speaking with others, he had briefly used his Mushroom Spore as a camera to eavesdrop on someone else's conversation.
Would Yan Beiyou notice?
His heartbeat suddenly quickened. Ye Nanxun felt like a child who had secretly done something bad.
Keeping his expression calm, he turned around. "Your Majesty."
His gaze settled on the alpha's high nose bridge. It looked as though he was meeting the other man's eyes, but he was actually avoiding eye contact.
Yan Beiyou's tone was no different from before. "Can you dance?"
Ye Nanxun's gaze shot upward, colliding with the alpha's deep yet calm black eyes. His lashes trembled lightly.
He nodded. "I can."
A gentle smile appeared in those dark, profound eyes. Yan Beiyou turned to one of his subordinates. "All right. Make the arrangements."
Ye Nanxun was completely confused. He had been focused on eavesdropping on Xu Wenyan and had no idea what Yan Beiyou had just discussed with the subordinate beside him.
Nor did he understand why Yan Beiyou had asked whether he could dance.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
As the subordinate spoke, he swiftly glanced at the tall, cool omega by the window. Even years of professional discipline could not suppress the shock in his eyes.
The staff members at the end of the corridor went downstairs one after another, leaving only Yan Beiyou and Ye Nanxun in the quiet hall once more.
Yan Beiyou raised a hand and gripped the stair railing beside him. "Every year, they ask whether I would like to dance an opening dance with someone before the banquet begins."
In the past, Ye Nanxun had watched the New Year's gala broadcast with his parents on television almost every year. Sometimes he watched the performances seriously, but most of the time, he treated the broadcast as lively background noise.
He did not recall seeing Yan Beiyou dance with anyone else.
Nor did he remember whether Yan Beiyou had personally attended the New Year's banquet.
Maybe he had. Maybe he had not.
If not for a Mushroom Egg, Ye Nanxun would barely have remembered what Yan Beiyou looked like.
Ye Nanxun quietly watched the alpha, waiting for him to continue.
His pale green eyes were as clear as a lake.
Yan Beiyou said, "This year was the same. They just asked whether I wanted to dance the opening dance, and you heard my answer."
Yes, Ye Nanxun had heard it.
Yan Beiyou had said, "All right. Make the arrangements."
His hands hung at his sides, his thumb lightly rubbing against his index finger. Ye Nanxun slowly lowered his gaze, his voice calm. "I heard. Your Majesty, you should go take care of your work."
There was not much time left before the banquet began.
Ye Nanxun had exchanged contact information with Song Ren that afternoon. Though he might disturb him, at this lively New Year's banquet filled with people everywhere—
Other than Yan Beiyou, Song Ren was the only person Ye Nanxun knew.
If Song Ren was too busy, that was fine too. He only needed a quiet corner where no one would disturb him.
Ye Nanxun had even started thinking about what to do afterward.
He could watch the performances on his phone while video calling his parents at home.
As for Xu Wenyan...
Xu Wenyan's gaze as he looked up at the statue of the galactic emperor was filled with near-mad determination.
Ye Nanxun's expression turned cold.
After being reborn, was Xu Wenyan no longer satisfied with people like He Yiming and had set his sights on Yan Beiyou?
Yan Beiyou sighed softly, his voice carrying a faint, almost imperceptible helplessness. "Ye Nanxun."
Ye Nanxun looked confused.
"I told them to arrange an opening dance. You'll dance with me."
His lips parted and closed. After a second or two, Ye Nanxun hesitantly spoke. "Me?"
Yan Beiyou chuckled. "You're not planning to refuse me, are you?"
Ye Nanxun had indeed instinctively wanted to refuse.
But Xu Wenyan's determined gaze flashed through his mind.
He did not know why it made him feel angry.
Or perhaps there were other reasons.
Ye Nanxun shook his head. "I'm just a little nervous."
It was more than a little.
At the thought of dancing with Yan Beiyou under the gaze of countless billions of people—
Ye Nanxun felt as though nervousness had seized him by the throat, and he was about to suffocate.
His face went pale almost instantly.
Letting go of the railing beneath his hand, Yan Beiyou stepped closer to the young man. "Don't be nervous. It's fine if you don't agree."
The alpha's voice was low and gentle, like a cello playing in the night, easing some of his tension.
Ye Nanxun pressed his lips together, and his complexion improved slightly.
He looked at the alpha. Though his lashes trembled unconsciously, his gaze was earnest. "Your Majesty, it's my first time dancing in public. I might not perform very well."
Yan Beiyou smiled. "It's my first time too."
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