Chapter Forty-One
Quite a few alphas had gathered in the spacious room, along with a small number of omegas.
Among them were omegas like Ye Nanxun, properly and elegantly dressed, invited guests in their own right.
Beside every omega who was a "proper guest," there was bound to be at least one alpha serving as a protector.
William followed closely at his side. Looking at Ye Nanxun's cold yet captivating face from such close range often left him feeling as though he were walking on cotton, dizzy and lightheaded, drunk on wine.
He did not mind Ye Nanxun's overly indifferent responses, taking it as the omega simply being reserved and not fond of talking. Most of the time, William was the only one speaking animatedly to himself.
An occasional "Mm" or a slight nod from Ye Nanxun was enough to leave him completely satisfied, floating as if among the clouds.
Every guest in the room was impeccably dressed and dripping with jewels. Even the air carried the scent of wealth and money.
Even among them, the tall, slender Ye Nanxun was the most eye-catching person at a glance.
As a top-tier alpha, William constantly sent warning signals to the others watching hungrily from all around, trying to keep those hateful, furtive stares at bay.
But what alpha attending this banquet was not a top-tier alpha with an exceptional family background?
Some boldly came over to strike up a conversation, while others sent a flower or a glass of wine through a waiter.
William ground his teeth, considering inviting the omega out to the quiet garden so they could get farther away from these buzzing flies. Yet he worried that such a move would make Ye Nanxun think he had ulterior motives.
While he hesitated, the omega beside him spoke. "There are too many people here. Let's go get some air on the balcony."
"Okay!" William nodded automatically. By the time he realized what Ye Nanxun had just said, it was too late to stop him.
The closer they got to the balcony, the louder the boisterous laughter became.
The guests inside still retained a measure of restraint. No matter how far they had pulled open their collars, they were at least still wearing their clothes.
The people in the open-air pool behind the house were already soaking in the water, and nobody knew where their clothes had gone.
Clothes, trousers, dresses, and drenched white bathrobes littered the side of the pool.
The people in the pool had gathered in twos and threes. Some wore swimsuits and swim trunks, while others were completely naked.
The chaotic scene abruptly filled his view without warning. Ye Nanxun frowned tightly and gripped the cool railing.
William's voice was full of urgency and concern. "Xiaoxun, are you okay? Don't look at them. Let's go somewhere else."
Ye Nanxun's face was pale. William wanted to reach out and pull him away but did not dare, so he could only lower his voice. "I'll take you next door and call Lan Xue to keep you company."
Someone beside them clicked his tongue. "Seriously? You got scared just from that? Are you really that innocent?"
Zhu Shixin appeared from somewhere again. He leaned against the railing not far away, tilting his head as he scrutinized the pale-faced Ye Nanxun.
The pale omega looked emotionally unstable, the corners of his eyes faintly red.
Zhu Shixin glanced downward. The lips hidden beneath the scarf at Dream Star Opera House that day had been red too.
Amid the swaying flesh-toned pool water, a patch of proper, crisp dark gray was suddenly tossed in.
Several alphas grabbed a person by the head, body, and feet. Amid chaotic laughter and fast-paced music, they ignored his struggles and cries for help, ruthlessly throwing him into the pool.
A familiar voice drifted from the pool into Ye Nanxun's ears. His faintly cool pale green eyes instantly contracted.
"Xiaoxi—"
It was Cao Xi.
Staircases at both ends of the balcony led down to the pool below. Ye Nanxun turned to head downstairs.
"Xiaoxun, don't go!" No longer caring about anything else, William abruptly grabbed the omega's arm. "He belongs to Young Master He!"
Ye Nanxun whipped his head around. Fire burned in his usually clear, cold eyes. "He's a student at our school!"
William refused to let go. "You can't go. If he's here, he must be willing—"
Zhu Shixin egged things on from the side, grinning mischievously. "Go on, then. But if you want to steal someone from Brother He, forget Ye Zhineng and He Lanxue saving you. Even the Jade Emperor himself couldn't save you."
Ignoring Zhu Shixin, Ye Nanxun shook off William's grip and rushed down the stairs.
Watching Ye Nanxun's retreating figure, William took two or three steps forward. The stairway entrance was right before him.
As long as he went downstairs, he could catch up to Ye Nanxun.
But He Yiming was downstairs, along with people William could not afford to provoke.
Zhu Shixin gave a cold laugh. William shuddered, and in the end, he never managed to take that step down the stairs.
"Young Master Ye!" William turned and went to find Ye Zhineng.
With both hands resting on the railing, Zhu Shixin watched downstairs with great interest.
The graceful, tall figure reached the edge of the pool and jumped straight in without hesitation. With a splash, he struck the surface and sent up a white spray of water.
The instant he entered the water, Poison Mushroom pheromones silently flowed into the pool. The deadly toxin crept along the currents and over the skin of every person still in the water.
The pheromone toxin, calculated and recalculated, passed through their pores and seeped into their blood...
His clothes had been tugged repeatedly, buttons falling into the water and exposing large patches of skin flushed an unnatural crimson. Cao Xi was drenched from head to toe as several alphas shoved and toyed with him in the water.
The more miserably he cried, the louder and more unrestrained the people around him laughed.
A pair of long, slender, fair hands emerged from the water and firmly wrapped around Cao Xi, who was being held underwater. One foot kicked the alpha gripping Cao Xi's hair. Taking advantage of the force, Ye Nanxun held Cao Xi and swam backward, hearing the alpha's furious curses underwater.
"Fuck! Who the hell was that?!"
With his long legs spread carelessly apart, He Yiming lounged on a chair beside the pool. His gaze followed the figure moving through the water, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Ye Nanxun surfaced with Cao Xi in his arms. The frail omega's skin was scorching hot, and Cao Xi was trembling all over, crying so hard he could barely breathe.
Mycelium beneath his palm clung tightly to Cao Xi, keeping him from sinking into the water. Ye Nanxun tried to bring Cao Xi toward the shore, but the surrounding alphas closed in nearby.
"Ooh, a prettier one came along."
"Brother He, who's this? Can we play with him?"
Ye Nanxun pressed his lips tightly together and looked straight at He Yiming on the shore, his voice clear. "Mr. He, Cao Xi is a student at our school. Please let him leave."
Leaning forward, He Yiming laughed. "Sure. Trade yourself for him."
Before you continue