Tender Gaze (First Update)

The news included more than one photo. In two of them, because it was nearly dark, only two blurry figures standing close together could be seen.

In the third photo, the dazzling light projected by flying robots illuminated half the sky, as well as half of Chi Li's face as he looked up. The photo had been taken at precisely the right moment: while Chi Li was looking at the sky, Si Jinyan beside him was looking down at him.

This "tender gaze" thrust the incident to the forefront of public opinion.

Although the obscure little media outlet that published the article deleted it shortly afterward, it could not stop the matter from continuing to ferment.

Chi Li looked over the photo again and again. Half his face had been captured with perfect clarity.

What worried Chi Li was that someone might become suspicious of his identity because of it. With so many people watching, that was dangerous for someone deliberately concealing his identity.

Being exposed to more eyes meant more uncontrollable variables.

That afternoon, an even more popular news story overshadowed the morning's report: the Marshal had announced a press conference regarding the matter.

When Chi Li saw the news, his brows furrowed. He could not help worrying that Si Jinyan was making too big a production out of this.

Chi Li felt that things were moving in an uncontrollable and increasingly terrible direction.

At four o'clock, the Marshal's official account posted the announcement. At four-thirty, the online press conference began.

Si Jinyan did not appear in the online meeting. Aside from major national conferences, he had rarely shown his face in the past. This time was no exception, and Qiu Rui represented Si Jinyan in hosting the conference.

On screen, Qiu Rui wore a black suit. He stood tall and straight, carrying a steadiness and intimidating presence no less imposing than Si Jinyan's.

During the statement, he expressed apologies to the royal family, especially the princess, and publicly acknowledged that Si Jinyan suffered from the rare Pheromone Deficiency Syndrome. The omega in the photos had helped Si Jinyan during his most difficult time...

In short, Si Jinyan had directly admitted that the news was true. He had wronged the princess and could no longer fulfill the marriage contract, but he would do everything in his power to make up for the royal family's losses.

The video was only twenty minutes long, yet it replayed in Chi Li's mind several times. For a moment, Chi Li even wondered whether Si Jinyan had calculated this outcome long ago.

Then he remembered Si Jinyan's attitude from a few days earlier. He had decided to use the marriage alliance to ease his relationship with the Emperor.

After this statement, public opinion online immediately split into two extremes. Some criticized him, some expressed understanding, and a small number of people pieced together scattered clues to suggest that Si Jinyan might not have wanted the marriage alliance at all...

Meanwhile, deep within the imperial palace, the young Emperor stared at the news on his light computer. The hand holding his teacup trembled faintly with rage, and the veins on his forehead throbbed.

A moment later, he hurled the teacup to the floor. The porcelain cup shattered into several pieces.

Yao Di glared at the person on the screen and ground out several words through clenched teeth. "Si. Jinyan."

It was already very late when Si Jinyan returned.

At ten that night, Chi Li sat on the sofa waiting for Si Jinyan.

The moment Si Jinyan entered, he saw Chi Li. "Why aren't you asleep yet?"

His calm expression, as though nothing had happened, left Chi Li unsure where to begin with everything that had occurred that day.

Si Jinyan walked toward him. Just as Chi Li stood and was about to speak, Si Jinyan suddenly embraced him. A large hand stroked the back of Chi Li's head as soothing pheromones poured over him. Si Jinyan said, "Don't worry. It'll be handled."

Si Jinyan's low voice seemed to possess an enchanting power. Chi Li truly felt himself calm down somewhat as he looked into Si Jinyan's eyes. "How are you going to handle it?"

Si Jinyan did not answer immediately. He took Chi Li back to the bedroom. When they were in the bathtub together, Si Jinyan sat behind Chi Li and held him from behind. Comfortable sandalwood pheromones enveloped Chi Li as Si Jinyan asked, "Have you been feeling better lately?"

Si Jinyan was asking about his susceptible period. Chi Li nodded. "Much better."

Si Jinyan gently rubbed against Chi Li's gland and said, "That's good."

Chi Li's mind and body both softened, and Si Jinyan took the opportunity to hold him tighter.

Chi Li stretched out his neck and tilted his head halfway back, staring at the bright bathroom light on the ceiling. Gradually, the light blurred into overlapping images...

Chi Li's consciousness drifted away with it. He realized that he was becoming increasingly susceptible to Si Jinyan's influence. After his susceptible period ended, Chi Li had recalled the day before it began, the inexplicable emotions he had felt toward Si Jinyan...

With another sway, a sudden sense of foreboding rose within Chi Li.

There had always been an alarm bell in his heart warning him, but at that moment it rang louder than ever before: he could not form any emotional bond with Si Jinyan. The feelings born from their entangled pheromones could not cross that line either.

Si Jinyan softly called his name, gentle and reluctant to part. After spending so long together, Chi Li's body reacted faster than his mind, responding to Si Jinyan even more quickly.

Yet Chi Li's consciousness grew clearer and clearer. The rift between Si Jinyan and the Emperor had become certain. What did Si Jinyan intend to do next? At this moment, one mystery remained—the mystery surrounding Si Jinyan's identity and body.

After that day, worried that Chi Li would be affected, Si Jinyan reminded him to look at the news less often for a while. He said the public uproar would soon die down.

No matter how great the storm raging online, if he did not look at it, life truly was not much different from before.

Life at Si Jinyan's home remained peaceful, as though nothing had happened.

But Chi Li had a vague premonition that perhaps an even greater wave was about to crash ashore.

Sure enough, that evening, Si Jinyan said to Chi Li, "Come with me to a banquet on Friday night."

Chi Li froze. A sudden sense of foreboding rose in his heart. "What banquet?"