You still owe him

The atmosphere in the room suddenly grew rather delicate.

And rather awkward.

Pei Li's face was dark as a thundercloud.

Ai Fan remained as composed as ever, even lifting her tea for a sip.

As for the unfamiliar interstellar merchant...

He was propping up his head, lounging on the sofa as he watched Pei Ji's sudden intrusion with interest.

He wore Desert Folk attire, his white shirt unbuttoned down to his chest, revealing bronze skin.

His eyes were an unusual amber.

His features were sharply defined, with a fierce beauty.

Pei Li snapped, "How dare you! Who let you in?! What are you standing there for? Waiting for me to invite you to sit? Get out and wait by the... huh? Dear?"

Ai Fan had suddenly caught his wrist.

Ai Fan glanced at Pei Ji's grim face, then said to the merchant beside her, "I'm sorry, Mr. Ling. Could I trouble you to wait in the next room for a moment?"

The unfamiliar merchant was quite easygoing. "Of course."

He promptly rose and walked toward the door with light steps.

His silver earrings swung beneath the lights, gleaming dazzlingly.

As they passed each other, he suddenly glanced at Pei Ji, the corners of his mouth curving.

Pei Ji tilted his head slightly, his sharp gaze sweeping over those golden eyes.

In that instant, he caught a strange scent, like a mixture of many different spices.

Pheromones?

But something was odd.

Pei Ji looked away.

An Omega, of all things.

After the merchant left, Barry, the butler, considerately closed the door.

Ai Fan spoke. "Pei Ji, where's Shen Que?"

Pei Ji paused. "He's at the banquet."

Ai Fan sighed. "Why did you leave him behind again?"

Pei Li cut in. "What stupid thing wouldn't he do?"

Pei Ji's temper flared. "You have the nerve to criticize me?!"

Pei Li said, "What does you abandoning your own spouse have to do with me?"

Pei Ji said, "Don't you know why I'm here?!"

"Enough!" Ai Fan said sternly.

Pei Li and Pei Ji both fell silent.

Ai Fan drew a deep breath, turned to her only son, and said slowly:

"Pei Ji."

"First, you shouldn't have abandoned your Omega during the banquet, leaving him to face unfamiliar guests alone."

"Second, you shouldn't have barged in while we had a guest, let alone addressed your father by his name."

She looked steadily at Pei Ji. "Now, what should you do?"

Pei Ji swallowed reflexively. He glanced at Pei Li, who looked smug with his wife backing him up, then lowered his head and said through gritted teeth, "I'm sorry."

Ai Fan nodded and took a sip of tea. "Go on. What did you want to see us about?"

Pei Ji raised his head. "I want to know exactly what you two are playing at."

"Playing at?" Ai Fan gave him a sidelong look. "Are you unhappy with the division of assets, or do you mind us giving the ore trade to Shen Que instead of you?"

Pei Ji gave his mother a puzzled look. "Shen Que is my Omega. There's no difference whether you give it to him or me."

"But Mom, if you're using the ore trade to test him, there's no need."

"Whatever his reasons for coming to White Sand Star, whether or not the Empress sent him, he's my Omega. I'll take responsibility for everything he says and does. I don't need you testing him for me."

Ai Fan frowned slightly. Sensing something, she glanced at Pei Li.

The lord of White Sand Star was engrossed in picking at a gemstone on his cane, as though he hadn't heard a thing.

Ai Fan considered for a moment. "Your father and I discussed it together before deciding to let Shen Que take over the ore trade. We simply thought he was better suited to it. There was nothing else behind it."

"Nothing else?"

Pei Ji gave a cold laugh and pointed at Pei Li, who was still picking at the gemstone.

"Then why did this man come to my room in the early hours and go to such lengths to tell me there was something fishy about Shen Que's injury, and that he'd come to White Sand Star to reclaim control of the sand gold for the Empress?!"

Ai Fan turned a stern gaze on Pei Li. "You said that?"

Two burning gazes landed on Pei Li at once.

The lord of White Sand Star had no choice but to stop burying his head in the sand by picking at his gemstone.

"Ah... huh? Did I say that?"

Pei Ji said, "You damned old man, don't deny it!"

Inside, Pei Li was panicking.

"Who's denying anything?! So what if I said it? My suspicions aren't groundless! Everything about Shen Que's injury is strange, and him marrying into our family is stranger still!"

"The entire empire knows how much Carolina likes that little Omega. Would she really bear to dump him on White Sand Star if she didn't have some ulterior motive?"

"How is this any different from those honey traps people used on Ancient Earth?"

"My lord."

Ai Fan cut Pei Li off coldly.

"Um... my dear, please go ahead..."

Ai Fan took a deep breath.

"I don't believe Carolina is stupid enough to give up the entire empire's First Commander over a production line that's already covered by an agreement and hasn't had a problem in three hundred years, then send him to White Sand Star..."

She enunciated every word.

"To personally seduce your son."

"I..." Pei Li's bluster instantly faded. "That's not what I meant..."

"Isn't it?"

Ai Fan's sharp gaze pierced Pei Li.

"No, no, my dear..."

Pei Li shamelessly sidled closer and took Ai Fan's hand, continuing to make excuses under her icy glare.

"Don't you know how ambitious that woman Carolina is? Whenever she mentions White Sand Star, the corners of her mouth often rise by three pixels. There are dedicated screenshot records on the Star Network! There must be a deeper meaning!"

"And that Shen Que really is one of Carolina's people. You don't know what everyone calls him..."

Pei Ji laughed coldly. "The Empress's lapdog, right?"

Bang!

Ai Fan slammed her teacup onto the table.

Her long, deep-set eyes narrowed.

"You called him that?"

Pei Li stammered, "I-I-I... that's what they say on the Star Network, not me... don't be angry..."

Ai Fan gave him a cold look. "Now, what should you do?"

Pei Li immediately lowered his head. "I'm sorry."

Ai Fan said, "Your terminal is confiscated. No browsing the Star Network for a month."

Pei Li went pale with shock.

Vengeance at last. Pei Ji said, "Serves you right!"

Pei Li choked with anger.

How boring his twilight years would be without his terminal!

He pointed at the culprit and vented his anger.

"You little brat! I warned you out of kindness, and this is how you repay me!"

"Just you wait. One day he'll steal your body and your heart and swindle you out of everything you own. Don't come crying to me then!"

Pei Ji muttered, "I wish he would."

Pei Li said, "Still talking back! Say it louder if you've got the guts!"

"Enough!"

Ai Fan glared at Pei Li, who immediately shut his mouth, then turned to Pei Ji.

"Go back. Don't keep your Omega waiting too long."

Pei Ji nodded, turned, and took a step, only to suddenly turn back.

"Mom, there's one more thing."

"What?" Ai Fan lifted her eyelids.

After a moment's hesitation, Pei Ji asked the question that had troubled him all afternoon. "Why was tonight's banquet made semi-public? Isn't it usually only weddings that are open to the public? A lot of interstellar paparazzi sneaked in with the guests."

"Is there a problem?" Ai Fan asked in return. "Do you not want your assets made public, or are you worried about what people will say?"

"Neither..." Pei Ji said. "I just thought it was a little strange. Making such a big show of it doesn't seem like your style..."

Ai Fan sighed. "Do you really not know why?"

Pei Ji suddenly grew nervous. "Surely it's not... because you're happy... that I got married..."

Ai Fan resisted the urge to spit a "Pah!" right in his face.

The Lord's Wife of White Sand Star took yet another deep breath that evening.

"It's because of Shen Que."

"Shen Que?" Pei Ji froze.

Ai Fan rolled her eyes speechlessly at her hopelessly dense son.

"Have you forgotten what you did at the wedding?"

"You still owe him a wedding and a formal apology, Pei Ji."