Zhang Fengxi's mouth dropped open in bewilderment. Xie Jianyu, a player? But no. No, no, no.
He was an omega. Of course, like other omegas, he preferred to surround himself with omegas.
"The Crown Prince has just differentiated into an alpha. I am sure that he is just trying to explore his sexuality," Zhang Fengxi argued.
The two alphas stared at him.
"Prince Zhang Fengxi, no offense, but we all just differentiated into alphas. Our parents will cut our limbs off if we grant ourselves the same degree of freedom."
Right.
Zhang Fengxi cleared his throat awkwardly. He forgot that he was back in his eighteen-year-old body. Why must he speak like an old man?
"Aaaand look at that," the second alpha nodded in the direction of the Liu family and the crown prince. "He is already taking the next step."
Zhang Fengxi turned his head around so quickly that he might snap his neck, but he could not care less. Xie Jianyu, that Xie Jianyu took Liu Wenyuan's hand and led him out of the banquet hall!!!
No, no, no… this could not be happening.
Zhang Fengxi gave the lamest excuse he could conjure and followed the couple outside.
He had to abandon all dignity and squat behind a neatly trimmed bush to listen to the conversation between the crown prince and the love of his life.
"Crown Prince, you truly honor our palace with your presence today," Liu Wenyuan spoke in a sweet, melodious voice. He bit shyly into his lower lip while batting his perfect eyelashes at Xie Jianyu.
Xie Jianyu gave Liu Wenyuan a charming smile, but his eyes were devoid of infatuation. Zhang Fengxi could see that he was only there to extend the Wuyang Palace some courtesy on behalf of Fuxi Palace. He did not really plan to woo Liu Wenyuan. Zhang Fengxi exhaled out of relief.
Of course, he told himself. He was so dumb.
Had Xie Jianyu been serious about pursuing Liu Wenyuan, Liu Yichen would be more than happy to deliver his son to Fuxi Palace's entrance gate on the same day. Zhang Fengxi who did not even show up during Liu Wenyuan's Initiation Day was bound to have zero chance of pursuing the omega.
Just as Zhang Fengxi decided to pick up the remaining pieces of his self-respect and crawl back to the banquet hall, Xie Jianyu's sword launched into the air and landed right in front of Zhang Fengxi.
"Show yourself," his cold voice soon followed.
Zhang Fengxi was speechless. Was his cultivation so poor at this age that he was unable to hide his presence from Xie Jianyu? Or was Xie Jianyu's cultivation over the top?
Lacking better options, Zhang Fengxi pulled Winter Frost from the ground and rose to his feet. Xie Jianyu narrowed his eyes at him, and Liu Wenyuan pressed both hands against his mouth.
"Oh, my," he said. "This… Prince Fengxi, I…"
Both Zhang Fengxi and Xie Jianyu walked toward each other. They only stopped once they were just ten feet apart from each other.
"My sword," Xie Jianyu extended his hand at Zhang Fengxi. His sharp gaze demanded unconditional obeisance from Zhang Fengxi, but the latter was disinclined to show Xie Jianyu some respect.
He instead played with Winter Frost, flipping the sword around his fingers like some harmless toy.
"Today is Prince Liu Wenyuan's Initiation Day," he said. "Why must the Crown Prince come to Wuyang Palace with a sword? Are you preparing yourself for a fight?"
Xie Jianyu sneered at Zhang Fengxi.
"Do you presume to question me? Maybe I should pay a visit to Longjing Palace too. Longjing Palace Master would be delighted to hear that his son likes to eavesdrop on other people's conversations."
Zhang Fengxi chuckled.
"My esteemed father will understand if I explain the circumstances to him. Omegas and alphas do not spend time together without any chaperones. Considering that this is Prince Liu Wenyuan's Initiation Day, I am naturally concerned about his safety."
"Heh, so are you here to protect him from me?"
A remorseless smile played around the corners of Zhang Fengxi's lips. "Pretty much."
"Then let's see whether you are all talk or you do have the ability to oppose me!"
Xie Jianyu stepped off the ground and lunged at Zhang Fengxi. The latter tossed Winter Frost away and parried Xie Jianyu's attacks one by one. Apparently, Xie Jianyu's talent in swordsmanship did not prevent him from excelling in close-range fights at all.
Zhang Fengxi was able to block Xie Jianyu's attacks, but he was unable to slot in even a hit. Xie Jianyu's movements were as fast as lightning and as unrelenting as ocean waves. On top of that, Zhang Fengxi did not want to accidentally hurt Xie Jianyu. A fight between an omega and an alpha was unheard of…
Their fight carried over to the edge of the palace ground. The area was rocky and uneven. To make it worse, the rain from last night caused the ground to be soft and slippery. Due to one careless step, Xie Jianyu slipped and fell backward. Just before he hit the ground, Zhang Fengxi yanked at his arm hard.
In the next moment, they tumbled together to the ground with Zhang Fengxi shielding Xie Jianyu's fall and holding him in a tight embrace. With one protective hand behind Xie Jianyu's head, Zhang Fengxi involuntarily buried his nose against Xie Jianyu's neck and took a deep breath.
As expected, he could smell no alpha pheromones from Xie Jianyu's body. Instead, there was a faint, sweet smell that emanated from him. The kind of scent that omegas used to lure the alphas.
While Zhang Fengxi was trying to guess what kind of smell it was, he was forcefully pushed away by Xie Jianyu. The latter passed Zhang Fengxi a crisp slap on the cheek. The slap was so hard that he only saw stars for the next few seconds.
"Impudent!!!" Xie Jianyu cried out. His whole body shook from fury. Never before had he been humiliated to this extent!
Please enjoy the love story in Second Take On Romance <3