Chapter 24: The Dance

After His Majesty Xize finished receiving the scheduled guests, he departed the venue. Luo Fei, however, was required to stay.

His Majesty’s intention was clear: since it was your birthday, enjoy yourself. Spend more time mingling with the young people who came to the banquet.

The moment his Royal father was gone, Luo Fei felt like a prisoner granted amnesty. He rushed out of the conference hall towards the side hall to find Mo Han.

Yet, the moment he arrived, he was confronted with a scene that threw his heart into further turmoil. Mo Han stood tall and straight in the beverage area, a glass of red wine in his hand, sipping it slowly. A faint, charming smile graced his lips. Around him clustered many young ladies and other youths, all chatting and laughing together in a group.

Luo Fei knew Mo Han was popular, especially among Omegas. But today, at his own birthday banquet, Mo Han was surrounded by a flock of Omegas… Could it be that he had suddenly gained a whole host of Omega love rivals from elite families?

Luo Fei frowned, taking a deep breath to suppress the impulse to charge over, drag Mo Han away, and hide him behind his back. With an air of feigned nonchalance, he walked over, smiling. “What are you all chatting about?”

Seeing him, the group immediately paid their respects. “Your Highness, the First Prince.”

Luo Fei knew most of these Omegas. Many had been his classmates at the noble academy—the daughter of the Senate Speaker, children of military generals, and one particularly cheerful-looking youth named Iman, who was Uncle Brian and Uncle Snow’s son.

Uncle Brian was his Royal Father’s cousin. Luo Fei and Iman had essentially grown up together.

But that guy Iman, despite being an Omega, had inherited his Alpha father’s personality. He was thick-skinned, always smiling mischievously, and loved teasing others.

Was he planning on teasing Mo Han too?

Luo Fei raised an eyebrow, looking at him. “Iman, you seem to be in a good mood today?”

Compared to his own horrible mood, Luo Fei was so frustrated he wanted to spit blood.

Iman’s eyes curved into happy crescents. “Of course! I got to meet the legendary Mo Han! Your Highness, maybe you don’t know, but a while ago, a popular poll was held on the Imperial Omega Forum. People voted for the most desirable marriage partner among all the Empire’s unmarried Alphas. Mo Han topped the charts. His popularity is even higher than yours!”

Luo Fei: “………………”

He actually had this many potential love rivals? The feeling of competing with Omegas for someone was just too strange…

Hearing this, Mo Han smiled faintly and looked at Luo Fei. “Your Highness needn’t mind such polls. Perhaps my speech at the press conference drew too much attention, so many voted for me. Whereas Your Highness rarely appears before the public. Most Omegas don’t even know what you look like. Besides, with your esteemed status, the criteria for choosing a Prince Consort are so exacting that ordinary citizens wouldn’t presume to aspire to the Royal Family.”

My criteria for choosing a Prince Consort really aren’t that high, Luo Fei thought. As long as I like them. And the one I like is you!

Iman nodded in agreement. “Mo Han’s right. Lately, KM Airlines’ new-gen spaceship has been going viral. Plenty of people have ridden it and know Mo Han personally designed the ship’s system. So there’s a huge wave of admiration for him. Luo Fei, don’t be too disheartened. Even if your popularity isn’t quite on par with Mo Han’s, plenty of Omegas still like you too.” He casually offered this comfort, then immediately turned his smiling face back to Mo Han. “Mo Han, could I possibly get your contact info?”

Luo Fei: “……………”

Is it really appropriate for you, an Omega, to be this forward?

Then, extending his hand, Iman continued, “Oh, right, I forgot to introduce myself. I’m the son of Brian and Snow. My Alpha father, Brian, is the current President of the Imperial Mecha Association. Your Highness’s mecha, Chongming, was my father’s creation. I’ve learned a lot of intelligent mecha manufacturing techniques from him. Aren’t you into making intelligent spaceships? Mecha and spaceships share many manufacturing principles—we could exchange tips!”

He was President Brian’s son? Then an introduction was indeed worthwhile, as he was very interested in the S-Class Mecha, Chongming.

Mo Han reached out politely. “Hello, very pleased to meet you.”

The two exchanged contact details.

Iman’s grin was so wide his eyes curved into crescent moons. “Pleased to meet you, too! I was so curious about what kind of charm someone would need to attract so many Omegas’ affections. But meeting you today—I find you truly graceful, thoroughly a gentleman. Completely different from those brainless, self-important Alphas.”

Luo Fei: “………………………”

Iman, that’s enough! He’s going to be my Prince Consort! Don’t you even think about making a move on him!

Seeing Iman and Mo Han’s conversation growing more and more engaging, Luo Fei immediately cut in, stepping before Mo Han. “Mo Han, I’d like to chat with you.”

Mo Han replied, “What does Your Highness wish to discuss?”

His eyes, twinkling with amusement, seemed to ask: Are you going to tell me about Herman University’s Agricultural Science department again?

Luo Fei’s face was plastered with embarrassment as he touched his nose and coughed lightly. “There are some things I need to explain. Could we speak alone for a moment?”

Mo Han was just about to reply when, the next moment, Luo Ning arrived as well. He smiled towards Mo Han. “So you’re Mo Han? I’ve long heard of your great name.”

Mo Han nodded at the Second Prince. “Your Highness, hello.”

Luo Fei: “…………………………”

Even his own younger brother knew about Mo Han?

What was with these Omegas? Ignoring him, the First Prince, and all flocking to Mo Han?

Soft music began to drift through the side hall. The dance was about to commence. Iman proactively extended his hand. “Mo Han, may I have this dance?”

Mo Han nodded. “I’d be honored.”

And so, the exceedingly forward Omega, Iman, took the graceful Alpha, Mo Han, by the hand and led him onto the dance floor.

Luo Fei instantly felt as if an enormous green hat had been placed upon his head.

Mo Han’s hand rested gently on Iman’s waist, his other hand holding Iman’s. Iman, with his more petite frame—barely 1.7 meters—looked quite well-matched beside the 1.8-meter Mo Han. Mo Han’s gaze was gentle, Iman’s face held a radiant smile. The two smiled at each other as they danced to the music in the ballroom. The scene was, no matter how he looked at it, profoundly grating.

Luo Fei took a deep breath, enduring the impulse to rush over and physically drag Iman away, his fists clenched tight.

Standing nearby, Luo Ning noticed his almost murderous stare. A faint smile touched his lips as he leaned in. “Brother grew up with Iman. You must know his nature—always loves to thick-skinnedly tease Alphas. His feelings for Mo Han are probably just a fleeting curiosity. Why is Brother so agitated? Don’t tell me you have… feelings for Iman?”

Luo Fei’s brow furrowed. “I definitely don’t have feelings for that guy.”

Luo Ning made a soft, drawn-out “Oh,” his gaze turning thoughtfully towards Mo Han.

If it’s not about Iman, could it be that Brother has feelings for… Mo Han?

Now this is getting interesting.

On the dance floor, many young people were dancing. Soon, an Omega also mustered the courage to invite Luo Fei.

The etiquette of social occasions still had to be observed. The girl was the Congress President’s daughter; Luo Fei couldn’t refuse her outright, so he had to escort her onto the dance floor.

The music was very slow, perfectly suited for a leisurely waltz. Luo Fei’s body moved to the rhythm, his steps elegant and composed. His face maintained a smile of perfect grace.

But internally, he was utterly distracted. His mind was already in turmoil.

He was busy conjuring up rosy mental images of Iman and Mo Han together.

Iman’s father was a mecha design genius. His family owned the Empire’s largest mecha manufacturing plant—a formidable family fortune. By every metric, it was a perfect match for the Mo family’s status.

Furthermore, Iman was truly a very unusual Omega.

Most Omegas were reserved and shy, but Iman could casually drop words like “heat” and “marking” into conversation without batting an eye. He was the audacious, willful, thick-skinned-as-a-palace-wall type of Omega who’d proactively chase an Alpha and outright ask to be marked.

Rumor had it, his father Brian had been just as incredibly thick-skinned back in the day, sticking persistently to his dad, Snow, until he finally won him over. The result: his dad gave birth to two children, but a serious genetics mishap occurred. The Omega child inherited the Alpha father’s thick skin, while the Alpha child inherited the Omega father’s cold arrogance.

A true disaster of heredity.

Iman was unlike any Omega Luo Fei had ever known. As such, Alphas’ opinions of him were sharply divided. Some felt he lacked an Omega’s proper reserve and that his boldness was overwhelming. But others thought a little Omega like Iman was direct, lively, and made one want to mark him.

Plus, he was adorable—baby-faced with round cheeks, smiling eyes that curved like crescent moons, and a unique platinum-blond shock of hair. He looked like a little angel.

Mo Han had never been moved by any Omega before. The fundamental reason was that most Omegas approaching him did so for commercial marriage alliances, targeting the Mo family’s power and wealth. That Omega who had previously tried to seduce him using pheromones was a prime example.

But Iman was different. Iman’s own family had more money than they could spend. He had inherited his parents’ genius for mecha design and, despite his young age, could already build simple mechas himself. Moreover, with Iman’s frank, lively personality and Mo Han’s cooler, proud one… maybe such a proactive, bubbly Omega would genuinely attract Mo Han.

If the two of them got together, they’d seem perfectly matched in every way, wouldn’t they?

The more Luo Fei’s imagination ran wild, the worse he felt. No. He absolutely couldn’t let Mo Han develop feelings for Iman.

He had to make Mo Han understand—the First Prince, Luo Fei, was Mo Han’s best choice.

As one song ended, the young dancers in the ballroom all stopped moving.

Luo Fei immediately, with impressive speed and precision, walked right up to Mo Han. With refined grace, he bent slightly at the waist and extended his hand. “May I have this dance?”

The entire audience: “???????”

Why was the First Prince asking an Alpha to dance?

Every pair of eyes in the vicinity swiveled towards them.

Mo Han looked at him calmly and said, in a voice only the two of them could hear, “Are you really going to ask me to dance… Senior?”

Luo Fei: “…”

That single word, “Senior,” froze the smile on Luo Fei’s face instantly. His smile was now more akin to a grimace.

Mo Han, feeling mischievous, decided to tease him further. “Come on then. I’ll ask you to dance.”

So saying, he proactively reached out and placed his hand on Luo Fei’s waist, assuming the position of the lead, ready to guide Luo Fei in the dance.

The standard waltz typically has the Alpha in the dominant role, guiding the partner. But now, with two Alphas, what was the protocol?

The surrounding onlookers watched with relish. Luo Fei absolutely did not want to be led around the dance floor by Mo Han in front of so many people.

The moment the music started, he immediately seized back the lead. But Mo Han wasn’t so easy to deal with. At a shift in the rhythm, Mo Han reclaimed dominance. Unwilling to yield, Luo Fei, in the next beat, wrapped his arm around Mo Han’s waist and guided him through a magnificent spin. But immediately after, Mo Han reasserted control, his arm around Luo Fei’s waist, leading him in a wide whirl.

The spectators: “…”

These two dancing… why did it look more like a scuffle in the combat arena?

The onlookers exchanged bewildered glances.

Iman scratched his head, confused. “Do those two know each other? Why do I feel such a weird tension between them?”

Luo Ning smiled faintly and leaned close to Iman’s ear, whispering, “Keep in touch with Mo Han. Let’s see what kind of attitude my older brother displays.”

Iman, catching on cleverly, nodded. “Then I’ll invite Mo Han over to my house tomorrow!”

On the dance floor, Luo Fei and Mo Han continued their battle for dominance, switching the lead role with every shift in the music. This dance was certainly peculiar, but… perhaps also brilliantly executed.

Just as the final notes of the song were about to fade, Luo Fei suddenly leaned close to Mo Han’s ear and whispered, “I’m sorry.”

Mo Han raised a delicate eyebrow. “Sorry for what?”

Luo Fei’s voice was incredibly sincere. “I didn’t mean to deceive you. It’s too crowded here to talk properly. I’ll come find you tomorrow. I will give you an explanation.”

Mo Han thought, highly amused, This drama-addict of a First Prince still refuses to give up acting?

Let’s see, this time, how you plan to get out of this monumental lie.