Chapter 3: Stirring Up Trouble
1269 Words
At the Yuan family estate, Li Damian and Song Celeste followed a servant to Yuan Vincent’s residence.
“Young Master has locked himself in for days, living on nutrient solutions and refusing to see anyone,” Uncle Zhao explained, his eyes showing genuine concern. “Now that you’re here, maybe you can persuade him.”
“We’ll do our best,” Li Damian and Song Celeste promised.
Uncle Zhao left to prepare food, while they opened the courtyard gate. A faint scent of pheromones wafted out, causing both Sentinels to freeze in place before widening their eyes.
“Is this… Vincent’s pheromone?” Li Damian’s eyes turned red.
Song Celeste nodded slowly. “Yes, it’s definitely his.”
Li Damian looked devastated. “How could it be so mild? Vincent’s pheromone used to be as cold as a cutting blade—just catching a whiff would make my entire body ache for minutes. An SS-rank pheromone could kill a person—”
“Damian!” Song Celeste hissed. “Don’t mention ‘SS-rank.’ Don’t talk about the past. Stop picking at Vincent’s scars.”
Li Damian paused, then sighed. “Understood.”
When they entered the room, they saw Yuan Vincent lying on a movable bed, legs severed at the thigh, gazing listlessly out the window.
“Vincent, we’re here,” Li Damian greeted, forcing a smile.
Song Celeste produced a medal. “This is from the Academy, rewarding you for your outstanding performance in the last operation. The school said you can transfer from the Mecha Combat major to any major you want—Command, Psychology, anything. No exams required. Just say the word.” Kneeling by his bed, she pleaded, “Vincent, please don’t give up on yourself.”
Yuan Vincent lowered his eyes. “I plan to take a break from school. I’ll figure out the rest later.”
Song Celeste nodded. “Alright.”
Li Damian leaned in with forced enthusiasm. “We just met your fiancée. She’s really pretty—almost as pretty as our campus belle. You’ve got good taste, man.”
Yuan Vincent cast him a sidelong glance but remained silent.
Li Damian’s feigned cheer deflated. “If you don’t like her, I’ll talk to your dad. We can cancel—”
“The marriage is just a business arrangement between the Yuan and Chen families,” Yuan Vincent replied coldly. Besides, it was also his stepmother’s way of exiling him from the estate—and from Alpha altogether.
Neither his father nor his stepmother would agree to cancel the engagement.
Chen Lillian soon realized that in big families, engagements could be handled in a startlingly casual manner. On the third day after her discharge, she was informed that her engagement banquet with Yuan Vincent would take place that very evening.
Following a rushed afternoon of dress selection, skincare, makeup, and hairstyling, it was already six o’clock by the time she finished. The banquet began at six-thirty.
Arriving at the hotel, Chen Lillian saw a gigantic photo of herself and Yuan Vincent. Despite never having met him before, the image showed them gazing at each other lovingly, eyes brimming with the sweetness of new romance.
The photo editing was impressively thorough. If she weren’t the bride herself, she might have believed the two were deeply in love.
“Vincent, your fiancée is here,” drawled a flippant voice. A young man with foxlike eyes stood beside Yuan Vincent’s wheelchair, hands in his pockets, clearly amused by the situation.
Chen Lillian turned to look at Yuan Vincent in the wheelchair. He had dark hair and strikingly handsome features, though his face was pale and drawn, exuding a certain fragile beauty. He was even better looking in person than in the photo.
Yuan Vincent acted as though he hadn’t heard the fox-eyed youth, still leaning against the wheelchair’s backrest, eyes lowered. It was unclear whether he was daydreaming or deliberately ignoring his new fiancée.
The entire banquet hall fell silent, guests’ gazes flitting between the couple—some mocking, some sympathetic, some scornful. But regardless of their feelings, all were waiting to see a show.
No one told Chen Lillian what the engagement ceremony entailed. Chen Richard was off chatting with others, while Chen Evelyn, Chen Luna, and a few others sipped their wine, watching her with schadenfreude.
Since no one guided her, Chen Lillian decided to take the initiative and make a good impression on her fiancé—for the sake of that mining planet, of course.
“Hello, I’m Chen Lillian.” She extended her hand, smiling sweetly.
Yuan Vincent didn’t respond, eyes still lowered.
Chen Lillian withdrew her hand without a hint of awkwardness, pulled a chair over, and sat by his wheelchair.
“Seems Vincent isn’t interested in her at all,” someone muttered.
“Well, she’s just an ordinary person—and disabled. Vincent was once an SS-rank Sentinel, the top of the First Military Academy. Countless Guides used to chase after him.”
“That was before. Now that he’s lost his legs, it’s a pipe dream for him to find a Guide. The Alliance won’t allow a precious Guide to ‘waste’ themselves on a cripple. Who knows what rank he is now—maybe he’s dropped to the bottom.”
“Whatever it is, without legs he can’t pilot a mecha or go to the battlefield. He’s basically useless.”
“What a pity—an SS-rank Sentinel, ruined just like that!”
“…”
Their whispers filled the air. Chen Lillian sipped fruit juice, occasionally glancing at Yuan Vincent. He didn’t seem affected by the cruel remarks—no anger, no shame, no sorrow. She couldn’t tell if he had simply given up or possessed an ironclad mental fortitude.
Suddenly, a group of tall young men arrived, led by Zhao Pierce. “Vincent, how could you not invite us to your engagement? We’re your classmates, you know. Hurts to be left out.”
The fox-eyed youth—Wen Oliver—stood protectively in front of Yuan Vincent. “Zhao Pierce, do you really think you’re that close to Vincent?”
“We used to be rivals,” Zhao Pierce sneered, pushing Wen Oliver aside. “Wen Oliver, has Vincent gotten so weak that he needs you to speak for him?”
Wen Oliver’s eyes narrowed. “Of course not. I just don’t want you to offend our sister-in-law.”
Chen Lillian, abruptly referred to as “sister-in-law,” blinked. Offend me? They’re not exactly unpleasant to look at, she thought, noting their tall figures and sharp features.
Zhao Pierce turned his gaze on Chen Lillian, let out a mocking snort, then turned back to Yuan Vincent. “I hear your rank’s fallen hard. How bad is it?”
Yuan Vincent didn’t so much as glance at him.
Zhao Pierce’s face darkened at being ignored. “If you won’t say, I’ll find out myself.”
A thick alcoholic stench wafted from Zhao Pierce’s body as he released his mental power, directing it at Yuan Vincent. Yuan Vincent let out a muffled groan, his already pale face losing the last trace of color.
“Zhao Pierce, knock it off!” Wen Oliver swung a fist at him, but Zhao Pierce dodged, and the two started brawling.
“Zhao Pierce, who told you to come cause trouble, you bastard? Watch me beat some sense into you!” Li Damian rushed over, joining the fray.
Song Celeste followed close behind, engaging Zhao Pierce’s friends in combat. Screams echoed throughout the hall as people scattered to avoid the fight.
- Writer
