Chapter 1
The Chen family's estate was unusually quiet that evening.
Golden sunlight filtered through the tall windows of the second floor, casting warm rectangles across a bedroom filled with books, model airplanes, and neatly arranged shelves. A faint scent of cedar drifted through the room.
At the large oak desk sat Fu Chen (傅辰).
Only ten years old, he already carried himself with the calm confidence expected of a young alpha. His jet-black hair fell over his forehead as he frowned at the pages of his mathematics workbook.
"Pfft..."
He tapped the end of his pencil against his cheek.
"Why do teachers always give so many questions?"
His handwriting was surprisingly neat despite the complaint. One by one, he solved the problems, occasionally erasing an answer before rewriting it more carefully.
Outside his room, servants walked quietly through the hallway, careful not to disturb the young master.
Fu Chen stretched his arms over his head and let out a tiny yawn.
"Almost done..."
His eyes wandered toward the window. The garden below glowed beneath the setting sun, where gardeners finished watering the flowers.
He wanted nothing more than to run outside.
Instead...
He sighed dramatically and returned to the final page.
"If I finish now, Father won't say I was lazy."
With renewed determination, he lowered his pencil and continued writing, the only sounds in the room being the soft scratching of graphite across paper and the ticking of the antique clock hanging on the wall.
For now, Fu Chen's world was simple—school, homework, family, and dreams far bigger than he could yet imagine.
He had no idea that this ordinary evening would one day become a memory he wished he could return to.
.
A sharp knock echoed through the room.
Knock. Knock.
Fu Chen looked up from his homework.
"Come in."
The bedroom door opened.
Standing there was a slender omega in a dark military uniform, silver insignia gleaming beneath the hallway lights. His posture was perfectly straight, every movement disciplined and precise.
This was Fu Yanshu (傅砚书).
Despite being an omega, he had risen through the military through exceptional intelligence and unwavering discipline. His expression was as calm and unreadable as ever.
Fu Chen immediately stood.
"Dad."
Fu Yanshu gave a slight nod.
"Sit."
Fu Chen obediently sat back down, sensing this wasn't an ordinary visit.
His father closed the door behind him and walked to the desk.
For several long seconds, neither of them spoke.
Then, in the same composed, emotionless tone he used when giving military orders, Fu Yanshu said,
"Tomorrow, you will attend an engagement ceremony."
Fu Chen blinked.
"...Engagement?"
"Yes."
The ten-year-old frowned.
"But... I'm only ten."
"You are."
Fu Yanshu folded his hands behind his back.
"The decision has already been approved by both families."
Fu Chen's fingers slowly tightened around his pencil.
"...Who?"
His father met his eyes without hesitation.
"An S-Class Alpha."
The room fell silent.
Fu Chen stared blankly.
He had heard adults mention S-Class Alphas before. They were incredibly rare, gifted with extraordinary abilities and regarded as the elite among alphas.
But...
"They're... choosing me?"
"Yes."
"...Why?"
"Because your compatibility has been deemed exceptional."
Fu Chen lowered his gaze to his unfinished homework.
"I don't even know him..."
"You will tomorrow."
His father's tone remained steady.
"This engagement is an agreement between two families. It does not require your understanding today."
The words felt colder than the evening air drifting in through the open window.
Fu Chen's small hands trembled slightly beneath the desk.
"...Can I say no?"
A brief silence followed.
Finally, Fu Yanshu answered.
"No."
There was no anger in his voice.
No comfort, either.
Only certainty.
"You will wear formal clothes tomorrow morning. Everything has already been prepared."
With that, Fu Yanshu turned toward the door.
His hand paused on the doorknob.
Without looking back, he said quietly,
"Finish your homework before dinner."
The door clicked shut.
Fu Chen remained seated at his desk, staring at the math workbook before him.
The numbers blurred.
His pencil slipped from his fingers and rolled across the wooden desk before dropping onto the floor with a soft clack.
For the first time in his young life, the future no longer felt like something he could imagine. It had already been decided for him.
The bedroom door clicked shut behind Fu Yanshu.
Silence settled over the room.
Fu Chen remained motionless in his chair, staring at the unfinished equations in his workbook. His mind was no longer on homework.
"An engagement..."
"Tomorrow..."
"An S-Class Alpha..."
None of it made sense.
Several minutes later, another knock came.
This one was lighter.
The door opened, revealing a tall alpha with broad shoulders and neatly combed black hair streaked with the faintest hint of silver. Unlike Fu Yanshu's rigid military bearing, this man carried a quiet authority.
It was Fu Zhengming (傅正明), Fu Chen's father.
He noticed the untouched homework and the dazed expression on his son's face.
"Chen'er?"
Fu Chen slowly looked up.
"Dad..."
Fu Zhengming walked over and crouched beside him.
"What's wrong?"
The boy hesitated before speaking in a small voice.
"Dad... do you know I'm going to be engaged to an S-Class Alpha tomorrow?"
Fu Zhengming's expression froze for the briefest moment.
"...I do."
Fu Chen swallowed.
"Can you tell me why... all of a sudden?"
The room became quiet again.
Fu Zhengming looked at his son's confused face and let out a nearly inaudible sigh.
He gently rested a hand on Fu Chen's head, smoothing his soft black hair.
"There are matters between families that children aren't expected to understand yet."
"But I don't even know them."
"I know."
"I've never met that alpha."
"I know."
Fu Chen looked down at his hands.
"Then... why me?"
Fu Zhengming was silent for a long moment.
Finally, he answered carefully.
"Our family and theirs have been connected for many years. Recently, circumstances changed, and both families decided to formalize that relationship with an engagement."
Fu Chen frowned.
"So... it's because of the families?"
"In part."
"Not because I wanted it."
Fu Zhengming's hand paused.
"...No."
The answer hung heavily in the air.
Fu Chen bit his lip.
"I'm scared."
Those two words were barely louder than a whisper.
For the first time that evening, the sternness left Fu Zhengming's eyes.
He gently pulled his son into a hug.
"You don't have to understand everything tonight."
Fu Chen clung to his father's sleeve.
"...Will they be nice to me?"
Fu Zhengming closed his eyes briefly before answering.
"I hope so."
It wasn't the reassurance Fu Chen had wanted.
But it was the most honest answer his father could give.
Fu Chen stayed quiet in his father's embrace.
After a long silence, Fu Zhengming spoke again, his voice low and measured.
"...There's something I haven't told you."
Fu Chen looked up.
"What is it, Dad?"
Zhengming pulled a chair beside the desk and sat down.
"This engagement wasn't decided today."
Fu Chen blinked.
"...It wasn't?"
His father slowly shook his head.
"It was arranged before you were even born."
The words left Fu Chen speechless.
"Before... I was born?"
"Yes."
"When your dad and I were younger, our family and the other family made a promise. It remained only a promise for many years."
Fu Chen struggled to understand.
"So... everyone already knew except me?"
Zhengming lowered his gaze.
"You were too young. We hoped there would be a better time to tell you."
Fu Chen looked at the floor.
"Then... why does it have to be tomorrow?"
His father exhaled softly.
"The other family's head contacted us a few days ago. Your future mother-in-law said tomorrow is considered an especially auspicious day for announcing an engagement—a date that is said to occur only once in a thousand years according to their family's traditions."
Fu Chen listened quietly.
"And..."
Zhengming paused before continuing.
"Their son is leaving for London in two days to continue his studies."
"So... they wanted to complete the engagement before he leaves."
Fu Chen hugged his knees against the chair.
"He'll... leave right after?"
"Yes."
"There won't be a wedding now. Tomorrow is only the formal announcement of the engagement between the two families."
Fu Chen nodded faintly.
"...So I'll meet him..."
"For the first time."
"And then..."
"He will depart for London."
The room fell silent once more.
Fu Chen stared out the window at the darkening sky.
Everything felt strange.
Only an hour ago, he had been worried about finishing his mathematics homework.
Now he had learned that a promise had been made before he was born, that he would meet someone he had never known, and that the boy would leave for another country almost immediately afterward.
His world had changed in a single evening.
The mansion had grown quiet.
Fu Chen sat alone on the edge of his bed, hugging a pillow as he stared at the moonlight spilling through the window.
"Teacher said..."
"Alphas usually marry omegas..."
"And male alphas can't become pregnant..."
The more he thought about it, the more confused he became.
Suddenly, his eyes widened.
He slipped off the bed, hurried out of his room, and ran down the staircase.
"Dad!"
His footsteps echoed through the hall.
In the living room, Fu Zhengming looked up from the documents he had been reading.
"Chen'er?"
Fu Chen stopped in front of him, slightly out of breath.
"Dad... Teacher told us in class that alphas usually marry omegas, and that male alphas can't become pregnant."
He hesitated before asking the question that had been bothering him.
"So... can I reject the engagement because of that?"
Fu Zhengming set his papers aside and regarded his son quietly.
He motioned for Fu Chen to sit beside him.
"Come here."
Fu Chen climbed onto the sofa.
After a thoughtful pause, Zhengming answered gently.
"What your teacher explained is true in general. Most families follow those traditions."
Fu Chen looked hopeful.
"So..."
"But," Zhengming continued, "our family's circumstances are different."
Fu Chen's hopeful expression faded.
"The engagement is not based on whether you will someday have children. It is a promise between two families."
"But..."
"I know you're confused."
Fu Zhengming rested a reassuring hand on his son's shoulder.
"You're only ten years old. No one expects you to understand everything tonight."
Fu Chen lowered his head.
"So... that reason won't change tomorrow?"
Zhengming was quiet for a moment.
"No. It won't."
The answer disappointed the boy.
He stared at the floor, his small shoulders drooping.
Seeing that, Zhengming spoke more softly.
"You don't have to decide what your entire future looks like tonight. Tomorrow is only an engagement ceremony. There is still a great deal of growing up ahead of you."
Fu Chen nodded slowly.
He wasn't sure he understood.
But he knew one thing.
The first rays of morning sunlight filtered through the curtains.
Knock. Knock.
"Young Master?"
A gentle voice came from outside the bedroom.
Fu Chen stirred beneath the blankets, rubbing his sleepy eyes.
"...Mm?"
The door opened, and two household servants entered quietly.
"Good morning, Young Master."
One of them smiled warmly.
"It's time to wake up."
Fu Chen yawned.
"Is it time for school already?"
The servants exchanged a brief glance before one answered softly,
"No, Young Master."
Fu Chen blinked in confusion.
"Then why am I getting up so early?"
The older servant knelt beside the bed.
"Today isn't a school day for you."
She paused.
"Today is your engagement ceremony."
The words instantly chased away the last traces of sleep.
Fu Chen sat upright.
"...Oh."
For a moment, he simply stared at his blanket.
He had almost forgotten.
No...
He had hoped it had all been a dream.
Instead, it was morning.
And it was real.
"Your fathers are already downstairs preparing to leave."
The servants helped him out of bed.
One guided him to the bathroom while the other laid out a carefully prepared outfit on the bed.
It wasn't his school uniform.
Instead, it was a beautifully tailored white suit with silver embroidery along the collar and cuffs, paired with polished black shoes and a small jade pendant that had belonged to the Chen family for generations.
After washing up, Fu Chen quietly allowed the servants to help him dress.
They carefully buttoned the jacket, adjusted the collar, and gently combed his soft black hair into place.
"There."
The older servant stepped back with a smile.
"Our young master looks very handsome."
Fu Chen looked at his reflection in the full-length mirror.
The boy staring back looked neat and elegant...
But he didn't feel elegant.
He felt nervous.
His small fingers unconsciously gripped the edge of his jacket.
"...Do I really have to go?"
The servants' smiles faded slightly.
One answered with a respectful bow.
"Your fathers are waiting downstairs."
Fu Chen lowered his eyes.
"...Okay."
Taking a small, steadying breath, he turned toward the bedroom door.
Each step down the grand staircase felt heavier than the last.
At the bottom waited Fu Zhengming and Fu Yanshu, already dressed in formal attire.
When they saw him, both looked up.
For a brief moment, Zhengming's usually composed face softened with quiet pride.
"You look very smart, Chen'er."
Fu Yanshu gave a small nod of approval.
"The car is ready."
Fu Chen looked toward the mansion's open entrance.
Outside, several black luxury cars waited in a neat line.
Beyond them lay the road to the engagement ceremony...
...and to the first meeting with the mysterious S-Class Alpha he had never seen before.
