Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Below this post, there was an official repost that appeared immediately after.

The account was managed by the Imperial Royal Family's External Affairs Office, and the repost included a few lines:

"...Mr. Bai Chen has officially registered his marriage with His Highness the Crown Prince, Xie Yilin. We are delighted to announce and welcome Mr. Bai Chen to the royal family. At the same time, we are issuing an initial warning against spreading false rumors, personal attacks, insults, and defamatory remarks online."

"If such behavior occurs again, legal action will be pursued..."

"Lastly, we kindly remind everyone that according to Imperial law, any harm caused to members of the royal family, whether civil or criminal, will automatically result in harsher penalties."

Below, there were all sorts of reactions.

"How is this possible? It’s actually true!!!!"

"It's true, haha, haha, haha, isn't it normal for a single Alpha and a single Omega to be together?"

"His Highness doesn’t seem to have a social media account. Did he register just for this?"

"Why Bai Chen! Why Bai Chen! Why Bai Chen!"

"If not Bai Chen, then who? You? That’s hilarious—what does it even have to do with you?"

Some 'rational and objective' comments suggested waiting for the show to premiere.

"Let’s wait until the first episode airs to see what their marriage is really like."

"Honestly, I’m not too optimistic about this couple."

"Unbelievable—a violent Alpha and a playboy Omega... it’s hard to imagine that scene. Could it turn into a domestic violence situation?"

"Let it go, let it go. The royal family has issued a statement—what more do you want? Marriage is a personal matter... and so is divorce."

...Regardless, from now on, Bai Chen now bears the mark of the Imperial Royal Family, and those haters will have to think twice before causing any more trouble.

Although Bai Chen didn’t care much about the online drama, he was still thrilled about what Xie Yilin had done.

His steps lightened, and he dashed into the temple like a deer. Inside the hall, staff were sorting out accommodations.

There were three small villas available for lodging, all two stories high. The space wasn't large, but everything necessary was provided. Out of respect for Xie Yilin, the other two pairs of guests politely offered him first pick.

At that moment, the Omega ran in like a swallow returning to its nest, diving straight into the Alpha’s arms.

Xie Yilin instinctively raised his arms and caught him firmly.

"Your Highness!"

Bai Chen’s eyes sparkled, his dimples showing as he chuckled, "I’m so happy."

"Can I get a hug now?"

...Not far away, the director was gesturing excitedly: Quick, quick! Get all of this on camera!

Xie Yilin tensed slightly.

All eyes were now on them. Surprise, scrutiny, doubt... eventually turning to astonishment.

The man, cold as ice, raised his arm and wrapped it around the sweetly smiling Omega.

Bai Chen didn’t hesitate and immediately hugged back, even rubbing his face against Xie Yilin’s chest with force.

The way he moved, so quick and practiced, made it clear this wasn’t his first or second time.

Very proficient.

The others present were speechless: "..."

Wow, is this what newlyweds are like? This is just... too much.

Yet, as if under a spell, everyone couldn’t look away.

In the ancient, spacious temple, the tall and imposing Alpha stood cold and aloof. Yet, in his arms was a warm presence—like a splash of vivid color in a black-and-white world.

That bright splash of color seemed to clear the air, like a ray of sunshine breaking through.

It might not melt the thick ice entirely, but for now, it felt like the edges were softening.

It gave hope that come spring, there’d be babbling brooks and vibrant, lively greenery.

Bai Chen nuzzled his face against Xie Yilin’s chest, over and over.

His nose turned red from all the rubbing, and his hair got tousled. Xie Yilin reached up to brush a strand of hair from Bai Chen’s forehead. His gray eyes stayed cool, but his touch was undeniably gentle.

...The scene was breathtakingly beautiful.

Just a simple, ordinary hug.

Just the kind of hug you’d see between any couple.

But for some reason, the onlookers couldn’t help but feel it—this hug was just too sweet!

Just this hug made it seem like a crime for these two not to be married!

Han Yunyun covered her mouth, barely holding back a squeal, and whispered to her fiancé Xin Yu, "Bai Chen is just too cute."

If he wants a hug, he says so outright. If he’s happy, he shows it, and he doesn’t hesitate to act spoiled with his Alpha. There was a faint hint of envy in her voice. Beside her, Xin Yu adjusted his glasses and murmured, "Yeah, really cute."

Further off, Cheng Ziang gave a long look, then turned to his partner Tang Congyun and said flatly, "Let’s go."

***

It was clear his original plan wasn’t going to work.

That night, everyone settled into the small guesthouses behind the temple.

Out of deference to Xie Yilin, the others let them pick their rooms first. Bai Chen didn’t hesitate and went straight for the sunniest suite. The first thing he did was pull the pillows from his suitcase. He fluffed them up, gave each one a comforting pat on the head, and lined them up neatly on the headboard.

One by one, Bai Chen fussed over each pillow, and then he noticed something.

...The bed was enormous.

Whether it was due to the overly enthusiastic local hospitality or just the way it was, the bed here was much larger than the one Bai Chen had carefully selected at home, big enough to accommodate three people rolling around freely. Bai Chen tested the bed and found it exceptionally soft.

In that case...

Bai Chen blinked, took off his shoes, and got onto the bed.

The accompanying assistants were not allowed into the filming area, so everything had to be done by the guests themselves. At the slightly ajar door, Xie Yilin, carrying his black suitcase, had just arrived and saw Bai Chen "testing the bed."

The Omega seemed determined to test the endurance of this large bed. Not only did he roll from left to right, top to bottom, twice over, but he also rolled up all the blankets and wrapped them around himself. And just like that, a fluffy, chubby white ball was born.

Xie Yilin: ...

He subtly glanced at the camera in the corner, then casually pushed the door a bit more.

"Huh?"

The doors in this ancient temple are all wooden and a bit worn. The creaking sound quickly caught Bai Chen's attention. Immediately, a messy little head popped out from the snow-white quilt, and the Omega’s face turned red, flushing even more: "Um..."

"I just heard that fluffing up the blanket makes it more comfortable."

This is his hands-on, all-natural method of fluffing the quilt!

He’s bound to sleep like a baby tonight!

After deadpanning his way through the explanation, Bai Chen didn’t dare to look at Xie Yilin’s expression. He quickly got up and straightened out the bed. Once done, he made sure to check if the pillows were out of place.

Xie Yilin noticed the five pillows on the bed.

They seemed familiar.

He had seen them at Bai Chen’s home, three of which were always on the sofa. He didn’t expect Bai Chen to pack them.

It seems he really likes these pillows.

The Alpha put down and opened his suitcase, which, in contrast, was a model of simplicity.

Inside were only a few pieces of clothing and toiletries, hardly anything else.

Bai Chen peeked inside and murmured under his breath, "It’s okay, I think I brought everything."

Xie Yilin: ...

He seemed not great at packing for trips. But then again, as a military serviceman, he didn’t have much room for personal belongings in the barracks.

So, even when coming to record a variety show, Xie Yilin’s luggage was as simple as if he could deploy at a moment’s notice.

As they were almost done packing, someone knocked on the door: "Sir? Mr. Bai?"

"Dinner is ready for you."

Bai Chen quickly put on his shoes and hurried after Xie Yilin. The courtyard was already lit with lanterns, and a large dining table was set in the center, laden with local specialties.

There were meat dishes, vegetarian dishes, and assorted platters. Bai Chen, who was already hungry, took a seat beside Xie Yilin.

Then, the director hurried over and said with a smile, "This is the last free meal provided by the production team. Enjoy it, and after eating, you can figure out your plans for tomorrow."

"Huh???"

"What???"

"Why???"

The other couples were stunned. Han Yunyun blurted out in confusion, "This didn’t happen in previous seasons?"

"Every season is different."

The director handed them three maps each and explained, "Doing the same thing every time would get stale. This season, we’re adding more challenges."

"After breakfast tomorrow, we’ll announce the tasks. By 8 PM, the couple who performs the best can enjoy a feast like today’s."

"The rest of you will have to make do with this."

The director waved his hand, and the staff beside him handed out...

Four eggs.

One egg per person, evenly shared.

The guests paused, momentarily speechless.

Han Yunyun was unfazed; as a former girl group member, she was used to dieting. Tang Congyun, Cheng Ziang's partner, was in the same boat, typically opting for a cold salad at dinner. The ones who struggled more were the muscular Alphas.

Bai Chen licked his lips, unfazed by the punishment. However, when he saw the four eggs, he seemed lost in thought.

Xie Yilin stayed composed, appearing equally unbothered. After the director spoke, he scanned the guests and saw that only Cheng Ziang and Xin Yu reacted strongly.

Meanwhile, the Crown Prince and his spouse, whom the head director had repeatedly told the staff to pamper, stayed perfectly calm and collected.

A closer look revealed the Omega's attention had already wandered, his eyes fixed on a dish in front of him, brimming with excitement.

...It had to be said—this was probably one reason he could so calmly marry His Highness the Crown Prince.

The director left, and the three couples began their meal. Bai Chen eagerly grabbed his chopsticks, popping a small potato into his mouth in one go, his eyes crinkling with satisfaction.

So delicious!

The Omega's eyes sparkled as he quickly scooped up a second bite, not for himself but instead holding it in his palm, moving it over to Xie Yilin's side.

He tilted his head, his dimple peeking out, glowing vividly under the soft night lights—like a slice of sweet, juicy orange, so fresh it seemed ready to drip.

"Your Highness."

"This is so good! Try it!"

For the first time in his life, Xie Yilin, now being fed by someone else, was at a loss for words.