Chapter 44: Sweet Wine

Chapter 44 Sweet Liquor

Lin You suddenly attacked, sending White sprawling to the ground, and the room fell silent.

Lanen looked up, startled, his gaze locking onto Lin You.

Lin You stood in front of him, taking on a protective posture that completely blocked White's view.

Lanen was stunned: "Your Highness..."

Lin You, however, ignored him, kicking the edge of the table and startling White into trembling. He sneered: "Is it your place to discipline my person?"

Lanen's fingers twitched slightly.

...His person?

In Lin You's mind, the system blared a sharp alarm: "Ahhhhhhh!"

"What are you doing? There's still dialogue left in the plot!"

Lin You commanded the system to stay calm: "Stay calm." He subtly glanced ahead: "It's about to happen."

Their actions drew considerable attention, and the surrounding guests quickly turned their focus toward them. Someone immediately approached, exclaiming in surprise: "Goodness, Xiao You, what are you up to?"

The newcomer exuded a gentle and elegant demeanor, clad in a black tailcoat of fine material, clearly an invited noble.

Lin You straightened up slightly, his expression turning more obedient: "Elder brother."

The eldest prince of the empire, Lin Yu.

This character only appears in this scene and is otherwise absent from the novel.

Lin You had no real connection to this so-called elder brother; he was merely playing his role based on the novel's description, which portrayed the three princes as friendly and respectful, with the third prince being particularly obedient to his two older brothers.

Lin You lowered his eyes, obediently gazing at the ground, though his expression was cold.

—He hadn't forgotten that, following Lanen's death in the novel, the third prince perished in a power struggle. The original text was vague, but in power struggles, aside from the other two princes, no one else desired the third prince's death.

Lin Yu was taken aback, his gaze sweeping over Lanen, lingering briefly, then shifting to White, his tone filled with astonishment: "Xiao You, White, what's going on?"

Lin You sneered: "Ask White to refrain from meddling in what's not his concern."

The original text described the third prince as moody and unpredictable, and Lin You's outburst didn't break character at all.

"...Meddling in what's not his concern?"

The eldest prince's gaze swept over Lanen again, then he smiled: "Why disrupt the harmony? We're all part of the same circle and will often interact in the future. There's plenty of amusement to be had without fixating on one female, don't you think?"

He helped White up, smiling: "Xiao You has always had this temper; he hates it when others touch his things. You should bear with him."

White quickly agreed: "Yes, yes, yes."

The eldest prince then pulled Lin You up, advising: "Our Xiao You is an adult now; he can't be so willful anymore, especially..."

He glanced at Lanen again, coolly saying: "To act against a former fiancé with clear evidence, without remorse, yet flattering the imperial prince—such a female isn't worth cherishing, is she?"

"..."

Lanen bowed slightly, "Your Highness is correct to reprimand me."

The Crown Prince, however, did not look at him, instead blocking Lin You and coaxing, "Come on, don't be angry. I've prepared an adult gift for you."

He was putting on the perfect gentleman act.

This scene was in the novel, so Lin You was not surprised. He feigned excitement and grabbed Lin Yu, "What gift?"

Lin Yu smiled slightly, "Specially designed for adult males, you'll like it."

He led Lin You into the hanging hall, waved to a corner, and a waiter promptly brought a black leather case, placing it flat on the long table.

Lin Yu's fingers brushed over the case, seemingly casual, "The females from the Collet Family are nothing but trouble. You've been too close to him. What has Lanen done to win your favor, making you protect him so?"

This was the original plot, word for word.

Lin You also looked at the cue, lazily saying, "What else could it be? His face is pretty, and I want the wealth of the Collet Family. It's really that simple."

The Crown Prince nodded in satisfaction.

Lin You looked at the case, "Brother, enough of that, where's my gift?"

Lin Yu handed him the case, "Here, a new high-end product from the pheromone research center. I only have two of these."

Lin You opened the clasp, and inside the velvet cloth lay a cherry-pink cocktail, the liquid was crystal clear, almost dreamlike.

Generally, such vibrant colors are rare in food; when they do appear, it often signifies toxicity.

Lin You reached out and took the liquid. Although he already knew what it was, he read the label, pretending to be curious, "What is this?"

"Just a little something to add some excitement," Lin Yu smiled, showing a knowing look. "Lanen is a bit difficult, isn't he? You can let him try this, and he'll be completely dependent on you. Once he loses your pheromones, it will be a fate worse than death. I guarantee he'll be begging and screaming for your attention."

Lin You calmly admired the liquid, but his right hand uncontrollably tightened around the bottle's neck, his fingertips turned white from the intense grip.

If Lanen's suffering in the first half of the book came from the third prince and White, then what ultimately led to his living death and dying in a foreign land was this small bottle of pink liquid.

A pheromone-based addiction aid.

Zerg pheromones have always been a major research focus. They can disarm the strongest military females and subject them to a living hell, or they can heal hidden injuries and soothe the mental sea. Due to the Zerg's gender imbalance, most females depend on artificial pheromones. Thus, the pheromone research center is the empire's leading scientific institution.

They develop pheromone substitutes and, with higher-ups' approval, conduct profitable experiments. Addictive formulas are among their products.

In a normal male-female Zerg pairing, although there are fluctuations due to pheromones—like Lanen, who particularly enjoys being close to Lin You—separation is uncomfortable but not deadly. But with an addictive agent, it becomes excruciating, soul-crushing agony.

At the same time, like the banned drugs from humanity's past, this substance greatly damages the nervous system. Drinking this, Lanen would be reduced to a shadow of his former self, unable to even hold a gun steadily from then on.

The Crown Prince seemed almost eager for Lanen's downfall.

Lin You pondered and suddenly asked softly, "66, is this the same stuff Lanen seized in District 23?"

When they visited the Third Army, they saw black market samples, and 66 extracted a drop for physical and chemical analysis.

In a place Lin Yu couldn't see, the liquid in Lin You's hand subtly rippled, and an insignificant drop evaporated and dissolved, with all its molecular formulas displayed on the system's screen.

66: "It's not the same thing, the effects are different, but the manufacturing methods are extremely similar. What you saw in District 23 appears to be a precursor to this."

"So, someone, in order to manufacture this, conducted experiments and produced a large batch of precursors, which are illegal pheromone preparations, and these products flowed into the black market of District 23, used by innocent females?"

66: "Yes."

Lin You: "Can we find the place of production? Is it in District 23?"

Counterfeit pheromone preparations have always been a low-cost, high-profit, and illicit industry. The massive cash flow brought by fake injections is enough to move the high-ranking officials of the empire. Mass production requires sophisticated modern factories, which cannot be located on the main planet but must be on remote, uninhabited planets.

66: "I can't confirm if it's produced in District 23 right now. I need air samples from there for analysis."

Pharmaceutical products require sterility but do not completely filter the air. The air composition varies from planet to planet. With a sample, 66 can analyze it.

Lin You: "I'll figure it out later."

As he spoke, he held the cocktail and gazed at it for a long time, seemingly fascinated by its color.

The Crown Prince leaned against the doorframe, not urging him, just smiling: "Isn't it beautiful? Do you like my gift?"

Lin You smiled: "Of course, I love it. Brother always knows what I want."

In the original story, the Third Prince coveted Lanen's beauty but also feared his power. While tormenting him, he was also afraid that Lanen might suddenly retaliate and hold a knife to his neck. Having such a tool would be perfect.

Lin You accepted it, but Lin Yu showed no intention of leaving, just smiling: "Aren't you going to try it?"

Lin You smiled back: "Of course, I will."

He waved to the servant, his tone excited: "Call Major General Lanen over."

This was also part of the story.

The prince's residence had many small rooms for guests to rest, each equipped with a large bed, soft bedding, and complete amenities for any needs.

Lin You opened the bottle in front of the Crown Prince, poured the liquid into a glass, and shook it with interest. The Crown Prince gave a suggestive smile and closed the door behind him: "Let me know how it works."

Lin You nodded with a smile. Just as he sat down at the table, 66 suddenly warned: "At 6 o'clock, above the painted glass vase, there's a pinhole camera."

Lin You glanced out of the corner of his eye and indeed saw a rice-sized lens in the glass pattern, faintly reflecting a cold light.

He turned slightly, pretending to play with a table ornament, blocking half of the camera's view, and ordered: "Bring up what I prepared."

Servants entered in a line.

*

Ten minutes later, Lanen followed the servant's lead up the stairs.

He removed a sapphire brooch from his chest and handed it to the servant, smiling: "Did His Highness say why he summoned me here?"

The banquet was nearing its end. After being kicked, White had behaved much better and no longer dared to look at Lanen improperly. Everything was in order, but then the servant suddenly summoned him upstairs.

The first floor was the banquet hall, and the second floor consisted of guest rooms.

The servant silently refused the gem, only saying: "His Highness didn't say why."

After a moment, he lowered his eyes and subtly added: "The Crown Prince just left."

The Collet Family and the Crown Prince have long-standing grievances, well-known throughout the main planet.

Lanen paused, then smiled: "I appreciate it."

Though he smiled, the smile didn't reach his eyes. His brows slightly furrowed, his expression as cold as a frozen mountain. But when the doors opened to reveal the Third Prince's delicate face, Lanen's expression instantly changed. He bowed politely, his eyes filled with deep affection, and said with a smile: "Good evening, my prince."

"Good evening, Lanen."

Lin You pulled out a chair and nodded: "Come over. I have a new bottle of wine and would like you to try it."

Lanen: "It's an honor to share this fine wine with Your Highness."

He sat down at the table, his azure eyes swept over the wine vessels on the table with a smile, but when he saw the liquid in Lin You's hand, his expression froze, and his face turned pale.

He recognized the color of that wine.

In District 23's warehouses, black market cabinets, and the blood of his screaming Third Army comrades.

The cherry-pink liquid swirled into a clear glass, and Lin You slid it toward Lanen, fully aware of the pinhole camera: "Try it."

"..."

If torture and defilement were like sinking into quicksand, then drinking this wine would plunge him into an endless abyss.

Long before sharing the Third Prince's bed, Lanen had considered this possibility, which was why, during their first meeting, he had hidden the pheromone-tainted gloves and coat and ordered Devin to analyze and replicate them.

But replicating high-ranking males' pheromones wasn't easy. They even turned to black market methods, which came with devastating side effects. The serum would ravage the body within two years until even getting out of bed was a struggle. Many Third Army comrades had perished from it.

Yet progress was still minimal.

Lin You nudged the glass closer, silently pressing him.

If it had been before, Lanen might have weighed his options and drunk it, but the Third Prince's odd demeanor gave him hope. Lanen wondered: What if he pleaded softly...

What if he pleaded softly? Would the Third Prince relent? Could he avoid this ordeal?

He pursed his lips, mustering a faint smile, and asked softly, "Why would Your Highness want to use something like this?"

Lanen rose, leaning in close to Lin You, his fingers brushed the uniform's metal buttons, casually undoing the top two, baring his slender neck and collarbone. His pale skin prickled with goosebumps in the cool air.

He sat next to Lin You, his skin within easy reach of the Third Prince. With just a stretch of his hand, Lin You could slide into the gaps of the uniform and toy with whatever he desired.

"These things are so dull. Is Lanen not obedient enough?"

Lanen's azure eyes fixed on him, deep within them an unmistakable sadness: "Your Highness, if I am obedient enough, could I be spared this cup of wine?"

Lin You's thumb twitched on the glass as the pressure built.

The wine was fake; he had switched it. But even so, faced with Lanen's pleading eyes, Lin You couldn't bring himself to tell him to drink.

The Major General was truly distressed, and truly afraid.

This was part of the original plot, and the dialogue was from the original text. The novel described it as: "Through the feedback from the camera, one could clearly see Lanen drinking the cherry-pink liquid. He clenched his eyes shut, his Adam's apple trembling in agony, as if he were swallowing not wine, but scalding magma."

"When the cup was empty, two drops of the liquid rolled down his Adam's apple. His silver hair was already damp with sweat, and he staggered as he pushed the cup away, half-kneeling on the ground, silently retching."

The original protagonist's actions were despicable and shameful. Lin You had felt deeply uncomfortable reading it, and now, having to act it out in person, he wished he could just grab Lanen and leave, throw the wine at the Crown Prince, curse him as an idiot, and storm off.

But he couldn't do that.

Lin You had only been here for two months, but he had already sensed the undercurrents beneath the surface of the Zerg society. Lanen was clearly being framed, and as a Major General of the nation, he could only cut his losses to survive.

Lin You was still under the protection of Admiral Hoyle and hadn't faced much adversity, but with just a little thought, he knew that the position of a prince was the eye of the storm. One misstep could lead to disaster, and if his character broke too severely, Admiral Hoyle would be the first to come after him.

At this moment, deviating from the plot would not only fail to help Lanen but would also push them both into a corner.

Lin You glanced at the script, his voice cold and unyielding: "Drink it."

"..."

The light in Lanen's eyes slowly faded. He silently formed a mocking smile, unsure whether it was directed at Lin You or himself. The smile grew wider and wider until Lanen had to lower his head to hide it.

In the heavy silence, he seemed to finally resign himself to his fate, reaching out to grasp the cherry blossom-pink liquid. His fingertips trembled, causing the glass to shake as well, but halfway through, his hand was caught.

Lin You, with his back to the camera, mouthed, "Don't worry, it's fine."

He sighed, trying to stay in character: "Don't be afraid, I went too far. It's just a joke."

Before Lanen could react, Lin You finished speaking, picked up the glass, and took a sip himself. Then, under Lanen's astonished gaze, he pulled him close and kissed him fiercely. From the camera's perspective, it appeared as if he was forcing Lanen to swallow the liquid.

The cherry blossom-pink liquid spilled from the junction of their lips, rolling down their throats. Most of it was swallowed by Lin You, while Lanen only tasted a faint hint of it on his tongue.

It was sweet, with just a hint of alcohol.

It was white peach-flavored sweet wine with cherry blossom coloring.

The scent of citrus pheromones quietly permeated the air, enveloping Lanen. His throat trembled silently, and a sheen of cold sweat formed on his forehead. Then, Lin You pressed his shoulders, signaling him to kneel halfway, feigning a retching motion. Meanwhile, Lin You, in a spot hidden from the camera, soothingly stroked Lanen's trembling back, softly repeating, "Don't be afraid."

After completing all the actions specified by the novel, Lin You pulled the general into his arms. He was slightly smaller than the general, but the posture was unexpectedly harmonious. Lin You ran his hand along Lanen's back, as if comforting a restless large animal. The metal insignia on Lanen's chest pressed uncomfortably against him, but Lin You didn't let go.

Lin You whispered, "Don't worry, I never intended to make you drink that stuff."

Lanen tightly closed his eyes, breathing heavily for a long time before finally opening them. His gaze swept over a certain spot, and his pupils suddenly contracted.

He spotted the tiny, grain-sized camera concealed behind the glass screen, faintly glinting with a cold light.