Chapter 058 Return to Yaoxing 16

Chapter 058: Return to *Yaoxing* 16

Zhou Mo had always enjoyed an excellent reputation on *Yaoxing*. Whenever people talked about him in the streets, their faces would be filled with admiration and praise.

Though he was just a beta—lacking the powerful aura of an Alpha or the captivating charm of an Omega—his kindness, integrity, and courage had earned him the deep affection of the masses.

While Zhou Younan had been busy helping Luo Luo and Fan Ke get acquainted, the Zhou family had fallen into brief chaos due to Zhou Quan's unexpected death.

With the position of family head vacant, several elders from the collateral branches sought to take the opportunity to suppress the main family. Zhou Mo swiftly took a series of actions to weaken their influence, skillfully resolving the internal crisis of the Zhou family.

With his decisive measures and outstanding leadership, Zhou Mo quickly secured his position as the new head of the Zhou family.

Zhou Younan was aware of all this. While he was happy for Zhou Mo, he also felt that these matters no longer had much to do with him.

He no longer wanted any ties with the Zhou family in the future. As for Zhou Mo, Zhou Younan considered him a bystander in the incident of his parents' deaths—though forced, he had indeed been one of the beneficiaries.

Touching the golden bracelet on his wrist, Zhou Younan thought that since Zhou Quan was dead, his relationship with Zhou Mo should end here. They would only grow further apart, never becoming close again.

Since Zhou Mo had asked to see him before he left, Zhou Younan saw no reason to refuse and went.

Outside the Zhou family building, Zhou Younan met the butler York, who had been waiting for him.

As York led him inside, Zhou An, decked out flamboyantly, emerged from the building.

He wore a glittering gold outfit, dark sunglasses, and a large yellow gemstone adorned the end of the braid hanging over his left chest. There was no trace of the disheveled appearance he had been in when Wei Qing had choked him.

Spotting Zhou Younan, he strode over, chin raised arrogantly, and demanded, "Zhou Younan, what are you doing here?"

Zhou Younan caught the faint whiff of Night-Blooming Cereus pheromones emanating from him.

Like Zhou Younan, Zhou An had also lost his memories in that incident. Zhou Mo had mentioned that the golden bracelet had been on Zhou An's wrist at the time. Zhou Younan guessed that they might have been friends on that spaceship.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have given the bracelet to Zhou An. That bracelet had been made by his parents as a token of brotherhood with his older brother Zhou Mo—something that must have been very important to Zhou Younan as a child.

Of course, there was another possibility: Zhou Younan had lost the bracelet, and Zhou An had found and kept it.

Whatever the case, Zhou Younan felt that their conflict was merely about competing interests, not some blood feud that required a fight to the death.

Moreover, Zhou Younan was certain that his current circumstances were the last thing Zhou An wanted to see. Watching him live well must have been unbearable for Zhou An.

He was also curious about what Zhou An had seen that day to faint in fear from Wei Qing.

Thinking to ask, Zhou Younan answered honestly, "I'm leaving *Yaoxing* and came to say goodbye to Zhou Mo."

Zhou An scoffed disdainfully, "Leave sooner. *Yaoxing* doesn’t welcome you."

His rude attitude annoyed Zhou Younan, who retorted sharply, "Zhou An, has no one ever told you that gold makes you look like a giant flapping moth?"

"What?! Zhou Younan, what did you just say?!" Zhou An exploded, snatching off his sunglasses and jabbing a finger at him. "Say that again!"

Zhou Younan smirked. "Fine, I’ll say it again—giant flapping moth! Giant flapping moth!"

"You—Zhou Younan! You’re asking for a beating!" Zhou An lunged at him angrily.

Zhou Younan’s hand moved to the Silver Snow at his waist.

Butler York nodded to the guards at the Zhou family entrance, who immediately moved in to restrain Zhou An.

"What are you doing?! I’m Zhou An!" he shouted, thrashing.

"Young Master Zhou An, Young Master Zhou Younan is a royal guest. Please mind your status," York admonished from beside Zhou Younan.

The scene reminded Zhou Younan of the day he had left the Quiet Room—the same three of them, yet his circumstances were now entirely different.

To needle Zhou An further, Zhou Younan deliberately copied his haughty stance, tilting his chin up disdainfully before brushing past him toward the Zhou family building.

"Zhou Younan!" Zhou An shouted after him.

"What now?" Zhou Younan paused.

"Just a royal guest—big deal? You know who I’m meeting today? Someone way more important."

Zhou Younan arched a brow.

Zhou An shrugged off the guards, smoothing his clothes with slow, deliberate motions. "Wei Qing? Just an Imperial Marshal. The man I know can take me in and out of Canbera on a starship."

His face oozed smugness as he flourished dramatically, as if already picturing his rise to power. "In *Yaoxing*—no, in the entire Tyrell Empire—his word carries far more weight than Wei Qing’s."

Though the man had asked him to keep his status secret for now, Zhou An was too eager to one-up Zhou Younan.

He closed his eyes, waiting for Zhou Younan to ask, "Who is he?" But after a long silence, there was no response.

Peeking with one eye, Zhou An glanced at where Zhou Younan had been standing—only to find him gone.

He whirled around, confused. "Where is he?!"

A guard bit back a laugh. "Young Master Zhou Younan already went inside with York."

Zhou An stamped his foot furiously. "Zhou—Younan—!"

Zhou Younan had come to say goodbye to Zhou Mo and had no time to waste on Zhou An. Still, his words piqued Zhou Younan’s interest.

Apart from royal ships, no other vessels were permitted near Canbera. With the Emperor now married and the two princes still young, who else could take Zhou An there?

He decided to ask Wei Qing about it later.

York led Zhou Younan into the elevator, pressing the button for the top floor.

Zhou Younan remembered that Zhou Quan’s study had been on the underground ninth level.

"Did Zhou Mo move his study to the seventh floor?"

"Yes," York replied respectfully. With a smile, he asked, "Young Master Zhou Younan, where are you heading after leaving *Yaoxing*?"

"Wei Qing said we’re going to the Apollo System for our honeymoon."

"The Apollo System—its seas are stunning. A mysterious purple hue," York said, his wrinkled face softened with nostalgia. "But the creatures there are dangerous too. Do be careful."

"You’ve been there?" Zhou Younan asked curiously.

"When I was young," York answered with a smile.

"Purple seas… Zhou Mo would hate that. He won’t even eat purple cabbage."

York chuckled mysteriously. "I think the family head actually likes purple."

"Oh?"

"In the old mansion, he keeps a large amethyst in his room—displayed in a glass case, carefully guarded. No one is allowed to touch it."

"Oh? That purple crystal looks beautiful, doesn't it?"

York shook his head.

"Ding—" the elevator chimed, ending their conversation. York led Zhou Younan to Zhou Mo's study before turning to leave.

Zhou Younan approached the sensor-activated metal door, which slid open automatically.

Zhou Mo's study had a sleek, high-tech look, dominated by icy blue light that cascaded down from the domed ceiling. The black floor reflected distorted, warped silhouettes.

The white, malleable-material desks and sofas were streaked with black cracks, resembling spiderweb cracks, some of which emitted faint, flickering blue fluorescence.

It was already evening. The panoramic floor-to-ceiling circular window turned the setting sun into a giant amber jewel, its embers gradually fading through the gaps in the clouds.

Zhou Younan stepped into the study, and the door slid shut silently behind him.

"Brother Zhou Mo?" Zhou Younan called out.

Suddenly, the entire study plunged into darkness. The icy blue light from the ceiling shifted, and a figure appeared.

Was this just a projection?

The projected figure wore a white lab coat, with auburn hair—it was Xu Qi, the young director of the Rose Research Institute.

Zhou Younan froze in place. He would never forget this projection in his lifetime. Hidden within it was his most shameful, carefully hidden secret.

"Today is October 30, the year 706 in the interstellar calendar. I’ve developed something quite fascinating." Xu Qi held up a tiny capsule, displaying it to the camera.

The projection was massive, and the capsule was a vibrant emerald green. Zhou Younan’s mind went completely blank—he could even hear the distinct sloshing of liquid inside.

"If an Alpha takes this drug, they will smell the pheromones of any nearby Omega as their favorite scent. The effect lasts for a full month."

"Their most irresistible scent—one they can’t resist."

His greatest secret had been exposed, magnified, and projected right before his eyes. Cold terror surged in Zhou Younan’s heart. He began backing away, ready to bolt.

A hand landed on his shoulder, and Zhou Mo’s voice came from behind him. "Zhou Younan, where are you going?"

Zhou Younan immediately shrugged off the hand. In one swift motion, he drew Silver Snow from his waist, aiming the barrel at Zhou Mo’s forehead.

Zhou Mo glanced at the gun, then snapped his fingers. The study lights flashed back on.

Zhou Younan’s hand trembled slightly. "You… you…"

Just holding the gun had taken all his strength. He could barely utter a single word.

Zhou Mo used his index finger to casually push the gun aside and stepped closer.

"Thump. Thump. Thump." Each of Zhou Mo’s footsteps felt like they landed directly on Zhou Younan’s heart. His trembling intensified.

"I have something I’d like you to see."

Zhou Mo flipped open an antique iron box, twirling it deftly in his hand.

The box moved effortlessly between Zhou Mo’s slender fingers. Zhou Younan’s eyes widened in horror. A tidal wave of fear engulfed him—this time, he couldn’t even speak a single word.

"Did you give the capsule from this box to Wei Qing?" Zhou Mo’s question finally snapped Zhou Younan’s attention back.

Zhou Younan reholstered Silver Snow at his waist again—an action he’d done a hundred times before. Yet this time, it took him three attempts to finally secure the gun in its sheath.

When he looked up at Zhou Mo again, he said, "I didn’t."

He tried to conceal what he’d done, but it was futile. Zhou Mo’s next words hit their mark perfectly, leaving Zhou Younan completely cornered.

"You didn’t?"

Zhou Mo gave a soft chuckle.