Nighttime, Country C’s Great Hall.
It’s only just a few minutes since the darkness touched everything in the world and yet the humongous stone building is shining like a brilliant sun in every part and edges.
It’s massive and domineering columns, which people had grown to admire for its beauty is currently bathed with warm, subtle lighting— making them look taller, stronger and more intimidating.
"Truly, nothing is more fitting than this place, as far as impressing the foreign people is concerned." Shen Yuan noted to his husband. They are still inside their car, waiting in line with other expensive cars to stop exactly at the red-carpeted stairs of the Great Hall.
If it were him, the celestial fox spirit wouldn’t mind busting out of their shiny four-wheeled drive and walking his way up to the foyer. However, for the sake of class and pretentiousness, Shen Yuan consciously decided to grit his teeth and go through the entire thing.
"Now, I can understand why Wu Chen and Song Yongnian would rather sacrifice the unmarried ones in their family instead of attending the banquet. It’s truly a test of patience!"
Bai Tingfeng hummed in agreement. "Unlucky for Wu Jin since he’s the one who had to suffer tonight. Lucky for us, since Wu Chen and Song Yongnian agreed to take in Yanyan for tonight."
"Yes. We are lucky. It was a bit of short notice since I initially planned to leave Yanyan with Nanny Lin while we were at the banquet. But alas, those damned terrorists had to make movements today! Of all days!" Shen Yuan sighed. "Good thing everything works out. The Wu family agreed to take in our son without any difficulties. Now, Yanyan is in the care of the most powerful military family in the country and probably enjoying his time with Xiaolun."
"That boy, he’s going to be a hell of an extrovert once he reaches his teens. The admissions exams are not a big deal to him! All he cares about is fun with his friends!" Shen Yuan shook his head with a helpless smile.
"I thought that Yanyan would reject your suggestion to do a sleepover with his friend. You know, tonight will be the only night he will not sleep under the same roof as us ever since you came. He clings to you like a koala everywhere you go. He’s literally attached to your side most times; I find it hard to believe that he agrees to spend the night away from you."
Bai Tingfeng looks outside the car, his face illuminated by the bright lights from the building. "I guess the wanting to have a playmate outweighs his missing his Daddy."
Shen Yuan’s eyes turned sharp. Trying to make a pitch again, Bai Tingfeng? This celestial fox spirit is not stupid.
Shen Yuan grinned, showing his incisor teeth, "I guess my charm on our son is finally losing its magic."
"Or maybe he just wants a baby sibling whom he can play and spend time with all the time."
"Assistant Su? How many minutes before I can finally get out of this goddamned car? I am itching to make a grand entrance!"
Bai Tingfeng laughed at his husband’s face. He’s saying that, but look at the hand caressing his leg. Shen Yuan is obviously on board with the idea.
Just in time, their car finally stopped at the foot of the red carpet. Shen Yuan felt a slight shake of nervousness at the pit of his stomach, especially when he saw the huge crowd of press waiting at the steps of the Great Hall. It’s crazy how this is on par with the prestigious celebrity galas he’d watched back in his previous world!
On top of nervous, he is also excited because this is the first time he will make a high-profile appearance after he came to this world.
"It’s showtime."
He told his husband, and just like that, Bai Tingfeng already knew what to do.
The giant alpha male swiftly exited the car, bearing both class and dominance.
Shen Yuan had a smug look when he heard the collective gasps of the press people.
"That never gets old," Assistant Su commented behind the wheel.
"Yes, they should be shocked," Shen Yuan answered proudly. "I dressed him differently from his usual elements. Tonight, he’s the most dashing white tiger at the party."
The door to his side opened, and Shen Yuan flashed a captivating smile to the handsome alpha who opened it for him. "Thanks, hottie."
"Let’s go." Bai Tingfeng offered his hand to Shen Yuan.
The celestial fox spirit took it, but before he stepped out, he made sure to drop a reminder to Assistant Su. "The night could become longer than expected. Tell my peeps to remain vigilant."
"Consider it done, Master Shen. Enjoy the banquet."
~~~
Being one of the masters of ceremony, Chairman Mao is already inside the main hall. He’s watching uninterestedly at the fewer than a hundred tables set up before the stage.
Personally, he’s not the kind of person who likes to go around and talk with people in such a massive room. But being in a position where he needed to dip his toes in the murky waters of politics, he had long resigned to this pretentiousness.
"Is Shen Yuan and Bai Tingfeng still not here?" He asked Admiral Wu Jin beside him. Like him, this young alpha admiral is not up for the ass-kissing that’s bound to happen once the banquet starts.
And like him, Wu Jin wants to see something exciting coming from Shen Yuan.
"They are probably here. It’s that couple we are talking about. They are never late." Wu Jin answered.
"We can never say that with certainty. It’s the same omega who punched me in the stomach, unprovoked. Shen Yuan, that damned omega, has no morals." Mo Lihua cut into the conversation with her usual condescending attitude.
"For the record, we both know the fact that you’re the first one who threw the punch," Chairman Mao combated her misinformation, flat-faced. "That’s where you’re known as, Lihua. Putting up your ego first and your fists second."
"And you’re angry now because someone dared to fight back at you." Chairman Mao crossed his arms over his chest. "Seriously, if you want to make this banquet a success, then ask you to stay away from Shen Yuan."
Mo Lihua groaned, frustratedly.
"Is it wrong to care about the image of the great families? I really believed that Shen Yuan was here to ruin the reputation of the Bai family. He’s blatantly using his husband’s influence to improve his standing within the Association."
She exaggeratedly waved her hands. "Tell me, Chairman Mao, that the favoritism you’re giving Shen Yuan is not for giving face to the Bai family."
Chairman Mao looked dehydrated as he stared at the mad Lihua.
"The Shen family is old rich, yes. However, we can agree that you’re not close enough to Shen Zhaohui, right? That’s why it doesn’t make sense for you to treat Shen Yuan with great preference."
"Oh, boy." Admiral Wu Jin uttered on the side.
Honestly, he was a little bit like Guild Master Mo before he properly got to know Shen Yuan.
Hearing Mo Lihua now is sending him major goosebumps.
It’s not a good feeling.
"With all due respect, Shen Yuan doesn’t need his husband’s, or anyone’s, halo, just get the things he has now," Admiral Wu Jin couldn’t help but join in the conversation.
"That omega surely has the power. I’ve seen it with my own two eyes. From effortlessly saving me from the collapsed ruins to beating the S-class necromancer whose powers we knew nothing about, he proved time and time again that he’s no worse than other awakened alphas."
Wu Jin shook his head, "Shen Yuan is not using Bai Tingfeng. The two of them are toe-to-toe. I can’t believe you can’t see that."
Mo Lihua became speechless.
By the twist of great, agreeable fate, the main hall suddenly became noisy. Chairman Mao and Admiral Wu Jin looked in that direction curiously while Mo Lihua took a sip from a glass of champagne.
"There you have it, the reason for your stomachache for the past few days."
Chairman Mao nonchalantly pointed at the newcomer on the red carpet.
Mo Lihua’s eyes turned into displeased slits. "How—" She was about to throw insults at Shen Yuan’s clothes, but she simply couldn’t say anything bad!
Attention-grabbing? Yes.
Scandalous? No? There are many people here who are dressed more provocatively than Shen Yuan.
Mo Lihua could only scrunch her face and search for his son in the crowd below.
At this moment, everyone is looking at the couple, marveling at their distinctive style tonight.
Bai Tignfeng has been known for wearing the most generic black suits and tuxedos at major parties like this.
Oh, maybe that is why he is overly pale today. He compensating.
Bai Tingfeng is wearing a bold, all-white, three-piece suit that perfectly frames his tall and sturdy stature.
Most men— or alpha— would look bland wearing such clothes especially if their complexion is as pale as Bai Tingfeng’s.
However, with his aristocratic features and beautiful, silky black hair, Bai Tingfeng looks like an untouchable prince from a fantasy world.
Add the black and white, tiger-print tie completing the whole look, Bai Tingfeng personifies what it really means to be wild yet still, gentlemanly.
At just one look, Chairman Mao knew that Bai Tingfeng would make a lot of people wish they were his mistress. And maybe that’s why Shen Yuan was dressed quite "explosively" for tonight.
Shen Yuan wears a custom-cut coat of fine black satin that generously reveals the crimson-red sheer undershirt beneath it.
It is carefully tied and buttoned below to ensure that the coat will not give away everything— just the close-to-perfect body lines and chest and abdominal muscles.
It exposes Shen Yuan’s body, yes.
However, the intricately embroidered tigers in the sheer undershirt ingeniously hide the parts that were supposed to be hidden.
No life will be ruined because of some pinkish pepperoni slip.
Bold yet conservative. Shen Yuan perfectly embodied that with tonight’s clothes.
Looking at him was self-explanatory as to why there was a buzz going on, even though the prime minister hadn’t arrived yet.
"How beautiful. A perfect example of Yin and Yang— only, it was reversed." Chairman Mao uttered appreciatively.
He then turned to Mo Lihua, "I don’t care if you think Shen Yuan doesn’t fit to be part of the Four Great Families. That is your opinion. You’re entitled to that. However, you can’t deny that even with couples with matching outfits in this banquet, no one could match the undeniable chemistry between Shen Yuan and Bai Tingfeng."