Liu Wenyuan was a late bloomer. He differentiated close to his seventeenth birthday. And yet once he did, no one could hold a candle to his alluring beauty and brilliant elegance. He was quickly dubbed as the most desirable omega across the nine layers of heaven.
Omegas did not go unclaimed for a long time. Even after taking suppressants religiously, unclaimed omegas were prone to unwanted accidents. One meeting with an alpha at the wrong time and wrong place might result in an irreversible mating bond. By then, marriage was inevitable.
It was thus of no wonder when Wuyang Palace Master, Liu Yichen, was in a hurry to marry off his omega son.
As per the custom in the heavenly empire, all omegas that hailed from a palace master's family were introduced on "The Initiation Day".
On this day, all prospective mates were invited to an intimate gathering, where they got to know not only the omega in question but also their rivals in love.
In Zhang Fengxi's previous life, he did not participate in Liu Wenyuan's Initiation Day. Why? Because he was too shy. He never once expected that he would fall for the number one beauty in the Heavenly Realm. Even less that said beauty would fall for him as well.
This time around, Zhang Fengxi would not make the same mistake. He was going to claim Liu Wenyuan as his mate.
The invitation to Liu Wenyuan's Initiation Day arrived at Longjing Palace that afternoon.
"Oh, dear, look. It is Liu Yichen's recently differentiated omega son," Lady Song said. "Do you think that Fengxi might be interested to attend?"
Zhang Zhiyuan heaved a deep sigh.
"Honestly, with the way he tossed the matchmakers' proposals left and right, I start to get worried."
"Oh, how so?"
Zhang Zhiyuan's face darkened. He leaned closer to his wife and said the ungodly words in a low voice, "I have reason to believe that our son does not like omegas."
"..."
Lady Song gave her husband a skeptical look.
"I tell you, there are some alphas who are like that," Zhang Zhiyuan insisted. "They simply dislike being with omegas, and prefer the companies of, well, mostly alphas instead."
"Alphas cannot give birth," Lady Song said with a flat tone.
"My lady, do I need you to tell me that?" Zhang Zhiyuan groaned. "That's why I said that I was worried."
"Nonsense," Lady Song snapped. "My son cannot possibly dislike omegas. You are mistaken."
That was what Lady Song said, but she then found herself lurking in the front hall, waiting for her son to come back from school.
As soon as Zhang Fengxi arrived, he was ushered to the nearest seat by his mother.
"Fengxi, look," Lady Song's eyes twinkled in delight as she presented the invitation to her son. "The omega's name is Liu Wenyuan. He is the eldest son of the Wuyang Palace Master. His Initiation Day is in a week! Isn't that exciting??? You will also get to know your peers. You have to go!"
"Sure."
"No, no, no!" Lady Song huffed in displeasure. "Mother knows that you are not interested, but you still have to go! For goodness sake, you are eighteen years old! It is time for you to at least get to know your peer omegas! I am not going to be the only mother whose son dislikes… wait, what did you just say?"
"... I said, 'sure', Mother…"
Lady Song blinked at her son in disbelief.
"Oh," she then said. "That means that you agree, right? That's good, that's good."
Lady Song patted her son awkwardly on the shoulder. She then handed him the invitation and went to talk to the husband who misled her. Their son was obviously normal! He just had higher standards. Yes, that was it.
Zhang Fengxi looked at the invitation in his hand. On it, the three beautiful words that depicted his beloved's name were written in golden letters.
Liu Wenyuan.
Liu Wenyuan, ahh, Liu Wenyuan.
When Zhang Fengxi inhaled, the scent of plum blossoms flooded his nose. Even the invitation carried some of his scent.
Zhang Fengxi took the invitation to his bed chamber and lay it next to the initiation gift that he planned to give to Liu Wenyuan. It was a set of jade accessories that perfectly matched the young omega's taste.
The young alpha looked at his reflection in the silver mirror and tugged at his collar. He could not afford to mess up this second chance, he told himself. This time for sure, he must act faster and smarter.