[ABO] The Little Mute Had His Thoughts Heard by the Villain’s Whole Family – CH14

Chapter 14: Sudden Change

If the Omega that the entire capital least dared to marry was Elaine, who was known for his cruelty, and the one they wanted to marry but could not was the charming and romantic Izel, who likewise carried the family curse,

then the one all Omegas would fight to marry was definitely His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

Ning Zhao Ollito, His Majesty the Emperor’s only Alpha son.

Dazzling like the morning sun, the Son of the Sun of the Empire. Even many Alphas regarded him as their dream lover.

When Ning Zhao entered, the afternoon sunlight happened to fall on his shoulders. On such a formal occasion today, he wore the crown prince’s white-gold ceremonial outfit. His shoulder-length black hair was half tied behind his head. He looked elegant and refined, like a jade tree in a courtyard.

Many Omegas blushed after just one glance.

Shi Sheng’s eyes, however, were looking behind Ning Zhao. Meanwhile, Yu Mian, who had long grown used to handsome men, did not raise his head, because he once again heard Shi Sheng’s inner voice.

[Strange. Noah still hasn’t come back?]

[Could it be that he went out but didn’t find the crown prince? Izel hasn’t come back either.]

[I keep feeling like I’ve missed some plot point… What is it? It’s so calm and peaceful. That doesn’t seem good.]

[Wait, why is the crown prince looking over?]

Ning Zhao naturally could not hear Shi Sheng’s inner voice. The gentle young man accepted everyone’s salutes with a smile, then walked to Shi Sheng.

Ji Sui and the others quickly wanted to salute, but he raised his hand and stopped them.

“You must be Yumi’s sister-in-law?” Ning Zhao’s eyes were the color of emeralds, carrying a gentle smile as he took Shi Sheng’s hand and performed a hand-kiss salute. “I have long heard of you. I finally get to meet you.”

Not far away, Yu Mian irritably gave him a look—he had not acknowledged Shi Sheng as his sister-in-law!

Ning Zhao pretended not to see it. When he lowered his head, his lips did not actually touch the back of Shi Sheng’s hand. He was polite and knew proper boundaries.

[No wonder he’s praised as the Empire’s Son of the Sun. He really is as warm as the morning sun.]

Hearing Shi Sheng’s voice, Yu Mian’s displeased gaze immediately turned toward Shi Sheng.

He was just about to criticize this person for fantasizing about another Alpha when he immediately heard:

[But Elaine is still better looking and has more Alpha aura!]

“…” Yu Mian speechlessly curled his lips. This guy wore a dead-person expression all day, yet in his heart, he was actually comparing and stepping on others!

Shi Sheng always had little expression when he was lost in thought, so Ning Zhao misunderstood, as expected.

“Sorry, did I offend you in some way?”

Only then did Shi Sheng come back to himself and quickly salute the crown prince.

Mother Shi also hurriedly explained that he temporarily could not speak.

Ning Zhao gave a soft “Ah” and thoughtfully comforted him. “It’s all right. I heard that the Marshal temporarily returned to the military headquarters. I was worried that the royal family’s hospitality might be lacking, so I came over to check. You are Yumi’s sister-in-law, and I hope you can enjoy a pleasant evening.”

Hearing the words “sister-in-law” for the second time, Shi Sheng’s happiness value rose. Even his constantly drooping eyelids seemed to gain some strength.

Yu Mian moved to Ning Zhao’s side and quietly bumped him with his elbow.

Ning Zhao glanced at him and asked casually, “Yumi, why don’t I see your second brother?”

“Who knows.” Yu Mian did not answer properly. “Maybe he died on the way?”

He spoke so rudely of his own brother that Ning Zhao was already used to it.

“Is that so? I met an interesting Beta outside just now. He claimed to be Izel’s dance partner, so I thought your second brother should have already arrived.”

Hearing this, Yu Mian and Shi Sheng turned their heads at the same time.

For a moment, Yu Mian’s mood became complicated—every single one of Shi Sheng’s inner thoughts was coming true. Noah had indeed already approached the crown prince.

He found it extremely interesting. Lifting his chin, he smiled somewhat arrogantly. “I don’t know. For tonight’s opening dance, my second brother will naturally dance with Shi Yi. As for his original dance partner, I don’t think that’s important.”

[No, I want to dance with Elaine.]

Yu Mian’s smile paused, and he glared at Shi Sheng.

Ning Zhao appeared thoughtful. Then he raised his brows. “In that case, on such a beautiful night, there will be one lonely young man left alone. That would be too terrible.”

He turned his head and smiled. “I wonder where this pitiful Beta is? Perhaps I can invite him for a dance.”

[No!!!!!!!!!]

Before Yu Mian could react to Ning Zhao’s words, Shi Sheng’s voice nearly deafened him first.

[The gland Noah replaced is meant to attract the crown prince. They can’t be allowed to get too close!]

Yu Mian frowned slightly and familiarly placed his hand on Ning Zhao’s forearm. “What’s so difficult about that? If Your Highness is truly worried, I’ll have Lanris dance with him.”

Ning Zhao gently covered the back of Yu Mian’s hand. “Yumi, I said, I will invite him.”

Yu Mian froze.

He thought he must have been seeing things. Otherwise, why did he feel Ning Zhao’s gaze was a little cold?

He and Ning Zhao had known each other for several years and had always had a good relationship. The other party was a very good-tempered person.

Yu Mian looked toward Shi Sheng.

He did not notice that because he kept hearing Shi Sheng’s inner voice, he had already subconsciously begun seeking help from Shi Sheng.

But Shi Sheng was merely standing to the side, staring blankly at the garden entrance for some unknown reason.

After saying this to Yu Mian, Ning Zhao withdrew his hand. Still smiling gently and elegantly, he exchanged a few more words before leaving.

He directly left the garden. When he left, neither Izel nor Noah had returned.

Only then did everyone dare to discuss.

“Why would His Highness come out now? Doesn’t the royal family usually appear only when the ball opens?”

“He only greeted that person from the Shi family.”

“The Carlos family is so terrifying. The royal family has always had a hard time.”

Shi Sheng listened to their discussions, but what he was thinking about was another matter.

In his vague memory, something was definitely going to happen at tonight’s ball. Noah would use it to gain the crown prince’s favor, but Shi Sheng could not remember what it was.

Night fell, and everyone moved to the banquet hall specially used by the palace for balls.

Shi Sheng did not want to listen to Ji Sui’s sarcastic remarks, so he silently chose to become a mushroom beside Yu Mian.

Izel had also returned. Noah followed beside him, his expression inexplicably nervous.

Shi Sheng frequently looked toward the entrance of the banquet hall. His fingers kept rubbing over his communication bracelet, but in the end, he still did not send Elaine a message.

What Elaine was busy with were all proper matters of protecting the country. He did not want to disturb him.

But as time passed bit by bit, the ball was about to open. If Elaine could not make it back, Shi Sheng could only dance the opening dance with Izel.

This was the dream of countless Omegas, but Shi Sheng was not included among them.

His mood sank, and Shi Sheng’s eyelids drooped once more.

The symphony slowly began to play. Beneath the dazzling, colorful lights, Ning Zhao slowly walked down the spiral staircase.

The banquet was about to begin.

Every ball began with the crown prince choosing a dance partner, and all the Omegas present grew nervous.

Ning Zhao still carried a smile on his face. His gaze slowly fell on the people below.

Shi Sheng noticed that he was looking in their direction, but he could not say for sure who Ning Zhao was looking at.

Then Ning Zhao walked over through countless gazes, passing Yu Mian and Shi Sheng, and extended his hand toward the silent Noah.

“Child of the beautiful Goddess of Music, may I have the honor of inviting you to dance?”

The crowd burst into an uproar, discussions rising everywhere.

Noah’s suspended heart finally landed. Joy at his success rose in his heart. Just as he was about to reach out, he heard Izel’s lazy voice.

“Your Highness, this is my dance partner.”

Ning Zhao’s movement did not change. He smiled and said, “Oh, my mistake. After all, Young Master Izel’s dance partners are never the same. It’s truly difficult for me to remember all their faces.”

His gaze lightly fell on Noah. “But I think you have a more important task tonight, don’t you? Leaving a poor child here to watch others dance—this doesn’t seem like your style.”

Izel’s gaze was somewhat cold. “I’m afraid that has nothing to do with you either, our respected Your Highness.”

Listening to their conversation, Shi Sheng felt surprised and confused.

Yu Mian also found it a little strange. He had never seen his second brother speak to anyone in this tone.

Was he angry? Impossible. His second brother did not take anyone seriously, so he would never get angry over other matters.

But Izel and Ning Zhao stood facing each other. Although both had smiles on their lips, the air inexplicably carried the feeling of drawn swords and bent bows.

Shi Sheng sighed in his heart.

[It’s over, it’s over. The plot of two Alphas fighting over one Omega has appeared this early!]

[But that’s not right. Even if Noah met the crown prince earlier, according to Ning Zhao’s personality, he shouldn’t be clashing with Izel over Noah already.]

[Could it be love at first sight with Noah?!]

[So that’s why he can’t stand Izel abandoning Noah. Mm, that makes sense.]

[But I also don’t want to dance with Izel. Elaine will come back!]

Hearing his inner voice, Izel’s gaze grew even colder.

His gaze fell on Ning Zhao’s face.

Ning Zhao, however, seemed not to notice and once again extended his hand toward Noah.

The sudden change happened at this very moment.

Boom—

A huge noise startled everyone in the hall. Before they could react, a series of continuous crashes sounded again at the entrance of the banquet hall!

“Ah—!!!!”

“Magical beasts!!! It’s magical beasts!!!!”

“Where are the guards! What are you standing there for!”

The hall instantly fell into chaos. Screams rose one after another.

The luxuriously dressed nobles no longer had their usual elegance and fled in panic in every direction.

When this group of magical beasts broke through the doors, Shi Sheng was pulled by Yu Mian, and only then did he avoid being knocked down by the panicked crowd.

His first reaction was to look for his mother. But the hall was too chaotic, and he could not find her figure for a moment.

Shi Sheng quickly headed inward.

“Where are you going!” Yu Mian grabbed him, his other hand already reaching for the dagger at his waist.

Shi Sheng had no time to answer. The magical beasts had already scattered, indiscriminately attacking everyone.

He could only forcefully break free from Yu Mian’s hand and run toward the direction where he had last seen Mother Shi.

“Damn it.” Yu Mian quickly followed him. With a twist of his wrist, the dagger was already gripped in his palm.

Izel lifted his foot to chase after them, but when his gaze swept behind Ning Zhao, his expression changed sharply.

Noah also looked over. A light flashed through his eyes, and he cried out as he rushed forward, “Your Highness, be care—”

But he was half a step too late.

Ning Zhao instinctively turned his head. The magical beast’s ferocious face stopped right before his eyes. A sharp hidden curved blade had stabbed straight into the beast’s round eye, almost piercing the monster through.

The injured magical beast howled loudly, and a force suddenly pulled Ning Zhao away.

He abruptly turned back and saw Izel’s cold lake-blue eyes.

Before Noah could finish shouting “careful,” this magical beast had already collapsed in an instant.

His movement missed entirely, and the momentum made him fall heavily to the ground. He had not yet realized what had happened.

At the magical beast’s roar, Shi Sheng suddenly turned back.

He remembered!

[ABO] The Little Mute Had His Thoughts Heard by the Villain’s Whole Family