In the resplendent banquet hall, a ten-foot-long, teardrop-shaped diamond chandelier hung from the ceiling.
Beneath the chandelier, a young woman in a milk-white gown was surrounded by several young men in sharp suits.
The men gazed at the delicate and lovely young woman, and unseemly thoughts began to stir in their minds.
Wen Ran met their malicious gazes, and her heart sank.
She raised her voice, trying to sound more intimidating.
“I am Wen Ran Mite.”
“Mite?
The White Lion Family?”
“Oh, so you’re the waste from the Mite family, the one without a Spiritual Body.”
Due to a galactic collapse, the environment on Beast Star had been drastically altered.
Everyone, human and Beastman alike, was affected to some extent.
Beastman males, who already possessed the genes of beasts and had sharp senses, found it difficult to suppress their animalistic nature due to the changes in the environment and magnetic fields.
Their spiritual power existed in a constant state of agitation and tension.
The slightest provocation could send them into a violent rampage.
To cope with the danger posed by the males, the bodies of females also underwent changes.
They gained the ability to soothe and guide the males’ Spiritual Seas and developed their own Spiritual Bodies and female pheromones.
Having no Spiritual Body meant having no spiritual power, and without spiritual power, one could not stabilize a male’s Spiritual Sea.
“No Spiritual Body?
Then we’ve just been wasting our breath.”
Demar, standing nearby, still wore a humble smile.
“Now, you can’t say that.
The Mite White Lion Family is a First-class Family.”
“Even without a Spiritual Body, she’s still not someone a Second-class Family like ours can hope to associate with.”
Hearing this, the burly Quik standing beside them scoffed.
“Her being here just means the Mite Family Master sent her to be a socialite.
If that’s the case, how are we not good enough for her?”
“Even if I don’t have a Spiritual Body, I am still a Mite.
My brother is Ize Mite, a Junior General in the Imperial City.
I suggest you think carefully before you act!” Wen Ran lifted her chin, her beautiful eyes filled with disdain.
‘A mere Second-class Family, how dare they harbor such fantasies.’
Hearing Wen Ran’s “threat,” the corners of Demar’s lips curled into a smirk.
‘This girl may look docile, but she’s actually a little spitfire.’
At the mention of Ize’s name, the lecherous expressions on the men’s faces faltered.
“You…” Quik’s face darkened, and he took a step forward, only to be held back by his companion.
“Forget it.
She’s from the White Lion Family.
Let’s go,” Demar said, giving his companion a meaningful look as they dragged the furious Quik away.
Wen Ran breathed a silent sigh of relief, her eyes scanning the room.
Standing in a corner, she listened carefully to the surrounding conversations.
It turned out these men were from second and third-class families, and from branch lineages at that.
The females present were also from lower-class families, unfavored and lacking in ability.
Considering what Quik had said earlier, she realized this banquet was probably a ‘matchmaking party.’
A cold sneer touched her lips.
‘That so-called father of mine really knows how to make use of his “waste.”‘
‘He had the audacity to send me, the esteemed young lady of the Mite family, to attend such a low-class banquet.’
To attract the females’ attention, the males in the hall were constantly releasing their pheromones.
Wen Ran cursed inwardly.
She regretted not bringing a calming agent with her.
Her only choice was to quickly leave the banquet hall and head to the garden outside for some fresh air to clear her head.
Demar, who had been observing her in secret, naturally noticed her distress.
Demar took a sip of red wine from his glass and placed it on the tray of a passing waiter.
He then turned and exited the banquet hall as well.
Over on the other side, a drunken Quik staggered after him.
In the garden, Wen Ran let out a shaky breath.
She used her Smart Brain to send a message to Ize.
[Brother, I’m not feeling well.]
Ize, who was in the middle of a meeting, felt his Smart Brain vibrate.
He glanced down and saw Wen Ran’s message.
His sharp brows furrowed, but he looked up and continued to listen to his subordinate’s report.
Seeing Ize frown, the subordinate assumed he was dissatisfied with the report.
He grew nervous, and his report became halting and uncertain.
Ize twirled a pen between his long, slender fingers, the image of a girl with flushed cheeks flashing through his mind.
Distracted, he let the pen slip from his fingers and clatter onto the desk.
He shot up from his chair and strode out of the room.
“Pause the briefing.
Wait for my word.”
[I’ll be home soon.]
Wen Ran read the message, certain now that she had secured a place in Ize’s heart.
‘The next step is to put down roots, to settle in completely.
That way, even if I’m thrown out later, I won’t end up dying a miserable death like in my past life.’
[I’m not at home.
Father sent me to a banquet at Shengshi.]
[Brother, the scent of male pheromones here is so strong…
I can hardly breathe.]
The two back-to-back messages made Ize’s expression turn cold and grim.
Banquets held at Shengshi were always matchmaking parties.
‘If it were a banquet for a First-class Family, Father would have definitely told me.’
‘That means the people at Wen Ran’s banquet must be from second or third-class families…
perhaps even just branch lineages.’
Ize’s lips tightened into a thin line.
‘What on earth was Father thinking?’
[Go wait outside.
I’m on my way.]
Just as Wen Ran was about to reply, a dark shadow fell over her.
It was that Black Ape from before, Demar Villa!
He was tall and slender, with long black hair draped over his shoulders and windswept bangs.
Despite being from a mere Second-class Family, he had the bearing of a Duke from the Imperial City.
He wore a captivating smile, but the warmth didn’t reach his eyes.
Wen Ran’s breath caught in her throat. You are reading on g.com, the official source.
Her sixth sense screamed that this man was trouble.
“Miss Mite, what a coincidence.
We meet again.”
Wen Ran stood up to leave, but the man leaned in closer.
“Get out of my way!”
To the man, the girl’s feigned ferocity looked like a haughty kitten throwing a tantrum—not the least bit threatening.
As the man drew closer, Wen Ran reached for the emergency button on her Smart Brain.
Once pressed, the Imperial City Security Patrol would arrive within five minutes—a guarantee the capital provided for the safety of all females.
But Demar had anticipated this.
The moment Wen Ran raised her arm, he seized her wrist.
Her wrist was slender, her skin as smooth and white as milk, looking exquisite even in the dim moonlight.
The wonderful sensation made Demar pause for a moment.
“Your hands are so soft, Miss Mite.”
The man’s thumb caressed the back of her hand, sending a shiver through Wen Ran and raising goosebumps on her arm.
She struggled but couldn’t break free.
Her delicate brows knitted together tightly.
“You’re so beautiful, Miss Mite.
Even your frown is enough to make a man’s heart ache.”
He reached out to smooth her furrowed brow, but Wen Ran dodged his touch.
“Don’t touch me with your filthy hands!
Let me go, or you’ll be sorry!
My brother is Junior General Ize Mite!”
“If the White Lion Family Head sent her here, he’s basically agreeing to one of us becoming her mate.”
“Why are you wasting your breath talking to her?
Just mark her.
Once that’s done, not even Ize Mite can say a thing,” Quik slurred, swaying forward reeking of alcohol.
Wen Ran wrinkled her nose.
‘He stinks.’
Her undisguised look of disgust was all it took to provoke the drunken Quik.
“The Black Bear Aaron Family is a Second-class Family too!
How am I not good enough for a piece of trash like you?”
“Demar, hold her down!
I’m going to mark her right now!”
Quik’s face twisted into a ferocious snarl.
He smashed the champagne bottle in his hand onto the ground and stomped toward her.
The color drained from Wen Ran’s face.
Panic began to set in.
She glanced around wildly, but the spot was too secluded; no one was passing by.
“Let go of me!” Wen Ran stomped her high heel down hard on Demar’s foot.
But he didn’t even seem to feel the pain.
In fact, a faint hint of pleasure seemed to cross his face.
A hand seized Wen Ran’s delicate chin.
The grip was so strong that it left an angry red mark on her tender skin in seconds.
The sight of that glaring red mark only made Quik more excited.