Together 2

36. Apologize

At the Lotus liquor shop, two men were ordering drinks and food. While one of them kept downing one jar after another, the other simply kept looking at the former with a smile. "Tang San, is something wrong? You haven't touched your food at all, and you've been drinking." Cao Yuchen asked. Xiao Zhan sighed as he picked up his jar. "Everything went wrong after I applied to join the knights. I might not even be able to take the entrance examination." Saying so, he chugged his next jar of liquor.

Cao Yuchen nodded, feeling slightly bad. "I see. I'm sorry to hear that. You must've worked hard." Xiao Zhan slammed the empty jar on the table before holding another jar. "I'll have to wait for the official announcement." He said as he wiped away the liquor that trickled out of his mouth. 'More than not being able to join... why am I actually upset that Master Yibo opposed it?'

Suddenly, Xiao Zhan remembered his conversation with Wang Yibo before he decided to become a knight. 'You should go where your heart leads.' 'I guess I believed that Master Yibo would support me unconditionally.' Xiao Zhan sighed again and held his head. "I'm sorry." Cao Yuchen said suddenly, making Xiao Zhan look at him, feeling confused.

"I... don't know how to console people in times like this." Cao Yuchen said. "No no! It's not you!" Xiao Zhan said instantly. "Rather how is your body?" "I heard from my doctor that I'm doing much better." "That's great!" Xiao Zhan beamed.

Xiao Zhan diverted the topic. "If you were sick... were you always in bad health?" "Actually... I have a brother who is vying for succession. He had been poisoning my food for a long time." Cao Yuchen said, making Xiao Zhan spit out the liquor in his mouth. 'Come to think of it... I thought his condition was too serious for an injury like that.' "I was born with a weak body. So, I guess he thought it wouldn't be strange if I died soon. I knew he was ambitious, but I never thought he would do such a thing."

Xiao Zhan fumed as he slammed his fist on his table. "Did you tell anyone?!" "There's no concrete evidence. It was a very meticulously made plan." Cao Yuchen said. "So, you're letting go just because there is no concrete evidence?!" Xiao Zhan asked, feeling shocked. "We have to make him confess!" Cao Yuchen sighed. "There's nothing I can do. My father hasn't even called me for a long time. There's no one on my side even though I'm dying."

Xiao Zhan slammed the table before leaning forward towards Cao Yuchen. "This isn't the time to be discouraged! You're healthy now, so get revenge! I want you to speak proudly and look down on those who have been ignoring you!" "You think I can do it?" Cao Yuchen asked. "Of course you can!"

"Thank you." Cao Yuchen said with a warm smile, making Xiao Zhan return it before he picked up another jar of liquor. "Now, for a fresh start!" The two of them clinked their jars before they continued chugging the liquor.

***

"Thank you, Tang San. You're the first person to tell me that." Cao Yuchen said in a sloppy, drunken voice, making Xiao Zhan laugh. "Yuchen... did you get drunk with just two drinks?" "Actually, this is the first time I drank alcohol in my life. I was so sick that I couldn't make a decent friend, neither could I drink. This is honestly like a dream come true."

Xiao Zhan was stunned. 'We've only met twice, but I can say he lived a hard life.' "Oh... I'm sorry I made things uncomfortable for you." Cao Yuchen apologized, making Xiao Zhan shake his head. "No. You can do as you please. I have many shortcomings, but please take care of me Yuchen, no, A-Chen."

"This is the first time I had a lot of work to do. This isn't a dream, right?" Cao Yichen said as he smiled.  "Then as your friend, if there's anything I can do to help, I'll do my best to help you." Xiao Zhan said, although he turned around, feeling slightly embarrassed. "I mean... I have to figure out how to help but still..."

"You said you're having a hard time joining the knights, right? I can help." Cao Yuchen said. "How?" Xiao Zhan asked. "I'll make you a knight!" Cao Yuchen said, smiling brightly, making Xiao Zhan burst out laughing. "That's the funniest thing I ever heard! Thanks for the laugh, A-Chen!" "That's true but... I'm the crown prince." Cao Yuchen said.

Xiao Zhan kept laughing before he suddenly stilled when he heard those words. "Huh?" "I'm the crown prince. If you want, I can appoint you as my direct escort." Cao Yuchen said, making Xiao Zhan look down. "Tang San, are you alright?" Cao Yuchen said as he placed a hand on Xiao Zhan's back. However, Xiao Zhan ended up puking out a rainbow from his mouth before falling to a side and fainting, shocking Cao Yuchen. "Ah! Tang San! Wake up!" Cao Yuchen said hastily as he kept shaking Xiao Zhan awake.

***

At the commander's office of the Knights of Honor, there was a huge stack of papers on the table. "These are all the applications we received. But why are you suddenly reviewing them?" Tai Yu asked. "I have to check something urgently. I'll straighten this up, so you can go back." Wang Yibo said as he kept scanning one document after another. "Yes sir."

'I need to find Lord Xiao's application.' Wang Yibo thought as he kept checking all the applications. 'If you fail the first test...' Suddenly, Wang Yibo's eyes widened as if he realized something. 'I just realized. I don't know what name he used. Of course, he wouldn't apply with his real name. Now that was obvious.'

Wang Yibo sighed. 'I know better than anyone else that Lord Xiao is qualified. This isn't a challenge he took lightly. But...' "Aaah! Out of all the things...!" Wang Yibo ruffled his hair angrily, loosening his ponytail in the process as the brown locks fell forward, masking his face.

'If it's based on skill alone, I know he would pass. But... living alone with a group of knights, who are all alphas, an omega's body is exposed to too many dangers. I thought his out of the box thinking and outspoken personality was interesting. But...' Wang Yibo sighed as he rested back on the sofa. "This time I'm a little... I'm sorry."