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The Devoted Second Male Lead Decided to Favor Someone Else Chapter 28.1
Scarlet Rose [ABO] - What Happens When the Villain Dies at the Beginning? (9)
Payne looked at Lu Shijin, his tense mood somewhat lifting and showing a small smile.
“Thank you for trying to reassure me even at a time like this.”
Lu Shijin originally wanted to say “I’m not reassuring you,” but thinking about it again, it was normal for Payne to not believe him.
Because Lu Shijin’s father, Prime Minister Lu, was a major contributor in supporting Payne’s uncle, Neptune Derain, on the throne.
If Payne were to ascend the throne, the first step would be to dispel Neptune’s power, and the Lu family would suffer great consequences for that.
Therefore, in order to protect the interests of the Lu family, the Prime Minister had to choose to stand against the future king.
In Payne’s eyes, the Lu family was probably synonymous with rebels and traitors.
So with Lu Shijin saying that he’ll help him get back everything he deserves, it sounded very amusing.
But Neptune didn’t tell anyone other than his confidants about his deal with Blood Owl, so even the Prime Minister didn’t know.
After all, it wasn’t great to tell any that their Emperor was in kahoots with a wanted criminal.
So Lu Shijin didn’t know it was a trap when he joined the operation. He was just eager to make contributions and stumbled upon this “opportunity.”
The two ran out of things to say for the moment and the room fell silent.
Lu Shijin was pondering about how to raise this heir with no backing to the throne; the road would be very hard.
And Payne was curious about why Lu Shijin would pretend to be an Alpha when he was clearly an Omega.
Lu Shijin: “You . . .”
Payne: “You . . .”
The two started talking at the same time, and hearing the other person wanted say something, both fell silent again.
Lu Shijin pushed away his plate and tidied up the table, “Your Highness, please continue.”
Payne looked at Lu Shijin, then looked back down, “It must have been very difficult to act as an Alpha.”
It was really obvious why Lu Shijin would pretend to be an Alpha.
In the current era, Omegas were at the bottom of the social hierarchy, and heavily prejudiced against.
With someone as outstanding as Lu Shijin, people would naturally think that he was an Alpha. If his identity as an Omega was revealed, how would their perceptions change?
A genius would become a birthing tool.
Thinking of this, Payne felt a pain in his heart.
He vowed to not let this happen to Lu Shijin.
Lu Shijin didn’t expect Payne to ask this, and paused before saying, “I can’t say. If I lived as an Omega, it would probably be more difficult.”
Payne nodded in agreement, “That’s why I can’t let Blood Owl’s plan succeed. If you did get pregnant, then everyone would know your secret. I can’t hurt you again.”
Feeling his concern, Lu Shijin smiled wholeheartedly.
“Thank you, your Highness. But I want to do this, not only to help you, but me as well.”
Payne didn’t believe him. He believed that Lu Shijin was saying all this to make himself feel better.
His heart couldn’t help but beat faster. He hadn’t had many interactions with Lu Shijin other than nodding to each other when they met, but Lu Shijin was actually willing to make such large sacrifices for him.
He secretly decided, if he could get through this crisis, he would definitely pay back Lu Shijin very well for his devotion.
Payne suddenly couldn’t control his urges and boldly grabbed Lu Shijin’s hand.
In his darkened pupils, there was an inconcealable passion. Payne said affectionately, “Major Lu, I’m willing to swear to my father’s spirit up in Heaven that I will not let you or your feelings down. I swear to you that I will only have one Omega in my life, you. If I dare break this vow, may Heaven’s lightning punish me.”
Lu Shijin was stunned by the sudden confession.
There were two reasons he was willing to give birth for Payne: one because the plot demanded it, and the other because he knew the soul in Payne was “Huo Lian”’s.
But Payne and “Huo Lian” looked completely different, so Lu Shijin couldn’t convince himself to treat the two in the same way yet.
Although he didn’t reject Payne, he also didn’t feel love for him.
Lu Shijin felt complicated. He didn’t understand how Payne thought his actions conveyed interest, nor did he understand why Payne suddenly started liking him.
Could it just be from sleeping together a couple times? Having feelings borne from spending time together?
In the original plot, the complicated relationship between Lu Shijin, Payne, Blood Owl, and Maypay was a huge plot point and satisfaction factor.
If Lu Shijin accepted Payne’s confession right now, not only would he break character, but it would also reduce a lot of the entertainment in the later stages.
That’s why Lu Shijin calmly took his hand back, his expression not changing.
“With the current situation, you shouldn’t swear something so serious. It might just be the influence from pheromones . . .”
Before he could finish, Payne grabbed Lu Shijin’s hand again.
To make Lu Shijin believe him, Payne actually disregarded his position and knelt down on one knee, placing one hand in front of his chest to make a vow.
Lu Shijin: “. . .”