(BL) Reborn as Lycan's Emperor's abandoned Beta concubine?!

Chapter 13: 13. Operation: makeover!

THAT SAME EVENING

XAVIER

The imperial guards had barely disappeared down the road before Ana slammed the inn’s front door shut. Click. She turned the sign to CLOSED and every customer inside looked at her.

"We’re closing early." Ana smiled a little too brightly.

Nobody argued, and a few minutes later the dining hall was empty. Only the three of us remained as the imperial letter still rested on the table. None of us spoke for several long seconds. Finally I let out a slow breath.

"There’s something I should tell you."I said.

Ana and Hin looked at me.

"If I’m really going back to the palace..." I rubbed the back of my neck. "then I don’t want to keep lying to either of you."

"We’re listening."Ana folded her arms.

"My name..."I stared at the letter and I hesitated.

"Isn’t actually Wei."

Both women blinked.

"My real name is Xavier."I said.

"..."

"..."

"That’s it?" Ana asked.

"What do you mean ’that’s it?’"I stared.

"I thought you were about to confess to murder." Ana admitted.

"I was also expecting something much more shocking."Hin nodded seriously.

I blinked several times.

"Wait, you...aren’t confused?"I asked.

"Not particularly."Ana shook her head.

"I just admitted that my name isn’t Wei!"My brain stopped working.

"Mm-hm."She nodded.

"And?"I asked.

"And nothing."She said.

I looked at Hin for help, and she simply smiled.

"I already suspected."Hin said.

"You...what?"I asked.

"You’ve called yourself Xavier in your sleep several times."She nodded.

"I have?"I asked.

"Many times."Hin nodded.

"Oh no..."I whispered.

"And." Hin continued gently. "You also accidentally mentioned a place called Earth."

"I did."I froze.

"Several times."She said as I buried my face in my hands.

"I am the worst secret keeper in history."I groaned.

"I figured there was more to the story."Ana said.

"You weren’t even curious?"I asked.

"Oh, I was."She nodded.

"Then why didn’t you ask?"I asked.

"Because whenever you were ready..."Ana smiled warmly. "You would tell us."

My chest tightened.

"Thank you." I took another deep breath. "So the truth is I am not originally from this world."

Neither woman interrupted.

"I died. My old world had no cultivation, no lycans, no beastmen. It was called Earth, I was a chef there. I got hit by a truck." I continued the explanation.

"A truck?"Ana blinked.

"It’s..." I paused. "Imagine a giant metal carriage without horses."

"That sounds terrifying."Ana nodded slowly.

"It was."I said.

"I died and woke up inside Wei’s body. I looked between them. "I inherited his memories, I know who he was, but I’m not really him. I am Xavier."

Silence filled the room. Then Ana walked over and then she placed a hand on my shoulder.

"So. You have been feeding people delicious food. Working yourself to exhaustion, helping this old inn, and treating us like family..."She said.

"Yes."I nodded.

"Then I don’t particularly care what world you’re from."She smiled.

My eyes widened.

"You don’t?"I asked.

"No."She said.

"To me..."Hin nodded. "You are still Master Wei. Or Master Xavier. I actually think Xavier is a very handsome name."

"You really don’t think I’m crazy?"I couldn’t help laughing.

"We accepted the giant traveling oven."Ana snorted.

"The reincarnation was honestly easier."Hin nodded.

I laughed so hard my stomach hurt.

"You two are unbelievable."I said while smiling.

"We know."Hin nodded.

"Now!"Ana suddenly clapped her hands.

"Now?"I blinked.

"If you are returning to the Imperial palace..."She pointed dramatically at me. "We are fixing this."

"What’s wrong with this?"I looked down.

"My dear boy..."She stared at my loose shirt. "You look like a flour sack."

"Your hair is also too plain."Hin nodded immediately.

"My hair?"I asked.

"Yes."Hin nodded. "It deserves better."

I took one cautious step backward.

"Why do I suddenly feel unsafe?"I asked.

"Hin."Ana grinned.

"Yes?"Hin asked.

"Operation Makeover."Ana smirked.

"Understood."Hin’s eyes sparkled.

"Nope."I turned toward the door.

"Absolutely not."Ana blocked it.

"I don’t need a makeover!"I groaned.

"You absolutely do."Ana smirked.

"I cook!"I groaned again.

"And now." Ana said proudly. "You are going to cook while looking devastatingly handsome."

"That sentence scares me."I whispered.

"It should." Hin had already disappeared upstairs.

She returned carrying brushes, ribbons, hair oil, several expensive robes she’d carefully preserved from Wei’s belongings, and enough grooming supplies to open a beauty salon.

"Hin."I asked.

"Yes?"She said.

"Why do you own all of that?"I asked again.

"I was your maid."Hin nodded. "We also need visit market for a new outfit."

Hell no."I tried to leave, but instead, I was pulled by Ana.

"We are going."She said.

I should have escaped when I had the chance. Instead I was standing in the middle of the village market while Ana marched ahead like a general leading an army. Hin walked beside me carrying a notebook.

"Ana..."I began.

"No."She said.

"I haven’t said anything yet."I sighed.

"I already know what you’re going to say."She said.

"You do?"I asked.

"You were going to ask if we could go back."Hin said.

"Maybe."I sighed again.

"No."Ana said.

"I miss the kitchen."I sighed.

"You will survive."Ana said.

"I won’t."I said.

"You will."I said.

"Please help me."I looked at Hin.

"I’m with Ana today, Master Xavier."She smiled apologetically.

"Traitor."I groaned.

"I learned from the best."Hin said.

Ana looked far too pleased with herself. We stopped in front of the largest tailor’s shop in the village.

’The sign above the door read: ’Golden thread tailoring’ a young assistant bowed politely.

"Welcome."A voice said.

"Is Master Chen here?"Ana smiled.

"I’m afraid the master is delivering clothes to a nearby estate."She said.

"When will he return?"Ana frowned.

"Perhaps this afternoon."The assistant thought for a moment.

"No."Ana crossed her arms.

"No?"The poor assistant blinked.

"I need him now." Ana said.

"He should still be on the northern road..."The assistant looked helpless.

"Hin."Ana immediately turned around.

"Yes?"Hin said.

"We’re going."Ana said.

"Going where?" I asked.

"To catch the tailor."Ana said.

"We are chasing a tailor?"I asked.

"Correct."Ana said.

"I have officially lost control of my own life."I groaned.

Almost twenty minutes later, a decorated carriage appeared on the road. Bolts of expensive fabric could be seen through the open back, Ana waved both arms.

"Master Chen!"Ana shouted.

The carriage stopped, a middle aged man with neatly tied black hair leaned out.

"Ana?" He asked.

"I thought something terrible had happened."He climbed down with a puzzled expression.

"It has."Ana said.

"What is it?"Chen face became serious.

"I need your help." Ana said.

"With?"He blinked.

"Make him irresistible."Ana grabbed my wrist and dragged me forward.

"..."

"..."

Master Chen slowly looked me up and down. Plain clothes, loose shirt, messy white hair and flour still clinging to one sleeve.

"You dragged me off the road." He stared. "For him?"

"Yes."Ana said.

The tailor walked around me once, then twice. He suddenly stopped and his eyes widened.

"Good heavens."Chen whispered.

"What?"I asked.

"Where have you hidden him?"Chen asked.

"Huh?"I asked.

"You have hidden this face under that?" He pointed accusingly at my shirt.

"I like this shirt."I said.

"It is a crime."He shook his head.

"That’s harsh."I sighed.

At that moment another woman stepped out of the carriage, she looked to be around Master Chen’s age.

"Oh?" She walked closer. "Who is this handsome young man?"

"A victim." I answered honestly.

"I like him already."She laughed.

"This is my wife, Mei." Master Chen introduced her.

"Such beautiful hair."Mei gently brushed a lock of my snow white hair away from my face.

"Personal space."I immediately stepped back.

"My husband."Mei started.

"Yes, dear?"He asked.

"We’re cancelling today’s deliveries."She said.

"Of course."Master Chen didn’t even hesitate.

"Wait." I looked between them. "You cancelled work?"

"A face like yours deserves proper clothing."Mei nodded.

"I already have clothes."I said.

"They’re terrible."She shook her head and I sighed again.

"Everyone keeps insulting my wardrobe."I said.

"Because it deserves it." Master Chen opened one of the large travelling trunks.

Inside layed rows upon rows of luxurious robes, silks, embroidered jackets, belts, layered robes in elegant shades of black, ivory, deep blue, and crimson. Even I had to admit they looked incredible. Master Chen began holding outfits against me one after another.

"No. No. Definitely not. Hm..." He paused while holding up an elegant black robe with silver embroidery.

"Oh."His wife immediately smiled. "That’s the one."

"The white hair..."He nodded slowly. "The black robe, the silver embroidery..." He stepped back. "It will make his eyes stand out, and his shoulders."

"It suits Master Xavier."Hin nodded enthusiastically.

"I knew bringing him here was the right decision."Ana added.

"Can someone ask what I think?"I asked.

"No." Four people answered at once.

"I don’t like democracy anymore."I sighed.

"Young man." Master Chen smiled.

"Yes?"I asked.

"Go behind the screen."He said.

"Why?"I asked.

"So we can prove we’re right."He said.

"I have a bad feeling."I sighed.

"You’ll survive."Mei added.

With absolutely no support from anyone I took the robes and disappeared behind the changing screen. A minute later, I stepped out. The marketplace became strangely quiet, even nearby shoppers slowed down. Master Chen stared as his wife covered her mouth.

"Oh..."She whispered.

"Well."Ana blinked.

"I knew it."Hin smiled proudly.

"What?" I looked down. "It’s just clothes."

"No..."Master Chen shook his head. "It isn’t, you have been hiding a masterpiece under a flour sack."

Nearby merchants openly stared. A passing young woman walked directly into a fruit cart without taking her eyes off me.

"Oh!"She gasped as apples rolled everywhere. She turned bright red before hurrying away. "Sorry!"

"Is that really Chef Wei?"Another customer whispered to his friend.

"I think so."He whispered.

"He looks like a young noble."First one added.

"No..." The second man shook his head. "Better."

"Is it really that different?"I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly.

"YES."All four of them answered immediately.

I suddenly had a horrible feeling. If random villagers were reacting like this, what in the world was waiting for me inside the Imperial palace?

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!