CH 28

Title: 顶级掠食者 (Alpha Predator)

Author：水千丞 (ShuiQianCheng)

Translator: 月野 見事 (TsukinoMigoto @ kin0monogatari)

Protagonists ：沈岱 (Shen Dai -MC), 瞿末予 (Qu Moyu -ML)

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From this dinner conversation, Shen Dai learned a little about the growth process of the three of them. You Baiyue and Qu Chengchen were the same age, and they were classmates before high school, so they were naturally closer. As the characteristics of the second sex became more pronounced during adolescence, coupled with studying abroad, the three became less acquainted after a few years apart.

The marriage contract between Qu Moyu and You Baiyue was also based on the terms of business cooperation. It was not set in childhood as imagined by Shen Dai. From their conversation, Shen Dai could already guess what happened to the You family, who had been going downhill for many years. Things which are beneficial for Qu Moyu – prospecting and mining rights.

As early as fifteen years ago, the state stopped issuing relevant qualifications to private enterprises. The previous ones had to be reviewed and evaluated by various departments such as land resources, planning, and environmental protection for every three years. If they failed, they would be withdrawn. It also has the qualifications to present complete documents. The value is inestimable.

Due to a major mistake in the strategic direction, the You family missed the technological development in the mining field, which resulted in the loss of international competitiveness and most of the market. Today, the stock price has plummeted and the debt is heavy, but the You family’s assets which were accumulated over the years are still very considerable. The mining resources, talents, technology, equipment and qualifications that have come down have attracted many companies in the industry.

For the protection of strategic resources, You family’s mergers and acquisitions must completely exclude foreign-funded enterprises, and there are only a handful of companies that can afford such a large plate. The final competition falls between a state-owned enterprise and Xingzhou. From the perspective of policy risk, the You family is more inclined to state-owned enterprises, but from the perspective of interests, Xingzhou can give them more profits. The qualifications of some minerals owned by the You family are just what Xingzhou lacks and wants to develop. Under the pressure from above, to win this important merger and consolidate the relationship between the two, it is necessary to rely on marriage to gain more rationality and trust.

This information has been analysed by many industry insiders on the Internet, but they do not know that the object of Qu Moyu’s marriage has changed from You Baiyue to Shen Dai, and Shen Dai also confirmed from their conversation that this was the marriage’s true goal.

At present, the complicated mergers and acquisitions are still in progress. Obviously, the day the hammer fell was the day he and Qu Moyu would be divorced.

When talking about topics related to mergers and acquisitions, You Baiyue naturally puts away the state that seems to be releasing its charm all the time. He is very concerned about the progress of the entire cooperation. He speaks clearly and has relevant knowledge reserves regarding them. Obviously, he does not only understand fashion and fun.　

Shen Dai listened quietly, thinking about what You Baiyue said in the bathroom just now. Perhaps, this person is more intelligent, sober and more managerial than he thinks. At least, he must have known alphas better than himself.

Shen Dai took a peek at Qu Moyu without being obvious. This person shines at all times. This person makes countless people yearn for him. He might not be a person without feelings or emotions, but perhaps someone who can affect his feelings has not yet appeared in front of him.

After eating, You Baiyue and Qu Chengchen walked away holding hands. The two seem to be lovers in love. Qu Chengchen will peel the shrimp for You Baiyue and You Baiyue will feed him. But these impeccable intimacies make Shen Dai feel awkward most of the time. He feels like the two are acting. And he doesn’t know if they are acting for others to see or for each other.

He doesn’t know how Qu Moyu feels when he sees the love between the two. After all, that was his fiancée, the one he likes and wants to marry. When comparing heart to heart, will Qu Moyu not feel pain because of love like him?

Qu Moyu replied a few messages before raising his head and said, “Let’s go home.” He appears to be indifferent.

Shen Dai didn’t say anything. Before he got up and left the table, he took a last look at the night scene outside the window. It seemed that he had sat by the window that night, sitting opposite of Qu Moyu while enjoying the bustling city that never sleeps. When people have dinner together, no matter how much estrangement there is in his heart, he will still be happy for that momentary dream, but unfortunately… He is afraid that such an opportunity will never come again in the future.

When they were in the car, Qu Moyu asked, “What did You Baiyue say in the bathroom?”

“He said I should dress better.” Shen Dai has been thinking about how to answer Qu Moyu’s inevitable questions. He can’t directly say that both You Baiyue and Qu Chengchen want to help him get Qu Moyu’s mark.

Qu Moyu laughed and said, “Dress up better, for what? To seduce me?”

Shen Dai spoke in a low voice, “That’s probably what he meant.”

“You don’t need to rely on clothes.” Qu Moyu glanced at Shen Dai sideways, “However, you really should learn from him how to please your alpha.”

Even though he knew that this was just Qu Moyu being flirtatious, Shen Dai was still heartbroken hearing ‘your alpha’.

“We get bored sometimes.” Qu Moyu played with the simple platinum ring on the index finger of his left hand, “I’ve been busy all day. So I hope you can make me feel more relaxed and happy when I get home. Don’t talk to me about work if I don’t take the initiative to mention it.”

Shen Dai lowered his head and said solemnly, “Okay.”

“However, you are actually smarter and more interesting than most omegas. It’s not because of your interesting personality, but…” Qu Moyu didn’t say anything after ‘but’. It seems difficult to describe Shen Dai’s interesting personality in words. This person is ‘interesting’ but only he has really seen, enjoyed, and possessed them.

From Qu Moyu’s point of view, these remarks are regarded as a compliment, but in Shen Dai’s ears, they are undoubtedly contemptuous in disguise. But after this whole day of discussions, his heart has become numb, and he can’t even feel the pain. Compared to what Qu Moyu did in his office in the afternoon, these sentences couldn’t hurt much. He asked calmly, “Why don’t you go and chase You Baiyue back?” After a pause, he continued, “He meets all your requirements.”

Qu Moyu glanced at Shen Dai unexpectedly, if it wasn’t for Shen Dai’s indifferent expression, he would have thought these words were provocative. He said: “At that time, everyone thought that he was really marked by Qu Chengchen. Neither me nor my family can accept this.”

“But you know now that it was just a temporary mark. And they weren’t married.”

“What’s the need? I already got what I want.”

“Business cooperation is only one aspect of it. Don’t you…” Shen Dai secretly stabilised his mind, “Don’t you like him and want to marry him?”

Qu Moyu smiled: “It’s not difficult to find another S-class omega suitable for marriage.”

Shen Dai looked at Qu Moyu’s confident appearance but felt chills all over his body. In the eyes of these people, marriage seems to be just a budget-conscious business. He finally understood that Qu Moyu’s love for You Baiyue was nothing but an affirmation of You Baiyue’s social value and reproductive value. It was a compliment to the partner, and a constant stimulation to Qu Chengchen, a competitor. It’s not just love in the mundane sense, that heavy, ritualistic, shy and beautiful emotion in the hearts of ordinary people.

It’s ridiculous that he is worried that Qu Moyu will suffer because of love. It is naturally the trouble that only ordinary beings like him have. As for the S-class alpha…

“S-class alphas have no emotions,” You Baiyue’s words echoed in his ears repeatedly.

When the day of grandma’s surgery finally arrived, Shen Dai was restless. But he still had to look full of confidence in order to comfort his grandmother constantly and show her various panda videos to help her relax.

Cheng Ruoze was helping him with various procedures. At this moment, Shen Dai was very grateful to Qu Moyu. The elderly in the family were sick and needed help the most. Without Cheng Ruoze’s help, he would definitely be more embarrassed by himself.

Seeing the moment his grandmother entered the operating room, Shen Dai finally sat on the chair tiredly, took a deep breath, and began to pray for the kindness of various gods to make the operation go smoothly.

Cheng Ruoze sat next to Shen Dai and comforted: “Shen Gong, you don’t have to worry too much. The doctor is confident. Your grandma will be okay.”

“Thank you, Assistant Cheng. You have been helping me a lot during this time.” Shen Dai said sincerely.

“It’s my job. It should be.”

Having said that, it is really inappropriate for a graduate of a famous school to do such chores, but Cheng Ruoze is hard-working and very careful and appropriate. Shen Dai feels sorry for him: “In any case, I am very grateful to you. When grandma is stable, I will invite you to dinner.”

Cheng Ruoze said with a smile: “Then I will welcome this meal.” Looking at Shen Dai’s pale face and worried eyes, he sighed secretly in his heart. Why is this person his boss’s contract wife?

Shen Dai looked at his watch: “You haven’t eaten yet. It’s almost noon.”

“You haven’t eaten either. I know you must wait here. Let me go buy two lunch boxes and come back to eat with you.”

“Okay, thank you. I have to make you work hard again.”

Cheng Ruoze said with a smile, “Don’t be too polite with me.”

After Cheng Ruoze left, Shen Dai closed his eyes and leaned against the wall. He hadn’t slept well last night and now his tense nerves relaxed a little. Sleepiness and tiredness swept over him.

Just when he was about to fall asleep in a daze, he heard a clearly timid, small voice not far away from him: “Ah Dai.”

To Shen Dai, the sound was like thunder on the ground. He suddenly opened his eyes, and in his eyes, he saw a vague outline of a thin, fair, and weak man. His scalp was numb, and he stood up subconsciously.

The clearer and clearer he saw the person in front of him, the more disgusted he felt. Even though the man looks good-looking. The years of old age left on his face are not prominent. He is a gentle, graceful, handsome and elegant person that makes people want to look at him. The eyes will have a good feeling in the heart about his personality. Only if you can’t see his true nature.

Shen Dai only felt cold down to the bone in his hands and feet. He slowly clenched his fists, looked at this familiar but also unfamiliar person – his omega father, Shen Qin – and asked coldly, “How did you find this place?”

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Next update: 2022.04.26

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*Translator’s note: Even Cheng Ruoze acknowledges Shen Dai’s charm. Lol. Sorry for any mistakes. I didn’t have time to proofread as I am busy with my thesis and also I got infected with the damn virus. Damn it! It was a horrible experience! -K