CH 98

Title: 顶级掠食者 (Alpha Predator)

Author：水千丞 (ShuiQianCheng)

Translator: K (@kin0monogatari)

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

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Monday’s hot news came about Chuanghai Group. It is said that Chuanghai’s capital chain has been broken. Many debts have defaulted and the stock has plummeted.

After Chuanghai was acquired by Xingzhou, it was considered to be forced to continue its life for a period of time, but the high debt and the unresolved business situation were ultimately unable to recover. They were facing the risk of delisting at any time. There is also another rumour circulating in the industry that after Xingzhou took away Chuanghai’s mining and prospecting qualifications, Chuanghai has no high-quality assets left, and they have used some complex financial means to transfer risks to the market. This resulted in the stock price going all the way down. The final result is that although Xingzhou has to bear part of the debt, the benefits far outweigh the losses, and after a brief return to light, Chuanghai has slipped all the way to the bottom.

Among them, the one who made the most profit would be Xingzhou Group. Xingzhou took the most precious qualifications from the You family with one hand, and obtained huge loans through the Zhou family with the other hand. Their own stock price is already high while the other side has repeatedly accumulated and then they sold Chuanghai’s stock. They spent a year diluting the debt to shareholders and obtained the maximum benefit with the least cost. This was Qu Moyu’s first battle after commanding Xingzhou. It stabilised party disputes internally and expanded capital externally. The battle was sinister, ruthless and beautiful. It also showed the industry the strength of this young president.

Usually, the scientific researchers in the research institute didn’t care much about the company’s capital level gossip. One is that they don’t really understand it. And the other is that it has nothing to do with them. But today, many people are discussing the rise and fall of Chuanghai, and how Qu Moyu strategize and integrate resources to lead Xingzhou upstream during such a bad industry environment.

Qu Moyu’s image in the eyes of employees can be called ‘sublime’. He is a perfect person who seems to have no flaws. Although the relationship with Shen Dai once became a hot gossip, the disparity in the status of the two and for him to ‘give up a wealthy family to marry his true love’ is so in line with various elements of fantasy fairy tales that Qu Moyu is looked up to in the eyes of ordinary people. The company’s cult of his personality is also very beneficial to his management and decision-making.

But Shen Dai always felt that some people deliberately discussed Qu Moyu’s wisdom around him to flatter him. He pretended not to understand and did not participate in the discussion. After all, only he knew what methods Qu Moyu used to achieve those goals and he happened to be one of the cannon fodder. At the same time, he didn’t think that these people were shallow and pointless. After all, he was also bewitched by Qu Moyu’s halo until he got too close and was burned all over.

However, this news still made Shen Dai happy. It can be said that the only happy thing since this time has nothing to do with Qu Moyu, but it is to watch You Xinghai’s family fall. Three generations of glory destroyed by his hands. It is really heartwarming.  

Cheng Zimei said quietly: “After this, your cheap half-brother probably won’t be too proud.”

Then Shen Dai thought of You Baiyue: “Has he posted anything on the Internet?”

“He and Qu Chengchen have broken up. This kind of young master, who has been spoiled since childhood, if the family goes bankrupt, I don’t know if he can bear it.” Cheng Zimei curled her lips, “Nothing is permanent in this world. Back then, I thought that to be born in such a family is only something to be dreamed of. But now, I would only wake up laughing.”

Shen Dai smiled: “Let’s go. Let’s have a good meal.” 

***

In the afternoon, a new batch of materials arrived. Shen Dai also had to wait for the equipment to arrive for him to run his data. So he gave himself some overtime. Unexpectedly, when he planned to leave at 9 o’clock, it rained heavily outside. He saw that the rain was heavy and wouldn’t let up soon. He did not bring an umbrella. He planned to wait for the rain to be slightly less heavy before leaving. He was the only one in the laboratory at night and the quiet environment seemed very suitable for writing. He revised his paper, completely unaware of the passage of time.

That is until his phone rings.

Shen Dai regained his senses. He picked up his mobile phone and saw that it was a call from Qu Moyu.

“Hello?”

The person from the other end of the phone didn’t speak. It was as if he didn’t expect the call to be connected so quickly: “Ah Dai, are you not asleep yet?”

Shen Dai felt that Qu Moyu’s tone was a bit strange. He glanced at the time. It was already past eleven o’clock. If he didn’t pick up the call, he wouldn’t know it was already late. He said, “I’ll go to bed now.” 

“Don’t go to bed yet.” Qu Moyu hurriedly said, “I’m almost there. I have something I want to show you. “

“…what is it?”

“I’m getting to where you live now. I’m driving.”

Shen Dai looked out the window. The rain was a little light now, but it still didn’t stop. It’s so late. On such a rainy night, Qu Moyu wants to show him what?

“You must take a look. I just want you to take a look.” Qu Moyu was afraid that Shen Dai would hang up.

“It’s very late now.” Shen Dai frowned, “What’s the matter…?”

“You can only watch it now. You won’t be able to see it tomorrow.” Qu Moyu’s voice had a hint of pleading, “Don’t hang up, okay? It will arrive soon. Only food a few minutes. I will go back after you look at it.”

Shen Dai knows Qu Moyu’s character very well. The more something hinders him, the more he will do it. The nanny and Qiuqiu had already slept by this point. He couldn’t let him wake them up. So Shen Dai had to say: “I’m not at home. I’m at the company.”

“You’re at the company? Is it because of the rain that you can’t go back? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“What do you want me to see? Just bring it to the company.”

“Okay, I’ll be there right away.” 

A few minutes later, Shen Dai heard a ‘ding’ from the elevator. Such a subtle sound is inaudible during the day, but in the middle of the night when no one was there, it was exceptionally loud.

Then, the door of the laboratory was pushed open. Qu Moyu was half wet from the rain, holding a black umbrella that kept dripping in one hand and a pot of flowers in the other.

It was a pot of Epiphyllum. The only dangling milky white flower was ready to bloom.

Qu Moyu threw the umbrella aside and walked over with the pot of Epiphyllum. His eyes are full of joy and anticipation: “Look. The Epiphyllum I planted is about to bloom.”

A faint fragrance wafted into his nose. Shen Dai recognised the smell right away. This floral fragrance that has accompanied him for nearly 30 years is very familiar, but the more familiar it seems to be, the easier it is to be ignored. When he smells the fragrance of the real Epiphyllum flower, his first reaction is that it actually smells good.

Qu Moyu put the flower pot on the experimental table and wiped his wet face and hair with a napkin at hand.

Shen Dai looked at him in a daze “You… just want me to see this?” In the middle of the night, he came to him with a pot of flowers in the heavy rain. It’s just to show him the short-lived flowers?

“Yeah, it will only bloom for an hour. So it’s good to watch it now.”

Shen Dai looked at Qu Moyu’s soft, wet hair, and then at the pot of Epiphyllum that was only soaked with water droplets. A feeling of unspeakable sadness arose in his heart.

Qu Moyu would never know what the special significance of appreciating Epiphyllum blooming is to him.

“Actually, there are several pots at home. Didn’t you realise it? I have them in my office too.” Qu Moyu gently stroked the slowly spreading flower with his fingers, as gentle as he was stroking his lover’s hair, “I heard that there are some short-lived flowers. It hasn’t bloomed for many years. I don’t know when it will bloom and I don’t know how many flowers it will bloom at a time. It only takes an hour for them to bloom and then decay. It is so fragrant, so beautiful, but so stubborn.” He smiled. “It’s really similar to you.” 

When he met Qu Moyu’s warm eyes, Shen Dai subconsciously closed his eyes. He knew that he should pack up and go home now. But looking at the pot of Epiphyllum… This is a rare beauty that will only bloom once and it would be against the will of God to miss it. The memories of his childhood kept pouring into his mind and his heart was aching.

Qu Moyu wiped his face, picked up the pot of Epiphyllum and placed it on the table by the window: “Ah Dai, let’s listen to the rain and enjoy watching the flower together.”

Shen Dai hesitated: “It’s very late…”

“Just wait for a while. I’ll take you back.” Qu Moyu came over again and took Shen Dai’s hand, “It only blooms for a short time. Don’t miss it, okay?”

Shen Dai slowly pulled his wrist back: “Okay. ” 

Outside the window, it was raining and windy. The dark clouds had covered most of the moon. The sky was dark, low, and heavy. The strings of water droplets on the glass reflected the 24-hour lights in the core business district. Drop by drop into the starlight in the dark night. The two sat facing each other by the window, looking at the pot of Epiphyllum that was placed between them.

The flower is gently spreading the layers of petals. At first, the outer long petals put their guards up. But it is like the guards slowly put away the long spear and opened it calmly, followed by the inner soft and transparent petals one by one starting to stand up. It was like a dancer shaking her flexible waist as she shivered shyly, bloomed, and finally bloomed to the extreme, revealing the cream-colored stalks. It was bold and beautiful. The intoxicating scent of the floral fragrance fills the entire space.

Shen Dai looked at it and his eyes gradually blurred.

When he was young, he had several Epiphyllum plants at home and he could always enjoy this beautiful view all year round. When the Epiphyllum was about to bloom, he and both his grandmother and grandfather would prepare hot tea and cakes and they would watch it while chatting. If there was a beautiful moonlight that night, it would be even more romantic. It was like a ceremony for their family. This experience carries his most yearning and unforgettable memories.

At that time, his grandfather said that although the short-lived flower is beautiful, it can only be seen for a while. So when it is in full bloom, it must be beautiful to the fullest and we must also appreciate it to the fullest. Therefore, he was named ‘Dai’, which has both the beauty of short-lived flowers and the persistence of Mount Tai. He knew that his grandfather felt that his pheromone was not auspicious, so he wanted to use his name to make up for his possible shortcomings.

He never felt that the Epiphyllum was unknown. People saw it as short-lived and the world saw him as fleeting. Everything has a spirit. Who can say that he must bloom longer than the Epiphyllum?

If he can only bloom once in his life, he must use his best effort for this time.

Shen Dai suddenly felt something gentle and generous caressing his face. He came back to his senses and found that it was Qu Moyu’s hand.

“Ah Dai, why are you crying?” Qu Moyu gently wiped away the peaceful tears on Shen Dai’s face with his fingertips.

Shen Dai stared at Qu Moyu. His eyes were hazy with tears. The Epiphyllum and the person in front of him became blurred in his vision. The ‘memories’ that repeatedly tormented him seemed to disappear temporarily at this moment and he couldn’t see anything anymore.

At the very next moment, Qu Moyu held him close and kissed his lips.

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Next update: 2022.08.22

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*Translator’s note: QMY is very smooth … -K