CH 128

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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When Shen Dai got off work, he was not surprised to see Qu Moyu appear outside of his office on time. Although Qu Moyu just ‘promised’ him not to make any personal affairs at the company that noon. This S-class alpha has always had his own strategy in doing things. He can never be satisfied with taking only one inch.

Shen Dai packed up his things and threw his backpack on his back. He walked over: “Didn’t you say not to…”

“It’s not too much of a personal affair to pick you up from work.” Qu Moyu said calmly, “Normally, isn’t that the same for couples and between husbands and wives?”

“You are the boss of the company. How can this be the same?” Shen Dai’s eyes kept glancing to the side, but the colleagues in the research institute were already used to it. They didn’t seem to bother much about it and it was like he was not seen at all.

“The boss is also a human being. And he would fall in love, get married and have children.” Qu Moyu took Shen Dai’s hand as he took Shen Dai’s backpack at the same time, “We are both so busy with work. We can’t take time off after work. So if we don’t make as much time together as possible, when will you marry me?”

“I’ll carry it myself.” Shen Dai watched Qu Moyu hold the black backpack he had used for many years. That expensive custom suit didn’t ‘match’ with the backpack. It looked weird.

“It’s alright.” Qu Moyu smiled, “I knew that this bag was the one that the company issued back then. It should have been so many years ago. I’d pick a better one.”

“You hadn’t been at the company at that time.” Shen Dai stretched out his hand, “Give it to me. It doesn’t suit you at all.”

“But you suit me well.” Qu Moyu took his hand and led him out.

Shen Dai still couldn’t get used to being so close to Qu Moyu in a big crowd. Walking on this ground where every tile belonged to the Qu’s family, he always felt that he was doing something wrong.

The two walked out of the research institute. Shen Dai saw Qu Moyu’s car parked on the side of the road and said, “You go home. I will walk back. I will walk only for fifteen minutes and that way, I can exercise every day.”

“Okay.” Qu Moyu looked at Lao Wu, who had come down from the cab and shouted, “You go back first. I will accompany him to walk home.”

“…”

Qu Moyu glanced at Shen Dai with a smile: “Let’s go. Let’s go home together.”

The two walked in the direction of the apartment holding hands. This is an ordinary road, with traffic on the left and shops on the right. You can watch the sunset at the end in the gaps between the high-rise buildings. People who pass by will occasionally be amazed by Qu Moyu’s appearance, which makes them stop for a moment or two. But outside the scope of the company, most people didn’t pay attention to them because they are already familiar with the scene of a couple who go home after work together while holding hands. They are no different from thousands of other living beings.

Qu Moyu asked what Shen Dai did today and Shen Dai told him that he was researching and publishing for his SCI publications. He also told him that Cheng Zimei and a friend helped him with that. Qu Moyu asked him if he needed help and he said no. Then, the two chatted about the project again.

When they passed by the supermarket, Shen Dai wanted to go in to buy something.

“What do you need? You can just tell Uncle Heng and he will send someone to deliver it.”

“I just want to buy some fresh vegetables and daily necessities.” Shen Dai said helplessly. 

“I’m not being condescending. I just want you to live a more convenient life.”

“My life is very convenient now. I have a child to take care of, I live near the company, and I have someone to cook dinner for me at home. I think it’s very good. Okay?” Shen Dai looked at Qu Moyu, “You don’t need to take extra care of me. I feel that life that is closer to normal is more suitable for me. And I also hope that Qiuqiu will grow up in a self-reliant environment.”

“I’ll listen to you. Let me accompany you.”

Shen Dai entered the supermarket. According to the list made in the morning, he wanted to buy some vegetables and meat, as well as a pack of rock candy and a bottle of toilet cleaner. The two pushed the trolley through the shelves, looking for the goods they needed. Qu Moyu acted as if he was visiting the supermarket for the first time. Everything was new to him and he would throw some inexplicable things into the trolley.

“Why did you take this? This mop head doesn’t match the mop at home.”

“Oh, I thought it was a rag.” Qu Moyu picked up a strangely shaped object, “What is this?”

“That’s a smart mop.” Shen Dai can’t help but to laugh. “You have no life experience at all. Have you ever been to a supermarket before?”

“I have. But when I was a child.”

“Then when you were studying abroad, didn’t you have to take care of yourself?”

“Aunt Lan sent a few people to accompany me to study.” Qu Moyu spread his hands, “My time will be spent on studying and socializing. I completed the six-year undergraduate and master course in two and a half years.”

Shen Dai looked at Qu Moyu with an incredible look.

“It’s normal. It should be like that.” Qu Moyu said naturally, “The limited time should be allocated to more important things.”

“Don’t take simple things for granted.” Shen Dai put the smart mop back in place and couldn’t help sighing, “I feel bad for Qiuqiu now.”

“It’s okay. S-class alphas won’t feel tired easily. We can sleep four hours a day and eat enough.” Qu Moyu suddenly remembered something. His tall and straight body immediately bent a little and his tone became a little weaker, “But my glands are damaged. And now I’m getting tired easily. It was obvious at noon today. Fortunately, you were there.”

Shen Dai gave him a sideways glance.

The things they bought were packed in two plastic bags. The two of them carried one in each hand. Qu Moyu insisted on holding Shen Dai’s hand. Shen Dai found that he was easily moved by these life-filled scenes, compared to entering or leaving a high-end restaurant after a date in luxury cars and clothes. He imagined that if the two of them were together, it should be more of a down-to-earth life.

When he was about to reach the downstairs of the community, Shen Dai walked into a flower shop and picked out a few bouquets of flowers. The owner of the flower shop is a young and lovely omega girl. She is already very familiar with Shen Dai. When she saw Qu Moyu, she gasped exaggeratedly. When the two of them checked out, she gave him a pot of mint, saying that it was the first time that she officially met Shen Dai’s alpha.

The two of them had all four hands occupied and entered the house sweating.

The nanny was very surprised to see them and ran over to pick things up: “Where’s Lao Wu? Why didn’t he get them for you?”

“We came back from a walk.” Qu Mo said. Normally, he would not like to do these seemingly meaningless things. But in the few minutes when they got off work together and walked to buy vegetables and flowers together, and then went home together, the ordinary experience gave him an unspeakable warmth. After entering the house, Shen Dai immediately ran over to pick up their child. He was kissing and coaxing him as Qiuqiu babbled. Shen Dai held the child and turned around. He grabbed the little hand and pointed it in his direction. One adult and one small child were smiling at him at the same time. At that moment, the feeling of abundance, completeness, and pride surpassed anything he had achieved in his life before.

For the first time in his life, he had such a clear understanding of the satisfaction he could get besides ‘winning’. It turned out that the world not only rewards winners, but he couldn’t describe what he had gained from Shen Dai. If he had to use secularization of the language to describe it… It can roughly be categorized as – ordinary happiness.

Shen Dai teased Qiuqiu for a while. He then gave the child to Qu Moyu as he went to trim the flowers he just bought. He put them in the vase and then went to the kitchen to help the nanny make dinner.

Qu Moyu held Qiuqiu and ran to the kitchen to watch them cook, but was driven out by Shen Dai on the grounds that ‘children can’t smell oily fumes’.

During the meal, Shen Dai and the nanny discussed Qiuqiu’s rash around his mouth and how to take care of it. Qu Moyu secretly checked his mobile phone and actively participated in the discussion.

After eating, Shen Dai put Qiuqiu on the floor mat next to the floor-to-ceiling window, watching him learn how to crawl. Qu Moyu sat beside Shen Dai.

“Ah Dai, it’s raining outside.” Qu Moyu looked at the strings of water droplets on his newly replaced French window.

“Yeah, what’s with the rain?” Shen Dai asked casually.

“It’s raining. It’s hard for me to go home. I’ll stay here tonight.”

Shen Dai’s attention was still on Qiuqiu and he didn’t realize it for a while: “Huh?”

“Well, we can go to work together tomorrow morning.” Qu Moyu said happily.

Shen Dai finally reacted. He frowned: “You ask Lao Wu to pick you up. You won’t get wet anyway.”

“He already went home.”

“Don’t make excuses.”

“I’m going to keep finding excuses.” Qu Moyu pointed out the window, “What a good excuse other than it’s raining?”

“Don’t be a rascal!”

Qu Moyu put his arms around Shen Dai’s shoulder and begged, “Just let me stay. I’ve never stayed here before. I will sleep in the guest room.”

“No. You go home.”

“But this is my home.”

Shen Dai glared at Qu Moyu.

“I will really sleep in the guest room. I promise I won’t disturb you.” Qu Moyu blinked his eyes, “I have left my things here. You don’t have to worry about anything. Just don’t tell me to leave.”

A muffled sound came from the window at the right time. There was lightning and rain.

Shen Dai’s whole body is a little tense: “You sleep in the guest room and you will do what you promised.” 

“Yes, I’ll listen to you.” Qu Moyu patted Qiuqiu’s little butt, “Our son testifies to it.”

***

When he went to bed at night, Shen Dai still locked the door. Although he felt that Qu Moyu would not barge in in the middle of the night, he still needed an extra layer of protection psychologically.

In fact, he wanted to have sex. It was especially since the kiss at noon that day. It mobilized the long-suppressed desire in his body. But he was worried that Qu Moyu would take the opportunity to ‘mark’ him. Even if it was not intentional, when the love became stronger, he might not be able to control himself at all. He might beg to be ‘marked’ so he couldn’t take this risk.

There were too many wounds in his heart that were difficult to heal. Although he accepted Qu Moyu’s approach, he still couldn’t forget the pain and despair he had experienced when he returned to his dream at midnight. But since he has chosen the future, he must take the initiative to liberate his imprisoned heart. He must confirm that he has really seen Qu Moyu’s change and has accepted Qu Moyu’s compensation. He must believe from the bottom of his heart that they will have a good future together. He must dare to face up to his love for the person who has hurt him deeply. This is all should be the result of his successful self-preservation and not because of being ‘marked’.

***

The next day, when Shen Dai got up, Qu Moyu actually got up earlier than him. He sat in his usual seat and was feeding Qiuqiu.

“Why do you get up so early?”

“Is it early?” Qu Moyu asked with a smile, “If it wasn’t for Sister Chen, I would try to sleep with Qiuqiu at night.”

“You don’t want to sleep with him.” Shen Dai went over and kissed Qiuqiu. Seeing Qiuqiu holding the bottle and drinking intently, he just glanced at himself. The movement of sucking the pacifier didn’t stop, which made him look a little funny.

“He will cry at night. It’s very annoying and very tiring. I know.” Qu Moyu kissed Shen Dai, “You’ve experienced this kind of tiredness so much before so now it’s my duty.”

“No need now. He sleeps most of the time. He’s very stable now. He used to cry at night because…” Shen Dai stopped. In the past, Qiuqiu always cried at night because he lacked security. That was because he didn’t have the pheromone from an alpha’s father.

Qu Moyu also thought of the reason. Guilt arose in his heart and he looked at Qiuqiu softly: “Dad will be here in the future.” The two of them finished breakfast together, said goodbye to Qiuqiu together, and then went to work together.

“Didn’t Lao Wu come to pick you up?” Shen Dai left the community and didn’t see Qu Moyu’s car.

“I told him not to pick me up. Let’s walk together.”

Shen Dai suddenly felt a headache: “Do you have to let everyone see us like this?”

“Is there anything we can’t let people see? “Qu Moyu innocently said, “We are in a normal relationship, what’s the problem?”

Shen Dai said solemnly: “How much do you have to pay attention to your influence? The company is a place to work, not a place to fall in love.”

“We will make it official sooner or later . If we are to get married, it’s good for them to get used to it in advance.” Qu Moyu looked at Shen Dai with a beaming smile, “Besides, it’s a good thing that everyone knows about it. Unless all the messy brothers and sisters come to seduce you. You are working at the place with a bunch of science and engineering alphas who don’t usually have access to omegas. How can you be single for so many years?” Shen Dai’s work environment is like a wolf’s den where it was filled with alphas and Shen Dai being the only sheep. He feels unhappy every time he thinks about it.

“I owed a huge debt. I didn’t dare to fall in love.” Shen Dai said aggrievedly.

Qu Moyu laughed softly: “So, you are destined to wait for me.”

Shen Dai wanted to refute, but thinking about how they have gone from their first encounter to this day, many things seem to be a bit predestined. Regardless of whether it is a positive or a negative destiny, it is destined anyway.

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Next update: 2022.10.03

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*Translator’s note: This is one of those long chapters *sigh* -K