Apex Predator - Chap 38

Over the next few days, Qu Moyu would leave early and come home late. Shrouded completely in a cloud of gloominess, he had turned silent and uncommunicative, with many things weighing heavily on his mind

Just to see a little more of him, Shen Dai would get up earlier to accompany him for breakfast. In the evenings, he would wait for him to come home, only then could he feel at ease enough to fall asleep. But it seemed like Qu Moyu had hardly any mental energy to spare him.

Shen Dai knew that Qu Moyu had to be under a tremendous amount of pressure dealing with the various parties and matters that demanded his attention.

He was deeply worried and distressed for Qu Moyu, but there was nothing at all he could do to help.

With the news of the Old man’s death under a complete embargo, and the stock exchange closed for the Lunar New Year period, the Qu family had the next few days to put various affairs in order.

Due to the overall poor situation of the industry over the past two years, You Xinghai’s Chuanghai corporation was already on the brink of collapse, while stock prices of other market players had been in a volatile downward trend. Externally, there were constant rumours that the two sons of the Qu family patriarch were at odds with each other and were just waiting for him to pass before dividing the company.

Meanwhile, negative press about the tightening of national policies, the ongoing setbacks in the merger process with Chuanghai, and the absence of significant achievements in research projects, had all continued to accumulate, gradually undermining the market’s confidence in Xingzhou. If the news of the founder’s death were to be announced at this juncture, it would undoubtedly have an unpredictable influence on the price of its stock.

But such a major story could not be sealed off for long. One thing to be grateful for was that the Old Man had passed away during the New Year period. Even one non-trading day alone could still give them a bit of time to pacify shareholders and mitigate any negative impacts.

At least, those had been Qu Moyu’s words to him in response to his concern over breakfast.

Shen Dai sighed with pity to himself. Typically, the passing of an ordinary person would revolve around emotions, or occasionally involve some property and assets. However, the demise of Grandfather Qu was intertwined with everything: assets, power, conflicts, stock prices, and public opinion. The sole thing it seemed detached from was emotions. He had not witnessed a trace of grief from any member of the Qu family. For them, this was both a crisis and an opportunity. Everyone was hoping to capitalise on the ensuing chaos to seize what they wanted for themselves. Could someone who had accumulated immense wealth and produced numerous descendants, yet had nobody who genuinely felt sadness or cherished their memory when they passed, be considered a success or a failure?

This display of coldness and rationality from Qu Moyu left him not knowing what to think.

By the fourth day of the New Year, the holiday was already halfway over. Shen Dai had spent the whole day reading, and in the evening, he buried himself under the covers. Staring at his calendar on his phone, he contemplated if he should stay or head home the next day.

He had already thought of an explanation for his sudden return: Because of the founder’s passing, some of the managers involved in the on-site investigation were obliged to return home ahead of schedule, which was why he had also decided to come back early.

His mind made up, he decided not to wait for Qu Moyu this evening and to sleep early. First thing tomorrow morning he would head out to buy some New Year’s goods to bring home.

He had been sound asleep when his mobile phone suddenly rang. The sound, piercingly loud in the stillness of the night, jolted him awake in an instant.

He grabbed his phone, barely managing to keep his bleary eyes open. Seeing from the screen that it was a call from Qu Moyu, he immediately hit answer: “Hey?”

From the other end of the line came the sound of somebody breathing evenly. A full three to five seconds of silence passed before Qu Moyu finally spoke up, “I’m sorry. I must have woken you.”

The sound of his voice resonated with a deep, steady, and slightly muffled quality. Like a subwoofer enveloping the ears. The thump of every syllable made one’s heart tremble with excitement.

In a flash, Shen Dai regained his clarity. He glanced at the time. Four in the morning. “What’s wrong?” he asked, concerned.

“Head hurts. Can’t sleep. Come and keep me company.”

Through the medium of that tiny communication device, Shen Dai sensed something he had never sensed before from Qu Moyu: his vulnerability. There was an intolerable pang in his heart, it seemed it would break in the next second. He promptly rolled over and jumped out of bed. “I’m coming up right now.”

He gingerly made his way up the stairs. Standing in front of the door to Qu Moyu’s bedroom, he stopped for a moment, realising he had never entered Qu Moyu’s bedroom before. The closest he had come was being summoned by Qu Moyu to the study, where he had caught a fleeting glimpse of the internal door that led to the bedroom.

Qu Moyu was not one to allow outsiders into his private quarters without permission. In the past, even the entire third floor was off-limits to him, and he had to schedule his meals to avoid overlapping with Qu Moyu’s. Living together under the same roof, they tried their best to avoid running into each other. But now that their bond had gotten stronger and stronger, he was even able to enter Qu Moyu’s most intimate space. Didn’t this mean that he was not like everyone else? Could it be possible?

He took three deep breaths before he was finally able to suppress his surging emotions. Lifting his hand, he cautiously knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

He pushed the door open and entered. A crisp and cold woody odour permeated the entire room – that would be the scent of Qu Moyu’s ebony wood pheromones, and this, was the place with the highest concentration of “Qu Moyu”. Entering this place was like entering this top alpha’s hunting ground. Here he was a guest, but also a prey, and how he would be treated here was already completely out of his hands.

Any traces of light were effectively blocked out by the blackout curtains. In the room enveloped by darkness, Shen Dai could only rely on the faint glow of his mobile phone to make out the silhouette of the bed.

“Moyu?” called out Shen Dai, with some hesitation.

Qu Moyu responded with a low “Mhm.”

Shen Dai groped his way to the edge of the bed. He was still contemplating whether or not to climb onto it when his wrist was firmly seized. His whole body was pulled into the darkness, drawn into a broad, sturdy, powerful, and warm embrace.

The gush of warm breath on his neck, accompanied by Qu Moyu’s heavy breathing and the weight of his body pressing down on him, made Shen Dai sense Qu Moyu’s despondency. “What’s happened to you?” he asked.

Qu Moyu hugged him tightly, even shifting his position so they would fit more snugly together. He replied gradually, “Migraine.”

“Have you taken any medicine? Should I go find Uncle Heng?” asked Shen Dai, speaking out loud as the thought crossed his mind.

“No, it’s fine,” said Qu Moyu in a low voice. “It’s something I’ve had for a while. It flares up from time to time. I just need to wait it out.”

“How about painkillers?”

“They don’t work.”

“…is it because you’re too tired? Has the stress been too much?” Shen Dai felt his heart ache immeasurably. He knew that Qu Moyu was working tirelessly, getting up early and coming back late every day. He knew that Qu Moyu was facing an overwhelming amount of stress, handling an onslaught of countless problems. He knew that, his top-tier genetics aside, the amount of effort that Qu Moyu was exerting went far beyond the imagination of most ordinary people.

Though this seemingly all-powerful top Alpha had caused him to develop a fatal attraction with his aura of radiance, it was this man who could be weary, frustrated, and vulnerable that had awakened a deeper feeling of affection within him—compassion.

“Could be.”

“Are you thirsty? Let me get you a glass of water.”

“Okay.”

Though Qu Moyu had agreed, he still wasn’t letting Shen Dai get up.

Shen Dai wanted to laugh in exasperation. “If I can’t get up, how am I supposed to get you water?”

Qu Moyu fell silent once again, appearing to hesitate, then he replied, “Don’t want it anymore.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Shen Dai reassured him, softly. “I’m just going to get you a glass of water for ten seconds. Your throat’s all hoarse. A bit of water will make it feel better.”

“…Alright.”

Shen Dai could sense Qu Moyu’s reluctance as he slowly pulled the latter’s hand away, He hopped off the bed quickly, using the light from his mobile phone to guide him as he poured the glass of water. Returning promptly, he brought the glass near Qu Moyu’s lips and softly said, “Take a sip.”

In just two gulps, Qu Moyu had finished the entire glass.

“I’ll go pour you another.”

Qu Moyu held onto Shen Dai’s wrist without saying anything. In the darkness, only the gleam of his pupils could be seen. They were like the eyes of a predator, making sure that his captured prey would not escape.

“I’ll be quick. Ten seconds, just like before.” Shen Dai had could never have imagined that Qu Moyu had a side like this. All he could do was coax him, “Be good.”

Qu Moyu finished the second glass and set it down. Then, as though unable to wait any longer, he pulled Shen Dai back into arms, pressing half of his weight down on him. Only then did he peacefully close his eyes and ask, “What time is it?”

“It’s four in the morning. You didn’t sleep at all?” asked Shen Dai, gently caressing Qu Moyu’s face in the dark. Although he was unable to see anything clearly, he could imagine the expression of tiredness on the face of the person he liked right now. To have insomnia on top of his headache, Qu Moyu must have been in great discomfort at this moment, and Shen Dai couldn’t help but feel some discomfort because of it.

“I want to, but I just can’t,” Qu Moyu complained, the tone of his voice filled with exhaustion and helplessness.

“Are you over-exhausted? Has the pressure been too much?”

“Maybe.” replied Qu Moyu, in a low voice, “The news will be made public tomorrow. During the following three days of vacation, we’ll have to conduct a series of public relations initiatives in response to the negative press and try to keep the stock price stable.”

“Will the effects really be that severe?”

“It’s largely because the policy trends this year are still unfavourable. Environmental regulations are becoming more and more stringent every year, so we’ve had to invest quite a significant amount in upgrading equipment and improving processes. To begin with the market outlook towards the mining industry hasn’t been optimistic the past few years. Considering the various initiatives our company is undertaking, even the slightest hint of trouble could have profound effects.”

“All markets operate in cycles. This current downturn in the mining industry is linked to the broader economy, but even during a challenging period for the entire industry, Xingzhou has managed to deliver impressive results. You don’t need to worry so much; The shareholders will be able to judge for themselves.”

“I hope you’re right,” said Qu Moyu, pressing his bony fingertips against his temples, attempting to mask one form of pain for another.

“Can I rub it for you?” asked Shen Dai, lifting Qu Moyu’s head and placing it on his own lap. “Maybe it’ll help ease it a bit.”

“Do you have any strength?”

Shen Dai laughed. “You’ll have to try it to find out. Back then, I often gave massages to my grandparents.”

Shen Dai first gently ran his fingers along Qu Moyu’s thick black hair, and then began applying horizontal and vertical pressure, starting from the centre of his eyebrows. “So, is the boss satisfied?” he asked.

Qu Moyu gave a soft laugh. “Yeah, you’re pretty strong.”

“I’m a dude,” replied Shen Dai, but found his explanation a little coarse. Then, thinking about it again, he added, “Omega is only my second gender after all. Of course I’m strong.”

“Okay, you’re right. Once again, I’ve found another one of your upsides.”

Sweetness welled up in Shen Dai’s heart. “Feeling any better?”

“Much better,” replied Qu Moyu, letting out a sigh. It did sound like his discomfort had been alleviated.

“What matters most is your body. You should take the day off tomorrow, no, wait, half a day, alright?”

“Can’t. Tomorrow is bound to be the first day of the storm,” said Qu Moyu, dejectedly. “Did you hear that my Uncle wants to divide the company?”

“I’ve heard about it. Does he really plan to go through with it?”

“Yes, he intends to split off the chemical industry sector from Xingzhou,” Qu Moyu answered, his voice exuding a trace of coldness. “But I will never, ever let him succeed.”

Shen Dai thought about warning Qu Moyu to be cautious around Qu Chengchen, but how could he bring up the subject of rut right now? Clearly, it wasn’t the time. What Qu Moyu really needed at this moment was to calm his emotions and fall asleep as quickly as possible.

In a gentle voice, Shen Dai then guided him away from discussing work any longer, and instead chatted with him about some trivial matters. They continued talking until Shen Dai’s fingers grew numb and fatigue settled into his legs. He noticed that Qu Moyu’s breathing was gradually becoming lighter and slower. Thinking that Qu Moyu was finally getting drowsy, he gently shifted his head onto the pillow and whispered, “Go to sleep.”

Qu Moyu pulled Shen Dai into his arms. “A-Dai.”

“Hmm?”

“Thank you.”

Qu Moyu felt that for the first time ever, he was starting to understand the feeling of mutual support between husband and wife. He knew that there was not much that Shen Dai could do to help, but on this night where he was tossing about in bed, tormented by exhaustion, anxiety, a headache, and insomnia, simply holding him in his arms and hearing a few kind words already meant more than anything else.

In place of an answer, Shen Dai gave him a gentle kiss on the forehead.