Apex Predator - Chap 5
“Okay, I’ll follow your guidelines,” replied Shen Dai.
Qu Moyu nodded his head, satisfied. “Have you eaten?”
“Not yet.”
“Have something before leaving then. Also, let Uncle Heng know what your preferences are.”
“I will, Thank you, President Qu.”
Qu Moyu got up. A faint and elusive aroma invaded Shen Dai’s nostrils. The woody fragrance was calming and dense, astringent and dry, evoking a sense of resolute power. This was the ebony wood pheromone belonging to Qu Moyu, a scent that corresponded perfectly with his aura.
It brought back profound memories for Shen Dai.
Three years ago, he had been drugged and induced into heat by a senior who was vying with him for a spot in the talent programme. The inhibitor he carried on him failed to work, and he struggled painfully in the laboratory, tormented beyond reason. At that moment, he desperately wanted to grab hold of any Alpha he could just to relieve himself of his primal bodily urges.
The scent of his pheromone was the epiphyllum, and his body possessed some of the flower’s characteristics.
For instance, an Omega would typically experience heat around four times a year for a period of seven days, while his would only occur once or twice a year and last for only three to four days.
Ordinarily, his scent was weak, the pheromone-blocking patch over his glands making it so faint that he was frequently mistaken for a Beta. But during heat, its concentration would intensify, becoming several times higher than that of the average Omega’s.
He would also use a much stronger dosage of inhibitors than most Omegas. Once taken, its effects would hit violently, causing him to completely lose control.
Back then, he thought he might truly be finished. To go into heat, not only in a public place but at the laboratory where he worked, his body, his future, his reputation, his dignity – everything would be ruined.
The pungent fragrance of the epiphyllum permeated the air of half the Research Institute. Several Alphas were on the verge of losing their minds. If not for the intervention of his Beta colleagues, they might already have rushed in.
It just happened that Qu Moyu was making an inspection of the Research Institute at the time. The twenty-one year old successor to the company had recently returned from his studies abroad at a prestigious establishment, to formally enter the company and start honing his skills.
S-class Alphas, having received strict pheromone control training from an early age, were the only ones capable of resisting the temptation of an Omega in heat.
When Qu Moyu appeared beside him, he was both frightened yet eager. His body trembling in fear, he clung desperately to the other person, refusing to let go. He needed so much to have whatever it was from this man that could relieve his suffering. But the man was extremely restrained. He held him firmly in place and gently whispered in his ear, placating him. Shen Dai was in such a state of delirium that he did not understand a word, hearing only what sounded like the babbling of a mountain brook, which eased a little of his agitation.
Then, he smelled the scent of that ebony wood pheromone. That scent – overpowering, soothing, enveloping and heavy, eroded his mind in an instant and cleansed his soul. A lighthouse beckoned to him in a boundless expanse of chaos, using its brightness to show him the way. Blissfully he released his pheromones to chase after his light.
He could perceive the entanglement of the epiphyllum and ebony wood in the air, clinging to one another. They were hardness and softness in harmony, the one waxing as the other waned.
He was convinced that the lighthouse itself was also swaying in the middle of the storm. For a brief moment, it hesitated and wavered, before eventually holding firm to its roots and suppressing him with pheromones.
And then he felt a sharp pain at the back of his neck; Qu Moyu had given him a temporary mark. It calmed his confusion right before the emergency services arrived and injected him with a tranquilliser.
If he had never experienced such deep despair, then he would never have felt such an intense attachment for the person that saved him. What Qu Moyu had given him was just a temporary mark, and yet it had incessantly carved itself into his heart.
Only, he knew that their paths would never again converge. He was too old for childish daydreams. It was just a chance encounter that needed to be buried in his heart. To catch a glimpse from afar was already to catch a glimpse of happiness.
Regrettably, destiny had pulled both of them together, and had given them – what was in his eyes – an ambiguous relationship, but in the eyes of the other party a transactional one.
Truthfully, he didn’t want to get closer, didn’t dare get closer. He could just be that person that looked at him from afar. Except being this close made it impossible for him to remain indifferent.
He was afraid of being unable to govern these forbidden delusions and expectations, and he feared being unable to govern his own heart.
Qu Moyu, oblivious to the racing thoughts of his lawful wife standing next to him, said, “This evening, someone will take you to the tailor’s to get fitted so that you can have a few sets of formal attire. My father’s birthday banquet will take place in a few days and I’m required to bring you home.”
With that, he turned to go up the stairs and did not look back.
“…”
Shen Dai went back to the Research Institute to pack up some clothing and daily necessities from his dormitory. But there wasn’t much that he needed to take as the guest room was already well-stocked.
He looked around his dormitory. Though it wasn’t even the size of most people’s bathrooms, it gave him a sense of security. In contrast, that place – the residence of Qu Moyu – made him feel anxious.
A driver from the Qu family came to pick him up after work. Uncle Heng was also in the car to accompany him to the studio of a private tailor.
While Uncle Heng and the tailor exchanged ideas, Shen Dai also offered his own requests in regards to the material and threads of the fabric. As he was on the thinner side, the texture of coarse wool would give him a bit of sturdiness.
Uncle Heng regarded Shen Dai with some astonishment. In all likelihood, he had never imagined that someone like Shen Dai, who only wore simple and casual office clothes, could appreciate tailored suits.
Shen Dai read his expression but remained unperturbed. Very rarely was he offended by people whom he was indifferent towards.
In any case, he could understand Uncle Heng’s surprise.
He had grown up in a family environment with a rich artistic atmosphere, full of romanticism. Despite not being wealthy, they would still spend money on food and clothing of high quality. It was only on account of his lack of money in recent years that he started to dress more casually.
Moreover, after becoming an adult, he began to spurn the arts, literature and culture, choosing without hesitation to study engineering at university. Not because he resented his childhood, but he had observed how such an environment had produced a naive, egocentric and foolish ingrate like his father.
He believed that his maternal grandparents’ parenting philosophy had been wonderful and open-minded. They emphasised the importance of pursuing personal passions and values such as beauty, love, and romance.
But this approach did not instil responsibility and pragmatism. Instead, it had turned his father into a self-centred person who indulged in wild fantasies – a fool who would do anything for the sake of love.
In his younger days, his father had thought himself swept up in a passionate love affair with the young master of a wealthy family, only to find out that his lover was just a scoundrel. Having been cast aside, he attempted to force his lover into staying by keeping his child.
Not long after, believing he had found love again in the arms of a swindler, he betrayed his family, misappropriating their property as collateral for his lover’s mortgage.
In all his life, Shen Dai had only met You Xinghai twice, and yet the hatred he had towards his own father was a hundred times greater.
Shen Dai looked at himself in the mirror. But upon seeing the features of his face that resembled his father’s, he frowned.
Over the next few days, he took a taxi and then the subway to get to work. Though his commute was now significantly more inconvenient, it was just as well that he didn’t need to clock in and had flexible hours. He toyed also with the idea of buying an inexpensive mobility scooter.
On Saturday evening, he changed into the suit that had just been sent to him. He sat patiently waiting in the guest room until he was notified by Uncle Heng, then went outside and boarded the Phantom Extended sedan that was waiting.
Qu Moyu was already seated inside reading some documents.
He was impeccably dressed, his tall and solid physique complemented perfectly by the fine material and cut of his suit. His complexion was so clear and smooth that it was almost glowing. From the ridge of his eyebrows to his nose, all the way down to the bottom of his jaw, the peaks were high and the valleys deep, making the contours of his face both sharp and elegant. Even every strand of his hair was coiffed perfectly in place.
So extravagant and graceful was he, that captured in motion, every frame would have been worthy of a picture.
The rear seat partition had been completely lowered, providing him with a luxurious, expansive and private space, almost like his own workspace on the go.
Naturally, such a space was filled with the fragrance of his ebony wood pheromones.
Shen Dai quietly took a seat in the car.
“Good evening, President Qu.”
Qu Moyu looked up and cast an eye over Shen Dai, his gaze lingering briefly. “Your clothes fit you rather well.”
“They do.”
The car moved off. Qu Moyu spent more than half of the journey going over documents. Shen Dai looked out at the scenery – it somehow felt disrespectful to play with his phone in front of his boss.
Later, Qu Moyu put away his documents and adjusted his posture.
Sensing that Qu Moyu had something to say, Shen Dai turned towards him.
“Bringing you home today will be your first formal introduction to my family. There is no need to be nervous. If you are asked a question by a senior, you may simply answer. You need not say too much or take the initiative to speak. It’s enough just to be courteous and maintain a smile.”
”Understood.”
”I have a younger cousin,” said Qu Moyu, pausing for a moment, “- who may have many questions for you. He might even deliberately make things difficult. As much as possible, you should try to avoid him. In short, our ‘partnership’ should not be mentioned as the elders in the family do not wish to witness any conflict between my cousin and me.”
Not fully understanding what he had just heard, Shen Dai could only respond in acknowledgement.
“You will find out sooner or later, so I’m going to tell you this in advance,” said Qu Moyu, sensing Shen Dai’s confusion. He continued, perfectly calmly, “You must have heard it said that to have one S-class Alpha in a family is extremely fortuitous, but to have a second is a complete disaster. That second S-class Alpha in my family is my cousin, and he is the one who marked my fiance.”
Shen Dai caught his drift at once.
To put it simply, the relationship between two S-class Alphas was that of two tigers on the same mountain.
Alphas were in themselves the most aggressive and competitive of the genders. Ferocious in nature with a thirst to dominate, their desire for power was insatiable. And Alphas with the pheromone grade of S-class were the natural rulers at the top of the food chain. They were, almost without exception, gifted with appealing external appearances, robust physiques and high intelligence, as well as a kind of innate biological weapon: Pheromone suppression.
These predators with a genetic advantage monopolised the greater part of the world’s wealth and resources, occupying a large majority of top positions in every field and domain. They were the uncrowned sovereigns of civilised society.
The world has another name for them: Apex predators.
Naturally, such royal genes were incredibly scarce. For a family to have two S-class Alphas at once meant that both would have to live out their lives in cut-throat internal competition, until one would ultimately prevail over the other.
Suddenly, Shen Dai could feel his blood run cold.
1. 一山不容二虎: Proverb – A mountain cannot house two tigers, Two strong people are incompatible and cannot coexist in the same place. (Source)
2. The scent of his pheromone was the epiphyllum | Epiphyllum (昙花) is a genus of epiphytic cacti, known for their large, showy flowers that bloom at night.
Epiphyllums bloom infrequently, about 25 days after a significant drop in temperature.