Apex Predator - Chap 9
Yet again, Shen Dai felt dejected, but keeping his composure, he asked, “How do you expect me to confirm it? We don’t even know each other at all.”
“Just straight out ask him. Try to set him off, then observe his reaction. He and Qu Chengchen are both wary of me, and it’s not appropriate for me to get close to an Omega that has been marked by someone else. But I do believe he will come looking for you of his own accord. He’ll be curious about you, just like Qu Chengchen.”
While he was saying this, a coldness emerged in his demeanour, causing Shen Dai to wonder if this could really be the same person who had rescued him on two separate occasions. He replied softly, “President Qu, I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do.”
“For a top-class Omega, being only able to obtain a temporary mark from their target is humiliating. If you manage to expose him, he will more likely than not fly into a rage.”
Shen Dai felt even more of a chill run down his spine. He replied, “And what if your guess is wrong? What if Qu Chengchen really did give him a permanent mark?”
“In that case, you should get an appropriate response.”
He was silent for a moment.
“Alright.”
He had no way of refusing Qu Moyu at all. Every word this man said was like a command.
“What I’ve just asked falls outside the scope of our agreement. In exchange, you can also put forward a demand.”
“…”
Qu Moyu carried out all interactions with him with the undertone of a transaction. This dinner was not even a friendly gesture to ask for a favour, but what little time he was willing to spare him out of his busy schedule.
“Don’t forget what I said before. Now, you once again have a bargaining chip to play.”
Shen Dai felt his heart gallop like a series of drum beats. He wasn’t sure if Qu Moyu understood clearly or was just playing dumb. All he had was a single bargaining chip. Having seen his opponent’s towering stack of chips, where would he find the guts ‘to play’ or the confidence to demand? Even if he went all in, the most he could win was a few coins.
Cautiously he put forward his demand, “May I add you on WeChat ?”
Qu Moyu narrowed his eyes slightly and cast a probing gaze on Shen Dai.
Shen Dai started to explain, “I can’t think of anything right now, but since you’ve given me this opportunity, could you also give me a chance to answer at a later time? I don’t normally see you, so when I’ve thought of something, I’ll be able to tell you on the spot – just like the last time when I thought of going back every weekend.” Pausing for a moment, he added, “I won’t bother you for nothing.”
The corners of Qu Moyu’s lips turned up ever-so-slightly, causing Shen Dai’s heart to skip a beat. It seemed as if that barely perceptible smile carried with it a hint of derision, but then again, perhaps it was his own insecurity that was making him overthink it.
“Of course you can,” replied Qu Moyu, pushing his mobile phone towards Shen Dai.
By the time Shen Dai got back to his bedroom, his heartbeat had yet to return to normal.
He took a look at Qu Moyu’s profile picture. It was an image of a rough, weathered and dark grey tree bark. The sinuous wood grain had the imposing manner of jagged cliffs, with each of its valleys hiding an elusive secret.
But what kind of person was Qu Moyu exactly?
It seemed as if the person viewed by the outside world and from the angle of the public, the person from three years ago who held him closely in his arms, as well as the person he had close access to now, were three completely different people. Revealing little of himself but concealing so much more: This person was an enigma.
Expectantly he clicked into Qu Moyu’s WeChat Moments page but found only a single grey line. He didn’t feel that Qu Moyu would have blocked him, rather, it must have been completely empty in the first place.
Yet he was still happy to have gotten a little closer to Qu Moyu, to have this possibility of contacting him at any time.
He was aware these sorts of thoughts were risky. One ought not to pin their hopes on things they could not have. Well, not as if he had actively tried to get closer, rather, he had been dragged to this point. His light was so close, tempting him with its brightness and warmth, what other choice did he have left?
He always knew that he was going to have to face You Xinhai sooner or later, as well as this stepbrother from a different mother who was a complete stranger to him, but whose life he had seen fragments of online.
These wealthy families were such slaves to formality. Both sides clearly knew the reason why Qu Moyu had married him, yet they still needed to go through the motions and make the tour of their relatives. Just like how Qu Moyu insisted that he live at the Qu residence; it was all for the sake of outward appearances.
On seeing him, You Xinghai put on a deep show of affection, as if he feared Qu Moyu would dislike Shen Dai for being an unworthy substitute: “A-Dai, you’re back.”
Shen Dai held back his nausea and greeted him, “Father”. Then his gaze moved past You Xinghai to the person behind him.
Even though many photos and videos about him were plastered over the internet, even though Shen Dai felt as if all possible angles of this person’s gorgeous life and gorgeous face had already been forced down his throat, nothing could compare to the shock of seeing him in the flesh.
You Baiyue was so beautiful he resembled a model generated by artificial intelligence. The curvature of his bangs seemed to have been optimally picked out by a mathematical calculation. And yet when he smiled he appeared full of life.
You Baiyue was smiling in his direction, but of course this smile was meant for Qu Moyu.
“Yu-ge.” You Baiyue strolled over, his gaze naturally and casually meeting Qu Moyu’s. He was not in the least bit shy. “It’s been a while since we last saw each other.”
It was only by being very well-acquainted or bold that an Omega could approach an Alpha this calmly. This was not at all a question of psychology but of physicality, like how it was impossible not to be afraid when seeing a tiger.
Qu Moyu laughed, “Actually, I see you all the time on the internet.”
“Oh, don’t make fun of me. I’m just doing some advertising work to earn a bit of pocket money. How could I even compare to someone as busy and important as President Qu?”
The corners of his eyes gave off a charming smile – warm and without affectation, yet inadvertently flirtatious. His regard shifted from Qu Moyu to Shen Dai, and keeping his calm expression, he said, “Hello, Shen, Dai.”
“Hello, nice to meet you,” returned Shen Dai, nodding his head with a slight smile. He picked up a faint note of tuberose pheromones. This scent – it had a fresh sweetness, yet also an opulence, one didn’t even have to be an Alpha to be fond of it at all, and at the same time, he could also detect in it the hazel wood pheromones belonging to Qu Chengchen.
You Baiyue scrutinised Shen Dai, in a manner that felt aloof yet not impolite. He smiled, as if there was something he wanted to say but left it unspoken.
Shen Dai had never thought of himself as particularly sensitive, but You Baiyue’s attitude towards him seemed even more scornful than Qu Chengchen’s attempts to embarrass him. He could definitely understand, believing You Baiyue’s feelings towards him to be very complicated.
“How about Chengchen?” inquired Qu Moyu.
“He’s a little late. Something came up.” You Baiyue took a look at his phone, “He’ll be here in a bit”
“You two can first have a chat, I have some matters to discuss with President You”, said Qu Moyu, gesturing politely to You Xinghai to go ahead.
You Xinghai added, “Xiao Yue, take A-Dai somewhere to relax.”
The two men walked away leaving Shen Dai and You Baiyue standing there. All of a sudden, the atmosphere turned chilly.
Shen Dai had no fear at all of awkwardness, so he just remained there, motionless. He had agreed to help Qu Moyu investigate You Baiyue, but in any case, to begin a conversation, he should wait for You Baiyue to let down his guard and speak first.
Sure enough, You Baiyue asked, “Want me to introduce you to our relatives?”
Shen Dai swept a glance at the relatives that were present. They all appeared to be studying him. He was merely an illegitimate son from You Xinghai’s past who had been thrown out like an old shoe, only to be recognised now that he had some usefulness, so of course nobody really wanted to have any connection with him.
“It’s fine, don’t trouble yourself,” Shen Dai replied.
“I heard that you work at the Institute of Rare Earths at Xingzhou? You must be really smart.”
“Not at all, it’s just an ordinary job.”
“Is it that you daren’t look at me, or that you can’t stand me?”
“Neither, it’s just that this is the first time we’re meeting. We still haven’t found the right subject to talk about.”
“The right subject,” repeated You Baiyue, as if he had just heard a joke. “But we have so many subjects in common, the relationship between our parents, the relationship between the both of us, the relationship between the two brothers of the Qu family – isn’t it brilliant that we have so many relationships in common, and yet this is only the first time we’re meeting?”
Shen Dai nodded, finding that what he said made sense, “True, so which subject would you like to discuss?”
“Isn’t there something you wanted to ask me?” said You Baiyue, returning his question.
Shen Dai contemplated for a moment, “You think what I must want to know is why you broke off the engagement.”
“Aren’t you the least bit curious?”
“Naturally, but I don’t like to pry.”
“You’re … quite an interesting person,” said You Baiyue, raising his eyebrows slightly.
“Once I know your secrets, I’d be obliged to tell you my own,” Shen Dai said, looking nonchalantly at him. “How about you tell me what you’d like to know and I’ll see if I can tell you?”
“It’s so easy talking with intelligent people.”, said You Baiyue, with a smile. “What I want to know is if you and Yu-ge have slept together?”
“We haven’t.”
“And do you want him to mark you?”
“It’s only a cooperative relationship, as I’m sure you’re well aware.”
“You’re avoiding the question.”
“I’ve already answered your question. So now it’s my turn. Why did you break off the engagement?” From the point of view of the overwhelming majority, nobody would turn down marrying a top-tier Alpha.
“Oh? He didn’t tell you?”
“No.”
“He told me he would never, ever give anyone his mark,” said You Baiyue, pursing his lips together, with a hint of a sneer.
Shen Dai was not at all surprised by this answer.
“If I can’t even get his mark, then why bother?”
“…Is a mark really all that important?”
“If it’s an ordinary Alpha’s mark, then of course it isn’t. For most, the entire legacy of three generations would come up to little more than a house in the city. But in the case of the Qu family…”
“So, did you get what you wanted after all?”
Shen Dai looked at You Baiyue. His gaze was calm, but he also had a certain detached feeling of power. He continued, “- since what Qu Chengchen gave you was just a temporary mark?”
Immediately, You Baiyue’s eyes widened.
