Apex Predator - Chapter 1

There are those life experiences that are absolutely unexpected. Shen Dai, for example, never believed he’d be allowed inside this mansion one day. After all, he had previously been discarded like trash.

It was a magnificent “palace” in his boyhood memories. It was huge, light, and had a sweeping spiral staircase that didn’t worry about wasting living space. He realized for the first time that staircases might be installed within the house. He’d been in such a mansion. Raising his head, he would be concerned that the massive crystal chandelier might collapse on top of him. And he’d be frightened of staining the lovely floor if he lowered his head.

He returned here 20 years later. It is still in the tranquil core of the country and has incredible values. However, because the neighborhood has been there for a while, the style and architectural idea of this home are out of date. Its outer wall has been renovated and replaced with the popular French-style stone in recent years. Flowers and plants are also painstakingly cared for in order to retain their condition. However, the wind and rain have left mottled marks on the dried-up fish pond, stone steps, and flower beds in the courtyard. Although it appears to be costly and attractive at first look, it can no longer support the weight of details.

Those online reports are not unfounded, and the declining stock price cannot fool people; the You family may be done.

He came here twice, both times against his will. The bodyguard “invited” him inside the car today.

His recollections of his biological father are hazy since he was so taken with this place at the time, but he was clearly not as old as he is today. This individual was formerly a prominent heir to a major corporate group. A beta with A-level pheromones. He attended a prominent school, was young and attractive, and married a well-matched bride. Despite leading a proud and comfortable life over those years, he was cruelly abandoned by the stock market in the blink of an eye.

Frustrations are melted into a person’s spirit and inscribed inside the textures on the face, where they cannot be disguised.

Shen Dai stood in front of You Xinghai and discreetly assessed him in response to You Xinghai’s assessment of him.

You Xinghai was wearing a glum countenance. Shen Dai’s serene stare made him uneasy as an alpha with the grandeur of a patriarch. He had previously planned ahead of time. He expected Shen Dai to condemn him, tell him about all his tragedies, or at the very least display apparent hatred. However, the young man in front of him was far too composed.

Soon after he was forced to make that choice, all of this child’s information appeared on the office desk – Shen Dai, 27 years old, omega male, single, Master in Materials Engineering at HKUST, working at Xingzhou Group’s Rare Earth Research Institute, family members include his omega father and grandmother.

The bashful and scared little kid of twenty years ago has matured into a composed adult. You Xinghai couldn’t help but feel bad when he considered his past and the demands he may make.

Shen Dai took a glance around, located a chair, and sat. He then pulled out his phone and responded to a few business texts.

Xinghai, you frowned and cleared his throat.

“President You, why are you looking for me?” Shen Dai said, neither humbly nor arrogantly.”

“…You have matured.” You Xinghai had many experiences through thick and thin, he had gone through the ups and downs of a business, but at this moment, he could only use small chat to alleviate the uneasiness.

Shen Dai laughed a little, “President You, if you don’t have something to beg from me, it’s impossible for you to take the initiative to come find me, just say it.” Typically, this type of drama plot involves a scumbag father actively seeking out an illegitimate child he avoided for many years because he doesn’t have any other offspring. That is not the case with the You family. It’s impossible for something to happen to the young master of the You family and not make the news.

“You have a debt, seven million,” You Xinghai pressed on the folder in front of him. This is not a tiny sum.”

“Yeah, do you want to help me pay it, President?”” Shen Dai smiled sarcastically.

“I can help you pay for it.”

“What do you mean?” shrank Shen Dai’s pupils.”

“My kid had a very significant obligation that he can no longer fulfill. I need you to go back to the You family registration and marry him.”

This line sounded too much like a drama plot; it was ludicrous and senseless. “Are you serious?” Shen Dai said after five seconds.”

“What is my current situation?” Why would I make fun of you?”

“Why can’t he marry?””

In a moment, You Xinghai’s expression blurred. He seemed to struggle to say, “He was marked by someone else.”

Shen Dai became quiet. In his heart, he debated if marrying a stranger was worse than carrying a massive debt. This debt burdened his life and the years of his grandmother’s old age to the point of hopelessness. Why not take a chance if he may get out of the quagmire by paying a price?

Shen Dai took a deep breath and said, “What are the requirements for marriage?””

“The requirements are determined by your future husband.” You will do anything he asks of you.”

Shen Dai’s thin eyelashes twitched quickly. He didn’t hesitate, gently raising his eyes and looking at You Xinghai, “I want ten million.”

You Xinghai narrowed his brows, clearly annoyed but not shocked.

If You Xinghai is telling the truth, his enhanced price will undoubtedly be approved. The fate of the firm and the growth and collapse of the family must be linked in the so-called very significant marriage contract. Only then would he bring forth his lone omega son, You Baiyue. However, it was discovered that he had been tagged by someone else. This is a terrible disgrace for both the You family and the other spouse in the marriage. Marks can be removed, however bite marks on the glands cannot be eliminated with present medical technology. What upper-class family would put up with such humiliation? This marriage had to be annulled.

Shen Dai thought of You Baiyue’s delicate and beautiful face that is active on social media. He clearly looked very smart, so how did he tumble down like this? One of the most absurd mistakes an omega can make at a young age is being marked before getting married. However, thinking of it in another way, what if You Baiyue deliberately used this method to resist marriage? Such as, what if the other party is old, ugly, disabled, has weird quirks or violent tendencies? These risks are all entirely possible.

He was brought here to save the show, even if the You family’s stock price has been cut in half, it’s not to the extent that they’re unable to bring out 10 million.

You Xinghai, on the other hand, just responded, “Fine.”

Shen Dai deeply regretted it, regretting that he had asked for too little. He’s still lacking in bravery and understanding. He still questions the veracity of this story, but he hopes it’s real. His current most pressing desire is to repay his debt.

“Then it’s settled,” he said as he rose up. You have complete control over what happens next. I have to return to work, therefore I’m leaving first.”

“You have no other questions?” You Xinghai asked, surprised.”

“No, as long as you really give me the money.”

“…Aren’t you going to inquire about your future alpha husband?””

Shen Dai bowed his head and looked down at his phone. It had only been a short time, yet there were already a slew of messages. He turned away and muttered, “It doesn’t matter.”

At such a young age, he is saddled with debt. His future is unknown, and he has long abandoned all hopes and illusions of marriage and love in this life. As a result, even if the other party is so bad that You Baiyue has to oppose marriage in the most severe way, as long as he can reclaim his house and let his grandmother to live well in old age, it’s simply selling himself, and he’ll agree to it.

It makes no difference who it is.

Shen Dai headed straight to the research facility after leaving the You residence. Although they had extra time and didn’t have to punch in, it’s not ideal to be missing from work in the morning for no apparent reason.

He joined the Xingzhou Group under the Talent Plan program shortly after graduating from university. His graduate courses were completely done in the laboratory because his mentor was in charge of one of the Rare Earth Research Institute’s projects. Actually, his pay is great in comparison to his contemporaries, but he just feels remote and helpless when confronted with his $7 million debt.

He had seriously considered it previously. If he wants to change his life, he can only do it if either money falls from the sky or he acquires a patent. He had previously planned a decade or two of battle for the second alternative as a gender who is neither superior in the job nor in scientific research, nor does he have a top-notch genius brain. But he didn’t anticipate the easy former alternative to become a reality instead. It’s too ironic, since he’s believed in ‘education alters fate’ since infancy.

“Shixiong.”

“Shixiong, good morning.”

“Morning.”

His juniors welcomed him one after the other as soon as he walked inside the research institution.

“Morning my ass, you can go straight to lunch after some tidying.” A sarcastic voice from behind said, “Shen Dai, it’s rare for you to be late.”

Cheng Zimei, a female beta, is his university classmate. The two have been friends for many years and are comrades-in-arms with many intellectual values in mind.

“I have a last-minute task; is Laoshi here today?”” Shen Dai put on his lab coat and drew a glass of water for himself.

“No, do you want to look at the materials just delivered by Wansheng Mine?””

“I’ll look at it in the afternoon,” Shen Dai said, looking at his watch. “Let’s go eat first.”
”

The Rare Earth Research Institute has its own cafeteria, but they walked a few extra steps today to dine at the company’s headquarters canteen. The food from both locations is purchased together, and they both taste fine, but the larger canteen offers a greater assortment. As a result, they regularly change restaurants.

They ordered their food and then talked while eating.

He could hear a slight ruckus at the entryway at this point. Shen Dai turned around to see a group of folks in suits and leather shoes hurrying in. Because the lunch break is normally a time when social animals are more relaxed, they don’t appear to have come here to eat, but rather to be inspected.

The cafeteria was enormous, and Shen Dai could hardly see their faces from his vantage point. Nonetheless, he accurately portrayed one superior height and a lovely silhouette at a look.

“What brought the Crown Prince to the staff cafeteria today?”” Cheng Zimei looked over her shoulder with her chopsticks in her mouth.

Shen Dai’s gaze slowly followed the tall guy, who was encircled by a crowd. He concentrated hard on that hazy face in the midst of shifting heads until the other moved through the cafeteria and into a private area. Even though he couldn’t smell his pheromones from such a distance, Shen Dai was restless.

“Perhaps he’s busy and can only invite the client to a work meal,” Cheng Zimei said.

Shen Dai is an excellent observer. He noted that the ones who were paying close attention to that group of people right now were primarily omegas. It’s unavoidable. Omegas are beings that imbue desire into their genetic inclinations; even Shen Dai is not immune to the practice. When an S-class Alpha strolled by with the wind, leaving a slight trace of pheromones in the air, individuals fell into reveries.

Furthermore, Qu Moyu is an alpha with a luminous aura all over his body as the first heir of the Xingzhou Group.