Apex Predator - Chapter 6

The historic mansion of the Qu family has also been around for a while. However, unlike the You family’s home, which creates the image of decay, this mansion is an antique that must be properly valued because it has witnessed three generations of splendor.

Qu Moyu approached him after getting out of the car and stated gently, “No need to be nervous.”

His voice still had the piercing quality of a young man’s, but it was considerably more steady and menacing than his age. His tone was calm when he remarked, “No need to be nervous,” yet it seemed more like an order than a comfort.

“I won’t.” Shen Dai isn’t nervous since this isn’t his home or a location where he has to prove himself. He’s only here to be a showpiece, not to argue a point. As long as he portrays himself as a trained decorator, he won’t have to worry since there will always be Qu Moyu in every given setting.

But the next thing you know, he’s all anxious. This is due to Qu Moyu taking his hand.

The slight scent of ebony remained in the air around him while that broad, dry, and muscular hand held him. Touch, warmth, scent, and all of his senses gave him the impression that he was encircled by Qu Moyu in layers.

The sound of his heart pounding was thud, thump, thump.

Hand in hand, Qu Moyu escorted him into the home. Classical music was being played in the ancient mansion. People were distributed throughout the large living room, some speaking and others appreciating the artwork. Everyone’s attention was drawn to the two as they appeared.

“Moyu, you’re back.” An elder grinned and nodded.

“Second uncle,” Qu Moyu addressed each individual, “Where is my father?”

“He went to answer the phone, he might be in the study,” the elder said to Shen Dai.

“Please allow me to introduce you to my wife, Shen Dai, who is also a researcher at our Rare Earth Research Institute,” Qu Moyu said as he stroked Shen Dai on the back of his waist.

“Hello everyone,” Shen Dai said, raising his head slightly.

“You must be extremely intelligent.” Not awful at all.”

“So you two must have met at work.”

Although a few individuals made courteous remarks, they were uninterested in him. They soon solely talked to Qu Moyu.

The Qu family’s relatives are well-off and have traveled the world; they are all extremely intelligent. They already know that Shen Dai cannot be put on the table since Qu Moyu did not have a wedding and did not make it public. Naturally, they’ve heard rumors regarding Shen Dai’s origin. He is not regarded as “Qu Moya’s wife” by anyone.

The great majority of alphas will mark their everlasting spouse with honesty and respect in addition to marriage. S-level alphas, on the other hand, cannot bear being hemmed in by others. Only a handful will mark a partner who provides them with significant benefits, using it as a bargaining piece in return for resources.

So the relative that Qu Moyu said undoubtedly launched a conflict by designating You Baiyue. He was also intrigued about what riches the fast dwindling You family had in their possession.

After some time, a middle-aged alpha descended the stairs. It was Qu Shen, the Chairman of the Xingzhou Group’s Board of Directors and Qu Moyu’s father. Shen Dai would only see him once a year at the annual gathering.

Qu Moyu addressed Shen Dai as “Father.”

Qu Shen nodded, his gaze falling on Shen Dai.

Shen Dai bowed and said, “Hello, Director Qu.”

“Mn, Shen Dai, correct?” I understand your work at our Rare Earth Research Institute and am a student of Professor Liu.”

“Yes.”

“The refining and separation technology your group is researching is critical to the group’s future and has the potential to significantly boost our country’s international competitiveness in the rare earth industry.” You must make a concerted effort.”

“Yes, laoshi, and we will work hard to live up to your expectations.”

“You come here, I have something to tell you,” Qu Shen remarked to someone who appeared to be a housekeeper, “start dinner at half past seven.”

Qu Moyu followed Qu Shen upstairs once again, leaving Shen Dai alone in a house full of strangers. He retreated softly to the wall, where he admired a picture by Hans Holbein the Younger. Of course, if it was placed in the Qu family’s living room, it had to be legitimate.

His granddad is an old-school Chinese painter. Even though he did not make many renowned paintings, he is well-regarded in the realms of education, art study, and appreciation. If his grandfather was still living, he could have snapped a photo with his phone so that when he returned home, he could have a pleasant chat with the old man about the artwork.

He found himself missing his grandparents. There were so many people in the room that, while it wasn’t lively, everyone had company. He and his grandmother were the only ones who did not. While he was alone with this picture, his grandmother may have been alone with a potted flower or a book, living in a modest house that didn’t belong to her, thinking about the past and the one she loved while being consumed by anguish, loneliness, and regret for the rest of her life.

His chest was so thick from the sudden melancholy that he didn’t notice when the door to the entry opened again and someone came in.

He didn’t turn his head till he heard footsteps coming. He was flanked by a tall young man. He resembles Qu Moyu in looks by 30 to 40%, but the remaining 60 to 70% difference has its advantages. He was both unearthly and aristocratically respectful. People might also detect his intense alpha pheromones. Shen Dai recognized the person right away.

“Hello, my name is Qu Chengchen,” he said, putting his hands in his pockets and smiling. He appeared to be a pleasant and easygoing young man. “You’re my da-ge’s new wife.” “I believe I should call you sao-zi.”

Shen Dai gently nodded and said, “Hello.”

“You don’t look like an omega,” Qu Chengchen said as he surveyed Shen Dai from head to toe. How did Uncle You unexpectedly… admit you back in?”

Shen Dai thought to himself, “You miscalculated, didn’t you?” You believed you could take over the magpie’s nest by robbing someone else’s fiancée, but you didn’t anticipate your Uncle You to bring out a secret card, revealing an illegitimate son from the past he was keen to get rid of. Shen Dai, on the other hand, was calm and natural, saying, “I’m not sure either.”

“Are you Xinghai’s son?” Qu Chengchen inquired.”

“I am.”

“Do you consider yourself an omega?”

“I am.”

Qu Chengchen didn’t expect Shen Dai to be so stubborn. He answered everything that was asked, but all his answers were rubbish. He slightly narrowed his eyes, “But why can’t I smell your pheromones?” With one step, he arrived right next to Shen Dai, and at the same time, he bent down, coming close to the back of Shen Dai’s neck.

Shen Dai felt compelled to turn back and flee. The glands on the back of the neck, like the throat, are both deadly. It’s a more symbolic and important layer than the throat; it’s a private portion. Whatever Qu Chengchen’s intention, anybody whose glands are abruptly approached by a stranger would react defensively based on animal instinct.

His body, however, became immobile. He seemed to be locked in a nightmare and had lost control of himself. He could only let Qu Chengchen move his face towards the rear neck at his discretion, wrinkle his nose, and sniff.

“Oh, you are indeed an omega, but the scent of your pheromones is so weak.”

Shen Dai’s corpse was “released” the following second. He took a step back and stared aggressively at Qu Chengchen.

Growing up, everyone experienced some kind of alpha pheromone suppression. Some may be because the other was too immature to manage it, while others may be due to disagreements and disputes, or, more significantly, deliberate attacks. In comparison to other genders, Alphas are like boxers, with pheromones acting as their fists. Of course, the attack strength of alphas varies naturally with level. However, in this law-governed society, alphas must exercise restraint to prevent causing harm to others. Most of the time, they don’t even need to make a fist; they can accomplish their purpose with a single wave of their hand. They can, for example, intimidate others by releasing a little amount of pheromones. When they do decide to use their fist, they normally only use it on boxers of the same level, as long as they haven’t gone insane. Instead of unilateral persecution, this would result in competition.

Qu Chengchen, on the other hand, had just used his pheromone suppression on Shen Dai, which was a serious violation. Even if it merely rendered him temporarily immobile, it was heinous enough. The fact that Qu Chengchen only produced a modest amount of pheromones terrified Shen Dai the most. There were so many people in the room, yet no one noticed save him. Is this what an S-level alpha looks like? Ordinary people may at least try and resist when confronted with regular boxers, but Qu Chengchen controlled him as easily as breathing.

“Are you insane?” blinked Qu Chengchen. Please accept my apologies. What do your pheromones smell like? It smells fairly great; it’s just too subtle. Are your glands growing normally? Will it affect fertility?”

“Chengchen,” Qu Moyu said quietly from behind him.

Shen Dai took a deep breath and turned to face Qu Moyu. His gleaming pupils had a panicked look to them, unlike his normal serene demeanor.

“What did you just do?” Qu Moyu asked harshly of Qu Chengchen after comforting Shen Dai.”

“Da-ge,” Qu Chengchen pretended, “just getting to know my sister-in-law.”

“Did you smell my wife’s glands?”

“No offense, but the scent of his pheromones is too weak, I thought he was a beta.”

“Apologize.”

“I have already apologized.”

“I didn’t hear it,” Qu Moyu said sharply to Qu Chengchen.

Qu Chengchen’s grin faded gradually.

Within the space of two neighboring tiles, two top-level alphas locked gazes. What’s the difference between this and a tiger cage? Everyone in the living room remained silent. Two varieties of tyrant pheromones were concealed and were yet to be unleashed, causing terror.

Qu Chengchen finally shrugged his shoulders, smiled again, and murmured to Shen Dai, “I’m sorry.”