05

”Understood, I'll abide by your arrangements,” replied Shen Dai in a low voice.

Qu Moyu gave a satisfied nod. “Have you eaten?”

“Not yet.”

“Have a meal before leaving, then. Also, do let Uncle Heng know what your preferences are.”

“I will, Thank you, President Qu.”

As Qu Moyu rose to his feet, a faint, elusive scent rushed into Shen Dai’s nostrils. Calm, dry, and slightly bitter - that thick woody fragrance conveyed a sense of resolute power. These were the ebony wood pheromones belonging to Qu Moyu, a scent which corresponded perfectly with his aura.

It evoked profound memories for Shen Dai.

Three years ago, he had been drugged and induced into heat by a senior who was competing with him for a spot in the talent programme. The inhibitor he carried with him had failed completely, and he struggled in agony in the laboratory, tormented until his reason was nearly exhausted.

At that moment, he desperately wanted to grab hold of any Alpha he could just to relieve himself of his primal bodily urges.

His pheromone scent 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 heat would only occur once or twice a year and last for only three to four days.

Ordinarily, his pheromone scent was very faint. With a pheromone blocking patch over the gland on the back of his neck, it could become so weak that people often mistook him for a Beta. But once he went into heat, its concentration would surge, growing several times stronger than that of an average Omega.

He also required a higher dosage of inhibitors than most, and once he was drugged, the reaction overwhelmed him, making him lose complete control.

Back then, he thought he might truly be doomed. 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 intoxicating fragrance of the epiphyllum had spread through half of the Research institute. Several Alphas were on the brink of losing control. If not for the intervention of his Beta colleagues, they would have charged in immediately.

At that time, it just happened that Qu Moyu was making an inspection of the research institutes under the umbrella of the corporation. The twenty-one year old successor to the company had recently returned from his studies abroad at a prestigious establishment to formally begin his training in the company. Only an S-class Alpha, having undergone rigorous pheromone control training from a young age, possessed the ability to withstand the allure of an Omega in heat.

When Qu Moyu came to his side, Shen Dai was both frightened and craving. He was so afraid that his whole body was trembling, yet he clung to the man, refusing to let go. He desperately wanted something from the other person that could alleviate his suffering.

But this other person was extremely restrained. He held him firmly in place and gently whispered in his ear, placating him. Shen Dai was so delirious he couldn't understand a word, hearing only what sounded like the babbling of a mountain brook, which eased a little of his agitation.

Then he caught the scent of the ebony wood pheromones. Strong, calming, enveloping, and steady, it washed over his mind, cleansing his soul. Like a lighthouse beckoning him across a boundless expanse of chaos, its brightness showing him the way. He blissfully released his pheromones, chasing 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 moving in harmony, the one waxing as the other waned.

He was convinced that the lighthouse itself was swaying in the middle of the storm. For a brief moment, it wavered and faltered, before finally holding firm onto its foundation and subduing him with pheromones.

And then he felt a sharp pain at the back of his neck; Qu Moyu had given him a temporary mark, which soothed his restlessness. Soon after, the security team specialised in handling emergencies arrived and injected him with a sedative.

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 only a temporary mark, and yet it had incessantly carved itself into his heart.

Regrettably, destiny had forcibly pulled both of them together, giving them a relationship that was, in his eyes, ambiguous, but to the other, merely transactional. He truly 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 to get fitted for a few sets of formal attire. My father’s birthday banquet will take place in a few days, and I’m expected to bring you home.”

And 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 he didn’t need to bring much as the guest room seemed to have everything he could need.

He looked around his dormitory. Though it wasn’t even the size of most people’s bathrooms, it made him feel safe. In contrast, that place, Qu Moyu’s residence, made him feel anxious.

After work, a driver from the Qu family came to pick him up, with Uncle Heng also in the car to accompany him to a private club that specialised in bespoke suits.

While Uncle Heng and the tailor discussed designs, Shen Dai also made some requests regarding the choice of fabric and yarn. Being on the slimmer side, he felt that a coarse wool material could add a bit of sturdiness to his appearance.

Uncle Heng glanced at him with some astonishment. In all likelihood, he hadn't thought that Shen Dai, who always dressed in plain and casual office attire, would be someone with an understanding of bespoke suits.

Shen Dai understood the look in his eyes, but remained perfectly calm. He rarely let his emotions waver because of people he didn’t care about, and in any case, he could also understand Uncle Heng’s reaction.

He had grown up in a family that was rich in artistic spirit and romantic sentiment. Although they were not wealthy, their food, clothing, and daily necessities had always been of good quality. It was only that finances had been tight in recent years, so he had started to let things slide a little.

Moreover, after growing up, he began to inwardly reject art and refinement, choosing without hesitation to study engineering at university. It wasn’t really that he disliked his childhood, but rather that he had seen how his father, raised in such a family, had been pampered into becoming a naïve, self-centered, and foolish ingrate.

He believed that his maternal grandparents’ approach to raising children was originally well-intentioned and nurturing, encouraging their child to pursue their true selves and to celebrate beauty, love, and romance. But this kind of upbringing lacked a sense of responsibility and practicality. As a result, his father grew up to be a self-absorbed, whimsical fool who would do anything for the sake of love.

In his youth, his father had believed that he was passionately in love with a young master from a wealthy family, only to discover that his lover was nothing but a scoundrel. Having been cast aside, he tried to salvage the relationship by having a child.

Later, believing he had found true love again with a swindler, he betrayed his family, stealing all their assets to use as collateral for his lover. Compared to You Xinghai, whom he had met only twice in his life, his disdain and contempt for his father were a hundred times greater.

Shen Dai looked at himself in the mirror. But noticing the features of his face that resembled his father’s, he frowned.

・・・

Over the next few days, he travelled to and from work using a combination of taxis and the subway. Though his commute was now significantly more inconvenient, it was fortunate that he didn’t need to clock in and had relatively flexible hours. He also toyed with the idea of buying an inexpensive mobility scooter.

On Saturday evening, he changed into the suit that had just been sent over and sat quietly in the living room waiting. Only when he was notified by Uncle Heng did he step outside and into the Phantom sedan that was waiting at the door.

Qu Moyu was already seated inside, reading some documents. He was impeccably dressed, his tall and muscular frame complemented perfectly by the high-quality material and cut of his suit. His complexion was so clear and smooth it was glowing, and the peaks and valleys of his facial features, from his brow ridge to his nose down to his jawline, were sharply defined yet elegant. Even each strand of his hair was coiffed perfectly in place. Every frame of him looked like a meticulously retouched photo of a magazine, both luxurious and elegant.

The partition in the backseat was fully lowered, giving him a lavish, spacious, and private space that felt like his own mobile office.

Naturally, such a space was filled with the fragrance of his ebony wood pheromones.

Shen Dai quietly settled into his seat.

“Good evening, President Qu.”

Qu Moyu looked up and cast an eye over Shen Dai, his gaze lingering briefly. “The suit fits you well.”

“It does.”

The car moved off. Qu Moyu spent more than half of the ride going over documents. Shen Dai looked out at the scenery - it was not very respectful to play with his phone in front of his boss.

Then, Qu Moyu closed his documents and shifted his sitting position.

Realising that Qu Moyu had something to say, Shen Dai turned his body slightly towards him.

“Bringing you home today will be your first formal introduction to my family. There is no need to be nervous. If any of the elders ask you something, you may simply answer. There's no need to elaborate or initiate conversation. Just be polite and maintain a smile.”

”Got it.”

”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 for you. Try to avoid him as much as possible. In short, our ‘partnership’ should not be mentioned because the elders in the family don’t wish to see any conflict between us.”

“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 catastrophe. That second S-class Alpha in my family is my cousin, and he is the one who marked my fiancé.”

Shen Dai understood everything at once.

To put it simply, the relationship between two S-class Alphas was that of two tigers on the same mountain*.

Alphas were inherently the most aggressive and competitive of the genders. Ferocious in nature, with an insatiable thirst to dominate, their desire for power knew no bounds. And Alphas with the pheromone grade of S-class were the natural rulers at the top of the human food chain. They were, almost without exception, gifted with alluring physical appearances, robust physiques, and high intelligence, coupled with an 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 and emperors of civilised society.

The world has another name for them: Apex predators.

Naturally, such king-like 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 felt a chill run down his spine.

 

1. Epiphyllum  | 昙花 : Epiphyllum oxypetalum, also known as the Night-blooming Cereus, is a species of epiphytic cactus renowned for its large, fragrant flowers, which bloom just once a year. The blooms are short-lived, often lasting just a single evening, making them a rare and highly anticipated spectacle.

 

2. Two tigers on the same mountain | 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.