68

After a year away from the Research institute, Shen Dai had some real psychological preparation to do before going back.

He had once been the student Professor Liu was most focused on cultivating, but after having taken a year-long leave of absence “due to illness,” his career had been dealt a major blow. Now he was back to hand in his resignation. If he were to run into his former colleagues, he truly wouldn’t know how to face their surprised looks and curious questions.

Being a senior member of the laboratory, he ought to have invited everyone for a farewell dinner. But after considering it, he found that he still preferred to keep matters low-key.

The documents having all been prepared, Chen Zimei accompanied him to the human resources department to go through a few formalities.

In principle, Liu Xi held the final authority over his appointment and resignation. As long as Liu Xi approved it, he would officially have resigned. But since his extended leave of absence due to illness had been approved by the company, he first needed to cancel it before he could properly complete all the procedures.

He had already submitted an application through the company’s internal system, but the process still needed a few days to be finalised.

Under the “protection” of Cheng Zimei, he didn’t run into anyone he knew apart from his colleagues in the human resources department. It was only as he was leaving that he unexpectedly bumped into Zhou Lan, who was returning after handling some matters outside.

Shen Dai was wearing a baseball cap. But even with its visor pulled down low, Zhou Lan recognised him immediately: “Shen Shixiong?”

Shen Dai was momentarily taken aback, but quickly replied with a faint smile, “Zhou Lan. It’s been a while.”

“Have you recovered? Are you back at work now?” Zhou Lan gave Shen Dai a quick once-over. He had heard plenty of rumours that Shen Dai’s leave of absence had something to do with Qu Moyu. But seeing how thin and haggard Shen Dai looked, it really did appear as though he’d only just recovered from a serious illness. Zhou Lan felt a heaviness in his heart.

“I came back to handle my resignation”

Beside them, Zimei let out a soft sigh.

Zhou Lan’s face fell. For a moment, he was at a loss for words.

Shen Dai looked at him calmly. “You’re a proper researcher now. Congratulations. From now on, be sure to study hard and cooperate well with the professor and your Cheng Shijie.”

Zhou Lan nodded: “I will. Shen-Shixiong, let…let me treat you to a meal.”

“Actually I should be the one treating all of you, but I still have things to do today. Sorry about that! Thanks for offering.”

“….Will we still be able to see each other in the future?” asked Zhou Lan in a low voice.

“Of course. I’m only switching jobs, not changing fields. We’ll definitely run into each other at all kinds of industry events.” Shen Dai added with a smile, “I’ll let you guys know more once my job’s settled.

Zhou Lan tried his best to smile. There was still more he wanted to say, but in the end he swallowed his words.

Once they walked out of the Research institute, Shen Dai breathed a sigh of relief.

He turned to look back at the place where he had spent seven years working. This was a place everyone in the industry aspired to, a place which once carried his career and his dreams. He once believed he would continue striving here for years to come, never imagining that one day he would reluctantly have to leave.

That sense of disappointment and unwillingness was hard to describe.

His heart was filled with anxieties about the future, too.

But this was the road he had chosen. He had to keep going.

Cheng Zimei too, was utterly despondent. “A-Dai, do you really have to go?” she asked in a quiet voice.

Shen Dai gave a nod. “Zimei, the person I feel the most guilt toward is the Professor. Please take care of him for me. Tell him to drink a little less strong tea and smoke a little less.”

Her eyes grew red. “Don’t worry,” she replied, blinking rapidly and managing to squeeze out a smile. “It’s not a big deal. Everyone has to look forward. I know you’ll make an outstanding career for yourself wherever you go.”

“I believe in myself too. We’re just not going to be in the same company anymore, that’s all. On the path of academia, we can still help each other shine.”

“Right!” answered Cheng Zimei, looping her arm through his. "Go go go. Quickly bring me to see my nephew." While he was off handling his resignation at the company, his grandmother minded Qiuqiu the entire morning. He was originally quite anxious - firstly because the two weren’t familiar with each other and might not get along, and secondly because he worried that due to her age, his grandmother wouldn’t be unable to keep up with Qiuqiu’s energy

Even when he was busy handling his resignation matters he kept sending messages over WeChat to check on them.

Until he got back to the hotel, he hadn’t expected to find Qiuqiu being extra cute and well-behaved, and his grandmother, utterly smitten with him.

Cheng Zimei was over the moon as well. She gave the baby a hug and a few fierce kisses, coaxing him in an exaggeratedly sweet tone, “Aiyooh. How can a little stinky poo be this cute? Whose family does such a good looking little alpha come from? Here, Auntie will give you a kiss!”

After receiving a thickly-stuffed red envelope and a pile of baby supplies from Cheng Zimei, Shen Dai couldn’t help feeling a little apologetic. “You bought so many things… how am I supposed to carry all this on the plane? You got a pay increase so now you have to waste money, right?”

“I don’t have any babies to raise. If I waste money then so be it!” She added playfully, “Qiuqiu is really good-looking. He’s guaranteed to grow up handsome! This auntie will wait for you, but only up to eighteen years, okay?”

“This sort of outfit will be too small after just a few wears.” said Shen Dai, holding it up against Qiuqiu’s body. Actually, it was pretty cute.

“It’s fiiiine. Remember to take a photo of him wearing it for me to see, alright?” Then, as if she had suddenly thought of something, she turned despondent again. “Are you sure about moving to Lancheng? Did you think it over clearly? Isn’t it better to stay in one’s hometown?”

His grandmother looked at him, exasperated, but she didn’t dare try to persuade him. After all, if it wasn’t absolutely necessary, who would willingly leave their hometown? She was afraid if she urged him to stay it would only make things harder for him.

Shen Dai forced a smile. “Bai Shixiong can offer me a job. I’ve already sent out a few resumes for roles here, but the pay is definitely going to be lower than at the Starship corporation, and the thing is the cost of living in the capital is just too expensive. It would cost more than twice as much for me to hire a full time A-yi here than in Lancheng.”

He was embarrassed to even bring up the subject of rent. Although he owned an apartment, it was barely enough for his grandmother and Shen Qin to live in. With a child, there was no way he could stay in the company dormitory. If he were to rent another apartment, hire a nanny, and cover the child’s expenses, the financial pressure would be too great.

Cheng Zimei let out a sigh as well.

She looked at Shen Dai, and then at Qiuqiu.

At first glance, this child resembled Shen Dai, but the more you looked, the more he resembled Qu Moyu.

He was clearly a child who could be worth millions by virtue of his birth alone, yet Shen Dai was struggling just to get by. She couldn’t help feeling depressed for him. But she knew his personality well. There was no way he would ever do the same as his father, the person he despised the most.

There were many things she wanted to say to him, but fearing that she might reopen old wounds, she kept them to herself.

After they finished lunch, Grandma went home. Having taken the day off, Cheng Zimei stayed to help him watch the baby for the entire afternoon.

Their conversation steered clear of the difficult and painful year Shen Dai had gone through. Instead they chatted about papers, industry matters, the current rate of progress of the project that he had been working on before, all topics that could make his eyes light up with excitement again.

Just when the conversation was getting interesting, his phone decided to ring.

Hardly anyone knew his number after he had changed it. He thought the call might be a reply to one of the resumes he had sent out. But when he picked up the phone and glanced at the screen, the number, despite its lack of a first and last name, was one that had been carved deeply into his memory. A string of digits he couldn’t forget no matter what he did. He hung up without the slightest hesitation.

At first, Cheng Zimei paid it no mind. With all the nuisance calls people got these days, it was perfectly normal to ignore a call from an unfamiliar number.

But the phone immediately started ringing again. This time, Shen Dai didn’t just hang up but decided to add the caller to the list of blocked numbers.

At that moment, a pop-up notification appeared: I’m downstairs at your hotel.

His heart stopped for a second.

“What’s wrong? Who was it?” Cheng Zimei asked, taking Qiuqiu’s little hand and giving it a playful wave.

“Zimei, I actually wanted to treat you to dinner, but something came up. How about you go back first? I’ll contact you tomorrow or the day after.”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s not like you owe me a meal. But you look a little pale though?” she replied, eyeing his phone with suspicion. “Did you receive some bad news?”

How was he going to explain it? Qu Moyu was downstairs right now.

Another message came in: Come downstairs. Or I’ll come up and find you.

Phone in hand, he let out a long sigh, not knowing what to do. He both didn’t want to see Qu Moyu or let Cheng Zimei know.

“What’s wrong?” She leaned over and took a peek at his screen."…Wait, who’s that?"

"……"

"Damn!" She had a sudden spark of intuitive understanding, and without even knowing how, she guessed it correctly. "It can’t be the Crown Prince right?"

She carried Qiuqiu in her arms and took a few steps towards the window. Taking a look downstairs, sure enough, there was Qu Moyu’s car. She stared at Shen Dai, her eyes open wide.

He stood up, his face ashen: “Zimei, help me look after Qiuqiu for a bit, will you? I need to go downstairs. I’ll be right back.”

“Go ahead” Cheng Zimei looked at Shen Dai with concern. “Are you…alright?”

He shook his head faintly.

Once he was downstairs, he saw from a distance the black Phantom outside of the gate. Inside he was full of trepidation. But he had no choice but to walk over towards it.

Just as he got close, the car door on the driver's side opened.

Old Wu stepped out, wearing a jacket and white gloves

This familiar scene was replaying in his mind. He recalled other times just like this - when he had worn a bespoke suit to attend a dinner at the Qu family home, when he was running late for work and Qu Moyu had given him a lift, or that evening he had quietly slipped down to the carpark after work to look for him without being noticed.

But this time, the opened door seemed to him like a bottomless abyss, hiding a ferocious beast that would swallow him whole. And he had nowhere to run.

He braced himself and entered the car.

Qu Moyu was dressed just as he was before - in a suit and leather shoes , his long legs crossed as he sat on the genuine leather seat. But this time, there were no documents and no tablet in his hands. Instead, they rested upon his knees, ten fingers intertwined, his head tilted slightly as he gazed at him.

He has gotten thinner. It was even more noticeable than when he had seen him in Lancheng. And he clearly looked a little worn out. A top Alpha’s stamina differed from that of ordinary people; unless he had gone through something that demanded intense physical or mental exertion, he wouldn’t have appeared this exhausted.

After he sat down, Old Wu closed the door and retreated to a corner for a smoke.

He had already endured the hellish torment of his rut. He gave himself a stern warning to not act too hastily, for fear of scaring off his prey.

Qu Moyu looked at Shen Dai, now within arm’s reach. He caught a faint scent of the epiphyllum and twisted his clasped fingers, twisted them until they hurt, resisting the urge to pull him into his arms.

Shen Dai didn’t look at him and kept his head lowered, saying, “Is there anything else?”

“Where is the child?” asked Qu Moyu in a low voice.

“In the room.”

“My mother wants to see him.”

“……”

He couldn’t find a reason to refuse. If not for Mrs Qu’s help, he would never have been able to have Qiuqiu. This request was fair and reasonable.