Chapter 11: Being Away From Home, Seeing Other Alphas…
Even knowing this guy had a death wish, Yu Shi was worried he’d break a leg and try to extort him for it.
Yu Shi shook off his hand and said with irritation, “As a student, you’re overstepping. Where I go is none of your business.”
“Wow, angry again.” Xie Ren raised his hands innocently. “I don’t care where you’re going or what you’re doing. Dr. Chen insisted I pass on the message. It puts me in a tough spot if you just leave like this.”
Yu Shi frowned and glared at him. “Then hurry up and say it.”
Xie Ren mocked, “What kind of date is it that you care so much? Is the person you’re meeting that important? So what if you’re late? It’s only right that they wait for you.”
Yu Shi stared at him coldly. Xie Ren had no choice but to say reluctantly, “Dr. Chen said you should find time to test your pheromone capacity. He says you have a weak constitution and aren’t suited for late-night snacks, bar hopping, and especially not midnight dates.”
Yu Shi finally understood—this guy was definitely insane.
Where did the late-night snacks and bar hopping come from? Where did the midnight date come from?
There was something wrong with his head.
Too lazy to waste any more time, Yu Shi didn’t say another word. He turned and left, leaving Xie Ren to kick the trash can beside him.
It had just rained in the evening, and the sky was a dark, greenish-black. Zhongxing Road was brightly lit, lined with skyscrapers, while maglev trains glided silently overhead.
Under the neon signs, naked-eye 3D screens broadcasted singing and dancing. This district was bustling with people, the most debauched and luxurious place in Kowa City.
Yu Shi muted his wristband and arrived at the entrance of a lavishly decorated club. After showing his ID to the doorman, he passed through the chaotic dance floor where demons and monsters seemed to dance, and walked into a private room on the second floor.
The second floor was quiet. The door was ajar, and as he approached, he heard a conversation from inside.
“So, what counts as a good pheromone?” a soft voice asked.
The other voice carried the laziness of someone long accustomed to high status. “That top idol who blew up this year, his pheromones aren’t bad. Top quality. They could sell for at least this figure.”
“Heavens, I won’t earn that much in my entire life! Then if I go to the place you mentioned, what price can my pheromones fetch?” the Omega asked.
The Alpha chuckled softly. “You—”
“Worthless.”
“No one there looks twice at A-class pheromones.”
The Omega felt stifled and said unhappily, “Isn’t the top idol just one rank higher than me? Even if he’s S-class, there’s no need to look down on A-class.”
The Alpha spoke carelessly, “I never said he was ‘high-class.’ At most, he’s just ‘passable.'”
“Sir, then what kind of pheromones are considered high-class?”
“I encountered a top-tier one once. Unfortunately, it’s no longer available.”
“Who is that person? Why isn’t it available anymore?”
Yu Shi knocked on the door frame and looked indifferently at the two people on the sofa.
The Alpha had a handsome, devilish face with a beauty mark under his eye. He had broad shoulders and a narrow waist, wearing a black shirt with sleeves rolled up to reveal muscular forearms bearing the iconic Kirin tattoo of K9.
Holding a wine glass in one hand and resting the other loosely on the back of the chair, he looked Yu Shi up and down from head to toe before revealing an ambiguous smile.
“Long time no see, Director Yu,” the Alpha said pleasantly. “You’ve become beautiful again.”
Yu Shi showed no expression. He sat directly at the bar and skillfully mixed a Gin Fizz.
He seemed to come here often, familiar even with the placement of the ice tongs. The Omega watched him with curiosity, blinking rapidly.
The Alpha teased, “What, you’ve taken a fancy to him?”
The Omega was startled. Before he could deny it, the Alpha added, “Then you’ve looked at the wrong person. He is a cold-blooded, heartless villain. No one can get a single bit of kindness from him. Hey, Director Yu, someone is looking at you. Won’t you acknowledge them?”
Yu Shi took a sip of his drink, finally unable to stand him. “Qin Yin, I have business to discuss.”
Qin Yin laughed, seeming satisfied that Yu Shi called him by his full name. He lifted his chin at the Omega. “Baby, get out.”
The Omega didn’t dare make a sound, scrambling out and closing the door, not forgetting to glance back at Yu Shi before leaving.
“You really are too charming. You’ve been in the room less than three minutes, and that android looked at you over a dozen times,” Qin Yin sneered.
Yu Shi froze. “Android?”
He subconsciously looked at the Omega’s retreating back. It had thoughts, flesh, and blood; it didn’t look like a replica at all.
“Newly developed in Zone 7. The world’s first high-end model. I’m testing its psychological activities. Looks very real, right? The touch is also very similar.”
Yu Shi frowned. “You have fewer and fewer bottom lines. It’s disgusting.”
Qin Yin walked toward him. “Haven’t seen you in half a year, and you’re still this sharp-tongued. Can the students around you stand it?”
Yu Shi held his glass horizontally, placing it between the two of them. He looked up and said, “I can lead them to publish in Particle. It’s everything they could wish for.”
He looked at the high-ranking Alpha neither humbly nor arrogantly, a trace of hidden disgust flashing in his eyes.
“I just like you like this, having such self-awareness of your own value.” Qin Yin picked up the Gin Fizz Yu Shi had drunk from and downed it in one go. “I heard Tang Jiadong is making things difficult for you, not letting you into the Armory?”
“I came today for this matter. He’s very guarded. You have to help me get a pass, otherwise, I can’t get the data.”
Qin Yin smiled a smile that wasn’t quite a smile. “I already issued the red-header document to get you into NDU. The rest should depend on your own ability. Getting to this step was already a huge risk. Also, not contacting me for so long and only remembering me when you have a problem—aren’t you being a bit excessive?”
Yu Shi looked at him. “There are things inside that you want, too. If you don’t help, I can just pretend nothing happened and spend these three months of Summer Training peacefully.”
His gaze was calm and indifferent, as if this wasn’t a negotiation with unequal chips, as if the thing lying in the Armory wasn’t something he dreamed of.
This aura of composure, no matter the situation, was something Qin Yin had seen for over ten years. He thought he was used to it, but seeing it again, he still felt an indescribable appreciation and excitement.
He leaned in close, merely an inch from Yu Shi’s face.
Yu Shi looked back coldly, showing no fear toward this superior who treated human life like grass, just like the first time they met.
Qin Yin raised the corner of his mouth. “Fine, I’ll help you.”
“Who asked me to dot on you so much, Director Yu.”
A rich Wild Rose pheromone diffused, carrying a domineering aggression, squeezing into the respiratory tract pervasively.
Yu Shi frowned instantly, his whole body stinging as if pricked by needles. He desperately suppressed the urge to strike, a thin layer of sweat seeping from his temples.
His wristband didn’t make a sound, only the numerical values silently spiking to red.
He gritted his teeth and clenched his fist. “Major Qin, speak rudely one more time, and I won’t be polite.”
Qin Yin shrugged. “Just a joke. Your temper is getting worse. Tsk, your voice is trembling. Sorry, I didn’t control my pheromones well.”
He stuffed a box of something into Yu Shi’s pocket, feigning concern. “Being away from home, seeing other Alphas, it’s better to bring suppressant patches. Don’t you think, Director Yu?”
The scent of Wild Rose gradually faded, and the stinging pain of extreme mismatch dissipated.
Yu Shi released his fist, squeezing his eyes shut to stabilize his emotions.
A few seconds later, he opened his eyes and said in a deep voice, “Cut the crap. What do you plan to do? Passes aren’t that easy to get.”
Qin Yin smiled and said, “You’ll know when the time comes. I’ll help you create a little chaos. You just take the opportunity to go in. I’m very good at this kind of thing; it’s not like you don’t know.”
Yu Shi asked no more, turned around, and walked straight out.
Qin Yin clicked his tongue. “So cold. We finally meet, let me walk you out.”
Hands in his pockets, he followed behind Yu Shi, actually escorting him to the club entrance.
Across the street directly facing the club entrance stood a state-guest level reception hotel.
Offshore Hotel, 7th Floor Banquet Hall.
Xie Ren leaned back in his chair, listening boredly as this group of people chatted about politics, the international situation, and their respective lovers, until finally, the topic turned to him.
A bald officer said, “I heard the Marshal’s son isn’t married yet. I have a pair of Omega children. I wonder if Young Master Xie likes men or women?”
Sitting at the head of the table was K9 Eastern Zone Marshal, Xie Chengfeng. His face was thirty percent similar to Xie Ren’s, his expression stern, a deep furrow between his brows as he looked at the silent Xie Ren with dissatisfaction.
“Minister Zhou is talking to you. Are you deaf?” Xie Chengfeng said.
Xie Ren dug at his ear. “You wish I was bombed deaf so I’d retire and come back, right? Sorry to disappoint you, my hearing is fine.”
Minister Zhou smiled awkwardly. Just as Xie Chengfeng was about to explode, Xie Ren said, “Minister Zhou, it’s not that I have an issue with your children, I’m just not interested in this kind of thing.”
Minister Zhou had a sudden idea. “Then do you like Betas? My niece and nephew are Betas. If that doesn’t work…”
“If that doesn’t work, you can just go to a brothel and grab one for me?” Xie Ren kindly spouted wild words. “Minister Zhou, can you treat me like a human being? I’m not a stud for breeding. Moreover, do you know my net worth? Can you afford me?”
“…No no no, I-I-I didn’t mean that…” Minister Zhou waved his hands in panic.
Xie Chengfeng slammed the table in rage. “Try talking nonsense one more time! No respect for your elders! People are kind enough to introduce you to a partner, and this is your attitude? You’re simply rebelling against heaven!”
His uncle, Xie Chengzhou, said with a smile, “Ah Feng, don’t be anxious. The Old Master said last time that he scouted a candidate for him. A researcher from the Institute, supposedly with good conditions in all aspects.”
“Nothing has even been set in stone yet, and he has the nerve to talk about it all day,” Xie Chengfeng said with a cold face.
Hearing the word “Institute,” Xie Ren frowned heavily, dropped his chopsticks, and said, “I’m full. You guys take your time.”
“Stand there! Come back!” Xie Chengfeng scolded. “Did you understand the matter about the Gun Expo? Next month, the Sovereign will visit NDU. You must stay sharp for me; absolutely nothing can go wrong.”
Xie Ren said, “Dad, I’m more familiar with the Sovereign’s matters than you are. You don’t need to call me here under the guise of briefing me on the Gun Expo just to secretly arrange a table for matchmaking. If you’re in a hurry to hold a grandchild, you can take advantage of the fact that your lovers are still young and have a few more for yourself to raise. Anyway, don’t count on me.”
Xie Chengfeng was furious. He slammed the table and stood up, pulling out the snake-shaped sidearm at his waist.
Minister Zhou and the officers nearby were scared to death, desperately holding him back.
“You little bastard! Say that again!” Xie Chengfeng pointed at his nose and cursed. “I shouldn’t have bothered with you; I should have let you rot in Zone 9! Did a donkey kick your head? When you were carried back all bloody and mangled, who were you doing justice to? Was it fair to your grandfather? To your mother?! To dare say such things, you…”
The more he spoke, the angrier he got, raising his hand to splash his drink at Xie Ren.
Xie Ren tilted his body but was still splashed with half a glass of wine. He said gloomily, “You are the one least qualified to mention my mom. Don’t call me out for nothing in the future; writing leave requests is a hassle.”
He walked to the door and said to Xie Chengzhou, “By the way, Uncle, transfer that bastard named Tang over as soon as possible. I want him to see the consequences of stuffing a stepmother into my house.”
Xie Chengfeng trembled with rage, glaring at Xie Chengzhou. “What wicked thing are you helping him with now?!”
Xie Chengzhou: “…It’s none of my business.”
Xie Ren squeezed through the men and women in the hall to the window, asked a waiter for a cigarette, and held it in his mouth. Just as he was about to light it, he suddenly saw a familiar figure downstairs.
“Fuck,” he muttered, the cigarette falling from his mouth to the floor.
The street accumulated puddles after the rain. Neon lights reflected on the water’s surface, creating colorful refractions.
The colorful light reflected in Yu Shi’s eyes was absorbed into a dull, heavy brownish-black, like a bottomless lake.
Qin Yin stared into his eyes and said, “It’s uncomfortable wearing contacts every day, right? I like the original color of your eyes. Like the sea before a storm. Very beautiful, very profound.”
Yu Shi remained silent. Qin Yin continued, “When Summer Training is over, ask them to give you a long vacation. I’ll take you back to Hill City to have a look.”
Hearing this place name, Yu Shi’s face darkened.
“Not interested,” he said coldly. “Go yourself if you want to go.”
Qin Yin smiled. Just as he was about to speak, a young Alpha’s voice came from the side. “Instructor Yu, what a coincidence. I almost didn’t dare recognize you from afar.”
Qin Yin turned around and met that sharp, exposed face. The smile on his lips slowly disappeared.
Xie Ren looked at Yu Shi, then at the Alpha beside him.
For some reason, there was a subtle atmosphere between the two. It seemed like familiarity, yet also like hostility. This elusive feeling made him uncomfortable.
“Xie Ren,” Yu Shi said, dazed. “Why are you here?”
Xie Ren softened his tone. “If Instructor Yu can be here, why can’t I?”
Yu Shi looked at the hotel behind him and the clothes stained with wine, slowly realizing. He must be out working a part-time job to pay for his studies.
Looking at this setup… was he an escort?
Qin Yin sized up the Alpha before him and took a half-step closer to Yu Shi. He was already standing close, and now he was completely leaning against him.
Yu Shi was thinking and didn’t notice this point.
Xie Ren couldn’t help but speak up. “Instructor Yu, are you going back to school? I can give you a lift on the way.”
Before he could answer, Qin Yin sneered. “He’s not going back. He took a full leave tonight. I’m taking him home.”
Yu Shi had indeed taken full leave, planning to go back to his own home.
If Xie Ren couldn’t see Qin Yin’s intentions by now, then his brain wasn’t working.
Interrupting, right?
Provoking, right?
He pushed his cheek with the tip of his tongue, looking around at the street corner.
There were discarded wine bottles over there. Perhaps knocking the Alpha out was a good choice.
There were sounds of hidden security nearby, probably no more than ten. Without hurting Yu Shi, he could resolve them all within three minutes.
He mapped out the route in his mind when suddenly his shoulder was bumped.
Yu Shi brushed past him and said, “Let’s go.”
Xie Ren snapped back to reality, his eyes lighting up as he shouted, “Coming.”
Without even looking at Qin Yin’s face, he raised the corner of his mouth and followed Yu Shi away.
Qin Yin stood motionless at the street corner, his expression grim and cold.
A figure in black approached and whispered, “Major, that is Marshal Xie’s only son, Xie Ren, currently a squad commander in the Falcon Regiment. He was dining at Offshore just now.”
Qin Yin narrowed his eyes and hummed. “So it’s him.”
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