Chapter 2: Money Alpha
“W… What?” Xu Bohan suspected he had misheard.
Yu Shi glossed over it. “Nothing. Kids shouldn’t worry about adult matters. Just drive.”
The pitfalls he had encountered in blind dating were more numerous than the craters in Zone 9. If his heat weren’t approaching, he wouldn’t have been pressured by his family to go through the motions.
Xu Bohan looked at him strangely. “Teacher, are you wearing contacts today? Your eyes look different from usual.”
As if remembering something, Yu Shi gave a casual “Hmm,” turned sideways to take off his glasses, and when he turned back, his eyes had returned to light brown.
“Why take them off? They look good.” Xu Bohan handed him a box. “Director Luo prepared this for you. When we get off later, bodyguards will meet us.”
The box contained suppressant patches, barrier spray, and a pair of sunglasses. Yu Shi picked up the sunglasses, looking confused.
Xu Bohan sighed. “Teacher, you don’t go online much, so you might not know. You’ve gone viral. Ever since that lecture last month, your video exploded on the internet. Many people admire you… your scientific achievements very much.”
A month ago, Yu Shi went to his alma mater, Kowa University, to give a speech and announced the latest research on particle beam weapons. It was a significant speech in the scientific community, and it was posted online by official channels that day.
No one expected that the comments section of the Sundial Official Media, known for being serious and proper, would spiral completely out of control.
The comments underneath were as follows:
[Dug into his background. Published over a dozen articles in “Particle” at such a young age. Too impressive.]
[What a magnificent face—I mean, what magnificent results. His name is Yu Shi, right? Male Omega, I’ve marked you.]
[Chirp chirp coo coo, what is he saying? Don’t understand. Want to kiss.]
[His eyes are so cold. Next second he’s going to order me to kneel.]
[Ahhh! Glasses and a white shirt are equivalent to a bow tie and white silk stockings! Someone understand me!]
[I looked through official photos, he usually doesn’t wear glasses. Wearing them today is definitely seduction!]
[His lips are so pink, and there’s a mole on his nose tip. Such a supreme Omega was actually handed over to the state TAT]
[What did this Sister Shi put in the water? It’s so hot…]
[@Bohan_StudyHard: Help SOS, Teacher Yu has a bad temper. Don’t let him see these words, or he’ll roast you until you bite your tongue off.]
[Ahhhhh, Sister Shi’s student appears!]
[Holy crap, is he that spicy in private? Like him even more /tongue/]
The official account couldn’t stand it anymore and pinned a post: [Director Yu is the Chief Designer of the Third Institute. We understand everyone’s admiration, but please mind your language! Do not post inappropriate comments!]
The result was that no one cared, and the chaos below only intensified.
Yu Shi didn’t pay attention to the internet and hadn’t realized the severity of the situation.
Upon arriving at the Xinghai Lecture Hall, the moment the car door opened, over a dozen media outlets swarmed in from all sides.
Camera flashes struck like lightning on a clear day, crackling against their faces. Yu Shi squeezed his eyes shut, finally understanding the purpose of the sunglasses.
The moment he closed his eyes, his eyelashes trembled and his brows furrowed. The media frantically captured this shot.
His smart wristband vibrated: [High Stress Warning! Strong data fluctuations detected. Please move to a quiet environment immediately.]
Reporters shouted, “Director Yu, please look at the camera!”
“How do you feel about receiving the Technology Medal this time?”
“Do you think you can be selected for the Ten-Year Honor at the end of the year…”
Mixed in were a few faint cries: “Ahhh, Sister Shi got out of the car!!”
“Little Shi look here! I’ve waited so long for you, look at my camera, please!”
“Heavens, he looks so authoritative in person!”
Several bodyguards rushed up, escorting them quickly into the lecture hall.
Yu Shi’s face was pale. He was fair to begin with, but now he was frighteningly white.
Xu Bohan knew he had a sensitive constitution, but this was too sensitive. Being an Omega himself, he felt nothing walking through the mixed crowd.
He hurriedly asked, “Teacher, are you okay? Do you need a sedative shot?”
Yu Shi shook his head. As the air circulation around them returned and the palpitations faded, the wristband quieted down.
“It must be because I stayed up late doing experiments yesterday. You need to watch your health,” Xu Bohan said worriedly. “There’s an interview after the award ceremony. Should I ask Director Luo if we can cancel it?”
“No need.” Yu Shi waved his hand in refusal.
He always meant what he said, so Xu Bohan didn’t say another word.
The lecture hall could hold ten thousand people and was equipped with pheromone filters everywhere. Although it was a sea of people, the environment was much cleaner than outside.
This was Yu Shi’s second time attending a national award ceremony. The last time was as a student, with his mentor Tang Senmiao and senior brother Luo Shengge, receiving three individual contribution awards. This time, Tang Senmiao was absent, Luo Shengge was working overtime, so they pushed him out to accept this team award.
The meeting process was very solemn. The venue was filled with officials and big shots, and cameras were broadcasting nationwide.
When it was Yu Shi’s turn to go up, he accepted the award from the Commissioner and spoke words of thanks into the microphone.
The photographer whispered a reminder: “Director Yu, please smile.”
Yu Shi raised the corners of his mouth and lifted the trophy towards the camera. This was his first smile since entering the venue, like the first leaf falling into a passerby’s arms in spring, making everyone feel refreshed and bathed in a gentle breeze.
A considerable commotion erupted below. The photographer snapped the most satisfying photo of the event.
After leaving the stage, the media piled up backstage, holding microphones from major agencies for interviews.
Yu Shi was fully prepared. Just like the first time, he had organized many answers regarding academic questions, ready to interpret doubts one by one.
The first question came from Agency A, known for scientific authority, which often collected high-heat livelihood issues.
The reporter adjusted his collar, held the microphone high, and asked with a solemn expression, “Director Yu, regarding your recent blind dates, have you met a suitable Alpha?”
Yu Shi: “?”
Agency A: “Because you followed the Database on a public platform, netizens guessed you were blind dating. But rest assured, your information has not been leaked!”
Yu Shi frowned slightly. “Not at the moment.”
Agency B immediately shoved their microphone in. “Then when does Director Yu plan to get married? Generally speaking, Omegas face the trouble of heat cycles after turning eighteen. Director Luo says you spend all day in the lab; how do you balance your heat cycle and work?”
The last time Yu Shi heard those three words was in high school physiology class. No one had ever asked him to his face how he solved his heat cycle.
He looked at Xu Bohan expressionlessly, his face reading: Has the outside world really developed like this?
Xu Bohan quickly intervened. “Media, please ask questions related to this award!”
Agency B was unwilling to give up and asked again, “The internet is very concerned about this issue. What kind of Alpha spouse are you looking for?”
Yu Shi glanced at him sideways, not angry. “I can answer, but you might not be able to broadcast it.”
“It doesn’t matter, as long as you answer, we can definitely broadcast it!” The reporter was extremely excited.
Yu Shi said to the camera, “I won’t get married. In the future, I plan to find a ‘money Alpha’ to provide me with pheromones when I need them. Although there are service places like that now, the compatibility rate is too low for me. By the way, pre-marital marking is illegal, and ‘money Alpha’ is a sensitive term. If your agency doesn’t want to be banned, you’d better cut that out.”
The media went silent. Dead silent.
Everyone looked at each other, no one daring to continue asking.
For the next ten minutes, all questions revolved around particle beam weapons, and Yu Shi answered them all with satisfaction.
After the interview, Xu Bohan wiped his sweat and said, “Teacher, only you can handle this mob of media. But wasn’t saying that too impulsive? What if they really don’t cut it?”
Yu Shi said calmly, “They won’t.”
He didn’t explain further, and Xu Bohan didn’t dare ask. They walked to the door of the lounge and heard a conversation from inside.
“Isn’t that the truth? He usually stays in the lab all day, but today he finally found a chance to show off.”
“Every day he plays the ‘indifferent to fame’ persona, but in reality, his vanity is exploding.”
“He was smiling like a flower at the camera just now, but he’s not like that with us.”
Seeing the situation was bad, Xu Bohan immediately went to push the door.
Yu Shi stopped him, pointing inside the door. “Do they do this often?”
He was the famous workaholic of the Third Institute, spending nearly 20 hours a day in the lab. Xu Bohan often had to bring meals in for him. When busy, he slept on the floor. He never participated in various institute activities and was unseen year-round, lacking any human touch.
The only time anyone saw him was at award ceremonies or various meetings, or when submitting reports only to be scolded bloody by him. Therefore, they often gossiped behind his back that he was a monster.
Xu Bohan stammered, “No, not often. Teacher… they are frogs in a well, don’t lower yourself to their level. Every time I hear it, I tell them not to talk nonsense… Pfft, what am I saying…”
Yu Shi didn’t make a sound, standing at the door listening.
“Old Tang didn’t come this time just to leave the interview opportunity for him. Brother Luo is the same, wishing he could uphold him as a celebrity in the scientific world.”
“Of course. His mother is the auditor of the General Media Agency. Old Tang is happy to pamper him; I heard he gave up a lot of results to him.”
“His background is known to everyone, yet he has the nerve to say he’s low-key.”
“Sigh, we ordinary people have no chance for evaluation. He doesn’t even know our names…”
Xu Bohan was grinding his teeth, sweating profusely as he peeked at Yu Shi.
Yu Shi suddenly kicked the door. The frame slammed against the wall with a loud bang. The people inside were frightened out of their wits and instantly went silent.
Sitting in the lounge were two Omegas and a Beta. They immediately pretended nothing had happened, lowering their heads to feign busyness.
Yu Shi walked up to the nearest Omega and looked him over. “You are Shao Lu, secretary of the Propaganda Department.”
The lounge was eerily quiet. The Omega shivered, obviously not expecting that despite having only met a few times, the other party actually remembered him.
Yu Shi said coldly, “You are three days late on the experiment report due last week. I’ll give you one last day. If I don’t see the report tomorrow, 20% will be deducted from this month’s performance.”
Shao Lu panicked and busy made excuses. “Director Yu, my family was sick last week…”
Yu Shi ignored him and walked straight to the next Omega. “Qi Huan, you are Director Luo’s assistant. Last time at the group meeting, we analyzed your nano-coating experiment. Although it was a mess, I let you pass. I marked the unqualified parts and told you to submit them to the system by Wednesday. Did you submit them?”
“I, I… I…” Qi Huan’s face flushed red.
Yu Shi said icily, “You didn’t submit it. I checked the system this morning. Go find Director Luo yourself to receive your punishment.”
The Beta in the corner was already ashen-faced. Yu Shi slowly walked up to him, the pressure so strong his knees went soft.
“You are Zhang Kexin, an intern who came just this year, doing experiments under Sister Ning. I’ve read your graduation thesis and experimental plan. Sister Ning has no time this month, so I approved the modifications above. There are a total of 27 problems. Five days have passed; how are your corrections coming along?”
Zhang Kexin was about to cry. He thought he could drag out the thesis for a few more days since both Yu Shi and his mentor were busy as spinning tops. Who knew that Yu Shi, despite having to work and prepare reports, would actually correct his thesis and remember the number of problems so clearly?
Is this still a human? Simply terrifying.
He said with a sobbing tone, “Director Yu, I’m sorry, I’m almost done correcting it. That set of data is really hard to run; I worked on it for almost ten hours yesterday.”
Yu Shi said coldly, “What did you do with the remaining fourteen hours? Whose data isn’t hard to run? Tomorrow is the deadline. The Third Institute doesn’t support idlers. If you can work, work; if not, get out.”
“Yes, yes, yes, I… I understand. Thank you, Director Yu, for the extension…”
Yu Shi turned to the two Omegas. “You’ve been in the Institute longer than me. You have time to gossip with interns but no time to assist him with data? Your own experiments are a mess, taking government salaries to eat plain rice. You should be glad you aren’t my subordinates, or I would have swept you out the door long ago. A bunch of trash!”
The three dared not make a sound, all looking like disaster had struck. Xu Bohan, who clearly hadn’t done anything, felt a sense of guilt by association. He stared at his nose, nose at his heart, daring not even to breathe.
Yu Shi scanned them. “Also, you can’t even get your gossip straight. Your intelligence network is pathetic. My mother isn’t an auditor; she is the President of the General Media Agency. And I don’t care to play any low-key persona.”
“When you have time, go ask around who is the most high-profile person at Kowa University.”
With that, he slammed the door and left. Xu Bohan scrambled to follow close behind. The three people looked at each other, paralyzed on the ground in terror.
After venting his anger, Yu Shi didn’t even answer Luo Shengge’s calls. He had Xu Bohan drive him to a hotel.
The back seat smelled of roses; they were delivered by courier after the report ended, likely bought by some fan. Xu Bohan was trembling with fear, stealing glances at him through the rearview mirror.
Xu Bohan and Zhang Kexin were interns from the same batch. At that time, only he was assigned to Yu Shi’s lab, and everyone looked at him with complex expressions.
Only after entering did he realize that Yu Shi was not only a Great Demon King but also required his subordinates to become Little Demon Kings. He often made the whole lab stay up for weeks over a single piece of data.
As beautiful and harmless as he looked on the outside, his temper was that terrifying. It was said that his scolding could be heard in the lab next door.
But every year, people still broke their heads trying to grab his spots, simply because of one thing: He could guide students to publish in “Particle.”
“Particle” was the most authoritative journal in the scientific community, the dream top-tier journal for many researchers. Yet, this journal practically groveled to Yu Shi, giving him the most prominent space every time and fighting for his papers.
Xu Bohan had admired Yu Shi since university, dreaming of becoming the little tail behind his name. He didn’t understand why people would eat the food while cursing the chef. Clearly, his teacher ranked first in results at the Third Institute every year, securing huge amounts of funding, yet so many people found him disagreeable.
Yu Shi said grimly, “What are you looking at? Watch the road.”
Xu Bohan jumped in fright and grinned sheepishly. “I thought you were asleep. We’re at the hotel, Teacher.”
Yu Shi unbuckled his seatbelt. “You haven’t eaten yet, right? Come down and eat together.”
“I… I can go too? That’s not convenient, is it?” Xu Bohan hesitated.
“Family banquet. Nothing inconvenient about it.”
Xu Bohan was stunned. “Family banquet… sounds even more inconvenient.”
Yu Shi glanced at him. “My family is going to pressure me to get married tonight. With an outsider like you there, they’ll be embarrassed to talk about it for too long. Why do you think I asked you to drive? Get out, or I’ll deduct your internship credits.”
Xu Bohan: “…”
The Demon King is the Demon King; truly someone you love and hate.
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