Chapter 48

Chapter 48

"Qiūqiū, you're going out again?" Tang Butian asked casually.

Qiuqiu nodded, "I'll be back before curfew."

But he didn't specify that he was going outside the school, let alone that he was heading to the black market. Knowing the extent of these Alphas' concern for him, it would cause them undue worry.

He dressed as he had done before, not drawing any attention on the way. However, just as he was about to leave the school gates, he touched his pocket and whispered lowly, "Don't come out yet, we have a tail following us."

Morfa wiggled his antennae, nudging Qiuqiu's fingers with them as a sign of understanding.

Qiuqiu lowered his hand, casting a casual glance behind him. Seeing a flustered white figure trying to hide, he smirked.

Ignoring the person following him, Qiuqiu walked out of the Dark Star Military School with his head held high and his steps brisk, heading straight for the black market.

The distance between the Dark Star Military School and the black market wasn't too far, yet not too close either, involving several street turns with many blind spots. He just needed to shake off his tail at one of the intersections.

Having made up his mind, Qiuqiu quickened his pace a street away from the black market. At a busy intersection, he merged with the crowd, disappearing completely among them.

The person trailing him hurried around the corner, attempting to follow, but was blocked by the flow of people. Intending to cut through, he hesitated, remembering his identity, and stopped abruptly.

Anxiously waiting for the crowd to disperse, the follower regretfully stomped his foot when he realized Qiuqiu was nowhere to be seen.

Qiuqiu adjusted his hat and moved to a secluded corner. After a quick scan to ensure no one was following, he allowed Morfa to come out: "Okay, no one is following us now."

A gentle white light flashed, and in a moment, a tall and muscular Alpha appeared.

As soon as Morfa materialized, he began to playfully touch Qiuqiu, repeating his earlier gesture of pulling him into an embrace, using the same excuse as before: "Let's go, my little boyfriend."

Qiuqiu's stature was exceptionally petite in this world, almost completely hidden in the embrace of the robust Morfa.

He pursed his lips, commenting dryly, "So now you've stopped calling me 'Mom'?"

"If we're adopting the roles of a couple, calling you 'Mom' would probably require adding 'little' in front — imagine what others would think hearing me call you 'Mom'?"

Morfa leaned in, his nose almost touching Qiuqiu's hair, smiling mischievously.

He whispered, "They might speculate, 'Oh my, that Beta couple is actually a son and stepmother affair, sneaking around behind their father's and husband's back.'"

"Mom," Morfa's voice was deep, resonating from his chest, making Qiuqiu's ears tingle, "I don't mind calling you that in public, if that's your wish."

Qiuqiu's ears reddened at his words, annoyed by his brazenness, he retorted, "If you keep talking nonsense like this, then turn back into a caterpillar right now and stay quietly in my pocket."

He hoped Morfa would restrain himself and stop using vulgar language that tainted their pure mother-son relationship.

Clearly, however, the greedy Alpha wasn't about to give up such easy prey.

Morfa's hand moved from Qiuqiu's shoulder to his waist, encircling the Omega's slender waist effortlessly.

As someone approached, Morfa lowered his head and affectionately called out, "Honey~"

Once the person left, Morfa leaned closer to Qiuqiu's ear, each word breathing hot air, turning Qiuqiu's pale ears crimson.

"How is it improper? I'm being perfectly serious."

Approaching the black market with increasing foot traffic, Qiuqiu, unable to extricate himself, just glared angrily at the Alpha.

But seeing those pure, innocent golden eyes filled with shy anger and watery gaze looking at him, Morfa's breath hitched, his abdomen tensing involuntarily, his grip on Qiuqiu tightening —

This was his possession, never to leave his side.

Morfa's gaze darkened.

Unaware of the looming danger, Qiuqiu simply felt uncomfortable with the tight grip around his waist and asked Morfa to loosen his hold.

The Alpha, lost in his obsession, snapped out of it and relaxed his grip slightly, yet still enveloped Qiuqiu completely, driven by an instinct ingrained in his butterfly genetics — much like how a male butterfly encompasses the female during mating, he yearned to keep Qiuqiu confined within his embrace.

Morfa stared at Qiuqiu's golden hair, somewhat dazed.

They entered the black market as they had done before, but Qiuqiu felt something was amiss in the atmosphere.

Upon seeing them, the rhino Alpha and crocodile Alpha guarding the alleyway exchanged glances and then ran off, as if in a rush to deliver a message to someone.

Witnessing this, Qiuqiu frowned. It seemed like someone was lying in wait to capture him, yet his instincts didn't sense any immediate danger.

"Strange," he murmured, puzzled.

"Should we go back then?" Morfa asked.

Qiuqiu hesitated for a moment but ultimately chose to trust his instincts: "Let's go in. We've run out of the nutritional liquid we bought last time, and this time we should try to sell more."

No sooner had they spoken than a large group of Alphas suddenly swarmed towards them at the entrance of the black market, encircling them completely.

Qiuqiu and Morfa tensed up instantly, especially Qiuqiu, who couldn't help thinking: Had his premonition failed him?!

Surprisingly, these Alphas weren't there to cause trouble but to buy comfort drugs from Qiuqiu.

"It's the two Betas from last time!"

"Are these their comfort drugs? I've been waiting in the black market for almost ten days. Thank the heavens, I finally found them!"

"I heard their effects are even better than the ones sold in hospitals, and they're only five hundred Imperial coins!"

"Please, sell the comfort drugs to me! I'm begging you!"

"Damn, stop pushing!"

"Why should you get them? We've all been waiting nearly ten days!!"

"Move aside! Don't block the way!"

Qiuqiu and Morfa exchanged glances, both puzzled by the situation unfolding before them.

How had the black market changed so drastically in just a few days?!

But they didn't have time to be baffled. More and more people, hearing the news, rushed over, clogging the already narrow street, with crowds surging like waves.

Soon, the space around Qiuqiu and Morfa was packed with people, leaving no room to breathe, and even the air felt stagnant with no circulation.

Seeing the situation getting out of hand, Qiuqiu quickly exchanged a look with Morfa, who then cleared his throat and shouted, "Stop! If you don't stop crowding right now, we won't sell anything today!"

While other reprimands might not have been enough to deter the crowd, Morfa's threat hit home. They were desperately pushing forward to get the comfort drugs, but now they were being told that the more they pushed, the less likely they were to get them – the exact opposite of their goal, forcing them to reluctantly halt.

Morfa continued to disperse the crowd: "Everyone move back a bit, don't all squeeze in here!"

Seeing the crowd unmoved, he added, "Won't disperse, huh? Fine, then no one gets to buy anything!"

Saying this, he made a gesture as if he was about to leave with Qiuqiu.

Upon hearing these words, the crowd quickly started to back away. After some jostling and shoving, the chaotic scene that initially resembled a swarm of headless flies finally regained some semblance of order.

Once the situation stabilized, Qiuqiu finally had a chance to figure out why there was such a huge difference compared to his last visit.

Last time, he was treated as a fraudster, ignored by everyone, and even ridiculed as a fake drug dealer by a group of people. Yet this time, he had become incredibly sought-after. Something significant must have happened in between.

He glanced into the crowd and spotted Wu Hai, beckoning him over.

The crowd buzzed in surprise, envying and jealous of the Alpha singled out by the "Beta," their teeth almost aching with sourness. Yet, they obediently made way, not wanting to leave a bad impression on the "Beta."

Qiuqiu had Morfa stand in front of him for protection and pulled Wu Hai aside, asking, "What's going on? Why has there been such a sudden increase in people wanting to buy nutritional liquid?"

Wu Hai, thrilled that Qiuqiu remembered him, trembled with excitement and stuttered, "I, I went for a check-up at the hospital a few days ago, and found, found that two of my disrupted spirit channels had been repaired, and my, my previously severe genetic disease risk was reduced, reduced to moderate."

"The doctor, the doctor asked me how I managed to control it so well in such a short time, and I, I remembered that I'd only taken your comfort drugs during this period. Everyone found out, and then they all came here to the black market looking for you."

After hearing his stammered explanation, Qiuqiu suddenly understood; this Alpha had inadvertently given his comfort drugs a fantastic advertisement with his personal experience, attracting such a frenzied crowd.

While Qiuqiu was still pondering, he heard Wu Hai, eyes full of gratitude, say, "Thank you, thank you. I really have to thank you for selling me such good comfort drugs. Otherwise, I definitely would have..."

At this point, he choked up, unable to continue.

The Alpha raised his hand, wiping away tears from the corner of his eyes, and bowed deeply to Qiuqiu, expressing his utmost gratitude, "My mother gave me my first life, and you have given me my second."

For Qiuqiu, his comfort drugs were nothing short of a lifesaver for the desperate Alpha.

This Alpha, who had suffered from genetic disease for half his life, had never thought he'd see the day when he could actually hope to escape it. Even if it meant continual management, at least there was a way, a means to avoid total despair.

"You paid the money, and I sold you the comfort drugs. The opportunity was yours to seize. You should be most thankful to yourself," Qiuqiu said.

He didn't like being seen as a savior; it made leaving this world harder for him, even though he knew their gratitude was pure, untainted by other motives.

After understanding the whole situation, Qiuqiu stepped forward, patted Morfa on the back, and whispered, "Take that Alpha somewhere secluded to lay low for a bit. I'll handle things here."

Morfa glanced at the anxious crowd and hesitated, "But..."

"Don't worry, the comfort drugs are with me. They wouldn't dare make a move, or they won't get anything," Qiuqiu reassured him.

Morfa, though concerned, had no choice but to listen to Qiuqiu, handing him the backpack and leaving with Wu Hai.

Their departure didn't cause much stir; everyone's focus remained on Qiuqiu, or rather, on the comfort drugs he possessed.

Their eyes were fixed on the backpack in Qiuqiu's hands, even if they hadn't heard the conversation clearly. The handover between the two indicated that the backpack surely contained the coveted comfort drugs.

Unabashed, intense gazes from Alphas and Betas fixed on Qiuqiu, like starving wolves eyeing a juicy piece of meat, ready to pounce at any moment.

Such a scenario would unnerve anyone, Omega or Alpha, surrounded by a pack of hungry wolves. Yet Qiuqiu appeared calm, as if he wasn't the one being encircled.

His raw materials were limited; he had produced more comfort drugs than last time, but there were only fifty bottles in total, far from meeting the demand. Qiuqiu spoke plainly, "I didn't know you all wanted to buy my comfort drugs. Last time, I brought only ten bottles and barely sold any, so this time I only brought fifty."

Hearing him mention the last time, those who were present on both occasions guiltily lowered their heads, their faces burning with embarrassment.

Someone from the first group of buyers, unaware of the full situation, boldly asked, "With so many of us and so few of your comfort drugs, how are you going to sell them?"

His question set off a tumult among the crowded people, voices clamoring in a frenzy, everyone fearing they wouldn't get a chance.

"If there's a scarcity, let the highest bidder win! Let's speak with our wallets!"

"I'll pay a thousand Imperial coins! Sell it to me!"

"I'll pay two thousand, sell them all to me!"

"I, I'll pay three thousand!"

"Four thousand!"

"Five thousand Imperial coins! Don't compete with me!"

In a matter of moments, the price of Qiuqiu's comfort drugs, originally sold for five hundred Imperial coins, skyrocketed amidst the frantic bidding, reaching a level unaffordable for ordinary people like Alpha Wu Hai.

The frenzy reached its peak when someone shockingly shouted, "I'll pay fifteen thousand Imperial coins!"

Qiuqiu was perplexed. He couldn't understand why, when he had set the price so low to make it affordable for everyone, some people insisted on inflating the price unnecessarily.

Moreover, he observed, such individuals were not in the minority.

Qiuqiu understood everyone's desire to purchase the comfort drugs, but he couldn't comprehend this tendency to engage in a price war just to ensure they got them. Even if they succeeded in buying what they wanted at a higher price, they could have obtained it without spending so much.

"I'm selling for five hundred Imperial coins only. Those who kept raising the price just now, I'm sorry, but I won't sell the comfort drugs to you today," Qiuqiu declared.

Those who had driven up the prices, now red-faced and frustrated, couldn't help but question him, "Why not?! What's wrong with paying the highest price?!"

"Exactly! Who doesn't do business to make money? We're giving you this opportunity, and you're being so ungrateful!"

"In all my years, I've never seen someone set a lower price. Today's an eye-opener."

Qiuqiu remained silent, watching the crowd passionately expressing their anger and incomprehension.

He thought, this wasn't about selling to the highest bidder, but rather harming others without benefiting oneself.

Knowing how to make comfort drugs, Qiuqiu was aware that their production wasn't difficult. With a few tries and the right proportions, almost anyone could manage it.

Comfort drugs were expensive due to scarce raw materials. Even when the Omegas at the Dark Star Military Academy supplied them to the school, the purchase price was only four hundred Imperial coins. Even with lower quality, the black market price started at seven hundred Imperial coins. The price in hospitals was even higher.

Even with the highest production costs at the Dark Star Military Academy, the cost of a comfort drug bottle wouldn't exceed four hundred coins, let alone those produced in the noble-controlled plantations, where costs were much lower.

Between the low production costs and high selling prices, Qiuqiu dared not imagine the immense profit margins. This meant that Alphas and Betas suffering from genetic diseases didn't need to pay such exorbitant prices for comfort drugs from the start.

Regardless of what others said, Qiuqiu stood firm, stating firmly, "As I said, those who inflated the price will not get anything from me, no matter how long you've waited."

Those who had offered higher prices were dissatisfied but could do nothing about it. In the black market, nothing was protected except the freedom of trade between buyers and sellers. They couldn't force a sale just because they were many. After Qiuqiu made his stance clear, order enforcers soon arrived, warning the crowd to respect the seller's rules or face being blacklisted from the market.

Realizing there was no room for negotiation, the crowd, though helpless, had no choice but to cooperate and disperse, vacating their spots.

With the departure of that group, the crowd thinned out considerably. The newcomers weren't as pushy, but they still tried to squeeze forward, afraid of missing out on the miraculous comfort drugs.

Qiuqiu unzipped the backpack, and just the glimpse of the comfort drugs caused quite a stir.

Someone with sharp eyes noticed a color difference from the previous batch: "Why was it green last time and light yellow this time? Could there be a problem?"

Before Qiuqiu could respond, the crowd jeered, "If you're worried about problems, don't buy it. That'll free up a spot – give it to me instead."

"I hesitated last time and missed out on something great. This time, no matter what anyone says, I won't believe them. I must get one!"

"Exactly, if you're afraid, then don't buy. We're not short of one customer."

After being rebuffed, the speaker realized their blunder and cautiously glanced at Qiuqiu's expression, regretfully closing their mouth.

Qiuqiu wasn't offended; instead, he explained, "The difference is due to using different raw materials. Last time it was...ahem, this time it's Sasha flowers. The extract's color varies, hence the different appearance. The comfort drugs you've bought before wouldn't have been exactly the same color either, right?"

Someone replied, "They're not exactly the same, but the differences are minor, hardly noticeable unless you look closely."

Qiuqiu lifted his head and quickly estimated the number of people still in line, about fifty, then said, "I know you all want to buy all the comfort drugs for yourselves, but if everyone thinks like that, then everyone ends up being the one who doesn't get any. So, today I'm only allowing one bottle per person. You can try it for yourself, and if you think it's good, you can come back tomorrow. If it doesn't work, you won't have lost much."

These people were clearly frenzied due to hearing about Wu Hai's case, but such fervor could have terrifying negative consequences. Qiuqiu didn't want to ruin his reputation for short-term gain. He set these conditions to prevent impulsive regrets, hoarding for resale, and weeding out some of the crowd, ensuring that at least seventy percent of those left genuinely needed the comfort drugs.

Qiuqiu's target audience was them. They were less likely to cause trouble, and trading with them might not be very profitable, but it was safe.

The queued buyers looked at each other hesitantly upon hearing Qiuqiu's terms.

Sensing their concerns, Qiuqiu asked, "Any other questions?"

A Beta murmured, "We've been waiting for you for a long time, squatting in the black market every day, but your appearances are too far apart, so..."

"I know my visits to the black market are irregular, but given the demand, I'll try to arrange someone to sell the comfort drugs every day," Qiuqiu had already thought of a solution.

With their main concern addressed, the crowd lined up enthusiastically, no longer voicing any objections.

Even with a one-bottle-per-person limit, the fifty bottles of comfort drugs quickly sold out, creating an unprecedentedly lively scene in the black market under Qiuqiu's stewardship.

As the effectiveness of his comfort drugs was proven time and again, Qiuqiu's reputation spread. Soon, the entire Dark Star knew about the hooded, petite 'beta' in the main city, whose comfort drugs were even more effective than a single session with a healing Omega.

Qiuqiu and his comfort drugs became the talk of the town, highly sought after.

The author's note:

Today, you're playing hard to get with Qiuqiu.