Chapter 80: Underhanded Deals (Part 2)

Chapter 80: Underhanded Deals (Part 2)

Lu Qingyan stood behind him, hands in his pockets, his expression serious.

"What are you doing?!" Shen Zhixue gritted his teeth. "You know you can scare someone to death, right?! Even if I rejected some of your unreasonable requests, you can't just scare me like this, can you?!"

Lu Qingyan took a step forward. "I'm sorry."

Shen Zhixue was stunned for a moment, then scratched his brow. "...Just saying sorry isn't enough. You owe me money."

Lu Qingyan actually raised his arm and opened his smart device. "How much?"

Shen Zhixue hissed, "Wait, what are you really trying to do?"

"Five million two hundred thousand," Lu Qingyan said, transferring a huge sum to Shen Zhixue's account. "Including the apology for that day at the hotel, okay?"

Mentioning that day at the hotel, Shen Zhixue fell silent for a moment. Only when the sound of the transfer came through did he suddenly snap out of it and raise his hand. "I may be greedy, but I know what money I should or shouldn't take. This money, I..."

"Don't be mad at me anymore, I'm sorry," Lu Qingyan stopped him, speaking earnestly. "I was out of my mind that day, speaking without thinking. Zhi Zhi, don't ignore me."

Shen Zhixue transferred the money back. "I'm not mad at you. It's just that anyone would feel awkward in that situation. I know you meant well, but Lu Qingyan, we're really not a good match."

"Then are you and Jiang Huizhou a good match?" Lu Qingyan looked into his eyes. "You told me before that you didn't like him. Were you lying?"

Shen Zhixue scratched the back of his head in frustration. "My relationship with Jiang Huizhou is complicated. If you can understand, he's my boss now. But no matter what my relationship with Jiang Huizhou is, my relationship with you can only be friendship. Lu Qingyan, don't waste your time on me."

Lu Qingyan turned his head. "How do you know it's a waste of time before it's over?"

Shen Zhixue was really about to lose it with these stubborn people.

"He hasn't marked you, right?" Lu Qingyan looked down at him. "You don't have the scent of an Alpha's pheromones on you, which means I still have a chance."

Shen Zhixue was stunned. Marking was something that little mad dog loved to do. He loved leaving any kind of mark on Shen Zhixue.

But this one, the mark that signified a lifelong commitment, was the only one he hadn't mentioned.

Even in the heat of passion, during their most intimate moments, Jiang Huizhou had never brought it up.

Lu Qingyan's words almost woke Shen Zhixue up. After spending these past few days with Jiang Huizhou, he had almost believed that Jiang Huizhou truly loved him to death.

Shen Zhixue looked up into Lu Qingyan's eyes. "But I don't think this kind of mark proves anything, Lu Qingyan. I'm not from the same world as you. I can't accept some of the inexplicable rules of this world, like how an Alpha can mark many omegas, but once an omega is marked by someone, they become a possession, a belonging. I can't accept that."

"I am me. I can live well without anyone. I'm a person, not a thing, not an object, not a toy to be fought over and taken at will."

Lu Qingyan was stunned, seemingly unable to comprehend Shen Zhixue's meaning.

Thousands of years ago, the planet humans lived on, now referred to as Aqua Blue in textbooks, faced an unprecedented disaster. Few humans survived that catastrophe. Driven by the desire for reproduction, humans evolved, and secondary sexual characteristics like Alpha and omega emerged during that time.

To prevent the already scarce human population from suffering massive casualties due to competition for mates, in this era where Alphas have almost absolute control over omegas, once an omega is marked, no other Alpha can approach them. This is a result of biological selection and an instinct ingrained in human DNA.

For omegas, reproduction is also encoded in their DNA. Not being marked means lacking the ability to reproduce, and such omegas will eventually be cast aside by modern society.

But Shen Zhixue spoke of hating the idea of being marked.

Lu Qingyan opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to say something. Alphas, accustomed to their superior status, couldn't understand Shen Zhixue's perspective. An unmarked omega being fought over by Alphas wasn't unusual, so why did he hate it so much?

Shen Zhixue sighed. "Forget it, I know it's hard for you to understand, Lu Qingyan. If you still want to be friends with me, give up the idea of marking me. I don't want to be marked by anyone, and I absolutely refuse to submit to anyone's pheromones. If one day I am marked by someone, it will only mean that, in this era, I am willing to share my life with that person, not give it away."

Lu Qingyan blinked, saying nothing.

Shen Zhixue pulled out two tissues from the side, wiped the water droplets off his face, and turned to leave.

"Why did you take so long to come back?" Wan Chenghan raised an eyebrow when he saw Shen Zhixue. "I got you some fruit."

Shen Zhixue looked at the plate with only two cherries left. "...You're really generous."

"You took so long," Wan Chenghan grumbled. "I'll get you another plate."

"No need," Shen Zhixue said. "I don't eat cherries. By the way, did they call my name just now?"

"Not yet," Wan Chenghan replied. "But I think the gift list is almost over. Could it be that the value of your gift is too small to even make it on the list?"

Shen Zhixue was stunned. "...Really?"

Jiang Huizhou is so wealthy, it can't be, right?

Wan Chenghan lifted his chin. "It's almost over, only the top three remain. But I think the Jiang family has a good chance of taking first place this time. Honestly, they must have gone all out this time."

On the stage, the elderly man holding the gift list slowly announced, "Thank you to the Lu Corporation for donating a Stellar Armor worth 300 million star coins—"

Shen Zhixue was shocked.

300 million star coins and only third place?

He glanced at the jade ring on his neck, worth 200 billion star coins.

Once again, he deeply felt the wealth of Jiang Huizhou.

Damn it, the evils of capitalism!

The elderly man continued, "Second place, Jiang—"

Wan Chenghan exclaimed in surprise, "Jiang Huizhou only came in second? Where did he get all that money?"

"Jiang Corporation, Jiang Yingshan—"

Wan Chenghan whispered in amazement, "Mr. Jiang is only in second place? Then first place must belong to the Yuan family? No, the Yuan family only donated a small item worth 2 million star coins, which was announced earlier. So who could it be?"

Jiang Shuiling suddenly stood up, along with Mr. Jiang Yingshan, who was also attending the banquet. Both of their faces were equally ashen!

Before attending the banquet, they had clearly investigated and confirmed that no family had outbid them!

To present this gift, the already struggling Jiang Corporation had pushed itself to the edge. Mrs. Jiang even sold her dowry and several properties to raise 1 billion star coins!

Originally, they thought that securing the military's promise would allow them to recoup the 1 billion within half a year, and the Jiang family could rise again. But now they're only in second place?!

Who could be in first place?!

The elderly man glanced at Shen Zhixue in the audience, his expression complex, and announced, "Thank you to the largest donor of this charity gala, with a donation worth 1 billion... and one star coin—Fengyue Entertainment's Mr. Shen Zhixue—"

Shen Zhixue heard Jiang Yingshan behind him, almost grinding his teeth to powder.

They had painstakingly gathered 1 billion star coins, their last remaining assets, and went all-in, only to end up in second place! What's even more infuriating is that first place was only... one star coin... more than them!

You could probably find a star coin just by walking down the street!

Jiang Yingshan felt as if he had been kicked in the chest, his vision darkening, and he could barely breathe. This first place was clearly meant to humiliate the Jiang family!

Shen Zhixue heard Jiang Shuiling's scream—it seemed Jiang Yingshan had vomited blood.

It really made someone so angry they could spit blood!

Even if it were an extra billion, ten million, one million, or even just ten thousand, it wouldn't have the same impact!

Jiang Huizhou, you're a master at playing the game!

Jiang Yingshan was quickly taken away by an ambulance and rushed to a nearby hospital. The noisy crowd suddenly quieted down, and all eyes fell on Shen Zhixue.

No one expected Shen Zhixue, who had just taken over a struggling company, to suddenly come up with a billion. Their company's annual revenue was only fifty million, and after expenses, they were left with only twenty to thirty million. How could they possibly come up with a billion all at once?!

Wan Chenghan, however, only paused for a moment before bursting into laughter, patting Shen Zhixue on the shoulder and saying, "Hahahahaha, you're such a sly one. Didn't you see the confident faces of the Jiang family before, and then their expressions just now... I told you you've never lost when it comes to getting under people's skin. Oh, I'm dying of laughter, really. It's hilarious as long as it's not me you're annoying, hahahaha, one star coin, I'm dying of laughter, hahahaha..."

Shen Zhixue looked at the pool of blood on the ground with pity.

Tell me, why did you provoke Jiang Huizhou for no reason?

Jiang Shuiling rushed forward like a madwoman but was blocked by Wan Chenghan, who puffed out his chest and said, "What's the matter? Can't compete with money, so now you're resorting to violence?"

"How could a gold digger have so much money? Is it because of his husband who sits in a wheelchair and will never stand up again?!" Jiang Shuiling was furious. "I suggest a thorough investigation of Shen Zhixue and Jiang Huizhou's assets. They might be involved in some shady dealings!"