Chapter 150: The Contract

Chapter 150: The Interview

A sweet female voice rang out: "Hello, Mr. Shi. Congratulations on passing the initial screening of your resume for our Investment Consulting Department. We have scheduled a group interview for this Saturday afternoon. Would you be available to attend?"

Shi Lv: "..."

He actually passed?

He winced. "I’ll be there."

66 hovered nearby, repeatedly tapping the host’s head with its screen—*thump, thump, thump*—brimming with unspoken commentary.

"Dumbass host! You didn’t believe the system! I told you it would pass! I’m a professional! I’ve got the playbook!"

But in reality, all it could do was mechanically intone in its emotionless electronic voice: "Please prepare well for the interview, Host."

Shi Lv was shell-shocked.

Still, since he had passed the initial screening, should he prepare for the interview or not?

If he did prepare, where should he even start?

His gaze drifted toward the doorstopper economics textbooks on his desk.

Today was Thursday—only two days left.

For the next two days, Shi Lv threw himself into studying as if preparing for final exams.

He pulled all-nighters, exhausting himself, cramming relentlessly… and yet, after two days, he still knew nothing.

Trying to master four years’ worth of material in two days was a pipe dream.

But since he had come this far, there was no turning back. Shi Lv maxed out his already maxed-out credit card to rent a Frankenstein’s monster of a suit from the school’s commercial street and even styled his hair.

The suit was pure black, off-the-rack, slightly loose at the waist, with sleeves and pant legs a bit too short. Fortunately, the shoulders fit perfectly. Shi Lv wore a white dress shirt underneath, buttoned up, slipped on his suit jacket, and glanced at himself in the mirror. The reflection showed a tall, well-proportioned figure with neatly tamed hair, high cheekbones, and a handsome nose—a knockout.

66 secretly rated him in its mind: *"This host looks really good in a suit. Hmm, just as good as what’s-his-name, Bai."*

Dressed like this, Shi Lv headed to the New Leaf Group building.

His school was located in the suburbs of Haicheng, a two-hour bus slog from the company. By the time he got off the bus, there were only thirty minutes left before the interview.

The bus was sardine-can crowded, leaving his suit wrinkled and disheveled. He tidied himself up in the company restroom, tamed his hair with water, and finally entered the interview room.

It was a small conference room that seated about twenty people, surrounded by double-layered frosted glass walls with chairs arranged in a circle. By the time Shi Lv arrived, half the seats were already taken.

He found his name tag and sat down.

The room was tomb silent, with everyone reviewing materials—some on paper, some mouthing flashcards, clearly nervous.

After sitting idly for a while, Shi Lv quietly pulled out his phone and started reviewing… *Economics for Dummies*.

Before long, the conference room door opened with a soft snick, and several interviewers walked in. To his surprise, the last one to enter was Liang Xu.

Shi Lv was slightly startled—he hadn’t expected Liang Xu to participate in campus recruitment interviews. He side-eyed him.

Liang Xu still wore silver-framed glasses, his shirt and vest boardroom-perfect, even his hair meticulously styled. A customer-service smile played on his lips.

He took a seat opposite Shi Lv, his gaze sweeping over him briefly before he nodded and said, "Let’s begin, everyone."

The large screen in the conference room displayed the debate topic, and almost the moment the text appeared, someone cut in to take the lead.

Everyone seated here was an elite, and group interviews were highly competitive, requiring strong self-presentation. In no time, seven or eight people in the room began speaking simultaneously, their voices noisy as a marketplace. They rattled off jargon like machine-gun fire. At first, Shi Lv tried to follow along, but eventually, he gave up.

He began staring blankly at the water cup in front of him.

Liang Xu’s secretary poured tea for everyone—the tea had a clear, bright hue, mellow yet crisp on the palate. Even though Shi Lv knew nothing about tea, he could tell it must be expensive.

Using such premium tea to entertain interns—New Leaf really spared no expense.

For a while, the scene was chaotic and complex. The interviewers occasionally took notes, analyzing strengths and weaknesses, while Shi Lv and Liang Xu remained silent, becoming the ones who sat most composed.

During this time, Liang Xu discreetly observed the young man across from him.

Though he needed a stable source of pheromones, this was a delicate matter that risked detection by Elder Ye or his informants. Moreover, he had no intention of finding another person like Ye Xuan.

Fortunately, despite the similarity in pheromones, Shi Lv’s temperament was entirely different from Ye Xuan’s. He was still a bit unseasoned, but his formal attire draped over a lean, well-built frame. His dazed fixation on the tea leaves was oddly endearing. Compared to other candidates who stubbornly answered questions they clearly didn’t understand, Shi Lv was far more genuine—something Liang Xu didn’t dislike.

His stare burned too intently, and Shi Lv picked up on the oddity, frowning as he looked up.

Liang Xu remained unflappably calm, nodding at Shi Lv before naturally shifting his attention to others, as any interviewer would when assessing candidates.

Half an hour later, the group interview concluded.

Liang Xu stood and nodded to the candidates. “Thank you all for coming. Please wait a moment—we’ll announce the results shortly.”

The conference room fell silent again.

Shi Lv, who had merely participated without expectations, was already preparing to leave. Only two out of twenty candidates would advance—a one-in-ten chance. With everyone pulling out all the stops, there was no way it would be him.

Another twenty minutes passed before the interviewers returned and called two names, congratulating them on passing. As expected, Shi Lv wasn’t among them. He stood to leave but was stopped at the door.

The one who stopped him was Zhang Ping, the CEO’s special assistant. He led Shi Lv into a separate meeting room and said, “I apologize, sir, but you don’t meet our company’s requirements. However, if you agree, I can open up a spot just for you. What do you think?”

Shi Lv’s brow twitched. “What?”

Zhang Ping continued, “But there’s an additional condition.”

The meeting room door locked. A written contract, plain as day, was placed before Shi Lv, a pen laid by his right hand, while Zhang Ping sat across from him, going over each clause point by point.

“I will provide you with a job. During your studies, you can intern in New Leaf’s investment department and transition to a full-time role normally.”

“Additionally, I will pay you an extra 100,000 yuan monthly to cover living expenses.”

“Other benefits are the same as those for regular employees, including paid leave and insurance.”

“…”

The offer was suspiciously generous.

Shi Lv asked, “…What exactly is your additional condition?”

Zhang Ping replied, “I need you to provide temporary scent-marking to an Omega every month.”

Given Liang Xu’s sensitive position, it was inappropriate for Shi Lv to know his involvement, so Zhang Ping acted as the sole intermediary.

After speaking, Zhang Ping studied Shi Lv’s expression.

Pheromones and scent glands were highly intimate, typically guarded under high collars. Asking an Alpha for scent-marking so abruptly was an affront—akin to a sugar-daddy arrangement or outright indenture. Moreover, an Omega patronizing an Alpha was socially frowned upon, as Alphas would see it as an insult to their pride. There was a high chance Shi Lv would react with anger.

But Shi Lv wasn’t angry. He raised his eyebrows high, his expression downright bizarre.

Had Zhang Ping known him better, he would have recognized Shi Lv’s look as something like, “That’s it?”

Shi Lv understood what a temporary mark was—basically biting a stranger’s neck and injecting pheromones.

Unlike the locals, he didn’t place much importance on scent glands or pheromones. To him, a neck was just a neck, and pheromones were probably some weird chemical. Getting to enter a top-tier company in the industry by biting a stranger’s neck once a month, with no other contact required—how is this even a bad deal?

Shi Lv thought to himself, “You should throw in a few more demands, like letting someone else bite me too, otherwise I’d feel like I’m scamming you.”

But he didn’t voice it. Instead, he popped the pen cap off and signed his name.

Seeing this, Zhang Ping let out a relieved sigh, filed the contract away, and opened the conference room door. “Come on, I’ll drive you back to school.”

Shi Lv got into his car and asked, “Why does an Omega need a mark every month?”

Zhang Ping’s hands tightened on the wheel. “I… have a cousin. When he was young—well, when he was young, he was deeply marked by some Alpha asshole, and then that scumbag… ran away. Now he urgently needs replacement pheromones, and your scent happens to fit the requirement.”

He glossed over the details, speaking vaguely, but Shi Lv didn’t care. He was only concerned about getting paid. “When’s the first session?”

Zhang Ping: “Tonight at 10 p.m., the presidential suite on the 29th floor of Zhenhai Hotel. I’ll give you the keycard.”

After a pause, he added, “Be there at 10 on the dot. Not a second early.”

He spoke with unusual gravity.

A muscle in Shi Lv’s jaw jumped. “Got it.”

*

At almost the same time, Qiao Si opened the car door for Liang Xu, bowing slightly. “Mr. Liang, the family head wants you back at the old mansion for dinner tonight.”

Liang Xu smiled. “I know. There’s no need to trouble yourself with opening the door for me. I appreciate it.”

Unlike his polite yet distant demeanor with Zhang Ping and others, Liang Xu’s smile was stiff, his expression hollow. Qiao Si glanced back at him and grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellowed teeth. “No need for the formalities.”

He was around fifty, with sharp, upturned eyebrows, high cheekbones, and a gaunt face. His teeth were stained from years of smoking and drinking, making him look like trouble.

This man had recognized Elder Ye as his sworn brother in his youth, having run with gangs back in the day. In his early years, he traveled far and wide, took a knife to the gut and lived, accumulating countless hidden injuries. Later, he stayed at the Ye family’s old mansion as a driver—but given his life-and-death bond with Elder Ye, he practically owned the place, far more important than Liang Xu.

Liang Xu: “You flatter me.”

His fingers rested flat on his knees, tightening imperceptibly.

The back of his neck burned, and his head swam a little. Tonight was supposed to be his heat, but after so many years, Liang Xu had grown adept at suppressing all discomfort, holding himself rigid.

The Ye family had strict rules—no crossing legs, sitting with a straight back. Qiao Si occasionally glanced at the rearview mirror, but Liang Xu remained motionless, gaze fixed on his lap, never looking outside, like a statue.

Satisfied, Qiao Si turned his attention back to the road.

—Under Elder Ye’s methods, even the wildest ones fell in line. When Liang Xu first arrived, he had been defiant, but after eight years of compliance without a single misstep, it was clear he would remain docile in the future.

The car left New Leaf Group’s headquarters, rumbling across half of Haicheng before ascending the winding mountain road in the southern district.

The mountain was undeveloped wilderness, its roads unmarked on maps. A guarded iron gate marked the entrance to the private estate. After weaving through thick woods, Qiao Si braked sharply, stopping at the old mansion’s entrance.

The mansion was a classic Western-style estate, with a square garden centered around a circular fountain. A chubby cherub stood atop the fountain, holding a water jug. Behind the garden stood a stately four-sided building, its exterior clad in brown-gray marble, flanked by two Roman columns at the entrance, radiating austerity.

Liang Xu drew a quiet breath and pushed open the heavy door.

Instantly, his face lit up with fake delight. “Father.”

Though surprised, Liang Xu remained rooted on the entryway rug, pretending not to see the slippers placed before him by the attendant.

Elder Ye reclined on a wicker chaise lounge by the window, peering at him. "Come in."

Only then did Liang Xu remove his leather shoes and change into the lightweight slippers.

He carefully took off his suit jacket, smoothed it out, folded it neatly into a square, and handed it to the attendant. Then, handing over his phone as well, he approached Elder Ye, lowering himself to one knee beside the chaise. Softly, he asked, "It's late—haven't you eaten yet? Is the new chef not to your liking?"

Elder Ye pushed aside the blanket draped over his lap. "Haven't been hungry, but it’s time to eat. Liang Xu, join me."

The Ye family dining table was about three to five meters long. Elder Ye and Liang Xu sat at opposite ends as attendants brought out dish after dish.

Elder Ye preferred delicate portions—each plate was saucer-sized, holding just one bite's worth, yet there were seven or eight varieties. Liang Xu froze when he lifted the lid.

Tonight’s menu included a spicy dish: beef brisket with fiery bird's eye chilies.

During his heat, an Omega’s diet should be light, avoiding spicy or inflammatory foods. This dish was both spicy and inflammatory, and Liang Xu was already struggling—his body feverish, his stomach spasming, cold sweat soaking through his shirt and dampening the ends of his hair. His trouser-clad legs trembled slightly. Eating this now would only worsen his condition.

Yet after a brief hesitation, Liang Xu picked up a piece of beef and ate it with a smile.

Elder Ye noticed that hesitation. Setting down his chopsticks, he lifted his gaze, his cloudy eyes locking onto Liang Xu. "Heat cycle again?"

Liang Xu bowed his head. "Yes."

Elder Ye waved a hand. "Remove his beef."

Only when the small dish vanished from sight did Liang Xu let out a barely noticeable sigh.

Elder Ye resumed eating, his spoon clinking against his soup bowl. Without looking at Liang Xu, he finished his soup, wiped his mouth, and instructed, "You know the boundaries."

Liang Xu replied calmly, "I do, Father."

No hospitals. No scent compatibility databases. No synthetic pheromone injections.

Just one word: endure.

Elder Ye remarked indifferently, "Good. Remember—this position was given by me, and I can just as easily take it back."

"...Understood, Father."

They spoke no more, finishing the meal in silence before discussing recent company affairs. Around nine, Elder Ye dismissed him with a wave. "Go."

Liang Xu breathed a quiet sigh of relief. "Rest well."

He collected his suit jacket and left through the main entrance.

Qiao Si drove him to the main road, where Zhang Ping was already waiting by the curb. Once inside the car, the windows rolled up, blocking them from view, and Liang Xu clutched the back of his neck, nails digging in as if to tear the skin away.

Burning. Numb. Itching. The torment was unbearable—he wished he could carve it out entirely.

Suppressing ragged breaths, he ground out, "Zhang Ping, is it done?"

Zhang Ping accelerated to 120 km/h, speeding down the street. "Done. Mr. Shi signed the agreement."

"Good." Liang Xu forced the words through gritted teeth. "To... Zhenhai Hotel."