Chapter 5: Day Five of Pretending to be A

Chapter 5: Day 5 of Pretending to Be Alpha

Day 5 of Pretending to Be Alpha

Chi Cheng stormed out of Shengmo's office building.

His steps gradually slowed as he waited for the man following him to catch up.

But no one did.

Chu Mo remained just as indifferent as he was in childhood, ignoring Chi Cheng's anger.

Chi Cheng even suspected that Chu Mo didn’t know why he was angry.

As soon as he got into the car, Chi Cheng began venting to the driver: "Chu Mo is even more arrogant than before! He didn't recognize me right away!"

Uncle Zhou tried to comfort him: "It's normal that he didn't recognize you. People change a lot as they grow up."

Chi Cheng reached for the necklace around his neck: "And I even wore the necklace he gave me just to meet him!"

He took off the necklace, intending to throw it out the window, but ultimately couldn't bring himself to do it.

Reluctantly, Chi Cheng tucked the necklace back into his bag.

Uncle Zhou: "..."

This necklace had originally been bought by Chu Mo for his younger brother Chu Yun using the first money he made in high school.

Because the size was wrong and the return window had closed, Chu Mo had planned to throw it away.

Upon learning this, Chi Cheng boldly claimed the necklace.

Since both sets of parents were present at the time, Chu Mo had no choice but to agree.

In Chi Cheng's words, he framed it as "the necklace Chu Mo gave him."

Uncle Zhou sighed: "Young master, take it easy. There's still a long way to go after returning home."

"I can't take it easy!" Chi Cheng snapped. "Let's go home!"

Uncle Zhou felt sorry for Chi Cheng in his heart.

This time, the young master could face even more trouble than he did as a child.

After Chi Cheng left,

Xie Songchen watched his back as he walked away and suddenly asked Chu Mo: "Who is he?"

Chu Mo saw Xie Songchen's reaction as the vigilance of the first male lead toward the second male lead.

In the source material, the rivalry between Xie Songchen and Chi Cheng was intense.

The two would compete and even fight whenever they met.

Therefore, it was no surprise that Xie Songchen was on guard against Chi Cheng upon their first encounter.

"Another alpha who is a perfect match for Chu Yun," Chu Mo looked at Xie Songchen and said meaningfully, "He also likes Chu Yun."

Xie Songchen picked up the brown paper bag from the ground, looked up at Chu Mo, and asked, "Do you still want this shirt?"

Chu Mo looked at the shirt and racked his brain to remember. He remembered there was indeed a shirt that had been stained by Chi Cheng and then disappeared.

He had always thought that shirt had been thrown away.

Could Chi Cheng have kept that shirt all this time?

Impossible.

That didn't seem like Chi Cheng's style at all.

"Keep it," Chu Mo said after a brief pause.

Xie Songchen remained silent.

A moment later.

As they reached the company entrance, about to meet a client.

"That alpha," Xie Songchen suddenly asked while driving Chu Mo, "Does he really like Chu Yun?"

Chu Mo thought to himself, Xie Songchen couldn't help but start probing his rival.

"He's liked Chu Yun since childhood, often came to the Chu family, and has known Chu Yun longer than you," Chu Mo raised an eyebrow, speaking calmly, "But so what? Our Xiao Yun would never be with him."

Xie Songchen stared at Chu Mo for two seconds after hearing his words, then said expressionlessly:

"Your cluelessness sometimes really blows my mind."

The sudden, cryptic remark left Chu Mo momentarily stunned.

Before Chu Mo could react, Xie Songchen had already sat in the back seat of the car, pulling out his laptop to get some work done.

Chu Mo couldn't help feeling puzzled—what did Xie Songchen mean by that?

Dense?

He knew the whole story; how could he possibly be dense!

Chu Mo completely brushed off Xie Songchen's comment.

That night.

The heart of downtown H City.

Inside a private room at an upscale club.

Chi Cheng sat on the corner sofa, took a sip of whiskey from the glass on the table, his expression gloomy, radiating a tense vibe.

Chi Cheng actually didn't like places like this.

After returning to the country, a group of friends had dragged him out, and since he was in a bad mood today, he came to this club.

There were many good-looking men and women around, and in such a flashy place, even the faintest whiff of alcohol or the dimmest light could stir up a suggestive mood.

Yet, Chi Cheng was dressed tightly, wearing a baseball cap, the brim casting a shadow over most of his face.

Even so, his superior physique and demeanor still attracted many people to toast him.

Chi Cheng didn't even bother to look their way.

Chi Cheng's former alpha friend, Cheng Cheng, sat beside him and said, "Chi, why are you in such a state as soon as you returned to the country? Did someone break up with you?"

Chi Cheng frowned, "Can you not talk for once?"

"Relax, it's just that the Chu family isn't into you," Cheng Cheng, being Chi Cheng's close friend, spoke without restraint, "There are so many omegas here, surely there's one you like?"

Chi Cheng suppressed his irritation and took a sip of his drink, "I'm not interested."

"You punk, the rumors say you're always with omegas, but in reality, you're still..."

Cheng Cheng was halfway through his sentence when Chi Cheng shot him a sharp glare, instantly silencing him.

To ease the awkwardness, Cheng Cheng joked, "You couldn't possibly like betas, could you? Those betas are quite dull."

Chi Cheng took a sip of whiskey, his tone indifferent, "I don't like them."

Cheng Cheng continued to joke, "Do you like alphas? That would be wild."

"Who the hell likes alphas?!" Chi Cheng suddenly put down his glass, his angry demeanor a stark contrast to before.

Cheng Cheng was stunned, then muttered softly, "Why are you so mad?"

"He's so full of himself, cold, and doesn't give a damn," Chi Cheng gritted his teeth, his jawline tightening, "He doesn't take me seriously at all, why would I like him?!"

Cheng Cheng was completely baffled, "Huh? Who? Who are you talking about?"

Chi Cheng stood up, hands in his pockets, kicked Cheng Cheng, looking pissed, and walked out of the private room alone.

He pulled out a cigarette, only to realize he didn't have a lighter, which made his mood even worse, his brows furrowed.

At that moment, a few omegas from the room noticed what was happening and came out, gathering around Chi Cheng, offering him a lighter.

Chi Cheng, irritated, was about to wave them off when he caught sight of someone out of the corner of his eye.

Not far away.

At the entrance of the even more exclusive SVIP room, stood a tall, well-dressed alpha in a suit.

Chu Mo was out with clients for business talks, and after the dinner, he got dragged along by some big shots to the club.

These bosses were deeply connected to H city's entire industry, and he needed to maintain good relations with them.

Chu Mo had his staff, including Xie Songchen, leave first and attended the gathering alone.

The club was known for its strict privacy, and the clientele was all wealthy and influential.

Chu Mo stood out as the most distinguished person there.

The omegas around Chi Cheng quickly shifted their attention and started discussing:

"Is that guy an alpha? He's ridiculously good-looking."

"I think I've seen him before, at a banquet. That's Mr. Chu."

"Mr. Chu? Could it be that Mr. Chu?!"

Suddenly, everyone's attention was focused on Chu Mo.

This moment took Chi Cheng back to his childhood.

Chi Cheng was a dominant figure among elementary school students, the undisputed king of the playground.

But as soon as Chu Mo appeared, everyone's attention would immediately shift to him.

Hearing the commotion, Chu Mo turned his gaze toward Chi Cheng.

The moment their eyes met, a flicker of surprise crossed Chu Mo's eyes.

In the novel, Chu Mo often encountered Chi Cheng in such flashy nightclubs.

The difference was that Chu Mo was there for business, while Chi Cheng was there for pleasure.

Chu Mo looked down on Chi Cheng's behavior and would mock him, either subtly or outright, telling Chi Cheng that he would never allow his younger brother to be with someone like Chi Cheng, a profligate.

Humiliated by Chu Mo, Chi Cheng, while angry, resolved to turn over a new leaf, cutting off all ties with the omegas in his circle.

From that point on, Chi Cheng turned over a new leaf, focusing on his career, rising from 'Little Chi' to become the renowned Chi Cheng of all H City.

Gradually, people noticed that Chi Cheng had set aside his carefree lifestyle, solely focused on being with Chu Yun, and praised Chi Cheng as a rare and devoted alpha.

Chu Mo had stepped out for some fresh air, never expecting to bump into Chi Cheng so soon, who had come to seek pleasure.

The two stood at the doors of separate private rooms, the lights illuminating them starkly different.

Chu Mo's private room was the most exclusive in the entire club, and the bosses who entered and exited could directly influence the club's income.

The club owner never dared to let just anyone serve in that private room, and even the lighting atmosphere was clean and bright, radiating an air of understated luxury.

The light on Chi Cheng was a shifting purple glow, constantly changing, highly suggestive.

The corridor fell silent as they stood a few meters apart.

Chi Cheng glanced at the people beside him and coldly said, "Get lost."

Although the omegas wanted to get to know Chu Mo, under Chi Cheng's icy glare, they could only reluctantly retreat.

The cigarette in Chi Cheng's hand had already been lit, the crimson ember flickering in the dim light, smoke curling around.

He looked at Chu Mo, words on the tip of his tongue, but swallowed them back.

Chi Cheng remembered how Chu Mo had forgotten about him, and his fingers involuntarily clenched into a fist.

He didn't want to talk to someone like that.

Just as Chi Cheng was about to turn and leave, a voice, both familiar and mocking, came from behind—

"Chi Chengjun, you come to such a place as soon as you return to the country?"

Chi Cheng was stunned, his steps frozen in place.

Humiliating Chi Cheng in a high-end club was straight out of the novel.

Chu Mo no longer avoided the situation, walking straight up to Chi Cheng and calling out his former name.

"Chi Chengjun" was Chi Cheng's Achilles' heel, something no one could touch.

At best, they would be scolded; at worst, they would be beaten.

Even Chi Cheng's parents calling him "Little Jun" would provoke a sharp retort.

Chi Cheng stared at Chu Mo in disbelief. "What did you just call me?"

Before Chi Cheng went overseas, for a considerable period of time, his name was Chi Chengjun.

Chu Mo was used to calling him that.

"Ahem," Chu Mo cleared his throat, trying to mask his embarrassment. "What, can't you just answer my question?"

Chi Cheng gaped at Chu Mo.

After a moment, he snapped out of it, lowered his head, and adjusted his baseball cap, using the brim's shadow to hide his growing smile.

He muttered, feigning anger: "Don't call me that name."

But his tone lacked any real bite.

Just then, Chi Cheng seemed to remember something, frowned at Chu Mo, and retorted: "You’re one to talk! What are you even doing here?"

He glanced behind Chu Mo, making sure there were no shady characters around.

Chu Mo met Chi Cheng’s gaze head-on, his aristocratic, aloof expression tinged with disdain: "I’m here on business, unlike you, who’s clearly here to mess around."

At this, Chi Cheng was reminded of their childhood, when Chu Mo would always look down on him with that superior air.

Now, even though Chi Cheng had grown taller than Chu Mo, he still felt like he was being judged from above.

Chi Cheng once had this thought—if Chu Mo had actually presented as an alpha, he’d probably look down on every alpha out there.

Including Chi Cheng.

Even before differentiation, Chu Mo was already outstanding.

Chi Cheng’s parents would always say to him, "Look at the young master Chu next door."

Now, Chi Cheng’s fears had been realized.

"Looking for fun? Please, I’m not here for that," Chi Cheng raised his eyes, his tone serious. "I think you're the one here for fun, all dressed up like that, claiming you’re here for business..."

His pride made Chi Cheng snap back without thinking, accidentally revealing his true feelings.

Realizing he’d just complimented Chu Mo, Chi Cheng immediately shut his mouth, his ears turning red with regret.

Hearing this, Chu Mo was momentarily stunned.

Did Chi Cheng just call him handsome?

Chi Cheng, flustered and furious, his ears turning red, snapped: "Anyway, I'm here just because I'm in a bad mood, not to look for omegas!"

Chu Mo didn’t dwell on what Chi Cheng had just said.

Following Chi Cheng’s words, he continued to play the role of a protective alpha brother, coldly saying: "Stop pretending, Chi Cheng. What kind of decent alpha smells like smoke all over? No matter what your purpose is for returning to the country, don’t have any delusions about my brother."

Chi Cheng glanced at the burning cigarette butt in his hand.

The next second, he threw the cigarette away and extinguished it with his limited edition sneakers.

The lingering smoke curled in the dim, moody light.

Chi Cheng raised his chin, revealing his sharp, handsome features.

He raised an eyebrow at Chu Mo and challenged, "Where's your evidence?"

Chu Mo was taken aback by Chi Cheng's sudden move.

He hadn't expected Chi Cheng to be so eager to prove his innocence.

Chi Cheng took a deep breath, wanting to seize this opportunity to apologize for what he had done in his childhood and build a better relationship with Chu Mo—this was one of his main reasons for returning.

He pressed his lips together, then lowered his eyes, preparing to speak: "About what happened back then, I..."

At that moment, the door to the exclusive SVIP room opened. The businessmen Chu Mo had been meeting with walked out, asking why Mr. Chu hadn't come back yet.

The interruption stunned Chi Cheng.

Hearing the businessmen speak, Chu Mo suddenly realized something. He forced a smile and said, "I ran into an acquaintance."

As he spoke, he introduced Chi Cheng pointedly: "This is the Chi family’s heir, known in the business world as 'Little Chi.'"

Chi Cheng was taken aback. He hadn’t expected Chu Mo to suddenly introduce him to those businessmen.

Chu Mo did this because he remembered a similar scene from the original story.

In the novel, Chu Mo and a group of businessmen encountered Chi Cheng at a club and joined forces to humiliate him.

"The Chi family?" One of the middle-aged businessmen pondered for a moment, then smiled as if he had just remembered something. "Oh, the Chi family that lost billions overseas, right?"

Chi Cheng's face darkened. "What’s it to you, old man?"

The middle-aged businessman froze. "You, you..."

"This kid’s got quite the temper," the bald businessman next to him frowned and said. "The Chi family’s a nobody in H City now, yet you dare to show such an attitude in front of us?"

Chi Cheng sneered and retorted, "What, scared I’ll see my face in your shiny head?"

The bald businessman was shocked. "What do you mean?!"

In the original story, Chi Cheng’s temper often got him into trouble.

Chu Mo knew this and allowed the businessmen to provoke Chi Cheng, taking the opportunity to force him to toast everyone.

"With such a temper, do you still think you can survive in H City's business world?" Chu Mo looked at Chi Cheng coldly and said without hesitation, "The Chi family’s a lost cause."

Chi Cheng was stunned for a moment, then frowned and gritted his teeth. "Chu Mo, are you really backing these morons?!"

The bald businessman, who had been called a "moron," clenched his teeth and said sarcastically, "Mr. Chu, why bother reasoning with someone like him? Whether he lives or dies has nothing to do with you."

Chi Cheng glared at the bald businessman. "And what does that have to do with you, whose hair plugs can’t even fix that bald spot?"

"How dare you talk to me like that?! You..." The bald businessman's face turned beet red.

"Chi Cheng, no matter how immature you are, you should understand that H City’s run by these guys," Chu Mo stood in the center and stopped Chi Cheng from escalating the situation further. "With that attitude, you think you’re fit for the Chu family?"

On the surface, Chu Mo was speaking for the businessmen, but in reality, he was also reminding Chi Cheng—that in the business world, you’ve got to keep your temper in check.

Chi Cheng clearly wasn't listening, and in his anger, he blurted out, "Chu Mo, I never thought you’d stoop to hanging out with these losers! You used to be different..."

He hadn't expected Chu Mo to become so unfamiliar.

Chu Mo’s expression hardened as he scolded Chi Cheng, "You think you know what I was like before?"

Chi Cheng stared at him in disbelief.