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On the last working day of the year, Shen Dai cooperated with lawyers to complete the legal person change of the company. Although the lawyer said that there are still many steps to go before the successful merger, Shen Dai still feels that this is way more efficient. Since the original agreement stated that the maximum duration of their marriage was five years, he naturally assumed that it would take at least a few years and now it seems that it may be completed by next year. At that time, they will no longer need to continue this marriage relationship. It is only necessary for Qu Moyu to break it off.
Shen Dai knew that it was useless to worry about it. But he wanted to make Qu Moyu like him too. Because ‘the time was tight and the task was heavy’, and he couldn’t see any possibility.
On the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, Shen Dai went home and had dinner with his grandma. He said that he was going to South Africa on business and could not celebrate the New Year at home. This was only half-truth.
After dinner, while Shen Qin went to wash the dishes, Shen Dai walked into the kitchen: “I just transferred money to you to buy more delicious food for the New Year. I will be on a business trip for at least ten days this time, so you must take care of it. Be a good son. Don’t forget the appointment at the hospital several times for re-examination. If grandma needs anything, let me know at any time.”
“Don’t worry.” Shen Qin glanced at Shen Dai and said in a low voice, “You still won’t call me Dad.”
Shen Dai didn’t answer directly, and added: “I hope you don’t ask me about my affairs. I can handle my own life, you just need to take care of my grandma. I will let you live a good old life, but there will be no relationship or connections between us.”
Shen Qin’s hand stopped from washing the dishes. He looked at Shen Dai without blinking, his beautiful almond eyes gradually turning red: “If your father is capable, I would like to treat you well. And I would like to treat all the people in the world well. I will give you all the best things.”
Shen Dai shook his head, unmoved: “I have had no expectations from you since a long time ago. But at least I don’t hate you anymore, as long as you don’t cause us any more trouble.”
He believed what Shen Qin said, if Shen Qin was rich, he would not be stingy with them. He also received expensive toys and clothes bought by Shen Qin when he was a child. But Shen Qin loves himself more than anything else. He only has enough to eat in all of his life choices. This person always chooses himself, even if it will hurt the closest person to him.
In Shen Qin’s heart, he is not a precious child or a person who he unconditionally loved. The highest value of his existence was to coerce You Xinghai, whether it is for love or money. When he could not get that easy life, the burden was thrown to Shen Dai’s grandmother and grandfather.
He no longer hated Shen Qin, nor did he forgive him. The only thing left between them was the duty to support the family.
On New Year’s Eve, Lao Wu sent him and Qu Moyu to the mountain, where the old man of the Qu family was recuperating.
On the way, Shen Dai got a general understanding of the Qu family’s family structure. Grandpa Qu has two alpha sons, a beta daughter and an omega son. Beta and omega are not qualified to inherit the family business. They have already married off early. This year, the whole family will be back, because according to the doctor’s judgement, this is likely to be the last Spring Festival for Grandpa Qu.
Qu Moyu thought of something and smiled: “Speaking of which, because of you this year, I can serve tea to respect the elders as a grandchild for the first time.”
Shen Dai looked at him quizzically.
“My uncle is the eldest son. He has always been the first to serve tea. By the way, he brought his own children to serve tea together. My parents and I can only be ranked second. After all, I am not the eldest grandchild, and now I am married and have a family of our own. When our sons and daughters are finished paying respects, it will be our turn first.”
Shen Dai’s head was a little dizzy. He couldn’t imagine that a big family in modern society would still be so feudal, and Qu Moyu was so competitive that he had to compete with Qu Chengchen even for this. He really couldn’t understand. He asked, “Didn’t Qu Chengchen call you eldest brother, aren’t you the eldest grandchild?”
“No, no, we still have an older alpha sister.”
“I’ve never heard of this.” If the Qu family still has an elder alpha, she should be in an important position in Xingzhou now. As an old employee of Xingzhou, why did he never know there was such a person?
“She’s dead.” Qu Moyu said flatly.
“Uh……”
Qu Moyu slowly turned his head out of the window, looking at the scenery that was passing by in a hurry, obviously he didn’t want to continue talking about this topic.
The manor where Grandpa Qu lives now is a small nursing home. The ramps, handrails, sound insulation devices, and low-saturation lights that can be seen everywhere, which are all especially customised for the elderly. According to Qu Moyu, there is even a medical team here.
“Let’s go see my parents first.”
Qu Moyu found Qu Shen who was reading a book in the living room. When Qu Shen saw them, he nodded: “You’re here. How was the road? Safe?”
This road up the mountain was covered with snow that would not melt and it was really slippery.
“Lao Wu drove very slowly.” Qu Moyu asked; “Where’s my mother?”
Qu Shen glanced out the window: “Looking at plum blossoms outside. It’s such a cold day…” He looked at Shen Dai, “Give her this blanket.”
“Okay, Director Qu.” Shen Dai picked up the blanket on the sofa and walked to the garden. Sure enough, Mrs. Qu was taking pictures of the plum blossom branches wrapped in silver frost with her mobile phone.
Shen Dai’s feet were crunching on the snow, but Mrs. Qu was very attentive, and her jade-white hands were obviously frozen red. She is still so beautiful and elegant, with graceful temperament, like a unique plum in the snow.
Shen Dai shook off the blanket and said softly, “Mrs. Qu.”
Mrs. Qu turned her face and smiled at Shen Dai: “Look at how beautiful these plum blossoms are. Some flowers are so maverick, they can live well even without a warm climate.”
“Yeah, wear the blanket. Now, the snow is melting, it’s too cold.” Shen Dai draped the blanket over her shoulders.
Mrs. Qu let out a breath of cold mist: “It’s quite cold. You wear so little, let’s go in.”
The two entered the room, but Mrs. Qu was standing by the large French window and continued to admire the plums: “I thought Mo Yu would not bring you back. New Year’s Eve is the most boring time of the year.”
“Mo Yu said that the old man wants to see his grandson’s wife.”
“He wants to see when you can give birth to an alpha for the Qu family.” Mrs. Qu smiled, “He doesn’t know yet that your pheromone level is only B.”
Shen Dai felt a little embarrassed, but could not leave the venue politely.
“Don’t look at his age. In fact, he knows everything in his heart. He knows why Mo Yu married you, and he also knows that when he dies, the eldest and the second will definitely fight.” Mrs. Qu’s smile carried a sign of clear mocking, “He thinks he can press him while he is still alive. Now that he knows that his internal friction is not good, when he used to train his children as fighting beasts, isn’t he still proud of his educational philosophy?”
Shen Dai couldn’t understand why Mrs. Qu was talking about this to an outsider like him, but then he thought about it, maybe it was because he was an outsider who had no interest in the family, and didn’t have the courage to talk about the Qu family’s affairs. But it was precisely because he was an outsider. He had participated in the story of the Qu family well and could understand the plot she explained, so he told himself that perhaps this wealthy lady had no better ways to vent her resentments.
Yes. It was resentment. This is what Shen Dai felt from her about the Qu family’s emotions. Even if she spoke in a soft tone, every word was thorny.
Shen Dai knows that he himself is just a tool. Since Qu Moyu can use him, of course Qu Moyu’s mother also had her use. He just wanted to know more about Qu Moyu’s environment when he was growing up, so he entertained her and asked: “Why do you mean by what you’ve said?” His question was not directional, it could be said that it covered every word Mrs. Qu had said, giving her a lot of room to start.
“Because my husband and my son grew up like this.” Mrs. Qu stared at Shen Dai quietly, “You are a child of a normal family. You don’t understand. Xiaoyue is worthy to be the daughter-in-law of the Qu family. You can’t.”
Shen Dai really had no way to refute this sentence, even on a psychological level.
Mrs. Qu’s eyes were gentle but sharp: “I know you and Mo Yu had slept. Did you use contraceptives?”
Shen Dai felt even more embarrassed, he nodded calmly: “We have an agreement. There will be no children.” He paused and said, “You can rest assured.”
“It’s a good thing for you.” Mrs. Qu tightened the blanket and said lightly, “If you can’t give birth to an S-class alpha, your children are of no value to the Qu family.”
This sentence was too cold, and Shen Dai’s heart trembled. He knew that it was impossible for Qu Moyu to have children with him, because he was just an omega with a low pheromone level which is only B-class. He would be very lucky to even give birth to an A-class alpha. The chance of giving birth to an S-class alpha was smaller than the chances of winning the lottery. The combination that will most likely to give birth to an S-class alpha is an S-class alpha and an S-class omega. The latter being the prerequisite for Qu Moyu’s future wife. But he was still uncomfortable with the utilitarianism and contempt for life presented in it.
“Is the pheromone level that important?” Shen Dai couldn’t help but say the first half of the sentence, but he held back the second half of the sentence that he really wanted to say. He wanted to say that the weight of the judgement was placed on reproductive ability, and completely ignored the rest. As for the other abilities of an omega, he would not agree with this set of scoring criteria to classify himself as a lower-class person. But he realised that he should not discuss this issue with an elder, because the times are different, and the gap in cognition cannot be filled with words.
“Of course it’s important, especially in the alpha world.” Mrs. Qu sighed, “You know, Mo Yu actually had an elder alpha cousin, that is, Chengchen’s older sister.”
“He mentioned it and said she was gone.”
“She was a very good girl. An A-level alpha. She was good enough originally, but unfortunately…” Mrs. Qu lowered her eyes and did not hide her sadness, “Her tragedy started from the birth of Mo Yu and reached the peak after Chengchen was born.”
“……why?”
“Because she has two younger brothers who she can never compete with. Even if she works hard, the genetic gap cannot be filled. Although she is the eldest grandson of the eldest house, she can only take over the marginal business of Xingzhou. For an alpha who has high self-esteem, it is a devastating blow. No matter how lucky or rich outsiders see her, she can only live in low self-esteem and pain.” Mrs. Qu gently pressed her forehead against the cold window, “She died of a drug overdose in San Francisco. She was younger than Mo Yu when she died.”