(M) Chapter 37 – Special Meaning
Title: 顶级掠食者 (Alpha Predator)
Author：水千丞 (ShuiQianCheng)
Translator: K (@kin0monogatari)
Protagonists ：沈岱 (Shen Dai -MC), 瞿末予 (Qu Moyu -ML)
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Qu Chengchen felt that he had achieved his goal in stages. He gave a meaningful smile and left. Shen Dai stood stiffly in place for a long time, unable to regain his senses.
The susceptibility period… is indeed the most fatal weakness of an alpha. It mostly occurs in the warm spring and summer seasons, similar to the omega’s estrus period, except that the alpha’s needs are mating and ‘marking’. During this period, the alpha will degenerate to their animalistic instincts. They will become either very dangerous or very fragile. If the alpha can go through the susceptible period with the omega he ‘marked’, it will be a sweet and satisfying time. Otherwise, it will be a torment.
For S-class alphas, this is the easiest time to be exploited and backstabbed. So they’ll find a place that’s absolutely private and safe to get through this period.
Shen Dai didn’t expect Qu Chengchen to have such an idea. But it was indeed the only weakness of Qu Moyu he could think of. Qu Chengchen is right. This is the most likely chance for him to get Qu Moyu’s ‘mark’. But why would he want such a ‘mark’? It wasn’t a promise made to him by someone he loved with the intention of spending the rest of his life with him. It wasn’t the ‘mark’ that really mattered.
He should find an opportunity to remind Qu Moyu, Shen Dai thought. He must be careful of this scheming Qu Chengchen. Maybe while Grandpa Qu was still alive, he wouldn’t dare to make any big moves. But it would be hard to say in the future.
As the countdown for New year was approaching, the Qu family gathered in the courtyard, waiting to set off firecrackers. A few children were running and jumping in the snow. The big red lanterns made their faces flushed red and they looked very happy.
When Shen Dai was young, he didn’t have relatives and playmates of the right age. It was his first time to celebrate New Year with so many people. Influenced by the lively atmosphere, he had a feeling that he was really a member of the family, even if it was only an illusion for a short time. He took a peek at the person beside him, his nominal husband. He silently held on to Qu Moyu’s arm.
Qu Moyu lowered his head to look at Shen Dai. Looking down from this angle, he could see his slender and upturned eyelashes and the straight bridge of his nose. He looked very obedient when he leaned slightly towards his head. Shen Dai seemed to have noticed something and raised his head. The eyes of the two people inadvertently collided. At this moment, when the old and current time clash, the person reflected in the eyes appears to have some special meaning. The hearts of both of them are beating violently at this moment.
Shen Dai was always unable to look directly into Qu Moyu’s eyes for a long time. When he liked someone, he would be shy involuntarily. He looked away and asked casually, “Did you win at poker?”
“I won a bit.” Qu Moyu said, “If you say something nice to me tonight, I’ll give you a big red packet.”
Shen Dai smiled and said, “Happy Chinese New Year?”
“That’s too tasteless.”
“So what else can I say?”
Qu Moyu lowered his voice: “It should be something that sounds nice.”
Shen Dai’s face became stiff. He didn’t know what to do. But then he was suddenly startled by the sound of crackling firecrackers.
Fireworks cannot be set off in the mountains. The 10,000-ton firecrackers are enough to blow up the warm atmosphere of the new year. The screams of the children rose and fell. Shen Dai smiled and covered his ears. He silently made a New Year’s wish in his heart.
Back in the guest room, Shen Dai received the hint behind Qu Moyu’s eyes: “I’m going to take a shower.”
Qu Moyu held Shen Dai’s shoulders and pulled him closer to him. He skillfully tore off the sticker on the back of his neck: “Let’s shower together.”
***
***
Shen Dai slept deeply, without the pressure of getting up early at work. He just wanted to relieve his exhaustion to the fullest in the warm bed on the first day of the new year.
Until he was shaken awake by Qu Moyu.
Shen Dai looked at Qu Moyu with a serious face. He then looked out the window. It was cloudy and snowy so he couldn’t tell what time it was.
“Get up and get dressed.”
“What time… what time is it? Did I sleep until late?” Shen Dai saw that Qu Moyu’s face was bleak. He couldn’t help thinking that he might have done something wrong.
Qu Moyu lowered his eyes and said solemnly, “My grandfather passed away in the morning.”
Shen Dai couldn’t process the information for a long time.
“Get dressed!”
Shen Dai endured the pain all over his body. He got out of bed and hurriedly dressed. After almost tripping over his pants, his chaotic brain woke up like a dream and understood what Qu Moyu was talking about. He got dressed and looked back at Qu Moyu: “…this morning?”
“Hmm. He passed away in his sleep. I just found out.” Qu Moyu stood up and straightened his clothes. His face was as still as ice, “It’s been a year after all.”
Shen Dai thought about it for a long time. He then said, “Sorry for your loss.”
“We can’t go to South Africa then. There will be a lot of things to deal with during this annual leave.”
“What can I do to help?”
“Come with me to the living room first.”
The two of them went to the living room. Last night, there was this huge family who were beaming with joy. At this time, all the black clothes were worn. The red decorations for Chinese New Year were still hanging all over the house. But the air pressure in the house was extremely low at this time. No one broke the silence.
When the two of them appeared, everyone’s eyes were drawn. Qu Moyu was the future successor of Xingzhou. Only when he was present could they start discussing the funeral matter.
Listening to them discussing the details of the funeral, Shen Dai always had a sense of unreality in the clouds and fog. The people he had seen last night were gone when he woke up. He couldn’t help thinking of the scene when his grandfather died. His heart was full of sorrow. People seem to be like this. If they say they are gone, they will be gone. It is too late to miss and recall them. No one would have expected that sometimes the seemingly ordinary side will be the last side to them.
Due to the snowy mountain road, the ambulance arrived in the afternoon. After the body was picked up, all relatives also went down the mountain.
When he returned to Qu’s house, it was already dark. Qu Moyu didn’t say a word along the way and Shen Dai also kept silent. He couldn’t feel sadness from Qu Moyu. But he seemed to be engulfed in all kinds of concerns. He couldn’t quite understand it but he is also aware that the death of Grandpa Qu represents the beginning of a bloody battle.
Qu Moyu went straight upstairs. Uncle Heng and Aunt Lan looked at his back and sighed. One of them whispered, “Why did he have to pass away on the first day of the new year?”
Shen Dai also sighed: “Last night, he was okay when we met him. It seems that there are no major problems with eating, talking, and his way of thinking.”
Uncle Heng shook his head: “The old man can still hold them down. As soon as the old man is gone, his uncle will definitely make a move. I’m very worried about the young master.” He turned and walked to the kitchen, “I’ll prepare some supper.”
Shen Dai is more worried about Qu Chengchen than Qu Chengchen’s father. Thinking of Qu Moyu’s frowning eyebrows, he couldn’t help but feel a little distressed. But unfortunately, he was afraid that he wouldn’t be able to help him.
Aunt Lan took Shen Dai’s hand: “Ah Dai, be more considerate to the young master. You are the closest person to the young master now. He treats you differently.”
Shen Dai smiled bitterly and said, “I don’t know what I can do for him.”
“It doesn’t matter what the reason was for you two to get married. Now you two are more and more looking like a real couple. He has never brought any omega home and he has never cared so much about anyone. He must have you in his heart. When he needs you, stay by his side and do whatever he wants you to do.”
Aunt Lan’s remarks gave Shen Dai great encouragement. He wished he could listen to it a hundred times more. He also believed that it was not just his wishful thinking. He nodded: “Aunt Lan, don’t worry. I will try my best.”
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Next update: 2022.05.09
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*Translator’s note: It’s better not to have false hope. It’ll be bloody once the hope shatters. -K
*Proofread by 2024.07.22* I will proofread these chapters slowly when I’m free. I prioritise the mature chapter first because of censorship. So please understand if there are any delays or discrepancies. TQ.
Proofread version of the rest of the novel will only be available on Novels Space.space while Mature Chapters will be released on my Blog.
