DPT chapter 9

Whether it was the sea breeze or catching a chill while surfing, Zuo Chi caught a slight cold the next day. He felt dizzy and had a sore throat. After arriving at the company in the morning, he asked his assistant to buy some medicine and made it to the meeting room on time. He tried to concentrate while his subordinates reported on project progress.

As an Omega, earning the respect of Alpha subordinates wasn’t easy. When Zuo Chi first joined the company, he faced some covert difficulties. Some subordinates believed Zuo Yi’s decision to let his Omega son be a manager showed a lack of seriousness and tried to hinder Zuo Chi’s work. Some even threatened to quit.

In the first half-month, he practically lived at the company. Gradually, he learned about the company’s operations and personnel. Then he started to fight back effectively. He knew how to gain trust through excellent work and also used some tactics to set examples and establish his authority.

To most subordinates, Zuo Chi seemed to have no secondary gender, even though he rarely wore suppression patches and always had the scent of blackcurrant pheromones around him.

The meeting lasted for an hour and a half. After it ended, Zuo Chi went to the reception room to meet with the director of the partner company. At noon, he hosted a lunch at a hotel, and in the afternoon, he attended the signing ceremony for a project. Just as he returned to the office and dealt with two documents, he received a call from Zuo Yi, instructing him to get ready to attend the funeral of Old Master Qin.

Zuo Chi stopped his work, changed into a completely black suit, used hair gel to comb back the strands of hair on his forehead, applied a shield patch on the back of his neck, and after getting ready, instructed the driver to take him to the designated location.

Old Master Qin had valued appearances during his lifetime and liked lively events, so the funeral was held at the old mansion and many people were invited, turning it into a social occasion for the Qin family.

At the entrance, Zuo Chi saw Zuo Yi and Shu Qingyu. Following them inside, he offered a monetary gift, then proceeded to the mourning hall where he lit three incense sticks, bowed before the old master’s portrait, and offered a few words of comfort to the relatives.

“Zuo Chi,” someone called out to him.

Qin Xuan, looking somewhat weary, was wearing mourning cloth.

He was the Alpha son of the Qin family’s second eldest and a high school classmate of Zuo Chi.

Zuo Chi was more familiar with Qin Xuan than with Qin Rui, as they had sat next to each other for a period of time during school. However, they had rarely seen each other after graduation.

Zuo Chi asked with concern, “How are you holding up?”

Qin Xuan shook his head, “Grandfather was able to sit up and drink porridge just the other day. I took him for a couple of laps in the wheelchair around the garden, thinking he still had some time left. Who would have thought…”

From the look of Qin Xuan, he was genuinely saddened.

Zuo Chi said, “My condolences.”

Zuo Yi and Shu Qingyu turned to talk with the eldest of the Qin family, while Zuo Chi and Qin Xuan walked upstairs together.

With no one else on the stairs, Qin Xuan gripped the handrail and glanced down, “In truth, not many in the Qin family genuinely cared about him. With his passing, I don’t know how many are secretly relieved. Do you think he knew?”

Zuo Chi didn’t understand why Qin Xuan was suddenly confiding in him. When one party doesn’t perceive the relationship as that close, an excessive outpouring of personal thoughts can leave the other at a loss for how to respond. He remained silent.

“They all showed false respect to him, aiming for his power and money. But I wasn’t like that. I can’t understand why Grandfather never noticed me,” Qin Xuan continued as they walked. “Even on his deathbed, he kept worrying about my brother, saying that if my brother hadn’t had his accident, things would be better, that he couldn’t rest easy with the family in such chaos…”

Old Master Qin valued the Qin family business more than familial affection. He didn’t spend much time with his descendants, yet the current state of the Qin Empire was a result of his hard work. The importance was clear.

The balcony on the second floor was empty, but it wasn’t the right moment for a heart-to-heart. Zuo Chi clumsily offered, “Don’t overthink it. Qin Rui hasn’t woken up yet, so it’s natural for your grandfather to worry about him a bit more.”

Qin Xuan smiled, “A lot of people came today, subtly inquiring about how Grandfather’s estate would be divided. Aren’t you curious?”

Zuo Chi frowned, “Why should I be curious? It’s a family matter for the Qins.”

“Oh.” Qin Xuan touched his chin. “But if my brother hadn’t had his accident, you would’ve become my in-law, and Sheng Li wouldn’t even be in the picture.”

Zuo Chi’s heart skipped a beat. He hadn’t expected Qin Xuan to know about this. If Qin Xuan knew, did that mean others in the Qin family might know too?

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t deny it. I overheard my brother calling your father.” Qin Xuan sighed. “I don’t mean anything by it. I’ve just been feeling down lately and didn’t know who to talk to. I know you can keep a secret.”

Zuo Chi’s face turned cold, “If you don’t know who to talk to, then don’t say anything.”

Qin Xuan said, “I thought you would understand me. We are both excluded by our families. Your father wants to hand the company over to an illegitimate child just because you’re an Omega. Aren’t you resentful? Obviously, in terms of ability, Zuo Lie is no match for you.”

Everyone seemed to think that being pushed out by an illegitimate child was a sore spot for Zuo Chi, and Qin Xuan was no exception.

“There’s no comparison, and I’m not resentful,” Zuo Chi steadied his emotions and looked at him calmly. “Today, I’ll pretend I didn’t see you. I don’t want to hear any more rumors about me and Qin Rui from anyone else.”

Zuo Chi walked downstairs alone and found that Zuo Yi and Shu Qingyu were now talking with Sheng Changyu.

He greeted them and instinctively looked around, not seeing any sign of Sheng Li.

Sheng Changyu said, “Sheng Li went to the bathroom.”

Zuo Chi thought, I didn’t even ask.

After a while, Sheng Li came down from upstairs.

Sheng Changyu casually asked, “Why did you go upstairs?”

“The bathroom on the first floor was occupied, so I went to the second floor,” Sheng Li replied, glancing at Zuo Chi. His eyes were dark and bright, inscrutable, as if hiding some inexplicable emotion.

Zuo Chi felt a heaviness in his chest and asked softly, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Sheng Li adjusted his cuff, and despite the scent-blocking agent, a faint whiff of amber pheromones still seeped out. “I’m going for a smoke.”

“Go ahead,” Sheng Changyu said disapprovingly. “Restrain your pheromones.”

Releasing pheromones at a solemn occasion like a funeral was not considered polite.

Barely two minutes after Sheng Li left, Zuo Chi excused himself to get some fresh air.

He walked to the small garden of the Qin family and saw Sheng Li sitting on the steps, a cigarette in his mouth but not lit.

“Sheng Li,” Zuo Chi called out.

Sheng Li’s lips twitched, nearly dropping the cigarette. He looked up, eyes squinting against the light, making it hard to see Zuo Chi clearly.

He did find it hard to see clearly.

He had known Zuo Chi for so many years, thinking they were as close as brothers, sharing everything, believing they had a deep understanding. But recently, Zuo Chi had shattered these beliefs.

He thought Zuo Chi wouldn’t agree to the arranged marriage, but he did.

He thought Zuo Chi had no secrets from him, but that wasn’t true. At the very least, he didn’t know there was something between Zuo Chi and Qin Rui.

He came out of the bathroom on the second floor, took out a cigarette and a lighter, and headed to the balcony. As he reached the corner, he heard Qin Xuan’s voice.

“If it weren’t for the car accident, you would have become my in-law. Sheng Li wouldn’t even be in the picture.”

Hearing his own name, Sheng Li stopped. Without looking, he knew who was standing opposite Qin Xuan.

In-law? What did that mean?

It took Sheng Li a while to piece together the logic from that simple statement, and a surge of anger welled up inside him.

So, no matter who he married, as long as it benefited the Zuo family, Zuo Chi would agree.

What did that make him?

He was no different from Qin Rui.

No, as a bargaining chip, he was even inferior to Qin Rui. He was Zuo Chi’s second choice, only considered after Qin Rui’s accident.

He gritted his teeth to control himself, avoiding the urge to confront them. He wasn’t one to hide his feelings, but he didn’t want to give Qin Xuan the satisfaction.

A cold breeze brushed his cheek as Zuo Chi walked through the money tree by the steps, stopping in front of Sheng Li. He took the cigarette from Sheng Li’s mouth with his fingers.

Sheng Li released the cigarette and asked, “Were you originally going to marry Qin Rui?”

Zuo Chi’s reaction was calm: “You heard?”

Sheng Li said, “You never mentioned it to me.”

He was used to sharing even the smallest issues with Zuo Chi, but what about Zuo Chi?

Zuo Chi said, “It was decided between Qin Rui and my father. It had nothing to do with me.”

“It’s your marriage, and you say it has nothing to do with you? Is your name not going to be on the marriage certificate? Can you just extricate yourself from it?” Sheng Li’s tone was icy, “Haven’t you heard about Qin Rui? He’s calculating and manipulative, and he has all sorts of tricks outside. He’s not a good marriage partner.”

Zuo Chi’s voice was hoarse, “And what about you? Are you a good marriage partner?”

Sheng Li stared at him, “I’m not either, so you should refuse.”

Zuo Chi shrugged, “If I refuse you, there will be another one.”

Sheng Li was furious, “Zuo Yi treats you as a tool for exchanging benefits, and you’re willing to sacrifice your own happiness for the Zuo family? In the end, everything will benefit your illegitimate brother. What are you thinking? Is it worth it?”

Zuo Chi unconsciously clenched his fists, “What can I do? I’m a Zuo.”

Sheng Li stood up, his pheromone scent growing stronger, on the brink of losing control, his eyes bloodshot, “Does it make no difference to you whether it’s me or Qin Rui?”

Of course, it was different.

If it were Qin Rui, Zuo Chi would only feel completely dead inside and obediently play the role of a useful tool. But because it was Sheng Li, he couldn’t simply view the marriage alliance as a long-term cooperation.

He liked Sheng Li. Regardless of the purpose behind the marriage, being with Sheng Li was what he wanted.

He was despicable and shameless, unworthy of talking about love.

Zuo Chi opened his mouth, his throat stinging. He tasted a faint hint of blood.

This was their second argument since the marriage was decided, and it definitely wouldn’t be the last.

The cigarette between Zuo Chi’s fingers was crushed. He knew that no matter what his answer was, there was no turning back.

Hardening his heart, he grabbed Sheng Li’s collar and kissed him.