WKRA Chapter 1

The head of the Li family, Li Huaming, was gravely ill, and it was time to settle his will. Whoever could produce the Li family’s first grandson would undoubtedly gain an edge in the division of shares.

Li She was just 5% short of owning a controlling stake in the Li Corporation.

What Li She needed was a child.

But with predators all around, even the drivers sent to him were spies for the First Madam.

Amidst this chaos, his assistant, Ye Qiushi, remained steadfast. Calm, reserved, and tight-lipped, Ye Qiushi had been dutifully by his side for six years. Aside from a minor mix-up in the first year, Ye Qiushi had never made a mistake.

Unfortunately, Ye Qiushi was a beta.

After his 49th instance of zoning out while staring at Ye Qiushi, Li She made up his mind. Ye Qiushi was the perfect candidate for conception.

Beta or not, it didn’t matter. All it took was more effort.

Because no matter who else he considered, he couldn’t bring himself to trust anyone else.

The terms he offered were extraordinarily generous, a fortune that most people could never amass in a lifetime. No regular worker could refuse such an offer.

“With this money, you’ll never have to work a nine-to-five job again,” Li She stated plainly, ever the businessman.

Ye Qiushi, who had never denied him anything, looked at him for a long moment—something rare, as they rarely made eye contact. Just as Li She’s patience wore thin, Ye Qiushi simply replied, “Okay.”

No contracts were drawn up, as Li She wanted to avoid complications. It was a verbal agreement, and so, after work each day, Ye Qiushi went to his boss’s home to sleep with him.

The usually composed and distant Ye Qiushi, once his shirt was unbuttoned, would tremble lightly at the slightest touch, his soft gasps turning hoarse when pressed too hard. His hands instinctively scratched at Li She’s back, sending a tingling itch through the inexperienced CEO, who found himself surrendering far too quickly.

Frustrated and prideful, Li She frowned and dove back in, pinning Ye Qiushi’s delicate wrists above his head to stop the scratching.

But Ye Qiushi’s silken black hair ended up brushing against Li She’s fingers instead.

“Not very skilled today,” Li She muttered, buttoning his shirt cuffs and feigning competence to save face. “It doesn’t matter, as long as you can conceive.”

Ye Qiushi responded as usual, “Okay.” When he stood up, his legs were still trembling, but his expression remained calm.

By day, Assistant Ye was all business, flawlessly handling his demanding workload. By night, he was flushed and breathless beneath Li She, a mix of sensuality and stoicism.

“It seems once a day isn’t enough. Betas are harder to impregnate, after all,” Li She said in his usual professional tone, discussing such an intimate matter as if it were business. “Come to my office during lunch breaks.”

“Okay,” Ye Qiushi complied as always.

To avoid suspicion, Ye Qiushi continued working diligently during the day despite the added strain of their physical relationship. His nerves were perpetually taut to ensure no mistakes.

Li She wasn’t one to pity others, and besides, Ye Qiushi hardly fit the description of a delicate flower. He was obedient in bed but never coquettish. He spoke evenly and calmly, often clutching an old thermos filled with chrysanthemum tea.

He was like a smooth, cool stone.

It was strange.

For what felt like the hundredth time, Li She caught himself thinking about Ye Qiushi. Frustrated, he loosened his tie. Today, Ye Qiushi had taken the day off, saying it was the anniversary of a family member’s death.

It had been five hours and forty minutes since he last saw the beta.

Addictive.

Li She watched from his window as Ye Qiushi jogged back into the building, the words echoing in his mind.

He was more addicted than Ye Qiushi.

This wouldn’t do.

Li She, an alpha, possessed top-tier pheromones capable of overwhelming others and driving them to lose control. If Ye Qiushi could just sense them, he wouldn’t remain so composed.

He suddenly found himself craving the sight of Ye Qiushi losing control, drowning in him.

But Ye Qiushi was a beta.

Other than trying harder and pushing further, Li She had no other method. He listened intently to those muffled gasps, growing even more obsessed.

Thankfully, Ye Qiushi always obeyed.

And that was enough.

Li Huaming’s late-stage cancer progressed rapidly, and he deteriorated quickly.

The good news? Ye Qiushi was finally pregnant.

When Ye Qiushi smiled at the positive pregnancy test, dimples forming on his cheeks, Li She’s heart pounded.

So he has dimples when he smiles.

Li She had fallen for Ye Qiushi.

He suddenly began to care, to consider others’ feelings. He was grateful this child was theirs—a product of love, not a mere transaction.

This was good. Their child would be better than him.

Let’s call them Jiujiu.

As the pregnancy progressed and Ye Qiushi’s belly began to show, Li She brought him to a family gathering.

“I want to marry him. Grandfather could use some good news to lift his spirits,” Li She announced, smiling sincerely despite the shock on everyone’s faces.

Ye Qiushi’s small hand was tightly clasped in his, obedient, graceful, beautiful, and adorable.

So this was what it meant to love someone—everything about them became perfect.

Li She earned Li Huaming’s favor as he’d hoped.

Ye Qiushi no longer needed to work. He stayed in the home Li She bought for them, awaiting the birth of their child.

Beta pregnancies were tough, and Li She worried constantly.

“Sir, there’s no need to be so anxious. I’ll be careful. I won’t eat anything unfamiliar and will call the doctor at the first sign of discomfort. I won’t let anyone take advantage,” Ye Qiushi reassured him gently, patting his back.

Li She often embraced him tightly, his unease showing.

Ten months of hardship culminated in the birth of their child. Healthy and unmistakably the Li family’s first grandson.

Li Huaming passed away satisfied, and the will was executed as planned, fulfilling Li She’s wishes.

After handling the funeral and attending a brief board meeting to cement his new position, Li She rushed back to the marital home to see Ye Qiushi and their chubby baby.

He carried flowers in one hand and a ring in his pocket.

He wanted to marry Ye Qiushi—not just for appearances, but for real.

But when he opened the door, his nervous smile froze. The house was empty.

On the coffee table was a bright yellow sticky note, identical to the ones Ye Qiushi often used for work.

“Sir, I’m sorry for leaving without saying goodbye. I had selfish reasons; I wanted a child too. Now that your wish has been fulfilled, Jiujiu is of no use to you anymore. I’ve taken them with me. I hope you won’t mind.”

It was Ye Qiushi’s handwriting—clean, neat, and just like him.