AP Chapter 70

Chapter 70 – No Need

Novel 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))

*Please read at knoxt.space, the original site of translation. TQ*

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“I apologise to you.”

Shen Dai was taken aback. He hadn’t expected Qu Moyu’s first words to be an apology. He had already prepared himself, bracing for any hurtful words or actions from Qu Moyu.

“When we were in Lancheng, I said and did some extreme things. That wasn’t my true intention. I was just out of my mind with anger.” Qu Moyu looked at Shen Dai with a gaze that could be described as sincere.

Shen Dai thought for a moment and nodded slightly. A single apology wouldn’t lower his guard. What Qu Moyu had done to him couldn’t be smoothed over with a mere ‘I’m sorry’. But he tried not to provoke him.

“I later found out that Bai Xiangwan usually stays in the company dormitory. Even though you were living in his house, there were no personal belongings of his. I should have noticed that at the time…” Qu Moyu felt deeply frustrated by his own foolishness back then. When he had smelled another alpha’s pheromones in Shen Dai’s room, all his emotional management training went out the window. He lost control.

Shen Dai also felt a bit relieved. At least Qu Moyu wouldn’t trouble Bai Xiangwan anymore. Bai Xiangwan had already helped him a lot and shouldn’t be dragged down by him any further.

“As for Qiu Qiu using his pheromones as a substitute, that will need to be gradually corrected. Don’t worry, I’ve consulted a doctor. His sensory system is still developing, so it won’t be too difficult to correct.” Even if there was nothing substantial between Shen Dai and Bai Xiangwan, an alpha helping an omega in this way was suspicious. Besides, how could he tolerate his son considering another alpha as his father?

Shen Dai frowned slightly. “There’s no need for correction. The doctor said that when children reach two or three years old, they naturally outgrow their dependence on pheromones.”

“He’s only three months old now. Are you going to keep using Bai Xiangwan’s pheromones? I’m his alpha father. My pheromones are what’s best for him.”

“Your pheromones only scare him and make him cry continuously.”

Qu Moyu’s face changed slightly. “I frightened him at that time. That was my fault. But we are connected by blood. Even if my pheromones were absent during the pregnancy, as long as we spend more time together, he will remember.”

Shen Dai said softly, “There’s no need for that.”

“…What do you mean ‘no need’?”

Shen Dai looked at Qu Moyu calmly. “Qiu Qiu is already used to Bai Xiangwan’s pheromones. He can continue using them. There’s no need to correct anything and cause him more anxiety. This child is my child. He has the surname Shen. You don’t need to interact with him.”

Qu Moyu stared into Shen Dai’s eyes and said in a deep voice, “Ah Dai, did I not make myself clear? I miss you. I want you and our child to come back to me. I will give you both the best life. Qiu Qiu deserves to have his real alpha father.”

Shen Dai felt a tightening in his chest. Qu Moyu had once been eager to get rid of him and Qiu Qiu as soon as possible. What was this new act for? He couldn’t guess Qu Moyu’s true intentions. But it was definitely not out of affection. This man had no feelings. After a long silence, he asked, “Mr. Qu, what exactly do you want?”

Qu Moyu took a deep breath and suddenly grabbed Shen Dai’s hand, not letting him pull away. “I like you.”

Shen Dai froze. A mix of complex emotions and clear pain surged in his heart. He had once fantasised countless times about hearing those words from this person. He had heard it twice in total. The first time, Qu Moyu completely denied the value of such feelings. The second time, Qu Moyu tried to use a flower to decorate the wasteland in his heart. He felt that the word ‘like’ coming from this person was a desecration. Anger boiled within him. He suppressed it, saying, “You have no idea what ‘liking’ someone means.”

Shen Dai’s cold gaze made Qu Moyu feel extremely uncomfortable. “I’ve never felt this way about anyone else. Nor have I ever wanted anyone this much. ‘Liking’ someone doesn’t have just one definition. Does saying it casually count more than my willingness to take care of you for a lifetime?”

Shen Dai’s chest heaved. He had thought he would never have the chance to say certain things in this lifetime. What was the point of accusing the executioner of his wounds? But the executioner insisted on exposing his injuries to the light himself. Shen Dai gritted his teeth and said, “I can’t understand others’ definition of it. But you absolutely don’t deserve to say this. I repeatedly explained that I didn’t scheme against you. But you didn’t believe me or care about it. You forced me to wash away the ‘mark’, to abort the child, and you used your pheromones to suppress me while I was pregnant with Qiu Qiu…”

“Ah Dai!” Qu Moyu interrupted Shen Dai loudly. His face was clouded with gloom as his eyes flickered with guilt. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have treated you that way.” The more he desired Shen Dai, the more he feared recalling the events of the past year and facing the harm he had inflicted on him. He had always weighed the pros and cons since childhood, rarely making wrong decisions. His actions back then were based on the situation at the time. He never considered right or wrong, only his own interests. He had viewed Shen Dai as a replaceable lover, albeit the one he cared most about. He never imagined the lasting impact of the ‘mark’ or that he wouldn’t be able to let go of Shen Dai. His current apology and reconciliation were the biggest compromises he had ever made, lowering his pride.

Shen Dai clenched his fists. Every breath he took caused a slight tremor.

“Later, I met Qu Chengchen,” Qu Moyu said with difficulty. “He admitted that he manipulated me during the susceptibility period. I realised I had misunderstood you. You and Qiu Qiu are innocent. Let me take responsibility for taking care of you both, okay?”

Shen Dai had once desperately wanted to be exonerated. But now that he had it, he felt as indifferent as Qu Moyu had when he couldn’t be bothered to listen to his explanations. It didn’t matter anymore. He no longer needed Qu Moyu’s recognition because he no longer needed Qu Moyu. He looked at Qu Moyu through eyes that seemed shrouded in a layer of mist and asked, “If you had known from the start, would the outcome have been different?”

Qu Moyu was stunned. Shen Dai seized the moment to finally withdraw his painfully clenched hand.

“I am still an inferior omega unworthy of your ‘mark’. I came from a poor background. I have low pheromone level, incapable of producing an S-class alpha heir,” Shen Dai said, seemingly casually tearing open a wound that had never truly healed. “You still want to marry another omega and have children with someone who matches you. You would still divorce me, force me to wash away the ‘mark’, and abort the child, wouldn’t you?”

Qu Moyu looked at his empty hand, still warm from Shen Dai’s touch. But Shen Dai wouldn’t let him touch him again. He opened his mouth to try to defend himself. But he couldn’t lie with a straight face in the presence of Shen Dai’s piercing gaze. Shen Dai was right. Under such scrutiny, he felt utterly humiliated.

Qu Moyu lowered his head and slowly regulated his breath. He suppressed the irritation of being repeatedly rejected and the shame of having his heart’s secret exposed. He reminded himself not to act impulsively, to use his intellect to solve problems and achieve what he wanted. When he raised his head again, his gaze was clear. He spoke softly, “Ah Dai, we are different people with different backgrounds, experiences, education, and perceptions. But I like you and you like me. We have a child together. We need to find a way to coexist so we can move forward together. Don’t you agree?”

Shen Dai stared coldly at Qu Moyu. He already knew what Qu Moyu was going to say.

“My background determines that my marriage will not be the result of love. But a resource integration of interests. My fiancée is also very clear about this. He can give me what I truly need in a marriage.” Qu Moyu gazed at Shen Dai intently. “We don’t need marriage or ‘marking’ between us. But I promise to give you and Qiu Qiu a future far beyond your imagination. Why are you so fixated on titles?”

This time, Shen Dai looked at Qu Moyu for a long time. It was at least for ten seconds, as if repeatedly confirming they were indeed in the same space yet so distant. His heart felt pierced with pain. But he laughed. “You’re right, Mr. Qu. Different people have different ways of living. Go ahead and pursue what you want. No one will stop you. And I will pursue what I want.”

“What do you want?” Qu Moyu felt his patience rapidly wearing thin.

Shen Dai earnestly said, “I don’t want your money, your title, your presence, or anything you can offer me. I don’t want you.” He spoke slowly, as if afraid Qu Moyu would miss a word and not fully grasp his resolve.

Qu Moyu’s face turned ashen. He had been adored his whole life, never facing such repeated rejection and disdain. Even when he lowered his high-held pride to seek reconciliation with an omega, the greatest compromise of his life, he was met with such contempt! He glared at Shen Dai as he gritted his teeth. “Why are you so stubborn and ungrateful? You could sell yourself to a stranger for ten million. But now you’re all about feelings? How can I not suspect you’re just raising your price?”

Shen Dai seemed numb to these poisonous words. Qu Moyu’s sudden change in demeanour didn’t surprise him. He understood this S-class alpha’s arrogance all too well. His pretence of humility was just a negotiating tactic. If he still believed it, it would mean he hadn’t learned his lesson. He stood up. “Mr. Qu, if you truly feel any guilt or pity for me and Qiu Qiu, please don’t bother us again.”

Qu Moyu’s sinister gaze followed Shen Dai’s retreating figure until he disappeared into the bedroom and closed the door behind him.

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*Translator’s Note:

Qu Moyu to Shen Dai: I like you and you like me too.

Me: Who dafakk likes you?

-K

Next update: 2022.07.06

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*Proofread by 2024.08.03* 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 knoxt.space while Mature Chapters will be released on my Blog.