Twenty Sixth Day of Pretending to Be an Alpha

The injector was picked up by a stranger. The owner of the hand was clearly an alpha. Chu Mo hid in the stall, holding his breath. He didn’t dare make a sound. He had thought this restroom on the first floor was secluded enough that no one would come by, but he hadn’t expected to encounter an alpha.

Outside the stall, the alpha seemed quite shocked after picking up the injector. He was speechless for a moment. It wasn’t surprising. Any alpha would be stunned to find an injector rolling out from a stall in an alpha restroom.

Chu Mo’s throat was dry, but he didn’t even dare to swallow.

After a moment of hesitation, the alpha outside asked cautiously, “Is there someone in there?”

The voice was familiar. Chu Mo instantly recognized who it was. His heart leapt into his throat.

A few minutes earlier.

Zhou Jingyan had been practicing diligently in the dance studio, his movements far more precise than the others. The instructor, wanting to praise him, allowed him a ten-minute break. Zhou Jingyan had intended to find a quiet restroom to be alone for a bit. But as he approached the door, he heard a strange sound—a muffled groan, like that of a young man.

Curious, Zhou Jingyan stepped into the restroom, and the next second, an injector rolled out. After asking if anyone was there and receiving no response, he grew concerned. He’d learned in health class that some omegas could have strong reactions to inhibitors during their heat period, ranging from chills to outright fainting.

“Are you okay?” Zhou Jingyan asked again.

Chu Mo thought, I’m fine, can you just leave already?!

Seeing no response from the omega inside, Zhou Jingyan feared the person might have fainted and began to panic. “Do you need help? If you don’t answer by the count of three, I’m calling the police!”

Chu Mo knew that in the original story, Zhou Jingyan was a warm-hearted guy. But his timing was terrible.

“Three, two…” Zhou Jingyan began counting down.

“Don’t call the police.”

A voice came from inside the stall, interrupting Zhou Jingyan. It was low, hoarse, dry—yet unmistakably familiar.

Zhou Jingyan froze for a second, eyes widening. “President Chu?”

What was President Chu doing here?? Wasn’t there supposed to be an omega in there?!

Chu Mo cleared his throat, trying to pull himself out of his tense state. “Zhou Jingyan, as your boss, I’m ordering you to do two things,” he said, his voice gradually calming. “One, give me back the injector. Two, leave the restroom and don’t let anyone else in.”

Zhou Jingyan’s eyes widened even more. No way, was this injector really Chu Mo’s?! Could it be… President Chu was an omega?

The absurd thought popped into Zhou Jingyan’s mind. His ears turned red, and the injector in his hand suddenly felt scorching hot. Injectors were a very private item for omegas, often carrying traces of their pheromones. The thought that this was Chu Mo’s made him unsure whether to hold it or drop it.

“President Chu,” Zhou Jingyan stammered, face flushed, “are you really an omega?”

He couldn’t believe that the well-dressed, elite-looking President Chu was actually an omega.

“Of course not,” Chu Mo replied coldly and calmly.

Zhou Jingyan’s eyes were skeptical. “If you’re not an omega, then why do you have an injector?”

His ears were so red they seemed about to drip blood. He couldn’t even bring himself to look at the injector in his hand. His fingers trembled slightly with embarrassment.

“It’s not mine,” Chu Mo said curtly. “It belongs to someone else.”

His voice was cool and detached, as if discussing something unrelated to him.

Zhou Jingyan grew more confused. When he’d picked up the injector, it had still been warm—clearly just used.

Gathering his courage, Zhou Jingyan said, “This injector seems freshly used…”

“That’s none of your concern,” Chu Mo interrupted coldly, repeating his earlier command. “Give me the injector and leave. Don’t let anyone else in.”

Zhou Jingyan was even more puzzled. Then he remembered the muffled groan he’d heard earlier. It had clearly been an omega’s voice.

His mind buzzed, and his hand shook, nearly dropping the injector. Could President Chu be… administering an inhibitor to another omega?!

The more Zhou Jingyan thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. Which meant there was another person in the stall. His face turned beet red, his pale neck flushing as well. He couldn’t believe that the usually aloof and composed President Chu would do something like this in an alpha restroom stall.

Countless indescribable images flashed through Zhou Jingyan’s mind.

“P-P-President Chu, I-I’ll leave right away,” Zhou Jingyan stammered, flustered. He closed his eyes, crouched down, and slid the injector back under the stall door. Then he fled the restroom in a hurry.

As he exited, only one thought filled his mind—President Chu was so bold! To do something like that in a company restroom… He’d never have guessed he was such a daring alpha.

Inside the stall, Chu Mo had no idea what Zhou Jingyan was thinking. Once he retrieved the injector, he breathed a sigh of relief. Only then did he realize his back was drenched in cold sweat.

He tucked the injector into his pocket, planning to dispose of it somewhere discreet. He couldn’t leave any traces in the company. Then he took out a bottle of pheromone neutralizer. The packaging looked like an ordinary breath spray, something he always carried for situations like this.

He sprayed it on his neck, collar, and cuffs. After sniffing his clothes to ensure there was no lingering mint scent, he finally relaxed.

After leaving the restroom, Zhou Jingyan walked down the long corridor back to the company’s first-floor lobby. Just then, two alphas approached. Seeing Xie Songchen and Chi Cheng, Zhou Jingyan politely stopped them. “The restroom is temporarily unavailable. Please wait a moment.”

He felt a bit guilty as he spoke.

Chi Cheng frowned. “Isn’t Chu Mo in there?”

Zhou Jingyan didn’t know how to answer.

Suddenly, Xie Songchen looked past Zhou Jingyan. At some point, Chu Mo had already exited the restroom. Zhou Jingyan was startled to see him alone. Where was the omega?

Before he could think further, Chu Mo approached him. For some reason, Zhou Jingyan’s ears turned red when he saw Chu Mo.

Chu Mo frowned. “What’s wrong with you?”

Why was Zhou Jingyan acting so strangely?

Zhou Jingyan, completely inexperienced in matters between alphas and omegas, was overwhelmed by what he’d just witnessed. He couldn’t meet Chu Mo’s eyes, averting his gaze and muttering “nothing” before quickly walking away.

Chu Mo had no idea what Zhou Jingyan was thinking.

“Chu Mo, I need to talk to you.”

Chi Cheng’s voice pulled Chu Mo back to the present.

“President Chu, this document needs your signature,” Xie Songchen said, handing a file to Chu Mo at the same time.

Both spoke almost simultaneously.

Chi Cheng frowned at Xie Songchen. The tension between them was palpable. Both turned to Chu Mo, waiting for him to choose.

Without hesitation, Chu Mo reached for the document from Xie Songchen, ignoring Chi Cheng.

Chi Cheng stiffened, his expression darkening.

Xie Songchen stepped closer, standing beside Chu Mo as he began explaining the document’s contents.

“Chu Mo.”

Chi Cheng couldn’t help but interrupt, his voice cold.

Chu Mo paused, looking at Chi Cheng. “I’m busy right now. If you have something to say, just say it.”

Investing in Chi Cheng’s project had already been an unexpected deviation from the plot. And it was Chi Cheng himself who’d caused it. Outside of the storyline, Chu Mo didn’t want any further involvement with him.

Chi Cheng hadn’t expected to be met with such indifference after coming all this way. “Why can’t we talk alone?” he asked bluntly. “I’m right here in front of you.”

There was a hint of grievance in his tone.

Xie Songchen raised an eyebrow, his voice mocking. “Young Master Chi, I’ve told you—appointments are required to see President Chu.”

Chu Mo didn’t even lift his eyes. “Unless it’s necessary, please don’t appear in front of me.”

He was wary of any more plot deviations.

Chi Cheng’s fingers clenched into fists. He’d thought that becoming Chu Mo’s partner would change everything. At the very least, he wouldn’t be treated like a troublesome kid anymore. But it seemed nothing had changed. Chu Mo’s attitude was the same as before.

Disappointment flashed in Chi Cheng’s eyes.

“Forget it,” he said, releasing his grip. His voice turned cold. “I have nothing to say to you.”

He hadn’t expected all his efforts to be in vain.

With that, Chi Cheng’s face darkened, and he left without looking back.

Chu Mo was baffled. Didn’t he say he had something to discuss? Why leave without saying anything?

After handling the document, Xie Songchen seemed in a good mood as he briefed Chu Mo on the upcoming schedule. “There are three meetings this afternoon, and tonight there’s a private dinner hosted by the CEO of XX Corporation…”

As a boss, Chu Mo had countless social engagements. Naturally, he had to attend such high-profile dinners. He immediately dove into a whirlwind of work. Fortunately, he was wearing a custom-tailored suit today, so he didn’t need to change for the evening event. Once work was done, he could head straight there.

Amidst the busy schedule, Chu Mo didn’t forget to discreetly dispose of the injector. He tossed it into a hidden trash bin far from the company, ensuring no one would find it. Afterward, he messaged Xu Yi, urging him to send the strong inhibitors quickly.

Upon hearing about Chu Mo’s situation, Xu Yi broke into a cold sweat. After work, he personally delivered the strong inhibitors to Chu Mo. Their meeting was somewhat comical—both were heavily disguised, meeting in an abandoned park.

“Is this batch effective?”

“Don’t worry, it works immediately after injection, and it’s affordable.”

“…” Chu Mo fell silent. After a moment, he said, “Feels like we’re dealing in something shady.”

Xu Yi said nothing for a while. Then he replied, “In a way, it is.”

He was referring to how Chu Mo had to secretly inject inhibitors.

“…Makes sense,” Chu Mo admitted.

He placed the strong inhibitors in his bag, zipped it up, and headed to the private dinner.

The dinner was a bustling affair, with prominent figures from H City in attendance. Chu Mo hadn’t expected to see Chi Cheng there. Chi Cheng stood in a corner, responding disinterestedly to those who approached him. When he spotted Chu Mo, he froze, then frowned and turned away. It seemed he didn’t want any interaction with Chu Mo.

Chi Cheng moved to a corner, sipping champagne in solitude. Yet his gaze kept drifting toward a certain someone. Alcohol didn’t ease his mood; it only made him more sullen.

Just then, a well-dressed middle-aged alpha approached Chi Cheng, smiling. “Young Master Chi, are you here alone?”

Chi Cheng suppressed his frustration, asking calmly, “What do you want?”

Lately, Chi Cheng had matured a lot, determined not to let Chu Mo look down on him. He’d learned to control his emotions.

The middle-aged alpha studied Chi Cheng thoughtfully, then suddenly asked, “Do you like President Chu?”

Chi Cheng was taken aback, quickly frowning in denial. “I’m an alpha.”

“Alphas can like alphas too,” the middle-aged alpha said with a knowing smile. “They just can’t match pheromones like AOs.”

Already in a bad mood, Chi Cheng grew even more irritated at the suggestion that he and Chu Mo couldn’t match. His expression turned colder. “None of your business.”

The middle-aged alpha wasn’t offended. He chuckled, saying, “There’s nothing wrong with liking an alpha, is there?”

Chi Cheng’s frown deepened.

The alpha lifted a bottle of champagne, offering to pour Chi Cheng a drink. Chi Cheng declined. “No need.”

He found the man strange.

“President Chu is indeed an exceptional alpha, but you know, the Chu family isn’t something ordinary people can aspire to,” the alpha said.

Chi Cheng’s face darkened. “What are you getting at?”

“Consider me,” the alpha suggested. “I may not be as exceptional as President Chu, but I’m an alpha too.”

With that, the alpha suddenly reached out, grabbing Chi Cheng’s hand that held the glass.

Chi Cheng’s hand jerked.

His expression changed instantly.

The next second, he punched the alpha in the face!

“Bang—”

The middle-aged alpha hadn’t expected such a reaction, stumbling back and falling to the ground.

The commotion drew everyone’s attention.

Chu Mo looked over, surprised—why had Chi Cheng suddenly hit someone?

Chi Cheng’s expression grew worse, his lips turning pale.

The middle-aged alpha, voice trembling, said, “Chi Cheng, you dare hit me…”

“Say one more word,” Chi Cheng said, flexing his fist, voice low, “and I’ll hit you again.”

The alpha fell silent, too scared to speak.

The host of the dinner quickly intervened to handle the situation. When asked why he’d hit the man, Chi Cheng remained silent. He slammed the glass onto the table and left the chaotic scene. His face clearly showed something was wrong.

Chu Mo stood not far away, bewildered by the scene. He considered following but hesitated, worried it might disrupt the plot. So he held back.

Nearby, a beta, watching with schadenfreude, said to Chu Mo, “President Chu, did you see that? Chi Cheng’s not right in the head.”

The beta was a university classmate of Chi Cheng’s. During school, he’d tried to cozy up to Chi Cheng but was rejected. Since then, he’d harbored resentment. After the Chi family’s decline, he often took pleasure in Chi Cheng’s misfortunes.

Chu Mo glanced at the beta, saying nothing. He was still puzzled—this scene wasn’t in the plot.

The beta continued, “President Chu, I heard you invested in Chi Cheng’s new company? I’d advise you to pull out early. That kid doesn’t seem like a serious businessman. I have some projects you might be interested in…”

As a rising star in H City, many sought Chu Mo’s investment. The beta, envious of Chi Cheng’s success in securing Chu Mo’s backing, tried to sow discord.

“My investment decisions are personal,” Chu Mo replied politely but distantly. “They have nothing to do with you.”

The beta was taken aback, momentarily speechless.

Unwilling to give up, he added, “President Chu, did you know? Chi Cheng started planning that project back in his freshman year. It’s been so long, it’s probably outdated by now.”

Chu Mo paused. Chi Cheng had been working on the project since his freshman year? That meant he’d been preparing for four years. The novel hadn’t mentioned that.

“He even said he was doing it to get your attention,” the beta said snidely. “Everyone knew he was jealous of you. Maybe he’s just trying to scam you with this project.”

Chu Mo was taken aback. Chi Cheng had prepared the project for him? That couldn’t be… But the beta was Chi Cheng’s classmate and didn’t seem to be lying.

Chu Mo fell into thought.

The beta continued to ramble, “And some of us even suspected Chi Cheng liked—”

“Enough.” Chu Mo cut him off, voice cold. “You had time to pitch your project, but you wasted it gossiping. Now you know why you can’t secure investments?”

The beta’s expression froze.

After speaking, Chu Mo looked in the direction Chi Cheng had left. He hadn’t known Chi Cheng had been preparing for so long. His feelings were complicated.

In the end, Chu Mo decided to check on Chi Cheng. As long as it didn’t affect Chi Cheng and Chu Yun’s storyline, the plot shouldn’t deviate too much.

With that thought, Chu Mo headed in the direction Chi Cheng had gone.

⸻

In the restroom, Chi Cheng splashed water on his face, droplets clinging to his handsome, pale cheeks. The nauseating feeling lingered, making him uncomfortable. He braced himself against the sink, body trembling slightly. Water dripped from his nose, falling with soft plinks.

The encounter with the middle-aged alpha had dredged up a terrifying childhood memory. It was a shadow that still loomed over Chi Cheng.

Back then, Chi Cheng was in elementary school. He insisted on walking to and from school alone, just to follow Chu Mo, even if it meant only seeing his back. One evening, as dusk fell, Chi Cheng didn’t encounter Chu Mo on his way home. He wanted to hurry back but was stopped by an alpha in his thirties. The alpha, with ill intentions, offered him candy and tried to touch him.

Chi Cheng had been terrified. He was just a kid, and though his report said he’d be an alpha, he couldn’t possibly fight off an adult alpha. The street was empty, and the alpha’s hand was clammy, sweaty, and reeked of something foul. Chi Cheng was so scared he nearly cried. He shouted for help, but the alpha clamped a hand over his mouth, the disgusting taste invading his senses.

Just as despair set in, there was a loud thud. Chu Mo, then a high school freshman, appeared like a hero, knocking the alpha out cold and saving Chi Cheng. The moment Chi Cheng saw Chu Mo in his school uniform, he burst into tears. Chu Mo awkwardly comforted him, holding him close. Afterward, Chu Mo called the police, who arrested the alpha. They even arranged for a counselor to help Chi Cheng, but it didn’t work.

The incident left Chi Cheng too scared to leave the house for a month. Since then, he’d developed a deep-seated fear of physical contact, especially with alphas. Because of this, Chi Cheng firmly believed he could never like Chu Mo, an alpha. He’d never be in an AA relationship.

Today, the middle-aged alpha’s harassment had triggered those buried memories. When the alpha grabbed his hand, Chi Cheng couldn’t help but recall the hand that had tried to molest him as a child. The thought made him retch, his eyes red with unshed tears.

He washed the spot the alpha had touched repeatedly. The cold water numbed his fingers, but he didn’t seem to notice.

Until Chu Mo appeared.

“What’s wrong, Young Master Chi?” Chu Mo asked, standing behind him, eyebrow raised in the mirror. “Who’s upset you this time?”

Chi Cheng froze. He hadn’t expected Chu Mo to be there. Quickly, he grabbed some paper towels, wiping his face. He tried to compose himself, not wanting to appear so disheveled.

“Didn’t you say you didn’t want to see me?” Chi Cheng said, jaw tight, voice defiant. “Why are you here?”

“As your partner,” Chu Mo said with a wry smile, “I should at least check if you’re mentally stable, shouldn’t I?”

“I’m perfectly fine,” Chi Cheng replied coldly. “You don’t need to pretend to care.”

Just then, his stomach churned again, and he dry-heaved, tears nearly spilling over.

Chu Mo frowned. “Don’t make yourself sick.”

Chi Cheng’s fingers tightened around the sink’s edge. Whether from stress or something else, his heart raced erratically, and he felt cold.

Seeing Chi Cheng’s pallor, Chu Mo worried something might really be wrong. He set aside his persona and patted Chi Cheng’s back. “If you need to throw up, just do it.”

Chi Cheng’s back stiffened. Then, surprise flickered in his eyes. Chu Mo was touching him. Normally, Chi Cheng avoided any physical contact with alphas. But now, he didn’t mind. He even found it comforting…

Could Chu Mo not be an alpha?

The thought flashed through Chi Cheng’s mind but was quickly dismissed as absurd.

He pressed his lips together, his tone softening. “…Why are you helping me?”

“We were neighbors once, and now we’re partners,” Chu Mo said evenly. “Even if I don’t want you with my brother, I wouldn’t let anything happen to you.”

Chi Cheng couldn’t believe Chu Mo would say that.

“Alright,” Chu Mo said, withdrawing his hand, face impassive. “Since you’ve hit someone, there’s no point staying at this dinner. Leave.”

Chi Cheng’s fingers still trembled, his lips pale. The stress response left him feeling cold all over.

Noticing something was off, Chu Mo asked, “What’s wrong?”

It was the second time Chi Cheng had felt cared for by Chu Mo. The first was when Chu Mo had saved him from the predator. Suddenly, a wave of emotion surged in Chi Cheng’s chest. Through the mirror, he looked at the man behind him.

Chi Cheng’s eyes were slightly red, droplets clinging to his lashes. Water dripped from his jaw, soaking his collar. He spoke, voice tinged with vulnerability:

“I’m cold.”

His voice was filled with a pitiful, almost pleading tone, like a large dog asking for a hug.

Chu Mo was taken aback. His Adam’s apple bobbed, about to speak when Chi Cheng rasped:

“Can you… lend me your jacket?”

At that moment, the usually proud Chi Cheng showed a rare hint of fragility. The last time Chu Mo had seen him like this was when he’d saved him from the predator, and Chi Cheng had cried.

Chu Mo stared at Chi Cheng for a few seconds. In the end, he couldn’t bring himself to refuse. He took off his custom-tailored suit jacket and draped it over Chi Cheng’s shoulders.

“Fifty thousand. If you dirty it, you pay.”

Chi Cheng hadn’t expected Chu Mo to actually help him.

“Get yourself together. Don’t let them see you like this,” Chu Mo said, his tone mild. “I’ll wait outside.”

Chi Cheng swallowed. When Chu Mo had placed the jacket on him, his stress response had eased significantly. But he still pretended to be unwell and nodded.

After Chu Mo left, Chi Cheng couldn’t help but stare at the jacket. He couldn’t believe he was wearing Chu Mo’s clothes. He dried his hands and gingerly touched the fabric. It was high-quality, well-fitted, and elegant—just like Chu Mo.

Chi Cheng treated it like his most cherished possession. He even slipped his hand into the jacket pocket, hoping to feel Chu Mo’s lingering warmth. But the pocket was cool. Disappointed, he withdrew his hand.

Just as he was about to leave the restroom, a faint, crisp scent of mint wafted into his nose. Chi Cheng paused. The scent was reminiscent of… Omega pheromones?!

He quickly searched for the source. Soon, he realized it was on his fingers. The hand he’d slipped into Chu Mo’s jacket pocket carried a distinct mint scent.

Chi Cheng’s heart skipped a beat, eyes widening. The pheromone concentration wasn’t enough to make a top alpha like him lose control, but it did make him pause. He was certain it was omega pheromones! And just a hint was enough to elicit a response from his body.

In biology class, he’d learned that the higher the compatibility between an alpha and omega, the more sensitive they were to each other’s pheromones. The signs indicated a high compatibility with this minty scent.

Chi Cheng stood frozen, as if struck by lightning. How could an alpha like Chu Mo have pheromones in his pocket that matched him so well?! Could it be Chu Yun’s? No, impossible. Pheromones dissipate quickly without proper storage. Half a day ago, Chu Mo had been at Xiangyang Entertainment, with no sign of Chu Yun.

Then—whose pheromones were they?