Alpha Predator

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)

֍֍֍

​​Shen Dai received a call from Shen Qin when he was about to get off work.
It was from his grandmother’s mobile phone.
He said that his grandmother was not feeling well today and was in the hospital now.
So Shen Dai hurried over.

Shen Qin knew that he was right.
And when he saw Shen Dai, he was a little embarrassed.

This was the first time the two met in more than a year.
But Shen Dai didn’t have time to deal with him so he went to see the doctor first.

The doctor said that the chemotherapy after the operation was effective at the beginning, but now new lesions have appeared.
After all, the old woman is already in her seventies and her health will only deteriorate.
In the future, surgery is not recommended.
Instead, she will be hospitalised for a period of time.
Treatment is based only on minimising her pain.

Although the doctor didn’t say it directly, everyone could understand what it meant.
Shen Dai felt very uncomfortable, but also very calm.
Since the day when his grandmother was diagnosed with gastric cancer, the treatment along these years has already prepared Shen Dai’s psychological foreshadowing.
He is ready to accept any ending at any time.

After communicating with the doctor about the treatment plan, Shen Dai and Shen Qin decided according to the information.

Shen Qin wiped away his tears silently: “Ah Dai, what should I do?”

“Just cooperate with the doctor.” Shen Dai quickly calculated in his mind how much it would cost and how to adjust the monthly expenditure ratio.
Now, he has to use his emergency reserve fund.
He doesn’t know how long his grandmother will stay in the hospital.
He can just sell the house.

“I’m really scared.
Your grandma has been getting worse and worse lately.”

“Grandma has been sick for many years.
This day will come sooner or later.” Shen Dai gave Shen Qin a cold look and turned away.
Sometimes when he sees other people’s fathers being kind and filial to their children, he envy and wonder at the same time, why other people’s fathers can support their children but he has a selfish, weak, greedy and stupid father.
Without Shen Qin, his grandmother and grandfather might not have gotten sick so early.
At the very least, his life should not have been like this.
He didn’t have to agree to a marriage agreement for money and he didn’t have to fall into the quagmire that he couldn’t get out of.

Shen Dai walked to the door of the ward and caught a glimpse of her grandmother lying on the bed looking weak.
He stood outside the door for more than ten seconds, not daring to enter.
He thought he was mentally prepared, but seeing his dearest relative moving towards parting step by step, this moment still made him feel sad.

Shen Qin said in a low voice, “There are six people in this ward.
The environment is too bad.
Let’s change to a single ward.”

“When the test results come out, let’s see how long this will last.” The single ward is more than three hundred yuan a day and it will cost tens of thousands a month.
If she really would be hospitalised for a long time, he can only sell the house.
But if the house is sold and the grandmother is discharged from the hospital, where can they live?

Shen Qin glanced at Shen Dai cautiously: “You have given birth to an alpha for the Qu family, this money…”

Shen Dai glared at Shen Qin fiercely: “How do you know?”

Shen Qin’s eyes flickered a little: “It wasn’t your grandma who told me.
I can guess it myself.
You disappeared for more than a year and this is the right time to have a baby…” He paused, “After I hired a nanny, at home, I turned on a nanny cam and saw you with the child.”

Shen Dai also knew that he couldn’t hide it from Shen Qin for a long time.
But he was still like a cat with fried fur, whole-heartedly guarding against Shen Qin if he might come to harm his child.

“Ah Dai, when you have a child, you can understand the difficulties of your father back then.”

Shen Dai looked at Shen Qin indifferently: “I did make the same choice as you did back then, but our goals are different.
I will never take my child to the door to ask for money and when someone kicks me out, I won’t tell my child that he should not have been born.”

Shen Qin’s face turned pale in an instant and he became angry for a moment: “Do you really think you are better than me? You give birth to this child and do nothing for it? If that’s the case, then you are stupider than me!”

Shen Dai’s eyes turned red with anger.

The nurse came in with the medicine and scolded: “What’s with being noisy? This is the hospital!”

Shen Dai stopped looking at Shen Qin.
He entered the ward and walked to his grandmother’s bed.

His grandmother had fallen asleep.
He held his grandmother’s hand and was silent for a long time.

After a long while, Shen Qin said in a low voice, “Anyway, your grandmother’s illness is more important.
I… I don’t have much money.
I went on a trip some time ago and I also bought some things.
I can pay a little for the basic expenses of the family.
For treatment is…”

There were people walking and talking in the ward from time to time.
The old person in the next bed was whimpering uncomfortably.
Shen Dai took a deep breath and said tiredly, “Let’s change the ward.
To a double room first.”

***

On the way back, Shen Dai felt a little weak.
He took out the nutrient solution from his bag and drank a tube.

In order to empty the reproductive cavity before the estrus period, there will be no appetite for about a week.
So he can only eat and drink a small amount, with supplements, to maintain the basic consumption of the body.
In this case, it is no problem to go to work normally.
It is nothing more than poor mental and physical fitness.
If he encounters something that makes him anxious, it will exacerbate this feeling of weakness.

Thinking of all the pressures he faced, Shen Dai felt breathless.
Regarding the coming estrus period, he has temporarily arranged for it.
In those two days, he intends to take Qiuqiu to leave the Qu’s house on the grounds of visiting his grandmother.
He will spend this estrus period at Cheng Zimei’s house.
Cheng Zimei had to go to work, attend the academic exchange meeting, and have to give speeches plus receptions.
She must leave early and return late.
Xiao Die will come to take care of him and Qiuqiu.

However, his grandmother was hospitalised today and he had another headache.
This estrus period would come at an extremely untimely time, which made him feel devastated.

When he got back to Qu’s house, it was past nine o’clock.
During that time, Qu Moyu called as if waiting for him.
He only told him that he went to see his grandmother.

Seeing him, Qu Moyu stood up: “You came back so late.
Have you eaten yet?”

“I have eaten.”

“Qiuqiu has been crying and looking for you.” Qu Moyu used the next sentence to stop Shen Dai, who was in a hurry to go upstairs, “He’s asleep now.
Don’t go to him.”

Shen Dai lowered his head wearily.

“You look tired.” Qu Moyu walked up to Shen Dai and touched his head, “What’s the matter? Is grandma okay?”

Shen Dai nodded, not wanting to say more: “I’m going to rest.”

Shen Dai wanted to see Qiuqiu, but was afraid of waking the child.
So, he gave up.
He went back to his room, took a quick shower, and threw himself on the bed, not wanting to move at all.

Qu Moyu pushed open the door and came in.
He leaned on the head of the bed and looked at Shen Dai who had his back turned to him.
He wanted to take him into his arms, but he didn’t dare.
There’s nothing he can do.
He’s constantly approaching the limit of his endurance and just a little spark can set him on fire.

He adjusted his breathing evenly, suppressing the increasingly strong impulse: “How is grandma’s health recently?”

“She’s fine.” Shen Dai said softly.

“Is there anything you need to tell me?”

Shen Dai was silent for a while and said, “My grandma’s birthday is next week.
I want to take Qiuqiu back to stay with her for two days.
She misses Qiuqiu very much.”

Qu Moyu stared at the back of Shen Dai’s neck.
The scar on the glands are covered by the stubble.
His eyes became dark.
He said, “Okay.” There’s no telling of his emotions from his voice, “I will prepare a birthday gift for grandma.”

“No need.” Shen Dai turned around.
He realised that his reaction was a little big and immediately covered it up by saying calmly, “I don’t want my grandma to know about these things.
And I don’t want her to worry about me.”

“If she knows that you have an alpha to take care of you and your child, she won’t worry about you.”

Shen Dai whispered: “I will explain to her when I have a chance.
But not now.”

“……Ok.”

Shen Dai lay down again, still with his back to Qu Moyu.

Qu Moyu looked at an electronic invitation letter on his mobile phone: “Bai Xiangwan will come to the exchange meeting next week.” This academic exchange meeting is sponsored by the Rare Earth Association and is an important annual meeting in the industry.
Zhouhui was sponsored and he was naturally invited.

Shen Dai was silent.

“You should also go to the meeting.
But you are not allowed to see him in private.” Qu Moyu said in an orderly tone, “Whether you want to invite each other to dinner, participate in a dinner party, or if he says he wants to see Qiuqiu, they are not allowed.”

Shen Dai gritted his teeth.

“Qiuqiu’s acceptance of me is getting better and better.
Soon, he will no longer need Bai Xiangwan’s pheromone.
I’m not trying to limit your social freedom.
But for an alpha, the relationship between you and Qiuqiu with Bai Xiangwan is intolerable.
You should learn to avoid suspicion.” Qu Moyu leaned over and kissed Shen Dai’s glands, “Good boy, promise me.” His tone was gentle.
But if he listened deeply, there’s a hint of coldness in it.

“Understood.” Shen Dai said in a deep voice.

***

Bai Xiangwan and Xiao Die arrived in the capital on Wednesday.
The exchange meeting will last for five to six days.
Shen Dai originally wanted to invite them to dinner on Thursday, but considering that there was no one to take care of Qiuqiu, he finally decided to eat at Cheng Zimei’s house.

At the same time, he has to make some time to go to the hospital to see his grandmother.

On Thursday morning, Shen Dai put all the things that he needed during the estrus period into Qiuqiu’s bag.
He took a leave of absence and calculated the time, but if the estrus period does not come as expected, he will be in trouble.
He needed a new excuse to explain to Qu Moyu why he didn’t go back to Qu’s house.

But now there is no better plan.
He could confess after the fact.
It is better than being caught by Qu Moyu at his most vulnerable moment.

Qu Moyu asked Lao Wu to take them there.
He couldn’t refuse, so he could only go home with Qiuqiu first and then take a taxi to Cheng Zimei’s house after Lao Wu left.

The last time he stayed at Cheng Zimei’s house, he took a spare key with him.
After entering the house, he settled Qiuqiu first.
He bought vegetables and wine through his mobile phone and counted his inhibitors and nutrient solutions while waiting for the takeaway.

Suddenly, he felt his heart beat faster and his legs were weak.
A layer of sweat appeared on his body immediately.
This feeling came and went by quickly, but it still shocked him.
It means that the estrus period is approaching and it may be one or two days earlier.
When the strong fluctuations of this hormone become more and more frequent, it is time to take the inhibitor.
According to his past experience, it is likely to be tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow at the latest.

֍֍֍

Next update: 2022.08.05

֍֍֍

*Translator’s note: Pardon any mistakes.
I didn’t have the time to proofread this.
-K