After Entering a Contract Marriage with a Disabled Alpha - Chapter 5

“Hahaha, this is killing me! They are actually saying you are old, crippled, and impotent!”

Jiang Yibai, Qin Shen’s close friend and a shareholder of the Qin Group, nearly doubled over with laughter.

Qin Shen’s hands did not stop typing on his keyboard. Without looking at Jiang Yibai, he replied, “That statement is not entirely wrong.”

“What? You really are impotent?!” Jiang Yibai laughed even more wantonly.

Qin Shen remained silent.

He released a tiny burst of his pheromones, and Jiang Yibai immediately begged for mercy. “Brother, I was wrong! Stop using your pheromones to pressure me all the time, okay?”

Qin Shen glanced at him and withdrew the overwhelming pressure.

“Do you want me to help you clear things up?” Jiang Yibai browsed through the gossip threads like a ferret scurrying through a melon patch.

Because Qin Shen had released the news of a potential marriage, the trending posts over the last two days were all about him. The forum was created by a group of idle wealthy heirs, and many were enthusiastically sharing whatever insider info they knew.

For example, a certain Mr. Wang, who had an image of a “good husband,” was secretly sponsoring a starlet. Or a certain rich kid who swore he would never betray his low-compatibility boyfriend, only to hook up with a 75 percent compatibility Omega shortly after.

Of course, the hottest topics were about Qin Shen. They said he disregarded family ties and sent his relatives to prison. They said his methods were ruthless; since taking over the Qin Group, he had doubled the total output and raised the conglomerate to unprecedented heights, forcing the entire Jiangcheng business circle to avoid his sharp edge.

There were even photos of Qin Shen from a few years ago in the threads. In the photos, his skin was cold and pale, his eyes deep, and his gaze toward the camera was aloof to the extreme. His appearance was flawless, especially those long, proud legs. Even in a group photo with business partners, he looked like a male model on a fashion magazine cover.

Qin Shen’s looks were top-tier. However, in recent years, since he had handed over external communications to his special assistant and his friend Jiang Yibai, he had stopped making public appearances. Consequently, rumors were spreading in the circle that he was disfigured.

“It is truly hilarious. Everyone on the forum is praying that they do not match with you.”

“Actually, it is not certain that anyone will match with you. After all, you are almost an S-grade. Rare things are precious.”

Alphas and Omegas could be categorized into several levels based on the concentration and strength of their pheromones. However, this grading system had been halted by the government over a decade ago because it exacerbated social discrimination.

As for why Jiang Yibai said this: first, wealthy families still tested pheromone levels privately. Second, ever since Qin Shen manifested in middle school, his pheromones had been terrifyingly dominant. Every time they had a pheromone confrontation, Jiang Yibai’s head would throb until he was the first to back down.

Qin Shen replied, “Let us see if there is an Omega who can match first.”

Jiang Yibai dropped his lazy expression and asked seriously, “But if a match really happens, will you actually listen to the Old Master and get married?”

As a friend, he knew Qin Shen had been troubled by pheromone disorder for a long time. Since Qin Shen’s legs were inconvenient, it would be better if someone could take care of him personally. But he knew Qin Shen. Qin Shen was a man of principle and would not enter a marriage of convenience just to solve those problems—even though love was currently a non-essential luxury for him. Compared to physical pain, the act of yielding and compromising would likely be even harder for him to accept.

“Not entirely,” Qin Shen paused, remembering his grandfather’s request at the hospital.

Old Master Qin’s health had been poor in recent years. He was rushed to the hospital after a sudden heart attack and, once out of danger, called Qin Shen to his bedside. He said that seeing Qin Shen like this, he truly could not die in peace. He spoke a long, heartfelt piece until Qin Shen finally relented.

“So?” Jiang Yibai asked. “What do you mean?”

Qin Shen said, “The medical research institute has made progress. If there really is a high-compatibility Omega, extracting their pheromones might help develop a drug to treat my condition.”

Jiang Yibai looked at him with a complex expression. “So, even if an Omega actually marries you, you will not touch them or mark them? It will just be for show?”

“Yes,” Qin Shen said. “As long as it puts Grandfather’s mind at ease.”

Jiang Yibai was speechless. After a long while, he managed to choke out: “Are you really an Alpha?”

Alphas were famous for having high needs in that department. During a rut, their desire for an Omega was explosive.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Qin Shen asked calmly.

Following that, he noticed his best friend looking down at his lap. Qin Shen knit his brows tightly.

Jiang Yibai ran up to him with a face of mock sorrow. “A-Shen, even if you really are impotent, I will not look down on you or despise you. You will always be my best brother.”

The air froze. Qin Shen struck him a few times and suppressed him with pheromones until the wailing Jiang Yibai was finally let go.

“68 percent?!” “How is that possible?!”

Inside Deep Blue Bar, Lin Shuxing stared at the compatibility results sent by the hospital. He gripped his phone, his expression extremely unsightly.

Tonight was Qin Fen’s birthday. He was celebrating with several friends, and they were drinking happily until this result hit him like a bucket of cold water. The music in the private room was paused. Those sitting on the sofa looked at each other, not daring to say a word.

“Shuxing, is your compatibility with Qin Shen really 68 percent?”

“No way. The highest I saw in the group chat was only 52.”

“Qin Shen is an S-grade Alpha. To match over 60 is already…”

Lin Shuxing also had not expected his compatibility with Qin Shen to pass the threshold. Usually, 75 percent or higher was considered high, but because of Qin Shen’s high pheromone grade, reaching 68 percent was already a rare find.

Qin Fen, sitting next to him, also looked uneasy. If Lin Shuxing were still the favored young master of the Lin family, there might have been a way out. He had even planned to find a time to confess his feelings tonight.

“What do we do now?”

“Actually, marrying Qin Shen might not be that terrifying. The Qin family is very wealthy.”

“Right, their market value is many times that of Lingfeng Appliances.”

“But I heard Qin Shen is no good…”

“Qin Fen, what is the situation with your uncle, Qin Shen, anyway?” someone asked curiously. “Is everything on the forum true?”

Qin Fen paused. In the dim light, he clearly saw the fear and a tiny spark of hope in Lin Shuxing’s eyes. Although he was related to the Qin family, he was from a side branch. His family background could not compare to the Lins. He used to feel a bit inferior when facing Lin Shuxing. He thought that once Lin Shuxing was no longer the “True Young Master,” his pursuit of him would be simple, but then this happened.

“Yeah, Qin Fen, what kind of person is your uncle?” Lin Shuxing knew very well that Lin Yifeng would definitely send him for the marriage. Luo Meihua pampered him, but he was not her biological son. Now he could only pin his hopes on the idea that Qin Shen was not as bad as the rumors claimed.

Lin Shuxing had seen photos of Qin Shen from a few years ago. He looked cold and noble, with every gesture exuding elegance. If Qin Shen was only crippled in the legs or impotent, then as long as he did not have strange fetishes, Lin Shuxing could enjoy endless wealth and endure the man’s flaws.

The more he thought about it, the more hope he held. Qin Fen saw the light in his eyes and his heart sank.

“Him…” Qin Fen swallowed hard. Under the eager, gossiping gazes of the wealthy heirs, he stammered, “He… he is not doing so well. During his last rut, he really hurt someone badly. And, well, that area seems to have been affected too. Xiaoxing, it is better if you do not have any expectations.”

Qin Fen’s tone became firm. Lin Shuxing’s phone vibrated.

[Dad: Your compatibility results are out. You are currently the highest. Come home early tonight. I need to talk to you about the marriage with the Qin family.]

Lin Shuxing’s face darkened immediately. The wealthy heirs exclaimed:

“Holy crap! I didn’t expect the internet rumors to be true!” “Qin Shen really is old, crippled, and a pervert?!”

The door to the private room was pushed open. Pei Yu entered carrying several bottles of wine, following behind a colleague, just in time to hear this piece of gossip. He and his colleague greeted the guests and began pouring the wine, intending to leave afterward.

“Wait. Did I say you could leave?” Thinking of his ruined dreams of a perfect marriage, Lin Shuxing had a stomach full of rage with nowhere to vent. The others in the room looked at each other. Qin Fen was still feeling uneasy about badmouthing his uncle.

Pei Yu and his colleague shared a confused glance before walking over to Lin Shuxing. Lin Shuxing pushed a wine glass toward Pei Yu.

“I forgot to introduce you all. This is my brother.”

Everyone’s gaze fixed on Pei Yu. He knit his brows, wondering what trouble Lin Shuxing was going to cause this time.

“You have worked at Deep Blue for so long, yet you have never tasted the signature wine here. Why don’t you try these few glasses?”

Several types of wine were set on the table. Pei Yu’s long eyelashes lowered. He had a low tolerance for alcohol. Having rarely drunk before, he knew that mixing different types of alcohol was the easiest way to get drunk and was terrible for the stomach.

The colleague did not know how to handle this sudden situation. The others knew Lin Shuxing was in a bad mood and did not care to intervene; after all, he was just a minor waiter.

“What is this? A guest offers you a few drinks and you will not even show them respect? Do you want me to call your manager?” Lin Shuxing mocked.

Pei Yu was silent for a few seconds. “The employee handbook states that we can refuse to drink with guests.”

“What are you talking about? This bar belongs to my uncle. You have to do whatever I say.”

As soon as Qin Fen finished speaking, his eyes met a pair of clear, spirited eyes. For some reason, he suddenly felt a bit guilty.

Glass after glass of alcohol went down. The wine stained the youth’s lips red. Although some wine spilled down his throat and onto his chest, within minutes, Pei Yu could no longer withstand the alcohol. His cheeks were flushed, and his gaze gradually became scattered. The voices in his ears blurred as laughter and noise intertwined.

Having noticed an employee had not returned to their post for a long time, the manager on duty came looking for him. Just as he pushed open the door, Qin Yiyang, who was hanging out with classmates in the next room, came out to use the restroom. Passing by, he glanced inside and stopped in his tracks.

“Is that not the person from the hospital?” Qin Yiyang watched the youth who was drinking for a few seconds. Despite the urge to pee, he ran straight to the bathroom. When he returned, the manager was just coming out. Qin Yiyang asked what was going on out of curiosity.

He found out that Qin Fen and Lin Shuxing were inside. “Did that waiter offend them?” Qin Yiyang asked.

The manager hesitated for two seconds before explaining truthfully, “Little Pei is actually the young master the Lin family just found. Lin Shuxing and him…”

Qin Yiyang understood instantly and found it amusing. “So they are making things difficult for him to get revenge?”

The manager wiped away a bead of sweat. “This is a difficult situation. Young Master Lin said he would be careful and only asked Little Pei to have a few drinks.”

“What a disgusting habit,” Qin Yiyang grumbled. “Well, stand here and keep an eye out. Do not let anything major happen, or it will be another headache for my brother.”

When he returned to his room, he casually told his brother about it.

“Turns out the person you crashed into at the hospital is the Lin family’s real young master. He is being bullied by Lin Shuxing and Qin Fen right now.”

“So, did you take him out of there?” Qin Shen put down his fountain pen, looked out at the ink-black night, and pinched the bridge of his nose.

Qin Yiyang was confused. “No.” This was family business; it was not easy for outsiders to interfere.

“Then what are you still standing there for?” Qin Shen’s tone was slightly sharp.

Qin Yiyang was stunned. “Huh?”

Qin Shen urged, “Go get him out of there immediately.”

Qin Yiyang paused. “Oh, right! Brother, I will go right now.”

After hanging up, Qin Yiyang was still a bit dazed. Since when did my brother become such a busybody?

Qin Shen continued to look through a proposal. A minute passed, and his gaze remained on the same page. After a few more seconds, he simply put down the document and sent a message to his assistant.

[Make arrangements. I am going to Deep Blue.]

Late at night, the city lights were brilliant. A luxury black car merged into the flowing traffic. Inside the car, the assistant turned toward the back seat. “President Qin, are you going to check the revenue accounts for Deep Blue? Do you need me to notify them in advance to prepare?”

“No,” a low, sexy voice echoed in the car.

Qin Shen’s cold, sculptural profile was vaguely reflected in the window. “I am just going to see a kid.”

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