After the Corporate Slave Beta and the Top Alpha Married - Chapter 23

When Ji Yu arrived at the company, his timing was perfect; the clock on the punch machine read exactly 8:59 AM.

As a “social animal” with two years of work experience, this was the first time he had ever rushed to work so… leisurely.

A private car with door-to-door service, and he could even slowly enjoy a delicious breakfast in the backseat. It was a stark contrast to his past, where he would squeeze onto the subway or light rail until he was flattened like a pancake, then sprint all the way to the office without even a moment to catch his breath.

A pity, really.

He was just an ordinary person; these things were destined not to belong to him. Still, it wasn’t bad to enjoy some “invisible perks” under the guise of work.

Ji Yu understood perfectly: if Shang Yuanzhou wanted everyone to believe the act, he had to be good to him on the surface, he had to appear considerate to an incredible, almost shocking degree. Ji Yu categorized these unwritten “benefits” as employee fringe benefits. He assumed President Shang wouldn’t care about such trifles, which was why he never bothered to mention them specifically.

Ji Yu kept his mindset steady. He didn’t intend to start working hard to please Shang Yuanzhou just because of these life-altering luxuries, nor did he plan to turn the fake into reality. He had said he wouldn’t be a nuisance, so he wouldn’t.

His goal remained clear from start to finish: finish the contract, take the money, sever ties with the Ji family, move abroad, and do what he actually wanted documenting animals in the wilderness and living out the rest of his life in freedom.

As Ji Yu walked into the office, he noticed his coworkers were all watching him with a mix of envy and surprise. He hadn’t been seated long before Jiang Yibai leaned over.

“Ji Yu, I heard you had your wedding yesterday. It was at the Wardpole Manor! I saw it on the news it looked so grand.”

Ji Yu froze. “The news?”

Jiang Yibai: “You didn’t see it?”

He leaned in closer, showing Ji Yu his phone. The main feature of the page was a photo: a tall, handsome man in a silver-white suit kneeling on one knee, piously placing a ring on the finger of the person standing before him.

Ji Yu was shown from the side, and the image was blurred enough that his face wasn’t clear, but anyone who knew him could recognize his silhouette. Not to mention the glaring headline: “SHOCK! President of Shang Group Weds at Manor; Partner Revealed to be Unknown Beta.”

A Beta, with a silhouette identical to Ji Yu’s. The people in the office who had previously sniped behind his back claiming he was just a temporary whim for Shang Yuanzhou were completely silenced by the overwhelming news coverage. Snide remarks were replaced by jealousy and a lingering fear that Ji Yu might remember their words and cause trouble.

Most of all, they were burning with curiosity. Everyone in the office couldn’t help but stare at him, unable to fathom what Shang Yuanzhou saw in him. He was ordinary, quiet at most, he was a bit pale. Even his “good figure,” his only real merit, was only impressive when compared to other Betas; Alphas usually preferred delicate, soft frames. Ji Yu was thin, but he had a layer of lean muscle proportional and strong. The lines of his exposed arms were long and hid a quiet strength. He could never be called “delicate.”

He was a perfect match for any Beta, but this was Shang Yuanzhou a top-tier Alpha. Even setting aside his net worth, Shang Yuanzhou was the elite of Alphas: 190 cm tall, with an inverted triangle physique. When he stood there without smiling, he looked like he had a layer of frost on his brow practically a walking personification of pheromones.

Furthermore, no adult misunderstood the weight of being the “Head of the Shang Family.” To achieve that at such a young age and then marry a Beta was a shock to everyone.

Even without counting, Ji Yu felt like he was being stared through. He knew what they were thinking, but he couldn’t exactly tell them the truth: The marriage is fake, and Shang Yuanzhou would never actually be interested in me.

So, while everyone held their breath and eavesdropped, he simply nodded. “Yes, I got married yesterday.”

Jiang Yibai’s eyes widened, waiting for details about the wedding, the guests, the atmosphere… but to his surprise, Ji Yu just turned around and started opening his computer to begin work.

That’s it?! He’s just… going to work?!!

Did this person really have nothing to say? Jiang Yibai knew Ji Yu was usually a man of few words, but did he have zero desire to show off something like this? What kind of person was he? What on earth did the magnificent President Shang see in him?

Jiang Yibai bit his lip, suppressing his resentment as he spoke: “Look at you, you didn’t even invite your colleagues to the wedding. Everyone cares about you, but you didn’t invite us. We don’t mind, but surely you’ve prepared some wedding candy for us?”

“Sorry,” Ji Yu apologized insincerely. “I didn’t prepare any.”

In the past, Jiang Yibai had often used his seniority and status as an Omega to dump work on Ji Yu, getting used to Ji Yu’s silent compliance. He felt superior to a Beta like Ji Yu, so the sudden news of Ji Yu marrying someone Jiang Yibai couldn’t even reach in his dreams stung his pride.

Seeing that Ji Yu’s attitude hadn’t changed, the words tumbled out before Jiang Yibai could think: “I suppose now that you’ve married President Shang, you look down on us.”

“Ji Yu, we all care about you. Even if… even if we aren’t rich or powerful and are just ordinary people, you shouldn’t act so high and mighty toward us.”

The rest of the office remained silent, but several people couldn’t help but nod in agreement.

Ji Yu’s hand on the mouse paused. Perhaps it was because he’d woken up too fast or was still sleepy, but the moment he entered the office, a bowl of “concentrated green tea” (manipulative drama) was being shoved down his throat. He really wasn’t a fan.

Usually, when Jiang Yibai dumped work on him, Ji Yu endured it because he was new and the other was an Omega. He considered it Jiang Yibai being lazy, which was the other man’s own business. But he couldn’t understand what Jiang Yibai stood to gain from coming over and baselessly accusing him of being “high and mighty.”

There were no Shang family members in this company; no one was monitoring his relationship with Shang Yuanzhou. Ji Yu hadn’t intended to “perform” out in the wild today.

But now…

He looked up at Jiang Yibai, his tone innocent: “Actually, I really wanted to invite everyone from the office to my wedding, but the invitation list was drafted by A-Zhou.”

Ji Yu gave a somewhat helpless smile. “A-Zhou said he was afraid I’d be too exhausted, so he handled those small details himself.”

“I didn’t realize he hadn’t invited everyone.” He glanced at Jiang Yibai. “I also didn’t expect you’d have such a big problem with it. Tell you what, I’ll let him know.”

Jiang Yibai’s face changed instantly, and he hurriedly tried to stop him. But Ji Yu had already turned to another quiet colleague to borrow their phone. He dialed a number, appearing a bit surprised when it connected, but since he’d come this far, he had to keep going.

“Hello? A-Zhou?”

“My colleague said he’s very angry that you didn’t invite him to our wedding.”

Ji Yu paused, feigning anger: “How could you do that? You really don’t respect my work at all.”

“You just want me to quit this job so I can do nothing but revolve around you all day? I won’t do it!”

“I don’t care my colleague is very upset. If I can’t get along with my coworkers, how can I work? You need to come over right now and apologize to him.”

Jiang Yibai was so terrified he nearly lunged for the phone but didn’t dare. He broke into a cold sweat and shouted, regardless of his image:

“President Shang! President Shang, I didn’t mean it that way! It’s a misunderstanding! Really! I like Ji Yu very much; there’s no way we wouldn’t get along!”

“Ji Yu, I’m sorry! Maybe I said something wrong just now please don’t let President Shang come over!”

Ji Yu looked at Jiang Yibai, appearing conflicted. “You’re not angry anymore? You’re not upset about the wedding candy?”

“I’m not angry! I was never angry! We’re thrilled you’re married! We should be the ones giving you gifts! Who asks for candy without even giving a blessing first?”

Jiang Yibai: “Please hang up the phone, I’m begging you, okay?”

So, this person actually does know it’s rude to demand candy while being snide and offering zero blessings.

Ji Yu looked away, no longer acknowledging him. He spoke into the phone with a perfect “acting” pout: “My colleague isn’t angry anymore, so I’ll forgive you this time.”

“If you neglect my things again, I’m really going to be mad.”

The call ended. The screen showed a phone number and a call duration of several minutes. Ji Yu pressed the screen off before anyone else could see, returned the phone to his colleague, and thanked them.

He hadn’t called Shang Yuanzhou at all; that number was his own phone number. Even if Jiang Yibai hadn’t begged, Ji Yu would have made an excuse that Shang Yuanzhou was in a meeting and couldn’t come, leaving Jiang Yibai to wait in fear. When Shang Yuanzhou came to pick him up after work, he’d purposefully invite Jiang Yibai along knowing Jiang Yibai’s personality, the man would surely flee. He didn’t need Shang Yuanzhou’s cooperation; he just needed Jiang Yibai to scare himself.

However, his actual phone should be in the hotel room. Who was holding it right now? A member of the hotel cleaning staff?

If so, he felt sorry for the person who had to listen to his skin-crawling performance of a “strong, independent Little White Flower pouting about her career.” The person on the other end hadn’t said a single word probably terrified by his sudden monologue.

The office went silent. Ji Yu didn’t care what the others thought, nor did he look back at the restless Jiang Yibai. If Jiang Yibai hadn’t tried to turn the entire office against him, Ji Yu wouldn’t have bothered with such a performance. Every time he acted, the “cringe” damage was collateral he felt a bit numb himself.

Work had to continue. As everyone settled in, the sound of rhythmic footsteps from the doorway made everyone look up instinctively.

The man walking in the lead had a tall, commanding figure. His custom suit accentuated his physique perfectly. His deep, narrow eyes were dark, his expression cold, and his red eyes were like blood. The group of people behind him were mere background noise.

“A-Zhou?” Ji Yu looked in shock at the man who had suddenly appeared in the office.

Shang Yuanzhou walked over, the “frost” on his brow seemingly melting instantly. He ruffled Ji Yu’s hair. “Don’t be angry. I care very much about your affairs.”

“I also respect your work very much.”

Ji Yu’s expression was slightly stiff. He truly hadn’t expected the timing to be so coincidental. He lowered his voice to whisper into Shang Yuanzhou’s ear: “You have my phone?”

Shang Yuanzhou whispered back, “The hotel staff delivered it this morning. My secretary gave it to me.”

To prevent others from hearing, the two were very close, their necks almost touching. Shang Yuanzhou’s hot breath brushed against the side of Ji Yu’s ear, making the sensitive “Little Fish” shrink back. A faint pink flush quickly crept up his soft earlobe.

But the man’s attention wasn’t on that. His gaze, heavy with a tangible greed, swept inch by inch over the fair nape of Ji Yu’s neck. The bite mark was there the mark he had personally left yesterday.

This person is mine.

This deep, un-faded mark did a great deal to soothe the irritation and anger Shang Yuanzhou had felt after seeing the messages on the phone. He hadn’t intentionally snooped though he desperately wanted to, he hadn’t used the opportunity to have someone bypass the lock screen.

He had an overwhelming desire to peer into Ji Yu’s life; he wanted to know everything the good, the bad, the minute details. This was an excellent chance. But how could a man who chased freedom allow someone to invade his privacy so boundlessly? Even if there was only a slight chance, he was afraid Ji Yu would hate him for it. Shang Yuanzhou had used immense self-control not to unlock the phone.

But a locked phone still lights up automatically when messages arrive. And after the messages, there was a call from an unknown number. Shang Yuanzhou had paused for a moment, then answered it.

And so, he had arrived at Ji Yu’s side.

The people following Shang Yuanzhou began distributing wedding candy exquisite gift boxes were placed in everyone’s hands.

“Oh my god, a single chocolate from this brand is insanely expensive!” “Is this that trendy dessert brand? I heard a small piece cost hundred.” “Ji Yu, thank you so much!” “Happy wedding, Ji Yu!”

Whether intentional or not, when the distribution was finished, Jiang Yibai was the only one with nothing in front of him.

Shang Yuanzhou handed the phone back to Ji Yu, his gaze sweeping over the room with a cold, temperature-less tone: “The invitation list for the wedding was set by me. If anyone has any dissatisfaction, please speak to me directly.”

He spoke slowly, emphasizing every word: “I will… sin-cere-ly… apologize to you.”

Every eye in the room landed on one person. Jiang Yibai forced a smile that looked worse than crying. “No, no dissatisfaction at all.”

“I was just… I was just wanting to give Ji Yu a gift! My phrasing might have been misunderstood. I’m giving it to him right now.”

While everyone else got high-end desserts for free, he had to give something away. Jiang Yibai’s regret was so deep it turned his stomach. He frantically pulled a boxed perfume from his bag and handed it to Ji Yu. “Ji Yu, you must accept this. It’s a token of my heart. I spent a long time picking it out specifically for you, really.”

Jiang Yibai’s heart bled at the cost. He’d wanted this perfume for a long time and had finally splurged on it, only to have to give it away because of one sentence. He never expected Shang Yuanzhou to actually show up in person just because of a phone call and a few complaints.

Jiang Yibai: “Ji Yu, please accept it. You’ve helped me so much; it’s only right that I give you a gift. How could I ever be dissatisfied?”

No matter how much it hurt his wallet, Jiang Yibai didn’t dare show even a hint of reluctance. Even though Shang Yuanzhou didn’t hold shares in this company, Jiang Yibai believed that without a single word, just a shift in attitude, the company would fire him without hesitation.

Shang Yuanzhou offered a slight smile, his eyes devoid of warmth. “As long as there’s no dissatisfaction.”

His hand rested halfway across the back of Ji Yu’s neck, his thumb lightly grazing the bite mark. To the onlookers, it was an undeniably intimate and suggestive gesture.

Shang Yuanzhou looked at Ji Yu, his voice tinged with a smile: “It was right of you to find your husband when you ran into trouble. I have business at the office, so I’ll be going now. I’ll pick you up after work.”

He had arrived quickly and left just as fast, appearing as if he had come solely for that one phone call.

After Shang Yuanzhou left, Ji Yu dealt with his colleagues in a daze, then secretly rested his forehead against the desk. The cool surface of the table felt good against his skin as he tried to cool his face down.

How does Shang Yuanzhou manage to say ‘husband’ with such a straight face?!!!