Her Alpha - Chapter 4
In the CEO’s office of Chilian Group, Xiao Xi looked at Chi Qingwei, who was leisurely spinning a pen in her chair, still feeling a bit puzzled by her decision.
“Boss Chi, why did you agree to collaborate with Future Tech? Among the available options, they aren’t the best, are they?”
Hearing this, Chi Qingwei glanced up at her and replied with a smile, “But they’re the most interesting, aren’t they?”
A xianxia-themed project, this was a genre that had never been explored before. The theme alone was a standout feature. If paired with an engaging storyline and skillful direction, it was clearly a project poised for success, not to mention the inherent traffic the IP would bring.
If leveraged well, this wave of popularity could even save a significant amount on marketing expenses.
As a businessperson, it was only natural to choose the option with the highest cost-effectiveness.
Moreover, that person was quite intriguing.
Chi Qingwei chuckled softly. She had heard of Shen Zuofeng long before but had only met her in person recently. As a rising star in Huaicheng, Shen Zuofeng had much more to offer than just this IP. If their collaboration went smoothly, she could very well become a long-term partner.
Xiao Xi blinked in confusion. Boss Chi hadn’t said much, so why did she notice the minty scent in the air growing slightly stronger?
As if time had rewound, Shen Zuofeng once again stood at the entrance of Chilian Tower, the only difference being that Ning Wenjing had been replaced by the expressionless Chief Steward Cai.
“President Shen, you’re here. Boss Chi asked me to escort you to her office,” a woman in professional attire, wearing three-centimeter thick-heeled shoes, approached them with a polite smile and led the way.
“Thank you, we appreciate it,” Shen Zuofeng nodded slightly and followed her.
They took the elevator to the 25th floor, where Chilian Media was located. The woman stopped in front of a light gray door, knocked, and said, “Boss Chi, President Shen is here.”
“Please come in,” a clear, pleasant voice sounded from inside.
The woman guiding them wore a perfectly measured smile as she opened the door and invited Shen Zuofeng in. Cai Meilin followed her to another area to wait.
“Miss Shen,” Chi Qingwei greeted with a light smile as she stood up.
Shen Zuofeng shook her hand gently and said, “Boss Chi, it’s good to see you again.”
“I believe we’ll be seeing each other even more frequently in the future,” Chi Qingwei’s dark, captivating eyes seemed to draw one in. She invited Shen Zuofeng to sit on the sofa, and soon, hot tea was served. The faint steam rising from the cups brought a touch of warmth to the slightly chilly autumn air, softening the expressions of those present.
Upon entering, Shen Zuofeng had taken a quick glance around Chi Qingwei’s office. The expansive floor-to-ceiling windows made the room exceptionally bright, and the light gray decor gave it a clean, crisp feel, making it a comfortable space to be in.
“Miss Shen, in my opinion, the adapted storyline is the core of the project. Whether a drama is compelling or not depends largely on whether the plot can carry it. I’d like to know how you plan to collaborate with our scriptwriters in this regard.”
Chi Qingwei wore a light gray blazer over a white shirt, accentuating her exceptional figure especially her swan-like neck, which lent her the aura of an elegant and noble queen.
Shen Zuofeng had clearly anticipated her question and replied with a smile, “We plan to have our development team sit down with your company’s screenwriters to first discuss the general direction of the plot. After that, we’ll refine and polish it into a solid script.”
By having both sides collaborate in discussions, they could avoid situations where screenwriters, lacking sufficient understanding of the actual storyline, might drastically alter it. Moreover, working closely with the screenwriters would enhance the story’s appeal to the audience. After all, when it came to capturing what viewers wanted, the development team couldn’t match the screenwriters’ sharp instincts.
Chi Qingwei nodded, and after thoroughly discussing other issues with Shen Zuofeng, her expression finally relaxed.
She found conversing with Shen Zuofeng surprisingly pleasant. More often than not, their opinions aligned, giving her a sense of regret that they hadn’t met sooner.
Shen Zuofeng had arrived at three o’clock, and by the time their discussion concluded, it was nearly six. Outside, the sky had darkened, and night was about to fall.
Glancing at the neon lights gradually illuminating the cityscape, Shen Zuofeng nervously clenched the fabric of her trousers and asked, “Time has slipped by so quickly. May I have the honor of inviting you to dinner?”
Chi Qingwei observed her slightly flustered demeanor and couldn’t help but wonder, Is this person really an alpha?
“Do you act like this when pursuing other omegas?” Chi Qingwei asked, somewhat amused.
Shen Zuofeng was taken aback. Meeting those dark eyes, she immediately shook her head. “I’ve never pursued anyone before.”
“Oh?”
Chi Qingwei looked up at Shen Zuofeng her delicate features and flawless skin. If not for her scent, one might mistake her for an omega. Yet she was unmistakably an alpha. Logically, such an alpha should be quite popular.
In this world, the existence of secondary genders and pheromones had introduced too many instincts. Alphas experienced rut cycles, omegas went into heat, and during these times, humans were almost like animals, driven by primal urges. They would intensely crave the comfort of an alpha or omega. As a result, most people couldn’t endure such periods alone and would find partners early on to help them through these challenging phases.
“So, if I’m not mistaken, you’re pursuing me, aren’t you?” Chi Qingwei took a sip of tea, watching as the woman across from her gradually blushed. A faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips, hidden behind the teacup.
“Ah, yes, that’s right.” Shen Zuofeng lowered her head. This was her first time pursuing someone, and to have her intentions laid bare so directly. Based on the usual drama tropes, this was likely a prelude to rejection.
After all, a decent person wouldn’t string someone along if they had no interest, it would only waste the other’s time. In such situations, it was best to clarify and decline outright.
At this thought, Shen Zuofeng’s heart suddenly felt a bit cold. Her first crush had ended in a crushing defeat, how utterly tragic.
“Then, may I ask what it is about me that caught your eye?” Chi Qingwei asked, perfectly composed.
Those who wanted to pursue her were as numerous as fish in the river. Some were drawn to her family background, others to her status as a top-tier omega, and even more were captivated by her appearance. She wanted to know which of these qualities had attracted Shen Zuofeng. Would she answer honestly?
Shen Zuofeng frowned, somewhat taken aback by the question.
What had drawn her to Chi Qingwei?
To be honest, Shen Zuofeng couldn’t quite put it into words.
If it were about her looks or her status as a top-tier omega, Shen Zuofeng had seen photos of Chi Qingwei before meeting her in person, but they hadn’t stirred any feelings in her. As for the omega status, she didn’t consider it an advantage at all. If she liked someone, it would never be because they were an omega or because of pheromone attraction. It had to be a genuine affection for the person themselves.
As for family background, that was even more unlikely. Those were things Chi Qingwei was born with, what right did she have to covet what belonged to others?
“Is it that hard to answer?” Chi Qingwei asked, her eyes sparkling with even more amusement as she watched the silent Shen Zuofeng.
She was like a cat toying with a little mouse.
Feeling a bit dejected, Shen Zuofeng turned her head away, as if giving up on herself, and said, “I can’t really explain it clearly. All I know is that the moment I saw you, my heart started racing. But people say that love at first sight is just being captivated by looks, so you can just assume I was drawn to your beauty.”
Chi Qingwei’s eyes widened slightly as she looked at Shen Zuofeng, who had turned away but whose ears were unusually red. For a moment, she was at a loss for words.
This person’s straightforwardness left no room for pretense.
“Pfft!” After a long pause, Chi Qingwei chuckled softly. Watching Shen Zuofeng, who was still clearly embarrassed, she said with a smile, “What are you still standing there for? Didn’t you say you were going to treat me to dinner? Let’s go.”
Shen Zuofeng was taken aback for a moment, then quickly turned back to look at the woman whose face still held a gentle smile. Her eyes curved, and she broke into a full-blown grin.
“Then, this time, can I have your contact information?”
Chi Qingwei raised an eyebrow and said, “I think, with Miss Shen’s capabilities, getting my contact information wouldn’t be difficult at all.”
Although her information was confidential, something as simple as contact details would be easy for Shen Zuofeng to obtain.
Shen Zuofeng shook her head seriously. “Since I want to pursue you, I will naturally show you the utmost respect. If I were to investigate privately and obtain your contact information without your consent, that would go against your wishes. But if you agree, then that’s a different matter.”
“Then go ahead and look it up. I agree,” Chi Qingwei said, standing up and picking up her coat. “Aren’t we leaving?”
“Let’s go!” Shen Zuofeng laughed, inwardly giving Cai Meilin a thumbs-up. She would have to reward her properly when she got back.
But how did Director Cai know so much about these things?
Since it was a private dinner, neither of them brought their assistants. Shen Zuofeng had told Cai Meilin to head straight home after work, and she drove Chi Qingwei to the restaurant Cai Meilin had preselected.
The restaurant chosen by Cai Meilin had a tranquil atmosphere, with ample distance between each booth, ensuring that their conversation would remain private without any worry of being overheard.
Once they were seated, Shen Zuofeng glanced around the surroundings and once again silently praised Manager Cai in his heart. The success of today’s arrangement was largely thanks to Manager Cai’s efforts!
“Hello, here are the menus. Please take a look and let me know what you’d like to order,” the restaurant server approached to assist.
Shen Zuofeng opened the menu in front of him, but his ears were focused on the movements from Chi Qingwei’s side.
He wanted to get a sense of her taste preferences.