Pregnant with the Empress’s Alpha Heir - Chapter 10

After settling the job matter, Yu Zhitao began worrying about accommodation.

The bar was named “Van & Dream,” located in the heart of a famously affluent district in the upper city. Land here was worth its weight in gold, and the rent for nearby properties was jaw-droppingly high.

Fortunately, Yu Zhitao was experienced. She followed the nearby transit lines and, after two days of searching, finally secured an apartment on the outskirts of the upper city.

The monthly rent was just over ten thousand, but the soundproofing was excellent, and reaching the bar via public transport didn’t require any transfers.

After retrieving the kitten, she and Ah Jiu signed a two-month lease with the landlord.

The apartment came with a mid-tier robot, and with its help, they quickly unpacked their belongings.

By evening, the two had a quick meal of nutrient drinks. Before heading out, Yu Zhitao turned to Ah Jiu and asked, “Ah Jiu, are you still coming with me?”

Ah Jiu was putting on her shoes and looked up at her. “Is there a problem?”

Yu Zhitao shook her head. “No. I just mean I can handle the job on my own. If you don’t have anything else to do, you could rest at home or keep Xiao Jiu company.”

Though they lived together, Ah Jiu’s constant shadowing made Yu Zhitao feel as if she had a personal bodyguard, an unfamiliar luxury for someone who wasn’t truly a noble lady.

Ah Jiu thought for a moment, then finished tying her laces. “No need. Let’s go.”

Seeing her insistence, Yu Zhitao didn’t press further, and the two left together.

Public rental vehicles were cheap, and about an hour later, they arrived at the bar.

Yu Zhitao went to the backstage to prepare, while Ah Jiu found a random seat in the bar to wait.

Perhaps aware that she was Yu Zhitao’s friend, the bartender brought her a glass of sake to help her blend into the bar’s tipsy atmosphere.

Ah Jiu toyed with the uniquely shaped glass, but her mind wasn’t on the drink.

She retreated into the shadows, quietly observing the bar’s patrons.

Kui Meng wasn’t present today, but in the spacious bar, Ah Jiu spotted a few familiar faces.

One of them was Shu Da, the girl who had visited the backstage the previous night. She sat alone in a booth, excitedly watching the performance on stage.

Meanwhile, in a booth diagonally across, two well-dressed Alphas were confirming the evening’s performance arrangements with a server.

Ah Jiu’s gaze darkened slightly.

About thirty minutes later, the electronic band on stage bowed and exited, and Yu Zhitao took their place.

This time, Ah Jiu wasn’t there to assist, but the bar staff already knew how to help. Soon, the small stage was set up with a guqin table, chairs, and some white gauze, looking far more polished than the day before.

Yu Zhitao had only been at the bar for a couple of days, and some customers unfamiliar with her performance began murmuring at the sight.

But as soon as she plucked the strings, the room fell silent.

Even after hearing it many times, Ah Jiu still found the guqin’s melody strangely soothing, like a faint tremor from deep within her genes.

Just as she was lost in the music, she noticed one of the suited men she’d been observing get up to take a call.

Ah Jiu steadied herself, set down her glass, and quietly followed.

The man chose a secluded hallway near the restrooms, covering his mouth as he spoke in a hushed tone.

“Yes, we’ve already investigated. The young lady has signed a contract with the Van & Dream Bar to perform here regularly. As per your instructions, I approached the bar’s management yesterday, but they said they wouldn’t fire an employee without cause.”

“We’re still looking into the bar’s background, but haven’t made any progress yet.”

“…Understood.”

After hurriedly finishing the call, he hung up and returned to the booth.

Throughout this, he never noticed Ah Jiu hidden in the blind spot of the corridor.

“Someone from the Yu family?” Ah Jiu let out a sigh of relief. “Well, it makes sense. After all, she’s the family’s young lady. With something like this happening, Yu Sheng wouldn’t just let her run wild outside.”

“But…” she frowned in confusion. “What exactly is Yu Sheng trying to do?”

“Did he threaten the bar’s management to fire Yu Zhitao? Is he trying to push her into a corner, forcing her to return home?”

At this thought, her brow furrowed slightly. “Isn’t that going too far?”

Overthinking wouldn’t help, so she shook her head and returned to the bar booth.

She didn’t want to get involved in the Yu family’s affairs, but the fact remained that she still owed Yu Zhitao something.

Her only goal was to ensure Yu Zhitao remained unharmed before leaving the capital planet.

As for what came after, whether Yu Zhitao chose to return to the Yu family or make her own way in the world that was none of her concern.

The drink in her glass rippled as she swirled it, and the performance on stage finally drew to a close.

With the final note, Yu Zhitao rose from her seat and stepped to the center of the stage to bow in thanks.

Based on the previous two nights, applause would erupt as soon as she began her bow.

But this time, things took an unexpected turn.

Someone slammed a bottle onto the table and stood up in a rage.

The two men in suits, who had been sitting there all evening, began their act.

“What kind of garbage is this performance? Is this the trash Van & Dream serves its customers?”

“And they dare call themselves a high-end bar? They’ve dragged out some ancient relic from thousands of years ago. Are we here to relax or visit a museum?”

“Where’s the manager? Get this person off the stage now!”

The bartender reacted the fastest, moving to intervene. But the two men had already assumed aggressive stances, their Alpha pheromones radiating hostility. The bartender, not particularly strong to begin with, was immediately cowed and didn’t dare approach.

Similarly, others in the bar who might have spoken up sensed the men’s pheromones and quickly kept their heads down.

Yu Zhitao stood frozen on stage, staring blankly at the commotion.

Seizing the moment when no one was paying attention, Ah Jiu frowned and stepped onto the stage, escorting Yu Zhitao backstage.

The bar’s duty manager had already gone to mediate, leaving the place in chaos.

Ah Jiu had intended to take Yu Zhitao and leave immediately.

In an incident like this, the performer wasn’t at fault. It was the bar’s mismanagement, and they’d have to handle it themselves.

But then, she noticed Yu Zhitao trembling faintly.

“What’s wrong?” Ah Jiu asked.

Yu Zhitao bit her lip. “Ah Jiu was my playing really that bad?”

She was just an amateur, hardly skilled by modern standards.

She’d only gotten this job because no one else here played the guqin.

Never did they expect such an incident to occur less than a week after the performance began.

This filled Yu Zhitao with guilt, making her seriously doubt her own abilities.

Just as Ah Jiu was about to comfort her, a girl’s voice suddenly rang out from the audience.

“What nonsense are you spouting?! This is such a beautiful piece, if you can’t appreciate it, then get out!”

Yu Zhitao’s eyes widened in surprise.

She turned to Ah Jiu: “It’s Shu Da.”

Shu Da was an Omega who had been coming every night these past few days, arguably one of Yu Zhitao’s most devoted listeners.

Support Pregnant with the Empress’s Alpha Heir