She doesn’t want to pretend to be an Omega either! - Chapter 19

The report was sitting in Zhu Shen’s inbox, and his subordinates had even provided him with a hard copy, but it wasn’t the kind of thing he could easily carry around at a formal event like this.

As a result, the best he could do right now was pull out his phone, scroll through his files, zoom in, and shove it in Wen Mo’s face. He couldn’t exactly throw the physical document at her.

It wasn’t nearly as satisfying.

An Alpha, having the audacity to act like a delicate Omega right in front of him, not only attempting to fool him but successfully deceiving Yin Qingyue as well.

Yin Qingyue had actually defended her. She saw Wen Mo as a poor Omega friend who was forced to pose as an Alpha to stay strong, a girl who was fragile at heart and only showed her “true self” to Yin Qingyue because she had shared her secret.

Yin Qingyue was pure and kind. Because Wen Mo had “shared a secret” with her, that sense of exclusivity made her exceptionally tolerant, to the point where she could overlook all the harm Wen Mo had caused her in the past.

If Yin Qingyue ever learned the truth, she would undoubtedly be devastated.

This was precisely why Zhu Shen hadn’t sent the truth to Yin Qingyue immediately. She didn’t need to know she had been played, at least not while her friendship with Wen Mo was at its peak. He just needed to make sure Wen Mo behaved herself and, ideally, stayed away from Yin Qingyue. Once their contact naturally faded over time, he would tell her the truth. It would be easier for her to swallow then.

Zhu Shen hadn’t come today with the intention of doing anything drastic to Wen Mo. Since he hadn’t brought the physical files, she was essentially lucky.

However, just because he couldn’t “hammer” her with the evidence didn’t mean he couldn’t find a little amusement for himself. Wen Mo had been trying to trick him; even if she hadn’t succeeded, the intent was there. He was simply going to claw back a little satisfaction through words.

Insulting her by saying she looked like an Omega, calling her another Alpha’s mate.

To be honest, any self-respecting Alpha would find those remarks intolerable.

Wen Mo did indeed look nervous, but Zhu Shen suspected it was just another act. This girl was committed to the bit from beginning to end. If he didn’t have the ironclad evidence in his pocket, he might have been swayed by her acting once again.

Furthermore, she seemed to possess absolutely zero Alpha dignity. Even under his malicious teasing, she didn’t show a hint of humiliation. If she did, how could she keep up the performance so effortlessly?

Zhu Shen snorted inwardly. He was at a loss for now.

He had originally intended to let this eyesore of a girl leave with the Wei father and son, but the innocent look Wen Mo gave him as she turned to go snapped a nerve.

He couldn’t just let her off that easily.

You love acting, don’t you? Fine. Keep acting. Let’s see how long you can keep this up.

Wen Mo was forced to stay behind to entertain the guest.

Technically, it wasn’t her job since she wasn’t the host, but the “Young President Zhu” had spoken, could she really deny him the face? Mostly, she just didn’t want to make things difficult for Uncle Wei.

Uncle Wei and Wei Mingshu were loyal to a fault. The moment Zhu Shen made the request, Uncle Wei suggested, “How about Mingshu stays as well?”

Wen Mo could tell that after that brief, awkward conversation, Father Wei was desperate to escape. He also clearly didn’t want his son to keep lingering in Zhu Shen’s presence. Dealing with someone as temperamental as Zhu Shen was like walking on eggshells; you never knew when you might set him off. The risk was too high.

If Father Wei actually wanted his son to network with Zhu Shen, he wouldn’t have signaled for both juniors to leave with him earlier. His current suggestion was purely because he was worried about leaving Wen Mo alone with the man.

Hearing his father speak, Wei Mingshu immediately volunteered, saying he was more familiar with the grounds and could show President Zhu around.

Wen Mo was momentarily touched.

Of course, she was also being a bit idealistic. While the Wei father and son were indeed loyal, they were also terrified that Wen Mo’s notorious “dog temper” would flare up and offend the young tycoon.

Beyond that, Wei Mingshu wanted to uncover the secret hidden behind the cryptic exchange Wen Mo and Zhu Shen had just shared. Lately, Wen Mo had become incredibly mysterious, and he was dying to know why.

Unfortunately, their suggestions failed to move Zhu Shen. He insisted he didn’t want to waste the hosts’ time and that having Wen Mo accompany him was sufficient.

Father Wei grew even more puzzled. He couldn’t understand why Zhu Shen was so insistent on Wen Mo’s company. If he hadn’t already clarified that Wen Mo was an Alpha, he might have suspected the man was interested in her. But knowing she was an Alpha—and a “pure” college student who hadn’t even touched the family business yet, what could Zhu Shen possibly want to discuss with her?

Father Wei opened his mouth to protest again.

Not wanting the Wei family to be caught in the middle because of her, Wen Mo proactively took on the task. She was a frequent guest at the Wei residence and knew the layout well.

The moment the Wei father and son departed, Zhu Shen dropped the act and told Wen Mo to take him somewhere quiet. Wen Mo didn’t suspect anything; Zhu Shen genuinely looked like the type who hated noisy crowds.

Being a CEO wasn’t easy. Even a “Domineering President” had to attend these social functions. Though she only knew him through the novel’s text, she hadn’t heard much about his business dealings yet.

Nodding obediently, Wen Mo led Zhu Shen out of the hall through a side door.

While she felt a tiny spark of sympathy for the overworked tycoon, it wasn’t enough to outweigh the mountain-sized pressure she was feeling. Her heart was racing.

What was his goal? By getting rid of Wei Mingshu and leaving her alone, he was clearly signaling that he had something to “settle” with her privately.

Wen Mo couldn’t figure it out.

After their chance encounter at the mall yesterday afternoon, she had sent a message to Yin Qingyue to check in. Yin Qingyue had been honest, explaining that she had accidentally dirtied her clothes and Zhu Shen had gone to the mall next door to buy her a replacement.

Wen Mo understood instantly. The female lead’s clothes get dirty, and the devoted male lead—even a high-and-mighty CEO personally goes shopping for her. It was classic.

It was just her luck as a cannon fodder to get caught in the middle. She was just minding her own business, drinking milk tea, and rejecting a greasy guy with a “cool” comeback, only to be caught red-handed by the male lead’s rival.

Was this a butterfly effect? She had avoided her original “fate,” but now countless other turning points were waiting for her, any one of which could end her life as a cannon fodder.

The thought made her anxious.

Looking back, her comment about “lifting her skirt” to the greasy guy was incredibly risky. If Zhu Shen had a shorter temper, he might have just punched her right there. Daring to lie to a CEO, you’ve got guts—given his personality, that reaction wouldn’t have been surprising.

But he had only mocked her and told her to get lost.

Thinking about it that way, maybe he wasn’t so scary? Maybe it proved her previous efforts were working?

Wen Mo’s anxiety vanished. Zhu Shen was the key to her fate; as long as he stayed cool and didn’t cause trouble, she would be fine.

As she led him along, her mind was spinning with these reflections, completely lost in her own thoughts.

As they stepped out of the bustling banquet hall, the heavy, soundproof doors shut behind them, cutting off the noise and music. Silence fell instantly.

Exiting through the side door led to the Wei family’s Suzhou-style garden. Wen Mo and Zhu Shen walked along a limestone path leading toward the glass conservatory.

The surroundings were filled with meticulously manicured greenery. It was night, and the streetlights had flickered on, casting a bright yet tranquil glow—an ideal setting for a midnight stroll or a secret tryst, provided one ignored the freezing weather.

In truth, Wen Mo felt the chill the moment they stepped outside.

It was already December, and winter break was just around the corner. Father Wen had picked out a light blue, semi-formal, relaxed-fit suit for her; it looked gentle yet effortless. He was still playing it safe, unaware that his “Alpha” daughter had already started dressing herself in skirts in private. He still believed she was the type of girl who only liked black, white, and gray, loved acting cool, and wore heavy smoky eye makeup every day.

When choosing that light blue suit, Father Wen had carefully watched her expression, only relaxing when he saw she had no objections. That cautious, tentative look had made Wen Mo’s heart ache, stirring a sense of “cuckoo in the nest” guilt. She was an intruder here, but she was trapped; she had no choice but to try her best to please Father Wen and, at the very least, avoid upsetting him.

If it had been up to Wen Mo, she would have worn a beautiful cocktail dress to an event like this. However, from the stylist’s studio to the car, and then from the parking lot into the banquet hall, there had been heating every step of the way. She hadn’t felt the cold at all until now.

Standing in the back garden as the biting wind whipped past, Wen Mo finally felt the sting of winter and began to feel grateful she was wearing a jacket and long pants. Don’t ask her why she wasn’t cold in a skirt yesterday—the physical sensation of wearing an outfit you absolutely love versus one you only moderately like is completely different. Besides, the mall and the hotel yesterday had been heated!

The cold wind made Wen Mo shrug her shoulders. She pushed the chaotic thoughts from her mind, wrapped her arms around herself, and rubbed her sleeves for warmth. She turned to look at Zhu Shen, who had remained silent by her side.

After such a long silence, she wasn’t sure how to break the ice. Deciding to be practical, she looked up at him and asked, “Are you cold?”

Zhu Shen had been patiently waiting for Wen Mo to lose her cool and speak first. He hadn’t expected her to be so resilient. His patience was usually selective, and where Wen Mo was concerned, he didn’t feel the need to be particularly indulgent.

He turned, intending to break the silence himself, only to find her lost in thought. He watched her for a moment before silently turning back. He assumed she was plotting how to handle the situation—likely scripting some mediocre drama in her head to act out. He chose not to disturb her, waiting for the “clown” to start her performance.

After another stretch of silence, Wen Mo finally spoke, but her opening line was concern for him?

Zhu Shen paused. He supposed it made sense. After all, Wen Mo was currently playing the part of a tea-scented, gentle, and considerate Omega.

“It is a bit chilly,” Zhu Shen replied, deciding to play along with her persona for a moment. “How about you take off your jacket and give it to me?”

Wen Mo: “…”

Being asked by a man to take off her clothes for the first time was truly an experience.