The Heartless Alpha Just Wants to Follow the Plot - Chapter 26

By the time Su Mo came out, the old residence had already sent over a full spread of dishes.

Staring at the lavish meal laid out before her, Su Mo fell into a brief silence—especially when her gaze landed on the stir-fried lamb kidneys and the old hen soup stewed with goji berries. The corner of her mouth twitched.

Was all this really necessary?
She wasn’t actually that weak.

But it was obvious that the old man’s desire for great-grandchildren was unwavering. He hadn’t spared a thought for Su Mo’s own feelings at all—going so far as to arrange for people to keep watch over the villa. As long as there was movement, food would be delivered.

Su Mo’s expression turned odd. When Qiu Fu came downstairs and saw the dishes as well, she immediately noticed that today’s food was different. The delicate plating and expensive porcelain bowls made it clear this wasn’t takeout.

She sat down calmly, took a bite, and commented evenly, “It’s very good.”

“All thanks to you,” she added.

Su Mo: “……”

A heat cycle never lasted just one day. For the next three days, neither of them left the house. Every time they paused to rest, food from the old residence arrived on schedule to replenish their energy and stamina.

Goji berries and various tonics appeared with striking frequency. Even the system couldn’t help but sigh:

【Host, it really looks like the old man is desperate for a great-grandchild.】

Su Mo pinched the bridge of her nose. After three days, she more or less understood the old man’s intentions. But she hadn’t done what he wanted her to do with Qiu Fu—so grandchildren were destined to remain a pipe dream.

She let out a quiet sigh, unsure how things had come to this.

When lunch from the old residence arrived again on the second day, she stopped the maid before she left.

“You don’t need to send meals tomorrow.”

By then, Qiu Fu’s heat had already passed. She no longer needed Su Mo to stay by her side around the clock to inject pheromones. That meant Su Mo could leave as well.

The maid immediately understood and nodded. “I’ll report it to the old master.”

“Mhm.”

Once the message was relayed, Old Master Su knew that his granddaughter had fully grasped his meaning. Shortly after, he sent her a message, telling her to bring the person back with her.

He wanted to see for himself what kind of person could make his granddaughter finally settle down—what she was really like behind closed doors.

Although he had already reviewed Qiu Fu’s files, whether they were genuine or not was something only his own eyes could determine.

People could put on acts. Documents could be falsified.

Compared to others, he trusted only his own judgment.

【I’ll wait for you both to have dinner together.】

Su Mo sat on the sofa, sipping juice as she read the message. Her gaze shifted to Qiu Fu, who was sitting nearby, messaging Pu Ying to say she could start preparing for work again.

Once an omega was marked, a heat cycle would occur every three months. That meant Su Mo and Qiu Fu couldn’t be apart for too long, nor would their connection simply disappear. This was a long-term arrangement.

After a moment’s thought, Su Mo spoke. “The old man wants me to take you home for dinner tonight. Get ready.”

Qiu Fu: “……”

She pointed at herself in disbelief. “Me?”

“Mm.”

“Grandfather likes children and has a rather impatient temperament. He dotes on the younger generation, though—overall, he’s a good person. He only ever loved one omega in his entire life—my little grandfather.”

“Since I marked you, he’ll definitely want to see you. He’ll want me to take responsibility.”

There wasn’t much emotion on Su Mo’s face as she spoke of responsibility. Her tone was calm, almost detached. She drew one knee up, resting her bare foot on the sofa, and looked at Qiu Fu evenly.

Qiu Fu froze, then asked instinctively, “Am I supposed to go and reject him?”

“No.”

Su Mo rested her hand on her knee, tilted her head onto her arm, and looked at her with tentative curiosity. “Do you want me to take responsibility?”

“Then do you want to?”

Qiu Fu tossed the question right back at her. How could she possibly answer something like that?

What omega, after being marked, wouldn’t want the alpha to take responsibility?

But Su Mo didn’t like her. If she admitted she wanted responsibility, wouldn’t she just end up being looked down on?

She wasn’t someone who needed nothing.

“Do you only want a child,” Qiu Fu asked bluntly, “or do you think you should take responsibility and then try to like me?”

Her words hit Su Mo head-on, leaving her momentarily stunned. She didn’t know how to answer.

Not taking responsibility would make her seem like a scumbag. But taking responsibility—when she didn’t even like Qiu Fu—would only become a burden for her. Even if they forced themselves together, neither of them would be happy.

Su Mo fell silent. After a moment, she looked away.

“I’ll talk to the old man. I won’t let him put pressure on you. Just treat it as helping me out—go along with it for now.”

She avoided the question entirely. If she was honest, she didn’t feel like she could offer Qiu Fu much in return anyway.

In order to complete her mission in the future, she might still get involved with others, even have ambiguous relationships. If Qiu Fu really stood by her side, her position would be unbearably awkward.

It was better to maintain their current arrangement for now—it benefited them both. As for whether they would truly end up together, that depended on what happened next.

“Okay.”

Qiu Fu had no objections. If Su Mo had immediately agreed to take full responsibility, she would have suspected a trap instead. This not-quite-lovers state felt just right.

That evening, the two of them tidied up and returned to the old residence. It was Qiu Fu’s first visit, and she had no idea what gift to bring. The Su family lacked nothing, after all.

In the end, she brought three newly reprinted editions of ancient texts—rare classics that had recently been restored and republished.

Based on what she’d seen online and what Su Mo had told her about the old man’s hobbies, she guessed he would like them. As for anything else, the Su family already had plenty, and given her current status, it wouldn’t be appropriate to give more extravagant gifts.

As soon as she entered the grounds of the Su residence, she was stunned by the grandeur and unique design. Her hand clenched tightly around the rope handles of the bag holding the books, her breathing quickening with nerves.

Su Mo noticed and casually reached out to pat the back of her hand in reassurance. “Don’t be nervous. Grandpa’s easy to talk to.”

The one who came out to greet them was Butler Ying. For him to personally come out meant the old man held Qiu Fu in high regard. Su Mo’s eyes flickered slightly—she had a feeling her grandfather was planning something.

Even though Su Mo claimed the old man was easygoing, when Qiu Fu entered the living room and saw Old Master Su sipping tea, her scalp still tingled with tension.

Su Mo greeted him casually. “Grandpa, I’m back.”

“This is Qiu Fu. My friend.”

“Hello, Grandpa Su. My name is Qiu Fu.”

When the old man turned his gaze toward her, she hurriedly handed over the gift in her hands.

“This is just a small token of my appreciation. I hope you’ll accept it.”

Butler Ying took it for him. The old man curved his lips into a faint smile. Anyone who had ever seen both him and Su Mo together would inevitably sigh in admiration—he truly had taught his granddaughter well. Even the way they smiled was strikingly similar.

“I’ve seen some of Miss Qiu’s works,” the old man said. “They’re truly excellent.”

Hearing that he had watched her performances, Qiu Fu stiffened instinctively, a strange sensation crawling up her spine.

She bowed slightly. “Thank you for your praise, Grandpa Su. I’ll continue to work hard.”

The old man smiled and gestured toward the sofa beside him. “Sit. Standing is tiring.”

Qiu Fu glanced at Su Mo. Su Mo took her hand and pulled her down. “It’s fine. Sit.”

She then pushed a plate of fruit toward her. “Have some fruit.”

Watching how naturally Su Mo interacted with Qiu Fu—and how attentively she looked after her—the old man took the opportunity to examine Qiu Fu more closely. A trace of satisfaction slowly flickered through his eyes.

From the moment the girl arrived, he had been observing her gaze. The eyes were the windows to the soul, and under eyes that had witnessed countless schemes and stratagems, no petty calculation or hidden agenda could escape notice.

But this child seemed good. Her eyes were clear, her presence carried a sense of purity—someone who genuinely loved life and worked hard to live it well.

What dissatisfied him slightly was the tension she couldn’t quite hide, and the fact that it was obvious the two hadn’t known each other for very long. Their relationship hadn’t progressed as quickly as he had imagined.

Though she was not as ideal as Pu Ying, whom he favored, this girl was still better than most omegas and betas he had met. More importantly, she could help broaden the Su family’s connections within the entertainment industry.

As for his granddaughter not choosing Pu Ying, Old Master Su still felt rather regretful.

“It’s time for dinner,” he said. “You must be tired after coming all this way. Eat first, then rest. No need to rush. The New Year is almost here—stay at home for a while longer.”

“I’m starving too. Let’s eat,” Su Mo said quickly, steering the conversation away before the old man could continue.

Although the Su family had few members, there were always visitors coming and going. If Qiu Fu stayed here too long, wouldn’t that become another form of public acknowledgment?

Wasn’t the old man digging a trap for her?

Qiu Fu didn’t say anything, merely smiled.

Dinner included her favorite deep-fried small yellow croaker, as well as custard buns she loved.

To be able to prepare her favorite dishes with such precision—it was clear her information had already reached Old Master Su. His invitation for Su Mo to bring her home was probably not just for the sake of a meal.

The Su household didn’t observe the rule of silence while eating. As usual, the old man asked about Su Mo’s recent work and offered a few brief suggestions.

When it came to Qiu Fu, he kindly asked whether she liked the dishes tonight, whether they suited her taste, and if she wanted anything more.

Qiu Fu smiled and shook her head. “It’s delicious. This is more than enough. Thank you, Grandpa Su.”

After dinner, Su Mo was taken upstairs by the old man to the study. Feeling awkward staying alone downstairs, Qiu Fu was escorted to a guest room by Butler Ying.

In the Study, the old man stared at his granddaughter, who stood before him with a casual expression. His cane struck the floor heavily.

“Tell me, when are you planning to get married?”

“You’re not young anymore. Having a child is the proper thing to do. At the very least, let me see a successor for the Su family before I close my eyes.”

Su Mo had long been prepared for this conversation. She pulled over a chair and sat down, letting out a soft sigh.

“Grandpa, this isn’t something that can be rushed. And I can’t hold someone back either.”

The old man narrowed his eyes. “So?”

He raised his cane, anger flaring as he roared, “You don’t plan to take responsibility?”

“As a member of the Su family, it doesn’t matter if you’re flirtatious with other omegas or betas in your daily life. But since you voluntarily marked someone, you must take responsibility for them. Otherwise, don’t lay a hand on innocent omegas!”

The old man had lived a clear-headed life. His only excess was his indulgence toward Su Mo—but when it came to matters of principle, he never wavered.

What was unacceptable was simply unacceptable.