The Top-Tier Alpha Refuses to Be Pretty Cannon Fodder - Chapter 4

【520: I thought you said you weren’t coming!】

Lu Yunli: “I changed my mind.”

【520: You clearly said you’d never give in!】

“Who said anything about giving in to him?” Lu Yunli snorted. “Does going to Lanhai Group mean I actually have to go inside? Please, it’s just a hitchhiked ride. My primary target is Huo Yan.”

【520: QAQ】

Lu Yunli: “By the way, why hasn’t Huo Yan’s profile ‘unlocked’ yet?”

【520: Because Huo Yan had no screen time in the original book. You have to trigger key plot points with him to unlock his full data.】

To put it simply, Lu Yunli thought, I need to develop things further with him. Easy enough.

The car door opened from the outside, and Huo Yan sat in. Lu Yunli immediately wiped the cold calculation from his face. Sitting in the back seat, he began to play the role of a well-behaved, slightly delicate Omega.

Huo Yan adjusted the rearview mirror, his gaze lingering on the reflection of the Omega behind him.

The actual power behind the FLP Group, Lu Yunli, was a mysterious and formidable figure. Countless people chased his shadow, but very few had actually seen his face. Huo Yan happened to be one of them. When he first saw Lu Yunxing, he genuinely thought Lu Yunli had arrived. They shared identical faces, yet one had manifested as a top-tier Alpha, while the other was a low-level Omega.

He had just learned that this Omega had married his junior, Qi Xi.

Huo Yan pulled his gaze back to the road. Behind him, the “docile” Omega chirped, “Professor Huo, thank you so much for the ride. When I see Brother Qi at Lanhai, I’ll make sure he thanks you properly.”

When mentioning Qi Xi, Lu Yunxing’s face was full of sweet, joyful smiles.

However, as far as Huo Yan knew, Qi Xi had never mentioned this spouse in public over the last three years. Instead, it was always Xie Xingchi who accompanied him to events. As a soldier, Huo Yan valued loyalty to one’s partner above all. Though he disapproved of Qi Xi’s conduct, he wasn’t one to meddle.

He adjusted his glasses and replied coldly, “That won’t be necessary.”

Lu Yunli lowered his eyes. “Oh… okay.”

Hearing the sudden drop in the Omega’s voice, Huo Yan glanced back at the mirror. The little Omega looked as if he had just remembered something painful; his eyes were rimmed with red.

Huo Yan tightened his grip on the steering wheel. After a long silence, he asked, “How long have you been married to Qi Xi?”

Lu Yunli: “Three years.”

Huo Yan: “Does he treat you well?”

Lu Yunli nodded vigorously. “Yes! Brother Qi is wonderful to me. He spoils me. He doesn’t care that I’m… useless. He gives me gifts on my birthday, and yesterday, for our anniversary, he even praised me!”

Lies, Huo Yan thought. If it were all true, why do you look like you’re about to burst into tears?

Huo Yan changed the subject. “Why are you being asked to bring a guardian?”

“I didn’t hand in my thesis.” Lu Yunli bit his lip, sounding frantic. “But there’s a reason! Professor Huo, could you… could you please plead my case with the mentor?”

Huo Yan: “Pleading requires a valid reason.”

Lu Yunli lowered his head as if struggling to explain. Finally, he looked up. “Actually, it’s because I’ve been helping my brother with a project lately. I was so tired last night that I… I just passed out.”

Huo Yan: “What project?”

At the mention of work, Lu Yunli leaned forward with high spirits. “I heard you’re also working on an AI project, Professor Huo?”

“Also?” Huo Yan felt the Omega’s proximity and tilted his head slightly. “The FLP Group is researching AI?”

Lu Yunli nodded. “We’re researching how to integrate AI into military weaponry.”

Huo Yan’s eyes sharpened instantly.

Lu Yunli began to speak with professional fluency. “M State has been researching AI for years, but I’ve noticed the definition here is stuck—you treat AI as a ‘relatively smart machine.’ In reality, once AI incorporates enough data, it can develop its own ‘thought.’ It can think and become a partner to humanity. I prefer to call it Super AI.”

Huo Yan challenged him: “Are you aware that if AI develops thought, it might one day replace us?”

Lu Yunli shook his head. “AI is a double-edged sword. But if we kill it in the cradle out of fear, humanity will never progress.” He waved his phone. “Isn’t this device the best proof of that?”

Huo Yan’s gaze deepened. “Did your brother teach you all this?”

Lu Yunli nodded and started “praising” his alter-ego. “My brother is handsome and brilliant. His research is much deeper than mine. It’s just…”

Huo Yan: “Just what?”

“It’s just that the last batch of FLP’s bionic chips has to go to the Imperial Family. My brother doesn’t even have enough left for his own research.” Lu Yunli sat back, looking dejected. “I heard Brother Qi had a surplus, so I went to borrow some, but he wouldn’t let me. Without those chips, our project will stall…”

He sighed heavily and looked out the window. Lanhai Group was in sight. He acted as if he had just snapped out of a trance. “Ah! Professor Huo, I’m so sorry! I talked so much. I didn’t annoy you, did I?”

“No.”

Huo Yan tapped his fingers on the wheel, weighing the truth of the Omega’s words. M State’s technology had indeed stagnated. If FLP truly had a breakthrough in military AI, it would be a vital asset to the nation.

He stopped the car. As Lu Yunli stepped out, Huo Yan opened his own door and called out to him.

“Professor Huo?”

Huo Yan repeated himself: “Regarding the bionic chips… I can help you solve that problem.”

Lu Yunli’s eyes widened. “Really?!”

“Yes.”

“Yay!” Lu Yunli “excitedly” lunged forward, throwing his arms around Huo Yan in a full embrace. “Professor Huo, you’re the best!”

Huo Yan instinctively reached out to push him away, but seeing the radiant, genuine-looking smile on the Omega’s face, his hand paused. He settled for adjusting his glasses. “However, I have one condition.”

Lu Yunli stepped back, creating a polite distance. “Anything! Name it.”

Feeling the sudden loss of warmth, Huo Yan tucked his hand into his pocket. “I am very interested in the project you mentioned. I would like you to arrange a meeting with your brother.”

The View from Above

Meanwhile, on the rooftop of Lanhai Group, Qi Xi was leafing through a book. The title? How to Pamper a Canary.

As he flipped the pages, his mind kept drifting back to the image of the Omega falling into his arms the night before—the tearful eyes and the red corners of his lids, more vivid than a sunset. He realized he hadn’t actually turned a page in ten minutes.

“Brother Xi.”

Only Xie Xingchi called him that. Qi Xi closed the book as the Omega secretary approached with tea.

“Why are you out here?” Qi Xi asked.

“It’s windy. Let’s head back inside.”

Xie Xingchi had been his friend since childhood. He was diligent and loyal, so Qi Xi had kept him close as a trusted secretary. Looking back, Qi Xi realized he had shown more favor to this secretary than to his own ignored “little wife.”

But today, Qi Xi felt an inexplicable restlessness. And the source of that irritation was the spouse he hadn’t bothered to visit once in three years.

“I have business. You go back first,” Qi Xi muttered, rubbing his temples.

Xie Xingchi narrowed his eyes. “Brother Xi, are you tired? Why did Lu Yunxing make you go back last night anyway?”

As Xie Xingchi stepped closer, Qi Xi frowned. He pulled his sleeve out of the secretary’s grip. “Xingchi, last night was our anniversary.”

“But you didn’t go back for the last two years. Why this time?”

“Because he gave me the FLP bionic chips.”

“Bionic chips?” Xie Xingchi paused. “No wonder the warehouse said a new shipment arrived. I thought…”

Xie Xingchi’s voice trailed off. He looked over Qi Xi’s shoulder at the ground far below. “Is that… Lu Yunxing?”

Qi Xi spun around. Looking down at the street in front of the building, he saw Lu Yunxing.

And Lu Yunxing was currently throwing himself joyfully into the arms of another man.

“Everyone says he’s head-over-heels for you,” Xie Xingchi sneered, crossing his arms. “But it looks like he doesn’t take you seriously at all.”

“Indeed,” Qi Xi muttered. Perhaps he had stayed away so long that the little Omega had forgotten he was married.

“In broad daylight, an Omega hugging a strange Alpha? If this gets out, your reputation will be ruined, Brother Xi… wait, where are you going?”

Qi Xi didn’t look back. “To catch him!”

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