The Top-Tier Enigma’s Alpha is Both Pampered and Wild - Chapter 15

Outside the ancient bell tower, a skylark called softly from a branch, its song carrying a hint of desolation and loneliness. At a desk, an elderly man sat with threads of sorrow woven between his brows. His white hair shone brilliantly under the setting sun, appearing as if it had been washed clean of the world’s chaos, pure and sacred.

But he was dirty. He was filthy through and through.

He lowered his eyelids weakly, his hand trembling slightly as he held a brush to leave ink on the letter paper. His calligraphy had been bold and vigorous throughout his life, yet at this final crossroad, the strokes had become narrow and constrained. As he finished the final stroke, he let out a long sigh of relief. He leaned back wearily in his vintage rocking chair, listening to its rhythmic sound.

Creak, creak.

The familiar sound pulled him back to the past; it was as if he were dreaming a very long dream.

The Police Station

“This is Old Mr. Yang’s suicide note; it is also a letter of apology.”

The police officer handed a white envelope to Lu Yubai. Lu Yubai accepted it with a solemn expression. He had not expected Old Mr. Yang to commit suicide. He frowned as he unfolded the letter. A full page of dense, neat calligraphy made his eyes ache. The letter was filled with apologies and nothing else. Seeing the strange look on Lu Yubai’s face, the officer reached out and patted his shoulder.

“The controversy regarding Chairman Lu’s porcelain vase donation fermented heavily online, leading to countless insults. Perhaps the public outcry was too much for the old gentleman to bear. It was a personal choice. You do not need to overthink it, Mr. Lu,” the officer comforted him.

Lu Yubai’s hand holding the envelope trembled slightly. Suddenly, a cold mechanical voice echoed in his mind: “Ding!”

“Master Host has obtained a new mission: Fulfill Old Mr. Yang’s final wish. Upon completion, 3% of your gland will be repaired. Current repair progress is 97%.”

As the cold voice vanished, his consciousness returned, and a funeral invitation was pressed into his hand.

“This was found with the letter. If you are willing, Mr. Lu, you may attend.”

Lu Yubai fell into deep thought as he looked at the invitation. It seemed he had no choice but to go.

The Funeral

He left the police station and headed straight for the funeral. It was being held in the bell tower where the old man had lived. Along the way, Lu Yubai bought a bouquet of white lilies. When he arrived, the entrance was quiet and deserted. Only a woman in her fifties was there to receive guests; she looked exhausted, her eyes red from crying. When Lu Yubai pulled out his gift money and the invitation, the woman only accepted the invitation.

She wiped her tears and choked out, “Old Mr. Yang’s will specified that no gift money should be accepted.”

Seeing her insistence, Lu Yubai did not push the matter. He went inside to find very few people. As the saying goes, when a wall begins to collapse, everyone gives it a push. Now, everyone wanted to stay as far away from Old Mr. Yang as possible to avoid being tainted by his misfortune.

Old Mr. Yang had committed suicide a few days ago, and his body was found by the nanny, Sister Hong, who had worked for him for over a decade. The police investigation confirmed it was a suicide. The direct family, his son, Yang Zhi, had been notified, but Yang Zhi refused to return from abroad to handle the funeral. Perhaps Old Mr. Yang had anticipated this, leaving a suicide note for the nanny to settle his affairs.

Lu Yubai felt that Old Mr. Yang was pitiable. He left this world alone, with not a single relative by his side. Perhaps this was retribution. After offering flowers and incense, Lu Yubai needed to find a restroom. While looking, he saw a man in a black suit entering the courtyard. He assumed it was another guest and hurried to catch up.

“Hello, may I ask,” he began.

Before he could finish, the person turned around. The familiar face caused Lu Yubai to freeze instantly. It was Lin Lan.

A flash of surprise crossed Lu Yubai’s eyes, but he quickly smoothed it over. He kept one hand in his pocket, his gaze scrutinizing Lin Lan. Lin Lan was also startled for a moment before he curled his lips into a smile and walked toward him. Dressed in a navy blue suit, Lin Lan lowered his eyes slightly, his face carrying a mix of disdain and arrogance. He had always looked down on Lu Yubai.

Lu Yubai narrowed his eyes and spoke first. “Tsk. Is Mr. Lin this useless? I have been gone for three years, and you still have not caught Yan Chi?”

Lin Lan was not provoked. He simply gave a faint, cold smile. “Mr. Lu seems to have lost weight over these three years. What happened? Was life too hard for you abroad?”

Lin Lan’s pupils constricted, and a thick scent of sandalwood began to emanate from him. This annoying sandalwood scent carried an immense pressure, tightly wrapping around Lu Yubai and eroding his own fierce red wine pheromones. The pressure made Lu Yubai feel distinct discomfort and fear. It was obvious: Lin Lan’s rank was higher than his. Three years ago, Lin Lan was an S3 Alpha just like him. But this pressure was different.

Lu Yubai took two sharp breaths, sweat breaking out on his forehead. He forced himself to stand tall, curling his lips in a cold smile. Seeing Lu Yubai struggling to refuse defeat, Lin Lan moved an inch closer, making the sandalwood scent even stronger.

“I have evolved. I am now an S1 Alpha, and my compatibility with Yan Chi has risen to 99.99%. Do you know what that means? Lu Yubai, do you think I will lose this time? Remember, the top match for Cedar is Sandalwood, not a red wine scent like yours.”

Every word of his was laced with thorns.

“Ptui!” Lu Yubai spat on Lin Lan’s leather shoes.

“Lu Yubai!” Lin Lan’s brow furrowed in rage.

Lu Yubai sneered, “A person of your quality could lie naked in his bed, and he still would not look you in the eye. The same trick worked once, but it will not work a second time. I know exactly what kind of person Yan Chi likes. After all, I have known him for eighteen years and we have slept together. Do you need me to go into detail about our time in bed?”

He elongated the words “slept together,” a hint of pride on his brow. “Lin Lan, compatibility is important to me, but it is not to him. You have worked hard for three years, yet I bet you do not even know what color his bedsheets are.”

He intentionally provoked Lin Lan. Under the suppression of the pheromones, he felt as if his internal organs were being torn apart and his bones were trembling. Lu Yubai was covered in sweat and felt weak, but he could not fall. Every word he spoke was a challenge. Lin Lan’s pheromones grew increasingly aggressive in his anger. Lu Yubai expected a rebuttal, but instead, Lin Lan suddenly let out a light sneer.

“CEO Lu’s tongue is as sharp as ever! You are not him; how do you know he does not care? If he truly did not care, you would not have left Jiangcheng in the first place. Oh, right. I forgot to tell you. I came here today with Yan Chi.”

Lu Yubai froze. His fist hidden behind his back gradually tightened, his knuckles cracking. How did Lin Lan know what happened three years ago? And was Yan Chi truly at Old Mr. Yang’s funeral with Lin Lan?