Why is this top-tier Alpha boss acting like this? - Chapter 19

Chengxing Pharmaceuticals and Wu Hao were famous within Song Corp though not for anything good.

Chengxing was one of Song Corp’s suppliers, and their status was quite unique. The production of pheromone blockers requires various plants that naturally emit pheromones, undergoing multiple extraction processes and scientific blending. Therefore, the quality of raw materials determines the effectiveness of the final product.

However, plants have their own temperaments. Some rare ingredients have extremely harsh growth requirements, making them scarce and expensive. Any supplier holding a source for these rare materials is constantly courted by major corporations.

Chengxing’s headquarters occupied a very specific geographical location, giving them control over a dozen special materials. Thanks to some historical favors and connections with Song Jicheng, the partnership between Song Corp and Chengxing had remained stable for years.

Business-wise, Chengxing was beyond reproach. As for their current director, Wu Hao, no one at Song Corp dared to find fault with him.

Wu Hao was domineering, thuggish, and unreasonable. However, he held enough bargaining chips and had a rock-solid friendship with Song Jicheng. Everyone at Song Corp knew that when dealing with Wu Hao, you simply had to endure.

Cheng Yan covered the receiver, took a deep breath, and replied politely, “I apologize, Director Wu, but Assistant Cheng has not arrived at the office yet. May I ask when you scheduled your appointment with President Song?”

From the moment Wu Hao opened his mouth, Cheng Yan could hear the lack of courtesy in his tone. To give himself some maneuvering room, he pretended not to be “Assistant Cheng” and raised his question. He clearly remembered Song Yang telling him yesterday that today’s lunch was with retailers, not Chengxing Pharmaceuticals.

There was a two-second silence on the other end before the man replied self-righteously, “Just now.”

Hearing this, Cheng Yan closed his eyes. As expected. This was a one-sided, last-minute “appointment” Wu Hao was forcing.

Perhaps sensing his own lack of grounds, Wu Hao’s patience ran out completely. “What’s the holdup? Chairman Song promised I could see your President Song whenever I want. I’m planning for noon today; I’m busy any other time. Tell that Assistant Cheng to book a place for me and President Song. Tell me when it’s done. That’s all.”

With that, Wu Hao hung up.

The dial tone droned in Cheng Yan’s ear. His refusal was at the tip of his tongue, but he never got the chance to say it. He truly regretted being the first person in the office today.

When Xiao Lin walked in, he saw his boss looking like a man drowning in regret. “Boss, what happened? Who called?”

Cheng Yan put down the receiver and gave a brave smile. “Director Wu from Chengxing. He wants a lunch meeting with President Song at noon and wants me to book a place.”

The expression on Xiao Lin’s face immediately turned painful. “That’s a first—a guest demanding to pick the time but making us do the booking. Only Director Wu would do that. Wait, doesn’t President Song have a lunch with the retailers today?”

Cheng Yan gave a bitter laugh. “He does.”

Xiao Lin looked worried. “Then what do we do? Just add Director Wu to the existing lunch?”

In business lunches, adding or removing a guest can easily cause misunderstandings. If they were really going to add someone, the prep work for that would fall squarely on the Assistant Office.

Cheng Yan thought for a moment. “First, check if anything has happened with Chengxing recently. Also, find a way to ask what Director Wu has been up to lately and if he’s offended anyone. We’ll decide on the booking after I consult President Song.”

The cooperation between Song Corp and Chengxing had always been handled by Song Jicheng’s team. Song Yang hadn’t touched it yet. If Wu Hao had a business matter to discuss, he shouldn’t be coming to Song Yang. The fact that Wu Hao called the Assistant Office directly and kept citing Song Jicheng suggested he was trying to use seniority to pressure Song Yang.

If social favors were involved, it was highly likely Wu Hao was seeking Song Yang for a private matter, one that would likely put Song Yang in a difficult position. With that suspicion, Cheng Yan needed to figure out Wu Hao’s motive, or Song Yang would be at a disadvantage.

Xiao Lin nodded. “Understood, Boss. I’ll do my best to investigate.”

Xiao Lin jumped onto his computer, logged into the internal network, and opened WeChat, searching his connections with a serious face. After failing with a couple of people, he muttered irritably, “Boss, what if we find nothing? It’s hard to refuse Director Wu. He’s incredibly difficult to talk to. Is he expecting to split President Song in half, one half for each lunch?”

“What are you two plotting so early in the morning?”

A familiar voice came from the doorway. They looked up to see Song Yang, who happened to be passing by their office.

Influenced by yesterday’s meeting, Cheng Yan instinctively checked Song Yang’s attire. Perhaps because of the lunch meeting, Song Yang had changed back into his usual “reliable” dark-toned shirt and trousers.

He looked away and stood up. “Good morning, President Song.”

Xiao Lin jumped up, stammering, “Good morning, President Song!”

Song Yang walked into the office, looking confused. “Why would anyone need to split me in half?”

Xiao Lin trembled, unable to speak, and secretly cast a pleading look at his boss. Cheng Yan caught the look and, suppressing a smile, walked toward Song Yang. He briefly explained the morning’s phone call and reported his suspicions and the current investigation progress.

Song Yang’s brow furrowed tightly, his face darkening. “Leave this for now. Focus on today’s work. I’ll notify you regarding the lunch.”

With that, Song Yang turned and left.

Around 10:30 AM, Cheng Yan received a message.

President Song: Schedule the lunch with Director Wu for 11:00 AM today at the Hyatt Hotel. Book a private room for about five or six people.

Cheng Yan raised an eyebrow. The original lunch was set for 12:00 PM. Was Song Yang planning to settle things with Wu Hao in an hour and then rush to the retailer meeting? Two lunches in one afternoon?

He checked the Hyatt Hotel’s number and successfully booked a table, forwarding the confirmation to Song Yang. Five minutes later, he and Song Yang took a company car to the hotel. After a bit of traffic, they arrived to find Wu Hao already waiting.

Seeing them enter, Wu Hao approached with three people behind him. “Ah Yang! Long-time no see. You’ve become even more mature!”

Song Yang nodded. “Uncle Wu, long time no see.”

Cheng Yan followed Song Yang with a polite smile, trying to minimize his presence. However, Wu Hao noticed him and reached out a hand. “And this is… Assistant Cheng, right?”

The sudden attention surprised Cheng Yan. After a brief hesitation, he shook Wu Hao’s hand with a professional smile, releasing it almost immediately. “Director Wu, a pleasure to meet you.”

This was his first time meeting Wu Hao. Although he had worked for Song Jicheng for five years, he had never seen this man. Song Jicheng had his own personal assistant; Cheng Yan had only been a regular staff member in the Chairman’s office. For important partners like Chengxing, Song Jicheng usually took Assistant Li.

Looking at things now, there might have been other reasons why Song Jicheng never took him.

Wu Hao looked at his own hand, then looked up and stared deeply at Cheng Yan, his smile widening. Cheng Yan instinctively frowned and, suppressing the urge to curse, looked away.

At that moment, the person in front of him took a step sideways, blocking Wu Hao’s line of sight. Then, he heard Song Yang speak. “Uncle Wu, are we going to stand here and talk?”

His voice was like a dip in a frozen river in midwinter, chilling to the bone.

Wu Hao chuckled and casually invited everyone to sit, even pretentiously pouring a cup of tea for Song Yang. “Come, have some tea first. You’re a busy man these days; it’s not easy to get you out.”

Cheng Yan sat down silently. Whether by accident or design, after he sat, Song Yang shifted uncomfortably, adjusting his chair to a position that perfectly blocked Wu Hao’s view of Cheng Yan.

With Song Yang as a shield, Cheng Yan breathed a sigh of relief. He calmed himself and, while Song Yang and Wu Hao exchanged pleasantries, he subtly observed the three people Wu Hao had brought.

Two were older middle-aged adults, likely a couple. Both had fawning smiles, their eyes occasionally darting toward Song Yang. Sitting between them was a handsome Omega who shared a resemblance with the couple but was far more attractive.

The Omega looked unwell, keeping his head slightly bowed. His brow had been furrowed since they entered, and his thin lips were pressed into a line, the corners turned down. He looked like a marionette being forced to sit there.

Cheng Yan couldn’t help but look a bit longer—not because the Omega was beautiful, but because he seemed familiar, as if they had met somewhere before.

“What exactly did you want to see me about? Let’s get straight to the point.”

Just as Cheng Yan was scouring his memory for the Omega, Song Yang’s impatient voice pulled him back. The small talk had gone on long enough; it was time for business.

Wu Hao’s smile faded slightly. He turned to the people behind him and barked, “Why haven’t you come over yet?”

The Omega bit his lip and stood up. His eyes were watery as he stood obediently behind Wu Hao with his head down.

Wu Hao looked at Song Yang and pointed at the Omega. “This is my nephew. He’s been a looker since he was a kid, the most beautiful boy for miles around. Recently, Uncle Song was mentioning your marriage prospects to me, sounding so worried his brows were twisted into knots. I thought to myself, couldn’t this boy be sent to your side as a little plaything? We’re all family, we know each other’s backgrounds. It’s better than you being schemed against by outsiders.”

Wu Hao’s words successfully triggered Cheng Yan’s memory. He finally remembered who this Omega was.

This was the same Omega who had drugged Song Yang a while back!

At the time, he hadn’t seen the Omega’s face clearly, only the silhouette, which was why he hadn’t made the connection. Song Yang had said the Omega was Song Jicheng’s person—so it turns out Song Jicheng had asked Wu Hao for the “favor”?

No wonder Wu Hao had been so bold as to demand he book the room; they were essentially billing Song Jicheng.

Wu Hao picked up the teapot and poured another half-cup for Song Yang. “It was my mistake. I didn’t know you already had someone of such high caliber by your side.” Wu Hao paused, casting a glance toward Cheng Yan, and then continued, “Bringing such a low-class thing to offend your eyes was a lack of consideration on my part. Could you, for my sake, not sue him? The boy just got into university, and he’s an only child. If he actually goes to jail, I won’t be able to face his family.”

As if a switch had been flipped, the middle-aged couple rushed from their seats toward Song Yang, looking as though they were about to kneel.

Song Yang glared at them coldly. “Do not kneel!”

The couple was intimidated and froze in place, begging incessantly. “Please, we beg you, don’t sue our child. He still needs to go to school.” “Yes, he’s always been an honest boy, please!”

The parents were in tears, bowing repeatedly and offering round after round of apologies, nearly kowtowing on the spot.

The Omega standing to the side couldn’t hold back any longer; tears began to fall. He gave Song Yang a deep bow and apologized with a sob, “I’m sorry, President Song! It was my fault. Please, be the bigger man and let me go.”

Wu Hao looked at the family and then said to Song Yang with a face full of feigned difficulty, “Ah Yang, look, how about we just let it go?”

Cheng Yan had already stood up; in this kind of situation, it wasn’t appropriate to remain seated.

Song Yang sat steadily in his chair, his hand tapping rhythmically on the table. After a long silence, he let out a deep sigh and looked directly at Wu Hao. “I can let it go this time. But there are some things I need to make clear to you, Uncle Wu.”

He paused and continued, “I don’t care how you people usually play around. With me, that doesn’t fly. Assistant Cheng is a legitimate employee of Song Corp and has no ‘unspeakable’ relationship with me. Please do not speculate wildly. I personally detest messy AO relationships, I find them filthy. So please, you and my grandfather, do not try to shove people at me again. If there is a next time, I will kill them myself. You won’t need to bail me out; I’ll just pay for their life with my own.”

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