How Long Are You Going to Keep Acting Like A Beta? ABO - Chapter 21

“Are you nervous?” During a brief lull in the social event, Qi Qing suddenly led Shu Qian to a secluded corner. She had noticed that Shu Qian seemed restless ever since she stepped into the venue.

Initially stunned to be cornered, Shu Qian collected herself after hearing Qi Qing’s concern. She pursed her lips and said, “Did you… forget that the Shu family will also be at this industry gathering?” She had agreed too quickly that afternoon and momentarily forgot that her family might show up at this kind of event.

Qi Qing raised an eyebrow. Taking advantage of the fact that no one could see them, she audaciously ran her fingers through Shu Qian’s hair. “They won’t be here tonight. Only one of their vice presidents, who isn’t a Shu, is attending. I don’t think he’ll recognize you.”

Shu Qian suddenly understood. No wonder she hadn’t seen anyone from the Shu family even though the event had already started. She breathed a sigh of relief, and a smile reappeared on her face. She then reached up and smacked her boss’s unruly fingers away. “CEO Qi, please be mindful of your status. This is a public place.”

“I am aware that this is a public place. If it weren’t, do you think your clothes would still be on?” Qi Qing’s tone was as calm as if she were discussing a contract.

Shu Qian was speechless. Ignoring the superior-subordinate dynamic, she pushed Qi Qing away and quickly walked toward where the people were, lest Qi Qing, with her stoic face, continued her suggestive remarks regardless of the setting.

As one of the leading companies in the food industry, Huayu naturally received a lot of attention at tonight’s gathering. Qi Qing was also a director of the industry association, so she was invited to give a speech.

Although the speech was written by the public relations department, Qi Qing herself chose the topic. The title was: The Development of the Food Processing Industry: Reducing Poverty and Hunger by Maximizing Food Utilization.

This speech was discussed from beginning to end by Qi Qing and the public relations team. No one else was involved, so this was the first time Shu Qian was hearing the content.

The speech roughly outlined the development direction Huayu was currently discussing: how to maximize the use of raw materials, minimize waste, and at the same time, support surrounding areas to reduce hunger in impoverished regions.

Although her expression was serious, her eyes seemed to shine with a brilliant light, passionately conveying her desire to contribute to society. Shu Qian looked at her on the stage and was infected by that power.

She had grown up in the Shu family. Although she never got involved in the family business, she had absorbed some of it. The food industry was considered a sunset industry. While it was a basic necessity for people’s lives, its potential for growth was limited. The Shu family spent their days figuring out how to reduce production costs to increase their gross profit margin.

But on the other side, Huayu had moved beyond just making a profit and was considering how to give back to society.

Qi Qing had a foundation under her name. At first, Shu Qian thought it was just a tax-evasion method for the wealthy. But as her assistant, she occasionally had to check some application documents for Qi Qing and learned that the foundation genuinely helped many people and groups in need.

Shu Qian suddenly felt her heart beating so fast.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Qi Qing stepped down to a round of applause. When she returned to her seat, she received Shu Qian’s focused attention. Being stared at by an Omega like that, even Qi Qing was satisfied by Shu Qian’s unconscious look of adoration.

And she was an Alpha. What Alpha doesn’t want to be adored by their Omega?

“Huayu and Pinyuan are so different,” Shu Qian said, feeling both a sense of loss and pride. Her feelings were unusually conflicted. After all, her last name was Shu. As a child, she also saw her family as a sworn enemy of Huayu. It wasn’t until she became an adult and realized that those things had nothing to do with her. And after a series of events, she started working at Huayu with Xu Yuxi and Qi Qing.

Only then did she realize the difference between people. Why some people seemed to be constantly progressing without limits, while others could only fade with the tide.

“Pinyuan has a good foundation. It’s a shame their management is so inflexible and their ideas are so old-fashioned that they can’t see the best choice,” Qi Qing said, as if casually holding her hand.

Shu Qian looked up and met her deep eyes. They stared at each other for a long time. It was like they were on a stage. To highlight the main character, the surrounding lights were dimmed, leaving only one light on the main character, whose eyes could only see each other.

“If it were you…” Qi Qing didn’t finish her sentence when another company’s boss came over to toast them. The conversation came to a halt.

Shu Qian seemed to understand what she meant but didn’t say. It was better that she didn’t finish.

What wasn’t hers wouldn’t belong to her in the end. Where did all those “what ifs” come from?

As the party was coming to an end, Qi Qing pulled her toward her car. Shu Qian had planned to take a taxi home, but Qi Qing wouldn’t let her.

“I’m the one who asked you to come, so of course, I have to take you home,” Qi Qing said righteously. Of course, if it were anyone else, they wouldn’t get this kind of treatment. At most, they would get their taxi fare reimbursed. Shu Qian knew this very well.

Even Qi Qing couldn’t escape the attraction of an Alpha and Omega. The effect of pheromones made an Alpha and Omega unconsciously want to get a little closer.

But this wasn’t an emotion born out of affection. No, perhaps it was a kind of affection—a temporary disruption caused by physiological needs.

In any case, there weren’t any real feelings, so she didn’t have to feel burdened. It was all… for her future and her current pleasure.

“Is your offer from before still valid?” Under the moonlight, Shu Qian suddenly stopped. She held down her wind-swept hair and looked at Qi Qing.

Qi Qing’s mind went blank, but she quickly hid her loss of composure. “What did you say?”

Thinking she hadn’t heard her clearly, Shu Qian repeated herself, and in return, she was met with a rare, outwardly expressed look of joy on Qi Qing’s face.

“I didn’t misunderstand you, did I?”

Shu Qian already had her answer from Qi Qing’s expression. Qi Qing was willing. But she still felt a complex feeling. She mentally cursed herself for being a hypocrite and forced herself to nod.

Qi Qing smiled.

“Then what should I call you?” Qi Qing’s expression was gentle. It was the first time Shu Qian had seen this emotion on her face.

“Can I say… my Omega?”