How Long Are You Going to Keep Acting Like A Beta? ABO - Chapter 40

“Hi Cire, long time no see. The usual orange juice and BLT?” A tall woman with golden hair and a black apron behind the counter was washing glasses while looking at the customers. When Shu Qian pushed the door open, her eyes lit up.

“Ah, hi Julian.” Shu Qian carefully held the door open. A customer who was about to go out saw her pushing a baby stroller and held the door open for her to enter first. Shu Qian quickly thanked the person and hurried in with the stroller so that the person could go out. She stood in front of the counter, looking at the menu. “I’ll have a decaf oat latte and one BLT.”

“OK.” Julian finished washing the glasses and started making the coffee. While waiting for the coffee machine, she made small talk. “Didn’t you used to say you were breastfeeding, so you didn’t drink coffee?”

“I went to the doctor last week, and he suggested that I could switch the baby to formula. It doesn’t have to be breast milk,” Shu Qian said, lowering her head to play with the baby’s hands in the stroller. “I didn’t grow up on breast milk, and I’m still this smart. I guess it has to do with genes.” The baby in the stroller raised her little hands, trying to grab the thing swinging in front of her. After she finally grabbed it, she wanted to put it in her mouth to bite.

Julian shrugged with a smile. “Still as narcissistic as ever. What have you been busy with? Why do you have time to come today?”

“Ah, don’t even get me started. The client I met a while ago was too difficult. Forget about asset allocation. Just dealing with his private life: how much to give to his wife, how much to leave for his children, and his mistress and illegitimate child…” Shu Qian recalled the large group of people who showed up that day and frowned in pain. “The other person was also indecisive and didn’t have a firm opinion on the distribution. He just let the group of people around him argue with no result. Although I charge by the hour, I can’t stand the unproductive waste of time.”

“Sounds like a very colorful life. So how did you handle this Alpha Casanova?” Julian was used to hearing stories of Alphas being playboys. She finished the coffee and put it on the counter. She then picked up the sandwich to heat it up. Before putting it in the microwave, she added two more slices of cheese to the bread.

“I asked him to go back and discuss the asset distribution with his family first and then come back to me,” Shu Qian said, taking a sip of coffee. The familiar taste of caffeine made her look happy. “Someone asked to meet me here today, so I brought Kate out.”

Just as she finished speaking, the cafe door behind her was pushed open. A man walked in and looked around. After he saw the person standing in front of the counter, he walked over to her with big steps. “Cire.”

Shu Qian turned around and saw the familiar man. She looked at him in surprise. “Wells, it’s rare that you’re not late.”

“How would I dare be late when I’m meeting you?” Wells laughed heartily. He saw the baby stroller and showed a kind expression that didn’t match his handsome face. He squatted down. “My little baby, did you miss me?”

Shu Qian said with a hint of sarcasm, “Yes, she missed the crib that you said you were going to buy.”

Wells’s smile froze for a moment. He remembered that he had forgotten about this after promising last time. “I’ll arrange for someone to buy it and deliver it to your house right now.” He stood up nonchalantly and said to Julian behind the counter, “I’ll have an Americano.” He then pushed the baby stroller to a seat by the window and played with the baby while waiting for her mother to come over.

••••

After the morning meeting, Qi Qing was planning to go back to her room to continue working. Xu Yuxi quickly stopped her and said that there was a delicious restaurant nearby that her friend had recommended. She invited them to have lunch together.

Qi Qing didn’t care much about food, but she agreed out of respect for Xu Yuxi. The ride was not long, about fifteen minutes. The restaurant’s decor was low-key, but there was a server waiting at the door. As soon as they stepped in, after Xu Yuxi confirmed their reservation, the server immediately led them to the best private room on the second floor.

“Hello, Yuxi, you’re here,” the man in the private room said. He stood up enthusiastically to greet them.

Xu Yuxi, under Qi Qing’s gaze, greeted the man. “Cheng Xiao, long time no see. This is my friend, Qi Qing.” She turned to Qi Qing and whispered, “This is my friend, Xu Chengxiao, who I mentioned to you.”

Xu Yuxi clearly saw the warning in Qi Qing’s eyes. But she still showed great respect for Xu Yuxi. She smiled appropriately and shook hands with him. She seemed to not notice the female standing next to Xu Chengxiao. Her gaze was proper and didn’t give her any space.

Jian, who had only come to have a meal on Xu Chengxiao’s behalf, was a little interested. She had been asked by him to come for a meal. She didn’t expect to meet an Alpha who wouldn’t even give her a look. She knew how outstanding and beautiful she was as an Omega. Countless Alphas had already confirmed this. Plus, her professional background was that of a successful person, so Jian was very picky. The people she had dated were all political and business elites.

Qi Qing’s behavior was a little special, enough for her to proactively introduce herself. “I’m Jian Levis.”

Qi Qing turned around and said with a formulaic smile, “Qi Qing, nice to meet you.”

Xu Yuxi saw her boss’s abrupt attitude and knew that she might have to work overtime endlessly when she got back. She braced herself and tried to finish the meal quickly. She then kindly had everyone sit down and told the server to bring the pre-ordered food.

“I heard from Chengxiao that you’re here for a business trip? How many days will you be staying?” Jian elegantly cut her steak, showing a timely curiosity.

Xu Yuxi knew that Qi Qing wouldn’t answer, so she took over the conversation herself. “About two weeks. It depends on the work.” However, according to the plan, it was at most two weeks, and Qi Qing might leave early depending on the situation.

“I see. Have you planned any tours? Many people who come here for business trips like to take some time to sightsee. Maybe I can show you around?” Although she was talking to Xu Yuxi, her gaze was constantly on Qi Qing, who was quietly eating.

Xu Yuxi thought she was wrong. She had underestimated Qi Qing’s Alpha power. Before she came, she had already heard Xu Chengxiao introduce the other person. She knew that Jian was a very manipulative Omega. Who would have thought that even with all her manipulation, she would still be attracted to Qi Qing at first sight?

Jian’s enthusiasm made Xu Chengxiao look at her in surprise. An Omega who didn’t even care about the Charleton family was now proactively offering to take them sightseeing. He couldn’t help but look at Qi Qing with admiration.

Qi Qing ate her food as if nothing was happening. At this moment, she was a little annoyed and deliberately looked out the window. There was a trendy cafe across the street. When she unintentionally looked at the cafe’s window, her eyes suddenly narrowed. The hand that was holding the fork accidentally used too much force and bent the utensil.

The other three people, who were all watching her, looked at the bent fork with shock.

The person in question nonchalantly put down her knife and fork. “Sorry, I have a call to answer. I’ll be leaving for a moment.” Qi Qing stopped Xu Yuxi from getting up. She stood up, grabbed her phone, and walked out of the room.

“Hahaha… Alphas are indeed very strong,” Xu Yuxi said, having no clue about her boss’s abnormal behavior. She could only laugh to smooth things over.

Jian retracted her gaze. “Yes. Compared to Alphas, Omegas are naturally seen as weak. Sometimes when I go out with my Alpha friends, they all rush to carry things for me. I can’t stand this stereotype either. That’s why I sometimes envy Betas. They don’t have to be overly protected.”

Xu Yuxi’s smile chilled a little when she heard that.

Xu Chengxiao saw Xu Yuxi’s coldness and regretted inviting Jian. But he never expected Jian to be so subtle today.

Qi Qing didn’t care about anything in the private room. As soon as she stepped out, she immediately called her bodyguard and ordered him to go to the cafe across the street and wait for Shu Qian.

“You guys lost the person last time. Watch her carefully this time,” Qi Qing said to her bodyguard captain, who had been with her for a long time. “Report to me at all times.”

He nodded to show that he had heard. After Qi Qing went back to the private room, he immediately arranged for two people to go to the cafe to guard the person, ensuring that the mission would not fail unexpectedly.

Qi Qing returned to her seat and finally took the initiative to say the first sentence, breaking the awkward atmosphere in the private room. “The food here is really great. Thank you very much for the invitation, Mr. Xu.”

Because Qi Qing was too cold, her unexpected thank you made Xu Chengxiao feel overwhelmed. “You’re too kind. Yuxi and I haven’t seen each other for a long time. I’m really happy that you could find time to accept my invitation while you’re here on a business trip.”

Xu Yuxi found that Qi Qing’s mood seemed to have gotten better. She looked at her strangely but couldn’t figure out why. She could only attribute it to the restaurant being really good.

Qi Qing also finally had the mood to humor Jian with a few words. When the meal was almost over, she used the excuse of having another meeting in the afternoon. She quickly said goodbye to them and left with Xu Yuxi.

When Xu Chengxiao went to pay, he found that the bill had already been settled. He was a little frustrated. He had said he would treat them to a meal, but Xu Yuxi ended up paying.

Jian was very upset that she couldn’t get Qi Qing’s contact information. She, who was used to being praised by Alphas, couldn’t stand it. She turned to Xu Chengxiao to ask about her background.

Xu Chengxiao vaguely said that he would give her an answer after he inquired about it.

When they got in the car, Qi Qing beat Xu Yuxi to the seat behind the driver. Her eyes were focused on the window. Xu Yuxi had no choice but to get in the car. She sat there feeling uneasy and closed the door.

“On the condition that the restaurant was pretty good today, I’ll forgive you,” Qi Qing said to Xu Yuxi in a slightly cold tone while looking out the window.

Xu Yuxi was relieved when she heard that. “It seems like it was really good.”

Qi Qing stared at the man and woman who were laughing and talking in the window of the cafe across the street. She sneered, “It was indeed very good.”

So good that it made her want to kill someone.