Alpha, Straight To The Crematorium - Chapter 7

7: The Bar

The two of them had a very enjoyable dinner. Compared to the quiet listening in the car, Si Rong also shared quite a few interesting stories from the industry at the table, though she still withheld some key information, only saying that she worked at a game company without revealing anything about KN or Enchantment.

She wanted to catch Li Yuan off guard tomorrow.

After dinner, the two drove together to the movie theater. It wasn’t the weekend, so there weren’t many people at the cinema, and even fewer in their screening.

After sitting down, Li Yuan roughly counted: including the two of them, there were only about a dozen people in the entire theater, and they all seemed to be couples, scattered sparsely, which inadvertently added a touch of ambiguity to this suspense film.

City of Suspected Crimes was a movie Li Yuan had always wanted to see, but Jin Qin had never had time, so she had kept putting it off. She didn’t like going out to sketch for inspiration, she preferred finding it in movies, music, texts, and pictures.

Ever since her last dark series exploded in popularity online, her addiction to shifting her art style had grown stronger, but she lacked inspiration. So when she saw the news of this movie’s release, she knew her chance had come.

That’s why Li Yuan watched the film very attentively, but most of her focus was on the movie’s aesthetics, leaving her little energy to follow the plot.

So when Si Rong frowned at the protagonist’s violent beating scene, Li Yuan was admiring the composition, when Si Rong felt sad for the protagonist losing a loved one, Li Yuan was sighing over the color palette, when Si Rong was surprised by the ending twist, Li Yuan was inwardly raving about the film’s texture.

But fortunately, it was a successful commercial film, and both Si Rong and Li Yuan gained something from it—just that the two couldn’t discuss the plot together.

Originally, Li Yuan had offered to treat Si Rong to dinner, but Si Rong declined, citing the need to return to the company that evening. However, since they had just met on the first day, Li Yuan was regretful but not unhappy about it.

As for Si Rong, work was an excuse, she really had plans to meet Chou Annan for drinks.

But before that, Si Rong would of course fulfill an Alpha’s responsibility by safely escorting the Omega home.

Li Yuan had originally planned to return to her apartment in the suburbs, but thinking that it was far and might delay Si Rong’s return to the company, she asked Si Rong to drop her off at the newly rented apartment in the city instead.

It wasn’t until the car stopped at the community gate that Si Rong realized Li Yuan lived in the same neighborhood as her.

“You live here too?” Si Rong was visibly surprised. The address listed in the information about the artist Lin Yue was clearly an apartment in the suburbs.

“Yeah. I usually live in the suburbs—it’s quieter there. This apartment was just rented for me by my mom and them recently, and I only moved in yesterday.” Li Yuan nodded. “From what you said, you live here too?”

Si Rong curled her lips into a smile. “Yeah, I’ve lived here for several years. I didn’t expect us to be neighbors in the same community.”

Li Yuan grabbed her bag and got out of the car. Then, as if remembering something, she leaned against the car window, tilting her head probingly: “Um… do you have time in a few days? I’d like to invite you to my housewarming party.”

Si Rong was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, then concealed the surprise in her eyes and readily agreed. “Of course, though I’ll probably only be able to come after work.”

Li Yuan nodded happily. As long as she could come, that was fine.

Si Rong sat in the car, watching Li Yuan’s retreating figure in the community, her brows lightly furrowing. For once, she felt a rare irritation. One hand reached into her bag to pull out a cigarette and light it, while the fingers of the other hand tapped rhythmically on the steering wheel.

She took a deep drag from the cigarette clamped between her index and middle fingers, then exhaled a plume of white smoke. The nicotine effectively eased her negative emotions.

If she wasn’t mistaken, this Omega named Li Yuan seemed to like her.

She wondered: if it weren’t for the artist matter, would she and Li Yuan have had all these follow-up plans today?

Hmm, no.

Li Yuan wasn’t her type. She didn’t like to drag things out in matters like this, she would reject her directly.

Emotions weren’t easy to control. She needed to be more cautious and strike the right balance.

Si Rong stubbed out the cigarette, sent a message to Chou Annan saying she could head out, then floored the accelerator, merging her car into the evening rush-hour traffic.

Chen Lin was a famous den of indulgence in A City. It was said that its owner had some connection to the KN Group just a street away, so whether Alpha or Beta, few dared to cause trouble here.

By the time Si Rong arrived at Chen Lin’s entrance, it had been over an hour, and Chou Annan had nearly finished a round of drinks.

As soon as Si Rong entered, she shrugged off her jacket and draped it over her arm. She unbuttoned two collar buttons, and her curly hair, previously tied at the back of her head, cascaded down fully. Si Rong was like a wolf shedding its sheep’s clothing, revealing her true self.

Si Rong was tall with striking looks. Despite the dim lighting in Chen Lin like any other bar, she still drew a lot of attention. Chou Annan naturally spotted her friend at the entrance right away.

“Ah Rong, over here!” Chou Annan sat in the booth, waving loudly at Si Rong.

Only when Si Rong walked over did she see a woman sitting next to Chou Annan, who raised her glass to Si Rong. “It’s really rare to see you patronizing my little place.”

The person sitting beside Chou Annan was obviously the bar’s owner, the Beta rumored to have ties to KN—Feng Shuang.

Si Rong ignored her, tossed her jacket aside, then plopped down carelessly and poured herself a shot of whiskey.

Feng Shuang had run this bar for years and rarely saw Si Rong chugging like this. She turned curiously to Chou Annan, hoping to glean something from her.

Chou Annan knew what was going on, but the blind date and artist matters involved Si Rong’s privacy and her own company’s secrets, so she kept her mouth shut, merely shrugging at Feng Shuang to indicate she had nothing to say.

Feng Shuang opened her mouth to ask Si Rong, but Si Rong only said, “Nothing much. Susceptibility period.”

Feng Shuang nodded in understanding. Though she was a Beta, she had taken physiology classes. Alphas became irritable and aggressive during susceptibility periods, and Si Rong’s current state clearly fit the bill.

“Boss Feng, it’s not easy for me to come once. Shouldn’t you graciously offer something special?” Si Rong lifted her chin toward the half-empty bottle of whiskey on the table.

Feng Shuang smiled, stood up, and said, “Alright, wait here.” With that, she left the booth to fetch better liquor for the two.

Seeing Si Rong send Feng Shuang away, Chou Annan knew she had something to say. Sure enough, as soon as Feng Shuang left, Si Rong said unhappily, “Why did you call her too?”

Chou Annan was both amused and exasperated. “Wronged, President Si. I ran into her the moment I arrived. And besides, you know who she’s here for, don’t you?”

“Tch.” Si Rong pushed her empty glass forward. “Pour me another.”

Chou Annan knew she was in a bad mood and didn’t provoke her, obediently refilling Si Rong’s glass. “I say, this isn’t just the susceptibility period, is it? You weren’t like this before.”

Si Rong gave her a blank look. “Who do I have to blame? I went on that business trip to clean up whose mess? Came back to Enchantment’s launch, then blind dates, and now the susceptibility period crashes the party.” With that, Si Rong downed the whiskey in one gulp.

Then Si Rong held out her hand to Chou Annan. “Let me see the stuff.”

“What stuff?”

“The files.”

Chou Annan asked, “Wait, you’re so sure I checked that fast? You only asked me at noon.”

Si Rong looked at her like she was an idiot. “How long does it take to check this little? Should I find someone else to help you?”

Chou Annan pouted, then pulled two sheets of paper from her bag and tossed them to Si Rong. “Here, just this much. I don’t know what there is to dig up on a homebody artist.”

Si Rong took them and tried to read under the bar’s lights, but Chou Annan snatched them back and stuffed them into her bag. “Alright, alright, you want to read files in this lighting? Look at home. It’s not urgent.”

Si Rong was indeed tired and didn’t resist, leaning back on the sofa with her glass, looking dangerous and alluring.

When Feng Shuang returned with a bottle of liquor, this was the scene she saw. She stood frozen, her thoughts drifting back years ago with Si Rong’s unapproachable expression.

It was a clichéd story: a newly opened bar run by a Beta naturally attracted all sorts of rowdy drunks. Si Rong and Chou Annan had saved Feng Shuang in such a situation. The group Si Rong beat down got their medical fees from KN, and the incident spread, leading to rumors that the bar was under KN’s protection.

Chou Annan liked making friends, and since the rumors didn’t affect KN, she was too lazy to deny them, instead gaining a friend in Feng Shuang.

But Feng Shuang had always harbored different feelings for Si Rong, confessing twice, both times rejected without exception.

Si Rong’s reason for rejecting her was that she already had someone she liked.

The past played like a movie in Feng Shuang’s mind. Chou Annan saw her zoning out and called her name twice.

Feng Shuang snapped back, returned to the booth with the bottle.

With liquor and beauties, naturally came flirtations. After Si Rong politely turned down the fifth person to hit on her, Chou Annan said somewhat schadenfreudely, “Ah Rong, your susceptibility period is just these few days. Why not take someone home? That Omega in the halter top looks good.”

Following Chou Annan’s gaze, Si Rong and Feng Shuang saw a slender, fair-skinned Omega. As for the face, who could tell in this dim light?

“You like her? I’ll call her over for you. Perfect, our President Chou needs to hunt too, right?” Si Rong downed her drink and started to stand to help Chou Annan.

“No, no, no, I surrender.” Chou Annan pulled her back by the hand. “But seriously, Ah Rong, you’re not taking anyone home tonight?”

Si Rong’s expression didn’t change much, but Feng Shuang’s did, shifting repeatedly. She forced a smile: “As far as I know, you two have work tomorrow? Playing this wild tonight?”

Chou Annan grinned mischievously: “Ah Shuang, have you ever seen a boss who clocks in on time every day?”

Before Feng Shuang could reply, Si Rong glanced at Chou Annan speechlessly: “Me.”

With that, Si Rong ignored Chou Annan, grabbed her jacket and bag, and stood to leave.

“Oh, right. After I handle things tomorrow, I’m taking vacation. Keep an eye on company matters. I’ll handle the game department from home.”

Chou Annan: “Real vacation? This bad?”

“Yeah, it’s rough this time. I’ll find time to see a doctor.” Si Rong looked at Feng Shuang. “I’m heading out. You two have fun.”

“When are you going to the hospital? I’ll go with you.” Feng Shuang stood without thinking.

Si Rong looked at her expressionlessly, then shook her head. “No need. It’s not a big deal.”

Without minding them, she walked straight out of the bar.

Feng Shuang stood there, her face burning like she’d been slapped.

“Ah Shuang, you know her personality. Don’t take it to heart.” Chou Annan sighed in consolation. Her friend really knew how to give her headaches.

“Annan, tell me.” Feng Shuang turned, looking calmly at Chou Annan. “What kind of person is the one she likes?”

What kind? Of course, it was a lie to brush you off. In all their years of friendship, Chou Annan had never heard of Si Rong liking anyone.

But naturally, she couldn’t say that. Turning her eyes, she smiled: “Her? An Omega…”

Li Yuan could be used to fend off Si Rong’s parents, and naturally to fend off Si Rong’s suitors too.

What a clever little devil she was!