Guide To Lying Flat And Getting Rich As A Kept Alpha - Chapter 16

16

Cheng Youqing couldn’t even recall how many times Luo Hetu had publicly rejected her.

It wasn’t a big deal, really. Her visit to inquire about Sunday’s supplier was merely an attempt, as the chairman of the Cheng Corporation, to uncover the source of an internal information leak. Sunday Audio could choose to help or not—she had no authority to demand that they disclose their supplier, nor did she have the right to question Luo Hetu. Cheng Youqing wasn’t universally beloved, and Luo Hetu wasn’t her employee, so naturally, she wouldn’t bend to her every whim.

But today, something was off about herself. For reasons she couldn’t quite grasp, she felt a faint flicker of anger.

It was because she had recognized Luo Hetu. In her heart, she saw Luo Hetu as someone different from others.

They had once been so intimate.

Even though Luo Hetu didn’t recognize her, when she acted as if nothing had ever happened, it made Cheng Youqing feel like a naive, inexperienced woman—perhaps even one with a sort of virgin complex—foolishly fixating on an alpha just because of a moment of closeness.

So, she couldn’t help but feel angry. Angry at herself. And when Luo Hetu was visibly cold toward her, she grew even angrier at her.

With a stern expression, she walked out the door, ignoring Chun Yuyan calling after her. She got into her car and told the driver, “Follow the bicycle ahead.”

Her female assistant was sharp. “Is it Boss Luo?”

“Yes.”

Two wheels could never outrun four, but Luo Hetu wasn’t in a hurry. She rode leisurely, stopping at the market to buy vegetables, cooked food, and beer. Cheng Youqing’s car trailed behind, moving just as slowly, and the driver was visibly frustrated.

Cheng Youqing, too, was suppressing her irritation. When Luo Hetu finally locked her bicycle and prepared to head upstairs, Cheng Youqing got out of the car and called out, “Wait a moment.”

Luo Hetu turned around, only then realizing that Cheng Youqing had been tailing her.

How novel. Even Chun Yuyan wouldn’t stoop to following her.

“Ms. Cheng, you’re quite persistent just to test me.”

“It involves critical company secrets, so I have to take it seriously. I mean no harm. I just hope you’ll be honest with me. Let me be clear: my focus is on internal issues within my company, not you.”

Luo Hetu fell silent for a moment before saying, “Your choice of place?”

“We’re already at your building. Would it be convenient to go to your place?”

“I don’t mind, but I’m worried you’ll be put off by the smell. An omega like you probably isn’t fond of the scent of a street-thug alpha, right?”

Cheng Youqing’s expression faltered for a moment.

Luo Hetu let out a scoff. “Fine, you pick the place.”

Cheng Youqing glanced at the bags of vegetables and beer in both of Luo Hetu’s hands and said, “It’s not about liking or disliking. I just want to talk for a bit.”

Since she said that, Luo Hetu didn’t push further. She carried her keys and headed upstairs.

The building was old, with the staircase cluttered with neighbors’ belongings, dried fish, and hanging laundry. Cheng Youqing, dressed in an impeccable suit and high heels, navigated through the mess and dust.

Luo Hetu lived on the third floor. She unlocked the iron door and glanced at Cheng Youqing.

Cheng Youqing stood half a step behind her, her expression calm, showing no impatience despite the environment that clashed with her polished appearance.

Luo Hetu smirked.

So, it’s just me you’re targeting, huh?

The apartment was about sixty square meters, with a small living room, one large bedroom, and one small one. It wasn’t as bad as Luo Hetu had implied—it was clean and tidy, with everything neatly arranged. The living room had a sofa and a coffee table, the latter covered with a warm, white-checkered cloth, giving the space a cozy feel.

Luo Hetu placed the groceries in the kitchen and soon returned with a fruit platter containing freshly washed apples.

“Ms. Cheng, please sit. It’s a humble place, so don’t laugh.”

Water was boiling in the kitchen. When it was ready, she brought over a kettle. She pulled a tea tray from under the coffee table and took out a box of inexpensive tea leaves.

Cheng Youqing sat down, quietly watching her bustle about. Though busy, her movements were smooth and effortless, as if she enjoyed the activity. It didn’t seem directed at Cheng Youqing—she simply liked living this way.

Despite her laid-back demeanor, she was someone who genuinely savored life.

The air carried only the faint scent of an alpha, mingling with the aroma of black tea, soon indistinguishable.

Cheng Youqing took a sip of tea and said, “Can you give me an explanation now?”

“Like I said, feel free to test me.”

“Alright.” Cheng Youqing pulled a document in pure English from her briefcase and handed it to her. “Translate it for me.”

Luo Hetu glanced at it. “This isn’t some trade secret, is it? Don’t tell me I’ll translate it and then you’ll sue me for knowing too much. I wouldn’t dare take on the Cheng Corporation in court.”

She sure holds a grudge.

“It’s not. Don’t worry.”

Luo Hetu took a sip of tea and began translating from English to Chinese.

“On Several Discussions Regarding China’s Current Economic Situation. Our country is in an era of rapid economic development…”

She translated the first page in one go, stumbling only slightly on a few technical terms but otherwise delivering a smooth translation.

As she started on the second page, Cheng Youqing stopped her.

“That’s enough.” She looked at her with an unreadable expression. “I didn’t expect your English to be so fluent.”

A genius hacker wasn’t just talk. Not only was her English fluent, but she could read most languages. She was even more proficient in decoding code.

“The person who wrote this article probably isn’t a native English speaker. The phrasing and sentence structure lean more toward Chinese habits.” She commented.

Cheng Youqing looked at her. “So, you independently discovered the business opportunity for audio-video players abroad, contacted manufacturers to produce discs for you, and then opened this store.”

“Yes. Li Baitian provided part of the disc list. I also reviewed TV programs, newspapers, and magazines to select additional titles based on trends.”

Cheng Youqing was at least certain that there was no immediate leak within the corporation. There was no need to dig further into the supplier. As long as she could stay ahead of the information curve and prepare accordingly, producing discs wasn’t exactly a complex technology.

She knew she shouldn’t linger any longer. Standing up, she said, “I may have been a bit persistent today and taken up your time. I apologize. My actions were from a business perspective, not targeted at you personally. Ms. Luo, you’re talented. Here’s my card. If you’re ever looking for a job, come find me at the Cheng Corporation.”