Guide To Lying Flat And Getting Rich As A Kept Alpha - Chapter 54
54
Cheng Youqing had been extremely busy lately. The commercial street project in the east of the city was progressing smoothly, and at this critical juncture, they were preparing to start developing DVD players. The Cheng Corporation was currently burdened with massive loans, and every step forward was fraught with difficulty. Cheng Youqing had been overseeing everything, working tirelessly from morning to night. Only when she occasionally got off work early did she have the energy for an intimate “wife-wife” life. Luo Hetu finally understood why middle-aged couples often ended up living platonically—when you’re overwhelmed with stress and busyness, those desires barely cross your mind.
Even with no time for such thoughts, Cheng Youqing managed to squeeze in some reading during her fragmented breaks. She pored over magazines that discussed Luo Hetu, from serious literary journals to small-scale provincial publications. One magazine even claimed that Luo Hetu, as an Alpha, washed her wife’s underwear every day.
Luo Hetu: …
How did they even know that?
The real issue wasn’t the gossip itself. If they kept elevating her to a pedestal she didn’t belong on, it would make things difficult for her.
Sure enough, Cheng Youqing said, “I’m going to cut these out and frame them.”
Couldn’t she frame something more flattering?
Another week passed like this, and soon it was time for the Jiang City Business Association’s annual gala.
Early in the morning, Luo Hetu groggily got out of bed and overheard Cheng Youqing on the phone.
When the call ended, Luo Hetu sidled up to her and nuzzled her affectionately. “Who was that?”
She asked with an air of righteous confidence these days.
“Zhou Chenghuan.”
“Why does she keep calling you?” Luo Hetu’s jealousy flowed as naturally as water.
“She reminded me that a lot of people are waiting to see me make a fool of myself today. She told me to dress you up nicely.”
Cheng Youqing didn’t tell the whole story. The incident where Luo Hetu worked as a server in Qianbao’s private room had spread among the second-generation heirs, and all sorts of rumors were flying around. Now, countless people in the business circle were eagerly waiting to see Cheng Youqing and her “defective Alpha who married into the family and worked as a server” become a laughingstock.
Cheng Youqing, of course, didn’t care about such trivial nonsense. Other people’s opinions had never been part of her considerations. She believed only the weak cared about such things. As someone who spent her days running around for the company’s stock prices, she focused on tangible benefits.
Still, the person she chose shouldn’t be looked down upon by others.
If anyone thought Luo Hetu wasn’t good enough, they must be blind.
Luo Hetu tilted her head, and Cheng Youqing grabbed her ear to plant a kiss on it. “Get up and get ready.”
The Alpha looked at her with innocent, clear eyes. “Should I wear the collar?”
Cheng Youqing had brought home another one yesterday—wine-red, with a little golden bell on it, making her look even more like a little mutt raised at home.
Cheng Youqing loved it. Last night, she’d wrapped herself around her “little mutt” and indulged for quite a while.
The question made Cheng Youqing hesitate, though her expression remained neutral. “Do you want to wear it?”
“Sure, why not? I’m the textbook definition of a kept Alpha.”
Among all the people Cheng Youqing had met, Luo Hetu was the only one who took pride in being a “kept Alpha.” No matter how many times she heard her proud declarations, Cheng Youqing found it absurd.
Absurd, but satisfying.
As Chen Lie once put it, either Cheng Youqing was genuinely, extraordinarily satisfied with Luo Hetu, or she was terrifyingly calculating.
Cheng Youqing chose to believe it was genuine satisfaction. She said, “Then wear it.”
They had already picked out a matching outfit from the clothes they’d tried on before, and the stylist would arrive with it in the afternoon. The gala started in the afternoon, so the two spent the morning working from home. Luo Hetu was mostly on the phone, talking to Zhang Hanyu and then Li Baitian, discussing company matters.
After lunch, they began changing. Only then did they have a moment to talk. Luo Hetu got a rough sense of the Cheng Corporation’s situation and learned that Cheng Youqing had tied up all her funds in the project, with no cash flow in sight for the short term, making it impossible to invest in other industries.
So, they just chatted casually. “Sister, are you interested in getting into the internet industry?”
“I’m interested, but I don’t have the funds.”
By market trends, entering the internet industry now could lead to becoming one of the major players in the future, growing into a comprehensive internet giant. The internet was a vast, untapped blue ocean, but the Cheng Corporation hadn’t fully transitioned yet, and with insufficient cash flow, waiting might actually be a good move.
Luo Hetu nodded. “Once the funds from the east city project start flowing back, that’ll be the perfect time to jump in. I already have a plan. I’ll tell you about it later.”
Cheng Youqing smiled faintly. While the stylist stepped out, she reached out and tugged at Luo Hetu’s collar.
Luo Hetu leaned in, and Cheng Youqing grabbed the tag on her collar.
For today’s outfit, she was wearing a black collar.
Cheng Youqing thought for a moment, then reached behind Luo Hetu’s neck with both hands. “Let’s not wear it.”
She took it off.
“Why not? I want to wear it.”
Cheng Youqing looked into her eyes. “It’s too… suggestive. I don’t want others to see.”
“Then how am I supposed to prove I’m your kept Alpha?” Luo Hetu now spoke about such things with shameless confidence.
Cheng Youqing thought for a moment, then pulled her close and kissed her neck.
When the stylist returned, they saw a fresh “strawberry” mark on the Alpha’s neck.
The stylist clicked their tongue twice and politely advised, “Be careful when planting strawberries. Avoid the carotid artery to prevent bl00d vessel rupture.”
Cheng Youqing, who was reading a magazine, wanted to say it was just a bug bite but realized comparing herself to a bug wasn’t ideal. So, she pursed her lips and stayed silent, mentally noting the advice.
Luo Hetu, proudly bearing her wife’s mark, was as happy as a peacock fanning its tail.
At 3:30 PM, their car arrived at the venue.
The Zhou family’s estate was in the suburbs, featuring a villa and a meticulously designed garden modeled after foreign landscapes. At the entrance, formally dressed attendants opened car doors for guests, checked invitations, and ushered them into the villa.
Luo Hetu wore a custom-designed light-colored shirt tucked into trousers, accentuating her long legs. Her medium-length hair cascaded over her shoulders, with a small, cheeky braid hidden within. Her makeup subtly highlighted her starry eyes, with defined brows, a sharp jawline, and full, kissable lips. With her rosy lips and bright smile, she was an undeniably charming and likable little Alpha.
She bent down as a woman in a light-colored qipao stepped out of the car, extending a slender leg. Luo Hetu took her hand, and they linked arms.
Radiant and elegant, with an air of refined allure.
The moment they appeared, they drew every eye in the room. Cheng Youqing’s expression was as composed as at any other banquet, but while she usually exuded an aura of commanding presence in her qipao and shawl, tonight she was arm-in-arm with an Alpha. Upon closer inspection, she hadn’t softened her sharp edges one bit.
The Alpha stood tall with perfect posture, poised and composed, neither arrogant nor submissive, exuding an air of refined upbringing. As they approached the entrance, there was no sense of who was the “kept” or “married-in” partner—they seemed like a perfectly matched couple, made for each other.
The group of second-generation heirs standing together had already noticed them, casting all sorts of colorful glances their way.
“Here comes Chairman Cheng and her server Alpha.”
“Hahaha, she’s really not afraid of embarrassing herself.”
“Cheng Youqing has it rough, bringing this defective Alpha along and probably needing bodyguards to keep her glands from being poached.”
“What’s rougher is that she’s living platonically. Poor thing, probably never satisfied, with an Alpha who has to work as a server.”
“Maybe she’s not satisfied with her Alpha, so she’s developed a cuckold fetish to satisfy herself.”
“Could be, haha.”
Someone who hadn’t seen Luo Hetu at Qianbao’s event saw her for the first time today and couldn’t help but say, “So that’s the kept Alpha? She’s really good-looking. No wonder Cheng Youqing fell for her.”
The other heirs scoffed. “What do you know? A pretty face is just a pretty face. Useless is useless—what’s the point of looking good if she’s incompetent?”
Luo Hetu glanced at the group of second-generation heirs, none of whom could hold a candle to her or her chairman wife in looks. She leaned in and whispered, “They’re definitely talking trash about us.”
Cheng Youqing cast a single glance their way.
Just one glance.
The heirs scattered—some looked at the sky, some sipped their drinks, some made awkward small talk.
Not one dared to meet her gaze.
Cheng Youqing looked away, calm as ever. “Mm.”
Luo Hetu grinned. “My wife’s still the coolest.”
Cheng Youqing, arm linked with hers, walked straight toward the center of the room to greet a few key figures.
Given Cheng Youqing’s status, chatting with peers her age would be beneath her. Naturally, she first exchanged a few words with Mr. Zhou.
Mr. Zhou, an eighty-year-old man with kind eyes and a gentle demeanor, was dressed modestly. Seeing Cheng Youqing, he smiled warmly, his words as soothing as a spring breeze, filled with care and affection. His gaze toward Luo Hetu was equally kind. “This is your wife?”
“Yes, her name is Luo Hetu.”
Luo Hetu spoke up. “Good evening, Mr. Zhou. It’s an honor to attend your grand birthday celebration. I wish you boundless fortune like the East Sea and a lifespan surpassing eight thousand years.”
Cheng Youqing had brought her partner, and Luo Hetu personally presented the birthday gift with impeccable etiquette, leaving no room for criticism. To onlookers, she was clearly the “kept Alpha,” riding on the coattails of Cheng Youqing’s lavish gift, as she likely couldn’t afford anything herself.
Mr. Zhou nodded and praised, “She’s quite the looker. From her appearance, she’s destined for lasting wealth and deep blessings, perfect for family life, with good prospects for descendants. You’ve found a fine match, Xiao Cheng.”
Cheng Youqing thanked him gracefully, her smile faint. “Thank you, Mr. Zhou.”
The onlookers thought: A kept Alpha is a kept Alpha. This was the grandest event in Jiang City’s business circle, attended by chairmen, presidents, and CEOs. Who would want to be praised for being “perfect for family life” or “blessed with descendants”? Those were compliments meant for a demure little wife.
Luo Hetu, the “little wife,” was thrilled to hear it. Wealth, blessings, and family aptitude—those were all top-tier compliments. Where else could you find an Alpha like her?
So, with her back straight, Luo Hetu beamed brightly and whispered to her wife, “See? You hit the jackpot with me.”
Cheng Youqing’s smile was subtle. “Mm.”
Luo Hetu conveniently ignored the part about descendants. Children would come from an Omega’s womb, and whether to have them was entirely up to Cheng Youqing. If she wanted kids, Luo Hetu would provide the pheromones. If not, even better—childbirth was taxing on the body and energy, and some unknown kid with an unpredictable personality would only compete for Cheng Youqing’s attention. Luo Hetu wasn’t exactly thrilled about that.
After chatting with Mr. Zhou, Cheng Youqing formally introduced Luo Hetu to the big players in Jiang City’s business world.
Most of the business elite were present. Company heads discussed work with Cheng Youqing, while their wives and daughters whispered behind her back, their focus entirely on Luo Hetu.
She was the kept Alpha who worked as a server.
She was the proof of Cheng Youqing’s lovesick folly.
[But her legs are so long, her muscles are amazing, and she’s gorgeous.]
[Did you see her waist? I did. Her abs are clearer than our company’s stock trends. She looks strong.]
[She’s kind of hot, I’m serious.]
[Did you see the strawberry on her neck? For someone like Cheng Youqing to be so open about it, this defective Alpha must have something going for her.]
[I’m craving an Alpha now. The one I hooked up with last time was decent—should I call him tonight?]
[My friend just opened a new club with a fresh batch of Alphas, including pure ones like this. Wanna try?]
[Count me in.]
[Cool, let’s go together. They’ll line up, and we can pick whoever we want—any type you can imagine. They’ll even dance for you. If you like one, you can spend the night. The new ones are clean.]
[Be careful, though. These days, Alphas, Betas, Omegas—they’re all cunning. Some even get pregnant on purpose to extort money.]
[Cheng Youqing’s Alpha definitely can’t pull that stunt. She’s a defective Alpha—she’s probably no good in that department, haha.]
Cheng Youqing glanced at them.
The whispers stopped, and the group coughed awkwardly.
Cheng Youqing smiled faintly and patted Luo Hetu’s arm.
Luo Hetu, clueless but happy as a carefree pup, asked, “Is it time to eat?”
“Mm, let’s go see what you’d like to eat.”
Luo Hetu’s first public appearance was under the watchful eyes and hushed gossip of everyone in the villa. Completely unbothered, she was about to head off to grab some food when she spotted Xu Ruyan standing beside her father.
Her fingers tightened on Cheng Youqing’s arm, and suddenly, Luo Hetu grew nervous.