The Fallen Film Queen’s Possessive Alpha (GL, ABO) - Chapter 3

Magic Cube Industries Wins Annual Biotechnology Award

Magic Cube Industries Ushers in New Era of Pheromone Research

Exclusive Interview with Magic Cube Industries CEO Zhou Qiwei

On the returning flight, Zhou Qiwei absentmindedly flipped through several finance magazines featuring her on their covers while listening to the anxious voice of Deputy Director Du on the phone.

“Remember to go to the hospital your doctor wants to talk to you. Also,” the voice on the other end lowered slightly, “your mothers want you to come home. They’ve also invited your two sisters for a family dinner.”

Zhou Qiwei frowned slightly. She had no interest in dining with that group. “I’m not going. Instead, compile the TV station licensing documents and send them to Madam Du.”

“About the license”

“I know. Just send them as a notice we’re still negotiating.”

“What else is there to negotiate?” Du Xin was stunned, trying to dissuade her. “Song Haoyin was polite enough not to curse you to your face. Who in their right mind would ask for pheromones as a condition for collaboration?”

Given the critical role pheromones play for Alphas and Omegas, advancements in technology have increasingly classified them as private data. Not disclosing one’s pheromones is both a matter of courtesy and self-protection. To catalyze someone’s estrus cycle, one must know their pheromonal profile some even go as far as stealing pheromones to create specialized “drugs.”

A case from two years ago involved a celebrity whose pheromones were stolen from a hotel. The culprit used them to manufacture addictive pheromone stimulants, selling them through gray-market channels and raking in millions within a week. As a result, most people guard their pheromones carefully, especially public figures. Zhou Qiwei’s request wasn’t just borderline harassment it was outright rude.

“The PR team did well. Spreading positive news will help the company’s next strategic move. If they don’t need me on the cover, they can take their bonuses now.”

Zhou Qiwei avoided further discussion about pheromones, ending the call after a few brief words. She then turned to another stack of documents on the table. The cover page featured a photograph a pale, gaunt face. It was the detailed dossier on Song Haoyin’s biological father, along with publicly known information about the Song family’s internal strife.

While director Song Yu, Song Haoyin’s mother, was alive, the family of four appeared to be the epitome of a strict mother, doting father, and promising heirs a model celebrity household in the entertainment industry. But after Song Yu’s death, her husband, Zuo Wangxun, refused to attend his late wife’s funeral, citing reasons like “overwhelming grief” and “poor health.”

Less than a month after the funeral, Zuo Wangxun suddenly returned to the Song residence with another woman and her daughter. Soon after, rumors spread that Song Haoyin intended to sever ties with her father.

The public speculated endlessly, but Zhou Qiwei doubted the reason was as simple as “Zuo Wangxun’s infidelity.” If that were the case, the entire Zuo family wouldn’t have mobilized against Song Haoyin. Given Zuo Wangxun’s track record a man who relied on his wife in his early years and his daughter later could he really have orchestrated such a coordinated attack against her?

That would be pure fantasy.

The truth was far more complex: for reasons unknown, the Song and Zuo families had turned on each other, leaving Song Haoyin trapped in the crossfire.

“Still not giving up?”

Xuan Tinglu leaned in, surprised to find Zhou Qiwei still reviewing the Song family’s documents, and couldn’t help advising: “Although it’s the Song family we’re talking about, the only one with real influence in the entertainment industry is Director Song Yu herself. The Zuo family is different they’ve been deeply involved in film and television investments for years. Now that they’re targeting Song Haoyin, I don’t think she can withstand it.”

Despite occasionally complaining about Zhou Qiwei’s eccentricities and envying Du Xin’s greater concern for her, Xuan Tinglu never dragged her feet when it came to serious matters. When discussing TV licenses and the media industry, Assistant Xuan would diligently help Zhou Qiwei with her research.

“Moreover, she won awards right after her debut and then skyrocketed to fame. Her foundation has been rock-solid all these years. With her standing there, certain resources naturally prioritize her, which blocks many others from moving up the ranks. Actually, it’s not just the Zuo family targeting her now, but also colleagues who want to take advantage of the chaos to secure their positions.”

“Even if we step in to help her, recovering will take time. Expecting her to help us obtain the license and cooperate with funding the media company is simply unrealistic. Why insist on her? We’d be better off trying other approaches.”

Xuan Tinglu couldn’t understand. Even Du Xin seemed inclined to give up. Why was Zhou Qiwei so determined to collaborate with Song Haoyin? The investment clearly outweighed the returns it just didn’t add up.

Even as she arrived alone at the hospital, Zhou Qiwei could still hear her friend’s questioning in her ears: “Why exactly? It can’t be because of your family’s demands, can they? They’re going too far!”

It had nothing to do with the Zhou family. Watching the doctor’s lips move as medical advice floated past her ears, Zhou Qiwei thought to herself: Of course it’s for my own sake.

“This week, the patient’s pheromone indicators have shown good progress, with secretion levels trending toward normal,” the doctor said happily for his young patient, explaining the report. “It seems the recent artificial pheromone injections have been effective.”

Song Haoyin listened carefully to the doctor’s diagnosis of her younger sister’s condition but wasn’t particularly relieved. She cautiously asked, “Doctor, although Ange’s condition is under control now, won’t long-term use of artificial pheromones reduce their effectiveness over time?”

“That’s exactly what I wanted to discuss with you.”

The doctor sighed at the question. Patient Song Ange’s condition was complex her pheromone production was uncontrollable, a condition commonly referred to as “pheromone dysregulation.” Normal alphas or omegas produce pheromones in fixed amounts, but hers were completely erratic one day it might be 1 standard unit, the next 100.

Such unstable pheromone secretion not only placed a heavy burden on the body but also caused significant damage to the brain. Whether due to trauma or congenital issues, people with this disorder faced reduced lifespan and quality of life. More importantly, there was currently no definitive cure one could even say recovery depended entirely on luck.

She continued explaining to Song Haoyin: “For Ange’s current condition, using artificial pheromones to regulate her secretion can help control the rate, combined with other drug therapies. But these are only short-term solutions. If we want the patient to fully recover, the only way is to find pheromones that are truly compatible with hers.”

Artificial pheromones, much like inhibitors, lose their effectiveness with prolonged use, ultimately leaving patients to succumb to pheromone disorders. Yet finding a matching pheromone is incredibly difficult the compatibility must exceed 80%, making it akin to searching for a needle in a haystack.

St. Karl’s Hospital is the best facility for treating pheromone-related illnesses, with extensive case records accumulated over years of treatment. Among patients suffering from such disorders, the number of successful recoveries is vanishingly small the statistics are grim.

Song Haoyin trudged back to her younger sister’s hospital room, only to hear An’ge’s excited voice as soon as she reached the door: “Senior Qiwei, is the research on pheromone regulation still ongoing at the labs under Magic Cube Industries? Our professor said few are willing to invest significant resources in this field.”

“The reluctance stems from the fact that this direction requires extensive foundational research, with slow results. But someone has to do it, right?”

Seated beside Song An’ge’s bed, speaking with earnest sincerity, was none other than Miss Zhou Qiwei. Song Haoyin was stunned, a chill running down her spine just what was this woman after?

After coaxing her adoring younger sister to rest, Song Haoyin plastered on a polite smile and left the room with Zhou Qiwei.

The woman walked ahead, Zhou Qiwei following behind, their shadows flickering on the walls, maintaining a deliberate distance. In high heels, Song Haoyin stood slightly taller than her a new observation for Zhou Qiwei, whose brief encounter with her the previous week had only revealed that Song Haoyin had excellent proportions.

Turning a corner, Zhou Qiwei quickened her pace to pull open the glass door for Song Haoyin.

Their shadows merged for a moment.

St. Karl’s garden separated the main hospital building from the inpatient ward, and at this hour, few patients were strolling about. The two reached the fountain at the garden’s center before Song Haoyin turned abruptly, locking eyes with Zhou Qiwei. “Miss Zhou, I didn’t call you, and I rejected Du Xin’s offer. That should have made my stance clear. I don’t understand”

“You should understand, Miss Song.”

Zhou Qiwei cut through her doubts and frustration, repeating firmly, “You should understand just how dire your situation is. Those who want to help you are powerless, while others are eager to kick you while you’re down. The Zuo family has used their influence to keep the tax authorities silent, refusing to clarify and leaving you smeared in scandal. They can also pressure the banks to demand repayment I’ve heard your loan extension request was denied. If you can’t raise enough money before the deadline, the consequences speak for themselves.”

“I know what you’re thinking. Just like at the hotel, when you told that worthless fool that if you ever decided to trade yourself for money, it wouldn’t be with trash like him. I respect your pride and your professional competence. But Miss Song, right now, you truly need someone who can help you out of this mess.”

“Of course, you can cling to your dignity and refuse my terms. But what about your sister? Song Ange is brilliant, with keen insights into bio-pheromone research. Once you lose your standing, even if the Zuo family does nothing, how will she survive so young, so gravely ill?”

Before Zhou Qiwei could finish speaking, Song Haoyin had already clenched her lower lip between her teeth, her cheeks flushed crimson. Tightening her fists, she retorted in a low voice, “I’ve naturally made provisions for my sister that’s none of your concern!”

Zhou Qiwei burst into laughter, waving her hand dismissively as if Song Haoyin had told a joke. “Miss Song, your anger is clouding your judgment. If you’re truly forced off the gaming table, do you really think the safeguards you’ve set up for your sister will hold?”

The words struck Song Haoyin like a thunderbolt. Overwhelmed by exhaustion and fury these past months, she had single-mindedly arranged Angie’s future according to her own plans, completely overlooking the issue Zhou Qiwei had raised. Everything had always gone smoothly before, but in the last six months, Song Haoyin had witnessed the fickleness of human relationships and the murky underbelly of the entertainment industry.

As Zhou Qiwei had pointed out if she lost everything, or worse, what would ensure Angie could keep those assets? The protective measures she’d put in place would likely seem laughably naive to banks or debt collectors. Beads of sweat formed on Song Haoyin’s forehead as she stared blankly at the fountain, realizing how overconfident and careless she’d been. What a fool she’d been.

As Song Haoyin racked her brain to assess the situation, she felt something brush against her hand. Looking down, she saw Zhou Qiwei offering a handkerchief. The younger woman pressed it into Song Haoyin’s palm. “Wipe your sweat.”

The fountain had stopped its cycle long ago. Silence stretched between them as Song Haoyin twisted the handkerchief without speaking. Zhou Qiwei waited patiently beside her, the other woman’s shadow enveloping her like a protective veil. Finally, Song Haoyin spoke, her voice hoarse: “Let’s go somewhere else to talk properly.”