Chapter Text
Inside the largest office on the floor, Sheng Shaoyou stood near the massive window with one hand in his pocket, staring down at the city he barely had time to notice anymore.
The untouched coffee on his desk had long gone cold and So had his patience.
The door opened carefully.
Penming stepped in carrying a tablet and several printed reports, shoulders tense before he had even spoken, knowing how this is about to go.
“Sir…”
Shaoyou did not turn around. “Say it.”
He swallowed once. “The newest compound trial failed.”
Then slowly, very slowly, Shaoyou closed his eyes.The pressure behind his temples sharpened instantly.
Again.
Another failure.
Another month wasted.
Another report filled with numbers that meant nothing because at the end of every experiment the result stayed the same.
“Leave it there,” Shaoyou said quietly.
Penming hesitated before setting the files on the desk. Even from across the room he could feel the Alpha pheromones slowly thickening in the air, not enough to overwhelm, but enough to warn everyone nearby that Sheng Shaoyou’s mood had darkened.
“Sir,” He added carefully, “the research department says they may need more time.”
That finally made Shaoyou turn.
“How much more time,” he asked.
Penming lowered his eyes immediately. “They cannot guarantee anything yet.”
A humorless laugh escaped Shaoyou.Of course they could not.Nobody could and That exactly was the problem.
Shengfang Biology was one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the country. They had the best laboratories, the best researchers, unlimited funding, political influence, international partnerships.
And yet his father was still dying.
Shaoyou walked back toward his desk slowly, picking up the newest report with one hand. Rows of chemical structures stared back at him mockingly.
The Months of work was Worthless.
His jaw tightened.
“If X Holdings can create a stable version,” he said coldly, tossing the report back onto the desk, “why can’t we?”
Penming stayed silent.
Nobody liked discussing X Holdings inside Shengfang Tower lately.
Not after the rumors started.
Not after reports leaked that X Holdings had quietly developed a compound years ahead of every competitor in the field.
A targeted biological stabilizer which was almost impossibl and the most irritating part was that nobody knew how they had done it.
X Holdings guarded its research like a fortress.No public interviews neither any conferences. Not even any appearances from executives.
It was Nothing but Only results.
Shaoyou dragged a hand through his hair and sat down heavily in his chair.His father’s condition had worsened again last week.
It was Another conversation with doctors who looked nervous every time they entered the room.Shaoyou was tired of nervous doctors.Tired of condolences spoken before death had even arrived.
“Tch.”
He leaned back in the chair and looked toward the darkened city outside.
Then suddenly something crossed his mind.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
“Wait.”
Penming stopped near the door immediately.
Shaoyou tapped one finger against the desk slowly. “You contacted X Holdings personally this morning.”
“Yes, sir.”
“What did they say.”
Penming looked uncomfortable instantly. “Their representative refused another partnership discussion.”
“Again.”
“Yes, sir.”
Shaoyou let out a sharp breath through his nose.
“And their reason.”
The secretary hesitated.
Then carefully answered, “They said their boss is unavailable.”
A bitter scoff escaped Shaoyou immediately.
“Unavailable,” he repeated flatly.
Penming wisely said nothing.
Shaoyou leaned back in his chair again, irritation sharpening into something colder.
Nobody had seen the head of X Holdings properly in years.
No interviews.
No public appearances.
No official galas.
Nothing.
Only rumors.
An Enigma.
Powerful enough to control an empire before thirty.Dangerous during rut periods.Impossible to negotiate with directly.Some people even doubted the Enigma existed at all.
Shaoyou found that possibility ridiculous.
Nobody built an empire like X Holdings through ghost stories.The owner existed.
He was simply hiding and Shaoyou hated people who hid.
“Named himself an Enigma,” Shaoyou muttered with visible disgust. “But does not even show his face.”
“Pathetic.”
Penming carefully avoided reacting.But internally even he knew that was unfair.
Nobody called the owner of X Holdings pathetic.Not openly.Not if they valued survival.Because despite the secrecy surrounding the company, one fact remained undeniable.
X Holdings was terrifying.
Shaoyou’s eyes lowered to the newest rejected report again.
Failure.
Another failure.
His chest tightened with frustration.
"Even if he's A Enigma, there must be any weakness. I have to find that.I do not care how difficult he is,” he said finally. “Arrange another meeting.”
“Sir…”
“This time,” Shaoyou interrupted calmly, “do not ask the representatives.”
Penming looked up carefully.
“I want the Enigma himself.”
~~~~
And somewhere far away, inside the highest floor of another tower lit only by dim golden light, a man rested silently in darkness while reports about Shengfang Biology lay open beside him.
The corner of the paper carried one familiar name.
Sheng Shaoyou.
The Mansion was quiet in the way only truly expensive places could be.
At the center of the vast sitting room, Hua Yong sat alone.
One leg crossed over the other, posture relaxed enough to seem careless, though nothing about him ever truly was. A tablet rested loosely in his hand while untouched Wine cooled beside him on the low table.
The screen reflected faintly in his eyes.
Sheng Shaoyou.
Even through photographs, the man looked sharp and Cold enough to make people step carefully around him.
Hua Yong’s gaze lingered on one particular image taken during a biotech conference months ago. Shaoyou stood surrounded by investors and reporters, expression calm, dark suit, attention already elsewhere despite the cameras pointed at him.
The article below the image discussed Shengfang Biology’s recent failures.
Failed compounds.
Increasing pressure.
Falling timelines.
And one increasingly desperate attempt to contact X Holdings.
A faint amused curve touched Hua Yong’s lips.The room doors opened quietly behind him.
Chang Yu entered with several folders in hand, movements careful from long experience. He stopped a distance away before speaking.
“We received another request from Shengfang Biology.”
Hua Yong did not look up immediately.
“What kind.”
“A direct negotiation request.” Chang Yu paused briefly. “Regarding the stabilizer compound.”
Still no answer.
Hua Yong’s eyes remained on the screen.
Interesting.
That was the word lingering in his mind lately whenever Sheng Shaoyou appeared.
Interesting.
This man has lots of Pride yet he refused to give up despite all Failures.
Which was precisely why Shengfang’s repeated requests had become mildly entertaining instead of irritating.
Chang Yu hesitated carefully before continuing. “They are becoming persistent.”
“Persistent people usually want something badly,” Hua Yong replied.
“The father’s condition is worsening.”
At that, Hua Yong finally looked up.Ofcourse Not surprised.He already knew.X Holdings had access to enough medical networks to know exactly how unstable Sheng Fang’s condition had become over the last six months.
Every failed treatment.
Every emergency intervention.
Every hidden consultation.
Hua Yong knew all of it.
His fingers tapped lightly against the tablet once.Chang Yu watched him carefully before speaking again. “Maybe we should help them.”
The atmosphere in the room changed instantly.Not dramatically. It wass Worse.
The air simply became colder.Hua Yong slowly lifted his eyes toward Chang Yu.
Calm.
Beautiful.
Dangerous.
“Since when,” Hua Yong asked softly, “did we start working for charity?”
Chang Yu straightened immediately. “That is not what I meant.”
“No?”
Hua Yong set the tablet down with deliberate care. “Then explain.”
Chang Yu inhaled slowly before choosing his words carefully. “Shengfang Biology is still one of the strongest biotech companies in the country. Cooperation could be beneficial long term.”
Hua Yong leaned back slightly.
“Cooperation,” he repeated quietly, as if testing the word for amusement.
Chang Yu remained silent.
Hua Yong’s gaze drifted back toward the tablet again, toward the image of Sheng Shaoyou standing beneath conference lights with that same distant expression.
He looked exhausted in this photo.
Most people would not notice.
Hua Yong did.
Interesting.
“Do you know what Shengfang has done for the last three years?” Hua Yong asked suddenly.
Chang Yu answered immediately. “Attempting targeted biological stabilization treatment.”
“And.”
“They failed.”
“Repeatedly.”
Chang Yu nodded carefully.
Hua Yong’s expression remained unreadable.
“They spent billions trying to solve a problem we solved quietly eighteen months ago,” he said.
Chang Yu lowered his eyes slightly. “Even then, refusing every meeting request may provoke them eventually.”
That finally earned a small laugh from Hua Yong.
Soft.
Almost pleasant.
“Provoke Sheng Shaoyou?” Hua Yong tilted his head faintly. “Good.”
Chang Yu said nothing.
Because unfortunately that reaction made perfect sense.Hua Yong had always preferred dangerous things over obedient ones.
He disliked predictable people.
Disliked weakness.
Disliked desperation even more.
But Sheng Shaoyou…
No matter how much pressure tightened around him, the Alpha refused to bend publicly.
Even now, with his father dying and investors watching closely, Shaoyou still demanded meetings personally instead of begging through intermediaries.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
He rested his chin lightly against one hand. “Did Sheng Shaoyou ask personally this time?”
“Yes.”
“And.”
“He requested to speak directly with the owner of X Holdings.”
A dangerous smile finally appeared properly on Hua Yong’s face..
“So the Alpha finally became impatient.”
Chang Yu exhaled internally.
Hua Yong stood smoothly from the sofa and walked toward the enormous windows overlooking the city. Lights stretched endlessly below him.
Somewhere out there sat Shengfang Tower.And inside it, Sheng Shaoyou was probably still working himself into exhaustion trying to save a dying man.
Most people would call that devotion admirable.
Hua Yong called it foolish.
Still…
“Decline the meeting again,” Hua Yong said calmly.
Chang Yu blinked slightly. “Again?”
“Yes.”
“Understood.”
“Let me see how long you can stay proud, Sheng Shaoyou.”
How was It!?