Chapter 57: Found That Alpha

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

The snow leopard lying at Lu Yao’s feet opened its eyes wide, its tail flicking against the floor.

“Are you really willing to—” Elaine hadn’t finished his question when Lu Yao’s personal AI assistant notified him of an incoming call. Lu Yao frowned and glanced at the communicator. It was Li Yan. “I’ll take this call.” Elaine nodded.

“Chief Engineer Lu!” As soon as Lu Yao pressed the answer button, Li Yan’s lively voice came through. Before Lu Yao could reply, Li Yan hurried on: “Chief Engineer Lu, today is the awards ceremony for the documentary gold prize. Aren’t you coming?”

Unlike the quiet of the therapy room, the background was bustling with people—Li Yan was clearly already at the ceremony.

“I have a personal engagement,” Lu Yao replied.

“Director Wang said our chances of winning are very high. It’s a shame you’re not here. I wanted to ask you a small favor while we meet.”

“What is it?”

The previously dejected little guy immediately perked up. “Chief Engineer Lu, my elder brother is back!”

Li Yan’s elder brother? Wasn’t he supposed to… have been dead for many years?

“After my elder brother learned I had worked with you for a while, he wanted me to ask if a meeting could be arranged. He wants to meet you,” Li Yan said. The question made Lu Yao pause. “I’m busy lately; we’ll see when I have time.”

“Alright, Chief Engineer Lu, I’ll ask again when you’re free.”

The call ended. Elaine smiled, “What a lively kid. You can refuse, but you don’t have to even say no.”

Lu Yao glanced at Elaine but did not comment. Li Yan may be young, but he has navigated fame and social arenas for years. He could clearly read Lu Yao’s unspoken intent, yet his experience taught him that if Lu Yao didn’t outright refuse, he could pretend ignorance and persist.

Lu Yao, however, remained unmoved. He saw no reason to meet this resurrected Li Mo. He set his personal AI assistant to Do Not Disturb and returned his attention to Elaine. “Let’s continue where we left off,” he said.

“Alright,” Elaine said, “are you truly willing to let Zhou Yunchen participate in your pheromone stress adaptation training? You probably remember I initially offered four options. Option one: use a high dose suppressant to control stress reaction triggers. Option two: find that alpha from before to assist you in overcoming the trauma; it’s the simplest in theory, but overdosing could harm the omega’s physiology. Option two is the one I recommend the most—it has the highest chance of curing the condition, but the problem is, we can’t find that alpha. Option three: find a volunteer alpha willing to help with pheromone adaptation training. Option four: I could purchase anonymous pheromones from the public library of different alphas for your training.”

Lu Yao listened quietly. To his left, Elaine’s hand-tended garden spilled sunlight, leaves, vines, and flowers, filling the therapy room with a calm, natural atmosphere.

“Awwooo—” the snow leopard gave a low cry. Lu Yao stroked its head, worried about its anxiety in the unfamiliar environment.

When Elaine first gave the four options, Lu Yao had immediately chosen the suppressant route, keeping option two as a backup while searching. Now, the side effects of option one were beginning to show. Even with the restricted F-type suppressant, it wouldn’t safely carry him through the remaining century of life. Option two still remained uncertain.

Option three was comparatively more stable and safe than option four. The real challenge was whether Lu Yao was willing to accept it.

“That shouldn’t be a problem,” Lu Yao replied. The snow leopard listened intently, holding his breath. “I’ve reconsidered the last forced marking. Aside from the stress reaction itself, everything is within an acceptable range,” he said.

“‘Acceptable range’? That’s the first time I’ve heard someone describe marking that way,” Elaine said. “Are you referring to your tolerance toward Zhou Yunchen?”

Lu Yao leaned into the sofa, fingers quietly interlaced. “Yes. I know marking between alpha and omega involves more than a bite or a scar—it inevitably involves… sexual elements. In my social circle, no other alpha could do this. Using a stranger volunteer would create abnormal work and social complications. But with Zhou Yunchen and our relationship, he can be the one.” Lu Yao paused. “Our relationship is already strange enough. A little more won’t hurt. It depends on whether he’s willing and whether this therapy actually works.”

Willing! The snow leopard nearly leapt with joy. How could he refuse? Lu Yao did not resist him. Even pheromones that once seemed harmful now appeared curative. And Zhou Yunchen wasn’t a random volunteer—he was the alpha from back then, which could help Lu Yao more effectively. The snow leopard walked around the sofa in excitement.

“I’ve treated omega patients with pheromone stress disorders before. Adaptation training works about 80% of the time. Yours is more extreme, so it will take longer and be more in-depth,” Elaine said. “If you agree, I can draft a treatment cooperation contract. You can bring it to Zhou Yunchen and ask him—”

Lu Yao’s AI assistant buzzed again, interrupting Elaine. She sighed and waited. Only important messages break through Do Not Disturb mode. Lu Yao opened the screen. The black star emblem of the Federation Intelligence Bureau appeared.

Deputy Director Teng: We have located the alpha from back then. He is currently on New Blue Planet. We’ve verified the details; everything matches your account.

Elaine’s gaze shifted, brows furrowing. “Is this an urgent work matter?”

“It’s not work…” Lu Yao’s voice slowed, showing slight shock.

He replied to Deputy Director Teng: Who is it?

Teng quickly sent a file, “This is the basic info. See for yourself.”

Lu Yao opened the file while replying to Elaine. “Deputy Director Teng says they’ve found the alpha from back then.”

The snow leopard’s ears shot up. Found who?

“Who is it?” Elaine asked the same question.

A familiar name appeared. Lu Yao’s pupils contracted sharply. “Li Mo, Federation General Li Qingshan’s eldest son, Morningstar Military Academy, Class 573, Mecha Department student.”

Zhou Yunchen: ??? He first relaxed, then confusion and anger surged as he questioned the Intelligence Bureau’s competence. Li Mo was never the alpha who marked Lu Yao.

Deputy Director Teng: Do you want me to contact him?

Lu Yao: No, I’ll handle it myself.

He remembered Li Yan’s call half an hour ago: Li Mo had returned and wanted to meet Lu Yao.

Lu Yao immediately dialed Li Yan. Excited cheering came from the other end: “Chief Engineer Lu, did you see the award ceremony broadcast? We won!”

“I… congratulations. Li Yan, can you arrange a meeting with your brother, Li Mo?”

“Of course,” Li Yan said, flattered. “When are you free?”

“I want to meet as soon as possible, this afternoon is fine.”

“No problem. My brother just returned, he has nothing urgent, and he seems very eager to meet you. Were you acquainted before? I remember you were alumni of Morningstar Military Academy.”

“Perhaps. Five p.m., 39 Restaurant.”

Li Yan agreed immediately. After ending the call, Elaine looked at Lu Yao’s complex expression and asked, “Should I accompany you? You might need a endocrine synchronist to help stabilize your emotions.”

Lu Yao nodded. “Yes… let’s go now.”

The proposal to have Zhou Yunchen assist Lu Yao with pheromone adaptation training was silently set aside for the moment.

Lu Yao stood, putting on his coat, and walked out with Elaine. Suddenly, the snow leopard at his feet collapsed sideways, as if it had fallen asleep, making it impossible for Lu Yao to move him.

“Baby? Baby?” The sudden incident made Lu Yao’s heart skip a beat. He dropped to one knee, cradled the snow leopard’s head, checking his breathing, then flipped up his eyelids to examine his pupils.

Everything seemed normal, yet the snow leopard simply could not get up. Lu Yao placed his hand on the snow leopard’s side. The large cat was still breathing as usual, his abdomen rising and falling rapidly. At that moment, Zhao Minghe sent a message, saying he had received abnormal readings from the snow leopard’s physical chip, and asked if Lu Yao’s snow leopard had fainted.

“Yes, that’s right.” Lu Yao’s anxious voice trembled. He couldn’t pinpoint which part of the situation had stirred his emotions.

“This can happen occasionally. Don’t worry,” Zhao Minghe said. “The snow leopard originally lived in high-altitude regions. When active at low altitudes with abundant oxygen, he may sometimes experience oxygen-induced fainting. Where are you? I’ll come pick him up and take him to the hospital immediately.”

Lu Yao gave him the address of the therapy room. “Do I need to come along?”

“Is Major General Lu busy with personal matters? No problem. As before, you focus on your business; I’ll take the snow leopard to the doctor. Once he recovers, I’ll return him to you.”

Lu Yao reluctantly agreed. After Zhao Minghe took the snow leopard away, he continued with Elaine toward the 39 Restaurant, their scheduled meeting place. Meanwhile, the snow leopard who had fainted due to “oxygen intoxication” immediately transformed back into human form once Zhao Minghe’s flightcraft lifted off.

Zhao Minghe looked back and saw Zhou Yunchen, eyes solemn, wearing a crisp military dress uniform that exuded refinement, precision, and authority.

Every time the snow leopard transformed back into human form, his clothing reflected his inner thoughts. But this was the first time Zhao Minghe had seen Zhou Yunchen return in such elaborate, dignified military attire.

Zhao Minghe assumed Zhou Yunchen’s sudden summon indicated an urgent matter. Yet now… perhaps it was urgent, but the direction of urgency might not be exactly what Zhao Minghe had imagined.

“General, where are we heading now?”

“39 Restaurant.”

“The flightcraft is heading that way as well. Are you…?”

Zhou Yunchen’s expression was serious, a deep crease appearing between his brows. “I’m worried Lu Yao is being deceived.”

Zhao Minghe: ? Deceived by whom… you?

Author’s note:

Yes, the snow leopard is now dressed in his magnificent battle robe.

 

 

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