Double the annual salary

Yuan Chen and Yuan Hao were both undeniably good-looking. If Yuan Chen had a classical, dignified handsomeness, Yuan Hao was the type with sharp eyes and a fashionable air. And unlike the calm, rational Yuan Chen, Yuan Hao was impulsive and often acted on a whim.

Their ways of handling business and the directions they took their projects were completely different. Their lifestyles went without saying; even their tastes were worlds apart.

Although they both came from the Yuan family and were both Alphas, Yuan Hao had a deep-seated hang-up about Yuan Chen.

He was intensely jealous that Yuan Chen, who was two years younger, held the title of "S-Class Alpha." His performance also repeatedly fell short, and he desperately courted supporters within the company to win their grandfather's approval.

Even so, despite their similar positions, Yuan Hao always lagged slightly behind in influence at the company. That sense of inferiority was hardly easy to shake. Determined to get the better of Yuan Chen, he racked his brains plotting all sorts of schemes whenever an opportunity arose.

That was why he had spread those rumors this time. He wanted to embarrass Yuan Chen and tarnish that lofty S-Class Alpha's reputation.

But unexpectedly, Yuan Chen was completely unfazed.

He remained composed and confident, his attitude unchanged.

Instead, Yuan Hao, the one who had spread the rumors, was the first to lose his composure.

Yuan Hao suppressed his anger and clenched his back teeth.

"Quit pretending. There's no way you actually touched an Omega."

"Why not? After we met, we did everything we were supposed to."

Yuan Chen finished reviewing the last document, signed it, and swiveled his chair toward Yuan Hao. He leisurely crossed his long legs, the corners of his mouth lifting into an ambiguous smile.

"Isn't that right, Secretary Shen?"

Yuan Hao whipped his head around and glared viciously at Shen Yi, who stood in the corner.

That glare was terrifying, as if he wanted to devour someone. This was an internal conflict within a powerful family. Why should an outsider like him get involved? Shen Yi's expression remained unchanged as he stood quietly in place.

"Break it off with him while I'm still asking nicely."

"What right do you have to tell me what to do?"

"It's not like you're serious about him! Everyone knows you're only doing this to spite me!"

"Do you have to be serious to be together?"

Fuck! Yuan Hao couldn't help swearing. Why did everything this bastard said have to be so infuriating?

"Do you have to compete with me? Does it have to be him?"

"You're actually lecturing me about morals, brother? What a surprise." His chair made a faint sound as Yuan Chen leaned back.

Though his posture remained relaxed, the smile on his face grew colder.

"You dared to provoke me without being prepared for this?"

Yuan Hao was about to explode. Unable to stand it any longer, he raised his right foot and stomped hard against the desk.

"I liked him first!"

"If word of that got out, it would be the joke of the century. He trembles the moment he hears your name, brother."

Yuan Hao was instantly speechless. Underhanded as his methods were, his feelings for Ouyang Keke were genuine. That remark had clearly hit a sore spot, and his jaw moved mechanically, like a robot that had jammed.

Yuan Chen chuckled, then picked up his phone as if to make a call.

"If you don't believe me, shall I call Keke right now and check?"

"Fuck! Who said you could call him Keke?!"

Yuan Hao pounded the desk, his voice bordering on a roar. The Omega he had longed for had been stolen by someone like this. He was practically mad with rage.

Just then, the office air purifier suddenly kicked into overdrive. During their argument, the invisible pheromone clash between the two Alphas seemed to have escalated.

Watching the numbers soar on its display, Shen Yi silently walked over and opened the window. The sky was cloudless today.

What lovely weather. He gazed at the blue sky and tried to empty his mind.

An Alpha pheromone war was harmless to a Beta like him, anyway.

"Hey! Get up!"

Yuan Hao couldn't restrain himself from charging at Yuan Chen. Shen Yi, who had been quietly watching, immediately stepped forward to block him.

"Vice President Yuan, please calm down!"

"Move!"

"Please stop!"

"Don't pull that corporate crap on me! Everyone knows how that bastard and I are related!"

Using his body as a shield, Shen Yi desperately held him back. The collisions made his chest ache, and Yuan Hao's flailing arm scraped his face.

In truth, if an Alpha really wanted to fight, a Beta couldn't stop him. The fact that Shen Yi could hold him back at all meant Yuan Hao still retained a shred of reason.

"Please step outside first. We can discuss Mr. Ouyang Keke privately." Shen Yi tried to persuade Yuan Hao to stop.

"Secretary Shen, do you have nothing better to do? Don't waste your time on something so pointless." Yuan Chen's calm voice came from behind him, adding fuel to the fire.

Sure enough, Yuan Hao's nostrils flared with anger as he huffed heatedly.

"I'm not letting you off today! I'll make you pay!"

"Tsk. Vice President Yuan."

Yuan Hao lunged like an enraged beast. Shen Yi wrapped both arms around his waist with all his strength, braced his feet against the floor, and pushed him back.

Why did every Alpha named Yuan have such an awful personality? When the big shots fought, it was always the employees who suffered!

After much coaxing and pulling, he finally got Yuan Hao out of the office. Their perceptive colleagues had all hidden in the break room, leaving no one in sight.

Even now, Yuan Hao was still furious and breathing heavily. Looking at him, his tie knocked askew, Shen Yi wiped the sweat from his own forehead.

"Making a scene like this won't do your image any favors, will it?"

"Do I look like I care about that right now?"

"But you were the one who provoked him first."

When it came down to it, all this had started because Yuan Hao spread those rumors.

"Just answer one question. Are those two... really dating?"

"I can't answer personal questions."

"Right. You're Yuan Chen's man through and through. I shouldn't have expected to hear anything pleasant from you."

Yuan Hao let out a long breath and glanced at Shen Yi through his narrow eyes.

This was the special assistant the picky Yuan Chen had personally selected. That man never let anyone close, but Secretary Shen was the one exception. For that very reason, Secretary Shen's loyalty was exceptional too.

For Yuan Hao, who was used to replacing subordinates on a whim, this kind of relationship between a secretary and his boss was hard to understand.

What was so special about Shen Yi? He couldn't put his finger on it himself, but everything Yuan Chen possessed always made him jealous, convinced there had to be something special about it. Even Secretary Shen, whom he had never paid attention to before, now seemed different in his eyes.

"Secretary Shen, how much does he pay you?"

"What?"

"Whatever annual salary Yuan Chen gives you, I'll double it."

Shen Yi blinked slowly.

"Huh?"

It took his brain a moment to register that he had just received a recruitment offer. Before he could answer, his lips had reflexively curved into his standard professional smile.

"President Yuan treats me very well."

"I have a pretty good idea how much a secretary can earn. Don't be so rigid, Secretary Shen."

Yuan Hao patted Shen Yi's shoulder, squeezing the joint firmly.

"Working under that brat Yuan Chen must take quite a mental toll, right? Come work for me. I'm famous for being easygoing with my subordinates."

"..."

"...Why aren't you answering? What's with that expression?"

Only then did Shen Yi realize that the corners of his mouth had drooped. How unprofessional. He hadn't even kept his facial muscles under control.

His upper teeth must have been slightly exposed, the corners of his mouth turned down, his entire face broadcasting disgust.

"No, that's not it."

He hurriedly pressed his lips together and restored his usual smile, but Yuan Hao had already seen everything.

His narrow eyes narrowed a little further.

"You really hate the idea, don't you?"

"I was simply surprised by such an unexpected offer."

"Fine. It was just an offhand suggestion."

Yuan Hao curled his lip, looking displeased. His pride had really been ground into the dirt today.

"You and Yuan Chen are exactly alike. You both piss me the fuck off!"

"You should both just disappear!" Yuan Hao stormed off after that parting threat. His childish, emotional behavior hardly befitted a grown man in his thirties.

Shen Yi let out a long sigh and shrugged. Working as Yuan Hao's secretary? The mere thought was frightening.

After composing his expression, he returned to the office. Yuan Chen was concentrating on his work as though nothing had happened.

Seeing that the air purifier had returned to normal, Shen Yi closed the window. As usual, he checked the office to make sure nothing had been overlooked, but when he turned, he found Yuan Chen staring at him.

It looked as though he had something to say, so Shen Yi approached the desk. Yuan Chen put down his fountain pen and swiveled his chair toward him.

"What about Yuan Hao?"

"He seems to have believed the dating rumors and accepted the situation."

Yuan Chen said nothing. He merely interlaced his long fingers elegantly, rested his hands over his lower abdomen, and sank into thought.

"How much longer is left on the dating contract?"

"It ends in two weeks. Should I contact the reporters?" Ouyang Keke was about to expand overseas, which already provided the perfect reason for a breakup. They could end the relationship with the familiar explanation that their busy schedules had caused them to drift apart.

"Proceed as planned. Send out the press release in three days."

"Yes, President Yuan."

A meeting with Huang Chengyi, the head of the New Business Development Team, was scheduled in fifteen minutes. Shen Yi checked his watch and reminded him.

"Push the meeting back an hour."

"Is there something important?"

"There's something more important to deal with." Yuan Chen added briefly, "Let's settle your contract renewal first."

His tone made it sound as though he had to have an answer today. To Yuan Chen, Shen Yi's contract renewal took precedence over every other item on his schedule, becoming his highest priority.

"I can double your annual salary. There's no reason I can't offer whatever terms Yuan Hao can."

When had he heard that? Looking at Yuan Chen's determined expression, Shen Yi gave a helpless smile.

It seemed he wouldn't be leaving work today without signing a renewal contract.