IAAA Chapter 3

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After I cried myself out, I had a good sleep. Before I had the chance to wallow in my misery, someone came knocking on my door.

“Du-ge, you’re really awake!”

The visitor was one of my most trusted subordinates—a decent guy, though a bit noisy.

“Mm.” I led him into the living room and poured him a glass of water. “What’s the matter?”

“You have to come back to Quanta as soon as possible! Our Planning Department is in chaos without a proper leader. If no one steps up, it’s going to be a disaster!”

I sighed. Before everything happened, I had taken over my father’s shares, becoming a shareholder, and I had always been in the Planning Department. You could say that the Planning Department was my domain.

But after my downfall, the head of the department changed hands.

“You guys can mess up after a months's neglect?” I sneered. Giving me all the exaggerations.

“I… I was just worried!” He chuckled nervously. “You have no idea. After you were gone, the Planning Department was a mess. Don’t be fooled by how impressive Quanta looks now—ten years ago, it was on the brink of collapse… If it hadn’t been for President Shen and Madam turning the tide, we wouldn’t even be here today.

“After you disappeared, that so-called deputy director of the Planning Department turned out to be a scumbag—he ran off with company funds! It was Madam Shen who stepped in to take charge… But, well, good people don’t live long. Madam, he actually…”

At this point, his eyes turned red, but then his expression shifted back to his usual playful grin. “But hey, Madam just left, and here you are, Brother Du! It’s like fate, huh?”

What do you mean, “like fate”?! Am I just some replacement? That comment instantly wiped away any sentimentality I had been feeling. I wanted to punch him.

I took several deep breaths to calm myself, then cut off his rambling. “Of course, I’m going back to Quanta.”

After all, it’s mine. Why should I let someone else take over?

——————

My reinstatement went surprisingly smoothly since I had never officially been fired—just placed on unpaid leave.

Apparently, I had Madam Shen to thank for that. It was his insistence that kept my position intact.

Even though he was officially the deputy director of the Planning Department, in practice, he had the same authority, salary, and responsibilities as the director. His desk was even inside the director’s office.

I had no objections to this.

I didn’t touch the original director’s desk but instead chose an unused one on the other side of the office.

This small gesture unexpectedly earned me a great deal of respect from my subordinates. They saw me as humble, considerate, and thoughtful.

I neither agreed nor disagreed with their opinion.

Though my desk was now stacked with documents, compared to the other desk, it still felt empty. I walked over to the desk of the person who would likely never return, the late Madam Shen. Bending down, I lightly touched a small mirror on the desk. The mirror spun slightly, revealing the photograph hidden on its back.

The reflection in the mirror showed a face completely different from mine—an omega. His delicate features made him look far softer than an alpha like me. The gentle waves of his hair took the sharp edge off his piercing eyes, giving them a lively charm.

As I continued looking, another figure appeared in the photograph—Shen Junshan.

For once, his perpetually cold expression had changed. Standing beside the omega, leaning close to him, his entire being radiated love.

I kept watching as the photos slowly shifted. This so-called Madam Shen had captured countless unseen sides of the great President Shen.

Shen Junshan’s exasperated yet indulgent smile.

Shen Junshan dozing off on the couch, looking utterly exhausted.

Shen Junshan carefully holding the railing of a cradle, his expression unusually soft. As if afraid of disturbing a beautiful dream, his posture was slightly awkward, but in a way that was almost endearing.

I found myself smiling.

The photos continued to change, and then I saw that little alpha I had met outside the hospital room. At first, he was the only child in the pictures. He was held in the arms of his two fathers, riding on their shoulders, gradually growing from a chubby baby into a handsome young boy.

Later, a new little bundle of joy appeared in his arms—a tiny baby, resembling his older brother and his fathers in every way. The small feet of the baby peeked out of his socks, one kicking at Shen Junshan’s face and the other at the arm of the person taking the photo.

But unfortunately, before this little one could grow into a young boy, the photos stopped.

I turned the mirror back around.

Without the bright smiles of the children, the mirror only reflected my own face. I stared at my reflection for a few seconds before returning to my cold, empty desk.

After taking over the Planning Department, I didn’t face any difficulties. Everything remained smooth and orderly. In my first department-wide meeting, I had completely upheld all the regulations left behind by Madam Shen.

As a result, despite being a new leader, I didn’t stir up even the smallest wave.

"Director Du, this document needs President Shen's signature."

"Mm." I responded, "Just leave it here. I'll take care of it in a bit."

I had spoken, but the Omega in front of me acted as if he hadn’t heard anything. He neither left nor placed the document on the table.

Holding back my impatience, I asked, "Is there something else?"

"I…" The young Omega's face turned bright red. "Do you have time tonight? I'd like to invite you to dinner."

"Dinner?" It took me a moment to process what he said. I was stunned for a while before I realized—this young Omega was actually asking me out. I couldn't understand why. What was so attractive about me, a former vegetative patient who had woken up less than a month ago?

Maybe I had hesitated too long because the Omega spoke again. "Director Du?"

"Sorry," I snapped back to reality and immediately refused. "I can't accept your invitation. We can only have a professional relationship."

The person in front of me looked a little embarrassed—being rejected outright was never pleasant.

Unfortunately, I wasn't the kind of Alpha who pitied delicate beauties. I continued, "Honestly, aside from earning a slightly higher salary than you, I doubt there's anything else that sets me apart. My personality isn't great—I'm not gentle or considerate, and I don't know how to appreciate or reciprocate kindness. If we were really together, no matter how much you gave, I would take it for granted. If you could tolerate that and we actually got married, you'd always be the one giving more. If we ever had kids, whether it was their daily life or education, I wouldn't have any opinions, so you'd have to take care of everything."

The Omega, who had likely acted on impulse, was clearly overwhelmed by my long speech. His expression was strange. "I… I just wanted to give it a try."

"A man in his thirties with no savings, no car, and possibly a whole bunch of lingering health issues—is that really worth trying?" I chuckled and took the document from his hands. "You're still young. You have a good job, good looks, and excellent professional skills. You're a well-qualified Omega. Trust me, from someone who's been through it all—you'll soon find an Alpha who cherishes and loves you, and whose conditions are far better than mine."

"Director…" His expression softened, though he still looked apologetic. "Sorry for disturbing you."

"It's fine. Get back to work." I waved him off and raised an eyebrow. "For example, go visit Assistant Yang in the Marketing Department more often."

I watched him leave with a smile before leaning back in my chair. Looking at the document I'd just received, I rubbed my temples.

I took the document upstairs directly. Shen Junshan's office was just above the Planning Department, but since joining the company, I had never seen him in person.

This would be the first time.

"The Planning Department needs President Shen's signature on this document."

Shen Junshan's assistant was a Beta who had worked under him for ten years—a man so overly strict that it bordered on excessive. He knew I was the director of the Planning Department, so he nodded at me with respect but remained distant.

"Please wait a moment. President Shen is handling other matters right now."

I was considering whether to come back later when I suddenly heard a loud thud from inside Shen Junshan's office. His office was well soundproofed—normal noises wouldn't make it through. My heart skipped a beat. Ignoring protocol, I turned the doorknob and went in.

"Shen Wenshu, I'm asking you one last time—are you going to study or not?"

Shen Junshan’s face was as dark as ink, and his tone was dangerously quiet. I knew that when he spoke like this, he was absolutely furious. In front of him, a young Alpha with a stubborn face was glaring at him. Without hesitation, I interrupted, "President Shen!"

Shen Junshan finally noticed me. Before he could say anything, I walked straight into the office and placed the document on his desk. "This is an urgent document from the Planning Department. It requires your immediate signature."

I blocked the young Alpha behind me, but he still shouted at his father with gritted teeth, "I—WON'T—STUDY!"

This kid was only fanning the flames. I turned around just in time to see Shen Wenshu storm out of the office.

"You…" I glanced between the doorway and Shen Junshan’s dark expression, noting the shattered teacup pieces scattered on the floor. Taking a deep breath, I said, "Please sign the document as soon as possible."

Without giving Shen Junshan a chance to use me as a punching bag, I walked out immediately.

Back at the Planning Department, I found a little troublemaker curled up in my office, crying.

"Why do you always fight with your father?" I closed the door and handed him a glass of water.

He lifted his head when he heard me speak but slumped back down after seeing me.

"Have you ever won an argument against him?" I teased, and sure enough, he glared at me with round, watery eyes.

"Who are you?"

I blinked, then folded my arms and smirked. "You're the one who came into my office, and you're asking who I am?"

"This… This is my Papa's office!" He pointed at the desk. "And my picture is on it!"

"Is that so?" I grabbed a tissue and wiped his runny nose. "So, do you want to tell me why you were arguing with your father?"

"He’s forcing me to learn the piano!"

I couldn't quite process that answer. "You don’t like playing the piano?"

"I… I do." Shen Wenshu's eyes were red. "But before… my Papa was the one who taught me."

"Papa… Papa doesn’t want me and my brother anymore." Tears streamed down his face as he clutched my sleeve, sobbing. "Papa said he’d teach me Serenade after my little brother was born. Papa's a liar… a liar."

I thought about what I had overheard in the hospital, and my heart ached. "Your dad… he was just asleep, wasn’t he?"

"He wasn't just sleeping!" His hoarse voice cracked. "I heard the doctors talking to my dad… Papa was already dead. His organs had failed, his brain had died… Papa, Papa didn’t want us anymore."

"How could he not want you?" My throat felt tight. "If you learn Serenade and play it for your papa, maybe it’ll make him so happy that he wakes up."

"Really?" His eyes blinked, a tiny spark of hope appearing. "If I play Serenade for Papa, he'll wake up?"

I avoided answering directly. "So, you have to practice properly."

Shen Wenshu's little head turned as he thought about it, then he slumped again. "I won’t learn."

"Why not?" I asked, confused.

"Because all those piano teachers are just gold diggers!" His face was full of indignation. "They all just want to seduce my father… but my real papa is still here!"

I almost burst out laughing and patted his head. "How about I teach you?"

Shen Wenshu agreed immediately and dragged me upstairs to negotiate with his father.

He was willing to learn piano—but!

He wanted to choose his own teacher.

And, well, that teacher was me.

Shen Junshan kept a cold face for a long time before finally nodding. Only then did the little young master calm down and go home. His father, however, stopped me.

"Du Tang."

"Hmm?" I turned around. "What is it?"

He studied me for a long time before finally speaking, as if struggling with his words. "My son is in your hands. Please be patient with him."

I knew that he cared about his kids more than anyone. Whenever they were sick, no matter how exhausted he was, he would stay up all night watching over them. He remembered every promise he made to them and never broke a single one. He kept every little memento they gave him, secretly cherishing them like a fool.

I pulled the corners of my mouth into a small smile. "You should be more worried about yourself—don’t collapse."

He froze for a moment, his bloodshot eyes staring at me. "Thanks."

I didn’t reply—because there were things I could never tell him.

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