36: Confrontation Call

The moment Nene stepped into the sleek downtown high-rise, the staff bowed slightly, murmuring polite greetings.

Nene ignored them, heading straight for Tian's office.

She shoved the door open. "What's the crisis?"

Tian looked up from his desk, unimpressed.

"Nice to see you too," he said dryly. "You look terrible. Bad night?"

Nene scowled. "Mind your business."

Tian grinned. "Your business is my business. You own me now, remember?"

Nene huffed, dropping onto the couch. "Just tell me what's happening."

Tian leaned back, arms crossed.

"Auditions are set for next week," he said. "The boy band idea is already making waves, and I might kill you for making me deal with it."

Nene smirked. "You love it."

Tian rolled his eyes. "No, I love money. And unfortunately, you're about to make a lot of it."

Nene grinned, kicking her feet up.

"Perfect," she said. "Let's get to work."

Tian dragged a file across his desk, tapping it with two fingers.

"Before we talk about auditions," he said smoothly, "I had our security team run background checks on all potential hires."

Nene raised an eyebrow.

"For a boy band?"

Tian gave her a flat look.

"You're Zhao Alexander's wife." He gestured vaguely. "Everything tied to you is now a high-risk, high-security situation. We're not hiring random pretty boys off the street."

Nene rolled her eyes but took the folder.

Flipping it open, she skimmed through the shortlisted candidates.

Names. Profiles. Photos.

She whistled lowly. "Damn, Tian. You weren't joking."

Tian smirked. "Only the best."

Nene flipped to the next page—

Then paused.

Her brows furrowed slightly.

One of the candidates looked… familiar.

She frowned, tapping his name. "This one. Who is he?"

Tian glanced down, then exhaled sharply.

"Ah," he muttered. "That would be Liu Rian. Talented. Charismatic. Kind of an asshole."

Nene narrowed her eyes.

"Why does he look familiar?"

Tian hesitated.

Then—carefully—

"Because," he said, "he's your sister's boyfriend."

Nene stiffened.

Her stomach twisted.

Oh.

Oh, hell no.

She snapped the folder shut.

"Absolutely not," she muttered.

Tian smirked. "I thought you'd say that."

Nene gritted her teeth.

Because this?

This was going to be a problem.

Chapter 115: A Scientist?

Nene scowled, flipping the folder open again, eyeing Liu Rian's profile.

Tall. Handsome. Omega.

But the part that stood out the most?

Occupation: Genetic Researcher & Behavioral Scientist.

Nene blinked.

Wait.

Wait, what?

She looked up at Tian, frowning. "This guy is a scientist?"

Tian nodded. "Brilliant one, too. Specializes in Omega psychology and gene therapy."

Nene rubbed her temples.

"So why the hell is he auditioning for a boy band?"

Tian shrugged. "He said it's for 'fun.' Apparently, he enjoys the performing arts."

Nene groaned.

Great.

So not only was this guy her sister's boyfriend, but he was also highly educated and probably way too smart for his own good.

"Does Meiling know?" she asked.

Tian smirked. "That her boyfriend is secretly auditioning to be an idol? No. But I'd love to see her reaction."

Nene exhaled slowly.

This was messy.

If she hired him, Meiling would get way too involved.

If she didn't, she was going to have to explain why.

She scowled, flipping through the rest of his file.

Then—her eyes caught something.

Affiliated with Zhao Corporation R&D Division – Former Consultant.

Her blood ran cold.

She looked up sharply. "Tian."

Tian's smirk faded slightly.

"Yeah," he said, voice calmer now.

"I saw that too."

Nene's stomach twisted.

Because this?

This wasn't just a problem.

This was a serious complication.

Chapter 117: Confrontation Call

Nene pressed redial immediately, her pulse pounding.

This time, Alexander answered on the first ring.

[Call with Zhao Alexander]

Nene: "He worked for you."

Alexander: "Yes."

Nene: "It came up in the background check."

A pause.

Then—calm, unreadable—

Alexander: "I see."

Nene gritted her teeth.

"You're not even going to act surprised?"

Alexander sighed.

"You ran a background check on an idol trainee, wife," he murmured. "I'd be concerned if you didn't find something."

Nene bristled.

"Don't play games, Alexander," she snapped. "What did he do for you? And why didn't you tell me he was connected to you?"

Another pause.

Then—carefully measured—

"He was a researcher in one of my private divisions," Alexander said. "The same one responsible for developing Alpha-Omega dominance suppression treatments."

Nene's stomach dropped.

She tightened her grip on the phone.

"You mean the same treatments that let Alphas control Omegas on a chemical level?"

Alexander didn't deny it.

"Yes."

Nene felt a sharp chill run down her spine.

Her sister—sweet, naive Meiling—was dating a man who specialized in biological manipulation.

And now, he was trying to get closer.

To her.

To her business.

To her family.

Her voice lowered.

"Why did he leave?" she asked.

Alexander was silent for a moment.

Then—slowly, carefully—

"He resigned after his research was restricted," he said. "He wanted more control over his experiments than I was willing to allow."

Nene felt her chest tighten.

That. Was. Bad.

And the worst part?

Meiling had no idea.

Chapter 118: "What Would You Do?"

Nene exhaled slowly, trying to steady her thoughts.

This was bigger than she expected.

And she needed to make a decision.

She tightened her grip on the phone.

[Call with Zhao Alexander]

Nene: "What would you do?"

A pause.

Then—low, unreadable—

Alexander: "In what sense?"

Nene leaned back in her chair, tapping her fingers against the desk.

"I can reject him outright," she murmured. "Keep him away from my business, tell Meiling the truth, and shut this down before it becomes a problem."

A beat of silence.

Then—

Alexander: "That would be the safest choice."

Nene closed her eyes.

"But that's not what you would do, is it?"

Alexander chuckled softly.

"No," he admitted.

Nene waited.

Then—voice smooth, controlled—

"If it were me," Alexander said, "I'd let him in."

Nene stiffened.

"You'd what?"

"I'd bring him closer," Alexander murmured. "Keep him where I can see him. Control the environment. Control the narrative. He won't show his true intentions if he thinks you're shutting him out—but if you let him believe he's winning? He'll slip."

Nene felt a cold prickle down her spine.

Because—damn.

That was a power move.

Dangerous.

Risky.

And exactly the kind of strategy Alexander would use.

She swallowed hard.

"And if he is a problem?"

Alexander's voice dropped slightly—calm, absolute.

"Then we eliminate him before he becomes one."

Nene exhaled slowly.

Because, yeah.

That was exactly the answer she expected.

Chapter 119: "So He's In?"

Nene leaned forward, gripping the edge of her desk, her mind racing.

She wasn't stupid.

This was a gamble.

But if Alexander—**the most calculating, power-hungry Alpha she knew—**was saying this was the better move…

Then maybe it was worth the risk.

She inhaled deeply.

[Call with Zhao Alexander]

Nene: "So he's in, then?"

Alexander didn't answer immediately.

Then—smoothly, calmly—

Alexander: "If you allow it."

Nene narrowed her eyes.

"You're not going to stop me?"

A low chuckle.

Alexander: "Why would I? You're making a strategic decision. A smart one."

Nene exhaled slowly.

Right.

So this was happening.

She was letting Liu Rian in.

Into her business.

Into her territory.

But not on his terms.

On hers.

Her voice lowered slightly.

"Then I expect you to back me up if this turns messy."

Alexander's tone remained unreadable.

"Of course."

Nene smirked slightly, despite herself.

"Good," she murmured. "Then let the games begin."

And with that, she hung up.

She turned back to Tian, who had been silently listening from across the desk.

He raised an eyebrow. "So?"

Nene tossed the folder back onto the table.

"Tell Liu Rian he got the job."

Chapter 120: "What's the Real Issue?"

Tian didn't move immediately.

Instead, he leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, watching her carefully.

"Alright," he said slowly. "You want to let him in. Fine. I'll handle the logistics."

Nene nodded, satisfied.

"Good."

But Tian didn't drop it.

He tilted his head slightly. "So… what's the real issue?"

Nene paused.

"What?"

Tian tapped a finger against his desk.

"You're overthinking this," he mused. "I've seen you make business decisions in five seconds without hesitation. But this? You're hesitating."

Nene stiffened slightly.

She wasn't hesitating.

She was just being cautious.

…Right?

Tian raised an eyebrow. "You're not worried about hiring him."

Nene exhaled sharply. "No."

"Then," Tian said smoothly, "you're worried about Meiling."

Nene's jaw clenched.

Because, yeah.

That was the problem.

Her sister—**sweet, naive, overly trusting Meiling—**was dating a man who used to work for Alexander, in a field that screamed 'manipulative bastard.'

And now, he was getting closer.

Nene hated it.

Tian sighed, rubbing his temple.

"You're not her babysitter, you know."

Nene scowled. "She's too trusting."

"And you're too paranoid," Tian shot back. "Balance."

Nene huffed.

Balance. Yeah, right.

Still, she shoved the thoughts aside.

"Just get the contract drafted," she muttered. "I want to see what he does next."

Tian studied her for a moment longer.

Then—with a smirk—

"Alright, boss," he said. "Let's see how this plays out."