After Being Deceived, I Married Someone Else and Had Children Chapter 42

Butler Zhao: “May I ask when Young Master Zuo plans to visit the study?”

Zuo Shihuan frowned. “Does Father have some urgent business with me?”

The voice outside the door hesitated before answering: “To answer Young Master — I’m not aware of the Master’s intentions. But he’s currently waiting for you in the study.”

At this hour?

Zuo Shihuan’s gaze flickered with a trace of doubt. That was odd. His father, Zuo Zoujian, was usually out late socializing, rarely returning early — much less rising early for work.

Still, Zuo Shihuan said, “I’ll go in ten minutes.”

Receiving a clear reply, Butler Zhao left, satisfied.

Zuo Shihuan didn’t think much of it — perhaps his father had some sudden matter to discuss.

But beside him, Butler Lin’s face was grave, as though he were worried about something, though his lips remained tightly sealed. Those calm, transparent eyes of his, however, did not escape Zuo Shihuan’s notice.

Relaxed and casual, Zuo Shihuan let out a soft laugh. “My butler — what are you thinking about this time?”

Butler Lin’s expression stayed composed, but his lips tightened ever so slightly, betraying a trace of nervous tension. His brows knit together as he said, “These past days, Master Zuo hasn’t once taken the initiative to summon you. Why would he suddenly call you today?”

In Butler Lin’s eyes, Master Zuo Zoujian — the man at the very top of the Zuo family hierarchy — was the inescapable shadow in everyone’s hearts. 

A terrifying, cold presence.

Every incident in the Zuo residence somehow tied back to him. His debauchery had spawned dozens of illegitimate sons and daughters, his indifference had enabled their misdeeds, and every decision he made sent ripples throughout the entire household.

In short, anything involving Master Zuo was never a good thing.

Zuo Shihuan, however, seemed unbothered. His eyes held a faint hint of amusement as he replied, “To hear you talk, my father sounds like some final boss in a video game. Do you really think he’s that terrifying?”

Butler Lin looked back at him with puzzled, worried eyes — as if to say, isn’t he?

Zuo Shihuan was briefly at a loss for words. Yet Butler Lin’s concern — so earnest and free of any selfish motive — carried a sincerity that warmed him unexpectedly.

He had extended a hand to Butler Lin precisely because the young man was still in his twenties — a Beta butler still in training within the Zuo household — meaning he wasn’t deeply entangled in the family’s web of power.

He was unremarkable, yes, but not incapable. The records showed his skills and performance were excellent across the board.

After all, not just anyone could enter the Zuo family’s service. To earn a salary ten times higher than the outside world, one had to outshine countless competitors.

Butler Lin had a distant uncle who had served as an old steward in the Zuo household for decades — a man with access to certain channels of information, giving Butler Lin some background and foundation to stand on.

Clever and adaptable, Butler Lin had discreetly used small, subtle methods to ensure that some of Zuo Shihuan’s unruly half-siblings received due punishment — without ever revealing his own involvement. In fact, his reputation within the family was quite good.

But that wasn’t what Zuo Shihuan valued most.

There were too many clever people in this world. So many that the line between brilliance and stupidity had grown thin. So many that chaos never truly stopped — it merely paused for breath before beginning again.

Being surrounded by too many smart people was just as exhausting as being surrounded by fools.

What Zuo Shihuan valued was Butler Lin’s fiery sincerity — that youthful passion and uncorrupted conscience untouched by the cynicism of the world.

And time would prove he hadn’t chosen wrong.

Zuo Shihuan lowered his gaze, a small, warm smile curving his lips. But when he looked up again, the calm, pale-brown eyes hiding beneath that warmth turned sharp and cold.

“He’s my father,” he said quietly, his thin lips parting. “Not my enemy. Not yet.”

At least, not for now.

Butler Lin’s eyes brightened with admiration. “Yes, Young Master.”

Zuo Shihuan met his gaze, voice steady and deep. “The tutors the family sent me — in negotiation, etiquette, firearms, and combat — I haven’t dismissed them yet. If you’d like, you can join me in those lessons.”

Butler Lin’s eyes lit up instantly, though he kept his outward composure and replied with formal seriousness, “I’ll do everything in my power to clear away any obstacle for you, Young Master.”

Zuo Shihuan smiled faintly. “Then I’ll leave it to you, Butler Lin.”

Butler Lin’s calm voice carried a hint of suppressed excitement as he answered firmly, “Yes, sir!”

***

At the study door, two armed guards stood on either side.

One of them was a robotic bodyguard — the latest military model developed by the Blue Eagle Group. Its metallic body gleamed in cold hues, titanium-alloy eyes glowed with a red scanning light, and its interior was loaded with newly engineered weapons. Yet, like the human guards beside it, it was dressed in the same stiff black suit jacket.

He looked rather ridiculous—completely out of place.

The ever-obsequious Butler Zhao hurried forward, full of smiles, and opened the door for Zuo Shihuan.

As soon as he entered, Zuo Shihuan saw the desk was empty. His gaze shifted to the center of the room, where a head was visible above the sofa—legs stretched out, a cup of steaming tea sitting on the table nearby.

Zuo Shihuan started forward, but the heavy stench of alcohol in the air made him pause, frowning slightly before circling around to stand in front of his father, Zuo Zhoujian.

Keeping a distance of nearly three meters, Zuo Shihuan lowered his gaze and asked calmly, “Father, what did you want to see me about?”

The man lying on the sofa had his eyes closed, reeking of liquor—clearly hungover to the point of being unable to move. He even had the nerve to snore right in front of him.

Zuo Shihuan called him several times, but there was no response.

The older man only groaned irritably, rolled over, and continued sleeping.

Zuo Shihuan: “……”

If it had been one of his father’s lovers, they would probably be fussing over him, gently covering him with a blanket.

After all, aside from being rich, Zuo Zhoujian—this Alpha—had a handsome face: dark lashes, peach-blossom eyes. In his youth, he’d been a dashing, flirtatious young master; even with age, he still retained the charm of a suave older man. And in a Federation where the average lifespan exceeded three hundred years, he was far from looking old.

For those who liked the “charming scoundrel” type, he was irresistible.

When he was young, plenty of beautiful Omegas had pursued him, including wealthy sons and daughters, each dreaming they could be the one to make a prodigal settle down.

The result? Zuo Zhoujian had been a scoundrel for decades. Some of his older children were already married with kids—he was even a grandfather now—yet he was still the same unrepentant playboy.

From a once-promising young man with little more than a flirtatious streak, he’d become an infamous old rake whose reputation in high society was utterly rotten.

But Zuo Shihuan wasn’t someone who indulged him. If he waited until his father woke naturally, half the day would be gone.

His gaze turned cold. Taking a long stride behind the sofa, he kicked it once. The heavy piece of furniture shuddered, but the man on it didn’t move—quiet as a pig, save for the thunderous snoring that followed.

“……………………”

Zuo Shihuan’s eyes were icy as blades. His lips curved into a chilly smile. He raised one long leg—after all, he’d inherited his “good father’s” build—and this time didn’t hold back.

With a sharp thud, he kicked hard.

The sofa toppled over completely. The man on it rolled off, startled awake by the sudden sensation of falling. His eyes flew open just in time to see the floor rushing toward him—his whole body trembling.

“Ah! An earthquake?! Is it an earthquake?!”

Still half-drunk, Zuo Zhoujian tumbled onto the ground with a groan, clutching his head in panic. His sluggish mind failed to register what had really happened; convinced it was an earthquake, he tried to crawl under the table for cover.

“Father, did you dream of an earthquake? How did you end up on the floor?”

From the doorway, Zuo Shihuan strode quickly over, feigning concern as he helped his father up and even brushed some imaginary dust from his clothes.

In truth, he had kicked the man awake from across the sofa, then quickly propped the furniture back upright and erased all traces—including his shoe mark—before calmly approaching as though nothing had happened.

Only when his father groaned and started to stir did he leisurely re-enter the scene, voice smooth with just the right touch of surprise and worry.

Still muddled from drink, Zuo Zhoujian instinctively believed him. After all, his Alpha son was usually reliable, serious, and well-regarded—not the type to lie.

Feeling slightly touched by the concern, he gripped Zuo Shihuan’s hand. “Thanks, son. I’m fine. Must’ve rolled off in my sleep—thought it was an earthquake for a moment.”

“Oh, that’s good.”

Zuo Shihuan replied blandly, though inwardly noting that he had access to the study’s surveillance system—he’d make sure to erase this little incident later.

Once his father was back on the sofa, Zuo Shihuan asked, “Father, Butler Zhao said you wanted to see me. What is it about?”

Zuo Zhoujian blinked blearily, pressing a hand to his aching head as he tried to recall. “Oh, right. Yesterday, old Fan brought out a bottle of 380-year-old Sandak red wine—wanted to share it with the boys. Then old Guan started bragging that he had a 600-year-old white liquor. Don’t even know how it happened, but they started arguing. Old Fan said a 600-year-old white spirit would’ve long evaporated, while old Guan said 300-year-old red wine tastes like sour water. Before I knew it, they were betting planets on whose drink was better…”

Zuo Shihuan’s expression darkened, his jaw tightening. “So, Father—what exactly did you want to tell me?”

Zuo Zhoujian slapped his thigh. “Ah, right! So after that, old Guan, old Fan, and I drank together—red and white mixed, you know—and we got to talking… about how my Alpha son’s engagement is coming up. They both said they’d like to meet you and your fiancée, and plan to gift you two planets as wedding presents! One’s even a mining planet—perfect, since your fiancée’s family deals in jewelry!”

Zuo Shihuan’s expression eased slightly. “Please thank them for me, Father. But tell them I must decline. With the engagement ceremony so close, I don’t have time to handle matters concerning two entire planets.”

He had no interest in accepting random gifts—especially ones offered drunkenly.

Besides, owning a mining planet didn’t mean you had to mine it. Precious metals and gems were expensive not just for their material worth but for the cost and difficulty of extraction and transport.

And most importantly—neither he nor Yu Lizhu lacked for such meaningless “gifts.”

Zuo Zoujian muttered, “So you’re not even going to give your father and his two uncles any face? They just want to take a look at you and your fiancée, and give the younger generation a small gift, that’s all.”

Zuo Shihuan was speechless.

What were he and Yu Lizhu, zoo animals for people to come and gawk at? His father had endless drinking buddies—was he supposed to meet every single one of them?

His gaze cooled, and his long, slender hand lifted his communicator as he pressed his lips into a line of restrained nobility.

“If that’s all you wanted to tell me, Father, then I understand. If any elders truly wish to meet, they can contact my assistant in advance. I’ll see what I can do depending on my schedule. But for now, I have to go to the company.”

Zuo Zoujian suddenly asked with mild confusion, “Shihuan, have you been especially busy with work lately?”

“It’s about the same as usual,” Zuo Shihuan replied.

Zuo Zoujian didn’t agree. Squinting through his drunken haze, he said, “You’ve been more obsessed with work than before. Even some of the company executives have praised me, saying I’ve raised a hardworking, diligent Alpha son.”

At that, Zuo Shihuan’s brow arched slightly, his face darkening.

Indeed, Zuo Zoujian had heard an executive say something like that—but the man’s tone had been laced with resentment.

Zuo Zoujian had never been a hands-off patriarch. As the head of the entire Zuo family, complete leisure was impossible. But after securing his position as family head, he had begun to take things easier, enjoying a life of balance between work and pleasure. When he was young, he had worked diligently for many years to claim that position.

Still, even then, he couldn’t compare to his Alpha son, Zuo Shihuan, in sheer focus and discipline.

It hadn’t always been this extreme—perhaps because the engagement banquet was approaching—but lately, Zuo Shihuan had been working at a near-frenzied pace. Even his father found it alarming, avoiding his son quietly for fear that the hardworking Alpha might collapse from overwork.

Perhaps it was because of Zuo Shihuan’s recent maneuvers within Blue Eagle Group.

Some of these involved personnel changes. A few dissatisfied senior executives had tried to sway Zuo Zoujian, complaining about his Alpha son. Their insinuations carried the same poisonous undertone:

“Your Alpha son is too young, too inexperienced.”  

“He’s ambitious, stirring up trouble in the company, disrespecting senior members—and doesn’t even put you, his father, in his eyes.”

“In short, your Alpha son is working himself to death chasing power because he wants to replace you early.”

Zuo Zoujian had laughed those accusations off and sent the complainers away, returning to his usual leisure—drinking, socializing, and entertaining himself.

Still, he occasionally received updates about his Alpha heir, quietly assessing whether Zuo Shihuan was truly fit to inherit.

He knew everything that had been happening lately—even that the executive sent to “chat” with him was one of the next people Zuo Shihuan was planning to remove.

The only thing he couldn’t figure out was why his Alpha son’s temper had become so fierce recently. Who had provoked him enough that he was pouring all that energy into work?

Originally, Zuo Shihuan had simply been capable. Now he’d become a relentless workaholic—day and night—with a near self-destructive intensity. Watching from his own president’s seat, Zuo Zoujian had even begun to feel guilty.

Should he help his soon-to-be-engaged son by taking on some of the work? But in the end, Zuo Zoujian comforted himself by pushing aside trivial tasks and returning to his indulgent, carefree life.

Still, he didn’t think his son’s business decisions were wrong. If he’d been in the same position, he would’ve done the same.

A large, flourishing tree will always attract worms. As long as they only nibble on a few leaves, Zuo Zoujian could overlook it. But once they started gnawing at the roots, inaction was no longer an option.

Even if Zuo Shihuan hadn’t acted, Zuo Zoujian would’ve eventually done so himself. As it turned out, his Alpha son handled the matter perfectly—decisive, efficient, and restrained, setting an example without overstepping.

In some ways, Zuo Zoujian was surprised. He’d expected a young Alpha, full of idealism and temper, to wipe everyone out in one sweeping purge—something that would’ve given him a headache deciding whether to intervene.

But the result was beyond his expectations. As the next heir of the Zuo family, Zuo Shihuan had managed everything flawlessly—excellent genetics, remarkable ability, striking looks, and a reputation beyond reproach.

Even Zuo Zoujian had been impressed. His son’s precision and restraint were impeccable—no chaos, no collateral damage, yet not a single unworthy person was spared.

Back in his own youth, Zuo Zoujian had made countless blunders before reaching this level. To an outsider, it might almost seem that Zuo Shihuan had been carefully trained from childhood to be the perfect heir of the Zuo family.

Never had he imagined that something so extraordinary could grow from such unpromising soil.

It even made Zuo Zoujian wonder if the slums really could forge people this resilient. Perhaps he should send some of his other children and capable younger relatives to experience such “training.”

But he decided against it—because he knew, no matter how much hardship they went through, they wouldn’t possess the same innate brilliance as his Alpha heir.

Zuo Shihuan had rolled through the mud and still emerged dazzling.

Even when another executive tried to warn him—saying Zuo Shihuan’s ambition would one day drive him to oust his own father—Zuo Zoujian only smiled.

He was well aware of his own cold, self-serving nature. Even the children raised in his household had little affection for him—let alone this calm, adult Alpha son.

Zuo Zoujian didn’t want to retire yet, nor be forced out by his heir. So he’d given those words some thought.

But deep down, he knew: Zuo Shihuan wasn’t the type obsessed with power. He was always composed, self-disciplined, unwilling to hoard authority—and instead, preferred to delegate to capable subordinates.

Zuo Zoujian had met plenty of people in his life and had always considered himself a cynical, unfeeling man. He could flirt and make promises to countless beautiful Omegas and Betas, grin his way through tense business negotiations, then turn around and tear up a contract or stab a rival in the back—all with a smile, never once putting his heart into anything.

His Alpha heir, Zuo Shihuan, was completely different. He didn’t like to smile, always looked cold and serious—but he had more warmth than anyone else. Even Zuo family’s children, who were usually detached and indifferent, instinctively gravitated toward this aloof-faced Alpha brother.

Like a bonfire igniting in a cold, shadowed forest.

Gradually, more and more people began to feel the warmth hidden beneath his composure. Slowly, people approached him—whether to seek warmth, or simply drawn in by that calm steadiness.

Zuo Zoujian, watching all of this unfold, only smiled. The divisive gossip of certain executives didn’t bother him at all.

He wasn’t afraid of an heir having ambition—what he feared was ambition without restraint, which could throw the Zuo family’s long-maintained stability into chaos.

Besides, just yesterday he had received the latest hospital report: after all this time, Zuo Shihuan’s secondary differentiation into an Alpha had finally stabilized.

The newest Alpha medical examination results both surprised and, somehow, didn’t surprise him.

His Alpha son’s genetic rating was even higher than his own. Despite having a mother who was an ordinary Beta, Zuo Shihuan had become a high-grade A-level Alpha—only a hair’s breadth away from S-level, the very peak.

The thought made the usually flippant Zuo Zoujian’s heart twist with regret.

If only he had brought Zuo Shihuan back from the slums earlier and raised him carefully within the Zuo family—perhaps he could’ve nurtured a true S-level Alpha. 

After all, throughout the Zuo family’s generations, not a single head of the family had ever reached S-level.

An S-level Alpha was like winning the genetic lottery—extremely rare. Even two S-level Alpha and Omega parents had only a minuscule chance of producing an S-level child. For thousands of years, research teams—including those within Blue Eagle Group—had studied how to increase the probability of producing S-level Alphas and Omegas, yet progress had been nonexistent.

A minute difference during growth, before the Alpha or Omega’s reproductive glands fully matured, could change everything. Even twin children whose genetic sequencing initially suggested both might become S-level Alphas—once grown—might see one become S-level while the other stopped at B-level.

The clearer Zuo Zoujian understood the rarity of an S-level Alpha, the more his heart ached with unwillingness.

Not unwilling because he couldn’t have one—but because he should have had one. An outstanding S-level Alpha heir who could have been his—thrown away by his own hands.

He knew that the neighboring Empire’s strength came largely from its vast pool of S- and A-level Alphas and Omegas—a rich talent reserve that allowed them to stand toe-to-toe with the Zerg, the alien race that had nearly wiped out humanity thousands of years ago.

In contrast, while the Federation had worked tirelessly to catch up in technology, it could never quite rival the Empire in terms of human resources.

Rumor had it that the Empire’s Crown Prince was not only an S-level Alpha, but a special Alpha—one far beyond the standard S-rank. Even the powerful high-grade Zerg feared him; the Zerg Queen herself had reportedly issued orders for a strategic retreat whenever he appeared, to preserve their elite combat forces.

The Empire’s overwhelming power—and the sheer might of its heir—had driven the entire Federation into a position of inferiority.

As a loyal citizen of the Federation, Zuo Zoujian had once considered assassinating the Imperial Crown Prince—to remove the Federation’s greatest threat. But the difficulty was immense: the prince himself was monstrously strong, and the Empire guarded his information at the highest level of secrecy. Not even a single photograph of him had ever leaked.

All they knew was that the Imperial Crown Prince was a young, male, top-tier Alpha. Nothing else—no height, no features, no build.

Still, Zuo Zoujian knew that if a chance ever arose to assassinate that S-level Alpha, he wouldn’t hesitate.

Because he couldn’t help but think—if he’d raised Zuo Shihuan properly, his son’s brilliance might have grown to rival even that Imperial Crown Prince.

But that chance had slipped away.

Yesterday, when he received the hospital report, he drank heavily to dull the regret.

Even his cold, callous heart had throbbed with a rare pang of pain. For once, his face softened into that of a doting father as he held Zuo Shihuan’s hand and said earnestly,

“Shihuan, why don’t I get you some supplements? Don’t overwork yourself—try to rest more. You’re still young; your body’s still developing. There’s room for growth yet!”

Zuo Shihuan only felt a wave of disgust at this sudden display of concern. He tried to pull his hand away, but his father held on, so he forced a stiff smile and said dryly, “Father, are you drunk out of your mind? Should I call a doctor to check you?”

Zuo Zoujian, however, said warmly, “No, it’s you who should see a doctor. I’ll find you the best physician to take care of your health—you must stay strong and healthy.”

If anyone else had said these words, it would’ve sounded perfectly fine. But coming from his usually cold, irresponsible, scoundrel of a father—it was almost insulting.

Late concern was worth less than weeds.

Sensing something off, Zuo Shihuan grew alert. His light brown eyes turned sharp and cold. In a low voice, he asked, “Did that company executive say something strange to you?”

Zuo Zoujian blinked, then said, as if realizing, “Ah, you mean that executive surnamed Yu? He doesn’t matter. If you want, I’ll transfer him immediately to the most remote wasteland planet. What matters now is your health!”

Zuo Shihuan’s face was expressionless. “Oh. If that’s all, I’ll be heading back to work. My engagement banquet is coming up, and after that I’ll be entering the Federation Academy. I need to handle a lot of matters beforehand.”

Zuo Zoujian jumped to his feet in a panic, swaying slightly from his hangover as he reached out to grab his departing son, calling out from the heart, “Shihuan, please—get some rest these days! Stop working so hard!”

Zuo Shihuan froze at the unexpected urgency in his tone, frowning deeply. “Father, what’s going on with you? If you have something to say, say it directly.”

Without hesitation, Zuo Zoujian said, “I got your latest genetic report from the hospital. I know you’re an A-level Alpha—just one step away from S-level. I regret not bringing you home to the Zuo family sooner. I want to make it up to you now.”

“……”

Zuo Shihuan stayed silent for a long moment before a faint, mocking smile curved his lips.

What was this supposed to be—Heaven trying to make up for all his misfortunes in one go?

He would rather be a useless Alpha.

Seeing the Zuo family’s disgusting hypocrisy again, he thought bitterly that even being an A-rank Alpha meant nothing. He’d rather have been an ordinary Beta from a normal household from start to finish.

Zuo Shihuan said coolly, “That won’t be necessary.”

Even if he became an S-rank Alpha, so what?

He would still be a Zuo family Alpha—couldn’t escape the fact that the man before him was his biological father, a hypocritical, heartless scumbag.

Zuo Zoujian’s eyes suddenly lit up. He clapped his son on the shoulder and said, as if enlightened, “Ah, are you one of those people afraid of marriage?”

Zuo Shihuan: “……”

Zuo Zoujian went on confidently, “Otherwise, why would you bury yourself in work right before your wedding? Are you using work as an excuse to avoid it? The date’s almost here, and you still haven’t met your fiancée. Everyone in our circle says they haven’t seen you two together for ages—my old friends keep asking when they’ll get to meet her.”

Zuo Shihuan’s brows furrowed tightly.

There was some truth to the idea of avoidance—not for the reason his father thought, but yes, he had been trying to avoid reality.

He pressed his lips together and insisted stiffly, “I’m not afraid of marriage.”

Zuo Zoujian said, “Oh right, we sent an invitation to your mother, but there’s been no word that she’s coming. Why don’t you ask her again?”

Zuo Shihuan’s hands clenched into fists. His voice turned hoarse and cold. “There’s no need. Maybe she’s busy and can’t come.”

In truth, Zuo Shihuan had intercepted the invitation himself.

He didn’t want anyone—especially the person he had once cared about most—to see this engagement banquet. It wasn’t a celebration; it was a cold, hollow transaction.

Then Zuo Zoujian suddenly recalled something and said, “By the way, how’s that Beta lover you once mentioned? Even if you’re marrying an Omega, it’s fine to keep a thoughtful Beta companion. But the first child should still be born to your legal wife.”

Three landmines stepped on in a row.

Fear of marriage. The intercepted invitation. The “Beta lover.”

Zuo Shihuan’s lips went pale from how hard he bit them; the veins stood out on his clenched fists. Finally, his fury boiled over.

He looked up with a twisted smile. “Father, what you said makes sense. Why don’t you help me finish my work then? I’ll take a few days off to… recuperate.”

Zuo Zoujian blinked. “Me?”

Zuo Shihuan’s smile was cold and rigid. “Yes. After all, Father, you’re an important figure in Blue Eagle Group. And my tasks—well, you’re the only one qualified to handle them.”

Zuo Zoujian wanted to refuse, but facing his Alpha son’s increasingly terrifying, stern expression, he swallowed the words back down.

“…Fine then.”

Zuo Shihuan smiled. “I’ll leave it to you, Father. I’ll send you the schedule and documents for the next few days.”

Zuo Zoujian nodded automatically—until he opened the file.

Rows upon rows of dense schedules and dizzying reports filled the screen. His face went through a 360-degree transformation from calm to utter horror—he nearly fainted on the spot.

If he actually followed this schedule, it would be worse than a 996.

Then he noticed some of the tasks were originally his own work—duties he’d shirked and pushed onto Zuo Shihuan. He was, in fact, one of the main reasons his son was so overworked.

And now it was all coming back to him.

“Shihuan, maybe you should reconsider,” he said, clutching his chest in distress. “I’m old—I can’t do a young man’s workload!”

He looked up, only to see the study door standing open and empty.

Zuo Shihuan had long since left.