Beta on the Run: Mr. CEO, Take it Easy! - Chapter 1

The inpatient department was quiet. Unlike the outpatient wing, there were no hurried footsteps of patients, no noisy chatter of small groups, and no cries of children afraid of needles. There were only patients in blue and white striped gowns pacing back and forth in the corridors.

The air throughout the hospital was thick with a sharp, acrid scent of disinfectant that was pungent and unpleasant.

Chi Xinglan sat on a bench outside the ward, clutching a medical record book. He thought about what the doctor had just said and stared blankly into space.

The doctor’s professional explanation and practiced words of comfort had done nothing to ease his tension. Seeing the words “vascular occlusion” on the report made him break out in a cold sweat. Even breathing felt exceptionally difficult.

“If we go through with the surgery, how much will it cost?”

The doctor had glanced at him with an expression that was both solemn and heavy. “A conservative estimate is 300,000 yuan.”

When Chi Xinglan heard that number, the color drained from his face instantly, leaving him deathly pale.

He and his mother had depended on each other since he was a child. They lived a frugal life, and to them, 300,000 yuan was an astronomical sum. Moreover, that was just the cost of the surgery. There would be subsequent costs for treatment, medication, hospitalization, and nursing care. These bits and pieces would only add up to more.

Chi Xinglan remained silent for a long time. His heart felt heavy, as if a giant boulder were crushing the breath out of him.

Seeing this, the doctor sighed inwardly. He knew a bit about the family’s situation, but a vascular blockage was no minor ailment. He had to be blunt: “We could choose medication, but that only alleviates the pain when the condition flares up. Ultimately, surgery is required to clear the vessels. If you insist on medication and skip the surgery, once the condition worsens, the consequences will be dire.”

Chi Xinglan’s heart jolted. He understood the words the doctor left unsaid.

The surgery was non-negotiable. He could not lose his mother, nor did he want her to spend the rest of her life tormented by pain.

After the conversation, Chi Xinglan sat on the corridor bench outside his mother’s ward for a long time. He flipped through the test reports over and over, eventually covering his face and sobbing quietly.

He had no idea how to pull that much money together. Even if he worked day and night without sleep, it would be impossible to save 300,000 yuan in such a short time. Even if he managed the surgery fee, the subsequent costs would create a hole that only grew deeper.

But his mother’s condition could not wait. He was out of time.

Chi Xinglan felt cold all over and his hands were trembling. He opened his wallet to check the balance of every bank card and the cash he had on him. His scholarships and part-time wages were nowhere near enough.

As he went to put his cards back, a small black and gold card suddenly fell from a hidden compartment in his wallet. Seeing the text on the card, Chi Xinglan’s pupils dilated slightly.

It was a personal business card.

He stared intensely at the card in his hand. His fingertips turned white as he gripped it so hard the edges became wrinkled. The moment he remembered where this card came from, a seed dropped into his heart and began to take root.

“Whenever you change your mind, you can call me anytime.”

That sentence replayed in his mind on a loop, though he could not even remember how he had rejected the man at the time.

What about now? Did the offer still stand?

If he agreed to that matter, would his mother’s surgery fee be covered? Once the thought took hold, it grew wildly into a towering tree that occupied his entire mind.

He felt ashamed of the thought, yet he desperately wanted to grab onto this life-saving straw.

A week had passed since he received the card. He was not sure if that Alpha, whom he had only met once, was still interested in him.

Holding the card, Chi Xinglan typed the phone number into his screen but hesitated to press the call button. He knew that once this call was made, there would be no turning back.

Though Chi Xinglan was a Beta, he was beautiful. He was so striking that people often mistook him for an Omega. However, once his pursuers realized he was a Beta, their initial care and respect would vanish, replaced by harsh words. Even some of his part-time employers had made subtle or overt advances, offering to become his patron.

In the past, he had avoided such things like the plague. He felt nothing but deep loathing for them. When he first received this card, he had rejected the man without hesitation and intentionally kept his distance, even though he had once been on the receiving end of the man’s kindness.

After he had refused, the Alpha had not withdrawn his help. Perhaps because of that gesture, Chi Xinglan had not thrown the card away. Now, this card was his only chance.

Why would an Alpha in such a high position choose a Beta like him? An Alpha would know perfectly well that a Beta has no glands and no sweet pheromones. He could not even truly satisfy an Alpha’s biological needs.

Was it just because of his face? If so, how long would that freshness last? After all this time, did the man even remember who he was?

Chi Xinglan took a deep breath and tapped the screen.

The line trilled. He listened nervously as the ringtone sounded. He hoped the man would answer, yet he also hoped the call would go ignored.

Finally, the ringing stopped and a female system voice spoke: “Hello, the person you are calling is unavailable at the moment. Please try again later.”

Chi Xinglan did not feel relieved. Instead, his heart sank. He needed the other person to pick up and negotiate with him.

He hit redial. Unlike the patient wait from before, he became urgent, anxious, and unsettled. Just as he was silently praying, the ringing cut off.

“Hello?”

The voice from the receiver was deep and husky, carrying a faint hint of weariness that drifted into his ear. Chi Xinglan’s throat felt parched. His prepared speech vanished instantly, leaving his mind a total blank.

Before Liang Xiao could lose patience and hang up, Chi Xinglan stammered: “Hello, I am Chi Xinglan from A University.”

He did not know if Liang Xiao had given his card to others, or if the man would remember a face he had seen only once. The silence on the other end made Chi Xinglan feel dejected.

“I’m sorry to bother you.”

Before he could finish, Liang Xiao’s voice rang out again: “Is something the matter?”

His tone was casual, yet it somehow made Chi Xinglan even more nervous. The good news was that Liang Xiao seemed to remember him. The bad news was that this call was abrupt and presumptuous.

Chi Xinglan fell into an embarrassed silence for a few seconds. He wanted to hang up, but the thought of his mother’s medical bills stopped him. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and spoke softly: “Does what you said last time still count?”

After a long pause, a soft chuckle came through the phone. “Of course.”

Chi Xinglan let out a massive sigh of relief. He was lucky that Liang Xiao remembered him and that the man was still interested. After arranging a meeting place, Chi Xinglan hung up.

He went to the window and leaned against the frame, watching the bustling crowds below. It was only September and the sun was baking the earth, sending waves of heat upward. Yet, he felt cold all over, as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

Chi Xinglan went to the restroom to wash his face, gathered his emotions, and returned to his mother’s ward. Looking at the frail woman on the bed, his eyes reddened again. He called out softly, “Mom.”

“Xinglan, you’re here.”

The woman on the bed looked listless. She forced a smile and tried to push herself up. Chi Xinglan immediately helped her sit up and poured her a cup of warm water.

Mother Chi asked, “Did the doctor say anything?”

“The doctor said we should schedule the surgery as soon as possible. Then you won’t be in so much pain.”

Mother Chi held his hand. Noting his reddish eyes, she said gently: “We don’t need surgery. Let’s just go home.”

She used to think her leg pain was just rheumatism or exhaustion from overwork. It was not until she collapsed and could not get up that the hospital check-up revealed the truth. This was a crushing blow to their already struggling household. She thought it would be better not to seek treatment since they were too poor for a major illness.

Chi Xinglan shook his head. “Don’t worry about the surgery fee. I’ll find a way. You just focus on resting in the hospital and wait for the schedule.”

Mother Chi suddenly grew tense. “Where are you getting that kind of money?”

Chi Xinglan explained, “I have saved all my scholarships over the years without touching them. Plus, I do some part-time work whenever I have free time. Adding it all up, I have quite a bit in savings. The surgery isn’t that expensive, so please don’t worry.”

Mother Chi’s eyes showed a glimmer of hope. “Really?”

Chi Xinglan nodded. He had already spoken to the attending physician, asking him to quote a lower price for the medical expenses if his mother asked, just to put her mind at ease.

If only that matter goes smoothly, Chi Xinglan thought. His heart sank, hoping that the man would not lie to him.

He stayed at the hospital until evening. Once his mother fell asleep, he took a car to the hotel location the Alpha had sent him. He collected the room card from the front desk and, with a heart full of trepidation, stepped into the elevator. Watching the floor numbers steadily climb, he felt a sense of oppression so heavy he could hardly breathe.

He wasn’t actually mentally prepared for this. Even though he was the one who initiated it, everything felt so sudden.

The elevator stopped at the 30th floor—the penthouse.

Chi Xinglan looked out at the empty corridor. It felt like a giant beast lurking in the darkness, ready to swallow him whole at any moment. He only stepped out just as the elevator doors were about to close again.

There was only one luxury suite on the top floor.

Holding the key card, Chi Xinglan stood at the door. It took several deep breaths to barely steady his mind before he cautiously opened the door.

Though they had only met once, he still remembered the Alpha’s appearance. Handsome, noble, and cold. The man carried an air of mysterious danger.

Chi Xinglan comforted himself: at least the other party wasn’t some pot-bellied boss in his fifties. Even if it was just a one-night stand, he wasn’t the one losing out. At this thought, he felt a strange, momentary sense of relief, having convinced himself with his own odd logic.

He walked into the living room anxiously. Fortunately, it was empty. Liang Xiao hadn’t returned yet.

Chi Xinglan hurried to the bathroom to shower, stripping off the clothes that were saturated with the smell of disinfectant. Wearing only a simple bathrobe, he sat obediently on the sofa to wait for the Alpha’s arrival.

He was restless.

By 11:00 PM, there was still no sign of the Alpha. Chi Xinglan couldn’t help but wonder if the man had regretted his decision. He scrolled through their chat history, wanting to send a text.

Are you still coming back today? I’m already at the hotel waiting for you. Liang Xiao…

He typed and deleted, typed and deleted. In the end, he sent nothing.

Leaning against the sofa, Chi Xinglan grew drowsy. He had spent the entire day running around the hospital and consulting doctors about his mother’s illness; he was exhausted. Without realizing it, he curled up on the sofa and fell asleep.

Midnight arrived.

Fresh from a social engagement and carrying the faint scent of alcohol, the Alpha returned to the hotel.

Beep.

The door lock turned.

An Alpha’s sense of smell is incredibly sharp. Even though Chi Xinglan was a Beta without pheromones, Liang Xiao sensed someone had entered his territory the moment he stepped through the door. Remembering the phone call from earlier, Liang Xiao’s cold expression softened.

He walked toward the sofa step by step and looked down at the curled-up, sleeping Chi Xinglan.

The Beta was covered by a thin blanket. He was wearing a hotel bathrobe, appearing to have already showered. He gave off the faint, sweet scent of shower gel.

The room lights were dim. Chi Xinglan’s sleeping face was peaceful, his hair slightly messy, and his long eyelashes cast soft shadows. The fatigue on his face was visible to the naked eye. His breathing was shallow and steady, but even in sleep, his brow was slightly furrowed as if he were caught in a nightmare.

Liang Xiao sat down on the edge of the sofa and reached out to gently touch his face, wanting to smooth the crease between his brows.

Chi Xinglan couldn’t smell the Alpha’s pheromones, but he was a light sleeper. The powerful, commanding aura of Liang Xiao startled him awake.

The moment he opened his eyes and saw the Alpha sitting inches away, Chi Xinglan jumped. His heart pounded wildly. He looked guarded, and the sound of him swallowing was distinct in the quiet room.

Liang Xiao’s hand paused in mid-air. Instead of withdrawing, he let it rest gently on the younger man’s face. Chi Xinglan instinctively wanted to pull away, but he didn’t. He couldn’t. He sat rigidly, enduring the man’s touch.

This was the opportunity he had actively sought out.

Liang Xiao was slightly surprised and gave a light chuckle. “Aren’t you afraid? Why didn’t you dodge?”

Chi Xinglan didn’t know how to answer. He remained silent.

The Alpha before him was just as young and handsome as he remembered—eyes indifferent and detached, an air of cold nobility about him. They were not from the same world. If he hadn’t been chosen by a film crew scout on campus, he would never have had the chance to meet such a powerful figure.

Seeing that he didn’t speak, the Alpha moved a bit closer. Chi Xinglan pursed his lips and looked at him. Even though he wasn’t an Omega and couldn’t smell pheromones, the aggressive aura emanating from Liang Xiao made him tremble uncontrollably.

The Alpha smelled faintly of alcohol mixed with expensive cologne. It wasn’t unpleasant.

Chi Xinglan gripped the edge of his robe. As if making a final resolution, he grabbed the belt of his bathrobe and gave it a sharp pull. The robe slid down.

He felt the Alpha’s gaze change instantly. An invasive, predatory look swept over his body.

The two of them stared at each other in silence.

Liang Xiao didn’t move. Chi Xinglan forced himself to be brave, reaching up to climb onto the man’s shoulders and offering a kiss. It was clumsy and green, but the innocent kiss stirred something in Liang Xiao’s heart.

Liang Xiao wrapped an arm around Chi Xinglan’s waist and tilted his chin up, turning passive into active. A simple kiss was nowhere near enough to satisfy the growing desire in his heart.

As a warm palm traced the curve of his waist, Chi Xinglan’s eyes snapped open. Meeting Liang Xiao’s burning gaze, he quickly shut them again to avoid that terrifying intensity.

“Ugh—”

His waist was very sensitive; he never allowed anyone to touch it.

Liang Xiao paused for a second before his tongue surged forward, greedily capturing Chi Xinglan’s breath and exploring every corner of his mouth. Chi Xinglan was forced to keep up with his pace.

It was a long time before Liang Xiao let him go, just as he was about to run out of breath. He slumped into Liang Xiao’s arms, his face flushed and alluring.

Liang Xiao gently lifted his chin, wiped the moisture from his lips, and then picked him up from the sofa, carrying him toward the large bed. Being suddenly lifted made Chi Xinglan panic for a moment; he could only cling helplessly to Liang Xiao’s neck.

When he was placed on the soft bed, Chi Xinglan’s shy expression faded, replaced by a slight paleness. However, Liang Xiao simply pulled the covers over him. He used his thumb to gently rub Chi Xinglan’s bitten lower lip and said calmly, “It’s late. You should sleep.”

Chi Xinglan froze. He hadn’t expected Liang Xiao to let him off so easily. They had an agreement. Moreover, during the kiss, he had clearly felt Liang Xiao’s arousal. So why?

When the sound of running water came from the bathroom, Chi Xinglan’s expression soured.

Liang Xiao didn’t want him.

He hadn’t expected that after coming this far, Liang Xiao would reject him. At this point, he had no way out. He closed his eyes and lay on the bed, quietly waiting for Liang Xiao to return.

Half an hour later, Liang Xiao emerged from the bathroom, damp and carrying the same sweet orange scent as Chi Xinglan. He was only wearing a towel. Water droplets clung to his hair, sliding down his jawline, over his defined muscles, and disappearing into the towel.

Looking at the “sleeping” Beta, Liang Xiao raised an eyebrow. He leaned down and pressed a light kiss to Chi Xinglan’s lips.

As soon as that fleeting kiss ended, Chi Xinglan opened his eyes and hooked his arms around the man’s neck, refusing to let him leave.

Chi Xinglan shyly mimicked the way Liang Xiao had kissed him, lightly licking the corners of the man’s mouth. His soft tongue poked inside but stopped there. That previous kiss had been his first; he had no experience and didn’t know how to please an Alpha.

His palms were warm with sweat. His trembling fingertips traced the Alpha’s torso. His kisses moved from the lips to the chin and downward, landing a light bite on the Alpha’s Adam’s apple.

He continued to tease the Alpha, lighting fires everywhere. Then, Chi Xinglan reached down and untied Liang Xiao’s towel.

His pupils dilated slightly. He held his breath and struggled to swallow.

While he was hesitating, Liang Xiao gripped the back of his neck and hoisted him up into his arms. His voice was deep and incredibly husky, as if he had been restraining himself for a long time. “What? Can’t sleep?”

Chi Xinglan sat in Liang Xiao’s lap. He could feel that the Alpha was successfully attracted to him, yet Liang Xiao still wasn’t doing anything. He wasn’t getting the result he wanted.

He didn’t understand. Why was the Alpha so indifferent when he had been so proactive? The man was clearly interested, yet had no intention of continuing. Then why had he made that request in the first place?

Tears welled in Chi Xinglan’s eyes. With a look of humiliation, he whispered, “Why don’t you want me?”

He didn’t understand. If Liang Xiao didn’t want him, why agree to his request and meet at a hotel? Was it to humiliate him for not agreeing in the first place?

Liang Xiao was silent for a while. “You aren’t willing. I don’t want to force you.”

Thinking of his poor performance just now, Chi Xinglan explained urgently, “I am willing. If I weren’t willing, I wouldn’t have come.”

It was just his first time, and he hadn’t been fully prepared. He had never been this intimate with anyone. He didn’t want to react so stiffly, and he didn’t want the Alpha to lose interest in him. Unfortunately, it seemed he had messed things up anyway.

Tears began to fall from Chi Xinglan’s eyes.

Liang Xiao watched him for a long moment, sighed, and kissed away the tears. “Tomorrow, I’ll have someone transfer one million yuan to your account. Use that for the emergency first. If it’s not enough, tell me.”

Chi Xinglan was stunned.

So, he knew everything. Of course, he knew. That was why he said Chi Xinglan wasn’t willing and didn’t want to force him.

Chi Xinglan couldn’t refuse the help; that was the whole reason he was here. He lowered his gaze and spoke softly, “I agree.”

Liang Xiao, who had been gently wiping away the tear tracks, paused.

Chi Xinglan looked up at him, wrapping his arms around his neck, a thousand thoughts flashing through his mind. “What you mentioned back then on the film set. I agree to it.”

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