Beta on the Run: Mr. CEO, Take it Easy! - Chapter 11

Year-end.

Chi Xinglan had been busy lately, barely finding a moment to breathe. If Liang Xiao hadn’t been keeping a close eye on him, he probably wouldn’t have eaten properly; he might have even moved into the studio entirely.

Liang Xiao: Come home early tonight.

Hearing the text notification, Chi Xinglan stole a glance at the message but didn’t plan on responding. Two minutes later, another message arrived.

Liang Xiao: I’ll have Secretary Yang pick you up later.

Chi Xinglan finally relented and replied: Aren’t you busy tonight?

Liang Xiao was clearly busier than he was. With the end of the year approaching, every company project was undergoing audits and summaries. Even if Liang Xiao came home early, he would bury himself in the study immediately after dinner, seemingly bogged down by an endless cycle of meetings and phone calls.

Liang Xiao: Mm.

Chi Xinglan: But I’m busy. Don’t interrupt my work if it’s not important.

Liang Xiao: .

Looking at the financial report in front of him, Liang Xiao couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh. He felt as though he had shot himself in the foot by arranging this job for Chi Xinglan; now that Xinglan was busy, he barely spared him any attention. In the past, while Chi Xinglan might not have replied instantly, they would at least exchange a few words. Now, the younger man would vanish before they could even hit a three-sentence streak.

Watching the period Liang Xiao sent back, Chi Xinglan could almost feel his frustration, which actually brightened his own mood. Perhaps it was because the contract was nearing its end, but he just wanted to “let himself go” a little. He didn’t feel like coddling Liang Xiao the way he used to.

He muted his phone and focused on the script.

Today was Wen Ran’s final scene, and it was a pivotal one.

The Xianxia drama, After I Faked My Death, My Disciple Went Completely Insane, followed the tragic romance between a master and a disciple who reunite after life-and-death separations. The protagonist, Xia Yuxue, transmigrates into his own novel, The Final Parting, becoming the master of the male lead.

In the original story, the male lead, Shang Wuling, was a peerless, ethereal figure. His master, consumed by jealousy over his talent, repeatedly placed him in mortal danger. However, as the “Child of Destiny,” Shang Wuling turned every crisis into an opportunity, eventually ascending to godhood and killing his master.

After the protagonist transmigrated into the story, he chose a different path. Because Shang Wuling was his own creation, he wanted to elevate his disciple to the altar of godhood and watch him be revered by thousands. However, because he deviated from the original plot, the storyline collapsed, and he still ended up dying tragically in his disciple’s arms. His presence was like a butterfly effect, shifting the direction of the entire narrative.

The master who was jealous of the male lead in the original book became the second male lead, which was Wen Ran’s character. Originally a minor deity from the Heavens, he was banished to the mortal realm for his mischievous nature. Born into a prestigious cultivation family with unparalleled talent, he was once a figure beyond anyone’s reach. Yet, due to his jealousy of the lead, he persecuted his fellow disciples and abandoned his sect, ultimately causing the protagonist’s death. His punishment was the extraction of his divine bone, the stripping of his celestial status, and being hunted by the male lead.

This specific scene featured Wen Ran at his lowest point: the moment his divine bone was stripped and he was banished to the mortal realm, devoid of power. He wandered aimlessly through the human world, his silk robes and expensive jewelry stolen, leaving him wrapped in tattered sackcloth. His once exquisite face was ruined by a terrifying scar. He had become deranged and senile, huddling with beggars; he was a far cry from his former high-spirited self.

Chi Xinglan was discussing Wen Ran’s look with the makeup artist. When he heard he had to look “ugly,” Wen Ran grew frantic.

“Why do I have to look filthy and smelly?!”

Wen Ran had debuted based on his looks. He was an idol who had been voted to the top by fans, one by one. He had a massive “face fan” base, including a large group of Alpha followers who were only there for his appearance. If he played an ugly character, wouldn’t that trigger a mass exodus of fans?

The entertainment industry was never short of pretty Omegas. It had taken him immense effort to become a top-tier star. As a new-generation icon, his peers were watching like hawks, waiting for any chance to pull him down. The thought of anti-fans or rivals using “ugly” production stills to attack him was unbearable.

Chi Xinglan glanced at him, his tone serious. “As an actor, you should know what it means to respect and fit the original work.”

Wen Ran bit his lip in frustration. “What do you know!”

Chi Xinglan huffed. “It’s up to you. You can either get dragged on the trending searches for being too delicate to look ugly, failing the character to protect your crumbling face fan base, or you can commit to the role, gain the approval of the novel’s fans, and earn the respect of the general public to secure your reputation as an actor.”

The drama was highly anticipated, and the casting had been controversial from the start. With two award-winning veteran actors on board, the show’s traffic was only going to go up. As the second male lead and the most important villain, Wen Ran just needed to deliver a performance that satisfied the original fans to ensure a win.

Wen Ran’s expression was sour. He knew Chi Xinglan was right, but he was still annoyed. He even worried if Chi Xinglan was intentionally sabotaging him by making the makeup artist paint him to look hideous.

Chi Xinglan didn’t have such petty intentions. He finished the consultation and left. However, shortly after he exited the dressing room, a rumor about a clash between Wen Ran and the Art Director quietly climbed the trending charts.

By the time Xiao Lin discovered it, the topic was already in the top ten. On Weibo, the topic exploded:

• #WenRanAndArtDirectorConflict
• #DisagreementOnSet
• #SuspectedLoveTriangle
• #LiangXiao
• #ChiXinglan

When Chi Xinglan saw his own name, his heart skipped a beat. His hands shook. He knew that if his relationship with Liang Xiao went public, he would be subjected to a barrage of public scrutiny and attacks. He was terrified of cyberbullying.

But when he clicked the topic, the content had been wiped clean. “Sorry, no related results found.”

Chi Xinglan breathed a sigh of relief. He searched his own name; again, nothing.

“The PR department must have stepped in quickly to block all keywords related to you,” Xiao Lin comforted him.

“What exactly happened?” Chi Xinglan asked, frowning.

“Secretary Yang said that while you were in the dressing room, the makeup artist’s assistant was hiding in the corner. She secretly recorded your conversation with Wen Ran and posted it online.”

The image of the shy, quiet girl standing behind the makeup artist flashed through Chi Xinglan’s mind. He had thought she was just introverted because she was young. He was wrong.

“The makeup artist fired her, and the director gave her a lecture. The production team will hold her accountable,” Xiao Lin added. “Even though PR handled it, many fans still noticed.”

The rumors, however, were hard to kill. By evening, several topics regarding Liang Xiao and Wen Ran were trending again because the recording captured a snippet of a conversation about Liang Xiao.

“You’re overthinking it.” “Liang Xiao doesn’t like me.”

These two sentences caused a sensation online.

• [Was that the Art Director speaking?]
• [Wait, why would an Art Director say that?]
• [What is his relationship with Liang Xiao?]
• [I’m already imagining a melodrama. Is this a love triangle?]
• [Who is Chi Xinglan? I’ve never heard of him in this circle.]
• [I have a real insider tip here. Wen Ran is single, but CEO Liang is not.]

The Reality

A thick stack of documents was slammed onto the desk. It was the first time Liang Xiao had lost his temper so visibly. The PR department was working overtime, terrified of further provoking the boss.

After the meeting, Liang Xiao pulled a carefully preserved contract from his drawer. On the first page was the term of the agreement. He flipped to the last page and looked at Chi Xinglan’s signature; the handwriting was jerky and immature.

Back then, he had thought five years was too long. He had been young and arrogant, thinking he wouldn’t need five years. He hadn’t expected that even five years wouldn’t be enough to teach him how to love someone properly.

His relationship with Chi Xinglan was better than it was five years ago, but it wasn’t enough. He wanted more.

The PR department had delivered the recording to him immediately. He had listened to those two sentences countless times.

It turned out that in Chi Xinglan’s heart, he had never felt his love. That was why he could tell Wen Ran so firmly: “Liang Xiao doesn’t like me.”

Liang Xiao gave a self-deprecating smile and pulled a velvet box from his pocket. He had prepared this diamond ring years ago, waiting for the right moment.

If everything went smoothly, he hoped to propose to Chi Xinglan the moment the contract ended. He wanted Chi Xinglan to stay by his side forever, not as a lover under contract, but as his partner for life.

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