Beta on the Run: Mr. CEO, Take it Easy! - Chapter 14

The banquet guests had been safely evacuated. Only Wen Ran and Liang Xiao remained in the room.

Wen Ran was releasing his pheromones without restraint. The scent of roses diffused through the air, gradually filling every corner and crevice of the room. No Alpha could resist the pheromones of an Omega in heat, especially under the influence of high compatibility. Liang Xiao gritted his teeth and yanked at his tie, the veins on the back of his hand bulging prominently.

The fragrance of roses swirled around his breath. Sweat beaded on Liang Xiao’s forehead as he grabbed a cold drink from the table and downed several gulps, yet the dry heat within him refused to dissipate.

“He is safe now. I will arrange for someone to take him to the hospital.”

“Understood.”

After hanging up, Liang Xiao injected himself with a suppressant. Under the influence of Wen Ran’s heat, his own rut had been triggered prematurely. Just as he was about to administer a second dose, Wen Ran wrapped an arm around his.

“Brother Liang Xiao.”

Wen Ran bit his lip, his face flushed deep red. His eyes were brimmed with tears that looked as though they might overflow at any second.

Liang Xiao glanced at Wen Ran’s hand, his brow furrowed tightly. “You’re in heat. I’ll have someone take you to the hospital.”

Recalling the phone call he had just received from his mother, Liang Xiao suppressed the urge to shove Wen Ran away.

Wen Ran shook his head and clung tighter to Liang Xiao’s arm, weeping piteously. “Don’t send me to the hospital, Liang Xiao. Mark me. Let me be your Omega.”

Liang Xiao forcibly pried Wen Ran’s hand off, pinched his chin, and spoke with cold, serious deliberation: “Wen Ran, I am saying this for the last time. I don’t like you. Stop wasting your thoughts on me.”

Wen Ran’s long-held tears fell in a torrent. He wiped his face haphazardly, smudging his makeup. “That’s not right. We were supposed to be together. We agreed that when I grew up, I would marry you.”

“I’ve been waiting for years.”

“How could you just disappear halfway through?”

Wen Ran had loved Liang Xiao since childhood. Before they had even differentiated, their families had made a pact: if Liang Xiao became an Alpha and Wen Ran became an Omega, they would get engaged upon reaching adulthood. When Liang Xiao differentiated into an Alpha, Wen Ran had desperately hoped he would become an Omega.

His wish was granted. Not only did he differentiate into an Omega, but his pheromone compatibility with Liang Xiao was exceptionally high. They were supposed to be a match made in heaven.

But when he finally reached adulthood and was ready to marry Liang Xiao, he suddenly learned of Chi Xinglan’s existence. In that moment, his world collapsed. He had originally thought Liang Xiao kept his distance because he cherished him and thought he was too young. It turned out he was wrong. Liang Xiao didn’t keep his distance because he was an Omega; he did it because he simply didn’t like him.

Unwilling to accept this, Wen Ran had once arranged a private meeting with the Beta. He wanted to see what kind of charm this person possessed to captivate Liang Xiao. He had left disappointed; while the man was beautiful, he was just a Beta with no scent. Beauty was his only asset.

The world was inherently unfair to Betas. Yet, when that Beta had sat down in front of him, Wen Ran’s proud, triumphant expression had instantly turned pale. A Beta might have no pheromones of their own, but that man had been covered in the scent of an Alpha. It was Liang Xiao’s scent. Wen Ran knew it all too well.

It became painfully obvious who was loved and who was not. He could no longer use clumsy excuses to comfort himself. He didn’t even remember how he had stumbled out of that cafe.

Thinking of Chi Xinglan now, Wen Ran couldn’t stop himself from wailing. What did he lose to Chi Xinglan? Beauty, family background, gender; he was superior in every way. Yet, he had lost utterly.

“I never said I would marry you,” Liang Xiao said. “My parents made promises to you without my consent. I apologize to you on their behalf.”

“No! Don’t apologize! I don’t want an apology!” Wen Ran pleaded bitterly. “With our compatibility, if you just give us a chance, you’ll definitely like it. Chi Xinglan is just a Beta; he can never satisfy an Alpha’s needs. You need me.”

“Let go.” Liang Xiao’s voice was so cold that Wen Ran instinctively released his grip.

Liang Xiao looked at Secretary Yang, a Beta who was trying his best to remain invisible in the background, and said coldly, “Take him to the hospital yourself.”

“Yes, sir,” Secretary Yang replied.

Seeing Liang Xiao turn to leave, Wen Ran grabbed his sleeve. In the struggle, a small square box fell from Liang Xiao’s pocket. Wen Ran froze.

Was that a ring? If it wasn’t for him, it could only be for Chi Xinglan. Was Liang Xiao planning to propose?

Wen Ran’s face turned deathly pale. He screamed, “Are you going to find Chi Xinglan?! He’s just a Beta! He can never use pheromones to soothe your rut! He can’t even smell your scent!”

“What of it?” Liang Xiao paused. “I like him. That is enough.”

He had never cared about Chi Xinglan’s gender. It was love at first sight; why should it matter if he was a Beta or an Omega? Liang Xiao walked away without looking back. He had been merciful enough to Wen Ran.

It was late at night when Liang Xiao returned home. The living room lights were still on. It seemed that every night he didn’t come home, Chi Xinglan would wait for him.

Sure enough, Liang Xiao found Chi Xinglan curled into a ball on the sofa. He wasn’t sleeping soundly; his brow was slightly furrowed as if trapped in a dream. Liang Xiao knelt by the sofa. The moment his hand touched Chi Xinglan’s face, the cold sensation startled the younger man awake.

Chi Xinglan shrank back from the cold touch. Sensing Liang Xiao’s presence, he rubbed his eyes and murmured, “Why are you back? Didn’t you say you weren’t coming?”

Shouldn’t he be with Wen Ran right now?

Liang Xiao didn’t speak. He simply picked him up from the sofa. As he was pulled into the embrace, Chi Xinglan immediately smelled the thick scent of rose perfume on Liang Xiao. He remembered it clearly; it was Wen Ran’s scent.

It was the first time he had smelled such a strong perfume on Liang Xiao. Did it mean they had been so intimate that the scent had transferred onto his clothes? At the thought, Chi Xinglan’s mood soured. Wen Ran did it on purpose, but was Liang Xiao really completely unaware?

Chi Xinglan pushed against his chest and said coldly, “You smell disgusting. Put me down. Don’t touch me.”

Liang Xiao didn’t say a word, but his grip was heavy. Chi Xinglan felt uncomfortable. From this angle, Liang Xiao’s expression looked fierce. He was rarely like this, except during his rut.

Chi Xinglan suddenly remembered that Liang Xiao’s rut was due in a few days. His current appearance was very similar to how he acted during his previous ruts. Had it started early? Because of Wen Ran?

Liang Xiao placed Chi Xinglan gently on the bed. Just as Chi Xinglan was about to ask a question, Liang Xiao kissed his cheek, his voice deeper than usual. “Wait for me here.”

The sound of the shower soon drifted from the bathroom. Chi Xinglan wiped his cheek and sat on the bed, hugging his knees. Why did he come back so early? Wasn’t Wen Ran in heat? Why wasn’t Liang Xiao with him?

Moreover, with one in heat and the other in rut, wouldn’t they have been the perfect solution for each other? Why did Liang Xiao still come back?

While Chi Xinglan was still lost in his wandering thoughts, the sound of the shower stopped abruptly. His gaze followed the direction of the bathroom. Liang Xiao walked out, clad only in a towel and carrying the humid air of the shower with him. He was shirtless.

Chi Xinglan quickly looked away. Liang Xiao strode over, closing the distance in a few steps, and grabbed his hand to plant a kiss on his knuckles. As he approached, waves of osmanthus fragrance wafted through the air.

Droplets of water fell from the tips of his hair, sliding down his shoulders and landing on the back of Chi Xinglan’s hand, blooming into tiny splashes.

Chi Xinglan frowned slightly. “It’s wet.”

Liang Xiao knelt on the bed, pulling him into a firm embrace. He let out a soft chuckle. “It doesn’t matter; you’ll have to change them soon anyway.”

Chi Xinglan instantly understood the subtext. A faint blush crept across his face. “Your rut…”

“Mm.”

“Xiao Chi.”

“Help me.”

Liang Xiao’s hands had grown scorching hot. He took Chi Xinglan’s hand, moving it back and forth as the sound of heavy, ambiguous breathing filled his ears. Chi Xinglan didn’t dare look down, allowing Liang Xiao’s kisses to fall on his neck and ears before wandering all the way to his shoulder.

The scalding breath against his skin created a tingling sensation that made him want to flee. The sense of oppression from Liang Xiao was becoming overwhelming; an Alpha in their rut became incredibly dominant, and Chi Xinglan simply couldn’t move against his strength.

Liang Xiao’s fingertips slowly rubbed against the back of his neck. The heat from his touch sent shivers through Chi Xinglan’s body, forcing a muffled groan from his lips.

“It tickles.”

Liang Xiao’s hands moved down to caress his soft waist, lingering there as if he couldn’t bear to let go.

“Have you put on some weight recently?”

Chi Xinglan’s body suddenly stiffened. His voice trembled slightly as he tried to maintain his composure. “Mm, the food Xiao Lin makes is very good.”

Liang Xiao laughed softly. “I’ve been raising you for so long and you never gained weight, yet you got heavier after just a few days of his cooking? Maybe I should let him keep following you then?”

Chi Xinglan breathed a slow sigh of relief. “No need. I want to rest for a while; he’ll have nothing to do if he stays with me.”

“That’s fine too,” Liang Xiao said. “Stay home and keep me company.”

Hearing those words, Chi Xinglan’s heart felt complicated. Their contract was about to expire. Once Liang Xiao’s rut was over, he would leave. An Alpha’s rut usually lasted three days, and Chi Xinglan was worried about his pregnancy. He had tried so hard to conceive this baby; he was terrified that Liang Xiao, in his lack of restraint, would accidentally cause a miscarriage.

An Alpha in heat has no reason to speak of, and Liang Xiao was no exception. They were like beasts, constantly consuming, using physical intimacy to fill the void in their hearts. But he didn’t intend to tell Liang Xiao about the child.

If Liang Xiao knew, he would only have two choices: stay by his side as a lover forever, or get an abortion. Neither was the outcome he wanted.

Liang Xiao bit down on his lower lip with a bit of force, speaking with dissatisfaction: “What are you thinking about? You’re so distracted. It seems I’m not working hard enough.”

“I…”

Before he could finish, Liang Xiao’s tongue swept inside. He was kissed until he could barely breathe. As a Beta, he didn’t produce pheromones and required more foreplay. When the pain finally hit, Chi Xinglan gasped and tried to push Liang Xiao away, only to be held even tighter.

His tongue felt numb from the suction. He cried out slurred words: “It hurts.”

Liang Xiao paused, pulling back just a fraction. Chi Xinglan gasped for air, his face flushed a deep, ripe red like a sweet persimmon. His lips were wet and glistening, looking incredibly tempting. Liang Xiao couldn’t help but kiss them again and again.

Chi Xinglan covered his face with his hand, turning his head away. His breathing was a mess. “Slower, please,” he pleaded.

Liang Xiao kissed his palm, but it wasn’t enough. He lifted Chi Xinglan’s wrist and bit it, his voice low and refusing: “No.”

Chi Xinglan’s eyes grew wet with tears. He whimpered, “Can you please take a suppressant?”

In truth, Liang Xiao had already taken one on the way back. He didn’t tell him, however, choosing instead to be difficult. “Why?”

An Alpha in rut is far more childish than usual. Chi Xinglan bit his lip; being pregnant made him extra sensitive, allowing him to capture Liang Xiao’s moods more accurately than before. He let out a low, tearful curse: “Bastard!”

Liang Xiao chuckled and leaned down to kiss his face. He held Chi Xinglan by the shoulders, pinning him firmly beneath him, staring at his face with obsessive focus.

“Our Xiao Chi is so beautiful.”

Chi Xinglan bit his lip, tears finally spilling over. “It really hurts. Liang Xiao, I’m in pain.”

The smile on Liang Xiao’s face froze. He gently wiped the sweat from Chi Xinglan’s temples and kissed his face tenderly. “What’s wrong? Where does it hurt?”

“Before you came back,” Chi Xinglan sobbed, “I went to the hospital.”

Liang Xiao fell silent for a few seconds, then slowly pulled away. “What happened?”

He knew Chi Xinglan hated hospitals, so hearing that he had gone caused Liang Xiao to frown immediately. Chi Xinglan had only mentioned the hospital as a last resort; he knew Liang Xiao cared about his health, and he had hoped to scare him into being more gentle. He hadn’t expected such an immediate effect.

Liang Xiao’s eyes were filled with genuine worry. Chi Xinglan subtly touched his lower abdomen; it seemed his baby was safe for now. To prevent Liang Xiao from investigating his medical records, he had to make his story airtight.

He frowned, feigning a weak and pitiful look. “One of the dishes at dinner had peanuts in it. I didn’t know and ate a few bites. I felt sick on the way home, so Xiao Lin took me to the hospital.”

Liang Xiao knew about his peanut allergy, so he didn’t suspect a thing. His voice was laced with concern. “Are you better now?”

Chi Xinglan shook his head. “I’ve been vomiting lately, so I had a check-up. The doctor said it’s a stomach flu and told me to watch my diet and get plenty of rest. I need to stay quiet.” He emphasized the words stay quiet. Then, he gave Liang Xiao a look of accusation. “I am a patient right now.”

Liang Xiao sighed and pulled him back into a hug. “Just let me hold you.”

After a long while, Liang Xiao’s body temperature hadn’t dropped at all; if anything, it was getting hotter. Chi Xinglan said helplessly, “Can’t you just go to the bathroom and handle it yourself?”

“Handle it myself?” Liang Xiao replied. Before he met Chi Xinglan, he did exactly that, but he hadn’t suffered that kind of grievance since they’d been together. “How about… tomorrow I have someone hang a photo of you in the bathroom?”

Then, he shook his head. “Never mind, I’ll do it myself.”

Chi Xinglan was stunned. “What?”

Liang Xiao huffed. “Weren’t you the one who wanted me to be self-sufficient? If I hang your picture in there, I can handle it myself.”

Chi Xinglan: “…”

What kind of pervert says things like that?

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