Beta on the Run: Mr. CEO, Take it Easy! - Chapter 18

The sun dipped below the horizon as the sea breeze whistled, kicking up layers of waves.

Chi Xinglan stepped onto the soft sand with bare feet, letting the seawater wash over them again and again. In the month he had spent here, this was the first time he’d walked this beach barefoot. The water wasn’t as bone-chilling as he had imagined; he was bundled up in layers, so he didn’t feel the cold at all.

Occasionally, the shells scattered along the shore would press into his soles. He picked up a few beautiful conches, intending to take them back as mementos.

“If you like it here, we can stay a while longer,” Liang Xiao suggested.

Chi Xinglan shook his head. “Hasn’t your family been urging you to return?”

He had overheard a few of Liang Xiao’s phone calls with his family—conversations that began with frequent arguments and ended in mutual compromise. At Wen Ran’s birthday banquet, the things Liang Xiao said had completely shattered the years of cooperation between the two families, not to mention their personal ties. It left a massive mess in its wake, creating an irreparable situation that tore away any semblance of civility between the families.

Furthermore, since moving here, Liang Xiao had to handle all his work remotely. He was already busy, yet he still had to carve out time to care for Chi. Because it was a small town, it lacked the bustle and superior conditions of a big city, making many things inconvenient.

In truth, Chi Xinglan could have looked after himself quite well, but Liang Xiao viewed him as fragile and often felt guilty if he wasn’t personally attending to him. Over this period, Chi had been nourished until he was healthy and glowing, while Liang Xiao, conversely, had grown somewhat haggard.

“It doesn’t matter if I don’t go back,” Liang Xiao said. “Your mood is more important. Staying here is fine; I can take good care of you here too.”

A wave of sweetness welled up in Chi Xinglan’s heart. He still wasn’t quite used to the way Liang Xiao kept sweet talk on the tip of his tongue lately; it was so different from his old, silent, and reserved self.

“You’ve grown quite fond of flowery words lately.”

Liang Xiao pulled him into an embrace from behind, following his gaze toward the sea’s horizon and the orange glow of the setting sun. He chuckled softly. “And here I thought I was being sincere.”

Chi Xinglan relaxed completely, leaning into his arms. Love rises with the breeze; the evening wind and the sunset were gentle enough.

“Oh.”

Suddenly, Chi Xinglan stiffened, his eyes widening in surprise.

Liang Xiao immediately grew tense. “What’s wrong?”

Chi Xinglan looked up, a look of joyful surprise on his face. “The baby moved.”

During the first three months, his morning sickness had been severe, only stabilizing after the first trimester. Since arriving in this small town, he had eaten well and slept soundly, focusing on his pregnancy. The baby had been very good—quiet every day. Aside from his belly growing larger day by day, he almost hadn’t been able to feel the baby’s presence.

This was the first time the baby had “greeted” him.

Excitedly, Chi Xinglan pulled Liang Xiao’s hand and placed it on his slightly protruding abdomen. “Here, feel it.”

As soon as Liang Xiao’s hand touched him, the baby moved again, as if on cue. He was cautious, his heart full of wonder. It was the first time Chi Xinglan had seen him make such an expression.

“I thought you didn’t like the baby,” Chi Xinglan whispered.

Liang Xiao’s voice was deep. “Why would you think that?”

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard you mention the pregnancy,” Chi Xinglan replied. “I used to wonder if you didn’t even want this child.”

“That is a child you are carrying for me,” Liang Xiao said. “How could I not like them?”

It was just that, more than joy, he felt heartache. During the early stages, Chi Xinglan couldn’t eat or sleep properly, vomiting up everything he consumed. Pregnant men are naturally more sensitive, and back then, Liang Xiao had been oblivious, letting Chi suffer so much grievance. Now, at four months, Chi’s body was getting heavier, and he had to get up more frequently at night. How could Liang Xiao only be happy and not worried?

Chi Xinglan hesitated for a long time, his speech becoming halting. “If… well, I mean, what if back then I had chosen to…”

He couldn’t bring himself to say the words, but Liang Xiao understood the unspoken sentence.

“It wouldn’t have mattered.”

Liang Xiao held him, leaning down slightly to rest his chin on Chi’s shoulder.

“Xiao Chi.”

“You have to believe that in my heart, you will always come first.”

“Whether or not there is a child, I would still choose you.”

“The decision to keep the child rested entirely with you. No matter what choice you made, I had no right to say anything. Besides… having just you is enough for me.”

Chi Xinglan stared blankly ahead. It took a long while for him to recover from those words. At this moment, he could feel Liang Xiao’s intense love for him—passionate and honest.

Chi Xinglan tucked his hand into Liang Xiao’s and murmured softly:

“Liang Xiao.”

“Let’s go home.”

“Okay,” Liang Xiao whispered, holding him tighter, his voice thick with emotion. “Let’s go home.”

The first thing Chi Xinglan did upon returning was head straight for the balcony to check on his flowers.

Liang Xiao smiled. “Don’t worry. While we were away, Auntie Chen came over every day to clean. I instructed her to look after your flowers carefully.”

Chi Xinglan remembered the photos Liang Xiao had sent him. The osmanthus tree had grown a bit taller, and the roses were blooming brilliantly. The flowers he raised had been well-tended by Liang Xiao.

He couldn’t help but run over to Liang Xiao and give him a kiss. “You’re so good.”

Liang Xiao blinked, the corners of his lips turning up. “I didn’t realize it was so easy to win your favor.”

Chi Xinglan’s face flushed red, and he huffed, giving Liang Xiao a playful stomp on the foot.

While he was fussing over the flowers, a bit of dirt had gotten on his clothes. Chi Xinglan went to change, only to realize that the clothes in the wardrobe were now a bit too small for him. He stood before the mirror in distress; having eaten so well lately, he had filled out quite a bit. The clothes at home were all custom-made to his previous measurements. He pulled out the loosest T-shirt he could find, but even that was tight and uncomfortable.

Liang Xiao apologized with annoyance at himself. “I forgot about this. I’m sorry.”

Chi Xinglan shook his head. “It’s okay. Let’s go buy some new clothes; I want to go for a walk.”

With the Lunar New Year approaching, the streets were bustling and filled with a festive atmosphere. He had never gone out for a stroll with Liang Xiao like this before. Because of Liang Xiao’s prominent status, Chi had always worried about causing him trouble. But it was different now. He didn’t want to overthink things; he’d leave everything to Liang Xiao, trusting him to handle it without letting Chi feel burdened.

Chi Xinglan stepped into a shop at random. The shop manager was experienced and got his measurements perfectly; Chi was very satisfied. When it came time to try on shoes, Liang Xiao insisted on doing it himself. He knelt on one knee, helping Chi try on several new styles.

Looking at the styles Liang Xiao picked, Chi Xinglan gave him a complicated look. “You have… unique taste.”

Hearing this, Liang Xiao looked up at him with an unreadable gaze and raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

Chi Xinglan caught himself and said quickly, “Your taste is excellent!”

Liang Xiao gripped his foot, giving it a playful squeeze, and let out a light laugh. “Well, naturally.”

Chi Xinglan’s face reddened slightly.

As they were about to head home after shopping, they happened to run into Liang Xiao’s mother, Ms. Qi Jing.

A while ago, when Liang Xiao had a falling out with the Wen family, the years of friendship between the two households collapsed. Qi Jing had been blaming herself ever since. In this matter, Liang Xiao was certainly at fault, but she wasn’t blameless either.

She truly liked Wen Ran and had hoped he would become her son-in-law. Knowing clearly that Wen Ran loved her son, she had constantly tried to push them together. However, she had ignored one thing: her son, Liang Xiao, had been independent since childhood. How could he be willing to accept a life she had arranged for him?

Even when she knew for a fact that Liang Xiao didn’t like Wen Ran, she had stubbornly believed that Liang Xiao wouldn’t be able to resist his pheromones—that he would eventually choose Wen Ran because of them. She had been set in her ways, ignoring Liang Xiao’s predicament. It was also because of her attitude that Wen Ran kept making mistakes until things reached a point of no return.

The relationship between the families was completely ruined. She liked Wen Ran, but Liang Xiao was her own child, the one she had carried for ten months. At the end of the day, Wen Ran was an outsider; she had managed to alienate her own son over an outsider.

Since the incident, Liang Xiao hadn’t been home for a long time. Qi Jing felt immense guilt. She was the one who had pushed her son away. She had been unhappy lately, so a friend had suggested they go shopping to take her mind off things. She never expected to run into Liang Xiao here—along with his “mysterious lover.”

Liang Xiao had never mentioned he was in a relationship. Finding out they had been together for five years had been a shock to Qi Jing, and it made her a bit sad. As a mother, she hadn’t even known her son’s relationship status, yet she had insisted on playing matchmaker.

She gave Liang Xiao a brief glance before focusing all her attention on Chi Xinglan. Even though Chi was wearing an oversized down jacket, it wasn’t hard to tell he was pregnant from his slightly rounded belly and the cautious way Liang Xiao was protecting him.

Qi Jing’s gaze made Chi Xinglan nervous. He lowered his eyes, not daring to meet her stare, and even silently let go of Liang Xiao’s arm.

In the next second, Liang Xiao gripped his hand tightly and put an arm around his waist, looking at Qi Jing and calling out softly, “Mother.”

Chi Xinglan stood there awkwardly. The word “Auntie” was on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it. He knew Liang Xiao’s mother liked Wen Ran and had always seen him as her future son-in-law. One could see the intimacy between them from Wen Ran’s words or his social media posts. The fallout between the families was, to some extent, related to him.

Moreover, since Liang Xiao had gone public about his existence, she must have looked into his background and known how he and Liang Xiao ended up together. For whatever reason, Liang Xiao’s mother couldn’t possibly like him. In fact, she probably hated him—he had that much self-awareness.

So, he couldn’t say “Auntie.” He kept his head down, his palms sweating. His nervousness and fear made him tremble slightly.

Noticing his mood, Liang Xiao quickly patted his shoulder to comfort him before saying, “We have things to do, so we’ll be going now.”

Watching their departing figures, Qi Jing couldn’t help but feel frustrated. She had wanted to say hello, but the boy seemed terrified of her. Since he was pregnant, she didn’t even dare to speak for fear of startling him.

Qi Jing asked her friend helplessly, “Do I look that scary?”

The friend teased her instead, “Congratulations, you’re going to be a grandmother. That boy looks pregnant, doesn’t he? And look at the way your son protects him—he looks like he’s blaming you for scaring his little friend.”

Qi Jing recalled how Liang Xiao had coldly called her “Mother.” She couldn’t argue; her son was still holding a grudge, he wouldn’t even call her “Mom.”

The friend continued, “You were worried about Liang Xiao finding a Beta. Well, even though he’s a Beta, he’s pregnant now. Looks like I’ll be attending a wedding at your house soon.”

At the mention of this, Qi Jing felt a pang of regret. She and Liang Xiao had argued plenty over it. After everything that happened, she had decided that whether it was a Beta or an Omega, as long as Liang Xiao liked them, she would let it be. She didn’t expect such a turn of events—they even had a child on the way. And Liang Xiao had intended to keep it from her.

“The boy looks quite gentle and pretty,” the friend added. “No wonder Liang Xiao keeps such a tight watch on him.”

“Stop teasing me,” Qi Jing said. Her son was angry with her, and the other boy was afraid of her. Whether she’d even get to hold her grandchild was another matter entirely.

Meeting Liang Xiao’s mother made Chi Xinglan realize there was something he had been ignoring. Liang Xiao’s grip on his hand was firm and warm, giving him a sense of being resolutely chosen, chasing away his inner darkness and anxiety. After the encounter, he remained distracted, a sense of loss lingering in his heart.

Liang Xiao rubbed his head and sighed softly. “What are you thinking about?”

Chi Xinglan glanced up at him, frowning slightly in hesitation, but finally spoke tentatively: “If…”

“I choose you.”

Before he could even finish, Liang Xiao already knew what he was going to ask.

Chi Xinglan was surprised. “You know what I wanted to ask?”

“Yes.” Liang Xiao pinched his chin and gave him a kiss. “You can feel free to ask me anything. Don’t hesitate, and don’t test me. We don’t need that between us.”

He didn’t want to be separated from Chi Xinglan again because of a lack of communication. He didn’t want any misunderstandings between them, nor did he want Chi to keep things bottled up. He was worried these small things would accumulate and affect their relationship.

Chi Xinglan nodded slightly, but he still looked unhappy.

Liang Xiao held his shoulders and said with absolute sincerity, “Xiao Chi, don’t worry. No matter what happens, I will always stand firmly by your side. Nothing can pull us apart.”

Chi Xinglan looked down and spoke sadly, “I know your mother doesn’t like me. I don’t want you to be caught in the middle or make things difficult for you, but I don’t think I have a choice.” He didn’t want to have to curry favor with anyone.

“Why would you think that?” Liang Xiao asked. “You aren’t making things difficult for me. The argument with my mother wasn’t because of you. Don’t overthink it.”

Chi Xinglan responded softly, looking down at the floor. His belly was growing faster and faster; when he looked down now, all he could see was the curve of his bump.

“I know how much your mother likes Wen Ran.”

In the past, Wen Ran had emphasized this to him countless times. He had flexed that relationship over and over, mocking Chi Xinglan’s status as a Beta and claiming he’d never step foot through the Liang family’s door—let alone after everything that happened later.

“I don’t want you to feel responsible for this,” Liang Xiao said firmly. “The fault does not lie with you. Severing ties with the Wen family was my personal choice. A single family like theirs isn’t enough to shake my foundation; losing an unimportant business partner has no real impact on me. As for my parents’ relationships, that’s for them to figure out. I’ve endured Wen Ran for long enough. I’m done being manipulated to satisfy them at my own expense.”

“So, Xiao Chi, don’t blame yourself.”

“And don’t feel guilty.”

Chi Xinglan gave a dazed nod. He didn’t fully grasp the intricacies of their corporate partnership, but he understood one thing Liang Xiao said: “The fault does not lie with you.” Those words eased the heavy stone that had been pressing on his heart.

Still, he worried. Given how much Liang Xiao’s mother adored Wen Ran, would she think he was the wedge that drove them apart?

Liang Xiao’s thumb gently smoothed the frown between Chi’s brows. “Remember what I just said?”

Chi Xinglan looked up, puzzled. “Hmm?”

“Xiao Chi, no matter the choice, I will only ever choose you. Always.”

He could feel Liang Xiao’s sincerity, but a lingering unease remained. No matter how many times Liang Xiao proved himself, Chi felt a persistent sense of dread—a fear that one day, Liang Xiao would grow tired of being caught between his mother and his lover and simply give up. It was a ticking time bomb in his heart.

Liang Xiao pulled him into an embrace, his voice hoarse. “Xiao Chi, don’t leave me.”

Chi Xinglan stiffened. He had indeed been thinking that if things became too much, he would take the child and return to the small town. He didn’t want to be an “option” in a multiple-choice question.

“Xiao Chi, I’ll handle everything. Just give me a little bit of faith. Even just a little.” Liang Xiao’s voice was low and despondent.

Sensing his sadness, Chi Xinglan sighed and patted his head. “Okay. I believe you.”

“Promise me,” Liang Xiao whispered, his voice trembling slightly. “Tell me the moment you’re unhappy. I’m slow; sometimes I can’t guess what you’re thinking. I’m terrified I’ll do something wrong and you’ll just walk away.”

Hearing the hitch in his voice, Chi Xinglan realized that Liang Xiao was far more attached than he had imagined. While Chi loved him, he felt he could survive a separation—but for Liang Xiao, the thought was paralyzing. Somehow, the power dynamic had shifted; Liang Xiao had become the one full of trepidation.

“Just stay by my side,” Liang Xiao murmured. “You can do anything to me… even if you decide you don’t like me anymore.”

Chi Xinglan’s eyes welled with tears. He didn’t know what Liang Xiao had gone through during their month apart to make him this insecure. He squeezed Liang Xiao tight. “What nonsense are you talking? I like you so much, I couldn’t bear to leave. You have to take care of me forever, wait on me, and earn lots and lots of money for me.”

“I will,” Liang Xiao whispered.

Breaking the mood, Chi Xinglan added, “You’re squishing my belly.”

Liang Xiao immediately let go and gently moved him to the sofa. “Wait here. I’ll be right back.”

A few moments later, Liang Xiao rushed back into the room holding a massive bouquet of roses. He knelt at Chi’s feet, pulled out a diamond ring he had long prepared, and looked up with intense focus.

“Xiao Chi, will you marry me?”

Chi Xinglan froze. “Wait… are you proposing right now?”

“I can’t wait. Not a moment longer.” Liang Xiao had planned a grand ceremony, but the fear of “long nights bringing many dreams” made him scrap the schedule. He needed this certainty now.

Chi Xinglan looked at the ring, then at Liang Xiao’s nervous face, and smiled. “What if you stop liking me one day?”

“Never,” Liang Xiao replied instantly.

“What if you bully me?”

Liang Xiao’s nerves relaxed slightly at the smile. “Only you can bully me now.”

Chi Xinglan thought about it. “Alright then. I guess I’ll accept.”

The joy that flooded Liang Xiao’s face was breathtaking. He took Chi’s hand—his own palms slightly sweaty and trembling—and slid the ring onto his ring finger before pressing a reverent kiss to the back of his hand.

The next morning, before the ink on the proposal was even dry, Liang Xiao whisked him to the Civil Affairs Bureau. While waiting for the paperwork, Chi Xinglan slipped into the restroom to call his mother.

“Mom, I’m getting married,” he said, his voice brimming with excitement.

“Is it the Alpha who has been helping you?”

Chi Xinglan realized he rarely mentioned Liang Xiao to her. “Yes, Mom. The one I met five years ago. We’ve been together all this time.”

“Are you happy? It doesn’t matter who he is; I just want to know if my baby is happy.”

Chi’s eyes grew hot. “I am. I love him very much.”

“Then I am happy too. I wish you both a long and loving life together.”

“Thanks, Mom. I’ll bring him to see you in a few days. And… Mom? I’m pregnant.”

“Xiao Chi…”

“Mom, we aren’t marrying because of the baby,” Chi explained quickly. “We’re marrying because we love each other. He actually knelt down and cried, begging me to marry him!”

His mother laughed at the image. “As long as you’re happy, I’m at peace.”

When the official seal was pressed onto their marriage certificates, they were legally husbands. Liang Xiao, who never posted on social media, broke his silence with a single update: Thank you for agreeing to marry me.

The comments exploded. His friends were convinced his account was hacked. Liang Xiao didn’t care; he wanted the world to know. He even sent the company secretary out to buy high-end wedding candies and red envelopes for every single employee in the building.

Later that night, the phone rang. Liang Xiao stepped into the next room to answer so as not to wake Chi.

“Mom, why are you calling so late?”

“Since you’ve registered the marriage,” Qi Jing said, her tone softer now, “you should bring him home so your father and I can see him.”

“You don’t like him,” Liang Xiao said coldly. “I won’t let him be mistreated.”

“When did I say I didn’t like him?” Qi Jing huffed. “He’s just a child, and he’s pregnant. Do you think I’m some evil mother-in-law?”

“You liked Wen Ran,” Liang Xiao reminded her. “Wen Ran told Chi that because he’s a Beta, you’d never let him in the door. Between that and the recent fallout, he’s convinced you hate him.”

Qi Jing sighed. “I didn’t even know he existed! That’s on you for hiding him.”

“And if you had known?” Liang Xiao countered. “Would you have tried to break us up for Wen Ran’s sake? And if you knew about the ‘contract’ we started with, would you have ever accepted him?”

Qi Jing went silent. She couldn’t argue. Knowing her past bias toward Wen Ran, she likely would have caused trouble.

“It wasn’t Chi who stayed for the money,” Liang Xiao added quietly. “It was me who used money to force him to stay. Don’t think of him as a bad person. He is kind, gentle, and beautiful. I won’t have you misunderstanding him.”

“Wait… you forced him?” Qi Jing sounded horrified.

Liang Xiao sighed. “I fell in love at first sight five years ago, but I didn’t know how to pursue someone. I just threw money at him, and he rejected me. Later, when his mother was dying and he was desperate, I offered to help only if he stayed with me for five years. He had no choice.”

Qi Jing was silent for a long time. “You absolute brat. I am so disappointed in you.”

“I know,” Liang Xiao said. “That’s why I don’t want you holding anything against him.”

“He’s a good child,” Qi Jing said finally. “Don’t you dare fail him. If he’s willing, your father and I would like to welcome him.”

After hanging up, Liang Xiao sat in the dark. He regretted his immature actions every day—it was the root of Chi’s insecurity. He turned to go back to the bedroom, only to find Chi Xinglan standing in the doorway.

“Did I wake you?”

Chi Xinglan shook his head. He had heard everything. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Liang Xiao’s waist.

“I’m sleepy. Let’s go back to bed.”

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