Beta on the Run: Mr. CEO, Take it Easy! - Chapter 2

September arrived, and the chill of autumn grew deeper.

The sun hung high in the sky, yet the air was no longer sweltering. The biting winds of the previous night made it feel as though mid-autumn had arrived overnight. Trees lining the roads were heavy with withered leaves; with every gust of wind, the yellowing foliage drifted down, dancing through the air. The ground was blanketed in fallen leaves, resembling a shimmering golden carpet.

Chi Xinglan strolled through the park. Occasionally, a leaf would land on his shoulder, and he would gently brush it away. He looked up at the azure sky where layers of leaves filtered the sunlight, casting mottled shadows across his body. He took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of fresh grass mingled with the faint aroma of decaying leaves.

Unnoticed, five years had already slipped by.

Autumn evenings came early. Though the clock on the wall pointed only to six, the sky was already dimming.

Chi Xinglan was in the kitchen preparing dinner. He didn’t particularly enjoy cooking; it was simply a way to pass the time. Liang Xiao did not like him having a routine job; he preferred to see Chi Xinglan the moment he stepped through the door, no matter what time he returned.

Chi Xinglan had no objections to this. In his eyes, the contract with Liang Xiao was just another form of work.

The refrigerator was stocked with high-quality ingredients. The housekeeper who came daily to clean always brought fresh food. Whatever he liked or wanted, Liang Xiao would provide. Liang Xiao had always been good to him, attending to every detail of his life.

Sometimes, Chi Xinglan even had the illusion that Liang Xiao didn’t just view him as a canary kept in a cage. It felt more like he was being treated as a boyfriend.

He had this illusion often. Without that contract, they would be no different from an ordinary couple. Liang Xiao handled the world outside while he managed the home. He prepared meals every day and waited for Liang Xiao to return. They shared every sunrise and kissed at every sunset.

Liang Xiao never spoke a harsh word to him. Their relationship felt like a contract partnership, yet also like a couple without a contract. Sometimes, he couldn’t even distinguish the two himself. Was he merely playing the role of Liang Xiao’s partner, or had he long since found genuine joy in it?

If only the starting point of our relationship hadn’t been that piece of paper, he often thought. But then he would immediately dismiss the idea. If his mother hadn’t been gravely ill back then, if he hadn’t needed that surgery fee, he and Liang Xiao would have remained parallel lines that never intersected.

He and Liang Xiao. Them. They were never meant to be from the same world.

Chi Xinglan looked at the night sky outside the window and exhaled. He pulled his wandering thoughts back and focused on the recipe.

Liang Xiao couldn’t handle spicy food and preferred light flavors. He hated cilantro, the smell of garlic, bitter melon, carrots, and celery. Chi Xinglan felt that a list of the foods Liang Xiao disliked could fill an entire sheet of paper. He was a very picky eater. Because of this, those ingredients never appeared in the fridge.

“First, wash the duck meat thoroughly.” “Don’t blanch it, just sear it in the pan with a little oil.” “Pour in a bottle of beer until the duck is submerged.”

As Chi Xinglan focused on the video tutorial, two long, powerful arms wrapped around him from behind.

“What are you making?”

The Alpha’s voice was deep and carried a hint of weariness. Hot breath brushed against his ear, followed by a moist kiss that landed on the soft flesh of his earlobe.

Chi Xinglan was surprised. “Why are you back so early today?”

His sensitive earlobe was captured in a warm, moist mouth. He shivered slightly and answered in a muffled voice, “Just learning to cook from an online tutorial.”

Liang Xiao tightened his grip around his waist, holding him firmly. Seeing the pale ear turn a bright red from his suction, a sense of emptiness in Liang Xiao’s heart seemed to be satisfied. He buried his face in the crook of Chi Xinglan’s neck and nudged him.

Feeling Liang Xiao’s hands starting to wander, Chi Xinglan’s face flushed as he whispered a soft reprimand, “Stop it.”

Liang Xiao obeyed, resting his chin on Chi Xinglan’s shoulder to watch the tutorial on the phone with him. Chi Xinglan’s mind was in disarray. Although his eyes were fixed on the screen, his attention followed the movement of Liang Xiao’s warm fingertips.

The video was short and ended quickly, but Liang Xiao showed no intention of letting him go. Chi Xinglan struggled gently in his arms, coaxing him in a low voice, “I still have to cook. This is the last dish.”

Liang Xiao remained silent for a moment. He bit down softly on the white skin of Chi Xinglan’s neck, lingering in the embrace for a long time before finally releasing him.

After he left, Chi Xinglan stood alone, dazed for a while. He didn’t understand. It had been five years, yet Liang Xiao seemed addicted to him. In certain aspects, the man’s passion had not faded; instead, it seemed to grow with each passing day.

After dinner, Liang Xiao went to the study to handle work. Chi Xinglan brought him a pot of tea and then left him undisturbed. He had no interest in Liang Xiao’s business and didn’t like staying in the study. He preferred the balcony, where he tended to the plants he had recently started growing.

September was the season for osmanthus blooms. A gentle evening breeze carried a slight chill through the window. Tiny golden petals fell like rain, filling the room with fragrance.

Chi Xinglan loved the scent of osmanthus. It was rich and sweet yet subtle, like threads of hidden perfume drifting through the air. He loved it so much that he chose osmanthus for his home incense, his occasional perfume, and even his body wash and laundry detergent.

Chi Xinglan picked up a small golden flower that had fallen to the ground and sniffed it in his palm. It was so sweet.

“You like it that much?”

The Alpha’s voice came from behind. Chi Xinglan started to turn around, but before he could, he was pulled up from the ground and held firmly. A body carrying the heat of a recent shower pressed against him. Liang Xiao’s possessive embrace and aura enveloped him.

The scent of osmanthus from Liang Xiao’s body seemed to wrap around him. Chi Xinglan lowered his gaze and spoke softly, “I do like it.”

Perhaps it wasn’t just the scent he liked. He remembered a rural courtyard from his childhood that had an osmanthus tree. Every autumn, the whole house would be filled with its fragrance. Even many years later, after the tree had been cut down, he still felt as if that scent lingered whenever he returned to that yard.

When he was a child, his mother would often make osmanthus cake, osmanthus soup, and all sorts of snacks with the flowers. Chi Xinglan looked at the petals in his hand, a look of nostalgia on his face.

Liang Xiao was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled. “There are many osmanthus trees at my family home. A whole grove of them. It’s exactly the way you like it. Do you want to go back with me to see?”

Chi Xinglan shook his head.

He knew that when Liang Xiao said “home,” he meant the main family residence. He didn’t know when it started, but Liang Xiao would occasionally mention taking him home. At first, it might have been a joke, but as time passed, the invitation became more serious. It made him feel that perhaps he wasn’t the only one who had fallen for this relationship.

But he also wondered: if he agreed to go home with Liang Xiao, in what capacity would he meet the man’s parents? They were not from the same social class. The family would need an heir, but he was just a Beta with almost zero fertility. Furthermore, he had only been by Liang Xiao’s side as a contract lover for five years.

No matter how he looked at it, he was in an awkward position. Someone of Liang Xiao’s status, a high-quality Alpha, should be paired with an equally high-quality Omega from a prominent family. He wasn’t the protagonist of some Cinderella story.

At this thought, Chi Xinglan’s mood sank. The conception rate for Betas was extremely low, incomparable to that of an Omega. He didn’t actually like children much; after discovering his gender was Beta, he assumed he might never have a child of his own. According to his original life plan, he would have spent a quiet, ordinary life with another Beta.

But Liang Xiao’s appearance had derailed his life. He had once fantasized about having a child with Liang Xiao. He had even dared to imagine building a real family together.

However, reality was harsh. Liang Xiao was a man with a high libido. Over the past five years, they had been together countless times without protection. Yet, a child had never come.

Liang Xiao lifted him from the ground. Noticing his slightly forlorn expression, he asked softly, “Why are you unhappy?”

Chi Xinglan denied it. “I’m not unhappy.”

He gave a faint smile, pushed down his private worries, and wrapped his arms around Liang Xiao’s neck to give him a kiss on the corner of his mouth. Liang Xiao always loved it when he took the initiative.

This time was no exception.

The osmanthus incense in the bedroom was rich and sweet. Even the blankets and pillows were saturated with the scent. In the dim light, two figures could be seen overlapping against the wall.

Chi Xinglan preferred to turn off the lights. He liked to release all his emotions without reservation in the darkness. But Liang Xiao always liked to keep the small bedside nightlight on. He liked to stare intently at Chi Xinglan’s face at the height of passion. He loved to see his embarrassed flushing and hear his low pleas for mercy when he could no longer take it.

Perhaps this was simply the inherent nature of an Alpha.

Chi Xinglan gave him a resentful glare. The next second, he felt Liang Xiao become even more excited. His lower abdomen felt achy, and a sharp, stinging sensation radiated from deep within.

“It hurts. Liang Xiao, I’m in pain.”

Liang Xiao soothingly kissed away his tears, coaxing him with gentle whispers in his ear. Their fingers were tightly interlaced; Chi Xinglan’s naturally pink, rounded fingertips turned white from the strain.

Soon, the aching sensation was replaced by pleasure. A numbing, tingling feeling flowed through his entire body. Chi Xinglan’s eyes lost focus, and the whimpers reaching his lips could no longer be suppressed. Sobbing sounds echoed through the room until the middle of the night.

Eventually, the sound of water began to pitter-patter in the bathroom. Chi Xinglan lay draped over the edge of the bathtub, half-asleep and dazed. When Liang Xiao lifted his leg, he gave a dissatisfied kick in rejection.

Liang Xiao was not annoyed. He held the leg and massaged it gently. Outside of their intimate life, he was always a very gentle person. Afterward, he would clean him and massage his aching muscles.

Chi Xinglan let out a few comfortable hums. Just as he was about to drift off, Liang Xiao embraced him again. The rush of warm water caused Chi Xinglan to startle awake instantly. He tried to push against Liang Xiao’s chest, but his waist was gripped firmly.

Chi Xinglan let out a muffled groan, his brow furrowed. His raspy voice was full of exhaustion. “What is wrong with you today?”

While Liang Xiao usually acted like a beast anyway, was he planning to be completely inhuman tonight? Was it because of a looming rut? It didn’t seem like it. Did he intend to kill him?

Liang Xiao lightly licked his swollen lips, his voice husky. “I have to go to S City for a business trip tomorrow. I’ll be back in a week.”

Chi Xinglan stayed silent. No wonder he was so frantic tonight. Every time Liang Xiao went out of town, the night before his departure felt like he was trying to pack a whole week’s worth of intimacy into a single night.

Seeing that Chi Xinglan had no desire to ask further questions, Liang Xiao nuzzled his face with his nose, coaxing him softly. “Do you want to come with me?”

“No.”

Chi Xinglan rejected him without a second thought. Liang Xiao paused, hugged him tightly, and continued to persuade him. “I heard the osmanthus cakes in S City are famous.”

Chi Xinglan was exhausted. He yawned in the man’s arms and mumbled, “Can’t you just bring back a gift? Or have someone send them back?”

Liang Xiao spoke with a hint of regret. “Fine.”

Chi Xinglan had never liked going on business trips with Liang Xiao, nor did he like accompanying him to various social events and drinking parties. He didn’t like visiting Liang Xiao’s workplace and rarely attended banquets with him.

Everyone in their social circle knew Liang Xiao kept a “canary,” but very few knew who it was. They assumed it was something that couldn’t be shown in public, which was why Liang Xiao never brought him along. It was like those wealthy Alphas who liked to keep a small pet nearby so they wouldn’t be too miserable during their rut without a partner.

Looking at the nearly sleeping Chi Xinglan, Liang Xiao took a lingering bite of his engorged earlobe. The slight sting woke Chi Xinglan up once more.

A moment later, water began to splash over the sides of the tub again, spilling onto the floor in waves. By the time Chi Xinglan finally made it out of the bathroom, he had already fallen into a deep sleep.

The entire bedroom was filled with a sweet osmanthus scent—sweeter and more alluring than any synthetic incense. The satiated Alpha inhaled the fragrance now covered by his own pheromones, feeling a sense of deep satisfaction.

Chi Xinglan clutched the quilt and slept soundly. Liang Xiao pulled a box of ointment from the nightstand and carefully applied it to the small abrasions on the Beta’s body. He paid special attention to the back of Chi Xinglan’s neck, which was red and swollen, and gently kissed the teeth marks he had left behind. He sat by the bed for a long time, staring at Chi Xinglan’s peaceful face.

The Next Day, At Noon

The autumn sun was warm and comfortable. Orange light filled the bedroom, making it feel cozy. A light autumn breeze carried the hidden fragrance of osmanthus through the air.

Chi Xinglan’s eyelashes fluttered as he slowly lifted his heavy eyelids. He stared at the white ceiling, his mind blank. His whole body ached. The exhaustion made him feel heavy, as if a giant rock were pressing down on him.

Chi Xinglan hugged Liang Xiao’s pillow, inhaling deeply. A trace of the man’s scent still lingered. A glass of water sat on the nightstand with a note tucked underneath:

[Call me when you wake up. Lunch is warming in the kitchen.]

Chi Xinglan drank the water in large gulps. He felt as though his throat were on fire. The various aches across his body reminded him of last night’s madness. Supporting his waist, he sat up cautiously. A dull pain radiated from the most private part of him, making it feel as if something was still inside.

Liang Xiao had cleaned him while he slept, so he felt refreshed now. His body carried a faint scent of herbal medicine, though he still had the lingering illusion of something remaining within him.

Amidst the burning sting, there was a touch of coolness. The image of the other man applying the ointment flashed in his mind. A flush of pink quickly colored his cheeks. Chi Xinglan couldn’t help but ball his fist and punch Liang Xiao’s pillow.

Eventually, he used the wall for support and made his way to the bathroom. Looking at himself in the mirror, he whispered a curse. “Madman!”

Every inch of his skin was covered in ambiguous hickeys. The back of his neck was particularly red and swollen. Chi Xinglan touched it lightly, feeling the uneven indentations of teeth marks.

That was where an Omega’s gland would be. But he was a Beta; he had no gland. If he were an Omega, he would have been given a temporary mark by now.

Chi Xinglan lowered his eyes. He grabbed a towel and scrubbed the back of his neck violently until the skin over the teeth marks broke and seeped with blood. Only then did this almost pathological behavior stop. He stared quietly at his reflection and let out a bitter smile.

When they were intimate, Liang Xiao always loved leaving marks of affection all over his body, especially on the back of his neck. It was like an Alpha’s instinctual urge to mark an Omega, even though he was just a Beta who could not be marked. Every bite on his neck seemed to serve as a reminder:

You are just a Beta. Stay in your place. Remember your position. Do not fantasize about things that don’t belong to you.

But he always forgot. He always fell into Liang Xiao’s “gentleness trap” and couldn’t pull himself out. He forgot their secondary genders.

He didn’t know when it had started, but Liang Xiao had taken up the largest part of his heart. Not as the employer who signed his contract, but simply as his Alpha.

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