Beta on the Run: Mr. CEO, Take it Easy! - Chapter 4

The sound of rushing water drifted from the bathroom.

Chi Xinglan sat on the bed in thin pajamas, unboxing the gift Liang Xiao had brought back for him. It was a bottle of osmanthus perfume. Over the last few years, he had developed a habit of collecting osmanthus-scented fragrances; a dedicated cabinet in the dressing room held various treasures he had found.

The perfume Liang Xiao gave him this time felt special. It was richer and sweeter than any of the others in his collection. Chi Xinglan sprayed a tiny amount on his wrist and inhaled gently. It was exactly the scent he loved. The hidden fragrance of osmanthus surged through the air, claiming the entire bedroom. Even his skin became saturated with it. It was incredibly dominant.

The water stopped, and Liang Xiao emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a cloud of steam. His bathrobe was loosely tied, revealing a broad expanse of skin. On his back, faint, mottled scratches were visible, and the bite mark on his Adam’s apple was prominent.

He ran a hand through his damp hair and approached Chi Xinglan, wrapping his arms around his waist and kissing his cheek. “Not tired?”

When warm, damp fingertips slipped beneath the hem of his shirt, Chi Xinglan shivered. “I am tired.”

They had only gone once, and truthfully, he wasn’t that exhausted otherwise, he wouldn’t be idly unboxing gifts.

Liang Xiao kissed his shoulder, circling him in a warm embrace and whispering softly, “You smell so good. Do you like the perfume I brought back?”

“I… I like it.” Chi Xinglan grabbed the man’s hand to stop his increasingly bold movements, trying to redirect his attention. “Did you buy it in S City? What brand is it?”

The box had no labels or logos, but he loved the scent so much he wanted to know the shop.

Liang Xiao hesitated for a moment before answering, “It was a custom commission.”

“The scent is very unique,” Chi Xinglan said, his voice trembling slightly.

Liang Xiao’s lips curved upward. He kissed the tip of a reddened ear and whispered, “I’m glad you like it.”

Chi Xinglan slumped into his arms, clinging to his sleeve with wet eyes and a gaze full of silent accusation. Liang Xiao kissed the corner of his mouth; the darker instincts of an Alpha surfaced once again.

“How could once be enough?”

Seeing that Liang Xiao hadn’t reached for a “small square,” Chi Xinglan tried to stop him in a panic, but he was a step too late. The arrow was already on the string.

“Mmph.”

His legs were draped over the man’s shoulders. Chi Xinglan let out a tearful, quiet plea for mercy. His lower abdomen felt achy.

Liang Xiao leaned down to kiss away his tears, his voice husky and restrained. “We ran out at home, Xinglan. I can’t hold back anymore.”

The scent of osmanthus was overwhelming—it was the scent on Liang Xiao’s body, the very perfume he had just sprayed on himself.

Liang Xiao coaxed him gently, “Use the perfume I bought you often, okay? I love this scent.”

He didn’t tell Chi Xinglan that it was a one-to-one replica of his own pheromones. It wasn’t ordinary perfume; it was the smell of his soul. Since Betas couldn’t smell Alpha pheromones, he used the perfume as a proxy. He wanted Chi Xinglan to smell him. He wanted Chi Xinglan to be covered in him.

When he first learned Chi Xinglan loved osmanthus, he had been overjoyed. He never told him what his pheromones smelled like, but Chi Xinglan happened to be obsessed with that exact flower. Sometimes Liang Xiao felt a pang of regret—if Chi Xinglan could actually smell him, would he love him because of the pheromones?

Watching Chi Xinglan’s face flush with passion, Liang Xiao whispered his name, “Xinglan.”

Chi Xinglan opened his eyes dizzily. In those fleeting seconds, he felt as though he could feel the surge of Liang Xiao’s love. He was drowning in it, the affection rising like a tide. Yet, he felt like a small boat drifting at sea, wandering without a place to dock.

Liang Xiao held him and called again, “Xinglan.”

“Yes,” Chi Xinglan whispered back. Every word of love he wanted to express stayed trapped behind his teeth.

Liang Xiao stroked his cheek and gripped his waist to turn him around, making him face away. At the height of passion, Liang Xiao always loved to bite the back of his neck. It was the location of an Omega’s gland, which Chi Xinglan lacked, yet the man remained obsessed with leaving a mark there.

It was an Alpha’s nature: to plunder, to occupy, to mark. To leave a mark on a lover was like a wild animal marking its territory, telling the world that this person was his. Liang Xiao was no different. He possessed an intense, possessive streak.

Looking at the white skin of the neck, Liang Xiao licked his canines. But just as he moved to bite, Chi Xinglan pulled a hand free to shield the spot. His voice was hoarse and pleading. “Liang Xiao, no. Don’t do that.”

He wasn’t an Omega. He didn’t want to be treated like one.

Liang Xiao paused.

Chi Xinglan’s eyes were full of hurt. “I’m a Beta. You can never mark me.”

Liang Xiao was silent for a few seconds before softly repeating, “Yes… you are a Beta.”

Chi Xinglan’s fingers curled into the pillow, tears soaking his eyes. He couldn’t help but ask, “Are you disappointed?”

The room was heavy with the Alpha’s thick pheromones; the sweet osmanthus scent filled every corner. Chi Xinglan was wrapped in it.

Liang Xiao kissed his neck, wiping away the tears at the corners of his eyes. “I’m not disappointed. Beta or Omega, it doesn’t matter. I don’t care about that.”

Chi Xinglan bit his lip. Liar. If he didn’t care, why did he always try to bite him there?

Liang Xiao pinched his cheek and suddenly laughed. “Are you angry?”

Chi Xinglan looked away with a huff. “How would I dare to be angry with you?”

Liang Xiao kissed his mouth, his eyes bright with amusement. “I’m happy.”

He loved it when Chi Xinglan got angry. He wanted to see him act spoiled and throw little tantrums. Arrogance was fine. Willfulness was fine. What he wanted wasn’t a hollow shell without feelings, but the real Chi Xinglan.

The weather turned chilly; a cold bite lingered in the mornings and evenings. Chi Xinglan hummed along to music while preparing ingredients for hotpot. Because Liang Xiao couldn’t handle spice, he prepared a clear broth base and a non-spicy dipping sauce.

The table was spread with food. He snapped a photo, but before he could send it, a message from Liang Xiao arrived.

Liang Xiao: [Something came up tonight. Don’t wait for me.]

Chi Xinglan was silent for a few seconds before deleting the photo.

[Understood.]

His enthusiasm was doused like a flame under cold water. A sense of loneliness began to surround him. He turned on the TV, choosing a random channel just to hear the sound of another human voice in the quiet apartment.

A new web drama, Fireworks, was playing. Chi Xinglan looked up and saw a face he didn’t like. He immediately changed the channel.

It was a rerun of an idol survival show.

Host: “Next up is our popular contestant number three, Wen Ran! I’m sure all the fans can’t wait…”

Expressionless, Chi Xinglan changed the channel again. This time it was the most popular variety show: a civilian dating reality show. He had just started to relax when the camera cut to the guest of the week—Wen Ran.

Chi Xinglan: “…”

Just how many resources had Liang Xiao given this guy? Wen Ran was everywhere. Already feeling like his dinner tasted like wax, he now felt as if he’d swallowed a fly. He gave up on eating.

He watched Wen Ran’s bright, moving face on the screen. No wonder he became a top star so quickly; his Alpha fan base was massive, and he was often called the “Omega of every Alpha’s dreams.”

[No Alpha would ever reject Wen Ran.]

Seeing that bullet comment, Chi Xinglan let out a small, dry laugh. So, would Liang Xiao like him too?

Host: “Welcome, Wen Ran! It’s your first time on our show. What made you want to come play? Do you have plans for romance lately?”

Wen Ran covered his face and laughed shyly. “Sister Li, you’re teasing me again.”

Host: “Oh? It sounds like good news is near! I wonder which lucky Alpha will win our Ran-baby’s heart.”

The guests on set clearly knew something, offering their own teasing comments to build the atmosphere. Chi Xinglan noticed the live comments section was being flooded with the name “Liang Xiao.” Great swathes of red text, looking quite piercing.

The show featured a popular “Childhood Friend” pairing whose pheromone compatibility was incredibly high. Their ambiguous, yet open chemistry had the audience hooked. The show had introduced a new participant to stir up drama, creating a crisis for the original pair.

[Childhood friend or new arrival, who do you prefer?]

This topic was trending on social media. The audience was guessing which Alpha the Omega would eventually choose.

Host: “Ran-baby, who do you think the Omega will pick?”

Wen Ran smiled, his gaze looking intensely into the camera as if he were looking at a specific person. “If I were that Omega, I would choose the childhood friend. From what I know, they have over a decade of history. Their parents approve and have even been playing matchmaker. Beyond that, their pheromone compatibility is high—they are naturally drawn to each other. They’ve just been best friends for so long that no one has dared to break that barrier. They probably joined this show just to test each other’s hearts. The newcomer is more like an interloper. In my view, the Omega has never wavered; they’re only getting close to the newcomer to make the childhood friend jealous. You could say the newcomer is just a test for the relationship.”

Host: “It seems Ran-baby did his homework on our guests!”

Wen Ran’s bright smile suddenly turned wistful. “It’s just that I’ve seen similar things happen around me. It makes me realize how precious childhood feelings are. I don’t want to see a third party interfere.”

The host paused, glancing toward the director. Wen Ran was a rising star backed by the Liang Group. Everyone in the industry knew about the childhood connection between him and Liang Xiao. These words could stir up a storm. She didn’t dare speak further for fear of offending the Liang family.

“Well, that’s another vote for the childhood pair!” the host laughed forcedly.

Wen Ran ignored the host’s stiffness and offered a meaningful smile. “I believe that in the end, the Omega will definitely choose the childhood friend over the newcomer. Just wait and see.”

Watching this, Chi Xinglan let out a scoff. Was that meant for me?

Was Wen Ran hinting that he and Liang Xiao were the “childhood pair” while he was the “interloper” third party? How interesting.

Chi Xinglan looked at Wen Ran’s hypocritical smile, felt a wave of disgust, and rushed to the bathroom to throw up. Truly unlucky.

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