Beta on the Run: Mr. CEO, Take it Easy! - Chapter 8

The lingering scent of osmanthus in the office was gradually replaced by the aroma of food. The fragrance of the meal continuously drifted into his nose.

“I’m so hungry.”

Chi Xinglan rubbed his lower abdomen and looked at Liang Xiao with a pained expression.

Liang Xiao stroked his face, his thumb gently brushing the corner of his lips. He chuckled softly. “Go on, eat.”

It wasn’t just a feeling; after a period of nursing him back to health, Chi Xinglan seemed to have gained a little weight. The soft flesh at his waist felt very comfortable to the touch.

Liang Xiao watched him eat, but when he saw Chi Xinglan take a bite of fish and immediately spit it out, he frowned slightly. “What’s wrong?”

It was fish braised in tomato sauce, a dish Liang Xiao remembered Chi Xinglan loved. He had ordered it specifically for him.

Chi Xinglan’s expression contorted slightly. “It’s too fishy,” he explained painfully.

He had always been sensitive to “fishy” smells even egg yolks could sometimes feel overwhelming to him. Lately, he found fish particularly repulsive, as if he could smell an intense, raw stench from it.

Was it the water quality these days? Or had his tastes just changed?

Liang Xiao covered the container of fish. “Then don’t eat it. Is there anything else you want? I’ll have someone deliver it.”

Chi Xinglan shook his head. “No, there’s nothing in particular I want.”

However, a small side dish of spicy and sour smashed cucumbers sent by the shop suited his palate perfectly. The tanginess and moderate spice jumpstarted his appetite.

Lately, Liang Xiao had been spending a lot of time at home with him, leaving and returning from work on the dot and accompanying him for dinner. Perhaps because of this, Chi Xinglan’s recent bouts of nausea had become less frequent.

Thinking of this, Chi Xinglan stole a glance at Liang Xiao.

Did his subconscious desire Liang Xiao’s constant presence? Had he really fallen for him to this extent? He didn’t think he was the clingy type.

After eating, he lay lazily on the sofa playing with his phone. He wondered if Liang Xiao had called him here just to keep him company at work. The osmanthus incense, smelling exactly like the one at home, made him relax completely.

As the post-lunch drowsiness hit, Chi Xinglan curled up on the sofa and fell asleep while Liang Xiao was taking a call.

Not long after, Liang Xiao returned. Seeing Chi Xinglan curled into a ball on the sofa, he walked over quietly.

Chi Xinglan was a light sleeper and woke up at the slightest movement. Feeling Liang Xiao’s presence, he opened his eyes blearily, glanced at him, and closed them again. “Why did you ask me to come here, anyway? If there’s nothing else, I’m going home to sleep.”

In this cold weather, he should be at home, snuggled in a soft bed, listening to the bubbling of the humidifier and the crackling of the fireplace, sleeping the day away. He shouldn’t be in this cold office, sleeping on a sofa that wasn’t as comfortable as his bed, enduring a long and boring workday.

Liang Xiao stared at him for a moment before picking him up from the sofa. Being lifted into the air made Chi Xinglan instinctively wrap his arms around Liang Xiao’s neck.

“Where are we going?”

Liang Xiao carried him to the innermost rest area, kicked open the hidden door, and carefully placed him on the large bed inside.

“I’m sleepy,” Chi Xinglan murmured.

When a person is tired, their voice becomes exceptionally soft and gentle; he sounded like he was acting spoiled.

Liang Xiao turned on the heater and tucked him in, sighing softly. “Sleep. I won’t bother you.”

Even the blanket had a faint floral scent. Chi Xinglan hugged it and took a sniff. “Do you have something to tell me?”

“No rush,” Liang Xiao said warmly. “Sleep first. I’ll tell you when you wake up.”

“Mm.”

The scent of osmanthus in the rest area seemed even stronger than in the main office. Surrounded by the familiar fragrance, Chi Xinglan quickly fell into a deep sleep.

Liang Xiao stayed by his side, watching his peaceful face. After a long time, he whispered:

“When will you finally understand how I feel?”

Autumn turned to winter.

Winter nights arrived early. By five in the afternoon, the sun had already set, and the light was fading. A cold wind howled outside, leaving only a few weak rays of light in the room.

Chi Xinglan woke up with a start, he’d had another nightmare. He rubbed his tired eyes and stared blankly at the ceiling, taking a long time to calm his racing heart.

The light in the room grew dimmer until it was completely dark. A sense of loneliness and loss washed over him.

Where was Liang Xiao?

At this moment, his longing to hold Liang Xiao reached its peak. Barefoot, he pushed open the door to the rest area.

He heard Liang Xiao’s voice nearby and walked toward it.

“This quarter’s…”

Liang Xiao’s voice cut off abruptly. He looked through the crowd at Chi Xinglan, who was standing not far away. Everyone else followed his gaze.

Gossip-filled stares came from every direction. Dozens of eyes were fixed on him. Chi Xinglan stood there, paralyzed with embarrassment.

His instinct was to run, but his legs felt weak. In his panic, Liang Xiao had already reached him and swept him up into his arms.

“Why aren’t you wearing shoes? The floor is cold.”

Liang Xiao’s voice held a hint of disapproval, his brow furrowed.

Chi Xinglan’s heart trembled as he apologized in a low voice. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to… I didn’t know there were so many people out here.”

Appearing so suddenly and exposing himself to everyone’s gaze—it was his fault.

Liang Xiao kissed his forehead soothingly. “It’s okay. Don’t be afraid.”

Chi Xinglan bit his lip and apologized again. “I’m sorry.”

His existence wasn’t exactly something that could be brought to light. He feared he would be the subject of gossip from now on.

Liang Xiao placed him gently on the bed and rubbed his feet with his palms. “Don’t worry. It’s just a small matter.”

Chi Xinglan didn’t think it was a small matter, but besides apologizing, he couldn’t think of any way to fix it.

Feeling his icy feet, Liang Xiao frowned. “Are you cold?”

“No.”

Liang Xiao looked at him with concern. Was he frightened? Having all those eyes on him… Liang Xiao began to regret not holding the meeting in the conference room. He thought it would just be a few words; he hadn’t expected Chi Xinglan to wake up at that exact moment.

Liang Xiao pulled a pair of new socks from the wardrobe and put them on him. “Wait for me here for a moment.”

Chi Xinglan looked down at the socks and whispered, “Okay.”

They were so warm. He felt his whole body heating up.

Fifteen minutes later, Liang Xiao returned. Chi Xinglan was still sitting on the bed in the same position, looking fragile and vulnerable.

Liang Xiao sighed, walked over, and patted his head. “It’s so cold out. Shall I take you out for hotpot?”

Chi Xinglan lowered his eyes. “I want to go home.”

He had no appetite, even for his favorite hotpot.

Liang Xiao took his hand and led him out of the rest area. Chi Xinglan noticed that the employees had already left; the vast office was empty save for the two of them.

Before they left the office, Chi Xinglan stopped and tugged at Liang Xiao’s sleeve. “Didn’t you have something to tell me?”

Liang Xiao hesitated.

Over the past five years, he had cared for Chi Xinglan well. But at the same time, it felt like he had personally clipped his wings and kept him in a cage. Chi Xinglan was now used to being kept by his side.

If I give him back his freedom now, will he even want it?

“A small film crew is short-staffed for an art director,” Liang Xiao said. “It’s hard to find people lately, so I thought you might want to go and take a look.”

Chi Xinglan seemed not to understand. “Huh?”

“It’s okay if you don’t want to go,” Liang Xiao added.

He had noticed Chi Xinglan had been unhappy lately. Auntie Chen said he liked to lock himself in his room and had become lethargic since autumn began. He was worried. He had suggested going to the hospital a few times, but Chi Xinglan would get angry with him.

So, Liang Xiao wanted him to get some fresh air, meet new people, and have something to do so he wouldn’t be stuck at home all day.

Chi Xinglan looked troubled. “But I’ve never been an art director. I don’t have experience. I won’t know what to do; it’s not a good fit.”

Actually, it wasn’t completely unrelated, as he had studied fine arts.

“It’s just a small-budget web drama,” Liang Xiao said. “There are other colleagues in charge of that department. You can just assist them and learn as you go.”

Chi Xinglan shook his head. “What if I mess up?”

“Don’t worry. Our Xiao Chi can do a great job.”

Chi Xinglan: “…”

Liang Xiao was truly skilled at this kind of “persuasion.” No matter what excuse he used, Liang Xiao had a comeback.

“I thought you didn’t like me working outside,” Chi Xinglan said.

For all these years, he had played the role of the perfect lover, never going against Liang Xiao’s wishes.

“It’s not that I didn’t like it; I just didn’t want you to work so hard.”

Back then, Chi Xinglan was working three jobs a day, running himself ragged to pay for his mother’s surgery. It had pained Liang Xiao to see it.

Chi Xinglan looked at Liang Xiao, their eyes meeting. The sincerity and openness in Liang Xiao’s gaze made him suddenly feel that there were many unresolved misunderstandings between them.

What one hears from others isn’t necessarily the truth.

Ever since the day Chi Xinglan appeared barefoot and dazed in Liang Xiao’s office, rumors had spread like dandelion seeds in the wind.

[Group Chat: Are You Slacking Off Today?]

User A: My heart is broken! Turns out the “boss’s lady” is someone else entirely!

User B: Maybe it’s not the “boss’s lady.” Could be a relative, like a younger brother or cousin.

User C: Listen to yourself. Do you even believe that?!

User D: They were sharing a bed in the rest area and you still think it’s a “brother”?

User E: Why can’t it be a brother? What if it’s that kind of brother? [Smirk emoji]

User F: Stop joking. It’s definitely the boss’s partner.

User G: Then what about Wen Ran.

At the mention of Wen Ran, the chat went silent.

User H: I heard… well, it’s just a rumor, but…

[Speak up! Bring on the tea! Half-baked gossip is the worst!]

[Ugh, I saw you guys shipping them so hard earlier, I felt bad saying anything.]

[Just spit it out already! The suspense is killing me!]

[It’s about Wen Ran. He’s actually not the “boss’s lady” at all. Our Boss doesn’t seem to recognize him in that role whatsoever.]

[How do you know?]

[Haven’t you noticed that every time Boss hits the trending searches with him, it gets taken down immediately? You guys probably don’t realize the PR department has been working overtime, huh?]

[Boss hates being shipped. He finds the whole thing repulsive.]

[As for that “childhood sweethearts” story Wen Ran keeps pushing? Just take it with a grain of salt.]

[Hey, person upstairs—what are you implying? Are you in PR?]

[Whether they’re childhood sweethearts or not, isn’t that for Wen Ran to say? Since when do you decide?]

[Hey, I said it was just what I heard. If you don’t believe me, forget it.]

Wen Ran was the top star of the new generation. As a gentle and beautiful Omega, he had attracted a massive fan base, including many employees within the company. Seeing their idol being mocked was something the fans couldn’t accept.

The group chat instantly turned into a battlefield of bickering. Seeing the chaos, the group owner immediately disbanded the small group and quickly created a new internal employee group, pulling in the colleague who had just leaked the gossip.

【Firm Believers in the Liang-Chi CP; Wen Ran Fans Please Detour!】

[Go on! I believe you! I love hearing this!]

[……]

Secretary Yang, who had “infiltrated” the internal employee group, took a moment to report the situation.

“There are currently a massive amount of rumors circulating in the company regarding Mr. Chi,” Secretary Yang reported.

“Oh?” Liang Xiao asked curiously. “What are they saying?”

“They are fully convinced that Mr. Chi is the ‘boss’s lady,’ and they’ve started shipping the two of you as a couple.”

Liang Xiao nodded with satisfaction. “Then leave it be.”

This was exactly the result he wanted, even if Chi Xinglan’s appearance that day had been an accident.

Secretary Yang remained silent for a few seconds before responding, “Understood, President Liang.” He kept his head down, his heart deeply shaken. So, we are all just a part of the Boss and the Boss’s Lady’s roleplay.

When the alarm went off the next morning, Chi Xinglan was still sound asleep. The alarm rang for a long time without being turned off. Chi Xinglan covered his ears, rolled over, and continued to sleep with zero intention of getting up, even muttering, “So noisy.”

Liang Xiao turned off the alarm, patted his shoulder, and softly called him to wake up.

“What time is it?” Chi Xinglan asked hazily.

Liang Xiao glanced at his watch. “Eight-thirty.”

Dissatisfied, Chi Xinglan pulled the quilt over his head, his voice muffled. “Isn’t it still early?”

Liang Xiao dug him out of the covers and coaxed him. “Didn’t you promise me last night? You’re reporting to the film crew today.”

Chi Xinglan stared at Liang Xiao blankly for a good while. Memories of Liang Xiao’s words from the night before flashed through his mind, there had been such a conversation, and he had agreed to it.

Isn’t it better to sleep at home? Why do I have to go out to work?

Filled with resentment, Chi Xinglan got out of bed with a slumped face. By the time he was ready to leave, he had been wrapped up like a “zongzi” (rice dumpling).

“I’m not cold.”

Liang Xiao adjusted his scarf. “It’s windy outside. Your health hasn’t been great; you’ll catch a cold easily.”

Chi Xinglan: “…”

There is a type of cold called: “Your Sugar Daddy thinks you’re cold.”

“My health is perfectly fine,” Chi Xinglan insisted.

Liang Xiao laughed softly. “I’ve arranged a young assistant to follow you. If there’s anything you want to eat or buy, just let him run the errands for you.”

Chi Xinglan gave Liang Xiao a strange look. “Am I really going there to work?” He wasn’t a star; was it even appropriate to have a personal lifestyle assistant?

“I’ll feel more at ease if someone is looking after you,” Liang Xiao said.

Chi Xinglan muttered, “I’m not a child anymore.”

Liang Xiao just looked at him without a word.

“Fine, I get it,” Chi Xinglan conceded.

Sometimes, he couldn’t figure it out. Was it really necessary for Liang Xiao to be this good to him? Weren’t they just a contractual couple? But he could feel that Liang Xiao’s care for him wasn’t fake.

Sometimes he couldn’t distinguish whether Liang Xiao actually liked him as a person, or if he just viewed him as a caged canary, the affection one has for a pet. Or perhaps Liang Xiao didn’t want him staying home every day so he found him a job, ensuring he wouldn’t starve on the streets when he was no longer needed.

So, Liang Xiao really doesn’t want to keep supporting me anymore, does he?

At the thought of this, Chi Xinglan’s mood turned sour. His face visibly darkened.

Liang Xiao noticed the shift in emotion immediately and was somewhat taken aback. “Why the unhappy face?” Had he accidentally said something wrong?

Chi Xinglan ignored him; he was feeling quite temperamental right now. Anyway, the five-year contract only had one month left. Once the time was up, he’d just pat his butt and leave.

When that time came, he and Liang Xiao would go their separate ways. Whoever Liang Xiao chose to marry would have nothing to do with him. He wouldn’t have to endure Wen Ran’s passive-aggressive remarks anymore, nor would he have to worry about being kicked out at any moment.

Thinking of this, Chi Xinglan shot Liang Xiao a sharp glare.

Liang Xiao: “…”

So it wasn’t his imagination. Chi Xinglan had definitely been acting a bit strange lately. What happened?

The assistant’s name was Xiao Lin, a Beta. He had a baby face and looked very youthful. Chi Xinglan originally thought he was a fresh university graduate, but it turned out he was only one year younger than Chi himself.

Xiao Lin chirped with a grin, “Brother Chi, please look after me from now on!”

With Xiao Lin around, everything became much more convenient. Xiao Lin was very familiar with the environment at the film studio and seemed well-acquainted with the staff of various crews, greeting them left and right.

Perhaps Liang Xiao had made arrangements beforehand, because the film crew wasn’t surprised by Chi Xinglan’s arrival; they were even quite enthusiastic. Even his colleagues in the art department welcomed him, not minding at all that he was a newcomer with no experience.

The assistant director took him around to greet the actors. When he saw Wen Ran, Chi Xinglan was a bit surprised.

He was the second male lead of this drama.

When Wen Ran saw him, he was even more shocked. His mouth hung open slightly before his expression turned cold. “Why are you here?” he asked in an unfriendly tone. “Are you here for an audition? Or to replace someone?”

The assistant director happened to have stepped away at that moment. Hearing Wen Ran’s words, Xiao Lin couldn’t help but frown. Just as he was about to explain, Chi Xinglan spoke first.

“What do you think?”

Wen Ran scanned him, mocking, “The roles still open for auditions are just bit parts. What could you possibly play?”

Chi Xinglan smiled. “Then what do you think of the second male lead role?”

Wen Ran’s face darkened instantly, his eyes filled with hostility. “What did you say?!”

Chi Xinglan said curiously, “Tell me, if I asked Liang Xiao for this role, would he give it to me or not?”

Although he said this to Wen Ran, Chi Xinglan was also curious himself. If Liang Xiao had to choose between the two, what would he do? Would he look after his childhood sweetheart Omega, or choose his Beta lover of five years?

Chi Xinglan’s casual words gave Wen Ran a sense of crisis. Because deep down, Wen Ran knew that if it came down to a choice, Liang Xiao would choose the Beta in front of him.

Chi Xinglan, on the other hand, didn’t think Liang Xiao would choose him. It was as if he was prepared to be abandoned by Liang Xiao at any moment.

After seeing Wen Ran, this question continued to hang over Chi Xinglan’s heart. If one day Liang Xiao faced that choice, who would he pick? He didn’t want that day to be messy, and he didn’t want to look pathetic. Perhaps he should start thinking ahead—he had one month left to decide where he would go.

Behind him, Xiao Lin who had just been unexpectedly fed a massive amount of “tea” silently kept his mouth shut.

At the same time, he logged into his alt-account hidden in the company and posted one sentence in the new group chat: “The CP you’re shipping is real.”

He dropped the bomb, shook the group to its core, and then silently went back to lurking.

Support Beta on the Run: Mr. CEO, Take it Easy!