Beta on the Run: Mr. CEO, Take it Easy! - Chapter 9

The work of an art director was much simpler than he had imagined. He clocked in and out on time every day. Since Liang Xiao didn’t allow him to stay overnight at the studio, he didn’t have to follow the crew’s grueling overnight schedule.

The director didn’t seem to have any objection to this arrangement.

His tasks were mostly scheduled during the day shift. Unlike his colleagues who had to pull all-nighters, his workload was exceptionally light, and he never had to work overtime. Any unfinished work was simply picked up by other team members.

Later, upon reflection, he realized this was likely done at Liang Xiao’s behest.

Initially, Chi Xinglan worried that his colleagues might harbor resentment or isolate him for being a “backdoor” hire. But there was none of that. They were incredibly enthusiastic—in fact, they treated him with a level of reverence usually reserved for a deity of wealth.

Unable to contain his curiosity, Chi Xinglan asked a colleague he had grown close to.

The colleague looked at him as if he were a stack of shiny banknotes, looking like they wanted to give him a hug. “Double the salary, double the bonus. Your presence, Mr. Chi, makes our entire art department shine with the radiance of prosperity.”

Chi Xinglan: “…”

Fine, this world really is just a game where rich people arrange NPCs.

However, he couldn’t deny that Liang Xiao’s method of throwing money at the problem made his life very comfortable. The work environment was pleasant, the interpersonal relationships were smooth, and for someone who hadn’t had much contact with the outside world for five years, he adapted to the new environment and navigated the workplace with ease.

His life on set was quite leisurely. Occasionally, he and Xiao Lin would wander around to watch the filming. The only downside was the catering. Perhaps his palate had been spoiled by Liang Xiao over the past five years, but he found the crew’s boxed lunches greasy and hard to swallow. That familiar feeling of nausea from a while back began to resurface.

When Liang Xiao discovered he wasn’t eating, he was furious.

But he wasn’t angry at Chi Xinglan. Instead, he ordered Xiao Lin to monitor his meals every day and report back in real-time. Eventually, Xiao Lin took over the errands, arranging light, healthy meals for him daily. Furthermore, catering trucks dispatched by Liang Xiao started frequenting the set, providing extra meals, milk tea, pastries, and assorted snacks.

The entire crew gained weight; only Chi Xinglan remained as lean as the day he arrived.

He was beautiful, pale, and slender. Every time the director saw him, he tried to recruit him as an extra, dangling promises of fame and tailor-made roles. Though Chi Xinglan refused every time, the director’s persistence left Wen Ran fuming with jealousy.

The catering trucks continued to arrive for many days. Unlike fan-sent food trucks or actors treating the crew—which usually featured banners with names and photos—these trucks had no branding or promotion. Staff simply delivered and distributed the food before leaving quietly.

At first, the crew thought it was just a perk from the production. But after two weeks, when the director had to order the actors to manage their weight, they realized these weren’t company perks.

“Do you think I have money to burn?” the director snapped. He pointed upward. “It’s definitely that person who sent it.”

But people wondered why the big boss was suddenly arranging catering trucks when he never had before. Many eyes turned toward Wen Ran. Was it because Wen Ran was in the crew, and since they were in City A, the boss was giving his rumored partner extra care?

Among the many crews at the studio, theirs was the only one with luxury catering, afternoon tea, and constant snack deliveries. Many staff members began to believe they were simply benefitting from Wen Ran’s presence, and their attitude toward him became increasingly friendly.

While Chi Xinglan’s appearance had caused a stir within the company, the news hadn’t leaked to the public. Consequently, many people were still privately shipping Wen Ran and Liang Xiao—a result of Wen Ran’s deliberate marketing and Liang Xiao’s silent indulgence.

“Wen Ran, President Liang sent milk tea again! This time it’s low-sugar—so thoughtful. Does he know you’re dieting?”

“And your favorite jasmine grape flavor!”

Wen Ran stiffened, offering a strained, awkward smile. “Maybe.”

He answered vaguely, and the supporting actress sitting beside him didn’t notice anything amiss. She continued excitedly, “President Liang is too good to you. I’ve already gained three pounds! My manager has banned me from snacks and is forcing me to lose weight.”

Wen Ran could no longer maintain his smile. He stood up abruptly to escape the suffocating atmosphere. “I’m going to the restroom.”

Knowing full well that Liang Xiao sent these things for Chi Xinglan, Wen Ran was consumed by jealousy, yet he couldn’t tell anyone the truth. Everyone knew about his “entangled” relationship with Liang Xiao. If word got out that the catering wasn’t in his name, it would be a humiliating slap in the face. Thus, he was almost relieved that Chi Xinglan’s name wasn’t on the trucks.

Wen Ran splashed water on his face, looking dejectedly at his reflection in the mirror. He was beautiful, a recognized beauty in the industry. He came from a good family, a prime candidate for a corporate marriage. His pheromones smelled wonderful, and as an Omega, he was the dream partner of many Alphas.

Yet, Liang Xiao wasn’t interested. Wen Ran was the only one trapped by the high AO compatibility. He was the only one deeply and hopelessly infatuated. Even their 85% compatibility couldn’t move Liang Xiao, who seemed to be resisting his Alpha instincts and the influence of pheromones.

Why? Am I not good enough?

The door opened, startling Wen Ran. He quickly wiped away his tears, not wanting anyone to see his vulnerability. But when he looked up, he saw Chi Xinglan in the mirror.

The two stared at each other through the reflection for a few seconds before Wen Ran couldn’t help but snap, “You must be very smug, aren’t you?”

Chi Xinglan, not understanding what he meant, didn’t respond.

Wen Ran scoffed. “The catering Liang Xiao sends you, the gossip in the crew—you must be so proud of yourself!”

Chi Xinglan let out a tutting sound. “What does Liang Xiao sending catering have to do with me? He has money to burn. Besides, didn’t he send it to the entire crew? It wasn’t addressed to me by name. Did you not eat any of it?”

At this, Chi Xinglan revealed a mocking smile.

“As for the gossip you mentioned, isn’t it exactly what you wanted? You said those things were for you—did I deny it? I haven’t said a word. So, don’t take your temper out on me.”

The cold words left Wen Ran trembling with rage but unable to refute them. The crew had been whispering for days, and Chi Xinglan hadn’t exposed his lies. He had simply been a silent bystander, watching Wen Ran make a fool of himself.

The realization was humiliating. Wen Ran’s voice took on a sob. “Liang Xiao and I have known each other since we were children. Our pheromone compatibility is so high—he should be with me! Our parents approve and are satisfied with the match. Why do you have to butt in?”

A sneer played on Chi Xinglan’s lips. “You should talk to Liang Xiao instead of questioning me.” He didn’t want to hear this; if Liang Xiao were willing to acknowledge the marriage, Chi Xinglan wouldn’t be in the picture.

Wen Ran sniffed and said coldly, “I’ll be engaged to Liang Xiao soon. His mother has always liked me and has been trying to set us up. We’ll be married before long. You have no chance. With your status, how could his mother ever let you enter the Liang family? You’ll be kicked out eventually. Don’t make it ugly, I suggest you be smart and leave on your own.”

Wen Ran’s words were like a thorn in Chi Xinglan’s heart. His status? What status?

This was the unspoken reality that he and Liang Xiao never addressed. Their beginning was so messy that, even after five years, they were still just “contractual” lovers. That had never changed.

Chi Xinglan spoke calmly, “Don’t worry, you’ll get your wish soon. So, for now, please cooperate with my work.”

Wen Ran had only been trying to bluff him, so he was shocked by the response. He pressed, “What do you mean by that?”

Chi Xinglan had no desire to continue the conversation and turned to leave. Wen Ran tried to follow but was stopped by Xiao Lin, who was waiting outside. “Mr. Wen, the director is looking for you. It seems your scene is about to start. You should head over before he gets angry.”

“You!” Wen Ran looked toward the set, bit his lip, and was forced to give up. He couldn’t go against Director Li, a top-tier director everyone dreamed of working with, who was notoriously strict about punctuality. Wen Ran would have to find another chance to figure out what Chi Xinglan meant.

Chi Xinglan felt depressed. He suspected Liang Xiao did this on purpose placing him and Wen Ran in the same crew just to nauseate them both. They saw each other every day, and every encounter was an eyesore.

Chi Xinglan sent a message to Liang Xiao: I want stir-fried beef with bitter melon, ginger and scallion chicken, and spicy chicken for dinner tonight.

A moment later, Liang Xiao replied: Why the bad mood?

Chi Xinglan: I’m not. I’m exceptionally happy.

Liang Xiao: [Transfer] Please accept payment. Liang Xiao: [Transfer] Please accept payment. Liang Xiao: [Transfer] Please accept payment. Liang Xiao: [Transfer] Please accept payment. Liang Xiao: [Transfer] Please accept payment.

[Click to confirm receipt of 500,000.00]

Chi Xinglan: Thank you, Boss. Boss is generous.

He accepted the 500,000 yuan with a blank face. Since he was planning to run away, he needed to save up for his travel expenses.

Liang Xiao: Can we eat something else tonight then? Chi Xinglan: *Of course, Boss calls the shots. ^^ *

His mood miraculously improved, and his cold expression softened. Only then did Xiao Lin dare to approach and offer him a glass of warm milk.

As Chi Xinglan looked over the production materials, something felt wrong. This drama had a “double male lead” structure. One lead was a recently crowned Movie King, a top star for years with countless fans. The other was a senior actor who had already swept major television awards—a synonym for acting talent among the new generation. Even the minor supporting roles were played by veteran actors.

Given the resources and cast, this didn’t look like the “small-budget web drama” Liang Xiao had described.

He looked at Xiao Lin curiously. “Are web dramas so high-end these days?” Why did they need two Movie Kings to anchor it?

Xiao Lin froze for several seconds before realizing what Chi Xinglan was asking. He stayed silent for a moment before asking back, “Why would you think this is a web drama?”

With Director Li’s reputation, it was impossible for him to film a low-budget web series, and the lead actors would never lower their status for such a script!

Chi Xinglan was confused, finding Xiao Lin’s point logical. He murmured, “That’s not what Liang Xiao told me. He said I should use this show for practice because it wasn’t a major production and I shouldn’t worry.”

Xiao Lin felt choked. He wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead and said vaguely, “Maybe it’s because a production like this is just a minor project in President Liang’s eyes.”

Chi Xinglan nodded. Given Liang Xiao’s personality, that was very likely. This entertainment company was just one of his many assets; to him, this drama was probably just one of many investment projects he didn’t pay much attention to. So, saying it was for “practice” wasn’t entirely a lie.

Only Xiao Lin remained shocked. The drama The Disciple Went Completely Insane After I Faked My Death was an S+ level project in the industry and it was being used just to keep Mr. Chi entertained.

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