The Beta Fake Young Master Just Wants to Decline the Shura Field - Chapter 9

Jiang Lanyi leaned against the pillows. Xiao Chi did not speak, so he remained silent as well.

A cold sensation penetrated his feverish nape. The ointment was beginning to take effect, subjecting him to the torture of “ice and fire” despite the room being kept at a constant 25 degrees Celsius.

Yet, Jiang Lanyi’s mind grew increasingly clear.

Xiao Chi had kindly offered him a ride down the mountain, brought him back to his own residence, spent time teaching him how to interview for jobs, and then, when his rut came, even went as far as to do something more.

Jiang Lanyi’s expression turned increasingly grave. Xiao Chi saw this, and his temple throbbed. Was he about to figure it out? Then again, he had been so obvious just now; given Jiang Lanyi’s normal intelligence, how could he possibly not guess?

He was guessing that he had been secretly liking him for so many years, ever since high school.

“Are you looking for a disposable tool?” Jiang Lanyi wore an expression that said, “I have seen right through you.”

Xiao Chi replied, “What kind of nonsense are you thinking about?” His forehead began to ache faintly again; it seemed he could no longer suppress the symptoms of his rut.

Jiang Lanyi started counting on his fingers. “I have a clean background, superior looks, upright character, and most importantly, I am self-disciplined. Plus, I am a beta who is unaffected by pheromones and cannot get pregnant.”

There would be no sordid high-society secrets about premarital pregnancy and running away with a child, nor would he exert much influence on future strategic marriages. Given such conditions, he was perfectly suited for some impulsive alpha in the midst of a rut, to be used as a one-time venting tool.

Hearing the words “cannot get pregnant,” Xiao Chi’s jaw muscles twitched involuntarily.

Jiang Lanyi continued, “And besides, I have no one to rely on now, and I am very short on money. Who knows, I might just have a lapse in judgment and decide to go down a path where money comes fast.”

Don’t go, Xiao Chi thought. Don’t go look for a job. Don’t go see those interviewers, or whatever headhunters they are.

The more Jiang Lanyi analyzed, the more logical his own guesses seemed. Given his mental framework, he was completely unable to imagine that Xiao Chi held any other feelings for him.

What a joke. They were supposedly childhood friends, but the most interaction they had every year was exchanging gifts for the Lunar New Year; they did not even invite each other to their own birthday banquets. Jiang Lanyi really was not close to Xiao Chi.

After hearing his definitive analysis, the first thing Xiao Chi said was, “First, delete all the novel apps on your phone.” The second was, “Don’t sell yourself short, Jiang Lanyi. You are worth more than you think.”

What kind of value could he have now? Jiang Lanyi looked at Xiao Chi as if he were looking at an idiot.

“Not long after my differentiation results came out, they stopped discussing internal group matters in front of me. If you want to use me to get some benefits from the Jiang family, it probably will not be that easy.”

Xiao Chi replied, “What kind of benefits would I want to get from the Jiang family?”

The older generations of the Xiao and Jiang families were long-time friends, and they had countless business collaborations; they were inseparable. If he wanted to take a bite out of the Jiang family, he would certainly have to shed some of his own blood; there was no need to use such unconventional methods.

Jiang Lanyi shrugged and said, “I don’t know. Maybe you also have some mystery surrounding your birth, or maybe you were drowned as a child because Jiang Lizhou schemed against you, and you want revenge?”

Jiang Lizhou was the eldest son of the Jiang family and Jiang Lanyi’s older brother for the first twenty-two years of his life.

Xiao Chi replied, “Stop reading those novels.” Jiang Lanyi pursed his lips and said, “Short dramas are popular now.”

“If you don’t want me to be your disposable tool, why are you being so kind? Even offering to lend me money for my studies?” Jiang Lanyi was utterly baffled.

He assumed Xiao Chi did not know the market rates and offered a friendly reminder: “A humanities degree gets you a monthly salary of three thousand. With a literature major, you end up doing freelance translations, tutoring, or frying rice and noodles at a street stall for three months. You have not heard of that before, have you?” If Xiao Chi gave him two million now, he would have to work for at least ten years to pay it back.

“Forget it. I will find a job to tide me over so I do not owe you too many favors,” Jiang Lanyi muttered.

Xiao Chi desperately wanted him to owe him more than he could ever repay. He could not help but say, “Have you not considered other possibilities?” Jiang Lanyi looked at him for a long time and said slowly, “It is not impossible.”

Xiao Chi’s breathing went quiet again.

Jiang Lanyi gripped the corner of his quilt and said in a tone of indifference, “It could also be that you were entrusted by someone to take care of me for a while.”

Xiao Chi’s behavior was abnormal; if it was not due to his own illness, then being entrusted by others would be a reasonable explanation. Could it be the Jiang family? Could it be Jiang Lizhou, who grew up with him?

But when they were young, Jiang Lanyi was mischievous; he always competed with Jiang Lizhou for their parents’ attention, intentionally telling the adults that his brother had bullied him, and hiding to stifle a laugh while Jiang Lizhou got scolded.

Jiang Lizhou was only three years older than him and was incredibly annoyed. He would often discipline him, and whenever he caught a chance, he would make him cry his lungs out.

Yet, far from restraining himself, Jiang Lanyi liked to defy him even more, frequently turning the house into chaos. It was precisely because they saw his temperament was so restless that the Jiang couple signed him up for various athletic extracurriculars and hired many famous tutors to coach him at home.

But even so, with one brother being unruly and the other being upright and principled, there was rarely a moment of brotherly harmony between them.

More than once, Jiang Lanyi had heard Jiang Lizhou say to Xiao Chi, “If only you were my brother, A-Chi.” He had always wanted an alpha brother with a similar personality—someone well-read, polite, disciplined, and gentle.

The “real” Jiang Lanyi—could he be that kind of person? Since the Jiang family cut ties with him so quickly and had not asked about his situation to this day, was it because that person was the “Jiang Lanyi” they had in mind all along?

“Xiao Chi, have you been to the mountain recently?” Jiang Lanyi remembered his last visit; he guessed he likely had business to discuss with Jiang Lizhou. Xiao Chi did not speak, but looking at his reaction, Jiang Lanyi understood.

He asked, “Did you see that person?” The real young master of the Jiang family.

Xiao Chi looked at him and said, “Mm.” Jiang Lanyi bit his own lip and said, “Oh.”

“What is he like?” Jiang Lanyi regretted asking the moment the words left his mouth. He muttered, “Never mind, I do not want to know.” “Nothing special. Very ordinary,” Xiao Chi said.

“Really?” “Mm. He does not look as good as you.”

Xiao Chi saw his face light up as if it had been illuminated, then added, “And he is very pretentious.” “Pretentious?” Jiang Lanyi repeated the word.

To make such an impression on Xiao Chi in just a few short meetings, it seemed that the real young master was truly no pushover.

Perhaps the Jiang family would be turned upside down by him.

Jiang Lanyi put on a fake front and said, “Sigh, you cannot judge a book by its cover. Maybe that is just his nature. After all, you have not had a deep interaction with him yet.”

In response, Xiao Chi only curled the corners of his mouth, the arc extremely slight. He had no desire to have a deep interaction with that kind of person.

Xiao Chi stared at Jiang Lanyi’s fingers resting on the quilt. There was still a faint tooth mark on the ring finger, which looked very empty. It was perfect for wearing a beautiful piece of jewelry.

He really wanted to put a ring on Jiang Lanyi soon. He wanted to make Jiang Lanyi stay as far away from that person as possible.

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