The Beta Wife Claimed by Competing Alphas - Chapter 5

Yi Zhuo was still typing, continuing his argument with Lu Chong, but Lu Chong had already shut off his phone, acting as if he had no interest in debating with a fool.

Mu Yan remained completely oblivious to the exchange. He quietly finished configuring the environment for Lu Chong and returned to his seat.

It was actually a very ordinary competition. Among all the contests Mu Yan had entered, the problems were not particularly bizarre, and their final result was neither exceptionally good nor bad.

In reality, Lu Chong was not just “self-taught” as he claimed. His mathematics was excellent, far exceeding the level of a typical liberal arts student, and even his coding skills were barely inferior to those of the specialized majors like Mu Yan and Yi Zhuo.

He was humble, capable, and responsible; he was ten thousand times better than the rumors suggested. Mu Yan watched his profile secretly, feeling fortunate that he understood Lu Chong a little better than anyone else. As for what use there was in understanding him better, Mu Yan did not know.

He and Lu Chong belonged to two entirely different worlds. He was a Beta; even stories like Cinderella marrying into a wealthy family had nothing to do with him. Later, when he actually ended up with Lu Chong, he often felt as though it were a dream. He was like someone trying to scoop the moon out of the water, looking at the reflection in the pool and mistakenly believing he possessed it.

The Lu Chong of their university days was as perfect as a male lead in an idol drama. Being handsome and wealthy were his least significant traits. He would use photos of Mu Yan from various angles as his phone and computer wallpapers; he would accompany Mu Yan to those boring algorithm classes; and he would pick Mu Yan up from the lab even if he worked until very late.

Lu Chong did not want to see him too exhausted, yet he did not pressure Mu Yan to quit his part-time jobs. Instead, he introduced him to a certain professor to work on a project. Mu Yan knew that professor; his academic level was high and he was kind to students, but his standards were incredibly strict, and there was no precedent for letting undergraduates join his group.

The monthly stipend from that professor was a full one thousand yuan. Combined with the prize money Mu Yan frequently won from various competitions, he no longer had to work odd jobs. He even had extra money to send back to his brother and mother.

Mu Yan sometimes felt he was being despicable. That morning when Lu Chong had appeared at his dilapidated rental house looking utterly lost and soul-shattered, a strange emotion had stirred in a corner of Mu Yan’s heart alongside his pity. He knew he could never catch up to Lu Chong; the gap born between them was longer than his own life. He knew that one day Lu Chong would break up with him. While they were together, he would just take it one day at a time.

Unexpectedly, tragedy struck Lu Chong’s family at that time. It was as if even the heavens wanted them together.

Although Lu Chong became increasingly depressed after that, his temper grew worse. He became unwilling to communicate and would resort to cold wars whenever they argued. He was also constantly suspicious, several times losing his temper with Mu Yan for no reason, accusing him of coming home carrying someone else’s pheromones.

Every time he was scolded without cause, Mu Yan would comfort himself by saying things would get better. Two people being together required mutual adjustment and compromise. The fact that Lu Chong was still by his side was enough.

He scooped the noodles from the pot, drizzled the topping over them, and ate without tasting a thing before washing the dishes. When he saw those three plates in the sink, his heart throbbed with pain again.

He tried to tell himself that when he fell in love with Lu Chong, Lu Chong was a pampered young master. He was a picky eater back then; if you love someone, you should embrace everything about them. After being with Mu Yan for so long, Lu Chong had almost no material demands left, aside from his pickiness with food. Lu Chong was just a bit childish; he would not pretend to have eaten and wash the dishes just to please Mu Yan with sweet words.

It was impossible not to feel wronged, but in the end, Lu Chong was only this broken because of his own circumstances. To blame everything on Lu Chong would be unreasonable.

But still.

At that moment, the lock clicked. Someone inserted a key into the door. Mu Yan had not even put the washed dishes into the sterilization cabinet before he was embraced by a swaying figure.

“Wife.”

Lu Chong was likely drunk; his face was very red and his breathing was rapid.

“You have been drinking. Why did you not call me to pick you up?” Mu Yan immediately forgot about their morning argument, his concern taking over instinctively.

Lu Chong wrapped his arms around him and said nothing. He was dazed when drunk, appearing as though he did not understand Mu Yan’s words. This was likely one reason he disliked drinking; Mu Yan knew he was someone who held himself to high standards and hated being in an incoherent state. He also disliked escapist behaviors that damaged the body.

Therefore, Lu Chong only had one way to relieve stress: sex.

“I will go make some honey water for you.”

He tried to lead Lu Chong to the sofa, but the grip tightened.

“Hold me for a bit,” Lu Chong said.

“I thought you did not like drinking. Why did you have so much?”

“Business socializing.”

Lu Chong frowned. He seemed to have acid reflux from drinking too much. His grip loosened slightly, and Mu Yan was able to help him sit on the bed in the bedroom. When Mu Yan tried to get up to make the honey water, Lu Chong pulled him onto his lap.

It was not a prelude to sex, but simply a desire to hold him. Having been drinking, the thing between Lu Chong’s legs remained quiet. In this position, Mu Yan was slightly taller than him; Lu Chong had to tilt his head up a bit to kiss him.

Mu Yan cupped his face and obediently accepted the kiss. When it ended, Lu Chong buried his head in Mu Yan’s chest. Mu Yan gently massaged his hair.

“I do not like business socializing.”

“Can you choose not to go?” Mu Yan asked.

He did not understand business. The only help he could offer was comfort when Lu Chong was in a bad mood. In truth, he was not very good at comforting people either.

Lu Chong shook his head against his chest. “Need to make money.”

“You do not need to make so much money,” Mu Yan kissed his forehead. “I will get a raise next year. You should find a regular job. You are so capable; you could do anything well. I love you, and I do not want you to be this exhausted. Even if you do not work, I will support you.”

“Need to… marry you.” Mu Yan could not say such sappy things when he was sober, but Lu Chong was half-drunk. He gently pinched the flesh on Mu Yan’s waist.

Although he did not like drinking, his tolerance was not so low that a few glasses would force the “truth” out of him. He had just been cold to Mu Yan this morning and did not want to give a formal apology.

When Mu Yan called him this morning, he knew Mu Yan had likely been mistreated by Lin Guojun and wanted comfort. But he had already warned Mu Yan not to associate with that gambling father of his. Since Mu Yan insisted on going back, whatever mistreatment he suffered was his own fault. He knew Mu Yan would be sad; he just wanted him to learn a lesson.

Mu Yan had said, “It is fine. If you are busy, we can talk when you get home.” Lu Chong had heard the suppressed sob in his voice but chose not to comfort him. After all, Mu Yan loved him; Mu Yan would not hold it against him.

“We can go get married right now.”

Lu Chong shook his head. He was not actually bankrupt. Why should he marry a perfectly ordinary Beta like Mu Yan?

Lu Chong was deeply influenced by elitism. Since childhood, his father had demanded perfection in everything—grades, competitions, the violin. If he was not the best, he was met with his father’s cold gaze. Over time, he could not accept mediocrity in any aspect of his life. The wife he married should match him in family background, appearance, and ability.

As for Mu Yan, once his small company was established and he could prove his worth to his elders, he would give him a large sum of money as compensation. If Mu Yan did not care for money and only wanted him as a person, he could keep him as a mistress. He could just come to an agreement with his future wife and ask her not to make trouble for Mu Yan.

In truth, he knew Mu Yan had not spent many good days with him. Perhaps it was fine when they first started dating, but all the gifts he had given Mu Yan were sold by Mu Yan without hesitation when he decided to start the business.

While Mu Yan was not particularly handsome and his family was a mess, and though he had been admitted to A-University, his personality was timid and his abilities were not strong. He was far from being considered “elite.” However, Mu Yan’s saving grace was that he was gentle enough and loved him enough. Even now, when Lu Chong had nothing, Mu Yan was willing to stay.

Mu Yan’s heart and eyes were filled only with him, foolishly supporting him even while believing he was bankrupt. He was also a Beta who would not attract the gaze of others. As Lu Chong’s first lover, Mu Yan must have drugged him somehow, because he had not grown tired of him yet. He was not an ungrateful person; he would remember Mu Yan’s kindness. Even when he returned to the Lu family, he would not kick Mu Yan away immediately.

“Stop being difficult, okay? I am going to make your honey water.”

Mu Yan gently caught Lu Chong’s wandering hand as if negotiating. Only after Lu Chong agreed did he stand up to make the drink. On the dining table sat the dessert he had set down earlier. Lu Chong likely felt nauseous and would not want to eat it. But if it stayed until tomorrow, he probably would not eat it anyway.

Mu Yan hesitated but eventually brought the Basque cheesecake into the bedroom. Lu Chong was already getting sleepy; his eyes were unfocused but sharpened again when he saw Mu Yan.

“I want to eat,” Lu Chong said childishly, recognizing the familiar packaging. “Do I have to drink the medicine before I can have cake?”

Mu Yan was about to say it was not medicine but sweet honey water, but Lu Chong took the glass and drained it in a few gulps. Then he looked at Mu Yan.

“You can eat it now,” Mu Yan nodded.

“I want you to feed me.” He was being stubborn again.

Mu Yan had no choice. He took the cake, opened the fork, and fed Lu Chong. Lu Chong pulled him onto his lap again, his hand resting on Mu Yan’s waist.

The cake had been sitting out for a while. Lu Chong usually preferred it warm; Mu Yan would normally heat it in the microwave. But since he was drunk today, he was exceptionally easy to please even though Mu Yan forgot to warm it.

Even after three years together, Lu Chong’s face still held a fatal attraction for him. His features were delicate without being feminine. His phoenix eyes often looked sharp at first glance, but when he curved them to look at Mu Yan, that sense of distance vanished. His upper lip was very thin; people said this was the face of someone cold-hearted.

His brother believed in such things. He said people with thin lips were fickle and ungrateful, and that dating such a person would leave one with nothing in the end.

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