The Corporate Slave Beta Is Surrounded by Alphas - Chapter 15

Cheng An wasn’t sure how much time had passed; he only knew that the place where they touched had become feverishly warm. The Alpha’s steady body heat seeped through his clothes, chasing away the chill of the night wind.

He gazed at the distant lights of the city, catching a glimpse of the time displayed on a giant electronic screen across the way. Always a bit socially awkward, Cheng An felt a wave of self-consciousness. “It’s getting late,” he said softly. “I still have work to handle.”

He hadn’t been lying to Song Boyan; he really did have tasks to finish. He could feel the exhaustion from the new project weighing on him, and he had already decided to take that vacation once this milestone was reached. But for now, finishing his work was the priority.

A muffled voice vibrated against his stomach. “I’m sorry,” Zhou Song whispered.

Hearing that heavy, dampened tone, Cheng An worried for a moment that the boy was crying. But when he looked down, he saw Zhou Song looking up at him with bright, sparkling eyes full of unadulterated joy.

Cheng An didn’t quite understand why he was so happy. Just a moment ago, Zhou Song had looked like a dejected, abandoned puppy. Perhaps the comfort had worked better than expected, Cheng An mused.

Zhou Song finally let go and stood up. He was much taller than Cheng An, forcing the Beta to tilt his head back to see his face. Standing against the light, Zhou Song’s face was cast in shadow, yet his vibrant, cheerful energy was unmistakable.

“Let me walk you home,” Zhou Song said. “I’ve already taken up too much of your time.”

“If you’re busy…” Cheng An began.

“I’m not! Not at all,” Zhou Song interrupted quickly. “I don’t have any more part-time shifts tonight. I don’t have to go to work.” Looking at his radiant expression and hearing his upbeat tone, one would never guess he had just been beaten up and fired.

He had recovered his vitality in record time. He lightly took hold of Cheng An’s wrist. “Let’s go. I won’t delay you. I’ll see you home.” The Alpha’s broad, warm hand chased away the last of the evening chill from Cheng An’s skin.

They headed toward the subway. Despite Cheng An’s decent salary, the high rent and cost of living in A-District, combined with the money he sent home to his parents every month, meant he hadn’t saved enough for a car. And Zhou Song, as a student working multiple jobs, clearly didn’t have one either.

As they walked through the bustling streets, Cheng An asked, “How many jobs are you working in a day?”

“The coffee shop is the main one,” Zhou Song replied. “But I pick up other shifts whenever I have a gap in my schedule.”

“Are you studying at A-University?”

“Mhm.”

“I remember A-U only takes the most exceptional students.”

“Weren’t you an A-U grad too?” Zhou Song said suddenly. “I think you’re incredible.”

Cheng An blinked in confusion. “How did you know I went to A-U?”

Zhou Song looked suddenly flustered, rubbing his fingers together. “Because… we went to the same middle school. I’ve seen you before.”

This genuinely surprised Cheng An. He looked at Zhou Song, trying to sift through his memories, but he couldn’t find a single face that matched the man standing before him.

“Chenyang Middle School?” Cheng An asked. “I remember that district was mostly Betas. A lot of ordinary people lived there; you had to be really outstanding to make it out. You’re an Alpha you should have had much better living conditions. Why were you studying there?”

Zhou Song’s expression darkened for a fleeting moment. “Because of some family issues, I was left there. I pretended to be a Beta to try and blend in with everyone.” The light in his eyes dimmed as he spoke of the past.

Cheng An realized he had stepped into sensitive territory. He didn’t pry into the family details, but offered practical advice: “You’re at A-U now, and as an Alpha, if you’re having financial difficulties, you can apply for a subsidy. Since you’re an Alpha, the approval would be very fast.”

“Mhm,” Zhou Song hummed. “But I actually like working. I enjoy the coffee shop.” He looked at Cheng An with eyes so soft and focused that Cheng An mistook the depth of his gaze for the reflection of the streetlights.

“A-U grads are highly sought after, especially Alphas. You don’t need to worry about the future,” Cheng An said. Walking through the crowds, he felt a rare sense of relaxation.

He wasn’t usually a talker, but Zhou Song’s infectious energy was rubbing off on him. Finding out they shared a history both in college and middle school—gave him a sense of kinship. It was rare to find someone from the old “Beta-heavy” districts making a life in the elite A-District.

“How old are you now?”

“Twenty-one.”

“Then I’m four years older than you. I really don’t remember seeing you back then.” Cheng An’s expression was more animated now, though a hint of guilt touched his face.

“It’s okay,” Zhou Song said. “It was probably just a small thing to you. It’s fine if you don’t remember.”

Hearing this only made Cheng An more curious. His intuition told him something significant must have happened for Zhou Song to remember it so clearly, but the memory remained out of reach.

He wanted to ask more, but the subway arrived. It wasn’t crowded, so Cheng An found a seat. He was about to speak to Zhou Song when he noticed the Alpha’s posture had changed. Zhou Song looked alert, his shoulders stiff and his eyes scanning the entire carriage with sharp intensity.

Zhou Song stopped talking, his gaze fixed on the far end of the train. Cheng An remained quiet, feeling a wave of sleepiness hit him after dinner and the long walk.

He stifled a small yawn. He looked down at his phone to check the time, and at that moment, a warm hand gently guided his head down to rest on a firm shoulder.

Cheng An looked up at Zhou Song, startled. His confused eyes met Zhou Song’s equally flustered ones.

“I thought… I thought you were falling asleep. I thought you’d be more comfortable leaning on me…” The Alpha’s face flushed a deep red from embarrassment.

“We’re almost there,” Cheng An said softly. “I’ll sleep when I get home.” The warm hand retracted, the fingertips ghosting over Cheng An’s ear for a brief, soft second.

Zhou Song curled his fingers into a fist, too embarrassed to look up or speak again.

“Did you feel… anything strange?” Zhou Song asked as they exited the station.

“Strange? Like what?”

Zhou Song stopped walking, and Cheng An followed suit. They both looked back toward the subway entrance. The street was peaceful, with a few pedestrians walking by under the bright lights.

“I feel like someone is following us.”

Zhou Song looked directly at Cheng An, his eyes filled with naked concern. “Actually, I think they’re following you. Have you noticed anything lately?” He stepped closer, his shadow completely enveloping Cheng An’s slight frame.

Standing there, the broad and tall Alpha effectively shielded Cheng An from view. Cheng An looked up at him, dazed. “I haven’t felt anything.”

Zhou Song placed a hand on Cheng An’s shoulder, pulling him into a protective, intimate embrace. “Since I’ve been walking with you, they haven’t dared to get too close. If they think we’re together, they might give up. I’ll walk you all the way to your door and see if they’re still there.”

He paused, sniffing the air slightly. “I think the person following you is an Alpha. I can smell his scent.”

Wrapped in Zhou Song’s shadow and the scent of his presence, Cheng An couldn’t help but chuckle. “Are you a puppy? How can you smell someone else’s scent and be so sensitive to a tail?”

Seeing Cheng An’s smile, Zhou Song laughed too, letting out two playful “woofs.” “Maybe I am a puppy. I’m naturally alert I can guard your house for you.” He reached out to take Cheng An’s briefcase. “Let me carry this. I’m taking you home.”

They continued down the road in that close, intimate posture. Hidden in the deep shadows, a pair of eyes watched the two overlapping silhouettes. The footsteps remained a calculated distance behind them, the sound of grinding teeth swallowed by the noise of the city.

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