The Corporate Slave Beta Is Surrounded by Alphas - Chapter 5

For a company like Changyun, overflowing with top-tier talent, developing a private forum was child’s play. When this particular forum was first discovered, it looked more like a personal blog: a single-page site dedicated entirely to photos and life logs of the Beta, Cheng An. At first, some suspected it was Cheng An’s own site, but they quickly realized the truth.

The owner’s posts didn’t sound like Cheng An at all. Most of the photos were taken from candid angles or pulled from surveillance stills. Even though the nature of the site was objectively voyeuristic, other members soon joined the fray. Curiously, no one leaked the site to outsiders.

[Cat Is Cute]

The latest post was a photo of Cheng An holding a thermos with both hands, blowing on the rim. The hot steam had fogged up his thick glasses. His cheeks were slightly puffed out from the effort, and the mist had left his lips a damp, glistening red. His thin, pale hands clutching the deep blue thermos looked particularly delicate.

The OP referred to Cheng An as “Cat,” a nickname the others eagerly adopted, flooding the comments below.

[Anon]: Anyone there? Can I kiss that mouth?

[Beta-Watcher]: Those little lips were made to be kissed.

[Alpha01]: God, I didn’t expect to see the Cat here today.

[StoneHeart]: My heart was supposed to be made of iron. I promised I wouldn’t say those words again, but… he really is too cute!

[Stalker-ish]: Is he still there? I’ve arrived at the breakroom. Can I corner the drinking cat?

Eventually, the personal site evolved into a private forum where others could post and discuss freely. In practice, because it started with Cheng An, almost all the content remained centered on him. However, if any comment crossed a line into being too disrespectful, it was promptly deleted and the user banned.

# Spotted a sleepy cat on the way to work!

The poster shared a shot of Cheng An at the clock-in terminal.

In the photo, Cheng An had just entered the building. His eyelids drooped with exhaustion, and he looked half-asleep as he swiped his card. Perhaps he’d been in a rush; his usually neat tie was missing, and his shirt collar was open, revealing his slender neck and the sharp hollows of his collarbones.

[Eye-Witness]: I can confirm, the Cat was so tired he could barely keep his eyes open. I walked past and called his name; he struggled to look up and whispered a soft “Good morning.” I have died of cuteness. Please, someone tell the Cat to give me mouth-to-mouth.

[Angry-Alpha]: Ugh, why didn’t I see him? I must have gone in too early. Today’s Cat must have slept well; otherwise, I would have run into him on my commute!

[Poet]: Little cat, little cat, you’re a sleepy cat. Sleep in my arms, and let me kiss your little feet~

[Forgetful]: I’m certain I forgot to clock in. I’m going back down.

[Success]: Sorry, I just saw the Cat enter his office. You’re too late.

[Scent-Addict]: Is no one going to mention how his neck is exposed today? Already licked—it smells great.

[Beta-Power]: Enough, you Alphas…

[Cat-Lover]: If you aren’t here for the Cat, then get out.

[Confused]: Who the hell put so much pheromone on him? Have some manners, okay? It stinks. It’s like this every Monday. It’s like someone did him through and through; he smells like Alpha from the inside out.

[Drunk]: Don’t even start. I’m already lightheaded from the scent. I want to suck the Cat dry like a mango pit.

[Suspicious]: Did someone actually take the Cat? Who is the old thief?!

….

Cheng An felt like he had slept too well yesterday. It was as if he’d made up for the entire previous week’s sleep debt in one go, resulting in him nearly sleeping through his alarm. He’d had to scramble to get to work on time.

By the time he sat down at his desk, he was only just beginning to slowly tie his necktie.

Even after the subway commute, he was still so tired his eyes wouldn’t stay open. On the train, he’d drifted off while leaning against the handrail.

He had a vague memory of waking up to find a hand cushioning his head, protecting him from hitting the metal bar as the train jolted. He hadn’t had time to thank the stranger before rushing off to the office.

The office was quiet and warm. Having just finished his tie, the drowsiness returned. After a few days of Song Boyan’s massages, Cheng An slept so deeply he could barely wake up. Unfortunately, the moment work started, the insomnia usually threatened to return.

“Lead?”

Cheng An looked up.

“Here’s the report you asked for last week.”

“Just leave it there,” Cheng An said.

The subordinate left the papers and walked away.

Cheng An rubbed his temples. His team member had probably called his name several times before he’d heard. His brain was still in a fog.

He checked the time. Since he’d already clocked in, it was perfectly fine to go down for a coffee to clear his head. There was a coffee shop right below the building; at this hour, most people were already at their desks, so it shouldn’t be too crowded.

The moment he stepped inside, the bell above the door chimed, and a bright voice called out, “Good morning!”

Cheng An turned to see a blond Alpha in a white and brown uniform.

“I didn’t expect you to be down so early today. I haven’t even started your usual yet.”

“Yeah,” Cheng An replied. “I’m a bit tired today.”

The clerk started the order. “Iced Americano, no sugar, no milk?”

“I’ll take a hot one today.”

“Got it!” the Alpha chirped, flashing a brilliant smile.

This Alpha was a part-timer at the shop. Cheng An had seen him many times. He was always the one handling Cheng An’s order, so Cheng An had long since become familiar with him.

His handsome face was always lit up with a radiant, enthusiastic grin. He looked full of energy and genuinely happy every single day—the complete opposite of the chronically exhausted, weary, and slouching Cheng An.

Often, Cheng An found himself staring at the Alpha. He couldn’t help but envy people who seemed to have a bottomless well of energy; he, by contrast, always felt one step away from collapsing.

“Today’s order is ready. Sorry for the wait,” the clerk said with a smile.

Cheng An’s expression remained flat. “Thank you.”

As he prepared to take his coffee, the Alpha suddenly ducked behind the counter. “Wait! This is today’s ‘Companion Gift’.”

He pulled out an exquisite-looking cupcake.

This shop seemed to have a perpetual promotion where they handed out “Companion Gifts”—sometimes it was a dessert, sometimes a plushie, or a small ornament. Though Cheng An was confused as to why they gave gifts so frequently, he figured it wasn’t important enough to ask about.

Coffee and cupcake in hand, he headed back to the company and stepped into the elevator.

It was right at the morning rush, and people were crowding in. Cheng An was forced to retreat further and further back. Seeing how many people were squeezing in, he worried the frosting on the cupcake would smear onto someone’s suit. He turned to face the back corner, standing quietly in his little pocket of space.

It was incredibly cramped as people got on and off. His office was on the twenty-third floor; he’d have to endure it for a while.

Feeling the crowd pressing closer, he tried to shrink himself further, nearly pinning himself against the elevator wall. To protect the cupcake, he had to hollow out a space at his stomach, which naturally caused his hips to tilt back slightly.

He kept his head down, checking to see if the frosting had touched his clothes or the elevator wall. His slender, pale neck was exposed, and soft strands of dark hair fell behind his ears.

Just as Cheng An thought he’d have to squeeze even tighter, someone suddenly stood behind him, placing their hands on the wall on either side of his head. The person used their own body to shield him, creating a small sanctuary of space.

Cheng An looked up and met a pair of somewhat shy eyes. Brown bangs fell over the man’s forehead, casting a soft shadow. Seeing Cheng An turn around, the man offered a timid smile.

Cheng An didn’t recognize the face, so he assumed he was a new intern. He shifted slightly and said, “That’s much better. Thank you.”

The man seemed thrilled by the gratitude. His shy expression turned joyous, and his cheeks flushed slightly. “It’s no trouble,” he whispered.

In that position, it wasn’t easy for Cheng An to keep looking at him, so he went back to facing the wall, staring down at his cupcake. Consequently, he missed the look of pure, radiating happiness that slowly spread across the intern’s face.

Cheng An did find the man’s scent somewhat familiar, but he couldn’t place it. If something wasn’t essential to his work or survival, he generally didn’t bother remembering it. He let the thought go.

Sensing that Cheng An was still a bit crowded, the intern remained in that “kabedon” pose, guarding his space. Only when the elevator began to empty did Cheng An speak up. “There’s more room now.”

The intern slowly lowered his arms and stood quietly by Cheng An’s side.

With only four or five people left in the elevator, it felt significantly more spacious. Cheng An looked at the cupcake in his hand and then offered it to the intern. “Would you like this?”

The intern looked at him with wide, startled eyes, almost as if he were frightened. Cheng An, worried he had been too blunt and knowing how cautious interns could be, softened his tone. “Thanks for just now. Do you want it?”

The Alpha took the cupcake with trembling, careful hands, his face turning a deep crimson, whether from bashfulness or sheer excitement, it was hard to tell.

His long bangs almost completely obscured his eyes, but a wide smile broke across his face. He cradled the cupcake as if it were a sacred relic. “Thank you, Lead Cheng.”

Ding.

The elevator reached Cheng An’s floor. He stepped out first, followed by a few others, leaving the intern alone in the car.

As the doors slid shut and the space fell silent, the Alpha looked down. He reached out a bright red tongue and licked a bit of the frosting, savoring the taste before slowly swallowing it down.

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