The Popular/Charismatic Beta Always Thinks They Are Universally Disliked - Chapter 39

Chapter 39: Look at the Camera – Actually Wen Zhiyi Recognizes One of the Bracelets…

Actually, Wen Zhiyi recognized one of the bracelets.

The bracelet carefully placed in Wei Xingjiang’s left palm looked dazzling and beautiful. It came from a very famous jewelry collection, being the most expensive and luxurious item in the line. Since all the bracelets, necklaces, and rings from this collection had previously been sent to Wen Zhiyi by Wei Yuzhi, he could easily identify the origin of this bracelet.

The bracelet in Wei Xingjiang’s right hand looked unfamiliar. Little Wen guessed it should also be a bespoke design from the same brand, perhaps modified according to Wei Xingjiang’s requests.

For Wei Xingjiang, this was the first time he had nonchalantly presented a bracelet, and the first time he had so urgently wanted to confirm if he had made someone even a little bit happy.

This was a very novel emotional experience.

Excited, fervent, anxious, yet trying to act relaxed.

He knew clearly that someone could determine his mood, and that he could do something in return to make that person happy. So, he now focused intently, slightly bowing his head to watch Wen Zhiyi’s expression.

Just—just a hint of a smile would be enough.

Just let him know Wen Zhiyi is happy.

Little Wen slowly reached his hand into Wei Xingjiang’s palm. He touched the young Alpha’s palm, which was so warm it was slightly sweaty, feeling the sensitive muscles in the other’s hand instantly tense up, then abruptly relax, before completely opening up to him, like a soft, vibrant, and vigorous heart.

Maintaining the smile reflected in Wei Xingjiang’s eyes, he curled the other’s fingers one by one, gently yet irresistibly pushing the two palms back towards the Alpha:

“…Thank you for the prize quiz. I appreciate the sentiment.”

The ten fingers, which Wen Zhiyi had slowly reformed into a fist, slightly curled up. After the coolness of his fingertips departed from the Alpha’s palm, Wei Xingjiang’s pinky finger twitched slightly in an unconscious reflex, wanting to grasp the fingers that had briefly rested in his hand.

It turns out he has experienced this surprise before.

Not once or twice, but countless times. The excitement and novelty that Wei Xingjiang felt were feelings Wen Zhiyi had experienced innumerable times. He would still smile for it, but the distance to that momentary, bright joy of a heart-stirring moment was a heart-wrenching path.

His emotional map had already reached realms far deeper and further than this.

Four years is actually not that long, but it happened to fall between the ages of eighteen and twenty-two, between a young Alpha experiencing first love and a cold, casual, typical Beta.

And at this moment, this Beta smiled slightly as he rejected Wei Xingjiang’s heart.

The thick, well-defined eyebrows, the beautiful and proportionate almond eyes, the subtle, soft smile deep in his eyes, the light in his pupils like black lacquer, and the clear sunlight falling on this face… all the lines and light and shadow were exquisitely vivid and fluid. Yet, Wei Xingjiang inevitably felt a slight chill in his heart.

He stubbornly extended his hand to Wen Zhiyi again, his handsome, stern features instantly stained with deliberate impatience and mockery. After a moment of silence, he scoffed: “I’m not giving them to you; I’m giving them to Jack. Is that okay? If you really can’t stand the sight of them, just throw them in the trash.”

Wen Zhiyi carefully placed the pet manual back on the bookshelf, pulled down the ivory-white gauze curtain in front of the window to block the sunlight that was hurting his eyes, and then nodded easily to Young Master Wei: “Fine, when Zhuangzhuang comes out, you can put it on him yourself. No need to go through me.”

“You… can’t you save me some face?” Wei Xingjiang grabbed his hair irritably. The lines on his entire face were handsome and cold, but his lips were full and soft. After feigning a vicious scoff, he revealed his sharp little canine teeth, giving him an unavoidably endearing look.

“I hate you.” Young Master Wei angrily pulled Wen Zhiyi’s wrist, pretending to clasp the bracelet onto little Wen, his expression so melodramatic it was like a police officer putting silver handcuffs on a suspect. “Why won’t you let me like you? Do you insist on me hating you?”

Little Wen tried to struggle: “Actually, you could compromise a little. Neither like me nor hate me.”

Wei Xingjiang’s touch was extremely light and quick on the delicate, smooth skin of Wen Zhiyi’s inner wrist, feeling the slightly raised, clearly visible veins and tendons, like gently caressing the intricate network of a flower. He subconsciously softened his grip again.

The slightly throbbing pulse rate is consistent with the heartbeat.

Wei Xingjiang abruptly froze.

He couldn’t fathom why his ears suddenly flushed red, and he abruptly released Wen Zhiyi’s wrist.

“You don’t get a say.” The tall Alpha, with a defiant and lively expression, lightly sneered, casually stepping back a little to lean against the wall next to Wen Zhiyi. He extended his index finger to press down on his lower eyelid and lightly tugged, making a face and sticking out his tongue.

Wen Zhiyi turned to look at him, and after a moment of silence, he showed an amused expression, chuckling: “Maybe, who knows what the future holds? But—”

Little Wen’s smile became sweet and vibrant, radiant and full of life. He extended his thumbs and index fingers to form a “camera lens,” framing the Alpha leaning against the wall with his arms crossed: “But to express my thanks, I’ve decided to take a photo as a souvenir. Please look at the camera and make a peace sign, Young Master Wei.”

The tall, handsome Alpha reluctantly curved his lips, revealing his little canine teeth as he awkwardly made a peace sign, looking like he was only playing this childish game to cooperate with Wen Zhiyi. The Beta standing next to him raised an eyebrow and bit his lip to stifle a laugh, recalling the Alpha’s initial untamed arrogance when they first met.

This “lens” of course had no photo-taking function. The one who truly recorded this moment was not the non-existent camera, but the person who intended to remember it forever in their heart.

Wen Zhiyi ultimately did not wait for Zhuangzhuang to come out of surgery because the senior partner Li, from Zhongcheng Law Firm, had returned from abroad. The senior lawyers with good relationships with him brought their subordinates to the welcome banquet, and a few good performing interns were also invited to show their faces in front of the senior lawyers.

Around eight in the evening, Wen Zhiyi arrived promptly at the commercial KTV indicated on the navigation. Following the elegantly smiling hostess at the door, he entered the reserved room. Along the way, he passed countless splendid, silent marble corridors. The soundproofing here was excellent; all sounds in the private rooms were locked in, and not a single sound could be heard in the hallway.

Under the exquisite, complex crystal chandelier, he took a deep breath, pushed open the door, and quickly walked into the private room, smiling softly as he greeted the colleagues who approached him.

In the elegantly lavish private room, the senior partners naturally sat on one set of central sofas, a few bottles of champagne casually placed by their hands. More liquor was stacked in the corner, and the simple, beautiful ashtrays already contained some cigarette ash.

However, no matter how elegantly decorated, it was still a KTV, and colorful, dazzling lights were unavoidable. On one side, the partners chatted casually, while on the other, the lawyers and interns dutifully played the role of atmosphere-makers, singing their hearts out about love and sorrow, wailing dramatically. Since the boss was paying, they had no psychological burden.

“When people get old, they like excitement.” Lawyer Li, who looked kind and amiable, smiled as he watched the young people having fun on the other side. He then turned and patted the hand of the person next to him: “You have the best of everything, but unfortunately, your personality is too dull. Otherwise, why would we need to call so many people to liven up the place?”

Li Zan, sitting to his left, chuckled at the comment, poured himself a glass of wine, and glanced at Gu Yansheng, who was sitting to Lawyer Li’s right: “His personality is dull? I doubt it. In less than two weeks, he’s become incredibly familiar with the new intern. It seems our great Lawyer Gu’s social skills are selective. He maintains an impersonal, business-like attitude with us; I guess he can’t be bothered to mingle with us after work?”

Lawyer Li was quite used to his son’s nonsense. Hearing this, he turned to Gu Yansheng, clearly more interested in the “little intern” Li Zan mentioned.

Gu Yansheng slowly revealed an elegant, gentle smile. He refilled Lawyer Li’s drink, his eyes holding an undefinable amusement, and lightly cast a smiling glance toward Li Zan: “A very excellent intern. Both families have had contact since before I went abroad. It was a pleasant surprise to meet again.”

Lawyer Li nodded, playfully teasing his son: “It’s rare for Yansheng to take an interest in someone. You stay away from him, kid, and don’t bring your disreputable bad habits around him.”

Li Zan lightly scoffed, waving his hand nonchalantly, indicating he was going to the restroom.

Soon after he got up to leave, Shi Xuning, who had been sitting at the other end of the room chatting with the interns, also quietly stood up and followed him.

Gu Yansheng calmly watched their retreating backs, the smile in his eyes deepening little by little. Maintaining that smile, he directed his gaze toward Wen Zhiyi, who was sitting far away from him, and silently sighed in his heart.

Wen Zhiyi, oblivious, smiled as he accepted a lychee handed to him by Qi Jianian. The Alpha enthusiastically presented a small dish of peeled, translucent lychee pulp to him. Little Wen thanked him and placed it by his side, remembering that one should not eat any food touched by others in a KTV.

Little Wen felt satisfied with his vigilance.

A group of surrounding lawyers and interns laughed heartily, nudging the gradually reddening Qi Jianian, urging him to invite Wen Zhiyi to sing a love song.

Qi Jianian slowly and tentatively reached for the microphone, all the while watching Wen Zhiyi’s expression. Little Wen slightly tilted his head, raised an eyebrow, and soundlessly mouthed:

Don’t.

He gave Qi Jianian face by providing a warning in advance.

However, perhaps the lights were too dizzying and blurry, or perhaps Qi Jianian had had a little too much to drink, as his face grew redder, but his hand gripped the microphone more firmly.

Another microphone was shoved into Wen Zhiyi’s hand by others who were laughing.

Wen Zhiyi slightly lowered his gaze to look at the weighty microphone in his palm, pulling a shallow smile. Once he smiled, he was truly sweet, and Qi Jianian failed to read the slightest hint of mischief or “ill intent” in it.

Just as Wen Zhiyi secretly gathered his breath, intending to give these rowdy people an unforgettable lesson, the microphone in his palm was gently covered by a broad, long hand.

The back of the hand, powerful with prominent veins, led up to an understated, simple wristwatch. Further up was a clearly defined forearm and a neatly rolled-up shirt cuff.