The Popular/Charismatic Beta Always Thinks They Are Universally Disliked - Chapter 56

Chapter 56: As a Friend

The familiar face in the group photo immediately clarified Wu Cheng’s identity and intent for Wen Zhiyi.

He propped his chin up, thinking for a long time, vaguely remembering that he seemed to still have the chauffeur’s WeChat—the chauffeur had, of course, added him proactively.

The chauffeur had only arrived by Wei Yuzhi’s side this summer. By then, Wen Zhiyi’s marriage with Wei Yuzhi had fractured beyond repair, even though Wei Yuzhi had fruitlessly taken Wen Zhiyi on world travels to try and salvage their relationship, hoping that the love acquired during the journey could be fixed by the journey.

They kissed by magnificent, brightly lit palaces near the sea, embraced in the only warm hot spring on a snowy night, and strolled through the most vibrant flower fields at the foot of high mountains, yet they never managed to capture the resolve to walk forward together without fear.

Wei Yuzhi’s efforts were, of course, futile.

When they returned from their trip, traveling from the airport back to the villa, Wu Cheng, who was completely unaware of the situation, raised his phone to scan his WeChat QR code to Wen Zhiyi. Meanwhile, Wei Yuzhi, sitting in the back seat, propped up his chin and looked out the window.

His expression was calm, as light as a passing cloud.

An Alpha was adding Wen Zhiyi’s WeChat right in front of him. While this would be nothing for a normal person—Wen Zhiyi agreeing to the request could easily be interpreted as wanting to be informed of his partner’s schedule—Wei Yuzhi was never a normal person, yet he accepted it silently like one at that moment.

Before this, he had already had countless arguments with Wen Zhiyi over his excessive possessiveness, arrogant attitude, and refusal to compromise… Wen Zhiyi was truly tired of fighting.

Wei Yuzhi was unable to understand this. He didn’t know why there were so many contradictions and disagreements. He felt he could give Wen Zhiyi anything, but what did Wen Zhiyi, who wanted nothing, truly desire?

When faced with Wu Cheng’s friend request, Wen Zhiyi instinctively frowned slightly and glanced at Wei Yuzhi sitting beside him.

That one glance briefly made Wei Yuzhi grasp something.

He thought that the Wen Zhiyi who once dared to sleep alone in the high mountains and plateaus should definitely not be looking to him for a reaction now.

—Although Wen Zhiyi was simply instinctually trying to avoid conflict because he was tired of arguing, Wei Yuzhi clearly made more of the interpretation.

He instinctively wanted to grab Wen Zhiyi, to control Wen Zhiyi, yet a certain deeply considered emotion constantly surfaced, making him hope Wen Zhiyi would maintain his selfhood and not change even slightly.

Retrieving Wu Cheng’s WeChat from a pile of contacts, Wen Zhiyi successfully verified his thought. He had indeed added Wu Cheng, but they had never chatted, nor introduced themselves. The other person had been merely the backdrop to his arguments with Wei Yuzhi for quite a long time.

Since they are rushing to send money, let them send it. In any case, investing in Wen Zhijie would definitely not result in a loss for them.

Wen Zhiyi briefly debated for a few seconds and then stopped thinking about it.

He ordered takeout, following his usual custom when dining alone at home. After receiving the meal, he habitually gave five-star ratings to the merchant and the delivery driver, eating distractedly while looking at his phone.

Wen Zhiyi actually didn’t often use his phone while eating, so even though his attention seemed to be on the screen, he was actually completely lost in thought.

Messages from a certain person continued to influence him, especially after he became Wei Xingjiang’s tutor.

He suddenly realized that this purely coincidental accident had, unknowingly, become a key—a key to understanding the Wei family and its members. Without expecting it, he glimpsed the world Wei Yuzhi once lived in.

This world was slowly revealing a corner of itself to him through Wei Xingjiang’s pain.

He would never admit to being a saint, but at this moment, a thought abruptly arose: If, in a person’s living environment, it wasn’t kindness and fairness that prevailed, but indifference and cruelty, then perhaps he could only rely on those things as weapons.

Wen Zhiyi, slowly chewing and swallowing the last bite of rice, instinctively refusing deeper thought, gave in to his inertia. He didn’t immediately clean up the dishes but lazily slumped on the sofa, sipping iced bayberry juice.

—At least now, he refused to think any more. At least, the person who finally realized he should change needed to take the first ninety-nine steps.

Holding the takeout trash in one hand and the fluffy fat cat in the other, Wen Zhiyi decided to go downstairs to throw away the garbage and take Zhuang Zhuang out for some fresh air.

Hmm, he suddenly realized the fat cat didn’t have a surname yet.

Yes, Zhuang Zhuang was just the cat’s given name.

Even Wei Xingjiang had given the cat a complete name with a surname when naming it, so he certainly couldn’t fall behind.

It was only natural for the cat to take Little Wen’s surname.

Wen Zhiyi, hugging the ball of fur, was still deep in thought about this issue. His feet, however, didn’t stop, and he walked back to the elevator, patiently waiting for the lift, which was inexplicably stopped on the sixth floor for a long time.

The sixth floor was the floor he and Big Wen lived on. This type of apartment building had many residents on each floor, so encountering someone from the same floor was normal.

The elevator finally started moving.

The numbers on the digital screen jumped down one by one. Wen Zhiyi looked down at the cat in his arms, which was lazily yawning, and stroked its sleek, shiny fur. When he looked up again, his eyes met the tall Alpha inside the elevator.

As the elevator car doors slowly opened, the person standing in the middle of the car slowly appeared before Wen Zhiyi. That handsome, deep face, like a statue, went from expressionless to showing a small smile in the first second he saw Wen Zhiyi.

Chen Que looked to be in a very poor state.

The weather in early September was still hot and dry, yet he was bundled up tightly. A soft, delicate turtleneck sweater covered his arms and neck, and the neatly tailored trousers fell all the way to his ankles. Apart from his hands and head, no skin was exposed.

His nails were neatly and appropriately trimmed, but his hands were full of tiny cuts. Some areas were covered with band-aids, while the edges of smaller scars had roughly treated, pale flesh curling around them.

Chen Que naturally extended his hand, pale as a snowfield, toward Wen Zhiyi, restraining his joy and softly saying, “Zhiyi, you’re back.”

Wen Zhiyi did not reach out to take the hand. Chen Que looked at him with some disappointment, leaning in closer, almost like a soft, upright python pressing against Wen Zhiyi. He touched the back of his own neck, explaining to Wen Zhiyi: “It tends to act up during the susceptibility period, so I could only wait until it ended before coming to find you.”

What tended to act up?

Chen Que didn’t say, but Wen Zhiyi knew.

An indescribable bitterness made Wen Zhiyi hold his breath for a brief moment. He had the chance to probe into the deepest, most painful moment of this soul before him, but only after that opportunity no longer held any meaning.

He was never an utterly rational or emotionless person. He felt pity for the suffering of others and regret for the happiness he instinctively received.

When the elevator finally reached the sixth floor, Wen Zhiyi made an invitation to Chen Que for the first time. He smiled softly and calmly at Chen Que: “Come in and talk. How did you know I was back from my trip?”

Chen Que, meticulously restraining all excitement and joy, cautiously stepped across the threshold, acting as if he were a monster coincidentally allowed into human society. As if he would crush Little Wen’s house if he didn’t hold back his strength.

“Your Moments,” he explained concisely. “I added one of your classmates back in university.”

“You’re still in contact with them?” Wen Zhiyi asked in surprise. In his mind, Chen Que was not someone who would maintain long-term social contact with irrelevant people.

Chen Que thought for a moment, seeking Wen Zhiyi’s standard: “I only contacted them yesterday. Does that count as keeping in touch?”

Of course not.

Wen Zhiyi shook his head. After a moment of silence, he asked about Zhu Qiao: “…How is Zhu Qiao doing now?”

“You should be asking about me,” Chen Que was very good at pushing his luck. The moment Wen Zhiyi showed any softness, he would greedily close the distance instantly. Showing weakness and harmlessness was simply his way of being frank with Wen Zhiyi.

“What do you want to happen to Zhu Qiao? I’ll listen to you,” he added gently, gazing at Wen Zhiyi without blinking. He remained still and unmoving, with little change in his facial expression, simply staring at Wen Zhiyi with a focused, chilling intensity.

It seemed that no matter what Wen Zhiyi wanted, he would comply without question.

“It’s enough. What you’ve done is… it’s enough,” Wen Zhiyi wasn’t sure how to express himself. No matter how this issue was handled, the scars wouldn’t diminish.

Chen Que watched Wen Zhiyi silently. He reached out to take Wen Zhiyi’s hand resting on his thigh. When the attempt succeeded, he revealed a wider smile, then eagerly and yearningly asked Wen Zhiyi if he had enjoyed his trip.

He said with a touch of helplessness: “Was climbing very tiring? Next time, how about I carry you up the mountain?”

Chen Que would indeed do this. In the past, when traveling with Wen Zhiyi, he wanted to carry Little Wen up any flight of stairs with more than ten steps. He only wanted Wen Zhiyi to be happy. If challenging himself was too tiring, there was no need to try. Of course, if Wen Zhiyi insisted on trying, he would go to great lengths to help him.

He was always willing to unhesitatingly cede the right to dominance that Alphas valued most in a relationship. His only request was that Wen Zhiyi not leave him, in any way possible.

Wei Yuzhi, on the other hand, was much more complicated. He deeply loved Wen Zhiyi’s self-will, yet he instinctively wanted to change Little Wen. He was absolutely the most irritating Omega in the world.

Wen Zhiyi’s gaze slowly focused on the wounds on Chen Que’s hands. As their skin touched, he could feel the other’s pale flesh.

“Get better quickly. Don’t let yourself become like this,” he suddenly spoke. The look in his eyes even allowed Chen Que to glimpse a faint, shimmering light. “I hope you get better.”

He continued: “As a friend, I truly hope you get better.”

Chen Que’s smile instantly vanished, and he looked at Wen Zhiyi with deep hurt.