This Beta Is Excessively Lazy - Chapter 5

Jiang Chen and Gu Xin had known each other since their days in the neighborhood, growing up side by side. Yet, there was always a strict hierarchy of age. In the eyes of their parents, a child who was even a single month older was still the older one.

From the time they were toddlers, the adults loved trying to coax Jiang Chen into calling Gu Xin gege (older brother). But Jiang Chen’s rebellious streak had hit incredibly early. He absolutely refused. Having an older sister at home who was constantly getting beat by their parents…and who sometimes turned around and beat him…he figured having a brother would just mean getting beat twice as much. He refused to utter the word, dead set against it.

As he grew up, though, he came to realize that whenever he needed something, a sweet compliance of “Gu Xin-gege” would instantly grant his wish. Naturally, that made him even more stingy with the title; the word “brother” was a secret weapon, meant to be deployed only when it mattered most.

Gu Xin froze, caught entirely off guard by the sudden endearment. For a fleeting second, his heart skipped a strange, erratic beat. He wasn’t sure if it was because the spicy hot pot shop was packed, causing the temperature to rise, but he could suddenly feel a light sweat breaking out on his skin.

Still, his logic remained intact. Video games ruined study habits. It had taken a solid chunk of Gu Xin’s own time, dragging Jiang Chen through emergency cram sessions, just for Jiang Chen to keep up with the high school entrance exams.

No wonder Jiang Chen’s grades had plummeted off a cliff the moment Gu Xin left for a different school after sixth grade. This was the root of it. When it came to gaming, Jiang Chen had zero moderation; his self-control was practically nonexistent.

Gu Xin held his ground. “Half the time on the game cards.”

“No way,” Jiang Chen whined, deeply dissatisfied. “I literally just called you gege. Since when did you become so impossible to bargain with?”

From the side, Wei Meng muttered under his breath, “I’ve literally called you dad, and you still won’t even lend me a card to play.”

His reward was a swift kick from Jiang Chen. Wei Meng winced, nursing his shin with a theatrical grimace.

Gu Xin remained unmoved. “Three cards left.”

Jiang Chen raised his hands, still clutching his small spoon and chopsticks in a gesture of surrender. “Fine, fine. Deal.” Those game cards were his ultimate weakness.

Sitting across from them, Jiang Yi-bai felt like he was witnessing a minor miracle today. In his eyes, Gu Xin had always been a literal learning machine…he had never seen the guy look so vividly alive and expressive. Even during intense sports, Gu Xin barely flashed a facial expression, acting entirely unlike a typical teenager. Yet over these past few days since starting high school, Yibai was finally discovering a whole different side to him.

Leaning back, Yibai smiled. “Hey, anyone down to play some ball in a bit?”

Wei Meng nodded. “I’m down. Chen-er, you’re sitting out, right?”

Gu Xin watched as Jiang Chen ate, a fine bead of sweat forming on the tip of his nose. He handed him a tissue and asked, “Want to play a round too?”

With his gaming lifeline still held hostage, Jiang Chen muttered, “Sure, why not.”

Jiang Yibai chimed in, “Then let’s grab two more guys. Three-on-three.”

Wei Meng looked genuinely surprised. “Chen-er, don’t you usually refuse to play ball at noon?”

Jiang Chen glanced out at the blistering weather, a look of profound resignation on his face. “Only for ten minutes.”

Gu Xin knew that ten minutes was indeed Jiang Chen’s absolute maximum threshold for outdoor exercise.

After finishing their lunch, the four of them strolled toward the courts. The indoor courts had already been monopolized by the upperclassmen, forcing them onto the outdoor asphalt.

Since the school year started, Gu Xin had made quite a few new friends through basketball. Seeing them approach, a few guys immediately waved them over to join the game.

The moment they reached the court, Jiang Chen made a move to retreat toward the sanctuary of the tree line, but Gu Xin’s hand was faster, snatching him by the wrist. “Ten minutes.”

Jiang Chen looked at the scorching sun, his entire being radiating a deep resistance to melting. “But it’s too hot.”

Gu Xin just stared at him, steady and unblinking. Jiang Chen met his gaze for three seconds. Gu Xin had incredibly striking eyes, clear enough to mirror Jiang Chen’s own reflection back at him. A sudden wave of irritation flared in Jiang Chen’s chest…probably just from the oppressive heat.

Shaking off his usual lazy demeanor, Jiang Chen grumbled, “Seriously, always forcing me to play.”

Only then did Gu Xin smile, satisfied. Jiang Chen had detested exercise since childhood. Back in elementary school, his stamina was so abysmal that he’d be panting heavily after a short jog. Deciding this wouldn’t do, Gu Xin had routinely dragged him into all sorts of engaging sports. Whenever something new popped up, Jiang Chen would inevitably be intrigued, allowing Gu Xin to trick him into working out. Over time, Jiang Chen’s physical condition had actually managed to catch up.

Jiang Yi-bai tossed a basketball their way. Gu Xin let go of Jiang Chen’s wrist, extending a long arm to smoothly intercept the ball against his chest. He nudged Jiang Chen. “Let’s go.”

Jiang Chen stepped onto the court alongside him. Two classmates from the neighboring room joined their ranks…one an Alpha, the other a Beta.

By now, a crowd of students who had just finished lunch were drifting past the courts. The Class 9 school beauty, possessing an incredibly sharp eye, spotted Gu Xin instantly. Her close Omega friend took the hint, and the two of them casually settled onto a bench beneath the shade of a nearby tree to watch.

Gossip, after all, never goes out of style.

Within minutes, the grapevine between Class 8 and Class 9 was buzzing. The absolute peak of the excitement, however, was localized entirely within Class 8’s private group chat, brilliantly titled: “4 Omegas and 1 Beta.”

Yang Xiu: Is Jiang Chen seriously leading Wei Meng to challenge Gu Xin and Jiang Yi-bai to a basketball showdown?!

Lan Jingyu (always down for chaos): Should we head over and watch? We just ate anyway, think of it as digesting lunch.

Lin Meimei: I’m in.

Cheng Wen: Let’s go, let’s go!

Lan Jingyu: Place your bets, who’s winning?

Yang Xiu: Our beloved Class Monitor, obviously! He’s ridiculously hot when he plays. Three-pointers, layups, dunks…he can do it all! [Photo] [Photo] [Photo] Took these a few days ago. Isn’t he a total heartthrob?

Lin Meimei: Taking secret photos like that is low-key creepy~~ But why do I love it so much?

Cheng Wen: Wait, I just remembered. This morning Jiang Chen asked Gu Xin for a pen. It looked like they already knew each other. Why would he be challenging him? Is the school beauty’s charm really that massive?

Yang Xiu: Don’t know about the school beauty, but I know Gu Xin’s charm is off the charts. Look over there, she and her friend are literally sitting right by the court.

A crowd of onlookers gathered around the perimeter, completely abandoning any intention of heading back for a midday nap.

Out on the court, Jiang Chen was finally warming up. After a quick round of rock-paper-scissors to split the teams, he found himself paired with Wei Meng and the other Alpha. With exactly one Beta on each side, the matchup was perfectly balanced.

Jiang Chen’s team took possession first. He drove forward, executing a crisp, rapid pass to Wei Meng. Blessed with a solid build, Wei Meng had been on their middle school’s varsity team, and he shared a decent rhythm with Jiang Chen.

However, that slight edge was instantly obliterated by Gu Xin. Just as Wei Meng thought he’d found an opening to shoot, Gu Xin leapt cleanly into the air, swatting the ball away. The deflected ball bounded right into the path of Jiang Chen, who was trailing closely behind. Gu Xin landed gracefully, instantly locking eyes with Jiang Chen, digging in to steal it back.

Jiang Chen dribbled with effortless fluidity. The ball seemed tethered to his palm by an invisible string, moving exactly as he willed it.

Gu Xin showed absolutely no intention of taking it easy on him. He pressed hard, shifting defensively from left to right, entirely focused on stripping the ball away.

Because Jiang Chen was slightly shorter and slighter in build, he found himself completely enveloped by Gu Xin’s imposing frame. He could actually feel the hot drafts of air from Gu Xin’s breathing. Perhaps because the proximity felt a bit too suffocating, Jiang Chen extended an elbow, bracing it firmly against Gu Xin’s chest to create space.

He knew Gu Xin was elite, but Jiang Chen was no slouch either. They had learned basketball from the exact same coach, forging their skills side-by-side under the tyrannical athletic training of Jiang Chen’s older sister.

Jiang Chen feinted left, executed a lightning-fast crossover, and blew right past Gu Xin!

The spectators, who had originally gathered exclusively to gawk at Gu Xin, found their eyes completely glued to Jiang Chen.

“Who knew Jiang Chen was this good at basketball?” Yang Xiu gasped, completely mesmerized. “He actually just shook Gu Xin. Why is that low-key attractive?”

Lin Meimei instantly caught the vibe. “Right?! And honestly, have you noticed how gorgeous Jiang Chen actually is? It’s not a fragile kind of pretty either…it’s got this fierce, feral edge to it!”

Lan Jing-yu rolled his eyes. “…You guys have way too much imagination.”

Meanwhile, Yang Xiu was already snapping a rapid barrage of photos on her phone, thoroughly thrilled with every single frame…especially the ones where Jiang Chen and Gu Xin were locked in the same shot.

Swish!

Jiang Chen sunk a clean jumper, turning to high-five his teammates.

Jiang Yi-bai trotted over to Gu Xin, lowering his voice. “Did you just coast on that play? With your defense, you definitely could have locked him down.”

Gu Xin shook his head. “I wasn’t coasting. Jiang Chen doesn’t need me to let up. Honestly, he’s a better player than I am.”

Jiang Chen was simply lazy. In reality, he possessed a sharper court vision than almost anyone. Because they had known each other for so many years, they were intimately familiar with each other’s habits; Jiang Chen could read his setup steps before he even made them.

Jiang Yi-bai didn’t quite grasp the history behind it, and Gu Xin didn’t care to elaborate. Deep down, a territorial thought flickered in his mind: he didn’t particularly enjoy the idea of everyone else figuring Jiang Chen out. It felt a bit like having a deeply cherished, private treasure suddenly exposed to strangers…a brief prickle of possessiveness. It passed in a flash. Gu Xin had never been one to broadcast his history with Jiang Chen anyway, firmly believing their bond was strictly between the two of them.

The rush of the game sent a surge of endorphins through Jiang Chen’s system, lifting his mood. He locked in, matching Gu Xin blow for blow in a genuine battle of wills, and Gu Xin matched his energy, thoroughly enjoying himself.

Whenever Gu Xin drove with the ball, Jiang Chen would swoop in to strip it. But with his superior height and wingspan, Gu Xin managed to keep it out of reach. Of course, Gu Xin couldn’t quite contain Jiang Chen either. Even Wei Meng was beginning to realize that the guy he’d called his best friend for three solid years was apparently a closet basketball phenom. Playing alongside Jiang Chen today felt incredibly seamless.

Clang-swish!

The ball arced beautifully through the air and rattled the iron before dropping through. Gu Xin scored! The cheers from the sidelines erupted into a crescendo.

As the ball bounced back toward Jiang Chen, he suddenly came to a dead halt. He began counting down aloud: “Five, four, three, two, one. Ten minutes are up. You guys keep going, my time is spent. I’m going to rest.”

The two classmates from the other section stared at him in utter bewilderment, while only Jiang Yi-bai and Wei Meng instantly clued into what was happening.

Gu Xin called out to the rest of the court, “He’s done. Let’s keep rolling.”

Wei Meng felt like his three years of friendship with Jiang Chen had been a complete lie. Since yesterday, his brain had been locked in a permanent state of confusion, completely led by the nose by Gu Xin. No way, he thought. School’s out today, I am absolutely interrogating Jiang Chen. I need to know exactly how many secrets this guy is hiding from me.

Meanwhile, Jiang Chen bolted for the shade at maximum speed.

Unfortunately, the shaded benches were entirely occupied by the cluster of spectating Omegas. Left with no choice, he picked a patch of soft grass at the base of a massive tree, sitting down to wait for Gu Xin and the others to finish so they could head upstairs together.

As autumn deepened, a gentle, cool breeze swept across the courtyard, bringing instant relief. Jiang Chen leaned his back against the thick trunk, his eyelids immediately growing heavy. The exertion from the game only amplified his lingering exhaustion. The distant thud of the basketball and the ambient chatter of the schoolyard blurred together, forming a perfect, rhythmic lullaby.

As the world around him faded into a dull hum, Jiang Chen draped the back of his hand over his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

He was out cold.

Gu Xin kept glancing toward the tree line between plays. After another thirty minutes of running the court, the group finally called it a day, thoroughly drenched in sweat.

Gu Xin lifted the hem of his jersey to wipe the sweat dripping into his eyes, momentarily flashing a set of lean, defined abs. A collective gasp rippled through the nearby crowd. Dropping his shirt back down, his eyes swept over the onlookers, scanning for Jiang Chen. Before he could take a step toward the tree, however, someone stepped out, blocking his path.

Ou Ruoyi was a strikingly beautiful young Omega. At the peak of her youth, her features had fully matured, and even the shapeless, oversized school uniform couldn’t hide her elegant silhouette. She stood there with a delicate, bashful smile, her eyes filled with a soft tenderness that would make any Alpha’s heart skip a beat.

Holding a chilled bottle of water, she kept her head slightly bowed, a prominent flush creeping up her cheeks…though whether it was from sheer shyness or the midday heat was anyone’s guess.

She extended the water toward him, barely daring to lift her gaze. “For you.”

Before Gu Xin could even process a response, the pack of Alphas trailing behind him immediately started hooting.

“Xin-ge, my man!”

“Killin’ it, Xin-ge!”

“Take it, Xin-ge!”

In front of such a massive crowd, refusing the water would essentially leave Ou Ruo-yi completely mortified.

Gu Xin’s face remained entirely unreadable as he accepted the bottle. “Thanks. How much was it?”

Ou Ruoyi shook her head quickly. “No need, it’s my treat.”

Gu Xin had dealt with variations of this scenario since he was a kid; he was entirely accustomed to people throwing themselves at him. He smoothly pulled his phone from his pocket, entirely unphased. “Open your WeChat QR code. I’ll transfer the money to you.”

Believing this was a smooth play to exchange contact info, Ou Ruoyi quickly brought up her payment code.

Ding.

Exactly three yuan, down to the last cent, landed cleanly in Ou Ruoyi’s account. The surrounding Alphas collectively clutched their chests in physical agony…that was a bottle of water personally offered by the goddess herself!

Gu Xin turned on his heel and casually shoved the bottle into the arms of a bewildered Wei Meng, who happened to be standing right next to him.

Wei Meng stared at his hands. I literally just inherited a beverage handled by the school beauty without lifting a single finger.

As Gu Xin turned around, he caught sight of Jiang Chen’s retreating back, already heading toward the campus convenience store. He quickened his pace to catch up.

Just as Jiang Chen reached the entrance of the shop, he spun around and found Gu Xin right on his heels. “Not your girlfriend?”

Gu Xin shot him a glance, bypassing him entirely to step up to the beverage coolers.

Jiang Chen nudged him with a shoulder. “Hey, why aren’t you answering me?”

Gu Xin grabbed two bottles of water and paid at the counter. “You’re asking questions you already know the answer to.”

Jiang Chen’s mood instantly brightened. He instinctively reached up to run a hand through his hair to strike a cocky pose, but remembered he’d just gotten it buzzed short. His hand met empty air. Pivoting smoothly, he threw up a mock “respect” sign instead.

He leaned in close to Gu Xin, the corners of his usually neutral lips curving into a sharp, playful grin. “Am I handsome?”

Gu Xin responded by pressing the freezing cold bottle of water flat against Jiang Chen’s cheek. Jiang Chen laughed, snatching the bottle away. Finding the cap already loosened, he tilted his head back and took a long, deep gulp.

Gu Xin watched as Jiang Chen’s slight, subtle Adam’s apple bobbed with each swallow, the fine, golden peach fuzz along his jaw catching the brilliant midday light.

Suddenly feeling a distinct dryness in his own throat, Gu Xin looked away.

Handsome? he thought. Jiang Chen was miles past just being handsome.

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