What to Do If Beta Cannot Be Marked? - Chapter 20

“Lu Zhi.”

Nan Mengbai called out the name, as if afraid the other person wouldn’t realize he was being spoken to.

Yet in reality, Lu Zhi had already paused in his tracks the moment Chi Jinxian was mentioned, though he hadn’t moved otherwise.

Only when that name etched into his bones and impossible to shake off was called out did Lu Zhi slightly turn his gaze to look over.

Though only 17 or 18 years old, he showed no trace of youthful vitality, possessing only oppression and cold intensity. No matter who he interacted with, he would inevitably overshadow them, making them feel suffocated by his presence.

A few strands of hair still partially obscured his eyelashes, his pupils deep like abyssal ink.

The two weren’t far apart, but Nan Mengbai couldn’t penetrate his gaze. Removing his elbow from the railing, Nan Mengbai leaned against it in a more comfortable posture, a hint of smile in his eyes as he said, “Everyone knows you two are close. Could you pass me his contact information?”

Lu Zhi maintained the same stance, not even turning to face him directly, as if he couldn’t be bothered to look at him properly.

He only asked, “Do we know each other?”

Nan Mengbai withdrew the softness from his eyes, turning somewhat cold. “No.”

Now not even granting him a disrespectful glance, Lu Zhi turned and walked away.

From behind him, Nan Mengbai suddenly spoke in a measured tone, “You really hate Betas.”

Lu Zhi pushed open the classroom door and closed it, shutting out all unnecessary sounds and sights, completely indifferent.

“Brother Lu, you’re back.” Chi Jinxian handed the water bottle still on his desk to Lu Zhi, the one he had drunk from during the basketball game.

“Mm.” Lu Zhi reached out to take it, placing it alongside his own water bottle.

The class bell rang. Chi Jinxian, who had wanted to say more, remembered his duties as a good student and turned back around.

Lu Zhi spun the pen in his hand, his eyes fixed on the water bottle and cup standing side by side against the wall both his own.

Nan Mengbai’s figure flashed unintentionally through his mind. Lu Zhi’s thumb rubbed rapidly against the pen, his lowered eyes now carrying an unreadable emotion.

Yet his demeanor remained utterly indifferent.

Chi Jinxian noticed that Brother Lu seemed to be in a bad mood. From returning after the game until leaving for dinner after school, he had barely spoken though he was usually quiet, this felt different.

Not only Chi Jinxian sensed it, but Jiang Jin did too. As they walked to the cafeteria together, he asked, “You clearly won the game, so why do you still look like that? It’s not because of me again, is it?”

Chi Jinxian pricked up his ears to listen, but Lu Zhi didn’t respond.

Jiang Jin glanced sideways and let out a surprised “Huh,” saying, “Lu Zhi, it looks like someone might be waiting to corner you.”

Without regard for Lu Zhi’s mood, he immediately adopted his usual spectator attitude.

Perhaps their hearts weren’t in it today, or they had forgotten to check the almanac before leaving the classroom. As they passed the sophomore building at a steady pace, Cheng Fei happened to come downstairs.

With Lu Wan.

“Brother.” Lu Wan greeted him with a smile.

The suppressed tension of the entire afternoon suddenly tore through the darkness like a malevolent ghost. Lu Zhi’s eyes blazed with ferocity, his expression carrying a terrifying threat.

“Don’t let anyone around you approach me again,” Lu Zhi stared directly at Lu Wan as if trying to nail him into a coffin, “This isn’t a warning.”

Lu Wan’s smile froze on his face. Due to certain circumstances, aside from showing some cordiality and respect toward Lu Zisheng, Lu Zhi mostly treated the other two family members as if they were air, occasionally even as enemies.

If memory served, Lu Zhi had even laid hands on Ai Duoyan before. If not for Lu Zisheng, he might have actually killed him, which was why Ai Duoyan called Lu Zhi a madman.

But Lu Zhi wasn’t truly insane. He wouldn’t leave too many handles against himself, and his relationship with them could still maintain a superficial, false peace.

At school, under the watchful eyes of everyone, in front of so many people in the broader environment, this was the first time Lu Wan had received a threat from Lu Zhi that could be described as murderous and bloodthirsty.

He was practically rooted to the spot, using immense willpower to keep his fingers from trembling.

“Brother,” Lu Wan’s smile was strained, even somewhat fake, “What are you talking about?”

Lu Zhi gave him one last deep glance, said nothing more, and strode off toward the cafeteria.

Lu Wan clenched his fists behind him, and from the corner of his eye, he noticed Cheng Fei, whose face had turned completely pale. In an instant, all his questions were resolved.

He said in an unfriendly tone, “You didn’t actually go after him, did you?”

At that, even the last trace of color drained from Cheng Fei’s lips. Lu Zhi had been truly terrifying earlier, as if he wanted to strangle everyone he saw.

Lu Wan sneered and offered words of comfort: “Alright, it’s my fault too. I forgot to tell you that anyone connected to me who gets close to him is asking for death. Sorry for dragging you into this.”

But his tone carried no hint of apology, instead sounding like he was calling someone an idiot.

Jiang Jin was faster than usual getting his meal today. While Chi Jinxian was still at the serving window, Jiang Jin had already taken his seat with his tray.

Looking at the lavish meal already prepared in front of Lu Zhi, Jiang Jin clicked his tongue and said, “Must feel nice having someone buy your food every day?”

“Hey, but wasn’t your approach a bit too aggressive today?” Jiang Jin stuffed a bite of food into his mouth and said, “I was originally looking forward to watching the show, but in the end, I was too scared to even make a sound.”

Lu Zhi ate quietly, ignoring him. Jiang Jin then casually remarked, “I bet Little Cash was scared by you too.”

Lu Zhi’s chopsticks paused mid-air, and only then did he look up.

“Huh? Scared me how?” Chi Jinxian set his tray down opposite Lu Zhi and asked, puzzled.

Jiang Jin chuckled lightly and repeated what he had just said. After listening, Chi Jinxian waved his hand boldly and confidently: “My Brother Lu would never treat me like that. I’m not scared.”

Jiang Jin: “…”

Even Lu Wan, an Alpha, had been frightened stiff. How come this delicate Omega always defied expectations?

After pondering, Jiang Jin looked at Lu Zhi with even more confusion, but Lu Zhi had already lowered his gaze and continued eating heartily, paying him no mind.

The next day was Friday. Whether they were day students or boarders, everyone could go home for the weekend after school ended in the afternoon and enjoy two days off.

As soon as Chi Jinxian arrived, he saw Lu Zhi sitting in his seat with earphones in, listening to something. He rushed over excitedly and asked, “Brother Lu, did you do your homework after going home yesterday?”

Lu Zhi removed one earphone, seemingly unsure what Chi Jinxian was getting at.

Chi Jinxian lowered his voice but still held a trace of anticipation: “You didn’t do it?”

Lu Zhi: “No.”

If he hadn’t done his homework, he wouldn’t have touched his backpack.

“Sigh, alright.” Chi Jinxian rested his chin on the back of his hand, clinging to the edge of the desk like a small animal, and sighed wistfully, “Even when the academic god doesn’t study, he’s still the academic god. So envious.”

Jiang Baixiao entered and his expression soured upon hearing this. He hummed sarcastically, “What’s wrong? Are your grades that bad? Spreading anxiety first thing in the morning, how shameless can you be?”

Hearing this, Chi Jinxian turned his head to look at him and grinned. “Not shameless at all.”

The “sisters” were bickering again. Lu Zhi put in his earphones and opened his book. He appeared focused and serious, but his eyes had forgotten to blink, and the characters before him seemed to morph into the little trinket he’d seen in his backpack last night.

A bright yellow windbreaker duck, even its helmet was yellow. Smaller than the palm of a hand.

The helmet was crooked, making it obvious at a glance that no accessory boutique would sell such a shabby item it looked more like something clumsily handmade by someone with zero craft skills.

So ugly.

Perhaps Chi Jinxian had another strange dream last night and didn’t sleep well, making it inevitable for him to doze off in class today.

His head kept nodding, as if he were about to imprint his face right onto the textbook to the lullaby of the teacher’s lecture.

By the last two classes before noon, homeroom teacher Gao Ming noticed his pitiful nodding and couldn’t help asking sympathetically, “Where did Chi Jinxian go last night? You look so tired today.”

Hearing his name called out while still half-asleep, the boundary between reality and dreams blurred. Chi Jinxian thought he was still at home in the morning.

Yuan Si Bai had pulled him up back then and asked, “What were you up to that you’re so tired?”

Chi Jinxian had mumbled drowsily, “Busy falling in love. Don’t wake me up.”

The situation felt eerily similar. In the classroom, Chi Jinxian yawned and replied, “Went to fall in love in my dreams. Tiring, but I don’t want to wake up.”

By the time he realized what he’d said, it was already too late.

“…”

The entire class fell into dead silence.

Chi Jinxian’s mind, which had just been wrestling with the Sandman, suddenly felt as stiff as wood, unable to move.

He blinked, and the swirling text in his book sharpened into focus. Slowly, very slowly, he raised a hand to cover half his face, peeking timidly through his fingers at the teacher’s podium, and whispered meekly, “Teacher, I was sleep-talking. I was studying last night. I’ll go stand outside to sober up.”

Without waiting for the homeroom teacher’s permission, he stood up, pulled open the back door, and stepped out into the hallway. Standing there, he did seem much more alert.

This was the second time Chi Jinxian had made a spectacle of himself in class, following the English teacher incident. Unfortunately, he still hadn’t quite gotten used to it otherwise, he wouldn’t have fled so quickly.

The gentle morning breeze swept through the high air and drifted into the third-floor hallway, rustling through his hair. Autumn hadn’t deepened yet, and the campus was still lush with greenery.

Gazing at the scenery, Chi Jinxian thought to himself, Cash, oh Cash, you’re about to become a full-blown love-struck fool. But that won’t do you have to study hard and get into the same university as Brother Lu. You can’t just settle for what’s in front of you now.

After silently psyching himself up, the bell for the end of class rang.

To clear his head further, Chi Jinxian turned and headed downstairs, planning to use the restroom near the playground more walking, less lovestruck foolishness.

The hallways and stairwells were crowded between classes, and people tend to watch their steps while descending stairs.

Two figures ahead were roughhousing without regard for their surroundings, and Chi Jinxian hadn’t noticed where their scuffle was taking place either. Hearing the commotion, he instinctively placed his hand on the railing to prevent anyone from bumping into him or himself into others.

Yet even with this precaution, when a sudden figure collided with him, he was caught off guard. A startled exclamation rang in his ears, making Chi Jinxian jump. His eyes widened as he straightened up and looked, only to see the person who had bumped into him rapidly tumbling down the stairs!

Human instinct drives one to grasp at any lifeline, and Chi Jinxian’s hand shot out reflexively, grabbing the other: “Hold on to me!”

“Let go ” the other shouted upon assessing the situation, simultaneously shaking off Chi Jinxian’s grip and plummeting down.

Given the momentum, not letting go would have dragged Chi Jinxian down too. Even so, he nearly lost his balance, staggering several steps.

Chi Jinxian held his breath and hurried down two steps: “Nan Mengbai! Nan Mengbai, are you okay?”

Classmates gathered around, all seeming ready to lend a hand.

Nan Mengbai gripped Chi Jinxian’s arm to steady himself while using his other hand to stop both familiar and unfamiliar classmates, quickly saying, “Don’t move me yet, let me catch my breath.”

Everyone froze.

The crowd had only been momentary; after Nan Mengbai spoke, they came to their senses, asked a couple more questions, and dispersed one by one.

Only the boy who had been roughhousing with Nan Mengbai remained, looking apologetic: “Mengbai, can you stand? Sorry, I got carried away earlier.”

Perhaps he’d hurt something and was in pain, Nan Mengbai smiled wryly, a bit strained: “It wasn’t just you, I was involved too.” He looked up at his classmate and said, “It’s fine, you can go back. I’ll head to the infirmary.”

The boy offered, “I’ll take you.”

“No need.” Nan Mengbai used Chi Jinxian’s arm to stand up, only daring to lightly rest one hand on his shoulder. He turned to Chi Jinxian with a weak smile, “You take me.”

Chi Jinxian’s “Why?” stuck in his throat before it could emerge. Nan Mengbai looked even feebler, adding, “I bumped into you, dragged you into this for no reason let me apologize. My leg and arm hurt; could you please take me to get checked?”

Chi Jinxian wanted to say, “You didn’t drag me into anything, I’m not the one who fell, no need to apologize,” but when he turned, the other classmate was already gone.

Chi Jinxian: “…”

“Alright, fine.” Noting how Nan Mengbai only lightly rested his hand on his shoulder, Chi Jinxian pointed to his other shoulder, “Want some support? I’m not as tall as you, so I might not hold you up well. Or can you walk?”

“Can’t walk,” Nan Mengbai said. Tentatively, he reached across Chi Jinxian’s neck and placed his hand on the other shoulder. “Let’s go.”

He hadn’t initially intended to trouble Chi Jinxian much, but after walking a stretch, he seemed to realize one shouldn’t overexert themselves. Nan Mengbai broke into a light sweat and, without realizing, shifted nearly half his weight onto Chi Jinxian.

Fortunately, Chi Jinxian wasn’t short either, or he’d have been flattened.

Nan Mengbai had minor abrasions on his arm, shoulder, and back, and a sprained left foot, but thankfully no serious bone or tendon injuries.

The young school nurse applied ointment as she remarked, “Aren’t you students a bit old to be roughhousing and falling down stairs?”

Nan Mengbai smiled sheepishly, just hoping to be let off the hook, such an embarrassing matter was better left unmentioned.

By the time Chi Jinxian helped Nan Mengbai to the infirmary, class had already been in session for ten minutes. Applying a plaster cast to the ankle took time, and after finishing, he still had to help the person back. Now in no hurry, Chi Jinxian sat down on a small stool.

The school doctor glanced at them and made small talk: “Friends, huh?”

Being young themselves, they could tell this “friends” wasn’t the usual kind.

Nan Mengbai waved his hand: “Classmates.”

The school doctor clearly didn’t believe it.

Chi Jinxian awkwardly introduced his own name, leaving the doctor momentarily stunned. She looked at Nan Mengbai and asked, “Are you Lu Zhi?”

Really, everyone knew that famous name.

Nan Mengbai smiled wryly and said, “No.” After answering, he subtly sniffed the air, searching for a new topic. “Shouldn’t the infirmary smell like a hospital, all disinfectant? Why does it seem a bit fragrant here, but not like perfume?”

It must have been very faint, he couldn’t quite identify what it was.

Hearing this, Chi Jinxian looked up at him and quietly sniffed as well but detected nothing.

“Last period, an Omega suddenly went into heat and didn’t have any Suppressant on hand, so they came by. Their family just picked them up,” the school doctor replied briefly.

Realizing it really wasn’t perfume, Nan Mengbai rubbed his nose somewhat awkwardly, as if sniffing an Omega’s pheromone had been impolite. “Ah, I see. Sorry about that.”

The school doctor chuckled lightly: “What’s there to be sorry about? We’re out of gauze; I’ll go get some.” She set down the wound-cleaning tools and left.

Nan Mengbai temporarily pulled his clothes back on and said gently to Chi Jinxian, “I’m really sorry I almost got you hurt. And for recklessly troubling you to bring me here can I ask for your forgiveness?”

Today’s incident partly happened because Chi Jinxian had been walking with his eyes glued to the ground, so hearing this made him feel even more embarrassed.

He said, “It’s fine. We both collided, so I share half the responsibility. It’s only right. Does it still hurt?”

“Not anymore.” A slight smile appeared on Nan Mengbai’s face, as if he hadn’t been sweating from pain earlier.

Due to the medication and plaster cast, Chi Jinxian missed the entire fourth morning class. Without his phone, he’d have to explain things to the homeroom teacher after school.

By the time he escorted Nan Mengbai back to his classroom, school had been out for a while. Lu Zhi’s meal card was still on him. Though he knew Lu Zhi might have gone to eat with Jiang Jin first, Chi Jinxian hurried back anyway.

Unexpectedly, when he entered the classroom, aside from Lu Zhi, it was completely empty.

“Lu-ge.” Chi Jinxian breathed slightly heavily, a bit surprised. “Didn’t you go eat with Jiang-ge?”

He had come in through the back door. Lu Zhi, seated at his desk, lifted his eyelids to watch him approach as if waiting for his meal card. Seeing him return, Lu Zhi stood up to leave but froze the next second.

Lu Zhi’s gaze turned sharp in an instant. Before Chi Jinxian could grasp what was happening around him, he felt his collar tighten and was yanked right beside Lu Zhi!

Stumbling abruptly, desks and chairs scraped noisily. Chi Jinxian instinctively braced himself against a table with one hand and turned to look at the person who had pulled him from behind: “Lu-ge?”

Lu Zhi stood very close to him, slightly bowing his head, his gaze burning as he stared intently. For a moment, Chi Jinxian thought he might lean in to sniff his neck or perhaps his Scent Gland, Betas couldn’t produce pheromones, but everyone had a Scent Gland, though a Beta’s was practically useless and much lighter in color. So, in a way, it was almost as if they didn’t have one at all.

An innate sense of danger made Chi Jinxian’s scalp tingle. Somehow, his mind flashed back to Lu Zhi threatening Lu Wan in that same manner yesterday back then, he had even told Jiang Jin he wasn’t scared.

Chi Jinxian raised a hand to lightly tug at his collar, as if trying to draw attention to himself. He swallowed carefully, shrinking his neck slightly, and whispered, “Lu-ge, wha.”

“Whose scent is on you?” Lu Zhi tightened his grip, pulling him even closer.

His hoarse voice was laden with dangerous undertones.

“Whose pheromones are these?”