What to Do If Beta Cannot Be Marked? - Chapter 30.1

Qi Suiyi watched helplessly as Chi Jinxian was led away by the drawstrings of his hoodie, not even turning his head back once. Frustration churned in his chest. The Dean of Students was still standing at the school gate; otherwise, Qi Suiyi feared he wouldn’t be able to control his explosive temper.

But Chi Jinxian was completely oblivious to Qi Suiyi’s feelings.

This was the first time Lu Zhi had openly “flirted” with him in public. Chi Jinxian’s entire head was tucked inside his hood, as if all his senses had been hidden away. In that moment, the world seemed to shrink until only Lu Zhi remained, and he had long forgotten which distant corner he had left his uncle in. He obediently followed step by step beside Lu Zhi as they walked.

The students on campus completely stopped to stare at this bizarre scene.

Before the flag-raising ceremony had even begun, news that “a certain Chi” was once again trailing behind God Lu had already spread like wildfire, impossible to contain.

When this news broke, many initially refused to believe it until during the flag-raising ceremony, not just one person witnessed Lu and Chi standing almost shoulder to shoulder. Disbelief was no longer an option.

In the third year of Chi Jinxian’s pursuit, everyone began seriously pondering one question: What exactly did Lu Zhi feel about Chi Jinxian?

Anyone with eyes could see it wasn’t affection, but since starting senior year, he seemed to harbor a strange, tolerance toward Chi Jinxian.

Yet upon closer reflection, it appeared things had always been this way over the years.

The speculation finally died down because Chi Jinxian himself took responsibility, unwilling to let others endlessly speculate about his Lu-ge’s feelings. Too much guessing might lead to rumors, and he knew exactly where he stood with Lu Zhi.

For now, Lu Zhi was just accustomed to having him around.

Upon hearing this explanation, everyone instantly understood and felt relieved. They had always maintained that Lu Zhi and Chi Jinxian were impossible.

No matter how much outsiders speculated, they remained outsiders with no direct contact with either Lu or Chi. But those close to them could get answers.

“Cash.” After the flag-raising ceremony ended and students had gradually returned to their classrooms, Jiang Baixiao could no longer contain his curiosity and leaned in toward Chi Jinxian.

When Chi Jinxian looked over, Jiang immediately asked in a hushed tone, “Did you make up with the class president?”

Hearing this, Chi Jinxian cleared his throat as if announcing something monumental and replied firmly, “Yep!”

Jiang Baixiao was astonished. “How did you patch things up?!” His disbelief made him forget to control his volume, catching the attention of the academic committee members two rows ahead.

Fortunately, Lu Zhi had gone to the restroom and wasn’t present, or they wouldn’t dare be so bold.

“We just did,” Chi Jinxian said, thinking back on those two gloomy weeks with some amusement. “I wouldn’t call it making up Lu-ge and I never fought. We’ve always been fine!”

His words made it sound like he wasn’t the one frantically catching up on notes while avoiding someone just last week. Jiang Baixiao clicked his tongue with mixed feelings.

Still, this turn of events was truly unexpected. While feeling amazed, Jiang Baixiao, who harbored almost paternal concern found himself surprisingly relieved and comforted.

After joking about the matter with the academic committee members for a while, Jiang Baixiao sighed with half-genuine emotion as everyone returned to their seats. “Feels like the class president has changed quite a bit.”

“Huh?” Chi Jinxian looked puzzled. “How so?”

Jiang Baixiao shook his head, seemingly lost in thought, and said, “The class monitor’s temper used to be notoriously bad. Did I tell you he once got into a fight with Lu Wan’s stepfather?”

It seemed he had mentioned it before.

Chi Jinxian nodded. “Yeah.”

Jiang Baixiao continued, “Let’s not dwell on that matter after all, it involves an elder and a junior, and it’s a family affair. We shouldn’t believe everything people say. But when it comes to his peers, God Lu was truly fierce. I heard that after the high school entrance exam, he broke both of someone’s hands.”

His expression was so serious, as if he had witnessed it firsthand.

Perhaps because Chi Jinxian had never been one to pay much attention to rumors or gossip unless he saw it with his own eyes, he wouldn’t believe it his visits to the forum during his three years at Interstellar Alliance High School could be counted on one hand. He trusted only what he observed himself. So, when it came to Lu Zhi’s past reputation, if Jiang Baixiao hadn’t brought it up a few times recently, Chi Jinxian would have been completely in the dark.

“Huh? Who did he hit? Why did he do it? That person must have crossed some line, right? Otherwise, Brother Lu wouldn’t have had any reason to resort to violence.” After firing off a series of questions, Chi Jinxian concluded with genuine sincerity, “Brother Lu’s temper is actually really good.”

Just look at the past two years not only had he never gotten into a fight, he hadn’t even had a single argument with anyone.

This was exactly what puzzled Jiang Baixiao! Hearing this, he lightly tapped the table and said, “Right? I think so too. That guy was supposedly God Lu’s childhood friend.”

“Huh?” Chi Jinxian was startled, and Jiang Jin’s face immediately popped into his mind. He blurted out, “It couldn’t be Brother Jiang, could it? He and Brother Lu have always gotten along well.”

Hearing him mention Jiang Jin’s name, even Jiang Baixiao was taken aback for a moment before quickly clarifying, “Oh, no God Lu definitely has more than one childhood friend.”

“Oh, right.” Chi Jinxian felt relieved. “That makes sense.”

As he mentally reviewed everything he had seen and heard over the past few years in high school, Jiang Baixiao still found it hard to believe and sighed sincerely, “Sigh, it seems the rumors at our school back then were probably false”

Click.

A sound came from the back door, cutting Jiang Baixiao off mid-sentence. He immediately fell silent.

Chi Jinxian had been listening with great interest, anything related to his Brother Lu, even if he hadn’t witnessed it himself, always held his utmost curiosity.

Noticing Jiang Baixiao had suddenly stopped talking, he nudged him with his elbow and urged, “Keep going, I want to hear more.”

“…”

“Get lost, don’t drag me into this,” Jiang Baixiao retorted, pushing Chi Jinxian away playfully with a laugh. Discussing this right in front of the person involved? That was practically asking for trouble. “If you want to know, go ask him yourself.”

Hearing this, Chi Jinxian actually glanced toward the back, startling Jiang Baixiao so much that he almost punched him in the chest to snap him out of it worried he might really be reckless enough to walk right into the line of fire!

Fortunately, Chi Jinxian was all bark and no bite. After meeting Lu Zhi’s slightly puzzled gaze as he looked up, Chi Jinxian reflexively let out a silly laugh and declared, “Another day of loving Brother Lu! Bro, I like you.”

Lu Zhi averted his eyes, put on his earphones, and before opening his textbook, said, “Turn around. Class is starting.”

Chi Jinxian: “You got it.”

The news of Lu Zhi and Chi Jinxian’s “reconciliation” had spread beyond First Interstellar Alliance High School. Every school had its own prominent figures, and though these famous students might not have met, they generally knew of each other. For instance, many high school students hadn’t attended the same middle school as Lu Zhi, yet they had a rough idea of what kind of person he was before the semester even began.

At noon, after classes ended, Chi Jinxian followed Lu Zhi to lunch.

It wasn’t until half a month later that Jiang Jin reconnected with Chi Jinxian, feeling as if an eternity had passed. He remarked, “Tsk, after spending two whole years together, it’s really strange not having Little Cash around suddenly.”

He then glanced at Lu Zhi and added with a somewhat literary flair, “I’ve actually missed him quite a bit.”

Lu Zhi shot him a brief look.

Chi Jinxian felt embarrassed by the comments and murmured, “Personal reasons.”

Jiang Jin, of course, understood. “Secondary Gender is Beta, right? Got it.”

Although Brother Lu had said he didn’t dislike him, the fact remained that Lu Zhi detested Betas.

Unwilling to dwell on the topic in front of Lu Zhi, Chi Jinxian reached up to touch his hair and didn’t respond further.

As they chatted, they exited the teaching building, their figures clearly visible to those still upstairs.

Perhaps annoyed by the crowd of students rushing to the cafeteria right after school, Nan Mengbai hadn’t gone downstairs. Instead, he stood alone by the railing on the third-floor corridor, his gaze naturally and casually fixed on three particular figures.

His phone screen was lit up.

With a buzz, a new message appeared in the chat interface. Nan Mengbai temporarily shifted his attention to the phone.

Resolute: 【I heard Chi Jinxian and Lu Zhi only fell out for half a month? And today Lu Zhi isn’t objecting to him tagging along?】

Daylight: 【Pretty much.】

Resolute: 【Really?】

The repeated confirmation seemed as though he hadn’t believed it at all and had no intention of doing so. Nan Mengbai slightly raised his phone and casually snapped a photo of the group about to turn the corner and disappear from view outside the teaching building.

He sent it to the other person.

Due to the distance, the image was somewhat blurry, but Lu Zhi was easily recognizable.

The other side didn’t reply for a long time.

It was a full ten minutes before Nan Mengbai’s phone buzzed again.

Resolute: 【Chi Jinxian really is a Beta, right?】

Bringing this up, Nan Mengbai found it just as puzzling as the other person’s current mood and doubts. He typed a message in response, asking: 【Does Lu Zhi really hate Betas?】

Both fell silent. The other person didn’t reply again. After standing in the corridor a while longer, Nan Mengbai also headed downstairs to the cafeteria.

Having grown accustomed to mooching porridge for two years, Chi Jinxian had always used Lu Zhi’s meal card to buy lunch during the noon break, even before he had permanent ownership of the card, he could temporarily borrow it to get porridge. Not to mention later, when Lu Zhi had handed him the card and explicitly stated, “From now on, you buy lunch at noon.”

So today, upon arriving at the cafeteria, Chi Jinxian instinctively reached into his pocket to get the card, only to remember abruptly he had returned it.

And glancing at Lu Zhi beside him, there seemed to be no intention of giving him the card.

Chi Jinxian stood rooted to the spot, and in the brief moment he took to ponder a strategy, his Lu-ge headed straight for the food service window.

He didn’t even glance at him!

Jiang Jin had abandoned them as soon as he arrived at the cafeteria, rushing to the window. By now, he had already returned with his tray and taken a seat at the spot he had managed to snag right after entering.

Seeing Chi Jinxian still standing there, looking as if he wanted to speak but hesitating, Jiang Jin laughed and said, “Come on, sit down first. Lu Zhi will bring back two portions, why worry about him? Didn’t you just recover from an illness not long ago? Don’t overexert yourself. Just sit here and wait.”

Chi Jinxian: “…”

What kind of illness made even getting a meal an exertion? Chi Jinxian felt both embarrassed and speechless at Jiang Jin’s remark, but he still sat down without hesitation.

“It’s not that,” he said softly, sounding a bit troubled. “I just don’t know how to ask Lu-ge for his meal card again.”

Jiang Jin was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled as if he understood. “You gave the meal card back to him on your own?”

“Yeah.”

“Tsk,” Jiang Jin said. “You two had a fight, and you’ve got quite the temper.”

“…” For some reason, Jiang Jin’s words today always seemed to hit where it hurt. Chi Jinxian lowered his eyes in shame and retorted, “We didn’t fight.”

“Then you’re even more unique.”

Chi Jinxian: “…”

“Ah, I’ve really suffered,” Jiang Jin casually complained, setting aside the napkin he’d used to wipe his chopsticks. “I had to endure his gloomy mood for half a month for no reason, not daring to say a single unnecessary word.”

“Huh?” At that, Chi Jinxian looked up and met Jiang Jin’s gaze. “Was Lu-ge in a bad mood?”

Just as he spoke, Lu Zhi, who had finished getting the food, indeed returned carrying two trays.

As Lu Zhi placed the meal in front of him, Chi Jinxian quickly reached out to take it, sounding almost flustered as he said, “Thank you, Lu-ge.”

“Bad mood?” Jiang Jin remarked with a meaningful tone, as if recalling the hardships he’d endured over the past half month. “Tsk.”

At that, Lu Zhi shot him a glance, a hint of confusion in his eyes.

He hadn’t been part of the earlier conversation, so he had no idea what Jiang Jin meant.

But Jiang Jin didn’t elaborate further, and Chi Jinxian didn’t dare press the issue. As the conversation ended, he prepared to eat quietly.

Suddenly, though, Jiang Jin seemed to remember something and looked up, calling out, “Oh, right, Xianjin.”

Chi Jinxian lifted his gaze. “Huh? What is it, Jiang-ge?”

Without even setting down his chopsticks, Jiang Jin used his other hand to fish his phone out of his pocket and handed it to Chi Jinxian. “Let’s exchange contact info. If it weren’t for someone suddenly asking about you, I wouldn’t have realized that in two years, I never got your contact details.”

His expression matched his tone, both tinged with disbelief.

At that, Lu Zhi’s movements with his chopsticks paused slightly.

Chi Jinxian was also surprised and asked skeptically, “Really, you don’t have it?”

He instinctively took Jiang Jin’s phone. Jiang Jin had already unlocked the screen and opened the messaging app. As Chi Jinxian typed in his details, he asked, “But why did you suddenly think of this, Jiang-ge?”