What to Do If Beta Cannot Be Marked? - Chapter 31

Students who had finished their meals were gradually returning to the classroom. Chi Jinxian had been standing by his seat the whole time, which made him look rather foolish, so he pulled out his chair and sat down. As his body lowered, so did his head.

Chi Jinxian hung his head, cautiously staring at the ground, and muttered very softly, “I wasn’t throwing a tantrum.”

“Hm.” Lu Zhi responded almost carelessly, “Then what was it?”

“If you weren’t throwing a tantrum, why did you reply to everyone’s messages except mine?” As he spoke, Lu Zhi’s expression unconsciously turned cold, almost devoid of emotion. “If you weren’t throwing a tantrum, why did you run away at the sight of me and hide for so long?”

He added, “As if I would lock you up or something.”

Chi Jinxian had only ever received such blatant and undisguised accusations when arguing with his father. Hearing these words from Lu Zhi words tinged with a hint of grievance, even though his Lu-ge’s tone remained flat clearly conveyed reproach. Besides shock, all Chi Jinxian felt was at a loss.

And as for being locked up if it were Lu Zhi doing it, there would be no need to go through such trouble. He’d willingly wrap himself up and deliver himself.

Quickly reining in his thoughts before they spiraled into unhealthy territory, Chi Jinxian raised a hand to rub the tip of his ear in a futile attempt to cover his fluster. He swiftly lifted his gaze to glance at Lu Zhi, but upon realizing that Lu Zhi was still staring intently at him, he immediately lowered his eyelashes in fright. In a placating whisper, he said, “Ge, don’t be angry. I was throwing a tantrum. I won’t do it again. Please forgive me this once.”

After a brief pause, Chi Jinxian mustered the courage to face his “bleak” reality and looked up at Lu Zhi with a resolve akin to facing death. “Let me make it up to you, okay?”

Lu Zhi’s eyebrow seemed to twitch almost imperceptibly. He quietly watched Chi Jinxian without making a sound, let alone uttering a word.

Chi Jinxian frowned slightly, racking his brains. His two years of experience chasing after someone seemed utterly useless now, suddenly rendered ineffective.

It was as if he had learned nothing at all, only knowing how to follow Lu Zhi around. Now that he was tasked with coaxing people, he genuinely couldn’t recall how to do it.

After a long silence, the passionately devoted little rose Chi Jinxian seriously suggested, “Ge, how about I give you a kiss? I think a French kiss would be perfect.”

“Pfft”

“Damn it, Jiang Baixiao, you sprayed me all over!”

Zhong Qing, sitting perfectly fine in the front row and because he was on the aisle side had tragically become the victim of this unforeseen disaster. He immediately jumped up.

Jiang Baixiao hurriedly set his teacdown on the desk closest to him and scrambled to find tissues to wipe Zhong Qing’s face and hair. “Sorry, Class Rep, my bad!” As he wiped the water, they drew closer, and he whispered softly enough for only the two of them to hear, “Though I noticed you were eavesdropping quite intently earlier too. You just didn’t happen to be drinking water.”

Zhong Qing also whispered back, keeping his face stiff and his lips barely moving, “Well, who told you to walk and drink at the same time?”

Chi Jinxian was startled by their commotion and whipped his head around to look at their backs both turned away from him, clearly sneaking a conversation. His senses returned, and rationality snapped back into place.

The tingling sensation at the crown of his head seemed to overlap perfectly with the spray of water Jiang Baixiao had spat out earlier. The words “French kiss” that had escaped his own lips now materialized into a tangible shame, leaving Chi Jinxian’s scalp numb for quite some time. He winced as if his lungs ached, thinking to himself, Chi Jinxian, take a good look at the middle character of your name! Remember what “restraint” means, how have you grown more unrestrained and reckless over time?!

He stealthily glanced at Lu Zhi from the corner of his eye and saw his “Lu-ge” wearing an unprecedentedly cold expression, staring at him with utter impassivity.

Chi Jinxian felt his entire heart go numb.

“I was talking nonsense,” he stammered, his voice trembling as he surrendered almost instantly. “Brother, wait until I think of a better way to coax you. Please don’t get angrier, I’ll stop talking for now.”

With that, he immediately turned away, retreating into his self-imposed protective bubble.

He didn’t even ask whether Lu Zhi’s knee had healed.

On the other side, Jiang Baixiao continued answering Zhong Qing in a voice only audible to the two of them: “Can’t I be thirsty?”

“Of course, of course.” Having mostly wiped off the water stains, Zhong Qing hadn’t actually expected Jiang Baixiao to clean him up personally it was just an excuse to chat more easily. He took the tissue from Jiang Baixiao’s hand and asked, “What’s really going on between Cash and the class monitor? Any intel?”

“How would I know?” Jiang Baixiao reached for his water cup, gritting his teeth as he muttered ruefully, “My sister-flower is keeping secrets from me now. He’s no longer the little Cash who tells me everything.”

Zhong Qing urged, “Hurry and investigate! And don’t forget Class 10 Senior High’s Group ② share the wealth with the whole class.”

Jiang Baixiao feigned a cough and subtly returned to his seat.

Chi Jinxian was clearly still in his self-isolation mode, practically shutting out the world. Even after Jiang Baixiao deliberately coughed several times upon returning, Chi Jinxian didn’t grace him with so much as a glance.

“Tch.” Jiang Baixiao leaned in closer, unable to suppress a soft chuckle. “It’s just a hot kiss, why the self-isolation when you didn’t even get to kiss him? This isn’t your usual style when chasing someone, Cash.”

Chi Jinxian shot him a resentful look and retorted, “I’m isolating myself because you overheard me and couldn’t control yourself, spraying water all over the study committee member.”

Jiang Baixiao made a disgusted “Ew” sound. Perhaps this water-spraying incident had sown the seeds of “resentment,” because no matter what Jiang Baixiao asked afterward, Chi Jinxian refused to divulge anything, let alone voluntarily share what unspeakable secrets had recently transpired between him and God Lu.

Failing to extract even a single piece of gossip, Jiang Baixiao grew even more unbearably curious, nearly furious enough to hit someone. He finally declared that he would gather intelligence on his own, warning Chi Jinxian not to underestimate the prowess of Alliance’s Jianghu Baixiaosheng. Chi Jinxian just laughed and told him to hurry up and stop tormenting him.

In truth, Chi Jinxian had no secrets to share. He himself was still confused and bewildered by the recent series of events there was simply no gossip to give Jiang Baixiao.

Besides, with Lu-ge currently angry, he was too busy thinking of ways to coax him back to bother with such matters.

But the mention of his Lu-ge suddenly reminded Chi Jinxian of something.

Meal card!

Lu Zhi had paid for lunch at the cafeteria today, and from his demeanor, it seemed he had no intention of giving the meal card back to Chi Jinxian.

But what if Lu Zhi stops letting him mooch meals in a few days? After all, making up is one thing, but refusing to share meals is another especially since Lu Zhi is still sulking.

At this thought, Chi Jinxian practically jolted upright as if rising from his deathbed, instantly twisting his body around again and reaching out to lightly grip the edge of Lu Zhi’s desk. He wanted to step into someone else’s territory but feared punishment from its owner, so he only dared to test the waters cautiously.

Noticing the movement, Lu Zhi looked up and was about to speak when he caught the expression and gaze Chi Jinxian was directing at him. He unconsciously pressed his lips together and fell silent.

Chi Jinxian blinked rapidly a couple of times, making the moisture in his eyes unmistakably obvious. Combined with his pitiful expression, Lu Zhi’s gaze, which had just lifted, dropped slightly as if to hide something before rising again after a moment.

“Brother Lu,” Chi Jinxian called softly.

Lu Zhi removed his earphones and looked at him impassively. “What is it?”

Chi Jinxian hesitated, torn between speaking and holding back. “I at noon still want to buy a meal.”

Seemingly not understanding his meaning, Lu Zhi’s dark, ink-like eyes held a trace of confusion.

Under his gaze, Chi Jinxian grew even more hesitant. After a long pause, he finally spoke as if facing certain doom: “The meal card.”

Lu Zhi’s expression remained unchanged as he uttered two words: “Not giving.”

His tone was firm and detached, like someone holding an unshakable position.

Hearing this, Chi Jinxian’s eyebrows drooped slightly, resembling a chastised little animal, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned down. His hands gripping the desk edge crept forward a bit further as he pleaded softly with a pitiful, ingratiating tone: “Aiya, don’t be like that, Brother. How am I supposed to survive the next six months or so without you? Wouldn’t I just starve to death?”

“Can’t live without me?” Lu Zhi asked, his tone flat and unemotional.

Thinking there might be a chance, Chi Jinxian quickly nodded. “Yes, yes! Brother Lu, you’re my everything!”

Lu Zhi studied him seriously for a while, as if verifying the sincerity behind those words. Chi Jinxian had an innocent appearance with bright, clear eyes, and for the past two years, his gaze had indeed been filled with nothing but Lu Zhi.

He wouldn’t lie.

“Wasn’t it you who gave me your meal card?” Lu Zhi reminded him after a moment.

Every prepared and half-formed excuse in Chi Jinxian’s mind evaporated. His mouth opened slightly as he tried to defend himself, but no words came out. He could only lower his eyelashes guiltily.

Lu Zhi continued, “Even though you’re not yet an adult, you still have to take responsibility for everything you do.”

Chi Jinxian grew even more guilty, his head unconsciously bowing lower.

“Brother Lu.”

“Words, too,” Lu Zhi interrupted, refusing to let him play pitiful or act cute. “You have to take responsibility.”

“Mm.” It seemed this time would be harder to smooth over. Chi Jinxian responded dejectedly, obediently accepting Lu Zhi’s words. “I know, Brother.”

Then he lifted his eyes and asked softly, “So how can I get out of the cold palace?”

“Cough!” Jiang Baixiao seemed to have a problem with water today, the mouthful he had just taken sprayed out from the corner of his mouth with that cough. He frantically tried to catch it with his hands, then scrambled to find a tissue, his expression a mix of shock and disbelief.

He just wanted to quietly perk up his ears and eavesdrop on a “corner of the wall”, why couldn’t that certain Chi-classmate speak properly!

And the cold palace? Did he really want to be the empress of ancient times?

Having experienced too many socially awkward situations, ordinary scenarios could hardly faze Chi Jinxian anymore. For instance, what had just happened was already long forgotten. Noticing Jiang Baixiao’s reaction, Chi Jinxian laughed and said to Lu Zhi, “Brother, when will you return the meal card phoenix seal to me?”

Jiang Baixiao: “…”

He really did want to be the empress!

Jiang Baixiao couldn’t hold back and let out an audible “tsk” from his throat. Chi Jinxian chuckled at his “tsk,” went over, wrapped an arm around his neck, and asked what he meant by it. The feigned gritted-teeth inquiry carried a threatening tone, and Jiang Baixiao quickly laughed and begged for mercy.

The two of them soon started roughhousing, and Chi Jinxian even temporarily forgot about the meal card.

In the end, whether it was because Lu Zhi found them too noisy, he told Chi Jinxian to let go of the other person, settle down, and study properly, forbidding him from speaking any further. Only then did Chi Jinxian calm down.

In the cafeteria, Jiang Jin had asked Chi Jinxian to accept his friend request on his phone once he returned to the classroom even though Lu Zhi had said not to approve it, Chi Jinxian knew his Lu-ge was just joking. Besides, he and Jiang Jin saw each other every day, so how could he really not approve it?

Forced to stay quiet under the watchful eye of Class Monitor Lu from behind, Chi Jinxian opened his textbook and, like a thief, carefully placed his phone in front of him. He opened the chat app and added Jiang Jin to his friend list.

As soon as he approved the request, a new message appeared on the screen.

No Ambition: [Hey there, little Cash!]

Seeing this greeting as if they were meeting for the first time, he couldn’t help but laugh and typed back: [Hey, Brother Jiang! Hey, Brother Jiang!]

No Ambition: [Cash, I wanna ask you something.]

Cash Pool: [What is it?]

No Ambition: [Do you little Betas really not smell any pheromones at all?]

He didn’t know why Jiang Jin was asking this it was clearly covered in ABO biology class.

A hint of confusion appeared on Chi Jinxian’s face, but his fingers still obediently replied: [Yeah, why?]

No Ambition: [So that means you can’t smell what Lu Zhi smells like?]

Chi Jinxian: “…”

He wished he could, but circumstances didn’t allow it.

Cash Pool: [[Little rabbit drooping its ears in disappointment JPG.]]

Cash Pool: , Yeah.]

Cash Pool: [Can’t smell it.]

No Ambition: [Then let me tell you something else.]

Jiang Jin seemed a bit off today, but Chi Jinxian’s intuition made him eager to hear more.

Cash Pool: [Go ahead, Brother Jiang, I’m listening.]

No Ambition: [Wanna know what your Lu-ge’s pheromone smells like?]

Chi Jinxian: “!!!”

Sitting at his desk in Class 10 of the third year, Chi Jinxian felt an urge to rush out and find Jiang Jin in his classroom to hear it face-to-face.

Over the past two years, he had gotten too deep into the “Omega” act. On ordinary days, Chi Jinxian never dared to ask his Lu-ge what his pheromone actually smelled like even when Lu Zhi had asked him more than once, “What do I smell like?” he never dared to ask back.

Cash Pool: [Brother Jiang, tell me!!]

No Ambition: [Ah, it’s actually pretty ordinary]

After “selling” Lu Zhi’s misery at the door of Class 10, Grade 12, Jiang Jin still felt deeply puzzled upon returning to his own classroom.

His confusion was tinged with disbelief.

He thought, Little Cash is a Beta, and Lu Zhi had known this from the start. So why,

Just as he was pondering, a new message arrived on his phone. He opened it and found it was from an old friend he hadn’t been in touch with for a long time.

But the other party had only sent a casual greeting. If there was something important, he would mention it, so Jiang Jin didn’t reply immediately.

Somehow, that message triggered a memory, and Jiang Jin fell into deep thought. At that moment, his phone vibrated again.

Glancing down, he saw it was Little Cash this time. He had accepted his friend request.

Seeing that name and thinking clearly about this person, Jiang Jin remembered.

Over the past two years, he had caught the scent of Lu Zhi’s pheromones on Chi Jinxian!

It was when Lu Zhi had asked Chi Jinxian with a blank expression, “What do I smell like?”

But at the time, Lu Zhi’s Alpha Rut had arrived early, so Jiang Jin didn’t think much of it. He had only casually mentioned once, “Cash seems to have your pheromones on him.”

Lu Zhi, of course, ignored him.

It’s common for Alphas to be irritable during their Rut, given their strong territorial instincts. Sometimes, they might even lose their rationality if provoked.

So Lu Zhi’s silent, indifferent expression was entirely normal, and Jiang Jin didn’t pay it any mind.

But now, thinking back Jiang Jin suddenly let out a pained “hiss,” feeling that something wasn’t right.

Moreover, he inexplicably felt he needed to do something.

In the neighboring classroom, Chi Jinxian felt as if he was about to uncover some secret, his heart pounding with nervousness.

He stared unblinkingly at his phone screen on the desk, as if eagerly awaiting a lover to appear by his side.

Lu Zhi, watching his back from behind, unconsciously furrowed his brows slightly.

“Buzz.”

No Ambition: 【Lu Zhi’s pheromones are as strange as he is.】

No Ambition: 【When he’s in a bad mood, his pheromones are purely cold. Only when he’s in a good mood do they carry a hint of fragrance. I was fortunate enough to catch that pleasant scent once when I went to see him during his Alpha Rut without knowing it he was sitting calmly in his Rose Manor. But as soon as I arrived, he forcefully retracted his pheromones. I never smelled it again after that, so don’t tell him I told you.】

The message was long, but Chi Jinxian fixated on a few words Rose Manor.

He thought, Brother Lu also has a Rose Manor.

No Ambition: 【Though I’ve experienced his pheromones when he’s in an extremely bad mood several times [smile]】

Cash Pool: 【Brother Jiang, does Brother Lu also have a Rose Manor?】

No Ambition: 【Yeah, not a huge one. Probably around one or two thousand plants now?】

Chi Jinxian hadn’t seen exactly how many there were, but his mind automatically conjured an image of the fiery red roses his own father, Chi Sui, had planted at home.

Cash Pool: 【Who planted them?】

Jiang Jin probably didn’t expect the topic to shift so abruptly from pheromones to roses.

But he didn’t question it and simply replied: 【Lu Zhi did.】

Chi Jinxian gently placed the knuckle of his left index finger into his mouth, unconsciously biting down lightly. His eyes curved into crescents as he thought with immense delight, He and Brother Lu’s home share similarities, what could this be if not fate?

No one was more suited for each other than them.

Thinking this, Chi Jinxian felt he liked Lu Zhi even more, all because of a Rose Manor.

Confirming his suspicion, Chi Jinxian typed: 【Did Brother Lu plant them?】

No Ambition: 【Yep】

No Ambition: 【A long time ago, when he was around seven or eight, he insisted on planting them. Our families live close by, and I still remember the first time his roses died he went silent for days, totally withdrawn.】

No Ambition: 【[LMAO crying tears of laughter jpg.]】

Clearly reminiscing in detail about the scene years ago when Lu Zhi’s roses withered and he retreated into himself, Jiang Jin found that sending one laughing emoji wasn’t enough to express his joy. He sent a good seven or eight of them in a row.

In an instant, the screen was flooded with his tearful laughing emojis.

Even face-to-face, Chi Jinxian had never realized Jiang Jin could be this unrestrained.

Truly, behind a screen, everyone could wear a second face.

After his burst of amusement, Jiang Jin quieted down and returned to the topic of Lu Zhi’s pheromones, seemingly determined to share this with Chi Jinxian. The latter’s interest was indeed rekindled, his gaze burning with anticipation as he waited for the answer.

Thump!

Suddenly, someone kicked Chi Jinxian’s stool. It wasn’t hard, but not exactly gentle either, the impact jolted him slightly in his seat.

Chi Jinxian froze for a moment, a flicker of disbelief in his eyes as he cautiously turned to look behind him.

Lu Zhi was staring back at him, expressionless, his brow slightly furrowed.

Softly, Chi Jinxian ventured, “Brother Lu?”

Lu Zhi’s frown visibly deepened.

Chi Jinxian immediately swiveled fully around to face him and asked, “Brother, what’s wrong?”

Lu Zhi fixed him with an unwavering gaze for a few seconds before replying, completely off-topic, “You start comforting someone and then just stop halfway.”

A bit bewildered, Chi Jinxian said, “Huh? Wh-what do you mean?”

“Is your phone that entertaining?” Lu Zhi adopted the stern tone of a class monitor. “Are your books just for decoration?”

Never mind that the person scolding him was the one he had feelings for, Lu Zhi’s status as the perpetual top student in the entire school alone carried enough weight.

Chastised like this, Chi Jinxian was immediately struck by the guilt he’d felt earlier for slacking off and playing on his phone instead of studying. He lowered his head slightly, embarrassed.

Lu Zhi then pressed, “Who are you chatting with so engrossedly?”

Certainly not Xiao Lu, and definitely not Lu Zhi himself. In a flash, Lu Zhi’s gaze darkened.

“No one, it’s Brother Jiang!” Chi Jinxian hurriedly explained, lowering his voice as he added ambiguously, “We just added each other, so just saying hello.”

“Didn’t I tell you not to accept?” Lu Zhi’s brow furrowed tightly, his displeasure evident.

But it lasted only a moment before his expression returned to normal, as if nothing had happened. He simply said, “Give me your phone.”

Chi Jinxian: “Huh?”

Lu Zhi’s eyebrow twitched slightly as he regarded him calmly.

His demeanor was so casual, as if this kind of exchange was commonplace between them. Chi Jinxian blinked instinctively, his heart thumping wildly in his chest. Suddenly, it struck him that his Brother Lu was acting with the air of a boyfriend demanding to check his partner’s phone.

The thought felt too real, and Chi Jinxian’s slightly prominent Adam’s apple bobbed involuntarily, he had swallowed nervously.

But despite his excitement, he still had his wits about him.

At those words, the topics he had discussed with Jiang Jin instantly flooded his mind. Secretly discussing someone behind their back, only for the person in question to want to see it there was no situation more rude or awkward than this.

Chi Jinxian shook his head and said, “It really was just a greeting, nothing else. Brother, please don’t look.”

Lu Zhi’s ink-dark eyes cooled bit by bit.

He asked, “A secret?”

Chi Jinxian immediately and firmly denied, “No!”

As if a fierce aura was about to creep into his pupils, Lu Zhi lowered his eyes slightly, consciously concealing the emotions deep within, and remained silent.

A moment later, his fingers moved lightly as he pulled something out of his pocket and placed it on the table with a soft tap.

Under Lu Zhi’s index finger lay a thin object a meal card. Chi Jinxian’s eyes widened at the sight.

Without a change in expression, Lu Zhi said, “Exchange.”

“Okay!” Whether it was about chatting or not, it wasn’t like he was saying anything bad, and he wouldn’t speak ill of others anyway. Excitedly agreeing, Chi Jinxian immediately handed over his phone and said, “Bro! Here! Take it!”

Lu Zhi reached out and took the phone.

Beaming with joy, Chi Jinxian reached out to take his meal card, but his smile vanished the moment his hand extended.

Just then, the tip of the index finger that had been pressing down on the meal card slid downward, and the card smoothly and effortlessly glided into someone’s palm.

Without batting an eye, Lu Zhi pinched the meal card and slipped it back into his pocket, not even glancing up at Chi Jinxian.