What to Do If Beta Cannot Be Marked? - Chapter 45.1

“Huh? Wh-what?” After a long moment, Chi Jinxian was still staring wide-eyed at Lu Zhi, as if he hadn’t understood his words at all.

“You, you, I.” His eyes had been open for so long that he finally couldn’t help but blink, and this blink seemed to trigger some mechanism. Chi Jinxian stammered, “Brother, you want you want me to no, you want me to live with you?”

Lu Zhi frowned and asked him: “Isn’t it the same as you living with Qi Suiyi?”

Chi Jinxian explained: “I.”

“We’re both boys, what’s the problem?” Lu Zhi cut him off, his attitude extremely serious.

“No problem.”

“Aren’t we practically childhood friends?”

Chi Jinxian said: “Of course we are!”

“Mm,” Lu Zhi said, “Uncle Chi and Uncle Yuan both know me.”

He didn’t spell it out explicitly, but the underlying meaning was clear: in Chi Jinxian’s situation, there was no difference between him and Qi Suiyi both were childhood friends, and both were known to his parents.

If someone had to be entrusted with his care, there was no need to necessarily place Chi Jinxian with Qi Suiyi’s family.

Chi Jinxian wanted to say more, but at that moment Jiang Baixiao returned. The current topic was rather private, and the outcome was still uncertain, so it was better not to be so blatant.

Lu Zhi probably had the same thought, as he said: “Turn around.”

So Chi Jinxian turned back to his studies with a somewhat bewildered expression.

But the tips of his ears were red, his breathing was slightly erratic, and just from his expression it was clear that his heartbeat must be thumping wildly, just like his behavior suggested.

Jiang Baixiao quickly glanced back and forth between the two, unsure what they had just discussed, but couldn’t help letting out his usual mental “tsk.”

By lunchtime, Chi Jinxian showed no more unusual signs, though occasionally he would still space out as if lost in thought.

This made Jiang Jin think he was sick, insisting that Lu Zhi feel his forehead to check for a fever.

He did normal temperature.

“If he’s not sick, why does he keep spacing out?” Jiang Jin wondered, holding his chopsticks without picking up any food.

“He’s thinking about winter break,” Lu Zhi said.

“Planning a wonderful life,” Chi Jinxian said.

Their almost simultaneous responses drowned out the voices of other students eating in the cafeteria.

Jiang Jin looked suspiciously at Lu Zhi, feeling he should ask him first: “Why think about winter break? There are still a few days left?” After asking this, he immediately turned to Chi Jinxian and asked, “Planning what wonderful life?”

Having asked both, Jiang Jin felt somewhat reassured, thinking it couldn’t be anything major since winter break was indeed approaching, and planning for it now wasn’t too early.

Thinking this, Jiang Jin nodded slightly in understanding, feeling quite perceptive, and resumed using his chopsticks.

“The uncles are going on a trip and entrusted him to someone. I asked him to live with me,” Lu Zhi explained.

“Pfft ” Jiang Jin, who had just stuffed a mouthful of rice into his mouth without chewing it properly before swallowing, spat it all out at once. A few grains seemed determined to retaliate, choking him half to death and making him cough uncontrollably.

Soon, tears welled up in his eyes.

Chi Jinxian was startled and reached for the congee beside Jiang Jin to offer him, but Lu Zhi beat him to it, pushing it toward Jiang Jin with two fingers.

Jiang Jin took two large gulps from his bowl, finally catching his breath, and commented, “Thank goodness the cafeteria is so stingy every day, cooking porridge as if it’s brewing tea. Otherwise, forget about catching my breath, I might have choked to death again.”

After speaking, he looked up at Chi Jinxian. “Cash, did you agree?”

Chi Jinxian shook his head. Nothing had been settled yet, what was there to agree to?

Jiang Jin said with genuine emotion, “You better not agree. He.”

Then, glancing sideways, he noticed Lu Zhi staring at him expressionlessly, even with a hint of warning in his eyes. Jiang Jin choked up again and abruptly changed his tone: “is really great.”

“But how did things suddenly reach this point?” Jiang Jin wondered.

Hadn’t Lu Zhi always been rejecting him? How could he be the one to suggest Chi Jinxian moving into his house?

At that moment, Chi Jinxian said, “My dad and the others entrusted me to Xiao Sui’s family.”

“Xiao Sui?” Jiang Jin cut him off. “Qi Suiyi?”

“Then you’re better off staying with that dog Lu Zhi.”

Chi Jinxian: “…”

So it wasn’t just Lu Zhi who had misunderstood.

After school ended in the afternoon, Chi Jinxian was no longer entangled. He even seemed like he would immediately discuss the matter with his parents as soon as he got home.

But perhaps to prevent any mishaps, Lu Zhi didn’t let him say goodbye so quickly and called out to him, saying, “I won’t let you run into Lu Wan or the others. We’ll stay at the villa my dad left me.”

His tone was so resolute, as if he had to get a response not just any response, but an agreement.

Chi Jinxian stared at him wide-eyed, his heart once again disobediently thumping wildly.

“Uncle Fang will be there,” Lu Zhi added.

Chi Jinxian almost felt like he didn’t even want to go home and discuss it now though in essence, it was really just a formality.

He wanted to agree right then and there! The chance to live under the same roof as Brother Lu this was the first time in three years!

Seeing that the other remained silent, Lu Zhi paused for a moment before adding, “I Uncle Fang will take good care of you.”

“Don’t go to Qi Suiyi’s house.”

Throughout the day, Chi Jinxian had constantly felt that once he got home from school, he would tell Lu Zhi who Qi Suiyi was. But in that instant, that thought completely vanished.

He even had the rebellious thought that his uncle was unexpectedly useful at critical moments.

“Xiao Chi,” Lu Zhi finally called him softly.

Chi Jinxian’s eyes widened slightly, and he stood there almost stunned. He stared directly into Lu Zhi’s eyes, which didn’t waver or avoid his gaze, as if he had always called Chi Jinxian that no rehearsal needed, his tone natural and even carrying a hint of intimacy.

And whether it was due to the gentle breeze at that moment, Chi Jinxian felt as if his voice held a trace of devoutness. Once Chi Jinxian fell into it, he never climbed back out.

Soon, under the caress of the breeze, Chi Jinxian indeed felt his ears beginning to grow warm. He quickly covered them with his hands, lowering his gaze and avoiding Lu Zhi’s eyes.

Only the powerful thumping of his heart seemed intent on breaking through his chest.

He rushed home in a flurry, his backpack bouncing, his face full of unrestrained smiles. As soon as he entered, he saw Yuan Si Bai packing some daily necessities.

Chi Jinxian closed the door and asked, “Dad, are you already packing for the trip? Isn’t it still a few days away?” With two large strides, he walked up to him and pretended to protest, “Wow, Dad, have you learned from Big Chi to stop loving me too?”

“What nonsense are you talking about.” Upon hearing this, Yuan Si Bai scolded him with a laugh while tidying up, saying, “I don’t even need to lift a finger for the things we’re taking out.”

Chi Jinxian understood: “So Dad has already packed everything up, right?” After confirming, he snorted, “He kicked me out during winter break was he so happy he could jump for joy?”

“Exactly.”

Yuan Si Bai’s eyes curved as he was about to speak when a rather gleeful voice came from the corridor upstairs. Chi Jinxian looked up and saw Chi Sui leaning over the railing, grinning as he said, “Want me to jump right here for you?”

Chi Jinxian: “…”

Chi Jinxian: “You’re just showing off!”

Yuan Si Bai: “Chi Sui.”

“Alright, alright, I won’t jump.” Chi Sui raised his hands in surrender and started coming downstairs.

Chi Jinxian tossed his backpack onto the sofa and asked, “If Dad has already packed everything, why are you still tidying up, little Dad?”

“It’s for you,” Yuan Si Bai replied.

Chi Jinxian was taken aback: “Huh?”

In his confusion, he instinctively wondered if his two dads felt too guilty about going off on their own romantic getaway and, after much thought, had decided to bring him along.

But Chi Sui clearly wasn’t that kind of person.

Sure enough, Yuan Si Bai shattered his illusion.

“Aren’t you going straight to Grandpa’s house once winter break starts in a few days?” Yuan Si Bai said. “Grandpa’s place has everything, but since I have nothing better to do, I’m packing some of the things you usually use at home to take along. That way, Grandpa won’t have to ask your uncle to buy them for you again. Buying new things every time you visit is not only troublesome but also wasteful.”

It made perfect sense and was true. However, when the topic of winter break came up, Chi Jinxian scratched his nose and mumbled hesitantly.

He clearly had something on his mind but was holding back.

Yuan Si Bai noticed first and gave him a curious look: “What’s wrong?”

Chi Jinxian quickly met Yuan Si Bai’s gaze, feeling guilty: “I don’t want to stay at Grandpa’s house during winter break.”

“Huh?” Chi Sui picked up a cup from the coffee table to pour hot water, raising his eyes to look at Chi Jinxian as if he hadn’t heard correctly.

Yuan Si Bai also looked at him and said, “Then are you planning to stay home alone? But I’m not too comfortable with that.”

“No,” Chi Jinxian grew even more guilty, whispering, “I want to stay at a classmate’s house.”

“Classmate?” Chi Sui took a sip of water and asked casually, “Which classmate?”

As soon as he finished asking, he paused mid-sentence, his gaze snapping sharply to Chi Jinxian as he asked in disbelief, “It’s not Lu Zhi, is it?”

“…” Chi Jinxian stayed silent, quietly hugging a pillow to his chest.

Chi Sui shot up from the sofa, pointing at Chi Jinxian: “Have your little Dad and I ever interfered with you actively pursuing someone? No, right? But is that the same as you proactively going to someone else’s house?”

Yuan Si Bai quickly stopped him, saying, “Don’t jump to conclusions. He surely knows his limits let him finish first.”

Chi Jinxian hurriedly explained, “Of course I know that! But if you ignore the fact that I like Lu Zhi, we’re just ordinary classmates. Two guys hanging out is no big deal, and I’m a Beta anyway.”

“Besides, it wasn’t my idea. You taught me to value and respect myself, I wouldn’t suggest something like that knowing I have feelings for Lu Zhi. It was.”

“Was it Lu Zhi?” Chi Sui interrupted him, wide-eyed and incredulous.

Chi Jinxian nodded. “Yeah.”

“But doesn’t he dislike you?” Chi Sui asked.

Chi Jinxian glared at him fiercely and fell silent.

Yuan Si Bai inquired, “Why did he say that?”

After a moment, Chi Jinxian explained the circumstances that led to today’s situation.

After hearing it, Chi Sui only felt more confused. “He misunderstood your uncle, so he asked you to live with him? And said that since we know him, we shouldn’t worry?”

When his son nodded in confirmation, Chi Sui frowned at Yuan Si Bai, unable to resist leaning in to whisper, “Is this how someone acts when they don’t like someone? Why is he saying one thing to our faces and another behind our backs?”

Yuan Si Bai pushed him away and asked, “Did you agree?”

Hearing this, Chi Jinxian hugged the pillow in his arms even tighter and said softly, “I’m discussing it with Dad and Papa now.”

Then he flashed a big smile, squinting his eyes at them.

Yuan Si Bai was amused and chided him, “You’re just informing us, not discussing.”

To be fair, Chi Jinxian had a point. Over the past few years, it was only because he had been obsessively chasing Lu Zhi that they had to be cautious at the slightest hint of trouble.

But aside from that, they were just ordinary classmates, both of the same Secondary Gender. It was perfectly normal for them to visit each other’s homes during holidays.

There was no need for their parents to be so overly cautious.

Otherwise, even a non-issue would start to seem like a problem.

Seeing that Yuan Si Bai had no intention of interfering in the young people’s affairs since he had always known Chi Jinxian to be sensible and aware of his limits without needing reminders Chi Sui quickly adopted a stern fatherly stance.

“You’re going to live under the same roof as Lu Zisheng and Ai Duoyan? Even if you’re just a guest, Lu Zisheng is one thing,I’ve actually been on the same side as him a couple of times because of Secondary Gender medication. But there’s no guarantee Ai Duoyan will treat you well.”

“Not exactly,” Chi Jinxian explained seriously. “It’s the villa that Uncle Yan left for Brother Lu.”

Hearing this, Yuan Si Bai couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow slightly.

But he said nothing.

Chi Sui grew even more serious. “So there are no adults in the house?!” He widened his eyes, suddenly growing anxious, pacing in place twice before exclaiming, “That’s even worse than having Ai Duoyan keeping an eye on you! With your little wolfish heart, how can I trust you alone with him? You’d probably strip him bare the first chance you get!”

Yuan Si Bai burst out laughing.

Chi Jinxian: “…”

Chi Sui: “…”

Chi Jinxian retorted just as loudly, “What are you saying, Big Chi?! Am I that kind of person with no sense of boundaries?!”

“You shut up,” Chi Sui gritted his teeth in reply, not looking at Chi Jinxian. Instead, he reached out abruptly, pulled Yuan Si Bai close, and secretly pinched his waist.

The latter’s expression changed, and he almost cried out in surprise, but fortunately, he remembered Chi Jinxian was still there and held back. Still, he immediately slapped Chi Sui’s hand away.

Chi Sui said, “I’m trying to discipline him. How can I keep scolding him if you laugh like that?”

“How could there be no adults?” Yuan Si Bai reminded him. “Isn’t Fang Shou there?”

Chi Sui calmed down. He had heard that Fang Shou grew up with Yan Yue, though he didn’t understand why Fang Shou insisted on following and caring for someone who wasn’t from a wealthy family. It seemed he had been looking after Yan Yue since they were children.

Until Yan Yue married Lu Zisheng, Fang Shou followed and became the butler of the Lu household even as the butler, most of the time he only took care of Yan Yue.

After the person he had cared for over several decades passed away, Fang Shou began looking after Lu Zhi just as he had cared for Yan Yue.

Like an invisible presence, yet offering unwavering companionship.

“You have a point,” Chi Sui muttered under his breath.

Seeing an opening, Chi Jinxian quickly pressed his advantage: “Besides, Brother Lu told me he wouldn’t let anyone know I’m staying at his place over winter break if it were just ordinary classmates, it’d be fine for others to know. But since everyone at school knows I like Brother Lu, it wouldn’t be good for me if word got out.”