What to Do If Beta Cannot Be Marked? - Chapter 6

“Ah, Xiao Sui, let go of me.” As they reached the person he intended to follow, Chi Jinxian tugged at Qi Suiyi’s arm while quickly glancing up at Lu Zhi, afraid he might disappear if he looked away for even a moment.

Fortunately, Lu Zhi seemed to have some business to attend to, as he had been standing in the same spot for several minutes. If not for the fact that over the past two years, none of his love letters or roses had ever been truly accepted, Chi Jinxian might have almost believed that Brother Lu was waiting for him.

“Why should I let go? Didn’t you say that after yesterday, that guy Lu wouldn’t let you mooch meals anymore? In that case, let’s go together.”

“Aren’t you an Alpha?” Suddenly, a cold inquiry cut through the group, interrupting Qi Suiyi’s annoying chatter.

He instinctively shifted his gaze from Chi Jinxian’s face and looked up to find the source of the voice.

Jiang Jin also looked around in confusion, scanning the area until his eyes finally landed incredulously on Lu Zhi beside him.

Qi Suiyi also realized who had spoken, his eyes fixed intently on Lu Zhi’s face. His expression made it clear he was still doubting what he had just heard.

“Ah… yeah, so what?” Qi Suiyi replied, completely bewildered.

Lu Zhi’s eyelashes lowered slightly, as if trying to conceal the emotions in his eyes, afraid someone might see. But his expression was colder than usual, impossible to hide, and an inexplicable low pressure emanated from him.

He fell silent again, as if the person who had spoken moments ago wasn’t him.

Jiang Jin glanced back and forth between them a couple of times, unsure what to do. But the current situation seemed to evoke a tacit understanding. He let out a light laugh and said to Qi Suiyi, “Then as an Alpha, why are you hugging and clinging to an Omega all the time?”

After pondering for a moment, he felt he had phrased it quite well and added, “Wouldn’t that have a bad influence on Little Cash?”

Qi Suiyi: “…”

Qi Suiyi’s mind and movements slowed by half a beat. He lowered his head and looked down at Chi Jinxian, who had stiffened under his arm, muttering in confusion, “Omega?”

Chi Jinxian’s body grew even stiffer. At the same time, he glared up at Qi Suiyi, his eyes filled with a hidden threat.

Qi Suiyi understood and remembered that there was indeed such a matter. He sneered inwardly, thinking that since that dog Lu disliked Betas, he and Chi Jinxian would never have a chance. Although Chi Jinxian might be sad for a few days, it would be best if Lu Zhi stayed as far away from him as possible.

This marriage proposal as his uncle, he absolutely! Would! Not! Agree!

But for now, he had to heed his little nephew’s threat. Besides, what the other side said made sense. Currently, Chi Jinxian was an “Omega,” and hugging and clinging to an Alpha really wasn’t appropriate. He hadn’t considered that thoroughly.

But deep down, he still didn’t understand: even if one was an Alpha and the other an Omega, as long as one wasn’t in their Heat Period and the other wasn’t in their Heat period, what was wrong with two guys hugging?

Qi Suiyi looked at Jiang Jin, then at Chi Jinxian, and finally at Lu Zhi, opening his mouth as if to speak but unable to utter a word of rebuttal. Under the gaze of three pairs of eyes fixed on him with varying expressions, Qi Suiyi raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, immediately releasing Chi Jinxian and stepping back. “Then sorry?” he stammered.

“Hey, don’t let it happen again, okay?” Chi Jinxian smiled, his eyes curving into crescents, and reached out to pat Qi Suiyi’s shoulder. But just before his hand made contact, he remembered the distinction between “Alpha and Omega” and diverted his gesture, clasping his own hands instead.

The crowd rushing to the cafeteria had thinned, with everyone already packed inside. Any further delay would mean settling for leftovers. Jiang Jin lightly tapped Lu Zhi’s arm with the back of his hand, and the latter understood, turning to leave without a word.

Chi Jinxian promptly followed. Still feeling guilty about yesterday’s incident, he didn’t dare ask, “Can I join you for lunch today?” but he mustered the courage to trail behind.

Watching Chi Jinxian’s timid demeanor from behind, Qi Suiyi gritted his teeth in frustration, his appetite vanishing instantly.

But no one paid any attention to his feelings.

The cafeteria was indeed packed, with heads crowding every visible space.

They’d have to squeeze through slowly and wait in line.

Seizing the moment before they could buy food, Jiang Jin casually asked, “What’s wrong today? You seem in a bad mood. Did Lu Wan cause trouble again?”

Outsiders only knew that General Lu Zisheng had an outstanding son named Lu Zhi, but few were aware he had another son, Lu Wan, who shared the same father but a different mother.

When the child was brought home years ago, he was already several years old and only a year younger than Lu Zhi. His name seemed deliberately chosen to provoke one “Zhi” (straight), the other “Wan” (bent), a perfect contrast.

Lu Wan was anything but low-key about his identity. To be precise, he made sure everyone knew he was Lu Zhi’s younger brother.

At First Interstellar Alliance High School, everyone knew the relationship between Lu Wan and Lu Zhi.

“Who is that?” Lu Zhi replied indifferently, as if hearing an unfamiliar name.

Clearly, it wasn’t about Lu Wan, or the atmosphere would be even heavier. Jiang Jin pressed curiously, “Then what’s bothering you?”

Lu Zhi fell silent again.

Though already inside the cafeteria, Chi Jinxian lingered three meters behind, separated by several people.

He worried about how to “coincidentally” get some congee when buying food, as their payment queues wouldn’t overlap.

While lost in thought, he felt a tap just below his shoulder. Chi Jinxian blinked in surprise and glanced down, a slender, strong hand with distinct knuckles was pressed against his collarbone, holding a rectangular card between his collarbone and the palm.

“Take it,” Lu Zhi said.

Chi Jinxian immediately stammered, “Oh, oh, oh,” and reached out to accept the meal card. His fingers brushed against Lu Zhi’s knuckles cool, dry, and somehow pleasant to touch.

“Go buy food,” Lu Zhi added.

Chi Jinxian stared at the card in his hand, his eyes gradually lighting up now he could openly join the meal!

He looked up and responded cheerfully, “Okay, I’m going!”

The cafeteria buzzed with noise, but Jiang Jin felt as if only their voices echoed in his ears. Standing beside them, he likened himself to a pickled fish sour, inadequate, and utterly superfluous. He had no idea why such an absurd thought crossed his mind.

Unable to figure it out, he could only click his tongue in resignation and dutifully went to buy the meal.

Another successful day of mooching a meal, tomorrow surely wouldn’t be difficult either. Chi Jinxian was in such a delightful mood that he remained cheerful all day.

During the afternoon Chinese literature class, even after listening to an entire session of pretentious literary analysis, he didn’t find it boring.

The only annoyance was Qi Suiyi constantly sending him messages.

Future Superstar: [“For someone completely unattainable, you’re just letting that Lu guy glare at your uncle [smile]”]

Future Superstar: [“I feel like our years of blood ties can be severed over this [smile]”]

Future Superstar: [“Just so you know, I was so angry I skipped lunch. You figure it out yourself [smile]”]

During the ten-minute break, Chi Jinxian spent the entire time arguing with his uncle.

Cash Pool: [“It’s possible for us. You’re so annoying. And no cursing Brother Lu didn’t glare at you; he didn’t even look your way.”]

Future Superstar: [“…”]

Cash Pool: [“How can blood ties be severed so easily? Should I ask Grandpa to revert you to your cellular form and then eliminate you?”]

Future Superstar: [“…”]

Cash Pool: [“Stop lying. I saw you eat three bowls of rice in the cafeteria.”]

Future Superstar: [“…”]

Knowing when to stop was crucial, or he might genuinely infuriate someone. Chi Jinxian could already picture Qi Suiyi’s livid expression and inadvertently let out a soft, giggling laugh, his shoulders shaking.

Cash Pool: [“Alright, alright. I’ll tell Grandpa today that I want you to stay with me, so you don’t have to go home and study. I’ll ask him to give you a day off and you can stay at my place on Saturday and Sunday too. How’s that?”]

Unlike Chi Sui and Yuan Si Bai’s blend of doting and hands-off parenting, the head of the Chi family, Grandpa Chi was extremely strict with his own son, allowing almost no time for leisure and explicitly stating that he was to inherit the family business.

This was precisely why Chi Jinxian’s second uncle, Qi Sui Xin, had rebelled so fiercely, leaving early to become a singer and adamantly refusing to take over the family enterprise.

Qi Suiyi didn’t want it either, his rebellious spirit had long been stirring, especially since he’d boldly declared, “I’m going to be a superstar in the future.”

Thus, aside from Grandpa Chi himself, the family business was now managed by the eldest uncle and Chi Jinxian’s father.

Future Superstar: [“Ahhh! An An, I love you! My nephew really didn’t disappoint me! It was worth skipping a grade to be in the same year as you when we were kids!”]

Who was the one without any ambition? Chi Jinxian scoffed softly, his eyes crinkling with amusement.

Although he was the uncle, Qi Suiyi was actually half a year younger than Chi Jinxian, which meant he was a grade below him in school.

As for the grade-skipping incident, Chi Jinxian couldn’t quite remember the details, it happened after he recovered from an illness during childhood, but most of those memories had faded.

“Hey, what are you laughing at? You look so creepy.” Jiang Baixiao leaned in, nudging him disdainfully with an elbow.

The nudge nearly sent Chi Jinxian’s phone clattering to the floor. He quickly steadied it and turned off the screen, retorting sharply, “You’re the creepy one.”

“Who are you chatting with?” Jiang Baixiao blinked, his face full of curiosity.

“With my un ahem!” Chi Jinxian abruptly covered his mouth with a cough, masking his slip-up and forcibly correcting himself. “With my friend Xiao Sui, Qi Suiyi.”

“Oh, I thought it was someone else.” Jiang Baixiao threw a meaningful glance backward at him. Chi Jinxian understood and leaned in to whisper: “We don’t chat at school.”

“When do you chat then?”

“After school on the way home.”

“Does the class monitor respond to you?”

“Yeah, he does.”

But it depended on the topic. Whenever he brought up romance, his messages would sink like stones, Lu Zhi never replied to those.

Other topics were fine though. Just yesterday, he’d even received a “Can’t” response from him.

Jiang Baixiao let out a skeptical “Hm?” though he didn’t seem to doubt Chi Jinxian’s words as much as he doubted his own long-held assumptions.

His mind raced through all the forum discussions and comments, everyone said Chi Jinxian and Lu Zhi had zero chance, and that Chi Jinxian was just stubbornly persistent.

Jiang Baixiao seemed to understand now. He asked quietly, “Are all his replies just rejections?”

Chi Jinxian chuckled and said, “Pretty much.”

Jiang Baixiao: “…”

“Has the class monitor ever initiated conversation?”

“No.”

Jiang Baixiao: “…”

The forums were right about one thing Chi Jinxian was someone who couldn’t be shaken awake no matter how much you scolded him!

Jiang Baixiao gritted his teeth, reached out to pinch Chi Jinxian’s arm, and said, “Why are you so stubborn? Aren’t you afraid you’ll end up with nothing?”

“Why think that far ahead?” Chi Jinxian said seriously, like an adult who saw through everything. “Follow your heart, seize the moment.”

Jiang Baixiao switched sides again: “Makes sense.”

Because he’d “lied,” Chi Jinxian behaved unusually well all day. He still took practical actions as usual but didn’t dare seek out too much conversation.

When the school bell rang in the afternoon, he didn’t pull out the rose love letter and say “I like you” first like before, only to be interrupted with “I don’t like you.””

Chi Jinxian just quickly and lightly slipped the item into the side pocket of Lu Zhi’s backpack, then hurried ahead of him. Walking backward, he smiled and waved, saying, “See you on Monday, Lu-ge!”

Then he excitedly grabbed his backpack straps and ran toward the school gate.

On the way, he called Grandpa Chi and said since it was Friday, he wanted Qi Suiyi to stay with him for a few days and return on Monday.

He was also thinking that tomorrow he could go to the hospital with his dad to get the checkup report, so the family would stop worrying.

Just as he reached his doorstep, his phone vibrated in his pocket.

Qi Suiyi had said he wouldn’t wear Chi Jinxian’s clothes and insisted on going back to get some of his own first. Normally, he wouldn’t need to mention this again via text, right?

Then it must be Xiao Lu! Chi Jinxian pulled out his phone, curious what Xiao Lu wanted. But the moment he unlocked the screen, he froze mid-step before entering the house.

An unexpected person one who had never initiated contact before had sent him a message.

Lu Zhi: [Why are you going to the hospital?]