Novel [BL/18+] Between an Alpha and Omega

Spoiler: H: Priorities

AN: The chapter had its own story but I got it done! Yay~

*****​

Coming into school the next day was an event in itself.

In that, it wasn’t possible to do so.

There were dozens of parents walking in to voice their grievances and various news crew’s milling about, hungry for the story. Whatever had occurred the day before was quite an event.

The trio, despite being separated, had been met with the same 7 words whenever they spoke to anyone from school.

“Did you hear about what happened yesterday?”

Depending on who was asked, the story changed as no one really saw what happened.

Some say that a gang of thugs showed up at the school gates to challenge Chen Guiren to a fight.

Some said that it was actually a gaggle of men and women who had apparently come to confront the man who they were all having an affair with, including a few teachers.

Others claimed a fight broke out between a bunch of adults but the motive was unclear.

The scary part was that they were all equally true.

***​

A week later, the students were finally allowed back onto the campus. The news crew who had been camping outside the gate previously had gotten wind of a more juicy and current story, so they moved on.

While many parents were upset at the circus, all of them were glad they could finally send their kids back to school. Their monthly exam was coming up and a week away was bound to encumber them.

Classes went on as normal, though many noticed that a few teachers were missing from their positions. When questioned, the substitute would scold the student and tell them to focus on their studies.

Considering how the principal was also replaced as well, the rumor was that the missing teachers were involved in the ‘incident’ too.

“Seriously, you missed out on the show!” Yang Ru proclaimed as they walked through the campus. Other students were milling about whispering about the faculty changes. “It was crazy~”

It must have been for her to proclaim it as such. Yang Ru dealt with a lot of things, so ‘crazy’ was a special adjective for her.

Now that I think about it, wasn’t that the word she used to describe Chen Guiren? He thought, briefly wondering how the alpha was doing. They managed to slip away from his house without being seen but avoiding his parents was hard when he couldn’t get the full story from Li Suren.

Luckily, his parents were more relieved that he was not involved. His lack of knowledge worked in his favor though he still felt guilty for skipping school.

As for Li Suren, even when he texted him, the omega only gave short replies of ‘can’t talk, latr’. Whatever had taken his attention had it in a death grip. Considering his position, he probably had to deal with the aftermath of the event.

Jun Yibai could only marvel at the chaos that he and his friends had somehow avoided. Thinking about it, he was absolutely sure he’d have been dragged into it somehow.

On one hand, this would be due to his bad luck. If something bad happened, he’d somehow get involved. More relevantly though, the group of hooligans who stormed in were probably connected to Chen Guiren.

Ah, maybe Suren was right about us dodging a bullet. He thought, excusing himself to take a piss. Yang Ru was still busy trying to sort things out with her class so she left.

Now usually, going to the toilet at school isn’t very eventful. It's not even worth a mention when looking back on it.

But Jun Yibai had a strange ability to get involved with all kinds of bullshit.

Hence why he couldn’t help but notice there was a strange sound coming from the bathroom stall behind him. No, a lot of sounds.

Gasping and something wet.

“-a little bit more?” A deep growl rumbled quietly, his tone both pleading and demanding.

“I-is this not enough?!” The second voice was at least trying to be quiet though the mild panic in his voice elevated the volume. “I’m tired.”

“Just one more time? Please!?” The first voice begged, more wet noises echoing through the room. “I promise, this is the last time~”

“You said that last two times!”

God, can’t you be considerate enough to do this shit in a less frequented bathroom?!

They were all teens and he understood how… difficult it could be to manage things. The school didn’t allow romance on the grounds but when had that ever stopped anyone their age? No, they usually just snuck around in dark corners.

These dumbasses chose a bathroom stall. In a well-traversed hallway. At school!

Not wanting to get involved, he tried to wash his hands as quietly as possible. Unfortunately, his efforts were rendered moot, as the stall door slammed open. Two disheveled teens poured forth, the heavy scent around them making it clear what was happening within.

That and their clothes were parted in very key areas.

The shocking thing was the identity of the two, namely the smaller one. It was one Jun Yibai hadn’t seen in a while. The self-proclaimed leader of the beta’s, Song Yang. Said beta was fixing up his clothes, trying and failing to hide the marks peeking from his collar.

Ah. He thought with a sigh. It was that kind of thing.

The taller teen shadowing him was an alpha, another familiar face. Ruxing glanced at Jun Yibai, not bothering to fix his clothes as he greeted Jun Yibai with a smile.

He really saw nothing awkward about this, it seemed.

“Jun Yibai.” Song Yang called out, having straightened up his clothes. Had it not been for him just witnessing the duo exit the stall together, one would think it was just a casual meeting.

“I’m not getting involved in this.” Jun Yibai stated, the ‘this’ being very clear.

Song Yang flinched, glancing at the alpha who only then decided to fix his clothes.

“T-this isn’t… this is just maintenance!” He stammered, his face flushed as he angrily looked away. “Don’t think too deeply about it.”

“I didn’t ask.” Nor do I care.

“You-!” Song Yang looked to want to say something more before letting out a sigh. “Whatever! I need to talk to you about something later.”

That's not my problem either. He thought, refraining from speaking his thoughts aloud. It’d only piss this guy off and prolong the conversation.

“Hm.”

As if his grunt was an affirmation, Song Yang nodded with satisfaction.

“I’ll leave first.” He turned only to be grabbed by Ruxing.

“Yang, I-”

“Not now, Xingxing.”

There was a moment of silence between them, interrupted by the sound of the air dryer that Jun Yibai was using. He didn’t care about their little rendezvous or how they came about their relationship. It was mildly interesting that this guy who proclaimed himself to be the king of betas and sought to be equals with the upper classes yet was friends with an Alpha.

Or willing to accept being kissed by one, if the sound behind him was any clue. Thankfully, it was also a very short kiss so he didn’t have to pretend not to notice.

The door slammed shut and Jun Yibai was left in blissful silence. Perhaps the alpha, like some drama hero, had followed after Song Yang despite the risk. It would be better for Jun Yibai.

Not thinking much of it, Jun Yibai went back to retrieve his belongings from the sink. Their lover’s spat wasn’t any of his business so why should he rush? Yet when he looked up, he saw that the alpha hadn’t left. In fact, he was staring right at Jun Yibai through the mirror.

Jun Yibai grimaced, feeling a headache coming on.

***​

“Wow, classmate Jun is a lot more muscular than I thought!”

Jun Yibai repressed the urge to sigh. He’d been doing it for days now and he wondered how much left of his soul was left to sigh.

Even so, Ruxing stood close by glancing at Jun Yibai’s bare chest for a moment before searching the locker room. For who, one might ask? Obviously, the beta had made it clear he was not going to be in the same room as the two of them.

Hence why Ruxing stuck close by. For the last 2 days, Song Yang kept trying to approach him but with Ruxing nearby, he bolted. It might have been a boon if the Alpha wasn’t annoying in his own way. While he was very friendly and courteous, he was also very blunt.

“Your alpha must really like your chest.” He marveled, his grin innocently shining. “You almost have breasts!”

(AN: Jun Yibai is basically a bara.)

Yes, it was statements like that, spoken aloud for anyone within earshot to hear. And Ruxing spoke fairly loudly so he was sure that old lady Han in the next town over was gossiping over the apparent pair of breasts on this teenage boy.

Ruxing was a different kind of beast it seemed.

“When are you going to stop following me?” He asked, though he already knew the answer. It was the same one he’d received every other time he’d asked this question.

“When Yang stops avoiding me.”

“How is that my problem?”

“Since you and Yang are friends, I figured this was the best way to corner him.”

Like he’s a goddamn rabbit being hunted. Then again, Ruxing was very predatory when it came to Song Yang. His smiles were light but the gleam in his eyes made it clear where his interests lie. It was why Jun Yibai had no issue being ogled by the taller teen.

Still, it defeated the purpose of him avoiding Li Suren and Chen Guiren if this behemoth clung to his ass.

“Classmate Yang and I aren’t friends.” He stated, pulling his uniform back in place. “At best, we’re neighbors.”

“But you are the only one he talks to besides Xinshui.”

Xinshui? The name sounded familiar but where had he heard it? Ah!

“The omega?” He guessed, recalling the omega Song Yang had tried ‘offering’ to him before. The only reason he recalled his name was that Yang Ru seemed to have a crush on him. But knowing they were friends was surprising considering the circumstances.

“Xinshui is his cousin so they aren’t really friends,” Ruxing explained, making Jun Yibai dislike Song Yang even more than before. Yet he continued on. “When I saw how close-”

“We aren’t close.” He cut in.

“-you two were, I was sure Song Yang had made a friend after all this time.”

Somehow the thought of being considered that scummy guy’s friend was more offensive than anything else.

“So you kissed him?” He said, seeking to get off this subject. Like a charm, the alpha went along with it, his predatory smile returning. Jun Yibai was just glad it wasn’t him getting looks like that.

That was the look of ‘I want to do more than just kiss’.

“No, that was separate but now he won't talk to me.” Ruxing sighed, disappointed. It’d have been cute if not for the mild growl that rumbled out with it. “If I stay with you, he’ll have to approach me himself.”

“You probably should’ve kissed him out of nowhere.”

“We kiss all the time.” Ruxing was quick to wave off his warning, his bright smile returning with a vengeance. “He just gets shy when others see us.”

Ah, this was becoming more complicated by the minute. He didn’t want to deal with this.

Not wanting to waste his breath, he left for class. It was PE and the cruelty of the world made it so that he and Ruxing were sharing a period.

Jun Yibai was soon jogging down the track, keeping pace with his classmates for the most part. While the alphas were ahead, to begin with, they tired out quickly and were running with the others despite having lapped them at least twice.

One such alpha was running beside Jun Yibai talking his ear off.

“Why are you being so mean to me?” The teen grumbled, his large frame casting a shadow over Jun Yibai. “Don’t ignore me~”

Ignore you!? Jun Yibai thought, gritting his teeth as he said nothing. You are huge! Who could ignore you?!

“How about just telling me what you and Yangyang were talking about before!” He tried once more, nudging the beta.

Ah, that.

The two of them had been talking before this but as soon as this giant showed up, he ran away. All his talk of standing up to the alpha hierarchy crumbled as soon as this guy showed up. Song Yang definitely looked annoyed but hadn’t stopped staring once he noticed his giant shadow hadn’t followed after him.

It would seem Song Yang wasn’t as disinterested as he seemed.

But to get involved would be bothersome.

“Please don’t involve me in your drama.”

Jun Yibai already had enough on his plate. He didn’t want to be the third wheel in this.

“Is it drama?” Ruxing frowned, looking clueless despite how clear Jun Yibai had been. Then a look of revelation bloomed on his face. “Ah! I thought it’d be fine but I guess your mate would be upset if I got too close, right? Sorry.”

“Eh?” Jun Yibai stopped, stepping to the side to keep from getting in the way of others. Ruxing followed after him. “I don’t have a mate.”

Better yet, how would having a mate mean you only now feel remorse for all the harassment?

“But you smell like an alpha.” He replied, looking Jun Yibai over. “Was it not your mate?”

“This is a mixed school. I’m sure I smell like omega too.”

“Hm, I guess but…” Ruxing frowned, as if trying to understand something complicated. “I don’t know how to explain it. Maybe it's a beta thing.” The alpha sighed, scratching his head.

Jun Yibai really didn’t understand this guy.

How could he? Jun Yibai was free from the baggage of pheromones, so he had no clue he had an alpha's marking scent on him. It was very faint, as if the mark was made quite a while ago. Lan Ruxing was also born from an alpha pair, so he could scent it better than other alphas.

This person was very faintly marked, like a small tally to keep track of them.

Perhaps his mate fears losing him in a crowd? Ruxing thought, wondering if he should tell the beta. He seemed completely unaware of being marked.

He was a bit envious, wishing he could do the same with Song Yang but the beta had parents who would notice and tell him. Especially if it was him that made the mark.

He sighed, forlorn.

Jun Yibai, on the other hand, was confused. The only Alpha he’d been close to recently aside from Ruxing was Chen Guiren and it couldn’t be from him. It had been more than a week so surely a scent wouldn’t stick to him that long. Moreover, if one alpha sensed it, would others?

The thought made him wonder about his friends and if they were alright. He hadn’t even seen or heard from them since returning to school. Then again, how often had he seen them prior to that day? It was a coincidence that they bumped into each other considering the size of the school.

Wasn’t it said there was only an 11% chance of bumping into someone you know? So many factors came into play when meeting a familiar face. Time, place, and opportunity. In school, it was easier but still, Jun Yibai had managed to steer clear of the two for months.

The chances were slim.

Hence why he was surprised when he happened to spot a familiar shock of silver-white hair peeking from around a corner. It was hard to see from the field but that color was seared into his mind so he always kept an eye out for it.

Right then, he saw Li Suren being shouted at by some older students some distance away. They encircled him yet he looked poised and controlled as he spoke. The words couldn’t be heard but the atmosphere was clear.

They were trying to browbeat him.

While he was sure Li Suren could handle himself, he disliked how they were trying to intimidate the omega by towering over the teen. The fact their age wasn’t making him back down, it seemed, was clearly bothering them.

Without a word to Ruxing, Jun Yibai stepped away, keeping out of sight so he could get close enough. Their words, formerly muffled by distance, came through.

“-like this?!” One senior shouted, clenching a fist. “We’re students too!”

“No, you have been suspended for the last 2 weeks. You missed the deadline so you can’t attend.” Li Suren explained, shaking his head like he was regretful. “Such a shame too. Who knew the deadline was the day before your suspension was up?”

Jun Yibai grimaced at the remark. Knowing Li Suren, he was absolutely sure that wasn’t a coincidence.

“Are you messing with us? You know who we are so how dare you?”

Despite one of the seniors closing in on him, Li Suren remained steady, his smile calm and elegant. Only Jun Yibai could recognize the shimmer of mischievousness in those dark eyes.

“I know exactly who you are. You are my seniors who only just got out of the hospital after getting ambushed by some shady individuals.” He reported, tapping his chin in such a way that made the teens swallow deeply. “Witnesses say they saw you with them often but for some reason, you never tried to press charges. I wonder why?”

The seniors paled, clearly not expecting him to bring up those kinds of things. While they weren’t nearly as rich as Li Suren, their parents could buy just enough silence to keep their ‘incident’ under wraps.

As far as anyone else was concerned, they were mugged by hooligans and it was separate from their suspension.

Yet this junior knew more than even the principal knew.

Li Suren, not wanting to deal with this any further sighed, sounding put upon.

“Now, if you want, I could make an exception but then I’d have to give details to the replacement principal about why you missed the deadline.” He offered helpfully. “I wonder how understanding he’d be about your past deeds? Especially considering current circumstances.”

The prior principal was easy to deal with exactly because he was willing to look the other way when it benefited him or the school. While Li Suren was in the former, these guys were part of the latter.

The one taking his place now was so no-nonsense, he’d dig into any claim to the foundation. Bribes and blackmail wouldn’t sway this man.

The seniors paled, realizing they were in a bad situation.

“W-we-”

“You will remain at school and study, right?” He finished for them, his smile soft and respectful. “My seniors are soon to graduate and it’d be a shame if something was unearthed because they pushed too hard on the weak, right?”

The seniors cursed under their breath, only then realizing why a freshman managed to get to such a position that was usually reserved for upperclassmen.

They left with bitter hearts, cursing the omega under their breaths and promising retribution later.

This left Li Suren standing alone, letting out a breath. To others, it might be flighty to respond in such a way but Jun Yibai could tell it was from relief.

His omega was scared just now.

“Are you going to keep eavesdropping on me despite there being nothing else to observe?”

Jun Yibai flinched, clutching the wall he was hiding behind. Surely, he hadn’t noticed-

“I might not have a strong sense of smell but I can definitely tell when my Sweetie is nearby.” He chuckled, as if the beta’s thoughts were read aloud. “Especially considering how sweaty you are right now.”

He scowled, hating that he was caught. He let out a quiet sigh and stepped forward, brazenly walking up to the omega. Even though it had only been a week since they last saw each other, seeing Li Suren up close gave him a sense of relief.

A week with barely any contact was bound to make anyone worried.

“Letting yourself be cornered like that was stupid.” He chastised, his scowl deepening. “You’re lucky nothing happened despite being alone.”

Li Suren, as an omega, is smaller than most and could easily be overpowered. If those seniors chose to intimidate him with force, he’d be helpless.

Just the thought made him want to hit those guys.

“Ah, I love how nice you are even when you use that caustic tongue of yours.” He chuckled, looking amused despite the scolding. “Were you planning on rushing in like my knight in shining armor, sweetie?”

“…No.”

“Ah, look at you~ Blushing like that.”He teased, his grin growing. “How can my big, strong beta be so cute and cool at the same time?”

“Don’t call me cute.” He grumbled. Being called cute was insulting enough, but being told that by someone a million times more attractive than oneself was just cruel.

“But I can call you cool, right?”

Jun Yibai said nothing, turning away. The chuckle that echoed behind him should have irritated him but he was just relieved nothing had happened to him. Li Suren was small, like most omegas, so being cornered by several larger males should have been scary.

Yet the teen had looked them all in the eye and casually made his position clear. Even if they wanted to make trouble for him later, Jun Yibai was sure he could somehow handle it on his own.

“Yibai?”

Jun Yibai flinched, not expecting to be caught like this. Worse, it was Ruxing, the loudmouth.

Shit!

He peeked at him, noting the look of curiosity as he stared between the two. It must have been a sight, seeing him with the student president and seemingly so close. Especially considering how much Jun Yibai avoided such things.

“Lan Ruxing!”

Ruxing and Jun Yibai jumped at the growl, neither expecting the smaller teen to be glaring at the alpha so ruthlessly.

“Are you close to my sweetie?”

“Sweetie?” He echoed, glancing between the two. “W-who, Yibai?”

“You are calling him so casually!”

“At least I’m not calling him mine.”

“Sweetie is mine!” He declared, stepping in front of the beta. “I won’t let any more alphas bother him.”

While the gesture was appreciated on some level, Jun Yibai felt he should clarify things.

“Please stop saying things that people will misunderstand.” He grumbled, his tone more exasperated than annoyed. He, at some point, had gotten used to this kind of talk. Whether he was arguing over being called ‘sweetie’ or being claimed, no one could be sure.

“I’ve made sure we both keep our promise to you. Despite all the trouble and how much we both want to see you, we waited for you to give us the okay.” Li Suren crossed his arms and pouted. “I’ve let you own me just that little bit so I think I should be allowed to claim you just a little.”

Ah, now he was feeling a bit bad for not calling. Considering all the trouble going on, Li Suren and Chen Guiren were probably swamped with work. He expected them to reach out first but maybe that was too arrogant of him.

“Fine, but only this once.” He said, inching ever further into Li Suren's web.

The omega grinned, secretly happy he could get a win.

Ruxing, on the other hand, was just surprised that Jun Yibai could be softhearted toward anyone at all. Such blatant manipulation yet he was just going along with it.

Li Suren moved closer, retaining eye contact as he brushed his hand over Jun Yibai’s arm. It was a subtle gesture, one that wouldn’t warrant a thought. But this wasn’t that.

Alpha’s and omegas were creatures of instinct. Words were empty and could be retracted easily. Jun Yibai, as a beta, wouldn’t notice but had the two of them been alphas, the message would have been clear. The omega was making it clear who he chose as his mate.

An alpha’s scent and an omega’s claim?

This guy really is worth Song Yang’s attention, it seemed.

But the alpha had no interest in any of that. He just needed Jun Yibai as bait for his own beta.

“I don’t really care about all that but I still need classmate Jun, president.” He interrupted, smiling at the omega’s pout. “He’s my bait.”

“My sweetie isn’t your anything.” He argued, giving the teen a dirty look. “If you want your beta, I can tell you where he is.”

“Eh!?” The two boys turned to Li Suren, neither expecting that response.

Li Suren cocked a brow, looking mildly insulted.

“This school is mine.” The omega declared, showing off the proper attitude of a king toward his subjects. “Why would I be unaware of what happens in my place?”

Ah, he really is a king here. They both thought, mildly scared of what else this guy knew.

“If you want classmate Yang, he’d either be in the foreign language section of the library or the senior’s staircase, third-floor landing.” He reported, speaking as if reading a report. “Right now, he should be skipping PE due to his previous skirmishes so check the library.”

Again, it was scary how much he knew but Ruxing looked overjoyed, having been wondering why he didn’t see his beta before this.

“Thanks, pres~” He rushed off, carelessly skipping class to see his own beloved beta.

Jun Yibai felt a bit bad for letting such an overbearing guy loose on Song Yang but it also meant he was finally free from that guy. Moreover, now that his object of affection was located, the alpha would have no interest in bothering Jun Yibai anymore.

So his secret should be safe.

He sighed, feeling relaxed for the first time in days.

Li Suren beamed, rushing into the beta’s arms. He had just come from jogging so he was all sweaty yet the omega was very happy to be this close. His manly scent rubbing off on him~

Ah, what omega wouldn’t want to be scented like this?

“Sweetie!” Just as the temptation to be a bit more affectionate rose up, he caught the beta’s eye and froze. “S-sorry~”

Jun Yibai didn’t mind too much. Li Suren was no more clingy than Chen Guiren but in terms of who he preferred hugging him, it’d be Li Suren. He was soft and smelled nice so it wasn’t bad.

That and he felt less like a piece of meat on a platter when it was the omega. He was sure if, given the chance, Chen Guiren would eat him alive.

Li Suren was like an affectionate cat.

“Sweetie,” The omega cut off his thoughts, still sticking close to the beta. “I have a few more things to finish up before I can leave. Do you mind accompanying me?”

“Am I your bodyguard?” He asked, thinking about the last time he escorted the omega.

That was too much trouble.

“My sweetie is strong but today I need someone who can match me intellectually as my backup.”

Now that he finally looked at Li Suren, like really closely, he saw the teen was tired. His clothes were wrinkled at the edges and his hair was just a bit messy. When compared to his usually immaculate appearance, it screamed ‘stressed’.

“What needs to be done?”

Li Suren smiled, looking relieved as he pulled the taller teen forward.

“Just a few things I need to go over.” He said, leading him away from the field. “Some fresh eyes would really help and I know that those under me are as exhausted as I am.”

Jun Yibai couldn’t help but think about how busy Yang Ru had been lately.

“You’ve been working them hard.” He noted, cocking a brow. “Must be tough.”

“Ah, right! You and classmate Yang are friends, right? She is much better at working under pressure than you think.” He assured. “Compared to having to babysit that troublemaker, I’m sure she prefers paperwork.”

Oh right, Yang Ru and Chen Guiren are in the same class so she was bound to interact with that guy often.

A wave of sympathy flowed through him at that thought.

Speaking of-

“Where is Chen Guiren?” He asked, noting the grimace of the pale-haired teen. He was definitely pouting, wasn’t he?

“Him? He’s cleaning up the mess he made.”

***​

“Thank you for your understanding, sir.” Zhuan Mu said cordially, despite the look of barely restrained anger on the principal’s face.

“Just leave already.” The elder man seethed, his clenched fist trembling on top of the table.

The alpha nodded respectfully and stood, leaving with his son. Just as the door shut, they heard a loud bang against the door.

Something was thrown and was probably aiming for Zhuan Mu’s head.

The man paid no mind, expecting such a thing. After being browbeaten into brushing off the incident and his son’s tangential involvement in it, what man would be happy about it? Especially one who purports to stand on principle?

Luckily, Zhuan Mu has always been good at finding compromises. Both parties might not be satisfied emotionally but the problem was always resolved.

“You know he’s gonna have it out for me now, right?” Chen Guiren grumbled, already seeing how much trouble he’s gonna be in later now that the principal will be breathing down his neck.

How can I cut class now? He sighed at the lost free time.

“Is that my problem?” His father’s words were cold and direct, cutting through the teens' attitude like a hot knife.

“N-no but-”

“No buts. You should be more concerned about what you are going to do after this.” He warned, narrowing his eyes at the teen.

Ah, the lecture has finally come.

Somehow, they’d not spoken about the incident at all this week. Both of his fathers had been too busy keeping the media from getting wind of their involvement in the scandal. Now that the principal had been silenced as well, there were no more distractions.

“What did I say about work and life?”

“Keep them separate.” Chen Guiren sighed, reciting the motto drilled into him from childhood.

“Yes, so explain to me why this occurred?”

While the matter was tied to Chen Guiren due to his delinquent ways, his fathers were under the impression he’d reformed since getting engaged to Li Suren. Yet somehow, hooligans had found his school and caused trouble.

It was only due to the novelty of seeing a mass of people accusing their frumpy-looking former principal of cheating on all of them that the matter wasn’t as big a deal as the gang. Youths getting rowdy was to be expected and was usually brushed aside as youthful ignorance.

Yet Zhuan Mu knew better, suspecting his son of hiding something.

“I don’t think this is a me thing, dad.” Chen Guiren maintained, following after his father. “I get into a few fights, sure, but nothing that warrants an ambush at my school. Moreover, isn’t it weird for anyone to do?”

To rush into a school to challenge a guy to a fight? Why go through all that trouble? Not only do they have to wrestle with school security but risk being trapped when the police are eventually called to pull them apart. Moreover, it was bound to be riskier as there were more witnesses.

No hooligan worth their salt would take such risks unless they wanted a spectacle.

“So you think it was a trap?” His father questioned, though he too had the same suspicions.

“None of those guys are dumb enough to do that without something going on behind them.”

“They were released from police custody strangely swiftly.” He replied, leaning against the wall. “They barely gave the police time to question them but they supposedly said your name quite frequently.”

It was a hassle to keep his son’s name out of the papers. Chen group was a household name. To have the heir implicated in an incident that resulted in an arrest would be bad for business.

It was only because witnesses and surveillance proved Chen Guiren wasn’t anywhere close by that they were able to keep him from being questioned.

But those caught were all very consistent in their claims.

“What will you do about it?” Zhuan Mu asked, gazing down at his son.

Zhuan Mu could, if he wanted to, handle things himself. After all, it was a parent's job to help their child when they were in over their heads.

But this time, he wanted to know how his son would handle it. He was, before anything else, their heir. He should be tested every once in a while or else he and his husband will have failed to raise their son properly.

“I’ll fix things.” The young alpha promised, sensing his father's intention. Of his father's, he preferred Zhuan Mu as he gave him more challenges to overcome. Some were more annoying than others but they all made him feel like he’d gained the enigmatic man’s respect.

It's just that this time, it was a bit more annoying than usual.

“Even if you handle things quickly, you’ll probably end up falling behind in your studies.” His father pointed out, reading the young man’s expression like a book. While this matter was important, Guiren was a student above all else.

Chen Guiren sighed, feeling upset.

He really didn’t care too much about his studies. His grades were middling at most, so there was no risk of flunking out. His main reason for being upset was that he knew that resolving this meant he couldn’t spend time with Jun Yibai.

Not being able to meet up at school is one thing but this on top of it meant he’d basically never see his beta until everything was resolved!

If he could, he’d ask Jun Yibai to help with this matter. The beta wasn’t as strong as an alpha but having a backup was never a bad thing. Plus he was smart so he was surely more useful than any random guy he pulled.

But as he thought about it, he realized he couldn't let Jun Yibai know about this. If he got involved, the beta was sure to distance himself from this drama. He’d only just gotten back with the teen and the one thing he hated more than attention was troublesome things.

Glancing out the window, he spotted a familiar head of white hair. Beside him was an even more familiar figure facing away from him.

As if connected by some fate, his eye locked with Li Suren. Words didn’t need to be exchanged as they knew each other's thoughts as well as their own. Their priorities were annoyingly always aligned.

The triumphant grin on the omega’s lips made him want to bite him.

Later, he promised himself, accepting defeat this time. Their priority was always the same, after all.

*****​

AN: How this chapter came to be~

Me: [Writes 2k chapter]

[Looks on in horror at the corner she was about to write herself into.]

[Rewrites chapter while keeping what she already wrote]

Me: Oh hey, I forgot about this huge chunk of story I wrote a million years ago!

[Proceeds to mash the two parts until they fit.]

Basically, this chapter is a Frankenstein's monster of a chapter. I'm finally satisfied with what I wrote~

 

Spoiler: H: A Little More

AN: I'll be honest, this chapter went in a different direction than I first thought but I like it all the same.

*****​

The next few days were spent with Li Suren, trying to make a dent in a bunch of paperwork. Paperwork about what, exactly? Sensitive faculty information that had to be reorganized due to all the sudden ‘retirements’.

It turned out that a lot of the information was acquired by Li Suren and added to the database for ease of access. How he got this information and why he felt the need to know this much was a question Jun Yibai wasn’t keen on asking.

Mostly because it was kind of scary how much he’d learned about his teachers from this database.

When the new principal found out about the database, he demanded the information be forwarded to him since he wanted to be more involved. Hence their combined effort to scrub the database of anything that could be traced back to Li Suren.

“Are you sure I should be helping with this?” Jun Yibai asked, going through the file of one of the janitors. He’d learned that this elderly man who often greeted him in the morning spent most of his paycheck on visiting maid cafes. “This feels… illegal.”

“Do you think I’d involve you in a crime, Sweetie?”

“Absolutely.” He replied without hesitation. “If it's you, I’d definitely get involved in something like that.”

Li Suren is the type to fearlessly move, as if he owned the world. As if nothing can touch him. It was the kind of confidence born from someone who rarely got in trouble for doing things. If Jun Yibai had to guess, it was more along the lines of Li Suren being smart enough not to get caught.

“I’m wounded! I really do need your help.” The omega insisted, clasping his hands together pleadingly. “This is a lot of work and as amazing as I am, I'm only human.”

“Why are you doing this alone?”

“The new principal doesn’t want too many eyes on the records.” He explained, reclining on his soft office chair. “Since I already saw everything, there's no need to hide it from me.”

“He trusts you that much?” Considering Li Suren was hiding how much information he had, he felt it was strange.

“Does he have a choice?” He chuckled, looking like a supervillain monologuing in his chair. “I know a lot. Besides, I’m one of his best students so it's not like he’d have a good excuse to cut me off. That guy is very straight-laced and by the book. As long as I don’t go overboard, we can live in harmony.”

Ah, so he's cornered the hero into keeping him around using his own morals. How… like him.

“Has anyone ever told you that you talk like a supervillain sometimes?”

“You’d be the first. Should I try for world domination?”

“When you can steal my clothes without being noticed, maybe you can strive for a little more than a school.”

Li Suren pouted, looking wronged at the accusation. Well, it would be fair to feel wronged by the accusation if it wasn’t true.

The first day they worked together, Jun Yibai had just come from PE so he went to take a shower before going to Li Suren’s office. When he noticed his gym clothes were missing, he couldn’t help but ask about them. After all, he only had two pairs so it’d be inconvenient if he lost one.

“They’re being washed by my butler.” Li Suren had replied, casually scrolling through his phone.

“Oh really?” Jun Yibai glanced over, noting a familiar-looking cloth sticking out of Li Suren’s bag. “And that thing that looks eerily like my shirt is what? A figment of my imagination?”

Li Suren had grimaced, looking away as if doing so would make Jun Yibai doubt his lying eyes. After a minute of staring the teen down, Li Suren relented, clutching his bag to his chest.

“Don’t you know familiar scents are comforting for an omega?”

“Don’t use that as an excuse to steal my clothes!”

“It's not stealing! I was going to get you another set.”

“That’s still stealing!”

After that conversation, Li Suren had either taken his words seriously or just became more discrete with his pilfering. Either way, he always got a clean set of clothes back when he worked with Li Suren. It did save on his trips to the laundromat, so he couldn’t complain.

Things were peaceful after all that trouble.

***​

A body hit the ground with a thud. The gurgle that came forth was probably a groan or plea but it couldn’t be determined at that moment.

Those standing over him didn’t care what he had to say at that moment.

This young man had been milling about town, playing with the money he had earned for a simple job when he was dragged into a white van and restrained. He tried to fight but it was clear from the targeted hits that these guys knew how to get someone to stop moving.

Then the interrogation started.

They wanted to know about the job he’d done before. The one that put so much money in his pocket. Money that he knew was mostly hush money. So he kept his mouth shut.

If it was just a regular beat down, he could take it but it was so random that it was always a surprise when it started up again. Sometimes it was five minutes or even as long as an hour.

He couldn’t see a thing so he was never sure what would hit him. A fist? A weapon? Sometimes, it was just sounds. Heavy thuds and muffled shouts of pain. Like clenched fists hitting warm flesh.

Click- fsst

Then there was that sound. It was one he could place anywhere. It preceded all of his beatings, a subtle soundtrack to his interrogation.

A lighter.

Every time he thought that everything was just a dream, he’d hear that sound, and then it all started up again.

Yet today, there had been no beatings or questioning. In fact, the sound of the lighter was a bit more harried. Much more frequent than before when it matched the steady beat of a heart. Perhaps they were getting impatient?

That made sense. Even if they got the others, only he knew who had hired them so they were bound to have grown frustrated. They didn’t know who was the first source so it was a needle in a haystack.

Despite the pain, he smiled to himself. His smirk must have been noticed by his captors since they stepped forward, pressing down on his stomach.

“This little-”

He couldn’t see them due to the blindfold but he could feel the guy’s frustration as he seethed.

“Leave.” A new voice, deep and cold, said. The room went quiet.

“B-but-”

“Do I have to repeat myself?”

There was a moment of silence before the trio of footsteps retreated, ending with a slammed door. If not for the continued click-fsst, the teen would have assumed he’d been left alone.

“How long have I been here?” He demanded, receiving only a weary sigh in response.

“Oh, I guess you finally want to talk.” The click was loud in contrast to the silence in the room. “Yet you’re only asking pointless questions.”

“I might as well since you are going to let me go soon enough.”

“Really?” The man marveled, amusement echoing through his words. “That confident your ‘friends’ are coming for you?”

“Absolutely!”

They might be a loose-knit gang but they are still a gang. They came together for such a big job and risked a lot together. It was only right for them to help when one of them was in trouble.

“I can see how you’d think that.” He chuckled, a subtle change in the air setting the teen on edge. “My guys would come for me if I got caught but the difference between us and you is pretty obvious, isn’t it?”

A-ah, he sensed it now. The others were alphas but on the same levels as him. This guy, however, was a pure blood. Dominant in the most primal sense.

“You-” He swallowed his next words, feeling those dominant pheromones beating down on him. It was a threat, one that had him instinctively remain still lest be noticed by the predator in front of him.

“Moreover, you’ve gotten pretty arrogant, haven’t you?” The alpha continued, his tone light but firm. “Here I was, making things easy by being so gentle yet you demand answers from me? Ballsy, ain’t ya?”

G-gentle! He felt like he’d been run over by a truck a dozen times. The fact his teeth remained intact all this time was luck… wasn’t it?

His face must have shown a lot because the man chuckled.

“Oh, you finally noticed? You really are dumb.” He sighed, his footsteps closing in on the bound teen. “If I wanted, I could have crippled you a dozen times over but I didn’t want to make that much noise. Anyhow your screams bother my master, I’d have to cut your filthy tongue out.”

The teen tried to move away, true fear enveloping him. He couldn’t see a thing but his animal instinct told him that he was in real danger just then.

“Because of you, I’ve had to spend so much time here when I could be doing much more productive things.” He snapped, stomping on his leg. The teen cried out but stifled it as the alpha’s words continued. “Yet you dare act like I’m the problem? You wanna be a problem for me, then? Fine, I’ll treat you like a problem.”

A hand grabbed hold of his hair, lifting him off the ground, his knees dangling but unable to get his feet under him. He couldn’t do anything but tremble.

“I ain’t a planner. So I deal with problems the way gardeners do it. I'll get rid of it.” He said, dragging the teen away from the wall. “We pull at the roots and burn them so we can have a nice unobstructed view of our hard work. But you’ve got ‘friends’ right? Those who’ll pull you out of the fire?”

The teen was dumped onto a flat surface, cold and wet with something that smelled metallic.

“So I wonder what they’d do if you got dropped off at the hospital after being missing for so long?” He pondered out loud, restraining the frightened teen to the wet surface. Leather slid through metal like a wet tongue, setting his heart racing. “Would they pay your hospital bills or demand to know what you said while captive? I’m sure guys who paid all that money would love to ask you what you squealed about.”

The alpha leaned in close to whisper in his ear. “What they will do to make you disappear will tell me a lot more than you ever could.”

Before he could respond, something was pushed into his mouth, forcing it open. His words became unintelligible.

“Gross. I don’t want to see your tongue wiggling around.” His captor complained, circling him. “If you don’t want to lose that too, keep it still.”

L-lose it! Wasn’t this just a simple hospitalization?!

“Oh, you think I’m starting with the limbs? No way.” His captor informed, sounding amused. “Breaking bones hurt, you know. You’ll make a lot of noise if I start there. No, it's more efficient to start with the teeth. At least then, your screams won’t be too bothersome to Master.”

This… this guy was insane! Surely, he wouldn’t really-

Yet he felt something metallic tap on his front teeth, the contact sending shivers through his body. His brain was anticipating that first chip. The racing cold of air hitting exposed nerves.

Teeth were very sensitive, after all. He’d not only feel every impact but his every breath would let him know just how much he’d lost before the next strike.

Another tap and he felt his breath hitch in his throat.

“Now… which to start with?” His captor mused, lightly tapping randomly. “32 ways to begin. I’m kind of excited~”

The teen sobs, struggling to speak with his mouth agape.

“Huh? What was that? You want me to work my way forward?” The man mocked, his tone filled with mirth. “Your back teeth might be harder to break cleanly but if that's what you want.”

His sobs increase in volume and desperation, his body struggling to free itself from its bonds. Still, his captor played coy, letting his captive know just how time-consuming the task would be. Chipping away at teeth with a conscious person was, after all, very hard to do. They always thrashed about and if he missed? Well, what could be done? After all, he wasn’t a professional so who knows what he might hit?

After a minute of this, he said something wonderful.

“Or maybe… you found that you have something to tell me?”

The desperate nod that followed was met with a disdainful chuckle.

“Ah, then maybe you’ll get to leave here without needing a straw to eat.”

***​

Chen Guiren left the room, slamming the door shut. He dumped the pair of rubber gloves in the trash, beelining for the sink. While his hands were technically clean, the fact his hands were near another person's mouth was grossing him out.

Luckily, his dad let him use their basement ‘room’ to collect information from their ‘guests’. It was suitably furnished for what he needed.

A quiet and secluded place to ask questions and remain unseen when entering or leaving.

For the last few days, he and his subordinates had been collecting and interrogating those involved in the school raid. Most only got the information secondhand but the one who dispersed the information had been hard to break.

Until now.

“Question him and get a name.” Chen Guiren ordered, removing his shirt and trashing it. “And clean him up. He made a mess.”

The trio of teens, otherwise known as the Ji brothers, blinked in surprise at their boss.

“Clean him?” One echoed, frowning. “You mean he’s talking? It's only been a few minutes!”

“Yeah, and you had days.” The alpha chastised, scowling. “Because of you, I had to waste time like this. You better get something worthwhile from this one or I’ll use your teeth like a xylophone.”

They involuntarily shuddered at the thought. It was a light punishment compared to having the shit beat out of them but it was definitely enough to get them moving.

When one bumped their tooth, the feeling reverberates through their skull, sending shivers. While it might not hurt, it's not a feeling anyone ever really forgets. It was why Chen Guiren chose this method as opposed to a punch to the balls.

That and it was a much cleaner way of ‘interrogation’ than beating the piss out of a guy.

Yet it left him feeling hollow despite finally finding the guy they were looking for. It was progress at long last yet he felt annoyed at all the wasted time. If it wasn’t for Li Suren warning him not to be reckless, he’d have gone through their suspects faster but probably lost this guy.

Ah, I hate when he’s right. He grumbled to himself, changing into some clean clothes.

“Boss, you leaving?” Zhou Jin asked, having been left behind by the other two.

“I’m bored.” He sighed, checking his phone. Seeing a single dot on the map made him smile. They were right where he left them.

Without another word, he left. Zhou Jin could only wonder what his boss was planning on doing to relieve his boredom. God, he hoped it wasn’t something he needed them to clean up.

Fifteen minutes later, Chen Guiren had arrived at school. The day had long since ended but he knew there was a pair of students still lingering in the library. Not that they were officially doing so but being student council president had some perks.

One being access to certain rooms after hours.

The alpha didn’t bother to use the door. He knew that omega had locked it. He always did, seeking to have as much alone time with their beta as possible.

As such, the only proper means of entering the library was the window. Sure, the library was on the third floor but when had such minor things ever stopped him? It was just a good way to burn off some energy he couldn’t before.

If it meant he could get close to his beloved master, he’d scale a skyscraper.

The window he reached was overlooking the library. He knew Jun Yibai would choose a secluded part of the library even if the doors were locked. Finding a good ledge, Chen Guiren sat down and searched the room for the pair.

He spotted Li Suren first, which was a given. The omega had hair that stuck out in any crowd, let alone an empty room. The setting sun made his hair shine like the surface of the water on the horizon.

Nearby, he spotted the familiar tuff of brown hair appearing before him, drawing a smile from his lips.

Ah, my cool master~ He sighed, watching him contently. He really did look cool right then. His expression was focused and serious, making him look stern like a model student. Seeing him with sweat on his brow and his fist clenched to swing a blow was cool but this was cool too.

He had planned on dropping in so he could spend some time with Master. It had been over a week since he saw the grumpy beta. Just the sight of him made all his stress flow out like a sigh. He felt content for a moment.

Then he thought about interrupting Li Suren and Master’s time together. It would be fun, to see that sly fox seethe with rage at being interrupted.

Yet he couldn’t bring himself to.

Not because he cared about the omega’s feelings. They were rivals for Master’s affection, after all. It was only right for him to intrude if he could.

Yet there was something… satisfying about watching them without being seen. Like a lion watching over his pride, he could look over them and make sure they were truly uninterrupted. Their sense of peace was dictated by him. It belonged to him.

They belonged to him.

He frowned at the strange thought but remained in place, leaning back as he kept watch.

***​

This went on for months. Some days, he barged in and monopolized the beta’s time. Other times, he’d watch one or both of them as they did mundane things. All the while, he took over more and more of the area surrounding their school.

He refused to let what happened before occur again.

This day, he was tired from a dispute between some hooligans who thought they could take refuge in his area. The fight was ultimately easy but left him exhausted.

Li Suren and Jun Yibai were sitting in a secluded corner at a cafe, the table covered in textbooks. While the venue was a bit more public than usual, the cafe wasn’t popular with teens so it was a safe place to meet. That and Chen Guiren had his guys around to keep familiar faces away.

Chen Guiren was sitting on the second floor, overlooking the cafe and their booth. He had wanted to join them but the last time he came in with blood on his clothes and a manic look in his eye, someone tried to call the cops on him. He didn’t want to disturb the peace today.

Even after all this time, he couldn’t identify the rush of primal satisfaction he felt whenever he watched over them. Even his sore muscles felt a bit less tight as he saw Li Suren pout at something Jun Yibai said.

“Cute.” He muttered, smiling to himself.

“Boss?” The subordinate nearby frowned, glancing over at the first floor. He wasn’t sure what the alpha was looking at but something seemed to interest him. When he glanced back, he was met with a baleful glare.

“What are you looking at?” He growled, making the younger teen shudder.

“N-nothing, sir!”

He really hadn’t seen anything!

“Then finish your report.”

***​

Jun Yibai sneezed, shivering as he glanced around the cafe. For some reason, he felt like he was being watched but he didn’t see anyone paying them any attention. Moreover, if there was anyone they’d stare at, it shouldn’t be him.

“Sweetie, have you figured out question 9 yet?” Li Suren asked from across the table, nibbling at the end of his pen. Such a thing shouldn’t be as attractive as it was but Li Suren made every mundane thing look like a cover of a magazine.

So really, it shouldn’t be him being stared at.

“Isn’t it 2?”

“I thought so too but you know how our math teacher likes being stingy.” He complained, frowning in frustration.

Jun Yibai nodded, recalling his annoyance at being told he got a question wrong because he didn’t put down the ‘right amount’ of significant values. It was arbitrary since the same teacher would grade a student wrong if they put too many.

“Asshole.”

Li Suren snickered, covering his mouth to keep from laughing out loud and drawing attention. The omega had chosen to cover his unique hair color with a hat to keep the other patrons from noticing him. He was still handsome, however, so the waitresses looked to be fighting amongst each other to get their table.

They'd already been offered 3 refills by different waitresses in the last hour.

If not for the killer hot chocolate served here, Jun Yibai would have suggested another place to study.

“You think we’ll actually get some studying done today.” He asked, glancing over at the register. The waitresses were peeking over, seeking any indication that the omega sitting across from him had any interest in them.

Said omega, however, never looked away from Jun Yibai.

“Don't worry, sweetie!” He assured, grinning in such a way that Jun Yibai could swear he heard squealing from across the cafe. “I made sure this place is out of that reckless guy’s reach.”

Though Li Suren was a bit annoyed with that dumb dog. His reach was expanding by the day and it was getting harder to slip away. It was commendable that he had taken over so much territory in only a few months but it was annoying that he wasn’t as dumb as the omega assumed.

Jun Yibai, having not even considered that, nodded. While he enjoyed Chen Guiren’s company, they could never study with him there. That guy wasn’t the type to sit still for long. In fact, Jun Yibai was pretty confident that the alpha was incapable of staying still.

He thought this as the object of his criticism watched from above, having not moved since arriving.

“By the way,” Li Suren interrupted his thoughts, resting his chin on his knuckles. “Have you thought about what you’ll do after graduation?”

Jun Yibai flinched, clenching his fist. He recalled the talk he and his dad had had before.

“Isn’t it a given?” He replied, hiding his nerves by sipping his hot chocolate. “I should start working.”

Li Suren frowned at the use of ‘should’ but didn’t respond directly to it, instead pressing softly.

“No college?”

“The places I want to go to are expensive.”

“Sweetie is super smart, second only to me.” The omega proclaimed, pride radiating from his words. “How can any college refuse a chance at taking you?”

“I suppose.” Jun Yibai stared at the table, the chocolate that had made him feel so content before was tasting a bit bitter now. “Then there are the expenses I have to worry about. I can barely afford a good hotel, let alone a dorm.”

“You could stay with me.” Li Suren offered with a wink.

“Absolutely not.”

Who knew if this guy would try something with him in the dead of night?

“Meanie~” The omega said with a pout. It just barely dragged a smile from the sullen teen. Just that little bit gave Li Suren the courage to continue. “Still, I think you should go if that's what you want. My sweetie is smart and capable so I know you can make it work if you try.”

“…You think so?”

“Absolutely! You’re my rival so it's only fitting you to strive for the top. I expect nothing less.”

“I see.”

Jun Yibai still looked sullen and unsure but Li Suren could tell he’d at least planted the idea in his friend’s head. If nothing else, that was enough.

Just then, Jun Yibai’s phone chimed, letting him know he got a text. It was from his dad.

“I’ve got to go.” He packed up his things, his mind already leaving the peaceful space he’d shared with Li Suren. Reality was returning to the forefront.

“Already?” The disappointment in the omega’s voice was clear.

“It's been an hour.” And the waitresses were getting a bit annoying! He was pretty sure they were contemplating spiking his drink just to get rid of him.

“If we lived together, I wouldn’t mind nearly as much.”

“I would.” He grumbled at the thought, though he smiled a bit. “Get home safe.”

Li Suren waved him off, grinning happily as he did so.

Jun Yibai left, taking in a breath as thoughts of the future bubbled up within him. His parents wanted him to start working, to earn money so he could live comfortably. It wasn’t a bad plan but it meant he’d have to stay with his parents to work with his dad.

It was the safe option.

Despite the encroachment, Beta’s still had a few choices that most people didn’t want to do. Lucrative but unrefined jobs that could support a family.

But Jun Yibai wanted, despite everything he’d been taught, just a bit more than that. He knew he couldn’t be a CEO or a politician but he wanted to be just a little more than what his father was.

Was that too much to ask for a mere mob character?

It's not like scholarships weren’t available for his top choices. It had occurred to him to try but every time he thought about his parents' reaction, he felt scared.

His father wasn’t a good man but he was a good father. He supported them despite all the setbacks and tried to make his son understand how cruel the world was to betas. To those below what one might consider the baseline.

He knew that whatever field he chose, he could easily be outclassed by any passing Alpha. He might match Li Suren but who was to say he could do the same against anyone else?

All these worries filled his head, the voice of his father echoing in his ears like the tolling of the bell.

It was terrifying but…

He still wanted just a little more.

*****​

AN: I've decided that when I'm done with this story, I'm going to add some bonus chapters. Probably nothing 'extra' but just stuff I couldn't fit in the story for whatever reason. I end up with a lot of unused dialogue and scenes cause the story takes a different turn.

 

Spoiler: U: Nothing Lost

AN: This chapter went on… a bit longer than I anticipated. Things got derailed and went in a weird direction

No edits so let me know if I messed up anywhere.

*****​

The blistering hot sun beat down on muscled backs as they worked tirelessly. Arms bulged with sandbags to be carried, deep groans of exertion as pipes were adjusted to the right position, and the shouts of the foreman as he ordered his men to get things done.

This was Jun Yibai life.

He hadn’t wanted to do this but it couldn’t be helped. While the offer of rooming with his friends had been on the table, he refused to live like that unless he could carry some of the burdens.

So he worked to earn enough money to get a place of his own.

To be honest, he mostly got this job due to his father's connections. He was really lucky that his dad trusted his words and didn't question his decision to move out or else he’d have already been caught.

It had been a year since he’d graduated high school and moved out. His mother was distracted but his father nodded like it was to be expected.

“It's best you learn how to fend for yourself out there.” He’d said the day he broke the news. “I can give you a good word but that's all I’m giving. With what I’ve taught you, it should be more than enough.”

It was cold but it was very much like this.

This job was hard and only paid by the day but the benefits were well worth the sweat and dirt. Dorms for the workers. The quality was… livable but compared to paying for hotels every night, it was preferable.

The beta had been wiping the sweat and grit off his brow when he heard a voice call out to him.

“B-brother Jun!?”

He looked up to see one of the newcomers to the site. There was no questioning his sex, with such a charming face and delicate figure. When he’d first arrived, the other betas gave him the stink eye, as was expected from those who knew how precarious their employment could be.

Everyone but Jun Yibai, neither approached nor dismissed the young man.

He didn't know why an omega would bother seeking out a job like this. He clearly wasn’t built for this kind of stuff. He struggled with even the lightest loads but as a fellow teen trying to make money, Jun Yibai had lent him a helping hand every once in a while.

Since then, the omega had followed him around like a stray.

“Brother Jun.” The young man, Huo Yun, ran to his side, holding up some papers. “These came for you.”

“You ran all the way over here to hand me my mail?”

Their sites were quite a distance from each other. Even though the dorms were halfway between the sites, it was still a long trek.

The omega flushed, shielding his face with the rim of his cap. “B-brother Jun did say I should try running to build up my stamina.”

“Ah right.” He muttered absently, mildly recalling him saying something like that. While he wouldn’t stop the omega from working, he didn’t want the man to kill himself trying to do the work of men twice his size. “I did say that, didn’t I?”

He gave the omega a friendly shoulder pat. “I’m glad you’re sticking to it.”

Again, the omega’s face flushed.

Ah, it must be really hot for him. He thought, handing the man a bottle of water. Afterward, he went through his mail. Most of it was junk but one caught his eye.

The OO University emblem on the envelope filled him with dreadful anticipation.

He swallowed nervously, thinking about whether he should open the letter now or later. If he opened it now and it was bad news, it’d ruin his entire day. But if he waited until later, the anticipation would throw him off anyway

Either way, he was not going to get through the day with a clear mind now that he had the letter.

He let out a breath, calmly opened the letter, and read. The omega beside him watched, curious about the letter too. Who didn’t know about OO University and its tough qualifications? Getting in was hard enough to be able to afford the tuition which usually forced students to drop out. If not for the excellent facilities and preferential treatment given to graduates, it would be a school only for the most affluent.

A young person working as a laborer couldn’t possibly be acce-

“Yes!” The omega jumped at the sound of the beta shouting. It was a rare show of excitement from the unusually taciturn male. Yet he was grinning from ear to ear, his fist clenched around the letter.

“Brother Jun?”

“Little brother, thank you so much for bringing me this!” Again, the omega found his shoulders being patted, though a lot more enthusiastically than before. “This has made my day!”

Ah, has brother Jun been accepted into OO University? From the look on his face, it must be.

“Congratulations, Brother Jun!” Huo Yun felt sincerely proud of Jun Yibai. While the others on the site were content with their lives, he felt this man was always striving to better himself. To see him take that first step was very fulfilling. “We should celebrate!”

“Celebrate?”

"Y-yes!” Huo Yun looked away, fiddling with his fingers. “I’m not sure how close you are with the men on your site but if you don’t have anyone else, perhaps we could just celebrate your acceptance… together?”

It was a daring thing to do, an omega asking about a beta. Worse, he was sure Jun Yibai wouldn’t see it that way.

Still, the chance to go out with the guy he’d come to like was worth it!

“I… suppose that’s fine.” The reply was slow but firm.

Yang Ru was probably busy with her own things so calling to celebrate would be too much. He was sure the woman would bite his head off about it later but he knew just how much her classes were draining her.

He’d endure the lecture for no other reason than to keep her enrolled.

As for the others he could invite…

“I do have some friends that might come but let's go out later tonight.” He offered, noting that the break was ending soon. “You should get going or else you’ll be late.”

“Right!” Huo Yun was over the moon, not even worried about being late. He’d get chewed out and given extra work on top of having to run back but it was worth it.

Brother Jun said yes!

Sure, he’d be inviting his friends but maybe he could get them to like him and encourage the beta to give Huo Yun a chance.

***​

A dark car that took in the merciless heat of the sun was parked outside the construction site. Sitting in such a heat box would usually require an air conditioner to be blasting within but none was needed.

No, why use such a thing when the person in the backseat was chilling the air with his ire?

Neither the driver nor the occupant spoke, the former too terrified to even breathe too loudly. The occupant seemingly stared expressionlessly out the window at the beta/omega pair talking.

“So many flies.”

***​

Jun Yibai had been thinking about whether or not to call Li Suren and Chen Guiren when the decision was taken from him.

“Hey, sweetie~”

Jun Yibai had been walking with Huo Yun when a sleek luxury car drove up to them. The omega jumped in surprise but Jun Yibai could recognize the car on sight. Especially when the window rolled down to see a familiar face.

“Didn’t I say not to loiter outside my job?” He was quick to chastise the man inside, much to the surprise of Huo Yun. “You stick out like a sore thumb.”

While his father had fewer friends in this city, he knew being seen with Li Suren was going to draw attention.

“I brought my least attention-grabbing car to escort my dearest sweetie to dinner.”

“So you know then.” It wasn’t a question. Li Suren was good at gathering information. His acceptance into OO university would have been easy to secure.

“Absolutely and now I’m here to make sure my sweetie gets the celebration he deserves after all his hard work!”

Jun Yibai looked away, feeling a bit embarrassed at his words. While he really had wanted to earn a scholarship, to be congratulated for it felt strange. He did study hard but did he need to talk about it like he’d split the atom?

“Whatever.” He grumbled, only then recalling that he wasn’t alone. Huo Yun stared at Li Suren with wide eyes, no doubt recognizing the Li family heir.

This was the reason he had hesitated in calling either of his friends, as they stuck out in any crowd. They mostly talked via texts or calls but considering the circumstances, it shouldn’t be too bad this time.

“Little brother- no, Huo Yun.” The omega finally pulled his gaze from Li Suren, looking up at Jun Yibai in shock. “Do you mind not… telling anyone about this?”

“Huh?”

“If anyone finds out about this, it’ll be really troublesome for me.” He explained. He knew the men on his site. They were resentful towards those they felt got a leg up or putting on airs. If they learned he was friends with the Li Suren, they’d conclude he was just mocking them by roughing it with them in the less-than-idle dorms.

Because surely, if you had a richer-than-god friend, you’d use them rather than slum it as a laborer.

Those are the bitter thoughts of those who work from dusk till dawn.

Huo Yun seemed to regain his footing at his words, scowling up at him.

“I would never tell those jerks about this!” He insisted. “I was just… admittedly, trying to come to terms with you and him.”

Jun Yibai watched him for a second before relaxing. It seems that he’d pressed him too early.

“I’m glad.” He turned to Li Suren. “You want to celebrate with us, I’m guessing?”

“Kidnapping you isn’t on my schedule so an invitation would be nice.”

While Huo Yun looked a bit awkward, the three decided to go together though Li Suren got to pick the venue. It wouldn’t do for a well-known face to show up at a local bar.

Half an hour later, the trio was being walked through a pristine marble floor at one of the most expensive places in the city. Huo Yun looked around in awe, enamored by the beauty of the place.

Jun Yibai was grimacing deeply, feeling like he wanted to scream.

“Did you have to take me to such a high-end place?” He whisper-growled, grabbing Li Suren’s shoulder. The waiter leading them glanced back at them, surprised by the casual touch but neither seemed to notice.

“How could I do anything less?” Li Suren replied, patting the beta’s hand affectionately. “My sweetie got accepted into OO University despite being too morose about it. Shouldn’t you get something nice?”

Nice was taking a laborer smelling of sweat and dirt to a 4-star restaurant? He supposed he should be grateful though. He was sure the only reason Li Suren had stopped at 4 stars was to avoid being noticed by the press.

The waiter had the courtesy to keep them out of sight of the other customers. This was the kind of place where rich people wanted to eat without being ogled so it was given. As such, the only ones around were the staff.

The staff stopped to stare at Li Suren.

Jun Yibai sighed, having gotten used to it a bit.

He found that of the two, he preferred having Chen Guiren around when eating alone with either. It's not that he liked the alpha more but he was very good at keeping people away when needed. He was handsome enough to draw eyes but somehow terrifying enough to make people not dare look their way.

Jun Yibai had no idea how he did this but preferred that to all the attention they were getting right then. The only upside was that the attention was mostly on Li Suren.

Perhaps they just saw an intern or errand boy when noting the beta beside him.

***​

The celebration was just them hanging out. The food was excellent, though foreign to Jun Yibai and Huo Yun. There were a lot of words he didn’t know.

Li Suren was weirdly eager to show off now that there was a third person with them. Since Li Suren was the type to do preen and posture, it wasn’t really anything Jun Yibai paid much attention to. If anything, he was glad to have someone who would explain what the fuck ‘escargots de Bourgogne’ was and avoid it like the plague.

The food arrived and the trio peacefully ate in relative silence. Jun Yibai thought the skyward silence would continue afterward but Huo Yun broke the tension by proposing a toast.

“To brother Jun!” The omega held up his glass, offering it to the beta. He couldn't legally drink but since what had that stopped him?

“Thank you, Huo Yun.”

Taking the offered cup, their fingers brushed. It was a casual and generally unnoticed moment for Jun Yibai. To Huo Yun, however, he pulled back lightly brushing his fingers together as if to relive that brief moment once more.

Jun Yibai drank, unaware of the adoring look he received from his coworker. Li Suren watched this all with impassive eyes.

“So,” Li Suren cut in as Jun Yibai placed his now empty cup on the table. “Since you got in, I assume you’ll be speaking at the orientation meeting?”

“You assume a lot.”

“But?”

Damn this nosy guy.

“…I might be.”

“Just as I expected from my sweetie!” He clapped, rubbing shoulders affectionately. “Ah, I bet you’ll look so cool~”

“Shut up.” He grumbled, hiding his rippling lips in his water.

Damn this guy! Why did he have to make such a fuss about it? Now he felt embarrassed at all the praise.

“I just wish I could come to see it too.”

Jun Yibai froze.

“You can’t?” He tried to keep the disappointment from his voice.

“Yes, unfortunately. Grandfather-” He stopped, glancing at the third wheel sitting beside them. “Family concerns.”

Jun Yibai nodded, understanding his reluctance. Families were a subject that shouldn’t be talked about around outsiders. Whether that included him was up in the air.

Still, Jun Yibai was disappointed he wouldn’t see Li Suren at the orientation. Chen Guiren had been out of town for the last few days so he had hoped at least one of them would attend.

He could call his parents to tell them the good news. While his dad might not be very approving of his ‘fruitless endeavor’, a scholarship was something that he’d surely be proud of. The man might not strive for much but success was a success regardless.

Just as he was weighing his options, his phone rang, forcing him to excuse himself to answer. This left the two omegas alone. Silence fell like a rock, filling the room with tension.

Like before, Huo Yun broke the silence first.

“This restaurant.” He noted, looking around. Though he looked uncomfortable with the luxury, he hid it well. “It's very nice.”

“Anything less would be an insult to my sweetie.” Li Suren replied, smiling with pride.

The younger man grimaced. “Must you call him that? It's weird.”

“Whether it is or not, is none of your business.”

“You-”

“You like him.” It wasn’t a question but confirmation.

“L-like who?” Huo Yun blushed, denying the accusation shyly.

“Don’t play dumb. It's not cute and there's no one here to endear yourself to.”

“Are you trying to intimidate me?”

“Me? Why would I bother doing something like that?” He chuckled, smiling wistfully. “Sweetie is already mine so I'm just spoiling him as he should be. You can have your little crush, I’m not threatened.”

“What?!” While Huo Yun wasn’t planning on confessing anytime soon, he still felt offended by the other omega’s words. Such arrogance! “I could-”

“Could what? Get him by acting all soft and sweet? Sweetie isn’t into those kinds of guys. He likes capable people who can hold their heads up high. He is nice enough to lend a hand and you think it means he’s into you? Don’t get cocky.”

“You-!” He tried to defend himself, though he had had that thought once or twice. He knew Jun Yibai saw them as friends, perhaps even less but the thought that he could have the beta to himself with just a bit of pushing was a tempting thought. “I-”

“I don’t care how you feel about him but if you try and pressure my sweetie by leveraging your friendship with him, I will not let you go.”

“I would never do that!” He insisted, feeling insulted. While he wanted to get along with Brother Jun more, he was fine with his feelings being unrequited as long as they could still be friends.

To lose both a friend and a person he liked would be heartbreaking.

Perhaps seeing the conviction in his eyes, Li Suren smiled, clasping his hands together in a dignified manner.

“Good, then accept your role as ‘friend’ and stop trying to be more than that. Understood?”

Li Suren’s smile grew as the other omega gritted his teeth. He was fine with being the villain here. He absolutely refused to let some little upstart risk putting his sweetie in an awkward position just because of a crush. Sweetie had very few friends, fewer still when counting non-beta’s. It was best to let them remain friendships exclusively.

That and he really disliked the thought of other people coveting the enigmatic beta.

Perhaps he was being a bit mean, acting all possessive and warning ‘rivals’ away but he felt no guilt for it. Sweetie had been his since the day he grimaced down at this prince and called him troublesome.

The night ended upon Jun Yibai’s return, as he’d been informed he was volunteered for an early shift the next day. There was disappointment all around though Li Suren was willing to reschedule. He had even offered to invite Chen Guiren though the offer was said through gritted teeth as he spoke of the alpha.

He even called him a mutt, which both amused Jun Yibai and made him relieved since he wouldn't need to explain how he knew THE Chen Guiren.

The next few weeks went by in a flash. The school term started, with Jun Yibai speaking as the representative due to his high grades. It was the closest he’d gotten to being treated like an alpha in his life.

It was suffocating.

Everyone was staring and muttering to themselves as he spoke.

“Thank you, headmaster. As for those who will be embarking on this journey with me, I thank you as well.”

His words were scripted. Everyone representative was required to read out these lines and, as such, no one really cared about what was said. The real draw was who the representative was.

Most times, it was an alpha. A person who was tall, intimidating, and oozed strength in ways that drew people like the kings of old. Other times, it was an omega. A person who was beautiful, charming, and had a voice that made people want to lay the world at their feet.

This time, it was a beta, which caused quite a stir.

‘Is that…?’

‘Yeah, it can’t be anything but a beta, right?’

‘Not with those looks.’

‘He’s not bad but with a speech this dull, what's to look at?’

‘Was it even worth showing up?’

The words weren’t loud but in a room with only a little more than a hundred people, it was clearly heard. The teachers tried to keep things quiet but those they couldn’t reach without shouting continued muttering to themselves.

Jun Yibai wasn’t too concerned, reading his speech with the same cadence and volume as when he started, as if he couldn’t hear anything.

It was no surprise the students were mystified. Most betas either failed to reach this stage or didn’t bother to try. It was easier to remain in the comfortable shallow end rather than risk the raging rapids.

Jun Yibai wasn’t like that.

There were youths who went to college because that was the predetermined path set forth by their parents. Those people would be lucky if they found their passion that way but most wander aimlessly for many years. Then there were those who went because they wanted to and had a goal they were striving for.

Jun Yibai was a mix of the two. He knew what he didn’t want.

He didn’t want to follow after his dad.

He loved his father and appreciated the effort the man made to start a business on his own just so he had something to pass on to his son. It wasn’t a large business but it was his inheritance.

Yet Jun Yibai wanted more than just that. Perhaps it was silly to think he’d get much done in his life but he wanted to live doing as he liked. Obviously, there were people who would naturally be better than him but why let that stop him from trying to succeed?

He didn’t give up when competing against Suren or Guiren, so why start now?

Thinking about it, his sole reason for continuing on was because of those two and their stubborn desire to challenge him. Perhaps he would have been like his mother and just settled for the easy path had it not been for them.

It was amusing to think but he’d probably have to thank them for all the trouble they’d brought him one of these days.

The orientation ended with the students being invited to a get-together. It was short and only had a few snacks but was meant to get the students to interact with one another before classes started.

Usually, the students would converge on the representative, wanting to be close to the student with the highest grade but none did so. Mostly for one reason.

He was a beta, so they doubted he’d stay on top for very long.

They could accept a beta getting the top grade this time but in their minds, it was a one-time thing. Soon enough, someone better would take his place.

Jun Yibai just stood on the side, watching the others interact. The fact no one was interested in talking to him was fine with him. Had they approached, it would have been for ulterior reasons so it was for the best.

Still, he was bored. With no one to talk to and at least another hour until the ‘party’ ended, this was becoming a drag.

Stepping aside, he pulled out his phone and made a call. It rang for so long, he considered giving up before it connected.

“M-Master!?”

“Ah, am I calling at a bad time?” Chen Guiren was panting and there was a lot of chatter going on in the background.

“Uh… A bit.” He grumbled, a muffled shout coming through fainting. The alpha shouted back, “I’ll be back in a minute! Just break his kneecaps and he’ll talk. I’m on a call.”

…

“I… I’m not going to ask what you are doing.” The beta mildly regretted making this call. Somehow, he always managed to catch Chen Guiren involved in something he might end up seeing on the news one day. If not for the prestige of the Chen family, he might have been worried.

He might not know the business world but he knew not all deals were made in boardrooms.

“It's just a friendly business dispute” Chen Guiren chuckled, trying to reassure his friend.

“That involves breaking kneecaps?”

“That involves breaking kneecaps, yes.” He echoed, sounding sagely. “Finance can be pretty cutthroat, you know?”

“Right…” Best not to press any further.

Unfortunately, their conversation was short-lived as he was called back to his ‘business dispute’. He did get a congratulations and a promise to ‘see ya soon’. Both were appreciated, though he doubted he’d see the alpha any time soon.

Since graduating high school, it had been hard to see the two. The only one he could conceivably see was Li Suren as he went to OO as well but Jun Yibai definitely wasn’t planning on doing so with others around.

After the call, the beta went outside for some fresh air. It was chilly out when night fell but his sweater was good enough to keep him warm for a few minutes. He let out a breath, letting the night air fill his lungs.

“Oh!” A voice from nearby spoke up. A man was leaning on the wall nearby smoking leisurely. “Sorry, did you want the spot?”

Ah, it seems he wasn’t the only one wanting some fresh air. He shook his head at the stranger.

“No, it's fine. I just needed some fresh air.”

“Yeah, it's a bit stuffy in there.” The man chuckled. “Hey, I'm Hanyu. You?” He held out a hand, to which reciprocated.

“Jun Yibai.”

“Ah, the rep, right?” The man raised his lit cigarette in a toast. “Congrats.”

“Thank you.”

The two men spoke until the get-together was over, after which Hanyu invited him to a party.

“My friends and I are going out to drink for a bit. Wanna join?”

Ah, getting drunk before classes even began. Truly, he was living the dream.

As if worried Jun Yibai would refuse, Hanyu continued to persuade him. “You don’t have to be nervous. There will be people your age there too. It's mostly just my juniors wanting company.”

“Juniors? Isn’t this your first year?”

“Nope. I just like to sneak in so I can recruit some fresh faces into our club before anyone else.”

“Like me?” He deadpanned.

“Exactly! See, our rep is a smart guy, after all~”

This sly bastard. Still, Jun Yibai was amused and enjoyed the man’s company. He was friendly but not pushy, so it never felt like he was being pressured.

Still, an upperclassman sneaking into the freshman orientation to headhunt was a bit much.

That didn’t change anything, however, and he accepted the invitation.

***​

He immediately regretted his decision.

The club Hanyu took him to was loud and stuffed with people. In fact, if not for capacity limits, he was sure they would be shoulder to shoulder and need to crowd surf to get through.

Hanyu assured him that they had a private room but the fact that they had to shove their way through the crowd had soured Jun Yibai’s mood.

Once they entered the VIP area and the noise was muffled behind padded doors, he could finally voice his complaints.

“Is it usually this crowded?”

“Only for the last few weeks.” Hanyu said, leading the way. “Apparently, some prestigious young masters came by here before, and now everyone wants a chance at meeting him here.”

Of course, that's what it was. Who didn’t want to be the main character in some cheesy novel where they bump into a super rich young master and end up in a wild romance? It was ridiculous to think about.

“Then why choose this place?” Jun Yibai grumbled, his desire to leave bubbling forth.

“Because a bunch of people come here! That means more faces and more potential members.”

This guy and his club!

“What kind of club is this?” He couldn’t help but ask now that it had come up so often.

“Oh?” Hanyu’s eyes gleamed with predatory excitement. “Interested in joining?”

“I’m not joining anything unless I get details.”

“Really? You won’t sign away your soul on a promise that it’ll be fun?”

“I’m pretty sure that's the kind of line scammers use.”

“Aish! That is harsh!” Despite his words, Hanyu was grinning.

Seeing his expression, Jun Yibai relaxed. He really wasn’t the type to go clubbing or be social but he wanted to leave his comfort zone a little. He might not enjoy tonight but it was better to try it at least once, right?

Upon entering their room, the pair were greeted by half a dozen other faces. They were all welcoming, introducing themselves to Jun Yibai despite his less-than-enthusiastic replies.

If anything, Hanyu made up for his lacking attitude by diverting the group's attention to himself when things got tense. This happened quite a bit too, as Jun Yibai wasn’t the most ideal conversation partner.

He’d spent most of his life either studying or working so when those around him wanted to talk about TV shows and books, Jun Yibai was at a loss.

The shows he watched were years old and past the point of interest for those his age.

Eventually, most of the people lost interest in him, moving on to talk to each other. Jun Yibai didn’t mind, enjoying the noise and proximity of such a small group. While he might not be able to watch or read the stuff they’d suggested at the moment, he kept the title’s in his mind for later.

Hanyu was the center of attention, having most of the people hanging off his every word. If it wasn’t his magnetic personality, it was his knowledge of pop culture that kept the conversation lively.

Then the party shifted when another person arrived.

She was tall, beautiful, and held an air of elegance that screamed money. Having spent so much time around Li Suren and Chen Guiren, Jun Yibai could recognize a young miss at a glance.

“Senior Han!”

“Li Min!” Hanyu greeted her with a friendly side hug. “I didn’t know you were coming.”

When I heard you had come by, I had to! The party I was at was so boring~”

Jun Yibai watched them talk, mildly interested in the interaction.

This woman, Li Min, was an alpha female. She took over the room as if it were her own and those within were her subjects. The men and women drew close, seeking her attention.

Yet she seems fixed on Hanyu, for whom she clung to his arm as if it were a given.

Yet Hanyu himself looked a bit perplexed by her, consistently redirecting her attention to others.

Was he uncomfortable?

He didn’t look it. Merely confused and concerned.

Jun Yibai didn’t understand but chose not to ask. It wasn’t his business.

Eventually, Hanyu’s phone let out a beep and he was freed from the alpha’s grip so he could answer. She pouted for a moment but beamed when someone else started talking to her.

Hanyu walked over to Jun Yibai, sitting beside him with a sigh. The kind of sigh one let out when finally released from a grueling task.

“You okay?”

“Just tired.” He said, yawning. But the second his eyes drifted to his phone, the exhaustion disappeared and his smile looked to have been connected to the goddamn sun.

Jun Yibai watched the man text someone gleefully, chuckling to himself like a maniac.

I really shouldn’t ask. He thought, watching this. I’ll definitely regret it.

Then again, he’d done things he later regretted already so why not add another one?

“Who are you texting?”

As if he were waiting for this moment for hours, the senior spun on Jun Yibai, his eyes gleaming with excitement. He whipped out his phone and moved in close, whispering like it was a secret to take to the grave.

“You really want to know?” He pressed. Jun Yibai immediately felt himself regretting his mild curiosity as the man continued on without waiting for his reply. “My girlfriend texted me just now. Look!”

On the screen was a simple ‘when are you coming home tonight?’

It was a mundane thing, barely anything to bring up yet Hanyu looked like a child who’d received their most desired gift early.

“Uh…”

“Ah, she’s so cute, right?!” He gushed, grinning madly. “She always acts all serious but never forgets to check in on me whenever I go out drinking with the club. She’s even picked me up a few times.”

“Ah, that's nice of her.” He wasn’t sure what else he could say. Wasn’t that normal between couples?

“Right? Especially since there are dangerous people out there. Ah, see! This is her.”

Again, the phone was shoved in his face. If not for Hanyu’s upbeat and positive attitude, Jun Yibai might have found it annoying. But it was hard to hate someone for being upbeat. It's like hating an enthusiastic puppy. You just feel like a jerk.

On the screen was, to be honest, a fairly pretty girl. She wasn’t stunning or anything but pretty. If anything, she would have been even prettier without the heavy scowl on her face. Clearly, she wasn’t pleased with being photographed at that moment.

“See? She was grumpy cause I was trying to catch her smiling and missed it.” He let out a wistful sigh. “She’s still cute though.

Hanyu continued to show off his girlfriend, scrolling through dozens of photos of the two of them. It was amusing to see them together, as he was always beaming like the sun while she was either frowning or indifferent.

To others, it might seem like they were mismatched but Jun Yibai could see how relaxed she looked with him in comparison to photos with just her. Whether it was due to her personality or not, it was clear she was more comfortable with Hanyu.

Maybe she was just one of those people with a resting bitch face.

While scrolling, a notification popped up, letting Hanyu know he had to take his suppressants today.

“You’re an omega?” He asked, looking him over. Hanyu was definitely good looking but he resembled an alpha more than anything.

The newly revealed omega cocked a brow at him. “Shocked?”

“No, it fits. You’re too entertaining to be a beta.”

“Hey now, don’t sell yourself short, bro.” The omega said, giving Jun Yibai a friendly shove. “You might not be the life of the party but you are fun in your own way. You stuck with me, right?”

“Did I have a choice?”

“Nope. I’m a very devious con man.” He replied. “I lure people in with the promise of fun and then BAM. I’m showing off my girlfriend to all my single friends!”

“You’re a cruel man.” Jun Yibai retorted, fighting a smile.

“Indeed, I am!” And thus, he continued to sing his girlfriend’s praises.

Most people would get annoyed at Hanyu’s antics, feeling as if the man was showing off or boasting about being in a relationship. Jun Yibai, despite being single himself, wasn’t offended. If anything, he was just a bit overwhelmed by his energy.

Hanyu left, wanting to call his girlfriend. This left Jun Yibai alone once more, nursing a non-alcoholic drink.

When he thinks about it, he is a bit envious. It must be nice to be so in love with someone and know they feel the same. To feel such joy at mundane moments others take for granted. To look forward to seeing each other after all the stresses of the day.

The desire to call up Li Suren and Chen Guiren bubbled up in his gut.

They didn’t get to hang out nearly as often as they had in high school and he found himself missing them. If not for them being famous, he might have risked it by inviting them to dinner.

Maybe we can lat-

“Hey, you!” Jun Yibai looked up, seeing one of the girls who’d been talking in the crowd sitting beside him “What were you and Senior Han talking about?”

Considering how animated Hanyu was before, he didn’t think much of the question so he responded honestly.

“His girlfriend.”

“G-girlfriend?!” She stammered, her face becoming pale. “He has a girlfriend?”

Jun Yibai shrugged. “Apparently.”

“Are they close?”

Jun Yibai frowned, finding the question strange.

“They are dating so I’m assuming yes.”

She didn’t look happy at that. Upon reflection, Jun Yibai recalled that she was the girl who had been sticking close to Hanyu all night. They’d only split up once the man moved away to answer his phone.

Aside from Hanyu, this woman was the center of attention. She dominated the scene and had many of the other male club members lapping at her heels.

Everyone but Jun Yibai and Hanyu.

“Do you know when Senior Han is coming back?”

“No.”

“Are you sure?” She cooed, leaning forward so her cleavage was more visible. They were a good handful and while it was attractive, the pure manipulation in her actions cooled any interest he might have felt.

“I’m sure it's none of your business.” He snapped, shocking the alpha into moving back. Clearly, she wasn’t used to being rejected and scowled at him.

After glaring at him, he stepped out, not wanting to be interrogated anymore. She can have her little crush but badgering the man was not something he was going to stick around for.

***​

The evening came to a close soon after, leaving the members waiting by the VIP exit for their rides. Hanyu was waiting for his girlfriend, who had a car.

The man was very clearly drunk, leaning on Jun Yibai’s shoulder as he mumbled about random stuff. To keep him awake, Jun Yibai responded to all his gibberish earnestly and pushed him to respond.

“The kiwis… they eat hippos?”

“No, they eat rhinos.”

“They’re big though. Why not birds?”

“They fly away too quickly.”

“Oh…”

This went on as the room cleared out. After a half hour, there was only him, Hanyu, and Li Min.

“Brother Jun, it's your turn.” She called out, sitting beside him with a smile. “Have you called a cab yet?”

The fact she called him brother without asking was annoying. They were not that close.

“No.” He bit out.

“Can you not afford it?” She asked, blinking innocently. The tone was light but he could feel a mild derision underneath. “Then why not let me cover the cost? It's late after all.”

“I’m fine.” He said, remaining where he was. Hanyu grumbled something, though he was beginning to fall asleep.

Li Min bit her lip, glancing between them before fixing her expression with a smile.

“Please don’t feel bad. It's not an issue.” She tried to persuade once more. “I just couldn’t stand it if someone I became acquainted with was stranded here. The hotels are expensive around here and the trains have left for the night.”

“And Hanyu?”

“His girlfriend is picking him up, right? So after you get settled, I’ll make sure they meet.”

“Uh-huh.” Jun Yibai wanted to call her out of her bullshit but refrained. It wouldn’t be good to make enemies, especially with a rich person.

Still, he refused to leave his friend alone with her. While he was sure his girlfriend would arrive, god only knows what might happen between then and now.

When he thought about it, there was nothing lost if he stayed. If his suspicions were true, he was keeping his friend safe from a predator. If he was wrong, he hadn’t made any accusations that could come back to bite him so it was just him being a good friend.

Nothing would be lost.

*****​

AN: I’ll be honest, I hated writing this. I couldn’t figure out where to end this for the longest time and it frustrated me to no end. It's why it took me so damn long to update this.

 

Spoiler: U: Nothing Gained

AN: Random factoid about this story. In my original outline, Jun Yibai would have met Chen Guiren in high school rather than in middle school. I changed things up cause it felt strange to have a middle school arc where nothing really happened.

The full scenario will probably be an extra chapter.

*****​

Much to his chagrin, a lot was lost that night and he had only learned what days later.

***​

Classes started without a hitch. At least up until he was asked to talk to the professors in private. All of them.

His professors didn’t have high hopes for him but were very patronizingly proud of him for succeeding. As if he’d done a neat trick.

They truly didn’t hold him in that high of a regard, seeing his accomplishment as a fluke.

Jun Yibai clenched his fist as he accepted their words with a nod.

What fluke?! Did he not study and work hard to make it to the top? Was the fact he had to work for his success a drawback?

It was frustrating, seeing even strangers try and push him into mediocrity. It was probably just them being kind, to ease him down for when the inevitable happened and he was pushed back by some alphas.

For when everyone was back in their proper place in the hierarchy.

“If I wanted to hear that kind of bullshit, I would have stayed home with dad.” He later grumbled to himself as he stormed through the hallway. The corridor was fairly sparse so Jun Yibai could be openly frustrated and still be ignored.

He was big but nothing special so most barely gave him a glance as they passed him by.

All but one.

“Hey, Jun Yibai!” A familiarly jovial voice called out, jogging over. He looked a bit tired from the night before but that was to be expected.

“Hanyu.”

The omega leaned in, draping an arm over his shoulder in a friendly semi-hug.

“About last night.” He pressed on, looking a bit disgruntled. Jun Yibai frowned, wondering what he remembered from last night. Did he too have some suspicions about his ‘friend’?

“What did you say to my girlfriend?”

“Say?” He echoed, blinking at him in confusion. His girlfriend had come and picked him up last night without any fanfare, so it was only a minute of interaction. They didn’t say a word to each other. They merely glanced at one another and gave the most proper introvert greeting.

A nod in acknowledgment.

Barely perceptible to the naked eye but one that all introverts knew well.

“Yeah, she was telling me this morning about what a nice guy you are.” He grumbled, crossing his arms. “Here I am, suffering from a hangover and all she wants to tell me is how she likes you better than my other friends.” He continued on humble bragging as the situation became clear.

Ah, that's what this was about.

So his girlfriend was suspicious of Li Min too.

In the light of day, Jun Yibai had wondered if he’d been too wary last night. While she was being weirdly pushy about him leaving, that wasn’t necessarily proof that she had ill intentions.

In fact, there was no proof other than his instincts as a man.

Now, it would seem Hanyu’s girlfriend had similar thoughts. Hanyu, on the other hand, seemed unaware, talking about the girl casually.

This was troublesome.

Someone would have to warn this guy about predatory alphas. Just because the alpha was female, didn’t mean he couldn’t be taken advantage of. Pheromones were a thing after all.

Jun Yibai himself couldn’t do it. He’d only been friends with Hanyu for a day while Li Min was much closer to the man. It would only come off as an empty accusation.

Then again, coming from his girlfriend, it might come off as needless jealousy.

That woman, whether purposely or unintentionally, had put them in a bind.

Ugh, this was really troublesome~

He sighed, deciding to try and subtly hint about being more careful around others later on. While it was troublesome, he really couldn’t remain silent.

Hanyu then proceeded to tell Jun Yibai about his classes. Turns out this jovial guy was studying education. With his personality, it fits. In the looks department, though, it might be a bit much.

As if reading his thoughts, Hanyu grumbled. “Li Min said I’d do well in showbiz like her but honestly, being a celebrity would just be boring.”

At that, the beta chuckled. “I suppose compared to wrangling children, just smiling and looking pretty would be dull.”

“Exactly! See, I knew I had a good eye for cool people.”

When pressed on his own major, Jun Yibai chose not to say. It wasn’t that he was embarrassed but it would be troublesome if he was questioned on it. Hanyu was a cool guy but he was sure he’d get, at the very least, a cocked brow.

He was, after all, the only beta in the business department.

He’d gotten a few looks during his classes, as most betas who became entrepreneurs didn’t need a degree. They could open up a shop with enough money and just hire a manager if things got complicated.

Only those who were striving for the upper echelons bothered to get a degree in business. Hence most of his classmates were alphas. The only omega was the professor, who gave Jun Yibai an encouraging smile when he spotted him.

All his other professors? Well, they were ‘worried’ about him.

He didn’t want any more ‘worry’. He’d had enough for one day.

Like a bell of salvation, their conversation was interrupted by the clamor of women rushing past them. Hanyu, being the curious type, tapped one of the passing women’s shoulder and asked what was going on.

“A bunch of the basketball players challenged some young master to a match. We’re going to watch!” She happily provided, running over to join the crowd forming.

“Is that something worth gushing over?” Jun Yibai wondered aloud.

“There's only one way to find out!”

Grumbling all the way, Jun Yibai let Hanyu drag him over to the basketball court. As expected, there were dozens of adoring fans watching as the players began their game. Jun Yibai could just barely hear the crisp sound of rubber against the polished court over the screams.

“Oh no~ It would seem we can’t watch the game. What a shame.”

Did he have to be as sarcastic as he was? No, but it helped when things were annoying.

Hanyu, like the human puppy he was, refused to give up. Soon enough, they managed to find a space away from the crowd that overlooked the court. The game was intense and certainly warranted the crowd.

Yet that wasn’t what drew the beta’s eye.

“Of course, it's gotta be him.” Jun Yibai sighed, recognizing one of the players on sight.

Chen Guiren was wiping sweat off his neck, the crowd losing their collective shit at the display. How could they not? It was a shirts vs skins game and that guy chose skins.

Even Jun Yibai, much to his chagrin, couldn’t help but admire him. Muscles that were hardened from brawls and the like. Tiny scars that spoke of fights won and lost. Wild hair that begged for someone to sweep it back so they could fully appreciate his handsome face.

“Ugh, this is why I hate it when he shows up.” The beta grumbled to himself, annoyed. Chen Guiren was very different from Li Suren in a lot of ways but more so in his appeal.

People admired Li Suren, treating him like a piece of art. They stared and admired but rarely dared draw any closer, fearful that they would sully him.

Chen Guiren, on the other hand, was like a delicious meal set forth on a welcoming platter. Even those who had no desire to eat would look and think ‘maybe just one bite’?

The crowd below them who were only barely keeping themselves from charging the court was proof enough of this. They treated the alpha as if he were some kind of idol or star. Sure, he was a rich guy but this was a prestigious school, so there were plenty of second-generation heirs to fawn over.

But Chen Guiren was Chen Guiren, not just any rich kid.

Just a few hours ago, he was threatening to break some poor guy's kneecaps and now he's on the court, playing basketball as if he was just another student.

It was kind of scary how seamlessly he pulled off this ruse.

Still, Jun Yibai couldn’t help but watch him play. Sports can be generally boring but when it's someone you are invested in, it's quite the show.

And a show it was. Even on a team of alphas, Chen Guiren stuck out among them. He was taller than his teammates, making himself look to be the leader despite him clearly being in a support role this time around. Somehow, he took over as the game went on.

Like a king of old, he led his team with nothing but a mere glance. They moved like they were extensions of him, following his unspoken will.

This was a dominant Alpha.

Jun Yibai had always suspected as much. Even without the physical indications blaring in his face, the fact he was born from an alpha pair made it obvious.

Rich, athletic, cool, and handsome.

How could anyone look away when presented with such a thing? Even Jun Yibai, who was used to seeing his friend, couldn’t help but watch him. He’d never seen this cool side of Chen Guiren. That serious and kind of scary expression as if he were envisioning his opponent's corpses falling at his feet.

Yet he calls me ‘master’. He thought, feeling a trickle of excitement at the thought. He covered his mouth, feeling embarrassed at the thought. He shouldn’t think that way about his friend. Chen Guiren was just the clingy sort so there was no reason to think too much about such things, right?

“Ah?”

Jun Yibai turned to Hanyu, who was staring at the court with a weird expression. Curious, he turned too and saw…

Ah, shit, he spotted me!

***​

He felt someone's gaze on his back.

That was a familiar feeling for Chen Guiren. Being watched. Whether it was his parents, the media, or even people his own age, he was always being watched.

He never really minded, having accepted it as a given. Since the day his parents introduced him to the public as their one-in-a-million lovechild, he’d learned to accept the gazes of others.

In fact, he loved it.

Having people watch him was exciting! Watch him perform and gaze at him with awe. Watch him break some uppity little shit’s nose for daring to act tough in front of him. Watch him dominate arrogant assholes at the sport they excel at. Watch him take over little by little of what was once your territory and now belonged to him.

It was exhilarating.

Even being watched by the sly fox was fun, though he felt less like a mere audience member and more like… a VIP? Someone the show was meant for rather than a bystander.

It was something Chen Guiren had yet to settle on so he was willing to just take possession of the omega until his role in all this was figured out.

All in all, the point was that Chen Guiren was used to the feeling of someone staring at him. Yet this gaze made him shiver, like a caress.

The only one who made him feel like that was-

He spun around, searching for the source. There were a bunch of faceless people in the mob but none held his interest. There was only one who did but surely that extremely uncommunicative guy wouldn’t be in a crowd like this?

But then, lifting his gaze up, he spotted him. His favorite person!

And some random fuck standing way too damn close to his favorite person.

Damn it, was it another fly?! He was sure li Suren had promised to keep them from bothering Master yet there was another one.

Useless fox.

The fly seemed to notice his glare, paling under his gaze and looking away.

Weak! He bared his teeth at the omega. Master isn't into such soft men.

No, he was sure his Master preferred someone who was overbearing, someone willing to push him past his comfort zone and introduce him to a whole other dimension of intimacy. Someone willing to kneel at his feet yet press him down beneath them in the same breath.

Ah, just the thought of his beta tugging on his hair as he knelt between his thick thighs, his gasping breath begging for-

As if feeling his gaze, Master turned to him with a sour look. Chen Guiren’s arousal made way for his amusement.

“Mas-” He started to call out but stopped when he saw Master’s gaze harden.

It was a look that said ‘if you finish that sentence, I’ll elbow-drop you from here.’ Such a thing should get him hard but how could he not?! The thought of master’s body pressing up against him of his own volition was too tempting a thought.

It might even lead to a full-on brawl where he could dominate the stubborn beta into submitting to him and-

No, he has to behave! Popping a full-on boner without a shirt to cover it would make things complicated! Not only would it be annoying to explain but what if someone noticed it was caused by Master?

He liked Master too much to let his own horniness become a bother to the beta.

The game ended soon after, with his team obviously winning. It was a short match but mostly unsatisfying. Chen Guiren still preferred fighting to sports like this. Maybe he should have challenged some MMA fighters next time.

As his thoughts drifted to more interesting things than his opponent's half-hearted attempt at preserving his wounded pride, Chen Guiren glanced up at the space where Master was.

It was empty.

A low growl rumbled from him, causing his opponent, some fuckhead alpha who had previously acted like he was hot shit, to trip over himself to jump away. A clear sign of weakness that he would usually use to subjugate another useful pawn.

Yet this previously valuable pawn had become nothing but a hindrance!

Damn it, he’d wanted to corner Master somewhere out of sight. The few times he’d tried ended with a knee in the balls but he was sure this time he could catch that naughty leg and put it where it belonged.

Hooked on his hip and pulling him close.

The thought made him yearn to run after him but he had a task to finish first. He sighed, making the others look at him warily.

This is fucking annoying~

***​

Jun Yibai walked alongside Hanyu, the latter of which was buzzing with energy. He looked a bit flushed as well.

“Whoa, that was crazy.” The omega breathed, patting his cheeks as if waking himself up. “Right?”

Jun Yibai blinked at him, confused. “Hm?”

“Didn’t you see that one guy?!” He cried, pointing behind them. “The dominant alpha on the skins team. I swear he was glaring at me!”

Yeah, he probably was. Jun Yibai thought, feeling a bit guilty. He was sure that guy had come to some strange conclusion about Hanyu. He’d have to text him later to not bother the omega. Jun Yibai liked him.

Much to his surprise, Hanyu sighed wistfully as he looked back at the building they’d just exited. The crowd was still milling back, their excited chatter filling the air.

“Even so, he was super cool! And handsome.”

“Don’t you have a girlfriend?”

“Yes, and I love her to bits.” He stated with a wistful smile. It fell quickly as his body shivered and he started moving away from the crowd. “But my inner omega almost had me striping and presenting myself from his pheromones.”

“Gross.” The beta grimaced, not wanting that mental image to pop up. Yet his words made him frown. “He was releasing pheromones?”

“Obviously.” Hanyu gave him a look like he’d asked the most obvious thing ever. “Why else would such a large crowd have lost their mind at a mere basketball match? It's pretty common around here.”

Was it? So it was due to pheromones? He didn’t smell anything but the air had felt heavy while the game went on. He’d thought it was just the excitement but apparently it was more than that.

“Honestly, you are lucky that you don’t have to deal with pheromones.” Hanyu sighed, wiping at the sweat on his neck. They hadn’t run so the fact he was sweating spoke volumes about his condition. That and his face was still flushed.

“You need anything?”

“No, this much isn’t enough to push me.” He assured, fanning himself. “I… I just need a minute to cool down. Maybe call my girlfriend.”

Ah! Seeing as Hanyu was squirming in place, he seemed like he might be having a ‘situation’.

“Then I’ll leave you to it.” He said, nodding. “I have to see if my things arrived at my dorm yet.”

“Right, I was supposed to show you the way, wasn’t I?” The omega frowned, looking guilty.

“I can find my way over.” He assured, his tone haughty. “No need to mother me.”

“How could I mother over such a sour-faced kid like you!” He pushed back, giving him a friendly shoulder pat before briskly walking away.

This left Jun Yibai with his own thoughts on the matter. Mainly Hanyu’s words about being lucky. He’d never been told he was lucky to be a beta. Granted, he knew about the inconveniences of being an omega but to think some alpha could ruin your schedule so easily was a bit surprising.

It did sound very troublesome.

***​

The trouble continued as he made his way to his dorm. As expected, enemies tend to cross paths on narrow roads.

In front of the men’s dorm, Li Min stood with another person. The man’s back was to Jun Yibai so he couldn’t see him. As soon as the woman noticed him, she dismissed the man.

Jun Yibai paid this no mind as he was already preparing himself as Li Min ran up to him with an eager smile.

“There you are! I’ve been waiting for you.” She said with a pout. “I never did get your number last night.”

“I never offered.” He shot back, cocking a brow at her attitude. Was she trying to get him on her side?

How strange.

She stared up at him for a minute, seeming to be expecting something from him. It took Jun Yibai a moment to realize that she was waiting for him to offer his phone number to her. As if he should be embarrassed for not offering before.

Yet Jun Yibai said nothing, staring back at her.

Her expression hardened.

She had tried being subtle but clearly wasn’t used to rejection. A prideful woman like that wouldn’t dare ask him directly.

No, it was only proper for the salivating men to offer her their number and for her to deign to take pity on them.

And they ate it right up.

But not him.

“If you’ll excuse me, senior.” He tried to end the conversation but was stooped by the alpha who blocked his path.

“Brother Jun!”

“I’d rather you not call me that if you don’t mind.” He scowled, disliking her casual manner of speaking. “We’ve only known each for a few hours so it feels strange to be claimed as a brother.”

Those he let call him brother were few and far between. He let his former co-worker, Huo Yun do it because he liked the guy and they worked well together. But her? He refused to allow it, upperclassman or not.

Yet she seemed determined as she tried once more.

“It’s just me being friendly and trying to welcome you.” She argued, smiling serenely.

“What would make me feel welcome is not being pressed like this.” He replied firmly, wanting to just leave. He’d had a long day already.

“Aren’t you being rude?”

“Am I?” He played dumb, glancing away as if thinking about it. “I just don’t want to be pressured into anything just because the person doing so is my elder. Isn’t that the same for you too?”

She didn’t have a response for that, just gritting her teeth as she bit out a smile.

No, it was a grimace, one that spoke of her frustration with him. She opened her mouth to speak but stopped when she received a text message.

“I’ll let this go for today.” She said, glancing over her phone. Her tone implied she was being accommodating and mature.

In the same way one might talk to an ignorant child who didn’t know any better.

After being condescended to by his professors, he was not in the mood for that.

“Rather than that, I’d prefer you not follow me around from now on.” He snapped moving past her. “It’s unbecoming of a lady to bother people who don't want her attention.”

He could feel her glaring holes into his back but he didn’t care.

Let her glare and seeth. As long as she left him alone, he’d be perfectly happy to do the same.

Honestly, though, he really didn’t understand what that was all about. He doubted they’d ever get along with each other. She wanted a follower to kiss her feet and smile as they did so.

Jun Yibai wasn’t that kind of man.

Heck, even if he was, he absolutely wouldn’t choose a person like her. Not only does she act like a creep toward her supposed friend but she also treated Jun Yibai like he was being silly for daring not to grovel at her feet.

If she wants a harem, he couldn’t care less about it but keep him out of it.

Upon arrival to his floor, he spotted a small crowd of people near his assigned room. Before he could even ask what had happened, he spotted it.

A familiar set of school supplies and books.

His own.

Almost all his luggage was dumped out front, one of them having been kicked over and scattered in the hallway. Luckily, he didn’t have a lot of things and his valuables were on his person but the fact this had happened made him suspicious.

The timing was curious.

Upon entering the dorm, he found a man sitting in the shared living space, playing with his phone on the couch. The fact that he would have had to step over his stuff to get in yet had done nothing was annoying.

“Are you my roommate?” Jun Yibai asked, placing the box he’d repacked near his bedroom door.

“Mn.” The man grunted. Jun Yibai took that as a yes.

“What happened to my stuff?”

“No clue.” He replied, shrugging. “The guys must have dropped them on the way in.

Yet his roommates' items were placed carefully in the corner? Moreover, he could see the tape he’d used to close the boxes in the trash.

Then the man turned to him with a smirk and it hit him why this man seemed somewhat familiar.

“My name is Li Han.” He waved, his smirk reminding him of another. “I heard you met my little sister last night?”

This was the guy he saw Li Min talking to in front of his dorm. Her insistence that he stay and talk now became clear.

“Jun Yibai.” He replied, showing no concern despite everything that had occurred.

Ah, he truly had underestimated how troublesome things were going to be.

*****​

 

Spoiler: U: Everyday problems

AN: So there is some… spice that I wasn’t intending on including in this chapter. It started out fine and then it just kept going until I… I honestly don’t know how this came about. My original outline went straight out the window. It doesn’t complicate later events but I honestly feel kind of embarrassed about this. ////

*****​

The next few days were the same deal.

Li Han ‘accidentally’ left out his things in the shared area, tripping Jun Yibai up a couple of times.

Eating his food despite being clearly labeled as his.

Playing loud music at ungodly hours of the night, though that stopped when the neighbors complained.

Blaming that loud music on the beta so he was the one getting dirty looks from their neighbors.

It was all petty stuff but stressful when put together.

“So you punched him out, right?” Yang Ru, who had come by to hang out with him, leaned back in her chair with a raised brow.

“Of course, I didn't.” He shot back, chewing a straw. He had been nursing his soda for a while but recalling his week was stressing him out. “He's my roommate. I can’t afford to make any enemies here.”

Those Li siblings were out to get him but he assumed since they were only doing these petty things, it would eventually die down. If he pressed the matter, they might up their game to actual malice.

He had considered getting a room change. Much to his chagrin, however, he learned he couldn’t afford to get a new roommate. Something about a lack of open spots or some bullshit. He suspected the clerk at the office had a connection to Li Min since he had seen him with the alpha sometime later.

His only other option was an off-campus house and he couldn’t afford that. The hotels alone would break him in only a few months and he couldn’t work and study with his coursework.

So he was stuck with dealing with petty shit.

“Who said anything about making enemies?” Yang Ru continued, interrupting his musings. “Just a quick right hook to the jaw and he’ll know better than to mess with you.”

Jun Yibai suppressed a chuckle, tempted by the suggestion.

“He’s not a dog I can train into behaving, Yang Ru.” He argued, amused by the thought. It was a nice thought and would definitely soothe his frustrations swiftly. “Moreover, that's the kind of thing you’d do to resolve this.”

She raised a skeptical brow at him, deadpanning. “Says the guy who punched a dude on his first day of work.”

“He deserved it.” He answered with a shrug.

“So does this jackass!”

While Jun Yibai agreed, it would be bad to make his roommate his adversary. At the moment, it was just minor things so he could deal with it.

***​

Days later, he was confronted by Li Min. She smiled serenely as she stood next to Hanyu, who was unaware of her backbiting nature.

Jun Yibai had tried to broach the subject but the omega was very doubtful since the beta couldn’t outright accuse her of anything. She was very friendly and sweet around others so his own experience seemed out of sync.

While he understood the sentiment, it was annoying. Still, it was fine since he and Li Min rarely interacted. He liked Hanyu and wanted to stay friends, so he chose to let it go for now.

But now here she was, greeting him like they were close.

“It's so good to see you again, Brother Jun!” She said, smiling sweetly. It might have been cute if not for her blatant disregard for his previous statements. So he did the only proper thing one could do.

Ignore her.

“I thought we were going to the library to study, Hanyu.” He turned to the omega, who at least had the decency to look ashamed. He knew Jun Yibai disliked Li Min and had made it a habit to keep them apart despite his desire for his friends to get along.

The two had agreed to study together because they shared a class that the omega was struggling with. Jun Yibai had agreed to help since he needed to study too.

So why was this person who wasn’t in their class here when they needed to study?

Hanyu grimaced, looking like he wished to be anywhere but here. “I-“

“Brother Jun, don’t be like this!” Li Min cut him off, surprising the man with her impassioned words. “I know you don’t like me but don’t blame senior for this. I wanted to tag along because he promised to spend time with me.”

Again, Jun Yibai ignored her and turned to Hanyu. The omega sighed harshly, looking actually annoyed by her declaration. Probably because it sounded like a date when put like that.

“I did promise that but I told you I need to study for my next exam.” He explained, though his tone was weary. “I’m sorry about the last-minute rescheduling but I really need this guy’s help.”

“But your promise!”

“We can hang out anytime but this class is really important for my degree.” He argued, pulling his arm away. “Better yet, we can invite the club and hang out together!”

“But I-”

“Are you planning on holding us up much longer?” Jun Yibai cut in, feeling annoyed. She was clearly trying to pressure Hanyu into letting her join their study session. “We have important things to do right now.”

She glared at him, hiding her expression from Hanyu with her hair. “You-”

“Li Min, please don’t be difficult.” Hanyu stepped between them, keeping them apart. “This is my fault so I’ll make up for it later.”

“Like with a date?” She offered with an impish grin.

“Li Min!” Hanyu snapped, glaring at her.

“I’m just joking!” She stepped back, seeing that she had crossed the line. “Relax, senior~ See ya, brother Jun!”

The alpha departed, leaving the two in a strained silence. Jun Yibai could feel his friend glancing over at him but didn’t feel like saying anything.

So Hanyu spoke first.

“I-I’m sorry about that.” He mumbled, scratching his head awkwardly.

Jun Yibai sighed.

“It's fine, I understand.” He really did but that didn’t mean he wanted to talk about this. He really just wanted to study. But Hanyu still looked concerned.

“I really wasn’t trying anything or-”

“I said it's fine!”

Hanyu flinched at his tone, but let the matter go. Jun Yibai was indeed annoyed. While he liked Hanyu, he was too accommodating toward others when pressed. Honestly. Jun Yibai was just happy he had at least argued back this time but he wasn’t going to let this go that easily.

The two went on to the library and studied as planned. The air between them was tense for a while, as if Li Min had hung over them like a cloud.

As expected, the study session wasn’t the most productive one.

After two hours of stilted words exchanged, Jun Yibai considered ending the session early. While his ire wasn’t directed at Hanyu per se, being around him was just reminding him of what he really was mad about.

That Li Min and her obnoxious brother disrupted his life.

“Ah, it's my lucky day!”

Hanyu and Jun Yibai had chosen a secluded corner of the library to ensure they wouldn’t be disrupted by casual visitors. So far, other than those few people researching the obscure subjects on the shelves behind them, they hadn’t seen a soul.

Yet somehow, this guy showed up.

“I was so hoping I’d get to see you soon~” Chen Guiren grinned at Jun Yibai, dropping down into the seat beside him. He could swear he felt the floor shake as he did so. The alpha was huge when compared to others so he seemed to swallow up all the space around him.

“What are you doing here?” Jun Yibai scowled, not feeling in the mood to deal with anything else right then.

There was a moment of silence as the alpha stared back at him with a weird look. Then his grin returned.

“Business.” He replied, resting his cheek on his fist.

“At the library?”

“Did you think I’d be exchanging classified documents anywhere else?”

“Doing so at school is unbecoming.” And probably illegal.

Chen Guiren chuckled.

“It's nothing troublesome, I promise. The sly fox wanted me to drop some stuff off to a client.”

“And you did?” Those two were usually at each other's throats so the thought of them working together was… hard to believe.

“It helps me too.” He shrugged his massive shoulders, showing off his strength in that casual way he did. Across from them, a gulp was heard. Neither of them looked toward the sound as the alpha continued. “By the way, who is this guy?”

Jun Yibai blinked, only then recalling that Hanyu was there too, staring wide-eyed as the two conversed casually. Damn it, he got drawn in by this bastard's antics and forgot himself.

And from the look of it, so did Hanyu. His face was flushed again, leaning away from the table as if to distance himself. Yet the omega couldn’t seem to make himself look away from Chen Guiren, giving the alpha a hard look.

Was this a kind of dominance thing? He was sure Hanyu had said he felt uncomfortable before. What was he trying to prove?

“I saw him with you the other day too.” Chen Guiren growled, regaining Jun Yibai attention once more. Gone was the pliant and easygoing Chen Guiren. In his place was an alpha who stared intensely down at Jun Yibai like he was demanding his submission. “Are you picking up more flies now that we don’t see each other as much?”

What? Was this guy crazy!?

“Hanyu is my friend so I’d appreciate it if you didn’t cause any trouble for him.” He snapped back, his stare just as intense as the alpha. “Who I make friends with is none of your concern.”

Chen Guiren clicked his teeth, looking annoyed but Jun Yibai didn’t care. He was like this sometimes. Trying to assert dominance at random times as if he’d forgotten to do so at some point.

But that wasn’t their relationship.

If anything, Chen Guiren seemed to prefer being the less dominant one when it came to him and the beta. It was only at times like this when those alpha instincts reared up that Jun Yibai had to put his foot down.

And with the mood he was in, he briefly considered whether or not they’d have to get aggressive today.

As if sensing his thoughts, Chen Guiren tensed. That manically excited look flashed in his eyes, the look this guy only got right before a fight started.

The air felt heavy then and he heard a small whimper from across from him. Worried, Jun Yibai tried to turn toward the sound but his chin was grabbed by Chen Guiren.

“Don’t look away from me, Master.” The alpha snarled, his red eyes gleaming with a possessive heat. “I already have to share you with that fox. I’m not letting anyone else have you.”

Jun Yibai felt his heart jump at his words but something in him refused to melt, wanting to bite back.

“I’m not yours.” He snapped back, smacking his hand away. Despite that, the alpha grinned perversely.

“Not yet.” He growled, the sound low and rumbling like far-off thunder. “Master won’t let just anyone claim him, right?”

“Right.”

A predatory smile graced his lips as he moved in closer.

“Then you are still mine.” He whispered in his ear, his hand going around his neck. It was a light touch but something about it felt proprietary. “And as my beta, shouldn’t you be honest with me?”

“I’m not yours,” Yet, a small rebellious voice called out but was quickly crushed by the beta’s rationality. He refused to be swayed by this guy.

He reached up and pulled Chen Guiren back by the hair. It should have hurt and gotten him back to his senses but this was Chen Guiren.

Obviously, he wouldn’t do as he was expected to do.

No, this bastard let a sinfully erotic growl. No, a growl wouldn’t sound like that. It was too soft, less of a sound, and more of a feeling.

W-was he purring?!

“Master~” He cooed, looking dazed as Jun Yibai’s fist unconsciously clenched harder. Again, that manic pre-fight look came forth, challenging Jun Yibai.

“You-”

“AHEM!”

They both froze, only then recalling where they were. Jun Yibai shoved Chen Guiren away, feeling ashamed to have been drawn into the alpha’s clutches once more. He had even forgotten where he was and acted like this!

And he was seen by… a stranger?

The man who cleared his throat was glancing behind him, his gaze searching for something. Yet Jun Yibai could feel his attention on them. His face was impassive, as if he’d seen nothing.

Hanyu, on the other hand, was covering his ears and looking away. He looked halfway out of his seat and mortified. As if sensing Jun Yibai's gaze, he peeked over and sighed with relief. He still looked embarrassed but not any more than the beta did just then.

The smug look on Chen Guiren's face said he was pleased to have been seen by the omega. As if the show was intended for their audience.

This fucker!

***​

A few minutes later, Jun Yibai and Hanyu were walking out of the library in silence. A silence that lasted all of 10 minutes before the omega could no longer take it.

“OMG.”

“Stop.” Jun Yibai pleaded, feeling embarrassed just thinking about it.

“Oh, MY GOD!” Hanyu turned to him, gesturing wildly. “I… You- y-you and him are-”

“We’re not anything but friends!”

“Friends don’t scent mark each other.” He snorted, tactfully covering his nose. “My girlfriend only does that when she gets restless or jealous.”

“He just gets like that sometimes.” He explained, trying to make their relationship sound less strange. Really, it wasn’t weird. They both did that kind of thing sometimes. It was never an issue since he rarely interacted with anyone but betas.

The few non-beta’s he met either just steered clear or paid it no mind. He suspected his previous job in construction made it hard for most to notice so it never occurred to him to curb this behavior. Now he was openly scented by Chen Guiren and noticed how it seemed.

Then again, he was also seen being scent marked.

He tried to explain that their behavior before was absolutely not weird for friends but Hanyu refused to budge. The omega stared at him like he’d gone crazy.

“Dude, you guys looked seconds away from making out on the table.”

Is that how they looked? It wasn’t like that though! Sure, he was kind of hard after pushing back against Chen Guiren but that was only because of their relationship.

Chen Guiren and he were sparing partners first and friends later so his desire to pin the alpha was a normal reaction. It was the adrenaline, really.

Moreover, what happened before was only because Chen Guiren was trying to get him to submit. The alpha knew how Jun Yibai felt about that so tensions were raised and he acted as he was supposed to in a fight.

To dominate his opponent. And that's what the alpha was at that moment, his opponent.

The mild arousal was just his dumb lizard brain mistaking a win as permission to have sex. Simple as!

“Had that guy not shown up, I’m pretty sure you’d have been doing the nasty before long.” Hanyu continued, cocking a brow.

Right, that guy. Apparently, he’d been one of Chen Guiren’s guys sent to check in on his boss. Worse still was the fact that it had apparently taken him a few tries to get their attention. Or at least, Jun Yibai’s attention.

“You couldn’t have waited a few more seconds, Xiao Fu?” Chen Guiren sighed, still staring at Jun Yibai with misty eyes. “A little longer and everyone would know who this guy belongs to.”

This had earned the alpha a kick in the shin. His yelp of pain soothed Jun Yibai's mildly bruised pride. Even as his snickers echoed in Jun Yibai's ears as he and Hanyu left, he felt satisfied that he’d at least avenged himself in that small way.

“That guy is an alpha so he gets all possessive around other people.” He finally explained with a sigh. “It’s normal.”

Jun Yibai was used to him acting like this and generally preferred it since it kept others away from them. Chen Guiren was like a wall in general but add in other people and he became very territorial. As if he thought someone would take Jun Yibai if he didn’t growl at every passing waitress offering a refill.

It was nice to not have people stare.

This time, however, it was troublesome.

He honestly didn’t expect Chen Guiren to act like that. He usually was very touchy and possessive but this time was… different. It felt less like his casual declaration of ownership and more intense.

As if he was mere moments from biting him and making him wear his mark for everyone to see.

The thought sent shivers through the beta, though he wasn’t sure if it was from excitement or dismay. The former bothered him much more than the latter.

“I’ve got to go.” Jun Yibai cut off Hanyu’s words, which he had been drowning out for the last few minutes. He doubted the omega believed him about just being friends with Chen Guiren but he honestly didn’t want to argue the point.

His relationship with those two wasn’t simple and he didn’t want to explain it to anyone, friend or not.

Upon arriving at his dorm, he was not surprised to see Li Han in the shared living space, watching TV. If he wasn’t making Jun Yibai’s life a hassle, he was there in front of the TV, watching something trashy.

Worse, it's not even the guilty pleasure kind of trashy. It's the ‘why in the world would you make a show like this at all’ kind of trashy.

This time, however, Li Han wasn’t watching some weird ‘reality’ show. He was watching the news.

[...a recent change in management has been finalized after a long and expensive legal battle. The new CEO of Song Entertainment is scheduled to have his first press conference later this week. It's been theorized that the new CEO will be addressing the recent scandals associated with their talents and claims of abuse from upper management. The most vocal of the claims are from an Artist known as Y who claims that-]

“Song?” Jun Yibai echoed, only half listening to the newscast. He generally didn’t keep up with entertainment since it was messy and hard to follow. The story was never clear since so many people put their own spin on things.

This time, however, he was curious about the name of the company. He recalled his classmate from high school, who was also surnamed Song. The chances of him being related to one of the growing companies were low but for some reason, he couldn’t help but wonder.

Maybe I can call Suren and ask if there was a connection. He thought, walking past the alpha. He was glad that the man was one of those people who ignored the world when watching TV. He didn’t feel like dealing with both of the Li siblings today.

But, much to his surprise, Li Han grabbed his arm all of a sudden.

Jun Yibai glanced at the hand clenched on his wrist before looking at the alpha.

“What do you want now?” He said, his tone cold and annoyed.

Li Han didn’t seem eager to respond, cocking his head as if trying to figure out something. Just as Jun Yibai was about to demand an answer, the alpha pulled him close and sniffed him.

Fucking gross!

Jun Yibai kneed the alpha in the balls, shoving him away in disgust. He could deal with petty shit but if this guy thought he’d be willing to be touched by him, he’d better be ready for a fight.

“The fuck are you doing?!” Jun Yibai shouted, raising his fists. He was sure this wasn’t something Li Min had planned. Such a thing was too much.

Li Han groaned, glaring daggers but keeping a distance.

“Don’t flatter yourself, asshole.” He said through gritted teeth. “I can do a lot better than you. Why would I want to touch a beta, especially a guy like you?”

Jun Yibai rolled his eyes at the comment. As if he wanted to be touched by this guy either. He was good looking but all alphas were. His arrogance was just an added insult to injury.

“But you come in reeking of some other alpha and expect me not to notice?” Li Han continued, looking strangely insulted.

Jun Yibai blinked, confused. Was this some kind of alpha posturing thing? He had heard that most alphas don’t like the scent of another in their home but surely it wasn’t that, right?

“Had you not grabbed me, I’d have been in the shower by now.” Jun Yibai pointed out, feeling a headache forming.

“Who were you fucking?”

“What?” Jun Yibai blinked.

“You heard me. You were fucking some alpha, right?” He pressed, his gaze running over Jun Yibai’s body as if searching for the scarlet letter on his skin. “A dominant one at that. Who was it?”

Ah, that's what it was. He was worried that Jun Yibai had someone he couldn’t intimidate backing him. He wondered briefly if the scent scared his roommate as he was now keeping a cautious distance from Jun Yibai.

“None of your business.”

Maybe now he could study in peace.

***​

Meanwhile, elsewhere, Chen Guiren was happily returning home. His mood was practically bursting from the seams!

Outwardly, however, he looked to be sleeping in the backseat of his limo. Across from sat Li Suren, who was watching the alpha with a curious expression.

“You saw Sweetie?”

“Yep.” The alpha answered without opening his eyes.

“And you didn’t let me know?”

“Would you have for me?”

They both knew the answer. Both wanted Jun Yibai for themselves, their possessive need for the beta somehow overpowering their need for each other. It was the reason they sat so far from one another.

Any closer and the latent scent of the beta on Chen Guiren’s clothes might have tempted them to do something more than talk business.

Speaking of business.

“Did you get Yi Lin?” Li Suren asked, turning back to the files on his lap. The original purpose of their meeting was just to make sure everything was going as planned. It was just the faint scent of their beta’s scent that distracted him.

“Yi Lin?” The alpha finally opened his eyes, glancing out the window. “Which guy was that?”

“The basketball captain!”

“Oh, him. Yeah, I got him.” He assured, remembering that guy. Because of him, he got to see Master while beating his ass in his own preferred sport. It was a win-win for the alpha. “I don’t know why you need me though. He’s an arrogant idiot, so I doubt you couldn’t get him on your own.”

The idiot had fallen right into Li Suren’s trap. Just a few choice words and a sultry look had that guy salivating for a chance at the omega.

The fact he was engaged didn’t seem to deter him at all.

So like a proper alpha, Chen Guiren challenged him for ownership of Li Suren. Those hadn’t been Chen Guiren’s words but it had been Yi Lin’s downfall.

The second that arrogant little shit had tried to claim Li Suren as his, Chen Guiren had forgotten all about the plan. The simple plan that just needed him to show he wasn’t disinterested in the omega in order to draw him in further.

No, he got mad. No, mad was too tame. He was furious that this little shit thought he could touch his omega. That Li Suren would be anything but his and Master’s omega. That he could dare to fantasize about him was what made Chen Guiren want to break the other alpha.

What better way to break a man than to demolish him in his own area of expertise?

The look on his face, when Chen Guiren confessed to having never played basketball before, was euphoric.

“Alphas respect strength.” Li Suren explained, interrupting the alpha’s pleasant memories. “They submit to stronger men, those who show their superiority in their accomplished field. I can’t beat him physically, so he would never respect me or my authority. Hence why I needed you to reign him in.”

Chen Guiren shrugged, glancing at his phone. Social media was abuzz about the new CEO of Song Entertainment. It was a rising star that recently had some scandals spring up.

A rising star that was edging on Chen Guiren’s company.

“Anything on Song Entertainment’s new CEO?” He asked, still scrolling.

“Other than the fact that he’d one of the sons of the former CEO and he’s been overseas for a while now, nothing.” Li Suren answered, having been asked about this before.

“And before going overseas?”

“Getting records on minors takes time.”

“I see.”

They soon arrived at their residence, a large highrise that overlooked the city. Originally when the two had chosen to live together, they’d wanted to get a house so that when Jun Yibai finally agreed to live with them, he’d be more comfortable. Unfortunately, their parents had insisted they stay here, close to both households.

An engagement gift, they had been told.

Chen Guiren had already bought a smaller place, as he was sure Li Suren had done the same. A place they could all live without being observed by their families.

Staring up at the high rise, he couldn’t help but wonder what master would have thought of this place. He’d probably grimace in disgust at how unnecessarily lavish it was, inside and out.

He chuckled at the thought.

“Are you coming or not?” Li Suren called out, waiting for him

Chen Guiren nodded, feeling glad to be back. It was almost home. It was just missing one other person to make it so.

*****
​

AN: Random factoid. I chose which of the two boys would show up at the library via a coin flip so there is an alternate scene where Suren showed up instead and proclaimed Yibai as his.

Also, for those wondering why Hanyu didn't leave, he had wanted to after seeing how intimate the two were but the bodyguard, Xiao Fu, wouldn't let him leave. He was ordered not to let anyone get close or leave the area.

 

Spoiler: U: Bad Day

AN: This chapter was supposed to be shorter originally but kept going in spite of my intentions. This is like, twice as long as I originally planned and part of me wants to split it but I’m not sure where I could. Honestly, I’m just happy things went in the direction I intended this time around~

No edit so please help an apple out!

*****​

The next few days were… strange to say the least.

All of a sudden, he felt a lot more eyes on him, which was unusual. Every time he passed by a group, the whispers they had been speaking faded and they stared at him as he walked by. As soon as he was out of earshot, the whispers continued.

Stranger still, his classmates all gave him the stink eye. When he spoke to them, they would snort and pretend like he hadn’t said anything.

They hadn't been the most friendly before but they would at least respond when he asked them questions on a subject.

Now they barely looked at him.

In spite of the sudden ostracization from his classmates, his professor, the omega, kept a close eye on him. Calling on him frequently during the lecture and praising his interesting ideas on the given subject.

His compliments were always met with a low derisive grunt from someone nearby.

It felt like everyone around him was following a script while Jun Yibai was left unaware.

By the third day, Jun Yibai had started to wonder what was going on. No one wanted to talk to him and the few who did seem to be sneering at him.

The one who broke the silence was Hanyu, who pulled him from the hall into a separate room. His nervous glances made it clear he was avoiding prying eyes.

Jun Yibai tried not to be hurt by the implication that he was something to be ashamed of.

“Why are you walking around like nothing is going on?!” He asked, looking Jun Yibai over as if checking for injuries. “Are you crazy?”

“Me? I haven’t done anything so why shouldn’t I go to class?” He snapped back. Hanyu apparently knew what was going on too, it seems.

“You? You don’t know?”

“Know what?”

Hanyu groaned, looking frustrated at his apparent lack of knowledge.

“Someone put out a claim on the message board that you're a sugar baby.”

“A what?” Him? A sugar baby? He was built like a house. Who would want him? “Me?”

“Seriously?” Hanyu looked him over before he realized that yes, Jun Yibai truly had no idea. “I thought you were just ballsy for walking around without addressing the rumors. Dumb but ballsy.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I’ve had my assignment to finish so I haven’t checked the message boards until today.” He explained, facepalming. Their study session was partly about him completing an assignment for his class. Since their session had gone nowhere, it was sensible to distance himself from distractions until he finished. “People have been talking about how shameless you’ve been, walking around like nothing happened so I got worried about you. Haven't you looked?”

“...No.” He didn’t bother to look at the social message board, only looking at the bulletins about maintenance or schedule changes. The forums where his rumors were being uploaded were on a completely different section than where Jun Yibai looked.

His antisocial nature had bit him in the ass this time.

“There are claims that you got in via a rich donor in exchange for sex.” He stated, pulling out his phone to show him the posts. The user was very firm on their claims, spouting his bullshit so confidently, it was hard to think it could be a lie. “The account is a sock account but claims to have proof. Not that anyone asked for any.”

Right, because it's more likely he slept his way in than having legitimately outdone alphas. If not for his scholarship, he was sure they’d accuse him of bribing someone.

Apparently, even with his mundane looks, he was capable of seducing someone to these people.

“It was actually Li Min who told me about the rumors first.” Hanyu continued, missing the look in Jun Yibai’s eye at the mention of the alpha female's name. “She was worried about the rumors and said she had doubts about it herself.

I’m sure she did. He thought, realizing what had happened. He had forgotten about the little interaction with HL the day their study session went awry. His reaction to being scent marked by Chen Guiren at that time.

He was sure if that guy had smelled it, others would have too. It would be easy to get people to verify he had been marked by an alpha. Even walking around casually, he probably still smelled a bit like Chen Guiren.

He’d practically gift-wrapped himself for those two.

He sighed, resenting the fact he couldn’t smell anything on him even now. He was emblazoned with a neon sign that everyone else could see but him.

As if reading his mind, Hanyu spoke Jun Yibai’s thoughts out loud. “Now that I think about it, do you think the rumor has something to do with what happened the other day with you and your not-boyfriend?”

He was more right than wrong but it felt wrong to say Chen Guiren was his boyfriend.

“That guy and I aren’t dating.” He said, his tone casual.

“But it does have something to do with that, right?” He pressed, not letting the matter drop. “That's the only time I could think of that would lead to such conclusions.”

He shrugged, not wanting to discuss the line of thought. While it was annoying, he couldn’t blame Chen Guiren entirely. He got close to the alpha on his own. Half the fault was on him.

No, it wasn’t his fault either! Chen Guiren was his friend and he was allowed to be friends with an alpha now. There was nothing shameful or bad about it!

He mentally chanted this in his head, even as he felt the judging eyes of his father breathing down his neck.

“Jun Yibai!”

The beta flinched, having blanked out for a moment. The omega gave him a concerned look but relaxed once he saw he had the beta’s attention again.

“We have to come up with a solution for all this!” He insisted, tapping his arm with frustration. “We can’t let whoever that poster is, ruin your reputation.”

“It doesn’t matter.” He retorted.

“It does! It’ll make your school life a lot harder if they think you got in through the back door.”

“They wouldn’t respect me anyway.”

It was a fact that his getting the highest score this time had made him a pariah. It might have been acceptable as an omega but betas weren’t supposed to be above anyone but each other. A bunch of crabs in a pot.

Jun Yibai was just the crab that actually escaped the pot.

Perhaps Hanyu knew a little about this, as an omega male. He had his own set of expectations being thrust upon him. His chosen field wasn’t what anyone would have assumed from someone like him yet here he was, studying hard.

In some ways, the two of them were very alike.

“I'm sorry.”

“What for?” Jun Yibai blinked, confused by the sudden apology. “It's not your fault.”

Technically, this was Hanyu’s fault. Their friendship and Li Min’s desire to harass him had led up to this. The easy solution was to just cut ties with the omega.

“Still, I’m your friend and yet I let this get so out of hand because I wasn’t paying attention.” He grumbled, looking like he was sucking on a lemon. “I don’t know if I can help with this.”

It was because of this that Jun Yibai didn’t cut ties with Hanyu. The omega was a good guy, if not a bit foolish when it came to his friends. While the easy path was to just let them drift apart and finally get Li Min off his ass, he didn’t want to do that.

Whether it was out of pride or true affection for his new friend, Jun Yibai refused to let someone else dictate how his life was going to go. He hadn’t left the prying eyes of his father just to buckle to this little bit of pressure.

“There's nothing to help me with. This is nothing.” He assured, patting the man on the shoulder. “Don’t sweat it.”

“But-”

“It's fine.”

It really was fine. While the rumor made it damn near impossible to socialize as few would want to associate with someone who slept their way into a prestigious university, it wasn’t so bad that Jun Yibai felt the need to do anything about it at the moment.

The administration knew he hadn’t cheated or bribed his way in. they had acted like he was a talking dog when they learned of his academic prowess. Had he truly gotten in through the back door, such condescending people would have openly said as much when looking at the beta who broke their worldviews with under 200 questions.

As such, he wasn’t worried about being expelled.

He could get the administration to show off his score to prove he’d earned his way in but using such tactics would implicate them as the one he was ‘offering his services’ to.

Giving him the scholarship was as far as they were willing to go for a beta like him.

Perhaps this kind of tactic would work against someone like Hanyu who was social and cared about what people thought about him. Someone who adhered to the norms of society would be destroyed by the implication of being cast out. It was natural to be wary. It was human nature.

But Jun Yibai wasn’t scared of such things anymore. Even when he had no idea what was happening, he felt nothing more than mild confusion.

Jun Yibai had accepted that his adherence to being unorthodox would lead to things like this. He knew going down the path of a business degree as a beta would garner looks and whispers about his arrogance.

Giving those bastards another excuse wasn’t going to change much.

***​

That evening, he was invited out by Hanyu.

“You’re not worried about being seen with me?” He asked, though he knew the answer already. It was the same as the one given that morning.

“Junior Brother Jun is the friend I picked out myself. How can I let you go just because some people are jealous of you?”

“That and I’m one of the few people willing to listen to you humblebrag about your girlfriend.”

T-that too~” He mumbled, at least having the decency to look embarrassed. “Moreover, when my darling heard the rumors, she insisted on meeting you again.”

Hence why they had decided to meet up at the restaurant of her choice. The only thing was…

“...Isn’t this place a bit… much?”

The restaurant of her choice was a hotel/club. It was high end but had the same feel as the previous place they’d gone to.

“Do you have a thing with clubs?” He asked, looking around as he was led through the building. There were quite a few couples in the halls kissing and… oh, dear! Jun Yibai looked away as he saw a hand slip into a man’s pants. The front side. “You don’t know any nicer places?”

“This place has privacy so my girlfriend prefers it to open restaurants.”

“Why not rent out a private room there?” Li Suren always did that when they were hanging out.

Hanyu balked at his casual question. “Those are expensive!”

Were they? Whenever he was invited out by Li Suren, the omega had complained about how cheap it was. He worried it wouldn’t be worth it if he barely broke his card limit on the room.

Then again, Li Suren was a rich heir. God only knew if his card even had a limit to it.

It seemed he’d been spoiled a bit by that guy. It was a strange feeling.

Before he could explore that line of thought, they had reached their reserved room. It wasn’t VIP, as there was a flight of stairs some distance away that led to much nicer rooms. He could almost smell the money drifting from there.

The guards at the top of the stairs also made it clear that not just anyone could step up there.

Inside their room, there was a couch, a large flatscreen, and a table meant to hold drinks and snacks ordered over the phone. It was nice and private. It even had a specialized room attached for those who needed the space.

According to Hanyu, couples would often want some ‘time alone’ and would use it while the other guests continued on with their own party. The fact that this was enough of a necessity that it warranted a special room to be installed in even the standard rooms was very telling.

“And this is the place your girlfriend invited us to?”

“She said her uncle had a meeting to attend here, so it's a good enough spot.” He replied, smiling as they waited inside.

“Should I be concerned about what your girlfriend’s family gets into?” Jun Yibai asked, feeling mildly concerned. The ‘meetings’ he knew of were those his father set up with his friends or the ones Chen Guiren had which usually ended with the alpha coming back with blood stains. Neither option gave him any sense of ease.

“Why?” Hanyu, ever the innocent man, blinked at him with confusion. “This is just a club.”

Was there not a couple just outside almost having full-on sex when they passed by?

Hanyu’s priorities were a bit strange.

This was exemplified when Hanyu once again asked him if he was going to do anything about the rumors spreading online. The day had been rough for the omega ad he was just a bystander. He probably thought the beta was holding in his resentments.

Perhaps for an omega, that kind of rumor might make it difficult but Jun Yibai was a beta. The rules were different.

“I don’t really care too much about it.” He stated, shrugging. He really didn’t care. Sure, it was inconvenient to have his classmates ignore him but otherwise, it wasn’t a hassle. Whispers were just that, whispers. Unless someone tried to harm him physically, he didn’t plan on doing anything about it.

He just really hoped it didn’t come to that.

***​

“Darling!” Hanyu jumped from his seat, running over to the woman who had entered before she could even greet them. He embraces her lovingly, nuzzling her neck. “You look beautiful tonight.”

“You say that every night.”

“Because it’s true every time~”

God, I might choke on their antics before the night is over. Jun Yibai thought, grimacing. Hanyu seemed intent on snuggling close to his girlfriend, perhaps from his need as an omega to seek comfort from his mate. It had been a stressful day and despite the looks he’d received, Hanyu stuck with him. Even when his own friends seemed unwilling to stay close.

“You should choose your friends more wisely, Hanyu.”

Despite the omega’s insistence that he was fine, Jun Yibai knew the isolation was hitting Hanyu worse than him. Solely because of him, the friends he’d had were distancing themselves from him.

He was beginning to wonder what other rumors had been spread about him to warrent such a reaction.

Li Min had to know her tactic wasn’t working since she had seen the two of them hanging out despite the rumors. While she couldn’t get close due to her own friends holding her back, Jun Yibai had felt her baleful glare burning into the back of his skull. If looks could kill, he’d be dead a thousand times over.

He was sure it wasn’t going to end with just this.

He glanced up at the couple next to him, sighing with relief as he felt the tension in Hanyu eases the more he teased the woman beside him. He deserved this much.

Wanting his friend to feel better, Jun Yibai excused himself, though he was sure neither really noticed his absence. Perhaps Hanyu just really wanted to see his girlfriend and invited Jun Yibai so he wouldn’t be alone.

Jun Yibai appreciated it. He didn’t feel like going back to his dorm and dealing with that guy tonight.

No, he wanted to use the bathroom and have a few minutes of peace.

On his way to the bathroom, he spotted some… unsavory things on the ground. Stuff that should be seen in hotel wastebaskets and not in public hallways. Stone-faced employees cleaned up with nary a word. The kind of habitual movement that spoke volumes on how often they did this kind of thing.

How do places like this exist?

He sat in the stall, checking his phone for messages. Part of him wanted to check the university forum but he still didn’t care enough to do so. If it's just backdoor dealing, it would fade with time when people realized he didn’t have any of the telltale signs of being a sugar baby.

He was chuckling to himself at the amusing response Yang Ru had sent him when the bathroom door slammed open and some people entered.

No, it was just two and they weren’t here to take a piss.

“Keep people out!” A male voice slurred, his steps uneven in the formerly quiet bathroom. “Me and this little thing got something to discuss.”

From the kissing sounds he was hearing, it was a very in-depth conversation they were gonna have.

Usually, Jun Yibai would just stay quiet and try to sneak out while the couple was occupied. The person at the door would be a bit of an issue but other than an awkward look, it could be ignored.

Yet Jun Yibai felt his blood slow to a dreadful crawl as the man spoke. Making all kinds of promises to his partner, both material and sexual.

That voice sounded… familiar? But where had he heard it before? It wasn’t a voice he’d heard many times before but stuck in his head. Like an old song that you never forgot no matter how much time passed.

“Was it wise to just leave the party like that?” The second person whined, sounding needy but cajoling. “I’m pretty sure my boyfriend might catch us.”

The man laughed, again filling the beta with a familiar sense of dread.

“Don’t worry, sweetheart.” He assured, his words still slurring in places. “My buddy will keep your lover boy distracted. It has nothing to do with us now so just forget it.”

His heart stopped.

“What about the kid?”

“What about him? He has nothing to do with us.”

That's where he’d heard it. The trio from back then?

Part of him wanted to check if the man’s shoes were the same but the sane side of him told him to keep still. Just like back then, when he’d said nothing and pretended not to see the trio. He sat on the park bench and stared at the ground, listening as they marveled at his obedience.

Even after learning what they did, he’d said nothing.

What could he say? That he saw three teens with blue sneakers, grey boots, and black sneakers? That he was sure one of them had blue eyes? What good would such a description do?

Worse, what if they found out about him and came after him? He was bigger now but so were they. Perhaps it was childish but he was still scared of those guys. They felt like monsters back then, looming over him and chuckling at his fear.

The person beside him was really one of them then…

Fuck, he had to get out of here!

Without thought, he scrambled out of the bathroom, shocking the waiter stationed outside. Jun Yibai paid him no mind, trying to calm himself down. By the time he made it to an area free of people, he was sweating. His heart was racing and he felt like his eyes were burning. He needed…

He called Li Suren.

As soon as the phone started ringing, he felt dumb for calling. He wasn’t a child in need of reassurance. He wasn’t that weak.

Yet before he could change his mind and hang up, the call connected.

“Yes, Sweetie?”

Shit, now he had to say something.

“I… I need you to say something stupid.” Anything to get his mind off that man in the bathroom and the possibility that he was-

“Stupid?” He echoed, clearly confused. “Did you click my number by mistake? If you want dumb, you should have called that mutt an-”

“Suren…”

“…Fine.” He sighed, thankfully not pressing him on his motives. “I meant to call you anyway. That idiot got to touch you and that was very unfair of you!”

Jun Yibai couldn’t help but smile a bit at the indignant tone. He sounded like a disgruntled wife chastising her husband.

“I also kicked him in the shin.” He replied, surprising himself when he spoke defensively. Why defend himself here?

“Which is why I am only slightly upset as opposed to furious.” The omega huffed, taking his mind off the matter of his defensiveness. “Speaking of, are you planning on blowing away your classmates when exams start? I wish we were in the same department so I could sit next to you and compete with you like old days. We’d be tying for first place and seeing all those arrogant alphas bow their head to my sweetie would be so satisfying~”

Exams? Sure, exams were coming up but why worry about that? In the business department, such things were only important to them. It didn’t affect anyone else so no one really kept track of those. Li Suren, despite being in the medical sciences department, kept track of it?

“I said I wanted to hear something dumb.” He grumbled, not wanting to think too hard about why the omega would bother to keep track of such a thing despite his busy schedule.

“The dumbest thing I can think of is assuming my sweetie can't blow all those assholes out of the water when exams come up.”

“…” Damn it, why did he have to say such things when he needed it. Couldn’t he just be dumb and not pick up on his worries?

“Was that dumb enough?”

“Yeah, thanks.”

“No problem, Sweetie.” He assured, clearly happy with himself. “If you are having a long night, I can have that mutt pick you up. I would do it myself but I’m with my family and-”

“I don’t need a ride. Besides, you don’t even know where I am.”

“Sweetie!” He huffed. “Don’t insult me like that. As your omega, I always know where you are.” He admitted, as if being a stalker was a given.

Others might find such a statement disturbing and call the omega a creep. In Jun Yibai’s mind, Li Suren was a stalker and a pervert. But at that moment, when he felt a bit unsettled with himself, knowing Li Suren was only a phone call away from showing up was… a bit reassuring.

Not that he would ever say such a thing to that guy. It would only encourage that bad behavior.

“You are a creep. I hope you know that.”

“You already knew that yet you called me, right?” He shot back, chuckling. “My Sweetie is so cute when you get shy and-”

Jun Yibai hung up, not wanting to hear such nonsense.

He leaned back against the wall, letting out a breath. His heart, which had been racing, slowed down to a steady rate.

He felt dumb for panicking. There was no way that guy was the same as the one from the park. It had been almost a decade. He was sure those teens would have changed considerably by now. Moreover, the chances of bumping into them were so small, it was ridiculous to think about it.

Just because it sounded a bit like them, didn’t mean it was them.

Despite the reassurance, Jun Yibai now felt drained and wanted to go back to his dorm. Well, no, that was a lie. He’d rather do anything than go back but he definitely wanted to leave.

He’d just go back and ask Hanyu if he could hitch a ride with his girlfriend since it was getting late. Upon arriving at the door, he knocked, worried he might walk in on them being intimate. They had been close to it when he left, after all.

No answer, so he opened the door.

And… the room was empty.

Considering how affectionate Hanyu had been prior to leaving and his restraint over the last few days for school, there was no question where the couple was.

“At least I don’t have to deal with them acting all lovey-dovey around me again.” He sighed, sending his friend a text that he was about to leave.

Hanyu

Stay if you want.​

The number of spelling mistakes in that simple message told him that the two were busy. Still, should he stay? He’d been told the room was reserved for the night and he could sleep off his drunkenness if need be.

It would definitely be better than trying to hail a taxi this late at night.

Just as he was removing his coat, he heard a frantic knock on the door. Before he could question who it was, a small voice called out to him.

“P-please, help me!”

Jun Yibai groaned, wanting to pretend he hadn’t heard anything. That he could just ignore it and go to sleep.

Unfortunately, he was a nice guy.

He cracked the door open, using his foot to stop it from opening any further. Outside the door, pressed up against it, was a lovely young woman with long hair and a collar.

An omega then?

“What do you want?” He asked, looking her over. Her face was red and she was panting as if she had been running a mile. Considering the length of the hall, she can’t have gotten far on her own. “Are you okay?”

“Huh?” She looked up at him for a second before smiling with relief. “You’re a beta!”

Well damn, this looks like it was gonna be a whole thing.

“P-please, hide me!” She begged, looking down the hall as if her pursuers would be on her any moment.

“What are you planning to do here?”

“I…I called my mate.” She claimed, her eyes filling with tears as she spoke. “I just need a place to hide until he comes for me. Please, let me in!”

Jun Yibai moved his foot, letting the girl in as he closed the door. She collapsed onto the floor, curling up as she moaned and whined helplessly. She rubbed her arms frantically, as if covered in ants, and kicked her legs about erratically. He wanted to help her up but he could see she had a mating bite on her neck.

Supposedly, mated pairs didn’t like being touched when in heat. He’d learned that lesson from the time he’d gone to Yang Ru’s home and tried to help her father during his heat.

He shuddered at the memory.

As such, he didn't even reach out to her. She’d probably attack him if he tried to touch her. Instead, he poured out some water and placed it nearby for her to drink.

“Thank you.” She panted, taking the cup after a moment.

“You should go to the back room.” He suggested, pointing to the door behind the couches. “It’ll be safer there.”

“Is my scent bothering you?”

He couldn’t smell a thing. She was sweating but she didn’t smell like sweat. Just… wet, like being in a fog. Perhaps an alpha would smell something different but he would never know what.

Moreover, he was sure whoever was after her would follow her scent. Or her mate could burst in.

Either way, being alone with a girl in heat would be bad for him.

His assumption came true. Almost as soon as the girl had closed the door to the back room, the front door was broken down by four guys. They flowed in like ants, clearly tracking the girl's scent as they ignored him.

“The door.” One man called out, finally acknowledging him. “You got the code?”

Breaking into the lounge area was easy but the bedroom was locked from the inside. Only those inside with the code could open the door. This ensured that the couple inside would not be disturbed.

Jun Yibai said nothing, looking around to weigh his odds. Four guys would be a bit much but if he took them down one by one he might.

“Oi, you listening!?” Goon number 3 shouted, shoving him back. “Give us the code.”

Damn, he can’t wait and think of a plan, it seemed. They had blocked the door so he couldn’t even run.

I’ll have to wing it. He thought, moving closer to number 3.

“Oh? You planning on whispering in my ear or-”

His words were cut off as Jun Yibai knocked him with a swift right hook. The man hit the ground and his comrades were quick to retaliate. The fight was short since the space was small and unsuitable for a 4 on 1 brawl.

Jun Yibai was outnumbered and was pinned to the ground after a few minutes of fighting. He’d even managed to knock out two of the goons.

Much to his chagrin, number 3 was still conscious.

“Oh look,” He snorted, spitting out a glob of bloody spit onto the ground beside Jun Yibai. “we have ourselves a self-sacrificing hero.”

“I’m not a hero.” He snapped, wishing he could at least have knocked this guy out.

Did he need to be to help someone in need?

“No? Then give us the code so we can help out our friend.”

He looked up at him and spat. “Fuck off.”

“You-”

“Hey!” Goon number 1 spoke up from above Jun Yibai, where he had pinned the beta beneath his knee. “The boss was expecting some results tonight! What are we gonna do with some stupid beta? We can’t drag him over if he fights again.”

Jun Yibai was glad he was at least a problem for them. He wasn’t some passive captive that could be dragged about like a sack of potatoes.

“True…” Number 3 glanced over at the backroom door. “Oh, you still got some of that wine?”

“Yeah, but why…” A look of realization flashed on the man’s face. He grimaced. “On him? He's a beta too, right? Would it work?”

“It should make it harder to fight and afterward… Well, it won’t be our problem, right?”

“True.”

Jun Yibai had no idea what they were talking about but he was sure they meant to drug him. Considering the condition of the woman who had run from them, he had a feeling it would be bad if he let that happen. But he was currently pinned with a huge beta on his back, pressing his knee down on his spine.

He’d have to endure and escape when the opportunity arose.

That opportunity came as soon as a cup of wine was funneled down his throat. It was sweet and didn’t seem to have a lot of alcohol in it. If anything, it went down less like liquor and more like soda.

He coughed as it burned its way down, spilling out his mouth even as he swallowed just a little bit. He curled up, which they let him do as he coughed. Perhaps whatever they had put in there was supposed to act fast, since the man on his back eased up on his grip considerably.

That moment of negligence was all he needed, shifting his weight so he could unbalance the man behind him. Not waiting for the other man to counter, Jun Yibai rushed to his feet and dashed out of the room, listening to the enraged shouts from behind him.

The girl would be fine as long as she kept her wits about her and didn’t open the door for those guys. If anything, he was the best target, since they could just beat him until he gave them the code for the room. Considering the threats he was hearing as he ran up to the VIP section, he was sure they’d make him pay for daring to avoid them.

How in the world do I get into these situations?! He wondered, rounding a corner. The fact that anyone who saw him looked away spoke volumes about what kind of people come here.

I have to tell Hanyu not to let his girlfriend come here again. He thought as he ran into a random room. The door was open and he was sure that hiding within would be better than running around. Maybe he’d get lucky and those guys would rush past so he could slip out.

He was not lucky.

The layout was the same in all the rooms though there was a sleazy-looking alpha male on the couch in front of him.

His face was twisted with undisguised disgust.

“What is this?!” He snapped, kicking at the table nearby. It shattered against the far wall, making everyone shudder with fear. “I order you to collect that mouthy little bitch and you come back with some useless male?”

Jun Yibai was about to ask what he was talking about but the door slammed open behind him and he felt a large arm encircle his neck. Jun Yibai struck back, elbowing the man in the side but was eventually pinned down again.

He could at least feel a bit happier that it took a few more guys to hold him down this time

Still, he was fucking pissed that the situation had apparently gotten worse. It would be his luck that the first open door he spotted would be the place he was supposed to be dragged off to. The two guys who he had left behind marveled at this, mocking him for making them run around when he was just going to deliver himself to their boss.

Jun Yibai was an unlucky bastard, it seemed.

The sleazy alpha still sat on the couch, watching Jun Yibai as his subordinates explained the situation. He had a curious look in his eyes, as if trying to figure out some great puzzle placed in front of him.

“So in other words,” The man said, his eyes not leaving Jun Yibai. “you lost the girl, made a ruckus, and failed the simple mission I gave you?”

The men fell silent, their gazes downcast as the ramifications sunk in.

“M-M-maybe we can still use him?” One brave- or foolish- grunt suggested.

“Him? What am I to do with him?” The alpha snapped back, making the beta wilt even further. “You were supposed to sabotage their partnership by planting that guy’s girl in the brat's room.” She’s in heat so they would have definitely fucked each other blind. It’d be two birds with one stone but you somehow let some little omega get away from you?”

Even as this guy laid out his plan despite the fact that everyone here should already know, Jun Yibai stayed quiet. The alpha finally stopped staring at him as his anger and frustration grew.

Jun Yibai, on the other hand, was feeling terrible. Whatever they had given him was starting to affect him and it left him a bit disoriented.

Perhaps all his running had sped things up?

His thoughts were a bit muddled as his body started to feel hot and clammy. Like being fully clothed in a sauna. Worse, his head was hurting like hell and his tongue felt heavy and dry. Then there was the nausea.

He groaned.

The noise was faint but it somehow cut off whatever tangent the alpha was going on as he turned to the beta.

“...What did you-”

“We gave him that stuff you gave us. To restrain him.”

“On a beta? Huh… Interesting. Maybe I can still use him. He's not pretty or handsome but I’m sure there are some weirdos into betas. And if that stuff works as I think, there won't be an issue with pregnancy.”

The man kept going, weighing his options on whether or not to sell him Jun Yibai to a labor camp overseas, sell his organs, or send him to a brothel. All of those would be something he’d object to but he felt like he was sinking into the floor.

He felt so thirsty, wishing his tongue would move so he could at least swallow but nothing moved.

His mind was elsewhere, focusing on the far wall and the potato chip lying there. He could swear he could see the individual salt flakes there.

A bang rang out, though it was muffled to Jun Yibai, whose overheated brain was struggling to even focus on that damn potato chip.

“Oi, where you do think you are touching? That person doesn’t belong to you so why are your filthy hands on him?!”

“W-who the fuck are you-”

The noise that followed should have kept him up but he just wanted to sleep the pain away. He was drunk, hot, and in pain. He didn't want to deal with this.

“How troublesome…” and then everything went black

*****​

AN: So ya’ll know how a bunch of Chinese novels start out with a chick getting drugged by her jealous bestie/sister/step-sister and sleeping with a super rich mega-billionaire who loves no one but inexplicably is attracted to this one chick? Yeah, the damsel here is that chick. She's just at the end game. Went through all the bullshit and is happy with her man. Whoever he is, I’m sure he’s not the toxic type. No Stockholm syndrome, just pure fluff, and face-slapping.

Random book recommendation: Bro and Beast by L.C. Davis. It's great. Basically, Chad broman with the obvious jock name of Brad gets sucked into a wattpad werewolf book. You all know what I’m talking about. He takes the place of the female lead and has a lot to say about the situation. I fell in love with Brad and his snark before chapter 1 even ended. His commentary makes even the most cliche scene hilarious.

 

Spoiler: U: Medical Intervention*

AN: I had this chapter planned some time ago and I’m so glad I actually get to use it. You guys have no clue how many scenes go unused because I wrote them long before they would happen and then found that they don’t fit anywhere. I hope I can keep the other scenes I wrote and make them fit.

Warning: snowball. That is all.

*****​

Chen Guiren wasn’t expecting a lot from this evening.

He and Li Suren had been working together to get a business off the ground for months now and were in the final stages of making it a reality. Really, all they needed now were investors.

Cue the man in front of him now.

Young Master Gu was a target for them due to his impeccable reputation and his intuition when it came to investments. If he got involved, it was sure to be a money-making fountain.

That and he had some ties to the darker side of the business so he wasn’t going to flinch at Chen Guiren’s more aggressive tactics.

This was a plus for the alpha, as he wasn’t planning on moving away from his roots. His father was involved in that life too, only pulling back when he got with his slightly more straight-laced husband years later.

But that life didn’t let go easily so the threads they still had were very useful when it came to business. Everyone had something to hide, after all.

Young Master Gu, on the other hand, only really had his omega girlfriend. It wasn’t something Chen Guiren was willing to touch but it was something he was willing to take advantage of.

Said girlfriend worked as a waitress at a certain club despite having a rich boyfriend. Said boyfriend often accompanied her, staying in a room nearby so they could leave together. This is where Chen Guiren’s shameless behavior came in.

Chen Guiren had come in and asked for a short meeting with the man in exchange for some info he wanted. Something about his girl's relative who had skipped town after Young Master Gu had gone after them. He didn’t know the details but he could easily assume he didn’t have anything positive to say to them.

It got his foot in the door and gun to his head. But it also got him a chance to talk business with the man so it was a win in the end.

Interestingly enough, the club he had cornered the older alpha in was the same one his master was visiting with that omega guy. The men he sent to follow him couldn’t get many details but apparently, the omega had a girlfriend who invited them.

Inviting her boyfriend to such a place was weird. Weirder still to let one's girlfriend work in such a seedy place. Then again, he was sure the girl he’d seen with Young Master Gu prior to their meeting wasn’t his girlfriend. She had called him ‘uncle’ and slipped away to meet her boyfriend.

Chen Guiren briefly wondered if there was a connection between the two but found that he couldn’t care less.

Despite the weird way things started, their talk went well. The man was already interested in their business ventures and had sought to inquire about their plans before Chen Guiren had shown up. Chen Guiren remained calm, knowing that showing too much enthusiasm would lead to being taken advantage of.

If he and Li Suren wanted to make this happen, they had to be smart.

Then, for no reason at all, everything went to shit.

It started with a phone call that Young Master Gu had answered with a curious urgency. Chen Guiren had assumed it was his girlfriend calling. He’d have complained but if master had called, he’d do the same.

Speaking of. He checked his phone, smiling as he saw the little blue dot on his tracking app. Knowing Master was so close by and under his ‘watch’ was very satisfying. His inner alpha loved the thought of knowing where his beloved mate was at all times.

Maybe after this was done he could-

Young Master Gu jumped from his chair and was out of the room before Chen Guiren could utter a word.

He had wondered why the stoic man who remained stern and unflappable had rushed out of the room after a single short phone call. He hadn’t even made an excuse, just dashing out the door with a strange scent tinted by rage, fear, and concern.

It had been the first crack and gave Chen Guiren something to work with.

Seeing an opportunity to check in on his master, he went over to make sure his beta was okay. Yet all he found was his prospective business partner inside and banging on the door. The fact he hadn’t broken it down with his pounding was a testament to the design.

But Chen Guiren didn’t care about any of that. There were a lot of faces in the room but none were his master.

“Xiao Fu!”

“Yes, boss."

“I want to know the how, why and what happened here by morning.” He turned away, knowing his men would get it done long before then.

“Yes sir.”

Chen Guiren left the matter to his assistant, knowing the man would get the information he needed. He didn’t know or care right now.

Master was gone and his cell was lying abandoned on the couch.

The one who took him were beta’s as well, but they wore a cologne that made it easy to track them. That and the mild scent that Chen Guiren had left on Master a few days ago.

He was so relieved that it had remained despite him not meaning to mark him. Had it faded, it’d be impossible to track down a singular beta in this place.

He followed the scent, the muffled sounds of the neighboring rooms making it hard to pin down much of anything. Even so, Chen Guiren continued on, determined to find his man.

When he did, it was a… it was a situation, he assumed. He couldn’t say what happened next as he felt a red haze go over him.

He recalled seeing his master pinned to the ground unconscious and talking of brothels but other than that, he couldn't say what happened next.

It must have been quite a thing because he only came to when he heard his master call out to him.

“-you calm the fuck down, you idiot!?”

Ah, his beloved, sharp-tongued beta!

“Master!” He tried to move toward him but found his arms restrained. Dazed, he saw his subordinates holding him back, clearly having been struggling to keep him from beating those guys to death.

Who were ‘those guys’, you ask? It must be the guys on the floor with blood pooling under them. Unfortunately, they were still alive, his senses told him. It was disappointing.

He didn’t have the power yet to openly kill those he wanted and his fathers would lose their minds if he made such a mess for them to clean up.

Later then, he promised himself

Once he assured his men that he wasn’t about to rip those bastard’s spines out and beat them with it, they finally let him go. From the bruises and cuts on them, he had put up quite a fight before he calmed down.

Damn, he’d have to give those guys a bonus or something later.

He gave the order to restrain and secure the men in a separate location. While Chen Guiren wasn’t sure of the details, he knew he’d want to thoroughly ‘interrogate’ them later.

This then led to Chen Guiren’s current situation. It's not good or ideal but as that sly fox might say, it was redeemable.

Chen Guiren stood outside the restroom he’d cleared out a few minutes ago, keeping watch as his beta retched in one of the stalls. It was smart to try and puke it out but listening was very distressing.

Each panting breath was a reminder that he’d fucked up.

He was Jun Yibai’s alpha. Even if things were not official yet, Chen Guiren had claimed him years ago and swore to keep him safe. Yet despite being only a few rooms away, he let this happen.

It was disgraceful.

“Young master Chen?”

Then there was this asshole!

“I see you’ve taken care of your girlfriend.” He snorted, only giving the older alpha a brief glance before looking away. Young Master Gu was holding his girlfriend in his arms, her body covered but clearly naked under his coat.

Alpha etiquette dictates that he not look at her, especially when she is in heat. She was claimed already, so her scent wasn’t appealing. If anything, even if she was free of the elder man’s claiming bite, Chen Guiren wouldn't feel anything but disdain for her.

It didn’t take a genius to figure out what had happened before.

His master was a nice guy, despite his sour look and sharp tongue. An omega in trouble? Obviously, he’d help. Even if he knew she was a nobody, he’d have helped because that’s the kind of guy he was.

Chen Guiren loved that about him, really.

But tonight it led to this.

Another retch echoed from the bathroom, making his scowl deepen.

“We can talk business later.” He snapped, glaring at Young Master Gu. “Go take care of your omega.”

His tone must have sounded rude, as the elder alpha growled at him. “Watch your tone, boy!”

Usually, such a thing would make him falter, as an elder alpha was higher on their unofficial hierarchy than him. Tonight, however, Chen Guiren didn’t feel like acting ‘proper’.

“I’m a little pissed at the moment.” He snapped back, his tone unapologetic. “I can’t do niceties right now.”

“That’s no excuse for your disrespect towards my mate.” He snarled, giving the young man a hard look. “After the night she has had, she doesn’t deserve to be spoken to like that.”

The air was tense. If not for his girlfriend in his arms, Chen Guiren was sure he’d have been bashed into the pavement by this guy. He’d fight back, obviously, but it wouldn’t be a fight he could win just then.

Still, Chen Guiren stood firm, glaring up at the man with an equally harsh look.

“And my man is currently puking his guts out after being beaten on while your mate sleeps restfully in your arms.” He sneered, nodding to the bathroom. Both men could hear the panting gasps as the beta tried to empty his stomach. “You’ll have to excuse me for not feeling too empathetic.”

The elder alpha at least had the decency to look embarrassed by his outburst.

“I will pay back this debt.” The elder alpha muttered after a moment of silence, glancing down at the sleeping woman.

“If you want to, I won’t argue.” Chen Guiren leaned back against the wall, his anger fading just a little bit as he spoke. “All I ask is that you take the deal I proposed to you previously.”

The older alpha gritted his teeth, glaring hatefully at Chen Guiren. He didn’t care. If he won, that was all that mattered. Besides, it was only right he was mad. This was just his revenge.

His previous proposal was a straight-up robbery. The older man would get little from the deal so refusal was expected. It was the plan.

The door-in-the-face technique was what Li Suren had called it.

Chen Guiren didn't care about the name. He just saw an opening. The two of them needed this deal to move forward so being a bit underhanded was a given. Besides, this guy would be making a lot more if things went as planned.

It was a win-win.

Young Master Gu looked ready to punch him but a small sound came from the precious bundle in his arms.

His girl was waking up.

They couldn’t stay. As her alpha and mate, only he could relieve the heat raging through her. Her nap was only a small respite.

He turned and walked away, his assistant handing over his card so they could talk later. Chen Guiren took it, knowing that they would probably try to renege on the deal in their favor. It was a shitty thing to do, to press a man in a stressful situation.

But ask him if he gave a shit about that.

***​

Sometime later, Chen Guiren had helped Jun Yibai into his car, the beta laying down after chugging a whole bottle of water. He still felt hot to the touch but didn’t look too bad.

Chen Guiren ordered the driver to take them to the hospital.

Jun Yibai had puked up a lot but who could say if it was completely out of his system? He had no idea what had even been given to him, let alone what it would do.

Yet again, he wished he’d beaten those men to death like he’d wanted.

He’d beaten the men unconscious and left them tied up on the floor. He’d have killed them for daring to touch his Master but he had a feeling the alpha from before would want a shot at them. His sly fox would be impressed by his tactic of dangling bait in front of their target.

What he wouldn’t be impressed with was the fact he’d lost track of their beta. That said beta had been puking up a lung and felt hot to the touch despite the cool night air.

The sickly sweet scent coming off his feverishly hot skin.

Chen Guiren wasn’t a doctor but he knew this wasn’t right.

He also knew someone who would know what was going on.

***​

“Why are you calling me?” Li Suren’s voice was sharp and impatient, much like Chen Guiren’s mood. But he couldn’t let it show.

“Quick question.” He cut in, glancing over at the man next to him. “Hypothetical, really. What would happen if a beta took a heat inducer?”

It had occurred to him that the stuff given to Master must be a heat inducer. Their original target was young master Gu's girlfriend after all. If they wanted to ruin her, a normal aphrodisiac wouldn't do against a claimed omega.

“A heat inducer?” Li Suren’s tone took on a suspicious tone, worrying the alpha. But he couldn’t back down now. “Where would he get something like that?”

“Does it matter? This is hypothetical.”

Shit, Master was sweating a lot now. Even the open window didn’t look to be cooling him down.

“Right,” Li Suren continued on, unaware of the mild freakout his partner was experiencing as he saw the beta, unbutton his shirt. “Well, since he isn’t an omega, he’d need to go to the hospital. Omega hormones can be harmful to those who aren’t omega’s.”

“Harmful how?” He gulped, staring hard as the skin was exposed. His throat, perfect for his bite. His collarbone, so angular and tempting.

But Li Suren's next words cooled his ardor.

“There's a chance of it turning them into an omega but the odds of that are astronomically low and are more likely to cause long-term illnesses.” He explained clinically. “Infertility, muscle degradation, tumors, and possibly lack of sexual response to stimuli.”

“A-all that from a heat inducer?”

“It's a drug made to induce estrus in omegas.” He snapped back, as if it was obvious that such a thing would happen. “What do you think would happen if you tried to force a square peg through a round hole? You can’t give medicine to people who don’t have the part and expect anything good.”

“Sh-” Chen Guiren sucked in a breath, seeing that Jun Yibai had finally undid his shirt and was now tossing it aside. “I see. Are there some other means of helping someone in this situation?”

Oh fuck, Master! He thought, suppressing a growl. Those months working on construction sites were the best idea ever!

Jun Yibai had always been fit but good god was there a power that hadn’t come in the last time he saw the beta shirtless. He was still young so there was room to grow but the firm valley of muscles that he had hidden under those dumpy shirts was mouth-watering.

Damn, he was getting harder by the second!

“Considering that heat inducers make the subject horny, you could probably help if they get off.” Li Suren continued, unaware of the temptation he’d placed before his partner. “I’m not sure. Testing on humans has never been tried but it might help. I-”

“Got it.”

Before the omega could speak another word, Chen Guiren hung up, quickly shutting the phone off. He knew the omega would call back but he couldn’t let anyone interrupt him. Not even Li Suren.

He turned to Jun Yibai, who was wrestling with his pants, trying to force them down. It was cute how frustrated he was. So much so, he hadn’t even bothered to undo the buttons.

“Master.”

He was absolutely sure his voice wasn’t normal just then. No, it was barely him speaking. This was an alpha talking, making it clear that his intentions were anything but chaste.

An omega would have melted at the subtle growl that echoed underneath his words. Their instincts told them in no uncertain terms where this was going.

His master, however, wasn’t an omega.

“Stop with the growling!” He snapped back, even as he pressed down his erection. An erection, he was sure, that had spilled just a little at his growl. “You’ve already made a mess of this and I don’t need a headache on top of everything else.”

“The only thing aching is that cock of yours, right?” He cooed, crawling over to the beta’s side. “I could help with that, you know?”

Don’t be gross.

That’s what his master would usually say in response to his offer. While Chen Guiren had never been this vulgar, he had put it out there that he was willing to ‘help a bro out’ on more than one occasion. It was always refused and the matter dropped.

Tonight, however?

Jun Yibai stared down at him, at the alpha crawling across the car floor to kneel before. His eyes were predatory but not touching the beta at all. Not daring to.

This was his master after all.

It felt strange to be so submissive but waiting for permission didn’t feel bad. If anything, the anticipation was making him more aroused. Even if his offer was rejected, the thought of kneeling between the beta’s thighs was enough to have him spill in his pants.

Please, Master, say ye-

“Fine.”

Jun Yibai parted his thick thighs, the smell of his arousal perfuming the air. It was a musky smell, a smell only belonging to a man who was close to spilling his seed. It was a mating call.

A call Chen Guiren was all too eager to answer.

“Master!”

Chen Guiren crawled in between those thick thighs, reveling in the warmth he was being surrounded by. There wasn’t much space, as the seats were only so wide and Chen Guiren’s shoulders were much broader than expected.

This led to the frustrating situation of the alpha being unable to get close to Jun Yibai’s groin. The beta couldn’t part his legs that wide.

That didn’t stop the foolish man from trying, thrusting his hips forward, seeking just a bit of friction. Something to ease the heat growing inside him.

“Guiren!”

Jun Yibai grabbed hold of Chen Guiren’s hair, messing up those silky black locks, and tugged it forward. The action forced him to rest his thighs on the alpha’s broad shoulders but it was worth it to feel him pressed against his shaft.

The subtle breaths on his pants. The added heat of another person.

It was something for the horny beta.

To Chen Guiren, it was heaven.

He was close, only separated by a few layers of clothing. Even the mild sting of the zipper on his cheek was setting his head into a fog. Just a tear and he’d be pressed against the cock he’d been dreaming about fondling since their teens.

The cock he’d sworn he’d one day worship like a proper servant to his master.

“Master!” He cried, rubbing his cheek and lips over the bulge, wanting to get closer but not daring to. Master was his master so he couldn’t be willful. No, he was going to show the beta what they could be like if the man just gave him a chance.

He’d submit to him.

“Don’t-” Jun Yibai sucked in a breath as Chen Guiren ran his teeth over his covered shaft. The jeans held firm but the scrape of those teeth had him gasping for air. “Don’t just rub it like a cat! You said you’d help me, so do it!”

A clear order. And one Chen Guiren was happy to obey.

Chen Guiren reached out, his claws extending for a moment to do that which needed to be done.

“Hey!” Jun Yibai cried out as he watched Chen Guiren cut the seam to his jeans. It was only one side but seeing it tear so easily must have been a shock. “My pants are-”

“I’ll get you another pair later.” Chen Guiren’s reply was curt, which he regretted a second later when the beta pulled on his hair again, pulling him away from his heavenly scent. It hurt but brought him back to reality as his beta stared down at him.

“Don’t get arrogant with me, alpha!” He snapped, his lust-misted eyes glaring down at him. “Behave yourself and hurry up.”

Usually, when someone was addressed in a sexual situation, the roles would be reversed. The alpha would be pinning the partner down and dominating. The utterance was a sign of submission from the speaker, as they only called their partner that when their rational mind was gone and their most primal self was at the forefront.

It was the ultimate seduction.

Chen Guiren should be dominating Jun Yibai. It wouldn’t even be a problem to do. His master was strong but not stronger than him. He could pin the beta down and do anything he likes. Force the man who had set him ablaze to submit to him.

But that wasn’t what the alpha wanted.

He wanted to kneel at his feet. To submit to the man whose voice echoed in his ears whenever he jerked off. Whose firm hand he’d fantasized about encircling his throat to make him behave. The one who dared use his secondary sex as a means to chastise him in such a situation.

Fuck, he loved this man.

“I’m sorry, Master.” He whispered, pressing a kiss to the beta’s bare thigh. It was conciliatory, seeking forgiveness for his audacity. “I’ll be good. Please just relax.”

Chen Guiren gave the beta a pleading look, his attempt at being cute. He doubted it worked. He was not cute and would never be mistaken for cute. He could, however, look sad and his beta was soft-hearted under all that grumpiness.

Like clockwork, Jun Yibai scowled at him before turning away.

“Just get on with it.”

Chen Guiren smiled, revealing his prize hidden under jeans and underwear. It looked so appetizing, his shaft straining underneath the fabric of his boxers. Even better when he saw it in the flesh.

It’s almost a shame that no one else will ever get a view like this. He let out a breath, admiring his beta. His cock wasn’t as big as Chen Guiren’s but compared to the average beta, he was sure this was above.

I suppose that sly fox will like this.

The thought brought him back to the situation at hand, souring his mood once more.

Again, he cursed those fuckers for this. Had it just been a normal aphrodisiac, he could have taken his time to explore his master as he liked. Trace his tongue over every vein. Play with the tip like a lollipop or even let his senses be suffocated by licking his balls.

But no! He had to rush through this gift he’d been presented lest his beloved become impotent.

He swore he’d sashimi those bastards' dick off when he got the chance.

With a mournful sigh, the alpha moved up and pressed his tongue to the bell-shaped tip. Master’s hip jumped at the contact, possibly to either move closer or away but Chen Guiren pinned his hips with his hands.

He, unfortunately, had to hurry things along as the sweet scent was getting more intense. His concern was the very faint bitter tint that was starting to rise.

Chen Guiren wasted no time, sinking onto the shaft as both he and Master let out a long groan of pleasure. It was heaven.

Chen Guiren had dreamed of being in this position but the reality was beyond what he could imagine. The mild pain of stretching his mouth open so wide, the heat of the shaft radiating in his mouth, and the taste were fogging his mind.

For just a moment, Chen Guiren wished Jun Yibai was an alpha like him. That he’d get to feel the base of his cock swell up and press against his lips like a stamp. That he’d use that aggressive and domineering attitude to force it deeper into his mouth. Down his throat.

Better yet, knot his mouth so they could stay connected longer.

Force him to drink all of his cum like one should for their master.

“Master~” He groaned, the shaft making his words unintelligible. But that didn't matter anyway, as his words just made his tongue and throat shudder around Jun Yibai’s shaft, making it drip just a bit more of that sweetness.

“D-don’t just sit there!” Master gritted out from clenched teeth. “If you won’t let me fuck your mouth, then get on it yourself, Alpha!”

Master wasn’t an alpha but damn did he talk like one sometimes.

The thought of Jun Yibai being an alpha was tempting but he ultimately thought better of it. While exciting, he’d then have to contend with some omega pairing up with him and stealing him from him and Li Suren.

They both knew Li Suren could never be Jun Yibai’s fated pair in that world.

He’d have to make up for it this time.

He pulled off the beta’s cock, ignoring the beta’s cry of frustration. Even when he grabbed hold of his hair and tried pulling it back to the straining cock, Chen Guiren resisted.

Instead, Chen Guiren reached up to grab and restrain Jun Yibai’s wrists, pinning them above his head. Perhaps it was due to the drug but when the alpha had secured the beta’s hands above with the seatbelt and headrest, there was little resistance.

At least physically.

“Chen Guiren, you fucker!” Jun Yibai snapped, glaring at him even as he swiveled his hip in search of his touch. The car was filled with the scent of his arousal and it was clouding the alpha’s mind.

But not enough to make him forget how dire things were.

“Master!” Chen Guiren shoved the beta’s shirt up, revealing his broad chest and generous pecs to the open air. Seeking forgiveness, he leaned in to suck his nipple, his hands returning to his shaft to get him off.

The beta’s loud groan was music to his ears.

“Master, baby, I’m so sorry about this.” Chen Guiren pleaded, pumping his fist with strong and fast strokes, squeezing the head with each pass. “This isn’t how I wanted it to be the first time but I promise not to do too much. I’ll be good and serve Master properly so please forgive me.”

He watched as the beta tried to keep up with his strokes, failing to keep up as he used his own saliva to ease the action. All the while, Chen Guiren paid tribute to the chest he’d only seen a few times and yearned to bury his head in. The reddish nipples he’d sought to lick, kiss and bite since forever ago.

He wished he could use both hands but his other one was clenching hard on his own shaft, trying to stave off an orgasm that was threatening to humiliate him if he let it. Everything was setting him off and if he let go for a second, he’d spill in his pants like a loser.

He was already shit for letting this happen so it was only proper he did not get anything from this.

This was all for Master.

The master calling out to him as his legs kicked out into the open air, chasing after that last bit that would push him over the edge.

That last bit came when the enraptured Chen Guiren accidentally ran his fang over that oh-so-delicious nipple.

“Yes, fuck!” He shouted, his hips rising to match his strokes. Even as his seed erupted from him, he didn’t stop thrusting into the alpha’s fist. “Alpha, don’t stop.”

Chen Guiren shuddered, wishing he could do more. He wanted to taste it, to let the musky taste of his master spread on his tongue, seep into his throat and fill his stomach.

He wanted to be drenched in the scent, to be marked by Jun Yibai’s cum.

Yet he’d failed tonight so he just waited until the beta stopped shaking beneath him, listening as he struggled to catch his breath. Considering how much cum he released, it had to be enough right?

Wrong.

Despite being restrained, his master was a demanding partner. When Chen Guiren tried to move away to clean up, Jun Yibai hooked his leg around his and pulled him closer.

“M-master?”

Jun Yibai looked up at him, his eyes misty but burning with lust. “More…”

“M-more?!” His hand was drenched! Surely he couldn't…

But there it was! A proud erection that looked no more satisfied than before. Hell, it looked harder, making Chen Guiren lick his lips as he imagined easing that pain he knew his master was suffering from with his throat.

Perhaps he said it out loud, since the beta cursed, bringing Chen Guiren closer.

“Fuck, I need more.” He snapped, grinding on the alpha like a proper omega in heat. But the words he spoke were nothing like an omega. “Get down there where you belong and suck it!”

Oh god, he was gonna spill.

Chen Guiren didn’t say a word, taking his proper place between his master’s thighs and opening wide. He was eager but this wasn’t for him. He needed to keep his hands to himself if he wanted to keep from cumming in his pants tonight.

Jun Yibai, on the other hand, wasted no time. He claimed the alpha's mouth with a single determined thrust, their mutual moans echoing through the car.

“I knew you could be good if you tried!” He panted, his hips pressing deeper in. When Chen Guiren felt his throat give, he reveled in his master's victorious cry. “You are so good, alpha, taking me so deep.”

Yes! Yes, I’ll be good for you, Master

It was hard to be used like this. It hurt a little and he found it hard to breathe at times. Yet he didn’t mind. He felt safe with Master. Safe so he could slip into that comfortable haze.

Part of him wanted to sink into the haze that was falling over him. It was a nice place, where he and his master were the only ones and he could let go and be… he couldn’t say right then.

He just wanted to be good for his master and sink into that haze.

But if he did, he knew he wouldn’t find his way out on his own. He couldn’t. Now wasn’t the time. He couldn’t lose focus.

This was not for him, damn it.

He squeezed his balls, hoping the pain would stave off his erection. It did not, just making a strange shiver travel through him as his brain took the pain and the pleasure as the same thing.

Focus!

Rather than being passive, Chen Guiren tried to make Jun Yibai come faster. He used his tongue to push up against the invading shaft, loving the friction against his palate.

“Yes! I knew my alpha wasn’t a passive slut.” He praised, his leg clenching harder on the alpha’s shoulder. “No, you are a good slut. Knowing how to make me use you harder.”

Yes~ Chen Guiren moaned, his motions taking on a frenzied pace.

“Is that what you want? Tell me, slut.” He demanded, ceasing his movements for a moment.. “Tell me what you want.”

Chen Guiren looked up at Jun Yibai, seeking guidance. In those deep grey eyes, he saw pride. His master loved what was happening. He didn’t look down at him. In those eyes, he wasn’t a slut.

No, he was HIS slut.

“Rougher!” He begged, staring up at him with pleading eyes. “Use me harder, master~”

He didn’t know if his words came out clearly. His mouth was full and his head was way too fuzzy to parse out a coherent thought at that moment. Regardless, Master used him harder. He hooked his leg around Chen Guiren’s neck and back, thrusting into his throat until the alpha was choking.

It was all he could do not to spill right then and there.

It was hard to figure out how long this went on for but he was absolutely sure the car had stopped long before Jun Yibai was done using him.

Whether it was the first, second, or third time, the ‘end’ was not for a while.

***​

It took Chen Guiren a good minute to clean himself up and even then, he was sure he was a mess. His hair was tousled, his suit wrinkled and anyone other than a beta would be able to smell the cum on his skin.

Yet none of this mattered as Chen Guiren carried Jun Yibai into the hospital, meeting the doctor at the entrance. The nurses rushed over, letting him lay the beta down on the gurney as they wheeled him away to be treated.

The sour tint to his scent was still very faint so he hoped the doctors could fix him before something happened.

A few nurses tried to get him to register for Jun Yibai, asking questions to ensure no mistakes were made but he said nothing, turning away to wait in the hall. The nurses frowned but nodded, relying entirely on the records sent over by Jun Yibai’s emergency contact.

It was a good thing he’d called ahead because he was sure if he spoke, it would be bad.

He couldn’t until he saw-

“Chen Guiren, you lousy mutt!”

Ah, apparently the phrase ‘speak of the devil and he shall come’ had some truth to it.

Li Suren stormed over, looking ready to tear his head off.

That was fair.

The omega grabbed him by the collar, never mind that he was shorter and weaker than him. The man was a fiery little thing when angered.

“What the hell happened to him?!” He snarled, clenching his fist. “Why is he in the hospital?”

Chen Guiren said nothing, wrapping his arm around the omega’s waist and carrying him away. The few nurses nearby cordially looked away, possibly assuming that they were about to have a tryst. It was a common occurrence with alpha/omega pairs.

They were only half right.

Chen Guiren walked into one of the empty VIP rooms, strolling past the bed and entering the private bathroom. Locking the door, he stared down at the fuming omega in his arms.

He couldn’t anymore…

Neither could Li Suren, it seems, as the omega charged right back at him.

“What are you-”

Chen Guiren cut him off, knowing he only had this moment to do it. He had to.

He pulled the omega close and kissed him.

There was a moment of shock, which gave Chen Guiren a chance to pry open the man’s mouth with his tongue. His partner was furious, trying to bite him as they fought.

One sought to continue the kiss while the other fought against it. And damn it, did the omega fight. He struggled, clawing at the alpha’s neck as if seeking to slit his throat. He could even smell a bit of blood as it spilled from his neck.

All of it was worth it if he could just-

There!

He felt it, the moment Li Suren relaxed in his arms. When he melted and took his offering.

There, resting on his tongue like a sweet offering, was Jun Yibai’s seed. It had been a privilege to drink it but Li Suren was his partner and deserved to have some too. It was their way of doing things.

“I-is this?” The omega touched his lip, licking the pearl fluid with his devious tongue. His dark eyes misted over as the revelation hit him. He shivered in his arms, his hand clenching in Chen Guiren’s shirt.

“Yeah.” He sighed, feeling relieved that he’d shared this with his omega.

“Give me more, you bastard!”

Li Suren pulled him down once more, smashing their lips together. This time, Chen Guiren was the one being devoured, letting the omega lick and nip as he liked. He was seeking more of that elusive taste, the taste of their beta.

Chen Guiren was content to submit just this once to the omega, knowing he owed him this after fucking up this hard.

Li Suren licked every corner of his mouth, yearning for that taste that Chen Guiren had kept just for him.

“Ah, so good~” The omega breathed, his face flushed. Whether it was from lack of air or their kiss, Chen Guiren couldn’t help but think this guy looked cute when he wasn’t being a fox.

“I have to share Master with you, right?” He replied, wrapping his arms around the man. "Cause he belongs to us, right?”

It was the first time he’d spoken about their agreement in years. It was weird and perverse but somehow they both knew they couldn’t bear to have Jun Yibai and not share him. They might not like one another but they needed each other.

“Absolutely. You might have gotten ahead of me but Sweetie’s seed has to be shared.”

“Right.” He let out a breath, as if relieved to learn it wasn’t only him that felt this way.

Part of him wondered if these feelings were just his own. The desire to own Jun Yibai in all ways yet feeling hollow if Li Suren wasn’t there with him. He knew why he felt that way about the omega but the fact he wanted him outside that, was surprising.

They stood together, wrapped in each other's arms and leaning on one another. Chen Guiren’s heart was racing against Li Suren’s ear but the alpha took solace in the milky sweet scent coming from the omega.

“I’m still mad at you though.” He snapped, glaring up at Chen Guiren. He even pinched the taller man, reveling in his flinch of pain. “How could you let something like this happen to him?!”

Shit, he’d hoped the omega would let their moment go on a bit longer. At least long enough for him to come up with an excuse that could save his ass.

“M-master managed to make an enemy and they are making trouble for him.” He mumbled, feeling bad.

“How much trouble?”

“Enough to make this difficult if it's not handled delicately.” He confessed.

The rumors weren’t really an issue for a beta. It might make things awkward but Jun Yibai wasn’t someone scared of being seen as anything. He was very sure of himself and his mostly antisocial attitude made isolation a weak punishment for him.

On the other hand, he knew better than anyone that things like this didn’t end until the other party submitted. Those two assholes had started petty and were moving on to maliciousness. The effectiveness of the current rumor was negligible but the next one?

Who knew what kind of bullshit they might put out?

Worse, what if the slander actually harmed their beta?

Chen Guiren wasn’t willing to wait for that day. Better to nip it in the bud than fix something already out in the open.

“Ah, is that your way of asking for help?” Li Suren guessed, tapping Chen Guiren’s chin to get his attention. The smirk on his face was annoying. “And if I ask for reimbursement?”

As he thought. Annoying.

“I’ve already made a down payment so it's a given, right?” He shot back, nipping his finger lightly.

“Bastard.”

The omega pulled away, fixing his attire in the limited space of the bathroom. The mirror showed off his look, handsome and fit, looking like the idle omega partner. Even his lips, which were nice to look at sometimes, were delectably reddened by his kiss.

Considering how annoying this guy was, he shouldn’t have felt pleased that he’d done that to him.

“Still, I told you to keep an eye on him.” Li Suren scolded the alpha, glaring at him through his reflection. “You were already at the club so how did this happen?”

“His roommate and the bitch who started this weren’t involved so I kept my distance.” He explained, leaning back against the door. “Master is a guy with bad luck, it seems. He somehow got dragged into something like this just going out like normal.”

Really, how was it that a guy that hated troublesome things so much ended up in such predicaments? It was really weird!

“Obviously.” His partner sighed, most likely having the same thoughts as him. “But as his intended mates, is it not our job to bring him peace and tranquility? To make his unlucky life a little easier.”

“Says the guy playing house while I work.” He grumbled defensively.

“Who got you that meeting?”

“…”

“That’s what I thought.” He turned back, looking as prim and proper as he had when he’d barged into the waiting area like a mother bear on a rampage. “Look, I’ll take care of the university problem while you smooth things over with our would-be partner. We need his investment if we want to get a foothold in the market.”

“I still think this is a bit risky to do alone.” He argued. “If this goes wrong, the fallout will be-”

“Are you scared?”

“Me? No, I don’t care about all that. I have a backup plan for that.” One that would probably mean a lot of bodies and a mess that his fathers would kick his ass over. Still, he wouldn’t regret it for a second. “But if I want to have Master as my husband, I can’t be a bum. Master doesn’t need fancy pillows but I want to give him a good damn chair to relax in.”

Li Suren felt the same way. Their beta wasn’t delicate nor did he need coddling. What he needed was a safe harbor to relax and let himself go. To not be guarded against their affections for fear of… well, whatever held that man back.

They liked the beta. Whether he was ‘Sweetie’ or ‘Master’, he was theirs to show with adoration and care.

Whether he accepted that was a moot point.

*****​

AN: So I originally thought to make the car scene a bit differently but it flowed into what I wrote. Originally, Yibai was supposed to be half awake but mostly out of it but it didn’t come out that way. That and I wanted some dirty talk. I don’t get a lot of opportunities to do it so how could I resist the chance!?

I feel embarrassed (////)

 

Spoiler: U: Best methods

AN: Thank you for the wait. It honestly didn’t occur to me that you guys actually expect updates monthly now. That is… a thing to learn. Sorry~

Anywho, after a lot of construction and rewriting, I present my update. Enjoy~ Also a little treat for ya and the end.

*****​

Waking up is a strange mix of gradual awareness and sudden alertness. The line between sleep and being awake is so nebulous that it's hard to fathom where one ends and the other begins. And even when the person is aware of that moment, it fades away as other thoughts push that away.

That sense of peace and silence when one wakes up on their own… was not what Jun Yibai woke up to.

No, that moment of peace was broken by voices he could only barely comprehend.

“-kind of friend am I?!”

The voice was tinged with concern and anger, though it was hard to say who it was for. Jun Yibai, barely awake as is, couldn’t put much thought into such a thing. He was more concerned about where he was.

This was an unfamiliar place it seemed.

For one thing, the ceiling was white.

It wasn’t the off-white color he was used to waking up to at his dorm. Nor the mild piss-colored white ceiling of his work dorm. No, this was that pure kind of white color that made one's eyes hurt when the lights were on. The one that made it feel like needles were being pressed into the back of one's eyes just looking at it.

It was that sterile white that one only really saw at hospitals.

His misty thoughts were confirmed as a second voice cut through the panicked one.

“Your friend, it seems, was quite lucky this time around.” A calmer, more level voice said, bringing the frenzied energy in the room down a bit. “Left alone much longer and there might have been deleterious side effects.”

“But he’s fine now?” The voice asked, sounding a bit more calm than before.

“Once he wakes up, he will be fine. A bit weak but the IV should keep him regulated.”

Regulated? Who were they talking about?

Surely not him. He was fine. Tired and feeling a bit tingly in the limbs but he wasn’t weakened. If anything, he felt eager to move.

He had responsibilities after all. To school. To his friends. To Chen Guiren, who he was sure helped him out last-

“...”

W-wait, had Chen Guiren helped him out? He… he definitely recalled seeing the alpha, puking his guts out, and then… the car but surely that wasn’t what really happened! Right?

Right?!

Because if it wasn’t just a drunken delirium brought about by stress and liquor then he’d really…

“Ugh.” He groaned, regretting his choice to try and sit up from bed. The simple action that he did every day had punished him for his hubris.

His head was throbbing and his tingling limbs were now a stinging buzz that made him want to curl up and die.

Or perhaps it was the humiliation of realizing that he had, indeed, done all kinds of stuff with Chen Guiren of all people.

Worse, he said…

He called that guy…

“Damn it!”

“Yibai!”

The curtain that had somehow seemed to appear in his vision parted, revealing a pair of faces. One he recognized and the other, he didn’t. It was a doctor, stern-looking and older, giving off an air of authority.

Jun Yibai relaxed, trusting that the man in front of him would explain what the hell was going on exactly.

That and take his mind off of… that.

Behind the doctor, he spotted Hanyu, looking concerned for him. Considering everything that had happened, it was a given. Still, he was glad he didn’t wake up alone.

Or worse, to his family.

He shuddered at the thought of how his father would react to all this. Being drugged was one thing, as he was the victim in this case but his association with omegas? The fact that his association directly led to him being hospitalized?

He was absolutely sure how his father would say something that would ruin Jun Yibai’s reputation much more than anything Li Min could cook up.

“Yibai, are you feeling okay?” Hanyu hovered over him, clearly concerned about his friends' outbursts. The doctor said that his system had been flushed but maybe there were some side effects?!

“I’m fine.” He assured him, remembering that he wasn’t alone. “Just… coming to terms with some things.”

“I can imagine.” He sighed with relief. “When I heard what happened, I wondered what kind of star you were born under to get involved with something like that.”

I ask myself that every day. He thought, looking over himself. He was in a hospital gown.

“Where are my clothes?”

“Oh, your friend said he’d bring a change of clothes for you since the ones you were wearing were messed up.” He explained, sitting beside the beta. “He should be back soon. The dorm isn’t that far from here.”

“Friend?” He echoed, frowning. The only person Hanyu knew was Chen Guiren. Surely it wasn’-

“Hello, Sweetie!”

Everyone in the room turned toward the sound as the door slammed open. While such behavior was usually frowned upon, their complaints withered away as the good-looking man sauntered in with a seductive smile.

“Ah, have I died and gone to heaven?! An angel? No, a faery?!”

“He’s handsome, even for an omega!”

“He looks a bit familiar. Is he a celebrity?”

“Surely we would have all heard of him if he was in show business.”

“If he was, I’d watch anything he was in. Even if he was just a background character.”

“How could such a person be a background character?”

The last whisper left Jun Yibai scowling. What bullshit were they spewing? This ‘angel/faery’ was coming here to see him, the background character. Part of him wanted to declare this but refrained.

Perhaps he was still being affected by the drug because he felt a bit more sensitive. It was weird.

He turned his back to the door, facing Hanyu who watched Li Suren approach. The curtains squeaked behind him, cutting the view of the trio from the rest of the room. He could vaguely hear the complaints from the other patients before they returned to their own businesses.

The lull of muffled voices fell over him, giving Jun Yibai the illusion that there would be no more problems. Unfortunately, he noticed the second chair in front of him too late as Li Suren slid onto it.

He noticed how Hanyu distanced himself once Li Suren approached, apparently ceding the space to him. Was it an omega thing he just didn't understand?

“Are you done ignoring me, Sweetie?” Li Suren whined, pouting cutely.

Jun Yibai gave him a scolding look. “You made a scene.”

“Yes, I’m sorry about that.” He nodded, placing his bag on his lap. Inside, there was some fruit and snacks, which he handed to Hanyu. “I was in a bit of a rush and forgot you were sharing a room with other patients.”

“Rush?”

“It’s been a long day, Sweetie.” He sighed, looking tired. He still looked handsome but Jun Yibai could see the stiffness in his shoulders and the tightness of his lips.

Li Suren was stressed.

Not thinking about it, he slid to the side, offering space for the omega to sit. Li Suren being himself, took the offer and more, moving in closer to hug him.

“Careful of the IV!” He snapped, lifting his arm in time to save the line from being crushed by his leg.

“Then put your arm around me.” He suggested, settling under his arm like he belonged there all along.

“You!” Jun Yibai stared down at him for a second before settling his arm around the omega. He ignored the subtle purr that swore came from the man. He just grumbled. “Fine, just behave yourself.”

“Anything for you~”

Li Suren relaxed in his arms, snuggling close to his chest as if he really were a cat. Staring down at his head, Jun Yibai couldn’t help but think he resembled a cat, just a little. His hair was soft and nice when stroked.

Was he petting Li Suren? Yes.

Would he ever admit it to anyone if asked? Never. He’d take it to his grave.

“S-should I just go?” Hanyu chimed in, looking like he wanted to be anywhere but here.

Shit, I forgot it wasn’t just us! He cursed to himself, still running a hand over Li Suren’s silvery strands.

“No, it's fine.” He assured, continuing to stroke the omega’s head. “Suren is just clingy like this sometimes. You can ignore him.”

Hanyu clearly had a lot of questions he wanted to ask but refrained. Jun Yibai was sure he’d be interrogated thoroughly later but that was for future him to deal with. Present him wanted to know what had happened between his last coherent memory and now.

As if to escape the awkwardness of the situation, Hanyu gave his report of what brought him to the hospital.

“Well, my girlfriend saw the news this morning and sent me to check in on you.” He explained, his expression faltering as he spoke. “You didn’t answer your phone, so I went to the club and found it surrounded by police officers. Apparently, there were some arrests.

The police were there?! He glanced over at Li Suren.

The omega, understanding his silent question, shook his head.

So it wasn’t them who called the cops? Maybe it was that Omega's boyfriend then. He must be someone powerful to get the cops to not only show up but arrest people coming from that kind of shop.

He learned that he’d been put under for almost a day, having been brought in during the night. Hanyu had only arrived that morning, finding Li Suren there talking to the doctors about his condition. Most of the things said were complex, so he hadn’t understood them until Li Suren had simplified the diagnosis.

Hence why Hanyu regarded Li Suren a bit more deferentially than expected from a pair of omega’s meeting for the first time.

Li Suren then left to do something, leaving Hanyu to sit beside him and wait for the general anesthesia to wear off.

After being brought up to speed, the trio shared the snacks that Li Suren had bought. No, it was more Li Suren feeding Jun Yibai the snacks while Hanyu was forced to remain since the food had been purchased by Li Suren. To leave with it rather than eating together might be seen as rude.

The fact that Li Suren made an effort to strong-arm the beta into eating the fruit and snacks from his hand immediately upon getting the omega’s acceptance made Jun Yibai think this was a power move on his part.

Seriously, what kind of power move was this? Were omega usually like this around each other?

Jun Yibai didn’t bother to complain or fight. He was tired and arguing with Li Suren was a feint that required all his concentration.

That and it was nice to be pampered sometimes. What guy doesn’t like the idea of being fed as he sat back and relaxed? Not to mention it was all his favorites? Definitely worth it.

***​

After an hour of munching on snacks and small talk, Hanyu was freed from his societal obligation to remain and left, letting Jun Yibai know that he’d make sure to grab the notes from his missed class from a classmate.

Hanyu, despite his association with him, was still very well-liked by the student body. Getting notes would be easy for him.

This lifted the weight off his shoulders for at least another day or so.

“You wanna study together?” Li Suren offered, cleaning up the space. “Catching up might be hard on your own.”

“You have your own schoolwork to do.”

“You forget, Sweetie! Your Suren is a genius, a rising star only seen once in a generation!”

Jun Yibai grimaced, flicking him on the thigh for his arrogance. The feigned cry of pain was ignored as the beta watched him pull out something from his bag.

“What's that?” He asked, frowning at the laptop he pulled out.

“A little personal project.”

Seeing that he was providing no more info, Jun Yibai stopped asking, a bit fearful of asking. Knowing him, it was definitely something he didn’t want to ask about.

But this also left him in a bind. Before this, he could distract himself by talking or eating but now that Li Suren was just lounging on the hospital bed with him, there was nothing to steer his thoughts away from last night.

From the things he’d said.

What he did.

Thinking about it while crammed in a bed with Li Suren was making him feel very warm and he could feel the familiar buzzing in his abdomen.

He had to say something quickly. So he said the first thing that came to mind.

“Where is he?”

There was no need to say who ‘he’ was. When it came to them, there was only one person that ‘he’ could be. The beta was honestly surprised that Chen Guiren hadn’t shown up too. He was a shameless bastard after all.

Yet considering he was the source of Jun Yibai’s dilemma, bringing him up was stupid of him.

If Li Suren noticed this, he didn’t mention it.

“Who, the mutt? He’s out.” He answered vaguely, typing up something on his laptop.

No, that wasn’t his. Li Suren’s laptop was a plain silver one with some cartoon characters on the center. It was sleek and new, making Jun Yibai a bit envious when he first saw it.

The one he was messing with now was an older model, clearly used beyond its years. In fact, he was sure it was a rental, seeing the label on the back. A label with his university’s name on it.

That laptop wasn’t his.

He almost didn't ask but curiosity was picking at him. “Where did you get tha-”

“Stole it.”

Jun Yibai choked, not expecting such a blatant admission.

Could he not even be bothered to pretend to be a law-abiding citizen!?

He glanced around and saw that his neighbor was asleep. None of the other inhabitants seem to hear his words. Li Suren showed no concern, continuing to type and study the screen.

Clearly, he felt no fear of being caught.

“Please tell me you stole it from a student.” He pleaded, as if that would be the more moral option.

“Obviously.” He scoffed at his question. “Stealing from a university would be way too much trouble. I could do it but that would take a bit of effort to find a good scapegoat.”

This guy. Jun Yibai laid back on the pillows, closing his eyes as if to rid himself of the building headache forming behind his eyelids.

“I stole it from your roommate so don’t feel bad, sweetie.” He said assuringly. His smile was calm and confident, as if he hadn’t been blowing the beta’s mind since waking up.

He had so many questions. So many, but he feared asking because he didn’t want to become an accessory to the crime.

But again, he was curious! Especially since it was against that jackass of a roommate of his.

“What did you do?”

“Well, I’m so happy you asked, Sweetie!” Li Suren brightened up, as if he’d been waiting for Jun Yibai to ask. “I bumped into him in the dorm hallway.”

“You don’t live in the dorms.” He pointed out. Li Suren was rich enough to afford off-campus housing.

Jun Yibai had been invited over once but he had a feeling that if he went, it’d be hard to leave afterward.

“Well, I was in the middle of breaking into your dorm but he showed up before I could sneak in.” He finally admitted, looking sullenly as if he’d been thwarted.

“And how did you plan on doing that?”

“I have keys.” A set of familiar-looking keys were presented, hanging off his finger.

“...Of course you do.” How could he not anticipate such a thing? That was such a Li Suren thing to do. “How long?”

“A few weeks but I’ve never used them, I swear.” He insisted, placing a hand over his heart. “It was the mutt’s idea, anyway. He said it would be good to have a set just in case.”

Jun Yibai gave him a look. A look that spoke volumes.

“I’m telling you the truth!” He pressed, pouting. “I will do a lot but I won’t just break into your private space without reason. I wasn’t even planning on going into your room.”

Jun Yibai wasn’t sure he quite believed that but chose to say nothing.

Li Suren continued. “Anyway, he invited me in and tried ‘giving me a tour’.” He grimaced as he spoke, rolling his eyes. “So I got him to get us some drinks before we started.”

“And?”

“I slipped some laxatives into his drink and stole the laptop when he ran off to the bathroom.”

“You feel no shame saying this in spite of the context?” He questioned from his hospital bed. After being drugged himself.

Ever the shameless guy, Li Suren shook his head.

“That alpha was a jackass wanting to get in my pants from the get-go.” He explained, sighing like a put-upon maiden. “I just made myself an escape plan just in case.”

“And used it to do what you planned on doing anyway.”

“Exactly!”

What a devious guy. He thought, staring down at the omega smiling impishly at him.

It was criminal, definitely, but he couldn’t help but smile at the thought of that arrogant guy’s swagger faltering because of diarrhea. The thought that he was suffering not only discomfort but humiliation in the face of someone he was trying to get with was very satisfying.

It was the little things, sometimes, that made someone's day.

***​

In spite of Li Suren’s insistence that he spend another day under observation, Jun Yibai proclaimed his desire to leave. Li Suren had offered to cover the cost but Jun Yibai refused, saying that he didn’t want to owe a friend like that.

It's a good thing I made sure Sweetie got a regular room rather than the expensive single room.

The omega sighed. As much as he adored his man’s independence, he really wished he’d let himself be taken care of more.

At least he let Li Suren get the paperwork done while he got changed.

It was a simple matter to discharge Jun Yibai. Usually, this could only be done by family or the patient themselves.

Li Suren refused to let something like that get in the way of taking care of his mate.

So what had he done? It was a simple matter of replacing Jun Yibai’s emergency contact info with his own. He was even kind enough to add Chen Guiren to the contacts.

Was it a breach of privacy? Absolutely.

Was it wrong to go behind his beloved beta’s back to do this? Legally and ethically, yes.

Did he care? Not even a little.

He respected his Sweetie but only to a certain point. He didn’t pry into the weird call the other night, despite him wanting to rush over and hug the man if necessary. Instead, he played along and let whatever was eating at his man be soothed by his words.

Then he ended up in the hospital hours later.

To say Li Suren was pissed would be a gross understatement. So he was absolutely unrepentantly glad he’d done what he’d done. While he was sure that idiot alpha would let him know, he also knew his beta would keep quiet about it.

Like he kept quiet about all his concerns.

It was so annoying! Li Suren adored this man and he still tried to act like this? How could he not get pissed off!!

Well, not tonight!

Jun Yibai met him in the lobby, faltering in his stride upon seeing the omega’s expression.

“Did somethin-”

“Where are you heading?” He asked, though he already knew the answer before it was spoken.

“Eh? My dorm?”

This guy… Li Suren sighed, reigning in his frustration.

“With the guy you don’t like?” He said through gritted teeth. “Do you even want to go back there?”

The grimace on his face made it clear that he didn’t want to go back.

He was just being stubborn.

“I’ll be fine.” He replied, looking away.

Li Suren: …

How was it possible to adore someone and yet want to smack that same person?

“You refuse to stay in the hospital despite being told you should. Now you want me to take you to a place where you are unwelcome?” He glared at Jun Yibai, making the other falter a little. “What if something happens? Will that guy help? Will he even bother checking in on you?”

“I don’t want to-”

“Jun Yibai!”

The beta flinched, looking surprised by his outburst. How could he not? Li Suren had never called him by his full name before. It was too formal for their relationship but this was a matter that the omega refused to budge on.

“You might feel fine now but if anything happens to you after this, how will you manage?” He argued. “Do you have your phone? Any means of calling for help if needed?”

Li Suren knew the beta didn’t have his phone. After all, Chen Guiren had it, having collected it to prevent the police from associating their beta with the arrests.

Jun Yibai wouldn’t know that specifically but he would know his phone was gone.

“Suren, I-” He stopped, seeing the tears beginning to form in the omega’s eyes.

“I was really worried about you.” He choked out, trying to hold in his fears. “You say we’re friends, yet you won’t let me help you?”

They stared each other down, their eyes conveying their thoughts clear as day. Jun Yibai’s stubborn pride and Li Suren’s concerned indignation.

Eventually, one side conceded to the other.

“Sorry.” The beta muttered, pulling Li Suren into his chest.

Li Suren wrapped his arms around Jun Yibai, holding him close.

“If you really are sorry, then stay the night.” His words were muffled but clearly heard as he felt the beta stiffen.

He waited.

One moment.

Two…

“Fine.” There was a clear reluctance in his voice but that was a given, so Li Suren didn’t pay it any mind.

As if waiting for the moment between them to end, Li Suren’s assistant came forward, letting them know that the taxi he’d ordered had arrived.

“You go first.” Li Suren said, wiping his face. It was red from the tears and a bit messy. “Just give me a minute to compose myself.”

“You cry really badly.”

“I’m a work of art regardless.” He shot back, eliciting a wry smile from the beta. “Haven’t you heard that the tears of beauties are pearls to treasure?”

“I am absolutely sure you made that shit up.”

“Regardless, that means you must treasure me more from now on.” He pouted, shoving him toward the exit. “Now go!”

“Don’t take too long.” Jun Yibai turned and left, leaving Li Suren standing in the lobby.

As soon as the beta turned away, Li Suren’s expression relaxed, the tears fading like they were merely an illusion.

It’s said that the best method of manipulation was the use of just a bit of truth to sway the other person. He really was worried about his health. Being drugged is stressful on the body and it's completely unclear what side effects might occur.

Li Suren would rather him be in a safe environment in the event that something did occur.

“Get rid of the crowd and evidence.” He coldly ordered, his assistant jumping in surprise.

To see such an award-winning performance done so effortlessly. Shouldn’t Mr. Li have gone into show business instead?

He couldn’t help but think that as he watched the teen leave the lobby.

Li Suren’s men moved about the crowd, collecting and deleting any photos or videos taken. Many argued but the offer of a check with a few zeros made their indignation fade into mist.

“Sir?” the assistant followed after Li Suren, whispering. “What about the laptop?”

“Return it and go home.” He said, handing over the keys to Jun Yibai’s dorm. “Leave some food and water for the alpha there. He should still be where I left him.”

He’d given that guy a really strong laxative. It would be a hassle if he died of dehydration or something. Mildly amusing but not something he wanted to deal with right now.

Let him suffer a bit for making things tough for his mate.

*****​

AN: I originally had a different chapter in mind, hence the picture. I still wanna share it with you guys cause 1: It turned out so much better than expected. And 2: It’s my first sketch using Clip Studio.

Random book recommendation: The Dragon's Appraiser by Viola Rivard. It's a M/F fantasy story. The main chick is sent as a sacrifice to a dragon but assumes that since the place is empty, it isn’t real. As such, she tries to rob the place but gets caught by the dragon. Before he can roast her alive, she talk-no-jutsu’s her way out via telling him the history of his treasures. He keeps her and they… they get along as well as a smart-mouthed woman can with a pure unadulterated narcissist learning about these weird things called ‘feelings’. It's a three-part mini I read years ago so no wait to see how it ends if you like it.

 

took you this long to understand it?? Thought I mentioned it....last year?

 

Spoiler: U: Quality Time

AN: Thank you for being so patient with me. Summer classes went well so I really appreciate the consideration.

This chapter was supposed to be longer but a new idea came up as I was writing and formed a new path. A path that split the long chapter into two.

*****​

Jun Yibai was already in the backseat when Li Suren arrived.

The beta gave him a look. “You look better.”

“Obviously.” Li Suren puffed up, showing off his looks like he was modeling for a magazine. “Even if I cry badly, I still end up looking amazing.”

Jun Yibai couldn’t really respond.

How does one handle someone with an ego like this? Compliments just make it worse and criticisms can’t possibly pierce skin that thick.

But Jun Yibai had a sure-proof method of handling a guy like Li Suren.

“Oh?” Jun Yibai moved close, reaching out to touch the omega’s cheek. “Your eyes look a bit red though.”

“Eh?!” Li Suren flushed, not expecting to be approached. “I-I mean, yes that happens but-”

Jun Yibai leaned in closer, letting their breaths mix just slightly.

Li Suren’s skin was getting pinker by the second, making his pale hair stand out even more. Yet Jun Yibai closed in on his closer, reaching past his ear.

“You really should be more careful, Suren.” He warned, his voice low and grumbly. “It's dangerous for someone like you to-”

Li Suren struggled to piece together a sentence, his eyes darting from the gray eyes staring deeply into his own to the lips that had been tempting him for a while now. “T-to?”

“To…” Jun Yibai let his wrist brush the omega’s ear, earning a small squeak. He smiled with satisfaction. “To… ride in a car without a seatbelt.”

Click.

“Eh?”

Li Suren stared at the seatbelt drawn over his torso. He hadn’t bothered to put it on when he got in the car nor did he do so when the trip started. Yet now, there it was.

With a familiar hand on the buckle.

Jun Yibai smirked, chuckling at his bewildered expression.

“Really, how reckless can you be?” He scolded, patting Li Suren on the chest. “Are you an idiot?”

“S-Sweetie, you-!”

Jun Yibai sat back, smiling to himself as Li Suren voiced his complaints at being teased.

This was the method of winning against a narcissist like Li Suren.

Just throw him off his game with a bit of pushing and he could get quite an amusing reaction from this narcissist.

This strategy can’t be done recklessly. It was a bold move and can backfire if done too often.

Still, seeing Li Suren all flustered was worth the risk sometimes.

Having been granted a few minutes of peace, Jun Yibai stared out the window, noting the multitude of black cars around them. The windows were tinted and they kept their distance consistent regardless of the traffic.

Was this how Li Suren usually traveled? With an entourage?

“They are there to protect me.” The omega explained, having settled down from the beta’s teasing. “My papa is always worried that something might happen so she has some of her cop friends look after me whenever I’m out.”

Papa? Ah, right, that lady he’d met that one time. She’d just been a regular officer back then but recently got promoted to Chief.

Many accused her of using her connection to the Li family to get bumped up but her wife was quick to put the rumors to rest. Still, Li Suren had been upset at the time and vented about it often.

He was proud of his papa but worried about the new job and its dangers.

Jun Yibai couldn’t understand being in such a position. His dad was a leader but much lower on the totem pole than a chief. The stress of being responsible for dozens of workers wears down on the soul but to add politics to it must be a different kind of stressor.

It turned out that both their father figures had it rough.

At that thought, something occurred to the beta.

“Suren, did you do something last night?”

“I did a lot last night, Sweetie.” He said with a grin. “You’d need to be specific.”

“You showed up at the hospital rather than my parents.” His eyes narrowed. “Did you do-”

“Well, Guiren was there too but he had to step out.” The omega interrupted, tapping his chin. “He carried you in like a princess. It was really troublesome to get him off you.”

Jun Yibai flinched, feeling mildly panicked at the mention of the alpha. He briefly wondered how much the omega knew about what had occurred between them. Surely, he noticed, right? Omega’s have a better sense of smell than beta and-

“Wait, do I smell like him!?” Jun Yibai sniffed his arms, before realizing he could only smell himself.

“Like who? Oh, the mutt?” He guessed, smiling wider. “Yeah, a little. Nothing that would indicate anything salacious. Him, on the other hand? Oh, he must have had an interesting car ride over~”

“Li Suren!”

“What?! You’re the one who made a mess on his face.” He teased, grinning like a cat. “Beta’s might not have a scent but semen certainly does so-”

Jun Yibai covered his mouth, hating that the omega had gotten back at him so easily. And he even dares to give him a catty look?!. This wily little-

“Young master Li?” A voice echoed through the car, cutting through the casual atmosphere via the intercom. Both men had forgotten they were in the car.

“Yes?” Li Suren answered, pulling Jun Yibai’s large palm from his lips.

The beta couldn’t help but rub his palm with his thumb. It was still dry but he could still feel the warmth from Li Suren’s lips there. This went unnoticed by the omega as he listened to the driver's reply.

“The order you placed is ready for pick up.”

Jun Yibai frowned at this. “Order?”

Li Suren just smiled. He had wanted to distract his sweetie so he had pre-ordered some food but it was taking too long so he had to improvise. Teasing him by mentioning the mutt worked but he still needed the pickup to handle the other pressing issue plaguing their time together.

“I ordered us some food.” He explained. “You can just go pick it up. We’ll be there soon.”

“What were you planning on doing if I wasn’t hungry?

“Feed you anyway.” He declared, slipping his hands into the beta’s with ease. “My big strong man needs to eat solid food if I want him to get better, right?”

His hand and the memory of the warmth he’d felt before made Jun Yibai feel a bit self-conscious.

This was just Li Suren, right? There was no reason to think anything more.

Still, there was nothing wrong with letting their hands stay like this, right?

***​

Upon arriving at the restaurant, Jun Yibai pulled his hands free as casually as he could. Li Suren didn’t mind.

Just holding hands was a good way to start. His sweetie got scared easily after all so the slow and steady method was for the best.

It was only that the mutt had managed to get so much further than him that pissed him off.

Speaking of Chen Guiren, they needed to talk.

Li Suren told the beta how to pick up the meal. Since the place he ordered from was a high-class place and rarely did pickups, the beta would have to go through the front entrance. It was best to clear things up so his sweetie wouldn’t be accosted by anyone.

“Just mention my name and it’ll be fine.” He assured the beta. “They might be a bit uptight but they’ll heel once you tell him who’s behind you.”

“So they won’t bully the dog when they know who it belongs to?” He quipped, feeling a bit weird about using Li Suren as a shield.

“I’m glad you know who you belong to, Sweetie~”

“Don’t be gross.” He grumbled, though there was no bite behind it. Perhaps it was just a habit that made him say that.

Jun Yibai stomped off, his casual confidence endearing in the eyes of the omega who wished to to one day be carried off in that man’s arms.

As soon as Jun Yibai was out of sight, Li Suren’s face turned to a scowl.

He’d gotten a text from his bodyguard a few minutes ago about some people following them. He had been worried that it was his grandfather’s men but upon being sent a photo of the pursuers, he just felt annoyed.

He looked over to the other side of the road, noting the trio of motorcycles idling.

He recognized one of the faces looking back at him.

The Ji brothers.

He knew they weren’t triplets, brothers or even sharing a drop of blood. Their only connection was the fact their names were phonetically similar.

Chen Guiren had kept his subordinates consistent and close, choosing his friends from high school to work alongside him. While the Ji brothers weren’t the brightest, they were strong, coordinated, and efficient. Hence why they usually acted as bodyguards for the alpha or Li Suren on occasion.

This was also why he knew who they were despite the helmets on their heads.

One of them even had the balls to give him a small wave.

That little-!

Li Suren pulled out his cell, calling the number he called most often as they were lifetime partners, albeit reluctantly.

The call connected almost immediately.

Before a word could be said, Li Suren snapped. “Mutt, get your pups off me or I’ll have them run off the road.”

“You took Master, you sly fuck!” The alpha snapped back, a growl rumbling under the surface. If not for his own anger, perhaps it would have intimidated an omega.

But this was an equally pissed-off omega so his growls could go fuck themselves.

Still, since they were allies, it was fine to explain himself a little.

“He needs to rest and refuses to pay for an extended hospital stay.” The omega clarified, his angry gaze falling on the men lurking across the street. “He won’t take my money.”

“Why would he think-”

“Sweetie doesn’t like owing favors.” He interjected, knowing the alpha had the same feeling about Jun Yibai’s stubbornness as him.

It was endearing but oh-so annoying.

“So you took him to your house?!”

The place Li Suren had chosen was close to his apartment so it was very clear where the omega was taking him.

Still, Li Suren felt no shame for being caught.

“Obviously, I wouldn’t take him to yours. You are busy, aren't you?” He could hear the alpha grit his teeth with anger.

Chen Guiren was busy. Their deal with Young Master Gu had taken on a new dimension and while beneficial, it disrupted their original plan. Since Chen Guiren was the one to introduce the new deal, he was tasked with seeing it to completion.

This meant the mutt wouldn’t have time to visit Jun Yibai for a while.

Li Suren would have helped but he was still angry that the alpha had gotten so far with his sweetie while he hadn’t even gotten a kiss yet.

So let him negotiate with the young master Gu, the notoriously shrewd businessman. No doubt the older man would attempt to sway their deal back to his favor. It wasn’t impossible to win but it would be quite the battle of wits.

So let Chen Guiren walk through that minefield on his own.

In the meantime, he and Sweetie would get some quality time together without the mutt butting in.

“Since you are busy, I should let you get back to work.” He said with a smirk, blowing a clearly mocking kiss to the receiver.

“You-!”

“I didn’t call to discuss this. Tell your subordinates to stop following us or else.” He didn't let the alpha reply, hanging up and muting his phone.

It was certainly petty but the mutts fuck up had really pissed him off. So let him stew in his frustration.

Their beta was not going to be pleased with how things had progressed. While Li Suren wasn’t clear on the details, he’d snuck a peek at the books his sweetie hid under his bed.

Such interests couldn’t come out without some trust and time. The fact he’d been drugged at the time had made the words slip free but the aftermath?

He was sure his sweetie was dying inside.

Li Suren sat back in the car, smiling as if he hadn’t threatened an up incoming gang leader and his goons that loitered about them.

He watched them answer a call, flip him the bird and drive off.

He doubted they were really gone, just out of sight.

Still, better than them lurking about, drawing attention.

A knock echoed beside his ear.

With a smile, he rolled down the window.

“That was fast. Was there no li-” He stopped, disappointed that the person facing him was not his beloved beta but one of his bodyguards. His expression darkened. “What do you want?”

His men knew better than to bother him unless his life was in danger. Since he wasn’t being told to stay hidden or being dragged off to safety, it meant this conversation was not about his well-being.

“Sir, Master Jun seems to be having some issues inside but you asked us not to interfere.”

Li Suren knew how uncomfortable his beta felt about his money so he tried to keep it to a minimum when they were together. The fact he was being notified meant that it was less a minor matter to be settled later and more like something troublesome.

His Sweetie was strong and determined but a proper mate makes his partner’s life easier when they can.

***​

Inside, Jun Yibai was feeling regretful.

He should have bit the bullet and let Li Suren get the food. It would have been a hassle if he was recognized but at least if the beta would be shielded by the tinted glass. Now he was stuck with troublesome people.

“As I said, I’m just trying to pick up food for my friend.” He explained again, for the nth time.

The manager sneered, giving his humble clothes a once over.

“You think you can fool me? Do you know how many times we’ve kicked out hoodlums seeking to steal our customers' orders by posing as a ‘friend’?”

For some reason, Jun Yibai mentioning Li Suren’s name didn’t get the expected response. They assumed he was trying to steal his meal.

Considering how classy this place was, he doubted there were many people brazen enough to pull such a scam at a place like this. As such, he doubted his claims were true.

Yet why make a fuss?

Just as he was wondering why, a familiar voice called out to him.

“Junior Jun?” Li Min called out, looking as if she had just happened to pass by. “What a surprise to see you.”

Seeing the subtle glance she gave to the manager, Jun Yibai figured out what had happened.

He chose to ignore her, turning back to the manager.

“If you need proof that the order is for us, I can call him and-”

“Oh, you are here to pick up some food?” she cut in, smiling like they were friends. “I didn’t know you could afford the food here. Are you sure you aren’t just working as a delivery driver?”

Someone in her group snickered, apparently amused by the notion.

“Do you see anything on me that indicates that?” He shot back, cocking a brow. “I don’t need fancy clothes to pick up food. Just because you do, doesn’t mean everyone is so insecure.”

Li Min’s smile stiffened, feeling a bit silly. She hadn’t expected him to retort in such a way

“Who is this?” One of the men asked, looking confused as to why they detoured to talk to a stranger. Li Min opened her mouth to reply but the beta didn’t let her.

“Who I am is none of your business.” Jun Yibai interjected with a scowl. “We’re not friends nor do I want to know you. I just want my food.”

“Junior Jun, you shouldn’t be so rude.”

“Why not? You are keeping me here despite having a ‘guest’ with you.” He pointed out, noting the unfamiliar man, who had spoken before, behind her. “Who's really the rude one here?”

Li Min had arrived with a pair of girls and two men. The others seemed to be orbiting around one of the men so he figured this must be her guest of honor.

“You-!” Li Min seethed before calming herself down with an elegant hair flip. “I suppose it can’t be helped that you are this way. A man willing to sell himself just to get into a good school can’t be anything else.”

Ah, this bullshit again.

“Him? Is he an omega?” The man asked, glancing at Jun Yibai’s neck for a collar. Seeing none, his frown deepens. “A beta?”

“Yes, I heard he might have some salacious relationship with an older man.”

The man was clearly doubtful. “Really?”

Jun Yibai watched this clown show, feeling himself get dumber with every syllable. What kind of bullshit is this? Making accusations like this with a stranger like they were a bunch of housewives. It was gross.

He’d have ignored it but their words were making the manager even more doubtful.

Obviously, a kept man couldn’t possibly be ordering food from a place like this.

These people were fucking stupid.

His expression remained stoic, though on the inside he was seething.

He just wanted to pick up some takeout and leave!

“Sweetie!”

Jun Yibai felt something grab his arm, distracting him from the dumb people in front of him.

“Sweetie, what’s taking so long?” Li Suren said with a pout, not giving the group any of his attention. “I’m hungry.”

“Same but apparently, I’m supposed to be wearing a suit in order to pick up food.” He replied, staring down at the handsome omega. “Then some clowns showed up and made things more troublesome.”

Li Suren snickered, loving the shocked sounds coming from the group in front of them. His Sweetie truly held nothing back.

Still, he couldn’t let some clowns trouble his precious beta.

“Oh?” He cooed, sounding intrigued. “I didn’t know this place had clowns as live entertainment! And we aren’t even seated yet we get a show?”

“I suppose a place like this has to make up for the bad service with something, right?”

The back-and-forth jabs were devastating to the manager and Li Min. They had assumed they could insult and deride Jun Yibai since he was alone. Yet he dared call them clowns!?

One of the girls, Su Zhe, couldn’t help but speak up with indignation. Li Min was her meal ticket after all!

“You jerks! How dare you call Young Miss Li a clown! Do you know who you are insulting if you say such things?”

This caught Li Suren’s attention.

“Young Miss Li?” He echoed, his expression turning strange. “You are telling me she is a member of the Li Family? The Li clan?”

Assuming he was feeling regretful, Su Zhe puffed up arrogantly.

He must be feeling regretful now.

“Yes, she is. Do you dare call her a clown now?” She challenged, giving them a haughty look. “You should apologize while you still have the chance. She might just forgive you.”

“Now, Xiao-Zhe, there's no need to be so combative.” Li Min said softly, suddenly the mediator where before she was the instigator. “My family isn’t so petty as to go after people below them. That would just be bullying.”

Implying they were the ‘people below them’, huh?

Li Min was quite a character when Hanyu wasn’t around.

Somehow she was even more annoying!

Meanwhile, Li Suren just kept staring at her, unconcerned about Su Zhe’s demand for a groveling apology. No, he just looked perplexed.

“You?” He questioned, looking Li Min up and down. “You’re a Li?”

Having been ignored, Su Zhe couldn’t help but complain.

“Who are you to doubt her?!” She snapped, looking ready to attack like an enraged puppy. “If the young miss says so, why make it your busin-”

“You are claiming to be a member of the Li family and using that status to bully my sweetie here.” Li Suren cut her off, giving her a cold look. “Why shouldn’t I get involved? The Li clan is an ancient and noble bloodline yet here you are tarnishing the name”

Li Min was quick to deny this. “I’m doing no such thing!”

“Oh?” He sneered, leaning on Jun Yibai’s arm like a coy lover. “Yet here you were, acting like a child with a shiny new toy. How are you even related to the Li’s? I don't have a face like yours.”

“Like mine?!” She knew he was insulting her. He had to be!

Li Min was confident in her looks but her features were sharp, like any alpha. She had to use makeup to soften her features. This guy was clearly an omega, with his collar and delicate features.

Worse, he was absolutely stunning as an omega. She had a crush on Hanyu because he was more handsome than cute, unlike most omega’s. This guy somehow was both!

It was infuriating to be compared to an omega when it came to looks!

The man being orbited, Wu Yusheng, couldn’t help but butt into her thoughts.

“Li Min, I think I know this guy.” He whispered, though they were close enough that his whisper could be heard by everyone. “I’ve seen him at some of the dinners with the Li's. Perhaps he’s from a branch family?”

A branch family?! Li Suren almost burst out laughing.

His noble blood was pure and derived from the most respected omega in the city, Li Suzhen. That old man might be a pain but he was still his family so if there was some strange woman claiming to be his relative, how could he stand to let it slide?

Moreover, she was the bitch who’d been spreading dirty rumors about his beloved beta. He wasn’t about to let some uptight alpha dare make trouble for his Sweetie.

More importantly, he felt like this might be a little fun too~

*****​

AN: One day, I hope to find a novel with the premise of ‘I was reborn as the best friend of the Toxic Male Lead’. I’ve been reading some evil novels that lure you in with fluff and punch you in the dick with angst. Dumb, really easily resolvable angst. And at the heart of all these misunderstandings is a male best friend who thinks the best response to your girl being upset that your paranoid ass threatened to skin her male friend alive like a grape is ‘just buy her shit. She’ll get over it.’

As you can tell, stories like these frustrate me to no end.

 

Spoiler: U: If Petty was a Sport

AN: So this chapter came out to be a bit longer than expected but I know you guys love meaty content.

*****​

There were times he forgot how troublesome Li Suren could be when he gets in a mood. It's a different type than the trouble Chen Guiren brings but a problem nonetheless.

Tonight, despite the simple goal of just picking up some food to eat at the omega's place, they found themselves dining with his enemy and her 'friends'.

All because Li Suren couldn't help but fuck with them.

***

Minutes before...

"Ah, so you can recognize a true member of the Li clan then?" He puffed up, radiating self satisfaction like an aura. "Not surprising, I suppose. This prince is so lovely, how could I be mistaken for anything less!"

His brazen declaration made Jun Yibai want to dump the man right now.

While it was true that Li Suren was the most attractive person in the room, to just proclaim it without shame was too much.

"Suren!" Jun Yibai chastised, pinching his cheek lest this guy float off with all the hot air in his head. "Behave."

"I can't help it if some random nobody is trying to get close to others using the family name." He complained though he didn't look too bothered.

In fact, he was feeling pretty good. Getting to show off with his darling by his side was such a satisfying feeling~

Moreover, his lack of confirmation made him seem even more likely to be blood-related to the Li's. He didn't mind being mistaken for a branch family member as long as his Sweetie was satisfied.

He pulled the beta down until he could whisper without being overheard.

"Sweetie, do you trust me?"

The beta frowned at the sudden question. "What are you-"

"Do you?"

The two stared at each other for a moment before he nodded.

"...Yeah. We're friends, right?"

Li Suren smiled, amused by his beta's naivety.

"Absolutely." He grinned, rubbing the man's earlobe and noting the slight blush that followed. Something to look into later then. "So I want you to trust me after this."

Jun Yibai's eyes narrowed with suspicion. "What are you-"

"Excuse me, Master Li." Wu Yusheng gently interjected with a smile. "I'm sorry about the fuss. Ms Li is just a bit young so she tends to say all kinds of things."

"Oh? Then shouldn't she be making it up to my Sweetie?"

"I promise to give you and your friend justice." He said with a humble bow. "Perhaps you would allow me to make up for my mistake by treating you both to a meal?"

Wu Yusheng was older than everyone else but only by a few years so he knew something was happening but he wasn't sure what.

He had agreed to talk over dinner with Li Min since she said she was related to the Li's. He wasn't sure about how connected she was considering she was asking for an investment from him. His family was well off but nowhere near the scale of the Li's.

If anything, he should be asking for an investment from her.

Still, rejecting her due to his suspicions without confirmation would be dumb.

So he thought of inviting this omega as well, since he was sure he was part of the Li family.

If he could secure both of their reassurances, he'd be losing nothing.

Li Min, on the other hand, was horrified and wanted to scream with anger.

How!? How could this bastard beta know a member of the Li clan? He was just some scholarship student who was lucky enough to do just a bit better than expected but he knew a rich man?

So not only was he trying to ruin her plan to get senior Hanyu to realize they were meant for each other but now he was showing off his side piece.

The more she learned about Jun Yibai, the more disgusted she became.

Her thoughts were broadcasted very clearly as she glared at Jun Yibai and Li Suren. The former could only cock a brow at her, wondering what kind of thoughts could be circling through there.

Part of him wanted to back out and leave.

Another part was a little amused by the sour look on her face.

After days of disgusted and suspicious looks on campus, the chance to get a bit of revenge was just too tempting. And just like the devil he was, Li Suren was there to lead him down that path with a sultry look and a smile that made it clear he had bad intentions.

Yet like a moth to the flame, he went along with it.

***

Thus the group was led to a booth that could fit all seven of them.

Jun Yibai placed himself between the omega and the rest of the people. While he liked that he could mess with them by sticking to Li Suren, he didn't want his friend to get hurt.

Li Suren grinned, loving his softie of a beta.

"Would you like it better if I sat in your lap, Sweetie?

Having gotten used to his shameless words, Jun Yibai replied casually.

"Just cause I can lift your fat ass doesn't mean I want it on me at the dinner table."

"So it's a promise for later then?" He teased back. He didn't get a response but it was enough to have the chance.

His Sweetie, after all, was a softie at heart so he was sure he could get what he wanted tonight.

Jun Yibai didn't dignify that with a response but Li Suren knew the beta best. No response was as good as a yes!

How cute~

Everyone else at the table could only grimace at the casual flirtation going on between the two. In fact, they feared if they didn't make their presence evident, things might get worse.

"S-shall we order?" Wu Yusheng suggested, pointing to the menu.

Jun Yibai paled as he saw the prices listed. He had assumed it was better when the prices weren't listed so he could eat without feeling burdened but now he realized just how expensive places could be.

Why pay so much for a single dish when one could buy a meal at the same cost?

Seeing his grimace, Li Min wanted to mock him. It was clear he couldn't afford the food here. Even with a member of the Li clan by his side, he didn't dare ask his date to take him anywhere.

"Sweetie, you should try this!" The Li Suren suggested, pointing to some of the appetizers. "You'd like this."

"But the price..."

"So what?" Li Suren waved off his concern. He thrust a thumb at Li Min, still staring at the menu. "Young Miss Li is treating us so why be humble?"

What?! Since when was she covering them?!

She opened her mouth to protest but was interrupted by Wu Yusheng.

"Miss Li, you spoke rudely to this man so think of it as an apology." He reasoned, trying to smooth things out. "I'll take care to cover it if it's too much."

"It's not too much!" She insisted, clenching her fists beneath the table.

She could afford it but having to cover a meal as an apology was humiliating. Especially when it was that annoying beta who kept getting between her and Hanyu.

He even had another omega fawning over him so why couldn't he just mind his own damn business?

"See? So order whatever you want, Sweetie~" Li Suren insisted, deciding to order a bunch of takeout. His guards were probably tired so why not give them a treat?

Li Suren grinned like a cat as he imagined her reaction when she learned she was covering the seven of them and the dozen or so men outside.

Maybe he could even suggest they bring some food back for their family.

On the flip side, Jun Yibai relaxed as he ordered whatever he liked. It was a novel feeling.

Jun Yibai was a frugal man. He hated spending other people's money and owing favors, even friends.

But he was also a petty man so the chance to get his own small revenge by using his enemy's money was a rare but welcome activity he had dreamed of.

He smiled, shocking everyone. While he wasn't handsome or likable, he was well known for being a grump. That along with his plain looks made him unappealing.

However, his smile, while small, was shocking when it came from him.

It was like spotting a shine gleaming from the mud. Whether it was treasure or strap, that feeling of shocked excitement was similar to what everyone felt just then.

Li Suren just felt upset cause he didn't feel these people deserved to see his darling smile.

Even the mutt barely deserved it!

As if seeking to ignore the two extra people, Li Min instigated a conversation with the other people at the table. It was lively and complex, using prior get-togethers to reminisce.

It was petty but neither Li Suren nor Jun Yibai cared. They were in their own world.

"I'm still trying to get the right reaction." He complained, munching on his pasta. "Theoretically, it should be attached to the right enzyme."

"I told you using an acid solute would do that."

"But that's the only way to isolate that amino acid!"

The others at the table were mystified by his words. He was using complex words, yet the beta beside him didn't miss a beat.

"Oh, are you a medical student?" Wu Yusheng asked, wanting a chance to talk to Li Suren. He still needed to know who was actually affiliated with the Li Clan. "I dabbled a bit in chemistry so perhaps I can help?"

Li Min perked up, seeing a chance to show off a bit too. She was good at chemistry too!

Yet when she tried to give advice, Li Suren cut her off.

"Miss Li Min has yet to apologize to my sweetie for the scene she caused before, so I don't feel any obligation to talk to you. Mr Wu, on the other hand, has allowed me to pamper my Sweetie so I'll allow you to speak to me."

Such blatantly arrogant words were said with no shame and yet how could they argue? Li Suren was a Li, after all. If there was anyone worthy of being arrogant, it was them.

"T-thank you for indulging me, young master." Wu Yusheng replied, not really sure how else he could reply. He spent a few minutes talking about biochemistry with the duo, fascinated with their conclusions. "That's a very interesting theory. Making it work would be hard though."

"It's fine." Li Suren assured with a smile. "I have everything I need to make sure it works."

Like funding from the Li's? He wanted so badly to ask but knew it would be pushing it. Instead, he steered the conversation to the subject he wanted to talk about.

"I was actually wondering what you thought about the business deal between Miss Li and I? Do you think it would be something that the Li head would be interested in?"

Wu Yusheng only agreed to help Li Min with her business in hopes of getting a chance at making a connection with the head of the Li clan.

He knew this omega had a connection with the Li clan so he just needed to know whether Li Min was worth the trouble.

Li Suren considered how to respond.

He heard them talk a little bit about their business deal. Li Min wanted an investment from Wu Yusheng while Wu Yusheng wanted a meeting with someone from the main family of the Li's. It was simple and nothing that wouldn't be worth the investment.

Even if Li Min failed to get a meeting with a main family member, just mentioning his name would put him in a favorable position.

But the question lay in whether she could even get his name into their ears.

She had mentioned her uncle marrying into the family but there were no other details mentioned in conversation. So he had his men investigate her extended family.

"It's not a bad deal though I would think it would be better to have her uncle act as your middleman rather than her." He replied, watching her reaction.

As expected, her expression altered for just a second.

"I-I don't think that's a good idea." She insisted, covering her nervousness with her water. "Uncle Heiguo isn't interested in that kind of thing. He's a very humble man so-"

Heiguo? Li Suren drowned out her excuses, going through his mental family tree to find who this person was. It sounded vaguely familiar but...

"Ah!" He let out a sound, though only Jun Yibai noticed.

"You know him?" He guessed.

Li Suren nodded, sneering as he watched Li Min speak about her beloved uncle.

If this woman was talking about the uncle he thought she was, then she was more shameless than he had anticipated.

***

Jun Yibai watched Li Suren, amused by the sly look in his eye even as the corners of his lips rose. It was a look he recognized.

Someone was about to be screwed with.

Jun Yibai chose to be passive, enjoying his food. Li Suren promised him dinner and a show.

"Speaking of Uncle Heiguo, I happened to bump into him the other day." He interjected, innocently looking at the alpha with questioning eyes. "You said you spoke to him too about this deal but he never mentioned meeting any family members. Considering his circumstances, I would think he'd mention such an event."

Li Min flinched, feeling a cold sweat run down her back.

D-did this guy really know about her uncles 'circumstances'? Her parents were vague but she knew she couldn't risk letting anyone know.

"P-perhaps he just forgot?" She stammered, trying to smile.

Li Suren let out a small snort, heard only by Jun Yibai who sat beside him.

"Perhaps so." He said, giving Li Min a warning look. "Then again, I wasn't asked about our uncle. I'm not one to air our family's dirty laundry out in front of outsiders after all."

Li Min looked away.

Shit, he really did know! How?! She was sure her uncle wouldn't tell anyone. He was so meek, he wouldn't dare to, right?

Li Suren let her stew in her fear for a minute before continuing.

"You wanted my opinion on your business deal, right? Unfortunately, as amazing as I am, I'm not a businessman." He turned to Jun Yibai with a smile. "Sweetie, what do you think?

Everyone frowned, having forgotten the beta was even there.

"Him?" One of the girls complained. "What would he-"

Li Suren cut her off, not even turning to look at her.

"My sweetie is studying business as a major so I think he has more understanding than you, miss literature major."

The girl froze, feeling nervous. She hadn't even said her name so how did this stranger know her major?

Wu Yusheng frowned but turned to Jun Yibai, curious about the person suggested by this brilliant man. "Your thoughts?"

Jun Yibai hadn't expected to be put on the spot. He glanced at Li Suren before sighing.

He really just wanted a dinner and a show.

"It's not a bad deal but all the risks are on Mr. Wu's side."

"How so?" Wu Yusheng frowned. "As long as I get my name out there-"

"That's assuming it will even reach the ears of anyone important. How would you know?"

"I trust Li Min." He argued, glancing at the alpha woman. They had worked together a few times and knew she always kept her promises.

"Why?" Yb shot back, cocking a brow. "Trust is fine for a minor favor but this involves money. I'm assuming a bit more than just a casual loan expected to be repaid. The price of being acknowledged by Old Master Li isn't cheap, right?"

Wu Yusheng's frown deepened. They hadn't discussed how much he was investing but it was quite a bit. Wu Yusheng had felt it was a good price considering he knew Li Min was related to the Li's. If he could get old master Li to at least know his name, it might help him down the line.

But if that failed, he'd have wasted his money.

"Mr. Wu and Young Miss Li are friends!" Ms. Literature major argued, scowling. She could see the doubt in his eyes and spoke up for her friend. "She wouldn't-"

"Business deals with friends are ones that are most likely to favor one side over the other." He stated, wondering why the people around Li Min were so dumb. "How many CEOs get screwed over by friends and lovers because they lacked caution?"

100% of businesses close due to bad management. Whether it was on the business side or on the personal side, those bad choices sunk a business.

Seeing that things were going badly for her, Li Min tried to speak up but was cut off by Li Suren again.

"I hope you didn't make any promises to invest in exchange for a meeting with the old master Li on merely her word?" Li Suren asked, blinking innocently as if he wasn't pouring fuel onto a fire. "Surely you know how traditional that man is."

Everyone knew how old Master Li was. The man wore it on his chest with pride. Yet no one understood what Li Suren was getting at.

No one but Li Min, who paled in her seat.

Li Suren turned to Jun Yibai, giving a questioning look. "Sweetie, what do you think?"

"If she was smart, it wouldn't be a written contract. Nothing to bite her later." He reasoned, not noticing the look of anger forming on Wu Yusheng's face at the realization. "Old master Li hates those who use his name to profit for themselves, right?"

"Absolutely. All benefits should be in service to the clan."

"So it was probably just verbal. Maybe even a down payment was done already?" He guessed, watching Wu Yusheng's male friend start to catch on. "If it's a contract, she'd be legally liable for not keeping up her side of the bargain. But it's purely verbal, there's no legal repercussions for failing."

"That's true!" Li Suren put on a look of shock. "She could just say she tried but failed to set up a meeting. A simple mistake, right?"

"Absolutely."

Li Suren turned to her with a sly smile. "She's a smart woman so there's no way she made this deal to benefit herself knowing she had nothing to give in exchange other than a single dinner."

"B-b-but that's all conjecture!" Miss Literature Major cried, pulling out what little she knew to help the situation back into Li Min's favor. "Young Miss Li is absolutely capable-"

"Her?" Li Suren sneered, glancing at Li Min who was glaring at him. "Do you think he'd let someone like you into the Li manor? Someone who isn't even blood-related to the Li's?"

"Uncle Heiguo is a Li!" She argued, though she really hoped he wouldn't embarrass her any further. He had already made things difficult with her business deal.

If Wu Yusheng wrote up a contract, she'd be...

"I think we both know just how 'close' your family is with Uncle Heiguo, right?" The omega said, his smile cold and knowing.

He absolutely knew.

"I-" She tried to speak up but Wu Yusheng interrupted her this time.

"Since we're friends, I won't question you too deeply, Li Min." He said curtly, making it clear that he meant he wasn't going to question her here, in front of others. Considering he'd already given her a third of what she needed for her business, she couldn't run away.

He might be willing to make a down payment for a friend but he wasn't dumb enough to pay everything upfront for something he had yet to receive.

She'd have to show evidence that she at least spoke to old master Li or else. But she couldn't talk to her uncle! He would spit in her face before helping her.

Damn it, everything had been going so well before this omega showed up!

She'd seen her parents use their estranged uncle's name as a way into all kinds of places they wouldn't dare even peek at. It was never major enough for anyone to bring up to any of the main family.

As long as no one knew the truth, they were scavengers feasting after the lion's hunt.

Yet this person not only knew her uncle but knew how to reveal it in such a way as to not embarrass the Li family.

And all this with a guileless look in his eye as he nailed her to the wall.

"Who are you!?" She growled, hoping to intimidate him. To let out her pheromones so openly was incredibly rude but she didn't care.

The alphas at the table gave her a look of shock and castigation. Everyone else at the table was a beta so it was clear she was trying to harm the one omega at the table.

The two men glared at Li Min, who faltered under the gazes of the males.

"I-I didn't mean to-"

"I think it's time we leave." Jun Yibai declared, once again surprising everyone with his presence. "There's a foul scent in the air and I think it's best we leave before it sticks onto us."

Li Min flushed at his insult. She was sure he couldn't smell her pheromones since he was a beta so wasn't he just plain insulting her?

"You're right, we should leave." Li Suren whispered, looking up with tears in his eyes. "I'm scared~"

The women could only marvel at this man's brazen lies. He had openly mocked them and dragged their friend through the mud yet shamelessly said he was scared?!

The men, being alpha's, believed him. An alpha's pheromones could have all kinds of effects on an omega. They respected Li Suren and wanted to protect him.

Wu Yusheng offered to take them home but was stopped when Jun Yibai glared down at him.

"I can take care of him myself, so there's no need for you to bother." He said. His tone was polite but his expression was telling them to fuck off.

Jun Yibai pulled Li Suren from the booth, effortlessly carrying the omega from the private room. He passed a waiter who greeted him before continuing on. Jun Yibai had just reached the hallway when he heard a screech.

Ah, she must have received the bill.

Li Suren wanted to snicker but he was too caught up in his own excitement.

Sweetie is carrying me!!!! He could barely hold it in, kicking his legs energetically.

"Stop that!" Jun Yibai scolded, carrying him out of the restaurant. They got a few looks but Li Suren's men made sure nothing was recorded of them.

His Sweetie, his Jun Yibai, was so cool just now!!

He really wanted to kiss the man~

He stared at his lips, tempted to act like that dumb mutt and throw caution to the wind.

The beta glanced at the manically grinning omega in his arms and chuckled.

"You are quite the actor." He muttered, recalling the tears he'd seen minutes before.

"So are you!" He replied, still kicking his legs. His Sweetie was strong enough to carry him regardless. He ogled the beta's body, wishing he could touch those chiseled muscles he knew were hidden underneath. "Acting like a suave alpha carrying his weak-in-the-knees Omega to be ravished out of sight."

While he knew that wasn't how the night would end, a man can dream, right?

"Only you would see it that way."

This was not true. The other alphas in the room could feel the slight possessiveness in Jun Yibai's hold on Li Suren. While they weren't intimidated, they knew better than to try and flirt with the white-haired Omega.

Perhaps it was only the beta himself that didn't notice.

***

When the two arrived at Li Suren's apartment, Jun Yibai was surprised that it was as low-key as it was. With Li Suren's personality, surely it would have been more classy but it was actually... normal.

Fucking huge but normal.

Li Suren watched Jun Yibai, wanting to see his reaction.

He was the first one to show their home to the beta so he had to win. If he liked the place, that meant Li Suren knew their beta better. Sure, it was won by omission but screw that guy!

Jun Yibai could feel the omega's gaze so he said nothing, choosing to instead find the guest room. In a place this huge, it had to have one.

"There are three rooms." Li Suren explained, pointing them out. "That one is mine and the one in the middle is yours."

"And the last door?"

"It's for the mutt." He grumbled, leaning on the wall. He had considered only having two since he'd rather just have his Sweetie with him but that wouldn't work. He couldn't be rid of that thuggish alpha so he had to make a space for him.

He was even considerate enough to let their beta's room be in the center.

Jun Yibai frowned. "So there's no guest room?"

Jun Yibai felt a bit strange about having a room at a place he'd never been before. It wasn't a bad feeling but definitely strange.

"Who am I going to invite other than you two?"

This was his home, the place chosen, decorated, and prepared by him alone. So why would he let anyone else inside?

The place might as well be his nest so he'd only let his mates inside.

"You are so anti-social." The beta grumbled, feeling embarrassed. He couldn't even let Li Suren into his own house yet he made a space for him. It was sweet.

Li Suren beamed, feeling happy that his darling beta seemed content. He'd have to go buy some racy books for the man later though. Had he known before, he'd have added a few choice books of his own.

More tasks to be done.

Just then, a thought came to him. Something good for him.

"Tonight didn't go as I planned." He declared, surprising the beta who was just about to check out his room. "Having to deal with all those unimportant people! Oh, I feel so tired now~"

The omega collapsed onto the couch, looking like a wilted flower. It was only years of knowing the man that left Jun Yibai unaffected.

"So?"

"So... Shouldn't I get something for having to put up with all this?" He asked, pouting cutely. "I deserve a special reward considering what I went through."

So this was his angle!

"Sitting down with them was your idea." He argued, a bit worried about where this was going.

"I did it for you!" Li Suren shot back. "When else will you get a chance to smack that arrogant hussy around without fear? You are way too passive to have tried anything like what I did just now."

That, he couldn't argue with. While he wanted to get back at her, there was no way to do so without making him the villain. She was pretty, well-liked, and apparently rich.

He was none of those things.

Had she been male, they could hash it out physically. While being an alpha would make it an easy win for her, he'd be satisfied with having punched that smug face a few times.

Yet he couldn't hit a woman so he had been at a loss.

As such, he did owe Li Suren a bit.

Damn him for doing this!

"Fine! Something special, right?" Since it was up to him, they didn't have to do anything weird. But something that Li Suren would enjoy too. "How about we go somewhere together? Just the two of us?"

Li Suren stared at the beta wide-eyed, his face growing increasingly red. After a minute, Jun Yibai started feeling self-conscious.

Did he make things weird?!

"Y-you can just say no if you-"

"Are you asking me out... on a date!?"

Now it was Jun Yibai's turn to blush.

"N-no! It's a completely platonic outing as friends!"

"Oh?" That teasing look had returned. It was evil how cute Li Suren looked just then.

He jumped to his feet, drawing close to Jun Yibai, and pressed a short kiss on his cheek.

"Then I'm looking forward to our get-together." He whispered seductively in his ear. "As friends, of course."

Jun Yibai watched him leave, the waist he'd held just hours before making his palms itch. He wanted to hold him again.

Shit, maybe he'd made a mistake?

*****​

AN: to those wondering about Li Min being related to Li Suren, she sorta is but in the loosest sense. I cut out a scene with Li Suren explaining this cause it felt out of place but the short version is that the uncle she's referring to had been disowned by his family years prior.

His story is this: Heiguo was a beta born to a mostly alpha family. When his mom gave birth to him, his dad, being an ass, declared that he must be a product of an affair and divorced his mom. Due to being rich, he got custody and Heiguo was a Cinderella. When he was working at a club, he bumped into a young omega who'd been drugged and you know the rest. He was then 'forced' to marry her and had all kinds of hijinks occur. His family disowned him because they thought he'd sullied their name by getting some nameless chick pregnant. Note, neither he nor his family knew she was related to the Li's until well into her pregnancy.

As for why he wouldn't be the best way to get close to the elder Li is because his wife was adopted by the elder to pay back a favor. She isn't a Li by blood so most people bullied her. She has her own business that is doing well. Heiguo assists since he's pretty good with numbers.

[Skipped Conversation]

"So was she a member of your family?"

"In the loosest sense and only if her side has no shame. It's gross."

"Is it?"

"Sweetie isn't an outsider but Uncle Heiguo's life is his own so I can't talk too much about it. Just know that that shameless chick's family cut ties with him years ago."

"Oh! Yet when he married into a rich family, they came clambering back?"

"Yeah. I thought it was settled years ago but it turns out they are still acting like they are part of the clan without anyone noticing. It's gross."

"I can imagine."

Jun Yibai felt a bit curious about the uncle. A beta marrying an omega and joining a large clan like the Li's? That had to be stressful.

The way Li Suren described him, he must be pretty down to earth despite everything.

Jun Yibai's thoughts were interrupted by the omega's grumbling.

"I'll have to settle this later."

 

Spoiler: U: First ‘date’*

AN: So someone I know who was reading this story told me all the time skips made things confusing so I’m gonna try not to make long skips happen.

Also, this was going to be a shorter chapter but I felt bad cutting it up after writing so much. I fell asleep editing so let me know where I made a mistake~

***​

Li Suren woke up the next morning in a daze, bleary-eyed and wobbly. His alarm blared, ripping away the peaceful sleep he’d been reveling in.

Despite that, he was in a good mood.

After shutting off the alarm, he flopped back onto the bed, nestled between a pair of sweaters.

They were very different in style, one being a bright red, long-sleeve shirt with some big-breasted anime girl on it. The image was worn out from frequent washes but it was very obvious what it was. The other was a plain brown turtleneck that Li Suren had definitely not stolen from a certain man’s room the night before.

Having them both gave the omega such a rush of joy, he almost squealed.

The only thing that would be better was if the men these shirts belonged to were here with him.

Instinctually, he felt that an alpha should be enough to protect him and his nest but Li Suren himself knew it wouldn’t be enough. Without their beta, they would be lonely and less secure.

They needed their beta just as much as they needed each other.

As if summoned by his thoughts, a familiar ringtone echoed through the room, waking him up once again.

He sighed, hanging up without even looking. He knew who it was.

He grabbed his phone, ended the call, and scrolled through all the messages. Most of them were from Chen Guiren and all of it was a long stream of expletives and accusations that he was cheating.

He made sure to send him a cute winky emoji before shutting off his phone.

Maybe that would encourage him to work faster.

While having Sweetie in his home was great, he still reluctantly wanted the mutt here as well.

Li Suren got himself ready for the day and entered the living room, hoping to catch sight of his Beta. Despite how early it was, however, the place was empty. Looking around, he found a note.

I don’t know the distance from the dorms

so I’m leaving early. Be back tonight and

we can go out tomorrow.

Li Suren grinned, kissing the note as if it could relay his adoration to the writer. He had been scared that his Sweetie would change his mind after a night's rest. His beloved was stubborn that way and while it would have been disappointing, Li Suren was prepared to accept it.

Yet, much to his surprise, his Sweetie actually kept his word.

Perhaps that short affair with the mutt had opened his eyes a little to the possibility of the three of them together. If so, he might just offer a bit of help to the mutt.

***​

Jun Yibai had just gotten off the bus when he saw a crowd of people at the gate.

Ever aware of his status as a background character, Jun Yibai didn’t get close, leaving a wide berth between him and the crowd.

Whatever that was, was not his problem.

Rather, he had something he needed to turn in to his professor before he forgot. Sure, he could have emailed it but this professor was old school, preferring physical copies to grade. It was a hassle but Jun Yibai liked this professor.

Upon arriving at the office, he knocked twice before entering. The professor always welcomed his students when available. If he wasn’t available, his door would be locked so there was never a need to wait for a response. A mere knock was all that was needed.

Yet he walked in on the scene of a drama.

His professor, a 30-something-year-old omega, was kissing a larger man who looked to be swallowing him whole with those arms. They were in an intimate embrace that left no clues as to how this would end if uninterrupted.

Jun Yibai didn’t want to be that guy. He considered just locking the door and sneaking out before he was caught. If he was quick enough he could do it.

He was not quick enough.

He’d just started pulling the door back when the man - definitely an alpha - turned to him and growled. It was animalistic and screamed danger for the fool who had dared interrupt him.

The beta grimaced, holding his hands up in surrender.

I guess I can’t just sneak out. He sighed.

“You!” The alpha glared at him, lowering himself so that the professor was shielded by his body. “Who are-”

“Xiaoshi, leave him alone!” The professor scolded, shoving the man away. Despite the clear size difference, the alpha moved, looking annoyed. “Don’t give me that look! I told you that I don’t want to sleep with you again.”

Despite looking ready to rip his throat out a second ago, the alpha wilted like a flower, looking like a kicked puppy.

“Teacher, I already apologized for almost marking you last time.” He pleaded, wrapping his arm around. The omega melted in his arms, though his expression was obviously rejection. The alpha nuzzled him. “If you would just give me a chance, I can prove to you I’d make a good mate and-”

“I don’t need a mate.” He shot back, though his face was burning red.

“You do! What if something like last time happens and-”

“EXCUSE ME?!”

Two pairs of eyes darted to the door, where the forgotten beta was standing with an annoyed expression. Somehow, they had completely forgotten about him in the minute they’d been talking.

“Yeah, hi! I’m still here.” He snapped, feeling annoyed at having to wait for them to finish. Perhaps he was in the wrong for interrupting but this was an office, not a stage play. “Look, could you just sign my work so I can leave?”

“Sign?” The alpha echoed, glancing at the professor. “You still do that? You are so old-fashioned, teacher.”

“It's very easy to plagiarize in this day and age so I at last have to make my students work for their grade.” He explained, pouting. “Even if it's just a little.”

“Or maybe you are still mad about that one time with the water balloon and-”

“We are not talking about that!” He snapped, glaring at the alpha who preened under his gaze. He turned to Jun Yibai with an apologetic expression. “Please don’t mind him. I used to tutor him and-”

“I really don’t want to hear your love story, professor.” Jun Yibai interjected, briefly wondering how he kept getting between lovers like this. “I just need you to sign the assignment so I can go.”

The alpha snorted, clearly holding in his laughter. He wasn’t used to seeing his omega so flummoxed by someone younger. Or at least, someone other than him. Had this kid been an alpha, he might have felt like his claim over the omega was being challenged.

That and he smelled weird.

Had he been scent-marked? If so, why him?

He wasn’t all that attractive, not to mention his personality wasn’t very welcoming.

Yet he smelled of an omega and an alpha. A dominant alpha at that.

This kid was interesting!

Once Jun Yibai left they briefly spoke about him.

“He looks familiar.” the alpha muttered.

“You said you were looking for the guy who helped your sister-in-law, right? Maybe it was him?”

“No, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen that kid’s face before that. Maybe he was younger?”

“That kid? He’s not that much older than you. How can you call him a kid?”

Chenshi was sure he’d seen the guy's face before. Maybe in a photo? But why would anyone want a photo of such a mundane guy?

***​

Meanwhile, Li Min was dodging calls from Wu Yusheng, her would-be investor.

After they had left the restaurant, both were in a sour mood. Wu Yusheng since he felt gypped and Li Min because she had to pay an exorbitant amount of money on the bill.

Who the hell else had she paid for?!

Dozens of orders, with drinks and appetizers with prices in the hundreds to thousands.

She had earned a lot of money from the investors she’d fooled with her name and supposed connection so she was able to cover it but it was a major blow.

On top of that, Wu Yusheng was demanding a hint of assurance for the money he’d already given her. They were on good terms so he didn’t ask for his down payment back.

That would have been easy but no, he wanted proof she could talk to the Old Master Li. Something more than just her word.

This was why she had been dodging his calls.

She was still trying to find a solution. Even if she went to her uncle's house, what are the chances of the old master being there? Even worse, how was she supposed to prove such a claim?

Nobody had questioned her about her abilities before so she had never come up with a plan.

When she arrived home after worrying herself ragged, she was greeted by the smiles of her parents who looked at her with appreciative expressions.

Li Min frowned, confused. She hadn’t made a lot of money yet so why were they acting like she’d won the lottery?

“Sweetheart, you truly are your mother's child!” Her mother gushed, ushering her into the house as her father put her shoes away. “How did you do it?!”

“D-do what?”

“Get us an invitation to the old master of the Li clan’s birthday celebration!” Her parents proclaimed as they showed off the mail they’d received hours before.

Li Min blinked, confused. How had that happened? Was it a mistake?

Yet upon looking at the elegantly embroidered invitation addressed to the three of them, she could only wonder why.

“Who sent this?” She asked, still staring at the invite with suspicion. Was it the guy from last night? He was a Li but surely he couldn’t get an invite, right?

“Your worthless uncle.” Her father answered, shrugging his shoulders. “After all this time, he finally realized how much family means and is willing to help us. Honestly, I wish he’d had this revelation sooner.”

“Right?” Her mother echoed, looking wronged. “If he had just told us that woman was a Li to begin with, we wouldn’t have reacted so harshly.”

According to her parents, her uncle had impregnated some random college student and refused to get rid of it. They had wanted to marry him off to one of their associates since it was a ‘good match’. Their ‘good will’ was wasted, however, when he married this orphan girl.

Li Min read the letter sent with the invite. It was from her uncle, asking that they reconcile since he and his wife are expecting and he wants his children to know their family.

Her uncle had yearned for approval from his family for years so it was not to be unexpected yet Li Min wondered if this was a trap. To get an invite right after meeting that guy?

Still, this was her best chance at getting acquainted with the Li’s. If she was careful, she could avoid that guy and get some new investors. She just had to avoid that guy and her uncle.

So she grinned and claimed the credit for herself. She wouldn't risk losing this opportunity to gain all new connections. After all, a trap isn’t a trap if you know it's a trap.

***​

After dropping off his assignment, Jun Yibai sat on a bench on campus, contemplating what to do. He’s only left the apartment to drop off his work but now he had the rest of the day free.

He didn’t bother going by his dorm. Considering Li Suren’s stunt, his roommate will either be pissed or blueballed. Either way, it was bothersome to deal with.

This meant that he’d have to go back but he felt very nervous doing so.

He still didn’t have a clue where to take Li Suren.

Staying home might be good but how would that be a reward?

But all the normal places felt wrong. Boring even.

If he could just ask someone else, it would be easier.

Then it hit him. He could ask someone else!

He pulled out his phone and texted Hanyu, asking him where his girlfriend had taken him out.

Hanyu:

!!!??

Are you going out on a date!?

Jun Yibai flushed, typing out a denial but was thwarted when he saw he was being called. It was Hanyu.

“It's not a date!” He denied it immediately after answering the phone.

“Bullshit, it’s not! Now tell me who you are dating now!” He shot back, a teasing tone in his voice. “Is it the alpha from before or the omega from last night? God, I didn’t know you were such a charmer, bro~”

This was the worst.

“It's really not like that.”

“Uh-huh.” Jun Yibai could feel the omega’s eye-roll. “Who asked?”

“I-I mean, I did but-”

“So you asked out a guy who fondled you?” He interrupted, chuckling. “Which one? The alpha or the omega?”

The fact Hanyu knew about both of them was mortifying.

“I don’t want to-”

“If you don’t tell me, I won’t give you any suggestions.” He stated flippantly. “Going online to look for spots is too impersonal.”

W-was it?! He thought that would be a good backup plan.

Then again, he’d chosen to ask Hanyu for that exact reason. The suggestions online were too mundane. None of the ‘popular’ spots would appeal to Li Suren.

The omega was innovative and elegant. He wasn’t the kind of guy that could just be taken to some random noodle shop. He might tolerate it because Jun Yibai took him but this dat- outing! - was about making sure the omega had a good time.

“It's… It's the guy from last night.” He grumbled out reluctantly.

“Oh!” He seemed surprised by his answer. Was he expecting it to be Chen Guiren? “Hm… Then how about…”

Jun Yibai spent the rest of the walk home on the phone. Hanyu had a lot of unique ideas for a ‘date’ though Jun Yibai was adamant about denying that it was a date. After giving a few hints, the Beta had quite a few ideas of his own.

He’d only just reached the entrance when he realized he’d gone to Li Suren’s apartment rather than his dorm. He’d only been here once yet he’d walked all the way here without thinking.

He absolutely couldn't tell the omega this. He’d never hear the end of it.

Once inside, he found Li Suren on the couch, typing on his phone.

He had that ‘I just fucked with someone’s day’ grin on his face.

“What did you do?”

“Sweetie?” Li Suren blinked, grinning up at the Beta leaning on the back of the couch. “Welcome home~”

Jun Yibai resisted the urge to kiss his forehead. It felt natural and he wasn’t about to do that. It was hard enough to convince Hanyu that they weren't going on a date. If he acted like a weary husband coming home to a welcoming mate, he’d never be able to convince himself that it wasn’t a date!

“I’m back.” He replied, sitting on the back of the couch with his back to the omega. “Now, who are you messing with?”

“Me? No one… yet.” Li Suren assured, winking playfully. “Just setting a trap for someone. It's something to keep me entertained when I go to a boring party.”

Boring party?

“Your grandfather’s birthday?” He guessed, recalling Li Suren’s previous complaints.

“Yeah, my parents and I are expected to go.” He grumbled, pouting. “Worse, I can’t even take Sweetie with me or else it’d be troublesome for you.”

It was clear that the omega really wanted to take Jun Yibai with him. If for no other reason than he wanted someone who wouldn’t try and shove him into a box.

While his studies in medicine were noteworthy, old master Li was an omega who insisted on doing things as traditionally as possible. If an omega was the family head, they had to act a certain way.

Li Suren, being a rebellious and cunning man, was not what that old man wanted, hence his complaints.

“But all that is for me to deal with later.” He suddenly said, interrupting Jun Yibai’s thoughts. “I’m more curious about our date tomorrow! What did you plan for me?”

Seeing the omega’s dark eyes sparkling with anticipation, Jun Yibai felt a bit embarrassed about his plans. So much so, that he failed to correct the omega’s use of the word date.

“It’ll be a surprise.” He mumbled, moving away. “But we’ll have to leave early in the morning.”

“Oh?” Li Suren wasn’t sure what he was expecting but it looked like his Sweetie had thought this through. “Then let us use one of my cars. It’ll be my contribution to our outing. You don’t need to spend money renting a car if I already have one, right?”

Jun Yibai wanted to argue but he couldn’t refute his words. Why rent a car if one was already available? Plus, it's not like it would be something Li Suren hadn’t used before. The omega drove all over the place so it wasn’t even an inconvenience.

Moreover, any car he could afford wouldn’t be nearly as comfortable.

***​

The next morning, they left the apartment just before dawn. Li Suren, excited about being taken out, could barely sleep and was therefore tired when they left.

“Do you mind if I take a short nap?” He asked, yawning cutely. Without even waiting for his reply, the omega leaned on Jun Yibai’s shoulder with his eyes closed.

The comforting presence put him to sleep in seconds.

Jun Yibai smiled, stroking the omega’s back as he instructed the driver where to go. It was good for him to sleep since it would take a while to arrive and he couldn't keep their destination a surprise if the man was awake.

That and he was quite adorable when he wasn’t talking.

He just hoped Li Suren would like the place he was taking him. He’d agonized over it for hours but felt this would be a way for them both to have fun.

When they arrived, Li Suren sleepily looked around, seeing they had gone to a pier. There were dozens of shops lining the boardwalk, the salty air filling his lungs.

It was a nice day so everything was perfect for their ‘not’ date.

Yet when the pair walked over to a certain attraction, Li Suren couldn’t help but frown.

“Ripley’s… Believe it or Not?” He read the sign, confused. He’d heard of these kinds of attractions but the name was a bit strange.

“I think you’d like a place like this.” He stated, watching Li Suren observe the few attractions visible from the outside. There were a few factoids and a strange display of a pipe connected to nothing but pouring out water.

Where the water was coming from and how the pipe seemed to be floating in the air was what drew them close.

Li Suren stared at it for a minute as Jun Yibai gave their tickets to the ticket taker. They had just gotten through when the omega had a eureka moment.

“There's a tube!” He declared, grinning at Jun Yibai with satisfaction. He explained the trick, looking excited for what else they’d see inside.

Jun Yibai sighed with relief, happy that Li Suren was enjoying himself. If the entrance didn’t get his interest, what else inside would?

The pair walked through the attraction, reading all the little factoids and records broken by everyday people. They curled their tongues to prove that they were part of the 80% that could. They marveled at the displays, though Li Suren wanted to find the ‘trick’ behind most of them.

This was because the omega, despite being so smart, was easily tricked by some of the displays.

One such display was placed in front of a doorway. When one walked through, they’d see an old man bent over to take a picture. Proper manners said that one should wait until they were done. Most would stop but Jun Yibai and a few others noticed the trick and would watch to see who fell for it and for how long.

Li Suren was one who fell for it, standing waiting for the elder to finish. When the man didn’t move, he’d frown and look more carefully only to discover that the ‘elderly man’ and his ‘elderly wife’ were nothing but statues.

“Were you not going to say anything?!” Li Suren complained, blushing as the two observed other visitors fall for the same trick.

“Nope.” He replied, watching the visitors laugh as they walked past the ‘couple’. “I had to see how long it took you to figure it out.”

“You were laughing at me!?”

“Absolutely.” He chuckled. He pinched the omega’s cheek, grinning. “You looked so mortified so how could I resist?”

“You are so mean to me, Sweetie!” He grumbled, pulling the beta away. “What kind of guy are you?”

“The guy who can spot a wax display faster than our genius Li Suren.”

Jun Yibai kept teasing Li Suren for the next hour until he was felled by a short tunnel of swirling lights. The ever-observant Beta assumed he could walk through but was hit with vertigo as soon as he stepped inside.

After a few minutes of trying to get his feet under him, he gave up. The smirk on the omega’s face made his own burn.

“Shut up.”

“What was that?” He questioned, looking clueless. “The super smart beta who can see through tricks got beaten by a 3-meter-long walkway?”

(AN: 3 meters is about 10 ft)

The jabs his way went on for the rest of the attraction, though Jun Yibai got a few in himself. By the end of the attraction, they were grinning and laughing at the stuff they’d seen.

Once outside, they found that it was just a little after noon.

Since the day was nice, they walked the boardwalk, buying knickknacks and snacks as they went. Li Suren wanted to share an ice cream cone but was thoroughly rejected by the beta as he ate his in one bite. All while maintaining eye contact.

The subsequent brain freeze was thoroughly enjoyable for the omega.

The sun was just starting to sink over the horizon when a group of people passed them by.

“Hey, I heard there’s gonna be a show tonight.”

“Tonight? What kind of show?”

“Fireworks.”

“Whoa, really?! Should we go check it!”

The group walked off, their excitement radiating from them.

“Can we go too?” Li Suren asked, nearly shaking with excitement. How romantic was it to watch a fireworks show with one’s partner? It was loud so he could even say things that didn’t need to be heard without fear.

It was a very nice idea.

“Then how will we get back?” The beta argued, sighing with disappointment. He too wanted to watch fireworks on a beach.

“You don't have class tomorrow so let's just stay the night.” He reasoned. Jun Yibai didn't even bother to question how he knew that. He wasn’t even surprised anymore.

Jun Yibai grimaced. The boardwalk was a spot where tourists came often so the prices were high. The only hotel around here couldn’t be cheap.

“The prices-”

“I’ll cover it.”

“I’m supposed to be treating you.” They might not be on a date but Jun Yibai refused to let Li Suren pay tonight.

“Then let’s split the cost.” Li Suren reasoned with a shrug. “Will that be enough?”

Jun Yibai was reluctant to agree. They had already had fun today so why stay the night?

They argued as they walked back to the car. Jun Yibai wanted to go back to the apartment since staying at a hotel was a waste. As they grew closer to the car, Li Suren stopped responding to his well-reasoned arguments, now just making short hums.

Had he finally convinced him? Jun Yibai sighed, happy that no money would need to be wasted tonight.

Yet upon arriving at the car, rather than walking to the door, the omega circled the car and opened the trunk. Before he could question what he was doing, Li Suren pulled out a picnic blanket.

“What are you-”

“I’m going to watch the fireworks.” He declared, walking past the beta with a raised chin. “If you don’t wanna, I’ll leave you here with the car. It’s not leaving without me anyway.”

Jun Yibai watched him walk away, grumbling to himself. He thought he’d made his thoughts clear but apparently Li Suren was just giving him the silent treatment!

That sly-!

Jun Yibai glanced at the driver, who tactfully pretended not to hear their antics. He could just wait in the car. He didn't want to give in to Li Suren like this. If they stayed for the show, the driver and they would be too tired to drive home. Then he’d have to stay at a hotel.

If he stayed at a hotel, things might get strange between them.

He’d already spent the last two nights agonizing over the incident with Chen Guiren. The way he treated the alpha and the things he said…

Damn it, but he really wanted to do that again!

Chen Guiren had looked so good on his knees, begging to taste his dripping precum. If not for the drug burning him up, he’d have taken his time with the alpha. Teased him more so he could maybe get him to cum from his words alone. He’d read it in novels and had doubted it was possible but he was sure he could do it with Chen Guiren.

The alpha was born to be on his knees.

Yet, Jun Yibai knew that it was only because of that drug that he dared act so brazenly.

He’d fantasized about doing that kind of stuff for a while now. The faces were always vague but the thought of the alpha replacing those vague figures was sending heat through his blood. Any more and he’d actually get hard.

Li Suren, he was sure, wouldn’t be far behind. All throughout the day, Jun Yibai had found himself wanting to kiss the omega quite a few times. He’d resisted, of course, but he knew if they went someplace without any prying eyes, he might not be able to resist that temptation.

***​

“Ah?!”

Li Suren blinked, his vision suddenly obscured by a large blue blanket. A blanket he recognized just as much as he knew the figure sitting beside him on the blanket.

“Hello, Sweetie.” He smirked up at the beta, amused by the grumpy look on his face. “You came after all.”

I only came because you’re an idiot.” He grumbled back, wrapping them both. The show was happening on the beach. As such, the breeze from the water was chilling. “You forgot to bring a second blanket.”

Nope, I just know my Sweetie has a soft heart and a hard mouth. He thought, moving in closer to the man. The blanket was enough to keep the chill away but his omega instincts told him to seek out the heat of the human body.

The intimacy was definitely making him more clingy. How could he help it? His beloved beta was so close, shoulder to shoulder in a cocoon.

Wasn’t it kind of like having him in the omega’s nest?

He shivered at the thought, wishing he could have the real deal in his nest rather than just some shirts he’d stole- borrowed! -from Jun Yibai’s room.

Yet he remained where he was, content with just being cocooned with his Sweetie.

The show started, filling the air with the shouts of excitement from the crowd and the exploding lights in the air. It was loud but Li Suren had chosen a nice spot. It was secluded enough that there were only a few other groups there. It was far enough away to keep the noise from being deafening.

All in all, it was a great spot.

Jun Yibai relaxed, pulling Li Suren closer under the guise of keeping their cocoon from having any gaps. It was nice, feeling the steady breath of the omega wafting over his neck.

Then he noticed it.

All around them, just under the pops and bangs of the fireworks, he could hear it. Very faintly, he could hear some strange sounds.

Thinking he was just hearing things, he peeked over only to see that the couple beside them were under their blankets. While he couldn’t hear them over the noise, they were definitely moving in a suggestive manner. The person under the blanket was moving back and forth, though the speed varied as if they were in a hurry.

He quickly realized just how far they’d gotten when a bare leg slipped from underneath, a dainty panty dangling from her ankle.

He turned away, feeling weirdly warm all of a sudden. He didn’t dare check the other side lest Li Suren notice too.

Catching someone having sex so close by was definitely embarrassing but also arousing. He could swear he could hear their ragged breaths as they moved. Small moans. Short cries. The telltale shudder of someone climaxing.

Shit, he-

He felt a hand land on his upper thigh, the fingertips just barely brushing his slowly hardening shaft. He didn’t move, knowing there was only one person who could be touching him.

“Sweetie,” Li Suren whispered in his ear, somehow heard over the bangs. It was a slow cadence, matching the rhythm of his naughty fingers. “You got so hard.”

“S-shut up!” Having been caught, Jun Yibai didn't deny it.

“I’m a bit disappointed though.” He complained, tapping the teeth of his zipper. The bulge contained beneath it jumped, as if replying to his silent knock. “I just wish it was because of the cute omega on your lap rather than those people beside us.”

Of course, he noticed. Li Suren wasn’t an idiot or unaware of his surroundings.

Jun Yibai’s hand, which had been gripping the omega’s waist, clenched, eliciting a small squeak from the man.

“Should we join in?” Again, those fingers kept teasing the zipper that was now straining to contain the erection he failed to hide. “It feels awkward to be the only ones not ‘having fun’.”

“What?! Just watch the show.”

“Which one?”

The ‘show’ beside them was ramping up, as more and more people realized that they could do all kinds of things in this small enclave they’d claimed. The illumination from the fireworks was brief enough to excite them as their erotic forms were revealed for a brief time. The thought of being seen exciting them rather than curbing their desires.

Jun Yibai closed his eyes, hoping to drown out the sounds. Yet ever since he noticed them, he couldn’t stop listening. Every cry made his muscles stiffen. His breath caught as their neighbor begged for ‘more’.

“Sweetie, pay attention to me~” The omega by his side whined, his breath brushing his neck and making him inhale sharply.

“Stay still.” His tone was harsh with desire. With all the stuff happening around him, how could he not be a bit tempted? Li Suren was attractive and his naughty fingers were making it hard to think.

“What if I don’t? Will you spank me?”

Damn him for putting that thought into his mind!

The thought was tempting. He’d imagined it a few times whenever the omega really annoyed him. He was such a brat sometimes. Egging him on with his arrogance and smirks. God, had he wished he could put the mouthy omega over his knee and-

“Sweetie, are you going to spank me?” He asked, his coy voice echoing though his ears and speaking to some deeply repressed part of his mind.

He really wanted to. Especially as Li Suren straddled his lap, staring deeply into his eyes like he was waiting for something there. A spark of… something.

For a moment, there was no sound. Not the fireworks or their neighbors making love. No there was only the two of them as they stared into each other's eyes.

It was unclear who moved in first, as it didn’t matter to either man. No, what mattered was that their first kiss was tentative, as if scared that anything more would harm the other.

Li Suren sucked in a breath, pulling away slightly, his face flushed.

It was cute.

Damn him, he was cute!

“Suren.” His words were low and barely audible to even himself but the omega gazed at him. That was all he needed.

Then, as if the heavens themselves felt like screwing them, it started to rain. Hard.

***​

It was unclear how they’d gotten to the hotel.

When the rain came down, there were panicked screams and scrambling bodies yet Li Suren quickly led them to a safe place. By the time they’d arrived at the hotel lobby, the pair were soaked.

He was sure they’d had some sort of agreement about it but Jun Yibai’s mind was dazed. He only briefly noticed that Li Suren had led him into the elevators without even glancing at the registration desk.

With luck, the elevator was empty, which suited them both. The second the doors closed, their lips smashed into each other.

The tinge of blood that was exchanged between them was but a small treat. More so for the omega.

“Sweetie! “ He cried as the beta nipped and nibbled at his neck.

His bites weren't as sharp or as electrifying as an alpha but it was just firm enough to center him in the moment. He couldn’t feel his clothes sticking to his skin or the cool metal of the elevator wall because his beta was right there in front of him.

“S-sweetie, talk to me… please” He begged, rubbing himself against the man. His wet clothes made it easier but damn it, he wanted more. “I want…”

A hand landed on his ass, the wet smack echoing in the empty box. Li Suren cried out, surprised by the flash of pain.

It hurt! It hurt but Jun Yibai’s hand was rubbing it, easing the sting as he squirmed. The burn made him want to whine and cling more.

“If you want something, ask for it properly.”

Li Suren pouted, wanting to scream at him for spanking him. He didn’t deserve it this time. He just wanted…

“I want to hear you talk dirty to me too.” He whined, locking his legs around the beta with a petulant look. “You are mine so I deserve it too.”

He hated that the mutt got to hear their beloved’s first attempt at his kink. Jun Yibai had a caustic tongue so it was obvious that he would use it during sex. It was probably awkward and mortifying after the fact but the fact he was left behind?!

“What you deserve?” The beta chuckled, pulling the omega’s ass closer. They were groin to groin now, eliciting a loud moan from the pale-haired man in his arms. “That’s not up to you, is it?”

It wasn’t up to him, yes but he’d be damned if he waited when the opportunity was right there.

He bared his teeth at the beta, his omega instincts demanding he prove himself to his mate. Not by submitting to him. No, that was not what he wanted nor what his mate wanted.

“Then I’ll prove you are mine, Jun Yibai.” He declared, wanting so badly to bite this male. Then he’d properly claim the omega for himself. Pin him to the bed and make him submit. Li Suren would fight, as he wished to feel his large hands hold him down. To make his ass burn from his spanking.

To hear his mate call him his.

“Then do it.” The beta challenged, his hands brushing over the nape of the omega’s neck. It felt so hot, aching for a bite. No, the touch was making him more horny. “Make me mark you like I did Guiren.”

Li Suren shivered, feeling his pants get a bit wetter. He wasn’t leaking slick, was he? No, it didn’t matter. His Sweetie, his chosen mate, wanted him to prove himself.

Li Suren tightened his legs, slotting their shafts together as he rode the beta wantonly. He didn’t hide his pleasure, moaning loudly. He was probably babbling too. He could feel his lips moving but his mind was fully on his gyrations.

He was using his Sweetie like a sex toy.

It was embarrassing but he loved it. He loved being held like this. Being carried like something precious and wanted. Even though the beta wasn’t moving as much, Li Suren could feel his shaft throbbing against his own.

Jun Yibai helped him along, whispering praises into his ear.

“That's it… Ride me, Suren.” He ordered, his breaths labored. “So good… So good for me! You’re doing so well, I…G-god, yes-”

The hands hold him up clenched hander on his ass as Jun Yibai started thrusting against him.

After that, it was hard to say who was riding who. They were a tangle of lust and limbs, straining against each other to reach their climax. Words were said but neither knew what left their lips. Whether it was praise or confessions of love, their final words at the moment of climax were the same.

They shuddered against each other, the aftershocks of their orgasm sending shivers through their bodies.

They slide down the wall, trembling in each other's arms as the warmth of their cum made their already-soaked clothes stick together.

Neither wanted to move.

They panted, trying to right themselves and come back to reality.

Jun Yibai did so first, as expected.

“We… We should go inside” He mumbled, probably embarrassed. Li Suren was sure this wasn’t how the beta thought their ‘not’ date was going to go. Still, he lifted the boneless omega into his arms and walked out of the elevator which had, at some point, reached their floor.

As the beta looked around the room the elevator had taken them straight to, the languid omega couldn’t help but chuckle.

His Sweetie hadn’t even noticed that the entire time they made out, the elevator doors hadn’t opened once.

*****​

AN: To those wondering why this chapter is the way it is, the answer is simply this: the beginning part was pure stream-of-consciousness writing. I started at the beginning and just went for it. I couldn’t think of what to cut out cause it does become relevant later but it feels weird, kinda. As such, the chapter is pretty long.

Also, Ripley’s really is a lot of fun. I’ve only gone twice, I think, and the exhibits are very interesting. The wax figure was one that I noticed but my mom didn’t so we stood there for a while before it clicked. After that, me, her and a few others watched to see who else fell for it. It was so much fun. The tunnel, however, floored me.

The lights disorient you so it feels like everything is moving when you walk through.

 

Spoiler: U: Considerations

AN: Sorry for the late update. It's been a hectic week since my city flooded this weekend.

*****​

Jun Yibai carried the omega into the hotel room, water dripping off their clothes and leaving a trail behind them.

Li Suren shivered, hating that the AC had turned on upon their entering. He pressed up against the beta's chest, reveling in the faint warmth he felt in his arms.

Frowning, Jun Yibai kicked off his shoes and walked to the bathroom.

As expected, the bathroom was spacious. There was a large bath, a shower, and a wide countertop with a pair of sinks. He placed the omega between the sinks and watched him shiver on the chilled marble.

"Are we doing it here?" Li Suren asked, hooking his leg over the beta's hip before he could pull away. "I'm a bit tired from before but we can-"

"Strip." The beta snapped, his order gruff as he tugged at the edge of his jacket. "You're clothes are we-"

Jun Yibai couldn't finish, finding himself pulled close. He put a hand out, catching himself on the mirror. Yet his attention remained on the smiling omega beneath him.

"Behave yourself, Li Suren."

"After all that, you are still so formal?" He pouted. "You told me to strip down so what else can I think?"

Damn, he couldn't really argue that, could he?

Then again, this guy was a pervert too.

"You're shivering. I don't want you to get sick so you need to take a shower." He explained, pulling off the omega's shoes. Once tossed aside, Jun Yibai picked up the omega and carried him over to the stall.

Even with the water flowing over their fully clothed bodies, Li Suren clung to him tightly.

"You're not letting go?"

"You're making me shower alone? Why not join me?"

"You need to warm up more than me."

The omega opened his mouth to deny this but his traitorous body sneezed, staining the beta's shirt.

"And now I have to wash my shirt too." Jun Yibai sighed, sliding Li Suren's legs off his hips. "Toss your clothes out and I'll load them up together."

The embarrassed omega compiled, watching Jun Yibai strip his own clothes. Well-defined muscles glistened from the moisture in the air, flexing under the skin that Li Suren knew was firm and rugged. He'd been held in those arms, so he knew what he could do with that strength.

Lifting heavy sandbags or carrying a squirming omega~

Damn, he was getting hard again!

Despite his desire to press the matter, Li Suren relented. They had finally gone past the undefined friendship line so he was satisfied. For now.

That and despite his bravado, he knew that as an omega, it was easy to get sick prior to his heat. He should be good until next week but he couldn't afford to get sick since he had to attend his grandfather's birthday celebration.

That stingy old man would accept rejection if it was due to a heat cycle but would drag his sick ass to the party even if he had to bring a throw-up bucket with him.

He sighed, wishing he could share the shower with his Sweetie.

Seeing that he'd put on a robe, Li Suren pouted and stuck his head out of the shower stall.

"You can't try and run from this, Sweetie." He stated, his words calm and firm. "I will chase you."

Chen Guiren might be willing to distance himself but Li Suren absolutely refused. From the day he'd met this man, he refused to fall behind in their relationship.

Jun Yibai snorted, flicking the omega's forehead. It wasn't a hard hit but it surprised the man.

"Didn't you say that the car won't leave without you?" He shot back. "So where could I even go?"

***​

Jun Yibai walked out of the bathroom, carrying their discarded clothes to wash. Apparently, hotels like this had in-unit laundry.

This was very good cause Jun Yibai didn't feel like washing cum from his boxers tonight.

He let out a breath, reeling from what had occurred.

He'd done all that with Li Suren, just as he had done with Chen Guiren. He'd even said those dirty things to him!

Ah, it was embarrassing!

Yet as he watched the washing machine shake and rumble, he couldn't get it out of his head. It was mortifying but... strangely less so than before.

Avoiding Chen Guiren was because of embarrassment. He lost control of himself and took advantage of his friend. Regardless of the alpha's willingness, Jun Yibai felt bad about it.

It had been a few days now and the thought of that car ride no longer filled him with dread and embarrassment. He just had no idea how to talk to Chen Guiren after that.

Should he act like nothing happened?

Apologize?

No matter how much he pondered how he should respond, he couldn't come up with a plan. He had never let anyone know about his interests. Sure, he was a bit more dominating than the average beta but saying all that stuff right off the bat?

It was enough to make him want to crawl into a hole and die.

Yet he ended up like this with Li Suren just a few days later.

So maybe he was the pervert?

He sighed, collapsing onto the couch.

Staring up at the ceiling, he wondered how he should proceed. He didn't want to have a relationship with either man but it'd be awkward to pretend nothing happened.

Perhaps something casual?

But that felt insulting. Li Suren and Chen Guiren were his friends. While they were annoying and troublesome for various reasons, he cared for them. Treating them like a booty call felt demeaning.

A one-time thing, then?

They were guys, after all, so fooling around once isn't something to get hung up on. As long as all parties understood what was going on, it wasn't something one should make a big deal out of, right?

If guys can watch porn together without it being weird, surely it wouldn't be weird to get a blowjob or dry hump a friend.

With his self-delusion firmly established, Jun Yibai put the clothes in the dryer and, moved to lay down on the bed. He had turned up the heat so the omega wouldn't freeze tonight.

Well, he didn't want to get a cold either but after working alongside construction workers tasked with carrying metal beams and planks of wood in the dead of winter, a little rain was not gonna kill him. Still, it was nice to turn up the heat without having to worry about an annoying roommate or foremen complaining about heating bills.

Wiping up the water clinging to his skin, Jun Yibai wondered what to do after this. He and Li Suren had humiliated Li Min the other day and while he hadn't been to his dorm in a while, his roommate had been blowing up his phone with angry texts.

He definitely couldn't go back now.

Li Suren had gotten his things the day after they'd come back from the hospital so there was no risk of being robbed. He didn't bother asking how the omega had gotten into his locked room since he knew he'd dislike the answer.

But he didn't like hiding like this. He was a man after all. An adult. One shouldn't run from their problems. As such, he decided then and there to find a way to get a new roommate. Dorms were still the cheapest option when it came to housing.

Then again, if he, Li Suren, and Chen Guiren were roommates, that'd be better. Splitting rent 3 ways would be better than all the stress he had to deal with now. Maybe he should run it by-

He felt the bed bounce beside him, shocking him from his thoughts. He peeked through his lids to spy Li Suren grumpily staring at him. He hadn't even noticed when his eyes had shut.

"I'm disappointed in you, Sweetie!" The omega complained.

"About?"

"Leaving me to shower on my own~" He grumbled. "A more domineering man would have showered with me."

"A more domineering man would have done a lot more than that." He countered. Li Suren was practically throwing himself at him before so it wouldn't be a struggle to go further.

"Yet you didn't!" He shot back, crossing his arms over his chest. "I was so hoping you would~"

Jun Yibai said nothing, watching the man give him a haughty look, daring him to deny him.

This brat.

Jun Yibai crooked a finger at him. "Be good and come over here."

Li Suren shivered, loving the deep relaxed tone of the beta's voice. It was commanding and while Li Suren usually liked to be willful, he obeyed without a word.

Upon sitting on the man's lap, Jun Yibai frowned as he ran his hands through the omega's hair.

"Your hair is still wet." He grumbled, snatching the towel from Li Suren. "Do you want to get sick?"

"Then I'll have Sweetie all to myself as he nurses me back to health."

"Or I could ask Guiren to care for you."

"Ugh! Don't even joke about that!" He cried, looking mortified. "You might as well kill me now, it'll be a mercy."

He laughed at the omega's look of horror at his suggestion. It made him wonder if Chen Guiren had taken care of him before.

Though, knowing how the alpha handles pain, he'll probably try and make Li Suren endure it all.

After drying his hair, Jun Yibai didn't stop, finding a kind of peace in his task that he rarely found. Li Suren's cheeks, the sides of his neck, and under were moist from the shower and Jun Yibai was determined to wipe it away.

Just as he was finishing, he noted a strange redness at the base of the omega's neck. Even compared to the normal flush from the hot shower, this was much deeper. Curious, he gently pressed on it, worried it might be some kind of bruise.

Li Suren cried out, though it was clearly not from pain.

"Sweetie, if you want to seduce me there are less extreme ways~" He whined, looking back at the beta with misty eyes. He covered his neck with the same kind of bashfulness of a virgin.

"Extreme?" He echoed, confused. He only knew the most basic stuff about omega anatomy. There was no reason for anything more in-depth as it didn't have much to do with beta's. As such, he was very confused by Li Suren's reaction.

Li Suren stared him down, as if trying to read the man's expression. Whatever he saw, however, disappointed him, leaving him sighing as he fell back onto the bed.

"Sweetie, you can only do that kind of thing with me, okay?"

"What kind of thing? Touch your neck?"

"Yes!" He snapped, face flushed. "You can't do it with any other omega. Not that classmate of yours or that tiny laborer from before?"

"Sure..." He agreed mostly because he was getting tired. It had been a long day and the bed they were laying on was really comfortable.

If not for how expensive this place was, Jun Yibai would want to stay just another night for the mattress alone.

Jun Yibai buried himself in the soft as clouds pillows that smelled of fresh linen, letting the exhaustion of the day lull him to sleep. Just as he was settling in, he felt Li Suren move closer. He snuggled in close, nestling his head under the beta's chin like that was his rightful place.

It's not a bad place for him. He thought, just before falling asleep.

***

A little later that same night, the elevator door leading to their hotel room opened once more. The darkened room was illuminated by a single ray of light and the figure within.

Chen Guiren walked in, his eyes having become accustomed to the dark quickly.

Something about the scene made him feel alive. He, an alpha, stalked through the darkness in search of his chosen mate.

Well, mates, really.

He had his men follow Li Suren and Jun Yibai despite the former's protests. They both knew Chen Guiren wouldn't really pull his surveillance off of them. He just made sure they were more discrete.

His discrete men against Li Suren's eagle-eyed guards meant he had only just gotten a chance to slip in without being noticed. He was sure he'd get an earful from the omega come morning but that was for later.

After days of planning and negotiating, the alpha sought nothing more than to see his mates.

He stalked through the hotel room, quickly spotting the bedroom. While his night vision made things clearer than normal, he couldn't quite tell what was on the bed. He could hear a soft snore but couldn't tell much else.

Coming closer, his chest clenched as the sweet smell of his omega took over his senses.

Damn him! He thought, sitting on the edge of the bed. He's the most annoying guy but smells so good~

He reached over, gently brushing his hair from his cheek. Pale skin that begged to be touched was revealed to him, a rare expression of calm on the omega's face.

Li Suren and Chen Guiren, despite their partnership, were at each other's throats more often than not. As such, there were few moments where the alpha could enjoy the satisfaction of seeing his mate like this.

He's so cute when he's not talking.

Chen Guiren enjoyed himself, brushing the edge of the omega's ear just to watch him grumble sleepily at nothing. After a minute of this, he realized that Li Suren was alone in the bed. Knowing this guy, there was no way he'd give up a chance to sleep with Master by himself.

So where was he?

He only just started to search for the beta when he felt an arm wrap around his neck.

A low growl rumbled from his chest as he pushed against his attacker to throw them off balance. They hit the carpeted floor with a muffled thud, the impact loosening the attacker's grip on him.

Within seconds, the two were grappling, both trying to pin the other. It was a fierce fight, Chen Guiren's alpha instincts coming out as they continued.

This was where his mates were. His thoughts were erratic but this was forefront in his mind.

At some point, he managed to straddle the attacker. He could have rained down his fists, breaking bone and soft tissue easily but his instincts didn't want that.

He wanted to bite this man.

Had he had a moment of clarity, he might have found the thought strange. While fangs were a usual method in ancient times, they also restricted a lot of other actions in exchange. It was a last resort, more of a dominance display than anything else.

But he really wanted to bite this person.

So he did.

Fangs gleamed in the light of the room adjacent to their struggle. Perhaps then, it became clear who the combatant was. Yet all that was in his head was sinking his teeth into the man beneath him.

Won't he be mine then?

His teeth sank into firm flesh, a metallic tinge of blood exciting his senses. Blood meant that his marking was deep enough to last~

Just outside himself, he heard the man beneath him curse, grabbing hold of his hair. It hurt, a sharp pain that pulled him from his reverie.

No, just a bit-

"You and this biting thing have to stop!"

The scolding was sharp, shocking him like the strike of a whip. He gasped, giving the man beneath him a chance to pull away. Chen Guiren's dazed eyes fell onto the mark he'd left.

His arm. He'd bitten the man's forearm.

The bite mark was not too deep but it wouldn't fade anytime soon.

He smiled, contently, leaning forward to lick the wound. He'd hurt his mate so it was only proper he do so, right?

Yet his hair was tugged once more, eliciting a whine of frustration. Was this punishment? Why? He hadn't done anything wrong, right?

"Master, don't push me away~" He insisted, trying to kiss the newly made mark on the beta's skin.

"Then wake up so we can talk!" He snapped back, shoving Chen Guiren to the side. Before the alpha could get close, the beta straddled his abdomen, pinning him to the ground. The position wasn't idle for countering.

Again, the alpha tried to coax his mate yet he was met with steely grey eyes glaring at him and a hand pinning his hair to the ground.

His hands, however, were free to touch. And touch he did, running his hands up the beta's arms and over his shoulders. When the tips of his fingers brushed the man's collarbones, he realized that Jun Yibai was only wearing a robe that had shifted throughout the fight.

With the light from the other room haloing the beta in soft light, Chen Guiren felt this man was even more appealing just then. Even though it was only a single hand holding him down, he didn't dare fight against it.

His panting breath echoed through the air, his darkened gaze riveted on the man above him.

Ah, Master is so cool~

Chen Guiren didn't think much at this time, his attention solely on his mate just then. Even when he dared to swivel his hips against nothing, his mind was marveling at how amazing his master looked dominating him.

"Hm?" Jun Yibai glanced behind him at the movement. "Are you serious?! You're aroused?"

W-was he being scolded?

The beta gave him a hard look that sent shivers through his larger frame. "Did you get hard from just that scuffle?"

It was a scolding!

Chen Guiren tensed, not sure what to do now. It had been days since he'd had the chance to jerk off.

When he'd tasted Master's seed, he had been near bursting at the slightest touch yet refrained from satisfying himself. He'd failed to keep his mate from harm so it was only right to refrain.

After that, Li Suren, that fucker, had made him responsible for the negotiation with Young Master Gu. The man was meticulous and rarely allowed an opening so he'd spend hours pouring over contracts and running around to secure the necessary things to close a deal.

Every night, he'd be too exhausted to even take his shoes off let alone jerk off.

Tonight was the only time in days he'd had a chance to do as he liked. Talking on the phone with Li Suren was enough to tide him over but as an alpha, he had to see his mates for himself. To ensure they were safe.

Even though he watched their date from beginning to end, he just needed to touch just a hair so his instincts would calm the fuck down.

Yet his instincts now were raging in a different direction.

He grabbed Jun Yibai's chest, the pectorals firm, and filed his hand in a way that was way too satisfying.

He wanted to do more.

His master's skin was a little tanned from working in the sun so he doubted a hickey would be visible. No, a bite mark would be better! Right over his heart so his inner alpha would be satisfied that this man was his.

Or perhaps the nipple so that his master would feel it whenever he wore a shirt. Or maybe-

"Oi, did I say you could do as you like?" The beta snapped, pulling him from his reverie. He blinked, unaware that he had grabbed Jun Yibai's robe and tried to pull him closer.

"S-sorry." He mumbled, though he couldn't make himself let go. "I shamefully dared to get hard from fighting you."

He knew this would happen one day. When they were teens, he felt that tingle that preceded arousal but he usually found himself in pain so the feeling would fade.

This time, there was no pain to deter his body's reaction to all the adrenaline. Especially with the object of his desire so close.

"It is 3 in the fucking morning." The beta snapped, looking annoyed. "I'm not taking care of that for you."

"S-so then-"

"Take care of it yourself." He ordered, clenching his fist in the alpha's hair. The jolt of pain made him squirm, his aching erection once again hitting nothing but air.

"Master~" He whined, grabbing hold of the betas hips. If Chen Guiren could just shift him a little lower, he'd just hump his ass. Master had a firm ass, one that Chen Guiren wanted to claim as his own.

But Master was so cruel! He got up and turned away.

He was tired and it was so early in the morning. Truly, it was Chen Guiren who was being selfish.

He knew all this but still!

He grabbed hold of the beta, wrapping his arms around the man and nuzzling his neck. The beta smelled like swear and salt from the ocean air. It was a scent he savored since it lingered in the skin of his beloved beta.

He barely kept himself from biting the man. He'd already done so tonight, so surely it wouldn't be bad to do it again. He wrestled with himself, holding the beta tightly with an urgency that he hadn't ever felt. No, perhaps he'd felt it when he'd first gone into rut with Li Suren.

Getting a taste of what intimacy with Jun Yibai would be like had frayed his restraint.

So it was a good thing he had a Master to control him.

"Behave yourself." Jun Yibai chastised, pinching his arm. "I'm tired so either take care of that yourself or go to sleep."

Ah, was this punishment for sneaking in like this?

He watched as Master escaped his grasp and stomped over to the bed. Despite all the chaos, Li Suren remained asleep.

He's helpless when he's asleep it seems. Chen Guiren marveled, sulking as he crawled over the the bed. He chose the side with Jun Yibai, preferring the beta to be between the two of them. He liked it like this better.

Yet there was still the issue of his aching cock to deal with too.

"Your Alpha is tired from working so hard." He pleaded, rubbing up against Jun Yibai desperately. He didn't dare 'take care of himself', knowing his master wouldn't appreciate his sleep being interrupted. "Help me, just a little?"

He wanted permission to take pleasure in his beta. While being punished might be appealing, that would have to wait for another day. He was nearly bursting and he knew it wouldn't take much to push him over the edge.

"If you really are mine, don't make trouble for me." The beta mumbled back, turning away. "Go to sleep."

Jun Yibai didn't see the surprise and joy that bloomed on the alpha's face from his tired words. He probably wouldn't remember this come morning but Chen Guiren would.

Chen Guiren was still aching and exhausted but felt such a sense of joy just then. He might be left unfulfilled for another night but he was happy as long as he was claimed.

"Master, you should know that I'm only yours." He declared, affectionately kissing the back of his neck. The beta grumbled, mostly asleep now. "Even if fate says otherwise, I'll always be your alpha."

*****​

AN: So this chapter originally had no spice and yet ended with it. It wasn't enough to warrant a * but I also didn't want to leave out the third member.

 

Spoiler: U: Common Sense*

AN: So I’ll be honest, this was a hard chapter to write. Mostly because I didn’t know how to end it. I got midway through and found myself stuck. The scene after the shower was weighing on my mind for days, cause I didn’t know which way to go about it.

*****​

After a long night, Jun Yibai wanted to sleep in.

No class meant no need to get up just yet.

Yet despite his desire, something dragged him from the sweet embrace of sleep. Whatever it was, he decided as his body woke him up, he was going to make it regret taking that one pleasure from him.

He groaned, his eyes opening even though he wanted nothing more than to sleep in. Yet he sat up, knowing he wouldn’t fall asleep even if he closed his eyes again.

Sometimes, it was an assignment that needed to be done and he couldn’t afford any time to sleep if he wanted it done. Other times, it was the strange kind of exhaustion that made you want to stay still but refused to let you sleep.

Either way, it was a pain to deal with!

He yawned, looking around the hotel room. As the memories of the previous night surfaced, his frustration arose.

That bastard Chen Guiren had broken in last night.

Had it not been for the fact that he’d needed to take a piss last night, the whole incident would have been unknown to him. The ease at which he did make him wonder how often the alpha did shit like that.

He’d have to have a talk about the proper way to visit friends.

To his surprise, however, Jun Yibai found himself alone in the bed. Chen Guiren, he could understand since it was clear his ‘visit’ was supposed to be covert but there was no way Li Suren would give up a chance to cuddle up with him.

The times he let the omega do so were few and far between. Li Suren was not the type to let an opportunity slip away.

Curious, he walked around the room, stopping when he heard the shower turning on. Upon entering, he could hear voices. A pair of them.

“Not so rough!” Li Suren chastised. Jun Yibai moved closer, seeing the two in the shower with the omega naked and pressed up against the glass door. “That hurts, you brute.”

“Yet you’re just as hard as me.” The alpha pinning him retorted, his hands roaming over the omega sensually. “And here I thought I wasn’t your type.”

The pair were pasted to one another, clearly into one another at the moment. Jun Yibai could vaguely see them through the steam of the shower and the water made it so that he could slip away without being noticed.

Yet he remained where he was, watching Li Suren slide a hand up Chen Guiren’s cheek like a lover.

“An alpha with a big dick is always going to arouse an omega, even when the alpha is an idiot and a masoc-”

“Fuck you!” He snarled, grabbing the omega’s ass as he pressed them to the door.

Jun Yibai could see Li Suren’s bare skin squished against the glass. He could see Chen Guiren’s fingers gripping those globes, the contrast heating his blood.

H-He should leave. He had to leave this was too-

“You wish. This ass is all for my sweetie~” Li Suren declared, swirling his hips to arouse the alpha before him. “But I might let you watch as he claims me~”

“Master is mine!” Chen Guiren snarled, his tone making him hard like never before. His voice was so much deeper than Jun Yibai was used to. He sounded like an alpha just then. “And so are you, so there is no ‘might’. I will watch him fuck you.”

“Oh?” Li Suren clearly liked this, as he let out a weird purring moan. “Will Sweetie let you? You might have been bad~”

“If I’m bad, Master will punish me by making me watch. He knows I’ll want to taste the two of you.”

Jun Yibai watched the two kiss, unsure what to do. He’d walked in, curious about the noise but now he was rooted to the floor.

His friends, both of whom seemed interested in him, were making out while talking about him. It was… a bit of a surprise.

He’d always assumed they were rivals who were fixated on him and just tolerated each other but now it seemed a bit more complicated.

He tried to imagine what they were talking about. Jun Yibai pinned Li Suren to the bed as Chen Guiren watched from the foot of the bed. He wouldn’t be restrained, as that would make things too easy for him. No, he would have been told to keep his hands behind his back and he knelt behind them.

Jun Yibai wondered how long he could hold out before pouncing. Would the alpha succumb to his baser instincts and join in or be obedient til the end and be rewarded as their omega lay languid in orgasmic bliss?

Shit, he really shouldn’t be thinking that kind of thing! Hell, he shouldn’t be here, listening to them like this. He should leave and-

The bang echoed through the room, ripping the beta from his thoughts of retreat. The pair were now back to chest with Li Suren pressed up against the glass door. The omega looked dazed as Chen Guiren held his arms up above his head.

“Close your eyes and think of Master.” He growled into the omega’s ear, his gaze now fixated on the beta. How long had he known here was there? Who knows but now Jun Yibai was a part of the show.

“S-Sweetie? Sweetie, I- AHH” He cried out, his cock soaking the glass. Jun Yibai wondered how much of that liquid came from the omega himself. “D-deeper, please. I want it~”

Jun Yibai couldn’t see where the alpha’s other hand was but from the way Li Suren was trembling, his fingers were in a sensitive place. The omega thrusted his hips back at the alpha, standing on his toes just to get more of those fingers. Begging for it.

Jun Yibai leaned back, his hands landing on the sink as he gripped the edge tight. He was so hard, he wanted nothing more than to join them but…

Something about this made him refrain. This was a show, after all. Chen Guiren was showing him this so he couldn’t ruin it by jerking off. That wasn’t his role here.

“Master won’t be as big as me but he’ll fill you up just the way you like it.” Chen Guiren promised, his heated gaze on the beta in question. His growl rumbled from his chest as he weaved their fantasy so elaborately. “He’ll be perfect for a needy omega like you. Look at how wet you are!”

“S-Sweetie~”

“Yes, he’s here. It’s his fingers inside of you, making a mess of that wet hole of yours. It has to be wet, otherwise, how is he gonna get that massive cock inside you? I’ve tasted it, held it in my mouth, and tasted his cum.” The alpha licked his lips at the memory. “That dick will break your little ass.”

“Yes! I want it!”

He must have hit something good because Li Suren couldn’t respond. All that came from the omega was choked-out moans that made Jun Yibai want to kiss him. Li Suren was a brat that needed to be reined in but comforted when overwhelmed.

Yet Jun Yibai remained in place, watching the two.

Li Suren’s hands were free yet he kept them pressed to the glass, more focused on the fingers thrusting into him. Even with his dripping cock desperately rubbing on the warm glass, his hips moved to the alpha's motions.

Chen Guiren’s other hand was moving out of sight but Jun Yibai knew he was probably stroking himself. He couldn’t see it but it was probably just as wet as the omega. Thick and throbbing, desperate for release.

Yet the hottest thing about the situation was Chen Guiren’s heated gaze. He kept staring into the beta’s eyes, keeping him rooted in place. Even as his face got flushed his breathing ragged, he refused to look away.

What a good boy.

“I-I’m cumming” Li Suren cried out, his body stiffening. “Sweetie! Yes!”

“Yes, me too. Fuck, Suren you-” Despite his words being directed at the omega, Chen Guiren didn’t look away from Jun Yibai. In fact, he gave the beta a pleading look. One that he recognized.

Was he… asking for permission?

Jun Yibai covered his mouth, suppressing a grin.

Was Chen Guiren always this cute?!

Li Suren cried out again, gaining the beta’s attention as he watched his cock spray semen onto the glass. Jun Yibai watched the omega squirm and tremble as Chen Guiren continued to push him past his limits. That expression of endured pleasure truly appealed to the beta’s kinks.

Next time, he wanted to be the one to do that to the omega. Making that brat beg for more than plead for mercy was a new goal for him.

“M-master~”

Jun Yibai looked back at the alpha. Chen Guiren’s hands were tormenting the omega purely out of spite it seems. His eyes were glazing over as he held himself off.

He wanted to cum too. He resented the omega for leaving him behind like that. So now he was begging with his eyes. The alpha would soon follow, as long as he gave the word.

Jun Yibai shook his head, watching the alpha’s expression fall.

“W-what!? But… P-please, I-” He begged, biting his lip as disobediently thrust his hips. He was close, it seemed. Just a single nod and he’d be writhing and painting Li Suren’s back with his thick cum.

Yet Jun Yibai shook his head again, his expression firm as he made his order clear. It was up to Chen Guiren whether to follow or disobey.

Jun Yibai was curious to see which one this masochistic man chose.

He could see the indecision on his face. He hadn’t released all night it seemed, wanting to have that moment with the beta. If he wanted to, he could disobey and get the release he’d been craving for hours if not days.

But he would be disobeying his so-called master.

Seeing the frustration on the alpha’s face was not as pleasing as the satisfaction Jun Yibai felt when he saw the alpha’s hidden hand encircle Li Suren, jerking him off on top of everything.

“No more, no more!” Li Suren begged, shaking violently as climax after climax pushed him over. “Yibai, please~”

Jun Yibai flinched, worried he’d been noticed but quickly realized that the omega was still in his fantasy.

The alpha finally stilled his hands, leaving the omega bonelessly leaning on the door. Seeing Li Suren so languid made Jun Yibai want to pet him. He’d endured a lot so it was only proper to ease him back to reality.

He walked to the shower, watching as Chen Guiren made space for him to take Li Suren into his arms. The omega was sleeping, probably exhausted from that exercise so early in the morning. He lay boneless in the beta’s arms, his face still flush.

Ah, he was so cute~

Jun Yibai shook off the thought, carrying him to bed and drying him off. While he wasn’t fully asleep, his nap was not going to be interrupted by his actions.

As he was being tucked in, Jun Yibai stroked the omega’s hair.

“You did good, Suren.” He praised, wanting to reward the omega, even if just a little. “I’m so proud of you. You were such a good boy.”

The omega let out a soft snore in response.

Muscular arms wrapped around Jun Yibai’s waist, embracing him and allowing no room for escape. Yet the beta didn’t bother to do such a thing, instead letting those arms tighten around him as Chen Guiren grew them close together.

“Was I a good boy, Master?” He whispered, resting his chin on the beta’s broad shoulders. “I did as you asked so I was definitely good.”

Chen Guiren rubbed up against Jun Yibai, his shaft nestling on the base of the beta’s back. He could feel it twitching against him, still yearning for the stimulation needed to throw him over the edge.

“Oh, and how were you good?” He asked, glancing over to the alpha. “I didn’t say you could touch me, did I?”

The alpha flinched, clenching his fists into the beta’s robe before reluctantly letting go.

“I’m sorry, Master.”

Jun Yibai turned to the alpha, feeling his heart race and his cock harden at the sight. Chen Guiren looked so good with that submissive expression on his face. Better yet, his kneeling would be the most attractive stance just then.

Yet Jun Yibai wasn’t brave enough to say such a thing to his face. He could do silent commands but facing the person himself made it hard to say the words.

As if sensing his desires, Chen Guiren knelt down, laying his head on Jun Yibai’s thigh. Glancing down, Jun Yibai could see the shape of his restrained erection jutting out. In this position, wasn’t it like that time in the car?

Only this time, there was no need to rush.

“Well then?” He asked, petting the alpha before him. When he was met with confused eyes, he sighed. “My question. Did you forget?”

“No, I didn't!” Chen Guiren nuzzled the beta’s thigh, clearly trying to move the robe out of the way. “I-I…. I didn't cum, Master.”

“At all?” Jun Yibai pressed, glancing down at the cock that hung between the alpha’s leg.

It certainly was big. Bigger than expected but curious as well. It certainly looked different from his own. Curious, Jun Yibai pressed on the swollen base with his foot, tensing at the heat and tension he felt there.

“Fuck!” Chen Guiren clutched at the beta's leg, shuddering with pleasure. “M-master, don’t… not there.”

“Don’t be loud. Li Suren is sleeping.” He ordered, glancing over at the omega. Seeing him still asleep, Jun Yibai touched the alpha’s ear, pinching it slightly. “I’m rewarding you because you were obedient but you can’t cause problems for others. Understand?”

“Yes, master. Sorry master.”

Jun Yibai smiled. “I forgive you. Now tell me what I’m touching.”

Jun Yibai leaned back, taking in the view. He’d been a bit curious about the differences in their bodies since the incident in the car. He’d heard rumors about alpha dicks but to see one in person was a unique experience.

Chen Guiren’s dick looked normal up until the base where there was a strange swelling. It was like a small ball at the base of a stick and he couldn’t help but toy with it. Every time he pressed on it, Chen Guiren would let out a shuddering moan.

“H-Hah…” Chen Guiren trembled, grabbing at the beta’s robe. His gasps for air echo through the bedroom, inflaming Jun Yibai’s desires.

His cock was leaking precum, soaking the beta's toes but making his exploration much more smooth. He could even see how the alpha was trying to sneakily match his motions, rubbing up against the arch of his foot.

How cute.

“Chen Guiren.” After a moment, the alpha looked up at him with lustful eyes. “I forgave you so shouldn’t you answer my question? What am I touching?”

“M-my, ngh… my knot.” He choked out as Jun Yibai rubbed his shaft harder. Now his hips were much more blatant in its thrusts. “Master, Fuck… please!”

“It’s not that big.” Jun Yibai noted, still a bit more curious about the knot.

“It’s not… Heat or rut… I’m not-” He was trying to explain but his panting breath hindered any coherence.

No, instead the alpha was fixated on the touch of his beloved beta, rocking his hips to get all the friction he could.

Jun Yibai’s foot felt hot, though it was unclear whether or not this was due to the friction or the cock that was using him like this. Even without being directly touched, Jun Yibai felt like he was being led. He paid attention to which spots made the alpha gasp and moan the most.

If he liked it when Jun Yibai pressed down on his testicle with his heel, it did so. The sight of him biting back a louder sound was invigorating. He was learning a lot from the man at his feet. Just how much pain was needed to bring him out of his lustful daze?

Chen Guiren, it seemed, liked the pressure of his foot but not any pain there.

Jun Yibai felt grateful for that. He was willing to match this guy's interest as much as he could but ball-busting wasn’t something he was comfortable with as a fellow man.

Still, just this much was nice.

“You’re making a mess.” He complained, tapping the alpha’s leaking head with his big toe. It was gaping wide, letting loose rivelets of precum onto his foot. There was so much, it could be mistaken for lube.

He pulled his foot away, reveling in the alpha whine.

“I'm tired. Do it yourself.” He ordered, using his foot to push the alpha’s shoulders back. It was only at this moment that Jun Yibai realized that Chen Guiren’s was kneeling yet his shoulders were above the bed. As such, his action left him exposed to the alpha’s heated gaze.

Chen Guiren swallowed hard, his eyes darting to the newly revealed underwear that Jun Yibai was wearing. The beta had been looking very calm throughout the encounter but seeing the wetness forming beneath his boxers made it clear he was just as affected as the alpha.

Chen Guiren grabbed hold of his cock, stroking it hard and fast. Jun Yibai briefly worried he was gonna hurt himself but hearing his desperate moans assuaged his concerns.

“Hah… Fuck…”

It was messy and filled the room with wet sounds but neither man could look away from the shaft being played with. Jun Yibai wanted to watch his alpha spill all over those larger hands. He’d seen those hands break and bruise people but he now wanted to see it covered is semen.

Yet he was holding out surprisingly long.

Even after several minutes of jerking off, Chen Guiren seemed no closer to cumming. The man himself seemed to notice too, whining in frustration as he pressed fevered kisses onto Jun Yibai’s raised leg.

His ankle, calf, and knee were kissed and nipped at. He probably would have done for his thigh but such a thing would obstruct Jun Yibai’s view.

Wanting to reward his alpha so he could have his own satisfaction, Jun Yibai pushed him back with his foot. The alpha had been taken by surprise, rolling onto his butt as the beta once again stroked him with his foot.

“Ah!…” Chen Guiren looked up at Jun Yibai, confusion and lust battling within his red eyes as he watched the beta casually rest his chin on an open palm.

“You said you planned on taking me so show me how much you’d be filling me up with.” He noted, massaging the alpha’s cock firmly. Chen Guiren gasped, possibly surprised by his words but he kept going. “That’s what you want, right? To fill me up until there is no space for anything else but you. To watch me struggle to hold it all in after you fucked me raw.”

The fantasy that he had told Li Suren before was now forefront in his mind. That leaking cock pulsed heavily beneath the beta’s touch, getting harder with each stroke.

Eyes blazing with desire looked up at him with conviction. “After I breed you.”

Jun Yibai cocked a brow at this.

“Breed me?” He echoed, smiling. “Is that your ultimate goal? How brazen of you.”

“Yes.” Wild eyes stared up at him, heavy and adoring. “Yes, I’m brazen enough to claim master in such a way that even after a thousand baths, others will know you are mine. I want to mark master so deep, that your very being will reject everyone else. All mine. All mine. All mine.”

Chen Guiren kept muttering to himself, various words like ‘mine’ and ‘my master’ spilled from his lips as he used Jun Yibai’s foot to get himself off. He might as well have been a fleshlight for all the care he was given but Jun Yibai didn’t mind.

He loved it, in fact.

Seeing the alpha lose himself in ecstasy and yet still be so subservient was making Jun Yibai so hard. He wanted nothing more than to pull out his own erection and fuck his own hand. He wanted to spill his own seed on the alpha, to satisfy his own desire to paint the man’s face white with his cum.

But Chen Guiren was his servant, willingly submitting to his desires and obeying his commands so it was only proper for his alpha cum first. Afterward, he’d put that dirty mouth to work.

“Are you going to cum?” He asked softly

“Y-yes! Yes, fuck I am.”

“Even if I tell you not to?”

“No, master!” Chen Guiren’s free hand grabbed Jun Yibai’s robe, his restraint clearly on the edge of breaking. “Please…. Please don’t be so mean, Master!”

He briefly considered saying no. Seeing this powerful man on his knees, desperate for his grace was way too attractive.

On the other hand, Chen Guiren had been obedient since the night before. To punish him despite that would make him a terrible master.

“Show me.”

Chen Guiren shuddered, hearing the one thing he needed to let loose.

“Master~ Need to come, need to come…” Chen Guiren is muttering fervently, growing tense. “Oh fuck… Master!”

Chen Guiren lunged for Jun Yibai, pressing the man down and pinning him beneath him. Before he could even voice a complaint, the alpha lips blocked it.

It was a deep and passionate kiss, if not a bit amateurish. Compared to Li Suren’s sensual kisses, Chen Guiren was pillaging his mouth. There was no place left untouched and it swallowed his senses like a rampaging beast.

Jun Yibai kissed him back, seeking to regain his dominance.

As they ‘fought’, Chen Guiren’s pressed their shafts together and ground up against him. Pleasure raced through him as Jun Yibai’s shaft finally got the attention he was craving.

Fuck, he’d been hard for a while yet got no relief. Now he was so close!

Just before Jun Yibai suffocated under Chen Guiren’s kiss, the alpha pulled away to kiss him everywhere else. His neck was ravaged, the sting of bites only soothed by the alpha’s adoring kisses.

“Master, I need to mark you.” He rasped, clutching the beta’s waist as he thrusted against him. His gasping breaths grew louder. “I missed you so much so I have to bury you in my scent!

He was being so loud now!

Jun Yibai pulled him into a kiss before the roar that was rumbling from his chest shook the hotel to its foundations.

"Mnn!" Chen Guiren's thrust became frenzied, shaking the bed beneath them.

Jun Yibai could barely think as the alpha pinned him down and kissed him. He couldn't help fighting back, loving the back and forth.

Chen Guiren's hands slid up and down the beta's body, unsatisfied with staying anywhere for long.

Unconsciously, his legs locked around the alpha, restricting his movements until they could barely do more than twist their hips.

Chen Guiren hurried thrust became unsteady and frantic, his muffled moan leaking from between their interlocking lips.

The pair tensed up at the same time, clutching at each other as wet cum spilled between them.

Frenzied hands clenched into his hips hard, keeping them shaft to shaft as the alpha spilled his load onto Jun Yibai. With how strong his hold was, Jun Yibai wondered if the alpha was imagining that he was being bred and had to ensure nothing slipped out.

He was thinking about it. Imagine being hammered into by him in that ruthless, trance-like state again. Of his hips being held tight as this man lost control and fucked him hard like that.

Chen Guiren pulled back from the kiss first, gasping and moaning with a flushed face. Exhausted, he collapsed onto Jun Yibai, resting his head on the beta's shoulder.

For a minute, there was only the sound of the pair's loud breathing and the faint snore of the omega beside them.

Somehow, he slept through all that noise.

Jun Yibai rubbed his partner's back and neck, noting he too had a warm spot on the back of his neck. The rumbling growl that radiated from the alpha was surprising but calming.

To his surprise, Chen Guiren moved first, sitting up until they were face to face. His eyes were laced with suppressed desire.

Ah, so he wanted more.

The air was heavy with unspoken feelings. There was still an electric charge that fell over them as if any second, something more could occur. Jun Yibai sought to do that, wanting to see where this was going.

Yet, much to his annoyance, Chen Guiren’s phone rang.

The alpha panicked, worried it would wake the sleeping omega beside them. He reached over to shut it off quickly, sighing with relief that Li Suren was still sleeping.

But his phone rang again, pissing him off further.

Jun Yibai watched the alpha dash out the door after the 4th attempt to call him. He radiated with hot fury as he snapped into the phone

“Bastards!” He glared at the phone, glanced at Jun Yibai who had followed him out, and put the phone on speaker. “You fuckers had better be dying right now if you’re calling!”

“B-brother Chen, it's not us.” The caller pleaded. Jun Yibai could recognize it as one of the Jii brothers who always hung around the alpha. “Jun Yibai’s phone has been ringing constantly. A friend of his is worried about him not responding and is threatening to call the cops if he doesn’t respond.”

“You guys can't handle something as simple as that?!”

“They don’t believe we’re him. I think they have some kind of code or something.”

“If it's Yang Ru, then yeah we do.” Jun Yibai responded, watching Chen Guiren hang up and text someone. “It's not hard to hack into people’s phones nowadays so we both have an ‘all clear’ phrase to make sure nothing happens to us.”

Chen Guiren snorted, looking at the beta with a look of amusement. “Are your lives so exciting?”

“Yang Ru has always been a troublemaker since I met her and I’m stuck with you two. What do you think?”

Moreover, he somehow had the ability to get caught up in crazy shit just walking down the street. He had yet to be kidnapped but it wasn’t outside the realm of possibility. It was better to be prepared for the possibility.

“I won't let anyone touch you, Master.” The alpha promised, nipping at his earlobe. “Master is mine after all. How could I let anyone trouble you?”

“Other than you?” He shot back, relaxing as the alpha nuzzled him. He was still horny but it was sorta nice to be held.

“That fox can too, I suppose.” He conceded distractedly, his eyes darkening as he pulled the beta closer. “He’s mine too.”

Jun Yibai wondered about that, not really understanding the mind of an alpha. Was it that simple?

He supposed it wasn’t the kind of common sense that a beta could understand.

*****​

AN: I sometimes wonder if my writing these is some form of exploration for what I can and can't write about. When I started these stories, I didn't think it'd get too kinky yet I've covered snowballing and foot stuff already. Heck, the mild BDSM stuff is a new thing for me too so I wonder what else will spring forth from me.

Also, a fun recommended stories~ For TOXIC ML's in a BL setting, we got:

Jinx: POS MMA fighter with sex addiction works with Sweet physical therapist. They... interact with one another.

Roses and Champagne - Russian mafia dude is really into this tough-as-nails lawyer

Dead heat: An undercover cop is discovered by high ranking member of the gang and is 'requested' to do favors for silence.

For non-toxic or just mild toxicity in a BL setting, we got:

Salty Lust - A broke college student (IN SPACE~) is hounded by handsome but horny aliens who are really horny. Like really~

Whispers through the Willows - Omegaverse but it's mega ultra rare to present and looked at as a genetic malady. Alpha prince and 'omega' experiment get close and bond quite wholesomely. Then bone.

Will you subscribe - Onlyfans model is discovered by the boss and is told to shut it down before his dumbass gets caught. OF model offers sexy time instead. Its short and has two storylines in total.

 

Spoiler: U: Preparations

AN: A random thought that occurred to me recently is this: You guys know about the plot points in dramas/novels where the antagonists try to ruin the MC in various ways to get with the ML. They think, ‘if X happens to MC, the ML will either ditch them or choose me cause potatoes.’ It sounds dumb when reading it but it occurred to me that in order to think such a thing, this method had to have worked at least once and that just saddens me.

*****​

Jun Yibai wasn’t sure about how to feel.

Alpha’s were possessive, as he had heard, but how was one supposed to respond to such a declaration?

Thank you?

I feel the same way?

Neither felt right. As such, Jun Yibai put it on the back burner. He’d dissect this matter later on. He had a lot to think about now.

First things first, he had to talk to Yang Ru. If he didn’t reassure her soon, she was absolutely going to call the police about him being missing.

He’d already started the day out pretty well. He didn’t want to ruin it.

“Where is my phone?” Jun Yibai moved out of the alpha’s embrace to look for his clothes.

He didn’t see the glint of displeasure in the alpha’s red eyes as he watched his beta leave him without a response.

His master was very cruel but fuck did he love this bastard!

“My guys have it. I already called them up so they should be here to drop it off in a few minutes.” Chen Guiren said, his eyes never leaving the beta as he walked about the room. His eyes were hot and intense as he looked at the man. “Master should take a shower first. I don’t mind you having my scent on you but I might kill my own men if they get to enjoy it too.”

Chen Guiren’s voice was deep and rumbling like it was clawing its way from deep within him. Like a predator letting its prey notice it before striking.

Jun Yibai, the prey, knew better than to turn around. He was absolutely sure this guy would pounce upon eye contact. With his back turned, they were still master and servant.

If their eyes met now, he was absolutely sure he’d be prey.

“Don’t be gross.” He scolded, grimacing. Pinching the edge of his robe, he couldn’t help but notice how sweaty and gross he felt now. His underwear was a mess and he hadn’t had the chance to shower the night before.

He must smell gross, yet this weird guy acted like he didn’t.

He really wanted to hit the alpha just then.

“Moreover, how did you get my phone?” He asked, only now realizing he didn’t have his phone on him. Last night had gone by fast so its absence was completely unnoticed by him.

Then this morning happened and the last thing he’d been thinking about was checking his emails.

“You and the fox dropped them on the beach last night. Honestly, it's a good thing they didn’t get ruined in the rain before my guys got them.”

Again, Jun Yibai briefly contemplated asking why Chen Guiren’s guys were there AT ALL but refrained from doing so. Li Suren and Chen Guiren were both stalkers so he should just learn not to ask questions he’ll regret asking.

He headed to the bathroom, blocking the alpha from following with his arm.

“Tell Li Suren that I had something to do.”

“You’re leaving?!” He cried, that dangerous tone fading. Only then did Jun Yibai look at the alpha.

“Knowing Yang Ru, she won’t take anyone’s word but mine. At this point, she’ll probably demand I show up in person.”

It's a hassle to have to do all that but he couldn’t help but be glad he had a friend who was this concerned about his well-being. He’d do the same for her so how could he complain?

“Then I’ll go with-”

“No, you’re not.” He interrupted. “I need you to relay my message to Li Suren. Regardless of how you feel about it, I’m not going to do something so impersonal like leaving a note or texting. He's my friend, not a shameful one-night-stand.”

Though hadn’t he had the same thought the night before? It was a bit shameless to say such a thing now but Jun Yibai needed more time to decide where things were between the three of them.

So for now, it was hypocrisy all the way!

Chen Guiren, meanwhile, felt wronged. He finally got to get close to his beta and the man wanted to leave him behind.

How was that fair!?

“What if I don’t tell him?” He growled, feeling disgruntled by this. “I don’t want Master to go when we finally meet up again. We have a lot to talk about.”

“Are you going to disobey me?”

“Eh?” The alpha’s heart skipped a beat at the authoritative tone.

“Are you?” Jun Yibai pushed, walking up to the alpha. Chen Guiren couldn’t help but take a step back. “You were such a good boy before. Why are you trying to make trouble for me?”

“I-I’m not!” He denied it, pleading for understanding. “I just-”

“What happens when you disobey?”

He shivered, feeling himself getting h again. “I get punished.”

“And if you obey?”

The alpha’s eyes go hot, searing the beta’s with his desire. “I get rewarded.”

“Right. So, which do you want? Will you make things troublesome for me?”

“…N-no, Master. I’ll be good.”

Jun Yibai smiled, proud of his alpha for being good. It was very cute.

He turned and left the room, leaving the dazed alpha to stare after him. By the time he’d recovered from Jun Yibai’s ‘persuasive argument’, the shower had already started.

For a moment, Chen Guiren considered bursting in to join him. He’d showered before but he wanted to have as much fun as he had with Li Suren.

But then he remembered the beta’s words and remained seated.

If he was good, he’d be rewarded, right?

***
​

Jun Yibai exited the shower 10 minutes later, feeling refreshed.

It had been an eventful few hours.

Upon exiting, he spotted a bag hanging off the doorknob with brand-name clothes within. He feared what kind of clothes he’d been offered.

Li Suren and Chen Guiren had expensive tastes and it often left the beta in awkward situations when the random shirt he chose to wear turned out to cost a year's salary.

Still, it was a kind gesture so he couldn’t be so rude as to decline.

As he left in his new clothes, he found Chen Guiren in the living room area talking to someone in a hushed tone. While he didn’t catch any words, the beta could hear the mild growl in his tone.

It was probably a work thing.

He knew Chen Guiren was involved in some… probably illegal stuff. His family’s business might be clean on the surface but considering how often the alpha got into fights, he was sure his family business gave him a lot of opportunities.

He never asked and didn’t plan on doing so.

It was, as of the current moment, none of his business.

As such, he walked past them, ignoring any tidbits he might have picked up if he cared enough to listen in. He doubted the alpha would hide anything if he tried.

As he was walking, he spotted his phone on the counter.

There was a series of buzzes that told him that someone was trying to contact him.

5 messages from Hanyu, 3 from his parents each, and 45 from Yang Ru.

He was a popular guy this morning it seemed.

He gave Yang Ru the all-clear message, knowing she was probably too busy at the moment to notice his reply.

His parents were just checking in, though his dad wanted him to come visit when he was free to do so. He hadn’t seen them since he moved to a new city.

Part of him wanted to tell them about how things were going but considering how his dad was, he knew he wouldn’t take all the ‘drama’ in his life the way Jun Yibai did.

To him, it was taken in stride.

His dad, however… he’d have other thoughts about it.

Jun Yibai didn’t want to have to argue with his dad so he gave them both a vague assurance that he’d come visit as soon as he was able to.

Hanyu was interrogating him, excitedly begging to know how his ‘totally-not-date’ went.

Nosy bastard.

Just as he was about to reply, he felt a weight rest on his shoulders as a pair of arms curled around his waist.

“Don’t you have work to get to?” He asked, not even bothering to look back. “That conversation looked important.”

Chen Guiren grumbled wordlessly into his shoulder, not looking up.

“Is it too difficult for you to deal with?”

“No, but…”

“But?”

The alpha’s arms tightened around him, making him gasp for a second.

“How were you going to reply to that omega guy?” He suddenly asked, changing the subject. “Were you going to mention me?”

Ah, he was so subtle with his subject change. Jun Yibai rolled his eyes.

“I was planning on telling him that my night was ruined by a horny dog bursting into my room.” He shot back, pushing the clingy man away. “It kept humping my leg and disturbing my sleep.”

“Oh? Then perhaps that dog should beg for forgiveness~”

Chen Guiren was being much more openly affectionate now, letting his hands wander shamelessly under his shirt.

“Don’t you have work to do?” He challenged, stopping his hands. “Work I can’t interfere with?”

Chen Guiren flinched, looking a bit worried.

“A-are you mad?”

“If I was mad, I’d hit you.” He replied, walking around the alpha. “You’ve done nothing to piss me off enough to deserve my fists. Anything less is way too troublesome.”

Chen Guiren didn’t mind being hit though. He liked how upfront his beta was with his anger.

Yet he really couldn’t talk about Li Suren with him right then.

If his nose was right, things would get troublesome soon and he had to prepare for it without Jun Yibai around.

“I got my guys to drive you back,” Chen Guiren explained, pointing to a pair of bodyguards nearby. “I’ll bring Li Suren back myself.”

Jun Yibai frowned, not expecting such proactive attention toward the omega. “For business?”

“That too.” He grumbled, scratching at the back of his head.

Jun Yibai briefly considered asking but knew he’d get no answers. He’d have to wait and see what this all came to later.

Right now, he had to meet up with Yang Ru.

***​

Sometime later, Jun Yibai found himself looking out the backseat window as he was taken back into the city.

The night away really was worth it in the end.

He had fun with Li Suren and while Chen Guiren breaking in was a surprise, it hadn’t been too bothersome.

All in all, it’d been a good date.

The aftermath, however, was a bit annoying.

He glanced forward, just barely catching the darting eyes of the bodyguards up front.

They had been sneaking glances at him the whole way yet said nothing. Jun Yibai hadn’t expected or wanted a conversation but being stared at was annoying.

He wasn’t some attraction to gawk at.

Just as he was getting sick and tired of them, he received a notification on his phone from Yang Ru telling him where they could meet. He’d originally offered to meet up with his university but according to her text: I can’t go back into enemy territory right now.

He had so many questions but knew it was better to ask in person.

As such, he let himself off, surprising to two as they scrambled to follow him.

“M-Mr. Jun, please allow us-”

“I’m not going to tell you how to do your job but if I or my friend spots you lurking about, I will make trouble for you with Chen Guiren.” He warned, narrowing his eyes at the pair. “Is that clear?”

“Y-yes, sir!” They stammered out, taking a step back.

Jun Yibai said nothing more, walking into the cafe Yang Ru had chosen. It was cozy and elegant, fitting for a place frequented by those at OO University. The coffee was phenomenal so the pricing was worth it.

Soon enough, he spotted Yang Ru sitting by the wall, waving him over.

What was curious was that she wasn’t alone.

“Song Yang, what are you doing here?” He asked as he approached, cocking a brow at that beta.

He hadn’t seen Song Yang since high school. The beta had kept up his attempt at being the beta king of the school and made quite a few enemies along the way. How he got out of those scrapes, Jun Yibai never cared enough to look into.

He only later learned that Song Yang had a rich background, so his crazy antics rarely got ot of hand.

Jun Yibai was also sure that the alpha who always stuck by him was one reason he hadn’t ever gotten into too much trouble.

Speaking of, that alpha was rarely apart from Song Yang so why was he alone now?

“It's nice to see you too, Jun Yibai.” The man shot back, leaning back on the chair. “I see no reason why I can't be here. Yang Ru is here so of course I’ll be here too.” He declared arrogantly as if it were an honor for him to be there.

Jun Yibai just stared.

From his position above the two, Jun Yibai could see a red spot just barely hidden from view on the beta’s neck. He could even see some bite marks when the man turned his head.

Ah, that's why he’s here. He thought, rolling his eyes. He wondered if he should tell Song Yang about who he saw lurking nearby while he was in the car.

Nah, let it be a surprise.

He sat down beside Song Yang, knowing it would push things along faster.

He didn’t dislike Song Yang per se but he definitely would rather deal with anything else but this guy. Literally anyone else.

“He was with me when I got your text this morning and insisted on coming with me,” Yang Ru grumbled, glaring at the other beta. “He interrupted my time with Bunny! If he weren’t my future brother-in-law, I would never-”

“Who are you calling ‘brother-in-law’?!” Song Yang argued, glaring right back at her. “You and Xinshui are not married so when did you become my family?!”

Yang Ru had spent months chasing Xinshui. The omega was a shy one and unused to attention from others. Moreover, he was being so passionately pursued by a beta female!

His cousin, Song Yang, had made sure no alphas messed with him so he was unused to romantic attention. Yet when the beta’s back was turned, his cousin was swept off his feet by a brazen beta female.

No one dared mess with Xinshui, as Yang Ru had a notorious reputation and a lot of blackmail. Song Yang, while he wasn’t as strong as the kings, could make things very difficult for others.

The two were a pair of bandit chiefs vying for the attention of the pretty commoner.

It was amusing if not a bit of a hassle.

“So why are you still here?” Jun Yibai asked, glancing out the window behind Song Yang. “You like Yang Ru so much you can’t stand to be apart?”

Song Yang and Yang Ru froze, both sharing a look of horror. Their mouths were agape, trying to speak the words of pure disgust and denial but no words could come close to the feelings in their hearts just then.

“I went to meet up with a professor Xingxing had told me about. He teaches at OO.” He explained, gulping down a glass of water to wash away the nausea he felt at the beta’s suggestion. “Yang Ru was heading over so I hitched a ride.”

“Yet you stuck around afterward?” He pressed, narrowing his eyes at Song Yang. “Are you planning something?”

Song Yang was the type to get into all kinds of troublesome situations. He had a special skill for stirring things up in ways only he could.

“What? No way, I'm not that free.” He declared, sitting up and giving Jun Yibai a determined look. “I was asked to find some fresh talent for my family to invest in.”

“Like a scholarship?” Yang Ru guessed, leaning back.

“Yes. I want to get a leg up since my older brother is back.”

Jun Yibai didn’t know a lot about Song Yang’s family life. Li Suren had mentioned it once in passing. The fight for succession in his family was messy since there were a lot of kids in the Song family. The few rumors that managed not to get covered up about them were crazy.

He’d always assumed Song Yang was the eldest, considering his arrogance but it turned out he did have older brothers.

“That's why I came.” Song Yang continued, pinning Jun Yibai to the spot with expectant eyes. “I wanted to ask Jun Yibai to let me present him to my father.”

“I’d rather not.” He retorted instantly.

If what little he’d heard from Li Suren was right, he definitely didn’t want to get involved with that bullshit.

“Come on! You’re the smartest guy I know but we both know that won’t get you far.” He reasoned, tapping his fingers on the table. “What you need is connections. Graduating from a good university isn’t going to mean anything if no one hires you afterward.”

Jun Yibai clenched his fist at the insinuation, even though he knew it was true.

They lived in a meritocracy. Talent and skill were the key to getting anything in this world. It was fair in theory.

But that was only if the world was made up of betas.

In this world where there were alphas and omegas, talent alone wouldn’t get you the spotlight. There were plenty of talented people so one needed a leg up to stand above the crowd. It wasn’t even cheating since going to OO University provided many opportunities to gain connections.

That's what Li Min was trying to do by getting an investor.

It's just that Jun Yibai didn’t want to grovel and beg for attention like a starving dog. He had more pride than that.

But pride alone, unfortunately, wouldn’t get him far.

He could ask Li Suren or Chen Guiren but that felt like he’d be dirtying their relationship. They were friends and… whatever this morning meant.

He refused to use people he’d come to like in such a way.

Song Yang, on the other hand-

“Fine but you are paying for the whole thing.” He snapped, looking away. He didn’t know if he was going to show off like a prize at a dog show or what but regardless, he would not let it go without some repercussions on Song Yang.

The beta grinned, looking ecstatic.

“That's great! Thank you so much, brother Jun~” He cried, staring at Jun Yibai like he was his greatest savior and he took the beta’s hands in his own. “With you, I know I’ll get Father to acknowledge me. I won’t have to kowtow to that clingy guy any-”

“Shit!” Song Yang cursed suddenly, jumping back in his seat. Before Jun Yibai could question him, he heard a deep voice cheerfully call out.

“Yang~” A deep but faintly familiar voice growled from behind Jun Yibai. He turned, seeing the one he’d spotted a few blocks away from the cafe some time ago.

Fu Ruxing, a dominant alpha, was huge. He towered over most people, making them feel small. The other patrons were gawking at him, looking like they wanted to climb him and kneel at his feet in equal measure.

He was certainly handsome, but Jun Yibai had spent some time with the alpha in high school and knew where his interests lie. If it wasn’t connected to Song Yang in some way, Fu Ruxing had no interest in it.

Just like now. At this moment, despite there being two other people at the table, Fu Ruxing never took his eyes off Song Yang.

“There you are. I must have missed you this morning.” He continued, cornering the beta who tried to seek an escape route only to be blocked in by the neighboring tables. “Did I not work hard enough last night?”

“X-Xingxing, don’t mess with me!” He snapped back, pushing the alpha onto the chair. Considering the size difference, that ‘push’ was optional. “I won’t need to ask for your help anymore now that Brother Jun is here to help me.”

“Brother Jun?” He snarled possessively, eyes narrowing for a moment.

Oi, don’t drag me into your lover's quarrel!

For the first time since his arrival, Fu Ruxing turned to look at the other two betas at the table. He gave the shocked Yang Ru only a brief glance before settling a hateful glare onto Jun Yibai.

Jun Yibai, having gotten used to the intensity of an alpha, remained calm and stared back. After a minute, a brief flash of recognition appeared in the alpha’s eyes.

“Classmate Jun?” Fu Ruxing guessed, tapping his chin. “Jun Yibai, right?

“Fu Ruxing.” He greeted back casually. “I’m so glad you remember me.”

Fu Ruxing visibly relaxed, pulling Song Yang close and resting his hand casually on the beta’s waist. “There’s not a lot of beta’s that have been scent marked as heavily as you.” He leaned down and nuzzled the beta in his arms lovingly. “Other than my Yang, of course.”

“Fuck off, Xingxing!” He snapped back, trying in vain to distance himself. “Brother Jun is going to help me with my father!”

“Song Yang, don’t test my patience,” Fu Ruxing warned, his tone deepening slightly. “If you want a brother to rely on, I’m right here. Just ask and I’ll help you with anything.” He leaned down to whisper something else in Song Yang’s ear. Whatever was said, it made the usually brazen beta flustered and shivered in his arms.

“You shameless pervert!” Song Yang jumped from his seat, his face burning red as he ran away. It was not a dignified exit, as the man tried to leave the cafe but hit almost every chair on the way to the back where the bathrooms were.

Fu Ruxing grinned, staring after him like a cat watching its meal scurry about in its grasp.

“So cute~” He chuckled.

“I should go make sure he’s okay.” Fu Ruxing got up, his eyes never leaving the door that Song Yang had escaped to.

This left the remaining two beta’s at the table, watching the tall man slip into the back room with a few whispers and a pair of black-suited guards keeping anyone from following after them.

“That was weird.” Yang Ru marveled, looking a bit embarrassed. Both were reeling from some secondhand embarrassment. “Are alphas usually like that? I thought only omega’s got that clingy.”

Considering that Yang Ru’s parents were both omega’s, Jun Yibai was sure she’d seen what an omega’s possessiveness was like but never an alpha’s.

Jun Yibai's only experience was with Chen Guiren, so he knew that a lot of stuff had happened just then. He doubted the hand he saw Fu Ruxing slip under the table had been touching anyplace innocent.

“Yeah, they can be very troublesome when they think their target is getting away from them.” He replied, recalling his interactions with Chen Guiren. While the alpha was generally submissive, he was the type to get very clingy.

While that time in the car was the first time they’d ever gotten so intimate, there had been times when he’d find himself cornered in staircases or dragged into waiting cars by the man. He’d growl and demand to know why Jun Yibai was spending so much more time with Li Suren than him.

The fact Li Suren would say the same thing sometimes made him feel like the two were a pair of headphones constantly nagging him.

Still, it was really cute. Both of them had their way of clinging to him and while annoying in the short term, when he thinks back on it, all he felt was delight at memory.

“What made you all happy?” Yang Ru questioned, pulling him from his thoughts.

Shit, had he been grinning? He must have looked dumb.

Seeing his lack of response, Yang Ru pouted, glancing over at the door that Song Yang and Fu Ruxing had run into.

“Those two aren’t coming back, are they?” She noted.

“I doubt they are even in the building anymore,” Jun Yibai replied, relieved at the change in subject.

Jun Yibai had seen how the alpha looked at Song Yang. It was the same way Chen Guiren looked at him. Fu Ruxing might be more patient than Chen Guiren but both were dominant alphas so he knew Song Yang would be busy dealing with a jealous man right then.

He gave the man a brief moment of condolences before tossing any thought of their later interaction out of his mind.

“We should go.” He suggested, feeling the atmosphere of the cafe shifting slightly. Those two had caused quite a scene and staying would just lead to problems.

He could already see a few people eyeing them, probably wanting to ask about what had just happened.

Yang Ru nodded, following him out of the cafe. Bother of them felt relieved that no one was following them or anything, though Jun Yibai saw the two guards looming about.

“Speaking of,” Yang Ru turned to him with that sly cat-like face of hers. That expression usually didn’t bode well. “You never told me who you were with all this time. Your roommate was useless but your friend told you on a date. And what's this about you being scent-marked?”

Shit, he’d forgotten about this.

Damn that Fu Ruxing for leaving him in such a mess!

“I was on a date… sort of.” He admitted, feeling a bit embarrassed. He’d denied it was a date all up until this morning. It was clear from Hanyu’s report that no one had believed him. “We spent the night at a hotel since he wanted to watch some fireworks.”

“Oh? And you stayed because you couldn’t go home, right?” She guessed. “You were too far to get home on your own?”

His silence was all the admittance that she needed.

She chuckled, clearly amused by his grumpy silence.

*****​

For those interested in more Toxic ML’s in the world of BL:

Minmotion Syndrome - Omegaverse. Omega debt collector buys a young alpha in debt as a toy. Alpha ML is surprisingly chill for the most part. Later scenes get pretty dark so watch out. MC and ML get along as well as one would expect from such a setup.

Low Tide in Twilight - Omegaverse. Omega MC is in deep debt and Alpha ML takes advantage. ML is a piece of shit and the MC is a tired, overworked hothead. Very toxic relationship and there is an attempted unaliving scene in the first chapter so heads up.

Devil's Temptation - I’ll be honest, I’m not really sure what this comic is about. It has a lot of smut and the comedy is great but plot-wise? I’m not too sure. What I got was this: The world is made up of people with animal characteristics. MC is an owl and the ML’s are snakes. Snakes can bind people to them via pheromones. The basic gist is that MC and ML #1 are like oil and water but co-workers. One night, they bone, much to both of their horror. They try to ignore it but that snake-binding thing makes MC require his presence/sex. MC # 2 is their boss and the one MC kinda likes so they both “share” the MC.

For those who want non-toxicity:

Moon of the Demon Realm - A twinkish incubus bewitches the burly demon king and tops him. Not a lot of chapters out right now but not bad if you're into small tops.

Cold Blooded Beast - MC is mourning the death of his work/crush when he shows up days later, alive and faints, turning into a snake. MC takes ML home and houses him until boning happens. Dudes a snake so we have some hemi-action.

Totem Realm - After a trip abroad in which she is almost attacked by her guide, MC is then attacked by natives and tied to a rock. She is rescued by a 7-foot-tall, long haired adonis who offers to help her get home. All the guys are hot, the chicks are hot and there is a healthy amount of boning since MC has experience. Basically Virgin tarzan x Smol Maneater. Note: for some reason, there is an all-ages version so if you wanna see real action, you gotta search for it.

 

Spoiler: U: Shopping Trip

Since it was the first time in weeks that Jun Yibai and Yang Ru had spent time together, she suggested that they hang out. It was, as she proclaimed, what she deserved after being worried sick about her friend.

Jun Yibai obliged, wanting to spend some time outside with a friend.

He, unfortunately, forgot that Yang Ru was a woman despite her brazen personality. As such, most of their hang out was walking from store to store, looking more than buying. Worse, she chose high-end stores since they had the best products.

Jun Yibai could only watch her marvel at an expensive purse that, to his eyes, looked no different from the previous six he'd seen in the last few stores. Yet Yang Ru insisted that this was special.

"It's a limited edition Huanmei bag! All my classmates were raving about it since there are so few made." She cooed, looking at the bag like a lover. "They all swore it wouldn't hit local markets before the year ended yet here it is!"

Yang Ru wanted to take a picture to show off to her classmates. They were all med school students so they didn't have a lot of free time. Admiring these little luxuries was a reprieve from the stress of studying and expenses so Yang Ru wanted to share it with her friends.

Yet her action was halted by a clipped tone.

"Miss, please refrain from taking photos of products that don't belong to you." An employee walked up, glaring at Yang Ru. She had seen the pair walking from store to store, clearly window shopping. While the employees at other shops didn't seem to mind, this employee was going to put her foot down.

Looking at their casual clothes, she pegged them as just regular college students.

"If you wish to take photos, please pay for the item or kindly leave." She continued, brushing her hair back in an arrogant manner. "We have paying customers who would like to shop in peace."

Yang Ru gave her a hard look before glancing at the bag. The price of the bag, as expected of a brand new, limited edition bag, cost a lot. It was close to her tuition for the entire med school program.

Buying it would be a complete waste of money, yet she hated how this woman was talking down to her. She opened her mouth to lay into her before Jun Yibai raised a hand to silence her.

"You'll have to excuse us. We didn't mean to disrupt your busy workplace with our chatter." He said, looking around at the near-empty store. "I'm sure your two customers must feel very aggrieved."

In fact, the two other patrons in the store hadn't even noticed them yet, too busy talking to the other employees.

This woman was clearly just trying to start shit.

The clerk grimaced, glaring at Jun Yibai. These annoying guys, acting so ridiculously in such a high-end place. She had worked very hard to get away from people like this yet the mall just let anyone in!

"We have expectations from our customers, sir." She explained, smiling though she wanted to shout. "We can't just wait for our esteemed customers to be bothered, that would be irresponsible."

They hadn't even been that loud. Yang Ru was a master of whispering since her parents had sensitive hearing, according to her. While she was excited, her actions would only be noticed if someone was nearby, like the clerk had been before this.

"How were we bothering anyone?" He countered, crossing his arms. "We haven't touched anything, our voices have remained low and the sign outside the store says we can take photos as long as other customers or employees aren't in frame. So what have we done to warrant this?"

The clerk frowned looking around the store. She had thought her other co-workers would notice them by now and back her up but all of them were doing their own thing. One woman looked over, smiled, and went back to sorting the products.

Anyone else would have gotten mad over the accusation alone and raised their voice, retroactively justifying her scolding. Others would just leave in shame at being looked down on.

These two had done neither, leaving her in a bind.

In such a situation, she'd be the one in the wrong if pressed. Yet she didn't want to apologize. She didn't want to deal with lower-class people anymore. Getting this job was supposed to keep them away from her.

"I-"

"Brother Jun, is that you?"

All three people turned toward the sound, seeing Li Min standing nearby. From the bags in her hands, it was clear she'd just been passing by when she spotted him.

She glanced at the clerk, who stared back with a mild blush. When she smiled, the woman nearly fainted.

Both Yang Ru and Jun Yibai rolled their eyes.

She leaned over to nudge Jun Yibai. "Who's this chick? A friend of yours?"

"No." He sighed, already feeling a headache coming on. "Remember the chick I was talking about?"

Yang Ru stared at Li Min as she comforted the clerk as if she'd just come to the rescue. Yang Ru had met many women like her who acted like a supporting figure to gain affection. Her sharply beautiful face and subtle glare toward Jun Yibai told her exactly who she was.

"Oh, is she the creeper chick you told me about?" She guessed, rolling her eyes. "You said she was pretty yet this is her? My baby Xinshui is hotter than her."

Leave it to her to take every opportunity to show off her boyfriend.

"He's an omega." He countered, cocking a brow. "Isn't that a bit unfair?"

"For an adult man to be prettier than the supposed campus flower?" She shot back, smiling sweetly. "Isn't it that she isn't trying hard enough? I make more of an effort."

Li Min gave her a shocked expression, probably amazed at the beta's words. Li Min was a lovely-looking woman but her personality made her unappealing to those who knew the real her.

"That's true." Jun Yibai nodded sagely, greatly enjoying Yang Ru's roasting. "Our Yang Ru is the loveliest beta I know."

"Exactly." She accepted the compliment with a preening bird. She glanced at Li Min indifferently. "So why did you call out to us?"

Li Min gave a brief glance at Yang Ru before dismissing her to address Jun Yibai. "I saw you arguing with the clerk and was worried about brother Ju-"

"I believe I told you already how I feel about you pretending to be close to me." He cut her off, stepping forward. "It's gross and I'm starting to wonder if our campus flower is hard of hearing. Otherwise, should I take it as you are just being rude?"

He might not be able to punch her like he'd do with a guy for all the bullshit she'd put him through but he had a tongue that could do just as much damage.

"You!"

"If you came to make trouble for us, save your breath." He continued, ignoring her anger. "We have done nothing wrong so you might as well just leave. Besides, I'm pretty sure you still have an investor to secure so should you really be just casually shopping like this?"

Li Min clenched her fist, recalling why she had confronted them. She really did want to make a fuss, backing up whatever claim this clerk had made against them.

She was in a good mood too! Getting that invite and spoiling herself by shopping for the outfit she'd be wearing at the party was just a special kind of treat. Then she spotted this jerk!

"If you must know, I'll be securing that investor soon enough so there is no need for your concern, Jun Yibai." She replied.

Jun Yibai cocked a brow at this, wondering how she was planning on getting the investor from before on her side. Was she going to try and use her uncle to get close to the Li clan? If so, he really wished he could see that show.

"I'm sure you will." He mockingly replied, his sarcasm so thick it was almost suffocating him. He coughed, holding back a snicker.

Yang Ru didn't hold back, unsure of the context but knowing her friend wouldn't make such a face if her claim held any water.

Li Min seethed, wishing she could suppress him. Had either been an omega, or even a low-level alpha, she could use her pheromones to oppress them. But these useless beta's felt nothing.

She held it in, noting the wary looks she was getting just then. The other customers had finally noticed the strange energy around them and frowned.

Shit, her anger was making her pheromones leak out. Flushed, she stomped away, leaving the beta pair alone since the attendant had slipped away at some point.

"It's never a dull moment with you, is it?" Yang Ru sighed, shaking her head.

Somehow, a simple window shopping trip had become this. While small, she knew things would escalate if they didn't leave soon. Their small argument had gained a few eyes and she feared they'd soon be filmed.

"Let's get out of here." Jun Yibai suggested, pulling her away from the store. He spotted his bodyguards some distance away, talking to one another in hushed tones.

Once again, he wondered about Chen Guiren's judgment on personnel. While he hadn't expected them to body slam the attendant for bothering them, they could at least pretend to be looking out for him.

Once they saw him, they stiffened, looking at him as if he'd caught them in a compromising situation. He rolled his eyes.

"Oi, did he leave anything for me?" He asked, glancing between the two. They frowned with confusion. "Your boss. Did he leave me anything?"

A flash of understanding bloomed on their faces and the two each produced a black card.

Seeing his confusion, the pair explained.

"Young Master Chen gave me this to give you." The woman said.

"Young master Li gave me this to give you." The man said at the same time.

He nodded, not questioning it. He hadn't expected them to have different bosses but it didn't matter.

He turned to Yang Ru, who looked at him with a quizzical look.

"Wanna buy something?" He offered, holding up the cards.

He felt weird spending other people's money but those other people were Chen Guiren and Li Suren. If they were allowed to be a bother to him, he should be allowed to spend their money a bit, right?

Being bothered by that attendant and bumping into Li Min had put a sour taste in his mouth. Buying stuff might alleviate his frustration. Women did it too so there had to be some merit, right?

"You pull out double black cards and expect me to say yes without question?" She countered, narrowing her eyes. Before he could reply, she swiped a car from his fingers and turned away. "Well, if our Jun Yibai is willing to incur the wrath of his benefactors for little old me, how can I refuse?"

He watched her skip away, her eyes gleaming with want as she pursued the mall. There wasn't much she wanted but the thought that she could buy anything was clearly exciting.

***​

By the end of the day, the pair had bought only a few things. Despite the promise of it being fine to use the black card, Yang Ru refrained. The only things she needed were school supplies and those didn't require a limitless card.

"Besides, those guys behind us look ready to tackle me to the ground if they see me use the card." She pointed out, gesturing to the pair of bodyguards behind them. At some point, they started trailing after them.

Considering he'd all but introduced them to Yang Ru, it made sense not to hide anymore but still.

"So you wanna explain to me about the muscle?" She asked. She'd stayed quiet the entire time as they were shopping so it made sense she'd ask eventually.

"Oh, yeah that." He tried to talk casually but he was still trying to think of a way to explain his current situation. "So... you know how you warned me back in high school about those crazy guys who 'ran' things."

"The tyrant and the crazy king."

"Yeah. So I may have... gotten close to them."

"....UGH!!!!" Her expression fell, showing her dismay. "How close?"

"Well..." He'd had his dick down one of their throats just the other day and dry-humped the other the night before. Not to mention what happened just that morning. So in modern terms... "Close."

"Are you dating them?"

"..."

"I'm not gonna be on your ass about it. To each their own and all that but considering your home life, is that the best choice?"

He had never spoken about his parents with Yang Ru. How could he? At best, his father would have openly mocked her parents as leeches feeding off each other. He would never put her in that position.

But one didn't have to meet or speak about their parents for others to get a gist of their home life. She was a Beta born from Omega's. He had no doubt she had heard the things they said about her and their views on her parent's lifestyle.

She saw the signs in Jun Yibai though she knew he wasn't like them.

Honestly, Jun Yibai wasn't sure why he wasn't like that. He definitely saw Alpha and Omega's as troublesome. They seemed to live in some fantastical world where everything went well for them. They naturally had everything that would make life easy for them.

Looks, brains, and charm.

Those alone would make them excel.

But Jun Yibai ended up finding most people bothersome.

People in general were just... too much of a hassle to deal with. They often said too much but never enough to be clear with their desires. There was so much subtext and it was annoying. Jun Yibai preferred the simple stuff.

The friends he'd made were those who were straightforward and kind.

Outside that, he found himself not caring about any of the other complicated shit.

His parents on the other hand.

"I'll... figure something out."

***​

Li Suren had to return to the Li main house rather than go home, which left him in a bit of a sour mood.

If not for his grandfather requesting his presence, he'd never even bother. He loved the man, sure but god did he not like the fucker.

Still, what kind of grandson didn't visit his sick elder?

He was welcomed in such a fancy way, with servants lining the entrance to greet him. It made him feel like he was a war hero returning after a long fight.

Was this his grandfather's way of enticing him to live in the main house again?

He had moved out some time ago, claiming to want to establish some independence so he could be descendant worthy of the Li name. It had worked only because the elder knew he was living alone. Had he roomed with Chen Guiren, the elder would have a fit.

Yet now that he was living with Jun Yibai, Li Suren worried that his grandfather would notice the beta and cause trouble for his mate.

He wasn't strong enough to keep the Beta safe yet.

Just a few more years and he'd be-

"Suren."

Li Suren had only passed by a doorway when he heard his name being called. He stopped, glancing inside the study. Inside, he saw his grandfather, one of his uncles, and a stranger sitting on the couch with a table full of paperwork between them.

Other than the blanket over his lap, the elder looked healthy and flush with life.

This sly old man.

"Afternoon, Grandfather." Li Suren greeted sincerely, having not seen the old man in a while. "Are you feeling well? The weather has been bad recently."

"I'm fine! I've lived through worse chills than this!" He declared with his back straight. "I'll be better by my birthday, which I expect to see you and Xiao Chen attending."

Li Suren inwardly sighed, not wanting to talk about that annoying guy right then.

That hooligan had tried to get in the way of his experiment. All that stuff this morning, while enjoyable, had skewed his pristine calculations. Now he'd have to factor the presence of an alpha into his findings. It would have come to that eventually but he wanted to do the control testing first.

Now that mutt was acting all clingy, which would make things so much harder now. He could barely get the alpha to leave him alone after he woke up.

How frustrating!

"Are you not going to greet me as well?" His uncle complained, crossing his arms.

To be honest, Li Suren actually wasn't sure which uncle this was. His mother had a lot of siblings so he usually didn't pay them much mind. Most refrained from getting together outside of holidays since there was a lot of backbiting and subterfuge between them.

They all wanted to be the next head of the Li clan.

Still, they had a guest present so he had to guess who this guy was.

"Fifth uncle, grandfather is sick." He stated, looking forlorn. "I need to make sure he's okay since elders take precedence."

He huffed but waved him off.

Turns out that he was right. Lucky him, just picking a random number.

After ensuring his grandfather was feeling good, Li Suren greeted his uncle and guest. Or at least he tried to. The guest, a man older than him but considerably younger than his uncle, wouldn't look at him.

Li Suren watched him for a minute but was pulled away by his uncle. Somehow, the conversation stayed between him, his uncle, and his grandfather.

Eventually, fifth uncle and the guest left, leaving only Li Suren and his grandfather.

"Who was that man?" He asked, unable to let the matter go. "A recruit you found?"

Li Suzhen was an old man but still had some sway in the Li Group's decision-making. One of his sons was CEO but every once in a while, Li Suzhen would introduce a young person to the company. He was old-fashioned, wanting to be useful even when not officially working.

"Him? No no." Li Suzhen denied, shaking his head. "Your fifth uncle is sponsoring that child. He found him overseas and is cultivating him himself."

Li Suren couldn't bring himself to care too much. His uncles and aunts were always trying to find their golden bullet to take each other down. This guy was just the first he'd met personally.

"He might be a bit of a hassle since he's one of the Song family's third generation." Li Suzhen sighed, pouring out some tea for himself. "You had one of them as a schoolmate, right? So you should know how thuggish they can be."

Li Suren vaguely recalled the beta but only because he kept harassing his Sweetie. Afterward, he only vaguely heard whispers about him but mostly in connection to some Alpha. Wasn't he some alpha's secretary or something?

As long as he didn't bother his Sweetie, he didn't care.

"You don't seem to mind the Chen's though." He pointed out, wondering why his grandfather seemed fine with the Chen's but not the Song's. They were just a bit beneath the Chen's in prestige so why forgo a union if the use of violence isn't a deterrent?

"The Chen family is just clean enough to be worthy of being joined with our noble clan."

"And their dirty dealings?"

"Our noble clan wouldn't be where it was if we were squeamish about such things." Li Suzhen replied calmly, smiling serenely. "You aren't opposed, are you?"

As if his opposition would have meant anything to him.

"You taught me to use anyone and anything to bring honor and prestige to our clan."

Li Suzhen looked Li Suren over. His grandson was the only male omega of the Li family's third generation. As such, the elder felt a lot of affection for the young man whose fate mirrored his own.

Thinking of those darker days, Li Suzhen felt more resolved in his heart.

Things would have been so much easier for me if I had someone to guide me when I was your age. He thought, thinking of the hardship of his youth.

At least his little grandson would be stronger than him.

"Yes, your smile is so sweet, no one would feel the knife before it struck, right?" He sighed, stroking Li Suren's cheek. "I'm so proud of you."

"And if that knife is pointed toward you?" He shot back, moving away from that gentle touch.

"If it could reach me, then I must have taught you well, my dear."

*****​

AN: Here's some more novel/webtoon suggestions~

Lucia: MC is given a second chance at life, though she views her previous life as just a dream. She decides to marry the Duke of the country as a means to escape her fate. ML is basically a fukboy. He bones women left and right, dumps them if they even hint at wanting anything more substantial, and is the stereotypical cold-blooded duke of the north. He is, however, in need of a wife so she bursts into his life offering herself. He's actually a pretty decent guy if not a bit dismissive of her initially. He's not even a red flag since he's upfront about everything. His backstory makes it pretty understandable as to why he is the way he is. Fukboy who respects monogamy within marriage x chick who has lived a whole ass life on her own (twice).

Note: The novel is complete but I'm unsure bout the webtoon. Reading both is nice since there's more detail with the smut in the novel but the webtoon is nice~ I haven't finished the novel but caught up with the webtoon.

Fire burns through me: MC is a woman who is a living, breathing death curse. Her dad, after killing her mom and taking her, curses her so he can control the kingdom from the shadows. She is effectively immortal so her numerous attempts at unaliving herself always fail. After decades of misery and despair, her dad suddenly sends her on a 'vacation' with a knight who is seemingly unaffected by her curse. Good boy knight x depressed woman

I fell into a Reverse Harem Game! - MC wakes up in the body of the evil queen of a nation in bed with some guys. She realizes she's in a game when a menu pops up in front of her but it isn't hers. In actuality, she is seeing the choice screen of the actual protagonist of the game. MC's goal is to survive till the end which is hard since the original queen was a true villain who burned a lot of bridges. Possible reverse harem.

 

Spoiler: U: Party

Lights flashed and glimmered as a limousine rolled to a stop in front of the grand manor. The air was abuzz with excitement and energy.

Energy that only one of the two occupants of said limo was feeling.

Jun Yibai had been dragged out of his class that afternoon by Song Yang to get ready for the party/event he’d mentioned before. He supposed he should be grateful that the usually inconsiderate man had bothered to let him choose his suit. It was a plus but he couldn’t feel happy just then.

He was in a bit of a mood and it showed.

Song Yang, on the other hand, was practically shaking with nervous energy.

“I really didn’t think we’d be this late for the party!” He grumbled, tapping his foot nervously. “It won’t look good for us to show up now but…”

Song Yang was clearly freaking out but Jun Yibai didn’t bother to comfort him. His mood shifted fast so it wouldn’t take long to-

“That's why we have to make sure we make the best impression we can from the get-go!” He concluded, clenching his fist.

And like that, he’s good.

Jun Yibai looked out at the crowd, noting how many famous people he was seeing. Quite a few celebrities but mostly as dates for the CEO’s and magnates that graced the covers of magazines.

It was… a bit intimidating.

Jun Yibai was a nobody who was about rub shoulders with the top of society. His future success was predicated on how good an impression he’d be making tonight.

He let out a shaky breath, calming himself.

“Hey, our turn is coming up.” Song Yang warned, smacking his shoulder to get his attention. “I need you to not embarrass me tonight, okay?”

This guy!

“Is this the way you should be talking when someone is doing you a favor?” He countered, watching the man flinch. “Recall who came to me about this event and who really needs who here.”

Jun Yibai definitely needed Song Yang more than the other way around but why reveal that? Luckily, the beta was too stressed to remember that part and submitted to Jun Yibai without a peep.

The pair walked into the mansion, the walls glittering with expensive shit that Jun Yibai couldn’t help but grimace at.

As I thought. This is still uncomfortable.

He walked carefully, feeling like he was walking on ice as he glanced at all the items around him. His mild interest in history, mostly out of a desire to beat Li Suren on a test, made him aware of the significance of some of the items around him.

The cost was immeasurable!

Yet all the other guests walked by them like they were bargain bin items.

“Oi, don’t stare.” Song Yang warned, leaning over to whisper. “It shows weakness.”

“How can I not stare? These are historical art.” He whispered back, following the man’s lead. “They should be in a museum not lining a hallway.”

“The Li clan is old blood so they have a lot of museum-worthy items.” He shrugged, passing by more precious heirlooms. “They donate their possessions every couple of years though most people on our level have seen them hundreds of times. It’s only an event for those who never see any of their houses.”

Houses? Like, plural?! So all their houses have these kinds of treasures?!

So he’d have to be extra careful lest his luck lands him in a whole fuck ton of trouble.

Wait, what did he say about the Li clan?

The pair were welcomed into the main hall, the doors opening to reveal dozens of people conversing with light music. The hall was noisy and filled with energy.

Song Yang looked around the hall and smiled. “Good, my brother isn’t here yet! That means I can show you off first.”

“Shouldn’t you greet the host first?” Jun Yibai looked around the hall, searching for a familiar face. If this was the main house of the Li clan, he knew what event this had to be.

“My father arrived first so me doing so now would reveal that I was late.” He grumbled, gesturing over to a crowd a little away. Tall figures huddled up, talking amongst themselves. “If I stall for a bit, I can play it off.”

Even as an adult, he tried to slip out of trouble.

Jun Yibai looked around the room. “Why not ask Fu Ruxing to cover for you?”

“How could I do that?” Song Yang frowned at him. “Xingxing is back home. Why do you think I didn’t come along with him?”

Ah, so they were a thing.

Jun Yibai pointed to the far wall where he’d been staring before. “Isn’t that him now?”

Fu Ruxing was there, his arm embraced by a beautiful-looking woman who chatted up the other women beside them. Even from afar, it was clear that she was showing off her date to her companions. Said date looked bored and uninterested yet let his arm be embraced so affectionately.

Song Yang stared for a second before cursing under his breath.

“That lying son of a bi-” Song Yang moved through the crowd, barreling through people to get to the towering alpha some distance away.

Fu Ruxing, like any predator, noticed pretty quickly that he was being approached. Upon seeing Song Yang, the man’s bored expression blossomed into a warm and excited smile.

Then turned stiff as he saw how pissed off his lover was.

He opened his mouth to speak yet Song Yang grabbed him by the tie and dragged him away, leaving his partner bewildered. People were muttering about the situation.

“Wasn’t that the young master of the Fu Group? Who was that other guy?”

“The third son of the Song Group.”

“The beta?” One person scoffed, holding back a snicker. “The most useless one of the three.”

“Yet he seemed close with Young master Fu.”

“Well, that young master was useless too some time ago so maybe they knew each other then?”

“Still, why keep associating with such a person? Song Group or not, clinging to a beta like that is so weird.”

“Right? There are so many omega’s who are dying to be paired with a dominant alpha like him.”

Jun Yibai walked away, not wanting to hear any more nonsense. He was sure Song Yang knew what he was getting into by associating with Fu Ruxing.

That guy wasn’t a complete idiot.

***​

Jun Yibai wandered the hall, listening in on snippets of conversations and realizing that he’d fucked up.

He couldn’t join any conversation since he was a stranger and the only one who could introduce him cordially was probably being railed in the bathroom. He could try to introduce himself but he could tell that doing so would only lead to conflict.

The few men who tried that tactic were quickly scorned by the group and ignored.

Which left the beta in a troublesome predicament.

He could try and see if Li Suren was around. This was his house and he was sure this event was his grandfather's birthday that he’d mentioned before. Unfortunately, he was reluctant.

He hadn’t seen either of his friends/whatever they were for a few days now.

He came home to see Chen Guiren’s secretary greeting him and informing him that Li Suren couldn't stay at the apartment since his grandfather wanted him home for a few days. As for Chen Guiren, he had a deal to close so he’d be too busy to visit.

This was fine since Jun Yibai had schoolwork to catch up on but he came to miss them much quicker than before.

When they were just friends, it was easy to accept that he wouldn’t see them for weeks at a time since they all had their own lives to live.

As partners who’d been intimate, it was harder. He felt a bit more impatient now.

They were the ones who wanted to be a thing so it shouldn’t be unreasonable to want a bit more, right? It was perfectly reasonable!

Yet all he got from them was texts.

Weren’t they worried he might change his mind? Sure, he hadn’t said anything but it was clear that things were different now so shouldn’t they be on his ass about defining what they had?

When he saw them next, he’d definitely make them sweat.

He sighed, glancing around to find some food. He’d eat then look for Li Suren.

He arrived at the snack table, seeing it manned by a pair of servers each handling one side of a long table.

As was the fate of all food service people who were trying their best, their guests were impatient.

“When is the table going to be refreshed? I’ve been waiting forever!”

“I’m sorry, ma’am.” the server bowed, rearranging the table to remove the empty bowls. “It’ll be out soon.”

“That's what you said last time! Yet when I arrived back, the plate was empty.” She complained, glaring at the young man like he’d stolen the food off her plate. “How are you going to take responsibility?”

At that, Jun Yibai couldn’t hold back. Everyone at this party was ridiculous.

So he snickered.

The woman snapped her neck to glare at him. “Did you just laugh?!”

“Should I not have? Here you are, yapping at the server like a stray dog.” He snapped, picking out a few available snacks. “At least have the decency to hide your lack of class with better perfume. It's bad enough to hear a stray but to smell it? Disgusting.”

The woman opened her mouth to complain but saw that she was being stared at by everyone nearby. A few were barely holding in their amusement.

She flushed, glaring at him for a moment before stomping away.

The server gave him a grateful smile, to which he gave a brief nod.

As they were both people who worked with annoying people, there was no need for further words. The server went back to organizing the table and answering any questions to guests.

“Wow, what a hero.” His neighbor commented, smiling in a friendly manner. “I thought that lady was gonna be there all night.”

“Oh?”

“You didn’t know.” The man chuckled. “She got in after the initial rush, complained, and then only came back after the second rush.”

“So obviously, it was her fault for not returning on time.”

The man shrugged helplessly. “Yeah, but who can argue with rich people?”

Jun Yibai looked the man over. He was fairly attractive and just a bit taller than him. His suit was well-made and looked expensive.

He cocked a brow and his meaning was clear.

“Oh, I guess I’m one of those people, aren’t I?”

Their brief conversation petered out after that, though the man did introduce himself by handing him a business card.

“If you ever need a job, call me.” He offered, making sure Jun Yibai took the card despite his reluctance.

He frowned. “Because I told off some woman?”

“No. Because you saw a bad situation escalating and got involved despite it not being your problem.” He replied, looking around at those who had been watching the event earlier. They had moved on, talking amongst themselves like nothing had happened. “Too many people act like that, especially beta’s like you. It's good to see someone speak up for those who need it.”

“...”

Jun Yibai hadn’t meant to do that. He just thought the rich lady was being ridiculous and spoke his mind.

As if reading the beta’s mind, the stranger patted him on the shoulder with a smile and left with his plate. Now alone, Jun Yibai looked at the card.

Fu Chen
Executive Assistant
Yiren Group

He didn’t recognize the company name or what the business card was for but he found out that the person was the assistant of the CEO.

Not bad. He’d come here to get some connections so this was a good start.

As he tried to find a new place to reenter the line, he heard an exchange nearby.

“Excuse me? Do these snacks have any allergens?” A person asked, pointing to some plates. “This looks like it has shellfish.”

“Huh? Oh, darn, the sign must have fallen off.” The server covered the dish, looking around for the sign. “Um… Well, yes, these three dishes have nuts and shellfish in it so if you have any allergens-”

“Oh, not me, My date is allergic so I just want to make sure I know what I can share with her.”

“Of course, sir. I’ll replace the signs right away.”

The server made sure to cover all the dishes before turning to their partner.

“Xiaomei! I’m going to the back for a minute. Could you watch my side?”

The other server, now being swamped by questions and guests glanced over, looking over the spread, and nodded. The station only had three covered plates so it was easy to watch them.

The server left and the guest moved on. Jun Yibai found a space to reenter and picked up some snacks.

The problem came when he saw someone behind him take the cover off the dishes to serve himself. He was talking to another guest and ended up misplacing the cover onto an empty dish.

It was a simple mistake.

Yet the person next to him didn’t notice and smiled when he saw the newly uncovered dish.

“This looks good!” He muttered to himself, taking some with him. “Finally something without shellfish.”

Hearing that, Jun Yibai moved beside him to cover the plate again.

“Hey, why are you covering the food? I’m not done.” The man complained. He then frowned, looking the beta over. “Are you a server?”

“No, I’m a guest. That dish has shellfish so-”

“No, it doesn’t." The man denied, pointing to the plate. “There's no warning on it. Everything has them.”

Jun Yibai tried to explain the series of events that led up to this but their discussion was stalling the line. Not wanting anyone else to mistake the food for safety, he took the whole plate and moved it around.

This caused quite a stir.

“What are you doing? Stop messing with the spread!” The line chastised him, for they only saw a man who looked to be taking an entire plate for himself.

“I’m not!” He tried to explain himself but everyone was cutting him off, calling him unrefined for trying to take all the food.

Before long, the second server arrived and saw the commotion.

“Sir, could you please put down the plate?” She asked, worried that the situation was going to get worse.

Seeing the young lady look at him like that made him feel like the bad guy.

He handed the plate over and explained the situation calmly and directly, refusing to let himself be painted as the bad guy.

“Oh, I see.” The server nodded, though she didn’t look fully convinced.

Unfortunately, the second server never saw what dishes were covered so even she was unsure if the plate he held was the one with shellfish. The cooks had made sure the smell of fish was covered up so it was hard to say.

“The other server asked you to watch this side of the table right?” He reasoned.

“Yes, but everything is all mixed up now.” She explained, frowning helplessly.

While the plates were labeled, the server left behind only knew what was on her side of the table so there was no way to verify Jun Yibai’s claims.

Moreover, even if he was right since a lot of movement happened before, the table might be contaminated now.

This made Jun Yibai the enemy of all those who had been looking forward to eating.

Shit.

“Hey now, don’t get all pissy.” The original man who tried to eat the dish called out, glaring at the crowd. “Had he not warned us, someone could have eaten this food and died. No one wants death at a birthday celebration, right?”

There were dissatisfied mutters in the crowd. While they might not have personally cared if someone died, the party being ruined would have definitely been bad.

Still, they glared at Jun Yibai as the first server returned to see the chaos. The table had to be cleared and Jun Yibai was pulled away by the man who spoke up for him. Once alone, he smiled at Jun Yibai.

“Sorry about the yelling.” He said, scratching his head. “I really thought you were trying to take the food from me.”

“I did explain it to you.”

“Yeah, you did.” He laughed sheepishly. “Look, I’m really sorry. That escalated because of me and I want to make up for that.”

This piqued his interest. He hadn’t seen Song Yang for a while now and he’d yet to get much more than a single business card.

That fucker was supposed to be introducing him to would-be interviewers and yet he was somewhere else! Probably getting dicked down in a bathroom stall, the bastard.

“My brother is a big-name CEO and I’m his vice president.” The alpha gloated, smiling. “Hang around me and you’ll have people tripping over themselves to get to know you.”

“Even after that display?” There had been a lot of people watching them at the table.

“Seeing me with you will shut them up.” He declared, patting Jun Yibai on the shoulder.

Jun Yibai was unsure about this but chose to go along with it. He had nothing else to do and if nothing else, he wanted a chance to get to know some people. It was the only reason he’d shown up at all.

He nodded, blinking when he saw the man stare at him deeply.

Jun Yibai grimaced at the intensity. “What?”

“Do I know you?” He asked, tapping his chin. “You smell familiar.”

What the fuck was he supposed to say to that?!

The alpha continued, snapping his fingers as the thought came to him. “Didn’t we bump into each other the other day?”

“No.”

“N-no? I’m sure we-”

“I have no memory of such a thing? Aren’t you mistaken?”

W-what was this guy talking about!? He definitely wouldn’t forget the face of the man who saved his sister-in-law at night!

Moreover, he was the one who interrupted his reunion with his beloved teacher so how could he ever forget?

Yet he was pretending not to remember?

***​

Jun Yibai truly did not remember.

He had chosen to willfully forget catching his teacher with a man, moments from intercourse because anything less would ruin his day.

His life was a mess already so why use up precious memories for some guy he’d caught with his pants down?

This left the alpha, who introduced himself as Gu Chenshi, flustered. Jun Yibai didn’t care since they weren’t friends.

Still, much to his surprise, as soon as the pair left the hallway together, many people walked up to them to talk. Jun Yibai didn’t have the qualifications to boast about but he showed that he understood the market and remained respectful when advised by the older men.

A lot of the advice was just telling him to consider applying to their company when he graduated since “anyone who is considered worthy by the Gu’s is an asset.”

It was pretty blatant but the beta couldn’t complain.

All the men were alphas so it’d be nigh impossible to get a foot in the door otherwise.

It was frustrating.

Gu Chen was talking to some CEO when a woman tapped Jun Yibai on the shoulder. He jumped, staring down at the pretty woman.

“Ah, it really is you!” She chirped, grinning broadly. “I’m so happy to finally find you~”

“Huh?” Jun Yibai blinked at her, confused for a second. Yet looking her over, the memory came back to him in a flash. “Oh, I remember you!”

The omega lady from the nightclub who was being chased by thugs. It was the night that he’d gotten intimate with Chen Guiren so how could he forget?

“Your partner found you? I’m glad.” He sighed, truly feeling relieved. He hadn’t gotten an update since the incident didn’t show up on the news. He tried asking Li Suren about it but was told that Chen Guiren was the one who handled it so he was at a loss.

“Oh, speaking of, my mate wanted to talk to you.” She replied, pointing over to some cluster of people. He couldn’t see anyone he recognized but the woman seemed confident. “We never got the chance to properly thank you for what you did.”

“It’s nothing to thank me over. Anyone would have done the same.”

He said this but couldn’t say for sure if he was right. She had to have passed a dozen doors before he opened his. Having traveled that same hallway, he knew those other rooms had been occupied.

Either those inside didn’t hear her or they didn’t care.

Despite this, he still felt like he hadn’t done anything worth rewarding. It was just basic decency.

Yet the woman shook her adamantly, staring up at him with determined eyes.

“I promised myself when I got the chance, I’d properly thank my savior!” She proclaimed, frowning at him. “Can’t you be courteous enough to accept my sincere thanks?”

Hearing that, Jun Yibai felt a bit bad. While he didn’t feel the need for all this, she clearly did. That night was a major event and it felt like he was belittling her by refusing.

With a grumble, he nodded letting himself be led away from Gu Chen.

Just as they drew close to the woman’s partner, the lights dimmed. Everyone started muttering, wondering why the music that had been consistently playing had shifted to a low drum.

Spotlights flashed and illuminated the staircase leading into the hall.

Unconsciously, Jun Yibai smiled.

At long last, he found Li Suren. He hadn’t attended the party until now, acting as his grandfather's escort as the old man walked down the stairs.

It was the first time Jun Yibai had ever seen the man but looking at him, it was clear that they were related. Even with wrinkles and the halting steps, this man resembled Li Suren. Not just in looks but demeanor.

How else could someone walk so carefully yet excuse such grace and control with each step?

He imagined that when Li Suren was old and weary, he’d still hold himself in such a way. Like a king being welcomed home after a long battle.

Li Suren looked breathtaking, his long silver hair pulled to the side to expose his pale neck, and dressed in a pale blue suit. Considering how traditional Li Suzhen was, he was surprised he’d allowed Li Suren to wear a suit at all.

Yet when he spotted the people behind him, it became clear why.

Zhuan Mu and Chen Jinyao, Chen Guiren’s dads, followed after the elder. The two were tall and looked like they could take over the room with a look.

The infamous alpha couple with the miracle baby.

The miracle baby followed after his parents with a serious expression on his face.

Jun Yibai frowned, confused as to why they were both at the party. He knew they often attended parties like this but this was a family event. Moreover, why were Chen Guiren’s dads walking with Li Suzhen rather than being in the crowd?

Li Suzhen took the most prominent seat, as he was the guest of honor. Chen Guiren’s dads sat to his left while Chen Guiren and Li Suren took the seats to his right.

“Thank you all for coming to celebrate this old man’s birthday.” A surprisingly firm voice came out of the old man, silencing the few whispers in the room. “It brings me joy to see how much care you are giving to our Li family.”

Who would dare refuse to do that? To be invited at all was an honor.

“My apologies for interrupting the festivities but I have an announcement to make.” He continued, looking over the crowd. “As you know, I have long hidden my beloved grandson’s fiance away from the public eye. They were young and I wanted to respect their privacy until they were ready. But tonight, I’ve chosen to present my beloved grandson and his chosen mate to the people kind enough to attend.”

The air was buzzing with excitement with the announcement. No one had expected an announcement, let alone about such a sought-after subject.

Li Suren was a man that many wanted to court but few dared to even pose the question since the Li family were so high status. The only family close to worthy was the Chen family. An old lineage and an innovative new face were something that would take their city by storm.

The few reporters invited were flashing pictures, muttering as they noted the man beside the illustrious Li Suren. Chen Guiren wasn’t as much a public figure but the few contributions he’d made as a manager at his father's company had made him very sought-after as a possible executive. He was as ruthless and cunning as his fathers.

To have these two paired up was genius. It was the most obvious choice considering all the factors. While Li Suzhen went on about them falling in love, very few saw it that way. Marriages in the upper class were rarely about love.

Compatibility, maybe but rarely love.

Everyone was cheering on the union, proclaiming how right and obvious it was.

Everyone but a lone beta who watched with confusion and growing anger.

“Those lying sons of-”

*****​

AN: It took me a while to figure out how to end the chapter, hence why it took so long. As such, you get a few more suggested webtoons

In the castle: the Dragon’s Erotic Education: MC is the last inhabitant of the ancient dragon's castle. He was tasked with being the heir’s teacher. Yet, since the dragon egg never hatched, he found other avenues to explore, ie sex toys. One day, as he was ‘demonstrating’ one of these toys, the dragon's egg that hadn't moved in centuries hatched. Panicking uke x horny dragon, tsundere werewolf, sadist elf, and smiling human.

Superstitious Nine: MC is told that she is destined to die in a year. Her only hope is to get close to someone with good luck. Completely unrelated to this, she meets a guy on a chat app with whom she starts sexting with. They talk about mundane things and become friends somehow. She then finds out that that same dude lives in her apartment building. Just a note, the destined-to-die thing is almost never brought up again until well into the story. I legit forgot about it until she mentioned it again, like 20 chapters later. Older(late 20’s) woman x Younger (early 20’s) guy.

The Beast Within: An adaptation of the novel 'Desire Citadel’, I think. The novel is better but meh. The main difference is the POV. The novel is entirely in first person as the MC. The webtoon is 3rd person. Basic gist: MC and her older brother are broke and homeless so her brother decides to mooch off a nobleman his relatives vaguely kinda sorta know. The nobleman is very into MC and the feeling is mutual. As the nobleman seduces her, she is completely unaware of all the weird shit going around her. She is unperturbed by days of unrelenting rain, and dour servants that ‘subtly’ warn her to be wary of the nobleman and her own brother screaming about monsters in the house. I didn’t get far in the novel so a lot of the later stuff is new to me but other than some questionable methods of controlling his servants, the nobleman is fine. The POV shift makes things seem a lot more forced than it actually is.

Beast’s Flower: FL has been cursed to smell horrible from birth. Like rotting garbage on a hot day, bad. Because of this, her parents want nothing to do with her, only giving her a secluded shed as shelter as she is said to be a witch. One day, as she's trying not to freeze to death, a handsome noble shows up who seemingly can’t smell her. The ML charms her and takes her away but only because he wants her for a reason. ML can smell her but to him, she smells wonderful. ML who literally just wants to bone her x FL hopeful for the future.

Note: I’m hopeful for the later chapters. ML is, where I am, realizing that he might be an asshole for using this perfectly nice chick.

Dai ja ni Totsuida Musume: A chick marries a literal snake. Not a god who can transform into a snake or a half-snake man. No, just a giant snake. Do they bone? Yes. Do you see them bone? Not in detail but yes. Is it wholesome? Surprisingly, yes. They have an awkward relationship since it's an arranged marriage but they get along well and the snake is a loving husband. They even have kids who are interesting characters.

Daisy: FL has a scummy dad who gambles away their money and even tries to sell off his daughters to his debt collector. The collector, a noble in charge of the casino, is a good person who not only refuses but offers the girls money after he repossesses their manor. The dad steals this money, leaving the girls penniless. FL works and later finds out that her lover is a scumbag with a wife and later dies after being outed as a mistress. She wakes up on the day the collector takes their home and seeks to change her fate.