Chapter 21

Chapter 21

"No need to exchange contact info." Li Yang didn’t look at his phone, understanding He Shi’s intention.

"If you change your mind, you can find me, Class Rep." He Shi’s voice softened, a hint of playful wheedling in his tone. "Just add me, it’s no big deal. It’ll be easier to stay in touch later."

Li Yang was afraid his lingering would draw too much attention, and even more afraid that Jiang Su, that madman, might think there was something between them.

Beyond that, an indescribable unease stirred deep within him—a feeling he couldn’t quite pinpoint even when he tried to dissect it.

He opened his phone, quickly scanned the QR code, and added him. "Done. Now go."

He Shi: "Class Rep, why are you so nervous?"

Li Yang wanted to know why he was so nervous too.

Pursing his lips tightly, he remained silent, only waving his hand to signal He Shi to leave.

He Shi departed, beaming, phone in hand.

A sinister chill crept up his spine, as if a venomous snake were watching him. Puzzled, he turned his head and met Ying Xi’s glacial stare from a short distance away.

He Shi moved, and Ying Xi’s eyes followed.

Scratching his head, He Shi couldn’t understand why Ying Xi was glaring at him so fiercely. He recalled the earlier conversation with Li Yang.

"I don’t like you." The boy’s voice was flat, as if forcing himself to appear indifferent, but his darting eyes betrayed his inner turmoil.

"Then why don’t I have a chance?" He Shi pressed.

"I don’t like Omegas." Li Yang smiled gently, delivering a verbal kill shot in the softest tone.

He Shi was wounded, losing all confidence to continue the conversation, and hurriedly followed Li Yang back into the classroom.

Now certain that Ying Xi’s gaze was hostile, He Shi didn’t hesitate long before walking up to him, bracing himself for the close-range death glare.

"Ying Xi," he greeted with a smile.

Ying Xi’s eyes grew even more terrifying, carrying a murderously cold intent to tear him apart.

He Shi realized smiling might not be the best move and pressed his lips into a straight line. "Did I do something wrong?"

Ying Xi ignored him, pretending to read his novel while his eyes occasionally flicked toward Li Yang.

The penny dropped for He Shi, and he quickly explained, "Don’t misunderstand. I proposed to Li Yang."

The younger boy snapped his head toward He Shi, the cold fury in his eyes now impossible to conceal.

He Shi hastily waved his hands, lowering his voice. "It was just a discussion about an arranged marriage for my family’s sake, but he refused me."

"He said he doesn’t like Omegas." Afraid Ying Xi might crush him if he didn’t speak fast enough, He Shi blurted out all the details. "I failed, so I just added his contact info."

*Doesn’t like Omegas.*

Ying Xi’s focus locked onto that single sentence. He glanced down at the title of the novel in his hands—so that meant he liked Alphas.

Automatically dismissing Betas as potential partners, he ignored He Shi and leisurely resumed reading.

"He proposed to you?" Wen Yun, sitting in front, was utterly stunned. "Wow, I never saw that coming. Did you reject him?"

"Yeah." Li Yang nodded, then reminded him, "Stop looking at Ying Xi."

"Was I staring at him?" Wen Yun chuckled awkwardly, rubbing his neck. "Sorry, I didn’t even realize. I was just too shocked."

He Shi returned to his seat shortly after, though whatever he discussed with Ying Xi remained unclear.

The latter’s face was unreadable, so Li Yang averted his gaze.

An Alpha liked him. An Omega wanted to marry him.

Li Yang rested his cheek on his hand. Wasn't the whole deal that Betas were the most ordinary, default setting—unwanted by anyone?

But He Shi’s proposal was purely transactional, out of necessity. What about Ying Xi?

The more Li Yang dwelled on it, the more tangled his feelings grew. Seeing Wen Yun eagerly devouring the novel, he couldn’t help but ask, "What’s that novel about?"

"Which one?" Wen Yun took a beat to process. "*The Crazy Alpha*?"

Every time the title was mentioned, it felt like a gut punch to Li Yang. He nodded weakly.

Wen Yun summarized quickly: "It’s about an Alpha who falls for a Beta, but when he can’t have them, he resorts to forced love. Even then, he still can’t win the Beta’s heart and gradually descends into madness—a complete dumpster fire of a novel."

"Is it good?"

"It’s great." Wen Yun grinned. "Life’s too vanilla. You need this kind of over-the-top drama to get the blood pumping and blow off steam. The best part is the ending—unlike other noncon romance stories where the victim eventually gives in, this one’s different."

Li Yang was surprised. "They don’t end up together?"

"Nope." Wen Yun nodded. "The unhinged Alpha finally faces reality—no matter what he does, he can’t win the Beta’s heart. So he released the Beta."

"If Ying Xi reads such a hot mess of a plot..." Li Yang trailed off, too embarrassed to continue.

He tried to imagine Ying Xi pulling that crazy act, but his mind went blank.

"It’s fine." Wen Yun had a different take, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. "In some ways, he’s got that same intensity as that Alpha, but Ying Xi obviously wouldn't do anything outrageous or absurd."

Unexpectedly, Ying Xi returned the novel to Wen Yun the moment class let out.

"How was it?" Wen Yun asked eagerly, assuming he’d finished it.

"The protagonist is a complete nutcase." Ying Xi frowned, answering curtly. "Makes you want to call the cops on him."

Then he turned to Li Yang, his words heavy with subtext: "I wouldn’t go crazy like that."

Before Li Yang could react, Ying Xi added, "If I ever do, call the police on me—or wait until no one’s around and quietly off me in secret."

Li Yang: "..."

Wen Yun asked innocently, "Why wait until no one’s around?"

Ying Xi gave him a calm look. "Otherwise, you’d get arrested."

Wen Yun: "..."

*Meticulous planning. Kind of funny, in a weird way.*

Though he hadn’t interacted much with Ying Xi, Wen Yun could tell he wasn’t your typical silver-spoon brat.

Maybe an Alpha like him really could make it work long-term with a Beta.

"You got this," Wen Yun suddenly spoke up.

Li Yang tilted his head in confusion. "What?"

"Nothing," Wen Yun smiled and changed the subject.

Ying Xi returned to his seat, staring vacantly at the intimate scene between Li Yang and Wen Yun, like he was on standby.

After a moment, he took out his phone, opened a group chat, and sent a message without hesitation.

"Mom, I want to get married."

These days, Ying Xi had been confirming whether his feelings for Li Yang were just a passing fancy.

The final result was clear—they weren’t.

He was craving to be with Li Yang, to marry him, to love and stay together for a lifetime.

Even seeing others close to Li Yang filled him with twisted jealousy.

Li Xu: "To yourself?"

Ying Sui: "Did you manage to woo someone?"

Ying Xi: "He's so popular. I’m afraid I won’t have a chance."

Ying Sui: "Didn't realize our Xi Xi was so possessive. Well, you should seek others' advice. Your mother mentioned the person you like doesn’t like you back."

Ying Xi: "..."

Li Xu: "I didn't say that. Assistant Min told me the person he likes doesn’t like him."

Ying Xi: "..."

The couple seemed to finally realize they shouldn’t rub salt in the wound. "If you want to get married, you’ll have to try harder."

"How should I try?" Ying Xi asked.

In eighteen years, the only thing their child sought their advice on was how to propose.

The couple enthusiastically chimed in the group chat.

"Don’t imitate others by planning a proposal scene to corner someone."

Ying Xi: "I wouldn’t do that."

"Get closer to him, learn his preferences, and find out what kind of person he prefers."

Ying Xi smirked. "He doesn’t like Omegas."

Li Xu: "Thank goodness our son isn't an Omega, or you’d have no hope at all."

"And there are Betas," Ying Sui reminded. "Betas usually choose to be with other Betas. Xi Xi, we support your marrying the person you love, but you should know—it won't be easy."

Li Xu had a sudden thought and sent a helpless emoji.

"What if you lose control after marriage? He’d be fine, but what about you?"

Ying Xi froze, his gaze locked on the words "lose control."

Yes, if he lost control, he could hurt Li Yang.

But he didn’t want to let go.

Ying Xi lowered his eyes, pursing his lips, and quickly typed a message: "I can undergo the procedure."

Li Xu: "The surgery isn’t that advanced yet. You can’t change from an Alpha to a Beta. But Xi Xi, you’re unlike typical Alphas."

Ying Xi truly was different from other Alphas.

Other Alphas’ pheromones during their Ruts merely affected people—his, in severe cases, could be lethal.

In eighteen years, Ying Xi had only lost control once.

His affected parents took three full days to recover from the near-fatal asphyxiation.

Since then, the inhibitors Ying Xi used were different, and his Ruts lasted longer than others.

While Prime Alphas had Ruts every six months, his came once every year or two.

Even if someone liked his personality, Ying Xi could scarcely bond with an Omega.

Betas were the most suitable choice because they wouldn’t be affected by his pheromones.

But no Alpha could stay with a Beta long-term.

Alphas' instincts would make it unbearable to go through Ruts without an Omega’s pheromones to regulate them, leading to separation.

Ying Xi exited the chat, pushing down the surging desire deep inside. He glanced at Li Yang, feeling something peculiar in his heart.

Just being able to look at Li Yang was enough.

...

The bus was delayed, and by the time he got home, it was pitch black.

Li Yang pushed open the door and saw his parents sitting at the table, obviously waiting up for him. He knew trouble was brewing.

Probably something about that low-grade Alpha again.

Li Yang was annoyed. Maybe having lived so long in this novel’s world, he had come to resent these irresponsible parents just like the original owner.

"Li Yang, come sit," Li Yuyue patted the chair beside him, signaling him to come over.

"First, you despised me for being a Beta. What’s the act now?" Li Yang said bluntly, expressionless. "Planning to sell your son?"

"No need for such harsh words," Li Yuyue’s temper was much more stable now. He wasn’t angry at all—instead, he smiled warmly, playing the role of a kind father. "It's time we discussed your future. Come talk."

"What did that Alpha offer you?" Li Yang dropped his bag but didn’t change his shoes. He stood firmly at the door, keeping a safe distance.

If anything went wrong, he’d open the door and run.

In this novel’s world, anything was possible—especially forced marriages. And especially with an irresponsible, smiling father like his.

"He took quite a liking to your photo. If you agree to marry, you’ll never lack for anything in life," Li Yuyue said. "If you can have children, he’ll give you even more money."

Have you lost your minds? How could a Beta possibly conceive?

Li Yang frowned and took two steps back. The thought of these two sending his photo for someone else to pick made his skin crawl.

"Actually, Betas can get pregnant too," Li Yuyue ignored his displeasure and continued, "They're just less capable in some aspects, but it's not impossible. Being able to have children—isn't that what every Beta dreams of?"

This was so batshit crazy that Li Yang couldn't help wondering if the protagonist of the novel was about to trigger the main storyline, using him—just cannon fodder—into an arranged marriage to advance the plot.

Otherwise, why would these two parents be so desperate to marry him off, not even putting up a front anymore?

"You marry him then," Li Yang opened his backpack, took out his phone and some cash, and discreetly tucked them into his pocket, ready to bolt.

"I wish I could," Li Yuyue said shamelessly, "But they don’t want me. Can’t be helped—who made you the better-looking one?"

That was more disgusting than week-old takeout. Mockingly, Li Yang thought: No license required to ruin a kid, huh? How do people like this even qualify?

Keeping his expression neutral, he fired back: "Actually, Alphas can get pregnant too. They're just less capable in some aspects, but it's not impossible. Being able to have children—isn't that what every Alpha dreams of?"

"So, Dad, why don’t you take one for the team and get ready for the wedding?"