Chapter 31: The Married Beta Drives a Car

Chapter 31 The Married Beta Male Takes the Wheel

Bai Yu quickly stepped on the lace pearl anklet, preparing to pick it up discreetly, when the person diagonally across from him turned and looked his way.

His heart gave a sudden lurch—had Situ Jian seen his movement?

But Situ Jian looked past him, pointing at Secretary Zhou beside him. "He’s been by your side for two months—how did I not know?"

Bai Yu and Secretary Zhou exchanged a glance. What was this about?

Secretary Zhou was slightly taller than him. Although he wasn’t wearing glasses today—opting for contacts instead—and was dressed in a light-colored suit just like Bai Yu, could Situ Jian really mistake their faces in the blink of an eye?

Secretary Zhou tactfully took a step back and bowed. "Chairman, I am Secretary Zhou."

Situ Jian suddenly looked awkward, then pointed at Bai Yu. "Right, it’s you."

Bai Yu: "..."

Situ Jing casually lit a cigarette and tapped his silver lighter on the desk. "If you wanted to know about such a small matter, you would’ve known long ago. Too bad your attention isn’t on your son. Stop wasting time on that ‘Green Tea Bitch’ and go get your face blindness treated."

Bai Yu glanced at Situ Jian in surprise—face blindness?

That’s great, he won’t remember what I look like.

Situ Jian walked up to his son’s desk, annoyed. "You always shift blame!"

Bai Yu seized the chance to crouch down, pick up the anklet, and stuff it into his pocket. When he stood up, his legs still felt a bit stiff.

Secretary Zhou, seeing that the father and son were about to argue again, stepped in to mediate. "Chairman, the boss really has been quite tired lately. Why don’t you wait in the side office and let him rest for a bit before discussing things?"

Situ Jian scoffed. "Do you think I don’t know? The head office is restructuring and optimizing old departments—laying people off while expanding hiring at the same time. They’re handing out n+7 compensation packages like it’s nothing. A regular employee gets around 500,000, a senior executive over 5 million. They merged three departments in total, with a cost of two billion yuan on such a big move. Without my authorization, he couldn’t have pulled it off!"

Secretary Zhou nodded and bowed. "You’re absolutely right, Chairman."

Situ Jian raised his hand and pointed at Bai Yu. "You, come with me for a moment."

"Ah?" Bai Yu looked to Situ Jing for help. What does he want with me?

Situ Jing sounded slightly impatient. "He’s under my employ."

"Under your employ—I’m not trying to poach him. Can’t I even ask him to do something?" Situ Jian walked over, took hold of Bai Yu’s collar, and said, "Come with me."

Bai Yu: "..."

*

Bai Yu followed Situ Jian to the chairman’s office.

On the office wall hung a scroll with calligraphy that read, "A person should have principles." There was a desk calendar on the table, but very few documents—the office was so clean and tidy it looked almost unused.

Situ Jian pointed to the leather sofa and said to Bai Yu, "Sit. I just want to ask you about a few things."

"Okay, Chairman." Bai Yu sat upright on the sofa.

Situ Jian sat opposite him, crossing his legs and studying Bai Yu carefully, trying to memorize the little assistant’s appearance despite his prosopagnosia.

Long, sunburst-like lashes, hazel-brown round eyes, fair skin, slightly long hair—he looked docile and compliant, probably quite young.

Bai Yu felt uncomfortable under the stare and had no idea what Situ Jian wanted to ask. He lowered his head and focused on the aquarium on the table, watching the colorful goldfish swim inside.

Situ Jian sighed. "I’m a bit worried about his health lately. He has a hormonal imbalance. As soon as I entered the office earlier, I could smell the scent of his hormones. I don’t know if it’s gotten worse because he’s been so busy. He doesn’t come home, doesn’t call me, and doesn’t let Secretary Zhou share any information with me. He treats me like an enemy. Every time, I have to come to the company to see him."

Bai Yu looked up in surprise—were Situ Jing and his father on such bad terms? Remembering his role as the little assistant, he pretended to stay calm. "The boss’s condition has improved a lot. He doesn’t suffer from insomnia or nerve pain like before, and his rut cycles have stabilized. You don’t need to worry. The boss is just worn out from overwork lately."

Situ Jian leaned back on the sofa. "What about his personal life?"

Bai Yu asked cautiously, "What aspect do you mean?"

Since Situ Jing and his father didn’t get along, his father probably didn’t know about the contract. He couldn’t risk saying the wrong thing.

"Has he found an omega?"

Bai Yu shook his head. "I’m not sure. I’ve only been here for two months, and I only take care of the boss’s day-to-day needs."

Situ Jian stroked his chin, the watch on his wrist glinting. "Is there an omega he’s especially intimate with? Maybe someone he’s dating or has brought home?"

"Well..." Bai Yu thought for a moment. "I haven’t seen anyone."

Situ Jian placed his hands on his knees, rubbing his thumbs together. "Today is his birthday. Since he’s not coming home, you must know how he plans to spend it, right?"

Bai Yu genuinely didn’t know it was Situ Jing’s birthday today and improvised: "The boss hasn’t decided yet. I was about to ask him when I went into the office earlier, but he was still resting. Then I came out and ran into you, Chairman."

Situ Jian frowned, growing melancholic. "The older he gets, the harder he is to manage. I have no idea what he’s up to. After all these years, hasn’t he gotten over it yet?"

Bai Yu didn’t know the backstory and stayed silent.

The next moment, the office door opened, and Situ Jing stood at the entrance. "Finished talking?"

Situ Jian turned to him. "Are you really not coming home for dinner tonight?"

Bai Yu also looked at Situ Jing, who seemed to flash a complicated look in his eyes as he glanced back.

"Fine, let’s go back to the family estate for dinner. The Life Assistant will come with me. Secretary Zhou, aren’t you coming down with something? Go home and rest."

Secretary Zhou, standing to the side: Wait, really?

Situ Jian’s expression instantly brightened. He stood up and said, "I’ll tell the house manager to have the kitchen prepare your favorite dishes."

Bai Yu discreetly gestured at himself, his face full of confusion. Why me?

Situ Jing’s lips curled slightly. You’re the one who didn’t manage to leave—of course, you’ll have to play your part fully.

"Let’s go."

Secretary Zhou handed his backpack to Bai Yu, gave a few words of advice, and left for the day. It was the earliest he’d left work in a long time.

Bai Yu followed Situ Jing downstairs to the underground parking garage to get the car.

It was just around the time staff members were leaving for the day. A few people noticed him standing beside Situ Jing, but he adopted Situ Jing’s aloof posture, keeping a cold face. Soon, others averted their gaze.

When the elevator reached the underground garage, Situ Jing suddenly smirked and glanced at him sideways.

Bai Yu asked, "What is it?"

Situ Jing tweaked Bai Yu’s cheek. "The way you looked just now—really like a cat, chest puffed and tail curled, beside its owner. Audacious and defiant. How have I never noticed this side of you?"

Bai Yu didn’t like the comparison, but he took it as a compliment. "Didn’t you say I look silly when I smile? Maintaining your image at the company is part of the contract, right?"

Situ Jing took out the car keys. "Do you really know how to drive?"

"Yes, after the *gaokao*, I worked part-time at a driving school and got my license. I’ve worked as a designated driver before and have driven many types of cars. I won’t wreck yours."

Bai Yu opened the back door for Situ Jing as Secretary Zhou usually did, but Situ Jing got into the passenger seat himself.

"......"

Bai Yu returned to the driver's seat, fastened his seatbelt, and stepped on the accelerator to drive off.

To Situ Jing's surprise, the car started smoothly and drove steadily. Bai Yu showed no signs of nervousness or hesitation, not like a beginner at all.

If he wasn’t afraid of driving on the road, why was he so scared of someone suddenly walking into the hospital’s water dispenser room earlier?

It was rush hour, so Bai Yu opened the navigation app and chose a route with the least red (congested) routes. His fingers, long and fair with a pinkish hue, looked elegant as they turned the steering wheel.

"It’ll take about an hour and a half. You can rest for a while."

"Mhm."

Situ Jing watched Bai Yu with interest, his mischievous streak beginning to stir again.

Bai Yu focused on driving but glanced at Situ Jing while waiting at a red light. "Still don’t trust me?"

Situ Jing reached out and touched the soft part of Bai Yu’s thigh. Bai Yu jumped in his seat, tightening his legs, his cheeks flushing red.

"Don’t do that! The chairman’s car is right behind us!"

Situ Jing laughed unrestrained. "You really do act like a proper little assistant."

Bai Yu rarely saw Situ Jing smile like this—his handsome, deep-set eyes were quite captivating, making him seem like a gentleman through and through. But touching someone’s thigh while driving was truly shameless.

The countdown timer on the traffic light ahead gradually decreased. Situ Jing asked, "What did the old man say to you earlier?"

The old man?

Bai Yu understood he meant Situ Jian but couldn’t help shooting him a glance. "The chairman asked about your health. I told him you’re almost recovered. He also asked if you’ve found a suitable omega and what your birthday plans were. I said I didn’t know."

Situ Jing raised an eyebrow. "That’s all?"

"Mhm. He seemed very concerned about your health and your romantic life."

Situ Jing said coldly, "He should worry about himself more."

Bai Yu felt that Situ Jian’s demeanor during their conversation didn’t seem insincere—it was just a father’s concern for his son. He didn’t understand why Situ Jing was so resistant. Wasn’t it good to be cared for by family? Some people wished for it but had no one.

That said, Situ Jian’s face blindness was quite severe.

"Is the chairman seeing a doctor for it?"

"Yes, he recently switched doctors, but that’s not his biggest issue."

What was it, then?

Situ Jing didn’t elaborate, and Bai Yu didn’t press him further.

The light turned green, and Bai Yu started driving again, following the navigation. In the rearview mirror, Situ Jian’s car changed lanes and took another route.

When they arrived at the old mansion in the wealthy eastern suburbs, Bai Yu pulled the car into the garage. The garage was filled with limited-edition supercars and vintage models. Bai Yu parked with one hand and, after getting out, glanced around—roughly estimating over fifty cars.

Noticing Bai Yu staring at the cars, Situ Jing said, "Yanting’s garage has even more models than here. Want to drive one?"

Bai Yu shook his head. "I’m just looking."

They entered the mansion, where many servants were coming and going. The butler stood respectfully to greet Situ Jing. "Young Master."

Secretary Zhou had mentioned that the head butler of the old mansion was named Xie, and they could turn to him for anything.

Bai Yu took a closer look at Butler Xie, who seemed to know something as he smiled kindly at Bai Yu. "Please come in."

The mansion was decorated in a classical style, with white and gold as the main colors. Soft carpets covered the floors, oil paintings hung on the walls, and expensive antiques and sculptures were everywhere.

Bai Yu looked around curiously. Passing a corridor on the right, he noticed a vacant room next to the staircase. It contained nothing, but upon closer inspection, small marks on the floor suggested something like piano legs had once been there. The room faced the garden, where red roses were in bloom.

Situ Jing paused for a few seconds by the room before turning to go upstairs.

Bai Yu followed but fell behind, losing sight of him upstairs and unsure whether to turn left or right.

After hesitating, Bai Yu decided to go left, but Situ Jing turned back and impatiently pulled him to the right.

They entered a room at the end of the hallway. It was spacious, with a balcony facing the sun. Wooden bookshelves were filled with certificates, trophies, and old photos. The desk held an ink bottle, pens, and other items, and the bed was neatly made.

Bai Yu asked, "Is this your old room?"

"Obviously," Situ Jing said, lying down on the bed. "Wake me up when dinner is ready."

"Okay."

"Go take a shower, and don’t leave afterward."

"...Oh."

Bai Yu went to shower and finally took off the white stockings hidden under his trousers. The scene in the lounge flashed through his mind—Situ Jing holding his ankle in white stockings, kissing it, his eyes like a predator’s.

The stockings, light and thin, were rolled into a ball. Bai Yu tucked them into his pocket to discard later.

When he came out, the man on the bed was already asleep. Bai Yu pulled the blanket over him and quietly looked at the photos on the bookshelf.

There were several graduation photos—elementary school, middle school, high school, and university—along with some club photos.

The Situ Jing of his student days didn’t have the inscrutable, cold arrogance in his eyes yet, but his features were already striking, standing out as the tallest and most noticeable among his peers. In the club photos, everyone around him looked at him with admiration.

Besides school photos, there were pictures of him with another child—likely his younger brother.

In one photo, the two were play-fighting, with blocks scattered on the floor. Situ Jing stood coldly to the side, watching his brother cry loudly.

Even as a child, he was quite self-absorbed.

Bai Yu sat on a chair by the window, listening to music with headphones. A servant brought a fruit and pastry platter, and he ate some.

Half an hour later, Butler Xie arrived at the doorway and saw this scene—the setting sun’s glow illuminated the young man leaning by the window, casting a soft light on his hair, neck, and shoulders. He speared a piece of honeydew with a fork, humming softly as he ate, his feet swaying leisurely to the tune.

The man on the bed was fast asleep, his handsome face turned toward the window, three buttons of his shirt undone.

The scene had an inexplicably peaceful atmosphere, making Butler Xie almost forget that it was the Young Master lying there.

After all, aside from the madam, no one had ever entered this space—not the master, not the second young master, and even Secretary Zhou waited outside when he visited. Moreover, the Young Master had often suffered from insomnia, let alone being able to sleep with someone else present.

Clearly, this explorer was unaware of this fact. His expression was like that of an office worker killing time while waiting to get off work—bored yet relaxed.

Butler Xie couldn’t help wondering, what did this signify?

Secretary Zhou just sent him a message, reminding him that this little assistant is taking over his shift and to cover for any mess-ups—the boss cares about him a lot, so don't let the chairman know.

Bai Yu noticed Butler Xie standing at the door in his peripheral vision, quietly got up and walked over, whispering, "Is dinner ready?"

Butler Xie said, "Yes, the Second Young Master has also arrived. Please wake up the Eldest Young Master."

Bai Yu walked to the bedside and gently patted Situ Jing’s shoulder, "Wake up, it’s time to eat."

Situ Jing grabbed Bai Yu’s hand, his gaze shifting from dazed to clear, then released him, "Is everyone here?"

"Yeah, everyone's here."

Bai Yu felt that Situ Jing carried more authority than his father—wasn't he more like the head of the household?

The chaotic dinner that followed confirmed this thought of his.