Chapter 50: The Married Beta is Apologized To

Chapter 50: The Married Beta Receives an Apology

Bai Yu stopped, standing before Mu Qingkong. "What did you say?"

Mu Qingkong met Bai Yu’s gaze, eyes gleaming with overt challenge, a smirk playing on his lips. "Did I say something?"

Yao Jia chimed in with a sarcastic lilt, "Our class monitor didn't say anything just now. We were just playing with the latest photo filter. Bai Yu, did you mishear?"

Bai Yu curled his fingers. Though his demeanor wasn't assertive, he was certain Mu Qingkong had uttered those two words. Yet, he was powerless to act.

Mu Qingkong was a master of appearances. Despite losing his top rank in the Form Analysis Course, his image as a capable and outstanding class monitor remained firmly established, garnering him a loyal following in class.

Soon, other students turned their way. "Class monitor, what are you two talking about?"

"Nothing, we were just sharing the latest photo filter with Bai Yu," Mu Qingkong replied, turning to the student with a feigned smile before looking back at Bai Yu.

Bai Yu turned and walked away, a strange feeling lingering in his heart.

Mu Qingkong’s animosity towards him was nothing new. Ever since Bai Yu received an A+ on his arrangement assignment in the Form Analysis Course, their interactions in class had been a constant dance of overt and subtle conflict. He even suspected Mu Qingkong and his companions were behind the elevator incident.

Given Mu Qingkong’s obsession with Situ Jing and the sharp, arrogant nature he displayed at the club, it seemed unlikely he would use a term as mild as "slut" to insult Bai Yu after learning about his involvement with Situ Jing.

This left Bai Yu bewildered, unsure whether Mu Qingkong’s insult stemmed from Situ Jing or something else entirely.

Bai Yu walked to the back of the classroom and sat beside Fu Yusheng, pulling out his textbook.

Fu Yusheng removed his headphones and patted him. "Have you gone to see Qin Shaoxin yet?"

Bai Yu looked utterly bewildered. "Why would I go see him?"

Fu Yusheng’s eyes widened in shock, and he twisted his body towards Bai Yu. "You don’t know? After class yesterday, Qin Shaoxin and Pei Wenliang got into a fight. They both hit each other pretty hard—Pei Wenliang was badly hurt and even needed stitches at the hospital."

Bai Yu recalled that after bidding farewell to Qin Shaoxin and leaving school, he hadn't encountered Pei Wenliang. The fight must have occurred afterward. Qin Shaoxin was usually outgoing and well-connected, not the type to impulsively resort to violence.

"Why did they fight?"

Fu Yusheng rubbed his forehead. "Because of you."

"Me?"

"Qin Shaoxin said he saw Pei Wenliang throw a basketball at you and wanted to defend you. He’d already told people he was pursuing someone, even turning down an omega who’d been chasing him since high school. When he fought Pei Wenliang yesterday, the news got out. Now, half the school knows the campus heartthrob is after you!"

Bai Yu finally understood why Mu Qingkong had called him a "slut." It was because Qin Shaoxin had beaten up Pei Wenliang.

The news of Qin Shaoxin pursuing him spreading throughout the school was far from ideal. He would have to avoid him even more diligently from now on.

Fu Yusheng kept glancing expectantly at Bai Yu and his phone. "Aren’t you going to contact him right away? You two seemed pretty close before."

Bai Yu remained still, his gaze fixed on his phone, which lay face down on the desk.

The conversation between Situ Jing and Chen Xun the previous night was still vivid in his mind. He feared that if Situ Jing discovered he was still in contact with Qin Shaoxin, he might do something drastic.

But Qin Shaoxin had fought Pei Wenliang to defend him. Would this incident delay his dance rehearsals and documentary filming?

As Bai Yu pondered this, the class bell rang, and Pei Wenliang entered with the teacher.

Pei Wenliang’s right eye was swollen and purple, his left arm wrapped in white bandages, and his backpack slung over one shoulder. The moment he walked in, he drew the attention of the entire class, inadvertently making Bai Yu the center of the storm.

Everyone in class knew that Pei Wenliang disliked Bai Yu, the repeating student who had transferred from the previous year, and that he was an ardent sycophant of Mu Qingkong.

Later, Bai Yu excelled in the Form Analysis Course, dispelling the rumors about the authenticity of his work, but a palpable tension, like oil and water, remained between him and Pei Wenliang.

Everyone speculated about what Pei Wenliang would do next, especially since Qin Shaoxin had beaten him up so badly on Bai Yu’s behalf.

Pei Wenliang scanned the room with his uninjured eye, located Bai Yu, and walked straight towards the back row.

Bai Yu opened his textbook. Seeing Pei Wenliang approach, he tightened his grip on his pen, silently hoping he wasn't about to confront him in front of everyone.

Pei Wenliang reached the empty seat beside Bai Yu, carelessly dropped his bag on the desk, and slumped into the seat.

Bai Yu straightened up in his seat and took a deep breath.

Since they were still in class, Pei Wenliang surely wouldn't seek revenge in front of the teacher. At most, he might challenge him to a fight after class.

Pei Wenliang rested his injured arm on the back of the chair, glancing sideways at Bai Yu, ignoring the lecture.

As Bai Yu flipped through his book, he turned to look at Pei Wenliang.

Their eyes met, and Pei Wenliang, as if a knife were at his throat, gritted his teeth and said, "I'm sorry."

Bai Yu: "?"

Had he not seen Pei Wenliang’s lips move and heard those three words, he would never have guessed that Pei Wenliang was there to apologize.

After speaking, Pei Wenliang grabbed his bag and left, going to sit with a familiar alpha classmate instead.

Fu Yusheng patted Bai Yu and whispered, "What did he say to you just now? It was so quiet, like a mosquito's buzz."

"He apologized to me."

"Unbelievable."

"I know, right?"

Bai Yu’s mind was a jumble. He had no idea how Qin Shaoxin had managed to make Pei Wenliang swallow his pride and apologize. It seemed he owed Qin Shaoxin quite a few favors.

Under the autumn breeze, fallen leaves carpeted the ground as students walked in small groups along the campus avenue.

As Bai Yu passed the administration building, he hesitated for a moment before heading towards the dance department's A2 practice room.

He wanted to see if Qin Shaoxin was practicing and how badly he was injured. If it wasn’t serious, he planned to leave immediately.

Coincidentally, the lights in the A2 practice room were on. Bai Yu stealthily peered through the window, where five or six boys were practicing. At first, he didn’t see Qin Shaoxin, but when they began a synchronized routine, Qin Shaoxin appeared.

Qin Shaoxin’s face didn't appear severely injured, with only a slight bloodstain at the corner of his mouth and some bruises and scrapes on his arms and neck. He was clearly not as badly hurt as Pei Wenliang.

Seeing that Qin Shaoxin could practice normally, Bai Yu felt relieved.

The moment Qin Shaoxin spun and leaped, his peripheral vision caught a pair of round, peeking eyes at the window, and he immediately stopped.

Bai Yu took off at once, his figure a fleeting blur past the window.

Qin Shaoxin chased out of the practice room, all the way to the west gate, but couldn’t find him.

Pei Wenliang, Mu Qingkong, and Yao Jia stood on the rooftop of the First Teaching Building, overlooking Bai Yu walking towards the south gate and Qin Shaoxin returning to the A2 practice room.

Mu Qingkong asked, "Why did you apologize to him?"

Pei Wenliang felt a sting of resentment. Logically, he had targeted Bai Yu for Mu Qingkong’s sake, yet he hadn’t received a single word of concern despite his injuries. Gritting his teeth, he said, "The Qin family found a powerful backer. My mom said we can’t afford to offend them."

Qin Shaoxin and Pei Wenliang were roughly the same height, and Pei Wenliang had the advantage in terms of build. Yet, as the fight progressed, Qin Shaoxin knocked him to the ground, leaving his face bloodied.

Students and teachers nearby gradually arrived to break up the fight. Pei Wenliang, seriously injured, was taken to the hospital, and the counselor notified both families.

Seeing her son so injured, Mrs. Pei paced furiously in the hospital room, shouting, "The Qin family’s company is on the verge of bankruptcy, yet they still let their son cause trouble everywhere. They truly have no regard for their reputation. I’m calling the Qin family—Qin Shaoxin must apologize to you!"

Pei Wenliang lay in the hospital bed, waiting for Qin Shaoxin to come and humble himself.

However, when Qin Shaoxin arrived, he was accompanied by his eldest sister and her alpha boyfriend.

This boyfriend was quite influential—his name was Xiao Jun, the founder of MS Investment Company, a major figure in the cryptocurrency world with personal assets exceeding 60 billion. Orphaned at a young age, he was the sole heir and a highly eligible bachelor.

As soon as Xiao Jun stood there, Mrs. Pei’s expression shifted, her arrogant demeanor immediately deflating by half.

Qin Shaoxin’s eldest sister said, "I’ve spoken with Shaoxin about this. It was your son who was bullying others at school, and Shaoxin intervened because he couldn’t stand by. If you insist on arguing, we can review the school security cameras to see who was truly at fault."

Pei Wenliang thought about his actions at school. Most were manageable, but the riskiest was cutting power to the school elevator, trapping Qin Shaoxin and Bai Yu inside.

If that were discovered during the investigation, even if his family could protect his enrollment, he would still face disciplinary action. So, he remained silent.

Seeing Pei Wenliang’s silence, Qin Shaoxin’s eldest sister raised an eyebrow. "Nothing to say? Then let’s consider this matter settled."

"Wait."

Qin Shaoxin spoke his first words since entering the hospital room.

Qin Shaoxin’s eldest sister asked, "Shaoxin, what is it?"

Qin Shaoxin pointed at Pei Wenliang lying on the bed. "I want him to apologize to Bai Yu."

Pei Wenliang scoffed inwardly, thinking Qin Shaoxin was pushing his luck, and he felt like fighting him again.

Mrs. Pei quietly pressed her son’s shoulder down, then stepped out of the room to speak with Xiao Jun for a few moments before seeing him off.

Returning to the room, she scolded, "The Qin family has no capability of their own but are exceptionally talented at finding benefactors. Now their company won’t go bankrupt, and they might even come out ahead. Just don’t provoke him anymore. A real man knows when to bend and when to extend—apologizing won’t cost you a piece of flesh."

Pei Wenliang leaned against the railing and said, "If Qin Shaoxin keeps protecting him, I can’t help you target him anymore."

He was infatuated, but not to the point of risking his life.

Mu Qingkong curled his lip and turned to leave the rooftop.

Lately, nothing seemed to go right. Last night, he saw Situ Jing taking an unknown omega to sleep with him, and today, Bai Yu came to add to his troubles.

*

Bai Yu exited the south gate, walked a block, and slipped into the waiting black Cullinan.

Qin Shaoxin sent two messages, but he didn’t reply.

Back at Yanting, Secretary Zhou took Bai Yu to the second-floor guest room to see the newly set-up computer.

The villa’s second floor had three guest rooms. Bai Yu’s room was next to Situ Jing’s bedroom. Though not as large as the master bedroom, it was the size of a small apartment.

It featured a balcony, bookshelves, a sofa adorned with plush toys, a large and soft bed, a wardrobe, and an en-suite bathroom—everything he could possibly need.

The computer desk was placed by the window, equipped with a sound card, headphones, imported audio equipment, and a new guitar.

Bai Yu’s eyes sparkled as he sat on the sofa and tried out the new guitar. As a child, he had dreamed of having a room like this but later thought it impossible. Now, it had unexpectedly come true.

Staying here for a while didn’t seem so bad after all.

Bai Yu sat down at the computer, opened the installed music production software, put on his headphones, and played the dance track to give it a listen.

The quality of the headphone audio, the lightness of the keyboard, and the responsiveness of the computer all exuded that premium comfort only wealth could provide.

Seeing Bai Yu begin arranging music at the computer, Secretary Zhou updated his boss: [Boss, Mr. Bai Yu has returned to Yanting.]

Situ Jing: [Did he throw a fit about going back?]

Secretary Zhou: [He did earlier this morning, but not anymore. He’s happily working on music arrangement at the computer right now.]

Two hours later.

Bai Yu sent two versions of the arranged track to Qin Shaoxin.

Bai Yu: [Take a listen and let me know if there are any issues.]

Qin Shaoxin didn’t reply immediately, so Bai Yu closed the computer and went downstairs for dinner.

The housekeeper had prepared four dishes and a soup according to the nutritionist’s recipe. The stewed chicken soup was delicious, and Bai Yu had two bowls.

After eating, Bai Yu took a stroll in the garden, admiring the blooming blue hydrangeas and purple daisies. Unconsciously, he relaxed and found himself adapting to the environment surprisingly quickly.

If it weren’t for the male host, life here would be quite pleasant.