Chapter 45: What’s Wrong with a Spoiled Beta 7
Chu Chuanting’s message was withdrawn very quickly, with only a one-second margin of error, but Shu He still saw it.
However, since he withdrew it quickly, he didn’t think much of it and just assumed it was a typo. He casually opened the voice message the other person had sent.
Chu Chuanting: “What’s your name?”
It was an unprompted question.
The person on the other end of the terminal seemed to feel that something was strange, but it was hard to hear any obvious fluctuation in his tone.
His voice was distinctly different from Chu Chuanbai’s.
If Chu Chuanbai’s voice was a pot of wine that had been brewed for more than ten years, low, mellow, and long, with a magnetic slowness, and occasionally revealing a hint of the pressure of a superior.
Then Chu Chuanting’s voice was a rushing stream, very young, and also rebellious, like a lion in the jungle that didn’t know how to crawl but only knew how to attack, and also like a hound, which would run out and bite people if it wasn’t leashed.
…He didn’t know why, but Shu He always felt that he had been exposed. This feeling came out of nowhere.
He moved his slender eyelashes, pursed his dimples, and pulled the blanket up. He was still hesitating when he saw Chu Chuanbai send a second voice message. “Where did you get my contact information?”
It must be an illusion… Shu He sorted out his thoughts and replied honestly: 【I got it from Brother Busong. At the banquet today, I was interested in you the first time I saw you. You can just call me… Little Hua.】
When he was at home, his parents would sometimes call him Little Hehua (T/N: Little Lotus).
But the word “He” was a little too obvious, and the protagonist was very smart. To avoid being exposed, Shu He had removed one word.
Little Hua, Little Hua, so close.
Chu Chuanting: “That Li Busong from the Li family of Changping City?”
Shu He: 【Mm.】
Chu Chuanting: “Wait for me a moment.”
He didn’t know what he was going to do. Shu He closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep in boredom, thinking he would have to wait for ten or twenty minutes. But only two minutes later, Chu Chuanting came back, with a new question. “Full name?”
Shu He: 【Chu Hua.】
Chu Chuanting sent a sentence with an unclear meaning: 【We have the same surname.】
【Yes, what a coincidence.】 Shu He typed seriously. 【Do you agree or not?】
Chu Chuanting: 【I can.】
Chu Chuanting: 【But I don’t do online relationships. We have to meet in at most a month.】
Shu He’s typing hand stopped.
Cat’s face scrunches up.
Only a month!
What kind of feelings could be developed in a month? In the last world, he had spent… ah… how long?
Shu He shook his head, still unable to remember clearly, and could only reply dejectedly: 【A month is too fast.】
Chu Chuanting: 【Didn’t you say you were interested in me the first time you saw me at the banquet today?】
Chu Chuanting: 【Don’t you want to see me sooner?】
Chu Chuanting: 【Don’t you want to be close to me?】
“…”
Such fast progress!!
Just as Shu He was hesitating with wide eyes, not knowing how to reply, Chu Chuanting changed the subject and sent a voice message. “Do you have a fiancé?”
Shu He instantly thought of Chu Chuanbai and also replied with a voice message. “Of course not. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be looking for you.”
The boy’s voice was muffled in the blanket, soft, as if he had been kissed hard, and also like a sweet marshmallow. Compared to the slurred, soft voice when he was drunk today, it was another flavor.
The same, yet not entirely the same, but it was very distinct, the kind of voice that was hard to forget once you heard it, young and clear, and the tone and enunciation combined to form a strong style of his own.
…Does he even know his voice is so recognizable?
He doesn’t even know how to use a fake voice when he’s lying.
Even a little bit would be good.
Chu Chuanting put on his headphones, squinted at the boy’s little lotus avatar, but his mind was on the way he had looked down at him with his foot on the sofa today. The dim environment had blurred all his senses, and he didn’t even know whose heart was beating so fast. Only those eyes were so clear and beautiful that they were impossible to ignore.
After a moment, the young man’s voice slowly sounded. “Mm, Little Hua, your voice sounds a little familiar.”
!
What!
We only said a few words at the banquet today. Did the protagonist remember my voice?!
Shu He’s almond eyes widened. He was so afraid of a Waterloo at the beginning that his voice trembled with nervousness, and he randomly found an excuse. “I-I talked to you today, but you ignored me!”
Chu Chuanting propped his chin with his hand. “That was my fault.”
“It’s okay, I forgive you.”
The more he said, the more he would be wrong. Shu He spilled the beans. “It’s getting late. You should rest early! I’m going to sleep.”
Chu Chuanting’s voice actually sounded a little regretful. “So soon?” His voice changed again and he said alright. Even though they had just started dating, he very naturally called Shu He’s nickname. “Little Hua, good night.”
“Good night…!”
The call was hung up, and the terminal went dark. Shu He casually turned off the light in the room and stared at the dark ceiling, still feeling a little unreal.
Things had progressed too smoothly.
He had thought the protagonist would at least ask to see a picture of him, or to understand the specific process and mental journey of him falling for him. Who knew that Chu Chuanting would just agree?
So easy to deceive…
Shu He felt hot and threw off the covers, turned over, and buried his face in the pillow, chatting with the system in his heart. “Bro, the protagonist is so easy to hook. Does he know it’s me?”
System: 【Why don’t you delete him and let him lose an online relationship partner?】
System: 【Let him feel what it’s like to be clueless.】
“Why?” Shu He puffed out his cheeks like a pufferfish, making people want to poke his cheeks. “You won’t even support my plan. I really have a very complete villain script, and I completed the last world’s character very well. You don’t even believe me. Hmph.”
He hummed in a small voice, mumbling, clearly thinking that the system didn’t believe in his professional ability. But what could the system say? It changed the subject. 【Let me take a couple of pictures for you.】
It had been almost a month since he had come to this world, and Shu He had not yet collected any pictures of himself. Hearing this, he perked up a little and said “Oh,” revealing his small, pale face, which was a little pink from being stuffy. His temper came and went quickly, and he actively directed:
“I’ll look at that position. Bro, you take it from that angle. Take three pictures, one smiling, one not smiling, and one sleeping.”
Now, when Shu He took pictures, it was basically like writing a diary.
The diary’s name would definitely be The Diary of Little He’s Villain Career.
The system did as it was told, and also helped Shu He to bind all the photos together, so that he could take them back to his parents to see after the mission was completed.
After it was done, the system went to the system forum. Of course, it wasn’t to upload photos. Ever since Shu He was deceived in the last world, it had never uploaded photos to the forum again. It wasn’t in the mood.
The system glanced at it faintly. After so long, the power of the Shu He System Fan Club was still as strong as ever. Countless system editors had cut those old photos into videos, and had spontaneously become masters of their own cooking.
For a moment, it really wanted to upload some new ones, but then it thought again and gave up. Who knew what the hosts of these systems would do with the photos…
The system went anonymous.
*
For the next few days, Shu He devoted himself to cultivating his relationship with the protagonist.
It was hard to cultivate an online relationship. It required forming a dependence and a desire to share, so chatting whenever there was a chance was essential.
Good morning, good afternoon, and good night were never missed. What he ate for breakfast, lunch, and dinner were basically also not missed. He also had to care about whether the protagonist was tired from studying at the military academy, and what he usually studied.
In addition, he had to be clingy.
As soon as the protagonist was out of class, Shu He would take the initiative to send him a message. When they went to sleep at night, they also had to have an hour-long phone call. Although Shu He felt that phone calls were a little boring, and they were all about daily life, with no room to insert a word to persuade the protagonist to be ambitious, but for the sake of the romantic atmosphere, and because Chu Chuanting seemed to enjoy this feeling, he still seriously called him and said good night to each other.
Ten days, and the progress was rapid!
Chu Chuanting would now take the initiative to make a kissing sound at the terminal when he hung up with him!
The dawn of victory was in sight, so Shu He was particularly serious, not even forgetting to chat with Chu Chuanting while eating.
He lowered his head and sat on the high dining chair, swinging his legs, his lashes curled up, his almond eyes glancing at the screen. He would reply to a message and then take a bite of food, his cheeks puffed out from eating, like a little squirrel that was not concentrating on gnawing on a pine cone.
He was completely unaware that at this time, a strong pheromone was dangerously lingering in the living room—with a tendency to spread uncontrollably.
…That was the dissatisfaction of an Alpha who had been neglected.
Clack—
A crisp, sharp sound suddenly came from the table, successfully bringing the little Beta who was multitasking back to his senses. The boy looked up in a daze, his round almond eyes reflecting Chu Chuanbai’s seemingly gentlemanly and calm face.
The Alpha was smiling. “Who are you chatting with?”
Shu He’s cheeks moved, and only after he had swallowed his food did he say in a small voice, “Someone online.”
Someone online.
Chu Chuanbai had already put down his chopsticks. Hearing this, he leaned forward slightly and propped his chin with his hand. He looked at Shu He, then turned his head, his eyes landing on the virtual screen in front of the boy.
The terminal was an identity information that was implanted in the skin of every human at birth.
This high-tech device, which was covered by the skin, was activated and deactivated at will. The screen was also made of network ripples, standing in the air, untouchable and un-blow-away-able. It was very difficult for outsiders to see the specific content displayed on it.
Shu He had already turned off the screen.
He thought it was because he was multitasking, eating and playing on his “phone,” which was against the Chu family’s rules, so he planned to return to a state of single-mindedness and serious eating before Chu Chuanbai reminded him.
Who knew that the next second, Chu Chuanbai would say something completely unrelated to this. “—These past few days, you seem to have been chatting with a friend online all the time.”
He said with a gentle smile, “Aren’t you going to prepare for the military academy?”
Huh?
Shu He held his chopsticks, his eyes wide as he looked at the Alpha.
“I’ve been remembering what you said about going to the Alpha military academy,” Chu Chuanbai said naturally. “It took me a day to clear the way for you, and another nine days to find a house for you nearby and decorate it. The decoration is almost done today. You can go. Or, was Little He just saying it casually?”
“You…”
Shu He had no idea that Chu Chuanbai had been clearing the way for him behind the scenes, even though he hadn’t said anything. He widened his eyes and said in a small voice, “…I thought you hadn’t agreed.”
Chu Chuanbai lowered his eyes and sighed gently. “At that time, I was thinking that you’re a Beta, and there’s no precedent for a Beta to go to an Alpha military academy. So I was wondering if I had the ability to handle all the connections for you. It’s not that I didn’t agree with you. How could I refuse you?”
System: 【He’s just fooling you. Look at the plot. What’s the Chu family’s status in Shangyu City? Even the school board of this military academy has people from his family. How hard can it be to get someone in?】
Shu He was originally soft-hearted, but now he was so split by the interruption, on one side was the system’s words, and on the other was Chu Chuanbai’s lowered gaze and sigh, and his sincere appearance.
He squeezed his chopsticks in a daze, looking at Chu Chuanbai. In the end, the power of what he saw with his own eyes was stronger. He believed him, and looked at the Alpha with great emotion, sniffing and saying, “You’re so nice. Thank you. Was it hard to handle the connections? Did it cost you a lot of money?”
…So easy to deceive.
Chu Chuanbai’s eyelids lowered slightly, hiding the unknown emotion in his eyes. His voice was as usual, with a hint of comfort. “No, it was actually much easier than I thought.”
“The house I bought for you is right across from the school. By the way, don’t bring people home.”
Shu He: “Why?”
“You’re a Beta,” the Alpha said. “You don’t understand Alphas. Not many Alphas are good people.”
Shu He thought for a moment. “What about… Omegas?”
Chu Chuanbai: “The same.”
They were all madmen controlled by their pheromone genes, not people, but beasts in human skin.
“Alright, I’ll remember.” After this interruption, Shu He had completely forgotten about the online relationship. He was filled with happiness and quickly finished his meal and stood up. As he turned, the ends of his hair flew up, and his tall back quickly slipped away. “I’m going to pack my things!”
Chu Chuanbai leaned back, his fingertips gently tapping on the desk.
He watched the boy’s youthful and energetic back, and turned his head and said, “Have someone find out who he’s been chatting with recently.”
The butler lowered his head. “Yes, sir.”
“By the way, find out the Shu family’s recent movements.” Chu Chuanbai’s tone was emotionless. “Don’t let them know that Little He has gone to the military academy. If there are too many people and it’s really hard to hide, then send more people to be with Little He.”
The butler nodded with understanding.
*
The next morning, Shu He got up early, ready to go. After finishing breakfast, he flew upstairs and took out his suitcase.
The suitcase was not heavy. It was filled with clothes and some snacks. When Chu Chuanbai saw it, he still reached out to him, wanting to help him carry it.
“No need.” Shu He kindly dodged his hand, mindful of his leg. The boy’s voice was very soft. “It’s not convenient for you either. I saw the weather forecast says it’s going to rain recently. Will your leg joints hurt? And why haven’t you been using the wheelchair recently?”
Chu Chuanbai seemed not to have expected his outstretched hand to be dodged, and his movement was frozen in mid-air for a moment.
He slowly lifted his eyes, looking at Shu He’s wide eyes, which were filled with concern. Anyone could hear the concern in his tone, and also see that he had Chu Chuanbai’s physical health in mind.
This was very good. He was worried about him, mindful of him, and had even checked the weather forecast, afraid that his bone joints would hurt in the damp weather.
This was very good.
But.
But.
In the silence, the Alpha did not make a sound, just smiled and reached out, his pale fingers touching Shu He’s soft pinky finger. Shu He felt his force, and was slowly pulling the luggage handle into his palm.
And he could only let go, with nowhere to grab.
The Alpha said like a gentleman, “Don’t worry. I can still carry this much.”
After speaking, he walked in front of Shu He, his back tall.
Shu He followed behind him, staring at his slightly limping leg for a while, then looked away, and with a dimple, he jogged to his side. “Chuanbai, I know you’re very amazing.”
As they walked out of the residence, a somewhat hot and humid summer wind blew over, enveloping them.
It was like being under a blanket without air conditioning in the summer, so hot and stuffy that it was annoying. This kind of temperature was the most hateful.
The two of them walked out side by side. A huge hover car was floating at the gate of the estate. It was oval-shaped, silver-white in color, with a very futuristic feel. A retractable staircase snaked down from the hover car door and was firmly stuck to the ground.
Chu Chuanbai handed the luggage to his subordinate and told him to put it in the hover car. Hearing this, he turned back, and his eyes fell on Shu He. “I know. I wasn’t thinking anything.”
Shu He: “Anyway, you’re just very amazing.”
“Mm.” Chu Chuanbai seemed to be unable to hold it in and reached out to touch his soft dark hair.
Before Shu He could react, he timely withdrew his hand and said gently, “Get in the car.”
Shu He followed behind him and got in the car.
The inside of the hover car was a different world. The semi-circular windows were frosted and one-way. In addition, there were sofas, beds, and compartments. Compared to a driving device, it was more like a fully equipped RV.
Shu He looked around. Only when the car started did he realize that Chu Chuanbai had not gotten off.
“Are you going to take me?”
“I’m going with you.” Chu Chuanbai lowered his head and poured him a glass of iced milk. As he pushed the glass over, his cuff opened slightly, revealing a silver watch and the powerful veins on the back of his hand.
He smiled and said calmly, “I’m moving too, to live with you, until you graduate from there. But the military academy is five years. Are you sure you want to study for that long, Little He?”
Shu He didn’t even know what to say.
What…?
“Why that expression?” Chu Chuanbai looked down at his puffed-out cheeks and smiled slightly. “You don’t want me to come with you?”
“No… no.” Shu He was so confused. He couldn’t help but lean forward, his clear almond eyes filled with the Alpha. “Are you serious? This will be very troublesome.”
Chu Chuanbai: “It’s not troublesome. The military academy is in Shangyu City, and it’s not far.”
“But…” Shu He frowned, and was about to say something when Chu Chuanbai lowered his eyes and suddenly reached out and pressed on the clothes on his chest.