The Coveted Gloomy Beta Roommate Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Cherries: I will be obedient, Sister-in-law.

Tang Xingye’s phone vibrated. He checked the message.

It was the familiar Mr. Scammer again. As if afraid Tang Xingye wouldn’t recognize him, every time he was blocked and changed numbers, he would set his nickname to “Scammer.” This time, the other party sent a photo.

The photo showed him leaning over to write materials in the conference room. Because he was focused on work and completely defenseless, his collar was slightly open, revealing the graceful lines of his fair neck and the rounded gland that glowed with a faint pink.

Scammer: [Baby, your gland is so beautiful.]

Scammer: [So pink, I really want to lick it.]

Tang Xingye scrolled through the photos. There was also one of him sleeping. The angle was very close, as if this person had been following him the whole time.

Scammer: [You look so well-behaved when you sleep. It makes people want to do bad things to you. But without Baby’s permission, I won’t do that. I really want to give you all my sticky love.]

Scammer: [Baby, I received the gift you left for me. I like it so much; it still has your scent on it. I’m so happy. What gift do you want?]

Scammer: [There are so many smelly Alphas around you. It really makes me jealous. Why can’t you turn around and look at me?]

Scammer: [Baby, whatever you want, no matter what it is, I can give it to you. I will help you.]

Scammer: [Wifey, why are you ignoring me? Why why why why why why?]

Tang Xingye: “…”

No normal person would want to pay attention to a pervert.

Treating the person like trash, he casually blocked them, with no desire to investigate who sent the messages.

Tang Xingye raised his hand to knock on the door. Only after hearing “Come in” did he push the door open and stand before the desk.

“Teacher, you were looking for me?”

Professor Ye finished flipping through the last page of the application materials before slowly looking up to size up the Beta before him.

The young man wore a neat shirt with the buttons fastened dutifully to the very top. His eyelashes drooped, casting a small shadow beneath his eyes, and strands of hair fell against his fair cheeks, making him look quiet and docile. When he lifted those eyes, clear as glazed glass, he waited obediently for instructions, looking every bit the model student.

“You intend to research the direction of pheromones in the future?”

“Yes.”

“The application materials are written well, but ‘Pheromone Stripping and Human Adaptability’…” Professor Ye’s fingertip tapped a line on the application. “This is a highly controversial topic. It’s misunderstood by people, and it’s not easy to apply for funding.”

He put down the materials, clasped his hands, and looked directly at Tang Xingye. “With your qualifications, many research groups would fight to have you, and would even be willing to give you independent projects. Why do you insist on choosing this?”

Tang Xingye certainly knew the field he was entering had no money and attracted criticism easily. It was already difficult enough for Professor Ye to agree to pass the application. “Teacher, this is the direction I want to research.”

Professor Ye watched him for a long time. “You don’t need to worry about funding. I want to know, why do you want to enter this field?”

The office fell silent for a moment.

Tang Xingye looked out the window. The shadows of the plane trees swayed on the floor.

His voice was very light as he said, “I hope for a day when Omegas won’t lose their reason because of pheromones, Alphas won’t be controlled by their ruts, and Betas won’t be excluded from the discussion.”

Professor Ye stared at him for a moment, then suddenly smiled. “Alright, I understand.”

He put away the application materials and pointed his chin at the open laptop beside him. “Refine the experimental design in the third part for me right now.”

Tang Xingye sat down quietly to make the revisions.

The professor pushed up his glasses and suddenly spoke, his tone as casual as if discussing a new instrument in the lab. “I conned a temporary drudge into coming here to help with your current project.”

Tang Xingye’s hand paused on the keyboard. He turned his head and asked, “Who?”

A kind yet cunning smile appeared on Professor Ye’s face. “Don’t worry about it. Just a cold Alpha dog, about the same as the lab’s automatic liquid separator. But his winning qualities are that he’s useful, works quickly, and we can fleece some project funds from him while we’re at it.”

He blinked. “It was rare to con him into coming, so order him around as much as you like. Make the best use of him.”

The next day, Tang Xingye saw him in the seat behind him—Lin Mo.

The other party was lowering his head to debug an instrument, his slender fingers tightening a screw, movements as precise as if dismantling a firearm. Sensing the gaze, Lin Mo raised his eyes, exchanged a cold glance with him, then lowered his lashes indifferently, as if they were just strangers.

Tang Xingye: “…”

Fine then, make the best use of him.

Although their relationship wasn’t great, there was nothing to say about Lin Mo’s efficiency. Tang Xingye didn’t even need to use the professor’s name; the other party had already completed all tasks meticulously. In contrast, Pei Lian would occasionally make mistakes in the experimental steps, forcing Tang Xingye to stand aside and offer guidance from time to time.

During the lunch break, Pei Lian looked like a cabbage wilted by the sun, fingers twisting the hem of his white coat, head drooping as he asked, “Xingye, am I doing a terrible job?”

Just as Tang Xingye was about to speak, Lin Mo, who was pouring out pills, suddenly interjected coldly, “Even mixing up the basic solution… if it were me, I would have dropped out in shame long ago.”

Knowing Lin Mo had strong experimental skills and the capital to say such things didn’t stop Tang Xingye from rolling his eyes internally at this harsh evaluation. This person was really too pretentious.

Pei Lian, the little cabbage, wilted even more, hanging his head and twisting his clothes, not daring to make a sound.

Tang Xingye: “…”

Tang Xingye deliberately scooched his chair toward Pei Lian, creating a distinct noise.

A cold fragrance enveloped him, and Pei Lian instinctively took a half-step back.

The clear voice was faint but carried a commanding tone that allowed no refusal. “Look up, give me your hand.”

Pei Lian obediently extended his hand, looking at Tang Xingye’s expression cautiously, trying to spot disappointment on his face.

Tang Xingye’s expression was calm, his black and white eyes watching quietly, revealing no emotion.

Tang Xingye held his hand. His fingertips were slightly cool, but the pads of his fingers had thin calluses as he gently examined Pei Lian’s palm.

That hand was beautiful, with a delicate wrist bone and pale blue veins winding under snowy white skin.

So soft.

Pei Lian stared at the Beta before him, smelling the rich fragrance. That section of fair neck was very close to him, unreservedly displaying its softest and most sensitive place.

The degenerated gland was round and small, just like a little green leaf.

As long as he leaned in slightly, he could…

A trace of viscous and deep emotion flashed through Pei Lian’s clear eyes.

Tang Xingye took out alcohol and cotton swabs, held Pei Lian’s fingertips, and gently wiped the scalded red area.

The coolness brought by the evaporation of alcohol interlaced with the stinging pain. Pei Lian flinched subconsciously but had his wrist gripped tight by Tang Xingye.

“Don’t move.” Tang Xingye’s tone was cold, but the movements of his hands lightened. “Endure the pain.”

Pei Lian pursed his lips, not because of the pain, but because of the electric sensation generated by Tang Xingye’s fingertips pressing against his skin.

However, the soft, enveloping touch disappeared quickly. Pei Lian felt a flash of loss.

Tang Xingye stood up, patted Pei Lian’s shoulder, and before turning to leave the lab, dropped a final sentence: “Don’t make the same mistake next time.”

Lin Mo let out a cold snort of unclear meaning and continued debugging the instrument.

Pei Lian lowered his eyes and gave a muffled response, waiting until the footsteps faded away.

But if I don’t make mistakes, how would you comfort me?

He put the fingertip that had just been medicated into his mouth. The unique spicy taste of alcohol spread over the tip of his tongue, sliding down his throat to burn in his stomach.

But I will be obedient, Sister-in-law.

Lu Zhi sent too many fruits. After returning more than half, what remained was still too much for Tang Xingye to finish alone. Fruits had a short shelf life, and it wasn’t appropriate to sell them on second-hand platforms, so he had to find ways to distribute them to people around him.

He just didn’t expect Lin Mo to be there too; the guy was taking medicine again.

Although their relationship was cold, they sat in front and back rows after all. Tang Xingye couldn’t deliberately bypass him, so he passed a box of cherries over. “Here, take some.”

Lin Mo raised his eyes, looking at Tang Xingye, then at the plump, red cherries, but only said coldly, “You eat them.”

Doesn’t like them?

Tang Xingye raised an eyebrow, a trace of playfulness flashing in his eyes. His slender fingers picked up a cherry and offered it forward again. “Eat one.”

Lin Mo looked down at Tang Xingye’s hand.

Perhaps because he had just washed the cherries, the slender white fingers gleamed with wet water, and the joints were tinged with a faint pink.

Water droplets slid down the gaps between his fingers. The red mole on the inside of his knuckle seemed to have absorbed essence; at this moment, it was brighter red than the water-moistened cherry, like some kind of silent seduction.

—On purpose?

Lin Mo’s breathing stagnated slightly. He remained expressionless, but that sentence echoed in his mind.

This realization made his gland start to burn, as if countless tiny electric currents were darting through his blood vessels.

If he leaned down and bit that cherry right now, would Tang Xingye deliberately close his fingers, making his lips brush against those cool fingertips?

Cool, soft, carrying the cloying sweetness of cherry juice…

If he did that, he could almost imagine the bright smile that would float in Tang Xingye’s eyes, carrying a bit of nonchalant malice, as if saying: “So you can’t withstand teasing at all?”

Lin Mo’s Adam’s apple rolled silently. He should look away, should act as usual…

“He doesn’t love eating them, give them to me. I like them the most.”

An annoying voice pulled Lin Mo back to reality.

At this moment, Pei Lian poked his head out from the side, eyes curved in a smile.

Tang Xingye paused. Just as he was about to withdraw his hand, Lin Mo suddenly reached out and took it, saying expressionlessly, “Thank you.”

When taking the cherry, his little finger unconsciously brushed past Tang Xingye’s knuckle, like a snowflake falling and melting instantly. Electricity shot through his nerves. Lin Mo paused, then withdrew his hand as if nothing happened. He placed the cherry on a tissue at the corner of the table and didn’t eat it.

Tang Xingye was a bit surprised but didn’t ask much. He turned to look at Pei Lian. “You like them?”

Pei Lian nodded. “Very sweet.”

“You haven’t even eaten one, how do you know it’s sweet?” Tang Xingye stared at the untouched cherry in his hand, his gaze sweeping over the drawer as he suddenly remembered something.

He had been worried that this young master was used to eating expensive fruits and would look down on what he gave, only accepting out of politeness. Since Pei Lian liked them, he simply took out two more boxes from the drawer and handed them over. “Since you like them, take them all.”

Pei Lian accepted them with a smile. “Thank you.”

While the two were talking, Lin Mo’s gaze swept over them briefly and withdrew quickly. His face was gloomy, as if disgusted, and he quickly stood up and walked toward the restroom.

Tang Xingye was already used to this. Pei Lian looked at Lin Mo’s back thoughtfully, fingertips unconsciously rubbing the smooth skin of the cherry. This was already the third time. Every time Tang Xingye got close, Lin Mo would do this—as if loathing any touch, immediately going to wash his hands.

Pei Lian, however, inexplicably read a different meaning from it.

He quickly suppressed the guess in his heart, his eyes darkening. Lin Mo had better be a straight Alpha and not have any improper thoughts about Tang Xingye.

Lin Mo propped himself against the sink. The cold water washed over his fingers. His expression remained cold and severe, but large patches of sickly red appeared on his skin. He scrubbed his hands, wanting to wash away the pleasure that whipped his nerves.

However, as he rubbed, it gradually evolved into another kind of thirst.

When he returned, the lab was empty. Lin Mo looked at the cherry still lying quietly on the tissue, bright red like a drop of blood.

Clearly, I was first.

Tang Xingye took out his phone, took a picture of the remaining boxes of fruit, and sent it to Lu Zhi.

Candy Heart: [Gege, you bought so much fruit.]

L: [Didn’t know what you liked, so I bought a bit more.]

A bit more.

Thinking of the dozen boxes of fruit piled up like a small mountain, Tang Xingye: “…”

Truly too much money and nowhere to spend it. If he had agreed to let the other party send skirts last time, Lu Zhi probably would have sent the whole women’s clothing store over.

L: [Is the rest what you like?]

Candy Heart: [Like it especially.]

Candy Heart: [Gege, you’re too good to me, I don’t know what to say.]

L: [As long as you like it.]

Tang Xingye, feeling beholden because he ate the food, briefly felt a trace of guilt. But on second thought, for an Alpha like Lu Zhi who could casually send over a dozen boxes of fruit, this money was nothing to him.

He wanted to end this internet scam life quickly. He pondered how to give Lu Zhi some strong medicine to make him agree to send some indecent photos.

Does he really have to wear a skirt and take pictures for Lu Zhi?

Tang Xingye frowned, staring at his balance, weighing the pros and cons.

Shen Qing’s earnest instructions popped into his mind, and Tang Xingye bit his lip.

But taking a few photos is nothing, right? He’s a Beta, Lu Zhi is an Alpha who likes Omegas. Looking at legs, looking at waist—he’s not losing anything.

That damn straight Alpha Lu Zhi… if he knew the Omega he liked was actually a Beta, he’d probably be so grossed out he couldn’t eat.

L: [Eat proper meals. Don’t eat fruit as meals.]

Tang Xingye: ?

How did Lu Zhi know? For the past two days, when he was hungry, he just gnawed on a couple of fruits, too lazy to go to the cafeteria.

L: [No matter how busy schoolwork is, don’t forget.]

Tang Xingye froze. He had casually mentioned he was busy with a project; he didn’t expect Lu Zhi to actually remember.

He suddenly smiled, slowly typing out a line of words.

Candy Heart: [Sure, but in what capacity is Gege saying this?]

L: [Whatever capacity you want me to be, I am that capacity.]

Tang Xingye: …Playing Tai Chi, are we? (Being vague/evasive).

L: [Your appetite is too small. If you eat too little, you won’t grow tall easily.]

Won’t grow tall—what a vicious curse?!

This remark obviously stepped on Tang Xingye’s landmine. He was considered tall among Betas, but compared to the big and tall Alphas, he was always a head shorter.

In reality, for Alphas, a stature like Tang Xingye’s was just right. He looked like a beautiful doll, very obedient and good to hold.

Candy Heart: [Gege, thank you. But I am not small.]

Tang Xingye cursed Lu Zhi in a whisper: “Dog Alpha, being tall is so amazing, huh?”

On the other side of the screen, Lu Zhi’s thumb unconsciously rubbed across the screen, remembering the hem of the clothes being lifted a corner, revealing a small patch of snowy white waist and abdomen, so slender it could be easily hugged with one hand.

The waist was thin and narrow. If filled with a little something, the lower abdomen would bulge in a soft curve.

If he ate it in, the shape would definitely be visible.

Too thin, needs to be fattened up.

L: [Oh.]

An obviously disbelieving tone.

Tang Xingye was even angrier. Saying he’s small again—watch him gross Lu Zhi to death.

His finger hovered over the screen and paused. Since he was a Beta anyway, exposing it wouldn’t be a loss.

He simply swiped his fingertip, aimed directly at the mirror, and took a photo.

Candy Heart: [I’m not small!]

Candy Heart: [Photo.jpg]

The phone screen lit up. Lu Zhi clicked open the photo just sent—

The pajamas were pulled completely up to the chest.

The slender waist was completely exposed to the lens, the skin dazzlingly white. The two sides dipped inward, forming two tempting arcs. The lumbar dimples at the lower edge sunk slightly, like a silent invitation for a large palm to stroke over them, rubbing heavily until that patch of snow-white turned red.