The Coveted Gloomy Beta Roommate Chapter 36

Chapter 36: I Want to Drink Water Too: Wifey Touches Another Dog After Just Two Days Apart

Pei Lian had stayed up all night going through materials for two consecutive days. Tang Xingye couldn’t stand this extreme behavior and chased him back to rest.

When Tang Xingye was taking a nap, he groggily felt someone approaching. squinting his eyes open, he saw Shen Qing.

His momentary vigilance dropped, his voice sticky with sleep. “What’s wrong?”

Seeing Tang Xingye lying on the table like a long strip of cat, Shen Qing smiled and lowered her voice. “I saw your jacket fell and wanted to help you pick it up.” As she spoke, she reached out to tuck in his slipping sleeve.

Tang Xingye’s eyelids were fighting each other. He nodded like a chicken pecking at rice. He had been too sleepy and wanted to squint for a bit, but ended up falling asleep accidentally. “Is the cafeteria still open at this hour?”

Shen Qing: “There’s still food at this time. Shall we go? I happen to haven’t eaten yet.”

Tang Xingye naturally agreed. Before they even reached the cafeteria, they were stopped by someone.

“Shen Qing.”

They followed the voice and looked over. It was an Alpha with deep facial features and an extraordinary temperament, followed by a few people.

Gu Lao, the son of Zhou Yuan’s uncle. Although they had different surnames, they were genuine cousins. Though he looked down on Zhou Yuan, who was full of bad habits, they were family after all. He had to save some face for him in front of outsiders. Face couldn’t be lost; if a lesson needed to be taught, it should be done behind closed doors.

He heard that Zhou Yuan was almost seduced by this Beta during his susceptible period, but fortunately, he avoided causing a disaster by injuring himself. An Alpha’s nature during the susceptible period was to crave pheromone comfort and Omegas; being seduced by a Beta was truly rare.

Gu Lao observed this capable Beta, looking to see what exactly made him different.

Black hair and black eyes, skin so fair one could almost see the blood vessels. His brows and eyes were elegant and exquisite, with a small mole under the tail of his eye. His cold, intellectual temperament didn’t feel like a Beta, but more like an Alpha.

His gaze scanned Tang Xingye’s cuffs, which were washed slightly white, revealing beautiful, lonely wrist bones. However, his words were directed at Shen Qing. “Is this your new friend?”

Shen Qing’s family had business dealings with Gu Lao. Her family background was slightly inferior to Gu Lao’s, and in social situations, her family had instructed her to avoid conflict with him.

She didn’t like Gu Lao’s scrutinizing gaze. She blocked Tang Xingye slightly, her tone cold. “Yes, we are going to eat.”

“I’m very curious about your new friend. Won’t you introduce him? I specially prepared a gift for him.”

Gu Lao signaled with his eyes, and the lackey behind him immediately brought the item forward.

It was a pot of pinkish-white Lophophora fricii (Silver Crown Jade). The texture presented a fish-scale pattern, and the packaging was exquisite; it looked expensive.

It wasn’t strange to want to be friends with Tang Xingye. Having caught so many perverted stalkers in the Disciplinary Department, Shen Qing was well aware of the fact that Tang Xingye received fanatical pursuit at school. But the choice of friends was mutual, and Shen Qing couldn’t feel any goodwill released by Gu Lao. “We are very hungry. Let’s talk next time if there’s a chance.”

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She knew very well that Tang Xingye wasn’t a fragile little white flower who would be easily hurt, but she still didn’t hope for Tang Xingye to get into trouble.

“Your friend hasn’t accepted the gift yet.” Gu Lao looked at the Beta who hadn’t made a sound, waiting for his reaction.

However, the aloof Beta lowered his eyes, seeming to have no intention of accepting his gift.

Just as Gu Lao was preparing to have someone throw the flower away, the Beta raised his hand. Slender, scallion-white fingers took it, rubbed the petals, and nodded slightly. “Thank you, I like this expensive gift very much.”

Tang Xingye was already very accustomed to encountering idiots and perverts in life.

Responding to an idiot was a cruelty to oneself.

Having a friend present was a different matter. He could see Shen Qing’s apprehensive attitude toward this Alpha, and he didn’t want Shen Qing to feel any difficulty because of this.

Tang Xingye smelled a slightly familiar pheromone on this rich young master, but he couldn’t recall where he had smelled it for a moment. But the other party probably wanted to play some deliberate prank to see people struggle.

Actually, Tang Xingye could have just used pollen allergy as an excuse to brush it off, but he didn’t want this person to pester him again.

When Tang Xingye praised people, it might go against his heart, but when he cursed people, it was absolutely from true emotion—especially when encountering an idiot.

Idiot, giving useless things. Get lost.

The moment Tang Xingye said thank you, the friendliness on Gu Lao’s face completely disappeared, replaced by contempt in his eyes. “Heh.”

Just so-so. Just a social climber Beta; a Silver Crown Jade worth eighty thousand exposed his nature as a broke loser.

Regarding a future business partner, Gu Lao still had a bit of patience and kindly reminded, “Shen Qing, you should be picky when making friends. Don’t bring just anyone to your side.”

He glanced pointedly at the flower in Tang Xingye’s hand and sneered: “A Silver Crown Jade can make him change his face. Who knows what a poor ghost like this is after by approaching you?”

Shen Qing’s face turned cold: “Gu Lao.”

Tang Xingye smiled, his fingertips carelessly playing with the petals. “Can’t poor people like flowers?”

Gu Lao sneered, “Can you appreciate a Silver Crown Jade? Roadside wildflowers suit you better. Pity this bouquet of Silver Crown Jade is stained with a poor, sour smell that won’t wash off for a lifetime.”

Shen Qing frowned. Tang Xingye nudged her gently, signaling that she didn’t need to get angry.

“No matter how much a poor person can’t appreciate it, they don’t have as many scheming thoughts about weighing value as rich people. Liking is liking.” He looked up at Gu Lao, his eyes holding no embarrassment from being humiliated. “A wildflower won’t forget it grew in the mud just because someone picked it to show off.”

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Tang Xingye stuffed the Silver Crown Jade back into the hands of Gu Lao’s lackey. “Since it’s an expensive flower, better leave it to someone who appreciates the price.”

Tang Xingye turned to smile at Shen Qing. “I remembered the mentor is looking for me for something. You go to the cafeteria first.”

Shen Qing was slightly stunned. Tang Xingye then looked at Gu Lao. “By the way, say hello to the patient for me. After all, he brought it on himself.”

A look of strangeness appeared on Gu Lao’s face, but he watched Tang Xingye leave.

Ji Chen, with a lollipop in his mouth, leaned against the railing and witnessed all of this.

He was on the phone with Lin Mo. Suddenly he let out a long “Ah” and uttered an inexplicable sigh. Lin Mo asked what happened. Ji Chen shook his head and said, “Nothing, saw a very ugly flower.”

Due to business dealings, Shen Qing couldn’t make a scene outside. She suppressed her anger and followed Gu Lao into the lounge, saying unhappily, “Why did you take your anger out on Tang Xingye?”

Gu Lao looked contemptuous. “Did he put a hex on you? Is he worth defending like this? He’s after your money; can’t you see that?”

“If you had investigated and knew which dorm he lives in, you wouldn’t say such stupid things.”

“Yo, so lively?” A lazy voice rang out.

Ji Chen crawled out of the sofa. He had been lying down, and the two hadn’t seen him in their blind spot.

Shen Qing secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Ji Chen’s appearance made the scene subtle. He was both an object Gu Lao needed to maintain superficial civility with and Tang Xingye’s roommate. But she wasn’t sure how their relationship was.

Ji Chen asked, “You just mentioned Tang Xingye. What did you say about him?”

Gu Lao sneered, “Nothing. Just a Beta with decent looks. Don’t know why he attracts a group of Alphas circling him.”

The air stagnated. No one picked up the conversation.

Gu Lao frowned, feeling the scrutinizing gazes of the two. “What do you mean?”

Ji Chen slowly crunched the candy in his mouth, stood up, and glanced at Gu Lao. “He is my roommate.”

He pushed the door open and left without looking back.

Gu Lao’s expression changed instantly.

Tang Xingye remembered that pheromone and roughly knew why Gu Lao targeted him like this. His existence reminded Gu Lao—Alpha is inferior to Beta.

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After that, he often encountered this person. The other party always said some sarcastic words, mostly about how noble rich people were and how a poor ghost like him shouldn’t think of climbing the social ladder.

Tang Xingye really couldn’t be bothered to deal with this kind of person. He was too busy—busy with his own affairs, classes, part-time jobs, and preparing for the competition.

Otherwise, he would stop to appreciate the rich person’s way of cursing—refined, using non-dirty words, neither repetitive nor monotonous.

Busy as he was, the dog had to be fed. Even if that ungrateful little Shiba Inu forgot its roots and went to rub against Lin Mo’s trouser legs, Tang Xingye squatted down, broke a ham sausage, and put it on the ground.

“If you’re going to pretend to be kind, at least act like it. Throwing it on the ground for it to eat like that—so dirty.” Gu Lao stood behind him at some point.

Seeing Tang Xingye ignore him, he added, “Feeding it such junk food; why don’t you buy steak?”

Idiot.

Tang Xingye cursed inwardly. He patted the Shiba Inu’s head. Seeing the person chattering endlessly, he didn’t bother to look at him and dropped a sentence: “If you can’t stand it, you buy it.”

Returning to the lounge, Pei Lian returned the notebook to him. “I finished reading it.”

“I came over today and heard about Gu Lao. Why aren’t you angry at all?”

Tang Xingye put it away and smiled. “He can’t stand me; I can’t exactly go beat him up, can I?”

There were plenty of people who couldn’t stand Tang Xingye. Tang Xingye was currently focused on the competition and didn’t want to waste mental energy holding grudges for the time being.

He smelled a wisp of elegant, faint fragrance. “What’s that smell? It smells so good.”

Pei Lian pointed to the orchid on the windowsill. “Pretty, right?”

Tang Xingye looked at the white jade petals haloed with light patterns and nodded slightly.

Pei Lian blinked proudly: “I stole this flower.”

Tang Xingye: ?

Pei Lian said carelessly: “It’s quite expensive, probably seven figures. This flower is very delicate; its roots are exposed, it dies if it leaves the pot, and the stems break particularly easily.”

Tang Xingye: ?????

“That old fogey has plenty of good stuff.” Seeing Tang Xingye looking blank, Pei Lian added, “It’s Gu Lao. This pot is his greatest treasure; he practically carries it with him, looking at it three times a day. I guess he’s going to have insomnia tonight.”

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Only then did Tang Xingye realize this was venting anger for him. He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Thank you. Send it back tomorrow.”

He wasn’t worried about anything else, but a young master like Pei Lian probably stole things when no one was around, and his hands and feet might not be clean. If he really wanted to disgust Gu Lao, there were plenty of smarter ways.

“Not everyone is as kind as you. With your concessions, he will only push his luck.”

“I know what you’re worried about. I did it very cleanly; the surveillance is broken, no one saw it,” Pei Lian mistook his worry and explained hurriedly:

“You were still in the lab at that time; no one will suspect you did it.”

Tang Xingye was just about to say something when he saw Pei Lian suddenly stand up—

Crash!

The exquisite flower pot shattered into pieces on the ground. Pei Lian dusted off non-existent dirt from his hands and said indifferently: “Alright, it’s gone. I think he’ll probably have insomnia for a while and won’t come to bother you again.”

Tang Xingye’s gaze moved from the fragments on the floor to Pei Lian’s face. Silence spread between the two for a few seconds.

Pei Lian grabbed his cuff, his tone carrying an imperceptible panic. “Why aren’t you talking? Did my unauthorized action make you unhappy? If you mind, I’ll go buy an identical flower—”

Tang Xingye didn’t speak. He held back the other’s wrist. The warm, soft touch made Pei Lian’s voice pause.

Tang Xingye pulled him to a chair and pressed him down to sit.

Pei Lian stared blankly. Tang Xingye took out an ointment from his pocket. His pale pink fingertips were stained with ointment. The moment they touched the palm, Pei Lian’s fingers curled up abruptly. That touch was too cool, yet too hot.

He looked up. The warm yellow light was like melting honey flowing on Tang Xingye’s downcast eyelashes, blurring his usually cold contours into something gentle.

“The flower pot was heavy, right?” Tang Xingye said.

Pei Lian’s Adam’s apple moved slightly, and he gave a dry hum.

Tang Xingye suddenly smiled, a very faint smile. “Your hands have red marks. It was hard on you running from the south side to the north side.”

Outside the window, a gaze took this scene into their eyes. Lu Zhi lay on the windowsill, gripping the edge tightly.

He had been temporarily called home by his father to deal with family matters for two days, and Tang Xingye went to play with another dog again. Watching Tang Xingye’s fingertips play with Pei Lian’s hand, his chest throbbed with pain.

“The water dispenser is empty. Do you have water in your bottle? Pour me a little.”

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Pei Lian’s voice was very soft, carrying a hint of matter-of-fact intimacy, as if such a request couldn’t be more normal.

His gaze was nailed to the water bottle in Tang Xingye’s hand, watching the transparent stream pour into Pei Lian’s cup, his throat tightening unconsciously.

Thinking it through intellectually didn’t stop Lu Zhi from dying of jealousy right now.

He hadn’t even drunk Tang Xingye’s water, yet Pei Lian could drink it.

He wanted to drink it too!

Lu Zhi thought Tang Xingye just treated Pei Lian as a younger brother to indulge and take care of. Now pouring water, applying medicine, whispering, and even… smiling?

—What kind of younger brother is this? This is a fucking lover-boy younger brother!

Pei Lian, this damn green tea.

The more Lu Zhi looked at Pei Lian’s face, the more of an eyesore it became. Pretending to be obedient and pitiful from the start to win Tang Xingye’s sympathy.

Lu Zhi couldn’t help comparing Tang Xingye’s initial attitude toward him: indifference, resistance, and physical violence. Tang Xingye had hit him, slapped him.

—Has Pei Lian been beaten? Has he been slapped?

—Does he know how awesome Tang Xingye’s slap feels?

Lu Zhi suddenly let out a low laugh, the tip of his tongue pressing against his canine teeth, a flash of obsessive satisfaction passing through his eyes.

—Don’t think too much. I like cocoa-scented pheromones.

Tang Xingye had said he liked his pheromones, so Tang Xingye liked him.

Thinking of this, Lu Zhi felt much better, even breeding a twisted sense of triumph.

Pei Lian was nothing.

Author’s note: Can’t finish writing; it was supposed to be Lu Zhi’s turn to eat. Paraphrasing “For ugly people, a closer look is a cruelty.” — Qian Zhongshu, “Fortress Besieged”