GBROTAH CH36

Inside the KTV, the tall, well-built man waved to the approaching figure. “You’re here, sit down.”

Zhou Chao, uninterested, plopped down in a seat. “Three grown men, all Alphas, just purely singing? What kind of crappy place is this?”

Shen Bianye appeared from somewhere, casually settling down. “Didn’t plan on inviting you.”

Lu Qiang: “Heard you wanted in? Giving you a chance to participate.”

Zhou Chao lit a cigarette, leaned back with a frown. “Participate? In what?”

Shen Bianye gave Lu Qiang a cold stare, who immediately fell silent, then completely crumbled, burying his head and stifling a laugh.

Zhou Chao, puzzled: “What’s going on?”

“What have you two been up to without me?”

Lu Qiang: “Lord Shen is getting revenge for a Beta. Wanna hear about it?”

“Beg me and I’ll tell you.”

Zhou Chao: “This is my place. Get too cocky and I’ll kick you out.”

“What Beta? Xie Yuanxing, right?”

Lu Qiang was surprised: “Oh, you know already?”

Zhou Chao: “Know a lot earlier than you. Why are you showing off?”

Lu Qiang: “I’ve been running errands for him lately. You might not know earlier than me.”

Zhou Chao took a drag from his cigarette, a grin spreading across his face. “Coincidentally, I’ve also been running errands for him recently.”

Lu Qiang: “I had people stationed at the gate of A University’s School of Engineering to prevent Xie Yuanxing’s aunt and uncle from causing trouble.”

Zhou Chao: “I found a designer to design a gown for Xie Yuanxing.”

The two spoke one after another, then simultaneously turned to look at Shen Bianye.

Shen Bianye pointed at Lu Qiang: “You have a lot of subordinates.”

Then at Zhou Chao: “You have many lovers and buy many gifts, so you know which designer is good.”

Finally, he clapped his hands together. “Is there a problem?”

Shen Bianye picked up the wine glass on the table, brought it to his lips, took a sip, and said nonchalantly, “Don’t act like you put in so much effort. It was just a phone call.”

His tone teasing: “If you two don’t want to do it, there are plenty of people who would.”

Zhou Chao: “Go away, alright? You’re acting all high and mighty here.”

Lu Qiang also laughed and cursed in agreement, then wondered, “No, we’re both running errands for Xie Yuanxing here. What’s he busy with himself?”

Shen Bianye glanced at him: “What else can a student be busy with besides studying?”

Lu Qiang: “Aren’t you two at the same school? Is he that busy?”

Shen Bianye chuckled, sounding somewhat intimate, “It’s different. He’s a good student.”

“We’ve helped so much,” Lu Qiang said, “Why don’t you call him out so I can meet him? I haven’t even seen what he looks like in person.”

“What kind of celestial being is he, that he needs the three of us to serve him?”

Zhou Chao: “The person, well, they’re alright. Mainly, thin legs, and a pretty waist and hips. Hiss, damn, why’d you hit me?”

Shen Bianye said blandly, “My hand slipped.”

A black line appeared on Zhou Chao’s forehead. He picked up the microphone that had “slipped” and hit him. Having been struck, he wanted to get his own back with his words, so he deliberately said:

“Jealous?”

Shen Bianye scoffed, a cold laugh. “Heh, I said my hand slipped. Do you think I’d be jealous of Xie Yuanxing?”

“Even if he has nothing to do with me, if I ever get a partner, I’m a very magnanimous person.”

Lu Qiang, unaware of the situation, was thoroughly confused. Zhou Chao hooked his arm around Lu Qiang’s neck and began to explain the series of events caused by the pheromone disorder.

The screen in the KTV room automatically played an old, outdated song. Shen Bianye, standing nearby, scoffed, interrupting them. “Alright, what’s with all the talk?”

“Once the pheromone disorder is gone, none of us will have anything to do with Xie Yuanxing.”

“Time to pick a song,” he said indifferently.

Lu Qiang couldn’t sing, Shen Bianye wasn’t interested, and Zhou Chao sang two songs before he couldn’t stand it anymore. He stood in the middle of the private room, holding the microphone and looking at them:

“Can we call some people in to keep us company?”

“You two just sit there like grandpas, watching me sing. Am I your male model performing for you two?”

Lu Qiang was amused, seriously appraising him and asking him how much he charged per night.

Just as he was speaking, a song finished on the screen and switched to the next.

A low, gentle voice filled the KTV room. Lu Qiang and Zhou Chao simultaneously turned to look at Shen Bianye, who was holding the microphone.

Lu Qiang: “Damn, I’ve known you for so long, and this is the first time I’ve found out Lord Shen sings so well.”

Zhou Chao: “Isn’t that the song I picked? But don’t say it, you really do have something.”

Shen Bianye seemed to smile. His magnetic, husky voice sang the climax of the story: “…I’m ready, three two one, I’m always online.”

….

“…and with you one two one, love begins to spread…”

Xie Yuanxing lowered his gaze and played the piano. Beside him, a sweet-looking Omega sang in sync with him, her voice sweet and cheerful.

After a song, her best friend, who had been listening, got up and clapped her hands. “That was great!”

Her best friend said, “But isn’t the original version of this song a bit sad?”

“Isn’t it a bit off to sing it so cheerfully?”

Shi Tingting smiled and explained, “It’s for a stage performance, so a lighter and livelier atmosphere is just right.”

She turned to Xie Yuanxing, her voice full of praise. “You play the piano so well.”

“Are you interested in joining our music club?”

Xie Yuanxing: “Music club?”

He paused, then asked casually, “Are there any freshmen in it?”

Shi Tingting nodded, “Yes, and there are piano players too. I originally wanted to find someone directly from the music club.”

“The music teacher told me someone had already been chosen. At first, I was a little worried,” she winked playfully. “But now I’m not worried at all!”

“We’re about to perform on stage. Just don’t be nervous and perform steadily.”

She extended her hand to Xie Yuanxing: “A pre-congratulations for a perfect performance?”

Xie Yuanxing hummed and extended his hand to Shi Tingting.

When their hands met, Shi Tingting’s eyes showed some surprise.

How could someone who looked so thin and delicate have so many calluses on their hands, like they were used to hard work?

But looking at Xie Yuanxing’s attire, he didn’t seem like someone who would worry about making a living.

Noticing the other person’s surprise, after Shi Tingting and her friend left, Xie Yuanxing extended his hand and lowered his gaze to his palm.

These no longer looked like hands that played the piano. The back of his hands still looked slender and well-proportioned, but his palms were covered in calluses, rough to the touch.

They were hands that worked to survive.

But now, someone wanted these hands to become hands that played the piano again.

Xie Yuanxing was very smart. From the beginning, he subtly felt it was strange that this matter fell to him. Upon hearing that there were many piano players in the music club, he almost instantly understood who was behind this.

Actually, there was no need to painstakingly conceal it. Xie Yuanxing was very discerning; he knew he and Lord Shen belonged to two different worlds and wouldn’t consider himself special or eagerly cling to him.

He could understand what Shen Bianye was thinking.

He looked down on him, but because of his illness, he couldn’t let go.

The young master couldn’t lose face, so there was X, another person influenced by pheromones, his temporary boyfriend.

When Shen Bianye’s illness was cured, this somewhat ridiculous online relationship would end.

His phone buzzed twice. X was asking if his rehearsal was over.

X: “Baby, is rehearsal over? Was it smooth?”

X: “Are you tired? Shall I order you a cup of milk tea?”

Xie Yuanxing’s eyes curved, and he smiled faintly.

No, he shouldn’t think that way.

X and Shen Bianye had no relation whatsoever; they were two separate individuals.

He received emotional comfort from X, and when X disappeared, Xie Yuanxing’s lips curled slightly. He would just consider X dead then.

In Xie Yuanxing’s world, emotional logic was the simplest.

Whoever chose him, he chose; whoever abandoned him, he abandoned.

His black hair was soft, his small face was fair and bright, his dark, round eyes were slightly hidden behind his black bangs, and the gentle curl of his lips made him look like a melancholic mushroom secretly sprinkling poisonous spores.

Xie Yuanxing lowered his gaze and obediently typed a reply: “It’s over. Not very tired.”

“No milk tea, I’m about to eat soon.”

X: “Baby, go pick up the express delivery first. The gown I bought for baby has arrived. Time is a bit tight, no time for custom-made, so I bought ready-made ones. Baby, please don’t dislike them.”

In reality, the gown had been in the making since the day Xie Yuanxing was recommended to the teacher.

They rushed to finish it, finally completing it just before Xie Yuanxing was to go on stage.

He only said he bought ready-made ones because he was afraid Xie Yuanxing would think it was too expensive and refuse to accept it.

Xie Yuanxing had expected to pick up the package by giving a number at the express station, but to his surprise, a person specializing in delivering clothes was waiting there, holding an exquisite large box, and personally handed it to him before leaving.

Influenced by the person’s serious demeanor, Xie Yuanxing felt a sense of carefulness as he carried the box back to his dorm.

He opened the box to reveal a black tailcoat, adorned with a jeweled brooch on the chest and a pair of diamond cufflinks on the sleeves.

Xie Yuanxing pursed his lips, his expression tense. Following the person’s instructions, he carefully hung the clothes in the wardrobe. After closing the wardrobe, he stared at the wooden cabinet for a moment, thinking about something for the first time.

Perhaps, he should get a lock for his cabinet.

His gaze shifted to the books on the desk, then paused. Or, hollow out a book and put the watch, the jeweled brooch, and the diamond cufflinks inside?

His phone vibrated. X asked, “Baby, did you get the clothes?”

X: “Put them on and let your boyfriend see.”

Xie Yuanxing sent a photo of the clothes in the wardrobe, honestly saying, “I don’t dare to wear them.”

X: “?”

X: “What’s wrong?”

Xie Yuanxing sent a sticker, “Cat distressed.jpg”

“The person who delivered the clothes said this outfit can’t have a single wrinkle, can’t be snagged, can’t be folded, can’t be washed, and can’t be ironed.”

“I’m afraid if I wear it now, I won’t be able to wear it on the day of the performance.”

“I secretly touched it, confirmed it’s made of fabric, not paper, but I still don’t dare to wear it.”

X chuckled softly: “Baby, what do you mean ‘secretly touched it’?”

“These are baby’s clothes, touch them however you want.”

“Where did baby get that sticker? So cute.”

Xie Yuanxing: “The student who rehearsed with me sent it while we were chatting. I saved it.”

X tutted: “Baby, how can you steal other people’s stickers?”

Xie (never surfs the internet) Yuan (lacking internet knowledge) Xing: “Cat terrified.jpg”

“Is this called stealing?”

He had seen others send such cute pictures in the class group before, but at that time, Xie Yuanxing wasn’t in the mood to save them, nor to send them to others himself.

For a moment, he genuinely felt suspicious.

But this, wouldn’t it be a bit too exaggerated?

Xie Yuanxing was somewhere between believing and not believing, but the disbelief weighed more heavily.

X bluffed him, “It’s wrong to use other people’s stickers without their permission.”

It wasn’t entirely a lie.

Some people really would be upset by such a thing, but they were definitely a minority, not as serious as X made it sound.

X: “Give me a minute, baby.”

Xie Yuanxing: “Mhm, mhm.”

As he spoke, he recalled those two cat-head stickers.

And hesitated, wondering if he should apologize to Shi Tingting.

If X was lying to him, wouldn’t that make him look like a fool?

He said one minute, but Xie Yuanxing actually waited five minutes. Then, the other side suddenly sent a large number of cat stickers.

And then, a message from X: “Use mine, baby, use the ones your boyfriend found.”

“Don’t use other people’s.”

Confirmed.

X was lying to him.

Just how petty was this person?

Xie Yuanxing thought this, yet he truly saved all those stickers one by one and deleted the two cat-head stickers he got from Shi Tingting.

He stared at his newly acquired pile of cute cats, scrolled up through the chat history, found it had drifted a bit far, and began to diligently pull it back.

Xie Yuanxing: “Cat tilting head.jpg”

“Are the brooch and cufflinks that came with the clothes real jewels?”

X: “They’re not worth much, baby.”

Xie Yuanxing had already decided to return these watches and jewels later, so he wasn’t concerned about their value. Instead, he said, “You think, if I hollow out a book and put the things inside, they won’t be stolen, right?”

“Or hide them under the bed board?”

“Or in the pillow.”

X: “Baby, if you put them in the pillow, won’t it be uncomfortable?”

X: “Buy a lock and lock it up, baby.”

X: “It’s a bit unsafe if you don’t lock it.”

In universities, theft did happen occasionally. Although the overall quality of university students was generally high, there were always one or two bad apples.

Perhaps he could move out with Xie Yuanxing?

Shen Bianye’s rationality kicked in, and he abruptly shook his head. This would be almost like living together.

Absolutely not.

But on the day Xie Yuanxing performed, he could go and see Xie Yuanxing on stage.

Compared to living together, this seemed like a minor thing.

Besides, he bought the clothes, he had to see Xie Yuanxing wearing them.

Beautiful, sparkling.

Rationality offline.

Xie Yuanxing’s resistance to performing in front of an audience gradually weakened as the day approached. Every time he practiced piano, X would praise him, and after rehearsals, Shi Tingting was also generous with compliments.

But on the day of the actual performance, he inevitably became nervous.

The black tailcoat was tailored to cinch the waist, outlining his figure. The dress pants hugged his slender, well-proportioned legs. A small black bow tie adorned his collar, making him look like a beautiful little peacock.

The jeweled brooch on his chest was removed by Xie Yuanxing. The diamond cufflinks on his wrists shimmered faintly, making him a more refined little peacock.

He was a little nervous, repeatedly checking himself in the mirror.

His partner walked over, her eyes full of admiration. “Xingxing, you look so pretty in that!”

Facing Xie Yuanxing’s surprised gaze, Shi Tingting stuck out her tongue. “Male Betas should be complimented for being handsome, right? But you really are beautiful, oh.”

“You chose the gown so well.”

This outfit enhanced Xie Yuanxing’s physical advantages and made him appear noble and beautiful.

Xie Yuanxing couldn’t bring himself to coldly tell a cute girl not to call him Xingxing. He had learned from his mother to respect women and Omegas.

“Xingxing” was a name reserved for very close people. In the past, he would have lowered his head and walked away.

But now, he seemed to have unknowingly become much softer from being coaxed. He smiled faintly and said earnestly, “You are the pretty one today.”

“Like a princess spinning on a music box.”

Shi Tingting was amused by his peculiar analogy and said, “Good luck later.”

She extended her hand, and from a slight distance, gently hugged Xie Yuanxing. “Don’t be nervous, Xingxing. If you really make a mistake, just buy me a milk tea.”

“If I make a mistake, I’ll buy you one too.”

Xie Yuanxing was startled, realizing that Shi Tingting had noticed his nervousness and specifically came to comfort him. A warmth flowed from his heart, and he gently nodded and hummed in response.

Today’s performance was mainly set up by the school to welcome some foreign guests. It was small-scale. Although the students preparing backstage were more or less nervous, the overall atmosphere was still very relaxed.

They waited backstage, while the etiquette team waited at the school gate with the teachers.

At the gate of A University’s School of Engineering.

When the business SUV pulled up to the gate, the dean of students smiled and stepped forward to open the door.

A donation from a small to medium-sized entrepreneur was not enough for the president of a top national university to personally come and welcome.

A middle-aged man stepped out of the car, his face also beaming as he shook hands with the dean. Standing beside him were teachers from the admissions office and other accompanying faculty.

Shen Bianye stood in uniform at the school entrance, with the etiquette team lined up neatly behind him. All of them were good-looking, both male and female, attractive and well-proportioned.

Shen Bianye, standing at the front, was even more striking with his broad shoulders and long legs. The uniform looked sharp on him. He stood straight, but his mind idly drifted to what Xie Yuanxing might be doing now.

Was he getting ready? Was he wearing the clothes he sent?

The group welcoming the car walked over in a grand procession. The middle-aged man at the forefront was about to compliment A University’s etiquette team out of courtesy when his gaze landed on Shen Bianye.

The shock he felt was immense. Ignoring everything else, he walked up to Shen Bianye and said, “Are you the son of the chairman of Tianyun Group?”

“I’m in emerging software. I had the honor of meeting you at your company’s gathering last time.”

Suddenly, everyone’s attention focused on Shen Bianye.

A flicker of impatience crossed Shen Bianye’s mind, but he said indifferently, “So it’s Director Chen. Long time no see.”

He actually didn’t remember this person at all. He had heard about him from the teachers when he joined the etiquette team.

Regardless of this Director Chen’s motive for flattering him, Shen Bianye had already labeled him an idiot in his mind.

He couldn’t distinguish between home and away. Shen Bianye appeared here only as a student. For him, a key guest, to excessively flatter and defer to a student was too humble a posture and made him look down upon.

The middle-aged man’s surprise, however, intensified, even becoming somewhat flattered: “I didn’t expect you to remember me.”

Just as he was about to say something more, Shen Bianye interrupted, “Let’s go inside first.”

The dean next to him quickly responded, “Yes, yes, let’s go inside.”

Director Chen said, “I didn’t expect the son of Chairman Shen to be studying here. A University of Science and Technology is one of the top universities. Young Master Shen is truly outstanding.”

“How is your uncle doing lately? The future of A City completely depends on him. I wonder if I could visit him another day?”

Shen Bianye said blandly, “My uncle is only thirty-five this year, merely a secretary. He can’t shoulder the future of A City.”

Director Chen wiped his sweat, looking chagrined. “Where are you saying that, where are you saying that?”

According to the process, they had to tour the school first, then watch the students’ performance. The etiquette team was originally supposed to be dismissed halfway, but Shen Bianye actually stayed from being a doorman to a tour guide.

To recommend one Xie Yuanxing to perform, he sacrificed too much, too much.

This matter absolutely couldn’t be let known to Xie Yuanxing, or else he’d lose both face and pride.

The atmosphere at A University of Science and Technology was excellent. Only a very small number of teachers knew about Shen Bianye’s background, but since Shen Bianye was studying there, and had genuinely tested in, the few who knew treated him like any other student.

Most students only knew Shen Bianye was rich but didn’t know what his family specifically did.

When the students guarding the auditorium saw Shen Bianye enter, surrounded by a group of middle-aged men in suits, a small uproar rippled through the auditorium.

Xie Yuanxing sat on the side of the backstage, watching Shen Bianye, who was like the moon surrounded by stars, and chuckled softly.

The gap between people was just this vast. Born into predetermined roles by fate, they were forced to accept these insurmountable divides.

Shi Tingting, beside him, tugged at Xie Yuanxing’s clothes and whispered, “My goodness, he’s too handsome!”

“Shen Bianye is already handsome, but with an entrance like that, don’t you feel like he’s out of our league?”

Xie Yuanxing objectively commented, “He is indeed quite handsome.”

Shi Tingting: “I heard you share a dorm with Shen Bianye, right?”

“Is he really aloof? Everyone says he’s hard to approach. Is it true?”

Xie Yuanxing said faintly, “I don’t talk to him much, so I guess so.”

In front of the red curtain, the host announced the program names one by one. Backstage, Xie Yuanxing and Shi Tingting counted the programs, waiting for their turn.

Shen Bianye, sitting in the front row, looked down at the program list on the table. He suddenly stood up, saying he had something to attend to and would be excused for a moment. He navigated through the crowd and went outside the auditorium.

The auditorium had a two-story design. The second floor was smaller and semi-circular. To reach the second floor, one had to enter from the outside staircase.

Not many students were called for this small performance event, and the entire second floor was empty.

Yet Shen Bianye sat in the last row of the second floor, half-hidden in the shadows, quietly waiting.

As one performance ended, amidst the clear announcement from the host, the red curtain slowly parted. Xie Yuanxing, dressed in a tailcoat, appeared on stage, seated at the piano.

The black tailcoat perfectly accentuated his figure. The diamond cufflinks shimmered subtly on his wrists. He sat there quietly, his profile facing the audience. Under the lights, his face was porcelain white and beautiful, and his hands on the black and white piano keys were long and fair.

Like a porcelain doll, and also like a beautiful peacock.

Shen Bianye resisted, but still picked up his phone and opened the camera.

He figured it was for Xie Yuanxing, and he’d send it to him after the performance.

After the song ended, Xie Yuanxing stood up, a faint smile on his lips, his eyes dark and bright. He bowed slightly in thanks.

The stage spotlights shone brightly, and the applause from the audience was long and continuous.

Shen Bianye had to admit that at this moment, Xie Yuanxing was indeed very captivating.

Very beautiful.

It wasn’t a judgment influenced by pheromones, but a genuine feeling from the bottom of his heart that Xie Yuanxing was beautiful.