The Beta from the Countryside (03)

The living room fell silent for a moment.

Seeing Gu Xu standing there without a word, Gu Ling asked again, "What's wrong?"

"...Nothing." Gu Xu's tone was as usual. "I don't know either. It didn't say."

As soon as he finished speaking, Gu Ling's phone rang. A few seconds later, he turned off the screen and picked up the documents he had just put down. "I have a meeting in Yuecheng at eight tomorrow morning."

Yuecheng was a five-hour drive from here. In other words, he wasn't taking part in this engagement agreement.

Gu Xu thought his earlier idea had been a little absurd. He knew his eldest brother: a complete workaholic with no intention of getting married, much less entering a marriage between families.

"Okay, I'll tell Mom and Dad."

His tone had grown cheerful without his noticing.

In the middle of the night, the butler, who slept on the first floor, was awakened by the noise. He fell into thought as he looked at the Gu family's third young master, who was holding a basketball and apologizing to him.

Why is he in such a good mood?

Xue Ci woke early the next morning. Since he was going to meet the Gu elders, he found an outfit in his schoolbag that didn't look quite so old and put it on. Then he went downstairs and waited quietly.

Less than ten minutes later, Gu Cheng and Hu Shenglan arrived at the villa.

Both were extremely well-mannered and unassuming. They spoke to Xue Ci as warmly as they would to a younger member of their own family.

Xue Ci took out the engagement agreement and laid it on the coffee table in front of them.

The two confirmed that it was a handwritten letter from the old master.

It was the last letter the old master had sent, which was rather sad to think about.

When the Gu family's old master was young, he had a good friend named Song Shixu. They had been roommates in university and held each other in high regard. After graduation, Song Shixu joined a large company and devoted himself to it for decades, only to be made a scapegoat at a critical moment. Thoroughly disillusioned, he returned to his hometown and spent his days in a daze.

The Gu family's old master was overseas at the time. When he learned what had happened to his friend, he wrote to encourage him. Song Shixu regained his confidence as a result, and the two became confidants.

Later, Song Shixu mentioned the village tradition of arranging engagements for children in a letter. He had only been joking, but to his surprise, his friend's next letter included an engagement agreement.

It said their grandsons should be engaged.

It even bore his personal seal.

But Song Shixu never managed to send his reply. He died in an accident on the rainy night he went to post it.

Hu Shenglan hadn't expected to see the letter in her lifetime. She was overcome with emotion for a moment, then asked Xue Ci, "Are there any other letters?"

Xue Ci shook his head. "After Grandpa died, we moved several times. My uncle and aunt gave me this letter. I haven't seen any others."

"You moved several times? No wonder we couldn't find you all these years." The old master's greatest wish before his death had been for them to give his old friend's family plenty of help, and they had done their best. But so much time had passed that another family was living at the address in the letter, and they couldn't find any way to contact the Song family. Hu Shenglan had blamed herself for it for some time.

Sensing how she felt, Xue Ci comforted her. "I can go back and look. There might be other letters at home."

Hu Shenglan rubbed Xue Ci's head. His hair was soft and felt wonderful, completely unlike that of her Alpha sons.

She recalled what Xue Ci had just said. "Do you live with your uncle and aunt?"

"Mm, I've lived with them since I was very little." Xue Ci obediently let her stroke his head, hoping it would improve his chances of staying here.

Gu Xu, sitting on the sofa opposite them, watched the heartwarming scene.

What's going on?

Why does Mom look like she's already treating him as her daughter-in-law?

"It wasn't easy for you to get here. Don't go back just yet."

Hu Shenglan didn't want Xue Ci to go back.

What good intentions could relatives who let such a young child travel alone from the countryside to Fog City to find someone possibly have? They probably just wanted to get rid of a burden. Maybe if Xue Ci went back now, he wouldn't even be able to find them.

Such a pretty, sweet child, and they only gave him such old clothes to wear and left him so thin?

If they won't take good care of him, the Gu family will.

Out of the two youngsters' earshot, Hu Shenglan discussed the matter with Gu Cheng. Xue Ci was only eighteen, the same age as Gu Xu, and it was too early to talk about an engagement. Besides, people were free to choose whom they dated and married, and they wouldn't force anyone. But he was the grandson of the old master's old friend, and they hadn't been able to find Xue Ci all these years. They could let him stay with the Gu family and make good on the earlier promise.

Once they had settled the matter, Hu Shenglan returned from the balcony, only to see her son glancing at Xue Ci.

What's this?

Without betraying her thoughts, she sat back down beside Xue Ci and said deliberately, "I just discussed it with your uncle. We aren't people who go back on our word."

"But these days, people are free to choose whom they marry-"

Are they going to turn me down?

Thinking that he would have to pretend to be pitiful and insist on staying with the Gu family in a moment, Xue Ci nervously clenched the sofa fabric beside him.

The sofa was upholstered in a slightly coarse cotton-linen fabric, and the Beta's slender, pale fingers were soon rubbed red.

"Our family has three Alphas. I wonder which one you'd like to choose."

What...

Xue Ci froze.

From the beginning, 11 had only told him to pursue the protagonist. He hadn't expected the Gu family to have two other Alphas.

The background information hadn't mentioned them either.

Watching the boy's ears gradually turn pink and seeing him so flustered he didn't know where to look, Hu Shenglan nearly melted from how adorable he was and began to see the fun in raising a child.

The Alphas she had given birth to were stiff and no fun. When she teased them as children, they would only look at her as if she were an idiot, especially the one sitting opposite her.

None of them were as sweet and soft as Xue Ci, who blushed at the slightest teasing.

[The Gu family's other Alphas aren't part of the protagonist group, and you won't have much interaction with them, Host. You can just choose Gu Xu.]

After receiving the prompt, Xue Ci looked at Gu Xu.

Gu Xu, whose gaze was still fixed on Xue Ci's pink knuckles, felt his scalp tingle under that glance.

Why is he looking at me... Does he want to choose me?

"That's right, you haven't met my other two sons yet, have you? Apart from Gu Xu. They're both fairly good-looking." Hu Shenglan took out her phone and was about to show Xue Ci photos of the other two when Gu Xu interrupted her-

"Mom, what do you think this is, choosing consorts for a harem?" The Alpha's voice was gruff. Then he glanced at Xue Ci. "He's so young and shy around strangers. Forget about this engagement."

Gu Xu was strongly opposed to arranged marriages, but Hu Shenglan heard something else in his words.

"He's so young"-he wasn't a match for her eldest son.

"Shy around strangers"-he didn't know her second son.

Who else could he choose? You might as well give him your ID number.

Of course, Hu Shenglan didn't expose Gu Xu. For one thing, she couldn't embarrass him in front of Xue Ci. For another, although she had three sons, Gu Xu really was her preferred choice for the engagement.

Her eldest son, Gu Ling, was eight years older than Xue Ci and devoted himself entirely to work. He didn't seem particularly good at taking care of people. Her second son, Duan Xingyan, had been separated from them for many years and had only been found two years ago. They were still doing their utmost to make it up to him, and if they suddenly took it upon themselves to arrange a marriage for him now, it might drive them apart.

Hu Shenglan stopped teasing and asked Xue Ci seriously, "Are you still in high school?"

"I just finished the college entrance exam, and I haven't gone back to school since." Xue Ci's voice was downcast. "My uncle and aunt said the family only had enough money to send my younger brother to school."

No one could resist a kitten showing its vulnerable side.

Both elders looked sympathetic. Finally, Gu Cheng said, "Stay here for now. We'll arrange for you to go to school. As for the marriage, we can talk about it when you're older. We won't force you."

Afraid Xue Ci would feel uncomfortable accepting, Hu Shenglan said, "There's no one to look after the flowers I planted in the garden, and they're almost overgrown. Could you help me prune them after school?"

[Congratulations, Host! You've completed the major objective of staying with the Gu family!]

Xue Ci was a little surprised that the objective had been completed so smoothly.

The Gu family were kinder than he had expected.

He nodded and thanked them, then carefully glanced at Gu Xu's face.

The Alpha wasn't looking at him. He still wore that defiant, cold expression, but he didn't object either.

The sound of points being credited rang out, and Xue Ci found Gu Xu much easier on the eyes.

Next, he had to learn how to pursue someone.

The Gu family had deep roots in Fog City, and the school placement they arranged was at Shengxuan, the city's most famous elite academy. But he couldn't enroll for another week at the earliest, and before then, Xue Ci had to pass the basic exam for transfer students.

His daily routine became studying, watering the garden, and waiting for Gu Xu to come home from school.

According to the plot, he hadn't officially begun pursuing the protagonist yet. He only needed to make his presence known in front of him and offer a compliment or two at the right time to show his admiration.

Gu Xu's daily routine was very regular. He came home on time and especially liked playing games in the living room.

Xue Ci had already figured things out. He sat down on the sofa with practiced ease and watched the television, looking for a chance to praise him. But only seconds later, he saw the little figure on the screen miss a step and fall to its death...

Game over.

"..."

Xue Ci glanced to the side.

Gu Xu seemed to be a sore loser. The game had made the tips of his ears turn red with anger.

"Are you still playing?"

He was afraid Gu Xu would quit in a fit of anger and he wouldn't make the required progress today.

Fortunately, Gu Xu started another round with an expressionless face.

This time, the Alpha didn't dare mess up again. He tried to focus on the television screen, but he kept getting distracted. The right side of his body, pressed against the Beta, tingled, and their shoulders occasionally brushed.

Why is he so soft?

Gu Xu grew so restless that a layer of sweat broke out on his back.

Fortunately, he cleared the game this time and didn't embarrass himself again.

"Can I try?" Xue Ci was eager to play.

Gu Xu wasn't so stingy. He handed over the controller and taught him a few basic controls. The moment Xue Ci took it, Gu Xu felt a soft fingertip brush the back of his hand. His whole body felt as if an electric current had passed through it, raising goosebumps.

Concealing his expression, he stopped looking at Xue Ci and lowered his head to scroll through his phone absentmindedly instead.

There were several unread messages on WeChat, all from his good friend Xin Yue.

[Seriously, bro, I was wondering why you've been going home every day lately. Turns out you secretly got engaged behind your bro's back!]

[Come play basketball.]

[Can't come out? What does your wife look like? Is he so captivating you don't even have time for your bro anymore, or are you scared of your wife?]

Gu Xu's lips twitched faintly as he replied, "Fuck off."

His family knew Xin Yue's family well. Xin Yue had probably heard about the engagement from the elders and was messaging him now specifically to make fun of him.

How could I possibly be scared of my wife?

Gu Xu stared back and forth at the messages, lowered his eyes, and replied: [What time?]

Xin Yue: [What?]

Gu Xu: [Basketball.]

Xin Yue: [Now. Usual place. Everyone's here.]

Xin Yue: [Can a married man like you get away?]

Gu Xu sneered inwardly, didn't reply again, and got up from the sofa.

Xue Ci was so absorbed in the game that he didn't notice what the person beside him was doing. Only when the butler reminded him did he tilt his head up slightly.

When did Gu Xu come to stand beside me?

He seemed to have changed clothes too.

He still had a task to complete today, so Xue Ci was a little nervous. "Are you going out?"

The Beta was sitting on the sofa, and his collar was loose. From Gu Xu's angle, he could see some things he shouldn't. He immediately looked away and gave a deliberately indifferent "Mm."

Even he didn't know why he volunteered the information. "About two hours, I guess."

Xue Ci glanced at the time and reminded him, "Come back early. It could be dangerous if it gets too late."

He's so clingy.

He cares about me so much.

Gu Xu casually ruffled his hair and said, "Oh."

The butler looked away, pretending not to see that the corners of the young master's mouth were about to escape his control.

After Gu Xu left, Xue Ci began thinking about how to complete today's task.

In the original plot, he had been particularly ill at ease while staying with the Gu family. Gu Xu's occasional help had been like a lifeline to him, so he wanted to do some housework in return. However, inexperienced as he was, he didn't know that many rich people's clothes couldn't be machine-washed, causing the clothes to shrink and become unwearable.

Although Gu Xu said nothing on the surface, he was put off and thought him clumsy.

Xue Ci had thought it would be a simple task, but after walking around the villa, he couldn't find so much as dust, let alone dirty clothes.

The auntie employed by the Gu family was very diligent.

There were definitely clothes in Gu Xu's room, but he couldn't just go in. That would be rude.

The task had to be completed by eleven at night. It seemed he could only wait for him to return.

Worried, Xue Ci went back to his room. He lay on the bed waiting until he was nearly asleep, when he hazily heard movement downstairs.

Is he back?

Xue Ci fought his sleepiness and forced his eyes open as he went downstairs.

No one was in the living room. The lights were on, and the television screen still showed the game he hadn't cleared. He looked around and saw that the balcony light was on too, with a tall figure standing there.

At the same time, the figure turned sideways and glanced at him.

The man seemed even taller than Gu Xu. The light cast his features in shadow, making his expression impossible to see. Only his high nose bridge and defined jawline were visible.

His bearing was imposing. Though he was clearly not very old, he had the authority of an elder.

Xue Ci unconsciously straightened up.

11 reminded him: [Host, this is Gu Ling, the Gu family's eldest son. He's an Alpha, and there isn't much information about him.]

Xue Ci pressed his lips together, wondering how to address him, but when he saw something in the man's hand, his eyes widened slightly.

That's my...

Heat instantly rushed up his neck and spread to his ears. His fair skin turned pink, especially the small, soft lobes of his ears, which became a vivid red.

Gu Ling met Xue Ci's eyes.

He had returned from a business trip and gone to the balcony for some air as usual, only to notice a strangely familiar scent in the house.

On closer inspection, there were now a blanket and a throw pillow on the sofa.

Gu Xu never used such things. Gu Ling suddenly remembered the Beta who had an engagement agreement with the family. He looked up and saw a small piece of white fabric hanging directly above his head, close enough to touch.

"Mine..."

The faint voice was barely audible. Gu Ling put aside his thoughts, entered the living room, and walked over to Xue Ci. The boy was a full head shorter than him and had a smaller frame. His loose clothing made him look even thinner.

His palm-sized face was full of embarrassment, and his lower lip was caught between his pearly white teeth, leaving a moist mark.

His voice was low, and his breath fell on the top of Xue Ci's head. "What?"

"My clothes..."

His voice sounded utterly pitiful.

Gu Ling looked away and admitted he had been out of line. "Sorry."

He then handed over the underwear he was holding.

"It fell on the floor."

As for that lie, he firmly believed it was meant to reduce the chance of being taken for a pervert when they had only just met.

Having had his underwear picked up by the protagonist's elder brother, whom he had never met before, Xue Ci took it as quickly as he could and clutched it in his hand.

As he scrambled to get away, he still remembered to politely call him "Big Brother."

But he had barely taken two steps after turning around when he ran straight into Gu Xu's arms, just as Gu Xu returned from outside.

Author's note:

Boohoo, poor baby, caught between the two brothers.