Beta Chapter 52: Hmph

Chapter 52: Hmph

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

At this moment, he had a strong and clear realization. He had really done something wrong. Because Duan Yizhou didn’t contact him, not a call, not a message, it was a determined decision for him to agree to the divorce.

At the dining table, Luo Songran held chopsticks, his expression serious as he looked at Dad opposite him. “Dad, I also think my friend did something wrong. So now he’s very distressed. What should we do? Previously, his husband would always coax him, or just brush it off. But this time, after my friend mentioned divorce, he agreed, saying ‘I respect your decision.'”

He even imitated Duan Yizhou’s expression and tone. Dad pondered for a moment, then nodded as if confirming something. “Hmm, then your friend’s husband is serious. He probably wants a divorce.”

Luo Songran bit down on the chopsticks. “… Is there really no chance of reconciliation?”

Dad put some food in Papa’s bowl, then answered seriously, “Being unreasonable needs to have its limits. It’s not right to talk about divorce all the time. If you’re married, it means you love each other. If you love each other, you have to respect each other. I quite agree with what his husband did.”

Luo Songran looked like he was about to cry, glaring at Dad with irritation. Dad! I’m asking for your help with my problem now, why are you speaking ill? That’s not like me at all.

After speaking, feeling somewhat guilty, he lowered his head and took a few bites of rice. Unaware that his expression was all too transparent to Dad and Papa sitting across from him.

“But if your friend’s husband keeps indulging him like that, it means he does love your friend. If he didn’t love him, why would he tolerate such jokes? Really, such jokes can be hurtful,” Dad said seriously. “I remember back then your Papa told me something similar, and I was quite angry.”

Luo Songran instantly raised his gaze, focusing intently on Papa beside him. “Papa, how did you coax Dad back then?”

Papa thought for a moment, perhaps remembering something inappropriate for children, then awkwardly chuckled, “I forgot, it must have been something from before you were born.”

He then kicked Dad under the table. Dad gasped in surprise, then pretended to be calm as he looked at his son, Luo Songran, and said with a smile, “Your Papa just had to act a bit spoiled and I’d be appeased.”

Luo Songran had no idea what they were up to, completely absorbed in his own thoughts. He stroked his chin, pondering, Is it that simple? Does it really work? Maybe I should go back and act spoiled to Duan Yizhou? Act really spoiled!

“Of course, it works. When your loved one acts spoiled to you, don’t you feel happiest and most delighted?” Dad served his wife a bowl of shrimp paste, then attentively placed it in front of him. “Here, dear, eat up, or RanRan will eat it all.”

Luo Songran looked at Papa and Dad, feeling a surge of envy and jealousy, like overturning a jar of vinegar in his heart. “Dad, my birth was really an accident, wasn’t it?”

“It was indeed an accident,” Dad raised his eyebrows.

At this, Luo Songran suddenly thought of the one in his belly, realizing he forgot about it again. He placed his hands on the table, looking serious as he addressed his Papas, “By the way, how did you both feel when you knew about me? Did you immediately consider getting rid of me?”

Before he finished speaking, he was struck on the head with a chopstick, wincing in pain and exclaiming, “Ah! Dad, what are you doing?”

“How could we have thought of getting rid of you? We were overjoyed, because you were our surprise, especially for your Papa. Your arrival was the biggest surprise, and Papa’s biggest fear was losing you.”

Luo Songran remembered Dad telling him about Papa’s heavy bleeding during his birth, and he knew how much Dad loved Papa. But his situation with Duan Yizhou was completely different. No, to be precise, he caused this situation. He sighed, resting his chin on his hand, his brows furrowed. “Ah, my friend is so young, not only did he get married but he also got pregnant unexpectedly. What should he do?”

“Is your friend’s husband not responsible?” Papa’s expression darkened upon hearing this.

“It’s not that,” Luo Songran sighed. “His husband is too responsible. It’s my friend who doesn’t want to take responsibility; he wants to abort the child.”

“If they don’t love each other, why did your friend get married then?”

Luo Songran suddenly felt tongue-tied. He didn’t want to upset them, so he tried again, tentatively, “Dad, Papa, just hypothetically, if I were to get married now and accidentally got pregnant, what would you do?”

But just as his anxiety surged, he saw Dad across from him suddenly clap his hands vigorously.

“What?” 

“Congratulations to me and your Papa for being freed from misery, sending you away, and finally being able to enjoy life as a couple!” 

Luo Songran was speechless. He was defeated by his Dad, the sixth child. “Is this for real? Aren’t you angry?”

“There’s nothing to be angry about. Your love life, your marriage, your pregnancy, these are all your own choices. As long as you’ve made your decision, we won’t interfere. Of course, we still want to get to know the other person, but our Luo family is big, and we’re not too concerned about who the other person is. Dad doesn’t have any demands either; just let him be a good son-in-law.”

Luo Songran smiled awkwardly yet politely. “Isn’t that a bit inappropriate? What if the other person is really outstanding?”

He couldn’t imagine Duan Yizhou being their son-in-law. 

“What if he’s outstanding? That’s my only requirement for him.” Dad pushed a bowl of beef brisket towards Luo Songran, his tone serious, unlike the playful tone earlier. “I’ve raised you with love and care since you were little. How could I let someone else benefit from it for nothing? This is the only non-negotiable requirement.”

“Oh…” It was the first time Luo Songran had heard Dad’s requirements for his future partner, and he wasn’t sure if his own situation was resolved or not. Maybe it wasn’t resolved; instead, he entangled himself further. What to do?

“By the way, RanRan, your cousin said your boyfriend is much older than you. Is that true?”

Luo Songran stiffened. He looked at Papa, his eyes flashing with uncertainty. He pretended to be calm and lowered his head to eat some rice, speaking with a mouthful, “Not that much older, just a few… years.”

Twelve years didn’t seem too bad, right? It wasn’t like he was twenty years older. He couldn’t believe Yan Nanchen had reported him to Dad. That alpha was really petty. He needed to find some time to confront Yan Nanchen.

“I also heard that you had a fight with him recently?”

Luo Songran shrugged. “He came to school to find me, questioning if I was just playing around with my boyfriend. So, I argued with him, asking why he always thinks everything I do is just a game. He always seems to think I can’t do anything right, from childhood to now. I suspect he looks down on me for being a beta.”

This reminded him of the last time after the fight with his cousin, Duan Yizhou had comforted him in the car. He started missing Duan Yizhou.

Dad and Papa exchanged a knowing glance.

“RanRan, your cousin is just worried about you. After all, you’ve always had health issues since you were young. He’s afraid you might get hurt and wants to protect you. It’s not about constraining you,” Dad explained gently. “He didn’t say anything bad about you; he’s just worried you might be deceived by your boyfriend. Besides, you haven’t told us what your boyfriend does. Is he your classmate?”

“No.”

“Then what does he do?”

“He’s a researcher in scientific research.” Luo Songran looked at his Papas, feeling a surge of determination, perhaps triggered by Yan Nanchen’s tattling to Papa. “Although he’s much older than me, he really, really likes me.”

“How much older?”

“Not that much, just twelve years.”

Dad and Papa were speechless. “Just twelve years.”

“Although he can’t cook, he’s been trying very hard to learn to cook for me. Even when I complain, he doesn’t give up. He’s determined to make food I like. He hardly ever gets angry with me and is always accommodating. He never lets me suffer any grievances. I talk a lot, but he always listens patiently and responds to everything, no matter how boring. He even answers my questions. …I have a bad temper, but he still soothes me, just to make me happy.”

After finishing speaking, Luo Songran lowered his gaze, silent for a moment, his expression gloomy. That empty feeling in his heart swept over him again, and he wasn’t used to it. He realized that Duan Yizhou was really great, and he had a strong feeling that he wouldn’t meet anyone like Duan Yizhou again in the future. His eyes reddened suddenly. The thought of losing Duan Yizhou because of his own irrational behavior made him incredibly sad because he knew he wouldn’t be lucky enough to meet another Duan Yizhou.

Dad and Papa exchanged another glance, as if confirming something.

Luo Songran became even more certain of his thoughts. “Dad, Papa, I’m not joking. I’m serious. Just because he’s unwilling to let me suffer even a little grievance, I’ve made up my mind. Apart from Papa, he’s the only one who can handle my temper.”

He knew he had done wrong, and he needed to apologize to Duan Yizhou. Of course, he would also try his best to make Duan Yizhou forgive him because he had been really unreasonable during this period. Until Duan Yizhou forgave him and said he wouldn’t divorce him.

“Since you’ve put it that way, I’m even more curious about your boyfriend.” Dad expressed a strong desire to meet him. “Find a time to bring your boyfriend home. We want to meet him.”

“Okay.” Luo Songran thought to himself, he’d apologize to Duan Yizhou when he could coax him back. 

That night, he lay alone in his room. He’d slept in this bed for twenty years, but now it felt empty and cold. As he lay down, he instinctively wanted to smell the pillow, but there was no scent. The absence of Duan Yizhou’s scent, a scent he cherished so much, left him feeling empty. He couldn’t even articulate why he liked it so much. Despite being a beta unable to smell alpha pheromones, he adored the woody scent of Duan Yizhou. It provided a sense of security and tranquility that could put him to sleep in seconds.

The more he thought about it, the more he realized how cruel he had been with his words the other day. He felt like slapping himself. No, more accurately, his recent behavior had been despicable beyond measure. He had been arrogant and provoked Duan Yizhou intentionally, just because he knew Duan Yizhou loved him. Now he understood; he loved Duan Yizhou. He was so used to Duan Yizhou’s presence, scent, and affection that he couldn’t bear to be without him. Without Duan Yizhou, he felt incomplete.

Why did he resist admitting it so fiercely before?

Luo Songran hugged his blanket, staring at the floor-to-ceiling window beside him, his brows furrowed with sadness, and his eyes reddening. He placed his hand on his belly, feeling a bit of weight gain. “Baby, what if Dad doesn’t want me anymore?”

Should he call Duan Yizhou and show some weakness? But calling now would make him seem spineless, just a few days after leaving home. It would show he had no pride left. Besides, Duan Yizhou had agreed to the divorce; his words had hurt him deeply.

No, he couldn’t go back so soon. At least wait another two days.

After five minutes of contemplation, he took his phone and opened the chat with Duan Yizhou. The nickname “Can’t Handle” at the top of the screen seemed inappropriate now, so he changed it. His finger hovered over the screen for two seconds. Finally, he changed the top nickname to “Little Baby.” He chuckled at himself for a moment.

Then, seizing the opportunity, he sent a message to his little baby. He waited eagerly for a reply, but a minute passed, then ten, then half an hour. No response.

He buried his face in the pillow, crying softly. Duan Yizhou was really ignoring him.

On the other end—

Duan Yizhou lay on the master bedroom’s bed, covered with the quilt the little rascal had been using lately. He saw the message from the little rascal, which only contained one word: “Hmph.”

His expression was subtle. What did this mean? Was it a determination to be cold to the end?

 

 

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