An Unremarkable Beta

★ Going VIP on July 8. Thank you, my darlings. ★ The early part of this groveling-for-your-wife story isn't sweet. I didn't notice I'd tagged it wrong, sorry!!! Blurb: ++++++Li Zheng is an utterly ordinary male beta. His family fell into ruin when he was young, and his parents couldn't bear the consequences, so they took their own lives. Kindhearted Grandpa Cheng took him in, and he became the companion and study partner of the Cheng family's young master, Cheng Pin. Cheng Pin was arrogant. Before his secondary gender manifested, he looked down on Li Zheng and would say, "Just a study partner, and you think you can meddle in my business?" After manifesting as an alpha, Cheng Pin said, "Just a beta, and you think you can meddle in an alpha's business?" When Cheng Pin was going through a rut and Li Zheng stood helplessly to the side, he always spoke with contempt in every word: "You're a beta. What would you know?" And for over twenty years, Li Zheng truly believed him. He was a beta, insignificant and unremarkable. If he died, no one would care. His ashes would scatter to the wind with a flick of the hand. So when the city needed volunteers, Li Zheng signed up without hesitation. He didn't tell anyone, and during the volunteer work he let himself waste away, looking haggard without ever asking to quit. The Cheng Pin in his memory, who had always said, "He's just a beta. I don't care about him at all," the Cheng Pin who had always been so full of himself in front of Li Zheng, broke down sobbing for the first time when he saw him again, lying in a hospital bed. "Cheng Pin, I'm just a beta. Once I'm dead, you'll have some peace and quiet." "Don't cry. I just want to get some sleep." Cheng Pin had always been annoyed by Li Zheng following him around under the pretense of being his study partner, when in reality he'd been sent to keep tabs on everything he did. Young and reckless, Cheng Pin never cared whether his words hurt. He criticized the ordinary male beta from head to toe, finding fault with everything. But Li Zheng still stuck by him, treating him with the utmost care. His heart and eyes were full of Cheng Pin. But what good was a beta's affection? Especially when he was just an ordinary beta, with an ordinary family background and ordinary looks. Then one day, Cheng Pin accidentally caught the scent of another alpha's pheromones on Li Zheng... His eyes reddened, and inexplicable anger triggered his rut. He took Li Zheng then and there. Betas couldn't be marked? No matter. He'd mark Li Zheng every time they did it. Little skit: Back in school. Cheng Pin: "You're just a beta." Li Zheng: "Mm." After he starts groveling for his wife. Li Zheng, stating a fact: "I'm just a beta." At that, Cheng Pin got furious. It took all sorts of kisses and cuddles from Li Zheng to soothe him. Cheng Pin lowered his head and kissed him. "Li Zheng, I'm just an alpha, an alpha who'd be so miserable without you that he couldn't go on living." "..." The alpha who stood at the very top of the pyramid willingly became the captive of a mere beta. ★★★ ① The gong will not change! The gong will not change! The gong will not change! If you comment demanding a new gong, I'll smack you right across the mouth. ② 1v1, an alpha-beta romance! Repeated marking is the best!!! ③ The gong and shou aren't on the same household register. They are in no way related by blood. New story: Coveting My Ex's Younger Brother Ji Zhizhi pursued someone for three years, dated him for less than a week, and then got cheated on! He wept and wailed, tears and snot everywhere. One moment he saw through the world and wanted to shave his head and become a monk; the next, he saw his ex's younger brother. Amitabha! This monk is returning to lay life right now! He couldn't have the older brother, but the younger brother was still a sight to behold (wipes nosebleed.jpg). Ji Zhizhi used all sorts of clever tricks to pursue Qiao Nanci, the youngest member of the Qiao family, who had just returned from abroad. But he was firmly rejected. "Sorry, I only see you as a younger brother." "I only see you as a bro, too." Ji Zhizhi's heart shattered, but he still stubbornly talked big. Down in the dumps, he was invited out for a night of partying by his friends. Before he could even kiss the male model, he was yanked into a familiar embrace. Qiao Nanci's expression was cold. "Have you thought about the consequences of kissing him?" "You're just my bro. What do you care what I do?" Despite saying that, Ji Zhizhi clung to Qiao Nanci with both arms and legs, burying his head against his neck and taking a deep breath. "Bro, you smell so good." - The ex said to his younger brother, "He's only with you to get back at me." Qiao Nanci: "Oh." The ex wouldn't give up. He turned to Ji Zhizhi and said, "He's only with you to get back at me!" Ji Zhizhi: "Ah, have you ever considered that maybe you're part of our couple's role-play?" The ex: "..." "I hate you both!" he screamed, heartbroken. Theme: In this vast world, meeting someone is rare. Be brave enough to hold on to them, and work together toward a better tomorrow.