Baby, You Should Break Up with Him - Chapter 1

“Ah-Che, are you free tonight?” the black-haired beta asked softly.

In the classroom, numerous gazes—some annoyed, some amused—fell upon the beta who was bent over with hands on knees. The air was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Unfazed by being the center of attention, the beta persisted through the awkward silence and called out again, “Ah-Che?”

Gossip is human nature, especially when it involves the wealthy—it becomes particularly juicy.

Amid the many eager stares, Feng Wen, seated in the second-to-last row at the far left, also looked toward the center of the melodrama like everyone else.

But unlike the others who were enjoying the spectacle, he merely glanced briefly before looking away with an air of boredom.

The reason was simple: as the childhood friend of one of the two protagonists—Shen Che—he found this story utterly dull.

The wealthier the family, the more they embody capitalism’s stinginess. When the Shen and Xie families were at their peak, they were so afraid of not getting a piece of each other that they shrewdly—yet foolishly—arranged a marriage pact for their children.

Over a decade later, the Shen family remained prestigious, and their eldest son, Shen Che, had differentiated into an excellent alpha at eighteen. Barring any surprises, he was the ideal heir to the Shen Group.

As for the Xie family, eight years ago, they misjudged the trends in import and export tariffs. One wrong decision led to a market backlash that left them half-dead, with nearly two-thirds of their assets evaporating overnight. They were barely hanging on by a thread.

What was once a marriage of convenience had now become, for the Xie family, a lifeline in a blizzard—a precious resource delivered right to their doorstep.

The entire family pinned their hopes on their only heir, Xie Zhizhi, to revive their fortunes by leeching off the Shen family. They invested heavily to gild him with the shiniest veneer, only for him to remain undifferentiated at eighteen—a beta, which was “not necessarily bad, but how did this happen?”

Beta.

Feng Wen thought idly, betas are the worker bees of human society. No matter how prettily the Xie family tried to spin it, he was still just a beta.

If the two were in love, it might be forgivable… but the Xie family couldn’t possibly be unaware of how a forced, loveless alpha-beta relationship like this would become fodder for wealthy socialites’ gossip.

Just like now.

Instead of backing down after receiving no response, Xie Zhizhi cautiously tugged at Shen Che’s sleeve and added in a kitten-like whisper, “Ah-Che, today is… our engagement anniversary. Can you spend some time with me?”

Adding insult to injury.

Without even lifting his eyes, Feng Wen could guess Shen Che’s reaction.

Sure enough, Shen Che, already impatient, grew visibly angry. He coldly brushed off the beta’s hand and said sharply, “Stay away from me.”

Xie Zhizhi instantly deflated like a punctured balloon, welling up with tears in seconds. Sniffling, he shuffled back to his seat—next to Feng Wen—and began his daily cry session.

Plain black hair, ordinary black-framed glasses, and a black hoodie that would blend into any crowd.

Xie Zhizhi sobbed intermittently, as if mourning his dead love.

Feng Wen expressionlessly pulled out a tissue and handed it over with utmost courtesy. Xie Zhizhi’s crying paused, and he accepted it with practiced ease.

“Thank you, Feng Wen,” Xie Zhizhi said between sobs.

Feng Wen averted his gaze. “Don’t mention it. Keep going.”

Xie Zhizhi nodded and continued crying.

The first tissue quickly became soaked and torn by the beta’s gushing tears. Without changing his expression, Feng Wen handed over a second one.

Xie Zhizhi steadily took it, blew his nose, and said sincerely again, “Thank you.”

Feng Wen leaned lazily against the wall. “No need, keep going.”

Xie Zhizhi nodded once more, obediently resuming his crying.

Amid such weeping, hardly anyone could resist whispering while casting sidelong glances between the two central figures—including Feng Wen.

Feng Wen’s cool gaze slowly swept across half the classroom, subtly settling on Shen Che in the third row.

Today, Shen Che was unusually dressed in a refined Turnbull & Asser shirt, his inherited blonde hair from his mother tied into a loose, casual ponytail at the back of his head with a small hair tie—quite pleasing to the eye, like a large golden retriever fresh from the groomer.

He could easily pick out Shen Che’s scent from the jumble of mixed pheromones, but today the dog-like smell in the air seemed stronger than usual.

Why?

As if answering his silent question, the window nearest the third row was tapped the next second. An unfamiliar, pretty omega stood obediently outside the classroom, her large eyes sparkling.

Shen Che quickly turned his head at the sound, and upon seeing who it was, his puppy-dog eyes immediately crinkled with happiness, completely erasing the icy daggers that had been piercing hearts just moments before.

Feng Wen clicked his tongue and subtly shifted his gaze away.

His phone in his pocket suddenly vibrated repeatedly. He unhurriedly pulled it out and lit the screen.

It was a message from his childhood friend No. 2, Ding Yizhou.

Feng Wen looked up, and Ding Yizhou, sitting three rows away, immediately started twitching his eyebrows at him exaggeratedly, mouthing,

“Look—the—fvck—over—there—”

Feng Wen finally lowered his head to unlock the phone, intending to see what kind of unspeakable nonsense this idiot had sent.

–

Feng Wen, are you useless? 😀

–

Where’d that omega come from?

–

How’d some unknown o beat you to it? [Fat cat shaking head.gif]

Sure enough, it was nonsense. Feng Wen exhaled, exited the chat, and locked the screen in one smooth motion.

To Ding Yizhou, his childhood crush on Shen Che—stemming from being kidnapped together as kids—was hardly a secret. As for whether Shen Che himself knew…

Feng Wen stood up. He had no desire to watch Shen Che and some unknown omega flirt through the window. He stepped around the sobbing beta and left the classroom.

Restroom.

Ding Yizhou, having received no reply, hurried in after him.

Following traditional social etiquette, they automatically left an empty urinal between them. Ding Yizhou sneakily observed his friend’s expression for a few seconds but found no useful clues. He sighed and unzipped his pants with a swift motion.

Since it had come to this, he offered a half-hearted consolation, “Don’t be upset, Feng. It’ll get better. I believe in you.”

“Believe in what?” Feng Wen didn’t want to hear it. He scoffed and retorted, “What kind of crap is that—just now, that Xie guy next to me cried until he passed out. Why didn’t you go comfort him?”

Ding Yizhou shook himself off irritably and said, “Is that the same thing?”

Feng Wen shrugged. “How is it different?”

Ding Yizhou rolled his eyes. “Those two won’t work out, and you know it.”

Feng Wen rinsed his hands and replied flatly, “Then what makes me any better?”

“What makes you better is—uh—”

Ding Yizhou faltered, unable to finish. Feng Wen shot him a glance and walked out on his own.

In the classroom, Xie Zhizhi had finally stopped crying.

The poor beta hung his head like a frost-bitten flower, sitting pitifully at his desk with damp, red-rimmed eyes. Feng Wen politely asked him to move aside, and after the other stood up, he took his seat.

The bell rang. The teacher for the next period—a dull lecture—opened the PowerPoint and began droning on. Feng Wen flipped through his textbook for half the class, following along with the material, when he suddenly felt a very light tug on his sleeve.

He turned to look. Xie Zhizhi was half-turned toward him, holding a pink envelope with both hands, blinking awkwardly.

Feng Wen’s smooth notetaking came to an abrupt halt. For a moment, he couldn’t figure out which act this Shen Che-centered soap opera had reached, or why he had a role in it at all.

“Um…” Xie Zhizhi stammered.

Feng Wen replied dryly, “Speak.”

Only then did Xie Zhizhi lift a hand to point nearby and explain softly, “He asked me to give this to you. You weren’t here after the last class.”

Feng Wen raised an eyebrow and followed his desk mate’s finger—three seats away, a cute little male omega waved slightly in their direction.

Feng Wen withdrew his gaze, bored.

“Thanks.”

Xie Zhizhi gently placed the letter on his desk. “You’re welcome.”

Feng Wen had no intention of reading it.

But Xie Zhizhi, who was usually quite tactful, nudged the envelope a few inches closer and asked earnestly, “Aren’t you going to read it?”

Feng Wen pressed his lips together, set down his pen, and with a flick of his fingers, pulled out the white letter inside.

First line: Feng Wen, hello, my name is Zhang Shuke.

Second line: Actually, we’ve met many times. It must be fate—I really like you.

Third line: You gave me water that one time, remember?

?

Baffled, Feng Wen stuffed both the envelope and letter into his desk, deciding the dull PowerPoint was far more coherent.

Class ended.

Zhang Shuke, who had been anxiously waiting, quickly hurried over, blocking both Xie Zhizhi and Feng Wen before they could escape.

Lifting his face, his almond-shaped eyes fluttering, he gazed up at the tall alpha, unable to hide his excitement, and stammered, “Feng… Feng Wen.”

Feng Wen, hearing his name, first glanced toward the doorway where Ding Yizhou was waiting, then at Zhang Shuke’s nervously flushed cheeks, and finally at Xie Zhizhi, who was also trapped by Zhang Shuke… He let out an almost imperceptible sigh.

“Hello,” Feng Wen said.

…

Zhang Shuke spoke like a faint mosquito buzz; Ding Yizhou, waiting by the door for Feng Wen to go eat, didn’t catch a single word.

Leaning idly against the doorframe, he wondered why—despite being plenty handsome himself—he never got any confessions, while Feng Wen averaged two a week.

Before he could figure it out, he saw Zhang Shuke run out with a hurt expression, his face crumpled in misery. As he passed by, he blinked, and a huge tear dropped to the floor.

“Damn,” Ding Yizhou stared in shock at the giant wet spot on the ground, then looked up at Feng Wen as he approached. “What did you do to him?”

Feng Wen had a limited-edition Pocky stick in his mouth—originally offered by Xie Zhizhi to Shen Che, only to be rejected and then redirected as a “borrowed blossom offered to Buddha” right into Feng Wen’s own mouth. He spoke in a light, casual tone, “I didn’t do much to him.”

He bit off a piece of the biscuit stick, and a rich matcha flavor instantly exploded in his mouth—not bitter, but cloyingly sweet instead.

Displeased, Feng Wen frowned slightly and added unhurriedly, “He asked if I remembered him, said we’d met many times, and even claimed I gave him water once.”

As if finding it absurd, he let out a soft, scoffing laugh through his nose. “How could I not remember?”

Ding Yizhou looked at him incredulously. “So? What did you say?”

Feng Wen curled his tongue, drawing the remaining half of the Pocky into his mouth and crunching it down. He chuckled lowly. “I said I didn’t remember.”

Ding Yizhou gave him a look of utter disbelief. “I don’t buy it.”

They walked slowly down the empty hallway.

Just then, Xie Zhizhi, carrying a bag, brushed past Feng Wen. Amid Ding Yizhou’s nonsense, the two briefly locked eyes.

It was hard to say what kind of anti-human mentality was at play, but somehow, in this ridiculously dramatic love polygon, they had managed to find an eerily harmonious way of coexisting.

Eyes red and swollen, Xie Zhizhi gave a slight nod to Feng Wen and murmured a soft farewell, “Bye.”

Feng Wen responded politely, “Mm, see you.”

Their gazes met and parted in an instant, and the dark-haired beta quickly walked away.

Ding Yizhou was thoroughly creeped out by the bizarrely courteous dynamic between these two rivals. Rubbing the goosebumps on his neck, he stared after Xie Zhizhi’s retreating figure and teased Feng Wen with exaggerated admiration, “Wow, you two are getting along pretty well, huh~”

Feng Wen shot him a displeased glance, which Ding Yizhou completely missed as he clapped enthusiastically.

Ding Yizhou continued cheerfully, “Shen Che, forced by his parents to marry the beta Xie Zhizhi whom he does not love, treats him coldly after marriage, indifferent day after day. Every night, suppressed sobs echo from the marital bedroom…”

Getting more into it, Ding Yizhou gradually lost himself in his own dramatic narrative, his tone rising with enthusiasm: “The beloved omega, for the sake of love, is compelled to have an affair with Shen Che. Though their relationship lacks legitimacy, she is doted upon by all—”

Not satisfied yet, he paused for effect, then added fuel to the fire, “The 195cm top alpha, blackened by love, uses ruthless methods to seize and conquer. Yet in the end, he wins Shen Che’s body but never his— AAAAAH DAD DON’T HIT ME!”

Feng Wen withdrew his hand. “Stop making up stories about me.”