Beta Doesn't Mean a Bottom

Cracks in the Routine

Chapter 11

After parting ways with Zhou Xinxin, Lin Wanyue debated whether to head home and change or go directly to the restaurant.

He checked the time: 4:20 p.m.

Still three hours until the date.

He glanced at his reflection in the glass window — his clothes were fine. Not too casual, not too flashy. A little wrinkled from hours of running around, but he wasn’t here to impress.

Instead of going home, he took a detour.

The arcade upstairs buzzed with light and noise. Teenagers shrieked over crane games. Some kid threw a tantrum near the token machine. It was chaotic — and just what he needed.

Lin Wanyue lost himself for an hour.

Basketball hoops, shooting zombies, even a claw machine where he snagged a lopsided pink bear. He stared at it fondly before tossing it into his shopping bag like a trophy.

By the time he arrived at Luobai Pavilion, it was nearly 7:25.

The waiter led him to their usual booth — soft lighting, sheer curtains, quiet music. Romantic. He sat and waited calmly, but his mind ticked like a clock.

At 7:32, Shen Jue arrived.

He was slightly out of breath, coat in one hand, expression tense. “Sorry,” he said softly.

He leaned in and kissed Lin Wanyue’s cheek, then his forehead — like always.

“I made you wait.”

Lin Wanyue blinked, startled by the sudden affection. Then, smoothly: “I just got here.”

Shen Jue looked relieved. “The board dragged me into a last-minute discussion. And I got caught in traffic.”

“It’s fine.”

Dinner proceeded smoothly at first.

Their usual dishes arrived. Light conversation flowed. Shen Jue seemed calm — but Lin Wanyue could feel the undercurrent. Something simmered beneath the polite smiles.

Then halfway through the meal, it came.

“Wanyue,” Shen Jue said, setting down his chopsticks. “Did I… do something wrong?”

Lin Wanyue tensed.

“What do you mean?”

“This morning. You didn’t wake me up,” Shen Jue said, gaze searching. “You always do. Every time. Whether it’s for work, for breakfast… You’ve never left me alone in bed before.”

Wait— what?

Lin Wanyue’s mind blanked. That was a habit? One the original owner kept regularly?

His stomach dropped. How could I not know that? That wasn’t in the novel. There were no footnotes for intimacy rituals!

He forced a calm expression. “I was… excited,” he said carefully. “It’s been a long time since I hung out with Xinxin like that. I guess I just got caught up in the rush and forgot.”

Shen Jue frowned, but nodded. “Alright.”

But Lin Wanyue wasn’t fine.

Internally, he was panicking.

I’ve been careless. If he notices these things now, how long until he sees through me?

He lifted his teacup to hide his expression.

From this point forward, he would need to be smarter.

He couldn’t afford to make simple mistakes like this again — not when the person sitting across from him had the power to change his fate. Or worse, cling to him emotionally in a way he couldn’t escape from.

He set down the cup. His voice was soft but clear.

“By the way… I might get busy in the coming weeks. With the agency search, possible castings, and all that. I hope you won’t mind if I seem… distracted.”

Shen Jue’s gaze flickered. “You won’t be home much?”

“I’ll still come back. Just… maybe not at the same time as before.”

There was a brief pause. Then Shen Jue nodded, his smile subdued. “Of course. Do what you need to do.”

Lin Wanyue smiled in return, then looked away.

He knew Shen Jue was trying to be understanding.

But it didn’t matter.

From now on, he needed distance. Enough to keep suspicion away, but not enough to invite emotional entanglement. He had to stay in character — but just out of reach.

Because the more Shen Jue started to feel…
The harder it would be to leave.

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End of Chapter 11