My Fierce Beta Husband is Surprisingly Sweet | Chapter 90 | Not Alone Anymore | Novela.app

Once again, her parents were absent for her birthday. Li Zi leaned dejectedly against the balcony railing, staring at a sky where even the moonlight was smothered by dark clouds. *I’m never believing a word they say again,* she thought. It wasn’t the first time. They promised to attend parent-teacher meetings, promised to take her out, promised to celebrate her birthday—only to back out at the last minute every single time. Li Zi knew they probably didn’t do it on purpose, but her youthful heart couldn’t help but overflow with disappointment and resentment. She didn’t want a hollow, exquisite house, and she had little interest in the expensive toys they bought to compensate her. She just wanted someone by her side. She looked down at the warm yellow glow of the streetlights below and curled her lip in a mocking smile. What was the point of keeping the lights on at the entrance? The people who needed those lights might not come back at all. The more she thought, the more stifled she felt. Just as the adolescent girl climbed onto the railing, preparing to sit atop it, a panicked and frantic voice shouted from outside the perimeter wall, "Don't do anything rash!" "?" Li Zi looked toward the source of the sound in confusion. A boy in a school uniform was suddenly exposed to her sight. It was impossible to tell if he had just been passing by or if he had been standing there for a long time. His face was filled with the flustered awkwardness of being discovered. He blinked, saying nervously, "You... you shouldn't be so impulsive. I mean, the world is still a beautiful place..." "You think I'm jumping?" Li Zi finally understood what he meant. She was somewhat speechless as she glanced down at the height of her second-floor balcony. What could possibly happen if she jumped from here? "Yes, yes. Just be careful. Get down from the railing first." The person outside the wall didn't know any better; he simply tried to persuade her with clumsy words. His features were very regular—he was a handsome boy—but there was a distinct air of ferocity between his brows, making it clear at a glance that his temperament was likely not as pleasant as his appearance. For some reason, the gloom in Li Zi's heart dissipated significantly. Instead, a mischievous urge to tease him arose. "I'm not coming down." She sat firmly on the railing, her legs dangling over the edge, adopting an air of total abandonment. "Today is my birthday. I'm all alone. It's boring." The boy froze. He looked at the dark house where only her room was lit. Had Li Zi's mother and father failed to return again? He often passed by this small villa, and often... peered at it for long periods without being noticed. He knew that usually, only Li Zi and the housekeeper were home. Li Zi caught a glimpse of his blurred expression from the corner of her eye. She saw his face struggle with indecision before he lowered his head. Her heart chilled. She didn't even know what she had been inexplicably expecting. Withdrawing her gaze, she said, "Forget it. I'm just sitting here. It has nothing to do with you." The boy seemed choked up, as if he didn't know what to say. He turned around and walked away. *He actually left?* Li Zi suddenly felt the whole thing was pointless. She turned and went back into her room. *Click.* The light went out. The next morning, Li Zi woke up and checked her phone. There were apology messages from Li Shian and Yan Yan. She lowered her eyes, quietly reading their words for a full minute. "It's okay," she typed back. Despite her many grievances, Li Zi knew she couldn't blame them too much. After all, one was providing a privileged life for the family, and the other had countless patients waiting for him. She couldn't be aggrieved, and she couldn't be willful. She could only be an obedient, sensible child. For some reason, she thought of the boy from last night who thought she was jumping. She rolled out of bed and opened the balcony door. Outside, the sun was bright and the sky was clear. The figure was nowhere to be seen in the alley. Thinking carefully, Li Zi realized she wasn't entirely without an impression of that boy. She had caught glimpses of him in many places. For instance, when school let out, she would occasionally catch a glimpse of him in the rearview mirror of her driver's car. Sometimes, he would happen to pass by the entrance of the alley. There were even rumors at school about a handsome "boss" at the vocational high school next door. Although he was only a Beta, he was extremely popular. They said he had a fierce temper and often hung around with local thugs, yet he never bullied the weak and would even help the elderly and children. Complex people always seemed to attract more attention. Although Li Zi didn't follow such things, she had seen his photo in the class group chat. His name was Li Zhenting. He was the boy from last night. As Li Zi sat in the dining room eating breakfast, the housekeeper, Auntie Wang, was watering the small vegetable garden in the yard as usual. As she passed the front gate, she noticed something left there. Confused, she walked over and looked at the ground. It was a small birthday cake. "Miss, there's a cake at the door. I assume it's for you?" Auntie Wang walked in carrying a small box. *A cake?* Li Zi stopped her chopsticks and looked up. A suspicion began to form in her mind. Auntie Wang placed the cake on the table, and Li Zi went to open it. The box was tied with a ribbon. Looking through the transparent plastic lid, she saw a cream cake decorated with simple layers of frosting. In the center, the words "Happy Birthday" were written in jam. It clearly wasn't a professional product. Li Zi lifted the lid and found a note stuck inside. She took it out and read: *“I went to the shop to look for one yesterday, but this was the only cake left. You were already asleep when I got back. Happy birthday. Don't be unhappy. You won't be alone.”* Auntie Wang watched from the side. She saw her young mistress, who usually showed little emotion, suddenly break into a smile, her eyes turning soft and tender. "His handwriting is so ugly." Naturally, their interactions began to increase. From that day on, Li Zi discovered that as long as she observed her surroundings, she would always spot Li Zhenting's figure. One day after school, Li Zi saw him again in the car's rearview mirror, standing dazed by her school gate. On a whim, she opened the car door and told the driver, "I'll walk home by myself today." The driver wanted to say something, but she had already stepped out. Li Zhenting was still standing there with his backpack on. Beside him, Liu Yan urged, "Brother Li, what exactly are you doing here every day?" Liu Yan couldn't understand his friend. Li Zhenting clearly felt like he was sitting on pins and needles at their own school; he couldn't study and wished he could graduate the next second. Yet, like he was punching a time clock for work, he ran to the neighboring elite junior high every single day. He didn't look for anyone, and he didn't fight. He just stood there for a while. Liu Yan let out a yawn. "Brother Qiang has a lot of stuff going on today. He'll be angry again if we're late." Li Zhenting didn't answer him. His entire body was tense now. He watched as Li Zi suddenly got out of the car, her eyes meeting his as she walked straight toward him. "Are you standing here waiting for someone?" While Liu Yan was still looking on in a daze, Li Zi had already stopped in front of Li Zhenting, her eyes dancing with a smile. "No... I'm not waiting for anyone." His heart hammered wildly. The surrounding sounds became like a radio losing its signal—a cacophony of static. Li Zhenting could only hear the girl in front of him ask in her cool, clear voice, "If you're not busy, do you want to walk home together?" Beside him, Liu Yan was frantically signaling that it was time to go. But Li Zhenting was beyond self-control. Like a desert traveler unable to refuse clear water, he took a step forward, his gaze burning. "Yes."