Pretending to Be an Alpha in an All-Alpha Boy Band - Chapter 145

Chapter 145: Brother Snake’s Mask Slips

After changing his clothes, Yuan Shiyuan returned to the rest area and saw many familiar faces.

As soon as he sat down, the Alphas sprang into action, each fulfilling their designated roles. Pei Yanbing handed him ice water and meticulously wiped his sweat, Bo Jin peeled fruit and fed it to his lips, while Jiang Heng held up a small fan to cool his slightly flushed cheeks.

“Are you hot?” Pei Yanbing asked, wiping his sweat.

“Not too bad,” Yuan Shiyuan replied, looking up with a hint of confusion. “Do you guys have any scenes to film today?”

If Yuan Shiyuan remembered correctly, they didn’t. If they had no scenes, there was no need for them to wait for him on set.

As if sensing his thoughts, Pei Yanbing explained with unwavering composure, “No, we don’t. But being on set allows us to learn.”

Bo Jin chimed in smoothly, “Yeah, it’s good to experience the atmosphere beforehand and study a bit.”

Study?

To help the lead actors quickly get into character, director Chen Yin had scheduled almost entirely intimate scenes filled with intense emotional clashes for the first few days. Though Bo Jin and the others hadn’t secured the male second lead role during auditions, the “friends with benefits” roles they had landed all involved intimate scenes with Yuan Shiyuan.

So, technically, calling it “studying” wasn’t entirely inaccurate.

Yuan Shiyuan didn’t call them out on their ruse. Instead, he leaned back lazily against the chair. “Alright then, you better study hard. Don’t waste the on-set resources.”

Since Zhuang He didn’t stop them, it meant they had no other commitments during this period. If they wanted to practice intimate scenes on set, let them.

The set was already crowded enough; a few more people wouldn’t make a difference.

A staff member brought over the props needed for the upcoming livestream segment and quietly went over the script with Yuan Shiyuan. This segment was designed to increase interaction between the actors and the audience, while also serving as advance publicity.

Yuan Shiyuan listened attentively, nodding occasionally. As the staff member prepared to leave, he said, “Take my little fan with you.”

The staff member paused, surprised. Yuan Shiyuan smiled and handed over the fan. “This fan has a strong breeze and is quite cooling. You’re running around all day—it must be hot and tiring for you.”

“Here, use it.”

Dazed, the staff member accepted the fan, still warm from Yuan Shiyuan’s touch. His heart raced inexplicably, and he walked away stiffly, feeling like he was moving in slow motion.

After stumbling a short distance, he suddenly saw a tall figure in a crisp security uniform standing ahead.

The Alpha stood ramrod straight, but the gaze beneath his cap brim was frighteningly dark, fixed intently on the fan in the staff member’s hand.

Su Luochen glared fiercely at the staff member, his chest churning with bitterness and rage. Under the staff member’s bewildered gaze, he strode away, heading straight for Yuan Shiyuan’s resting area.

He unceremoniously chose an empty seat and carefully placed the afternoon tea he was carrying in front of Yuan Shiyuan. “I just ordered this afternoon tea. Would you like some…?”

“No need,” Yuan Shiyuan replied without even glancing up, his tone unwavering. “I’m quite full.”

Quite full? Su Luochen thought bitterly. Yet he was happily devouring the fruit Bo Jin fed him just moments ago.

He had been all smiles and warmth to the staff and the fan delivery, but when it came to Su Luochen, he was cold and perfunctory, not even deigning to glance his way.

“Alright,” Su Luochen mumbled, his gaze stealing another furtive glance at Yuan Shiyuan’s lips.

The actor’s lips, swollen and glistening from the earlier scene’s brief, intense kiss, now appeared unnaturally red and moist. Despite the light makeup applied for the camera, his naturally striking features still gave the impression of heavy makeup.

As Su Luochen stared, his body grew feverish, his throat dry. For some reason, he suddenly recalled the scene he had witnessed up close earlier:

Yuan Shiyuan being held in another Alpha’s arms.

He knew it was just acting, and that Yuan Shiyuan had long since left the role behind, yet he couldn’t stop replaying the scene in his head, tormenting himself while secretly stimulating him.

Just then, Ying Mingxi returned from the restroom and began discussing the upcoming livestream segment with Chen Yin.

When Ying Mingxi returned, he found his usual spot had been taken by another Alpha, Su Luochen.

Su Luochen didn’t even bother to stand up upon seeing Ying Mingxi, showing no awareness of having stolen someone else’s seat. Instead, he seemed welded to the chair, clearly determined to stay put.

Ying Mingxi, ever affable, didn’t show any irritation. His observant assistant quickly brought him another chair.

Yuan Shiyuan glanced up briefly, quickly grasping the situation. He promptly rose and settled on Jiang Heng’s lap, freeing up a new seat.

“Brother Mingxi, sit here,” Yuan Shiyuan said casually. “We need to sit close during the livestream anyway, for better interaction.”

Sit close… by sitting on Jiang Heng’s lap?!

Watching this scene, Ying Mingche clenched his teeth so hard his molars nearly sparked. Yet he had no right to protest. Jiang Heng and Ying Mingxi were both legitimate male leads, and the director had specifically emphasized that Yuan Shiyuan should maintain a close, seemingly romantic relationship with the male leads throughout filming.

This was to help them get into character faster.

In effect, Ying Mingxi and Jiang Heng had the open privilege to be intimately close with Yuan Shiyuan. Even if their actions exceeded normal social boundaries, no one would suspect their true relationship, assuming it was all part of the acting—professionalism, dedication to art, a sacrifice for the role.

As for Ying Mingche, Bo Jin, and Pei Yanbing, they could only watch helplessly from the sidelines. No matter how displeased, resentful, or jealous they felt, they couldn’t betray the slightest hint of it and had to force themselves to maintain an air of magnanimity.

Pei Yanbing silently endured it, while Bo Jin endured it with a cold expression.

Ying Mingche, however, couldn’t contain himself. He said acidly, “You’re certainly considerate toward him, handing out favors so readily.”

It was unclear whether he meant Ying Mingxi, who had been given Yuan Shiyuan’s seat, or Jiang Heng, who had been allowed to sit on Yuan Shiyuan’s lap.

Yuan Shiyuan, however, seemed oblivious to the bitterness in Ying Mingche’s tone. He even adjusted his position in Jiang Heng’s arms for greater comfort, brazenly allowing the Alphas to watch.

Ying Mingxi smiled faintly as he sat in Yuan Shiyuan’s former seat. “Thank you, Shiyuan,” he murmured.

“Director Chen said we’ll have a brief ten-minute interaction with the audience later,” Yuan Shiyuan replied. “Some of the advertisers’ products will be displayed nearby.”

“Among them are new products from the Yu Group.”

Yuan Shiyuan paused his study of the script, then murmured, “The staff mentioned it earlier. No special script—just casual conversation. We’ll end with a group photo on our phones for the official Weibo account.”

“Another group photo?” Ying Mingche interjected dramatically. “That’s it! Your Dream Alpha fans are going to go completely ballistic again, tearing up the forum.”

Across the table, Su Luochen, who had been trying to fade into the background, suddenly froze. He immediately pricked up his ears, tensely catching every word that followed.

“What’s the fuss about?” Yuan Shiyuan asked.

“When don’t they fuss? The moment you so much as glance at another Alpha, Omega, or even a Beta, they’ll spin some elaborate fantasy in their heads. Then they’ll swarm the internet, censoring comments, throwing tantrums—like sewer rats or indestructible cockroaches, infamous for being obnoxious and disgusting.” Ying Mingche’s disgust was palpable. “And the worst part? A whole bunch of them actually snuck onto the set under the guise of auditions, pretending to be actors, all just to sneak closer to you and spy on you.”

“There was even an Alpha who planned to follow you to the restroom and secretly watch you use the toilet.”

“Absolute perverts.”

“Who knows? They might be lurking in some corner right now, secretly watching you.”

The page-turning motion stilled. Yuan Shiyuan frowned, instinctively looking up, only to catch Su Luochen’s stiff, tense gaze from across the table.

He harbored doubts, but his expression remained unchanged as he casually shifted his gaze. “Are there really people who would be that… twisted?”

Before filming officially began, Zhuang He had repeatedly warned him that the crew might include his most extreme Dream Alpha fans, which was why he’d tacitly allowed—even encouraged—the rest of Scepter to guard him like ravenous beasts, wary of any ill-intentioned Dream Alphas.

Yuan Shiyuan had always known he had a particularly fervent fanbase and had prepared himself accordingly. Yet after joining the film crew, he found… everyone around him, from the staff to the extras, were mostly friendly and polite.

During the red envelope distribution and milk tea handouts, he had interacted with numerous extras. While some Alphas did get visibly excited upon seeing him, they never overstepped any boundaries and remained courteous and polite when thanking him.

The extreme Dream Alpha fans his manager had warned him about seemed nowhere in sight.

Maybe they’re just being paranoid, overreacting, Yuan Shiyuan thought.

He had encountered his share of persistent, twisted Alphas in the past and knew their tactics well. Yet on set, aside from the occasional vague sense of being watched, everything remained remarkably calm.

Even if a Dream Alpha had infiltrated the crew, they were likely just a normal member of an abnormal group—nothing as exaggerated or twisted as his manager had described.

“Don’t underestimate him,” Ying Mingche cautioned. “I mentioned before—there’s this utterly deranged Dream A Forum fan who’s obsessed with you and has a real thing for turning you into a clay idol. He either fantasizes about you in the forum or commissions fan art—all of you in various dresses!”

“He’s got quite a following, a major player in the Dream A community. Lately, he’s been on this weird kick, posting daily updates fantasizing about his ‘romantic life’ with you. He writes it so vividly, it almost seems real.”

“And he’s even joined the film crew! I don’t know what role he got, but from his descriptions, it sounds like he has intimate scenes with you and gets to see you every day.”

Yuan Shiyuan vaguely recalled him: “Is that… S?”

Across the table, Su Luochen felt cold sweat break out.

His palms drenched with sweat, he frantically took a gulp of mineral water, the cold sweat instantly soaking through the back of his security guard uniform.

Reason told Su Luochen to remain calm, but his gaze kept drifting toward Yuan Shiyuan against his will, his heart pounding frantically, terrified of hearing anything more that might expose him.

Yet beneath the overwhelming tension and dread, a strange, twisted thrill began to bloom.

Yuan Shiyuan actually knew him! He remembered his username!

Out of the tens of thousands of users on the Dream A Forum, Yuan Shiyuan had remembered him!

“Yes, that’s the one—S. He’s changed his name now, added a suffix.”

Ying Mingche deliberately drawled his words, teasingly leaning close to Yuan Shiyuan’s ear. In a breathy, mocking whisper, he drawled out each syllable, “Little Sister Yuan.”

Yuan Shiyuan shot him a cold glance but ignored him completely, turning to Ying Mingxi to discuss the upcoming work schedule. He treated Ying Mingche as if he were air.

Undeterred by the cold shoulder, Ying Mingche found Yuan Shiyuan’s indifference rather endearing.

Su Luochen, who had been observing the entire scene, watched his gaze darken inch by inch.

Fury surged through his chest. He repeatedly told himself: Patience. Patience. I can’t be impulsive like before. I need to be composed and make a good impression on Yuan Shiyuan.

But this rational restraint snapped the moment he saw Yuan Shiyuan and Ying Mingxi interacting intimately.

Unable to contain himself any longer, Su Luochen brazenly pulled out his mobile phone right in front of Yuan Shiyuan and the others, swiftly switching to his burner account.

His fingertips, trembling with pent-up rage, began furiously posting on his personal feed, unleashing a torrent of viciously worded insults against all the Alphas in Scepter except Yuan Shiyuan.

The familiar, twisted, obsessively deranged, and darkly possessive aura of the ultimate dream boyfriend leader had returned.

Many fans were shocked. “S” hadn’t gone berserk on the forum in ages, acting like he’d turned over a new leaf, only posting saccharine “relationship” updates on his personal feed.

Who would have thought it had been so short a time? He couldn’t keep up the act and had reverted to his true form?

Faced with his sudden, manic outburst, fans flocked to his feed for entertainment. One commenter quipped:

— If the rest of Scepter are just merchandise, what’s Little Yuan?

User S (waiting for Little Sister Yuan’s solo debut edition) replied: Little Yuan is, of course, a cute girl.

“Everyone ready?” a staff member’s voice suddenly rang out.

Su Luochen abruptly locked his phone and shoved it back into his pocket. Fortunately, he was in a secluded corner where no one would notice his phone or pay attention to a “security guard’s” furtive gesture.

This was why he dared to be so brazen.

Yuan Shiyuan stood up and said, “Ready. We’re livestreaming from here, right?”

“Correct,” Chen Yinyan replied, glancing at the neatly arranged table. He gestured for the staff to set up the tripod. “We’ll broadcast from your account, Shiyuan?”

“Sure.”

Yuan Shiyuan smoothly handed over his phone, letting the staff place it on the tripod and adjust the angle.

The moment the livestream went live, a torrent of danmaku flooded the screen.

Don’t you dare peek at my wife, Niao Niao! [Crying emojis]

Hands off my wife! Never, never, never! Heh heh heh, I called dibs first. [Winky face]

Little Yuan, promise me you’ll keep yourself covered up tight on set! Front, back, top, bottom, left, right—every inch! Don’t give those dirty As any opportunities!

Why is Little Yuan’s mouth so red? Director Chen, you didn’t make my wife film a kissing scene right off the bat, did you?! [Furious]

My bad! I was just sucking on a jelly snack and accidentally slurped right onto Little Yuan’s lips. We ended up kissing like there was no tomorrow. Aiya, how embarrassing! [Bashful]

Chen Yin stared at the overly enthusiastic danmaku, utterly bewildered.

He’d heard Yuan Shiyuan’s fans were fiercely loyal and somewhat… unusual, but he hadn’t expected this—so…wild?

Yuan Shiyuan, seated between Ying Mingxi and Jiang Heng, smiled at the camera. “Good afternoon, everyone!”

“We were just filming… I won’t spoil it for you.” He deliberately drew out the last syllable, teasing the audience’s curiosity before adding with another smile, “You’ll have to watch the behind-the-scenes footage later to find out!”

Chen Yin chuckled, jumping in. “No need for behind-the-scenes! I’ll give you the scoop right now: Shiyuan was filming a scene in women’s clothing.”

The plot point where Yuan Shiyuan cross-dresses was undoubtedly one of the most anticipated moments for viewers.

As expected, the danmaku surged wildly, and the livestream’s popularity soared, rocketing to the top of the platform’s real-time charts within five minutes of going live.

“Speaking of skirts…” Yuan Shiyuan smoothly transitioned the conversation, “You guys seemed pretty eager to see me in one before, too. I promised last time I’d do a women’s clothing livestream for you, but I completely forgot.”

“I’ll definitely make up for it next time,” he promised with a smile.

Chen Yin raised an eyebrow, teasingly, “It seems Shiyuan really spoils his fans. He’s practically giving them whatever they ask for.”

“What can I do?” Yuan Shiyuan chuckled. “I got where I am because of all the love my fans showered me with.”

Director Chen, Director Chen, please be careful with the extras! So many Dream Alphas have infiltrated the crew. I’m genuinely worried they might do something to Little Yuan! 😭😭😭

Our Little Yuan is still a pure, precious Baby Egg! We can’t let him get eaten up! 😭😭😭 🙏🙏

“The safety of our actors has always been our top priority,” Chen Yin said solemnly. “Rest assured on that point. Every actor undergoes rigorous screening. If any actor causes trouble later—like harassing Shiyuan, as you mentioned…”

“We will absolutely not tolerate it! They’ll be immediately removed from the production!”

He turned to Yuan Shiyuan, shifting to a lighter topic. “The danmaku is saying the size difference between you, Ying Mingxi, and Jiang Heng is perfect.”

“Makes you look so tiny, hahaha!”

Hearing this, Jiang Heng and Ying Mingxi simultaneously turned to look at Yuan Shiyuan.

Yuan Shiyuan sat between them, posture upright and obedient, tilting his head up to face the camera. “Actually, I do have some muscle too. Maybe it’s because my frame is smaller that I look tinier?”

The danmaku erupted with demands to “inspect the goods,” clamoring to see Yuan Shiyuan’s chest and abs.

Yuan Shiyuan, ever generous, was about to lift his shirt when both Alphas on either side simultaneously grabbed his wrists.

The set erupted in laughter.

Chen Yin found their interactions particularly amusing. He chuckled, “Alright, everyone, let’s take a group photo! Wait… my phone seems to be dead?”

Ying Mingxi and Jiang Heng’s phones weren’t nearby; they were with their assistants.

Just then, Su Luochen, clad in a crisp security guard uniform, forcibly squeezed into the frame. His attire looked less like a supporting role and more like someone attending a gala.

“Use mine,” Su Luochen offered casually, holding up his phone. He deliberately maneuvered closer to Yuan Shiyuan. “My phone’s charged.”

Holy crap, where did this security guard come from?

Oh, it’s the security guard protecting Little Yuan’s love! [Nose-picking emoji] [Dumb smile emoji]

Hey Big Brother, stick to your security guard act. What’s with the hair gel and this custom-tailored uniform? You here to walk the runway? [Eye-roll emoji]

Why are you dressed more impeccably than the lead actor? I thought you were the mistress’s little brother trying to steal the show! [Facepalm emoji]

“Alright, then. Thanks.” Chen Yin didn’t refuse; it was just a photo, after all. Any phone would do.

Under the watchful gaze of the livestream camera, Su Luochen carefully entered his password.

The instant the screen unlocked, the Alpha’s expression froze. Blood rushed to his head, his face turning deathly pale.

The originally frenzied danmaku seemed to be abruptly paused, as if someone had pressed the pause button.

Confused, Yuan Shiyuan instinctively glanced at the phone screen, now mere inches from his face.

The crystal-clear display showed an ID Yuan Shiyuan had just heard:

S(Waiting for Little Sister Yuan’s solo debut)

The most recent post was a reply to another user: Of course Little Yuan is a moe girl.

Moe girl.

Girl…

Yuan Shiyuan: ?

Yuan Shiyuan: …

The massive influx of viewers flooding the livestream caused it to freeze and crash.

Though Su Luochen’s mobile phone screen only flashed briefly before the camera, his account was far too notorious.

After all, this was the top-tier Dream A account on the forum—the one belonging to Brother Snake, who spent every day ranting and raving about “Little Sister Yuan.” Who didn’t recognize it?

Everything happened too fast.

Countless gossip hounds and fans seized the opportunity. Before the account holder could hide his profile, they had already glimpsed his entire post history.

Each post was more outrageous than the last:

“Talking to another Alpha again? Hahaha. I’ll fuck you to death sooner or later.”

“Why don’t all you cheap sluts who throw yourselves at people just die?”

“How dare you call her Princess Yuanyuan? Say it again and I’ll tear your mouth apart. ^^”

“I’m going to make him give me twins. Hehe.”

“I hate you.”

“Everyone is more important than me.”

“Hehe. [Screenshot of a magazine order page showing ten thousand copies supporting Yuan Shiyuan]”

“The princess dress I just bought for Little Sister Yuan. Can’t wait to see him wear it for me. [Miniature figure of Yuan Shiyuan in a princess dress]”

“Everyone, come admire our wedding photo! Aren’t we a perfect match?~ [Photoshopped wedding photo of Su Luochen and Yuan Shiyuan]”

Though Su Luochen frantically tried to hide his account afterward, it was too late.

“User S” had become notorious overnight, and the entire forum erupted, users scrambling to share screenshots they’d miraculously saved.

In that moment, all of Yuan Shiyuan’s forums seemed to descend into chaotic group frenzy, as if hosting some grand, disorganized team-building event.

Even the Dream Alpha Fans and hardcore solo stans, who were usually at each other’s throats, united on this common ground, furiously retweeting those outrageous posts.

The sole topic dominating the discussion: Su Luochen of Necro, the rival boy group, was actually the notorious, deranged leader of the Dream Alpha Fans, Brother Snake!

“User S”‘s earliest posts were a schizophrenic barrage of insults and obsessive pursuit, simultaneously denigrating Yuan Shiyuan while clinging desperately to him. He’d declare his hatred for Yuan Shiyuan one moment, then declare his desire to have twins with him the next, like a lunatic teetering on the edge of love and loathing.

Yet this very man had been tirelessly supporting Yuan Shiyuan’s data every single day! He had not only devoted massive amounts of time but also spent staggering sums of money on promotion campaigns, anti-smear efforts, fan-made content, and even purchased Yuan Shiyuan’s first magazine in bulk to inflate sales.

Ten thousand copies! Over a million in sales revenue! All thanks to Su Luochen of Necro!

Yuan Shiyuan’s nominal rival group member!

Supporting his rival’s sales with real money was already shocking enough.

But what truly left everyone speechless was the sheer intensity of his dream A obsession!

Su Luochen wasn’t just a dream A fan; he was a deeply delusional, fantasy-driven devotee. In his online world, Yuan Shiyuan was his “Little Sister Yuan,” his lover, his wife, and the planned father of their twins. Unable to possess him in reality, Su Luochen daily unleashed venomous tirades against the other Scepter members…

Most astonishing of all, Su Luochen brazenly used his real-life identity as his online persona, “User S,” with no attempt at concealment!

This plot twist surpassed even the most melodramatic soap operas.

The internet erupted in chaos, while the film set fell into an eerie silence.

Su Luochen still vividly remembers Yuan Shiyuan’s gaze, shifting from initial bewilderment to dawning shock, and then… a dazed confusion.

Su Luochen wanted to explain, but Ying Mingxi gently pressed his palm against Yuan Shiyuan’s shoulder blade, shot him a warning glance, and drew Yuan Shiyuan closer into his embrace.

He watched helplessly as Yuan Shiyuan was led away.

The others’ gazes toward Su Luochen were a complex tangle of shock, mockery, and pity, but he felt none of it. His eyes were fixed solely on the figure being shielded in the center of the group.

He was panicked and disoriented, yet in the darkest corner of his heart, a shameful sliver of secret expectation dared to surface.

Yuan Shiyuan knew everything now.

Yuan Shiyuan had finally seen him… though in the most humiliating and unexpected way imaginable.

He didn’t know if Yuan Shiyuan would ask him anything, nor what he should do next. All he knew was that the secret he had hidden for so long had been brutally exposed, laid bare in the harsh light of day.

Like a rat long accustomed to the dark sewers, his first instinct upon being exposed to sunlight wasn’t to bask in it, but to cower and flee.

Su Luochen stumbled back to his resting area in a daze.

His manager was already waiting there, his face expressionless. “Speak. What are your thoughts now?”

Su Luochen remained silent for a long moment.

Then, slowly, he buried his burning cheeks deep into the sofa pillow, squeezing out three desperate words from his throat:

“…I want to die.”