Pretending to Be an Alpha in an All-Alpha Boy Band - Chapter 147

Chapter 147: Habituation 

Yuan Shiyuan’s first thought was, Could there be some kind of mistake?

While Su Luochen could be moody and unpredictable, surely he wouldn’t… go this far, would he?

It wasn’t that Yuan Shiyuan was trying to excuse his former teammate. Rather, Su Luochen’s behavior online—posing as his “dream A” and posting a series of bewildering messages—seemed utterly beyond the realm of normal human behavior.

“You don’t understand,” Ying Mingche whispered, glancing vaguely at Ying Mingxi before leaning closer to Yuan Shiyuan’s ear. “Alphas are masters of disguise. Especially those who appear the most normal—they’re actually the most twisted. Take my brother, for example—he’s the most twisted of them all. You’d better keep your distance from him.”

Ying Mingche never missed an opportunity to smear Ying Mingxi’s reputation.

Yuan Shiyuan had indeed witnessed some of Ying Mingxi’s “twisted” behavior, but it was all confined to the bedroom—harmless little kinks, really. Outside the bedroom, Ying Mingxi was remarkably considerate and never burdened him with worries. That was all that mattered.

“Doesn’t it sound like you’re describing yourself?” Yuan Shiyuan asked, glancing sideways at Ying Mingche without acknowledging his earlier remarks.

Ying Mingche didn’t deny it. “That’s because I am.”

Yuan Shiyuan chuckled. “What are you so proud of?”

Su Luochen’s exposure spread like wildfire. In the blink of an eye, everyone on set knew. Su Luochen’s team remained quietly in their dressing room, and their company issued no statement. They maintained a united silence, pretending nothing had happened.

Chen Yin pulled Yuan Shiyuan aside to a secluded corner. “What do you make of this Su Luochen situation?”

“Honestly, I wasn’t a fan of him from the start. Their group has the looks, sure, but their acting skills are a bit lacking. And the chemistry with you just isn’t there.”

If it weren’t for the other members of Scepter, Chen Yin might have found the Necro Boy Group acceptable. But with Yuan Shiyuan’s own teammates around, this ex-husband—no, this former boy group—just couldn’t measure up.

“But Su Luochen brought investment money to the table—an amount I couldn’t refuse,” Chen Yin said, shrugging.

Yuan Shiyuan nodded in understanding.

Back when he was working part-time jobs, he’d been reluctant to do certain tasks. But if the boss offered extra pay, he’d suddenly find himself motivated, the job seeming much less unbearable.

“It’s fine. Let him stay,” Yuan Shiyuan said, unbothered.

Though the situation was absurd, he genuinely felt little emotion about it.

“Agreed. Their company plans to let it blow over quietly. Let’s all just pretend nothing happened.”

Yuan Shiyuan took a sip of water. “Mm.”

What else could he say?

Denying or admitting anything at this point would only fuel the flames. A cold response was the only, and best, solution.

But a cold response was also a tacit admission. This move publicly acknowledged that Su Luochen was indeed Yuan Shiyuan’s “Major Dream A Fan.”

Even the clever Yuan Shiyuan couldn’t think of a better way to handle it.

Chen Yin quietly observed Yuan Shiyuan’s expression before whispering, “He really likes you, huh?”

Yuan Shiyuan choked on his water, startled. “What?”

“I’ve been suspicious for a while now. And his teammates… I think they’re all into you too.”

“No way…”

Nan Liujing had confessed his feelings to him outright. Yue Xiao… even though he had licked his foot, Yuan Shiyuan didn’t think that meant romantic interest. Yue Xiao was naturally awkward around people, and Yuan Shiyuan couldn’t imagine him being in love.

Of course, Yuan Shiyuan would never gossip about such things; he always kept his mouth shut. Seeing he couldn’t dig up any juicy details, Chen Yin reluctantly withdrew his gaze, disappointed.

On their way back, they unexpectedly ran into Su Luochen, who was lying in wait like a hunter stalking his prey.

Su Luochen seemed to have been waiting there for a long time, having already changed out of his security uniform. He looked at Yuan Shiyuan, his eyes filled with undisguised, almost obsessive directness.

Yuan Shiyuan was speechless.

At this crucial moment, Su Luochen dares to come looking for me? Why didn’t his team stop him?

Neither of them spoke.

Caught in the middle, Chen Yin felt inexplicably awkward for them. “Ahahaha, it’s a bit windy here. Shiyuan, let’s go over there…”

Su Luochen silently blocked their path.

Yuan Shiyuan had no choice. “Director Chen, you go ahead first.”

“Are you sure you’ll be alright?” Chen Yin glanced warily at Su Luochen. In his eyes, Su Luochen now looked no different from a dangerous criminal.

“I’ll be fine,” Yuan Shiyuan reassured him. “We’re both Alphas. What could he possibly do to me?”

We’re both Alphas, yet he’s practically begging to be your dream A, isn’t he?

Chen Yin naturally kept that thought to himself. He nodded and reluctantly left.

Yuan Shiyuan asked flatly, “What do you want?”

Su Luochen’s voice was slightly hoarse. “What are you thinking?”

“About what exactly?”

Su Luochen stiffened, lowering his head. “You know perfectly well what I mean.”

Yuan Shiyuan understood perfectly well but feigned ignorance, deliberately sweeping the entire matter under the rug. This deliberate evasion stung far more than a direct rejection.

Just as Su Luochen was about to speak again, a warm, gentle male voice drifted from the side. Ying Mingxi was walking toward them, calling softly, “Shiyuan?”

It was likely that Chen Yin, worried about Yuan Shiyuan, had secretly tipped Ying Mingxi off.

“I’ll be right there,” Yuan Shiyuan replied, taking a moment to glance at Ying Mingxi before turning back to Su Luochen. “Anything else?”

Yuan Shiyuan truly had nothing to say to Su Luochen.

Whether Su Luochen liked him or not was irrelevant. He refused to let someone else’s unilateral feelings drag him into chaos or force him to agonize over how to respond.

If he had to agonize over every person who liked him—and so many did—would he even have the energy for it?

Yuan Shiyuan had never cared about those he didn’t care about.

After a moment, Su Luochen finally choked out, “You’re doing it again.”

It had always been like this. Yuan Shiyuan acted polite, but consistently ignored his existence.

Now, he was ignoring his feelings too.

To Yuan Shiyuan, he meant nothing.

Su Luochen watched Ying Mingxi approach, then suddenly lunged forward, gripping Yuan Shiyuan’s wrist tightly. He leaned in, his thin lips brushing Yuan Shiyuan’s ear, wanting desperately to bite him, to leave his mark, to claim him completely.

But when he caught the faint scent of Yuan Shiyuan’s pheromones, he froze.

In the end, he merely tightened his grip on Yuan Shiyuan’s wrist.

“…I truly hate you.”

Yuan Shiyuan retreated a step, pulling his hand away, only for it to be immediately captured by another Alpha’s palm.

Ying Mingxi took his hand and, with effortless possessiveness, draped an arm around his waist, shielding him behind him in a protective and possessive gesture.

His tone and expression remained gentle, but his actions were filled with possessiveness.

“Finished chatting?” Ying Mingxi asked softly. “Director Chen is waiting for us.”

The next scene to be filmed was the pivotal scene of Yuan Shiyuan and Jiang Heng’s illicit affair.

Yuan Shiyuan’s character not only secretly experimented with women’s clothing, but also engaged in all sorts of illicit activities with his lover.

At that moment, Jiang Heng’s shirt hung disheveled and wide open, revealing a collar around his neck connected to a silver bite stopper covering his face. His hands were bound behind his back, his head tilted back in a posture of complete submission as he gazed up at Yuan Shiyuan standing before him.

Chen Yin stared at the monitor and shook his head. “No, that’s not right. Not sleazy enough. Not enough sass.” He turned to Ying Mingche. “You come teach Jiang Heng what a real slut is.”

“Director,” Ying Mingche retorted, “are you praising me or insulting me?”

Despite his verbal protest, Ying Mingche moved faster than anyone else, eager to showcase his skills. He didn’t even need props. He immediately dropped to his knees before Yuan Shiyuan, slowly rose, and gently rubbed his cheek against Yuan Shiyuan’s knee.

The movement seemed docile and affectionate, yet his eyes burned with undisguised possessiveness.

Yuan Shiyuan looked down at him from above, casually stroking his cheek. The careless gesture carried a hint of perfunctoriness, yet his gaze was remarkably tender.

Chen Yin couldn’t help but marvel at Ying Mingche’s natural talent for playing the mistress. That sleazy edge was something no one else could quite capture.

“That’s the feeling I’m talking about.” He turned to Jiang Heng, who was diligently studying. “Try to grasp it. But be careful not to overdo it like Ying Mingche—he went a little overboard.”

Ying Mingche: “?”

Now I think I know why I didn’t get the part.

Initially, Chen Yin had high hopes for Ying Mingche. In Yuan Shiyuan’s presence, he possessed a natural mistress-like aura. The problem, however, was that Ying Mingche was too seductive. Even in other scenes with normal plot progression, he carried that same flirtatious air.

With regret, Chen Yin had to choose Jiang Heng instead. This Alpha, who projected a cool, aloof image in public, secretly yearned to play the mistress role, engaging in clandestine affairs and constantly tempting his target, strategizing every move to usurp the top position.

This stark contrast created far more dramatic tension.

“You guys should go back and practice more. Jiang Heng, loosen up a bit more, but do it gradually, find the right balance.”

“Shiyuan, same goes for you. Your performance today was good, but for the upcoming scenes, you’ll need to find a way to overcome your discomfort.”

Chen Yin could tell Yuan Shiyuan was embarrassed to film intimate scenes on set, clearly uncomfortable being watched by so many people. He understood; after all, Yuan Shiyuan was still a newcomer.

Overall, he was very satisfied. Today’s filming had gone smoothly, and Yuan Shiyuan’s performance had been excellent.

After wrapping up for the day, inside the nanny van, Ying Mingxi draped a plush blanket over Yuan Shiyuan’s legs.

“Shiyuan, did you hear what Director Chen said?” he asked with a smile. “You need to get used to being watched.”

Whenever Ying Mingxi spoke in such a gentle, soothing tone, Yuan Shiyuan always felt… strange.

He cast a dismissive glance at the Alpha. “I know. I’ll find a way to overcome it.”

“Later, let’s find some time to practice again, okay?” He paused, then murmured softly, “This time, help me get used to… the feeling of being watched?”

As soon as Yuan Shiyuan finished speaking, he keenly sensed a momentary surge of pheromonal agitation in the van.

He pretended nothing had happened, completely ignoring his own words as he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

The air conditioning in the van was too cold. Feeling chilled, Yuan Shiyuan leaned against Bo Jin, who naturally ran warm.

Once he’d warmed up from Bo Jin’s body heat, he drowsily pulled Pei Yanbing’s hand over and pressed it against his lower abdomen, skin to skin, as if urging Pei Yanbing to release his pheromones and help him cool down.

Though Pei Yanbing was taciturn, he always understood Yuan Shiyuan’s meaning.

Sandwiched between Pei Yanbing’s cool pheromones and Bo Jin’s warm ones, Yuan Shiyuan luxuriated, his eyelashes fluttering contentedly.

Bo Jin, half-embracing Yuan Shiyuan, clearly resented the presence of other Alphas. But since Yuan Shiyuan liked it, he had no choice but to suppress his resentment.

That night, Yuan Shiyuan sat on a chair after his bath, a white towel draped around his neck as Bo Jin blow-dried his hair from behind.

While idly scrolling through his phone, a notification suddenly popped up at the top of the screen.

Yuan Shiyuan narrowed his eyes slightly.

Opening the notification, he discovered that a gossip blog had secretly photographed his meetings with Yu Sijing: their meeting at the café, him carrying Gu Weiyuan into a car, Yu Sijing driving him home, and even shots of Yu Sijing’s car parked nearby when visiting the film set.

Yuan Shiyuan’s brow furrowed slightly as his fingertip brushed lightly across the screen.

He knew that celebrities were often stalked and photographed by paparazzi, and that his current fame made him a constant target of cameras.

But seeing his private life—his normal, everyday interactions—exposed and made public still felt intrusive and unsettling.

Nowadays, any rumor about him would spread like wildfire across the internet.

Many people, upon seeing these blurry photos, began to speculate maliciously:

– What’s going on? Ysy has a kid? Did he give birth?

– Isn’t that someone from the Yu Group?

– No wonder ysy’s getting so many resources lately. I get it now.

Yuan Shiyuan: “……”

He could ignore the other malicious speculation, but claiming he had given birth to Gu Weiyuan? That was utterly ridiculous!

Yuan Shiyuan and Gu Weiyuan were nearly a decade apart in age. Even if he could somehow give birth, how could he have birthed a Gu Weiyuan this grown?

A new notification popped up on his mobile phone.

Yu Sijing: Can I handle these news stories?

Yu Sijing had seen it too.

Yuan Shiyuan’s company had dedicated public relations and legal departments, with specialists handling everything related to him. Yu Sijing, who normally paid no attention to the entertainment industry’s gossip, found himself constantly searching for Yuan Shiyuan online.

Big data algorithms had precisely captured his preferences, ensuring any news about Yuan Shiyuan was pushed to his screen immediately.

Yu Sijing knew that rashly intervening might disrupt Yuan Shiyuan’s rhythm, or perhaps Yuan Shiyuan himself didn’t want him involved.

He left the choice entirely to Yuan Shiyuan.

Instead of a direct answer, Yuan Shiyuan replied, “Big Brother, I don’t like what they’re saying.”

Yu Sijing: “I understand.”

Just as Yuan Shiyuan received this message, he switched back to the app.

To his astonishment, all the marketing accounts spreading rumors and stirring up drama had been banned. The trending topics related to the smear campaigns had vanished, replaced by an endless stream of glowing, positive articles.

Yu Sijing: “Feeling better now?”

Yuan Shiyuan hadn’t expected Yu Sijing to act so swiftly.

He slowly typed, “It’ll do for now. 妻聆九肆溜衫七三O”

Yu Sijing sent another message with information about several brands: “Do you like these?”

Yuan Shiyuan found it amusing.

He had just asked Yu Sijing to do one thing, and now Yu Sijing was already eager to do others. What’s this? Groveling for my affection?

Yuan Shiyuan: “I like them all. What should I do?”

Yu Sijing: “Then you can have them all.”

Yuan Shiyuan: “Big Brother, if you keep this up, you’ll just make me more greedy.”

Yu Sijing: “Is that a bad thing?”

He immediately sent another message: No matter how big your appetite is, I can afford it.

The damp pink strands gradually dried, some falling across Yuan Shiyuan’s forehead and cheeks, creating a faint tickle.

Feeling the itch, Yuan Shiyuan shook his head slightly.

Bo Jin immediately pulled the hair dryer away to avoid burning Yuan Shiyuan. His large hand reached forward from behind, cupping Yuan Shiyuan’s chin and gently turning his face to the side.

“Did your hair brush against your face?” He carefully tucked the strands behind Yuan Shiyuan’s ear, securing them with a hairpin at his temple. His fingertips softly curled around the pink ends, brushing against Yuan Shiyuan’s lip. “Your hair’s gotten so long.”

“Is it okay?” Yuan Shiyuan glanced down at the length—it was indeed just fine. He’d been growing it out for a while, and it barely reached his collarbone.

“We’ll decide whether to cut it after filming the TV drama, depending on the promotional plans,” Yuan Shiyuan said, joining the Alpha in playing with his hair. “I’ve never had my hair this long before.”

Yuan Shiyuan’s hair was fine and silky, soft as satin, yet surprisingly thick. He disliked letting it grow too long, always cutting it when it reached a certain length.

If not for this TV drama, he probably would never have seen himself with long hair.

“It’s fine if you don’t cut it,” Bo Jin said again. “It looks great as it is.”

Yuan Shiyuan’s skin prickled with goosebumps.

He turned to glare at the Alpha. “Brother Bo Jin, do you even realize how… extra you sound when you talk like that?”

“Extra?”

“Extra cheesy.”

“……”

Bo Jin’s expression was truly priceless in that moment. Yuan Shiyuan couldn’t help it; he burst into laughter.

Bo Jin put down the hair dryer, leaned down, cupped Yuan Shiyuan’s face in his hands, and tilted his head to gently nip at Yuan Shiyuan’s chin before working his way up to nibble on his lower lip.

“Hey, stop—” Yuan Shiyuan hurriedly ducked away. “I just washed my face!”

Bo Jin acted as if he hadn’t heard, stubbornly nuzzling and kissing Yuan Shiyuan’s face until he was sure Yuan Shiyuan’s scent had thoroughly enveloped him. Only then did he slowly straighten up.

“No more cheesiness now,” he said smugly. “I’m completely covered in your scent.”

Yuan Shiyuan froze, instinctively tilting his head back to sniff. Sure enough, he could detect his own scent clinging to Bo Jin.

Fascinated, he raised his wrist and sniffed himself again.

Seeing his expression, Bo Jin inexplicably smiled, then picked up the hair dryer again, patiently drying the ends of Yuan Shiyuan’s hair.

Yuan Shiyuan glanced at his phone again and noticed Yu Sijing had sent him detailed profiles of several high-end luxury brands, as if offering him his pick of endorsements.

He wasn’t exactly lacking for opportunities right now, but when he recalled the Alpha’s words from earlier that day, the words of refusal caught in his throat.

Please, give me a chance to do something for you.

Yuan Shiyuan: Some of these brands are direct competitors. I can’t endorse them simultaneously.

He added: As for the rest, do whatever you think is best.

Yu Sijing: I’ll handle everything.

Yuan Shiyuan: Thank you, Big Brother.

Afraid his tone sounded too detached, he added a “kiss” emoji.

“Finished chatting?”

The Alpha behind him had finished blow-drying his hair and neatly tied Yuan Shiyuan’s hair into a small ponytail. He only spoke when Yuan Shiyuan put down his phone.

Yuan Shiyuan: Were you spying on my phone?

“Why would I need to spy?” Bo Jin pinched Yuan Shiyuan’s cheek. “Just looking at your face tells me you’re chatting with other Alphas.”

“And you’re having such a good time.”

Just as Yuan Shiyuan was about to deny it, Bo Jin grabbed him by the waist and lifted him into the air. His feet left the ground, and his hands instinctively braced against the Alpha’s shoulders, leaving him completely stunned.

“Let’s go,” Bo Jin said, patting Yuan Shiyuan’s shoulder casually. Under Yuan Shiyuan’s mortified gaze, he chuckled. “After your shower, we’ll help you properly ‘overcome’ this.”

Yuan Shiyuan needed to get used to being watched.

In the empty lounge, only a few warm yellow wall lamps were lit.

Dressed in soft, freshly ironed pajamas, Yuan Shiyuan sat cross-legged in the center of the room, surrounded by a circle of Alphas.

“But… how am I supposed to get used to this?” he asked, a premonition of dread rising within him. “You’re not planning to… each take turns while the others watch, are you?”

Yuan Shiyuan’s eyes narrowed with suspicion.

“Then I want to go first!” Ying Mingche blurted out eagerly.

No one paid him any attention.

“Of course not,” Ying Mingxi reassured him gently. “We know you’re not comfortable with this yet. We won’t overwhelm you right away.”

Yuan Shiyuan breathed a small sigh of relief.

The earlier chaos had been fueled by his heat period raging fiercely, making him desperately want them. He had half-resisted, half-yielded, lost in the moment. Now, his glands and stomach were behaving themselves, neither burning hot nor craving pheromones.

As a deeply conservative and traditional man, he couldn’t possibly accept such a debauched development while conscious.

There were five Alphas right in front of him!

At most, he could tolerate… about three simultaneously?

“So, how are you going to help me get used to being watched?” Yuan Shiyuan asked, puzzled.

“It’s simple, Shiyuan,” Ying Mingxi replied. “You’ll just stay here. None of us will touch you; we’ll just watch.”

Yuan Shiyuan froze. “You mean… I’ll play by myself while you guys just watch?”

“Or you can pick one of us to play with you. The rest will just watch,” Ying Mingxi offered another option.

Yuan Shiyuan: “……”

That was even worse than playing alone.

Yuan Shiyuan had originally imagined that playing alone meant he would sit in the center while the others watched him passionately stroke himself, lost in ecstasy.

He never expected an Alpha to suddenly produce a beautifully woven black rope, intricately knotted with several knots of varying sizes.

“What’s the meaning of this?” Yuan Shiyuan asked. “Are you going to tie me up?”

Yuan Shiyuan glanced around the group. Pei Yanbing, Jiang Heng, and Bo Jin all looked mildly confused, while Ying Mingche wore a face of rapturous excitement, clearly understanding immediately.

Ying Mingxi placed a hand gently on Yuan Shiyuan’s shoulder and said softly, “No, Shiyuan. You just need to walk across it. That’s all.”

Walk across it?

How difficult could that be?

“Just to be safe, Shiyuan, why don’t you choose someone to stay by your side?”

Yuan Shiyuan scoffed. “Do you think I can’t keep my balance?”

It’s just a stupid rope. What’s the big deal?

Yuan Shiyuan scanned the room, seeing each Alpha’s eager expression, and suddenly found himself unsure of who to choose.

Too many people. That’s the problem.

Yuan Shiyuan mentally calculated for a moment before realizing he’d only ever experienced Ying Mingche’s pheromones once.

Compared to the others, Ying Mingche had the fewest interactions. Yuan Shiyuan casually pointed at him. “You’ll do.”

When Ying Mingche was chosen, he felt as though he had been struck by a massive wave of joy, leaving him dizzy and overwhelmed.

“Is it really me?” Ying Mingche hurried to Yuan Shiyuan’s side. “Is it really me? Darling, you really chose me? You love me so much!”

Yuan Shiyuan, who was bending over to take off his pants, glanced at him with a puzzled look and warned, “Behave yourself.”

Like a dog obeying its master’s command, Ying Mingche immediately fell silent, his eyes gleaming with astonishing intensity.

Then, under Yuan Shiyuan’s watchful gaze, he knelt first on both knees, tilted his head back, and used his teeth to grasp the belt at Yuan Shiyuan’s waist, skillfully helping him remove his pants.

He’s actually quite adept at this, Yuan Shiyuan thought.

As a reward, Yuan Shiyuan stroked Ying Mingche’s face before stepping forward, lifting his leg to position the rope between his knees.

Only then did he realize the rope’s height was slightly awkward. He tried taking a few steps and discovered the rope would snag in the snowy cleft as he walked.

However, standing on tiptoe slightly compensated for this. The only problem was… as he walked, the rope’s rough texture chafed against his soft skin, causing a persistent, distracting itch.

Yuan Shiyuan had forgotten that the other end of the rope was held by the Alphas watching him intently.

As Yuan Shiyuan approached the first knot, just when he thought he’d pass it smoothly, the black rope suddenly jerked upward slightly. For a split second, he felt suspended in mid-air, his body tipping precariously forward.

Ying Mingche reached out to steady him, but Yuan Shiyuan, with his exceptional balance, swiftly regained his footing. However, his knees were now pressed tightly together, and the knot had vanished completely into the crevice between them—swallowed whole.

“Take your time,” Ying Mingxi said kindly.

Yuan Shiyuan frowned, sensing something was amiss. Fortunately, the knot was small, and dealing with it posed no real challenge.

Yet with each step, the knot dug deeper into his tender skin, sending a strange electric current through him.

He could feel the Alphas’ gazes growing increasingly intense, almost burning. He could even hear their ragged breathing and the frequent gulping sounds of swallowed saliva.

Standing at the center, clad only in a soft home pajama set, the hem of which barely covered his thighs, Yuan Shiyuan found the knot’s semi-concealed position laid bare, its location unmistakable.

Yuan Shiyuan shuffled forward slowly, finally understanding why Ying Mingxi had insisted on having someone accompany him.

After walking a short distance, facing increasingly larger and denser knots, he realized this seemingly simple game concealed hidden depths.

Even when Yuan Shiyuan stood on tiptoe, he couldn’t prevent the black knots from sinking deeper. The further he went, the larger and more numerous the knots became.

The rough knots scraped against his tender skin with each inch of movement. Even his most delicate, pale flesh couldn’t escape, rubbed raw and flushed crimson.

Gradually, Yuan Shiyuan found a rhythm. The gazes surrounding him filled him with both shame and a strange, unfamiliar arousal.

They’re all watching me.

Every reaction, every flinch, every gasp, was laid bare before their eyes.

This sensation was exquisitely complex. A faint blush rose on Yuan Shiyuan’s cheeks, his gaze growing unfocused. The surrounding gazes burned hotter, their intensity almost tangible, searing his skin.

He knew they were all watching him, observing how a mere rope could grind him into utter discomposure.

Yuan Shiyuan could clearly sense their excitement, their feverish anticipation, building with each agonizing grind.

Not long after, Yuan Shiyuan grew dissatisfied with the shallow knot. Born with fair skin, he found it difficult to locate without assistance.

He pressed his palm against the Alpha’s arm beside him, slowly swaying his hips, deliberately grinding against and searching for the deeply embedded knot.

“Mmm… mmm-ah…”

Far from finding it, he only earned an increasingly frustrated, aching discomfort. Yuan Shiyuan couldn’t help but moan softly, his dissatisfaction tinged with a hint of aggrieved complaint.

In the past, these Alphas had always given him what he wanted immediately. Having tasted the intensity of more concentrated pheromones, this mere knot couldn’t satisfy his pampered appetite.

All eyes were fixed on Yuan Shiyuan’s face.

Beneath the hem of his pajama bottoms, an enormous black knot slowly disappeared and reappeared in an endless cycle.

It was hard to believe how such a delicate and sheltered snow could have developed such a voracious appetite.

Yuan Shiyuan stood on tiptoe, his chin lifted slightly, his eyes flushed with innocent allure. Under the Alphas’ gaze, he seemed bashful and evasive, yet occasionally met their gazes.

Half of the black knot remained visible, swaying gently with his breath.

His moist, unfocused gaze flickered sideways, his flushed cheeks tinged with an innocent bewilderment. It was impossible to tell if he was pleading for help or unintentionally seducing.

As another knot vanished, Yuan Shiyuan’s knees buckled violently, leaving him nearly hanging from the ropes. Had Ying Mingche not steadied him by the waist, he would have collapsed entirely.

But Ying Mingche was barely holding his own either, his center of gravity almost entirely reliant on the ropes and the Alpha beside him.

Yuan Shiyuan’s knees trembled, his once pale pink skin now chafed to a raw, crimson red. Even his gland suffered, rubbed raw and flushed.

Worse still, the knots, swollen with absorbed moisture, continued to expand.

The Alphas, who had initially agreed only to observe from the sidelines, began to stir restlessly.

Bo Jin, no longer pacing, stepped closer, his deep voice resonating in Yuan Shiyuan’s ear: “Are you… getting used to it now?”

Yuan Shiyuan’s cheeks burned. His tongue darted out unconsciously, yet he still obediently replied, “N-no… not used to it…”

As he spoke, his unsteady stance caused him to inadvertently sink lower. Streams of sweat trickled down the ropes, dripping with a clear plink onto the floor.

“Ugh—!”

“Ugh… N-no… not yet…”

The urge to relieve himself intensified, but Yuan Shiyuan couldn’t steady himself, only sinking further into the seat.

A pale yellow arc formed in the air as his abdomen clenched violently, and the largest knot completely vanished. He leaned helplessly against another Alpha, soaking the Alpha’s body with his fluids.

The surrounding Alphas rose to their feet, slowly closing in.

Leaning against Ying Mingche, Yuan Shiyuan’s face was gently lifted by Bo Jin. Startled, he met Bo Jin’s gaze, only to sense someone pressing close behind him, their fingers tightening around the knot.

He whipped around to see a face almost identical to Ying Mingche’s.

From the side, Jiang Heng quietly approached, took his hand, and guided him, his fingertips stained crimson.

The scene before him was utterly surreal. Yuan Shiyuan hastily lowered his head, only to see Pei Yanbing kneeling before him, gazing up at him.

Layers of shame piled upon him.

Yuan Shiyuan was, at his core, traditional and conservative. His earlier acceptance of this chaotic turn of events had stemmed largely from the urgency of his heat period.

Though he had undeniably enjoyed it, completely immersed in the experience from beginning to end, Yuan Shiyuan rarely deliberately recalled those overlapping figures, entwined breaths… They evoked a secret shame within him.

Five people… It was ultimately too many.

The images in his memory strangely overlapped with the present moment.

But now, he was clearly not in his heat period, yet he could still distinctly feel an intense desire surging uncontrollably from deep within his abdomen.

Yuan Shiyuan turned his head, instinctively reaching to shield his eyes with his other arm, but he was gently yet firmly stopped.

“Shiyuan,” the Alphas coaxed in his ear, “you need to get used to being watched.”

“We accompanied you like this last time too. Didn’t you enjoy it?”

Yuan Shiyuan retorted, “But last time, it was because of my heat period…”

“And this time isn’t?” Ying Mingxi interjected softly. “This time, you’re the one who wants us, aren’t you?”

“Shiyuan, don’t close your eyes. Let us help you…”

“Help you get used to being watched.”

“Help you… learn to enjoy all of this.”