Pretending to Be an Alpha in an All-Alpha Boy Band - Chapter 3
Chapter 3 New Member
No way, a scam.
Which talent scout would recruit people in a bar?
But the name sounded oddly familiar. Yuan Shiyuan glanced at the business card; it listed the company and the scout’s role.
Starry Night Entertainment.
He remembered them.
Starry Night was a major company on par with Ximi Entertainment. They didn’t spare money training artists; their signing bonuses were huge. Also notorious was Starry Night’s 20-year “soul-selling” contract and the sky-high penalties for breach.
Zhuang He relaxed when he saw Yuan Shiyuan’s expression and no longer seemed suspicious. He confirmed, “You’re an S-rank alpha, right?”
Being an S-rank alpha was a strict requirement for members of the Scepter boy group—that was Scepter’s defining trait.
“I’m S-rank,” Yuan Shiyuan said.
“You look young. Still in school?”
“Yeah, a freshman in college.”
Handsome and not some clueless rookie—Zhuang He was even more satisfied. “Scepter is currently listed under the company’s S-rank development plan. As a new member, you’ll get priority resources. The company will cover early training and debut costs; besides the signing bonus, there’ll be profit shares later. Our company’s split is very generous…”
“Signing bonus: five million.”
Yuan Shiyuan blurted, “Oh.”
“What’s wrong?” Zhuang He asked. “If you think the signing bonus is too low, I can negotiate with the company.”
Five million—and that was only the signing bonus. You could still negotiate?
Yuan Shiyuan smiled faintly. “Nothing. It’s just that your line of work seems to make money awfully easily.”
Zhuang He: “……”
Why did that sound so odd?
Starry Night was famous in the industry for its lavishness and was well known as a big spender. Every project under them was a high-budget, polished production. When they formed Scepter, the signing and promotion costs alone totaled around one billion yuan, spent over time.
And it all went down the drain.
If the other side really was an agent from Starry Night, Yuan Shiyuan wasn’t worried about being scammed. He sent the contract to his foster father, who was a lawyer, to check for traps before signing his name.
“About my dispute with Ximi Entertainment.” He handed over a voice recorder. “With this, you should find it easier to handle.”
……
[Hot] [Title: Help! Which idol is this? He’s so handsome, his pink hair stabbed right into my xp!!]
[This face made me feel so good, anyone know his name?]
[Isn’t this the video I shot at Ximi Entertainment’s trainee performance? Pure, straight-from-phone footage, no post-editing. I meant to film who I went for, but he was so pretty I became a fan on the spot. This guy is really handsome and has a great sense for the camera—I just pulled out my camera and he secretly gave me a wink from the corner.]
[This video really had no editing? Then yeah, the look is impressive.]
[OP guarantees absolutely no edits, otherwise my food-delivery coupons would never inflate. And I shot this casually—pink-haired handsome guy was standing right in the death-top light position and still looks this good!!]
[Can the bully and resource flexers get lost? [covering face emoji] Royalty ysy got terminated and you’re still jumping around here—OP, how much did you get paid to whitewash this?]
[+1. I’m starting to suspect I lost a memory. Hasn’t everyone heard about ysy causing a ruckus in the office and being dropped?]
[Let’s not even talk about that—he’s got dirt all over him… now that capital dumped him and Ximi plans to pursue legal action, serves him right (.]
[4000+ making up sex rumors, haha.]
[Every time ysy hits center he cuts to a long shot, absolutely no c-position or close-ups. The company let his scandals run wild. His—Royalty?? Are you kidding me.]
[I’ve always been puzzled how the rumor that ysy is royalty started… This guy is really handsome, but the makeup artists never do him any favors, yet he still holds it together with his looks—just ruggedly handsome. (Attached photo) Even with makeup like this his face still slays. This is the original image; I don’t know how many edits the haters made to the versions going around…]
[No way, resource-rich idols can get rehabilitated too?]
[Keep whitewashing, go ahead. Ximi Entertainment has already sent your people a lawyer’s letter—keep deceiving yourselves, hehe. Anyway, you can’t go in and save ysy by stepping on the sewing machine. (sticking-out-tongue emoji)]
[Resource idols, get out of the entertainment industry, ok? (grinning face)]
For a while, dirt about Yuan Shiyuan flew everywhere.
Ximi Entertainment, where Yuan Shiyuan had previously been, also announced it would cut ties, and its official statement strongly hinted at pursuing legal action against him.
Ximi Entertainment Office.
“Are we really going to make such a big deal out of this?”
Yuan Shiyuan wasn’t even one of their signed artists. They’d bought bot accounts, and now they said they would sue—wasn’t that overreacting?
Chen Yan glanced at the plaster cast on his left hand; a flash of cruelty crossed his eyes. He’d worked in the industry for years, with seniority and wide connections—people bowed to him. Only Yuan Shiyuan dared to be unafraid of him.
It was precisely that fiery temperament that made Chen Yan both love and hate him, and that only increased his desire to dominate.
“He’s not our contracted artist, true, but we didn’t groom him for nothing, did we? Without our company, would he have this level of popularity?”
“People should know how to be grateful.”
Although Chen Yan knew this surge in popularity would soon backfire on Yuan Shiyuan. He understood how terrifying public opinion could be, and he knew someone like Yuan Shiyuan, with no backing or connections, couldn’t speak up in this situation.
Without a support network, one is at others’ mercy. If Yuan Shiyuan were even a bit wiser, he’d know which choice to make.
He was so defiant before—wouldn’t he end up having to come crawling back to him?
“But if this blows up too big…”
“Then blow it up. Let him suffer a little; only then will he learn to behave.”
Chen Yan sneered. “This is also Director Zhou’s intention.”
When they heard “Director Zhou,” everyone fell silent.
Chen Yan had recently made the acquaintance of a big-name film director; Director Zhou’s fame and clout were notorious.
If Director Zhou was backing this, then Yuan Shiyuan really couldn’t recover. Ximi Entertainment was renowned in the industry; offending them equaled the end of a career—he would never appear in the public eye again. No entertainment company would risk angering Ximi to work with Yuan Shiyuan.
Chen Yan kept his phone fully charged, ringtone on, waiting for Yuan Shiyuan to call and apologize.
He waited from day into night and until dawn, and still the call never came.
Suddenly, the main door was thrown open.
“Yan-ge, bad news!” a breathless person shouted. “Starry Night Entertainment sued us!”
“Why would Starry Night sue us?”
“Quick, check Starry Night Entertainment’s official account!”
Propelled by Ximi Entertainment’s agitation, the online feud escalated. Opportunists muddied the waters, spreading half-true rumors; many marketing accounts stoked the fire, and Yuan Shiyuan-related tags climbed the hot searches again, nearly occupying the top ten entertainment list.
Everyone assumed this time Yuan Shiyuan was finished, but soon Starry Night Entertainment entered the fray.
Starry Night’s official account posted two updates:
First: Starry Night Entertainment has sued Ximi Entertainment;
Second: Scepter boy group under Starry Night welcomes a new member, S-rank Alpha, Yuan Shiyuan.
The whole internet erupted!
……
Zhuang He was holding the freshly signed contract, his whole face radiant. At the end of the contract, Yuan Shiyuan’s signature still seemed to carry the scent of ink that hadn’t dried—still warm.
He pushed open the door to the styling room; a gleam of admiration flashed in his eyes.
He’d known Yuan Shiyuan looked good and shot well, but he hadn’t expected him to be this perfect.
Yuan Shiyuan had just washed his hair; his pink hair was damp and clinging to his scalp—a look that would be a disaster on most people—yet on him there was an indefinable beauty.
“So beautiful,” the standby cameraman couldn’t help saying. “And we haven’t even styled him yet.”
The makeup artist said, “This face has me stumped.”
She usually devised different makeup plans to suit each artist’s features and aesthetic. She’d been studying Yuan Shiyuan for a long time and still couldn’t come up with an appropriate scheme.
Yuan Shiyuan’s skin was fine and fair; his bone structure and features were flawless, and his eyelashes were long and thick. There was nothing that needed fixing.
“Brother Zhuang, we really hit the jackpot.”
The more Zhuang He heard, the happier he felt. He leaned in kindly. “Shiyuan, Ximi Entertainment is really panicking this time. They’ve pulled all the hot searches and said they’ll apologize and compensate. Even Chen Yan wants to call you personally to make amends.”
As he spoke, he put the phone on speaker and set it on the table.
From the other end came heavy breathing, as if the person was going through an extremely tangled inner struggle.
“Shiyuan…” Chen Yan’s voice was dry and tense, entirely lacking his usual swagger. “What happened before was my fault, it was all a misunderstanding…”
Yuan Shiyuan lifted one brow slightly. “Yan-ge, your apology sounds pretty reluctant. Want someone else—like Zhou—do it instead?”
“That was my mistake, I really know I was wrong!” Chen Yan’s voice shot up, trembling noticeably. “Tell me how much, how much compensation—you name it, I’ll give it to you. Shiyuan, I have elderly and young to care for…”
Yuan Shiyuan knew Chen Yan wasn’t sincere—he was scared, scared that he’d get tangled up with Director Zhou behind him.
“Do you remember what you said back then? ‘That I could look down on you—what a favor?’”
“That was bullshit! I was being arrogant, I had no eyes for greatness…” The other end of the line shivered with clenched teeth and stifled sobs.
“Now I’ll give you this one chance.” Yuan Shiyuan looked down at the phone from above. “I have only one demand: don’t let me see you again.” He paused, a deeper smile curving his lips. “Or you know exactly what I’ll do.”
“Yes, yes, yes! I will absolutely never show myself before you again, Shiyuan, thank you… thank you.”
Zhuang He hung up at the right moment, his face a mix of shock and delight. On one hand, he’d never seen Chen Yan grovel so abjectly; on the other, he was amazed by Yuan Shiyuan’s courage and presence.
“If there’s anything else you want, just say it.” Zhuang He couldn’t hide his admiration. “The company will make it right for you.”
“Thank you, Brother Zhuang, that’s all.” Yuan Shiyuan smiled politely. “I’d rather not use the company’s power to intimidate people. You handle it as you see fit.”
“All right. Don’t let this affect your mood.” Zhuang He said, “We’ll fluff your hair a bit, keep it casual. Later we’ll do a livestream—just a simple chat with fans to get some heat back.”
But Assistant Xiao Huang brought bad news. “Brother Zhuang, trouble! Bo Jin is on his way to the airport…”
In the makeup mirror, Yuan Shiyuan lightly twitched the corner of his brow.
Bo Jin? Isn’t he one of the Scepter boy group members?
“Didn’t we have someone collect his passport? What does he want to do now? Get him back right away!” Zhuang He was exasperated. “And the others? Confirm where they are and try to contact them immediately!”
Yuan Shiyuan hadn’t met the other members yet.
After successfully signing the contract, he was added to a work chat with the five remaining members of Scepter.
All five members were cold and aloof.
Zhuang He had posted a call to assemble three hours earlier, and the group chat was silent. Whether they would manage to gather everyone was still uncertain.
Alphas are born rebellious, and the boy group members under Zhuang He’s management were S-rank Alphas sitting at the top of the food chain—known for their stubbornness and undisciplinability.
Yuan Shiyuan, meanwhile, sat quietly and obediently in front of the makeup mirror, letting the stylist arrange his hair, his hands folded neatly in his lap—practically a beloved little angel.
Zhuang He couldn’t help but feel a little more fondness. “Don’t be nervous about the livestream later. Just chat a bit—say hi to the fans. It’s getting late; it might be inconvenient for you to go back. Why not stay here? We’ve already prepared the staff dorm for you…”
Yuan Shiyuan: “I’d like to move in tomorrow.”
“That works.” Zhuang He replied. “Anyway, your dorms are usually empty. I’ll figure out how to get the other members here these next couple days.”
With summer approaching, although students at A University could apply to stay on campus, the accommodation options were limited and renting was expensive. If Starry Night Entertainment could help solve housing, that would be a good thing.
Yuan Shiyuan had seen photos of the dorm; the fact that each room had its own bathroom alone made it far superior to the school’s communal-bath dormitories.
“The livestream equipment is almost set up. Are you ready over there?” Assistant Xiao Huang poked his head in to ask, but his gaze kept drifting toward Yuan Shiyuan.
The stylist hadn’t given Yuan Shiyuan anything elaborate—just gently blow-dried his hair to add volume, with the ends softly curled, which made his features look even more refined.
Yuan Shiyuan stood up to unpack a case of bottled water.
Xiao Huang, thinking he wanted a drink, hurried to help—only to see him open the box and hand out bottles to the staff present.
Yuan Shiyuan smiled. “Thanks for your hard work, everyone.”
His fingers around the bottle were slender, pale, and slightly bony in a way that somehow lent them an unexpectedly delicate, non-Alpha elegance.
The livestream equipment malfunctioned, forcing the staff to start the stream early.
The moment the livestream went live, the chat exploded.
[ysy is unbelievable—turning this kind of situation around and getting picked up by Starry Night Entertainment… you can tell he’s got some serious backing.]
[Is this another rich investor flexing their money? I don’t follow idols, but I watch dramas—please stop ruining my eyes… what are these drama Alphas nowadays, like tender beef blocks? mutant rats? ancestral apes? evil beauty sponges? (Translation note: these are sarcastic metaphors mocking odd looks.)]
[Can the capitalists tone it down? The Alpha they shoved in last time smiled like a mutated lizard!]
[I’ve had it with these capitalists sending uglies into the entertainment world. A bunch of “ugly handsome” (only ugly, not handsome) Alphas—my eyes are suffering.]
[Seriously? Another hideously promoted kid by some investor?]
[…]
Netizens were on a roll, their roasts sharp and blunt—clearly long-suffering from visual trauma.
Then the door opened, and viewers first caught a glimpse of a tall silhouette reflected in the wall mirror; a streak of pale pink passed the edge of the frame.
Without any warning or buffer, an enlarged face filled the camera—delicate, clean-cut brows and features, skin so pale it was almost translucent, soft, fluffy pale-pink hair, and two light-colored beauty marks beneath his right eyelid.
He raised an eyebrow at the camera and smiled. His canine teeth—neither too pronounced nor insignificant—narrowly tucked into his lower lip, giving off a faint, Alpha-specific wildness.
The comment feed went suddenly silent, then was swept by an astonishing flood of messages!
[WTF???]
[Wait—this face??]
[OMG this time it’s the capitalist’s pretty kid..!!!]