Pretending to Be an Alpha in an All-Alpha Boy Band - Chapter 37
Chapter 37 Everyone in Position (Second update + extra 60k nutrient solution)
Ding-ling.
The crisp chime of the door rang out. Yuan Shiyuan turned, holding a gilt tray, fingertips wrapped in lace gloves lightly resting on the tray’s edge.
He wore a smile and was about to habitually say “Welcome” when his face froze.
The little manservant secretly working at the café, Yuan Shiyuan, was suddenly surrounded head-on by his three teammates.
Bo Jin’s expression was cold; the other pair of twins looked… fine. Ying Mingche’s eyes glittered with an inexplicable excitement, while Ying Mingxi kept that gentle, all-embracing look he always had.
“Why didn’t you come to serve us?”
Ying Mingche found a seat and tapped his fingers on the table. “Little manservant, we’d like to order.”
Yuan Shiyuan clenched the tray.
All he could think was social death.
Ah well, guests are guests.
Yuan Shiyuan forced himself to step forward, but Bo Jin grabbed his wrist. The Alpha’s body heat radiated through the lace glove—surprisingly scorching.
The others were one thing, but the hardest to handle was Bo Jin’s intense big-A chauvinism. Yuan Shiyuan put on an innocent act: “Why are you here?”
“You came to a place like this behind my back, and you still ask why I’m here.” Bo Jin’s look was exactly like a husband catching his spouse cheating in bed.
“?”
Yuan Shiyuan was puzzled. “Why are you talking like I cheated on you?”
Cheating.
Bo Jin was momentarily stunned; his stern expression turned awkward.
“I didn’t tell you because I knew you’d definitely be angry. To avoid making you angry, I just hid it from the start.”
“I’m doing this for your own good.”
“I don’t want you to be unhappy.”
“…”
—Help! Little Yuan is too good at this!
—This isn’t an explanation; it’s clearly him acting coy!
—Little Yuan gently puts in the effort, and Brother Huo is about to be hooked. [covering face]
Bo Jin’s lip twitched.
What twisted logic.
But unexpectedly persuasive.
Bo Jin had been furious. He’d spent the morning working like a beast to help Yuan Shiyuan wait in line for an hour, and Yuan Shiyuan hid it from him, lied to him. He hated being deceived.
But hearing those few lines, he felt a strange, private pleasure.
Bo Jin looked at Yuan Shiyuan with meaning.
He had long known that Yuan Shiyuan could always say the most pleasing things. Having tasted that sweetness countless times, Bo Jin had thought he would no longer be swayed by Yuan Shiyuan’s words. Yet the truth was, every time he was delighted by them.
It turned out Yuan Shiyuan lied because he was afraid Bo Jin would be unhappy.
At the root, Yuan Shiyuan cared about him—about his feelings.
Bo Jin turned his head away and said in a flat tone, “I’m not that easy to anger.”
He emphasized, “Not that easy.”
“You dressed like this has nothing to do with me. Why would I be angry?”
“Keep pretending, keep pretending,”
Ying Mingche scoffed and mercilessly pierced the act, “You just didn’t see his expression—haha, it was hilarious, looked like he was about to explode.”
—Yes yes yes, Brother Huo is about to explode; another part of him is starving and urgently needs the little Yuan manservant to put out the fire. [stand up][salute]
—A little explosion, a righteous surge of vigor, showing respect. [shy]
After being exposed, Bo Jin was somewhat red-faced and angry. Yuan Shiyuan ignored Ying Mingche’s fuel-tossing and changed the subject.
“Do I look good in this?” Yuan Shiyuan spun around in front of Bo Jin. “The audience voted for it.”
As he turned, the hem of the skirt lifted slightly, making his legs look even longer and straighter. Bo Jin looked at his legs, and his gaze slowly moved back up to his face.
“No, it doesn’t look good.” Bo Jin said. “Don’t wear it next time.”
Yuan Shiyuan: “Oh.”
— Say one more word and see what happens?? [hug] (Not a hug, it’s a chokehold)
— Still putting up that tough act? In reality, he’s already secretly plowed ten acres. [wiping sweat]
— Brother Huo is still pretending to be all proper and stubborn? [eye roll]
— You’ve been staring non-stop at the sailor suit ○’s beautiful legs since earlier, and now you say it doesn’t look good? Huh? Huh??
“Why are you only chatting with him? We’re your customers too.”
Ying Mingche, long neglected, put down his menu in displeasure. “We want to order.”
Yuan Shiyuan glanced at Bo Jin. “Go find an empty seat and sit for a bit.”
He turned and came to the twins’ table. “Are you really going to order?”
“Or what? I’m very thirsty.” Ying Mingche answered as if it were obvious.
“Others are working hard to earn money, and we’re here…”
“Daytime adultery?” Ying Mingche cut in.
Yuan Shiyuan fell silent. “You should get a Chinese teacher.”
“My Chinese is bad?” Ying Mingche didn’t care. “It’s still better than that fake foreigner.”
“We have a mic here; it can pick up sound.”
“Whatever.”
Ying Mingche casually ordered a drink; Ying Mingxi thoughtfully added another item—the triangular cheese pastries that Yuan Shiyuan had just glanced at.
The drinks and snacks were set on the table. The triangular cheese pastries came in multiple mini pieces, just the right size to eat in one bite.
The boss had fed Yuan Shiyuan a couple before; they tasted pretty good. He’d only looked at them a moment ago—he hadn’t expected Ying Mingxi to be so on-point and order the dessert right away.
Perfect—he could sneak a few bites.
“Want some? I see the café’s rules: staff can’t eat customers’ food during working hours.” Ying Mingche suddenly leaned in. “But if a customer feeds you, that’s okay, right?”
“I’ll feed you.”
“No.” Yuan Shiyuan leaned back in disgust. “I want Mingxi to feed me.”
“You pick my brother and not me?” Ying Mingche was displeased. “Why?”
It was something Ying Mingche couldn’t understand. They looked identical, shared almost the same genes, yet with Yuan Shiyuan he was repeatedly treated differently.
“No reason.” Yuan Shiyuan was honest. “Because Mingxi is gentler—I’m afraid you’ll hurt me.”
— Ahhh what a messed-up conversation, can I even listen to this? [covering eyes]
— Twin slaughterfield—I love it!
— I just love watching twins turn on each other to fight over a husband, woohoo!
Compared to Ying Mingche’s dissatisfaction, Ying Mingxi was noticeably much happier.
Ying Mingxi was about to stand when Yuan Shiyuan bent forward of his own accord. He reached out his long hand, gently cupped Yuan Shiyuan’s cheek, and with his other hand brought a mini cheese pastry to Yuan Shiyuan’s lips.
Yuan Shiyuan cooperated, lowering his head and slightly parting his glistening lips to take the sweet. He ate neatly; even the way he chewed was pleasing to watch.
Noticing crumbs of cheese still on Yuan Shiyuan’s lips, he instinctively stuck out his tongue to lick them. Ying Mingxi hadn’t yet withdrawn his hand; his fingertip brushed that barely noticeable movement. The moist, tender contact made both brothers freeze, their gazes fixed on Yuan Shiyuan’s oblivious face.
“Bang!” Bo Jin suddenly slammed his cup down on the table with a loud crash.
— Oh my, the little cat licked a hand, mommy heart so soft!
— He’s happy again, bro.
— But why is Corn Sausage getting excited? Does he get off on seeing his brother and ○ being intimate? Ahhh is the empathy setting real?! [excited]
——Requesting Brother Huo’s quieting tutorial.
Ying Mingche’s breathing suddenly quickened; he couldn’t understand why such a simple feeding gesture made him lose control, nor why Yuan Shiyuan could be so gentle with his brother.
In front of him, Yuan Shiyuan either slapped his face or frowned impatiently—only when he was in a particularly good mood would he smile and pat his face, as if bestowing charity.
What was that about?
Was he Yuan Shiyuan’s pet?
Yuan Shiyuan gave him a few pleasant moments only when he felt like it, and when he was in a bad mood he’d kick him aside?
“I want some too.” Ying Mingche suddenly spoke, spreading his legs wide on purpose. “But I want you to feed me.”
He decided he wouldn’t cooperate; he had pride. Why should Yuan Shiyuan keep playing favorites? Whatever his brother had, he wanted as well.
He wouldn’t open his mouth unless Yuan Shiyuan was as gentle with him as he was with his brother.
But Yuan Shiyuan didn’t even give him a choice.
Rushing to serve the next customer, Yuan Shiyuan hurried through the motions: he snatched up a piece of cheese, clamped Ying Mingche’s chin with his left hand to pry his jaw open, and efficiently shoved the cheese into his mouth.
The movement was as decisive as giving medicine to an unruly large dog.
“?!”
Caught off guard, Ying Mingche’s mouth was stuffed; he was forced to open his lips, his head tilting back, his expression blank for a moment.
“That’s not—”
Was Yuan Shiyuan’s grip too strong?!
Reacting instinctively, Ying Mingche snapped his knees together, which unexpectedly trapped Yuan Shiyuan between his legs. He reflexively reached out to block, and his fingertips accidentally flicked aside that pitifully short hem of the skirt.
A warm, delicate sensation came through with no barrier. Ying Mingxi stared across at the boy who shared his face, watching him place his hand on the large palm resting beneath the sailor skirt.
Because they were twins, Ying Mingxi didn’t need to imagine hard to put himself in the other’s place.
Ying Mingche also seemed a bit dazed; his knuckles stiffened, his expression bewildered. Heat-rushed blood made his head swim.
What had he felt? A leg?
Whose? Yuan Shiyuan’s?
— Corn Sausage, move your pig’s trotters away from me! [eye roll]
— Is this still being filmed? What are you doing, what are you doing? Huh? Lost track of everything?
— Please don’t harass our Yuan Yuan little manservant; this is a proper café. [eye roll]
— Holy—Corn Sausage has a nosebleed?!!
Blood ran down from his philtrum and chin, soaking the clothing in a glaring red. Ying Mingche stared dumbly at the bloodied tabletop, then looked down at Yuan Shiyuan’s legs exposed beneath the skirt; his nosebleed instantly worsened.
Yuan Shiyuan took a step back with some distaste.
“I’ve got a nosebleed and you don’t even care about me…” Ying Mingche complained, hurt.
What did Ying Mingche’s nosebleed have to do with him? Yuan Shiyuan hadn’t hit Ying Mingche’s nose—what did that have to do with him?
But since they were teammates, he showed some concern. “Probably overheated.”
“Clean it yourself first.” He casually pulled a handkerchief from his pocket. “If it doesn’t work, have Mingxi help you—I’ve got work to do.”
Mechanically, Ying Mingche took the handkerchief, then suddenly looked up as if realizing something.
His brother was a vet, huh?
Ying Mingche wiped his nose blood haphazardly, muttering, “I really don’t get it.”
“You could just rest in your room and do nothing, why come out and suffer like this…”
Ying Mingxi looked at the fingertips that still seemed to feel warm, then at Yuan Shiyuan moving easily among the customers, and smiled faintly.
“Not everyone likes being locked away.” He took a light sip of tea and said, “Isn’t that so?”
The motion of wiping his nose halted; Ying Mingche clenched the handkerchief in his hand and didn’t answer.
Yuan Shiyuan was weaving among different customers.
The sailor skirt swayed slightly with his movements, drawing countless lingering gazes.
“Shiyuan-ge!” Song Mian tugged at his friend. “My friend says the peach soda you made us was really good—he wants to thank you properly… Can we order another for you?”
“No need.” Yuan Shiyuan curved his eyes. “Feeling any better?”
Lu Lin turned his head away, his ear rim flushing, and murmured, “Mm, much better.”
“That’s good.” Yuan Shiyuan picked up his notepad. “Want to try a new flavor this time?”
Bo Jin sat in the corner, taking in their whole exchange and watching closely how Yuan Shiyuan treated customers.
He drank while watching Yuan Shiyuan.
Those legs are so long.
Bo Jin was equally puzzled, sharing a similar confusion to Ying Mingche’s. From his perspective, if things could be easier, why would Yuan Shiyuan choose a harder route?
He could be living more comfortably, yet he wore this little skirt and even had a tail attached. When he walked, the fluffy rabbit tail at the back of the skirt bobbed up and down—so plush and springy it made people annoyed.
It made you want to grab a handful.
Bo Jin tipped his head back and swallowed a large gulp of water.
When the peach soda Bo Jin had ordered was ready and Yuan Shiyuan set it on the table, he took advantage of the boss being distracted and secretly bent to take a sip.
“?” Bo Jin raised an eyebrow. “Did I agree to this?”
“Weren’t you the one who ordered it?” Yuan Shiyuan blinked, a sheen of moisture on his lips. He remembered Bo Jin never drank these.
“No.”
“Oh.” Yuan Shiyuan said.
“I thought you eavesdropped on me talking with the customers and heard I liked peach soda, so you specially ordered it for me.”
“……”
Bo Jin resigned: “It was ordered for you—drink it.”
But “specially” was stretching it. He simply couldn’t stand watching Yuan Shiyuan glance at the food while serving customers—so tempted, yet bound by the rule not to eat customers’ food.
He didn’t like these sugary things; he just ordered it for Yuan Shiyuan as a courtesy.
Since it was a customer’s order, Yuan Shiyuan felt awkward drinking it, but for a brother he inhaled it like a storm.
He drank more than half through the straw, leaving Bo Jin with nothing but a lonely handful of ice.
Taking advantage of a bro feels great.
“Shiyuan-ge!” Song Mian waved and wanted to order again.
Bo Jin frowned. “How can they eat so much? They’ve called you so many times.”
“Don’t say that.” Yuan Shiyuan replied.
Song Mian hurried over and, seeing Bo Jin, rolled his eyes in annoyance.
What is this thing?
Bo Jin’s ship was the least popular; Song Mian couldn’t get behind it either.
“What are you doing!” His tone now was completely different from the gentle manner he used with Yuan Shiyuan. “If you’re not buying anything, don’t disturb Shiyuan-ge’s work!”
Ying Mingche, enjoying the spectacle, egged them on: “I’m with you. You’ve already finished that soda—order another and support Shiyuan’s business.”
Bo Jin: “……”
He had no money left.
Bo Jin ordered again and again; most of the food ended up in Yuan Shiyuan’s stomach.
Every time he helped cover, making sure the boss didn’t catch employees breaking the rules, Yuan Shiyuan would finish eating and leave without even looking back.
The Alpha, wallet empty and scowling, stood up and, to Yuan Shiyuan’s surprised look, headed for the door.
“I’m going out for a bit.”
“Wait!” Yuan Shiyuan hurried after him. “You don’t need to go out to work—”
With the money they’d made performing yesterday, they hadn’t done the math carefully, but paying off the debt was definitely doable, and there should have been a good amount left over. If Bo Jin wanted afternoon tea, that was fine, but there was no reason to go out of his way to take a job just to look after his “business.”
“It’s fine.” Bo Jin already had a plan. “I’ll be back soon.”
Bo Jin didn’t go to a job; he headed straight for the rooftop maintenance area where Jiang Heng worked.
Jiang Heng was squatting on the ground fixing a tire, his hands smeared with grease. When Bo Jin approached, he glanced at him coldly and turned to grab another tool.
Bo Jin: “You got a moment?”
Jiang Heng, without looking up: “Something you need?”
“Can I borrow some money?”
“…?”
Jiang Heng froze. He slowly looked up as if he’d heard something utterly absurd.
Bo Jin borrowing money?
Either he’d misheard, or Bo Jin had lost his mind. Jiang Heng didn’t hesitate: “No.”
Bo Jin: “Do you want to support Yuan Shiyuan’s venture or not?”
Jiang Heng: “What does that have to do with me?”
“Give me a thousand star coins and I’ll take you to support him.”
“That pitch sounds a lot like a scam.”
Though he said that, Jiang Heng’s curiosity had indeed been piqued. He went to take a shower and changed clothes.
“Let’s go.” He pulled a thousand star coins from his pocket.
—Wow, I’m done, Brother Huo is borrowing money from teammates to support Little Yuan going public. [covering face]
—The funniest part is JH actually gave it. I can’t breathe, this is hilarious.
—Little Yuan goes public to support teammates, teammates work their asses off and end up funding Little Yuan’s venture—I’m speechless.
Jiang Heng didn’t know what scheme Bo Jin was selling, but when it came to Yuan Shiyuan, he did want a break. His job paid well but was exhausting.
So exhausted he fell into bed and slept the moment he hit the sheets, with no time or energy for other thoughts.
Bo Jin didn’t return straight to the café. He and Jiang Heng went to find Pei Yanbing, who was playing nearby.
Same sales pitch, but this time the asking price was—
“Ten thousand star coins.”
Jiang Heng: “…”
“You’re ruthless.” He’d scammed Jiang Heng for a thousand, and now Pei Yanbing for ten thousand.
Bo Jin: “Who says the captain doesn’t have money?”
Pei Yanbing, brief and to the point: “Why?”
“Yuan Shiyuan is working at the café.” Bo Jin left it at that.
Pei Yanbing: “…”
He paid.
“Ding—” The café door opened again. Yuan Shiyuan was straightening the shelves; the sailor outfit naturally rode up a bit, revealing a narrow, delicate waist and lifting the skirt to show a flash of snow-white thigh.
“Welcome—” Yuan Shiyuan froze. “You…?”
Bo Jin stood at the entrance with Pei Yanbing and Jiang Heng; the sight hushed the whole café for a moment.
Yuan Shiyuan set the items neatly down and came forward. “You’re back?”
“Why did you bring the captain and Jiang Heng with you?”
As Yuan Shiyuan approached, Jiang Heng’s pupils constricted violently. He stood there dumbstruck, his fingers tensing and curling.
—Oh my, JH’s eyes are wide open?
—Is it an angle thing? Why are JH’s ears so red??
—Look at this sailor-outfit cool guy who seems so cold on the surface but must be burning inside. [goofy smile]
“You’re all here for coffee too?” Yuan Shiyuan glanced over. “Sit over there—it’s cooler.”
Pei Yanbing followed behind Yuan Shiyuan: “Okay.”
The corner of his eye flicked over Yuan Shiyuan’s rabbit ears, then pulled back as if shocked. Jiang Heng clenched his jacket and gave a cool, indifferent “hm.”
Once seated, Jiang Heng idly scanned the menu, his gaze drifting now and then to Yuan Shiyuan busy nearby.
“Did you bring me here just to look at this?” he asked in that same unmoved tone.
“Cut the act,” Ying Mingche at the next table snorted. “You can’t take your eyes off him, but you pretend you’re not.”
“You just appreciate the captain quietly, no fuss,” Ying Mingxi said.
Pei Yanbing: “……”
Whether by design or not, their whole team had ended up sitting next to each other.
The five Alphas in the corner watched Yuan Shiyuan serve other customers—smiling as they leaned forward, the sailor collar loosening slightly with the movement to reveal a strip of porcelain-white clavicle; he even took the initiative to pose for selfies with fans…
It was infuriating.
Clearly they were the ones closest to him as teammates, but they’d never gotten this kind of treatment.
“Aren’t you supposed to be working? Sitting here watching him sell coffee?” Jiang Heng, who was swamped with tasks, found this infuriating. “You all just chilling?”
Ying Mingxi explained gently, “Ordering is for Shiyuan. That way he earns commission.”
Ying Mingche: “They haven’t been here long—only about an hour earlier than you.”
Bo Jin sipped the complimentary water and said evenly, “I’m here to supervise him.”
During the show’s filming, passengers on the cruise had signed agreements; some took on roles similar to NPCs. But what if a malicious Alpha showed up?
After all, Yuan Shiyuan’s skirt was so short—he could easily draw the wrong kind of attention.
Jiang Heng sneered, “Supervise until he’s penniless, then come ask me for money?”
“What’s got you so cheerful?” someone asked.
From a distance Yuan Shiyuan could already see them chatting. It seemed this variety show had indeed done wonders for the team’s relationships.
The notebook was tucked at his waist; the motion pulled his top up a bit, faintly revealing a reddened lower abdomen.
Yuan Shiyuan came over. “Would you like to order? Or just drink the free water?”
Customers who ordered could refill water for free.
Jiang Heng’s gaze inevitably fell on Yuan Shiyuan’s face.
The sailor uniform was clearly a little small on him. Beneath the too-short skirt, the middle of his thigh pressed against the table edge, creating a suggestive hollowed curve that only made those long legs look fleshier.
“Order,” Jiang Heng said.
He flipped to the last page of the menu. “I see extras on this page—photos, song requests, that sort of thing.”
Those custom extras were the highest-commission items.
“Besides those, are there any bespoke exclusive services?”
“…?!”
Bespoke exclusive services?
The café fell utterly silent.
Everyone turned to look at them at once.