Pretending to Be an Alpha in an All-Alpha Boy Band - Chapter 41

Chapter 41 Leg Ring

“What? An Omega!?”

Zhuang He rushed to the hospital in a fever, and heard that earth-shattering piece of news. His first reaction was to ask, “Is there anything wrong with his body? Why would he suddenly undergo a second differentiation?”

“Mr. Yuan is in excellent health.” The doctor handed over the report. “Perhaps it was precisely because his constitution and nutrition are so good that it triggered a second differentiation.”

Zhuang He let out a long breath. “That’s good. Shiyuan is still so young.”

Finally, he asked the core question—also the one Yuan Shiyuan wanted to ask—“Is there any chance he could change back later? For example, differentiate into an Alpha again?”

“In theory, no.” The doctor chose his words carefully and didn’t speak in absolute terms. “But medicine always sees miracles; it’s not impossible.”

“All right, I understand.” That answer was enough.

Zhuang He nodded, already making plans in his mind. This hospital had cooperated with Starry Night Entertainment for years; all medical staff had signed strict confidentiality agreements. With the doctor’s words, he’d have something to take back and negotiate with the company.

Inside the VIP lounge.

The doctor went to extract the remaining S-rank pheromones, leaving the room to the two of them for the moment.

Yuan Shiyuan lay face-down on the table, only his wet eyes visible. He muttered miserably, “Brother Zhuang, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, kid. What are you apologizing for? Differentiation isn’t under your control.” Zhuang He had wanted to pat Yuan Shiyuan’s shoulder, but remembering that he was now an Omega, he pulled his hand back. “As long as you’re healthy, everything else is a small problem.”

Yuan Shiyuan lifted his head. “So do I have to quit the group…?”

“Quit what group?”

Zhuang He said decisively, “Didn’t the doctor say there’s a chance you might become an Alpha again in a few days?”

“And if I don’t change back?”

“Shiyuan, I’ll ask you one question—do you still want to stay in our group?”

“Yes.” Yuan Shiyuan didn’t hesitate.

He had thought he might not get used to being an idol, but not only had he adapted quickly, he’d come to really like the job. He also liked the fans’ affection.

“Then that’s that.” Zhuang He said, “You were induced into heat by an Omega—an accident. There are so many people at the company who can testify. The hospital has its confidentiality agreement; I’ll talk to the company.”

He paused, his tone softening. “I’ll give you some time off. Rest properly. Be sure to talk to your parents about this—don’t bottle it up.”

“I don’t want you to leave Scepter either.” Zhuang He said quietly. “We’ll get through this together, okay?”

“All right, Brother Zhuang.” There was nothing else to do; Yuan Shiyuan nodded. “Thank you.”

“For what, silly kid?” Zhuang He habitually ruffled Yuan Shiyuan’s hair, then considered, “I should move you to a single room… It’s not right for an Omega and Alphas to share a room.”

“No. The more special treatment I get, the more suspicion it raises. Keep things as they are.” Yuan Shiyuan hurriedly protested.

“That’s true, but…” Zhuang He stared at the flushed little face with worry. “I’m really afraid Bo Jin might do something bad to you.”

When Yuan Shiyuan had been an Alpha before, Zhuang He hadn’t thought much of it—same sex, sleeping, sharing baths, massages, and so on happened often enough. Even if Yuan Shiyuan was delicate, he was still an Alpha.

But once he thought of Yuan Shiyuan as an Omega, the whole picture felt strange.

Putting Yuan Shiyuan together with those S-rank members of Scepter—wouldn’t that be putting sheep in a wolf den?

“Brother Bo Jin wouldn’t do that.” Yuan Shiyuan blinked. “Isn’t he afraid of Alphas and repelled by Omegas?”

“That’s true.” Zhuang He suddenly remembered something, slapping his thigh. “Come to think of it, Bo Jin really is the most reassuring. He’s the only son of a wealthy family overseas; his parents passed away, so it’s just him. When he was underage, so many people tried to place high-matching Omegas with him and even drugged him…”

Yuan Shiyuan’s eyes widened. “So that’s why he—”

“They found that sending Omegas didn’t work, so they switched to sending A’s and B’s. Anyway, they basically made him homophobic and aversive to people.”

“You know he has pheromone mania; under those circumstances he managed to guard his chastity. His self-control is extraordinary.”

Zhuang He relaxed a little. “Alright, if Bo Jin’s your roommate, I’ll feel better, too.”

When the doctor returned with the new S-rank extract, Zhuang He had a rough understanding of Yuan Shiyuan’s condition.

To protect the patient’s privacy, the doctor didn’t give many treatment specifics, only saying tactfully, “More contact with S-rank alphas will help.”

Zhuang He was delighted. “Isn’t that perfect? Our group has S-rank alphas in bulk—plenty of S-rank alphas! Shiyuan, your brothers can use them however they want!”

Yuan Shiyuan made a miserable face.

The doctor hadn’t explained how to use it, so Zhuang He assumed it might be just smelling the pheromones, like taking the pheromone extract orally. Only those involved understood that this “use” involved adult matters.

Use them casually? How?

Would those S-rank alphas line up and take turns sitting next to him?

He didn’t want Bo Jin to “clear the field” (Translation note: 北极拔草 literally “pull grass at the North Pole,” here a slangy, humorous way to mean someone definitively taking action). TOT

The doctor avoided specifics because he worried about Yuan Shiyuan’s embarrassment; he also hadn’t mentioned the high-compatibility finding to Zhuang He.

After all, high compatibility between mates is a very suggestive topic in sexual relationships—saying it aloud sounds too erotic…

After the second differentiation, Yuan Shiyuan seemed to look even better: his skin delicate with a light flush, the corners of his eyes holding a bright watery shine. A middle-aged Alpha beside him listened seriously to the doctor; Yuan Shiyuan lay over the table with one arm across it, his joints faintly pink, half his face buried in his crook, his expression dazed as if questioning life.

A nearby little nurse peeked over and whispered.

“Why is he even prettier than in the photos?”

“Oh my, his face is so small, his skin so white…”

“He looks so obedient…”

The hospital cooperated with many entertainment companies and often saw idols.

They’d seen beautiful appearances before, but none matched the breathtaking presence of the person before them.

At the end of the corridor, five tall figures stood quietly.

They had gauze on their wrists and necks; to obtain higher pheromone concentrations, they had even drawn blood directly from the glands.

The ward door opened a crack and they immediately went in.

The closest one was Bo Jin; he reached out his hand. “What did the doctor say—”

“Smack!”

Bo Jin’s hand was forcefully pushed away.

The crisp sound echoed down the hallway.

Only then did Yuan Shiyuan notice the blood-draw marks on Bo Jin’s wrist, and the others did too. The twin brothers must have just come from a commercial shoot—they didn’t even have time to change; Pei Yanbing, who was picky about cleanliness, had bloodstains on his sleeve; Jiang Heng’s clothes were all wrinkled…

“Sorry, I couldn’t control myself…” Bo Jin said.

Yuan Shiyuan’s mind replayed his last conversation with the doctor.

“You don’t seem to know what 100% compatibility means,” the doctor had said with an implied meaning. “It means that once an alpha and an omega exchange pheromones, both parties will feel great.”

“Like a spiritual connection.”

Yuan Shiyuan: OoO!

Does that mean he had a spiritual connection with every Alpha in Scepter?

Several times, even with multiple people—six of them together…

Yuan Shiyuan was so shocked he felt dizzy walking out of the ward. When Bo Jin moved closer, he recoiled as if burned.

“It’s okay.”

Bo Jin kept his expression calm and put his hand behind his back so Yuan Shiyuan wouldn’t see it. He said, “You’re not feeling well right now. I won’t take it personally.”

Yuan Shiyuan’s chest felt hot; his eyes stung.

“I didn’t mean to snap at you.” He curled his fingers awkwardly, then hugged Bo Jin suddenly. “Actually, I’m kind of in pain.”

Bo Jin lowered his gaze to Yuan Shiyuan’s rounded earlobe and the long damp lashes drooping down.

He said, “I know.”

Being induced into heat by an Omega is indeed miserable—especially when both sides are highly compatible. Losing control and fighting your body’s instincts is agonizing.

Bo Jin had experienced it countless times, so he said, “You getting through it like this is already amazing.”

“…sigh.”

Even if Bo Jin had misunderstood something, his words hit the mark and comforted Yuan Shiyuan. He really felt he was incredible.

The differentiation process is painful; it amplifies sensitive emotions and leaves a person extremely vulnerable—and Yuan Shiyuan had gone through it twice.

The first pseudo-differentiation registered as S-rank; this time the baseline was S-rank, and the doctor said he might jump straight to 3S!

He was incredible.

After hugging Bo Jin, Yuan Shiyuan hugged the other members in turn. He thanked them sincerely: “Thank you all so much.”

“If it weren’t for you, I really wouldn’t have made it.”

Right now the hospital rarely synthesized S-rank pheromones; S-ranks themselves are extremely rare. Having ready-made S-rank blood extracts available—and five of them—was the hospital’s first case since it opened.

After hugging the last person, Yuan Shiyuan saw Zhuang He ahead with wide eyes and an expression like a cabbage rooted up by pigs. Only then did he belatedly realize: he’s an Omega now.

Physical contact that used to be normal had become sexual harassment of an Alpha.

Yuan Shiyuan nonchalantly stepped back: “As expected, when it comes down to it, the ones who’ll pull me through are still good brothers.”

“So, what did the doctor actually say?” Jiang Heng steered the conversation back to the start.

“Isn’t it just what we heard?” Zhuang He appeared at the right moment to cut in. “You all have appearances these next two days, so break it up! Mingche, Mingxi, are you still doing the advertisement or not?”

He began dispersing the group. “As for Shiyuan, I’ll give him a break first. Let him rest these days.”

“The doctor said a few days’ rest should do it. You guys, stop worrying so much,” Zhuang He added.

The other Alphas scrutinized him, clearly unconvinced. Ying Mingxi suddenly stepped forward, came up to Yuan Shiyuan, lifted his face with his hand, and with his fingertip casually brushed his chin.

Yuan Shiyuan’s shoulders trembled lightly.

“You do look better, but Shiyuan…”

Ying Mingxi examined his face with suspicion. Maybe it was his imagination, but Yuan Shiyuan’s lip color seemed several shades brighter than before.

A few lines of doubt appeared on Ying Mingxi’s usually gentle face as he asked, “Are you really all right?”

“Don’t be touching him,” Zhuang He snapped, swatting Ying Mingxi’s hand away. “I’ll take Shiyuan home—everyone, go on and disperse!”

Zhuang He signaled to Yuan Shiyuan and hurriedly pushed him into the elevator.

The elevator doors closed slowly.

Only after the two of them disappeared did the S-rank Alphas slowly withdraw their gazes, the warmth in their eyes quietly sinking.

S-rank Alphas weren’t so easy to fool.

They could all see that Zhuang He was hiding something.

Something had happened that they didn’t know about, and Yuan Shiyuan couldn’t—or wouldn’t—put into words.

But what exactly was it that even made their manager help cover up?

Yuan Shiyuan didn’t go home; he went to the inpatient department of the hospital next door.

He went to see his mother.

Along the way, Yuan Shiyuan kept glancing down at his newly grown gland, curious.

Unfortunately he was wearing long pants today, so he couldn’t see it clearly.

The gland sat beneath the skin and didn’t look different from the surrounding flesh. But that patch of skin was more tender, softer, and far more sensitive; it couldn’t stand being touched.

When Yuan Shiyuan stepped into the elevator, his fingertips unconsciously twisted the hem of his shirt as he glanced down again.

He looked the same as always to everyone else; only he knew that under his loose pants, around the base of his thigh, was the leg ring the doctor had temporarily altered. What started as the size for a neck ring had been forced into a curve that fit the inner thigh.

As he moved, even through fabric, Yuan Shiyuan could feel discomfort from where the gland sat.

He still wasn’t used to wearing these. Maybe because of his gait, with every step the ring rubbed lightly against the sensitive gland.

But Yuan Shiyuan couldn’t be bothered to take it off—he already had plans for later. After all, the gland was on the inner thigh; ordinary people wouldn’t be prying it open to look.

A barrier patch would be enough.

The only downside was that the inner thigh sweated easily. No matter how waterproof, a barrier patch could still come loose.

Ding—the elevator doors opened.

Yuan Shiyuan’s thoughts ran wild, and he couldn’t help but wonder: doesn’t that mean if he touches his thigh later it would be like masturbating?

No wonder every time it touched it felt so good…

Yuan Shiyuan felt conflicted again.

Should he tell the family now? Mom was about to have surgery, and his younger brother was about to differentiate and had exams coming up…

Maybe wait until after Mom’s operation? It was soon anyway, just a couple of days.

In two days it would also be his brother’s eighteenth birthday by the lunar calendar—maybe that would be a more fitting time.

Yuan Shiyuan shuffled toward the door. The door suddenly opened from the inside. A tall shadow fell over him, completely enclosing him in shade.

He stared up, stunned; the boy’s frame had filled out, and he’d grown taller.

“Bro? Why aren’t you going in?”

Yuan Shiyuan shot an irritated sideways glance.

“Oh, mind your own business.” He turned his face away with a cold expression and a hard tone.

Yuan Shize didn’t know what he’d done to annoy Yuan Shiyuan. He quickly followed behind, took the shoulder bag from him, and briskly moved the couch cushions aside.

“Is it too hot out? Or did you get lost again?” he coaxed in practiced tones. “Bro, next time send me a message and I’ll come downstairs to pick you up…”

Yuan Shiyuan gave him a displeased look.

Yuan Shize immediately shut up, but his hands stayed busy—pouring water and cutting fruit for his brother.

When he finished, he circled Yuan Shiyuan like a large dog, then crouched in front of him and pinched his thigh. “I just learned a massage online…”

“Bro, try it—it’s really comfortable.”

Yuan Shiyuan kept his face cold and said nothing.

Yuan Xing, lying on the hospital bed reading, couldn’t help laughing: “Little Yuan is teasing his brother again.”

Yuan Shiyuan laughed too. He tugged Yuan Shize’s arm. “Alright, get up.”

“Not mad.” He said, “Mom can tell I’m teasing you—how can you not?”

Yuan Shiyuan especially liked teasing Yuan Shize, and every time, Yuan Shize fell for it.

Because Yuan Shize didn’t dare to gamble.

“I’m afraid you’ll really get angry, and I didn’t notice.” He sat down beside Yuan Shiyuan. “Anyway, coaxing you isn’t that hard.”

Whether the anger was real or fake, better to soothe him first.

After Yuan Shize sat beside him, Yuan Shiyuan vaguely felt something strange, as if danger was approaching……

He wasn’t much younger than Yuan Shiyuan; his frame was between a mature man and a teenager, his shoulders and build developing toward broader, taller dimensions.

A few days apart, and Yuan Shize was taller.

Yuan Shiyuan glanced over in quiet amusement.

He’d been eating more lately and had cheerfully assumed he was growing taller, only to find the growth had gone to the gland between his legs.

A second differentiation is a kind of second development, right? Was there still room for him to grow in height?

Yuan Shiyuan casually lifted his shirt to look. He was the typical beautiful-boy, lean-muscle type—only a thin layer of muscle covered him, skin tight and delicate, lines soft and flowing.

His friends all said he looked good and was pleasant to the touch; they clamored to be the ones to touch him.

But he really didn’t want to be surrounded by a bunch of big refrigerators.

“Time flies—Little Yuan will be nineteen soon, right?” Yuan Xing suddenly thought.

Yuan Shiyuan: “I’m almost twenty.”

Because he wasn’t much older than Yuan Shize and feared Yuan Shize might resent it, he always stated his age larger, using traditional East Asian counting (nominal age).

Yuan Shize protested: “By nominal age I’m nineteen too.”

“That doesn’t count; it depends on the lunar calendar.” Yuan Shiyuan dismissed him without mercy.

By the Gregorian calendar, Yuan Shize had indeed turned eighteen. But their family was used to counting birthdays by the lunar calendar, so Yuan Shize was forced into adulthood only now.

Yuan Shize didn’t dare argue.

“No worries, it’ll be soon—just these couple of days.” Yuan Xing couldn’t help smiling. “The lunar and solar calendars aren’t that many days apart anyway.”

The family chatted for a while. Yuan Shiyuan found a casual excuse and slipped into the small private room.

Since the family’s situation had improved, Father Yuan had moved his mother into a small suite. There was a little single room inside where family could sleep.

Yuan Shiyuan was very curious about his new gland; he was just about to take off his pants when the door was gently pushed open.

Before he turned, a broad body pressed up against his back. Yuan Shize’s arm stretched across his collarbone, his palm clasping the shoulder, the other hand pressing on his lower abdomen.

In a posture that completely restrained him, he circled him in an embrace.

Yuan Shiyuan felt dazed and amazed.

How did his perfectly normal little brother become a big refrigerator?

“Bro, I saw the news.”

Yuan Shize’s chin rested on the top of his head; his tone was serious. “You went to the hospital today? It caused quite a stir.”

“What did the news say?” Yuan Shiyuan was taken aback—he hadn’t expected the paparazzi to be so well informed.

“They said an Omega went into heat and you were affected.”

Yuan Shize’s breath brushed his ear, carrying the warmth unique to adolescents. “But I want to hear it from you.”

“It was exactly like you saw.” Yuan Shiyuan could only be grateful Yuan Xing wasn’t looking at his phone. “I’m fine, don’t be nervous.”

Yuan Shize hugged him even tighter.

He stared fixedly at the gland on the back of Yuan Shiyuan’s neck; the skin there had been chafed red by the collar and looked especially tempting. When the door had opened earlier, the corners of Yuan Shiyuan’s eyes were wet and red, which had made Yuan Shize’s heart skip a beat.

So it had been an Omega-induced heat.

Well, his brother did like Omegas……

Yuan Shize’s gaze deepened inch by inch. He tried to bury his face in the back of Yuan Shiyuan’s neck, his nose nuzzling the warm skin like a large dog seeking comfort.

The body in his arms trembled noticeably, but didn’t push him away. That reaction made him breathe easier, and his courage slowly grew.

Yuan Shize stuck out his tongue and lightly licked the gland: “Bro, you smell so good.”

Yuan Shiyuan’s pupils dilated.

He knew that wasn’t his real gland, but the instant it was licked, a current ran along his spine. He had wanted to push his brother away, but seeing how dependent Yuan Shize looked softened him.

Yuan Shize had never had a sense of security growing up; he liked to sleep with a part of him in his mouth. When he was little he always sucked his finger to fall asleep—only improving somewhat as he grew older.

This seemed to be Yuan Shize’s way of drawing comfort.

Now it was just a different method of getting that comfort.

Fine, lick away—it’s not the real gland after all.

As long as he didn’t lick the thigh gland, everything was manageable.

Yuan Shize watched Yuan Shiyuan’s expression the whole time, sharply picking up on his indulgence.

So brother didn’t mind an Alpha touching the gland.

So this level of contact was acceptable to him.

Yuan Shize suddenly grew a little excited, but he didn’t press his advantage. He had learned since childhood to gauge limits by Yuan Shiyuan’s reactions—a skill honed by years together.

If his brother got angry, he’d stop immediately; but if his brother didn’t tell him to stop, he’d try to go a bit further.

Until he fully understood his brother’s limits.

But Yuan Shize knew better than anyone that Yuan Shiyuan was only indulging his mischief, treating him like a capricious, insecure little brother.

That realization brought a sourness to his chest; his expression gradually darkened as he moodily pressed his face to the back of Yuan Shiyuan’s neck.

“Bro…”

“Hm?”

“I’ve differentiated.” Yuan Shize’s voice was muffled against his chest. “Alpha.”

Yuan Shiyuan was surprised: “You differentiated too?”

“Too?”

“Oh, I spoke too quickly.” Yuan Shiyuan brushed it off coolly. “I was just too surprised.”

“But I don’t want to differentiate into an Alpha.” Yuan Shize repeated stubbornly, “I don’t want to.”

His voice trembled noticeably; his emotions were clearly unstable.

“What’s going on with you?” Yuan Shiyuan was stunned too.

“Bro, I’m really sad.” For such a big guy, Yuan Shize put on the pitiful look of a stray dog. “I want a hug.”

“Alright, alright, hug.”

Yuan Shiyuan smoothly turned in his brother’s embrace and, with a motion, pushed him down onto the single bed.

He lifted his legs and knelt straddling his brother, spreading his arms generously. “Come on, hug me however you want.”

Yuan Shize immediately wrapped his arms around Yuan Shiyuan and buried his face in his chest. Through the thin layer of clothing, he could clearly hear his brother’s steady heartbeat.

Yuan Shiyuan understood Yuan Shize’s feelings very well.

As someone who’s been through it, he knew the hormonal fluctuations during differentiation made emotions unusually sensitive—an uncontrollable physiological reaction.

“Being an Alpha is good too.” Yuan Shiyuan pressed his brother’s face to his chest, patting his back rhythmically with the other hand. “It’s okay, don’t be sad.”

“You can’t be sexist about genders.”

“I’m afraid you won’t like me anymore…”

Yuan Shize’s voice was a little muffled; the warm breath he exhaled through the thin clothing seeped through, making Yuan Shiyuan’s chest itch.

“What nonsense are you talking?” Yuan Shiyuan laughed and deliberately changed the subject. “Since you’ve differentiated, what rank are you?”

“The same as you.”

“S-rank.”

Yuan Shiyuan stared blankly.

What?

Another S-rank!

Weren’t S-ranks supposed to be very rare? How are they popping up one after another around him?

And their compatibility—could that also be very high…?

His silence landed differently in Yuan Shize’s eyes.

Alpha intraspecific repulsion: the higher the rank, the less they can tolerate another’s existence. Was his brother starting to reject him because he was also S-rank?

Is Brother silent because he doesn’t like him anymore? Because he’s S-rank too?

Yuan Shize’s panic surged. He clutched his brother’s waist tightly and buried his face even deeper.

“I don’t want to be an Alpha…” he repeated. “I don’t want to.”

“I want to be closer to Brother…”

Yuan Shiyuan was helpless. He pressed a hand to the back of Yuan Shize’s head: “Isn’t this close enough?”

He said, “We’re already very close.”

“Not close… not close enough!”

“I want to be even closer to Brother…”

Yuan Shize suddenly grew agitated; his breathing became heavy. He mashed Yuan Shiyuan into his arms, increasing the contact of the hug.

Wherever he touched, Yuan Shiyuan suddenly tensed his toes, wrapped both arms tightly around his brother’s neck, his body involuntarily trembling, and let out a half-suppressed breathy sound in his brother’s ear.

Yuan Shize froze.

He saw his brother’s ear tips flushed red, eyelashes trembling with moisture. Then his gaze slid down: Yuan Shiyuan’s pants were stretched, leaving a ringed indentation at the base of his thigh, faint but visible.

He instinctively reached out to touch, but was stopped by Yuan Shiyuan’s trembling voice.

“Don’t touch there!”

Yuan Shize immediately went rigid, only able to watch as Yuan Shiyuan freed himself from his embrace.

Yuan Shiyuan slowly moved to the bedside, hooked a finger into the elastic of his waistband, and quickly pulled off his pants.

His fair, long legs spread casually, but a black leather leg ring encircled the root of his right thigh, pressing into the pale flesh and leaving a shallow red mark, a slight indentation.

Yuan Shiyuan sighed. He still wasn’t used to wearing these; as if no one else were there, he took the leg ring off and tossed it aside.

The air seemed to freeze.

The young Alpha’s pheromones nonetheless leaked out uncontrollably, carrying a raw possessiveness that enclosed the other.

Yuan Shize stared fixedly at the scene, his voice hoarse as he called, “Brother…”

“What is this?”