Pretending to Be an Alpha in an All-Alpha Boy Band - Chapter 58

Chapter 58: Punishment Card

It was lunchtime.

When Yuan Shiyuan pushed open the door, Jiang Heng was bent over a musical score, his fingertips tapping lightly to the rhythm of the music playing through his headphones.

Hearing the door open, he removed his headphones. “Your song is excellent.”

“Do you think any parts need revising?” Yuan Shiyuan pulled up a chair and sat down.

“I don’t think so.”

Yuan Shiyuan had sent Jiang Heng a solo a cappella recording, which Jiang Heng had listened to countless times. “Especially that final section—the atmosphere created by the mysterious language is incredibly powerful. I couldn’t find any information about it online. Did you create that language yourself?”

The first time Jiang Heng heard the song, he thought it was ending. Just as he was about to replay it, a clear, ethereal voice began chanting in an ancient, enigmatic language, sending a jolt through his entire body.

Yuan Shiyuan’s voice possessed remarkable carrying power.

“As if I’m capable of that!” Yuan Shiyuan chuckled. “It’s a blessing from a small, isolated island nation. Because of their remote location, they’re considered a marginalized country, and their language is quite obscure… very few people know about it.”

“I came across it in an old book.”

The study in his home was filled with books collected from around the world. If Yuan Shiyuan hadn’t been such an avid reader, he would never have discovered the existence of this almost-forgotten nation.

“I was wondering whether to add this part, afraid it would feel abrupt.”

“It’ll sound much better when we record the album later, so it won’t seem jarring at all.”

Jiang Heng gazed at Yuan Shiyuan’s slightly parted lips as he spoke, suddenly remembering the kiss mark on his neck.

Yuan Shiyuan noticed his gaze and raised an eyebrow with amusement. “Not going to cover that up?”

“Are you afraid of people noticing?” Jiang Heng countered.

“Why would I be afraid?” Yuan Shiyuan replied nonchalantly. “I’m not the one walking around with a conspicuous kiss mark.”

Wearing such a mark at the company would indeed draw attention and spark speculation. Jiang Heng found himself oddly wanting to show it off to everyone, though he couldn’t quite explain this urge to flaunt.

Ultimately, reason prevailed. He found a band-aid and covered the mark on his neck.

“Let’s go,” Jiang Heng said, rising to his feet. “We can head to the cafeteria and talk while we eat.”

It was lunchtime, and the cafeteria buzzed with chatter, various pheromones swirling in the air.

After getting their food, they settled into a corner booth and resumed their earlier conversation.

It was only then that Jiang Heng realized Yuan Shiyuan’s so-called “hobby” was a complete understatement. Yuan Shiyuan possessed remarkable musical talent and unique insights across various fields.

Jiang Heng stared intently at Yuan Shiyuan’s face, his gaze finally settling on the tip of his chin. The faint pink mark he had left after gently sucking there was gone, but the hickey Yuan Shiyuan had given him near his neck remained…

“What’s wrong?” Yuan Shiyuan asked, chewing on his straw.

The spot covered by the bandage seemed to throb faintly. Jiang Heng avoided eye contact, lowering his head to take a sip of water. “Nothing.”

Could he be having an allergic reaction? Is he uncomfortable?

The public area’s pheromones were a chaotic mix. Yuan Shiyuan asked softly, “Did you bring your allergy medication?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“That’s good.”

Jiang Heng’s severe allergy to most Omega pheromones was a constant headache and inconvenience. Any Omega passing by could potentially trigger a reaction…

What Ying Mingche had said earlier made a certain amount of sense.

As long as Jiang Heng hadn’t encountered an Omega with a high compatibility match, he’d been relatively fine. But if he ever did, the reaction would be exceptionally severe.

His need for a partner would be several times greater than that of an ordinary person, making him utterly dependent on their pheromones for comfort and completely unable to function without them…

Yuan Shiyuan realized he was an extremely dangerous presence for Jiang Heng.

Fortunately, his pheromone control was excellent. As long as Jiang Heng didn’t inexplicably press his face against his gland, he shouldn’t be able to smell it.

But Yuan Shiyuan had underestimated the magnetic pull between highly compatible individuals.

Yuan Shiyuan took a slow sip from his strawberry milk carton, then slowly withdrew the straw. Despite his meticulous pheromone suppression, trace amounts still lingered in his saliva, leaving a glistening sheen on the straw that momentarily distracted the Alpha across from him.

A faint, sweet fragrance drifted into Jiang Heng’s nostrils, dissolving into his bloodstream. Instinctively, he traced the scent to its source, his gaze landing on the slightly indented, moist straw.

His gaze slowly settled on Yuan Shiyuan’s face, and his throat bobbed inexplicably.

The fragrance, mingled with the strawberry milk’s sweetness, felt like an irresistible allure, leaving his throat parched and dry against his will.

Yuan Shiyuan was still chewing and couldn’t speak, so he simply offered a puzzled look: “?”.

Jiang Heng lowered his head and took another gulp of ice water, trying to suppress the inexplicable heat rising within him. “Nothing,” he mumbled.

For a fleeting moment, he had almost hallucinated that Yuan Shiyuan possessed Omega pheromones.

Perhaps an Omega had passed by and inadvertently released their pheromones.

Fortunately, whatever the scent was, it didn’t trigger his allergies.

His phone buzzed on the table.

Zhuang He: Everyone, take a good rest after lunch. Let’s gather around 2:30 PM to prepare for filming the group variety show.

Zhuang He: @Yuan Shiyuan Shiyuan darling, the teacher has recorded the lesson as an online lecture, and I’ve already gotten you excused.

Yuan Shiyuan originally had voice and acting classes scheduled for the afternoon, but they had to be temporarily canceled due to the conflict with filming the group variety show. The teachers, ever conscientious, had prerecorded the day’s lessons as videos.

After filming the variety show, he could still review the material before bed.

No Zhuang He in the Scepter six-member group chat.

Ying Mingche: Why are we filming the group variety show now?

Ying Mingche: Filming the show now means we won’t have time tonight, right? We agreed to practice our roles tonight to prepare for the audition. [Furious]

Ying Mingche: I’m gonna play the mistress! [Smug]

Yuan Shiyuan: ……

Oh right. I almost forgot about that.

They couldn’t exactly practice the scenes during the variety show. First, the script was confidential. Second, the script’s content likely couldn’t be broadcast on the variety show’s livestream anyway—it would almost certainly get blocked.

Yuan Shiyuan: Should we practice the scenes beforehand?

Yuan Shiyuan: Jiang Heng and I just finished eating and are on our way back. Are you guys taking a nap? If not, let’s run through the scenes we were supposed to rehearse tonight now instead.

Bo Jin: You’re having lunch alone with Jiang Heng? [Confused]

Yuan Shiyuan: If you want to take a nap, reply with ‘1’. @everyone

A deathly silence fell over the group chat.

No one replied with ‘1’.

Yuan Shiyuan: Alright, let’s settle on this for now. Come whenever you’re free. I’ll ask Xiao Huang if there’s a large practice room available.

Speak of the devil…

Xiao Huang, who had been chatting with someone up ahead, turned and approached Yuan Shiyuan.

At the end of the corridor, Yuan Shiyuan first noticed a man with a calm, refined demeanor. Beside him stood a tall woman, her brow furrowed with a hint of efficiency. Both wore anxious expressions, as if searching for something important.

“Are they artists from our company?” Yuan Shiyuan asked casually.

“No, they’re from the Yu Family, here to see the captain,” Xiao Huang explained in a low voice. “Master Yu used to mentor the captain for a while, and he lived with the Yu Family for a period. Sometimes people from their side come to check on him or say hello—just old acquaintances.”

“Oh, I see.”

Pei Yanbing had mentioned this briefly on the production team’s show. You could tell from his attitude that he had a good relationship with the Yu Family.

Jiang Heng watched them rush about in a panic. “Did they lose something?”

“That Alpha is Yu Sijing. He brought his youngest son along for the ride, but the boy vanished in the blink of an eye. Everyone’s helping to look for him now,” Xiao Huang explained.

Wait, aren’t they both Alphas? Yuan Shiyuan asked, surprised. “Are they married?”

“Not exactly. They’re relatives. The other female Alpha is a descendant from the Yu Family’s collateral line. Yu Sijing is also a descendant, but he’s adopted—the orphaned son of Master Yu’s son-in-law’s comrade-in-arms,” Xiao Huang said. “Yu Sijing’s youngest son was also adopted from the family of a deceased comrade…”

Xiao Huang, always well-informed, sighed heavily at this point. “Speaking of descendants, Master Yu only has one daughter and one grandson by blood. Yu Sijing even held him as a baby, promising to give his ‘little brother’ the finest things in the world. Who could have imagined that this only grandson would be kidnapped by his father’s political rivals and never found? His father climbed the ranks relentlessly afterward, all to stand higher, to have a better chance of finding his child.”

“It’s such a shame that the little grandson was never found. Many people believe he’s… gone. Their family has always been devoted to philanthropy, constantly accumulating good fortune and praying for a miracle to bring their lost darling home.”

Pei Yanbing had only briefly mentioned Master Yu’s grandson before. He never imagined there was such a heartbreaking story behind it.

Having grown up in a welfare institute, Yuan Shiyuan had seen countless children abandoned by their parents—he was one of them himself.

He sincerely wished, “I hope their prayers are answered.”

Just then, Yuan Shiyuan noticed a familiar handcrafted embroidery on the cuffs of the Alphas ahead. Jiang Heng followed his gaze, immediately understanding what Yuan Shiyuan was thinking.

The welfare institute where they had grown up was located in an impoverished town. The children there had to help grow vegetables and scavenge for scraps just to barely survive.

They rarely had enough to eat.

One day, a black car pulled up to the entrance. Kind-hearted people began unloading boxes of supplies, including fresh food transported in refrigerated containers, into the welfare institute under the warm sunlight.

The person leading the group, likely the staff member in charge of the donation drive, wore clothing embroidered with the same pattern.

That day, Xiao Yuanshiyuan ate so much delicious food that he had never felt so full before.

Thanks to these kind-hearted donors, the welfare institute’s meals had improved dramatically. At least now, they wouldn’t go hungry.

Director Mother told them that the family behind the donations had a long history of philanthropy. Their focus on welfare institutes stemmed from a deep concern that lost children might end up in such places, unable to even secure basic necessities.

Thus, they launched a nationwide donation campaign to ensure all lost children could have enough food and warm clothes.

Even in the most remote towns, they sent representatives personally, cutting out any middlemen, to ensure the supplies reached those who truly needed them.

Xiao Yuanshiyuan squatted there, his mind reeling. So that’s how it is, he thought, a sudden wave of melancholy washing over him.

Your family must love you very much. I hope they find you soon and bring you home.

Once you’re home, you’ll be the happiest baby in the world.

You’re a baby loved by your family.

But I’m not.

I wish my family were looking for me too.

But he knew better than anyone that he had been abandoned shortly after birth. Director Mother, wanting to spare him the pain, had never spoken of it. But he had seen the photo taken when he first arrived at the welfare institute.

A dusty little infant, wrapped in a tattered blanket, left on the steps of the welfare institute, without even a name. Tucked into the blanket were a few crumpled medical records, listing diagnoses like “glandular hypoplasia” and other terms.

Glandular conditions were notoriously difficult to treat and manage. His parents likely saw him as a burden, unwanted and troublesome, and abandoned him rather than care for him.

As Xiao Yuanshiyuan curled into a ball, a warm embrace enveloped him from behind.

His best friend couldn’t speak, yet understood all his sorrows. The little boy wrapped an arm around his shoulders, clumsily shoved a piece of candy into his mouth, then lowered his head to nuzzle his cheek and the tip of his nose.

Two equally frail children huddled together.

Like two small animals in a snow-covered wasteland, they rubbed against each other, seeking warmth in mutual comfort.

Yuan Shiyuan never imagined such a coincidence: that he would actually encounter a member of the family that had once provided aid to the welfare institute.

Suddenly, a warm, soft touch pressed against his calf, followed by a tight embrace.

“Mommy!”

Huh?!

Yuan Shiyuan looked down to see a small boy, sculpted like jade and rosy-cheeked, clinging to his leg with arms like tender lotus roots. The child looked to be about three or four years old.

From a distance, Ying Mingche saw Yuan Shiyuan being clung to by the little boy. He lifted the boy’s overalls by the straps with his slender fingers and warned, “Where did this little brat come from?”

“Let go.”

But the boy clung even tighter, like a koala to a tree.

He tilted his head back, his eyes sparkling. “Auntie said the most beautiful person in the world is Mommy! You must be my mommy!”

Yuan Shiyuan couldn’t help but laugh. He exchanged a glance with Xiao Huang, both realizing this must be the youngest son Yu Sijing and the others had been searching for.

He crouched down, gently wiping the dust from the boy’s face with his fingertips, and asked softly, “Has your daddy been looking for you?”

Hearing this, Ying Mingche raised an eyebrow. He crouched down beside Yuan Shiyuan, leaning in close to the boy. “If you’re calling him ‘Mommy,’ what should you call me?”

“How’s Dad?”

Yuan Shiyuan nudged Ying Mingche with his elbow, his gaze warning. Ying Mingche immediately fell silent, feigning obedience.

“No!” the little boy glared, his cheeks puffed out. “I already have a dad.”

Xiao Huang suggested, “Then how about I take you to find your dad?”

“No! I want my Mommy, not my Daddy!” The boy’s face tightened as he clung tightly to Yuan Shiyuan’s leg, pressing his chubby cheek against Yuan Shiyuan’s knee.

Ying Mingche grabbed the boy’s overalls and hoisted him up. “You little rascal! Acting like a pervert since you were a kid, huh? Where do you think you’re burying your face?” he growled.

Worried the child might be frightened, Yuan Shiyuan quickly took the boy into his arms, holding him close. “I have to

“O-okay,” the little boy finally relented, twisting his fingers around the hem of his shirt, looking both embarrassed and shy. “Can I bring my dad to see you again?”

Yuan Shiyuan considered for a moment. “Of course you can.”

“Does this little brat even know you’re not his mom? Why does he keep calling you that on purpose?” Ying Mingche finally caught on.

“Y-you! Mind! Your! Own! Business!” the boy retorted fiercely, only to revert to his good boy act the moment Yuan Shiyuan looked at him.

As Yuan Shiyuan held the boy, his collar slipped open slightly, revealing a glimpse of his porcelain-white collarbone. The boy took advantage of the opening, burying his face in the hollow of Yuan Shiyuan’s neck. “Mommy smells so nice…”

“Hey, little brat, where do you think you’re sniffing?” Ying Mingche’s eyes darkened instantly, his voice rising with a dangerous edge. Even he, with all his shamelessness, had never dared to sniff Yuan Shiyuan like that!

“Don’t scare the kid,” Yuan Shiyuan frowned at Ying Mingche before gently supporting the boy’s bottom.

Yuan Shiyuan loved children. During his time at the welfare institute, he had often cared for his younger siblings and found it impossible not to feel affection for such an adorable child.

He let the little boy cling to him, listening patiently as the child stubbornly called him “Mommy,” his eyes brimming with indulgence.

Didn’t Xiao Huang say earlier that Yu Sijing had adopted this boy from a deceased comrade? It’s likely both his parents are gone.

A child’s longing for a mother is a perfectly natural instinct. Yuan Shiyuan saw no need to correct him.

Jiang Heng and Ying Mingche glanced at him simultaneously.

Meanwhile, Ying Mingxi and the others arrived just in time to witness this scene.

The little rascal chattered away incoherently, jumping from one topic to another without rhyme or reason. Yet Yuan Shiyuan listened with unwavering patience, his long lashes casting soft shadows beneath his amber eyes, which shimmered with tender light.

They couldn’t help but perceive an aura of boundless maternal warmth and care emanating from him.

“Let me take him for a while,” Ying Mingxi offered softly, worried Yuan Shiyuan might tire from holding the boy for too long.

“I don’t want you to hold me!” the boy snapped, baring his teeth like a protective little beast guarding its food.

Yuan Shiyuan smiled helplessly.

The boy was well-behaved around him, but he was particularly clingy and prone to tantrums, like a cub who couldn’t bear to be separated from its mother.

Just then, the steady rhythm of leather shoes striking the floor echoed from behind them.

The little boy in his arms suddenly brightened, waving his arms excitedly. “Daddy!”

Yuan Shiyuan instinctively turned with the boy in his arms. At the far end of the corridor, a refined man in a perfectly tailored suit was approaching at a leisurely pace. His features were elegant and dignified, his hair impeccably styled, and his entire demeanor exuded the ascetic restraint of an elite Alpha.

The corridor lights seemed to flow like liquid shadows as their eyes met. The Alpha halted abruptly, freezing in place.

“Daddy! This is the Mommy I found!” The little boy puffed out his chest proudly, his chubby little hand still clutching Yuan Shiyuan’s sleeve.

The Alpha remained silent, standing motionless. After a moment, he took a single step forward.

“Your son certainly has good taste.”

Ying Mingche suddenly snorted, slinging an arm possessively around Yuan Shiyuan’s shoulder, his posture overly familiar. “He certainly knows how to pick a mom for himself.”

Yu Sijing finally noticed the surrounding S-rank alphas, their gazes tinged with barely concealed hostility.

“My apologies.” He took the little boy back into his arms. “I’ve caused you trouble.”

“It’s no problem at all. He’s adorable,” Yuan Shiyuan replied, genuinely fond of children.

Yu Sijing handed him a gold-embossed business card. “My name is Yu Sijing.”

“I’m Gu Weiyuan!” the little boy chimed in.

“Oh, thank heavens we finally found you!” A female Alpha approached. “Big Brother, the car’s waiting downstairs. Aren’t you supposed to take Xiao Yuan to the hospital?”

Yu Sijing glanced at her. “Mm-hmm.”

Then, stubbornly, he extended his business card forward. “If you ever need anything, please don’t hesitate to contact me.”

“It’s just a small matter. Really, there’s no need…”

Yu Ming snatched the card. “Alright, you can go now.”

After she dismissed the man, the atmosphere noticeably relaxed. “Don’t mind my big brother. He’s just… a bit old-fashioned. You can keep the card if you want, or toss it. No need to feel obligated.”

“Thank you so much for helping us find Xiao Yuan.”

“I didn’t really do anything,” Yuan Shiyuan said honestly. “I was just standing here, and he came over.”

To be precise, it wasn’t Yuan Shiyuan who found the little boy, but the little boy who found him.

Yu Ming smiled, seeing that Yuan Shiyuan clearly didn’t want to accept Yu Sijing’s card or take credit for the rescue. She tucked the card away. “I’ll leave it with your manager for now. Who knows, maybe there’ll be a time when he can help us out. My big brother hates being indebted to people, so don’t worry about being polite with him.”

As she looked at Yuan Shiyuan, a hint of regret flickered across her face.

Yu Ming had a premonition: her grandfather would undoubtedly adore Yuan Shiyuan. But Yuan Shiyuan currently had his own career.

There’s no way I can ask him to give up his career and become my grandfather’s last disciple, right? That’s just absurd.

“Our Princess Yuanyuan is already a mother now!” Xiao Huang announced as he led the Alphas to the corner lounge—a spacious room bathed in bright light.

At the entrance, Ying Mingche draped his arm casually around Yuan Shiyuan’s shoulders, leaning down to whisper in his ear, “It’s so weird—why did this little brat choose you as his ‘mom’? You’re clearly an Alpha!”

Yuan Shiyuan glanced sideways at Ying Mingche, whose contorted posture to get close to his ear looked rather strained.

“Aren’t you tired like that?” he asked. “Are your legs numb?”

The lounge door creaked slightly as the lock disengaged.

Hearing Yuan Shiyuan’s question, Ying Mingche froze, then lowered his head in embarrassment, whispering almost inaudibly, “Mommy?”

“……”

Yuan Shiyuan slapped his face away. “What the hell are you shouting for?”

“But didn’t you tell me to call you that?” Ying Mingche whined, aggrieved. “I did, and you’re still scolding me.”

“I asked if your legs were numb, are they numb?!”

“Fine,” Ying Mingche sighed, pushing open the lounge door with a hint of disappointment in his eyes.

He thought Yuan Shiyuan genuinely wanted to hear it, and he even considered calling him “Shiyuan” all the time from then on.

They had agreed to help each other prepare for the audition by practicing beforehand and getting comfortable with each other’s bodies.

But how exactly were they supposed to get comfortable? How should they practice? They still hadn’t come up with a concrete plan.

Yuan Shiyuan sat cross-legged in the center of the carpet, completely surrounded by five S-rank alphas. Positioned squarely in the middle, his fair, slender limbs formed a striking contrast against the darker complexions and more muscular physiques of the other S-ranks.

Yuan Shiyuan’s initial composure gradually crumbled. His brows furrowed, his spine stiffened, and a rapid succession of fleeting expressions flickered across his face.

Finally, he lifted his head, feigning nonchalance as he coughed slightly. “Is the light in this room too bright?”

Filming intimate scenes with someone he knew well was proving excruciatingly awkward. Earlier, under the dim lighting and with the mood setting the stage, kissing had been bearable—at least they couldn’t see each other’s faces clearly.

But practicing intimate scenes in broad daylight felt like airing dirty laundry. The harsh, bright light revealed every detail; he could even see his own reflection in each alpha’s eyes.

“I’ll draw the curtains,” Bo Jin and Ying Mingxi said in unison, both rising to pull the drapes tightly shut and switching off a lamp.

The room instantly fell silent, bathed only in the dim glow from the ceiling lights, intensifying the already charged atmosphere.

Yuan Shiyuan finally relaxed a little.

“Have you guys decided how to practice?” Yuan Shiyuan asked. “Or should someone go first?”

“I’ll go first,” Ying Mingche volunteered eagerly, scooting forward and lying flat on Yuan Shiyuan’s lap. “I want to practice a bedroom scene.”

Yuan Shiyuan shot him down mercilessly. “You can’t even handle a peck on the cheek—a bedroom scene?”

This incident was Ying Mingche’s “dark history.” He still vividly remembered his reaction to that first kiss: clumsy, flustered, and babbling like a fool!

“That was an accident,” Ying Mingche retorted, annoyed. “I won’t embarrass myself like that again if we try again.”

This simple exchange was packed with information.

Bo Jin’s brow furrowed deeply. “You’ve kissed Ying Mingche on the cheek?” he asked coldly. “When? Where?”

He had assumed Yuan Shiyuan’s only entanglement was with Jiang Heng. Yet, behind his back, Yuan Shiyuan had apparently…

Ying Mingche sneered. “You’re getting into character already before we’ve even started practicing? Playing the ‘official boyfriend’ card? Claiming territory on the floor?”

“It’s none of your business when we kissed,” Yuan Shiyuan retorted. “Just know it happened while you weren’t around.”

Bo Jin’s gaze grew even colder.

Ying Mingxi gently interrupted, “Shiyuan’s right. We need to take things one step at a time. We can’t rush into everything at once. Love scenes should definitely come last… For now, we need to focus on getting comfortable with intimate scenes like hugging and kissing.”

“Shiyuan’s quite sensitive. Jumping straight into a love scene would definitely be too much for him.”

Jiang Heng’s gaze turned probing. “How do you know he’s so sensitive?”

“That’s not important right now!”

Yuan Shiyuan had no desire to hear others discussing his sensitivity. He pulled a bag from the side, tore open the packaging, and revealed its contents.

“Xiao Huang heard we needed to familiarize ourselves with each other’s bodies for the audition. To help break the ice, he sent us this special Flying Chess game.”

The Flying Chess board was covered in densely packed text, clearly not an ordinary version of the game.

“The rules are simple,” Yuan Shiyuan said, glancing at the instructions. “The board already has basic rewards and penalties. For the blank spaces, we’ll draw penalty slips separately.” He looked down at the instructions. “We need to fill out the penalty slips in advance or use the penalty cards included…”

Yuan Shiyuan had been about to suggest using the included penalty cards to save time. But when he opened the deck, the explicit language printed on them made his expression freeze.

He jerked his head up, his snow-white face flushing crimson.

The content on the penalty cards was far more… intense than he’d imagined!