Pretending to Be an Alpha in an All-Alpha Boy Band - Chapter 63
Chapter 63: Quick Q&A
The assembly whistle blared.
Yuan Shiyuan hurried to Jiang Heng, cupping his earphone with one hand and rising on tiptoe to close the distance between them.
He whispered, “The bandage is coming loose.”
Warm breath, carrying a faint fragrance, brushed against Jiang Heng’s ear. His Adam’s apple bobbed as his gaze drifted uncontrollably to Yuan Shiyuan’s slightly parted, flushed lips.
He instinctively recalled their uncontrolled kiss, the sweet aftertaste of Yuan Shiyuan’s mouth still lingering on his tongue.
“Mm,” Jiang Heng murmured, “I’ll change it in the restroom later.”
“Okay, great!” Yuan Shiyuan said. “Then I’ll go join the others.”
But Jiang Heng didn’t immediately let him leave.
He glanced at Yuan Shiyuan’s empty hand, which had once held a flower—a flower Yuan Shiyuan had given to another Alpha.
“So, you came to see me just for this?”
“Of course! I’m really worried about you.”
Jiang Heng met Yuan Shiyuan’s open, earnest gaze. As if burned by the sincerity in those wet eyes, he averted his head, his voice hoarse as he murmured, “Mm.”
JH’s ears are so red!
Little Yuan’s concern—the cool guy acts so calm on the surface, but his heart must be burning inside!
Jiang Heng applied a fresh bandage, and Yuan Shiyuan finally breathed a sigh of relief.
If fans discovered the kiss mark beneath the bandage, they would inevitably assume Jiang Heng was secretly dating. With their group currently enjoying a career upswing, such a scandal could prove disastrous.
Yuan Shiyuan was baffled. He hadn’t even sucked that hard—how could the mark still be visible after so long?
The faint blush on his own chin had faded by evening, unlike Jiang Heng’s stubbornly persistent mark.
A plush carpet lay before the living room sofa, surrounded by modern throw pillows arranged as decor.
The Alphas had largely taken their places, seated in a circle on the carpet, leaving a space between them just wide enough for one more person.
The moment Yuan Shiyuan stepped into the living room, all eyes locked onto him.
He had initially planned to simply take the first available seat, but now faced with multiple empty spots, he was overwhelmed by indecision. Which place would be best?
“Princess Yuanyuan, sit here!”
Ying Mingche shoved his way to Yuan Shiyuan’s side, practically shoving him into the seat next to him. Conveniently, Ying Mingxi sat on the other side.
Their gazes met silently in mid-air. Yuan Shiyuan suddenly flashed a radiant smile, momentarily startling Ying Mingxi before his own smile deepened in response.
To the pair, their wordless exchange was simply a mutual acknowledgment, but to the other Alphas present, it burned like a brand.
Am I imagining things? I swear there’s a thick scent of jealousy in the air. [Grinning Face]
Brother Huo’s mineral water bottle is crushed, and JH hasn’t said a word, but his eyes keep darting to Shiyuan. Brother Captain looks like he’s about to shatter… 😭
Their group photo. 🤡🤡🤡
“Why do you like my brother so much?”
Ying Mingche couldn’t understand it. He’d seized the opportunity, forcing Yuan Shiyuan into the seat beside him, yet Yuan Shiyuan hadn’t even spared him a glance, instead exchanging flirtatious glances with his brother.
“Why are you so drawn to him?” he puzzled. “I can do everything he can, and we look exactly alike.”
Their appearances were virtually identical. If Yuan Shiyuan preferred his brother’s personality, Ying Mingche could easily mimic it perfectly.
But Yuan Shiyuan wouldn’t have it, always favoring his brother.
Yuan Shiyuan declared with conviction, “If you were more obedient, I’d definitely like you more.”
“Am I not obedient enough?” Ying Mingche leaned closer, feigning offense. “I’m practically on my knees, ready to lick your feet.”
Yuan Shiyuan slapped his face away. “Don’t reward yourself.”
The mega screen filled with danmaku: “Hahahahaha!”
The director announced, “Before we start the main game, let’s warm up with a quick-fire Q&A and a ‘Truth or Dare’ mini-game. The questions and dares were all crowdsourced from fan danmaku.”
“We’ll take turns in order—”
“First up, Captain. Have you lost your first kiss yet?”
Pei Yanbing froze instantly, his eyelashes fluttering.
His perpetually cold, indifferent face momentarily betrayed a flicker of shock, tinged with a barely perceptible embarrassment.
Pei Yanbing instinctively glanced at Yuan Shiyuan.
That single glance made the surrounding Alphas narrow their eyes, their gazes probing.
The danmaku exploded in a frenzy, having caught the subtle gesture.
—Why did Captain look at Little Yuan first?!
—I bet five yuan, the Captain’s first kiss definitely went to Little Yuan!
I’m officially hooked! Little Yuan looks dazed, his eyes darting nervously. Holy mother of pearl, could it really be what I’m thinking?! [Groundhog scream]
Do you boy groups really kiss each other in private? Could it be… have you even gone further than that?!
Noooo! Don’t fuck! My wife! Fine, if you’re gonna fuck, at least let me watch the uncensored version in HD! [Wailing][Smirking]
The director reminded, “Captain, this is a rapid-fire Q&A.”
Pei Yanbing remained silent.
Yuan Shiyuan feigned busyness, taking a sip of water and saying in a nonchalant tone, “Of course it’s gone! He probably gave it to his mom right after birth, right? I gave my first kiss to my mom.”
Pei Yanbing looked at Yuan Shiyuan and replied, “Yeah, it’s gone.”
“A mom’s kiss doesn’t count as a first kiss!” The die-hard fans refused to back down. The director pressed on, undeterred, “Really? Is it just like Shiyuan said? Captain, did you also give your first kiss to your mom?”
Pei Yanbing calmly met their gazes. “That’s the next question.”
Bo Jin frowned deeply. What the hell is going on? Wasn’t Jiang Heng the only one? How did Pei Yanbing suddenly get added to the mix?
Pei Yanbing is usually so aloof and disinterested, never fighting for anything. Why is he suddenly joining the fray?
“The second dare is a big one, Jiang Heng,” the director announced quickly. “Could you show us the most recent photo on your phone?”
Jiang Heng’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, but he unlocked his phone nonetheless. “Sure.”
He opened his photo album and tapped the latest image.
The camera clearly captured Yuan Shiyuan’s side profile as he bowed his head to eat oden!
“When did you take this?” Yuan Shiyuan asked, his face a mask of surprise. “How did I not notice you?”
At the time, Yuan Shiyuan had been too focused on tricking Bo Jin into paying for his meal to pay attention to his surroundings.
But he wasn’t usually so oblivious as to miss someone standing nearby.
“Were you spying on him from upstairs the whole time?”
Bo Jin immediately recognized the photo’s perspective as the third-floor corridor. Recalling their earlier encounter in the bushes, his eyes flashed with disdain. “Creep.”
Perhaps driven by fans’ curiosity about Jiang Heng’s photo album, or perhaps fueled by the fervent support of his and Yuan Shiyuan’s CP fans, the following rounds of truth or dare all involved Jiang Heng showing photos from his album.
The second-to-last photo, the third-to-last, the tenth-to-last… all featured Yuan Shiyuan.
Yuan Shiyuan, the subject of these photos, was utterly dumbfounded. “What’s with all the pictures of me? You’re even more dedicated than my own paparazzi!”
“You’re secretly in love with me, aren’t you?”
Yuan Shiyuan joked, secretly relieved he’d already deleted those embarrassing childhood photos from his album.
If he’d drawn “Show your album” as a truth or dare challenge on the show, he’d have lost all dignity!
Ying Mingche forced a laugh, then, in an exaggeratedly dramatic tone, quipped sarcastically, “How terrifying! Jiang Heng, secretly snapping photos of our Princess Yuanyuan? Don’t tell me you have some… peculiar fetish.”
Jiang Heng replied calmly, “The cameraman took those, not me. I just asked them to send me the originals.”
“Still creepy as hell!”
Yuan Shiyuan stepped in to smooth things over. “But they’re actually quite good. Send me a copy too.”
If Jiang Heng had taken these photos himself, Yuan Shiyuan would have been genuinely unnerved. Always “running into” Jiang Heng, and now these secret photos? Does that mean he’s been watching me in the shadows all this time?
Just thinking about it gives me the creeps.
What a creep!
But these photos clearly had a professional quality. It seemed likely Jiang Heng was telling the truth: they were frames captured by the cameraman during the group variety show, and Jiang Heng had requested them out of artistic appreciation.
After all, the composition, lighting, and framing were undeniably excellent. Even Yuan Shiyuan had to admit they made him look exceptionally handsome—so handsome he wanted the originals himself.
“Next up: Shiyuan.”
The director glanced at the question and chuckled. “This fan’s question is quite interesting.”
“Has any Alpha on set ever kissed you?”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Pei Yanbing and Jiang Heng unconsciously tightened their grips on their markers, their fingers twitching ever so slightly.
The air seemed to freeze momentarily.
Before Yuan Shiyuan could even answer, the danmaku fans, scrutinizing every detail like they were using a microscope, erupted into frantic speculation.
Why is Brother Huo frowning? Could it be he’s kissed Little Yuan too?!
The captain’s expression is all the proof we need—a honest man can’t hide his feelings. And what’s Brother Shui blushing about? Where’s your cool guy persona? And why are the Corn Brothers smirking so strangely?
Help! I can’t take it anymore! It feels like everyone’s kissed Little Yuan! [Screaming] [Excited]
You Scepter boy group members are secretly indulging in this kind of stuff, but you won’t show it to us?! [Angry]
“Of course not,” Yuan Shiyuan replied, his expression calm compared to the varied reactions of the other Alphas. His tone was even and natural. “We’re a proper boy group, after all.”
What were those earlier pecks supposed to be? Kissing only counts when it’s with someone you like. Those intimate touches with my teammates were just practice, sacrificing for art. They definitely don’t count as kissing.
Strictly speaking, his first kiss was still out there, waiting.
Bo Jin’s lips twitched slightly. Ying Mingche didn’t even bother to feign surprise, bursting into undisguised laughter. “Exactly! I can vouch for that. Princess Yuanyuan is absolutely right.”
“Our Princess Yuanyuan still has her first kiss intact!” The teasing tone was unmistakable.
The warm-up game had concluded.
The director distributed signature boards to each participant. “Our next game is ‘I Have, You Don’t.’ Each of you will write down a unique experience on your board. If someone hasn’t done what you’ve written, they give you a bead. Conversely, if they have done it, you give them a bead.”
This meant they needed to write down something truly unique and niche to secure those beads.
Yuan Shiyuan pondered deeply. Apart from him, all the other members were celestial dragons, their life experiences undoubtedly far richer than his. Should he try the opposite approach and write about his part-time jobs?
But they had already experienced part-time work on the yacht last time, so that wouldn’t be a safe bet.
After much deliberation, Yuan Shiyuan slowly began to write on his signature board, carefully inscribing what he believed to be a truly unique experience—one the others definitely wouldn’t have done.
Pei Yanbing was the first to reveal his signature board.
He had written: Afraid of the dark.
Ying Mingche immediately voiced his skepticism. “You’re afraid of the dark?”
Pei Yanbing certainly didn’t look like an Alpha afraid of the dark. But his expression remained calm as he quietly accepted the skepticism.
Everyone else raised the No card, except for Yuan Shiyuan, who held up Yes.
Jiang Heng frowned, glancing at the Yes card in Yuan Shiyuan’s hand.
Pei Yanbing gave Yuan Shiyuan a bead.
Yuan Shiyuan was initially surprised, but he quickly realized Pei Yanbing was looking out for him, deliberately giving him a point. As he took the bead, he subtly brushed his fingers against Pei Yanbing’s, signaling that he understood his kindness. His eyes curved into a smile. “Thank you, Captain.”
The second contestant was Bo Jin, who revealed the contents of his writing board: I am an orphan.
The air instantly froze.
There was no way to refute that. Everyone present gave Bo Jin a bead.
The third contestant was Ying Mingche: I’ve called Princess Yuanyuan “baby.”
Yuan Shiyuan gave him a Are you crazy? look.
The danmaku screen flooded with question marks.
Ying Mingche explained matter-of-factly, “During our last variety show recording, when a fan called you ‘baby,’ I called you that too.” His voice took on a wistful tone. “You even told me to stop.”
Yuan Shiyuan’s lips twitched into a strained smile. Who would want to be called “baby” by an Alpha? It was just too weird.
He had never called himself “baby” either, so he raised the No card. The remaining four Alphas all held up No as well.
What?! Corn Sausage is the only one who’s ever called Little Yuan “baby”? What are you all even doing here? [eyeroll]
“Baby, baby, baby, hmph! That’s all they kept calling him.”
“Suddenly I understand why the CP pairing between ○ and the twins is so popular. Turns out corn sausage here has been leading the race all along, even calling him ‘baby’ already! [Thumbs up]”
Fourth up was Yuan Shiyuan. When he revealed his writing slate, all the Alphas turned curious gazes toward him. But as soon as they read what he’d written, their brows furrowed.
Yuan Shiyuan had written: “When I was little, I used to wash my best friend’s socks.”
Jiang Heng’s gaze suddenly froze, his dark eyes filled with suspicion. “You… washed your best friend’s socks when you were little?”
Bo Jin studied Yuan Shiyuan’s hands—long, slender fingers that seemed utterly unsuited for washing socks.
His tone dripped with disapproval. “Why would you just… wash your friend’s socks for no reason?”
Yuan Shiyuan’s friend is clueless too. Not only doesn’t he wash Yuan Shiyuan’s socks, he actually makes Yuan Shiyuan wash his?!
What kind of friend does that?
“We’re best bros,” Yuan Shiyuan said, a smug curl tugging at his lips. “What’s the big deal about washing a few socks? I bet none of you have ever done that.”
Complex emotions surged in Jiang Heng’s eyes. “Are you sure… you were the one washing your friend’s socks?”
He was clearly doubting Yuan Shiyuan.
Yuan Shiyuan straightened his back, his voice ringing with righteous indignation. “It happened, okay?”
He remembered it vividly. “During that time, my good friend was sick and went to bed early after taking medicine. I wasn’t sleepy, so I thought, ‘Might as well wash our socks since I’m bored anyway…'”
“So I went outside to fetch water, ready to wash the socks.”
“And then what?” Jiang Heng asked, knowing exactly what Yuan Shiyuan was talking about.
Yuan Shiyuan trailed off, unwilling to continue. But Jiang Heng knew exactly how it ended.
When they were kids, Jiang Heng had always washed Yuan Shiyuan’s socks. But during that time, Jiang Heng had a cold and fever, making him feel unwell and forcing him to bed early.
On a whim, Yuan Shiyuan crept out in the middle of the night with a small bucket to fetch water. He squatted on a small plastic stool in the courtyard, ready to tackle the task with gusto.
Just as he lifted the basin, he suddenly saw a family of rats—a whole brood—crammed inside. Terrified, he tumbled backward onto the ground with a thump, clamped his hands over his mouth to muffle his sobs, and fled into the house, even losing his shoes in the process.
After taking his medicine and sleeping it off, Jiang Heng felt a little better. But when he opened his eyes, he saw Yuan Shiyuan kneeling beside the bed, his usually snow-white face streaked with grime from crying so hard, frantically wiping his tears with his small hands.
Without a second thought for Yuan Shiyuan’s grimy state, Jiang Heng quickly got up and pulled the boy into his arms. He wiped Yuan Shiyuan’s tears away while gesturing with his hands to ask what had happened.
Learning that Yuan Shiyuan had been frightened by a mouse, Jiang Heng felt both helpless and amused. After finally calming Yuan Shiyuan down, he wrote on the paper, word by word:
Little crybaby.
Xiao Yuanshiyuan naturally protested, “I’m very brave! But who isn’t afraid of mice?”
“Even though there was a slight… incident back then, I really was planning to wash my friend’s socks for him.”
Yuan Shiyuan watched as the Alphas silently handed over a pearl each.
I knew it, he thought. These celestial dragons have never washed anyone’s socks in their lives.
“When I was young, I also washed my friend’s socks,” Jiang Heng said, sharing a similar experience. Though he didn’t need to surrender a pearl, he still did. His gaze locked onto Yuan Shiyuan, and he enunciated each word: “When I was little, I washed all my own socks.”
Since we share that experience, Jiang Heng doesn’t need to give up a pearl. Did he not understand the rules?
When Yuan Shiyuan met Jiang Heng’s pitch-black, pure eyes, he was once again, at the most inappropriate moment, reminded of his childhood friend.
Their eyes really are so alike.
“What kind of ‘friend’ would make you wash their socks? That’s so… intimate,” Ying Mingche said, his tone laced with jealousy. “If it were me, I’d fight to wash your socks for you. How could I bear to let you do something like that…?”
Yuan Shiyuan ignored his smooth talk and asked flatly, “Who’s next?”
The last person was Ying Mingxi. He turned his writing board around, a warm smile gracing his lips.
“When I was a child, there was a period when I couldn’t speak,” he said. Though the smile lingered on his lips, there was no warmth in his eyes. “You could say I was mute for a while.”
Yuan Shiyuan blinked in surprise. “Brother Mingxi, were you… traumatized or something?”
“You could put it that way,” Ying Mingxi replied with a smile. “It was a rather unique experience. I doubt anyone else has been through something similar, right?”
It was indeed a peculiar experience.
When someone suffers extreme trauma or shock, the body may activate emergency protective mechanisms, leading to functional disorders like temporary aphonia.
After Yuan Shiyuan handed over his pearl, the Alphas around him gradually relinquished theirs.
Only Jiang Heng remained motionless. He spoke calmly, “I had a similar experience when I was young.”
“I lost my voice for a long time, and it only gradually recovered.”
Yuan Shiyuan’s pupils dilated sharply.
He finally took a close look at Jiang Heng’s face—a face that felt strangely familiar, one he’d recognized instantly upon first seeing it.
Whether it was his facial features, the spirit in his eyes, or that signature earring…
Now, another similar experience…
Could it really be such a coincidence?
Yuan Shiyuan feigned casualness as he sat beside Jiang Heng, observing the Alpha’s dark hair, which curled naturally at the ends.
“Is your hair permed?” he asked. “It looks so natural.”
Jiang Heng lowered his gaze. “No, it’s not permed. It’s inherited from my mother.”
Not permed, huh?
Yuan Shiyuan felt a twinge of disappointment. Just as he was about to speak, Jiang Heng added, “Actually, my hair used to be straight when I was a kid. It only started to curl as I got older.”
Yuan Shiyuan’s eyelashes flickered upward, and a surge of suppressed joy welled up in his eyes.
“About that good friend you mentioned earlier…” He chose his words carefully. “It’s such a coincidence! I had a close friend like that when I was little too. He used to wash my socks for me and always took care of me, being incredibly kind to me.”
Jiang Heng looked at him intently and asked softly, “Do you still remember him?”
“Of course I remember him! He was my best friend,” Yuan Shiyuan replied without hesitation, then added regretfully, “But to him, I might just be a passing face in his life. Even if we met again, he might not even remember me.”
“He’ll remember you.”
Yuan Shiyuan kept his eyes fixed on Jiang Heng.
Under that intense gaze, Jiang Heng slowly returned the look, his voice soft yet resolute. “Someone as good as you, he’ll definitely remember you.”
To the other Alphas, their conversation sounded like casual small talk, the kind of idle banter one might hear over tea. As Jiang Heng spoke, he leaned forward slightly, clearly hearing Yuan Shiyuan’s breathing.
“Even if you meet again, he’ll recognize you instantly.”
In truth, Jiang Heng had never imagined their reunion, yet these words seemed to flow from him like an innate instinct, rooted in every night and day spent without him.
He had never forgotten his friend. The longing for their reunion had become as natural as breathing, permeating the long years of his growth.
Even if the wait stretched long and the process proved arduous, it wouldn’t matter. He would keep searching, day after day, until that day finally arrived.
With a sharp whoosh, Yuan Shiyuan abruptly stood up.
He wasn’t a fool; he naturally understood the deeper meaning hidden in Jiang Heng’s eyes.
But this wasn’t the place to talk. Fearing a misunderstanding, Yuan Shiyuan whispered in Jiang Heng’s ear, “Let’s go outside to talk?”
Pei Yanbing had just finished cutting a fruit platter and set it before Yuan Shiyuan when he saw him suddenly rise and pull Jiang Heng out of the room.
Throughout the entire exchange, Yuan Shiyuan hadn’t given him even a shred of attention, hadn’t even noticed his approach.
Outside the glass wall, Yuan Shiyuan looked utterly delighted, chattering animatedly with Jiang Heng and playfully tapping him on the shoulder.
Though the gesture carried a hint of reproach, his smile grew even brighter, its youthful exuberance shining through even under the harsh sunlight.
This vibrant vitality was something Pei Yanbing had never possessed.
It was only natural. He was dull, listless, and Yuan Shiyuan’s kindness—his willingness to speak to him and give him flowers—stemmed purely from good manners and team etiquette.
No one will ever truly love you.
How could anyone have such a disgusting illness?
You’ll lose control sooner or later.
…
A piercing tinnitus erupted in his ears. Pei Yanbing stared calmly out the window, a thin layer of ice seeming to glaze his eyes.
But when he saw Yuan Shiyuan stand on tiptoe and embrace Jiang Heng of his own accord, he heard the sound of that ice shattering.
At that moment, the Alpha turned his head and caught Pei Yanbing’s gaze. A barely perceptible smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
It was like a boast, yet also a silent taunt directed at the unseen observer in the shadows.
More than anger, jealousy now festered in Pei Yanbing’s heart.
Jealous that this Alpha could win Yuan Shiyuan’s favor, jealous that this Alpha could claim Yuan Shiyuan’s embrace.
He too longed to openly pull Yuan Shiyuan into his embrace.
Even if only for a fleeting moment.