Pretending to Be an Alpha in an All-Alpha Boy Band - Chapter 73

Chapter 73: The Invitation

“What am I doing?” Yuan Shiyuan repeated the question, then chuckled, leaning back in his chair. “It’s late. I’m in the dormitory, of course.”

“What else would I be doing?”

Across the table, Bo Jin raised an eyebrow, confused.

Yuan Shize didn’t believe him. “In the dormitory? Why is your heart rate so high?”

“Oh. Brother Bo Jin and I got a sudden urge to practice our lines. We got too into character, emotions running high, so we got a little excited.”

After speaking, Yuan Shiyuan lightly punched his younger brother’s shoulder. “Why are you so obsessed with my heart rate? Don’t you have anything better to do?”

Yuan Shize whined, “I can’t see you, Gege. I feel insecure and can only rely on this data.”

Yuan Shiyuan knew his brother suffered from severe separation anxiety.

Yuan Shiyuan’s open, guileless gaze made it difficult for Pei Yanbing to maintain his suspicion. “Is that so…”

Bo Jin couldn’t sit still. Is Yuan Shiyuan really pinning the blame on me, right in front of me? He wanted to speak up, but suddenly a leg snaked under the table, a toe gently hooking around his calf.

He froze, his gaze colliding with Yuan Shiyuan’s watery eyes. Yuan Shiyuan curved his lips into a friendly smile.

…

After a long pause, Bo Jin finally said, “Hmm, that’s right.”

“We were rehearsing late last night, and our emotions got a little… heated,” he said, staring intently at Yuan Shiyuan’s face. “I’ll be more careful next time.”

As the meal drew to a close, Bo Jin went to pay the bill, and Pei Yanbing followed him.

Although they were members of the same group, their relationship had always been lukewarm, especially since Pei Yanbing disliked socializing.

To Bo Jin’s surprise, Pei Yanbing actually took the initiative to speak first. “Last night… were you really together?”

Bo Jin had never seen Pei Yanbing look like this before.

He didn’t understand why Pei Yanbing was so fixated on getting an answer, but the thought of upsetting him made him feel smug.

“Of course,” he said. “We’re roommates. If Yuan Shiyuan isn’t with me, who else would he be with?”

Pei Yanbing froze. “You’re right.”

For the first time, Bo Jin caught a flicker of sadness on Pei Yanbing’s usually impassive, icy face.

This made him even more wary. Pei Yanbing’s repeated questioning, timed so perfectly, couldn’t just be idle curiosity.

The person Pei Yanbing was looking for was almost certainly Yuan Shiyuan.

What exactly happened between them last night?

The question haunted Bo Jin’s mind. In the past, he would have confronted Yuan Shiyuan directly.

Yuan Shiyuan had a pesky Alpha hovering around him—his own younger brother, no less. No matter how irritated Bo Jin was, he had to endure it and couldn’t show his displeasure.

As Bo Jin pulled the car up, he reached to open the door for Yuan Shiyuan, but another young Alpha in a school uniform moved faster.

Yuan Shize thoughtfully placed his hand on the car roof, bending down to help Yuan Shiyuan into the vehicle with such tender care, as if handling a delicate porcelain doll.

Bo Jin could only sullenly slide into the driver’s seat, suddenly feeling like a clown.

Running errands, paying bills, driving around—he was doing all the work and even paying out of pocket, yet he couldn’t even get close to Yuan Shiyuan.

Through the rearview mirror, Bo Jin saw Yuan Shiyuan laughing and chatting with Yuan Shize, their intimacy almost blindingly close. On the other side, Pei Yanbing sat staring coldly out the window, completely out of place in the lively atmosphere.

Bo Jin averted his gaze.

At least I’m not the only one playing the fool.

Yuan Shize couldn’t stay away from the base for long, so he dedicated his precious free time to his older brother.

After showing Yuan Shize around the company, Yuan Shiyuan’s legs began to ache, so he decided to take his brother back to the dormitory.

Yuan Shize discreetly scanned the dormitory, observing Yuan Shiyuan’s living environment.

They often video-called and exchanged photos, but seeing Yuan Shiyuan’s actual living space in person was a different matter entirely.

Yuan Shiyuan’s bed was neatly made, piled high with plush toys of all shapes and sizes. Department store gift boxes were stacked in the corner, creating a neat, orderly scene that reflected his own clean, refined demeanor.

Yet the dormitory clearly bore traces of another Alpha’s presence.

Yuan Shize subtly glanced at the opposite side of the room. Fortunately, the two large beds were positioned on opposite ends of the dormitory, separated by a significant distance. This meant that Yuan Shiyuan and Bo Jin slept far apart each night.

Just as Yuan Shize was about to lie down on his brother’s bed, wanting to inhale the scent of Yuan Shiyuan lingering in the sheets, he was yanked upright.

Despite its slender appearance, Yuan Shiyuan’s wrist possessed formidable strength. He hauled Yuan Shize away with a single tug. “Don’t just flop on my bed like that. It’s dirty.”

Yuan Shize was still wearing his outdoor clothes and hadn’t showered yet. Naturally, sitting on the bed in such a state would invite Yuan Shiyuan’s displeasure.

“Sorry, Brother, I forgot,” Yuan Shize immediately apologized.

Yuan Shiyuan accepted the apology and then asked, “Did you get your birthday gift in the mail?”

“I did,” Yuan Shize replied, pulling Yuan Shiyuan into a hug and settling them both onto the sofa chair by the bed. “Headphones, mouse, keyboard… I got them all. But why is there a belt too?”

Yuan Shiyuan drawled lazily, “For when you misbehave.”

Yuan Shize’s expression froze, and he abruptly lowered his gaze to Yuan Shiyuan.

Yuan Shiyuan, on the other hand, smiled. “Just teasing you. I searched online—many people give belts as gifts for an Alpha’s coming-of-age ceremony.”

“I got one for Mom and Dad too.”

Bo Jin, who had been silent until now, finally found an opening to interject. “Are those the ones we bought during our last shopping trip?”

“Yeah.”

“They’re really nice. You have great taste.”

Bo Jin’s tone was casual, but the fleeting glance he cast carried a distinct challenge in Yuan Shize’s eyes.

They’re that close? Going shopping together privately?

Anxiety welled up in Yuan Shize’s chest. He glanced at Bo Jin’s bunk, noticing several plushies hanging above it. He wondered if Bo Jin had bought them himself, or if Yuan Shiyuan had placed some of his own there.

“Brother,” Yuan Shize suddenly blurted out, “your bunk doesn’t have curtains to block the light. I’ll buy you some dormitory-style curtains.”

Yuan Shiyuan looked puzzled. “This isn’t a dorm bunk bed. What would I need a curtain for?”

“Then what about your clothes? Have you washed them? I can do it for you.”

“They’re already washed. Stop fussing over trivial things.”

“But I want to do something for you, Brother.”

Yuan Shize’s expression darkened, resembling a large dog with its tail drooping, unable to fulfill its purpose of helping its master.

He simply couldn’t stay idle; whenever he had free time, he insisted on doing something for Yuan Shiyuan—whether it was laundry, cooking, or helping his brother with his grooming.

All of his younger brother’s sense of security stemmed from serving his elder brother.

Yuan Shiyuan thought for a moment, then said, “Then give me a leg massage. I didn’t stretch after dance practice today, and my muscles are a bit sore now.”

Yuan Shize immediately knelt by the sofa chair, grasped Yuan Shiyuan’s ankle, and rested it on his thigh. He expertly kneaded his calf. “Does it hurt here?”

“Yeah.”

Bo Jin pulled up a chair and sat beside them. “Why didn’t you say something earlier? You’ve been enduring this until now?”

“I was planning to stretch, but weren’t we going out to eat?”

Yuan Shiyuan leaned back lazily, basking in his brother’s ministrations while chatting with his roommate over his shoulder. “It’s not like I was ‘enduring’ anything. It’s not that painful—just muscle soreness.”

“Muscle soreness means I’m making progress.”

Yuan Shiyuan had indeed practiced longer than usual that day. Bo Jin reminded him, “Control your intensity. Don’t push yourself too hard.”

“The teacher’s watching me closely. Don’t worry,” Yuan Shiyuan reassured him. He wouldn’t train recklessly anyway; he would naturally adjust his training plan based on the professional instructor’s guidance.

“Did Brother Zhuang tell you about tomorrow’s schedule?”

“Tomorrow’s Silence’s anniversary celebration. I have a promotional event at a department store in the afternoon, so I need to get ready early for styling and everything.”

Bo Jin: “As the brand ambassador, you’ll need to arrive early anyway.”

After the leg massage, the soreness eased considerably. Yuan Shiyuan sat up, propping himself up with his hands, and looked at Bo Jin. “Pierre said there will be many VICs there.”

VICs, short for Very Important Customers, are the brand’s most exclusive VIPs, boasting astonishing purchasing power. Their annual spending must exceed a million yuan.

The anniversary celebration’s closed-door event has even stricter entry requirements—only VICs with exclusive invitations are admitted.

Yuan Shiyuan and Bo Jin naturally fell into casual conversation, completely oblivious to Yuan Shize, who was still intently massaging Yuan Shiyuan’s legs, his thin lips pressed into a tight line.

Displeased that his attention was being stolen by another Alpha, Yuan Shize was about to speak when he was interrupted.

“There will definitely be many VICs at the anniversary celebration. They can only take photos with you if they spend a certain amount that day. But don’t worry, you don’t have any sales targets to meet,” Bo Jin said, seeing through Yuan Shiyuan’s thoughts. “Scared?”

“Want the honest answer?”

“Then lie to me.”

“I’m just not going to,” Yuan Shiyuan confessed. “I’m a little scared.”

He felt like a newly planted sapling, uprooted before it could even take root. His group hadn’t even completed a few scheduled appearances, and now he was being sent on a solo itinerary, forced to face a crowd of VIP customers. His anxiety was inevitable.

“I can’t really go to your personal endorsement event,” Bo Jin mused. “At most, I’ll wait backstage for you. Besides, I’m not a VIC member of their brand, so I wouldn’t get an invitation.”

The Silence brand’s style didn’t suit him anyway; it was better suited to beautiful, androgynous youths like Yuan Shiyuan.

“Oh…” Yuan Shiyuan replied.

“Tomorrow, right?”

“Yeah.”

Bo Jin glanced at the time. “Get ready. We’re going out soon.”

Yuan Shiyuan, still receiving a massage, looked up in surprise. “Huh?”

“There are still four hours until the mall closes,” Bo Jin said casually. “Since I can’t join you officially for your solo event, I’ll just go as a regular customer to keep you company. We just need to buy a VIC membership and get an invitation.”

“Four hours should be enough.”

Yuan Shiyuan was shocked, then sighed. “Brother Bo Jin, I know you’re capable, but this… uh!”

Before he could finish speaking, a tingling sensation shot up his leg, causing him to gasp involuntarily. Unbeknownst to him, Yuan Shize’s massage had gradually shifted from his calf to the sensitive flesh near his gland.

The searing heat of Yuan Shize’s palm pressed against the sensitive flesh around his gland, making Yuan Shiyuan’s body tense. He planted a foot on his younger brother’s chest and forcefully kicked him away.

Yuan Shize fell to the ground, stunned. He instinctively crawled back, realizing his mistake, and pressed his face against his big brother’s calf.

“Big Brother, did I press too hard and hurt you?” he immediately apologized. “I’m sorry, Big Brother.”

Bo Jin steadied Yuan Shiyuan by the shoulder with one hand, his gaze growing increasingly strange.

Yuan Shiyuan’s younger brother is reacting way too abnormally.

He didn’t have any biological siblings himself, but that didn’t mean he’d never witnessed interactions between siblings. Do normal brothers act like this?

Yuan Shize’s way of coaxing his brother sounded less like comforting a sibling and more like appeasing a lover.

“Are you okay?” Bo Jin withdrew his gaze and looked down at Yuan Shiyuan.

Yuan Shiyuan didn’t answer, but turned sideways, bracing himself on the sofa armrest with his palm, and panted in short, shallow breaths. A peculiar blush rose on his face, and damp tears welled at the corners of his eyes. He lifted his watery gaze and shook his head very slightly.

Bo Jin suddenly froze, inexplicably unable to tear his gaze away.

Yuan Shiyuan’s delicate features, paired with that expression, and the soft, panting breaths that escaped his parted lips—to Bo Jin, it all seemed like deliberate seduction.

“It’s nothing, just a little itchy,” Yuan Shiyuan said with an unaffected smile, reaching out to hug his younger brother. “Did I scare you?”

“I’m fine, thank you for your trouble. My leg feels much better now, not as sore as before.”

Yuan Shiyuan’s voice still carried a breathy quality, the soft flesh near his gland trembling slightly. He rubbed his face, trying to stay alert.

Perhaps because he had been bitten by an Alpha, his gland seemed even more sensitive, unable to tolerate even the slightest touch.

And Yuan Shize’s earlier massage… his large palm had kneaded and lingered through the thin fabric, thoroughly attending to every inch of Yuan Shiyuan’s gland, exploring its entirety…

It was time for Yuan Shize to return to the base; his ride had arrived. Meanwhile, he watched helplessly as Yuan Shiyuan got into another Alpha’s car.

Bo Jin opened the car door for Yuan Shiyuan and helped him into the passenger seat. As he turned to leave, he glanced back suddenly.

The touch was light, almost weightless, yet the palm rested intimately on Yuan Shiyuan’s shoulder, kneading it with a gentle pressure.

The surrounding crowd surged past, but Yuan Shize stood rooted to the spot, his gaze dark and frigid.

As a fellow Alpha, he couldn’t mistake the deeper meaning behind that gaze. It was the primal boast of a male after a victorious conquest, a silent challenge.

Silence’s invitations were reserved exclusively for VIC clients.

When the secretary delivered the invitation to the office, Yu Sijing, a stern-faced man in a tailored suit, was absorbed in reviewing documents. His sharply defined wrist bore a precisely engineered mechanical watch.

“Mr. Yu, these are the documents you requested. There’s also an invitation from Silence.”

Yu Sijing didn’t even glance up. “Take the invitation away.”

Yu Sijing was a Silence VIC client solely because he frequently sent gifts to family and clients. He had no personal interest in the brand.

“Understood,” the secretary replied professionally, taking the invitation away. Then, inexplicably, she added, “Mr. Yu, are you sure you don’t want to keep it? I remember Young Master Gu being quite fond of Silence’s spokesperson. He’s been begging to meet him lately…”

Behind the silver-rimmed glasses, Yu Sijing’s gaze froze mid-sentence.

Yu Sijing slowly raised his eyes. “Silence’s spokesperson?”

“Yes,” the secretary replied. “Silence recently appointed Yuan Shiyuan of the Scepter boy group as their new spokesperson. He’s incredibly popular right now, and Young Master Gu adores him…”

“If Young Master Gu could meet Yuan Shiyuan, he’d be overjoyed, wouldn’t he?”

Yu Sijing set down his documents and removed his glasses. “When is it?”

The secretary immediately understood he meant the time on the invitation. “Tomorrow at two in the afternoon. Unfortunately, you have a meeting with Manager Chen at that time…”

Who’s Manager Chen again? Yu Sijing’s brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. Someone whose name I can’t even remember is likely an unimportant business partner.

Ignoring the secretary’s reminder, Yu Sijing picked up the gold-embossed invitation.

A beautifully crafted card slid out. At the top shimmered the Silence logo, but what truly caught the eye was the high-definition photograph of the spokesperson beside it.

Yu Sijing lingered on the pink-haired alpha’s face for an unnaturally long time, so long that the secretary had to remind him.

“Cancel it,” Yu Sijing said, flexing his wrist to check his watch. “Tomorrow is my personal time.”