Pretending to Be an Alpha in an All-Alpha Boy Band - Chapter 86
Chapter 86: Scars
Hot steam swirled from the bathtub, forming a hazy mist between them. Ying Mingche could clearly see the playful amusement dancing in Yuan Shiyuan’s eyes, the dampness clinging to his lashes and the corners of his eyes.
Have you truly forgiven me? The question haunted Ying Mingche’s mind as he held Yuan Shiyuan close.
He had never considered himself a good person. His outward warmth was merely a carefully crafted facade, concealing an inner core devoid of genuine sincerity or heartfelt emotion.
His sole miscalculation had been Yuan Shiyuan discovering his true nature.
Even though Yuan Shiyuan had declared forgiveness and acted nonchalant, deep down, Ying Mingche remained unconvinced that anyone could accept his authentic, flawed self.
The Alpha behind him suddenly fell silent, leaving only the soft sound of water. Yuan Shiyuan curled up in his arms, his skin flushed a delicate pink from the heat.
He abruptly lifted his damp face and asked, “Didn’t you smell anything when you came into the room?”
It was impossible for Ying Mingche to have missed Yuan Shiyuan’s pheromones. Yet, even as he accused Yuan Shiyuan of seeking attention through minor squabbles and favoritism, he had never once mentioned the pheromones.
“You mean, the Omega pheromones on you?”
Ying Mingche didn’t hear Yuan Shiyuan’s reply, but he felt the man stir slightly in his arms, as if trying to sit up and look at him.
“It doesn’t matter,” Ying Mingche said, pressing his large hand against the back of Yuan Shiyuan’s head, gently pushing him back against his shoulder. He carefully scrubbed Yuan Shiyuan’s back with a towel. “What’s the difference between an Alpha and an Omega? It’s all you anyway.”
The gentle lapping of water filled the tub, yet Ying Mingche’s voice rang out clearly. Yuan Shiyuan hadn’t expected this answer and froze, momentarily stunned.
Ying Mingche didn’t care about gender at all, and neither did Ying Mingxi. Was this because they were born into a double-Alpha family? Did that make them completely indifferent to gender?
As Yuan Shiyuan was pondering this, footsteps sounded outside the door. Ying Mingxi had returned.
Ying Mingxi placed the milk tea on the table and seamlessly took over, lifting the dripping-wet Yuan Shiyuan from the bathtub and wrapping him in a large towel, methodically drying the droplets from his skin.
Ying Mingche stood up as well. After two baths, his skin was wrinkled from the water. Yet, being so close to Yuan Shiyuan didn’t bother him in the slightest; on the contrary, he felt utterly comfortable.
“Let me dry your hair for you,” Ying Mingche offered eagerly.
“You sure you can handle this?” Yuan Shiyuan lazily glanced at Ying Mingche, still skeptical of his abilities.
“Don’t underestimate me. I’ve practiced,” Ying Mingche retorted, picking up the hair dryer and carefully lifting a strand of Yuan Shiyuan’s damp hair. “I promise I won’t hurt you.”
Yuan Shiyuan blinked in surprise. “You can even practice that?”
“I bought a few wigs and practiced whenever I had free time,” Ying Mingche said proudly, deftly maneuvering the hair dryer. “Not bad, right?”
“It’s actually pretty good,” Yuan Shiyuan casually complimented him. Just as he reached for his milk tea, Ying Mingxi swiftly inserted the straw and held it to his lips.
Astonished by Ying Mingxi’s attentiveness, Yuan Shiyuan naturally accepted the pampering from both brothers.
That night, Yuan Shiyuan intended to return to his own room, but the twin brothers worked together to persuade him to stay.
Their gentle coaxing, relentless attentiveness, and all-encompassing care completely relaxed him, making him so comfortable he didn’t even want to move a finger.
Without much hesitation, Yuan Shiyuan agreed to spend the night in the twins’ suite.
But when he actually got into bed, two arms simultaneously wrapped around his waist and chest, completely enclosing him in the narrow space between the brothers. He couldn’t help but freeze for a moment.
Yuan Shiyuan flipped from side to side, only to be met with two nearly identical faces.
He finally gave up, silently maintaining his supine position and staring at the ceiling. “Just… sleeping like this?” he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.
“What else?” Ying Mingche replied matter-of-factly. He wrapped his arms around Yuan Shiyuan from the side, inhaling the fragrance of his pink hair and the hollow of his neck. “You smell so good.”
Though Ying Mingxi remained silent, the grip of his arm around Yuan Shiyuan didn’t loosen even slightly.
Yuan Shiyuan: “……”
Sharing a bed with two teammates was one thing, but being sandwiched between twin brothers, one on each side… the scene was utterly surreal, absurd beyond words.
This is borderline lewd.
Like the opening scene of a porn film, where they’re about to get down and dirty.
But after a long day’s work, Yuan Shiyuan was genuinely tired. He yawned and, feeling drowsy, slapped Ying Mingche’s face away. “Alright, I’m going to sleep now.”
After careful consideration, he decided Ying Mingxi seemed more trustworthy. He subtly shifted, turning his back to the seemingly safer Ying Mingxi.
Seeing Yuan Shiyuan turn his back, Ying Mingxi’s gentle expression froze in the shadows. Ying Mingche, however, shot him a smug, victorious look before lowering his head to steal a kiss on the ends of Yuan Shiyuan’s hair.
The bedside night-light illuminated Yuan Shiyuan’s already swollen lips, making them appear even more lustrous and kissable.
Ying Mingche’s gaze was magnetically drawn to them, his Adam’s apple bobbing involuntarily. He leaned in cautiously, his voice a soft plea, “I want to kiss you… may I?”
As if fearing rejection, he hastily added, “I’ve been studying a lot lately, learning how to make you feel good.”
“I’ll make you feel good,” he emphasized again.
Yuan Shiyuan opened his eyes, casting him a languid glance.
Taking this as tacit permission, Ying Mingche tentatively pressed his lips against Yuan Shiyuan’s.
The moment their lips touched, his mind went blank. All his carefully studied knowledge vanished, replaced by raw instinct.
His tongue thrust open the seam of Yuan Shiyuan’s lips, boldly invading the warm, moist cavity. Sensing the Alpha’s gaze beside them, he even stirred the kiss maliciously, drawing Yuan Shiyuan’s swollen, tender tongue out before the Alpha’s eyes with a loud, wet smacking sound.
Yuan Shiyuan’s brow furrowed imperceptibly. Comfortable? Yeah, right.
Ying Mingche had clearly wasted his time studying those learning materials. Judging by his clumsy, dog-like reaction, it was obvious he was a clueless virgin.
Still, seeing the Alpha so pleased with himself, Yuan Shiyuan couldn’t be bothered to correct him. He just hoped Ying Mingche would hurry up and get his fill so they could all get some decent sleep.
But then, a scorching, almost tangible gaze pierced through him from behind.
With his tongue still being sucked and nibbled in Ying Mingche’s mouth, Yuan Shiyuan instinctively turned his head, meeting a pair of unfathomably deep eyes. Ying Mingxi offered him an incredibly gentle, even indulgent smile.
At the same moment, Ying Mingxi’s arm, draped across Yuan Shiyuan’s chest, suddenly tightened, forcefully pulling him closer into his embrace.
Turning his head again, Yuan Shiyuan saw an identical face, yet one consumed by frenzied urgency.
……
How bizarre.
Yuan Shiyuan shoved Ying Mingche away and cleared his throat awkwardly. “Enough already, okay?”
Ying Mingche was clearly still reeling from the kiss, his thin lips glistening with saliva.
He stared intently at Yuan Shiyuan’s lips, swollen and reddened from his ministrations, the hot, wet, soft sensation flooding his mind anew, making his breath quicken and his body stiffen uncontrollably.
Ying Mingche remained silent, hugging Yuan Shiyuan from behind again. His moist, thin lips brushed almost imperceptibly against Yuan Shiyuan’s neck, leaving a warm, damp sensation in its wake.
Meanwhile, Ying Mingxi, facing them, was meticulously wiping away the water droplets from Yuan Shiyuan’s lips with a tissue, as if putting the finishing touches on a scene.
An eerie silence descended upon the room, broken only by ragged breathing and the faint rustling of clothes.
The atmosphere grew even stranger.
Yuan Shiyuan broke the eerie harmony first, glancing back at Ying Mingche. “By the way, where did you get the room key?”
Ying Mingche nuzzled Yuan Shiyuan’s neck contentedly. “We look exactly alike, and we both have each other’s electronic IDs. Was it really that hard to get a key?”
All Ying Mingche had to do was impersonate Ying Mingxi, claim the key was lost, and use his ID to obtain a replacement—a piece of cake.
Yuan Shiyuan: “……”
You can actually do that?
It seemed Ying Mingche had pulled off this trick more than once.
After exchanging a few more casual words with the twin brothers, Yuan Shiyuan succumbed to exhaustion and drifted off to sleep.
Early morning.
Ying Mingxi jolted awake, startled by a bizarre yet intense sensory assault.
Overwhelmingly pleasant sensations and the familiar, sweet fragrance of something dear permeated his senses.
Immediately afterward, a suffocating wave crashed over him.
It felt as if his nose and mouth were sealed shut, or like he was drowning, as thick, abundant fluid surged into his nasal passages and deep down his throat. Ying Mingxi choked, desperate to cough, but no sound escaped his lips.
The fragrant scent between his lips and teeth grew denser and more intense.
Finally, Ying Mingxi’s eyes snapped open.
The curtains weren’t drawn tightly shut, and through the gap, hazy light filtered into the room, illuminating Yuan Shiyuan lying prone, asleep. His cheek was pressed into the soft pillow, fingers gently clutching its edge.
His knuckles curled, trembling slightly, then slowly relaxed. He was sound asleep, his cheeks flushed an unnatural red, his eyelashes damp and clumped into thick, wet clusters. His swollen, moist lips parted naturally, spilling intermittent, soft groans.
On the other side of Yuan Shiyuan, the spot where Ying Mingche should have been lying was empty.
Ying Mingche was gone, yet the blissful sensations transmitted through their shared perception continued to intensify rapidly.
Ying Mingxi’s breathing grew more ragged. He closed his eyes, acutely aware that even just lying beside Yuan Shiyuan, he could distinctly feel the sensation of his tongue being lightly, repeatedly bitten.
He and Yuan Shiyuan had kissed before, but this felt both similar and markedly different.
He tried several times to steady his breathing, but couldn’t.
Finally, he slowly shifted his gaze downward, toward the blanket-covered area beneath Yuan Shiyuan’s body.
The normally flat bedding was strangely bulged, muffled, dense sloshing sounds emanating from within.
Ying Mingxi’s eyes darkened as he abruptly yanked back the covers.
A thick, dense fragrance filled the room—a potent blend of pheromones—leaving him momentarily disoriented.
Yuan Shiyuan remained sprawled face-down on the bed, sound asleep. So deeply was he sleeping that he didn’t notice the Alpha’s stealthy approach.
To prevent Yuan Shiyuan from stirring and shifting position, the Alpha’s large hand gripped his snow-white flesh firmly, leaving red finger marks as soft, pale flesh spilled eagerly from between his fingers.
Ying Mingche buried his face greedily in the exposed skin, inhaling Yuan Shiyuan’s intoxicating scent. Even as sweat drenched his face, making it hard to breathe, he showed no inclination to retreat or pull away.
Instead, he diligently licked away the beads of sweat that sprayed onto him.
The bridge of his tall nose disappeared entirely, buried so deeply that it vanished from sight. When it reappeared, the skin was rubbed raw and red, glistening with moisture.
Ying Mingche merely pursed his thin lips, making a series of muffled “tsk” sounds. Despite the suffocating pressure that nearly cut off his air, he refused to abandon his thorough exploration.
Ying Mingxi watched the scene expressionlessly.
Suddenly, two identical faces locked eyes across the air.
Sensing his gaze, the Alpha not only didn’t stop but intensified his actions, deliberately prying open his glistening, crimson lips even wider to expose them to Ying Mingxi’s view. It was almost a provocation, a boastful display as he deepened the kiss, showing it off.
Ying Mingxi’s breathing hitched sharply.
He calmly averted his gaze, yet a faint, feverish flush bloomed across his refined features.
After a moment of strained composure, his eyes involuntarily drifted to Yuan Shiyuan’s sleeping face, flushed a vivid pink. Yuan Shiyuan’s lips parted slightly, the tip of his tongue pressing unconsciously against his teeth, quivering gently with each breath.
“Mmm…”
Amidst Yuan Shiyuan’s suppressed, dream-filled moans, Ying Mingxi finally acted. With a tender yet firm grip, he wrapped his hand around Yuan Shiyuan’s hand that was clutching the pillowcase, their fingers interlacing in a tight, unyielding hold.
Then he leaned down and captured those slightly parted, moist lips in a kiss.
His tongue pushed through the gap in Yuan Shiyuan’s lips, meticulously exploring the inner walls of his mouth, leaving no crevice untouched. As if in competition, the sounds of wet smacking grew increasingly loud.
The thick tongue plunged swiftly into the damp, crimson cavity, twisting intimately, as countless unswallowed droplets of saliva overflowed through the slightly parted lips. Each withdrawal drew out viscous threads of liquid, which were immediately reeled back in and licked clean.
Not a single drop was wasted.
“Mmm… uh-ah!”
Yuan Shiyuan’s brows furrowed tightly, his voice a jumbled mix of nasal moans and whimpers tinged with tears. In his sleep, he unconsciously twisted and struggled, only to unwittingly thrust himself deeper into the Alpha’s mouth, earning him an even more fervent, scorching kiss.
Unfortunately, his sleep quality remained unwavering. This slight disturbance showed no sign of waking him; the comforting warmth of the kiss only lulled him deeper into slumber.
He came multiple times in his sleep, completely unaware.
The next day, Yuan Shiyuan woke up naturally.
Zhuang He, knowing how busy he’d been the day before, had specifically let him sleep in.
When he woke up, only one of the twin brothers remained; the other had likely gone to a scheduled appearance.
After being carried to the bathroom and washed up, Yuan Shiyuan noticed he was wearing a loose-fitting shirt he didn’t remember putting on.
He glanced at Ying Mingche, who was sprawled on his chest, pretending to be Ying Mingxi. “Stop pretending,” he said lazily.
Ying Mingche, bored to death, had been pretending to be his brother since morning, acting gentle and attentive while helping Yuan Shiyuan wash up.
Ying Mingche immediately reverted to his true nature, clinging to Yuan Shiyuan relentlessly. “How did you figure it out?” he demanded, utterly baffled.
The previous night, when Yuan Shiyuan had been half-asleep, he hadn’t been able to tell the identical twins apart at all. But now he recognized him instantly.
Ying Mingche was genuinely curious.
Yuan Shiyuan reached out and touched the corner of Ying Mingche’s eyebrow. “You have a tiny scar here,” he said. Then, puzzled, he added, “How did you get a scar in that spot?”
Ying Mingche froze. He hadn’t expected such a minuscule scar to be noticed.
He tilted his head, resting it in Yuan Shiyuan’s palm, and said nonchalantly, “Oh, that? It’s from when I was a kid. My parents were fighting, and I accidentally got cut by a shard from a broken vase.”
Seeing Yuan Shiyuan’s stunned expression, he grinned and leaned closer. “What’s with that look? Do you feel sorry for me?”
“It hurt like hell back then. Blood was streaming down my face, and nobody even cared. How about you give me a kiss?”
“Just one kiss, and it won’t hurt anymore.”
His tone was flippant, as if he were merely joking, devoid of genuine emotion.
“Quit messing around,” Yuan Shiyuan said, though he reached out and hugged the Alpha anyway. He cupped Ying Mingche’s face in his hands, lowered his head, and gently kissed the scar at the corner of his eyebrow.
Ying Mingche, who had never expected such a response, froze. The smile faded from his face as he stared intently at Yuan Shiyuan’s face, complex emotions churning in his eyes.
He pulled Yuan Shiyuan into a tight embrace, his grip almost painful, his breathing ragged and turbulent.
“How can you be so good?” Ying Mingche murmured to himself.
Yuan Shiyuan chuckled softly. “Only just realizing that now, huh?”
Ying Mingche buried his face deeply in the crook of Yuan Shiyuan’s neck. “I knew all along. I always knew you were good.”
He raised his head, emphasizing with conviction, “There’s no one in this world better than you.”
“Oh?” Yuan Shiyuan raised an eyebrow. “I’m so good, and you were badmouthing me behind my back right after we met?”
He gently flicked Ying Mingche’s forehead, feigning anger. “And I heard it all!”
Whenever Yuan Shiyuan brought up this incident, Ying Mingche felt so guilty he didn’t dare raise his voice.
Observing Yuan Shiyuan’s expression and seeing he wasn’t truly angry, Ying Mingche took Yuan Shiyuan’s hand and gently kissed the fingertips.
“Can we move past this?”
“No, I love digging up old grudges. What are you going to do about it?”
Ying Mingche was indeed helpless against Yuan Shiyuan.
He suddenly pinned Yuan Shiyuan to the bed, lowering his head to kiss his face. His kisses were simple, tracing a path from eyebrow to the corner of his eye, then down to his cheek, the tip of his nose, the corner of his lips, and finally, tenderly, onto his soft lips.
“If you say that again, I’ll kiss you,” Ying Mingche threatened, a threat that carried no real weight. “Every time you say it, I’ll kiss you.”
“Oh.”
As expected, Yuan Shiyuan remained unfazed.
He even turned the tables, cupping Ying Mingche’s face in his hands and mimicking his earlier actions, following the same sequence—from the eyebrows down to the lips—ending with a light touch of his own thin lips.
“I’m so scared,” he drawled teasingly after the kiss, his voice dripping with playful amusement.
Though Yuan Shiyuan’s kiss had been feather-light, the unexpected touch sent Ying Mingche’s heart racing uncontrollably.
He collapsed awkwardly against Yuan Shiyuan’s chest, his earlobes and neck flushing a vivid red in seconds.
Ying Mingche pressed his cheek against Yuan Shiyuan’s chest, trying to synchronize his racing heart with the steady rhythm beneath.
But the heartbeat against his ear remained calm and even, like a clock that never faltered, only making his own frantic pounding seem even more jarring and intrusive.
Unfair.
Yet even in this unfairness, even with Yuan Shiyuan’s serene composure, the sound of his heartbeat brought Ying Mingche a strange sense of contentment.
A gentle kiss, a reassuring heartbeat…
He was drowning in an unfamiliar, overwhelming sense of happiness, all stemming from Yuan Shiyuan.
Yuan Shiyuan picked up his phone again and noticed a notification, suddenly remembering Bo Jin—whom he had forgotten yet again!
Thankfully, this time Bo Jin didn’t grill him with jealous questions about his whereabouts or company. He had simply sent a single message:
Bo Jin: Susceptible period. Special circumstances, right?
The message trailed off into a jumble of characters, probably from accidental key presses.
So urgent?
Ying Mingche, who was feeding Yuan Shiyuan breakfast beside him, glanced at the message’s gist and casually remarked, “His susceptible periods have always been severe. Seems like it runs in the family. Don’t worry about him—he has a whole medical team looking after him.”
Yuan Shiyuan bit down on the soy milk straw, glancing sideways at him.
Ying Mingche immediately raised his hands in mock surrender. “I swear I wasn’t snooping! I just happened to see it.”
Yuan Shiyuan knew perfectly well. His phone lay on the table without any privacy screen; it would have been stranger if Ying Mingche hadn’t noticed.
Swallowing a mouthful of soy milk, Yuan Shiyuan asked, “You knew his susceptible periods were this bad?”
“Their family’s inheritance disputes are legendary. His pheromone disorder is no secret either.”
Ying Mingche pinched a small soup dumpling, recalling how his brother meticulously cared for Yuan Shiyuan. He blew on it to cool it down before offering it to Yuan Shiyuan’s mouth.
“Pheromone disorder… is it really that terrifying?” Yuan Shiyuan pressed, his concern evident.
Before Bo Jin, Yuan Shiyuan had never encountered anyone with Pheromone Disorder.
Being near Bo Jin, he never truly experienced the terror of the disorder. Whether he was an Alpha or an Omega, Bo Jin’s pheromones never harmed him.
“How would you describe it? If I had to say… Pheromone Disorder is probably like experiencing dozens, even hundreds, of susceptible periods all at once?”
Ying Mingche clearly understood Alphas better than Yuan Shiyuan. He said, “Bo Jin is incredibly resilient. Even during severe Pheromone Disorder outbreaks, he manages to regain control, move to a safe location, and prevent his pheromones from attacking others…”
Many Alphas can’t even control their pheromones in public, let alone maintain composure and restrain them during a full-blown episode. Bo Jin’s self-discipline is truly remarkable.
“However—”
Ying Mingche frowned. “He can’t always control it. Once, during an announcement, he unexpectedly lost control, and his pheromones indiscriminately attacked everyone… The aggression was intense, and his condition was clearly severe.”
“There’s no complete cure for him yet; they can only suppress it with specialized medication. But sooner or later, that suppression will backfire, leading to an even more violent outburst.”
Ying Mingche turned Yuan Shiyuan’s face toward him, his expression earnest. “He’ll inevitably lose control completely. Being near him is incredibly dangerous. Especially now that you’re an Omega—if you were to witness his berserk state…”
He leaned closer to Yuan Shiyuan’s ear and whispered, his voice dropping to a low growl.
“You’d probably get fucked until you pissed yourself.”
“…?!”
Yuan Shiyuan, who had been quietly sipping his soy milk, choked violently at Ying Mingche’s sudden, lewd remark.
Ying Mingche chuckled, patting Yuan Shiyuan’s back while mischievously raising an eyebrow. “Did I say anything wrong? Don’t underestimate an S-rank Alpha in their susceptible period, especially one with Pheromone Disorder like Bo Jin… Hey, hey, hey! I take it back! Don’t hit me!”
Despite pleading not to be hit, Ying Mingche still leaned in closer, inviting Yuan Shiyuan to hit him as much as he wanted. Yuan Shiyuan initially just swatted his arm away, then vented his frustration with a couple of halfhearted punches to Ying Mingche’s shoulder.
Unexpectedly, Ying Mingche started feigning injury, dramatically groaning and wailing in mock pain.
“Enough joking around,” Ying Mingche said, knowing when to back off. He pulled Yuan Shiyuan onto his lap and wiped the soy milk stain from the corner of his mouth with his thumb. His voice turned serious. “I’m being serious, though. Living with him is genuinely dangerous.”
Yuan Shiyuan scoffed coldly. “And living with you wouldn’t be?”
Ying Mingche put on an earnest expression. “Of course not! I’m a well-behaved Alpha.”
Yuan Shiyuan wouldn’t believe that even if hell froze over.
Bo Jin’s Pheromone Disorder was indeed a ticking time bomb, but Yuan Shiyuan was surprisingly content with his straight-A roommate. He’d genuinely miss him if he had to switch.
Besides, Bo Jin had been good to him. Changing roommates now would be a betrayal of their brotherhood.
“He’s got pretty strong self-control,” Yuan Shiyuan said after a moment’s thought. “I doubt the situation you’re describing would ever happen.”
After all, Ying Mingche himself had mentioned Bo Jin had a professional medical team behind him.
Yuan Shiyuan had even witnessed Bo Jin’s susceptible periods a few times. Each time, it was more bark than bite, with no sign of him truly losing control.
Living with Bo Jin should still be safe enough.
Just then, Yuan Shiyuan’s mobile phone rang. He answered, “Dad?”
“I don’t have any shoots today,” Yuan Shiyuan explained, “so I just woke up…” He paused, startled by the other person’s words. “Today at noon?”
“I think I should be free. I’ll ask later.”
Father Yuan wasn’t calling Yuan Shiyuan for any particular reason other than to thank Jiang Heng in person.
When Yuan Xing’s surgery was unexpectedly moved up, Yuan Shiyuan had been the only one at the hospital, overwhelmed and helpless. Fortunately, Jiang Heng had been there to support him.
They had long wanted to invite Jiang Heng for a meal to express their gratitude in person, but Yuan Shiyuan had been too busy, and the couple frequently had follow-up appointments at the hospital, making it impossible to find a suitable time.
Father Yuan had originally messaged Yuan Shiyuan last night, but Yuan Shiyuan had been swamped with work and hadn’t even had a free hand to check his phone.
Now it was 9:30 AM. Would inviting Jiang Heng to lunch on such short notice seem insincere?
Yuan Shiyuan chewed on his straw in dilemma, then cautiously sent Jiang Heng a message:
Shiyuan: Are you free for lunch today?
Yuan Shiyuan was about to explain the situation and vehemently assure Jiang Heng that this wasn’t a last-minute invitation, but before he could finish his sincere little essay, Jiang Heng replied instantly.
Jiang Heng: Yes.
Jiang Heng: Yes, I do.
Jiang Heng: I have time.
A flurry of messages left Yuan Shiyuan reeling. Curious, he typed, “Aren’t you even going to ask what it’s for?”
Jiang Heng: I have time for anything.
The eager and resolute reply made Yuan Shiyuan chuckle.
He typed back: “My parents want to invite you to dinner to thank you properly in person. They’ve been meaning to ask, but I didn’t see the messages until now.”
Yuan Shiyuan: Where are you right now?
Jiang Heng: I’m coming to pick you up.
A second later, Jiang Heng’s phone call popped up.
The ringtone pierced the quiet room like a sharp needle.
Ying Mingche held Yuan Shiyuan on his lap, resting his chin against the nape of his neck. As Jiang Heng’s call notification flashed, he murmured darkly, “I can’t make a sound or let him find out, right?”
Yuan Shiyuan didn’t even spare him a glance. “Stop imagining some secret affair drama.”
Just as Yuan Shiyuan answered the call, Jiang Heng’s slightly tense, almost reserved voice came through: “Where are you?”
“I’ll send you my location.”
Just as Yuan Shiyuan was about to send the location, a warm, damp breath brushed his neck.
Already sensitive, he instinctively flinched away, accidentally pressing his gland against the Alpha’s hand in a fleeting, ambiguous contact.
“Ugh… ah…!”
An indescribable, electrifying sensation surged through Yuan Shiyuan’s body! A short, strangled groan escaped his throat as his knees clamped together, trapping the Alpha’s large hand between them, preventing its withdrawal.
The mobile phone slipped from his hand and tumbled onto the carpet, rolling helplessly in two circles.
Deathly silence hung on the other end of the line.
“Who’s with you?”
After a moment, Jiang Heng’s voice finally broke through, his tone suddenly dark and wary. “I heard something,” he added sharply.
Author’s Note:
The twins finished off their childhood sweetheart. [Dog emoji with a rose in its mouth]
A friend’s summer romance short story is also recommended! [Confetti emoji]
“Baby, Our Relationship Feels Like a Rollercoaster” by Liuchu
As a social phobe, Wen Chi was naturally terrified of “E” types, like his classmate Tan Xubai.
Tan Xubai was handsome, academically brilliant, and socially adept—the campus’s perfect golden boy, flawless in every way.
Wen Chi could see others’ Affection Levels toward him. Tan Xubai’s Affection Level toward him exceeded 100!
This guy’s even his sexuality is beyond the norm!
Wen Chi immediately began avoiding him.
During gym class, he refused the water Tan Xubai offered, and the Affection Level above the other’s head increased by +5.
A chance encounter in the corridor, and he ignored Tan Xubai’s casual greeting, yet the Affection Level rose by +3.
During the big cleaning, he was assigned to the same group as Tan Xubai and had to take turns cleaning with him. After exchanging a few words, Tan Xubai’s Affection Level… plummeted to -4!
Wen Chi: ??
He only likes me from a distance? Playing hard to get?!
To make Tan Xubai hate him, Wen Chi needed to get close.
Wen Chi frantically psyched himself up, forcing himself out of his natural shyness to take the initiative and befriend Tan Xubai:
Sending messages, asking about difficult problems, racking his brain for conversation starters, inviting him out on weekends…
As their relationship improved, Tan Xubai’s Affection Level steadily plummeted: 100, 85, 40, 21…
An Affection Level of 20 marked the boundary between indifference and hatred; anything below that meant becoming enemies.
The number continued to drop:
20, 18…
Had he done something wrong? Was Tan Xubai secretly harboring hatred for him?
He figured that keeping his distance would allow the Affection Level to rise back to normal, so Wen Chi began avoiding Tan Xubai again.
He ignored messages, declined invitations, and remained silent.
This time, the Affection Level plummeted even faster, as if his life depended on it.
5, 4, 3…
Tan Xubai laughed and chatted with classmates, his eyes sweeping over Wen Chi with a mocking smile.
2, 1…
Tan Xubai stopped talking to him altogether. His gaze grew increasingly intense, sending a chill down Wen Chi’s spine.
Until the day the Affection Level hit zero.
Tan Xubai summoned him alone, his voice cold and strained, his words biting.
“—You know, don’t you?”
Wen Chi trembled with fear. Know what? Know that you want to secretly kill me?
Tan Xubai: “I like you.”
Wen Chi: “……?”
Wait… wait a minute?
The number above Tan Xubai’s head… wasn’t his Affection Level?
It was actually a confession countdown!
Tan Xubai was born with an innate emotional detachment, yet he could effortlessly charm others.
So when a boy named Wen Chi suddenly approached him, he didn’t react much.
The boy’s nervous and cautious demeanor made his intentions glaringly obvious.
Tan Xubai never imagined he would fall for him.
But after that moment, Wen Chi suddenly began avoiding him like the plague.
Perhaps he’s playing hard to get?
In that case, taking the initiative wouldn’t hurt.
It was clear as day: if he just confessed—
Wen Chi’s reply could only be one thing.
So, it turns out, it was real after all! ^_^
The uke can see others’ true Affection Level towards him, but only the Affection Level on the seme’s head displays a countdown to his confession, triggering a series of hilarious misunderstandings.
A cold-faced, socially anxious uke who overthinks everything X a seemingly warm but internally icy and desperate BKing seme who’s backed into a corner and resorts to being a domineering “King.”
Lost in translation, a sweet slice-of-youth romance, a short tale.