Pretending to Be an Alpha in an All-Alpha Boy Band - Chapter 89
Chapter 89: A Second Encounter
“Please sit down. Dinner will be ready soon.”
Seeing Jiang Heng’s nervousness, Yuan Xing and her husband rose from the sofa and retreated to the kitchen to give the young men some space.
Father Yuan handled all the household affairs, leaving Yuan Xing to merely watch in the kitchen, occasionally wiping her husband’s sweat.
Yuan Shiyuan was long accustomed to his family’s dynamic. The kitchen was his father’s and younger brother’s domain, and he and Yuan Xing rarely ventured inside.
Even when they tried to help, the Alphas would gently push them out, citing concerns about skin damage from the greasy fumes.
“Would you like some fruit?” Yuan Xing knocked on the glass door, softly calling out from the restaurant to the two figures on the sofa.
Yuan Shiyuan turned to Jiang Heng. “Would you like some?”
Jiang Heng replied stiffly, “No, thank you.”
“No need! We have plenty of fruit here,” Yuan Shiyuan called back with the uniquely affectionate tone he reserved for family, his voice warm and playful.
The kitchen’s glass door slid shut again, sealing away the sounds and smells of cooking.
Beside him, the Alpha remained rigidly upright, his back straight as a board, his gaze fixed rigidly ahead, even his breathing seemed restrained.
It was the first time Yuan Shiyuan had seen Jiang Heng so stiff. He almost laughed, patting the Alpha’s shoulder reassuringly. “Relax a little.”
“They’re just like that—very warm and hospitable. Don’t be nervous,” he reassured him. “They’ve already accepted you as one of their own.”
Jiang Heng could clearly sense the genuine warmth and goodwill. The harmonious and loving family atmosphere enveloped him, yet it left him with a sweet sense of awkwardness. He hummed in acknowledgment, his gaze drifting back to the family photo beside the TV cabinet.
In the photo, the two fathers knelt tenderly, their arms wrapped around two young boys. The four of them held hands, beaming at the camera.
Such a happy family.
In the years after Yuan Shiyuan was adopted, Jiang Heng had endured countless sleepless nights, often jolted awake by nightmares. He would stare at the empty space beside him, a tidal wave of panic threatening to drown him.
Was Yuan Shiyuan adjusting well to his new family? Would his new classmates bully him?
Now, seeing with his own eyes that Yuan Shiyuan was thriving, clearly cherished and loved, the heart that had been tormented by years of worry finally began to relax.
Still, the couple’s unfamiliar appearance made Jiang Heng uneasy.
Could he be misremembering?
Torn, Jiang Heng wanted to ask but held back, not wanting to blurt out something foolish.
Just then, the kitchen’s glass door swung open again, and Father Yuan’s booming voice filled the room: “Little Yuan, Little Heng, you got a minute? Can you run to the store for some seasonings?”
“We’re completely out of seasonings and soy sauce at home.”
Father Yuan pressed a stack of bills into Yuan Shiyuan’s hand. “Keep the change for snacks or any dishes you want to try—just buy whatever you like.”
He turned to Jiang Heng. “Anything you’re craving, just get it. Don’t worry about going over budget—I’ll reimburse you when you get back.”
“No problem, mission accepted.”
Yuan Shiyuan deftly pocketed the money, then slung an arm around Jiang Heng’s neck, pulling the Alpha to his feet. “Hurry and think of what you want to eat! My dad’s a culinary genius—there’s nothing he can’t make!”
Father Yuan wore a perfect blend of pride and humility. “Not everything, mind you. Just tell me what you’re craving, Little Heng, and I’ll do my best to make it.”
In this relaxed atmosphere, Jiang Heng finally let his guard down and smiled. “Alright, thank you, Uncle.”
There was a supermarket downstairs. Yuan Shiyuan picked up an umbrella and was about to head out when Jiang Heng stopped him.
“Let’s go to a bigger supermarket farther away,” Jiang Heng said, expertly taking the umbrella and opening it. “I checked the area; there’s a large one nearby.”
“Sure,” Yuan Shiyuan agreed, assuming Jiang Heng wanted a larger supermarket because the one in the complex was too small.
The larger supermarket did indeed have a wider variety of brands. Yuan Shiyuan was about to pull out his mobile phone to call a taxi when Jiang Heng beat him to it.
Jiang Heng’s phone screen showed “Driver en route…” Yuan Shiyuan stood on tiptoe and playfully hooked his arm around Jiang Heng’s neck, tugging him down.
The tilted umbrella instantly lost its balance, and rainwater splattered down on them in chaos.
“You’re quick on the draw, huh?” Yuan Shiyuan teased, then chuckled.
Now that Jiang Heng knew his address, he’d learned to preemptively call a cab. Without standing on ceremony, Yuan Shiyuan briskly got into the car.
They even took a private car.
The apartment complex was only 1.3 kilometers from the supermarket, so they’d be there in no time.
With the limited time they had, Jiang Heng pulled out a mask and hat, helping Yuan Shiyuan get fully disguised.
“Isn’t this a bit much?” Yuan Shiyuan protested. “We’re not that famous, are we? Besides, who goes grocery shopping in the middle of the day…”
At this hour, everyone was home eating lunch, and the supermarket would be nearly empty.
The main reason Yuan Shiyuan disliked wearing the mask and hat was because they felt stifling, as if his whole body were constrained.
“Just be careful,” Jiang Heng murmured, glancing at the driver up front. “Try to avoid shopping at stores near the complex in the future.”
Yuan Shiyuan lived in an old apartment complex where most residents were locals and security was practically nonexistent.
Jiang Heng shuddered at the thought of what might happen if a crazed fan managed to find Yuan Shiyuan’s doorstep.
“I understand,” Yuan Shiyuan nodded. “I hardly ever go home anymore anyway. I spend most of my time at the company.”
“Mm-hmm.” Seeing Yuan Shiyuan’s serious reply, Jiang Heng reached out and ruffled the back of his head. “Smart boy.”
Inside the upscale supermarket, with its diverse product range, Yuan Shiyuan headed straight for the fresh produce section.
“We’ve already got plenty of meat—enough for several dishes. Dad said we should grab some vegetables too, for a balanced meal. He’s worried we won’t have enough otherwise…”
After all, in his elders’ eyes, this meal was for three Alphas—two S-rank and one A-rank—whose appetites were indeed extraordinary.
Lost in thought, Yuan Shiyuan unconsciously pinched the edge of his mobile phone.
He still hadn’t had the chance to tell his family about his secondary differentiation. First, Yuan Xing had just undergone surgery, and later he’d been too busy… Now that things had finally settled down, it seemed like the perfect time to come clean.
But Yuan Shiyuan still didn’t know how to broach the subject.
“What’s wrong?” Jiang Heng asked, walking over.
“Hmm?”
“You seem a bit down.”
Yuan Shiyuan looked at him in surprise. He was wearing a mask and hat—how could Jiang Heng possibly tell how he was feeling?
He chuckled. “What makes you think I’m feeling down?”
Seeing him deny it, Jiang Heng didn’t press further. Instead, he gently stroked Yuan Shiyuan’s cheek through the thin mask with the pad of his finger. “You’re hiding something from me.”
“What could I possibly be hiding from you?” Yuan Shiyuan asked.
“I don’t know,” Jiang Heng paused, then added, “It just feels like you’ve been through a lot lately.”
“Come on, I’m not that fragile,” Yuan Shiyuan said, puzzled. “Why do you see me as some delicate porcelain doll who can’t take care of himself?”
Though Yuan Shiyuan spoke with a smile, he was genuinely taken aback. Jiang Heng, his childhood friend, had always been remarkably perceptive, instantly picking up on his emotional shifts.
Even fully masked and armored, Jiang Heng could discern Yuan Shiyuan’s mood through his subtle movements.
With a friend by his side, Yuan Shiyuan’s spirits suddenly lifted. He glanced down at the list of seasonings Father Yuan had sent and began cross-referencing it as he shopped.
“I’m planning to make Sichuan boiled fish later. Can you handle the spice? If so, I’ll add extra chili,” he emphasized. “Our family can really take the heat.”
“Sure,” Jiang Heng replied without hesitation. “You know I loved spicy food as a kid too.”
“This is different though.”
When they were children, they had no choice. The welfare institute’s daily food rations were limited, and much of the food tasted bland and flavorless, relying on chili peppers to make it palatable.
“I was just worried your tastes might have changed,” Jiang Heng said.
“They haven’t,” Jiang Heng interrupted, his voice low but each word crystal clear. “I’m exactly the same as I was when I was a child.”
“And I’ll never change.”
What’s he implying with that?
Yuan Shiyuan, usually oblivious to such things, finally seemed to catch a hint. He was about to turn and say something when he suddenly noticed, reflected in the polished surface of a display case ahead, several young people excitedly looking their way.
“Yuan Shiyuan?!”
“It’s Yuan Shiyuan!!!”
Yuan Shiyuan froze, stunned. Before he could react, Jiang Heng abruptly parked the shopping cart in a corner and yanked him behind his back. The Alpha’s tall frame formed a natural protective barrier, instantly shielding Yuan Shiyuan from view.
Jiang Heng grabbed Yuan Shiyuan’s wrist. “Run!”
Yuan Shiyuan didn’t even have time to mourn the meticulously selected vegetables as he was dragged away by Jiang Heng’s immense strength.
The screams behind them grew louder and more frenzied.
The fans’ ecstatic screams surged like a tidal wave, their deafening reverberations shaking the supermarket to its core.
Yuan Shiyuan staggered through the aisles, completely lost his sense of direction. All he could see were the blurred afterimages of shelves flashing past, leaving him utterly clueless about where he was or what he’d just passed.
His hand was gripped tightly in the Alpha’s burning palm, leaving only the sound of their ragged breaths and the frantic pounding of their hearts from the desperate sprint.
The entire world seemed to shrink until only the two of them remained.
Finally, in a hidden corner at the end of an aisle, Jiang Heng pulled Yuan Shiyuan into the shadows between the wall and the shelves.
They leaned back against the cold wall, chests heaving as they gasped for breath.
Breathing heavily, Yuan Shiyuan tore off his mask, incredulous. “I’m completely covered up like this! How did they even recognize me?”
Strands of his pink hair, damp and disheveled, clung to his flushed cheeks beneath the hat’s brim. He struggled to catch his breath as he spoke, one hand clutched in the Alpha’s tight grip, the other resting on the Alpha’s shoulder for support.
The suffocating feeling from running hard with a mask hadn’t completely subsided, but Jiang Heng’s gaze was immediately drawn to Yuan Shiyuan’s face.
Yuan Shiyuan’s cheeks flushed with exertion, fine beads of sweat trickling down his neck and disappearing beneath his collar. His lips parted slightly as he panted, revealing a glimpse of his moist tongue, which appeared particularly rosy and alluring in the shadows.
“Good thing we ran fast—”
Before Yuan Shiyuan could finish his sentence, a large hand cupped his cheek, tilting his face up. Beneath the brim of his cap, his amber eyes met the Alpha’s deep, dark gaze.
Then, he watched Jiang Heng approach, step by step.
Jiang Heng tilted his head slightly and, through the thin mask fabric, in their equally disheveled, breathless state, gently, slowly, brushed his cheek against Yuan Shiyuan’s equally flushed one.
This gesture carried no hidden meaning—just a simple, intimate touch, like animals expressing friendship.
“?” Yuan Shiyuan was utterly bewildered by the Alpha’s sudden action.
Before he could decipher the meaning behind this unexpected gesture, the Alpha’s mobile phone vibrated in his pocket, the vibrations pressing against the fabric near Yuan Shiyuan’s gland.
Jiang Heng shifted awkwardly, trying to move his leg further away.
“Aren’t you going to answer? They’ve been calling non-stop, they must be really worried.”
Jiang Heng glanced at Yuan Shiyuan’s tear-rimmed eyes as if only now snapping back to reality. He stiffly released his grip and backed away slightly.
He glanced at the caller ID, frowned, and immediately blacklisted the number.
“Let’s go.”
Jiang Heng had already booked a cab in advance. He tucked his phone away and casually draped an arm around Yuan Shiyuan’s shoulders. “They probably think we went out, so they won’t be back for a while. Let’s settle the bill quickly and leave.”
Fortunately, the supermarket wasn’t crowded at midday, and the earlier commotion had been minimal. After explaining the situation to the boss, Yuan Shiyuan quickly paid and left, anxious to avoid another encounter with fans.
By the time they returned home, the table was already set with a feast, the dishes a riot of colors and aromas.
Father Yuan, wielding a spatula, lugged in bags of groceries.
“Is that all you bought? Why didn’t you get any snacks?”
Yuan Shiyuan sighed helplessly. “We’re grown men now, why would we need snacks?”
“To us, you’re still just kids, still so young,” Father Yuan chuckled. “I’ll stir-fry a couple more vegetable dishes, and dinner will be ready soon!”
Around the long table, the four took their seats.
Jiang Heng took the initiative, rising to serve the rice, pull out chairs, and neatly arrange the bowls and chopsticks.
Yuan Xing and her husband exchanged approving glances, their eyes brimming with affection and satisfaction. “Such a well-mannered young man,” they murmured.
With two people seated on each side of the rectangular table, Jiang Heng and Yuan Shiyuan had just settled in when Father Yuan spoke earnestly.
“Little Heng, thank you again for everything.”
“We had planned to be there as a family, but the surgery started earlier than expected… Little Yuan was all alone at the hospital for such a major operation. Even though he acted like it didn’t bother him, he must have been terrified,” Father Yuan said with concern.
Though it was the truth, Yuan Shiyuan felt inexplicably embarrassed with his friend present and quietly buried his head in his rice.
He mumbled, “Actually, I’m not that easily scared.”
“We raised you—don’t think we don’t know you?” Yuan Xing teased with a smile. “I can testify—I saw you were about to cry!”
“I was just startled!” Yuan Shiyuan insisted, his tone earnest.
“No matter what, I must thank you, Little Heng. It’s all thanks to you being there for Little Yuan. Otherwise, he would have been terrified,” Father Yuan said solemnly to Jiang Heng, pouring a glass of wine and preparing to down it in one gulp.
Jiang Heng immediately raised his own glass, his posture humble. “Uncle, you’re really exaggerating. I didn’t do anything special. I just happened to be at the hospital and kept… Little Yuan company for a while.”
He truly hadn’t done anything remarkable, merely releasing his pheromones to comfort Yuan Shiyuan for a brief moment.
Though he didn’t understand why his pheromones had such a soothing effect on Yuan Shiyuan, he was delighted that Yuan Shiyuan liked them.
Jiang Heng remained polite and courteous, sharing several glasses of wine with Father Yuan. His composed and reliable demeanor quickly earned Father Yuan’s high regard.
“Isn’t it such a coincidence? You two knew each other as children, and now you’re in the same boy group… We were so worried when Little Yuan wanted to enter the entertainment industry.”
“But with you around, at least you two have each other’s backs. We can rest a little easier knowing that.”
In just a short time, Jiang Heng had already established himself as a dependable Alpha in Father Yuan’s eyes.
Yuan Shiyuan didn’t join the conversation, focusing on his meal and savoring the delicious food. Even when his father occasionally mentioned him, he merely mumbled “Mm-hmm” distractedly.
Lately, he had been so busy with work that he hadn’t had the chance to enjoy his father’s home-cooked meals in ages.
Yuan Xing suddenly remembered something. “Actually, we’ve had you on our minds. Little Yuan used to talk about his good friend—you—all the time. During summer vacation, he even wanted to go back to the welfare institute on a whim to see if you were still there.”
She placed a piece of glutinous rice cake and ribs on both Yuan Shiyuan’s and Jiang Heng’s plates. “Little Yuan said you both loved glutinous rice cake ribs, so Dad specially made a big batch and packed them in thermal bowls. Even though we knew you’d likely been adopted, what if you hadn’t?”
“When we arrived at the welfare institute, sure enough, you had already been adopted. We asked the caretaker for the adoptive family’s contact information, but the number was always disconnected, impossible to reach.”
Jiang Heng abruptly turned to look at Yuan Shiyuan, who was currently hunched over, biting into a spare rib. When he noticed Jiang Heng’s gaze, he smiled back, his eyes curving into crescent moons.
Yuan Shiyuan had always remembered him…
Just like him, Yuan Shiyuan had never forgotten each other.
“Meeting again now means you two are destined for each other.”
“You must cherish each other dearly.”
This meal was originally meant to thank Jiang Heng, but throughout the entire dinner, Jiang Heng listened attentively to the elders reminiscing about Yuan Shiyuan’s childhood, as if trying to fill the void of the years he had missed.
Yet he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Some of the dates they mentioned, including the adoption date, didn’t match what he remembered.
Were they misremembering? Or was I the one who was wrong?
Jiang Heng glanced thoughtfully at Yuan Shiyuan.
Stuffed from the meal, Yuan Shiyuan slumped back in his chair, pressing a hand against his belly with a contented, blissful expression.
Lately, he’d been taken to many high-end restaurants, but even the finest cuisine couldn’t compare to the home-cooked meals made by his family.
As the meal drew to a close, Father Yuan prepared to clear the table and wash the dishes. Jiang Heng rose first, efficiently clearing the table and tidying up. His movements were swift and practiced, clearly demonstrating that he was both attentive and accustomed to household chores.
“Uncle, I’ll wash the dishes,” Jiang Heng said softly.
“How could I let you do that?”
“Didn’t you tell me to make myself at home? At home, I’m always the one who does the dishes.”
Father Yuan froze, then chuckled, growing increasingly pleased with Jiang Heng. “Alright, then. I appreciate the help. There’s a dishwasher in the kitchen, and the manual’s inside. The air conditioner’s already on, but if you get too hot, feel free to lower the kitchen thermostat.”
Yuan Shiyuan felt awkward letting his friend wash the dishes alone, so he squeezed into the kitchen too.
The S-rank Alpha’s broad frame took up most of the space, leaving no room for Yuan Shiyuan near the sink!