Pretending to Be an Alpha in an All-Alpha Boy Band - Chapter 98

Chapter 98: Disguise

“Why not be even more greedy?” Yuan Shiyuan teased, propping his head up with one hand and tilting his head playfully. “Brother Bo Jin’s got endless money, so just buy the whole world for me.”

“Now that’s greedy enough, right?”

Bo Jin didn’t answer, lost in thought.

“Seriously, though,” Ying Mingche said, scratching his head, “I have no idea what to get you… What kind of gifts do people usually give for birthdays?”

His voice carried a rare, genuine note of frustration.

Yuan Shiyuan sighed, reiterating, “You really don’t have to get me anything. It’s not necessary.”

If he didn’t have a shoot that day, he’d just go home and have dinner with his family. If he did have a shoot… well, they’d figure something out.

In the past, his family had always thrown elaborate birthday parties for him, inviting all his friends. Now that he had work, he might not even have the time.

“It’s just my nineteenth birthday, not some huge milestone.”

“Not important?” Ying Mingche immediately countered, disapproving. “It is important.”

“Every single one of your birthdays is important.”

The S-rank alphas quickly realized that extracting useful information from Yuan Shiyuan was an impossible task. Even Yuan Shiyuan himself probably didn’t know what he wanted.

He genuinely lacked nothing, and his material desires were remarkably low.

In this situation, finding a gift that would please Yuan Shiyuan seemed an insurmountable challenge.

Yet these S-rank alphas were desperate to win his favor. Perhaps this was the first time they had ever felt such an urgent need to impress someone.

Uncharacteristically silent, they bowed their heads and stared intently at their mobile phones, their fingers tapping and swiping across the screens as they frantically searched online for gift-giving guides and inspiration.

A silent competition permeated the quiet car.

Yuan Shiyuan seized the opportunity to catch up on some sleep.

Perhaps exhausted from the day’s events, he found himself sinking deeper into slumber.

When the car arrived near the company and he finally opened his eyes, Yuan Shiyuan still looked dazed, his gaze unfocused, a faint pink mark pressed into his cheek from sleeping.

Seeing his drowsy, half-awake state, Bo Jin simply wrapped an arm around Yuan Shiyuan’s waist, pulled him close to his side, and half-carried, half-supported him out of the car.

Throughout the journey, Yuan Shiyuan barely touched the ground, practically cradled in Bo Jin’s arms as he was lifted along.

“Wait—”

A gust of cool night wind finally roused Yuan Shiyuan from his daze. “I can walk myself.”

Bo Jin lowered his gaze to study Yuan Shiyuan. Seeing the clarity return to his eyes, he slightly loosened his grip, allowing Yuan Shiyuan’s feet to touch the ground.

However, the Alpha didn’t completely release his hold around Yuan Shiyuan’s waist, instead keeping his hand pressed lightly against his body. “Really awake now?”

“Really awake,” Yuan Shiyuan replied, shaking his head to shake off the lingering drowsiness. “I was hibernating just now, so I was sleeping extra soundly.”

“Hibernating before autumn even arrives?” Bo Jin raised an eyebrow. “Lame excuse.”

“You said it yourself, it’s just an excuse.”

Yuan Shiyuan responded casually, but a nagging doubt began to stir in his mind about his excessive sleepiness.

Ever since his Omega presentation, he’d felt constantly drowsy, unable to shake off the fatigue… Could this be a sign that his heat period was about to return?

No way, right?

I just got a temporary mark from Pei Yanbing!

The craving can’t be this strong, can it?

Fortunately, after walking a short distance down the corridor, the cool breeze finally dispelled the mysterious drowsiness, and Yuan Shiyuan’s energy returned.

Just then, he received a message from his family.

Bo Jin: “What’s wrong?”

“My parents asked me to come home whenever I’m free. It feels kind of sudden…” Yuan Shiyuan stared at the message, a nagging feeling that something was off. “Could something have happened? Is it urgent?”

Bo Jin decisively grabbed his car keys. “I’ll drive you.”

Yuan Shiyuan was whisked out of the dormitory, Bo Jin’s arm around his waist. “Wait—they just said ‘whenever I’m free,’ not tonight…”

“It’s only seven o’clock. Your house isn’t far. Let’s go,” Bo Jin said. “Aren’t you worried?”

Though Yuan Shiyuan’s home was in an old residential area, its central location made it incredibly convenient to get around the city.

He was worried, so he obediently climbed into the passenger seat of Bo Jin’s sports car.

With clear nighttime roads, Bo Jin quickly parked near the complex.

Parking spaces were scarce in the old neighborhood; Bo Jin knew without asking that there wouldn’t be a spot for him.

“Brother Bo Jin, I’ll go home now!” Yuan Shiyuan hopped out of the car, waved at Bo Jin in the driver’s seat, and hurried into the complex.

Yuan Xing and her husband were visibly startled when Yuan Shiyuan suddenly appeared. “Little Yuan, what brings you home so suddenly? You got here so fast!”

“Didn’t you both tell me to come home when I had some free time?” Yuan Shiyuan panted, clutching the doorframe. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Is your gland acting up again?”

His anxious tone made the couple somewhat flustered. “No, it’s just… how should we put it?”

Yuan Xing glanced at her husband, who immediately understood. “Here’s the thing,” Father Yuan said. “Dad knows a doctor who’s incredibly skilled with glands. You know how your gland hasn’t developed properly and hasn’t healed all these years?”

“We thought, whenever you have time, you could see him. If you’re busy, no problem—just a blood sample will do for testing.”

“See? He even gave us the testing kit. It’s simple: just a prick on your fingertip for a blood sample.” Father Yuan immediately grabbed the pre-prepared kit.

After listening to the whole explanation, Yuan Shiyuan said skeptically, “Is that all?”

Yuan Xing smiled gently. “Of course.”

If that was truly all, Yuan Shiyuan had no reason to refuse. He sat on the sofa and picked up the kit.

The blood-collection device resembled a miniature syringe, its surface bristling with fine, sharp spikes. With a simple prick of his fingertip, blood would flow into the collection chamber below.

“Do you two have something else you want to tell me?” Yuan Shiyuan asked abruptly, glancing up from the device at the couple beside him.

Caught off guard, the couple exchanged a guilty look. Their Adam’s apples bobbed in unison.

Father Yuan hesitated for a moment before cautiously broaching the subject. “We’ve seen a missing person notice recently. The Yu family from A City lost their child many years ago, and his biological parents have been searching ever since…”

“My biological parents have come looking for me, haven’t they?”

Yuan Shiyuan’s brow furrowed sharply, his tone turning icy. “If that’s the case, Mom and Dad, you don’t need to pay them any attention. You raised me—you are my real parents. I love you both. You showed me I wasn’t an unwanted child.”

A clear disgust and aversion flashed in Yuan Shiyuan’s eyes. He had only recently gained some recognition, yet even after changing his name, the members of his first adoptive family had already been clamoring to exploit his newfound fame for online clout and product endorsements.

Even my biological parents who abandoned me are coming after me now?

Yuan Xing hadn’t anticipated Yuan Shiyuan’s sensitivity. Before they could even speak, he had already guessed the details.

But Yuan Shiyuan seemed to have misunderstood. They were about to explain, but didn’t know how to start. Even they weren’t sure if Yuan Shiyuan was the child in question, so where should they begin?

“No, no, it’s not like that at all. No one’s looking for us,” Father Yuan immediately chuckled awkwardly, changing the subject. “I just saw this missing person ad and it made me sentimental.”

“Little Yuan, you’re our heart and soul. No one can ever take you away. Sweetheart, don’t overthink things.” He immediately apologized, “It was Dad’s fault for being nosy. Did I make you upset?”

“No, Dad, I’m not upset,” Yuan Shiyuan said with unusual seriousness. “Whether my biological parents ever show up or not, I’ll always treat them as if they don’t exist. We’re the only family that matters.”

“I don’t need anyone else. Having you two is enough.”

Yuan Xing and her husband were deeply moved. They were about to say something when they noticed the blood in the container was more than half full—far exceeding the required amount.

Father Yuan paled in alarm. “Little Yuan, that’s enough! The medical checkup is over—stop the bleeding immediately! You used to be anemic; it took so long to get your blood levels up…”

Flustered, Father Yuan frantically tried to stop the bleeding while Yuan Xing rushed to fetch a blood-replenishing oral liquid. She tore open the packaging and held the tonic to Yuan Shiyuan’s lips.

Yuan Shiyuan obediently took the tonic, draining it in one gulp before leaning his head against Yuan Xing’s shoulder with childlike dependence.

“I know I was a handful when I was little,” he said, a familiar mischievous grin tugging at the corner of his lips. He nuzzled his cheek against her shoulder, just like he used to do as a child, “but I had the best parents in the world. You raised me so well.”

Yuan Shiyuan had been a sickly child, naturally frail with glandular issues. Raising him healthy had indeed been no easy feat.

Yet, through the couple’s tireless care and unwavering love, he had gradually grown into the man he was today.

“Now so many people compliment me on my looks,” Yuan Shiyuan boasted.

Yuan Xing chuckled softly, gently stroking the crown of his pink hair. “That’s because our Little Yuan has always been beautiful.”

Afterward, Yuan Shiyuan subtly probed his parents. Having learned from their earlier slip-up, the couple were now guarded, their answers watertight.

Their earlier slip-up had been purely due to Yuan Shiyuan’s sudden return, catching them unprepared.

Now, anxious about their son’s possible misinterpretations and hurt feelings, they dared not let their guard down, weighing every word carefully.

Realizing he couldn’t get anything out of them, Yuan Shiyuan finally withdrew his probing gaze. “I have an early class tomorrow morning. I’ll stay at the company dormitory tonight.”

Father Yuan rose. “I’ll see you off…”

“No need, Dad,” Yuan Shiyuan said, glancing at the time—though it was only 7:30 p.m. “You have work tomorrow too. It’s too much of a hassle to drive back and forth. I’ll just grab a taxi.”

While waiting for the elevator, Yuan Shiyuan glanced down at his phone. The screen lit up, displaying a message Bo Jin had sent ten minutes earlier:

Uncle looking for you?

Yuan Shiyuan lowered his gaze, his thumb idly tracing the screen. He didn’t reply directly.

Instead, he typed: I feel like going for a walk.

Bo Jin responded almost instantly: Come downstairs.

Yuan Shiyuan: ?

He hesitated before typing: You’re still here?

Bo Jin: You didn’t tell me to leave.

Yuan Shiyuan: “……”

He had assumed that after dropping him off at the residential complex entrance, Bo Jin would have already returned to the company. If he were the one driving a friend home late at night, he would instinctively assume the other person would be staying over.

He never imagined Bo Jin would be waiting downstairs.

Yuan Shiyuan had only been unresponsive for a moment when Bo Jin called.

The instant the call connected, Yuan Shiyuan suddenly exclaimed, “Wait, you were parked where parking isn’t allowed, right?”

“Yep, just got a ticket and a fine,” Bo Jin teased deliberately.

“!! I’ll be right down!”

“No rush. Take your time. See if you can fine me into bankruptcy.”

Yuan Shiyuan sighed helplessly. “Brother Bo Jin, bankrupting you would probably crash the entire traffic management system.”

A low chuckle drifted from the other end of the line.

Though he knew the fine was insignificant to Bo Jin, Yuan Shiyuan still hurried downstairs, jogging all the way out of the apartment complex.

But Bo Jin’s car wasn’t in its original spot.

As he scanned the area, a short horn honked nearby.

Bo Jin had moved the car to a designated temporary parking zone.

Yuan Shiyuan moved with lightning speed, nimbly opening the car door and sliding into the passenger seat.

He pulled down his mask, revealing cheeks flushed pink from the stuffy air, and gasped slightly for breath.

Bo Jin leaned over from the driver’s seat, retrieving an ice-cold bottle of sparkling water from the car’s mini-fridge.

Seeing Yuan Shiyuan still catching his breath and looking dazed, he suddenly leaned closer, pressing the frosty, beaded can against Yuan Shiyuan’s overheated cheek.

“Hiss—!”

Yuan Shiyuan recoiled sharply from the icy shock, drawing in a sharp, hissing breath. A shiver ran through him, and he glared sideways like a startled, bristling cat. “What are you doing?”

“Fucking you,” Bo Jin replied without a flicker of emotion, casually popping the tab on the can and handing it to Yuan Shiyuan. His tone was as nonchalant as commenting on the weather.

“What, trying to get down in the car?” Yuan Shiyuan quipped, surprisingly joining in the joke as he took the sparkling water. “No, no, no—too many people around. Let’s find a quieter spot.”

The joke was a bold one.

“Sure,” Bo Jin said slowly, twisting the car key. “I’ll fuck you to death later.”

“……”

“Brother Bo Jin, you’ve changed,” Yuan Shiyuan said, nearly choking. “You’re not the straight-A I remember.”

“You’re actually making jokes like this?”

Bo Jin retorted, “How do you know I’m joking?”

Duh.

Everyone knew Bo Jin was an ironclad straight-A. Now that he knew Yuan Shiyuan was an Alpha, would he really check up on him using Citrus Lobe?

“Mhm, mhm, mhm,” Yuan Shiyuan mumbled dismissively. He had been running nonstop and was still wearing a mask, making him feel overheated.

The first sip of ice-cold sparkling water cooled his exercise-flushed blood, leaving him refreshed and invigorated.

Yuan Shiyuan licked his moist lips and casually remarked, “Then be gentle with me, Big Brother.”

Bo Jin, who was changing lanes, suddenly glanced sideways at him.

Slender white fingers gripped the can of sparkling water, red lips glistening wet, parted slightly to reveal a hint of his wet, pink tongue.

Still flushed from his workout, a faint blush tinted his cheeks. Strands of his light pink hair tumbled haphazardly across his shoulders, some sticking up at odd angles while others strayed inside his collar, clinging to his snow-white neck.

Seeing the Alpha glance over, Yuan Shiyuan slowly blinked in response.

Bo Jin averted his gaze, lightly stroking the steering wheel with his fingertips. “Can’t make it lighter,” he said.

“Fine, fine, then just go ahead and fuck me to death,” Yuan Shiyuan said carelessly. As if anyone couldn’t talk big.

The air conditioning blasted cold air at Yuan Shiyuan, who squinted, then tugged his collar open, leaning forward to let the icy wind flood his body.

Once the lingering heat had completely faded, he couldn’t resist examining the car’s interior.

No one could resist the allure of a sports car.

While Bo Jin focused on driving, Yuan Shiyuan thoroughly explored the interior with keen interest.

He suddenly straightened up, looking ahead. “Wait a minute…”

“Aren’t we being a bit conspicuous? What if we get recognized?” He reached for his mask, but Bo Jin cut him off. “The windows are tinted. No one can see inside.”

“Oh.” Yuan Shiyuan slumped back into his seat.

Seeing Yuan Shiyuan curled comfortably in the passenger seat, Bo Jin finally spoke again. “Are you in a bad mood?”

“Nah,” Yuan Shiyuan replied lazily.

“Oh,” Bo Jin said. “The mall’s still open. Let’s go shopping.”

Was there any connection between this topic and what they were just discussing?

Yuan Shiyuan was utterly confused. “Shopping?”

“Aren’t you in a bad mood?” Bo Jin asked. “When you’re down, you shop. We’ll buy until your mood improves.”

Yuan Shiyuan chuckled. “Brother Bo Jin, I’m really not in a bad mood. And what kind of twisted logic is that? Take me shopping whenever I’m down?”

“I’ve noticed you really like taking me shopping,” he continued. “You’ve brought it up often before too. What, am I your kept boy toy or something?”

Bo Jin: “Lose the ‘kept’ part.”

He paused, then added, “I don’t know why, but I just feel like you’re in a bad mood.”

Yuan Shiyuan froze.

He’d always known Bo Jin was exceptionally perceptive, but he’d been careful to act naturally the whole time—no sulking, no strange comments. For Bo Jin to pick up on even the slightest hint of his mood was astonishing.

“Let’s go shopping,” Bo Jin repeated.

Yuan Shiyuan glanced out the window. Just ahead lay A City’s renowned shopping district.

The mall was clearly divided into districts, and given Bo Jin’s extravagant spending habits, he’d likely head straight to District A, the enclave of ultra-luxury brands.

District A, close to the free tourist attractions, teemed with crowds late into the night, and countless live-streaming influencers filled the streets.

Yuan Shiyuan worried about being recognized. “Our disguises are too simple; we’ll definitely be spotted.”

“Even when Jiang Heng and I went to the supermarket wearing masks and hats, people still recognized us. We really shouldn’t go shopping…”

“You went to the supermarket with him?” Bo Jin’s brow furrowed instantly. “You go to the supermarket with him, but you won’t go shopping with me?”

Yuan Shiyuan: “……”

Looks like I have no choice but to go shopping today.

Left with no other option, Yuan Shiyuan first fiddled with his phone, then said, “Alright, we’ll go shopping. But first, let’s stop at this Airbnb. I need to disguise myself.”

His bright pink hair was too distinctive; if he walked around with Bo Jin in his normal attire, they’d inevitably be recognized.

After booking a nearby Airbnb, Yuan Shiyuan opened a food delivery app and began brainstorming disguises.

He chose the shop with the fastest delivery time, tapped and swiped across the screen, added the items to his cart, and checked out.

“What did you buy?” Bo Jin only saw the payment confirmation screen.

Yuan Shiyuan tantalized him, “You’ll see soon enough.”

Bo Jin had no idea what Yuan Shiyuan was up to, but he followed his instructions, parking the car at a nearby inn.

Before long, the takeout Yuan Shiyuan had ordered arrived.

Clutching the takeout bag mysteriously, Yuan Shiyuan darted into the restroom.

Bo Jin raised an eyebrow and followed. “What are you up to? What’s so secret I can’t see?”

He tried to enter the restroom, but Yuan Shiyuan blocked him.

“Wait, wait!” Yuan Shiyuan whirled around, pressing his warm palm against the Alpha’s chest to shove him back. “Just wait outside, I’ll be quick!”

The warmth of his palm seeped through the thin fabric, pressing against Bo Jin’s heart. The soft, gentle pressure felt less like resistance and more like an oddly tender caress.

Bo Jin narrowed his eyes, almost savoring this ambiguous touch—both rejection and invitation.

He had intended to prolong this dance, to linger in the sensation of being touched.

But he completely underestimated Yuan Shiyuan’s strength. The younger man gave him no chance to savor the moment.

Bo Jin was forcibly ejected from the restroom.

Bang! The restroom door slammed shut, locking firmly behind him. He stared at the closed door, lost in thought.

Yuan Shiyuan’s strength… it’s truly unbelievable!

How could such a slender arm generate such explosive power?

Bo Jin couldn’t wrap his head around it.

He rubbed his temples and turned to survey the guesthouse room, belatedly realizing something felt off about the atmosphere.

Red-purple lights cast an ambiguous glow, red rose petals scattered across the circular waterbed, a transparent vending machine in the corner displayed an array of gaudy, disposable items, and a faint, elusive fragrance hung in the air…

This is unmistakably a… sex-themed guesthouse!

Bo Jin suddenly felt deeply uneasy, his throat drying up. His gaze involuntarily drifted toward the restroom door.

What’s Yuan Shiyuan doing in there? And why would he book a room like this?

Could it be…? Bo Jin’s expression grew increasingly awkward. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he quickly grabbed a bottle of mineral water and gulped down a mouthful.

The wait was agonizing.

About two minutes later, a faint sound emerged from the restroom.

“Brother Bo Jin, I’m ready!”

“Going out like this, we definitely won’t be recognized.”

The restroom door swung open.

Bo Jin’s pupils constricted reflexively, and the water bottle in his hand clattered to the floor.

Mineral water snaked across the tiles, leaving a glistening trail that gradually extended toward Yuan Shiyuan’s feet.

Standing in the restroom doorway, Yuan Shiyuan wore a red and black plaid miniskirt and a crisp white shirt cinched tightly at the waist, emphasizing his slender frame. A crimson bow tie adorned his collar.

Pale pink strands of hair cascaded over his shoulders, accentuating his delicate, snow-white neck. Beneath the skirt’s hem, his long, straight legs shimmered with a lustrous glow under the dim, suggestive lighting.

Noticing the Alpha’s intense gaze, Yuan Shiyuan self-consciously pressed his knees together and rubbed his legs together in a small, nervous gesture.

At first glance, he could easily pass for a beautiful female college student.

Bo Jin stared intently at Yuan Shiyuan.

From his flushed cheeks to his slender waist, down to the skirt’s hem, and the pinkness of his knees…

Yuan Shiyuan’s delicate fragrance drifted through the air, mingling with the room’s already cloying sweetness, making the air thick and heavy.

Oblivious to the Alpha’s growing unease, Yuan Shiyuan twirled proudly to showcase his transformation.

“What do you think? Can you even recognize me?”

Who would ever suspect an Alpha from a boy group would be out shopping with the other members in women’s clothing?

As he spun, the skirt flared briefly, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of the pinkness at the base of his thighs.

Bo Jin suddenly stepped forward, trapping Yuan Shiyuan between the wall and his chest.

The dim light cast entangled shadows across their bodies.

Hot breath ghosted across Yuan Shiyuan’s ear as the Alpha’s voice, low and husky, murmured, a hint of amusement in his tone, “You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?”