Chapter 9: The Beta Who Hates Alphas

No sooner had Yu Sui finished making his purchase than a knock sounded at the door.

Puzzled, he went over and opened it.

Jiang Nianxing was standing there with a fruit platter in his hands. “Didn’t you go eat?”

He asked casually.

Yu Sui found his behavior odd. “Shen Anliu brought me some food.”

“Ahem, there’s something I wanted to discuss with you.” Jiang Nianxing nodded offhandedly.

With him putting it that way, Yu Sui had no choice but to let him inside.

Jiang Nianxing set the fruit platter down on the table. He glanced around nervously, left and right.

Yu Sui grew alert. Was this guy planning to steal something?

“Um, what do you think about the live-stream task the company assigned?” Jiang Nianxing had never imagined he’d be the one proactively inviting an alpha to be his Queerbaitingpairing partner. He felt utterly uncomfortable right now.

“What do I think?” Truth be told, Yu Sui hadn’t even looked at it.

“You know, pairing up with someone.” Jiang Nianxing finally got the words out.

Yu Sui’s brows furrowed at that, his expression darkening. “Are you here to mock me? Do you think no one will pair up with me by then?”

“That’s not what I meant.” Jiang Nianxing hadn’t expected the misunderstanding. He hurried to explain. “Actually, I wanted to invite you to pair up with me.”

Yu Sui froze. “What did you say?”

“It’s probably because your level is so high. I don’t find you off-putting.” Jiang Nianxing spoke honestly. “My pheromones clash with everyone else’s. I can’t even get close to them.”

As much as those words were soothing to hear, there was no way Yu Sui would agree.

“What does that have to do with me? Trying to cozy up to me?” Yu Sui fixed him with a stare, narrowing his eyes in mockery. “So alphas pull shady stunts like this too? Whatever happened to all that pride and arrogance?”

The cutting words made Jiang Nianxing’s face drain of color. He worked his lips. “If you’re not willing, fine. Did you have to put it like that?”

Ignoring the disappointment deep in his heart, he stormed out in a huff.

Yu Sui eyed the fruit platter on the table but said nothing.

[You’re doing great.] The praise system chimed in again.

“I’ve completely nailed this persona,” Yu Sui said, clenching his fist.

Shen Anliu returned with two portions of food. The moment he stepped through the door, his gaze fell on the platter. “What’s this?”

“Jiang Nianxing was just here. He wanted me to be his partner,” Yu Sui said with disdain. “I thought he had some backbone. What a letdown.”

Shen Anliu’s brows knitted together. “Did you agree?”

“Of course not. As if he’s worthy.” Yu Sui puffed up with arrogance.

Shen Anliu let out a quiet breath of relief.

His relief was written all over his face. Yu Sui’s eyelid twitched at the sight. Just how much did this guy worship him?

Still, their relationship was bound to take a step forward soon.

He moved to the side and began eating in a good mood.

He Baiyan sent a direct message asking if Yu Sui had found a partner yet.

Yu Sui, of course, took it as a provocation. He unleashed a barrage of trash talk, straight out of a troll’s playbook.

He Baiyan read through the messages, his expression unchanging. He just thought they were the same couple of lines over and over—hardly the most cutting insults, even if they did zero in on the pride most alphas held dear.

But they had all joined Star Sea Entertainment by now. Dignity wasn’t their top priority anymore.

He pictured the young man bristling on the other side of the screen, and his gaze softened.

What an intriguing Beta.

[WeChat] He Baiyan: Pair up with me. If you’re scared, pretend I never said anything.

Yu Sui scowled at the provocation. “He really has it out for me.”

[Then you should agree all the more.] The system replied. [It’s the classic protagonist slapping down a cannon fodder plotline. Always a crowd-pleaser.]

“He’s going to mess with me during the pairing?” Yu Sui felt like disaster was piling up.

[Your relationship with him is even worse than in the plot. It’s only natural if he gets aggressive. Besides, losing face once is losing face.] The system pointed out.

Yu Sui shot back: “Who’s afraid of who?”

A faint smile tugged at He Baiyan’s lips. This guy couldn’t handle a little prodding—young and straightforward, through and through.

It was obvious from how he’d faked being an alpha on a whim to join the company and sign that ironclad contract. He never stopped to think about the consequences. A real kid at heart.

Lu Jinxia was agonizing over how to broach the subject. He hadn’t gone back to the apartment tonight. Instead, he was crashing in the dorms.

His roommate was Jiang Nianxing.

As he stewed, the door swung open. Jiang Nianxing walked in with a sour look on his face.

“You didn’t go back?” Lu Jinxia was a little surprised.

“Nope.” Jiang Nianxing’s reply was curt.

“What happened to you?” Lu Jinxia asked, puzzled.

“He’s just…” With his irritation still fresh, and hearing his teammate ask, Jiang Nianxing immediately vented about everything Yu Sui had said.

“You’re picking him as your partner?” Lu Jinxia latched onto the key point. He gave the young man an appraising look.

Wasn’t this guy a hardcore alpha? Was he deep in the closet or something?

“Ahem, like I said, his mental power is high. I don’t mind him,” Jiang Nianxing explained. “I don’t mean anything else by it.”

That last bit sounded like overcompensation.

Lu Jinxia gave him a long look. “So he turned you down?”

“Yeah.” Disappointment colored Jiang Nianxing’s tone.

Lu Jinxia breathed a silent sigh of relief.

He mustered his courage and messaged Yu Sui.

What came back was a flood of messages—too cringe-worthy to read straight through.

His personality really was awful.

Lu Jinxia frowned and replied, “Sorry to bother you,” before going silent.

Yu Sui hadn’t expected all three of them to be out for revenge. He kept up his cocky front on the surface, but inwardly, he was worried.

He tossed and turned until exhaustion finally claimed him.

The next morning, Shen Anliu woke him up.

The young man was dressed in a tracksuit. He had tied back his black hair with a headband, his lips pressed together to reveal the dimples in his cheeks.

“Bro.” Shen Anliu called out awkwardly, his eyes darting away.

“Mm.” Yu Sui rubbed his eyes and sat up.

The night before, after they’d finished eating, Shen Anliu had solemnly declared that he’d be Yu Sui’s lackey from now on, so even his form of address needed to change.

Yu Sui had said, “Call me Big Brother.”

Shen Anliu had tried it out: “Bro.”

For some reason, that one little word felt strangely off to Yu Sui.

But when he saw the adoring look in the young man’s eyes, he figured he was overthinking it.

After washing up and grabbing breakfast, they headed to the lounge.

The other three were already there, divvying up tasks.

When the two of them pushed open the door, all eyes landed on Yu Sui. Shen Anliu was outright ignored.

He was wearing a loose tracksuit too. Standing side by side with Shen Anliu—one in black, one in white—they looked for all the world like a matching couple.

Jiang Nianxing’s brows twitched faintly.

Lu Jinxia pressed his lips together. Recalling the messages from yesterday, he averted his gaze and offered no greeting.

The two newcomers took their seats.

He Baiyan began laying out the assignments.

As the new guys, they could skip the singing and dancing segments. That left the game interactions.

There were friendship-building challenges, as well as head-to-head competitions.

Yu Sui acted utterly indifferent. He slumped over the table, looking listless and drained.

His eyes half-lidded, his face turned to the side, one hand resting on the black tabletop and tapping idly.

Across from him, Lu Jinxia’s gaze drifted unwittingly to those fingers.

The young man was wearing a decorative ring today. It made his hands look even more attractive.

“If there are no objections, that’s the plan,” He Baiyan said.

“About the partners…” Jiang Nianxing spoke up. “Have you all chosen?”

“Yeah.” To everyone’s surprise, He Baiyan was the first to nod.

“Huh?” Jiang Nianxing blinked in shock, a bad feeling brewing inside him.

“Me and Yu Sui.”

“What?” Jiang Nianxing shot to his feet. “You two…”

He turned to Yu Sui. “Why’d you turn me down?”

He couldn’t fathom what he lacked.

He Baiyan frowned slightly at those words. Lu Jinxia looked stunned. He hadn’t expected Yu Sui to agree to team up with the captain. Hadn’t he made it clear he looked down on all of them?

Why treat them differently?