Shen Anliu glanced at Yu Sui’s expression and had a bad feeling in his gut.
Sure enough, the young man wasn’t finished. He looked disdainfully at all the guests in attendance. “Low-tier alphas only know how to resort to despicable tricks.”
“Bro.” Shen Anliu couldn’t worry about the fact that Yu Sui disliked him right now. He leaned over and covered his mouth.
Yu Sui’s body stiffened. He frowned slightly. “System, what’s he…”
[Taking the chance to hype up your CP with you.] The system said confidently. [Don’t fall for it. He’s got a lot of schemes up his sleeve.]
“Then what about me?” Yu Sui struggled.
[Play along a bit.] The system replied. [After all, the guy resorts to any means necessary. What if he tries to kiss you again…]
Yu Sui stopped moving.
Shen Anliu was about to say something more when he noticed Yu Sui gazing obediently at him.
He paused, his breathing growing a touch heavier as memories of their intimate moment in that cramped space flooded back.
“Bro.” His voice came out a little hoarse, like he was holding something back. His gaze burned intensely.
The others around them looked uncomfortable after Yu Sui’s indiscriminate attack, but none of them lashed out.
Such brainless arrogance would surely rub the netizens the wrong way.
And yet, what did they witness next?
In the very next moment, the two of them started up a QueerbaitingPairing again.
Bai Jia’s eyelid twitched. He couldn’t control his expression.
They accused low-tier alphas of scheming, but wasn’t this just as scheming on his part?
“The living room isn’t the place for you two to flirt.” An Lu spoke up. As he did, he sneakily observed Jiang Nianxing’s expression. Sure enough, it had soured.
He had meant the comment for Jiang Nianxing alone, but Yu Sui’s words had irked him—and Jiang Nianxing clearly cared about Yu Sui a great deal.
So…
Hearing this snapped Yu Sui back to attention. He shoved Shen Anliu away, goosebumps prickling all over his skin.
“Bro, I…” Shen Anliu suddenly remembered they were filming a show. He swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue.
The viewer comments were sharply divided at that moment.
[Yu Sui’s so scheming.]
[Look, he’s playing it up again.]
[Bai Jia’s not wrong. Yu Sui really is contradicting himself.]
[What kind of persona is this? Doesn’t Star Sea Entertainment care?]
[He says one thing but his body is honest. Classic tsundere, family.]
[No, wait—Sui Sui’s ears are red. Their eyes are practically making heart shapes. What great acting.]
Yu Sui shifted a bit farther away and grumbled to the system in his mind. “He should be an actor. What a waste.”
[You’re right. We all got fooled before.] The system’s tone turned serious. [If not for that glitch and stumbling onto the truth, we’d still be in the dark. If you’d actually fallen for him… well, the consequences don’t bear thinking about.]
“How could I like a guy? I’m straight as an arrow,” Yu Sui shot back.
Beside him, Shen Anliu’s eyes rippled with amusement, his gentle smile practically drowning in sweetness. Yu Sui’s scalp tingled.
What acting chops. He’d be a star.
Jiang Nianxing finally couldn’t tolerate the atmosphere any longer. He walked over to Yu Sui’s side. “Thanks for just now.”
He still wanted to ask if Yu Sui stepping in meant he harbored some lingering feelings. But he dreaded hearing a heartless rejection, so he settled for that.
Yu Sui ignored him. The protagonist QueerbaitingPaired with him for a purpose—this Jiang Nianxing was different. Better to play it safe.
[The dynamics on set have flipped.]
Seeing this, the director shot a look at a nearby staff member.
“We’ve got some time before dinner. How about a little interactive game, everyone?” the staffer announced. “It’s called ‘I Have What You Don’t.'”
“Start with ten fingers. Bend one down for each thing you haven’t done. The winner gets to punish the others however they like—but remember, it’s just a game. Nothing too extreme.”
The words were clearly aimed at a certain someone.
Huo Tian’s eyes narrowed. He was itching to play.
The viewer comments exploded with activity. Everyone was dying to dig into their idols’ secrets.
[Great move by the production team.]
[Why not Truth or Dare?]
[Yeah, exactly.]
The audience settled in to watch the drama unfold.
Huo Tian went first. He scanned the room with ill intent in his eyes. “Kissed someone.”
Everyone froze for a second.
The comments went wild.
[Even though Huo Tian’s trash, this opener’s solid.]
[His personality’s bottom-tier, but the question’s top-tier.]
[The looks on TYE’s faces are priceless.]
Jiang Nianxing glanced at Yu Sui, recalling how he’d dodged his kiss before. Reluctantly, he bent a finger.
Shen Anliu heard the prompt, his cheeks tinting pink, but he didn’t move his hand.
One by one, the others bent fingers. In the end, only Yu Sui hadn’t reacted.
All eyes in the room—and among the viewers—were on him now.
[Xiao Shen didn’t bend. So he has kissed someone?]
[Anyone remember that Hot Search pic? Yu Sui’s lips were swollen.]
[Acting all upright is fake. The hesitation’s the truth.]
[Holy shit, did I get the real story?]
[No way—two alphas kissed?]
[My god!]
“Brother Yu, have you ever actually kissed anyone?” Bai Jia asked with feigned confusion, his tone urging him on. “Everyone’s waiting…”
“Brother Yu’s so clever.” An Lu chimed in. “Now all the attention’s on you.”
The two didn’t even exchange glances, but their teamwork was seamless.
Yu Sui figured enough time had passed. He shook his head. He had to play along with the protagonist’s hype, but he also needed the audience to dislike him. A “spotlight hog” persona fit perfectly.
Seeing him not deny it, Shen Anliu’s lips curved up slightly. He stared intently at the young man.
Yu Sui felt the scorching gaze and glared back furiously.
This way, the viewers would know it was all for show. Shen Anliu came off earnest, while he seemed reluctant yet greedy for the buzz.
On camera, these little gestures would spark debate for sure.
But the comments weren’t going as he’d expected.
[Confirmed: they really kissed that day.]
[So sweet! My CP is the sweetest!]
[Is Sui Sui mad about it?]
[No wonder—he bit the guy’s lips swollen.]
[Wait, is this a romance show?]
Lin Xiaoyi kept a calm face, but inside he was utterly shocked.
No way—sacrificing that much for the mission?
Next up was He Baiyan. “Composed and wrote lyrics for a song in under an hour, then hit number one on release.”
Bai Jia’s expression turned ugly. He unwillingly bent a finger, humiliation burning in his chest.
Especially with He Baiyan’s indifferent gaze sweeping over him—light and emotionless.
But that very lack of reaction made him feel unworthy of even being noticed, fueling his rage even more.
Yu Sui observed everyone. The ones who hadn’t bent were He Baiyan, Jiang Nianxing, and Huo Tian.
He was stunned. TYE’s talent was terrifying.
It was the next person’s turn, but Bai Jia cut in first. “Had parents with me on my birthday.”
Such an ordinary thing, and yet all of TYE bent fingers.
Yu Sui fiddled with his bent middle finger, thinking of his own life.
He had no family or friends, raised in an orphanage. But he wasn’t withdrawn—quite the opposite. He was lively and loved life.
That’s why, if given a chance to live, he’d never let it go.
Bai Jia claimed a round back. A meaningful smile played on his lips.
Next was Jiang Nianxing.
“Wrote a song for someone.”
He looked shyly at Yu Sui beside him.
During those few days they chatted online, Jiang Nianxing had fallen into puppy love and secretly penned a little love song. He’d planned to sing it when confessing properly, but then…
Shen Anliu’s eyes flickered. He didn’t bend a finger either.
Huo Tian hadn’t either—he’d written plenty of diss tracks.
[Xiao Jiang calling himself out. Classic.]
[Xiao Jiang’s fan-servicing too.]
[Since Yu Sui spoke up for them, the team’s vibe’s way lighter. Those other guys must be the problem.]
[Bai Jia and An Lu’s comments earlier were super targeted.]
[Coming in hot with random shade? Bet they’re actors hired by Star Sea Entertainment just to torment fans.]
[I admit—they succeeded.]
The rest kept to safe, standard prompts.
Finally, it was Yu Sui’s turn.
“I’m a 4S alpha.” He said it without hesitation.
It was his biggest claim to status—and his future downfall, the ultimate scandal.
He Baiyan heard it and gave Yu Sui a deep look before bending his finger.
Everyone else did too.
They played two more rounds. In the end, Huo Tian won.
His later prompts had danced on the edge—things no one would admit to on camera, even if true privately.
He waved his hand smugly.
His gaze swept over the group. No one looked pleased.
After all, Huo Tian’s scandals were legendary, and his arrogance knew no bounds.
Now he could punish anyone he pleased. Even Zuo Meng clenched his fists at the thought of Huo Tian’s past misdeeds.
“Jiang Nianxing.” He seemed to despise his former teammate above all others—that earlier provocation had targeted him too.
Jiang Nianxing met his eyes. “What punishment?”
He wasn’t a sore loser. And with the live audience watching, played right, it could net him some fans.
“You that into that alpha?” Huo Tian pointed at Yu Sui with malicious glee.
“What are you getting at?” Jiang Nianxing’s eyes narrowed, his pheromone faintly roiling on the verge of outburst.
An Lu was surprised inwardly. Before, Jiang Nianxing had always gone straight to fists when provoked—he never released his pheromone lightly. Now…
Yu Sui was singled out, and a bad premonition stirred in his heart.
“I’m not interested in anyone else,” Huo Tian said, his smile growing even brighter. “Just you two will be punished.”
Jiang Nianxing found that face of his utterly obnoxious. He glanced at the director nearby, signaling for him to intervene.
But the director looked away.
“I still remember that punch you gave me before.” Huo Tian touched his own cheek. “Yu Sui, right? Slap Jiang Nianxing across the face.”
The words left everyone stunned.
Jiang Nianxing had been on guard, but at those words, his gaze flickered evasively. He glanced cautiously at Yu Sui.
The latter looked utterly shocked.
“This… System, what do you think…”
[Slap him,] the System said. [It’s the perfect chance to show how much you dislike your roommate. Mix public and private interests like this, and the audience will feel sorry for Jiang Nianxing. Meanwhile, the protagonist shou will grow to hate you even more.]
[I suspect Shen Anliu paired with you in QueerbaitingPairing because the others seemed too dominant. It’s hard to create any ambiguous atmosphere when two strong people stand together. But on this show, the protagonist gongs will show vulnerability because of past events. That draws them closer emotionally—I’m sure that’s why the plot changed.]