Chapter 16: A Beta Who Hates Alphas

He Baiyan’s heart sank. If word of this got out, it would probably spark all sorts of rumors and criticism about the entire group.

He had to stop it from happening.

“What are you doing?” He Baiyan decided to give Yu Sui one chance—if he could see the error of his ways…

Yu Sui froze, turning his head to meet the man’s probing gaze.

His eyelashes fluttered wildly from guilt, and his heart pounded like it would burst.

Seeing Yu Sui’s face drain of color, He Baiyan’s eyes fell on the young man’s trembling body.

His shirt wasn’t buttoned, hanging open carelessly. With each breath, the fabric rose and fell, the aroused peaks beneath it standing out starkly.

He Baiyan blinked in surprise and quickly looked away. “Yu Sui, tell me—what are you doing?”

“Nothing,” Yu Sui replied. Of course he wouldn’t admit it, even though it was written all over his face.

He Baiyan’s eyes darkened as he realized Yu Sui was too stubborn to see reason. He’d have to teach him a lesson.

“You’d better be telling the truth,” He Baiyan said meaningfully.

Yu Sui caught the threat in his words, his right eyelid twitching madly, but he forced himself to stay calm.

He buttoned up his shirt and made to bolt.

He Baiyan watched his retreating back and shook his head slightly. It looked like this was Yu Sui’s first time trying something like that.

He opened the closet belonging to him and Yu Sui, returned Shen Anliu’s shirt, then opened his own.

He had two white tees before. Now there were three.

In the live stream chat, viewers started speculating since the two hadn’t returned for so long.

[What if they got carried away applying the medicine…]

[Can AA even work? Won’t they reject each other?]

[Pheromones would clash, right?]

The topic veered in that direction.

Jiang Nianxing saw the comments and scowled. “Don’t talk nonsense! They’re not like that!”

His tone sounded more like jealousy than defending his teammate.

Just then, they spotted Yu Sui pushing the door open, looking flustered and panicked.

“What happened, bro?” Shen Anliu stood up in concern.

Yu Sui ignored him, his mind consumed by the impending social death.

“Did He Baiyan do something to you?” Jiang Nianxing saw how pale he was, lost in thought, and stood up too. He turned to the young man on the stool behind him, leaning in slowly.

“You…”

Yu Sui hadn’t expected him to get so close. He startled, but fearing another fall, he could only grimace and turn away. Jiang Nianxing’s hot breath on his face made his scalp tingle. “What are you doing? Get away from me!”

He didn’t bother hiding his disgust.

“Your shirt buttons are done up wrong,” Jiang Nianxing said, his eyes flickering before settling on Yu Sui’s clothes.

Yu Sui paused, his cheeks flushing red. “You did that on purpose to embarrass me, didn’t you? Jiang Nianxing, you’re such a jerk!”

Ignoring the live stream entirely, Yu Sui blurted out what he really thought.

“Sorry, that’s not what I meant.” Jiang Nianxing panicked. Seeing Yu Sui on the verge of losing it—and worried he’d fall—he instinctively grabbed his hand. “Calm down.”

“You’re still touching me?” Yu Sui glared and tried to shake him off.

The two carried on their lover’s spat right in front of the live stream, leaving viewers speechless.

[Feels like we’re part of their roleplay…]

[Is this a couples’ stream? Asking for a friend?]

[You sure they’re both Alphas? Forget rejection—they look ready to stick together any second.]

Their exchange happened so fast that Shen Anliu only managed to chime in now. “Jiang-senior, let go of bro. You’re hurting him.”

Both Yu Sui and Jiang Nianxing stiffened at his words.

One flashed a guilty, evasive glance; the other looked like he’d tasted something foul.

Lu Jinxia, slouched on the sofa, was utterly done. Could these guys show some professionalism?

Right in the middle of the chaos, the captain walked in.

He Baiyan saw Shen Anliu and Jiang Nianxing crowding around Yu Sui like they were trying to soothe him, while Lu Jinxia blasted a song like he was providing background music for the scene. His eyelid twitched.

“All of you, sit back down.”

The captain’s words carried weight. At least they remembered what they were there for.

There were no staff in the room, but that didn’t mean the company wasn’t watching.

The proceedings had deviated wildly from the script, but the entertainment value was high, so the company planned to let it play out—though certain key steps still had to be followed.

Like performing songs.

Yu Sui sank back onto the sofa, sandwiched between Lu Jinxia and the captain.

He suspected it was on purpose. He didn’t know this song at all, yet they’d stuck him in the center position for the audience to judge.

Some viewers focused on the song, but others zeroed in on Yu Sui’s crooked buttons, speculating why he seemed so rattled.

Their guesses veered toward the risqué, leaving Yu Sui fuming. He couldn’t win the argument, so he puffed out his cheeks and stewed in silence.

“Take a break. We’ll be right back.”

After a few songs, Lu Jinxia spoke up.

Next came team games and interactions—they needed to change clothes.

The live stream couldn’t go unmanned, so they didn’t all go at once.

Yu Sui started to stand, but He Baiyan grabbed his wrist. “I need to talk to you later.”

Yu Sui froze, dropping his head guiltily.

For a moment, he forgot to pull away. He Baiyan’s thumb brushed his skin, his pupils contracting as he let go abruptly.

Viewers caught the detail, especially that casual little motion.

The veins stood out on the back of the man’s hand, incredibly sexy. His absentminded caress carried an undercurrent of desire, flushing faces across the stream.

[Definitely something going on.]

[Yowza, not letting Xiao Sui change with the others? Possessive much?]

[That tension—feels like a whole car just drove by.]

[He Baiyan knows how to play to the camera?]

[I thought he was super aloof.]

[This pair is addictive. Never thought I’d ship two Alphas.]

[Xiao Sui, why the bowed head? Shy? Aren’t you straight?]

[No normal Alpha would advertise his orientation like that.]

Yu Sui had just calmed down and lifted his head when he saw that comment. He stiffened, guilt intensifying.

Had they figured it out?

[Bet you’ve been confessed to by an Alpha.]

[Maybe even kissed?]

[So jealous!]

Relieved it wasn’t about his gender, Yu Sui exhaled slightly—but confessions and kisses? No way…

“Don’t spout nonsense! As if!”

He yelled his rebuttal, diving back into the debate with viewers.

He Baiyan silently read the chat. He hadn’t expected Yu Sui to get dragged along again.

But speaking of kisses…

His gaze drifted to Yu Sui’s tightly pressed lips. Such a pretty shape.

[Does our captain wanna kiss his teammate’s mouth?]

[He Baiyan, you swallowing?]

Yu Sui was mid-argument when he saw those. He turned and locked eyes with the man’s deep gaze. He jolted. “You…”

That was a murderous look, plain as day! These people were delusional!

He Baiyan looked away, the tips of his ears turning red.

He pinched his fingertips, keeping his composure.

The other three returned, and He Baiyan and the two others stood.

Jiang Nianxing shot the captain a worried glance but figured Yu Sui hated guys so much that nothing would happen.

All three wore matching short-sleeved shirts. They sat on the sofa and announced the upcoming games to the audience.

Yu Sui trailed behind the man, his heart hammering.

“Um… I need the bathroom.” He figured he needed some mental prep.

He Baiyan nodded.

In the changing room, He Baiyan changed clothes, then pulled out the other two items. His expression shifted from evasive to inscrutable.

Yu Sui splashed cold water on his face. “Knowing when you’re doomed but unable to run—this feels like absolute torture.”

[I feel you,] the System replied with genuine emotion. [Too bad we’re just cannon fodder meant to stir trouble.]

Yu Sui pitied himself too. He rallied his spirits and looked up—his pupils shrank in shock.

He Baiyan stood behind him without a sound, holding the clothes.

“You…”

In that instant, He Baiyan looked like the grim reaper to Yu Sui.

“Yu Sui, what did you buy this for?” Seeing the young man’s fear, He Baiyan wanted to give him one last chance.

“What clothes? I don’t know what you’re talking about…” Yu Sui played dumb and tried to leave.

He Baiyan grabbed his arm. “This is erotic clothing.”

He showed the tag.

Yu Sui paused at the words.

Erotic? Wait, wasn’t it? Was this right?

“You bought the wrong thing, right?” He Baiyan clung to a sliver of hope amid his surprise.

He’d felt inexplicably uneasy knowing Yu Sui bought clothes for Shen Anliu, but that was better than this.

Yu Sui’s mind raced.

[Time to pull aggro,] the System reminded.

Yu Sui had no choice. He blinked innocently. “So what if I bought it?”

“Why did you swap clothes with Shen Anliu?” He Baiyan pressed, still trying to save him.

“Why else? To humiliate him, obviously!” Yu Sui didn’t hide his malice, narrowing his eyes.

He Baiyan’s heart went cold. His last hope vanished.

“Do you know what consequences this could bring?”

“Not my problem,” Yu Sui said carelessly.

“You…”

“I’m fine. I’m leaving.” Yu Sui yanked his wrist free, slamming his shoulder into the man. He Baiyan didn’t budge, but Yu Sui winced in pain.

“You think you can just walk away after this?” He Baiyan blocked him in three steps. “Since you didn’t think about the consequences, I’ll make you learn the hard way.”

Yu Sui’s body stiffened. Was this guy planning to force him into it?

It was even worse than the original plot.

He was truly too miserable.

He Baiyan dragged him into the stall.

In the tiny space, Yu Sui was forced to sit on the toilet.

The man held up that marked white T-shirt. “Change into this shirt, or I’ll tell the manager. You pick.”

Whether by the plot or the severity of the situation, Yu Sui could never let him snitch to the manager.

His face paled. “You… you…”

“Yu Sui, do you know you were wrong?” He Baiyan asked again. His attitude wasn’t aggressive, but his presence was intimidating.

Yu Sui was simply scared. How could he possibly admit he was in the wrong?

“I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Heh.” He Baiyan felt like a fool for wasting so much breath on him.

“Then change.”

“You…” Yu Sui sensed the man growing more dangerous by the second. He shrank back in fear. “Can you promise not to tell the manager?”

He was probing, testing the limits.

After all, this was He Baiyan’s sore spot.

Yet the man didn’t flare up in anger. “Depends on how you behave.”

“Despicable!” Yu Sui didn’t even stop to wonder how he’d sunk to this level.

He snatched the short-sleeved shirt and glared at the other man as he unbuttoned his own clothes.

He Baiyan’s initially detached gaze gradually shifted, taking on a different hue.

The young man had porcelain-pale skin, his pink nipples stark and impossible to ignore.

And he kept staring right at He Baiyan the whole time, his expression furious even as his actions showed compliance.

In the cramped confines of the stall, the intimacy of it all stirred the imagination.

It was just like a captain deliberately tormenting one of his team members to satisfy some twisted fetish—or else face the consequences.

The team member dared to seethe with anger but said nothing, yielding to the captain’s lewd authority.

He Baiyan’s breath hitched. His Adam’s apple bobbed as an inexplicable dryness settled in his throat.

Yu Sui draped his shirt over his lap and pulled on the short-sleeved top.

He felt utterly wretched and humiliated, but this was all the consequence of his own actions.

On the surface, it was just an ordinary short-sleeved shirt.

But He Baiyan saw through it immediately. The fabric was so sheer… and the cut…

“You promised,” Yu Sui said, his face full of reluctance. “Can I go now?”

“You were going to head to the livestream room in that?” He Baiyan snapped back to attention, his brows furrowing.

“Isn’t that exactly what you wanted? To humiliate me!” Yu Sui twisted the truth.

“Is that really how you see me?” He Baiyan couldn’t fathom why Yu Sui harbored such deep prejudice against him. He’d been indulging the guy all along.

“Then why make me change into this?” Yu Sui shot back.

“Because…”

Rip—

He Baiyan stepped forward, leaning in close to his ear. With his free hand, he tugged at a thread in the back collar.

The shirt on Yu Sui’s body burst open in an instant.

Not entirely, though. A few scraps of fabric still clung to him, making the sight even more tantalizing.

The hem was sewn tight and solid, but the back was completely hollowed out. Up front, there was only a narrow strip covering his chest—everything else laid bare.

The “cover” only drew more attention, teasing glimpses that begged the eye to linger.

Yu Sui stared in shock, dumbfounded.

He Baiyan straightened up, taking in the sight. A flush crept to the tips of his ears, but his eyes darkened. “What do you think people would make of you looking like that?”

Yu Sui finally snapped out of it. He glanced down at his clothes, his expression twisting in dismay.

He’d been so naive. He’d thought “exploding clothes” meant the shirt vanishing entirely, leaving him bare-chested.

For a straight guy like him, that wouldn’t have been so bad. But this design? It was pure seduction, way over the line.

People already suspected he was a bottom. If he showed up in something like this…

And then there were the ones calling him “wife”…

His face drained of all color.

“I… I…”

“Do you know you were wrong now?” He Baiyan asked.

[You’ve already embarrassed yourself once in the livestream room, fulfilling the face-slapping plot point. This task was mainly to advance the protagonist’s emotions, and you’ve done an excellent job. So no need to wear that shirt to the livestream.]

The system’s words were like music from the heavens.

Yu Sui nodded frantically. “I know I was wrong. I don’t want to wear it.”

He Baiyan reached out and ruffled his hair. Seeing the young man’s body go rigid yet not daring to pull away, his eyes narrowed. “Change into this shirt. We can’t keep them waiting forever.”

Yu Sui hurriedly stripped off the rags and pulled on the oversized white T-shirt. “You…”

Only then did he remember the man had brought two shirts.

“Something like this happening during a livestream would affect the whole team,” He Baiyan said righteously. “I won’t allow any member to get caught in that kind of scandal and tarnish the team’s reputation.”

Yu Sui’s body stiffened again. He parted his lips, but inwardly, he couldn’t help sighing. What a responsible captain. He might hate Yu Sui to the bone, itching for revenge in private, but for the sake of the team, he held back.

It was a pity. He was just scared now. He’d stir up trouble again later.