Chapter 35: The Beta Hated by Alphas Part 1

Hearing the System put it that way, Yu Sui found it made perfect sense.

He calmed down and gazed at Lu Jinxia’s earnest face, inwardly marveling at the young man’s acting skills.

But then he considered how they had relied on nothing but patience and pretense to reach this point at Star Sea Entertainment.

As for the protagonists scheming to use him, Yu Sui didn’t feel the slightest bit upset.

“Yu Sui, I’ll prove myself with actions,” Lu Jinxia said, his tone growing even firmer when he saw Yu Sui feigning ignorance.

Yu Sui said nothing.

Lu Jinxia’s eyes lit up. Sure enough, this was a test?

His heart pounded wildly. From here on out, he would give it everything he had.

He took Yu Sui’s luggage and escorted him up to his room.

Yu Sui considered Lu Jinxia’s motives but didn’t refuse.

At that moment, the program group’s Weibo was flooded with vitriol from fans of the two men’s CP pairing.

A staff member handed a stack of backchannel messages to the director.

The director raised an eyebrow.

This season was shaping up to be the one with the most drama by far. He had anticipated as much—no, the results were even better than he’d hoped.

His thoughts turned to the controversy’s linchpin, Yu Sui. The director had to admit that he’d badly underestimated the young man before.

According to Chen Qing, Yu Sui had sent in his own resume to Star Sea Entertainment.

Now it was clear: far from dooming himself, the young man was brilliantly sharp. He had public sentiment, online buzz, the show’s ratings, and even those Alphas perfectly in the palm of his hand.

“Don’t pay it any mind,” the director said, a shrewd glint in his eyes.

Yu Sui settled into his fourth-floor room, unpacked his things, and headed back downstairs.

The living room had fallen into silence once more.

Bai Jia felt humiliated for losing to He Baiyan. An Lu was still dwelling on that look from Shen Anliu. Zuo Meng stared down at the floor in thought.

No one else made any move to break the ice.

Rumors of infighting within the TYE Team were making the rounds yet again.

Footsteps echoed, drawing everyone’s gaze.

Yu Sui had changed into a gray hoodie and sweats set that made him look even more vibrant and boyish.

“What are you all up to?”

“Bro,” Shen Anliu said, his throat bobbing as he scooted over to make room beside him.

“Sui Sui!” Jiang Nianxing waved him over with infectious enthusiasm.

He had the rules figured out by now: it was all about the competition—who fought and scrapped the hardest would win Yu Sui’s attention.

Just like betting on fighting crickets; only the victor got any notice.

“Yu Sui,” Lu Jinxia said, staring at him with open anticipation.

Seeing his teammates suddenly so proactive, He Baiyan frowned faintly. What had gotten into them…?

His eyes shifted to Yu Sui.

The other man betrayed no surprise. Was this all part of his plan?

He Baiyan racked his brain over recent events, his fingers clenching tight.

The calculated distance and aloofness had sowed unease among his teammates. Then came the occasional carrot, stirring up just enough flirtation to make them jealous and compete for him.

This Beta was anything but ordinary. He Baiyan’s interest was piqued more than ever.

Watching their antics, Yu Sui thought to himself that these guys were trying way too hard.

He waved them off and settled into a single armchair off to the side.

His neutral move sparked different reactions from the trio.

He Baiyan’s pupils contracted sharply. He’d picked Shen Anliu last time, and now no one at all—because He Baiyan himself hadn’t extended an invitation?

Had the previous snub been a test to see if he’d hold firm?

Had his own actions let Yu Sui down?

He kept a calm facade, but regret gnawed at him inside. No, he couldn’t just sit there anymore.

With everyone gathered, the director spoke up. “Next up, we’re playing name tag ripping.”

“This one’s every man for himself.”

“The whole villa is the play area,” the director said, scanning the group. “No pheromones. No rough stuff.”

Huo Tian curled his lip.

“You can team up if you want, but feel free to stab each other in the back anytime. Remember, it’s every man for himself.”

Staffers arrived with fresh clothes and gestured for them to go change.

They returned to their rooms, swapping into athletic gear and knee pads.

Back in the living room, the staff pasted name tags onto their backs.

Once everything was set, they were blindfolded and led off to scattered spots around the villa.

Lu Jinxia sensed that the person guiding him was a Beta, which eased his discomfort considerably.

A half hour later, the director’s voice announced over the speakers: game on.

Yu Sui yanked off his blindfold to find himself crouched behind a tree. He glanced warily left and right before creeping forward.

With all the others being Alphas, he figured his odds of winning were basically zilch. Best to play it safe by hiding out.

[Host, incoming task.]

“What?” Yu Sui halted in his tracks. “A task now? Out of nowhere?”

[We’ve been idle too long, so the higher-ups are cracking the whip…] The System muttered under its breath. [They said no time limit, but you can’t trust the bosses.]

Yu Sui got it completely—like when Chen Qing had told them to “think it over,” only for there to be no real choice in the matter.

“What’s the task?”

[Lock He Baiyan in the storage closet.] The System paused analytically. [Maybe because he hasn’t tried using you? Time to nudge him.]

“They must really hate my guts,” Yu Sui said, freezing again with a sour look on his face.

[Cannon Fodder don’t get rights.] The System sighed. [I’d kill to be a protagonist system instead.]

Yu Sui shook his head furiously at the thought of this world’s protagonists. “Nah, cannon fodder suits me just fine.”

Following the System’s directions, Yu Sui set off toward He Baiyan’s location.

Meanwhile, fierce skirmishes were breaking out elsewhere.

Huo Tian opted to go lone wolf, prowling at random until he spotted the distracted An Lu.

He charged before the guy could react and ripped off his name tag.

“Weakling,” Huo Tian sneered, flinging the tag aside as he moved on.

An Lu’s face twisted in humiliation. He trailed after the staffer taking him out of the game.

He’d had the bad luck to run into Shen Anliu just before, and that guy’s piercing stare had rattled him. In the end, Shen Anliu had walked off without a word.

But the guilt had left An Lu too jittery to focus.

The elimination announcement for An Lu blared across the villa.

Yu Sui paused at the sound. Hadn’t the game just started?

After some twists and turns, he made it to the Wing Building.

The intel was fuzzy from there; he’d have to track He Baiyan down himself.

Staying on high alert—last thing he needed was to get tagged before finishing the task—Yu Sui crept up to the second floor and eyed the doors.

He eased one open and peered inside. Empty. He started to turn away.

But someone clapped a hand over his mouth and nose, yanking him bodily into the room.

Yu Sui’s hairs stood on end in sheer terror.

The door clicked shut. His captor pinned him close and murmured, “Sui Sui.”

Jiang Nianxing’s voice.

Yu Sui went rigid, then began to struggle.

The young man released him bit by bit. “What a coincidence, huh?”

Yu Sui whirled on him with a furious glare. “What the hell was that?”

“Sorry—I didn’t mean to scare you.” Jiang Nianxing apologized with utter sincerity. “I was afraid of drawing a crowd, so…”

“People scare people to death!” Yu Sui snapped through gritted teeth. The task had nothing to do with Jiang Nianxing; he had zero interest in lingering.

He stood and headed for the door.

Seeing not a shred of hesitation in him, something flickered in Jiang Nianxing’s eyes. “Doesn’t Sui Sui feel anything for me at all?”

“What would I feel for you?” Yu Sui shot back, his tone icy. That scare had him flashing back to horror thrillers.

“Not even a little?” Jiang Nianxing pressed, unwilling to let it go.

“Nothing.” Yu Sui reached for the doorknob.

Jiang Nianxing’s fingers snagged the edge of the name tag on Yu Sui’s back. “Sui Sui, your tag…”

Yu Sui went stock-still. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“You came on to me first—added me, flirted hard—then ditched me cold and cozied up to the others.” Bitterness crept into Jiang Nianxing’s voice. “Did you kiss Shen Anliu?”

“None of your damn business!” Yu Sui couldn’t tell if this was jealousy from a change of heart or something uglier.

Jiang Nianxing’s heart stung at the callous reply. “Sui Sui, you’re so ruthless.”

His grip tightened on the tag, his gaze darkening.

[Host, task’s not done—you can’t get ripped yet,] the System warned.

Yu Sui tensed up. “Jiang Nianxing, cool it. Aren’t we teammates? You can’t rip mine.”

At those words, Jiang Nianxing frowned. “You had me post those pics, called me baby… and now we’re ‘just teammates’?”

No doubt about it—the earlier humiliation still stung, and now he wanted payback.

Yu Sui’s stomach knotted with nerves. “We can talk this out. Rip me and it’ll fuel rumors of TYE infighting. Bad look for you.”

“You care about me?” Jiang Nianxing blinked, his imagination already running wild again.

“Yeah, yeah.” Yu Sui wasn’t about to contradict him.

“If Sui Sui kisses me just once…” Jiang Nianxing pushed his luck. Deep down, he refused to believe Yu Sui felt nothing; it was all a game of hot and cold, keeping him hooked and hating it.

Yu Sui’s expression turned awkward. “You…”

[Classic case of sour grapes,] the System guessed. [Alphas and their egos—even if the feelings are gone, they have to claim it.]

“So twisted,” Yu Sui muttered. The guy was staring him down, but Yu Sui figured it was just pride at stake. A kiss might satisfy that… only for him to backpedal later.

“You… close your eyes,” Yu Sui said to himself, I’ve really fallen low.

Jiang Nianxing’s eyes sparkled. He’d bet right after all.

Forceful worked better on Yu Sui.

He shut his eyes and even puckered up.

Yu Sui’s eyelid twitched. He leaned in and planted a quick peck on the guy’s cheek.

“There. Done.”

Jiang Nianxing felt the warm spot on his cheek, his pulse racing. But the deep, eager kiss he’d been waiting for… never came.

Hearing Yu Sui’s words, Jiang Nianxing opened his eyes, a surge of unwillingness rising in his chest. “Why won’t you kiss me on the mouth?”

He was so intimate with Shen Anliu—did that mean Jiang Nianxing wasn’t worthy?

“What… what are you talking about?” Yu Sui frowned.

“You can do it with Shen Anliu, so why not me?” Jiang Nianxing demanded.

“I…” Yu Sui watched him press closer step by step, panic stirring in his heart.

This wasn’t right. He…

[As expected, Alphas have such intense competitive streaks.] The System sighed.