Chapter 38: The Beta Who Hates Alphas Part 1

Jiang Nianxing was the first to react. He shot to his feet. “I disagree!”

He stared at Yu Sui, who had once again stepped up for Lu Jinxia.

Why? On what basis?

Lu Jinxia gazed at Yu Sui, his eyes shining brighter than ever, a flush blooming across his cheeks and lending some color to his face.

The chatter around him faded into a dull murmur; all he could hear was the pounding of his own heart.

Warmth bloomed in his chest, spreading gradually through his body until his hands and feet were no longer icy cold.

“Yu… Yu Sui…”

His voice shook, laced with a hint of a sob.

Zuo Meng frowned. “If high popularity lets you rewrite the rules whenever you want, then what’s the point of this show? What’s the meaning in winning at all?”

He locked eyes with Yu Sui, his earlier warmth gone.

With no expression on his face, just staring like that, it left an uncomfortable chill in the air.

Yu Sui, slowed by his pounding headache, responded flatly, “What do you think, Director?”

Sweat poured down the director’s face. He hadn’t expected the guests to turn the tables on him like this.

If they let the rules bend for anyone with a good excuse, every team would weasel out. It might make for good TV, but it would turn into total chaos.

The director glanced at Huo Tian. “That depends on what the winners decide.”

In other words, pass the buck.

Huo Tian understood perfectly, but he wasn’t the least bit fazed. “You two are stuck together.”

A wicked grin spread across his face as he jabbed a finger at Yu Sui and Jiang Nianxing.

The former arched an eyebrow; the latter flashed him a smile warmer than any they’d shared before.

Huo Tian shivered. Something told him they were scheming.

He turned to Zuo Meng and the others. “Even you’ve got your comeuppance today, Lu Jinxia.”

No way were they switching teams now. If his old teammates were pissed, all the better for him.

Yu Sui’s brow furrowed as he shot Lu Jinxia an apologetic look.

Lu Jinxia shook his head and gave him a small smile in return.

The effort hadn’t panned out, but Lu Jinxia felt a surge of energy all the same.

That incident had haunted him like a shadow, compounded by his parents’ refusal to act.

They’d known it was Zuo Meng, but to protect their image and reputation, they’d told Lu Jinxia, “It must’ve been those people leading your brother astray. You’re fine now, Jinxia—don’t make things hard for us, okay?”

No one had stood up for him.

If he hadn’t kept his wits about him, if not for…

His parents had always seemed to adore him so much, yet in that moment…

Later, Zuo Meng had strong-armed him into Star Sea Entertainment. Had his family truly been in the dark?

Lu Jinxia hadn’t spiraled into despair. His life was already a mess; one place was as bad as another.

Then tragedy had struck his family, leaving Lu Jinxia with a tangle of complicated emotions he couldn’t quite name.

Deep down, his fear of Zuo Meng outweighed any hatred; that’s why he’d always dodged a confrontation.

But now, Yu Sui’s words had chased away the gloom.

He wasn’t alone anymore. With his current standing, he had no reason to fear Zuo Meng.

Lu Jinxia looked at Yu Sui, the corners of his mouth lifting. “Thank you, Yu Sui.”

Yu Sui blinked in surprise and shook his head. He hadn’t actually done much.

Zuo Meng’s frown deepened. Something had changed in Lu Jinxia.

“No objections to the teams? Then I’ll announce the game for today.” The director swept his gaze around the group. “You’ll pair up to write a love song and shoot an interactive music video.”

TYE’s members immediately zeroed in on Jiang Nianxing. They strongly suspected he’d greased some palms.

Jiang Nianxing glanced at Yu Sui, his initial excitement dimmed. After all, Yu Sui had just tried to ditch him.

The youth’s face remained impassive, leaving Jiang Nianxing on edge. His own expression turned serious.

Huo Tian smirked at Jiang Nianxing’s sour look, relishing the schadenfreude. Teaming up with someone you despised to croon a love song? That had to sting.

“Here’s the setup.” The director gestured to the large screen.

Several photos popped up: an amusement park, a coffee shop, and more—clearly the filming locations ahead.

“First, a quick game. The winning pair gets to assign the scenes.” The director continued, “The three-legged race. You all know how it works.”

Jiang Nianxing sidled up to Yu Sui. “Sui Sui, I’ll give it my all.”

Yu Sui nodded. Of all those spots, the haunted house was the last place he wanted to go.

And how did any of this tie into a love song?

He Baiyan and Bai Jia skipped any discussion. He Baiyan looked toward Yu Sui, his eyes dimming.

He knew the youth’s heart was crowded with others, but watching him banter with someone else still twisted something sour inside him.

He Baiyan pinched the bridge of his nose, willing the thoughts away.

Bai Jia stayed quiet, but seeing that expression made him chuckle inwardly. Even he had moments like this.

An Lu eyed the scenes and perked up his ears, catching Yu Sui’s aversion to the haunted house.

His eyes narrowed as he sidled over to his teammate Huo Tian. “How about we make sure they end up in the haunted house?”

Huo Tian had been thinking the same. “Works for me.”

The two plotted shamelessly, grins wide and unhidden.

Zuo Meng was still puzzling over Lu Jinxia’s weird vibe and made no move to chat. Lu Jinxia had nothing to say to him either.

Shen Anliu and his partner huddled, scheming how to snag first place—anything to keep Yu Sui’s duo out of the haunted house.

A spot like that was prime for sparking some heart-fluttering moments.

Clearly, songwriting was the last thing on anyone’s mind.

The group headed to the grassy lawn in the backyard.

The staff bound their legs together with ropes.

Body contact was inevitable.

Yu Sui instinctively glanced at Lu Jinxia.

Lu Jinxia met his eyes and offered a reassuring smile.

His body stayed rigid, discomfort gnawing at him along with dizziness and blurred vision, but he bit his tongue to keep steady.

Zuo Meng might lean in disgustingly on purpose other times, but now with their arms brushing, even his face soured.

He truly loathed this brother.

They eyed each other with mutual disdain before silently turning away, not a word between them.

Things weren’t friendly between He Baiyan and Bai Jia either.

The former scowled, lips pressed thin. The latter murmured low, “Bro, Yu Sui looks pretty happy teaming with someone else. Guess you don’t hold much place in his heart after all.”

“He Baiyan, looks like you’ve got your comeuppance today.”

Bai Jia’s laughter bubbled up cheerfully.

Jiang Nianxing slung an arm around Yu Sui’s shoulders. His face burned, heart racing, heedless of the murderous glares around them. With his ear tips flaming red, he leaned in close. “Sui Sui, let’s go for first place.”

Yu Sui felt the hot breath against his ear and frowned, touching his own earlobe. “Don’t get so close.”

“Got it.” Jiang Nianxing straightened up, his eyes burning with determination.

To him, every scene screamed perfect date spot. They were basically going on a date—he had to make it count.

The staff whistle blew, and they were off.

Jiang Nianxing practically carried them forward.

Yu Sui’s face darkened with embarrassment.

Bai Jia dragged his feet on purpose, sabotaging them, while Shen Anliu pushed ahead with effort.

Meanwhile, Lu Jinxia and Zuo Meng stood frozen at the starting line, neither making a move.

Three pairs surged forward.

Huo Tian and An Lu moved with eerie synchronicity.

As they overtook Shen Anliu’s duo, they shoved without mercy, then charged straight for Yu Sui and Jiang Nianxing.

Shen Anliu’s pair hadn’t seen it coming. Caught off guard, they tumbled hard.

No real harm done, but scrambling back up left them way behind, victory out of reach.

Yu Sui heard the commotion and twisted to look, his expression turning grim. “Pick up the pace.”

Those two played dirty; the last thing he wanted was a collision.

“Yeah.” Jiang Nianxing’s face hardened as he refocused on the race.

Their coordination sharpened.

Seeing he couldn’t catch up, Huo Tian narrowed his eyes and unleashed his pheromones without a second thought.

No one saw that cheap trick coming.

Jiang Nianxing’s head throbbed, his steps faltering.

“You okay?” Yu Sui eyed the sweat beading on his forehead, concern deepening.

Jiang Nianxing shook it off and glared at the approaching Huo Tian. “That’s cheating!”

“The rules never said no pheromones.” Huo Tian crowed smugly.

The production crew froze. Rookie mistake.

“Bye-bye, Brother Jiang.” An Lu’s lips curved as he lashed out with his free leg.

Jiang Nianxing’s mind fogged, but he pressed on without releasing his own pheromones in retaliation.

He knew this was live TV. Squaring off with a lowlife like Huo Tian would only drag him down, and even in defeat, the internet would sympathize.

Besides…

A sidelong glance at the worried Yu Sui. Besides, the youth had a soft spot for shielding “vulnerable” teammates.

Lost in the thought, he missed the outstretched leg.

As they toppled, Jiang Nianxing swiftly twisted, pulling Yu Sui onto him as a shield—taking the full brunt himself.

“Hiss…”

He hit the grass hard, Yu Sui landing atop him.

Their bound legs tangled, thighs pressed thigh to thigh, chests flush against each other, clothes rumpling together in a tangle of extreme intimacy.

And…

Jiang Nianxing’s eyes widened. He felt moisture on his cheek—Yu Sui’s lips.

His ear tips exploded in red, pulse skyrocketing.

Yu Sui grimaced. He hadn’t taken the worst of the fall, but it still hurt like hell.

And…

He struggled to rise, but with their legs tied, all he managed was cheek to cheek.

[Holy shit!]

[An Lu, you legend!]

[Sure that’s not an assist?]

[They kissed! They kissed!]

[Heh, nice one!]

[That position… cough cough…]

Seeing this, He Baiyan untied the rope, brow furrowed as he strode over. He freed them and helped Yu Sui to his feet.

His arm wrapped possessively around the youth’s waist until he was steady, only then loosening his grip slowly. “You okay?”

Yu Sui shook his head, his gaze turning toward the two who had reached the finish line and were waving provocatively. “Them…”

He was seething inside.

Yet the production team didn’t intervene. Clearly, this kind of drama was fair game for the show’s effect.

He Baiyan helped straighten his hair, completely ignoring their other dazed teammate sprawled on the ground.

[No way… not this scene.]

[The captain can’t sit still anymore; time to stake his claim.]

[Xiao Jiang, you’re such a disappointment.]

[Still lying there while his wife gets all sweet with someone else!]

[Why is everyone else so useless?]

[Xiao Shen, your bro’s about to get stolen!]