Chapter 42: The Alpha-Hating Beta Part 1

Hearing this, the two of them gazed at him with confusion.

Yu Sui’s face twisted in anguish. “Get out, both of you!”

At this point, he couldn’t bring himself to care about anything else.

With that, Yu Sui strode into the bathroom.

After locking the door behind him, he flicked on the light.

When he caught sight of his reflection in the mirror, Yu Sui desperately wanted to smash the glass in a fit of rage and vent his fury—but he was afraid it would hurt.

[Host, you… how did this… ] The System sounded shocked. [Why is your face covered in mosaics?]

Yu Sui choked up. “System, I… I…”

He tried to explain, his voice dry and hoarse.

[Hiss.] The System was astonished. [Why do I get the feeling the protagonists’ relationship is deteriorating?]

“Do I need a feeling for that?” Yu Sui ground out through clenched teeth.

[No, what I mean is, they shifted from the original plot’s mutual admiration arc to this current love-hate rivalry.] The System clarified. [Rival enemies forced together by some mishap, tumbling into bed—now that’s got some real spice.]

“And what about me?” Yu Sui felt a pang in his chest.

[You’re the root of their rivalry. Once you lose your value, they’ll patch things up naturally.] The System laid out the brutal truth. [That’s the fate of cannon fodder…]

“Is that even the point? I mean, Shen Anliu’s behavior toward me… And isn’t he supposed to be the bottom?” Yu Sui struggled to process it.

Not only had he bent over backward for no reason, but he’d been kissed too…

[Alphas are proud by nature; he doesn’t think you can conquer him.] The System analyzed. [It just proves his interest in you isn’t genuine—it’s only because no one else could step up…]

“Nice excuse for ‘couldn’t,'” Yu Sui spat, on the verge of spitting blood.

[He’s a total newbie, after all—no fame, no fans. He only blew up by latching onto you.] The System pointed out.

“So he’s repaying kindness with betrayal?” Yu Sui muttered as he cupped handfuls of cold water to splash on his face.

[The protagonists of this world aren’t exactly paragons of kindness and virtue, huh.]

Perfect. It all looped back neatly.

Though the cannon fodder he was playing wasn’t one either.

“But my…” Yu Sui shuddered with lingering fear.

[I can’t help you with that one.] The System’s tone carried a hint of guilt. [You don’t seem to hate it all that much, so how about…]

“What are you even talking about?” Yu Sui cut it off sharply. “No. I need to finish the mission fast and get out of this nightmare!”

He refused to believe his orientation, fixed for over twenty years, could flip just like that. It had to be this world’s doing.

As soon as Shen Anliu saw Yu Sui head into the bathroom, he started to follow—but Jiang Nianxing spoke up. “Let’s talk.”

Hearing this, Shen Anliu halted mid-step. He turned to Jiang Nianxing. “What’s there to talk about?”

“You’re not the only one eyeing Sui Sui.” Jiang Nianxing said coolly. “What are your odds, you figure?”

“What are you getting at?”

“If we tear each other apart, someone else profits.” He continued. “Take He Baiyan, for instance—the scheming one with all the hidden depths.”

Shen Anliu recalled how He Baiyan kept a low profile while raking in the gains, and he frowned faintly. “So what?”

“Who do you think Sui Sui likes most right now?” Jiang Nianxing pressed.

At those words, Shen Anliu sank into thought.

Why was someone like Jiang Nianxing approaching him for a chat? It suggested Sui Sui didn’t favor the young man much—no real edge there. Teaming up with him, though…

Did Sui Sui like him the most?

But…

His own selfish desires—he didn’t deserve them.

If the truth came out, would Sui Sui feel hurt? Heartbroken? Utterly crushed?

He couldn’t afford to be that selfish.

“What’s your proposal?” Shen Anliu asked.

“Peaceful coexistence.” Jiang Nianxing replied. “Keep outsiders out, if we can.”

“Agreed.” Shen Anliu nodded.

They had forged a tentative alliance.

Jiang Nianxing averted his gaze, unwilling to look at Shen Anliu’s split lip or the mess across his face.

Jealousy burned fiercely inside him. But Sui Sui didn’t seem to care for him much; in a fair fight, he had no advantage. Better to secure an ally.

Yu Sui lingered in the bathroom for quite a while before emerging.

Jiang Nianxing sat on the sofa with his head lowered in silence.

Shen Anliu’s eyes lit up the moment he spotted Yu Sui. “Bro…”

Only then did Yu Sui notice his own face, mortification flooding through him. “Go wash your face—now.”

“Mm.” Shen Anliu headed into the bathroom.

Jiang Nianxing eyed Yu Sui. “Sui Sui, you’re playing favorites.”

He said nothing more, clearly letting Shen Anliu off the hook. Maybe it was true—he’d interrupted, and that’s what soured things.

Yu Sui stiffened at the resentment in his voice.

“Are you upset I showed up out of nowhere?” Jiang Nianxing pursued, studying Yu Sui closely.

How could Yu Sui blame him? If anything, he wished the man had arrived sooner.

He stayed silent.

Jiang Nianxing’s eyes gleamed. Perhaps Sui Sui wasn’t entirely indifferent to him after all—just slotted him third in line or something.

Knock knock knock.

A knock echoed from the door.

Yu Sui’s eyes darted guiltily.

Jiang Nianxing approached. “Who is it?”

“The cameras are off—what’s going on in there?” a staff member called.

“Everything’s fine.” Jiang Nianxing replied.

The staffer had come equipped with gear.

Viewers picked up Jiang Nianxing’s voice from inside the room, and their imaginations went into overdrive.

[Xiao Jiang’s in there too?]

[Threesome?]

[Wait… isn’t that door lock busted?]

[Can’t the staff go in?]

[The knock might be code for whoever’s inside.]

[This is getting way too steamy.]

Jiang Nianxing glanced toward the sofa before stepping over to deal with it.

Yu Sui sat off to the side, biting his lip in shame as he inwardly cursed Shen Anliu.

Shen Anliu emerged, his lips a vivid red and his hair slightly damp.

“Bro…”

“Let’s move—staff’s prompting us.” Yu Sui interrupted.

They opened the door, and the cameras thrust forward.

Yu Sui instinctively ducked his head.

Combined with the flush at his eye corners, this sparked a frenzy of speculation among viewers.

[No way—a threesome?]

[What happened to Xiao Shen’s mouth?]

[No pheromones released?]

[Sui Sui’s got an iron constitution.]

[As expected of a 4S alpha.]

That last line flooded the screen.

The three of them returned to the villa together. Little conversation passed on the road, the atmosphere thick with awkwardness.

Once out of the car, Yu Sui hurried inside. He needed a shower and fresh clothes.

The move only solidified viewers’ suspicions.

Shen Anliu cleared his throat lightly and headed to his room to change.

By the time everyone gathered, Yu Sui descended from upstairs.

He was bundled up even more securely—kiss marks dotted his neck too.

He Baiyan took one look at his face and concluded he’d been making out again.

The others didn’t dwell on it.

Lin Xiaoyi was thoroughly pleased with how things had unfolded.

The director first congratulated them on completing the task, then gestured for them to watch highlight clips from the big screen.

It started with the longest attempts, one after another, culminating in Yu Sui and his partner’s.

The romantic ambiance, matching outfits, and cheers from CP fans left the others green with envy.

No surprise—they took first place.

“Congratulations on claiming first!”

Lin Xiaoyi applauded with genuine delight on their behalf.

Yu Sui’s eyelid twitched. Could the man fake it just a little?

“First place gets to pick tomorrow’s teammate—but no mutual picks.” The director announced.

Shen Anliu’s pleased smile evaporated at the words.

He Baiyan and the rest made no effort to hide their satisfaction.

Their plastic brotherhood was officially confirmed.

“This round’s a compatibility test.”

The director directed them one by one to the backyard bungalows for selections.

Jiang Nianxing went first. He found the rooms revamped into soundproof chambers, each door labeled with a music genre.

Rock. Ballad. Folk. And so on…

He paused at each doorway, pondering which Yu Sui might choose.

Rock was an easy pass…

In the end, he made his way to one particular room.

Meanwhile, Yu Sui and Shen Anliu were called aside separately for confidential picks.

Once everyone had chosen, they gathered in the backyard holding wooden plaques.

No duplicates allowed, since partners couldn’t team up.

Yu Sui had gone with ballad—the others struck him as tougher.

“Bro, what a shame.” Shen Anliu wore a look of regret, his voice a bit raspy.

Yu Sui’s ears turned pink. “Don’t talk.”

[His throat sounds off too.]

[One line and Sui Sui’s blushing—not bad.]

[I have my suspicions about them…]

[Uh-huh…]

They headed to the bungalows amid a barrage of hype.

[Production team’s pure evil.]

[They all know Sui Sui inside out, so they shuffled the plaques.]

[Who’s the lucky one grouping with Sui Sui?]

Yu Sui spotted the ballad room and pushed the door open.

Four figures stood inside: Lu Jinxia, Jiang Nianxing, Huo Tian, and An Lu.

He froze. So many people.

“Eh?” An Lu arched a brow, surprised to see him enter.

“The plaques got swapped.” Lu Jinxia stated with certainty—Huo Tian would never pick ballad.

And so the five of them formed a group.

Stepping out, they surveyed the rest.

He Baiyan solo. Shen Anliu solo. The others in their clusters.

“Never saw this grouping coming.” The director’s voice boomed over the speakers. “Tomorrow, we’ll leave the villa behind for a bit and head to the picturesque countryside to chase some inspiration.”

“Using your chosen style, craft a song about village life.”

Their room had hung under ballad, so theirs would be a ballad.

Huo Tian exchanged a glance with An Lu. They both felt that their opportunity had finally arrived.

Yu Sui began to worry. This time, he had to compose the music all by himself, and he had no talent for it.

Jiang Nianxing was thrilled to be grouped with him. He eagerly shared his techniques, and Lu Jinxia, unwilling to be left out, jumped in as well.

The atmosphere was surprisingly harmonious.

Yu Sui threw himself into it too, and for the first time, the program’s guests were getting along so cheerfully.

The events of the day had given Yu Sui quite a shock, though.

After washing up, he turned in early to rest.

Knock knock knock—

The knocking was accompanied by the ding of a phone notification.

Yu Sui frowned. Who was disturbing his rest now?

He picked up his phone and saw a message from He Baiyan. The man said he was standing right outside his door.

It was him again!

This kind of plot worked once, but twice? The audience would get bored.

He didn’t want to reply.

[WeChat] He Baiyan: I’ll wait for you to open the door. If you don’t, I won’t leave.

Damn it! He was threatening him!

With a dark expression, Yu Sui opened the door. “What do you want this time?”

“To talk about what happened with you all today.” He Baiyan’s gaze fixed on his neck, his eyes darkening.

Yu Sui’s face grew even uglier at the mention of it. “Get lost!”

He didn’t care if anyone overheard.

He Baiyan didn’t budge. “Sui Sui, why can’t it be me?”