Mistakenly Marking My Alpha Rival - Chapter 3

When Xing Xun came knocking, Dai Siyun was in the garden feeding the fish, dressed in loungewear. A slight lack of sleep didn’t interfere with his tight schedule of home tutoring, it only lent him a somewhat lazy and cool air.

 

“Is something wrong?”

 

Dai Siyun stood up with his back turned, not even bothering to look up, appearing completely uninterested in anything.

 

“Stop acting with me,” Xing Xun said, clapping him on the shoulder as they walked into the house, his voice dropped low. “Did you really not see the screenshot I sent you?”

 

Dai Siyun feigned indifference. “I didn’t have time to look.”

 

 

Xing Xun abruptly pulled his phone from his hoodie pocket and shoved it over. The screen displayed a viral post from a social media app, all because a trendy brand’s store was using a handsome clerk for online marketing.

 

Xing Xun summarized, “Fake business wars involve illegal, deadly schemes. Real business wars? Selling sex appeal is priority number one.”

 

Dai Siyun seemed to let out a soft chuckle, his gaze fixing on the Alpha youth on the screen. He was wearing a flannel shirt and denim overalls, a classic American shop clerk look. Under a bright filter, his skin looked translucent, smooth, and radiant.

 

His gaze lingered on that face for a long time. Xing Xun, however, didn’t notice his friend’s stare and tutted. “Business at Pearl Bay is booming even during the off-season. Usually, you don’t see a soul in the souvenir shops, but because Fu Chen started working there, people are going every day just to check in.”

 

“Did you see? The post’s popularity is insane, tens of thousands of likes, shares, and comments.”

 

Dai Siyun narrowed his eyes. “I see.”

 

Xing Xun suggested, “Why don’t we go join the fun?”

 

To his surprise, Dai Siyun flatly refused. He headed up the stairs, looking like someone who couldn’t care less about the outside world. Xing Xun hung onto his arm like an accessory, shaking him and pestering him relentlessly until Dai Siyun finally asked what they were going for.

 

Xing Xun explained, “The shop has a check-in lottery event lately. If you spend over five figures, you get a draw. I heard the prize is a one-day date voucher, where you can pick any staff member to be your date.”

 

“I was thinking”

 

“Young Master Dai could go on a date with his rival and feel him out.”

 

Dai Siyun, “…”

 

That was completely backwards.

 

---

 

Meanwhile, Fu Chen, who had no idea he was being viewed as a love rival, headed to the locker room to change into his work uniform before ducking into the breakroom to wolf down his food. He ate his boxed meal of two meats and two vegetables with more gusto than if it were a gourmet feast.

 

“Brother Chen, slow down…”

 

A blue-haired Omega had changed back into casual clothes. He was cute, with soft, chubby cheeks, and spoke in a very gentle voice. “How about I order some milk tea for you?”

 

Fu Chen sat on a small stool, his eyes focused entirely on his balanced meal. After declining, he asked, “Why would you order milk tea for me?”

 

“You, you didn’t seem to be in a very good mood the other day.”

 

The blue-haired Omega stood behind him, the tips of his ears turning slightly red as he spoke cautiously. “If you have any worries, you can tell me.”

 

Fu Chen, “…”

 

Even the doctors were useless against this inexplicable illness of his, there was no point in troubling a little Omega with it.

 

Fu Chen didn’t want to say much, but he maintained a polite attitude, explaining that there had just been some communication issues between him and his coach and it was nothing serious.

 

The blue-haired Omega wasn’t dense. He knew he wasn’t the other’s type. An Alpha like Fu Chen, whose face, body, and personality were all flawless, never lacked for Omegas confessing to him.

 

“Then, I’ll head off work first, Brother Chen. Don’t be mad at the coach, bye.”

 

Fu Chen was busy chewing. When he looked up, the red-faced Omega was turning to leave, looking as if he’d been wronged. Not understanding why, Fu Chen forgot to swallow his food, looking a bit stiff and dazed.

 

Whatever…

 

Fu Chen didn’t have time to think about other things. He almost forgot to clock in for his shift. He pulled out his battered phone and tapped at it. The system was lagging and the touchscreen was unresponsive. By the time he managed to clock in with great effort, his patience was gone.

 

He was truly destitute. If he didn’t work hard to make money, he’d be left with nothing. He quickly finished his meal, wiped his mouth, fished some mouthwash out of his bag, and straightened his clothes. The broke puppy was ready to face the storm and start his shift.

 

Of course—

 

The so-called “storm” was the crowd of Omegas packing the shop.

 

From the start of the afternoon shift, Fu Chen’s semi-permanent smile stayed in place as he moved through the crowded store. He introduced racing models, handled the register in the trendy clothing section, and guided customers through the lottery event.

 

Many people who came specifically for him were his racing fans. Even if they acted like regular customers and refrained from being too disruptive, they still multiplied the staff’s workload several times over.

 

“Wow.”

 

Xing Xun pushed open the glass door and marveled, saying to Dai Siyun, who was half a step behind him, “A natural-born worker, a smile-service type Alpha. Who wouldn’t love him?”

 

Dai Siyun didn’t respond.

 

The shop had two floors, filled with trendy customers who drew a lot of attention. But his gaze drifted elsewhere, seemingly only able to see the Alpha at the checkout counter, who had his head lowered as he spoke patiently to a customer.

 

Perhaps it was the reddish-brown hair that stood out so much under the fluorescent lights that he noticed Fu Chen instantly.

 

Dai Siyun walked inside. His exceptionally superior height caused those around him to marvel secretly. Eyes met, people pulled out phones to sneak photos of the handsome guy, and one Omega even worked up the courage to ask for his contact information.

 

The small commotion over there caught the attention of the checkout counter.

 

Fu Chen handed over a receipt, nodding with a polite smile. Once the customer moved out of the checkout area, he followed the sound. His narrow eyes flickered with a sudden tremor as he spotted that Alpha.

 

That…

 

The Alpha youth he had encountered at the store entrance a few days ago.

 

His mind felt like a whirlwind as he quickly filtered through the events of the past few days.

 

Explaining to Zhu Yingtian why he would be so busy before school started, going to the hospital’s Pheromone Department for a follow-up, informing them that the smell of Alphas had eased his symptoms, and then receiving a pensive question from the doctor: “Is it the scent of pheromones?”

 

At that time, Fu Chen had been stunned. He shook his head and said, “Probably not. Maybe it was perfume?”

 

The doctor sighed. “Do you usually skip school? If walking on the street and smelling an Alpha’s pheromones helps alleviate your condition, you must tell me the truth.”

 

“I will.”

 

Fu Chen found it a bit difficult to talk about. He said, “I’m a student athlete, I just need to pass my classes. But right now…”

 

The current situation was too complicated.

 

His thoughts were tangled in his chest. He thought his life was finally getting back on track, but then everything changed again. Fu Chen felt a bit suffocated. After a moment to compose himself, a customer appeared at the counter. He put on his customary smile and looked at the somewhat familiar Alpha in a loose casual hoodie, though he couldn’t recall where exactly he had seen him before.

 

Fu Chen’s expression didn’t change subtly, he just had to smile. He took the shopping basket full of clothes and asked, “Is this everything?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Xing Xun pushed a card forward. His gaze wasn’t overly intentional, but it held a slight air of scrutiny. “Where do I do the lottery?”

 

The other’s tone was flat, even cold. But the fact that he was actively asking about the “One-Day Date with a Staff Member” lottery made it hard for Fu Chen not to find it strange.

 

He looked directly at him, about to explain, when he saw the tall Alpha in the black trench coat walking over.

 

Dai Siyun had his arms crossed. His eyes, beneath his dark bangs, focused their cold, temperature-less gaze right in front of him. The red-haired Alpha boy was visibly stunned, an expression of surprise on his face as he stared at him without blinking.

 

Xing Xun, caught between the two, felt redundant and moved out of the way, allowing Fu Chen to clearly grasp exactly where the tension was coming from.

 

These two Alphas probably knew each other…

 

Could they be coming for him? Their motive didn’t seem simple, but it didn’t look like they were just looking for trouble either. What other reason could there be?

 

Meanwhile, seeing the Alpha looking like he was dazed in thought, Dai Siyun remained silent as well, waiting in place. After a couple of seconds, a customer waiting behind them to check out couldn’t help but peer over. “Excuse me, have you finished paying?”

 

 

Fu Chen looked over abruptly and instinctively said, “Sorry.” Then, with smooth motions, he processed the payment and explained the lottery rules, speaking to Xing Xun quite mechanically. “We look forward to your next visit.”

 

Xing Xun took back his card and the gift boxes. After walking a short distance with Dai Siyun, he asked in total confusion, “Is it just me, or did his attitude get a lot worse?”

 

Dai Siyun toyed with his car keys, a faint, mocking smile on his lips. “After all, we look like we’re here to cause trouble.”

 

Xing Xun, “Huh? Do we?”

 

Dai Siyun, “Yes.”

 

 

Xing Xun wanted to say he had hidden it pretty well. Regardless, that was the love rival of his childhood friend—an A-class Alpha who was good at attracting attention. He probably used questionable methods to hook up with someone like the grandson of the city’s richest man.

 

“His face alone is enough,” Dai Siyun said flatly. “It’s also possible the Omega was the one who hooked up with him.”

 

“True.”

 

Xing Xun blurted out, then quickly realized he shouldn’t have said it that way. He nudged his shoulder. “No, wait. Why are we openly praising his looks? What are we actually here for?”

 

“We’re here to gather intel, not to pick up an Alpha.”

 

The words were so blunt and strange that both S-class Alphas fell into a thoughtful silence. Carrying their shopping bags, they headed to the second floor, found a pair of lounge chairs, and ordered some coffee.

 

They had spent fifty or sixty thousand on this visit. Along with the lottery entry, they got free coffee, served by an Omega clerk in a maid outfit who wagged a little tail as she worked.

 

Dai Siyun didn’t give her a single glance. He tilted his head slightly, only caring about what would appear on the lottery link on Xing Xun’s phone. There was a start button for a cartoon gashapon machine. Once clicked, a notification appeared saying the surprise would continue after a thirty-second ad.

 

Xing Xun laughed in frustration. “I’m actually impressed by how much they’re milking this—”

 

“Siyun, you can use this time to think. Once you win the date, how are you going to get information out of him? Ask him what his relationship is with Zhu Yingtian?”

 

 

Dai Siyun propped his chin on his hand. Through the glass, he watched Fu Chen at the checkout line downstairs. “Why would I ask?”

 

Xing Xun was genuinely amused by this. “Please, don’t tell me after all this that you’re not interested in him at all. A private investigator would be way faster than the two of us.”

 

Dai Siyun paused. He felt there was some ambiguity in those words, but he didn’t bother to correct them. “It’s not like I have to ask him.”

 

As he finished speaking.

 

He glanced toward the Alpha youth. The checkout process was finished. The boy repeatedly lifted his arm to tug at his denim straps, pressing his long fingers against the back of his neck. Looking closely, the faint red outline of a gland was visible beneath the skin.

 

 

Dai Siyun’s eyes darkened instantly, a dangerous element stirring in the depths. Then, without any warning, Fu Chen, still in his uniform, turned his head and looked up, as if searching for something.

 

In that moment.

 

Dai Siyun saw with his own eyes that Fu Chen was visibly hyperventilating, sweat soaking the hair on his forehead. He was pressing hard on his gland, his eyes unfocused, unconsciously sending out a signal for help.

 

Do you have any thoughts on why Fu Chen might be hiding his scent gland like that?