The Stand-In Alpha Goes Viral on a Dating Show - Chapter 44

“Did she admit that you’re her master now?”

Shi Yi’s expression darkened. She had only wanted to exchange a few words with An Ran, yet Chi Wan once again blocked her way—how utterly infuriating.

“At least in this game, I’ve set my sights on her. And my rank is higher than yours.”

Chi Wan stood her ground, refusing to give way. There was no chance she’d agree to Shi Yi’s demand.

Shi Yi stared hard at her, then suddenly smiled. Stepping closer, she leaned in and whispered by Chi Wan’s ear, her voice meant for the two of them alone:

“Fine. But you could always ask An Ran what happened to her in the refreshment room.”

Chi Wan lifted her gaze, puzzled, only to meet the turbulent depths of Shi Yi’s eyes. An unease stirred in her chest—Shi Yi was deliberately trying to suggest that something had happened between her and An Ran.

“Of course, you don’t have to ask.”

With that, Shi Yi gave a soft laugh, took a step back, and turned to leave. From her expression as she went, it was as though she was certain Chi Wan would end up asking anyway.

But Chi Wan’s mind was full of question marks. Where on earth did Shi Yi get that kind of confidence?

Determined not to give in, she turned back to An Ran and said quietly, “Let’s go, quickly.”

After all, she was only a Silver rank, not the highest Gold. The little scene earlier—several “masters” fighting over one person—must have already caught the eyes of others. If a Gold rank decided to interfere, things would get truly messy.

As they walked, An Ran whispered, “What did Shi Yi say to you?”

“Nothing. I treated it as hot air.”

Chi Wan glanced back at her, smiling lightly, showing she didn’t care at all.

Rivals often played tricks—it was normal. Whoever took it seriously would be the one to lose.

She thought that would settle it, but the next second, her wrist was gently tugged.

“Did Shi Yi mention the refreshment room?”

Chi Wan froze. Strangely, she began to care—not because of Shi Yi’s words, but because An Ran clearly cared.

Originally, she would have ignored Shi Yi no matter what she said. But since An Ran had brought it up too, she could no longer dismiss it so easily.

She turned to An Ran and nodded. “Yes. She told me to ask you what happened in the refreshment room.”

“I heard two people kissing.” An Ran’s expression remained calm, her tone matter-of-fact.

“You heard it?” Chi Wan instinctively felt this wasn’t so simple.

“Yes. I had just entered when the lights were suddenly turned off.”

An Ran briefly recounted what had happened. “At the time, I didn’t know who they were.”

But now, she knew very well.

One was Shi Yi.

The other was Qu Huan.

Shi Yi must have gone in looking for An Ran, not realizing there was a third person inside, and mistook that third person for her.

“So Qu Huan wasn’t innocent either.” Chi Wan added, recalling how oddly Qu Huan had behaved once she recognized An Ran.

And judging by the way Qu Huan had looked at someone on the deck earlier… had she mistaken identities as well?

Shi Yi must have realized this later. No wonder she was so desperate to confirm.

Now that Chi Wan understood the situation, the refreshment room incident no longer bothered her. She was about to pull An Ran away to somewhere quieter when suddenly the lights went out again.

The crowd erupted with noise—apparently, the organizers had added a surprise “escape” round to stir excitement.

In the darkness, desires amplified. Chi Wan even heard the sound of clothing tearing.

Her chest tightened with nerves. What if someone came after them—what if someone laid hands on An Ran?

“An Ran?” she called softly, unable to see her in the pitch-black.

But no answer came. Chi Wan’s heart skipped.

“An Ran?” Her voice rose, but apart from the distant commotion, only the rush of air filled her ears.

Not good.

An Ran was gone!

Had someone dragged her away—or had she left on her own?

Chi Wan leaned toward the former. Knowing An Ran’s nature, she would never just vanish without a word.

Minutes later, the lights came back on. Her eyes, adjusted to the dark, were stung by the sudden brightness, tears springing to the corners.

She wiped them quickly, then rushed about in search of An Ran.

For ease of movement, she tore open the tightly wrapped clothing around her, giving her a wild, untamed look. Immediately, several guests holding master’s identity cards mistook her for a servant to be chosen and began to circle her.

Chi Wan felt nothing but frustration.

“Go away! An Ran? Where are you, An Ran?”

She shoved people aside, scanning the area in desperation.

“Chi Wan? Are you looking for An Ran?”

A delicate voice called out. She turned—Qu Huan.

Her gaze flickered evasively at first but quickly steadied.

Chi Wan’s stomach clenched. Something felt wrong.

“I saw her,” Qu Huan said. “A stranger dragged her into a cabin room upstairs, just around the corner. Do you want to go find her?”

Every instinct screamed trap. But if it was about An Ran—Chi Wan would walk through fire.

She thanked Qu Huan briefly and hurried toward the staircase.

At the corner, before she could knock, muffled cries for help came from inside.

Alarmed, she threw herself against the door. Just then, someone inside struggled close and pressed the handle.

The door cracked open—and a wave of cloying sweetness spilled out. Chi Wan instinctively held her breath and caught the collapsing figure in her arms.

The woman’s breathing was ragged, her skin flushed, her body limp. Yet she still muttered defiantly through trembling lips:

“You bastards… lay a hand on me, and I’ll make you pay…”

Her words were fierce, but her voice carried fear.

Realizing she was out of that awful room, the woman lifted her head.

When their eyes met, both froze.

“Chi Wan?”

“Mo Wei?”

Of all people, Chi Wan hadn’t expected it to be Mo Wei inside!

Proud and aloof as always, Mo Wei now looked utterly disheveled. Shame coloring her face, she quickly lowered her head, avoiding Chi Wan’s gaze.

Chi Wan propped her against the wall, then stormed inside. An Ran wasn’t there—only two unconscious strangers with head wounds, shards of glass scattered across the floor.

Miss Mo certainly had a heavy hand. But those men had deserved it.

From her state, it was obvious she’d been dosed with an aphrodisiac.

Had An Ran suffered the same? The thought made Chi Wan’s chest twist painfully.

Mo Wei, seeing Chi Wan’s stunned look, assumed she was being judged. She muttered, “They tried to take advantage of me first. I only defended myself.”

“You did right.” Chi Wan turned back, answering firmly. “They got what they deserved.”

Though clearly shaken, Mo Wei still called a doctor for the men to prevent them bleeding out.

When Chi Wan made to leave, Mo Wei nudged her toe against the floor. “Hey… aren’t you staying with me?”

“No. I have more important things to do.”

As Chi Wan turned away, she caught Mo Wei’s wide, dazed eyes, still carrying fear—and perhaps a trace of longing.

Her steps faltered briefly, but she pressed on.

“Have you seen An Ran?” she asked before leaving.

Mo Wei shook her head. A faint murmur escaped her lips, carried off by the wind:

“The only one who can make you this desperate… is her.”

Chi Wan frowned. She doubted Mo Wei would lie under such circumstances.

But Qu Huan had insisted this was the room. Could she have been mistaken?

Or was it a setup?

Chi Wan turned back toward the stairs. Halfway down, she nearly collided with Qu Huan.

Surprise and panic flickered across the other woman’s face.

“You said she was in that room. I went. She wasn’t there.”

Chi Wan spoke first, matter-of-fact.

“How could that be?” Qu Huan blurted, too quickly. Realizing she’d slipped, she hastily added, “Maybe you checked the wrong room?”

The more Chi Wan listened, the clearer it became—Qu Huan’s meaning was, If you really went inside, how are you standing here now?

So there was something waiting in that room. A trap.

But outwardly, Chi Wan feigned ignorance. She still didn’t know for sure if An Ran’s disappearance was tied to Qu Huan.

“All the better. Since we’ve met, show me exactly which room it was.”

“It’s that one by the corner,” Qu Huan replied firmly.

“I already went. No An Ran.”

Chi Wan kept her tone even.

Qu Huan grew anxious. She wanted to push Chi Wan into checking again, but Chi Wan stood her ground. The tension thickened.

Within minutes, Qu Huan checked her watch over and over, unable to sit still. Finally, she snapped, marching upstairs and tossing back, “Come with me.”

Chi Wan followed calmly, knowing Qu Huan hadn’t wanted to lead her there herself because it would implicate her.

Ahead, Qu Huan bit her lip, hands clenched out of sight, as if praying.

Inside the room, Mingyu and a few of President Ming’s men were restless.

“Miss, can we even trust this girl of yours? Where is she? Why hasn’t she come?”

Mingyu didn’t know what had gone wrong either. She’d even heard cries for help from the next room not long ago—familiar cries that tugged at her.

She’d wanted to check, but since Chi Wan was supposed to come, she had held back.

Now, after such a long wait, the cries were gone, and Chi Wan still hadn’t arrived.

Irritation mounting, Mingyu pulled out her phone to call when she suddenly heard Qu Huan’s voice outside. Relief washed over her. The prey was finally here.

Meanwhile, An Ran was seated in a vast reception room, facing an elderly man with graying hair.

The old man’s eyes glistened as he gazed at her, his expression tender, almost tearful.

“Child… all these years, how have you lived? Tell Grandpa, won’t you?”

He reached out again and again, longing to hold her hand, to embrace this granddaughter who had wandered for so long. Yet each time, he hesitated, afraid—afraid that if he touched her, she’d vanish like a mirage.

Seeing his cautious hope, alive and well before her eyes, An Ran’s own vision blurred.

In her past life, when she saw him, he was already a black-and-white photo hanging on a mourning hall wall.

But this time—this life—she was not too late. She still had time.

She told him simply about her past, glossing over the bitter parts, speaking mostly of joy and leaving sorrow unsaid.

But even in her light words, Old Master Ming could feel the hardships she must have endured.

At last, An Ran mentioned Chi Wan.

“She said she wants to pursue me, to prove herself… to earn a chance.”

“You like her very much, don’t you?” The old man needed no more proof—the light in his granddaughter’s eyes when she spoke said it all.

“Yes.” An Ran admitted openly, then added with a tiny smile, “But I won’t tell her yet.”

Otherwise, she’d get too smug.

Though unsaid, Old Master Ming understood. His granddaughter was savoring the feeling of being pursued.

“Do you know?” His voice thickened with emotion. “She’s been looking for you all along—like a madwoman.”