The Stand-In Alpha Goes Viral on a Dating Show - Chapter 48

“Alright, we won’t look.”

Chi Wan gently patted An Ran’s shoulders in reassurance. Just then, another set of footsteps echoed down the corridor. Chi Wan lifted her gaze and saw Qu Huan approaching with a smile.

“I just wanted to ask—do you need any help?”

Ever since Mo Wei had returned from seeing Chi Wan, her mood had been off. She still wore her usual proud expression, but her absentmindedness was obvious. Mingyu had therefore hinted for Qu Huan to investigate.

“You here to support my little business too?”

Chi Wan pointed to the chair in front of her and the makeup kit beside it. “If you’d like a makeover, have a seat.”

“I…” Qu Huan’s eyes flickered, her words hesitant. She still needed to report back to Mingyu and naturally wasn’t in the mood to sit down for makeup.

But from Chi Wan’s casual remarks, she had already guessed what Mo Wei had come here for earlier.

Strange. Since when were those two so close?

Qu Huan wanted to press further but worried that asking too much would arouse suspicion. She forced a smile instead. “No, it’s fine. I just came to see if you needed a hand. Looks like you’re managing well enough.”

She began edging back on her toes.

“Oh, but I do need you.” Chi Wan quickly stepped around and blocked her retreat. “This is just a small business of mine. Profits are meager, and I’m always strapped for cash.”

“I…” Qu Huan clutched her pocket, where Mingyu had just slipped her five thousand yuan. “I don’t have much on me either.”

“A makeover here won’t cost you much. Pay whatever you think it’s worth—and if you’re not satisfied, no charge.”

Chi Wan’s smile was bright and eager, as though she truly wanted the business.

Qu Huan bit her lip and mumbled, “Better not. I think the makeup I have on is already fine—no need to be excessive.”

“Really? That’s a pity.”

Chi Wan stepped aside, disappointment flickering across her face.

After a brief hesitation, Qu Huan turned and left. She’d already lingered too long—Mingyu must be getting impatient.

Thanks to Miss Mo’s generous contribution, Chi Wan now had more than enough money on hand. She was even considering closing up shop for the day.

But not long after Qu Huan left, two more sets of footsteps approached.

“Why is it so busy today?” Chi Wan muttered to An Ran.

“It’s because you’re too popular,” An Ran grumbled, giving her a pinch at the waist.

When the newcomers rounded the corner, Chi Wan looked up—and saw Lu Xin and Xia Meng.

Lu Xin coughed awkwardly before suggesting, “I heard you haven’t been making much. Xia Meng and I can take you along—boosting others in games pays well.”

Naïve as ever, Xia Meng hadn’t noticed Lu Xin’s feelings toward Chi Wan. She cheerfully chimed in, “Yes, come with us, both of you. Whatever we earn, you’ll get half. Lu Xin and I have already made over a thousand yuan.”

Lu Xin, confident Chi Wan wouldn’t refuse, sat down right beside her—close enough to crowd her.

“No need. We appreciate the offer, but we’ve earned plenty already. We don’t need to take on anything else.”

An Ran smiled gently at Xia Meng, politely declining.

Lu Xin pouted, clearly displeased. “Hey, An Ran, that’s not right. We’re offering you a chance to make money—who turns that down? And besides, Chi Wan hasn’t said anything yet.”

“Don’t think I don’t know. In your group, the one making money is Chi Wan. You barely lift a finger—so what gives you the right to refuse?”

Her voice dropped on the last line, but her tone was unmistakably defending Chi Wan.

“Who says An Ran hasn’t contributed? She gives me immense emotional value.”

Chi Wan shifted slightly away from Lu Xin, then reached out and pulled An Ran closer to her side. “With An Ran here, I feel at ease. When I’m at ease, I can work better. You don’t understand that, Lu Xin—so don’t speak carelessly.”

Lu Xin froze, then flushed with anger. She shot to her feet, jabbing a finger at Chi Wan’s nose. “Go on then, keep shielding her! You can barely protect yourself, and you still think you can protect her? Are you stupid, or just daydreaming?”

Sensing the tension spike, Xia Meng tugged at Lu Xin’s sleeve. “You shouldn’t say that. Chi Wan and An Ran’s relationship is their business—it’s not for us to interfere.”

Her voice was soft, coaxing, hoping Lu Xin would calm down.

But Lu Xin was already fuming. She’d always liked being with Xia Meng because no matter what she did, Xia Meng tolerated her. Yet this time, Xia Meng had sided with Chi Wan—against her.

“You too?” Lu Xin shook off Xia Meng’s hand, blurting out recklessly, “Do you like An Ran or something? Is that why you’re blindly defending her? If you like her so much, why not send her that love-struck text? You didn’t send it to her—you sent it to me! Was that a mistake, or were you just mocking me?”

“Calm down.” Xia Meng was bewildered by her outburst. But with Lu Xin mentioning texts and crushes—was this… jealousy?

She cautiously replied, “I don’t like An Ran. The one I like is you.”

“Your ‘love’ is cheap—I don’t need it! Do you even really like me? Because I sure haven’t felt it!”

Lu Xin kicked the wall in frustration. “An Ran’s useless, a dead weight who leans on Chi Wan for everything. What’s so great about an Omega like her anyway?”

With that, she felt all her good intentions had been wasted. She cast a resentful glare at Chi Wan and Xia Meng before stomping off in a fury.

Xia Meng blinked, stunned, then quickly apologized to Chi Wan and An Ran before chasing after her.

Chi Wan thought the commotion was finally over—until she caught sight of a long shadow stretching across the ground from the corner.

“Someone else?” Chi Wan muttered in disbelief.

Realizing she’d been spotted, the figure stepped forward—it was Ruan Xiao, back again.

Ruan Xiao let out a mocking laugh, her gaze settling meaningfully on An Ran.

“Lu Xin’s way of expressing herself was harsh, but she wasn’t wrong. You really are just a useless ornament. I can’t imagine what exactly it is about you she finds so captivating.”

Ruan Xiao finished speaking, crossed her arms, and walked away.

An Ran hadn’t said a word the whole time. She just fiddled with her phone in silence. Chi Wan, worried by her unresponsiveness, thought she must have been hurt by Ruan Xiao’s vicious remarks.

She squeezed An Ran’s hand gently.

“Don’t listen to them. They’re just jealous and taking it out on you.”

Just then, Chi Wan’s phone chimed—a new transfer notification.

She opened it and blinked in disbelief.

On [date/time], account [XXXX] has transferred 100,000 yuan to your account.

Her eyes widened at the sum. “This… must be a mistake, right?”

“It’s not a mistake. If it wasn’t for the transfer limit, I’d have sent even more.”

An Ran’s lips curved faintly as she leaned close to her ear.

“Does this make you happy?”

“Of course I’m happy, but… this money…” Chi Wan frowned, worried that this might be An Ran’s entire savings—that she’d been provoked by Ruan Xiao into transferring it all at once.

“This is what I earned today. I wrote a firewall program for a client, and I also sold some wallpapers.”

An Ran rested lightly against her shoulder, her voice soft.

Only then did Chi Wan remember—An Ran was a top student in the computer science department.

Staring at the transfer amount, Chi Wan felt like she was dreaming. Part of her even wanted to call Ruan Xiao and the others back, just to make them eat their words!

But An Ran quickly added, “Don’t tell anyone. I don’t like showing off.”

That one sentence doused the fire of pride rising in Chi Wan’s chest.

When things quieted down, her thoughts drifted back to the system’s assigned tasks. An Ran’s hidden secret had no time limit, so there was no rush. But the matching underwear task did have a deadline.

How was she supposed to pull that off? She couldn’t exactly offer to wash An Ran’s underwear. Their relationship wasn’t anywhere near that level of intimacy. If she suddenly suggested such a thing, An Ran would definitely think she was some kind of pervert!

By late morning, the earning period was over, and all the guests gathered in the third-floor restaurant. The sight of the menu prices left them stunned.

“I know Australian lobster is expensive, but this expensive?”

Xia Meng looked utterly baffled, while Chu Rou appeared right on cue to explain.

“The third-floor restaurant is luxuriously decorated, with world-class chefs and top-tier service. Of course the prices are high. If it’s beyond your budget, you can go to the second or first floor, or even the basement level, to dine with your partner.”

Her words immediately linked the meal to a date in everyone’s minds.

After all, treating your on-show partner to a shabby lunch? Just imagining it felt humiliating.

Besides, the second round of Heartbeat messages would be starting tonight.

With that in mind, several contestants who had been about to head to the cheaper restaurants hesitated in their tracks.

But dining on the third floor was painfully expensive for those who hadn’t earned much that morning—it felt like putting on a show they couldn’t afford.

Chu Rou suggested, “You can split the bill, or the Alpha can treat the Omega—or the other way around.”

A server chimed in cheerfully, “And dining on the third floor comes with a complimentary invitation to tonight’s rooftop party.”

Chu Rou added with a smile, “The afternoon shoot will be held up there. Normally, tickets to the rooftop party are quite pricey.”

She whispered the actual figure, and after a quick calculation, most contestants realized it was actually worth eating upstairs.

“Do you have enough? Want me to treat you?”

Chi Wan was studying the menu when a shadow fell over the page. Su Yao’s voice came from the side.

Beside her was Shi Yi, who leaned toward An Ran with a playful wink.

“Do you like desserts?”

“I don’t need it. She doesn’t either. We’ve got the money, so no need to trouble yourselves.”

Right in front of them, Chi Wan ordered without hesitation: one outrageously expensive king crab, two steaks, and two desserts.

Su Yao was stunned. “Did you see the prices?”

Just those dishes came close to fifty thousand yuan!

She figured Chi Wan couldn’t possibly afford it—she was probably just saving face.

“You can still cancel the order before it’s too late.”

“I said, no need to worry about us. If you don’t hurry and grab a seat, you’ll be standing when the place fills up.”

Chi Wan waved them off, her annoyance rising just from seeing them.

“Fine, take good intentions for donkey liver if you want. Just don’t come crying later!”

Su Yao pressed her lips together and strode away, clearly unhappy. Shi Yi lingered, letting her gaze sweep over An Ran. She bent close and whispered, “If you can’t pay the bill, come find me. No matter what, I’ll help you.”

An Ran said nothing, leaving Shi Yi feeling slightly awkward. Still, she was convinced Chi Wan couldn’t possibly cover the meal, so she waited smugly for them to ask her for help.

But when the dishes Chi Wan ordered arrived one after another, and the two of them ate leisurely before taking their complimentary invitations up to the rooftop without being stopped once—Su Yao and Shi Yi had to accept the truth.

Chi Wan really had the money to pay.

And the rooftop was breathtaking. A massive pool stretched across the space, with crowds of people in skimpy outfits milling about. There were also open-air KTV booths, a bar, even a private cinema.

By the pool, many lounged in bikinis under the sun, hoping to tan.

The sight of all those carefree figures showing off their curves stirred Chi Wan’s mission-driven thoughts once again.

“An Ran, why don’t we join them?” she asked, pointing to the row of sunglass-wearing sunbathers.

“I…” An Ran opened her mouth, intending to refuse.

But before she could finish, Chi Wan had already pushed her toward the changing room with eager enthusiasm. She circled behind her, unzipping the back of An Ran’s dress.

The pale strap of her bra slipped into view, along with the elegant curve of her shoulder blades and her slender, fair back.

An Ran barely had time to protest before a chill swept across her skin.

The zipper slid all the way down to her waist. Then Chi Wan sneakily tugged the fabric aside, stealing a quick glance—only to see that An Ran’s underwear didn’t match her bra!

Which could only mean… the matching set had to be in An Ran’s bedroom!

“Wait here, An Ran. I’ll go get you a bikini!”

Chi Wan pressed a light kiss to her forehead, slipped An Ran’s room card into her palm, and thoughtfully closed the door to the changing room. She even reminded her from outside, “Lock it from the inside. I’ll be right back, don’t worry.”

Humming a little tune, she went downstairs in high spirits, followed the corridor of guest rooms, and soon found An Ran’s room. She tapped the card against the sensor—beep—the door unlocked!

“Honestly! At least help me zip it up before running off!” An Ran’s face flushed crimson. She had already guessed why Chi Wan had dashed away so suddenly. Could it be she was that eager to see her in a bikini?

How is she this pervy?!

Seeing Chi Wan in such an “unsatisfied” state made An Ran worry a little—when things truly got intimate one day, would she even be able to handle her?

Surely she wouldn’t need to stock up on tonics or something…

Her ears burned red, and she buried her face in the crook of her arm, breathing in quick, flustered puffs.

Meanwhile, Chi Wan had entered An Ran’s room and gone straight for the wardrobe. She opened the drawer where undergarments were kept and searched piece by piece.

But no matter how carefully she looked, the result was always the same—nothing!

Impossible! Unless… unless An Ran hadn’t even brought that pair of panties on board.

【Host, I think you’ve figured it out.】

The system watched her standing there in a daze and almost pitied her. After all her scheming, she was still no match for An Ran simply not bringing it along.

“Ugh, this is so frustrating!” Chi Wan squatted down and ruffled her hair in exasperation.

【You’d better head back now. Otherwise, An Ran will start getting suspicious.】

She had to admit that was true. Standing up, shaking off her numb legs, Chi Wan gave the wardrobe one last glance. Sure enough, An Ran owned no bikinis, no miniskirts, not even a crop top.

She really was the picture of innocence—pure to the core.

So Chi Wan returned to her own room, pulled out one of her bikinis, and made a mental note to buy An Ran a more conservative style later.

But when she went back up to the top floor, she found a small crowd gathered outside An Ran’s changing room.

“Miss, are you done yet? You’ve been inside for quite a while. If you’re not in a rush, could you let others go first?”

Turns out they were all lined up, waiting to use the changing booths.

“Sorry! It’s not that she’s being slow. I just went to fetch her a change of clothes. Please give us just a moment.”

Chi Wan’s looks were already bright and striking. Paired with that gentle smile, it melted irritation into fondness. No one had the heart to snap at such a beauty, and instead they said kindly, “Oh, that’s fine then. We’ll wait. Don’t feel pressured.”

She returned the smile and lightly tapped the door. “An Ran, it’s me.”

With a click, the door opened just a crack. Chi Wan squeezed herself in, handing over the newly bought swimsuit.

“Couldn’t you just pass me the clothes? Why did you have to come in too?”

An Ran looked dumbfounded. She had cracked the door open only so the clothes could be slipped through—not for a whole person to barge in.

Chi Wan froze, then smacked her forehead belatedly. “Right! I totally forgot about that!”

But now it was past mealtime, and the corridor outside was packed. Even if she went out, there wasn’t a free booth left.

Which meant…

She looked at An Ran hesitantly. “How about we just make do and share one room? I swear, when you’re changing, I won’t sneak a single peek! You can relax completely!”

Relax? With you here, that’s exactly why I can’t relax! An Ran screamed inwardly.

But since Chi Wan was already inside, and her reasoning wasn’t entirely wrong, it wasn’t as if she could just chase her out. Pressing her fingers to her temples, An Ran reluctantly gave in.

Chi Wan turned to face the door. Behind her came the rustling sound of fabric against skin. She tried her best to empty her mind, to keep herself from imagining the scene those sounds conjured—but the effort was torture.

Inevitably, her thoughts drifted back to that missing pair of panties. Melancholy washed over her, and she couldn’t help sighing aloud.

An Ran heard it and immediately assumed she was lamenting not being able to watch her undress face-to-face. Her blush deepened furiously. To think she’d imply something like that—how shameless can she be?

Her nerves in disarray, An Ran lost her footing and bumped hard into the wall with a loud thud.

Chi Wan instinctively turned her head. Her eyes brushed over a glimpse of bare skin before she squeezed them shut again. “Sorry! I didn’t mean it—I thought you had fallen!”

Her tone was hurried, flustered. An Ran’s expression, however, darkened like the bottom of a scorched pot. She dressed herself at record speed.

“I’m done. Your turn.”