The Stand-In Alpha Goes Viral on a Dating Show - Chapter 57

The moment their lips touched, Chi Wan felt fireworks explode above her head—brilliant, dazzling, utterly breathtaking.

At the same time, it was like sinking into a warm hot spring, her whole body relaxed, languid, unwilling to move.

An Ran’s eyes stayed fixed on her subtle expressions, that intent gaze almost asking, “Does it feel good?”

Chi Wan let out a soft, contented hum and held the girl in her arms even tighter.

When the kiss finally ended, An Ran’s breathing was slightly uneven. Her cheeks tinged red, she glanced sideways at Chi Wan—who was still lost in the aftertaste of it—and said, “Now do you believe that I like you?”

“Mm, I believe, I believe.” Chi Wan waved a hand dismissively. Somehow, the repeated words made it sound half-hearted.

An Ran bit her lip, frustration bubbling up. She stomped her foot like an angry kitten. “Do you believe me or not!”

Chi Wan couldn’t understand why she was so agitated. She shot her a sidelong glance, then suddenly quipped with sly inspiration, “If I didn’t believe you, does that mean I’d get another kiss?”

“You wish!” An Ran huffed, instantly realizing what little scheme she was playing at. She had been worrying over whether Chi Wan believed her, but now…

“Believe it or not, I don’t care!”

She said it, then pried Chi Wan’s hands off her waist, ready to leave.

“Hey, wait.” Chi Wan’s long arms reached out, catching the petite girl back into her embrace. Meeting her eyes, she suddenly put on a pitiful look and murmured, “Darling, you’re getting more and more impatient with me. Don’t tell me our honeymoon phase isn’t even over yet and we’ve already hit the burnout stage?”

An Ran puffed out her cheeks, narrowed her eyes, and poked her finger against Chi Wan’s chest. “If you could stop having those ridiculous thoughts all the time, how would I ever get like this?”

Sometimes she really wanted to keep her distance from this girl who seemed far too preoccupied with her body. And honestly—it was all happening way too fast!

If she hadn’t known about Chi Wan’s past with her exes, she would have thought they’d all been scared off by this same “eagerness”!

Still, it wasn’t fair to generalize. Someone like Lu Xin would probably be more than happy with it.

Chi Wan blinked, realizing something. Most of her teasing really was in jest, but An Ran seemed to take it seriously.

Do I really come off as that impatient?

She thought about it for a while, then gently loosened her arms. An Ran was startled, eyeing her curiously.

“There’s something here.” Chi Wan lifted a finger, the soft pad brushing over the damp corner of An Ran’s lips, wiping away the faint trace of moisture.

Realizing how that trace had gotten there, An Ran’s face flushed scarlet.

“I—I need to go back and grab something,” she mumbled, the hour indeed getting late.

“I’ll go with you.” Chi Wan said it as though it was only natural, leaving An Ran staring at her in surprise.

“You’ll come with me? Are you planning to stick to me all day today?”

An Ran looked her up and down, baffled by this sudden surge of clinginess.

“I also need a little favor.” Chi Wan bent slightly, bringing her gaze level with An Ran’s, winked, and said sweetly, “May I?”

“What is it?” An Ran’s fingers fidgeted nervously, her heartbeat skipping as her gaze flicked away.

“I’m streaming tonight. Can I do it at your place?”

Chi Wan leaned in, whispering, her breath brushing across An Ran’s cheek, mingling with her own.

“At… my place?”

An Ran froze, unable to follow her train of thought.

“It’s for you to claim me,” Chi Wan whispered, prompting her gently.

An Ran blinked, then finally understood. If Chi Wan streamed while with her, it would silence a lot of gossip—and prove their relationship was real.

“But I was planning to go back to the dorms tonight…”

She glanced toward the dorm building, uncertainty clouding her expression.

“You’re staying on campus tonight?” Chi Wan was surprised. As far as she knew, An Ran didn’t live in the dorms. She hadn’t even gone through the process to apply for a room. At their university, students could temporarily stay in vacant dorms by paying a small fee.

“Mm. My rental’s almost up. The landlord…”

She trailed off, but Chi Wan immediately understood.

“You’ve already paid this month’s rent?” Chi Wan asked, remembering that An Ran often seemed strapped for cash. She herself didn’t have much left, but covering rent wouldn’t be a problem.

“This month’s rent is paid. But the landlord keeps pressing me to renew. We’d agreed on just renting till the end of this month.”

An Ran scuffed her toes against the ground, lips pressed tight in frustration.

“He must’ve seen the show,” Chi Wan guessed.

Taking An Ran’s hand, she gave it a playful swing. “Forget it, don’t think too much. Why don’t we just go—”

She almost said “dorm,” but stopped herself in time. If the stream background showed a dorm room, people would definitely notice. An Alpha and an Omega living together—bad optics.

“To your place?” An Ran assumed she meant her apartment. “But if that’s the case, I’ll go back to school after your stream.”

“Not my place.” Chi Wan gave a wry smile. “It’s overcrowded right now. A whole crowd is camped outside my building.”

“You really are popular, huh?”

An Ran shot her a sidelong look, humming softly, a touch annoyed.

“The problem is they’re throwing rotten eggs at me too.”

Chi Wan spread her hands helplessly. The original Chi Wan wasn’t popular—she was infamously popular.

“That’s awful.” An Ran’s heart skipped. “You didn’t get hit, did you?”

“Thankfully I’m quick on my feet. I dodged every time, but I don’t want to keep living like this.”

So she had made an arrangement with the security guard: he’d send her a picture of the entrance each day. If the crowd was small, she’d go home. If it was big, she’d avoid it.

Tonight’s photo hadn’t arrived yet, but she doubted the crowd had dispersed.

“In that case, I’ll definitely keep you company. First, let’s grab my bag from storage, then we’ll head to my place.”

An Ran squeezed her hand back. They strolled down the tree-lined path together.

________________________________________

“Are you sure Chi Wan lives here?”

Mo Wei looked at the guard, then at the shabby building. She could hardly believe that the glamorous woman in her memory lived in such a run-down, grey place.

“Yes, right here. She stays on the top floor. Plenty of sunlight—perfect for streaming.”

The guard was certain. Seeing her disbelief, he pointed toward the cluster of people gathered outside. “Miss, if you don’t believe me, you can believe them.”

Mo Wei had already noticed the crowd. She removed her sunglasses with a frown. “And who are they?”

“They’re probably Miss Chi’s fans. They block the entrance every day just for a glimpse of her,” the guard answered, though he sounded hesitant. He felt that not all of them were genuine fans—some seemed hostile.

Suddenly remembering he hadn’t taken today’s picture, he quickly raised his phone and snapped one.

When Mo Wei asked what it was for, he explained honestly, “Miss Chi asked me to do it. Seeing how many people there are, she likely won’t come back tonight.”

Hearing that, Mo Wei grew furious. She’d gone out of her way to dress up, only to find she had wasted her time. She vented her frustration on the guard.

“If a tenant feels harassed, you should’ve stopped them from entering, shouldn’t you?”

The guard winced, looking helpless. “There’s nothing I can do. This isn’t a gated community—no walls, open on all sides. And there’s only one of me. Even if I block this way, I can’t stop the others.”

Mo Wei drew a sharp breath, then suddenly asked, “You haven’t sent that photo yet, have you?”

“Huh?” The guard was taken aback, struggling to follow her sudden change of subject. “N-no, not yet.”

He had just been about to, but her outburst had startled him.

“Delete it!” Mo Wei ordered, then signaled her bodyguards to drive the crowd away.

Her bodyguards—all tall, sharply dressed men—looked imposing and intimidating. Within five minutes, the crowd had been completely dispersed.

Mo Wei raised her brows in satisfaction. “Well? Take the photo now.”

The guard stared blankly, then obediently snapped a shot of the now-empty street.

Just as he was about to send it, Mo Wei stopped him again. “Wait. Forward it to me instead. Tell her that today’s photo came from me.”

She suddenly realized she still didn’t have Chi Wan’s WeChat, and this would be the perfect excuse to add her.

But after ten minutes, her request still hadn’t been accepted. Mo Wei fumed. “That Chi Wan—what on earth is she doing right now?”

________________________________________

Chi Wan, of course, had no idea she was on Mo Wei’s mind. At that moment, she was helping An Ran collect her bag.

The package wasn’t small. When An Ran explained it was all clothes, Chi Wan immediately thought of a certain yet-unfinished “mission.” Her mind started to stir.

“I’ll watch the bag for you. Go see the dorm manager to get your refund,” Chi Wan said, lips curling into a smile.

Something about that smile made An Ran’s body tense. She couldn’t explain it—only that it felt like Chi Wan was plotting something bad.

Unconsciously, she grew more cautious, but only nodded before leaving.

As soon as An Ran disappeared, Chi Wan cheered inwardly: Perfect, my chance is here!

She yanked open the zipper and began rummaging through the underwear section. At last, a familiar pattern caught her eye. Excited, she pulled the neatly folded scrap of fabric out—only to find it wasn’t the one she wanted.

Relief, disappointment, and nervous anticipation crashed together all at once, so much that she didn’t notice the faint sound of approaching footsteps behind her.

An Ran quietly lifted the curtain for a peek. She had no idea what she might see—maybe even something so outrageous it would completely shatter her worldview.

Taking a deep breath, she opened her eyes, only to find Chi Wan holding her package in an oddly peculiar way.

Yes—Chi Wan was hugging her package tightly to her chest, as though cherishing it, as though the package itself were her.

Chi Wan… does she really miss me that much?

An Ran’s heart suddenly began to pound wildly. No one knew better than she did that, ever since childhood, she had lacked a sense of security. Deep down, she longed for a partner who would cling to her at every moment.

But reason always told her she shouldn’t want such things. That was why she tried so hard to suppress these emotional needs. Yet from this accidental glimpse, she suddenly realized that Chi Wan was the same as her—both of them desperately yearning for the other, yet both holding themselves back.

The difference was, she suppressed it more, while Chi Wan allowed herself a little more freedom.

An Ran gently lowered the curtain, her footsteps slowly fading into the distance.

Meanwhile, Chi Wan, still clutching the package: Ahhhh! That scared me to death! I almost got caught!

Hah! You should be thanking me! If I hadn’t reminded you in time, you’d be finished by now!

The system’s arrogant voice rang in Chi Wan’s mind: Tell me I’m wrong—your image almost turned downright creepy!

Chi Wan gave a cold laugh. “If my image really takes a hit, it’s only because of the tasks you assign me. So covering for me is the least you should do, isn’t it?”

Still, when she had heard the system’s warning and realized An Ran was nearby, she had nearly jumped out of her skin.

Thank goodness she got away with it. Quickly, she zipped the bag shut.

The reason she’d been hugging it in the first place was because the zipper hadn’t been closed. If she carried it normally, anyone looking down from above would see inside at a glance.

“Phew, safe for now…” Chi Wan patted her chest, trying to calm her racing heart.

When An Ran finished canceling her lease and returned, she found Chi Wan leaning against the wall, holding the bag in both hands, gazing up at the sky with a lost, wistful expression.

“Let’s go.”

An Ran took the initiative to grab her hand. Together, they strolled along the narrow path through campus.

Chi Wan noticed some construction going on not far away. At first she only glanced at it, but when she saw the heavy machinery and equipment, it struck her as unusually extravagant.

A few passing students were discussing it—apparently, a major corporation had donated the funds. They said the company’s boss was extremely philanthropic, having donated not just equipment but even entire buildings.

So lavish, and yet the benefactor hardly ever appeared in public. It all seemed very mysterious.

Chi Wan only listened for a moment before losing interest. Soon, she and An Ran rented two bicycles and rode along a road outside the school.

They passed bustling streets, then wound their way into an older, run-down neighborhood. After several turns, they finally stopped in front of an old residential building.

“Xiao An, you’re back?”

A thin man stepped out just as they parked the bikes. “Oh, and you brought someone with you.”

“She’s my classmate,” An Ran said simply. Chi Wan had covered her face well and carried a large bag, so the man didn’t connect her to the Chi Wan from the variety show.

Besides, he had bigger priorities—convincing An Ran to renew her lease. With the show’s popularity, keeping her here meant guaranteed future tenants.

“Xiao An, think it over. I’ll even lower the rent for you.”

He blocked her path.

“Sorry, I have something to discuss with my classmate,” An Ran said, signaling for him to move aside. The man gave a helpless smile, looking at her as though she was a stubborn child.

As they brushed past each other, he suddenly caught her wrist and whispered, “Really, reconsider.”

At such close distance, the pungent fragrance of his cologne filled her nose, making her frown. “We’ll see,” she said curtly.

She hadn’t given a firm answer, and he mistook it as hesitation, satisfied enough to let go.

The whole scene happened abruptly in the dim stairwell. Chi Wan only caught that the man had whispered something to An Ran, but nothing more.

Once inside, An Ran felt parched. Too impatient to boil water, she grabbed a bottle of mineral water and drank it in gulps—yet the heat inside her only grew stronger.

She opened the window and turned on the fan.

Chi Wan frowned. Is it really that hot?

But when she looked at An Ran, her face was flushed, her expression strained. She hadn’t been like this while they were walking.

Having once experienced false heat herself, Chi Wan froze. Could it be… An Ran has been triggered into a pseudo-heat?

“What’s with that look? Aren’t you supposed to start streaming?”

An Ran wiped her face with a wet wipe, but her skin still burned. Even she was beginning to sense something was wrong.

“How am I supposed to stream like this?”

Chi Wan sighed helplessly. She went to the window and pulled it wider open. As fresh air drifted in, she caught an odd scent inside the room. Not strong, but sharp enough if you paid attention.

Because it was an old building, the place already smelled musty. At first the odor was masked, but compared with the fresh air outside, the difference was clear.

Seeing Chi Wan sniff the air, An Ran suddenly understood. “You smelled something?”

“This scent isn’t right.” The more she breathed it in, the dizzier she felt, her face heating as well.

“We need to leave. Now.”

Chi Wan moved quickly to the door, cracked it open, and peeked outside—only to see the landlord standing there with a strange smile.

So it really was him…

Moments later, the man seemed to get a message and headed upstairs. Their room was on the first floor—if they didn’t run now, when would they?

Leaving the bag behind to throw him off, Chi Wan scooped An Ran into a princess carry and bolted.

She hailed a cab, planning to take her to the hospital, but An Ran stubbornly refused. Chi Wan suddenly remembered—An Ran had always been resistant to hospitals.

The only option left was a hotel. They should have suppressants there.

Still, she needed to confirm whether it was real heat or just a false one.

At the hotel, An Ran was still conscious enough to hand over her ID at the front desk. Once they got the room card, the receptionist gasped, covering her mouth in disbelief.

“Oh my god—my CP actually came to open a room together!”

Excited as she was, professional duty—and Chi Wan’s plea—kept her from spreading the news.

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone,” the receptionist promised.

“Thanks,” Chi Wan said gratefully, before leading An Ran toward the elevators.

An Ran’s steps were weak, but to avoid arousing suspicion, she forced herself to walk steadily.

Once they exited the elevator and the hallway was empty, she no longer held back. She melted into Chi Wan’s arms, whimpering softly.

“It’s so uncomfortable…” Her lips trembled, her flushed cheeks practically glowing.

“Hang on, just a little longer. We’re almost there,” Chi Wan murmured, holding her up as they made their way to the room.