The Stand-In Alpha Goes Viral on a Dating Show - Chapter 67

When Qu Huan thought of Chi Wan, and then of both Chi Wan’s and Mingyu’s birthdays, she couldn’t help but recall what netizens had once said during Chi Wan’s livestream—how An Ran seemed more like a member of the Ming family than Mingyu did. Yet, even earlier than that, people used to remark how Chi Wan and Mingyu bore some resemblance to each other.

As these thoughts strung together, Qu Huan’s heart suddenly pounded wildly. She didn’t know why she was so nervous—perhaps it was because of the fleeting thought that had flashed across her mind.

But if Mingyu wasn’t actually part of the Ming family… how could that be possible?

After all, President Ming’s attitude toward her hadn’t changed in the slightest.

Meanwhile, Chi Wan was already moving through the lower deck cabins, searching each room one by one. After recovering from their daze, Lu Xin and the others quickly followed at her heels.

Lu Xin shot a tense glance at Su Yao: Have you and Mo Wei arranged everything?

Su Yao merely blinked, but that was enough for Lu Xin to understand. Relief surged through her chest, sweeping away the earlier gloom. She was almost giddy at the thought: Even if our disguise has been exposed, we already prepared a backup plan. Once Chi Wan finds An Ran lying disheveled on a stranger’s bed, how will she feel then?

Would Chi Wan still be able to trust An Ran, even with her own eyes telling her otherwise?

By the time Chi Wan reached the second deck, she could vaguely hear the sound of an argument coming from one of the rooms. Not long after, a door seemed to slam shut, and the quarrel died away.

And yet—perhaps it was intuition—Chi Wan couldn’t shake the feeling that she should pay attention to that argument.

Her steps unconsciously carried her toward the sound.

Inside Chi Fei’s cabin, she and Chi Tian were glaring daggers at each other, neither willing to concede. Chi Fei insisted that the jewelry had been stolen by An Ran, while Chi Tian was equally adamant that Chi Fei was framing her out of thin air.

“If you’re so sure, then search us. Both I and this Omega lady are right here.”

Chi Tian was fed up. By logic, Chi Fei had no proof the jewelry even existed, so she shouldn’t have the right to demand a search. But Chi Tian had had enough of the nonsense. We’ve got nothing to hide—let her search if she wants. We’ll prove our innocence.

“Heh.” Chi Fei sneered coldly. “You’d agree so easily? That only proves the item isn’t on you. Who knows if she already snuck it out of the room before I returned?”

“Then check the surveillance footage!”

Chi Tian was fuming. Clearly, Chi Fei never intended to settle this peacefully.

“Can’t you just contact Chi Wan for me? She must be worried sick…” An Ran tugged lightly at Chi Tian’s sleeve. By the time she said the last few words, her lashes trembled, her expression carrying a trace of loneliness.

“Fine. This won’t end anytime soon anyway, not with someone so relentless.”

Chi Tian ground her teeth, muttering under her breath, then opened the door to call for a servant to pass along the message. But Chi Fei, thinking Chi Tian was trying to slip away, quickly shoved her hand against the doorframe to slam it shut again.

Chi Tian pushed back with all her strength, refusing to yield even an inch.

“Chi Fei! You’re being unreasonable! This Omega lady just wants to call her girlfriend over!”

“Hah! That’s just your excuse. How do I know you’re not trying to tip off your partner in crime, giving her time to move the jewelry elsewhere?”

“You’re slandering us! Hey! Anyone outside? Pass a message for me!”

Chi Wan’s footsteps halted—she had caught the argument again, and upon hearing those last words, her heart thudded. She quickly strode over and asked:

“What message?”

Chi Tian, locked in a tug-of-war with Chi Fei, thought her words would never get out. But suddenly, a voice answered from outside. It was like rain falling after a long drought.

Her eyes almost welled up in relief. She nearly burst into tears as she hurriedly shouted:

“Tell Chi Wan that her girlfriend is in this room, but some big idiot won’t let her leave!”

“Who won’t let her leave?”

The voice asked again.

“Don’t worry about that! Just go find Chi Wan! Her girlfriend misses her so much!”

From behind the door, Chi Tian couldn’t see who it was. She only knew that instead of leaving to find help, the person seemed intent on asking more questions. Panic prickled her chest.

“I understand. Now open the door.”

The voice outside said calmly.

Chi Tian snapped, furious: “I told you to find Chi Wan! Why are you trying to come in? There’s a big idiot in here—if you enter, you won’t be able to leave either!”

“Oh? The door won’t open? Let me try.”

The voice began to push against the door from outside. Clearly, she was determined to come in.

Chi Tian was dumbfounded. “What’s wrong with you! I said go find Chi Wan! Didn’t you understand?!”

Just as she was despairing over this stubborn fool, the voice outside spoke again—this time like music to her ears:

“I did understand. I am Chi Wan.”

“…Huh??”

Chi Tian froze. Speak of the devil and she appears?

What kind of timing was this!

Recovering quickly, she felt a force pushing the door open from outside. She hurried to help pull it, while Chi Fei, just one Omega, couldn’t resist the combined strength of two people.

The door swung wide.

And there she was—Chi Wan.

The first thing she saw was An Ran, slumped weakly at the edge of the bed.

Their eyes met. For a fleeting moment, An Ran’s gaze shimmered with tears, but so quickly that Chi Wan thought she might have imagined it.

“What’s wrong?”

Chi Wan crossed the room, crouching so their eyes were level.

“Chi Wan… I missed you so much.”

An Ran’s voice was low, almost a whimper, soft as a plea. Then she tilted slightly, allowing her frail body to fall into Chi Wan’s arms.

Chi Wan’s heart jolted. She quickly caught her, and the moment she did, her own restless spirit finally calmed.

But peace never lasted long.

Chi Fei, who had been watching with cold disdain, scoffed: “Don’t be so quick to hug. Chi Wan, right? I hear you’re some kind of influencer. Must have a little money, then. Perfect—your girlfriend stole my jewelry. Why don’t you pay for it?”

Chi Wan frowned slightly, turning to An Ran with questioning eyes.

Chi Tian blurted out before she could answer: “Don’t listen to her nonsense, Chi Wan! None of this is true! She made up a story about some expensive jewelry and accused your girlfriend of stealing it. Then she even tried to pin it on me!

She’s just a big idiot!”

“Say that again!”

Chi Fei ground her teeth, her face twisting with fury.

“I’m not wrong!”

Chi Tian shrank back for a moment, but then lifted her chin again. I’ve done nothing wrong. Why should I be afraid?

The room had reached a deadlock. No one could prove their point, and it seemed they’d need someone of real authority to settle it.

But who?

Chi Fei, seeing Chi Tian’s stubbornness, muttered, “I’ll deal with you later.”

Then she redirected her scorn toward Chi Wan: “Still hugging? Let me make this clear—either you return the jewelry today, or you pay for it. Otherwise, no one leaves.”

Her lips curled in a mocking smile. “Oh, that’s right—you’re a washed-up influencer, aren’t you? Not much money, bad reputation. No wonder. Apart from hugging your girlfriend and giving her comfort, you’re useless.”

The sight of them in each other’s arms clearly irked her. “Fine, I’ll show some mercy. After all, you’re not even married. Just girlfriends…”

“Impossible. Don’t even think about it.”

Chi Wan cut her off firmly, her tone resolute.

The sneer froze on Chi Fei’s lips. She spat, “Ungrateful brat! So you already know what I was about to say!”

Chi Wan had guessed. Chi Tian hadn’t. Confused, she demanded, “What were you going to say?”

Chi Fei let out a sharp laugh. “I was going to say—if Chi Wan breaks up with her, then she can walk out free. Just girlfriends, after all.”

“You! How could you do something so vile!”

Chi Tian was furious. Her hands trembled as she shouted: “Fine! Just wait!”

She hadn’t wanted to call their elders, but Chi Fei had gone too far. She’d do it. Not just a call—she’d make it a video call.

At first, Chi Fei didn’t take her seriously. But when she saw Chi Tian really take out her phone and start dialing, panic surged in her chest. She lunged forward to snatch the device.

In the scuffle, Chi Tian didn’t even know who the call had connected to—but she was certain the video call had already gone through.

“Hang up right now!”

Chi Tian’s heart had already leapt into her throat—because nothing is more terrifying than the unknown. But seeing Chi Fei act so arrogantly, she simply screwed her eyes shut, braced herself, and shouted back:

“I’m not hanging up!”

And so, a few seconds later, the call connected. A pleasant, slightly deep voice came through.

It was a voice that blurred the line between male and female, though leaning more toward masculine.

Despite how beautiful it sounded, both Chi Tian and Chi Fei froze in unison.

Cold sweat instantly beaded on Chi Fei’s forehead.

Even the usually brash Chi Tian wasn’t much better off—her teeth were chattering from nerves. After a long moment, she forced a stiff, awkward smile and stammered, “C-Chairman…”

Never in her wildest dreams did she expect the number she had dialed to connect to the Chairman of the Group—head of the Chi family’s main branch.

Heavens! She only wanted someone to judge fairly—how did she end up dragging out such a towering figure?

But then, catching a glimpse of Chi Fei practically drenched in cold sweat, Chi Tian’s nerves steadied. For the first time, she felt this really might be fate.

So she rushed to explain before her cousin could:

“Chairman, here’s what happened—Chi Fei falsely accused me and an innocent Omega of stealing her jewelry. But she couldn’t even provide proof of purchase to prove the item exists. And when the Omega’s girlfriend showed up, she demanded compensation on the spot, refusing to let anyone leave unless they broke up right there!”

“C-Chairman! It’s not like that, I—”

Chi Fei tried to defend herself, but she was a step too late. Worse, her guilty conscience left her scrambling for words. Nothing came.

Seeing this, Chi Tian’s confidence soared. “Chairman, you see? She’s lying!”

Her words fell into silence. The Chairman on the video call did not respond. Chi Tian’s heart sank. Had she gone too far? Hastily, she lowered her head, no longer daring to speak—though she still stole glances at the Chairman’s expression.

Quietly, she reproached herself. The Chairman was gravely ill, with no direct heir, and thus had to choose a successor from among the collateral branches. He ought to be recuperating. Yet here she was, disturbing his rest with a phone call.

“Chairman,” she said softly, “I shouldn’t trouble you. I’ll hang up now, so you can rest.”

Her finger had just brushed the hang-up button when his voice came again:

“Don’t hang up. Since I already know, I must intervene. Where are the Omega and her girlfriend?”

“Over there, by the bed,” Chi Tian blurted out instinctively. But realizing how suggestive it sounded, she hurried to explain: “The Omega seems to have been drugged—she can’t move. When Chi Fei and I entered, she was already lying there. She said she’d been knocked out and brought in.”

As she spoke, she turned the phone’s camera toward Chi Wan’s side.

Chi Wan, curious about the owner of that captivating voice, turned her head toward the screen.

The moment her gaze met the sharply dressed man’s in the video, both of them froze.

Chi Wan froze because—his features looked a little like her own.

The man froze because of the sudden pang in his chest, and because she resembled the one person he had once loved most dearly.

“You…” he murmured, leaning closer to the camera, as though proximity could sharpen the image.

“I’m An Ran’s girlfriend,” Chi Wan introduced herself plainly.

“She’s called An Ran. What’s your name?”

The man’s curiosity was genuine, urged on by some unshakable feeling.

“My name is Chi Wan.”

She tilted her head in mild puzzlement but still answered truthfully. To her surprise, the man’s breathing suddenly quickened.

“You… your surname is Chi as well?”

“Yes. I took my mother’s surname. Her surname is Chi.”

From the man’s expression on screen, it was clear something deep was stirring in him. And oddly enough, Chi Wan found her own emotions swayed by his.

“When is your birthday?”

His question came urgently. The camera now showed only half his face, giving the moment an odd edge—but the emotion in his eyes was overwhelming.

Chi Wan’s heart gave a faint tremor. The original owner of this body never knew who her father was. Could it really be… the man before her?

The thought barely surfaced before she deflected slightly: “Sometime these next few days.”

“Which day exactly?” he pressed.

A flicker of unease stirred in her. “Does that really matter? Right now, what’s more important is—”

She glanced instinctively at An Ran, meaning that clearing up the false accusation should come first. But the man seemed fixated, even pleading in his tone.

“Chairman, perhaps you’re over-exerting yourself?”

Even Chi Tian felt his behavior was off. But then she remembered—around this time every year, his health worsened. Occasionally, he even displayed symptoms akin to hysteria.

Still, this was family business. Chi Wan was, after all, just a familiar stranger—it wouldn’t do to reveal too much in front of her.

Reminded of their presence, the Chairman inhaled deeply, quickly reigning in his emotions. Chi Tian didn’t notice, but Chi Fei, ever sensitive, grew more unsettled, afraid he had already seen through her.

“I am a little tired. Chi Fei, let them go for now. Tell me where you are—I’ll have someone check the surveillance.”

His tone turned gentle as he looked at Chi Fei.

The Chairman had spoken. How could Chi Fei refuse? Especially when panic gnawed at her. If surveillance footage was reviewed, her lies would unravel completely.

And if the Chairman discovered she had fabricated everything… would she still have any chance at succession?

“We’re on boat number XX, in room…” Chi Tian quickly supplied the details, then urged Chi Fei to state where the jewelry had been purchased—let the investigation be thorough.

But Chi Fei only stammered and stumbled, unable to utter a word.

“That will be all for now.”

The man ended the call abruptly.

It’s over… The Chairman must be disappointed in me.

Chi Fei collapsed weakly to the floor.

Chi Tian, however, did not gloat. She hurried over to Chi Wan, urging them to leave quickly. Even though Chi Fei wouldn’t dare disobey the Chairman’s orders, who knew—what if she lost her mind?

But just as they opened the door, they found three people eavesdropping outside. Both sides froze.

The atmosphere instantly turned awkward.

“Uh… we just came to check in,” Lu Xin scratched her head, her gaze flickering over Chi Wan.

When they had arrived, they hadn’t seen her, so they assumed she wasn’t here. But knowing where An Ran was, they waited outside the room.

The soundproofing was too good. Even with their ears pressed to the door, they heard nothing.

Ruan Xiao and Chu Rou had stationed themselves at the stairwell as lookouts, ready to signal them if Chi Wan appeared.

Who could’ve guessed that the one they were searching for would walk right out of the room?

And judging from An Ran’s condition, she hadn’t been harassed at all.

Some people really were born lucky.

Lu Xin silently ground her teeth in resentment.

Just then, Chu Rou’s phone buzzed with a message. At first, she thought she’d misread it, rubbing her eyes in disbelief.

It was too much to believe—the Chi family had suddenly invited the show’s guests to a banquet?

Such a windfall was enough to stun her.

“Thank you again. I still don’t know your name.”

Chi Wan shifted An Ran in her arms and looked at the spirited young woman nearby.

“We share a surname.”

The girl grinned impishly. “Chi Tian. Nice to meet you.”

Chu Rou paused. Something clicked in her mind. “Wait—you’re from the Chi family?”

“Not the main branch, just a collateral line,” Chi Tian admitted with a playful tongue-out smile.

Her eyes darted sideways—and by chance, she glimpsed Chu Rou’s message. With a blink, she asked, “Are you all going to the banquet too?”

“Yes… do you know what this is about?” Chu Rou’s curiosity was eating her alive.

Chi Tian’s expression turned odd. After a moment’s hesitation, she pointed to herself. “Uh… maybe it has something to do with me?”

“Huh???” Chu Rou’s face was full of question marks.

“I just called the Chairman… because of what happened earlier.”

Chi Tian twirled a finger and pointed toward An Ran and Chi Wan.

That casual gesture hit Lu Xin and the others like a thunderclap.

Their pupils practically shook with shock.