The Top-Tier Alpha Refuses to Be Pretty Cannon Fodder - Chapter 1

Inside the lavishly decorated bedroom, a crystal chandelier hung low, casting light over a bed covered in rose petals. The figure lying there shifted, turning over. The piercing glare from above caused his brow to knit together, and his slender fingers curled as he gripped the silk sheets beneath him.

“Ugh.”

A restrictive sensation pulled Lu Yunli back to consciousness. He opened his eyes only to find himself lying naked on the bed. His body was wrapped in pink gift-wrapping ribbon that wound all the way up to his neck, where it was tied into an exquisite bow. If anyone were to push open the door right now, they would see him lying there like a literal gift.

Yet, just a moment ago, he had been driving home after finishing a meeting at Military Headquarters. What was going on?

[System 520 has successfully bound to the host.]

[Welcome to the world of the book: The Overbearing CEO’s Substitute Wife.]

[Current Character: Lu Yunli or Lu Yunxing] [Age: 26] [Gender: Top-tier Alpha] [Identity: CEO of FLP Group] [Marital Status: Married] [Husband: Qi Xi]

[Role in the story: Cannon Fodder]

As Lu Yunli listened to the cold electronic voice in his ear, his expression grew increasingly grim. This was the very book he had been listening to on his drive home. The character who shared his name was the CEO of the FLP Group, wielding top-tier resources and assets across the globe. Unfortunately, this fool ended up as cannon fodder simply because he fell in love with the protagonist, Qi Xi.

The original Lu Yunli was deeply infatuated with Qi Xi. However, because both were Alphas, he had gone as far as creating a fake twin identity, Lu Yunxing, pretending to be an Omega just so he could marry the man and act like a devoted servant.

Meanwhile, the protagonist Qi Xi was in love with his childhood friend, an Omega named Xie Xingchi, and did not have the slightest interest in the original host. Later, as Qi Xi’s career soared, the original host was ousted from FLP Group. A mob drove him out of his own company, and that same night, Qi Xi demanded a divorce. Driven out of the villa like a stray dog, Lu Yunli died of a broken heart.

The current point in time was the third year of their marriage, specifically their wedding anniversary. Today, the original host had invited Qi Xi back to the villa. To give Qi Xi a surprise, he had been egged on by a friend to tie himself up like a gift, intending to seduce Qi Xi and offer himself to him.

What an idiot. He had a hand full of aces and played them like garbage. It was a total waste of a good name.

“Divorce. I am definitely getting a divorce,” Lu Yunli muttered. He let out a cold sneer. “So, you are the one who turned me into this moron?”

System 520 shuddered.

[520: Host, you are the chosen one!]

[520: We bound to you because the Space-Time Administration detected your dissatisfaction with this book. We want you to change the character’s fate. Once you complete the mission, you can return home safely.]

Lu Yunli narrowed his eyes. “You are letting me?”

[520: We are asking you!]

“And if I refuse?”

[520: You will die.]

System 520 felt overwhelmed. It had seen many hosts, but this one was terrifying.

Lu Yunli ripped off the ribbons, symbols of his humiliation, and stepped out of bed. His bare feet looked pale and slender against the marble floor. He headed toward the bathroom and paused for a moment. “Fine. I will do it.”

Once he took over for this fool, he would teach the protagonist a lesson.

[520: Host, it is not like you actually have the power to refuse.]

Lu Yunli said nothing.

[520: Also, a quick reminder. Your current level is too low, so you cannot go Out of Character.]

Lu Yunli’s hand tightened around a bathroom towel, his teeth grinding. “What level am I?”

[520: Level 2. You can level up by unlocking more of your character’s plot. Once you reach Level 20, you can act freely. Otherwise, you will face electric shock punishment.]

“You want me to act like that stupid—”

Before the thought could even finish, Lu Yunli felt a suffocating surge of electricity course through his body. His legs buckled, and he grabbed the bathroom door for support. It was real. No matter, when had Lu Yunli ever admitted defeat?

Ten minutes later, the current grew even more intense. His soft, dark hair was damp with sweat, and droplets rolled down his long lashes onto the floor. His arm trembled against the door, and veins began to bulge on his forehead under the bright lights. Closing his eyes against the encroaching feeling of death, he growled, “Enough!”

The moment he spoke those pained words, the electricity vanished. Lu Yunli, soaked as if he had been pulled from a river, took a deep breath. He yanked the bathroom door open in a fit of pique and raised an eyebrow. “Fine. I will play the part.”

It was just acting like a useless loser. It was not like he did not know how to do that.

[520: Dear, just a heads-up. Qi Xi is arriving soon.]

“Damn it.”

He would rather be electrocuted than let Qi Xi see him in this pathetic state. Lu Yunli took the fastest shower of his life and pulled a fresh set of clothes from the wardrobe. He braced his hands against the marble sink, studying the man in the mirror.

He had to admit, this fool had a great appearance. He had a high bridge of the nose and exquisite features. His eyes, flushed from the hot water, looked misty and red at the corners. He looked like an Omega, radiating a seductive charm that would normally bait any Alpha.

Lu Yunli reached up to rub away the redness around his eyes. As he looked down, he noticed his black shirt collar was loose, revealing faint red marks where the ribbons had been tied. This body had a sensitive constitution. Just being tied up for a short while had left marks all over him. Anyone seeing this would think something scandalous had already happened to him.

Lu Yunli had just finished fastening his collar tightly when he heard the sound of the front door opening downstairs.

Well, well, he thought. The husband who hasn’t been home in three years finally decides to show up.

“520,” Lu Yunli asked inwardly, “how did that fool manage to invite Qi Xi over?”

[520: You promised that if he came, you would give him the bionic chips from your brother’s—well, your own—FLP Group.]

Lu Yunli recalled that those bionic chips were part of a shipment the FLP munitions factory was supplying to the Royal Family of Country Y. If he couldn’t deliver them later, the people in Country Y would skin him alive.

Lu Yunli took a deep breath. “What a spendthrift brat.” If he had been there, he would have cracked that guy’s skull open to see if he had anything in there besides lust.

Turning around, Lu Yunli picked up the divorce papers he had just printed from a nearby table and began walking downstairs.

[520: Dear, don’t be impulsive!!!]

[520: Handing the divorce papers to Qi Xi right now would be completely Out of Character!]

Lu Yunli descended the stairs with elegant steps, his fingers tapping the handrail like a pianist playing black and white keys. “If he is the one who proposes the divorce, then it won’t count as being OOC, right?”

[520: …]

He knew it; this system had a bug.

“Lu Yunxing, is this why you called me here?”

Accompanied by a sharp shout, Lu Yunli’s gaze dropped. He immediately saw the man standing below. At the foot of the spiral staircase stood a tall man, his lean and narrow waist defined by a high-end black tailored suit. Under the lights, his face appeared sharp and fierce, exuding a raw, wild energy.

However, at this moment, the Alpha was looking up at him with deep, dark eyes filled with displeasure. His thin, elegant lips were curled in a sneer of disdain and mockery.

That face… damn it, he is exactly my type.

Lu Yunli fingered the divorce papers in his hand as he walked down the steps. “A breakup gift—do you like it?”

Yet, the words that actually left his lips were a cautious inquiry. “Brother Qi, do you like these decorations?”

Lu Yunli: ?

[520: You cannot go Out of Character~]

The decorations in the villa were clearly designed with great care. Balloons and roses signaled to Qi Xi that today was their anniversary and that his “little wife” loved him.

Qi Xi, who had fought his way up from the bottom, loathed “flower vases” who relied on their looks. Three years ago, he had been schemed into marrying Lu Yunxing. Even though they had the same face, one was at the top of the world while the one before him was a delicate, crybaby Omega. To avoid him, Qi Xi had not returned once in three years. If it weren’t for the bionic chips Lu Yunxing offered, he never would have come.

Qi Xi stared at the fresh roses, reached out to pull one from an arrangement, and dropped it on the floor. “I don’t like it.”

His expensive leather shoes crushed the rose, signifying that the heart of the person who prepared all this was being trampled into pieces.

If the original host were here, his heart would be shattered. Unfortunately, Lu Yunli was not that fool. He would not allow his dignity to be stepped on.

Lu Yunli snapped back to reality and saw Qi Xi walking toward him, stopping just inches away.

Lu Yunli: “Qi Xi, since you don’t like it, let’s just part ways on good terms.”

Accompanied by a faint electric current, the words in his mouth turned into: “Brother Qi, please don’t be unhappy. Tell me what you like, and I’ll get it for you, okay?”

Lu Yunli: I f*ing… [Bleep]

The Omega’s eyes were red. Qi Xi instinctively raised his hand, but it stopped abruptly in front of Lu Yunli’s face. He steadied himself, letting a trace of mockery and disgust color his features. “Lu Yunxing, stop wasting your effort. I don’t like useless people.”

What a coincidence, Lu Yunli thought. I don’t like being useless either.

Having learned from his previous attempts, he knew anything he said would be filtered. He opened his mouth but ultimately swallowed his words.

Seeing the little Omega lower his head in silence, Qi Xi withdrew his hand. “Lu Yunxing, you remember our agreement, don’t you? The three-year limit is almost up.”

[520: Dear, say something.]

Lu Yunli: No!

Anything he said would just be twisted! However, Lu Yunli underestimated the system’s cruelty. The system simply seized control of his body. He stepped forward and grabbed Qi Xi’s clothes. “Brother Qi, I love you. I don’t want a divorce.”

I’m done. Just let the world end, Lu Yunli thought.

A flash of loathing appeared in Qi Xi’s eyes. “Lu Yunxing, you are truly disgusting like this.”

Lu Yunli: “Disgusting your mo— [Bleep]”

Suddenly, the familiar surge of electricity swept through his body. Lu Yunli’s legs gave out, and he crashed defenselessly into Qi Xi’s arms. He caught the strong scent of brandy Qi Xi’s pheromones.

Lu Yunli: “…”

If he said he wasn’t throwing himself at the man but just had weak legs, would Qi Xi believe him? Clearly, he would not.

“Lu Yunxing, you—”

In a fit of anger, Qi Xi moved to pull the Omega away, but his eyes caught the faint flush at the corners of Lu Yunli’s eyes. With tears shimmering, he looked like a little deer that had been severely bullied and felt terribly wronged.

Qi Xi suddenly froze. Under the light, those tearful eyes shone as bright as stars.

Lu Yunli waited for Qi Xi to push him away, but instead, the man’s fingers pressed against his crimson eyelids as if trying to stain his own fingertips with that red hue.

He’s just crying, how can I be captivated?

Qi Xi snapped out of it and shoved Lu Yunli away. “Lu Yunxing, once the agreement expires, I will have my lawyer send you the divorce papers. As for the reason, explain it to your brother yourself.”

Lu Yunli stumbled back against the stairs. He bit his lower lip hard and stared at the man’s retreating back, grinding his teeth.

“Fine. For the reason, I’ll just tell my brother that you, Director Qi, are impotent.”

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