Why Did the Top Alpha Suddenly Stop Acting Out? - Chapter 57

Seeing Yi Qian’s inexplicably delighted expression, Ye Shuyi couldn’t help but grow curious about the task. She leaned slightly closer, and the person beside her quickly sensed it, tilting the note toward her.

Upon reading the note, Ye Shuyi looked up in confusion, what was there to be so happy about?

Yi Qian smiled at her, pressing her lips together lightly before displaying the task note to the live stream:

[Task: One guest must carry the other for the remainder of the journey. Reward: Five bottles of mineral water. Penalty: One bottle deducted for each time the carried person is set down.]

[Alright, now we know what Yi Qian mouthed earlier, it was definitely “stick together”!!]

[Yi Qian, dude, your smile’s practically reaching the sun. Carrying your wife makes you this happy, huh?]

She glanced at the comments and raised a brow slightly but said nothing, handing the note back to the staff.

The staff placed the reward bottles of water into a bag and handed it to them. Yi Qian took it and passed it to Ye Shuyi. “You hold this and the livestream equipment. I’ll carry you.”

Ye Shuyi didn’t refuse, nodding. “If you get tired along the way, let me know. I’ll carry you instead.”

Yi Qian simply nodded in response.

Though the livestream equipment was in Ye Shuyi’s hands, her camera wasn’t pointed at herself at all, it was entirely focused on Yi Qian.

Fans in the livestream protested:

[Aaaah, Yi Qian! Tell your manager to tilt the camera up! We don’t want to just see you, we want to see the gorgeous Ye Shuyi! Not half her face, the full thing!]

Reading the comment, Yi Qian arched a brow and drawled, “For those who don’t want to see me, I suggest clicking the exit button in the top right corner.”

No peeking at my wife! Not letting you see!

[Wow, Yi Qian, is Manager Ye really that light? You’re carrying her so effortlessly, you’ve gone this far without even breaking a sweat.]

Yi Qian curved her lips, lowering her voice. “Let me tell you a secret the person on my back is a fairy who drinks morning dew. It might look like I’m carrying her, but really, she’s floating gently in the air, just matching pace with us mere mortals.”

Hearing this, Ye Shuyi suddenly recalled the first time they went on a date, when Yi Qian had carried her home and said something similar. Unconsciously, her lips curled up, and she lightly tapped Yi Qian’s waist as a warning to watch her words.

[Manager Ye smiled!! Why did she smile? Are they speaking in code again?]

[Definitely code. If these two aren’t involved, then I’m dating Ye Shuyi myself.]

[Dream on, sister.]

Chatting with the livestream audience, they soon arrived at Lingguang Temple halfway up the mountain. Yi Qian gently set Ye Shuyi down, bid farewell to the viewers, and ended the stream.

In the open square before the temple entrance, Cai Yunyoo spotted them and waved enthusiastically. Before she could speak, Huang Xin covered her mouth from behind. “Didn’t I tell you not to speak loudly in a temple?”

Her tone was light, lacking its usual sternness, more exasperated than anything.

Cai Yunyoo held her hand and nodded obediently. “I forgot just now. I’ll remember this time.”

Hearing her assurance, Huang Xin let go, only for the person in her arms to slip away like an eel, darting right in front of Yi Qian and excitedly babbling something incomprehensible.

Huang Xin shook her head helplessly and muttered, “Little brat.”

A while later, He Tong and Long Xiaoqin came up supporting each other though “supporting” was a stretch, as He Tong was practically draped over Long Xiaoqin, making her sway unsteadily with each step.

Cai Yunyoo noticed and went over to help, asking with concern, “Are you okay?”

Long Xiaoqin slid down to the ground, panting heavily, and weakly shook her head. “I’m fine, just a bit tired,” she said softly, offering a faint smile. “You must’ve been the first one up, huh? Looks like you’ve already rested.”

Cai Yunyoo nodded cheerfully. “Mainly because our last task was the same as Senior Yi’s, one person had to carry the other up. You know what?” She leaned in closer to Long Xiaoqin’s ear and whispered, “I never realized my manager had such great stamina. She carried me the entire third leg without breaking a sweat, no panting, no flushed face. Tsk, impressive. No wonder she’s my manager.”

Long Xiaoqin smiled slightly and glanced at Huang Xin standing nearby. “Now you, can’t stop praising her.”

Cai Yunyoo chuckled. “Yeah. You wouldn’t believe it, earlier this year, the company asked if I wanted to switch managers. Honestly, I never even considered replacing her. It’s just that she used to micromanage everything, treating me like a kid. I know she meant well, but sometimes it was downright annoying, so I loved pushing back. Seriously, even my mom never nagged me that much. I felt exhausted just watching her.”

“But after joining this show, she seems to have realized her problem. Now she actually asks for my opinion on things, and when she reminds me of something, it’s not in that bossy, ‘I-own-the-world’ tone anymore. She’s a lot gentler now.”

“Of course, I’ve also recognized my own flaws and have been working on them. And you know what? Once I let go of my old grudges against her, I realized she’s actually really charming that unique allure of a mature woman.”

“You know me, I’ve never been stingy with compliments.”

“Oh, sorry, sorry. I think I rambled too much. Can you get up now?”

Long Xiaoqin shook her head slightly, lowering her gaze to the temple’s gray stone tiles. “That’s nice,” she murmured.

Cai Yunyoo frowned. “Where’s your manager? Have you ever thought about replacing her? She clearly doesn’t value you.”

Long Xiaoqin gave a bitter smile. As a barely-known minor celebrity, she had no leverage to negotiate with the company. She sighed silently. “I’m fine. Let things take their course.”

Cai Yunyoo frowned helplessly and helped her up. “Come on, we should head in.”

The moment they stood, Cai Yunyoo sensed someone approaching. Turning, she saw her manager standing there expressionlessly. “Time to go in.”

Cai Yunyoo grinned and nodded, affectionately linking arms with her before looping her other arm through Long Xiaoqin’s. “Let’s go together.”

The group entered the temple and each took a meditation cushion before the Buddha. Following the staff’s arrangement, the six guests knelt before the statue, forming three pairs in a triangular formation, closing their eyes as they listened to the monk’s chanting.

When the chanting concluded and preparations began for the next blessing ritual, Yi Qian turned off her own microphone before reaching behind Ye Shuyi to switch off hers as well. Leaning closer, she whispered into Ye Shuyi’s ear, “Have you ever heard something interesting?”

“Hmm?”

Ye Shuyi looked at her in confusion.

“They say couples shouldn’t visit temples together,” Yi Qian explained, her gaze brimming with amusement and tenderness as she watched for Ye Shuyi’s reaction.

“Why’s that?” Ye Shuyi remained puzzled, having never encountered this superstition.

Yi Qian leaned in again, her whisper barely audible, “Because legend says couples who visit temples together will soon break up, the Buddha weeds out ill-fated relationships.”

“If that’s true,” Ye Shuyi mused, “then every couple should visit once. If it’s truly an ill-fated match, having Buddha help end it might be for the best.”

After all, if two people weren’t meant to walk the same path, why prolong the inevitable?

Yi Qian’s expression grew serious as she whispered once more, “Then…what if we’re ill-fated?”

Ye Shuyi studied her momentarily before responding calmly, “First, we’re not currently what you’d call a couple. Second, even if we reconcile and it turns out to be ill-fated…” She turned toward the Buddha statue, closing her eyes and pressing her palms together in prayer as she finished serenely, “I still wouldn’t let you go.”

The corners of Yi Qian’s mouth curled upward as she breathed into Ye Shuyi’s ear, “You’d better mean that, darling.”

A quiet “Mm” was Ye Shuyi’s only reply.

When the group emerged from the temple, the sunset had painted half the sky crimson, its fiery hues winding across the mountain slopes and transforming green leaves into scarlet masterpieces, a breathtaking spectacle.

Overwhelmed by the view, Cai Yunyoo threw up her hands and nearly dashed toward the railing with an excited shriek, only to be swiftly intercepted from behind. Huang Xin’s arms encircled her as a calm voice ordered, “Quiet,” while a hand covered her mouth.

Nodding obediently, Cai Yunyoo waited until released before immediately dragging Long Xiaoqin toward the railing, grumbling, “She catches me before I even do anything. Does she have eyes in the back of her head?”

Long Xiaoqin chuckled, “That’s because she knows you too well and pays you plenty of attention.”

Tilting her head, Cai Yunyoo conceded, “Well, that doesn’t actually feel so bad.”

After completing their prayers and blessings, admiring the scenery and taking photographs, the group boarded their van for the descent.

Exhausted from the hike, both Ye Shuyi and Cai Yunyoo soon fell asleep, each resting their head against their companion’s shoulder in peaceful slumber.

Gazing at the sleeping face against her shoulder, Huang Xin’s lips curved unconsciously so much more endearing like this.

Seated alone beside them, Long Xiaoqin glanced over with unmistakable envy before redirecting her attention to the fading sunset beyond the windows.

Yi Qian studied the woman leaning against her, the last golden rays of dusk reflected in her eyes, her gaze holding all the tenderness of the setting sun.

After a moment, she looked up at the camera facing them and signaled the cameraperson to switch it off.

The photographer was puzzled, but out of professional duty, he decisively shook his head.

Yi Qian bargained again, saying she only needed a moment.

Reluctantly, the photographer gave her thirty seconds.

Yi Qian flashed him an OK sign, watching as he tactfully turned around.

She took out her phone, finding the perfect angle in the cramped seat space. Gently kissing the forehead of the person in her arms, she captured their sleeping face along with the sunset glow, preserving it in her private photo collection.

Thirty seconds later, the photographer turned back to find Yi Qian sitting quietly as if nothing had happened, gazing at the scenery outside with a faint smile. Scratching his head in confusion, he reopened his camera, framing both of them in the shot.

Suddenly, the vehicle braked sharply, causing everyone to lurch forward uncontrollably. The two sleeping figures nearly slammed into the seats ahead, but quick reflexes from those beside them cushioned their heads just in time.

Ye Shuyi jolted awake, her eyes snapping open as she looked at the person before her. “What happened?” she asked.

Before Yi Qian could respond, He Tong from the front row cried out in alarm, “What’s going on? Did we hit something?”

“Nothing serious,” the driver explained. “Just some animal maybe a fox darted across the road.”

Yi Qian patted Ye Shuyi’s hand reassuringly. “It’s fine. Go back to sleep if you’re tired. I’ll wake you when we arrive.”

Ye Shuyi nodded and leaned back against the seat, soon dozing off again, her head eventually tilting onto Yi Qian’s shoulder.

The vehicle leaving Lingguang Temple didn’t head toward any residential area or dinner venue. Instead, it stopped before an isolated house with an eerie atmosphere.

Yi Qian gently nudged the person resting on her shoulder awake, unconsciously rolling her numb shoulder to relieve the stiffness.

“Does it hurt?” Ye Shuyi frowned. “Why didn’t you wake me earlier?”

“It’s nothing,” Yi Qian chuckled. “Sitting too long makes anyone’s butt go numb. Totally normal.”

Before Ye Shuyi could say more, Cai Yunyoo’s shriek from outside cut through: “A horror escape room? Director, is your creativity so bankrupt that all you can think of are these terrifying setups?!”

Seeing Ye Shuyi’s furrowed brows, Yi Qian gave her shoulder a reassuring pat. “Come on, let’s get off first.”

As soon as they stepped out, a chilling gust of wind swept by, raising goosebumps all over.

With all guests assembled, Director Lu raised his megaphone: “Has anyone here ever tried an escape room before?”

The group exchanged glances before shaking their heads collectively.

Nodding understandingly, Director Lu grinned. “As you can see, tonight’s theme is horror escape rooms. Though both involve scares, they’re quite different from haunted houses. I won’t spoil the details, you’ll discover them firsthand soon enough.”

“Tonight’s performance directly determines your accommodation conditions, so please take it seriously. No regrets allowed later.”

“Before entering, we’ll play a game. The top three performers can choose new partners. Those wanting to switch teammates should give it their all.”

All the guests instinctively turned to look at their partners, yet no one said a word.

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