Hello, I’m so sorry for the late update (┬┬﹏┬┬) Its been so hectic yesterday so I couldnt find any time to update, there’ll be 3 chapter for today. I hope you enjoys it~
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The band backstage had just swapped out members, and the departing players gathered, grinning as they removed their makeup. Some of them had witnessed Yan Ming’s obsessive pursuit of Xia Yan, and now, seeing him with Tang Zihang, they couldn’t help but wonder to themselves.
What’s going on? Is he really messing around with people from the same band? Isn’t this bound to cause friction?
The gossipy stares were impossible to ignore.
Tang Zihang, shy by nature, felt extremely uncomfortable under the scrutiny. Instinctively, he shrank behind Yan Ming, tugging at his shirt and whispering, “Should we go out for a late-night snack?”
“Of course! To celebrate my dear’s performance, I’ve booked a candlelight dinner just for you,” Yan Ming roared, ensuring everyone backstage could hear.
“Th-thank you.”
“And there’s also a gift to celebrate.”
Yan Ming pulled out a gift box he had prepared in advance, lifting the lid with a flourish. Inside, a beautifully crafted, expensive diamond ring sparkled under the light.
The crowd of onlookers, who had been watching the situation, gasped audibly.
“Whoa! That’s huge and shiny.”
“How much do you think it costs?”
“At least a million, right?”
…
Yan Ming couldn’t help but feel proud listening to the murmurs around him. Xia Yan had refused to date him—it was definitely his loss. He must be regretting it now.
As his boyfriend hugged him, touched by the gesture, Yan Ming sneakily glanced at Xia Yan from the corner of his eye.
Xia Yan was still wearing his stage outfit, his makeup intact. Glittering eyeshadow dusted the corner of his eyes, resembling galaxy fragments.
Those pale, slender fingers of his were carefully unwrapping a gift.
It was a simple LV wool scarf, worth no more than 3,000 yuan.
For some reason, Yan Ming felt a sense of relief.
See? Apart from him, who else would be foolish enough to give him gifts worth millions? This ring was custom-made to match Xia Yan’s taste, costing over 3 million yuan.
Quick! Look this way!
Then, beg for forgiveness, heartbroken?
Perhaps because Yan Ming’s gaze had grown too bold, Xia Yan seemed to sense it. He turned his head, catching sight of the large diamond ring in Tang Zihang’s hand.
Yan Ming held his breath, watching closely.
But… Xia Yan glanced at it indifferently before returning to the pile of gifts behind him, continuing to open them. The items were scattered haphazardly across the vanity table, mostly luxury goods.
But they were only worth a few thousand dollars each! Could they compare to his diamond ring?
Uncultured fool!
Yan Ming’s stomach churned with frustration, and his Alpha instincts, particularly his teeth meant for marking an Omega’s gland, began to ache. If only Xia Yan were an Omega…
–
Xia Yan absentmindedly unwrapped his gifts, watching the side quest progress on his system panel soar. Thinking about the points he’d earn in the future, his mood improved.
He was one step closer to revival.
Once he finished unwrapping everything, the concert would be over, and it would be time to find the protagonist shou.
However, remembering the scene he’d just witnessed, Xia Yan hesitated and asked, [999, don’t you think the ring Tang Zihang got… looks a bit small?]
[It does seem that way] the system replied, uncertain.
Yan Ming’s series of actions gave Xia Yan a vague feeling that he wasn’t actually into Tang Zihang but was deliberately targeting him.
Xia Yan wanted to warn his bandmate, but given his past with Yan Ming, speaking up would make it seem like he was jealous of the happy couple and trying to stir up trouble.
Besides… he wasn’t even sure if his hunch was correct. In his previous life, he had thought Tu Xi was his sweet little wife, only to end up being the one pinned down.
Xia Yan still couldn’t accept that painful fact.
Sigh! Forget it. He decided not to interfere in others’ relationships—he still had his own to figure out.
Thinking of Task 2, Xia Yan felt a headache coming on.
After fretting for a while, the romance-challenged youth finally resorted to his usual solution: searching online.
Xia Yan casually tossed the item he had just unwrapped on top of the pile and rummaged around for a bit before picking up his phone from the floor.
[How to make someone confess to me?]
There were plenty of guides online, and a quick search pulled up a ton.
Xia Yan read through article after article, focusing on the key points. He was so engrossed that the concert was already over by the time he snapped out of it.
What?
Crap!!! He’d forgotten to find the protagonist shou.
Xia Yan’s mouth twitched as he pocketed his phone. Just as he was about to dash outside and see if he could catch him, a familiar waiter suddenly appeared, smiling. “Brother Xia, there’s an Omega outside who says he’s your friend. Should I let him in?”
Omega? The protagonist shou had come to him.
Great.
The connection hadn’t been severed.
Xia Yan quietly breathed a sigh of relief, then sat back in his chair, keeping up his persona by maintaining a casual demeanor. He nodded, slipping a few hundred yuan from his wallet to tip the waiter.
The waiter’s smile widened. “Thank you, Brother Xia. I’ll go fetch him now.”
Three minutes later.
Everyone stared in astonishment at the Omega who walked in.
With striking looks, an elegant aura, and decked out in designer clothes, he was clearly high-quality backup material.
Whoa! Xia Yan can attract all three ABO genders? And they’re all top-tier? Why are we Betas so different from each other?
Whatever their thoughts, Yan Ming hadn’t left. Although the newcomer was of a different gender, everyone couldn’t help but compare them.
And they realized… Yan Ming had lost.
Completely. He didn’t even match up in height!
No wonder Xia Yan didn’t care about him. He already had a new lover—who cares about an ex?
Yan Ming had clearly noticed too. His face turned increasingly pale, and his gaze grew hostile as he stared at Shen Wenqing, wishing he could throw him out immediately.
Had they met before?
Shen Wenqing furrowed his brows, feeling slightly puzzled.
But there were too many unfriendly people in this world, so he quickly ignored the Alpha, focusing his attention on Xia Yan. After two days apart, Xia Yan seemed… more beautiful?
Was it… an illusion?
Shen Wenqing scrutinized him again, confirming that Xia Yan had indeed grown more attractive.
It was probably because of his youth, still not fully developed.
But what did that have to do with him? He was just here to express his gratitude and deliver a thank-you gift. After that… they would have no further contact.
The man coldly analyzed the situation, expressionless as he took out the prepared gift and said concisely, “A thank-you gift.”
“How cold.”
“…”
Xia Yan seemed irritated by his attitude, deliberately picking a fight.
He lazily pointed to the pile of opened gifts, then spread his fingers in front of Shen Wenqing, showing the red marks on them.
“?”
“I’m tired from unwrapping gifts,” Xia Yan said matter-of-factly. “You unwrap the last one for me. Just hand me the box at the end.” He grumbled softly, “So annoying—why do people always wrap things?”
Anyone would feel uncomfortable if their carefully chosen gift was treated so carelessly.
Shen Wenqing’s fingers paused. In the past, he would have left immediately. But now, as he looked at Xia Yan and heard his words, he found he didn’t dislike him.
How odd.
Seeing the man hesitate, Xia Yan frowned. “You don’t want to?”
“…No…” After a moment’s hesitation, Shen Wenqing shook his head. “I don’t mind.”
He removed the white ribbon, tore off the outer wrapping, and opened the large box. Inside was a smaller flip-top box, which he handed over.
“I heard you like expensive things, so I chose a gemstone.”
The gemstone was about the size of a baby’s fist. It was unpolished and still rough, unable to reveal its true beauty.
Xia Yan’s expression shifted from intrigued to disappointed in just ten seconds. Poking at the rough texture on the surface, he asked incredulously, “Are you sure this is a gemstone and not just a rock you picked up somewhere?”
“There’s a certificate from a professional agency at the bottom.”
“?”
Xia Yan skeptically pulled out a piece of paper from the bottom, filled with technical jargon that he ‘definitely’ couldn’t understand. After all, he was supposed to be a money-hungry Beta with no skills, right?
He knew that someone of Shen Wenqing’s status wouldn’t give a fake gift.
But he had to think of a way to create more interactions between them without breaking character.
This gemstone would be the key.
Xia Yan pouted, feigning disdain. “Fine, I’ll take your word for it. But this thing is so ugly! It doesn’t look like it’s worth much. I hate cheap gifts.”
The natural pigeon-blood ruby from Myanmar.
Cheap?
“This was bought at the Surag Auction when I was twelve,” Shen Wenqing explained patiently, despite finding it absurd. “It sold for over five million dollars at the time.”
It’s worth even more now.
Hearing the price, the young man was clearly surprised. He held the gemstone up to the light, examining it carefully for a while, and then put it down again, still dissatisfied.
“But it’s still not pretty,” he complained.
Perhaps it was the allure of money, but the young man’s attitude softened, even his complaints seeming endearing.
Shen Wenqing observed everything, his face calm, and suggested casually, “You could have it cut and polished into a design you like.”
“That’s right.” The young man’s eyes lit up, and a bright smile spread across his face. “Since it’s your gift, how about you handle the processing?”
“Alright.”
The man nodded, and the item he had just given away returned to his hands.
He pulled out his phone, opened a QR code, and handed it to the young man. “Let’s exchange contact information. Once the design is ready, I’ll send it to you. If there’s anything you don’t like, we can modify it.”
Shen Wenqing carried out these actions with such ease, as if he had rehearsed them a thousand times in his mind.
Even though he kept saying he wanted to stay away from the young man, his actions spoke the complete opposite.
We’re just becoming friends.
Shen Wenqing told himself.
Holding the phone, Xia Yan felt satisfied. Everything was going according to plan.
With the gemstone as an excuse, it would be easy to arrange future meetings. And since his character was money-hungry, there was no reason to pass up on a rich fool.
Moreover, Shen Wenqing was an Omega, so his attitude could be softer.
Xia Yan thought of the ‘guide’ he had just read. His lips curved upward, and his peach blossom eyes slightly curved, radiating natural allure. “Brother, you’re so good to me. This is my favorite gift of the day.”
“The most expensive gift, you mean.”
A sudden voice cut through the atmosphere Xia Yan had worked so hard to create.
Not far away, the tall Alpha stood with his arms crossed, his face pale with anger. “Xia Yan, you’re still the same as ever. Whoever gives you money gets your affection. It’s disgusting.”
“And you—”
Yan Ming pointed at Shen Wenqing. “Wake up, don’t let him deceive you.”
