Chapter 2: Scepter

Chapter 2 Scepter

On the computer screen, a pink-haired youth kicked over a table, sending the display cabinet swaying violently. Shards of glass cast shimmering golden reflections on his pale pink hair. A middle-aged Alpha cowered awkwardly in the corner, a stark contrast to the towering Yuan Shiyuan.

A video, less than ten seconds long, was going viral online.

**Top Comment 1**: *Sighs* Yuan Bao is so hot. [Heart-eyes emoji]

**Top Comment 2**: Royalty rebelling?! Is this video for real?

—Holy shit, this guy’s a beast. This is Chen Yan, Ximi Entertainment’s seasoned agent… I thought he was an A-class Alpha?

—Huh? YSY looks like this? Yuan fans have been feasting behind my back??

—Even though it’s a normal surveillance angle, YSY looks way too handsome here. Suspect it’s a company publicity stunt.

—Wasn’t YSY supposed to be an inferior Alpha? How did he beat an A-class CY like a stray dog? And CY’s trembling, helpless expression—sorry, I can’t even. P.S. Yuan Shiyuan is way too good-looking… Were the people who criticized his looks serious??

—YSY definitely isn’t S-class. If he were, they would’ve marketed it from day one—no way they could’ve kept it hidden till now. He’s definitely an inferior Alpha, no question. But isn’t the real issue not his pheromone level? Beating up his agent in the office, and no one dared to stop him—that’s some powerful backing. Truly privileged. [Thumbs up]

—As everyone knows, only an S-class Alpha can completely dominate an A-class. (Of course, it could also be an A-class with a very high pheromone concentration.) (Just a passerby, not a fan, not supporting anyone.)

—Can you all get your facts straight? What level Alpha is YSY anyway?

“S-class! Definitely S-class!”

Xiao Huang and Xiao Li exclaimed excitedly, “The janitor we planted at Ximi Entertainment found Yuan Shiyuan’s physical exam results—it clearly states S-class Alpha! Later, his pheromone blocker accidentally came loose, and many Alphas caught traces of his residual scent. Even though Ximi Entertainment has already suppressed internal information, we’re 100% sure—”

“Yuan Shiyuan is an S-class Alpha!”

An S-class Alpha… with the face of a top-grade Omega??

Another printed document was slapped onto the table.

Pei Yanbing had been about to leave but was abruptly drawn in by a single ID photo.

Even Zhuang He, who was used to beautiful people in the entertainment industry, had to admit, “What an exquisitely beautiful youth.”

The ID photo showed a stunningly beautiful youth smiling at the camera. He looked quite young, perhaps still in his teens—fresh-faced, but with bright, sparkling eyes, red lips, and white teeth. He appeared clean, refreshing, and very pleasing to the eye.

Zhuang He’s interest was piqued. In all his years in the industry, this was the first time he’d seen an Alpha of this type.

He eagerly clicked on the next video.

This one seemed to be secretly recorded. Yuan Shiyuan was dancing in low-rise pants, revealing a slender, narrow waist. His hip movements and several difficult waves showed strong core strength. Many clips were blurry, but it was clear Yuan Shiyuan had a solid dance foundation.

His muscles were lean yet powerful. Several moves required strong explosive power, which he executed perfectly while maintaining an effortless grace.

Pei Yanbing sat back down.

Zhuang He turned to him. “Captain, what do you think?”

“Great core strength, great visual appeal, very beautiful.” Pei Yanbing paused, then added, “And very long legs.”

“Four ‘verys’ in a row—you don’t say this much often. I can tell you’re impressed,” Zhuang He said. “I’m impressed too.”

Zhuang He looked at Pei Yanbing. As fellow S-class Alphas, Pei Yanbing had broader shoulders—the type often called a “double-door refrigerator” online, radiating dominance. The other four Scepter members were similar.

Yuan Shiyuan had a strikingly beautiful face—at first glance, he could easily be mistaken for an Omega. He was tall but half a head shorter than the average S-class Alpha, with a more slender build…

Any member of Scepter would have a noticeable height and size difference with Yuan Shiyuan. Zhuang He had no doubt they could lift Yuan Shiyuan with one hand.

Zhuang He: “Remember our requirements?”

Assistant Xiao Huang nodded. “Good-looking, ideally as refined as an Omega.”

Check—exceeded expectations.

“Brings their own clout and fanbase.”

Perfect fit.

Given Yuan Shiyuan’s current popularity and traffic, if he signed with Starry Night Entertainment, the company probably wouldn’t even need to buy hot search spots.

“As for temperament…”

In the video, Yuan Shiyuan beating up his agent didn’t exactly scream “easygoing temperament.” His actions were violent, filled with the aggression unique to top Alphas, yet his expression was innocent and harmless, even somewhat naive.

So much so that most comments were either fangirling over his looks or panting about how hot he was.

Zhuang He declared, “What’s the current situation between Yuan Shiyuan and Ximi Entertainment? Look into it ASAP. Also, try to get in touch with Yuan Shiyuan as soon as possible.”

Assistant Xiao Huang said, “We’ve tried, but we can’t reach him. Not sure what’s going on—Ximi Entertainment doesn’t seem to have detailed info on him either…”

“After what happened with Ximi Entertainment, he might be really wary. What if he doesn’t want to sign with us?”

“His former company treated him like crap, so it’s normal for Yuan Shiyuan to be cautious,” Zhuang He said. “But I believe if we offer good benefits, resources, and a signing fee that shows our sincerity, he’ll reconsider.”

After all, Starry Night Entertainment was never short on money.

Yuan Shiyuan needed money—badly.

Passing through the skyscraper-lined commercial streets, he turned into a dimly lit, grungy alley. The bustling city was left behind; murky puddles on the ground reflected walls covered in exaggerated graffiti.

Yuan Shiyuan stopped in front of a wall, pushed it open, and was met with a wave of loud music and hazy, dim lighting.

Even with a mask on, everyone in the bar knew him—in fact, most were there for him.

Some bold Alphas whistled at him or made deliberately attention-grabbing cheers.

Yuan Shiyuan didn’t even bother glancing their way, heading straight for the backstage of WildFire Music Bar.

“Did you get the money?”

“Yeah, it went smoothly enough.”

A Beta sitting idly on a wicker chair, strumming a guitar, suddenly stopped. As he looked up, a partial Latin tattoo below his collarbone became visible.

“Smoothly enough?” Gu Liufeng chuckled. “It’s all over the internet. What got into you? This isn’t like you.”

“I don’t get it.”

“Hmm?”

“Why do Alphas always want to have me?” Yuan Shiyuan pulled down his mask, his light pink hair swaying gently. “We’re all Alphas.”

Gu Liufeng was a Beta who couldn’t smell pheromones and shouldn’t be affected by S-class Alphas. But watching this, he still found himself distracted, his Adam’s apple bobbing unconsciously.

“You really do have a dangerous look,” he remarked fairly.

WildFire is a live music bar where Yuan Shiyuan often performs as a resident singer and also bartends for good tips. Even though he wears a mask that covers half his face while working, plenty of customers still come just for him.

Because of the high hourly wage, frequent tips, and the fact that it doesn’t require much time or effort each day, Yuan Shiyuan often takes on part-time work at WildFire.

He also has an account where he occasionally posts acapella clips of himself singing or playing the guitar. He used to read fan messages, but lately he rarely even logs into the account.

Harassed by Alphas, he eventually changed the first line of his profile bio to: Straight (Orientation: O).

"This month’s salary is advanced to you." Gu Liufeng always felt Yuan Shiyuan had lost weight recently. He asked, "Did you do the checkup the doctor ordered? What was the result?"

Alphas and Omegas must undergo annual physical exams. In addition, universities provide one free routine check-up each year for Alphas and Omegas. The exam includes basic physical and lab tests. After reviewing the report, the doctor said his gland readings were abnormal this year and recommended a full workup at the hospital.

The doctor gave him a checklist of tests to run.

"I did most of them. The doctor said my gland is underdeveloped, but it’s not a big issue. The report data is basically normal."

"That’s good. You can’t ignore gland problems. Have you heard? There was an Alpha who had gland problems, skipped the pheromone spectrum analysis out of laziness, and ended up going through secondary differentiation into an Omega… Now attracted to Alphas against his will, he is crying daily."

Yuan Shiyuan popped open a strawberry milk, silently lowered his head, and took a sip. He lied.

He had done most of the tests, except the pheromone spectrum analysis.

Because it wasn’t covered by insurance, and it was expensive.

His phone vibrated, showing a transfer alert.

— Yuan Bao, I’ve reached my transfer limit. Sending you 500 for now for living expenses, I’ll transfer the rest in a couple days.

…What limit.

"I’m going to the restroom."

Yuan Shiyuan put his phone in his pocket and, in an empty stairwell, immediately sent the money back.

The other party called right away.

Yuan Shiyuan said breezily: "Dad, I have enough, really. Didn’t I tell you I have a part-time job? Yeah, the boss is really nice. He just advanced my pay."

"Mom needs the money more, you keep it. I don’t need it…"

"I really earn money, I’ve even saved quite a bit. Don’t believe me? I’ll transfer some to you."

After hanging up, he transferred money to his adoptive father.

Yuan Shiyuan: [Transfer 9826.74]

Now he was flat broke.

But he still had money on his bus card and campus card, so transportation and meals weren’t an issue. He didn’t have other expenses anyway.

His adoptive mother’s surgery payment was coming up, his adoptive father had been laid off, and there was still a younger brother in school.

He needed to earn cash fast…

As Yuan Shiyuan sank into thought, a staffer ran over, sweating: "Finally found you! A customer placed an order through the app, requested you specifically to make a drink… A 100k tip!"

Yuan Shiyuan turned: "How much?"

"100,000!"

"This Alpha is really splurging, dropping 100k on his first time…" Under the lights, a group of Alphas chattered, "Tch, still wearing a mask? Who’s he trying to fool?"

"He’s an idiot too, splurging so much right away. Won’t that spoil Yuan’s expectations? Just watch, simping Alphas always lose."

"If it were me, I’d take it slow, pace myself spending…"

"Damn, why is Yuan dressed like that today?! Is this even appropriate for me to see?"

In the bar area up front, the young Alpha wore a simple shirt and jeans. Compared to his usual style, today he had added several accessories.

Furry cat ears, a pure white lace mask, lace of the same style wrapped around his wrists, neck, and ankles, with small bells attached. They chimed with his every move and action while mixing drinks.

When the Alpha reached for a glass, his slim, pale waist flashed into view.

The bar instantly erupted with whistles and uncontrolled Alpha pheromones, wild and territorial.

Among the crowd, Zhuang He instinctively covered his nose.

He had rushed over as soon as he got a tip that Yuan Shiyuan might be at this live music bar. He originally intended to ask these Alphas for information, but the more he heard, the more uncomfortable he felt.

"First time here?" Someone noticed Zhuang He’s unfamiliarity and chuckled, "You’re in luck, coming on such an intense day. Yuan used to be so standoffish… Hmph, I offered 100k for his company drinking, and he refused."

Zhuang He: "You came for him?"

"Which Alpha here didn’t come for him?" The Alpha’s tone suddenly turned cold, "How much money have I spent on him? I don’t even have his number."

Full of resentment, his gaze drifted over again, "When I get my salary at the end of the month, I’m going to order a drink from him too."

The looker at the bar wore furry cat ears and a lace choker, bells ringing while he worked. The Alphas imagined themselves there: "That drink… unbelievably good."

"As long as you have enough money, you can get him to make a drink?"

"As long as you have enough money, he’d do anything." An Alpha added with a suggestive tone, "And he’s an Alpha too."

Ding, ding dong—

With Yuan Shiyuan’s movements, the bells on his wrists and ankles rang out clearly. The Alpha sitting across from him, wearing a black mask, frowned at the sound.

Even in a bar with blasting music and swirling alcohol fumes, he sat upright, his aura formal and stern.

"You haven’t been coming to training lately; you’ve been here all this time?"

Yue Xiao’s frown deepened, but he patiently continued, "What did you say to Nan Liujing? He’s been distracted lately, very unfocused during training. We’re about to debut—this isn’t the state he should be in."

Chopped ice fell into the glass, clinking crisply. Yuan Shiyuan tapped the rim of the glass, his wrist bells jingling: "That’s your team’s internal matter. He’s slacking off, and you come to me?"

"Don’t be ridiculous, gege."

"Don’t call me that."

The stares from all directions, the Alphas’ pervasive peering, made Yue Xiao feel an uncomfortable sense of territorial intrusion. Or perhaps he was just genuinely curious: "Do you talk to all of them like this?"

Yuan Shiyuan countered with a question: "What would you like to drink?"

"Anything."

"Alright, then 'Anything' it is."

Turns out there really was a drink called that.

Yuan Shiyuan picked up the vodka bottle, pouring the liquor in a smooth arc through the air. His movements behind the bar were practiced and fluid, clearly accustomed to the surrounding gazes.

Yue Xiao watched for a moment before speaking in a measured tone, "There might be some misunderstanding between you and the company. If you want to come back, we can communicate with the company on your behalf."

He continued in a serious tone, "But you shouldn’t come to these kinds of sketchy places anymore—it tarnishes our team’s reputation."

"You also shouldn’t dress so casually. You should protect your reputation."

Yuan Shiyuan had long known what kind of person Yue Xiao was: dull, rigid, and macho. When they first met, Yue Xiao had mistaken him for an Omega. After learning he was an Alpha, Yue Xiao’s attitude turned strange, tinged with a subtle disdain.

Yuan Shiyuan knew exactly where that disdain came from—some strongly male chauvinist Alphas particularly disliked refined-looking Alphas, considering them lacking in masculinity and a disgrace to their kind.

But Yue Xiao was truly something—accusing him of dressing casually?

"You think I’m dressed casually? Weren’t these the special requests you made when placing the order?"

Yuan Shiyuan suddenly looked up at the stiffly seated Alpha across from him, a lazy smile playing on his lips. Leaning one hand on the bar, he bent forward, his collar slipping naturally to reveal an expanse of alabaster collarbone.

As the bell around his neck jingled, he said, "You asked for lace, a choker, and cat ears. I followed every detail, and now you’re criticizing me for it?"

Whistles erupted around them, and restless Alpha pheromones floated in the air like uncontrolled rutting dogs. While disgusted, Yue Xiao was also stunned by Yuan Shiyuan’s words.

"It wasn’t me—Su Luochen placed the order..." Yue Xiao quickly explained, "I don’t usually come to these places."

He didn’t understand the reservation process, so another teammate had handled it for him.

"I didn’t know Su Luochen made those requests. I’m sorry," he said.

Ximi Entertainment had more than one privileged trainee. Among the trainees, four were pre-selected for debut. Because they knew each other and had grown up together, they were jokingly called F4.

Su Luochen’s specific requests were likely meant to humiliate—to make another Alpha wear such attire—a twisted amusement for someone of the elite class.

Was having money that great? Yes, it really was.

For the right price, what was wearing cat ears? This was 100,000 yuan we’re talking about.

Yuan Shiyuan focused on mixing the drink, his fingers moving deftly. The bar lights flickered, casting shifting shadows like butterflies fluttering across his face—dancing over his beautiful eyes, along the soft lace, down to the tip of his nose and his lips.

Just below the center of his right eye were two faint moles, looking almost like teardrops at a glance.

"Enjoy your drink, sir."

Two exquisitely prepared drinks were slid forward—one garnished with a bright red cherry, the other with a fresh mint leaf.

"I only ordered one," Yue Xiao said.

Yuan Shiyuan stepped back into the shadows, tilting his head at the sound. In a spot only visible to Yue Xiao, his fingers slipped behind the mask, untied the ribbon, and gently tossed the pure white lace mask forward.

"On-the-house service."

The Alpha stared at the now-empty bartending area, then looked down at the two drinks and the delicate lace mask before him. Wondering whether Yuan Shiyuan meant the mask or the drink.

As obnoxious as Ximi Entertainment’s F4 could be, at least they were generous today and had done one decent thing. Yuan Shiyuan had no time to dwell on their past misdeeds—with 100,000 yuan in tips, he was in a good mood.

With that 100,000 yuan, he could not only leave early but also ease the financial pressure on his family for a while.

He had a side job early the next morning, so Yuan Shiyuan left through a side exit. The summer breeze was cool, and his steps were light. Finally, he could take off his mask, breathe freely, and look up at the city’s nightscape.

"Hello, please wait a moment—"

Due to some unpleasant memories, Yuan Shiyuan instinctively assumed the person was another creepy Alpha stalker. Even though the wording was careful and polite, he’d met wolves in sheep's clothing among his own kind before.

Yuan Shiyuan stood at the end of a narrow, dimly lit alley. He turned his head slightly, the distant neon lights of skyscrapers illuminating his wary face with striking clarity. His neck, wrists, and ankles bore faint red marks from where the lace had rubbed against his skin. His pink strands were slightly damp with sweat, but it didn’t look messy—instead, it carried a heart-stopping intensity.

The impact of his face was devastatingly striking—far more impactful in person than in photos. Zhuang He’s pupils dilated, and unable to contain his excitement, he stepped forward.

"I’m Zhuang He, a talent agent from Starry Night Entertainment." He pulled a business card from his pocket. "Would you be interested in joining the Scepter boy band?"