Chapter 6: Skin Hunger

Chapter 6: Skin Hunger

If Yuan Shiyuan wished it, he could make anyone like him.

Even back in the orphanage, Yuan Shiyuan was well-liked. The other children adored him, and the caretakers would secretly slip him sweets. Beyond his delicate and charming looks, his personality also played a part.

He possessed an innate warmth that drew people in.

But it seemed he had finally met his match?

The twin brothers and Bo Jin were manageable, but the icy captain, who perpetually wore black gloves, always kept his distance—especially from anything Yuan Shiyuan had touched. Pei Yanbing would never touch such items a second time.

And then there was Jiang Heng.

The sharp-tongued, cool guy, who never hesitated to mock anyone, seemed to fall silent around Yuan Shiyuan, his face expressionless, as if uttering a single word to him was too much effort.

Yuan Shiyuan went to the restroom, pondering how to get everyone to choose him as their roommate.

Fortunately, this task wasn’t overly difficult.

The members of the Scepter boy band didn’t have a harmonious relationship; it was highly unlikely they would proactively choose each other.

As long as they agreed to choose him, they certainly wouldn’t change their minds for anyone else.

When he emerged, an extra person stood by the sink.

An Alpha, a head taller than him, stood before the motion-sensor faucet, his handsome face stern and cold. His black leather gloves had been removed, and his distinctly jointed fingers were enveloped by the running water, repeatedly rubbed until they turned an unusual shade of red.

“Captain?”

The fingers under the water stilled. Pei Yanbing slowly turned his head, his eyes like frozen lakes.

Yuan Shiyuan, seemingly oblivious to the other’s aloofness, approached warmly. “I just overheard some staff talking. It seems we’ll be choosing roommates during the recording later.”

“Captain, do you have anyone in mind?”

Pei Yanbing turned off the faucet. “Who do you want to choose?”

Whether it was Yuan Shiyuan’s imagination or not, Pei Yanbing’s voice sounded deeper and huskier than usual. Without hesitation, Yuan Shiyuan replied, “You, of course.”

“I feel like you’re very clean and quiet, Captain. If I choose you, I’m sure I’ll sleep very comfortably.”

“...”

In the mirror, the pink-haired Alpha subtly moved a step closer.

“Captain, will you choose me too?”

Yuan Shiyuan seemed born with a smiling face—his lips curved upward, a hint of dimples appearing on his cheeks, making it hard for anyone to refuse his request.

After a moment, Pei Yanbing finally said, “If that’s how the segment works.”

“Wonderful!”

Just having his request accepted made the Alpha’s face light up with joy. His eyes crinkled, his light pink hair floating like musical notes, radiating happiness.

Yuan Shiyuan pulled out a tissue and offered it to Pei Yanbing. “Captain, your hands are still wet. Here, dry them.”

Pei Yanbing’s gaze fell upon Yuan Shiyuan’s hand.

Yuan Shiyuan’s fingers were slender and fair, still glistening with moisture from washing, which made the pink knuckles appear even more delicate.

Despite Pei Yanbing’s deliberate avoidance, Yuan Shiyuan’s fingers still brushed against his knuckles. The moment their skin touched, his blood seemed to flow backward, then rapidly ignited and boiled, spreading a wave of pleasurable sensation.

“Then it’s settled!”

The instant the restroom door closed, Pei Yanbing braced his hands against the sink. Though impeccably dressed, his collar buttoned to the top, his entire body was flushed with an abnormal, sickly red beneath his restrained appearance.

The motion-sensor faucet activated, water rushing out amidst ragged breaths. Pei Yanbing mechanically scrubbed his hands, but the touched skin felt branded by a hot iron, delivering a thrilling sensation.

The scrubbing motion gradually slowed, eventually becoming an almost obsessive caress.

The spot Yuan Shiyuan had touched still trembled faintly.

...

Yuan Shiyuan wasn’t worried about Pei Yanbing going back on his word.

Alphas preferred to live alone and despised sharing space with other Alphas. Given the personalities of Pei Yanbing and the others, they’d probably rather not choose anyone at all.

Pei Yanbing wasn’t the type to break promises either.

The staff had likely designed this segment to have Yuan Shiyuan act as the group’s glue, helping to foster better relationships.

At the very least, to avoid it being too superficial.

With Pei Yanbing handled, who was next?

A message came through the work group chat:

[The bus is parked at the entrance. Gather quickly.]

The building’s signage wasn’t great, and Yuan Shiyuan wandered the hallway twice without finding the stairs or elevator.

His sense of direction was average—he was a bit of a scatterbrain.

As Yuan Shiyuan fiddled with his navigation app, a shadow fell over him from behind.

“The stairs are this way.”

Jiang Heng had appeared nearby unnoticed.

Dressed entirely in black, his broad shoulders and narrow waist accentuated, a silver earring glinted dimly in his dark curls under the dim hallway light.

Yuan Shiyuan glanced at the silver earring—it was quite shiny. He waved his phone. “Thanks. If you weren’t here, I’d probably be following my navigation through a wall.”

“But how did you know I was lost?” He smiled. “Do I really look that directionally challenged?”

Jiang Heng stared at him.

“Just kidding. Did you hear? We might have to choose roommates during the recording later.” At the stairwell landing, Yuan Shiyuan paused. “You don’t snore, do you?”

The topic shifted quickly, but Jiang Heng still answered, “No.”

“I don’t snore either,” Yuan Shiyuan said. “If the show has us picking roommates, want to team up?”

“What do you say, buddy?”

Jiang Heng didn’t respond immediately. Just as Yuan Shiyuan thought he might refuse, he finally said, “Mm.”

Two buses of strikingly different colors were parked at the edge of the lawn, one purple and one gold.

Each member had to choose their preferred color and board the bus without consulting the others.

The challenge would only be considered successful if everyone chose the same color.

Yuan Shiyuan stood by a flowerbed surrounded by greenery, his pink hair dusted with golden glitter. Not far away, Ying Mingxi approached under the sunlight.

"Shiyuan, where did you go just now?"

Yuan Shiyuan didn't interact much with Ying Mingxi, but he knew he was an Alpha with a really easygoing personality.

Their eyes met, and Yuan Shiyuan said helplessly, "Cut the act."

"What?"

"You're nothing like your brother when you imitate him."

"No fun~" Ying Mingche tilted his head, revealing his canine teeth, and called out to the side, "Brother, someone actually managed to tell us apart."

The real Ying Mingxi walked over.

Ying Mingxi was also surprised.

They used to play this game as children, pretending to be each other to trick their nannies and classmates. Even as they grew up, Ying Mingche would still play mean tricks on people, and Ying Mingxi would play along.

They looked very similar, but their auras were completely different. Ying Mingxi only needed to slightly adjust his expression to fool people into thinking he was his brother.

Yet Yuan Shiyuan had recognized him at a glance.

"Aren't we very alike?"

"You are indeed very similar," Yuan Shiyuan said. "But Brother Mingxi's eyebrows are finer and have a lower arch, and his upper lip is thinner than yours. Your eye colors are different too—Brother Mingxi's eyes have a hint of subtle green, which is quite noticeable in the sunlight."

"You're not the same."

The twins were both stunned.

Yuan Shiyuan smiled at Ying Mingxi. "Your eyes are very beautiful."

"Thank you," Ying Mingxi replied, his fingers twitching slightly, his voice warm with laughter. "You're the first person to notice the differences between us brothers."

"The first?" Now it was Yuan Shiyuan's turn to be surprised.

Although they looked alike, shouldn't anyone be able to spot the differences with a little observation? Had their parents really never noticed all these years?

"Done catching up? I'm still here, you know."

Ying Mingche butted in annoyed. He didn't like being overshadowed. "You checked out my brother that closely? How come you only talked about him and not me? And it's strange—last time I saw you, you turned away and left."

He grinned. "Avoiding me, are you?"

"How could that be?"

Had he really been found out?

Yuan Shiyuan was indeed avoiding Ying Mingche. Ying Mingche was outgoing and cheerful, but his persistent efforts to buddy up felt oddly unsettling to Yuan Shiyuan.

Avoidance was a gut reaction to potential danger.

Ying Mingche said in a teasing tone, "Really? I thought you hated me. We were supposed to room together earlier, but I took one phone call and you backed out."

Who agreed with him? Yuan Shiyuan said, "When you left, Brother Zhuang had us draw for room assignments. I’d already drawn mine by then, so it would've been hard to change it."

He added sincerely, "Why would I hate you?"

Under his light pink hair, his face had gained a faint sun-kissed glow, making his expression seem somewhat pitiful. Looking at him like that, Ying Mingche found it hard to doubt his sincerity.

"Then we should ride the same bus later," Ying Mingche semi-convinced. "The bus color I’m going to choose is..."

A staff member quickly interrupted, "Each member must choose their bus independently—no advance discussion allowed!"

Ying Mingche was urged by the staff to make his choice.

Ying Mingche was the first to choose a bus, followed by Ying Mingxi in turn.

When it was Yuan Shiyuan's turn, he unhesitatingly chose the gold bus.

No one could resist the color of gold.

The gold bus stood empty—Yuan Shiyuan was the only one who had chosen it!

Just as he was about to pick a comfortable seat, footsteps sounded from outside.

Bo Jin arched an eyebrow in surprise when he saw him.

Talk about perfect timing. Yuan Shiyuan said, "Come, sit here. Take the inner seat—it’s cooler."

Bo Jin sat down leisurely. "You’re being so nice to me."

Yuan Shiyuan replied, "What's the big deal? Just helping a bro out. We’re all good bros."

All the members had boarded the buses. Only Yuan Shiyuan and Bo Jin had chosen the gold bus, while the remaining four were on the purple bus.

The show staff handed out phones to everyone. "These phones are only for contacting each other and receiving messages from the production team."

"The buses are about to leave. Next, you need to choose your ideal roommate and contact them in advance via phone or other means. When the bus arrives at the destination, both parties have to write down each other’s names on a card."

"If the other person writes someone else’s name, it means the roommate match fails, and you will lose your dorm choice priority."

"These are the dorms you’ll be staying in."

The dorms were either double or quadruple occupancy, with the double rooms clearly much nicer.

When the quadruple room was shown, nearly all the Alphas frowned, clearly displeased.

Bo Jin asked, "What if I don’t choose a roommate?"

"Not choosing a roommate means you’ll be assigned to the quadruple room."

Choosing a roommate at least offered a chance at a double room, while not choosing meant being stuck in the quadruple room—practically forcing them to choose.

"Go ahead and contact your ideal roommate now."

"And make sure your ideal roommate doesn’t betray you."

Why did they have to throw in that last comment?

Yuan Shiyuan felt pretty nervous.

He casually tapped the armrest: "We also have to choose roommates? Wanna just keep being roommates?"

"You know what my situation is like right now, don't you?"

Bo Jin's smile sent chills down your spine. He resembled a brightly colored venomous snake—vibrant in appearance, yet loaded with deadly poison.

"I know, that's exactly why I can't feel at ease with you."

Was this referring to his heat cycle? Bo Jin didn't understand: "Why insist on living with me?"

Yuan Shiyuan: "I think you're a good guy, and I want to be friends with you."

Bo Jin: "With me? Be friends?"

"Yeah."

Yuan Shiyuan suddenly leaned in closer. He smiled slightly, the movement tugging at his cheek muscles, making the two faint moles under his right eye seem to come alive. "You even gave me new pajamas. I want to wear them for you to see."

"Is that okay?"

The bright sunlight outside the window shone directly on Yuan Shiyuan's face. He was beautiful in an almost sharp way, and even the breeze seemed to favor him, gently tousling his pink hair ends.

Bo Jin made a weird face.

...Why did he have to bring up the pajamas he gave him?

Their relationship wasn't at that level yet, was it?

Was he really that eager to live with him?

Bo Jin felt a strange sense of pleasure, though he couldn't pinpoint exactly why. It was as if a fluffy kitten was lightly scratching at his chest.

Looking at that head of pink hair, he reluctantly agreed, "Whatever."

It went more smoothly than Yuan Shiyuan had anticipated.

From what his assistant and manager said, he had thought these S-class Alphas were all difficult, troublesome individuals. Why did he feel they were actually quite easy to talk to?

Now only the twins remained.

This was tricky. They were on the same bus, most likely sitting next to each other.

If Yuan Shiyuan sent a message to Ying Mingxi, Ying Mingche would definitely find out, and the plan would surely fail...

But Ying Mingxi wasn't a blabbermouth. As long as he could get Ying Mingche on board first, things would be much easier.

His phone screen lit up. Yuan Shiyuan lifted an eyebrow—Ying Mingche had reached out first.

Ying Mingche: Wanna room together, Princess Yuanyuan^^?

Yuan Shiyuan: Ok.

Ying Mingche: You agreed so quickly now, why didn't you agree to room with me before?

Yuan Shiyuan: [sent a head-pat emoji]

Ying Mingche: I was pretty mad before, but fine, I forgive you now. This time you have to choose me.

Yuan Shiyuan: You can't choose anyone else either.

Yuan Shiyuan: [rose]

Ying Mingche looked at the bright rose emoji, a pleased curve lifting the corner of his mouth: "I knew it!"

He had been overthinking it lately, unable to understand why Yuan Shiyuan had suddenly changed his attitude toward him. He was sensitive to people's emotions and could naturally sense Yuan Shiyuan's subsequent distance and politeness.

But it wasn't like this when they first started interacting.

Now, with Yuan Shiyuan's clear, possessive answer, Ying Mingche finally stopped overanalyzing.

"Sorry, bro, I already have a preferred roommate."

Ying Mingche picked up his phone and shook it, like a child showing off a prize. "I guess you'll have to be stuck in a four-person room."

Whether it was a four-person or two-person room made no difference to Ying Mingxi—for an Alpha, both meant an invasion of territory. Besides, he didn't have anyone he particularly wanted to room with.

It didn't matter who he lived with.

It was a long ride. Ying Mingxi was about to put his sleep mask on and rest when his phone suddenly vibrated.

He glanced down and paused for a moment upon seeing the sender's name.

Yuan Shiyuan: Brother Mingxi, have you found a roommate yet?

Yuan Shiyuan: Want to pair up together?

*What?*

Ying Mingxi instinctively looked at his brother, who was smirking and humming. Didn't Yuan Shiyuan already agree to room with Ying Mingche? Why was he sending him an invitation now...

Ying Mingche noticed the gaze and turned his head: "Hey, what's up?"

Ying Mingxi immediately turned his phone screen face-down, casually shifted his gaze, and said calmly, "Nothing."

Ying Mingxi thought this wasn't right.

Ying Mingxi: Didn't you already agree with Ming Che?

Yuan Shiyuan: But I'd rather room with you, Brother Mingxi.

Yuan Shiyuan: You don't want to? Well, if you're not into it, forget it.

He prefers to room with me?

Because he couldn't stand Ying Mingche?

Ying Mingxi knew his brother's flaws perfectly well. Thanks to his handsome looks and personality, Ying Mingche could get along with anyone—only Yuan Shiyuan was the only one who brushed him off.

Ying Mingche, who loved getting attention from everyone, got bored if people agreed with him. But if someone resisted, he'd get fired up very quickly.

Faced with Ying Mingche's persistence, Yuan Shiyuan must have been really bothered.

He didn't like Ying Mingche's advances, but because of his easygoing nature and fear of damaging team harmony, he kept putting up with it again and again.

Ying Mingxi didn't like trouble, and agreeing to Yuan Shiyuan would clearly cause him trouble.

Yet the words of refusal just wouldn't send.

"You two are alike, but not the same."

"Your eyes are really beautiful."

"..."

Yuan Shiyuan was completely unaware that his own eyes were even more stunning when he said those words.

A good two minutes went by before Ying Mingxi replied: I’ll choose you.

The purple bus arrived at the filming location first. As Yuan Shiyuan got off, he happened to see four Alphas standing ahead in an open space, all looking his way at the exact same time.

Yuan Shiyuan gave a warm smile back and slowly blinked.

All four Alphas were convinced that smile was meant for them.

Bo Jin, who was behind Yuan Shiyuan, saw the whole thing.

Exchanging looks so openly in public.

Since when are Yuan Shiyuan and them so close?