Chapter 7: Pocky Game

Chapter 7 Pocky Game

"Unfortunately, you failed to choose the same bus, so the challenge is forfeited. As punishment, we are canceling your catered meal; you will need to cook lunch yourselves."

"For the next segment of the program, we will be going live and randomly enabling the chat function."

The electronic screen ahead flickered to life, and comments scrolled in unison, signaling the official start of the live broadcast.

The six Alphas adjusted their stances and greeted the camera: "Hello everyone, we are Scepter."

[Princess Yuanyuan has arrived—clear the way!]

[Bo Jin, you’re handsome, but the one next to you is Yuan Shiyuan. [Heart]]

[Is Yuan Shiyuan really an S-Class Alpha? Standing there, he looks like a delicate figurine.]

[No one told me the new member was *this* handsome!!! [Peeking] [Drooling]]

Due to the lingering popularity of previous live streams, the current broadcast was bustling, with discussions primarily centered on the new member. After a while, viewers gradually began to notice the existing members standing around Yuan Shiyuan.

They interacted with the comments briefly before a staff member reminded them: "Has everyone chosen their preferred roommate? We’re about to begin the matching segment."

The Alphas all nodded, having already made their choices.

"Since everyone has a preferred roommate, let’s take turns entering the small room to vote. We will then publicly announce the results."

The voting order followed the seating arrangement. Ying Mingche was the first to vote. Before entering the room, he turned back and offered Yuan Shiyuan a smile.

Next was Ying Mingxi, who cast a restrained glance at Yuan Shiyuan.

Third was Jiang Heng…

Yuan Shiyuan returned a friendly smile.

Bo Jin curled his lip in displeasure. What was this?

Not long ago, he’d said he wanted to be friends, and now he was openly flirting with other Alphas right in front of him?

He deliberately blocked Yuan Shiyuan’s line of sight: "Why were they looking at you?"

"Were they looking at me?" Yuan Shiyuan feigned ignorance. "Perhaps it’s because I’m good-looking?"

"…"

"Isn’t that so?"

Bo Jin wanted to argue, but staring at Yuan Shiyuan’s face, he ultimately conceded, "Yes."

[LOL, Brother Huo can’t bring himself to call that face ugly, can he?]

[You can question anything else, but not that face!]

[○ No one dares to criticize that face, seriously.]

At this point, the comments were disabled, so Bo Jin couldn’t see the netizens’ discussions, but he felt an inexplicable restlessness. He looked at Yuan Shiyuan: "You’ll choose me, right?"

Bo Jin was quite perceptive. Yuan Shiyuan retorted, "Are you thinking of backing out?"

Bo Jin had only mentioned it casually, but Yuan Shiyuan looked up nervously, afraid he would change his mind. His anxious expression gave Bo Jin an odd sense of pleasure.

Did he really want to live with him that badly?

"I always keep my word."

Once all the cards were collected, the production crew prepared to announce the choices.

A staff member held a cardboard box and, like a lottery draw, pulled out a card from the center of the coffee table: "Bo Jin’s preferred roommate is Yuan Shiyuan."

Ying Mingche let out a scornful laugh.

Go ahead and choose; it’s all for nothing.

"Pei Yanbing’s preferred roommate is Yuan Shiyuan."

Bo Jin: ?

Why is this ice block joining in too?

"Jiang Heng’s preferred roommate is Yuan Shiyuan."

"Ying Mingche’s preferred roommate is Yuan Shiyuan."

Wait, why is everyone choosing Yuan Shiyuan?

The Alphas wore strange expressions, vaguely sensing something was amiss.

"Ying Mingxi…" The staff member stifled a laugh and said, "chose Yuan Shiyuan."

"Bro! No way! How could you…" Ying Mingche immediately shot to his feet but fell silent and sat back down upon hearing the staff member’s next words.

"Yuan Shiyuan…"

All eyes turned solemnly toward him, waiting for the staff to announce Yuan Shiyuan’s choice. All five Alphas had chosen Yuan Shiyuan, making Yuan Shiyuan’s decision the pivotal moment.

Although the Alphas were confident Yuan Shiyuan would choose them, they couldn’t help feeling uneasy before the result was announced.

The staff member drew out the suspense, building it to a peak, then suddenly paused for a breath.

"Just say it already!" Ying Mingche urged impatiently.

"Next, we will announce Yuan Shiyuan’s choice." The staff member turned the card around, revealing its blank content to everyone. He said, "Yuan Shiyuan chose no one."

"…"

"Huh?"

Shock, bewilderment, confusion, disbelief… a mix of complex emotions appeared simultaneously on the five Alphas’ faces.

[?? Unrequited crushes all around?!]

[Pei Yanbing actually chose a roommate? Doesn’t he have germophobia?!]

[Trending topic alert: #YuanShiyuanUnrequitedLove #ScepterLoveTriangle]

"Congratulations to Yuan Shiyuan for completing the hidden task!"

A celebratory confetti cannon went off nearby. "Yuan Shiyuan has successfully completed the hidden task: 'Everyone chooses you, but you choose no one.' As a reward, Yuan Shiyuan gets a single room all to himself in the attic."

Confetti from the cannon spun and fluttered through the air, some falling to the ground and some landing in Yuan Shiyuan’s hair and on his clothes. A beam of light shone on him as he slightly lifted his chin, his light-colored tongue peeking out from between his rosy lips to flick a piece of confetti off.

Bo Jin stared at the damp, metallic ribbon, momentarily stunned, then gritted his teeth: "You lied to me?!"

Yuan Shiyuan blinked innocently: "Sorry, everyone. I just really wanted a single room."

[How can you blame him? My baby just wanted to succeed too much.]

[I’m dying! I’ll be laughing at these Alphas’ expressions for the rest of my life.]

[Wait, am I watching a group variety show? Why does this segment and atmosphere feel so much like a dating show?]

[Group show transformed into a dating show.]

No wonder Yuan Shiyuan kept flirting with everyone. Bo Jin was so angry he actually laughed: "You’re something else, really."

"Baby, you're the first one to treat me like this." Ying Mingche hooked an arm around Yuan Shiyuan's shoulder. "You'd better not fall into my hands."

The remaining Alphas didn’t speak, but their expressions made it clear they were conflicted.

Several S-class Alphas, fooled like this for the first time.

Staff: "Next, you can all go with Yuan Shiyuan to check out his luxurious single room."

Going now to admire Yuan Shiyuan’s victory was simply adding insult to injury. They followed the staff’s direction and arrived at the attic entrance.

Climbing the wooden ladder, the view suddenly opened up. The skylight overhead framed the blue sky and white clouds like a painting. The bed inside was large enough to fit three or four people at once. Beyond the floor-to-ceiling glass doors, the courtyard was lush and vibrant, with wind chimes on the swing gently ringing—ding-ding, ding-ding—in the breeze.

No wonder Yuan Shiyuan tricked them. The attic environment was truly appealing.

Ying Mingche grumbled, "We’ve seen it. Time to go, right?"

"Go where?"

Yuan Shiyuan looked puzzled. "Everyone can stay and live here together. We’re a team—of course we should sleep together."

[All… all sleeping in one bed?!]

[This is getting weird…]

The Alphas were all stunned.

Yuan Shiyuan sat on the edge of the bed, the covers sinking slightly under his weight. He leaned back on his hands, tilting his face up, his body arching back slightly—a pose that made his legs look long and straight.

"The rules never said you can’t stay in the attic with me." He gave a bright smile to the staff. "Didn’t you say? As long as I won, the attic belongs to me, and I can do whatever I want with it."

"You’re not going to lie to me, are you?"

No one could bear to tell him "no."

The director immediately gave an "okay" sign.

The attic was spacious enough that adding a few folding beds wouldn’t be a problem. The folding beds and bedding were downstairs, and Yuan Shiyuan was in charge of directing the Alphas to move everything.

"Put the bed over there—it won’t block the sunlight."

"Bo Jin, you’re strong. You handle the mattress."

"…"

As Bo Jin moved the mattress, Yuan Shiyuan reached out to help but was stopped.

Bo Jin said flatly, "Save those skinny arms for bossing us around."

Yuan Shiyuan: "…"

[Commander Princess Yuanyuan is online!]

[Bo Jin is actually this obedient? He does whatever YSY says?]

[Just look at Brother Huo’s expression—he’s still upset that YSY didn’t pick him as a roommate.]

[Hauling the mattress with a stone-cold face. [Facepalm]]

Next came the lunch segment.

The ingredients provided in the fridge were pretty limited—definitely not enough to feed six grown Alphas.

Ying Mingche: "Director, this isn’t enough. Also, can any of you cook? I don’t."

"I’m afraid we might starve to death."

Director: "Let’s play a game. The winning member gets an extra chance to order a dish."

The production team handed over a menu.

Yuan Shiyuan took the menu: "Blanched shrimp, champagne sweet-and-sour ribs, deep-sea star snapper…"

Just reading the menu made everyone’s mouths water.

The director said: "Only the winner can decide who gets to share the meal with him."

Staff came forward to distribute heart rate monitors, instructing all members to wear them on their wrists.

"The game we’re about to play is 'Pocky Game.' The rules are simple: players are divided into an attacker and a defender. The defender holds one end of the Pocky stick in their mouth, and the attacker must eat from the other end. Note: the attacker can only advance; the defender cannot dodge."

"During the game, players must keep their heart rates steady. Whoever’s heart rate spikes the most loses."

The staff reached into a paper box: "Let’s see who gets selected…"

"Yuan Shiyuan, Ying Mingche."

Staff brought out a large electronic screen displaying each member’s heart rate. Based on the fluctuations, it was clear the Alphas were pretty amped up.

Games always bring out the competitive drive in Alphas the fastest.

"Before the game officially begins, you can have a 'friendly' exchange."

This was the pre-game trash talk segment, designed to boost entertainment and potentially get into the opponent’s head.

Ying Mingche looked at the pink-haired Alpha, clearly holding a grudge: "You really made me unhappy earlier. This time, I won’t let you win."

Yuan Shiyuan raised an eyebrow: "Yeah? Well, I don’t plan on losing either."

"Oh really? You still don’t know me—I’m going to go hard on you." Ying Mingche leaned in. "Don’t cry when you lose."

"Then you’d better make me cry." Yuan Shiyuan’s tone was full of provocation.

It was strange—this Alpha was clearly half a head shorter than Ying Mingche, yet his presence was just as intense. Yuan Shiyuan, who usually seemed so fragile, now revealed an Alpha-like aggression, sharp and compelling, making it impossible to look away.

"We’ll see about that."

Ying Mingche's canine teeth itched, his blood thrumming with excitement. This was the distinct thrill an Alpha feels when encountering an opponent of the same level.

The staff announced at this moment: "Yuan Shiyuan is on offense, Ying Mingche is on defense. Let me emphasize again: the offensive side can only attack, and the defensive side can only defend!"

"Monitor your heart rates."

"Game begins—"

Ying Mingche bit one end of the Pocky stick, looked at Yuan Shiyuan in front of him, and bared a smile, his canine teeth glinting coldly under the light.

He slowly leaned forward, pressed his right hand on Yuan Shiyuan's shoulder, and under Yuan Shiyuan's gaze, arrogantly raised his hand to break the Pocky stick with his fingers.

The length of the Pocky stick drastically shortened, but Ying Mingche wasn't satisfied and bit off another piece.

Then he sat down as if nothing had happened, his chin slightly raised in a provocative gesture.

Staring at the less-than-one-centimeter-long Pocky stick, Yuan Shiyuan looked stunned, unsure how to proceed.

Not cool, man?

[Is this even right?]

[Bro, just kiss him already and cut to the chase. [Facepalm]]

[Ying Mingche, you really… did an amazing job. Don't forget the tongue later. [Thumbs up]]

[Listen to me, on the count of three-two-one, kiss. [Lips][Rose]]

[Isn't this fan service too obvious???]

[So what? Give me more fan service! Go all out! Make it wild and desperate! I love it! [Drooling]]

The piece of Pocky stick between Ying Mingche's teeth was pitifully fragile, less than a centimeter long. After observing it closely for a moment, Yuan Shiyuan smiled: "You trying to crank up the difficulty for me?"

The heart rate value on the electronic screen showed "+1," then quickly dropped back.

Ying Mingche smirked smugly: "It's not too late to admit defeat now."

"Funny." Yuan Shiyuan suddenly grabbed Ying Mingche's collar and forcefully pulled him up. Their eyes met across the space, and he raised his right eyebrow very slightly: "Me—"

"I love a good challenge."