Chapter 27: Wearing a Skirt

Chapter 27: Wearing a Skirt

Ying Mingxi’s heart pounded.

He hadn't noticed when Pei Yanbing appeared or how much he had witnessed.

His supposedly discreet transgression might have already been fully observed by the other man.

Pei Yanbing stood in the shadows, his demeanor cold and intense, silently gazing in Yuan Shiyuan's direction.

Then, he walked step-by-step toward the bed.

Ying Mingxi braced himself for accusations and scorn, fully prepared for the confrontation.

But something unexpected happened.

After Pei Yanbing reached the edge of the bed, he said nothing.

He simply lowered his head, inhaled deeply near Yuan Shiyuan’s hair, and then left.

"……"

"?"

Ying Mingche, who had also just woken up, witnessed this scene and was utterly stunned: "The captain, is he…"

He mouthed the word "sleepwalking."

Ying Mingxi fell silent for a moment, then said quietly, "Probably."

After working together for a year, this was the first time they learned that Pei Yanbing sleepwalked.

But what bothered him more, Ying Mingche was concerned about something else.

He looked at the web of his hand—there was no wound, yet it buzzed with a static-like thrill. It was this tingling pleasure, transmitted from another, that had roused him from sleep.

"What just happened?"

Ying Mingche's eyes scoured the bed, but he couldn't discern anything amiss. Both Ying Mingxi and Yuan Shiyuan were fully dressed and maintaining a safe distance.

Ying Mingxi brushed it off lightly: "When I turned off the light, my hand accidentally bumped into the bedside table."

"Really?"

Since when was Ying Mingxi so clumsy?

"More importantly, how’d you sleep so deeply?" Ying Mingxi retorted.

This was also something Ying Mingche found peculiar.

As soon as he woke up, he could clearly smell the other S-class Alphas’ pheromones floating in the air. S-class Alphas possessed a fierce territorial drive—he should have been intensely repulsed.

Under normal circumstances, the natural aversion between rivals would make it difficult for him to even fall asleep.

But Ying Mingche not only managed to fall asleep but also slept very deeply.

It was as if a more powerful and irresistible dominant presence had emerged, allowing him to willingly coexist peacefully with other S-class Alphas.

Throughout the night, the suite was saturated with various S-class pheromones.

Yuan Shiyuan slept exceptionally well, and when he opened his eyes, every part of him—from his hair to his toes—radiated contentment.

He stretched lazily in bed, kicked off the covers, and then removed the small towel covering his stuffed animal.

Only then did he realize he was alone in the suite.

Where was everyone else?

After checking his phone, Yuan Shiyuan understood: the other S-class members had gone to manage their physiques. The cruise ship had a dedicated fitness area, and since they had indulged in a big meal the day before, they had decided to intensify their workouts today.

Working out this early? Why didn’t they call him?

Though even if they had, he probably wouldn’t have been able to get up.

Yuan Shiyuan originally intended to greet the camera but noticed it was still covered with a cloth. He uncovered all the cameras, then leaned in close.

His face, still drowsy with sleep, appeared enlarged on camera, so clear that even the fine hairs on his face were visible.

Yuan Shiyuan crinkled his eyes into a smile: "Good morning, everyone."

"Is my hair a bit messy?" Only then did he realize he hadn’t washed up yet. His pink hair was sticking up in disarray, and he grinned a little awkwardly. "I toss and turn a lot, so I covered the cameras yesterday."

"Did everyone sleep well last night?"

——Yuan’s beautiful face just appeared right in front of me without any warning. [Heart-eyes]

——The cameras are finally uncovered! You have no idea how bummed I was last night, too scared to sleep, afraid I’d hear some action.

——Hehe, I’m sure there was banging. Whatever, if I didn’t see it, I’ll just spread gossip. If you have the guts, replay what went down. [Hmph]

Yuan Shiyuan couldn’t see the live comments and couldn’t respond to the audience. With the room to himself, he wasn’t afraid of awkward silences and instead said naturally, "I’ll wash my face first, then meet up with the captain and the others. They actually sneaked off to exercise—without me!"

"What’s this?" He finally noticed an electronic screen by the bathroom door, displaying a timer-like display, with a number in the upper right corner.

"It gives me bad vibes…"

Yuan Shiyuan muttered to himself as he turned on the faucet to wash his face. He cupped water in his hands and splashed it on his face, then scrubbed it haphazardly.

——?? How can you be so rough with that gorgeous face?!

——Baby… I finally believe you’re straight. [Sobbing]

Just as Yuan Shiyuan finished rinsing his face, there was a noise at the door.

The others had returned from their workout.

Yuan Shiyuan wiped his face casually, his pink hair damp and messy. He braced one hand on the marble counter and grabbed a disposable towel with the other.

He walked out all glowing and damp, wiping his face as he said, "Back so soon? I was just about to go find you all to work out together."

"Why didn’t you invite me?" He smelled something tasty and instinctively sniffed the air.

"You should sleep a bit more."

They had originally planned to wake Yuan Shiyuan, but he was out cold, so they didn’t have the heart to disturb him.

Ying Mingche edged through the group and moved closer to Yuan Shiyuan: "We brought you breakfast. We didn’t know what you’d like, so we grabbed a variety."

Each of them was holding some food.

Yuan Shiyuan was surprised, "How am I supposed to eat all this by myself?"

"What do you mean? This isn't that much," Ying Mingche threw an arm around his shoulder. "Just try a couple bites of each dish, and you'll manage."

"We'll take care of the leftovers. We haven't had breakfast either, anyway."

Yuan Shiyuan understood then—this was meant for everyone. No wonder there was so much variety; it was clearly not meant for him alone.

If they were all sharing, things were simpler.

By the floor-to-ceiling window in the sitting area stood a long table where the group sat down. The breakfast spread included both Chinese stir-fries and Western-style dishes. Yuan Shiyuan preferred Chinese breakfasts, but since both were available, mixing it up sounded good.

Jiang Hang casually slid a basket of crab roe soup dumplings in front of Yuan Shiyuan.

"How did you know I love these?"

"Just a guess."

Yuan Shiyuan gave a playful bump to Jiang Hang’s shoulder with his fist. "Great minds, man."

Yuan Shiyuan first loved crab roe soup dumplings as a child, thanks to a kind visitor who once came to the orphanage. The visitor brought many foods the kids had never seen before.

As a young boy, Yuan Shiyuan took one bite of the dumpling, and his eyes instantly lit up, his little face lighting up with excitement.

He had never tasted anything so delicious.

His best friend noticed how much he enjoyed it and offered his own portion. But Yuan Shiyuan was too embarrassed to take it. In the end, after his friend insisted, they split it half and half.

Back then, Yuan Shiyuan whispered to his buddy that when he grew up, he would earn lots of money and get to eat crab roe soup dumplings every day.

Jiang Hang glanced at Yuan Shiyuan’s hand, then back at his own shoulder.

Ying Mingche complained, "Why aren’t you eating the breakfast I brought you?"

"I am, I am," Yuan Shiyuan replied. "What did you bring?"

"Mini croissants," Ying Mingche said, holding up a paper bag.

The croissants were bite-sized.

Ying Mingche had assumed that Yuan Shiyuan, who liked small trinkets and figurines, would also enjoy miniature pastries. But Yuan Shiyuan hadn’t even looked at them before.

Yuan Shiyuan tried one. "Hey, these are actually pretty good. I like it."

"I knew you would," Ying Mingche said proudly. "I spent a long time picking them out."

He sounded as if he’d accomplished something remarkable.

Yuan Shiyuan played along. "Yeah, super impressive."

Pei Yanbing never spoke during meals or joined conversations, eating quietly. But Yuan Shiyuan noticed that everyone else was eating healthily, while he alone was loading up on carbs.

But Yuan Shiyuan was really hungry.

Lately, he’d been feeling hungrier than usual, and his appetite had grown—a sign that he might be going through a growth spurt.

Yuan Shiyuan was still young and could very well be having a second growth spurt. Eating a bit more might even help him gain a few extra centimeters in height.

He glanced around unconsciously. Every S-class Alpha around him was noticeably taller and broader.

They were all S-class Alphas. Maybe after his second growth spurt, he’d end up taller than them.

As Yuan Shiyuan was lost in this daydream, a knock came from the door.

Jiang Hang, who was sitting closest to the entrance, automatically got up to answer it.

Bo Jin stood outside holding a bag of breakfast, checking the time. Yuan Shiyuan should be up by now, right?

It's not like he’d come specifically to have breakfast with Yuan Shiyuan. He’d just picked up food from the restaurant and realized he’d ordered too much. Not wanting to waste it, he figured he'd share with Yuan Shiyuan.

Bo Jin touched the takeout bag to check the temperature.

He’d brought only hot dishes, freshly prepared by the chef and packed immediately. He’d hurried over, worried the food would cool and lose its flavor.

Would Yuan Shiyuan even like it…?

The door opened.

But it wasn’t Yuan Shiyuan who answered.

Bo Jin’s expression immediately fell. "Why is it you?"

Jiang Hang’s expression didn't change as he turned and walked back inside without a word.

Sensing something off, Bo Jin stepped into the suite and, as expected, saw a group of S-class Alphas who had no business being there.

Though he didn’t know the details, he had a sharp feeling that he’d been a step too slow in some way.

"You had breakfast without inviting me?" Bo Jin glanced at the lavish spread on the table and let out a cold laugh. "Ganging up on me?"

And here he’d been worried that Yuan Shiyuan would wake up hungry, rushing to the top-floor restaurant to order breakfast the moment he got up. He’d even used extra insulation to keep the food warm, all to preserve the flavor. Yet Yuan Shiyuan was here, having breakfast with other S-class Alphas—and not just one, but several!

Several was bad enough, but they hadn’t even thought to include him.

What did Yuan Shiyuan take him for?

Was he really that expendable?

"Of course not, we were just going to call you," Yuan Shiyuan waved him over. "Come on, we saved you a spot."

Yuan Shiyuan squeezed closer to the window, barely making room.

Bo Jin walked over and looked at the spot skeptically.

The space was so tight that if he sat there, they’d have to sit leg-to-leg just to fit…

His eyes unconsciously drifted to Yuan Shiyuan’s legs.

Slender, long, and pale.

Bo Jin sat down stone-faced.

Now, everyone was truly present.

Ying Mingxi, having finished eating, was subtly watching Pei Yanbing before casually asking, "Captain, you must have slept pretty badly on the couch last night, right?"

Ying Mingche added, "Nowhere near as comfortable as Jiang Hang’s foldable bed."

Jiang Hang countered, "And the floor was better for you?"

Bo Jin froze.

Pei Yanbing sleeping on the sofa? *This* sofa? Jiang Hang sleeping on a folding bed? *This* folding bed? Ying Mingche sleeping on the floor? *This* floor?!

Out of the six people in the group yesterday, four slept here with Yuan Shiyuan?!

An indescribable fury rushed to his head, and Bo Jin snorted coldly: "It’s so lively here—why wasn’t I invited?"

—Now he’s trying to fight for it, where was he earlier? [rolls eyes]

—Exactly, exactly, his partner’s already been claimed by others, and now he realizes he lost at the starting line.

—Huh? I thought Huo Ge already got his chance a long time ago?

"It’s simple, there wasn't enough space," Ying Mingche said. "Besides, should we have invited you for something like this? Opportunities are for those who are prepared."

"We all fought for our spots ourselves, okay?"

Bo Jin went quiet.

For the first time, he actually thought Ying Mingche had a point.

"Don’t listen to his nonsense. What’s so good about sleeping here? You’d have to sleep on the floor or the sofa—might as well sleep in your own bed, it’s much more comfortable," Yuan Shiyuan said. "Now that we’ve finished breakfast, why isn’t the production team in a hurry?"

Shouldn’t the next part of the schedule be moving along?

This reminded Bo Jin of something: "Today, a crew member knocked on my door and said our phones can’t connect to the ship’s WiFi. We’ll have to turn them in later in exchange for the phones they provide us."

Turn in our phones?

That means the show’s segments are about to officially begin.

"Before turning in our phones, wait a moment," Yuan Shiyuan said. "I need to check in with my family, so they don’t worry if they can’t reach me."

Yuan Shiyuan picked up his phone, turned on the front camera, and took a photo. He leaned against the floor-to-ceiling window of the balcony, the glittering ocean behind him reflecting his smiling face.

After taking the photo, he sent it to the group chat, then lowered his head to type and send a message.

Yuan Shiyuan looked up and realized that, among the circle of S-class Alphas, only Jiang Hang had picked up his phone to text his family.

He found it strange: "Aren’t any of you going to let your families know?"

Pei Yanbing: "I don’t need to."

After a pause, he added, "They don’t keep tabs on me."

Ying Mingxi said gently, "I’ll just post on Moments. That way, everyone will see it."

Yuan Shiyuan didn’t say more. He understood very well that not everyone came from a happy, harmonious family. If he said too much now, it would seem insensitive.

"Brother Mingxi, you’re right. Why didn’t I think of that?" he said. "I’ll post on Moments too, so everyone knows I’m recording a show."

At that moment, Yuan Shiyuan glanced at Bo Jin, who seemed to be spacing out.

Bo Jin had told him about his family—both his parents died in a fire, and only Bo Jin survived...

Yuan Shiyuan reached out and slung an arm around Bo Jin’s shoulder: "Come on, let’s take a photo. I’ll post it on Moments so everyone can see how handsome you are."

His soft arm rested across Bo Jin’s shoulder, and Bo Jin could clearly smell the scent of Yuan Shiyuan’s hair. His eyes widened, and he looked somewhat uncomfortable.

Yuan Shiyuan... wanted to post him on Moments? Let everyone know about their relationship?

Bo Jin’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He seemed hesitant but gave in to Yuan Shiyuan: "Fine."

Then he turned toward the camera, his face very close to Yuan Shiyuan’s.

Ying Mingche was displeased: "Why not take one with me? Am I not handsome?"

"Handsome, handsome, handsome," Yuan Shiyuan was being fair to everyone. "How about we all take one together? We can take a group photo and post it on Moments. That way, anyone who sees it will know we’re recording a show."

There was no tripod in the room, and no extra person to help them take the photo.

Yuan Shiyuan balanced his phone on a napkin box, set a timer, and quickly ran back.

The moment the shutter clicked, Yuan Shiyuan had just stopped in front of the five S-class Alphas, turned to face the camera, and smiled.

His pink hair fluttered in the wind, the ends tinged with a faint pink-gold. Even without deliberately posing, his stunning looks still stunned the audience watching for a moment.

Yuan Shiyuan lowered his head to check the photo, then sent it to the work group chat.

The S-class Alphas all picked up their phones and saved the photo to their albums.

"Where’s the phone deposit area?" Yuan Shiyuan asked. "Or are we supposed to wait for someone to collect them?"

"I know where it is. Give me your phone, I’ll take it," Bo Jin said, scrolling through Yuan Shiyuan’s Moments. Sure enough, Yuan Shiyuan had posted a photo of just the two of them.

He was in a very good mood, feeling quite satisfied.

Ying Mingche, however, wasn’t as happy: "Oh, then take mine along too."

Bo Jin simply took a bag, put everyone’s phones inside, and delivered them all to the phone deposit area.

It wasn’t that he was being particularly kind.

It was just that Yuan Shiyuan had posted a photo of just the two of them on Moments, almost like they were going public. If he then did a favor just for Yuan Shiyuan, connecting the dots, it would seem too intimate, too obvious, too much like an Alpha move.

If he ran the errand for everyone, it wouldn’t attract attention and would seem perfectly normal.

Bo Jin was rarely in such a good mood, so much so that when he left the suite, he had a smug expression on his face.

About five minutes later, he returned, accompanied by a crew member.

The crew member distributed the provided phones one by one but didn’t leave immediately.

Bo Jin’s expression grew increasingly grim.

Yuan Shiyuan, munching on a mini croissant, looked over curiously, his eyes asking—what’s up?

Bo Jin seemed to hesitate, then finally looked at the crew member.

The crew member, meanwhile, had been staring at Yuan Shiyuan’s face the whole time, his heart pounding nervously, though he still managed to put on his most perfect smile.

"Gentlemen, may I ask if you are satisfied with our service?" he asked.

"It’s great, we’re happy," Yuan Shiyuan said, pulling a tissue to wipe his mouth.

The crew member’s smile widened. He signaled, and someone handed him a bill.

"Great to hear. This is the bill for your expenses from yesterday to today. Who will be paying?"

Wait, we have to pay?

They never expected that the expenses on the cruise ship would have to be paid out of their own pockets! That aside, the items listed on the bill were ridiculous.

Apart from fixed costs like room fees, meal charges, tips, and cleaning fees, the ship's pricing model was just weird. Items like tissues in the room cost extra, toiletries also required additional payment...

There was even a special sensor at the bathroom entrance that recorded the number of times the door was opened. Every time you open the door, it was counted as usage.

That means even going to the bathroom came with an extra charge!

Yuan Shiyuan couldn't believe it: "We have to pay separately just to use the bathroom?"

"Yes."

"What about showering?"

"That also requires an extra charge."

Everyone fell silent.

They had all used the bathroom multiple times the day before—no wonder the bathroom expenses were exceptionally high.

Yuan Shiyuan pressed his finger against the receipt: "It says 100 per bathroom use—does that mean 100 for each trip, or 100 for a set period of time?"

The waiter replied: "100 star coins lets you use the bathroom freely for one hour. During that hour, you can take a nice bath and have a wonderful time."

"Thank you, but it's not wonderful at all." Yuan Shiyuan was devastated as he saw the massive bill at the end of the receipt.

The waiter smiled: "Exactly, it's not meant to be wonderful."

—Even going to the restroom costs money, I can't even.

—Now they’re not just broke, but also in massive debt. If anyone needs to use the bathroom, they can’t afford it and just gotta hold it in. [facepalm]

—The show's producers are killing me. Which planner came up with this idea?

—Wait, they do have money, right? Their phones were just taken away. If they get their phones back, they can pay.

Yuan Shiyuan and the others realized that too.

Ying Mingche said: "If you temporarily return our phones, we can pay."

The waiter shook his head: "Sorry, sir, we only accept star coins on board. We don't take digital payments."

Star coins?

Probably the show’s currency.

The mini croissant in Yuan Shiyuan’s mouth suddenly didn't taste so good anymore: "But we don’t have any star coins."

"You’ve accumulated a total of 50,000 star coins worth of expenses. If you can’t settle the bill with star coins, you can't get off the ship. You must pay what you owe before you can leave."

"Your room time is almost up. If you can’t earn enough star coins to renew it within the allotted time, you won’t even be able to use the room."

"Additionally, each guest must pay 100 star coins per day as a tip and 100 star coins for cleaning fees. If you can’t pay, these will be added to what you owe."

"…"

They had truly fallen into a real trap.

Just the daily fixed expenses alone amounted to a significant sum—room fees, tips, cleaning fees… and everyone’s basic needs—using the bathroom!

The cost of using the bathroom absolutely couldn’t be avoided.

Yuan Shiyuan looked at the amount owed on the bill, his face full of despair.

He wondered why Zhuang He had ordered so much food before leaving. He initially thought it was out of concern that they hadn’t eaten well or enough, a last meal offered out of a guilty conscience.

But it turned out Zhuang He had no conscience at all—he had stuck them with a huge bill before leaving!

Zhuang He was gone, but he left them with an astronomical debt!

Scepter fell into complete silence, while the chat was filled with laughter.

Netizens had never seen Scepter look so defeated before—it was a total contrast to their usual image.

Especially Yuan Shiyuan.

His shock was written all over his face, his eyes widened noticeably, his pink hair framing an expression of complete shock. The new idol had never expected a variety show to go this way.

"We just don’t have star coins for now, but we’ll get them soon. We’ll definitely pay it back."

Yuan Shiyuan thought fast and continued asking questions, "There are many of us, so we can make it quickly."

"But how can we earn star coins?" That was the main question.

The waiter had been waiting for this.

He passed out small booklets filled with pictures and text detailing the part-time jobs on the ship.

"These are the part-time positions available on our ship. You can check them out."

Yuan Shiyuan skimmed through them briefly.

[1] Open-air Restaurant Part-Time Jobs

Waiter: 25 star coins/h

Dishwasher: 20 star coins/h

Chef: 50 star coins/h

…

[2] Rooftop Racetrack Part-Time Jobs

Mechanic: 100 star coins/h

Car Washer: 50 star coins/h

After looking for a while, Yuan Shiyuan saw that technical jobs definitely paid better.

He said quietly: "So, figured out where you want to work part-time? With six of us working together, we should be able to pay the debt off fast…"

Bo Jin: "The five of us will go."

Yuan Shiyuan was confused: "The five of us? Who’s not going?"

They said in unison: "You."

"……" Yuan Shiyuan pointed at himself, confused. "Why can't I go?"

Scepter was unusually united.

Bo Jin: "With those slim arms and legs of yours, what could you even do? You'll overwork yourself and collapse on the ship—we’d have to drag you back."

Ying Mingche agreed: "Just stay inside with the air conditioning. It’s scorching outside—what if you get heatstroke?"

Ying Mingxi said gently, "Shi Yuan, most of these jobs are outdoors and very hot. Your allergies aren't fully healed yet—you can’t be exposed to direct sunlight."

Jiang Hang: "We’ll handle the work."

With that settled, Pei Yanbing added, "Yes."

Yuan Shiyuan: "……"

He was both exasperated and amused. "Do you all see me as some kind of Princess and the Pea? Don’t underestimate me, okay? Aside from technical jobs like car repair and washing, I can handle everything else."

Let Yuan Shiyuan do what? Waiting tables? Washing dishes?

They instinctively glanced at Yuan Shiyuan’s hands.

Slender, pale fingers, each perfectly defined, looking like flawless jade under the sunlight.

"No way," they said in unison.

Yuan Shiyuan: "If outdoors is out, then how about I work as a chef? That’s indoors, right? My cooking... should be decent?"

"Kitchen smoke and grease are bad for your skin," they shook their heads again. "You can’t go in there."

Yuan Shiyuan had forgotten—he was a pop idol now, and had to protect his face at all times.

Most jobs were outdoors, requiring exposure to the scorching sun.

They wouldn’t let him work outside, probably worried about sunburn affecting his other schedules.

He was too fair-skinned.

This is off-limits, that's off-limits—what could he even do?

Annoyed, Yuan Shiyuan flipped through the booklet and suddenly found an indoor part-time job.

[3] Maid Cafe

Server base pay: 50 Starcoins/hour, 50% sales commission, 80% tip share.

Note: Must wear in-store attire.

A Maid Cafe?

As a straight Alpha, it was completely unsuitable for him, and the boss probably wouldn't hire him.

He casually turned the page and saw the cafe’s beverage menu—his eyes went wide instantly.

The cheapest coffee cost 500 Starcoins! With a 50% sales commission, one cup would earn him at least 250 Starcoins!

Yuan Shiyuan quickly calculated in his head: if he could sell 10 cups an hour, his pay would be base 50 + 10×250! And that was the minimum commission!

If he worked tirelessly all day, even through the night, how many Starcoins would that be?

If he encountered generous customers who left tips, the tip share was 80%!

Paying off the debt was within reach.

As expected, going into questionable work was the most profitable.

Yuan Shiyuan made up his mind right then. After all, he was a straight Alpha—what was wrong with wearing a skirt? Who said straight Alphas couldn’t wear skirts?

Besides, the cafe only required him to wear a skirt and serve as a little attendant selling coffee—it wasn’t like he had to sit on laps and feed customers mouth-to-mouth.

Hadn't fans said they wanted to see him in a skirt before? Of course he should grant their wishes.

He sold himself on the idea immediately.

Yuan Shiyuan’s eyes gleamed. He leaned in sneakily to check the booklet, wanting to confirm the cafe’s exact location...

A large hand covered the page.

Bo Jin knew what Yuan Shiyuan was thinking and said coldly, "Forget about it."

He was right here, and Yuan Shiyuan was already thinking about wearing a skirt to be a little attendant? In your dreams.

He hadn't even seen Yuan Shiyuan in a skirt himself.