Chapter 50: Silent Invitation (Part 1 + Part 2)

Chapter 50: Silent Invitation (Part 1 + Part 2)

"Where do you want the kiss?"

Ying Mingche yearned for a more intimate kiss, but Yuan Shiyuan’s subtle, wary expression reminded him not to overstep.

"On the cheek, I guess," he mused, tapping his own cheek with a fingertip, his voice betraying a hint of barely concealed nervousness.

"Alright."

Yuan Shiyuan agreed without a moment’s hesitation.

The words barely left his lips before he rose on his tiptoes, lightly pressing his mouth against Ying Mingche’s cheek.

The kiss was fleeting. Yuan Shiyuan’s expression remained composed, as if he had merely touched the most mundane of objects.

In stark contrast, Ying Mingche, the one who had initiated the request, froze for a moment, then stumbled back two steps as if burned. He clutched the spot where he’d been kissed, his ears and neck flushed a vivid crimson.

"What’s wrong?" Yuan Shiyuan raised an eyebrow slightly, a teasing note in his voice. "Didn’t you ask for it?"

Ying Mingche rarely appeared so flustered.

He was like a mischievous child who expected punishment but was instead rewarded, utterly bewildered.

"You…" Ying Mingche stammered in disbelief. "You just… gave it to me? Just like that?"

And so quickly, without a trace of hesitation!

Yuan Shiyuan leaned against the vanity table, finding Ying Mingche’s panicked state rather amusing. Ying Mingche had been the one to suggest a kiss on the cheek, and he had simply complied. Yet now, Ying Mingche was reacting like a lit firecracker, scattering in every direction.

Having gotten what he wanted, Ying Mingche should have been pleased. But instead of joy, a wave of dissatisfaction washed over him, prompting an urgent question: "What about others?"

"If someone else asked for a kiss, would you kiss them too?"

"Sure."

"You—!"

"But this is my first time kissing anyone." Family didn’t count.

First time? Ying Mingche’s eyes instantly brightened, a secret delight blossoming within him. He feigned composure, taking two steps closer to Yuan Shiyuan, his voice laced with awkwardness. "Oh, it’s my first time being kissed too."

He tried his best to appear nonchalant, as if the kiss held no significance, but his breathing remained rapid.

Finally, he ran a hand through his hair in frustration, muttering under his breath, "If only I’d known…"

"If only I’d known, I would’ve asked for a real kiss."

Ying Mingche had anticipated rejection, or at least a lengthy period of pleading and persistence before Yuan Shiyuan might reluctantly grant him a perfunctory kiss. But Yuan Shiyuan had agreed so swiftly, and kissed him with such ease, that before he could even register it, the kiss was over!

Ying Mingche felt utterly short-changed.

"That one doesn’t count. I want a real kiss," Ying Mingche declared, convinced he’d been cheated and now demanding compensation.

Yuan Shiyuan coldly rebuffed him. "Each person gets only one practice session per day."

"Just one?"

"Of course. If practice were unlimited, how would I possibly manage?"

Yuan Shiyuan had genuinely considered this. "There are five of you. If each of you practiced multiple times a day, do you think that’s feasible? There wouldn’t be enough of me to go around."

"So, each person gets only one practice per day."

The logic was undeniable, and Ying Mingche found himself unable to argue. But just as he was about to press further, he saw Yuan Shiyuan’s expression suddenly turn serious, a cold glance sweeping over him.

"Ying Mingche, are you going to behave or not?"

Yuan Shiyuan rarely used Ying Mingche’s full name.

Typically, he only did so when angry, and it triggered a conditioned response in Ying Mingche.

Hearing his full name meant Yuan Shiyuan was upset, and he had to comply. No matter how excited or eager he felt, he had to stop his antics and prioritize Yuan Shiyuan’s feelings.

The whiny, pleading words caught in his throat, then were swallowed back down.

"Fine then."

Ying Mingche gritted his teeth in frustration, his expression as dejected as a large, rain-soaked dog.

He tried to appear obedient, but less than two seconds later, he turned his face slightly and whispered, "I want the other cheek too."

"It’s still a kiss on the cheek, so it counts as today’s practice. I’m not breaking the rules."

Yuan Shiyuan countered, "If I kiss you, will you leave?"

Ying Mingche nodded immediately.

Yuan Shiyuan reached out, turned Ying Mingche’s face, rose on his tiptoes again, and pressed his lips against the Alpha’s other cheek.

This time, with some mental preparation, the sensation of the kiss felt even clearer. Soft and yielding, carrying a hint of Yuan Shiyuan’s fragrance.

Ying Mingche’s heartbeat, which had just settled, went wild again. The dizzying sensation returned. He stared dazedly at Yuan Shiyuan—his face, framed by pink hair, still showed traces of makeup, his amber eyes gazing up at him from under long, thick lashes, and further down, his soft, rosy lips…

The very lips that had just kissed him.

Yuan Shiyuan, however, was generous. After the kiss, he asked proactively, "Want more?"

Kissing on the cheek didn’t seem as hard to accept as he’d imagined. Perhaps it was because it was only superficial, without any deeper interaction. Or perhaps it was because he found Ying Mingche’s flustered reaction amusing, giving him a strange sense of accomplishment.

The stronger Ying Mingche’s reaction, the more it proved that his proactive approach was effective. This practice session wasn’t wasted.

Giving a kiss wasn’t such a big deal.

As Yuan Shiyuan’s tolerance grew, so did Ying Mingche’s.

Ying Mingche’s heart was still racing, but he felt calmer than before. Watching Yuan Shiyuan’s casual, relaxed demeanor, he felt a sudden impulse.

He abruptly grabbed Yuan Shiyuan by the waist and lifted him forcefully. With a thud, Yuan Shiyuan was pressed down onto the vanity table, its legs scraping against the floor.

Taking advantage of Yuan Shiyuan’s stunned moment, Ying Mingche quickly leaned down and planted a kiss on his left cheek, then flashed a triumphant smile.

With his face like that of a campus drama male lead, his smile was especially bright, tinged with a mischievous edge. At that moment, the fill light by the makeup mirror illuminated their faces and expressions with striking clarity.

Yuan Shiyuan was momentarily dazed by the kiss, instinctively tilting his head back, his lips parting slightly in surprise. Ying Mingche’s downcast eyes were bright, his pupils clearly reflecting Yuan Shiyuan’s face.

Before Yuan Shiyuan could speak, Ying Mingche quickly kissed his right cheek as well—this time with a loud smack, full of playful mischief.

Having finished his deed, Ying Mingche swiftly fled the scene, leaving Yuan Shiyuan sitting bewildered on the vanity table.

Yuan Shiyuan’s face was a picture of disbelief.

Had he just been force-kissed?

Even if it was only on the cheek...

Yuan Shiyuan instantly got goosebumps.

Indeed, whether kissing or being kissed, it was awkward for a straight guy. Especially when being kissed—the Alpha’s body heat as they got close, the breath against his ear, and the touch of thin lips against his skin—all made his shoulders shiver slightly.

Yuan Shiyuan hadn't forgotten what he needed to do. After topping up his pheromone extract, he turned to the mirror to figure out the body chain. The chains were all tangled up, the clasps were like a maze.

He fussed with it for a long time, but instead of undoing it, he only worked up a sweat.

Yuan Shiyuan texted Zhuang He.

Zhuang He: No rush, take your time. There’s a minor issue with the set equipment, so we'll probably be delayed for a while. Pierre even mentioned getting you a room nearby for you to crash.

Yuan Shiyuan: No need.

Booking a room just for a nap seemed way over the top.

Yuan Shiyuan fought with the body chain a bit longer.

As expected, this was a two-person job.

Just then, a warm, large hand suddenly landed on his shoulder. Yuan Shiyuan jumped like a spooked cat, whipping his head around.

“Need a hand?” Ying Mingxi stood behind him, smiling gently.

“Brother Mingxi?!” Yuan Shiyuan’s eyes went wide. “When did you get here?”

Yuan Shiyuan hadn’t heard the door open or shut, which could only mean Ying Mingxi had been in the green room all along. Thinking about what had just happened there, he suddenly felt awkward.

They had agreed to get in character only in the evening, yet here he was, running lines with the other’s younger brother in the green room…

The feeling was weird, like having a secret affair with the brother-in-law, thinking no one knew, while the husband had actually seen everything.

Thankfully, they had only kissed on the cheek and hadn’t done anything further.

“The body chain is quite complicated; let me help you.” Ying Mingxi’s fingers deftly worked behind him, answering Yuan Shiyuan’s question. “I’ve been in the green room all along.”

Having help was nice, especially since Ying Mingxi was always helpful. But the more careful Ying Mingxi’s movements were, the more distinct the sensation of his fingers grazing slowly along Yuan Shiyuan’s spine became.

Yuan Shiyuan couldn’t help but squirm, a faint blush creeping across his face. He tried to change the subject. “So… you didn’t see anything, right?”

“See what?” Ying Mingxi replied, then smiled gently again. “No, I was a bit tired and crashed here.”

Yuan Shiyuan eased up noticeably.

Kissing Ying Mingche on the cheek was one thing, but being seen by his older brother felt weird.

Ying Mingxi got halfway through the chain. Without the jewelry in the way, the contours of Yuan Shiyuan’s back became even more distinct. His gaze traveled from the slender, lowered neck, down along the spine, finally settling on a small red mole right in the small of Yuan Shiyuan’s back.

He knew exactly what Yuan Shiyuan was referring to.

It was just Yuan Shiyuan and his younger brother kissing in the green room.

Not only had he seen it, but he had also felt it too.

“Have you been feeling better lately?”

Ying Mingxi’s palm suddenly pressed against Yuan Shiyuan’s shoulder. Due to their difference in size, his arm almost encircled Yuan Shiyuan, creating a visual effect of being enveloped.

Yuan Shiyuan nodded, answering honestly, “Much better. Thank you, Brother Mingxi, for coming all the way from the ad shoot to the hospital…”

“That was the least I could do.”

Ying Mingxi sat down beside Yuan Shiyuan, his thigh subtly brushing against Yuan Shiyuan’s leg.

He leaned in slightly, his gentle face full of concern and worry. “But… are you really okay? Brother Zhuang’s attitude has been quite unusual. I’m worried you might be hiding some unspoken difficulties.”

“Why do you think so too?”

Bao Jin suspected he had stomach problems and sent him supplements; Ying Mingxi also seemed to think he had muscle weakness. Yuan Shiyuan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “I’m really fine; my marking function is perfectly normal too.”

“Really?” Ying Mingxi said. “I’ve looked into it quite a bit. Although I usually only treat small animals, humans and animals share many similarities.”

Though he understood they meant well, being unanimously assumed by all his teammates to have stomach problems and muscle weakness was really…

Yuan Shiyuan said bluntly, “Brother Mingxi, why don’t you check for yourself.”

Ying Mingxi was taken aback. “Check?”

“Just look at my teeth directly.” Yuan Shiyuan said. “Alphas have two particularly sharp canine teeth, specifically for marking and injecting pheromones. If the marking function is impaired, the sharpness of the teeth will also decrease.”

“Just feel my teeth directly, and see if I have stomach problems or not.”

Checking an Alpha’s teeth wasn’t the best or most accurate way to determine if they had stomach problems. But Yuan Shiyuan couldn’t very well drop his pants to show Ying Mingxi, could he?

As a compromise, he’d let Ying Mingxi check his teeth instead.

Some jokingly said an Alpha’s canines were also part of their sex organs; pulling them out was like castration. There was some truth to that.

The higher-ranked and more powerful the Alpha, the sharper their canines developed, the better to inject large amounts of highly concentrated pheromones deep into an Omega’s gland, ensuring the pheromones reached the deepest point. Simultaneously, their saliva secreted a special substance that wouldn’t cause the Omega pain but would instead make them feel… very pleasurable.

Therefore, the pheromones injected by a high-ranking Alpha lasted a long time and were difficult to remove with ordinary cleansers.

To put it bluntly, the pheromones went in too deep, marinating the person thoroughly.

Although Yuan Shiyuan was no longer an Alpha, his marking function was still excellent. According to the reports, it was even stronger than during his Alpha days.

Ying Mingxi’s expression was hesitant.

“Alright.” In the end, he couldn’t resist his concern for his teammate and reached out to gently hold Yuan Shiyuan’s chin. “Then, Shiyuan…”

“I’m starting.”

Yuan Shiyuan opened his mouth readily. Ying Mingxi raised his hand, went in, and immediately came back out.

Yuan Shiyuan: “Done?”

He hadn’t felt a thing.

Had the teeth check already finished?

“Shi Yuan, I’ve been thinking. Since we’re both here anyway, why don’t we take this chance to get in character?”

“Sure.”

There was some issue with the set, and filming was pushed back for a bit. Pierre suggested he take a short nap, but he wasn’t sleepy and felt too embarrassed to slack off on company time.

Might as well take this opportunity to practice with his teammate and get into a flirtatious mood.

With his previous experiences with Bao Jin and Ying Mingche, Yuan Shiyuan quickly got into character. He stood up directly and settled into Ying Mingxi’s lap.

Under Ying Mingxi’s slightly stunned gaze, his tone was as natural as that of a smooth operator.

“Didn’t you say we should get comfortable with each other’s bodies?” Yuan Shiyuan said. “We need to be close enough to really get familiar, right?”

Ying Mingxi’s pupils dilated slightly. He hadn’t expected Yuan Shiyuan to be so straightforward. The scent lingering around his nose was Yuan Shiyuan’s fragrance, and… his pheromones.

“You’re right,” he suddenly smiled. “Then, should I release my pheromones? Maybe it’ll help us get in the right headspace.”

“You said last time that you liked my pheromones.”

Yuan Shiyuan raised an eyebrow in surprise but didn’t refuse.

Coincidentally, Yuan Shiyuan had just replenished his supply with Ying Mingxi’s pheromone extract. But extracted pheromones couldn't compare to the real thing, which was much fresher and more pleasant.

Ying Mingxi, controlled and polite, always kept his pheromones tightly controlled, with almost no leakage.

Yuan Shiyuan rarely had the chance to smell them.

Now, Ying Mingxi was volunteering it himself? Wasn’t this just what he wanted?

“I don't want things often, but when I do, I rarely desire something this much,” Ying Mingxi’s gaze fell on Yuan Shiyuan’s face, his gentle voice tinged with a low tone. “I want this role.”

Yuan Shiyuan nodded. “I understand.”

“You understand?”

“Mhm, getting this role is a huge win. Who could resist such an opportunity?”

Ying Mingxi smiled again.

He didn’t refute it. Instead, his large hand naturally rested on Yuan Shiyuan’s waist, pulling him closer.

The distance between them instantly narrowed, their faces inches apart.

“Then let’s start by getting properly familiar with each other’s bodies.”

“But I can’t take advantage without giving back,” Ying Mingxi took Yuan Shiyuan’s hand and raised it. “For fairness, I’ll go first.”

“Shi Yuan, I’ll get your fingers wet for you.”

Under Yuan Shiyuan’s stunned gaze, Ying Mingxi took his hand, brought it to his cheek. After slowly rubbing his cheek against it, he lowered his head slightly and took Yuan Shiyuan’s finger into his mouth.

His thin lips parted slightly, enveloping the slender, pale finger. Yuan Shiyuan’s fingertip carried a faint fragrance, inexplicably making Ying Mingxi feel… it was quite tempting.

He gently nibbled on the slightly prominent knuckle, then took the entire finger into his mouth, sucking it with just the right pressure. He was just as attentive—while licking the finger, he never forgot to observe Yuan Shiyuan’s expressions, adjusting his actions based on the changes in Yuan Shiyuan’s reactions and breathing rhythm.

“Mmm…”

Yuan Shiyuan’s pupils widened in shock. The close distance allowed him to clearly see how his finger was enveloped by the Alpha’s lips and tongue, Ying Mingxi’s agile tongue coiling around his knuckle.

Glistening saliva dripped from the corner of his lips, reflecting a suggestive sheen under the light.

Yuan Shiyuan never imagined that one day he would have his finger sucked by someone of the same sex. Even more unexpectedly, just this alone sent tingling sensations through him, making his whole body tingle.

At the same time, Ying Mingxi kept watching him. While making slick, wet noises with his hand, his gentle yet assertive gaze remained fixed on Yuan Shiyuan’s face.

Soon, Ying Mingxi figured out exactly what Yuan Shiyuan liked.

“Ahh…”

His fingertips were both numb and tingling, and an unexpected tingling spread through his mouth. Yuan Shiyuan, who had been sitting upright on Ying Mingxi’s lap, now relaxed involuntarily.

He simply found a comfortable position and snuggled into Ying Mingxi’s embrace. Sometimes, when it felt particularly good, he would tilt his head back and nuzzle against Ying Mingxi’s jaw.

“Is this your first time?” Ying Mingxi’s voice was muffled but amused. As he spoke, he took Yuan Shiyuan’s finger deeper into his mouth.

“Mmm…”

The corners of Yuan Shiyuan’s eyes grew flushed and damp, his vision blurry. His white teeth lightly bit down on another finger as he breathed unevenly.

Well, duh.

Yuan Shiyuan leaned against Ying Mingxi, murmuring contentedly, so relaxed that even his fingers stretched out comfortably. Just then, a slender finger gently pressed against the corner of his lips.

The fingertip brushed against the damp seam of his lips, then pressed against his lower lip, pulling it down to reveal his flushed, heated mouth more clearly to the Alpha.

Even before starting to search for the marking canines, before even entering, Yuan Shiyuan was already slick with saliva. His mouth filled with abundant saliva, wetting the finger thoroughly, allowing it to slip past his teeth effortlessly.

“Mmm…”

Yuan Shiyuan still felt somewhat unaccustomed, yet contradictorily, he didn’t want to pull away. Instead, he pressed closer into Ying Mingxi’s embrace, earnestly inhaling the White Tea pheromones in the air.

His long, thick eyelashes were damp, trembling slightly, and even the corners of his eyes glowed with a flushed, feverish warmth.

So many pheromones.

So comfortable…

“Does it feel uncomfortable?” Ying Mingxi pressed his thin lips against Yuan Shiyuan’s ear and asked softly.

Yuan Shiyuan couldn’t very well say he was getting turned on just from smelling pheromones, could he? He could only mutter vaguely, “A little…”

“Shi Yuan.”

Unexpectedly, Ying Mingxi suddenly called his name. Under Yuan Shiyuan’s confused gaze, he smiled and gently massaged the nape of Yuan Shiyuan’s neck in a comforting manner.

“Your mouth is so small.”

Finding the marking canines wasn’t easy. Ying Mingxi patiently explored with his fingers but accidentally worked inside Yuan Shiyuan’s mouth, his finger winding against the wet, red tongue, creating squelching, wet noises.

“Hah… Mmm, squelch.”

Before Ying Mingxi could locate the canines, Yuan Shiyuan was already somewhat overwhelmed by the sensation. He knew he’d become more sensitive after secondary differentiation, but he hadn’t expected even his mouth to be so easily affected…

Just being touched like this was enough to make him shiver slightly.

Yuan Shiyuan unconsciously turned his head away but had his chin turned back by a firm grip. The finger pressed against his tongue, almost brushing against every tooth.

Saliva trickled down from the corner of his lips and along the finger, wetting the tip of his chin and collarbone, leaving a dark wet spot on Ying Mingxi’s pants.

His mind began to work hazily.

If his mouth was this sensitive, would he really be able to handle practicing kissing scenes in the future?

This won't cause problems, right...

"Have you done this with anyone else?" Ying Mingxi's gentle questioning voice whispered in his ear.

Yuan Shiyuan, now comfortable from the pheromones, didn't mind replying: "No."

He had completely forgotten about the time during his secondary differentiation when Bao Jin and Jiang Hang fed him their finger blood.

Ying Mingxi watched as Yuan Shiyuan slightly narrowed his eyes, as if feeling extreme pleasure, tilting his head back to reveal a glistening red tongue, but it was immediately pushed back in.

His voice grew even softer: "Never kissed anyone else either?"

"......"

Yuan Shiyuan felt strangely nervous, as if Ying Mingxi knew what had just happened.

But then again, why was he nervous? He was just practicing with a teammate, not having an affair.

"The marking function is excellent."

After checking the teeth and confirming, Ying Mingxi withdrew his finger, a shiny strand of saliva stretching between his fingertip and Yuan Shiyuan's lips. "I've checked."

Ying Mingxi’s expression was gentle and gentlemanly, but his words were surprisingly vulgar: "Shi Yuan, you’re amazing."

"Your tongue is very soft too."

"......"

What the...

Yuan Shiyuan wanted to speak, but for some reason, the finger was pushed back in, pressing against his tongue, allowing him to hear only the wet, sucking sounds.

He reached up and wrapped his arms around the Alpha’s arm, tilting his head back and murmuring indistinctly: "Brother Mingxi..."

"Can you release a bit more pheromones?"

Ying Mingxi paused, surprised.

The next second, white tea pheromones filled the entire room. The overwhelming pheromones caused Yuan Shiyuan’s pupils to dilate, and he instinctively bit down on the finger between his teeth, the dampness at the corners of his eyes growing even more pronounced.

The white tea pheromones entered his bloodstream, filling Yuan Shiyuan’s mouth, the rich scent saturating his entire body through his throat. Yuan Shiyuan’s head spun, and he unconsciously began to suck gently, producing sticky, wet sounds.

Ying Mingxi watched intently at Yuan Shiyuan’s expression.

Yuan Shiyuan lay sideways in the Alpha’s embrace, his heels rubbing restlessly, the fabric making faint rustling sounds. His entire face was flushed faintly red, his half-removed clothes hanging off his elbows, exposing most of his pale, pink-tinged shoulders.

Having just replenished pheromone extract, he was now inhaling real, fresh pheromones, still warm from body heat. The excessive pheromones were directly fed to him, so concentrated they were almost tangible, causing his eyes to glaze over slightly, his lips parting slightly from panting...

This appearance was clearly the picture of extreme pleasure.

But it wasn’t hard to understand. The concentration of pheromones in blood was extremely high. Some couples, finding released pheromones too weak, would bite each other’s scent glands during intimacy to seek greater stimulation, licking the warm blood that seeped out.

This method could intensify the pleasure, completely overwhelming the senses.

Ying Mingxi gazed at Yuan Shiyuan’s slightly parted lips, his throat moving.

Did his pheromones have such a powerful effect on Yuan Shiyuan?

Or was it just his fingers that could reduce Yuan Shiyuan to this state?

If they were to kiss deeply, probably even without any technique, it would quickly bring Yuan Shiyuan to a small climax...

The temptingly flushed face, the slightly dazed expression, and the tongue faintly visible between the wet, red lips...

Ying Mingxi had thought he could restrain himself, but upon seeing Yuan Shiyuan in this state, all reason had left him.

He gripped Yuan Shiyuan’s chin and slowly leaned in.

Even though Yuan Shiyuan was intoxicated by the pheromones, he still retained a shred of alertness. Thinking Ying Mingxi intended to kiss him, his heterosexual instincts made him instinctively turn his head to avoid it.

A second later, he realized belatedly that they were supposed to be getting familiar with each other’s bodies and should try to overcome any resistance to closeness.

So Yuan Shiyuan turned his head back, as if to make it easier for Ying Mingxi, and actively wrapped his arms around Ying Mingxi’s neck. He lifted his face, revealing his damp face.

"Sorry..." he said awkwardly, "I instinctively dodged just now. It wasn’t intentional."

He’s even apologizing?

How completely defenseless.

Ying Mingxi silently stared at Yuan Shiyuan, who became increasingly uneasy under this gaze, feeling inexplicably awkward.

His fingers unconsciously gripped the Alpha’s clothes, and he said, trying to sound casual, "Are we practicing kissing now?"

"I’m ready, come on!"

Though he said this, every pore on his body seemed to shout, "Don’t come any closer!"

Ying Mingxi couldn’t help but smile.

He held Yuan Shiyuan’s chin, their eyes meeting as the distance between them closed, close enough to feel each other’s breath.

Just as Yuan Shiyuan thought Ying Mingxi was about to kiss him, Ying Mingxi suddenly stopped, only rubbing his straight nose affectionately against Yuan Shiyuan’s pink-tinged nose. Then he changed direction, his thin lips landing beside Yuan Shiyuan’s mouth, planting a light kiss.

Not forgetting to extend his tongue to lick off the leftover saliva at the corner of Yuan Shiyuan’s lips.

"Thank you, Shi Yuan."

At that moment, a cold voice came from the doorway, as if at the breaking point: "What are you two doing?"

Following the voice, a tall, black-haired Alpha was leaning against the wall, his large frame nearly blocking the doorway. The emotions swirling in his eyes were unusually complex, his expression indescribable.

It was the first time they had seen Jiang Hang with such an expression—incredulous, as if he’d seen a ghost in broad daylight, yet also carrying a trace of inexplicable anger.

It was unclear how long he had been standing there, or how many times he had watched the two figures intertwined in the dressing room, to finally voice such a question.

The sudden appearance of a third person in the room, and the abrupt voice, made Yuan Shiyuan nervously grip Ying Mingxi’s hand, his nails digging almost painfully into the Alpha’s skin.

The uncontrolled force caused Ying Mingxi’s usually gentle face to tighten momentarily.

He suppressed an almost inaudible grunt in his throat, but his pupils flickered with unusual excitement. The pain brought him a morbid sense of pleasure, and he eagerly... wanted more.

Ying Mingxi also knew well that what excited him now wasn’t just the pain, but also Yuan Shiyuan’s panicked, dazed expression, which perfectly mirrored the reaction of a wife caught cheating by her husband.

This scene was all too similar to a cheating scandal.

Ying Mingxi could even imagine Jiang Hang’s current state of mind.

Jiang Hang was like the "legitimate boyfriend" kept in the dark, appearing out of nowhere yet choosing to stand silently at the doorway, taking in every intimate moment between his "wife" and the other man, still unwilling to accept reality. Even for the sake of his "wife’s" reputation, he thoughtfully closed the door to avoid anyone else witnessing the scene.

He kept comforting himself, watching it all through self-deceptive eyes...

But the last glimmer of hope was shattered.

Ying Mingxi felt an intense excitement, that gripped Ying Mingche through their empathic link. Ying Mingche, who had been turning back midway, suddenly halted, leaning against the wall while catching his breath. He had a feeling and looked toward the direction of the dressing room ahead.

The door he had closed with his own hands was not shut tightly now, left slightly ajar.

A sliver of light spilled through the crack, casting a narrow, elongated band on the tiled floor—like a forbidden, tantalizing invitation to look closer.

Ying Mingche took a moment to steady himself on the spot, but the shared pleasure continued to intensify. After catching his breath, he walked decisively toward the dressing room without hesitation.