Chapter 51: Rebound

Chapter 51 Backlash

"What are you doing?"

Ying Mingche asked the same question as Jiang Hang, but unlike Jiang Hang, who was completely in the dark, the empathic sensory experience allowed him to reconstruct the scene in his mind.

The soft, delicate texture, though small, combined with the slick, wet feeling, made him almost certain—his brother had had a taste of Yuan Shiyuan.

A mix of excitement, displeasure, and regret swirled within him, finally culminating in shock. He had always known his brother was no good, but he never expected him to be so depraved and daring as to initiate intimate contact with Yuan Shiyuan right at the endorsement shoot.

With Ying Mingche's arrival, the door was pushed wide open. Light from the hallway streamed into the room, illuminating the two figures seated together in front of the makeup mirror—one of them bearing a carbon copy of his own face.

Not far away stood another Alpha, his expression grim, like a husband who had just caught his spouse in bed.

Compared to Jiang Hang, Ying Mingche, standing by the door, seemed unable to fit into any role, more like a clown who'd wandered onto the set.

"Am I interrupting at a bad time?"

Ying Mingche closed the door and locked it, the sound of the lock echoing sharply in the silent room.

It was only then that Yuan Shiyuan realized he was surrounded by three Alphas.

At that moment, he felt like a teenager who had brought his boyfriend home, planning to sneak some intimate moments in the living room, only to have family members suddenly pop out from all directions, staring at him...

"No, you came at just the right time."

His toes and fingers curling awkwardly, Yuan Shiyuan coughed self-consciously, finally finding his voice again.

"This kind of practice is always better with more people. We can even learn from each other’s techniques."

Jiang Hang looked up sharply, unable to believe what he had just heard. "Learn what?"

Yuan Shiyuan was about to raise his hand, but upon seeing his still-wet, reddened fingers, he silently lowered it and hid it behind his back.

Ying Mingxi noticed his little movement and chuckled softly, taking hold of his hand and leisurely wiping between his fingers with his thumb.

"We were just practicing, getting a feel for the audition atmosphere," he calmly answered for Yuan Shiyuan. "Sorry, we were too absorbed and didn’t notice you."

"Is that so? Does rehearsal require going to this extent?"

Did it require sucking Yuan Shiyuan's fingertips until they turned red, or sliding fingers into Yuan Shiyuan's mouth to swirl around?

Jiang Hang smirked coldly. "So what kind of feeling did you find?"

"That’s a rather private topic," Ying Mingxi replied softly but firmly. "I don’t wish to share it with anyone."

Yuan Shiyuan pretended to be busy, lowering his head to play with his fingers.

Thankfully, Jiang Hang didn’t ask him that question—otherwise, he wouldn’t have known how to answer in a way that sounded dignified.

Ying Mingxi was exceptionally skilled with his tongue, and coupled with the fact that Yuan Shiyuan hadn’t smelled his pheromones in so long, the sensation was novel and exhilarating. At that moment, his mind was a complete mess, and aside from the word "pleasure," he couldn’t think of anything else.

Yuan Shiyuan thought the topic was over, but to his surprise, Jiang Hang dragged a chair over and sat directly in front of them.

"Is that so?"

"Didn’t you say it was audition practice, and that more people make it easier to learn techniques? But if you’re hiding things and learning in secret, isn’t that a bit unfair?"

"We’re a team, after all," Jiang Hang said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Ying Mingxi continued to meticulously clean Yuan Shiyuan's fingers. His natural attentiveness showed in his gentle, patient movements, and within moments, he had tidied up the thoroughly wet fingers.

"So what do you want to do?"

"Tell me what just happened."

Jiang Hang’s gaze fixed intently on Yuan Shiyuan's reddened fingertips before shifting to his flushed, moist face. "Every detail—I want to know all of it."

Ying Mingxi looked up at Jiang Hang and chuckled softly. "Didn’t you see everything already?"

Jiang Hang’s expression instantly darkened.

Yuan Shiyuan could clearly sense the different S-class pheromones warring in the air.

To prevent the conflict from escalating, he spoke up first: "Actually, nothing much happened, and there aren’t many details. Brother Mingxi was just worried that my marking ability might be injured, so he checked my teeth. Since he was already checking, we thought we might as well practice setting a suggestive mood."

"After all, we’ll have to practice it sooner or later. As for the feeling..."

Yuan Shiyuan scrambled to remember any sensation other than "pleasure." "I felt tingly all over? I had little control over my body and felt like fidgeting uncontrollably."

Ying Mingxi had felt this very clearly, and Jiang Hang, who had been watching, had seen it clearly too.

Yuan Shiyuan had a small habit—whether he was comfortable or nervous, he always wanted to grab onto something to distract himself. Sometimes he would lift his face to nuzzle Ying Mingxi’s jaw, as if giving them a reward.

Jiang Hang also remembered Yuan Shiyuan’s subtle changes in expression. When his fingers were fully engulfed, Yuan Shiyuan would tremble intensely, his damp eyelashes fluttering, his heels and knees knocking together, and soft, involuntary sounds escaping his lips.

As Jiang Hang silently savored the memory, Ying Mingche also pulled up a chair. "What else?"

Still not enough?

Yuan Shiyuan racked his brain, like a student suddenly called on in class to answer a question, his brows furrowing slightly.

"And also..." He searched for the right words. "Kinda itchy? And warm, maybe?"

Yuan Shiyuan was too shy to admit it was his scent gland that felt itchy and warm, and he prayed they wouldn’t ask.

Of course, Ying Mingche pressed further: "Where was itchy? Where was warm?"

Jiang Hang grabbed a notepad from nearby and actually started jotting down notes.

Ying Mingxi opened a bottle of mineral water and offered it to Yuan Shiyuan, who nearly choked on it upon hearing the question.

"Do you really need to ask in such detail?" Yuan Shiyuan, under the gaze of three Alphas, felt so awkward he wished he could dig a hole and disappear. "You’re even taking notes? That’s going too far."

"I’m only observing, not participating in the practice, so I have to take notes to learn properly," Jiang Hang said earnestly as he recorded Yuan Shiyuan’s words. "To better summarize and learn, I naturally need to document your feelings each time."

Yuan Shiyuan was helpless against Jiang Hang’s relentless curiosity. He could only say, "My stomach felt itchy and warm."

It wasn’t entirely a lie—deep in his belly, it really was both itchy and warm.

"I have a question too," Ying Mingxi began softly, but before he could finish, Yuan Shiyuan ruthlessly clamped a hand over his mouth.

"No more questions."

At that moment, Yuan Shiyuan was still perched on Ying Mingxi’s lap, yet he had to answer three Alphas about the aftermath of the practice. Even though he was an easygoing straight guy, facing such relentless questioning, he couldn’t help but lose his patience.

He sighed. "Alright."

A faint smile flickered in Ying Mingxi's eyes. With the lower half of his face covered, his voice came out muffled and unclear, "I just wanted to ask if you felt good. If not, I’ll do better next time."

"If you don’t want to answer, you don’t have to."

"It’s not that I can’t answer."

The answer was obvious. If Yuan Shiyuan hadn’t felt good, he wouldn’t have shown such a blissed-out expression—he’d even actively clung to the Alpha, seeking pheromones.

In front of the makeup mirror, three Alphas surrounded Yuan Shiyuan, all fixated on his face, waiting for him to say the answer out loud.

"Mmm..."

"Very comfortable."

The S-Class pheromones floating in the air seemed to freeze for an instant before spreading with startling intensity.

Jiang Hang watched thoughtfully as Yuan Shiyuan lightly pursed his lips. When answering, he turned his head away slightly, as if someone were forcing him to speak. Pale pink hair clung obediently to the back of his neck, and an unmistakable subtle fragrance lingered around him.

It gave the illusion of being addictive from the first sniff.

Jiang Hang withdrew his gaze and continued taking notes.

Yuan Shiyuan couldn’t see what Jiang Hang was writing. The atmosphere was too quiet, and under their intense stares, he had no choice but to steel himself and add, "It’s not my fault, right? Brother Mingxi, you’re just so good at licking... I was dizzy the whole time."

Whether it was licking his fingers or checking his canine teeth, combined with the pheromones, it all made him feel incredibly good.

Ying Mingche said gloomily, "So you like my brother more than me after all."

Yuan Shiyuan admitted outright, "Because Brother Mingxi is just really good. You always overstep boundaries, but Brother Mingxi doesn’t—he’s very considerate. I feel very comfortable with him."

Ying Mingche looked as if his world had shattered. "You’re not comfortable with me?"

Yuan Shiyuan hadn’t said that. "If that’s what you think, there’s nothing I can do."

Ying Mingche was both angry and jealous. Not long ago, Yuan Shiyuan had stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek, but now he was turning cold on him, curled up in his brother’s arms and saying his brother was better.

Ying Mingxi said helplessly, "Shi Yuan, don’t put me on such a pedestal."

"But you really are good." Yuan Shiyuan recalled earlier, "I’m not used to that level of intimacy with the same gender. You could tell I was nervous, right? That’s why you suddenly stopped..."

Ying Mingxi looked at him, his voice soft like a lover’s whisper, "Maybe it’s because I wanted more?"

"Huh?"

"Enough."

Jiang Hang closed his notebook, stood up, and reached out to Yuan Shiyuan. "You’ve been here long enough. Let’s go out. The staff have prepared another, larger dressing room for you."

"I’ll take you there."

Yuan Shiyuan quickly got up and put the body chain he’d taken off earlier into a box.

Jiang Hang naturally took the box and positioned himself behind Yuan Shiyuan. His tall, broad figure was like an impenetrable barrier, shielding him from view.

As they left, Jiang Hang glanced back.

Two identical faces smiled at him simultaneously, but their eyes were filled with the Alpha’s familiar provocation.

"Was that really all?"

"They didn’t do anything strange to you?"

Yuan Shiyuan hadn’t taken two steps before the Alpha beside him anxiously gripped his shoulder and pressed him against the wall.

Jiang Hang’s movements weren’t rough, but they carried an unyielding force. His eyes scanned up and down like a scanner.

His tense attitude was as if he was afraid Yuan Shiyuan had been mistreated.

It was the first time Yuan Shiyuan had seen Jiang Hang look so agitated, and he couldn’t help but laugh.

"Really, nothing happened." He raised his hands and opened his mouth. "It’s just as I said."

"We just wanted to use this behavior to become closer. After all, we have to film intimate scenes and get used to each other’s touch and proximity."

Thinking of this, Yuan Shiyuan sighed again. "Earlier, Brother Mingxi wanted to practice kiss scenes with me, right? But I wasn’t comfortable and flinched away instinctively... Luckily, it was just practice."

If this happened during filming, it would be unprofessional and disrespectful to the other party.

Fortunately, he still had enough time to shake this reflex.

Jiang Hang’s emotions were complicated now. A sudden, unexplained anger rose in him—he rarely lost control of his temper, but he knew he had no right to be angry.

Just like last time, facing Yuan Shiyuan’s brother.

"Just practice?"

"What else?"

Yuan Shiyuan knew Jiang Hang had good intentions. He patted Jiang Hang’s shoulder. "Don’t worry, it’s just practice."

But Ying Mingxi’s rapt, engrossed expression had clearly gone beyond the scope of practice.

Whether it was the suggestive act of taking fingers deeper into his mouth, the flirtatious gesture of kneading the back of the neck, or the coaxing tone...

None of it was what normal practice should look like.

Ying Mingche’s eager reaction to compete for favor said even more—he clearly knew what his brother had done, so he wasn’t surprised.

These two brothers were conspiring together; neither was any good.

"Instead, your reaction is over the top. That won’t do."

"We’ll have to find a chance to practice too, or you definitely won’t pass the audition."

"Now I seem to have found some technique and feeling. Don’t worry, I’ll help you." Yuan Shiyuan, worried that Jiang Hang was too anxious, tapped his fist against the other’s shoulder in a buddy-buddy manner.

Those concerned words made Jiang Hang’s expression freeze up abruptly.

Jiang Hang lowered the hand on Yuan Shiyuan’s shoulder and took a step back, somewhat awkwardly. He adjusted his collar, returning to his cold, tough demeanor, but his tone carried an unnatural stiffness.

"Is that so?"

Yes. They would also have to practice intimate scenes next.

From holding hands and hugging to kissing, and even more intimate scenes... He shouldn’t overreact.

"But I still think the Ying Mingxi brothers are... strange."

If Jiang Hang had replaced that name with "Ying Mingche," Yuan Shiyuan would have nodded in agreement. But Jiang Hang had specifically emphasized Ying Mingxi.

Yuan Shiyuan had always held a favorable impression of Ying Mingxi, ranking him among the top in the entire Scepter. Ying Mingxi had always been considerate of his emotions and feelings, and very thoughtful. He shouldn’t make baseless assumptions about someone who truly treated him well.

"Maybe it’s because Brother Mingxi got a little too into character."

Yuan Shiyuan tilted his head and sniffed the air, detecting the aggressive scent of Cabernet Sauvignon pheromone. "Could you tone down your pheromones? Many staff members are Alphas and Omegas—it wouldn’t be good if they smelled it."

Jiang Hang: "..."

"Alright," he said.

Back when Yuan Shiyuan had been induced into heat by an Omega, he had clung to Jiang Hang’s fingers in a daze, drawing pheromones from his blood. His eyelashes would flutter contentedly, and he’d let out soft, satisfied hums. Later, at the hospital, Yuan Shiyuan had actively sought out his pheromones again...

Jiang Hang had thought Yuan Shiyuan really liked his pheromones, that he was special.

But not long ago, he had witnessed Yuan Shiyuan straddling Ying Mingxi, sucking on his fingers with a dependent, dazed expression—exactly the same way he had once relied on Jiang Hang.

It turned out that the "specialness" he had imagined was worthless. Just like close friends in school who part ways after graduation, feelings were never set in stone.

Nothing was irreplaceable.

Instead of binding Yuan Shiyuan to the past, it was better to create more moments in the present.

Jiang Hang followed behind Yuan Shiyuan, watching as his light pink hair lay obediently against the nape of his neck, his clothes bearing a few crumpled creases.

Marks left by another Alpha.

"If you need to practice, I’ll practice with you."

"Huh?" Yuan Shiyuan turned around, a puzzled look in his eyes.

"We’re both S-rank," Jiang Hang said, enunciating each word clearly. "Whatever he can give you, I can too. And I’ll be even more committed than him."

The hallway light fell on the Alpha’s face, illuminating the darkness in his eyes with particular clarity.

Yuan Shiyuan smiled. "Sure. We were going to practice anyway."

The new dressing room was larger and brighter. As soon as the staff caught sight of Yuan Shiyuan, they immediately gathered around him.

"We’ll need to touch up your makeup this time to match the haute couture colors."

"Your eyelashes are so long—no need for mascara..."

"Never mind, let’s not make any more changes. We shouldn’t disrupt Shi Yuan’s natural beauty."

The styling team circled Yuan Shiyuan, unsure where to start. They had originally planned to enhance his makeup, but his cheeks were already flushed with a natural pink, and the corners of his eyes glistened with a delicate redness.

Even without makeup, he looked more stunning than if he had been meticulously groomed.

"What happened to your lips?" Bao Jin frowned as he examined Yuan Shiyuan’s mouth. The redness was abnormally red, standing out conspicuously.

Yuan Shiyuan had just returned with Jiang Hang...

Bao Jin cast a subtle, meaningful glance at Jiang Hang, his eyes filled with probing curiosity.

Jiang Hang stood with his arms crossed, allowing the scrutiny. A faint, almost provocative curve even appeared in the depths of his eyes.

"I left my backpack in the previous dressing room."

Just as the stylist was curling Yuan Shiyuan’s hair, he suddenly remembered.

"I'll send a message to Brother Mingxi and the others—they should still be there, right?"

Bao Jin always thought the twin brothers were unreliable. "They might not even remember what your backpack even looks like. I'll just go over there myself."

As it happened, the twins hadn’t replied to the message either. Yuan Shiyuan nodded. "Then I’ll trouble you with that."

As Yuan Shiyuan looked up, his gaze caught the corner of the dressing room.

Pei Yanbing was standing there—he’d arrived at some point without anyone noticing.

"Captain?" Yuan Shiyuan was surprised and stood up, walking toward him. "What are you doing here?"

The dressing room was bustling with people, and Pei Yanbing had always disliked physical contact.

Earlier at the shooting location, he had been standing far away in a corner, avoiding the crowd.

Yuan Shiyuan hadn’t seen Pei Yanbing and assumed he had left early for some reason.

But now he saw Pei Yanbing standing alone in the shadows of the corner, staring intently at him. Clearly, Pei Yanbing had never left the venue.

Pei Yanbing had been watching Yuan Shiyuan from Yuan Shiyuan’s blind spots—watching him laugh and joke with others, or sling an arm over someone’s shoulder, bump fists like close buddies.

Sometimes Ying Mingche would pinch Yuan Shiyuan’s cheek or hug him tightly from behind. Yuan Shiyuan never stopped him, only giving a lazy sidelong glance as if warning him not to go too far.

For Pei Yanbing, even ordinary social touch felt like an unattainable fantasy.

Just watching Yuan Shiyuan have physical contact with others made his skin hunger flare up like wildfire. Yet he could only stand alone in an unnoticed corner, watching Yuan Shiyuan like he was invisible.

And imagining himself as the one standing close to Yuan Shiyuan.

Pei Yanbing never thought of stepping forward on his own.

As someone so dull and boring, approaching Yuan Shiyuan would only be a bother—he wouldn’t even know what to talk about.

But Pei Yanbing never expected Yuan Shiyuan to notice him in the corner and come straight to him.

Yuan Shiyuan’s light pink hair had been curled, the ends swaying with his steps like bouncing pink musical notes.

As Yuan Shiyuan approached, Pei Yanbing’s vision seemed to brighten.

"Captain, are you uncomfortable here?" Yuan Shiyuan asked in a lowered voice. "It’s really crowded here."

Pei Yanbing stared blankly at the pink-haired Alpha before him, catching a faint, elusive fragrance.

"Not uncomfortable." He clearly hadn’t expected Yuan Shiyuan to come over and fumbled for words. "You... look very beautiful today."

Yuan Shiyuan flashed a bright smile. "Thank you, Captain. You look very handsome today too."

"So handsome that even in a crowded corner, I noticed you at a glance."

Pei Yanbing froze, his usually cool expression showing clear surprise.

Yuan Shiyuan was complimenting him?

This wasn’t an insincere compliment. One might question Starry Night Entertainment’s methods of forming boy bands, but never their taste. The five "iceboxes" of Scepter were undeniably handsome no matter where they went.

At that moment, Pei Yanbing was wearing gloves, his buttons fastened meticulously to the top, with very little skin exposed. He looked restrained and distant.

"Thank... you." Pei Yanbing’s voice was hoarse. Beneath his skin, his blood surged, awakening a deep, primal longing.

"But, Captain, you don't look too well."

Yuan Shiyuan keenly sensed Pei Yanbing's breathing falter for a moment, and his pheromones seemed to stir restlessly. "Is your rut coming soon?"

"..."

"No. Just feeling a little hot." Pei Yanbing hastily averted his gaze, revealing his flushed ears.

"Then I'll go get you a bottle of water."

Just as Yuan Shiyuan turned around, a staff member was pushing a cart toward them. Seeing they were about to collide, they were barely half a step apart—

Pei Yanbing quickly strode toward Yuan Shiyuan. The gloved tips of his fingers were about to brush the hem of Yuan Shiyuan's clothes when another figure moved faster and more precisely, pulling Yuan Shiyuan into an embrace and spinning away from the cart.

"Crash—"

Props from the cart scattered across the floor, iridescent laser ribbons and sculptural ornaments falling everywhere like a colorful river, separating distinct areas.

"Are you okay, Shi Yuan? Were you hit anywhere?"

"Are you hurt?"

The staff quickly checked on Yuan Shiyuan's condition, worried he might be injured.

Jiang Hang grabbed Yuan Shiyuan's shoulders, lowering his head to inspect for any injuries, while others crowded around, worried he might be hurt.

On the other side, Pei Yanbing stood in the corner, his hand still extended. He calmly watched Yuan Shiyuan surrounded by the crowd, saw him being held tightly in an embrace, his figure almost entirely obscured by the Alpha.

He slowly lowered his head, looking at his own empty palm.

Not for the first time, whenever Pei Yanbing tried to get closer to Yuan Shiyuan, something would always interrupt, or someone else would get there first.

"With a condition like yours, isn't it disgusting?"

"Who would want to be friends with you?"

"..."

The ringing in his ears grew louder and louder. Pei Yanbing suddenly recalled the earnest advice from his doctor not long ago.

"Your skin hunger is getting worse. Long-term suppression of your needs will inevitably lead to a strong rebound. Once you start sleepwalking or experiencing hallucinations, it means the condition has entered a critical stage."

"At that point, you'll crave physical contact intensely, even deeper connections."

"Like having a severe sexual addiction."

"..."

After a long silence, Pei Yanbing said, "That day will never come."

The doctor disagreed. He reminded him again, "You must avoid high-compatibility Omegas, or you will definitely lose control."

Pei Yanbing watched Yuan Shiyuan's figure surrounded by the crowd, his empty fingers trembling violently.

Then, he heard the calm, resolute reply from that day in the doctor's office.

"I will not lose control."

Absolutely not.