After Getting Pregnant, I Fought for a Divorce from My Alpha - Chapter 22
Wang Xiu repaired the gathering generously, choosing a famous local cuisine restaurant in Zhongming City as the location. Just one bottle of premium baijiu cost several thousand yuan.
The restaurant owner had already reserved the largest private room for them in advance. With Ying Chong and An Xiao’s presence, he even planned to hang a banner there afterward for promotional purposes.
“An Xiangdi, what would you like to drink?” Because they shared the same surname, An Xiao felt quite close to An Xiangdi and took extra care of him.
“Plain water.”
“Milk.”
An Xiangdi and Shen Xiao spoke in unison, prompting a table full of surprised looks.
Whether it was milk or plain water, it all seemed out of place at a grown-up dinner gathering.
An Xiangdi nudged Shen Xiao lightly under the table with his leg and repeated to everyone, “No need to order for me, I’ll have plain water.”
If it were before, Wei Yi would definitely have laughed at An Xiangdi for not drinking alcohol, but now he was too preoccupied, furiously messaging his agent in a desperate last attempt to escape.
Shen Xiao belatedly realized An Xiangdi might have felt nauseous from milk. “His stomach hasn’t been feeling well lately—he can’t drink. I’ll drink in his place.”
The odd atmosphere instantly lightened after Shen Xiao’s remark. An Xiao smiled and helped out: “Since Shen Xiao said so, Director Wang, let’s have An Xiangdi make it up to us next time.”
“I’ll treat everyone to drinks next time,” An Xiangdi followed up. But who knew when that “next time” would be.
Wang Qiao quickly raised her hand. “I can’t drink either—requesting milk.”
“I want coconut juice,” An Xiao chimed in.
“I’ll have milk too,” Ying Chong added unexpectedly.
Director Wang Xiu, initially a bit annoyed that the drinking party was turning dry, was speechless when even Ying Chong joined in. “Are you all trying to turn this into a wellness gathering?”
“If you’re okay with it,” An Xiao said playfully with a wink.
“How can I not be, after all this?” Wang Xiu gave in with a wry smile. “Xiao Wei, what do you want to drink?”
Completely zoned out thinking about becoming a permanent cast member on Survival, Wei Yi blurted out, “Baijiu.”
“So in the end, it’s just me and Xiao Wei drinking,” Wang Xiu joked. He might criticize Wei Yi harshly on set, but over drinks, he became his favorite drinking buddy.
Wei Yi finally realized something was off. “Wait… none of you are drinking?”
“Health gathering,” Ying Chong said, resting his chin in one hand. Nearing forty, he was well-maintained and exuded the charm of a mature Alpha.
Wang Xiu gave up explaining, called in the waiter, ordered dishes, and added four bottles of baijiu.
“Each of us four will get one.” With two thud sounds, he placed bottles in front of Shen Xiao and Wei Yi, then thud—one in front of assistant director Yang Chu.
Wei Yi looked at the bottle in front of him, then at An Xiangdi’s steaming glass of water, then at the milk in the film emperor’s cup. He leaned in and whispered, “You guys really aren’t drinking?”
“This is alcohol—hot,” An Xiangdi joked.
“I’m not blind,” Wei Yi rolled his eyes.
“Come on, let us four drinkers toast first,” Wang Xiu said, pouring himself a full glass and raising it.
Shen Xiao was fine. He wasn’t part of the cast and didn’t feel restricted. Wei Yi, who’d been yelled at all day on set, trembled as he picked up his glass.
“Thanks for all your care and tolerance, Director,” Wei Yi said with a forced smile, clearly trying to suck up and hoping for lighter scolding in the future.
“I’ll continue giving you special attention,” Wang Xiu replied, unfazed.
Wei Yi groaned internally. “Yes, yes…”
“It’s been ages since Shen Xiao starred in one of my films. What a pity,” Wang Xiu remarked. He had a good impression of Shen Xiao—after all, the man had won Best Actor two years in a row and was seen as Ying Chong’s successor.
“I’ll definitely join next time, if there’s a chance.” Shen Xiao raised his glass and took a sip.
The fine baijiu was smooth and aromatic, without the harshness of cheap liquor—truly enjoyable for connoisseurs.
An Xiangdi didn’t eat much, distracted by the small bag of bayberries. When he spaced out and glanced over, half of Shen Xiao’s baijiu bottle was already gone.
He’d seen Shen Xiao drink before—the man had a great tolerance. Unlike his own one-drink knockout, Shen Xiao stayed sharp even after drinking more than anyone else.
As Shen Xiao and the others moved into their third rounds, An Xiangdi was on his third round of water.
“I’m going to the bathroom,” An Xiangdi whispered to Shen Xiao and got up.
Wei Yi, a little tipsy, saw him leave and decided to follow to clear his head. “I… I’ll go too. Shen Xiao, you keep drinking with Director Wang!”
Shen Xiao’s face darkened. He didn’t respond.
The restaurant owner, mindful of their status, had cleared out the entire upper floor for them. Apart from their room, the rest were empty.
An Xiangdi entered the restroom along the quiet hallway. After finishing up, he ran into a flushed-faced Wei Yi.
“What the hell are you doing?” An Xiangdi asked.
“Washing my hands,” Wei Yi said, watching the clear water run through An Xiangdi’s pale fingers. Suddenly, he exclaimed, “Just look at you—so fair!”
An Xiangdi froze mid-pump of soap. “Huh?”
“Now look at me. I’m all tanned! And I’m about to be stationed on that show permanently!” Wei Yi wailed to the mirror. “I’m only eighteen, for God’s sake, and now the sun and bugs are going to ruin me! What did I ever do to deserve this?”
An Xiangdi really wanted to say: You pissed off my jealous Alpha.
But facing a drunk guy claiming to be eighteen when he was actually twenty-seven, An Xiangdi didn’t bother correcting him.
After washing his hands, An Xiangdi tried to walk past, but Wei Yi grabbed him.
“Wait for me!”
“Need a bathroom buddy now?” An Xiangdi scoffed.
“Shut up! The light in there keeps flickering. What if it goes dark? I need backup.”
Indeed, the bathroom lights flickered occasionally. Faulty bulbs, maybe. But An Xiangdi was more inclined to believe Wei Yi was just scared of ghosts.
Luckily, Wei Yi was fast. Within a couple of minutes, he was out.
Still tipsy, he splashed cold water on his face in an attempt to sober up.
“Shen Xiao doesn’t even get drunk when he drinks,” Wei Yi grumbled while drying his face, clearly envious of Shen Xiao’s iron stomach.
“If you were as tall as him, maybe you could too,” An Xiangdi jabbed right at his sore spot.
Wei Yi got triggered. As an Alpha who hadn’t even reached 180cm, he looked like a shrimp next to 191cm Shen Xiao.
Embarrassing!
“Shut up!” Wei Yi growled.
An Xiangdi laughed and walked out of the bathroom.
Wei Yi followed, cursing under his breath. But as they passed a tightly shut stairwell door, he stopped in his tracks.
“What…” An Xiangdi turned around, only to see Wei Yi motioning “shhh.”
Though the door looked closed, it was slightly ajar. As he passed, Wei Yi had caught the faint scent of an Omega—but it was pitch dark inside.
Something felt off.
He pressed close and managed to catch faint whispers from within.
“What’s going on?” the restaurant owner’s wife asked, seeing Wei Yi looking suspicious.
“Ah! Nothing! Hahahaha,” Wei Yi scratched his head, looking awkward.
“That’s just the way to the rooftop. We live here, and we hang our laundry up there,” the lady explained. “The door’s open—you’re free to check it out.”
“No, no, no need,” Wei Yi backed off.
As An Xiangdi, his friend, he wanted to vanish from sheer embarrassment.
“I’ll go deliver a dish—you kids enjoy,” the lady smiled and walked off.
Click—the private room door opened, and Shen Xiao stepped out with a dark expression. He walked over and stopped right in front of An Xiangdi.
“What took you so long?”
“Wei Yi’s scared of going alone,” An Xiangdi said, immediately selling Wei Yi out.
Wei Yi, already feeling like a pincushion, withstood Shen Xiao’s death glare. Whatever bravado he had as a fellow Alpha got squashed right there.
“Let’s go.” Shen Xiao wrapped an arm around An Xiangdi.
Wei Yi wisely shut up and followed.
Back in the private room, Wang Xiu joked, “All of you disappear the moment someone goes to the bathroom.”
An Xiangdi looked around. Assistant director Yang Chu and actor Ying Chong were both absent.
“Director Wang, nature calls,” An Xiao laughed.
“You’re always defending them,” Wang Xiu sighed helplessly.
“Everyone, have some noodles,” An Xiao said, picking some for Wang Xiu with serving chopsticks.
An Xiangdi noticed Shen Xiao’s baijiu bottle was empty. “You finished it?”
“Mm.” Shen Xiao didn’t explain why.
“Mm what?” An Xiangdi narrowed his eyes.
Shen Xiao said nothing, just clasped An Xiangdi’s hand in his palm.
The warmth spread from their joined hands through An Xiangdi’s body. He pursed his lips, swallowed his scolding, and decided to save it for later.
When his big bowl of noodles was nearly finished, Ying Chong and assistant director Yang Chu finally returned, one after the other. As they passed Wei Yi, he paused mid-bite and nudged An Xiangdi.
“They were definitely hiding in the stairwell with some mysterious Omega!”
“Are you a bloodhound or something?” An Xiangdi couldn’t smell any pheromones and didn’t get how Wei Yi could.
“I’m telling you, I’ve got a nose like a dog’s,” Wei Yi boasted. “Especially with Omegas—I’m super sensitive! It’s my Alpha gift.”
Shen Xiao looked at him coolly. “At least you’re self-aware.”