Can Alpha Also Be A Wife? - Chapter 20:

Chapter 20: Don’t You Want To?

As the sky dimmed into evening, Lin Fansheng chose a conservative outfit and wrapped himself up tightly.

Although they were stationed in a frigid ice zone, the mining base was equipped with climate-controlled facilities for easy movement. The only time they had to wear full cold-resistant gear was when heading below the surface to work.

When Yu Heng returned to the dorm and saw Lin Fansheng dressing like that, worry filled his voice.
“Lin Sheng… are you really going?”

He’d heard the rumors spreading through the other miners—how Benson had claimed Lin Sheng for himself.

The thought had unsettled him all day. So much so that he’d lost focus at work and earned a reprimand from his supervisor. He barely touched his dinner before rushing back, only to see Lin Sheng getting ready to go out.

“I don’t want to either,” Lin Fansheng replied, his smile tinged with helplessness. “But they’ve got Ah Huai.”

Earlier that day, he and Lu Shihuai had stopped by the infirmary briefly. Shortly after, Benson’s men had dragged Lu Shihuai away. Maybe because Lin Fansheng hadn’t resisted or made a scene, someone came later with a message:
As long as Lin Fansheng shows up tonight, they’ll release Lu Shihuai unharmed.

Yu Heng’s fists clenched. “People like that think they’re untouchable. Doesn’t the planetary leader care?”

They did care—but Lin Fansheng knew the truth.

Without hard evidence, no one could act.

Benson had eyes and ears everywhere. Most of the personnel on site were his, or belonged to whoever was backing him in secret. Even the Empire’s previous military overseers had been replaced. Every device was newly encrypted and locked down.

Since Benson had taken control, Fu Mingxi’s tech had been practically frozen out. They could only run limited interference.

That’s why Lin Fansheng and Lu Shihuai had to take matters into their own hands. They needed real proof—enough to shatter Benson’s influence from the outside.

Suddenly, Yu Heng reached out and grasped Lin Fansheng’s hand tightly.

“Lin Sheng, I swear—if something happens to you, I’ll never let it go.”

Lin Fansheng didn’t respond directly. He gave a calm smile. “It’s fine.”

Gently pulling his hand back, he grabbed a second identical outfit from the closet and headed out.

Benson’s quarters were on the opposite side of the dorm building. As Lin Fansheng made his way through the corridors, he could feel eyes watching him—some with concern, others with judgment, some gleefully waiting for drama.

He didn’t react outwardly, his face showing only a composed, reluctant calm—tinged with just enough discomfort to look believable.

Once he reached Benson’s doorway, the stares fell away.

A guard scanned him with a detection device to ensure he wasn’t armed before stepping aside. In the past, they would’ve searched him by hand, but tonight he was “a guest” of Benson’s. No one wanted to risk offending their boss’s chosen companion.

Lin Fansheng used that formality to his advantage. Hidden under his clothes was a small, inconspicuous bottle—one that easily made it through the scan.

As soon as he stepped inside, his footsteps froze.

“…Ah Huai?”

There, tied to a chair, was Lu Shihuai.

He hurried over, tugging at the knots. They were loosely done, and he managed to loosen the bindings after a few tries. But Lu Shihuai didn’t get up. His body slumped forward, weak.

“What happened?” Lin Fansheng asked, supporting him.

A mocking voice came from behind.

“He’s been sedated,” Benson said, emerging from a cloud of steam in a bathrobe, eyes gleaming maliciously. “Don’t worry, the effects will wear off later.”

With a cruel smirk, he added, “If you want me to let him go… you know what you need to do.”

Lin Fansheng didn’t reply. His lips tightened. After a moment’s pause, he helped Lu Shihuai settle in the chair again—then without another word, walked into the bathroom.

Benson smiled with smug satisfaction as the door closed behind him. He turned to Lu Shihuai.

“Don’t worry,” he said with mock sympathy. “I’ll take very good care of him.”

Lu Shihuai, still groggy, glared at him murderously.

Benson only chuckled. “Imagine watching the one you care about being touched by someone else… I’m sure you’ll get your answer soon enough.”

He tied Lu Shihuai back up, angled the chair to face the bed directly, then sat down, grinning like a predator awaiting his prey.

Time passed.

Growing impatient, Benson pulled up some entertainment on his wrist terminal, casually watching videos while waiting. He had no doubt—Lin Sheng wouldn’t stay in that bathroom forever, not while Lu Huai was being held hostage.

Eventually, the bathroom door opened.

Lin Fansheng stepped out, still in his original clothes. His wet shirt clung to his body, semi-transparent and accentuating his pale skin. Water trickled down his neck, disappearing beneath the collar.

Despite being fully clothed, the dampness made everything more revealing—like he’d been sculpted from snow and fire, pure and tantalizing.

Benson’s breath hitched. Perfect.

This was the best-looking person he’d ever laid eyes on. Maybe the best he’d ever get his hands on.

He stumbled off the bed in eagerness, nearly tripping in his haste. Reaching out toward Lin Fansheng, he ignored the height difference, ready to pull him in—

But Lin Fansheng took two steps back. His lashes trembled.
“I’ll come over myself,” he said softly.

Benson’s eyes gleamed. “Sure, I’ll join you.”

As they approached the bed, Lin Fansheng suddenly turned his head sharply toward Lu Shihuai.

“Why is he watching?” he demanded, voice tinged with fury and embarrassment.

The slight flush on his face made him look even more enticing.

Benson laughed. “Isn’t it more fun this way? Knowing he’s right there?”

“You’re disgusting,” Lin Fansheng snapped.

“Just this once,” Benson said, utterly enraptured. “Once we’re done, I’ll let him go.”

Lin Fansheng hesitated, eyes shimmering with uncertainty.

“You’re not lying?” he asked.

“Of course not!”

“…Can you turn off the lights?”

“Sure, sure,” Benson fumbled to dim the room, leaving only a soft glow from the bedside lamp.

Seeing Lin Fansheng already on the bed, Benson moved in eagerly.

He leaned in—only to drop to the floor, unconscious before he could even touch him.

The fragrance in the air had been laced.

Lin Fansheng sat up, no longer the soft, submissive figure. His expression turned icy.

“What a creep. Your tastes are revolting.”

At that moment, Lu Shihuai broke out of the bindings and got to his feet. He walked over and kicked the unconscious man a few times in frustration.

“If we didn’t need him conscious for later, I would’ve broken his legs,” he muttered.

“I’m going to search the office,” Lu Shihuai added. “You want me to leave behind… markings?”

He meant physical signs—bruises or scratches—to sell the illusion of intimacy.

“Tomorrow,” Lin Fansheng replied with a sigh. “My healing is too fast. If you do it now, they’ll be gone by morning.”

He shifted in his damp clothes, uncomfortable. He’d refused to wear the seductive garments Benson left in the bathroom.

The thought of them made him so annoyed he turned and kicked Benson again for good measure.

Lu Shihuai slipped out the window into the night and met up with Fu Mingxi to infiltrate Benson’s office again. Thanks to improved preparations, they managed to bypass the defenses completely this time.

Meanwhile, Lin Fansheng staged the room, tearing his clothes a bit and playing a pre-recorded audio track that Fu Mingxi had customized for them.

Later, Lu Shihuai returned through the window.

“Got what we need,” he said.

The room now looked like a scene of chaotic passion. Lin Fansheng’s shirt was barely hanging on.

Seeing this, Lu Shihuai looked away, visibly flustered.

“What, shy now?” Lin Fansheng teased.

“We’re both Alphas. What’s the big deal?”

He circled Lu Shihuai playfully, then reached out and tilted his chin upward.

“If you can’t even look, how are you going to help me fake the marks tomorrow?”

Lu Shihuai’s gaze darted, clearly overwhelmed.

“…Me?”

“Of course. I can’t do it myself.” Lin Fansheng took his hand and guided it, tracing from his neck down his chest, to his waist. “So? Don’t you want to?”

Lu Shihuai’s face flushed crimson. He yanked his hand back and hurried to the chair, tying himself up again like nothing happened.

Lin Fansheng burst into laughter.

So tough in every other situation—but when it came to this, Lu Shihuai turned completely shy.

Still, he’d been serious. Lin Fansheng had no idea how to accurately mimic what Benson would expect to see. But Lu Shihuai could do it.

Because Lu Shihuai liked him.

Alphas were notoriously possessive—and there was no way Lu Shihuai would leave it to chance.

If he wanted to act aloof for now, Lin Fansheng would let him.

But he wouldn’t be able to hold out forever.

With a stretch, Lin Fansheng stripped off his shirt and climbed into Benson’s bed.

He’d noticed earlier that everything—sheets, pillows, even the mattress—was freshly replaced. Clearly, Benson’s subordinates were thorough.

Later that night, with the room bathed in silence, Lu Shihuai quietly slipped from the chair, untied himself, and crept onto the bed.

He moved cautiously, checking Lin Fansheng’s expression under the soft nightlight to make sure he was asleep.

Only when he was sure did Lu Shihuai wrap his arms around him and finally let himself relax.

He didn’t notice the faint smile playing on Lin Fansheng’s lips.