Failed to Pretend to Be an Alpha and Got Marked by the Enemy (ABO, GL) - Chapter 14

Chapter 14

The first game ended with plenty of laughs, plus the buzz and tension from Yu Jing and Ming Zhu, making for perfect show vibes.

Yang Ming glanced at the schedule and said, “Next up, the second game.”

The second game was called Water Balloon Battle. It’s a two-on-two duel. Each team sends one player to sit at opposite ends of a cylindrical platform, using inflatable sticks to knock off the balloon on their opponent’s head. If no balloon is popped, the first to fall into the water loses.

This game sounded trickier than the last, so to make it clear for the guests and audience, Yang Ming had two staff members demonstrate.

After the demo, he asked, “Got it?”

The six gave scattered nods of understanding.

Yang Ming looked at Yu Jing and Chen Chen: “You get to pick your order and opponent. Decided yet?”

For a game that burns energy and needs skill, going later is better. Yu Jing and Chen Chen quickly discussed and made their choice.

Chen Chen pointed at Xie Haichao with a sneaky grin: “Haichao, you’re up. I’ll cheer you on.”

Xie Haichao called him sly, waved a hand, and turned to Peng Ze: “Come on, Ze, us guys go first.”

Peng Ze, not one to say no, agreed: “Okay.”

But Ming Zhu stopped him, her voice calm: “Haichao’s an Alpha. You’re no match for his stamina. I’ll go.”

Xie Haichao’s face showed his plan had been busted. He huffed, throwing Ming Zhu a proud glance: “Sure, you’re an Alpha too, but you’re a woman. Your stamina’s gotta be weaker than mine.”

Ming Zhu took Peng Ze’s balloon hat and put it on, her lips curving slightly. She looked at Xie Haichao: “We’ll see who wins.”

[Damn, Ming Zhu’s line was so badass!]

[I always thought Haichao was the ultimate Alpha among male stars, but Ming Zhu totally outshined him!]

[Ming Zhu’s cold vibe used to scare me, but now—ugh, so badass and gorgeous! Total Alpha queen, I’m sold!]

[A female Alpha outlasting a male Alpha? No way.]

[Normally, female Alphas have less stamina than males, but if her gene rank is high, crushing a male Alpha is totally possible.]

[Curious about Ming Zhu’s gene rank.]

[Curious +1.]

Yu Jing couldn’t see the comments. Hearing Ming Zhu’s flat but provocative words, she was surprised and curious too.

For someone as confident as Ming Zhu, you don’t talk that big unless you’re seriously strong, right? Alphas naturally clash, and when challenged, they go all out to win. Could she beat Xie Haichao?

With huge suspense, Ming Zhu and Xie Haichao climbed onto the cylinder.

When Yang Ming called start, the Alpha showdown began.

Yu Jing watched closely.

It wasn’t as intense as expected. Ming Zhu and Xie Haichao played fair, swinging their inflatable sticks at each other’s balloons, back and forth, like a gentleman’s duel.

“Pfft,” Chen Chen watched the two Alphas sparring in the pool, joking, “I thought they’d use pheromones to overpower each other.”

No civilized person would release pheromones in public. Ming Zhu and Xie Haichao were clearly testing endurance.

Ten minutes later—

Splash!

A huge wave rose in the pool, and everyone watching stood up.

“Damn, Haichao fell in!” Chen Chen was shocked and gleeful. “Haichao, you’re so weak, only ten minutes!”

Xie Haichao waved off the staff’s help, first snapping “Get lost” at Chen Chen’s taunts. Panting, he looked at Ming Zhu, barely sweating on the cylinder, and gave a slow thumbs-up: “You’re something else.”

Ming Zhu showed no trace of a victor’s joy or smugness. Eyes lowered, she said softly, “Thanks for going easy, Haichao.”

Only Xie Haichao knew he hadn’t held back—he’d given it his all and still lost. But Ming Zhu’s words saved his face. He laughed loudly: “Go teach that punk Chen Chen a lesson later.”

Chen Chen yelled, “Haichao, you lost fair and square. Why drag me into it?”

Xie Haichao splashed water at him, laughing as Chen Chen squealed, goading: “Why don’t you try? See if you can win.”

“Fine, I’m in.” Chen Chen, all riled up, put his hands on his hips and asked Yang Ming, “Director Yang, can I go first?”

Yang Ming loved the tension and agreed, “Sure.”

Chen Chen grabbed a balloon hat and inflatable stick and climbed up.

Yu Jing didn’t even have time to stop him. Stunned, she watched him face Ming Zhu, thinking: Is this guy a total liability?

What happened to their strategy? Weren’t they supposed to wear out the others and go last?

Forgetting their plan, Chen Chen slid to Ming Zhu on the cylinder, cocky: “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

Ming Zhu nodded slightly: “I won’t hold back.”

“No need. In one minute, I’ll make you fa—”

Pop!

Before he finished, Ming Zhu’s stick burst his balloon.

Chen Chen froze, took off his hat, squeezed the deflated balloon, and looked at Ming Zhu, who’d taken him out in seconds, wailing: “That was too fast! How’d you do it?”

“You weren’t focused,” Ming Zhu said simply.

Chen Chen stood dumbfounded on the cylinder.

[Big talk and then owned in seconds. Chen Chen’s in a show, and it’s comedy gold. I’m dying laughing.]

[Ming Zhu’s so badass, taking down two male Alphas in a row!]

[Haichao, a top-tier Alpha, is still panting, and Ming Zhu’s unfazed. She’s gotta be a top-tier female Alpha!]

[Blowing up for Ming Zhu! So badass, my heat’s coming early!]

[Hey, little Omega up there, chill out a bit.]

The scene was too funny, and the onlookers burst into laughter.

“Get down here, punk, don’t embarrass us male Alphas,” Xie Haichao teased.

Chen Chen, red-faced, looked at Xie Haichao mocking him from the poolside. His dazed eyes shifted to his teammate, who seemed to be cringing, and hope sparked: “Jingjing, avenge me!”

Yu Jing lowered her hands, wanting to cry.

She’d just seen Ming Zhu take down Xie Haichao and was floored.

No pheromones, but Ming Zhu’s insane stamina proved one thing—she was strong.

Face Ming Zhu? Yu Jing doubted she’d last a minute.

She wanted to say no but couldn’t.

If she refused, people would think she admitted she was no match for Ming Zhu—which was true.

A naturally strong Alpha versus a naturally delicate Omega? No contest.

But she didn’t want anyone knowing she was an Omega now.

So, she had to fight.

Steeling herself, Yu Jing forced a smile, looking at the woman who’d won two rounds on the cylinder. Low on confidence but faking fearlessness, she said, “Alright, let’s do this.”

The four-meter cylinder, split in half, saw Yu Jing cautiously inch to the middle with her inflatable stick, already forming a new plan.

She couldn’t match Ming Zhu’s stamina or endurance, so she’d have to outsmart her.

At the dividing line, Yu Jing stopped, looked at the woman whose hair wasn’t even mussed, and said, “How about this?”

Her vague words confused Ming Zhu: “What?”

Yu Jing pretended to think, then said after three seconds, “Rock-paper-scissors. Winner strikes first, loser can only dodge. Sound good?”

Ming Zhu just wanted it over fast. Frowning, she glanced at Yang Ming.

Yang Ming, arms crossed, watched leisurely, not stopping Yu Jing’s rule-twisting.

Feeling his silent approval, Yu Jing raised an eyebrow at Ming Zhu: “Scared?”

The challenge was clear.

Ming Zhu knew it was a trick but kept her cool, saying flatly, “Whatever.”

“Great, rock-paper-scissors it is.” A sly glint flashed in Yu Jing’s eyes. She raised a pale fist, all serious: “I count to three, we go.”

Ming Zhu hesitated, then nodded slightly.

“One, two, three!”

Yu Jing’s fist opened into scissors.

Ming Zhu showed paper. She lost.

Quick as a flash, Yu Jing swung her inflatable stick fiercely at Ming Zhu’s head.

Per their rule, Ming Zhu couldn’t strike back and instinctively leaned back to dodge, nearly falling off the cylinder into the water.

The crowd gasped.

Just as everyone held their breath, Ming Zhu’s ninety-degree tilt snapped back upright without touching the cylinder.

[Damn, that core strength! I’d be done for.]

[Great stamina, killer core. Ming Zhu’s future partner’s gonna be one happy camper. Jealous~]

[Hey, this is a family-friendly stream. No dirty talk!]

Yu Jing tried to swing again while Ming Zhu was off guard.

“One hit at a time. No cheating,” Ming Zhu’s cool, restrained voice stopped her.

Yu Jing sheepishly lowered her stick, her gaze catching Ming Zhu’s slightly wet hair on her shoulder, her sexy collarbone, and a glimpse of her toned waist under her lifted shirt—pale, tight, with faint, alluring lines. Her throat bobbed.

Noticing her stare, Ming Zhu’s eyes flickered, and she tugged her shirt down.

Yu Jing snapped back, her eyes landing on Ming Zhu’s slightly crooked collar. An idea hit. “Are you wearing a base layer?”

Knowing the water theme might soak her clothes, Yu Jing had added a camisole under her T-shirt. Ming Zhu’s black outfit hid whether she had one.

The casual question threw Ming Zhu off. Instead of answering, she asked, “What’s that got to do with the game?”

“Nothing, just asking,” Yu Jing said lightly, dropping it and raising her fist. “Again.”

Second round: Yu Jing played paper, Ming Zhu played rock.

Yu Jing won again!

Even she was shocked by her luck, her face showing surprise.

Ming Zhu’s expression grew serious. Seeing Yu Jing raise her stick, she instinctively moved to dodge.

But Yu Jing let go of the cylinder, reaching for Ming Zhu’s collar.

Ming Zhu’s eyes sharpened, catching her intent, and she quickly covered her chest.

Yu Jing’s fake grab stopped short. Before Ming Zhu could react, she swung the stick hard.

Pop!

Ming Zhu’s balloon burst.

Still covering her chest, Ming Zhu looked stunned: “You cheated?”

“How’s that cheating?” Yu Jing slid closer, leaning in. Her delicate fingers tugged Ming Zhu’s loose sleeve, pulling the collar to cover her collarbone. She looked up with a dazzling smile: “Your shirt was crooked. Just fixing it for you.”

The overly familiar gesture and soft tone felt oddly familiar.

Dazed by Yu Jing’s bright smile, Ming Zhu flashed back to the dressing room teasing, freezing up.

Yu Jing slowly pulled back, winking at the stunned woman, her voice clear: “Sorry, I win.”

[…]

[Why’s the vibe kinda weird? Aren’t they rivals? Shouldn’t they be tearing into each other? Why so chill?]

[Not just chill, but… kinda flirty?]

[I’m getting flirty vibes too. Yu Jing’s move, her look, her tone—it’s like she’s hitting on Ming Zhu???]

[Think about that ‘black lace underwear’ code and that red carpet moment when Ming Zhu had her arm around Yu Jing… Damn, are they secretly a thing?!]