Failed to Pretend to Be an Alpha and Got Marked by the Enemy (ABO, GL) - Chapter 89

Chapter 89

The theme song for this season was called “The Most Dazzling You.” It was a lively, catchy pop song with simple lyrics that people easily remembered. Because the rhythm was fast, the dance moves were choreographed in a fragmented way. Singing alone was easy, but singing while dancing posed a huge challenge for a performer.

In Yu Jing’s group, except for Xiao Yihuan, the other four members had some dance experience. They spent half a day mastering all the basic moves, though the details needed repeated practice to build muscle memory. However, as the weakest link in the team, Xiao Yihuan always fell behind everyone’s rhythm. To avoid holding back the others, Yu Jing had to give her one-on-one lessons.

Xiao Yihuan seemed delicate, but deep down, she refused to give up. Seeing others learn so quickly, she felt unwilling to lag behind. She went from resisting stretching exercises to actively pulling Yu Jing to “torture” herself. Her determined effort made Yu Jing feel both relieved and heartbroken.

One was a skilled dancer who mastered moves instantly, and the other was a dance beginner who struggled to learn. This stark contrast made Yu Jing and Xiao Yihuan’s interactions more entertaining. Whenever the camera cut to them, the live stream’s comment section scrolled so fast it seemed to have a speed booster. Everyone said the “Yu-Yi” pairing was too adorable.

The newly formed “Yu-Yi” fanbase grew rapidly within a single day, but the two girls remained completely unaware of it.

The mentors only assigned tasks and gave guidance. How to practice and how long to practice was up to the trainees. Xiao Yihuan’s dance foundation was too weak, so she had to put in more effort than others. When others rested, she practiced dancing. When others ate, she practiced dancing.

As Xiao Yihuan’s dance teacher, Yu Jing didn’t rest either. She taught her step by step and stayed with her. Except for eating, drinking, and bathroom breaks, the two never stopped.

Night quietly arrived.

After practicing all day, trainees gradually left the practice room.

Yu Jing looked at Xiao Yihuan, who was so tired she could barely lift her arms but still faced the mirror to correct her moves. Feeling pity, Yu Jing asked, “How about we stop here for today?”

Xiao Yihuan was determined to push herself. She shook her head and gritted her teeth, saying, “I can’t remember this move no matter what. I have to get it right!” After a pause, she turned her head and said, “If you’re tired, go back first. I’ll practice a bit more.”

This level of training was nothing for Yu Jing. She didn’t feel tired and thought that going back might mean waiting in line with her two roommates to shower. So, she stayed to keep practicing with Xiao Yihuan.

One teammate couldn’t keep up and said goodbye, preparing to leave. When she opened the practice room door, a wave of cheers and screams flooded in, startling everyone inside.

“It sounds like next door. What are they shouting about?” one teammate asked.

The teammate about to leave gossiped and ran next door to check. She soon returned, full of envy, saying, “Teacher Chen Chen is so nice. He came late at night to bring everyone a midnight snack.”

“Midnight snack?” another teammate stopped practicing and said excitedly, “Then we should get some too, right?”

Just as she spoke, footsteps approached.

Six pairs of eyes turned toward the door.

Two people walked toward the practice room. The one in front was a program staff member wearing a work badge. The person behind was slender and tall, with glowing pale skin under the light. Her long, flowing skirt outlined her captivating figure, and her long hair swayed gracefully. Her charming presence instantly captured everyone’s attention.

Yu Jing, who was guiding Xiao Yihuan’s moves, stopped and stared straight at the practice room door.

“…Teacher Ming Zhu!” The teammate at the door shouted her name first. Realizing she was blocking the way, she quickly stepped aside, half surprised and half nervous, looking at Ming Zhu as she approached. “T-Teacher, you’re not here to bring us a midnight snack too, are you?!”

“Hmm,” Ming Zhu nodded slightly, her tone gentle. “Everyone worked hard. The cafeteria made a midnight snack, so I brought some for you all.”

The others gathered around.

The six of them wore matching colored T-shirts, all tied their hair in ponytails, and were about the same height. Yet, Ming Zhu spotted Yu Jing at a glance, her eyes openly fixed on her.

Yu Jing stepped forward, feeling Ming Zhu’s gaze burn intensely on her, filled with emotions she couldn’t understand. It made her heart skip a beat.

Was there something dirty on her face?

Yu Jing quickly checked the mirror. Seeing nothing but sweat on her face, she turned back and met Ming Zhu’s gaze.

—What’s wrong, Sister?

With the camera rolling, Yu Jing couldn’t actually ask Ming Zhu. Suppressing her curiosity, she looked up and grinned, saying, “This is great! We get a midnight snack too. Thank you, Teacher Ming Zhu.”

Ming Zhu watched her, her expression hesitant as if she wanted to say something.

Xiao Yihuan’s eyes lit up at the mention of food. She forgot about dancing instantly and squeezed next to Yu Jing, staring at the takeout boxes in the staff member’s hands. Swallowing hungrily, she looked at Ming Zhu and said, “Sister Ming Zhu, you’re so nice! What yummy food did you bring?”

She got no immediate response.

Sensing something off, Xiao Yihuan looked up and saw Ming Zhu’s stern face and strange gaze scrutinizing her. Her heart sank.

Was she imagining it, or did she detect a hint of hostility in Ming Zhu’s eyes?

But why? They got along well when they recorded the show together before, didn’t they?

Had she said something wrong?

Or was it the way she addressed her?

Xiao Yihuan racked her brain and could only think of the address issue. Embarrassed, she corrected herself and asked again, “Teacher Ming Zhu, what yummy food did you bring us?”

Ming Zhu glanced at her for a few seconds, then shifted her gaze to Yu Jing beside her. Her expression softened as she said, “There’s small noodles, wontons, dumplings, and porridge. Pick what you like.”

The teammates eagerly called out what they wanted, and the staff handed them each one.

Yu Jing opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, someone already stuffed a box of small wontons into her hands.

Yes, she indeed wanted small wontons.

Wondering how the staff knew her taste so well, Yu Jing followed the delicate, almost too-perfect hand holding the box. She realized it was Ming Zhu who gave her the wontons, and it made sense.

“Thank you, Teacher Ming Zhu,” she said, smiling.

“…”

At such close distance, Ming Zhu even smelled the pheromones Yu Jing gave off after exercising—a faint strawberry milk scent that slipped into her nose and mouth. It was sweet and captivating.

The person she wanted was right there, but she couldn’t hug her.

She also had to watch others ship her with someone else.

Ming Zhu slightly regretted coming here as a mentor.

Her long lashes hid the turbulent struggle in her eyes. Her fingers twitched, resisting the urge to hug her. She kept her tone calm, saying, “You’re welcome.”

She had to rush to deliver snacks to other groups, so Ming Zhu didn’t stay long. As she turned to leave, she couldn’t help turning back to glance a few more times.

Female artists usually avoided midnight snacks to maintain their figures, but the six of them, who’d trained intensely all evening, were too exhausted to resist. The snacks smelled so delicious that no one could resist such temptation.

There was no food in the practice room, so they sat on the floor. They ate eagerly opened the midnight snacks they got.

“Jingjing, why does your wonton food have chili pepper?” Xiao Mei Yihuan also got a wonton food, but she hers only had only wonton noodles, seaweed, and a few floating onion bits on top. Yu Jing’s hers had those plus a small amount of red chili oil.

Yu Jing stared at the bright red chili oil, stunned.

She liked to eat wonton food and preferred not to add vinegar but to add some chili pepper instead. This habit was known only by Xiao Ye, who lived with her daily, so and also only by Ming Zhu.

So, did Ming Zhu prepare this wonton food specially for her?

…Was this too obvious?

Thinking of the audience watching the live broadcast, Yu Jing felt a bit panicked inside. But she acted calm on the outside, meeting Xiao Yihuan’s puzzled gaze. She said, “Maybe they made spicy and non-spicy versions for different tastes.”

“Oh,” Xiao Yihuan said, not thinking further.

She eyed Yu Jing’s clearly more appetizing wonton food enviously compared to hers. “Yours looks so yummy,” she said. “Let me try one, please.”

Yu Jing smiled and handed over the bowl.

Xiao Yihuan happily scooped a wonton from her box, mixing it with red chili oil and putting it in her mouth.

“Cough—” She ate too quickly and got accidentally choked on the red chili oil. Xiao Yihuan covered her mouth, coughing hard.

Yu Jing’s face changed slightly with worry. She quickly put down her wonton food, found Xiao Yihuan’s soup cup, and unscrewed it for her. Seeing Xiao Yihuan’s hands were busy, she fed directly fed her the soup.

Xiao Yihuan drank half the bottle and finally calmed down. Sticking out her tongue with teary eyes, she said, “Why is it so so so much spicy?”

Yu Jing, doubtful, tried a bite of wonton too. “It’s not spicy at all,” she said. “You probably can’t handle spicy food, right?”

Xiao Yihuan pouted, feeling wronged. “I don’t usually eat spicy food much,” she said.

Just that tiny bit of red chili oil made her lips swell. Yu Jing, wanting to tease her, handed the bowl over and coaxed, “Actually, you just ate too fast earlier,” she said. “Eat slowly, and it’ll be fine. It’s really not spicy at all. Try one more to see.”

“No, you eat it yourself,” Xiao Yihuan said, not falling for it.

“Come on, come on, Sister feeds you,” Yu Jing said, grinning like a fox, scooping a full spoonful of red chili oil wonton and holding it to her mouth.

“What Sister? You’re younger than me… ugh… I won’t eat!” Xiao Yihuan said.

Their playful bickering was all recorded by the camera.

[Jingjing, wake up! Yihuan is older than you; she’s the Sister!]

[Yu-Yi is so sweet, oh my gosh! More feeding interactions like this, please.]]

[Yu Jing is actually younger than Xiao Yihuan? I had no idea. I couldn’t tell at all.]]

[Looked it up, Yu Jingjing is over a year younger, but she looks like the younger sister, lol.]]

[Yu Jing does seem more mature than Yihuan. Maybe because she debuted earlier? Starting at seventeen, that’s pretty tough when you think about it.]]

[No one finds this red chili oil weird? I checked other groups, and no one else got red chili oil wontons. Wasn’t Yu Jing’s Ming Zhu’s special one? She didn’t even say what she wanted, and Ming Zhu just gave it to her.]]

[Holy crap, you’re right! Only one red chili oil wonton soup. I don’t believe if they say there’s nothing between them!]]

[I knew it! Ming Yu is the real deal!]!

[Ming Zhu’s so sweet. Thanks to the eagle-eyed girls spotting the sugar!]!

[What does one wonton soup prove? Maybe the cafeteria messed up. Water fish, don’t overthink it. Yu-Yi’s interactions are so sweet—join us in shipping Yu-Yi!]!

Outside the practice room.

Noticing Ming Zhu hadn’t moved, the staff holding the takeout boxes asked cautiously, “Teacher Ming Zhu, can we go now?”

Ming Zhu’s thoughts were interrupted. Her eyes flickered, hiding the complex emotions inside. She pulled her attention from the two girls bickering inside and looked at the staff, saying softly, “Let’s go.”

Her high heels clicked steadily on the floor. Her tall figure looked slightly lonely.

After eating the midnight snack, they couldn’t continue dancing. As it got late, the six decided to end practice for the day.

Turning off the practice room’s lights, Yu Jing and her teammates walked out together. They saw other groups leaving too.

More and more people came out, exhausted, dragging slowly along the corridor toward the stairs.

Suddenly, everything went dark.

“…What’s happening?”

“Who turned off the lights?”

“Ahhh—Is the show pranking us?”

“It’s probably a power outage.”

Dozens of trainees were caught off guard by the sudden darkness, causing a moment of chaos.

The staff quickly came out to calm things down. “Don’t panic, don’t panic,” they said. “It’s a power outage. The director’s team got the report and is handling it. Stay calm and wait where you are. Don’t wander off.”

Once confirmed it was a power outage and not a prank, most people calmed down quickly. But a few who were scared nearly cried.

Xiao Yihuan, especially afraid of the dark, flailed her hands in the darkness. She grabbed someone and clung tightly, saying, “It’s so dark, Jingjing, I’m so scared.”

That person said, “You grabbed the wrong person. I’m Chen Xiao.”

“Oh, sorry!” Xiao Yihuan quickly apologized and let go. Afraid of grabbing the wrong person again, she didn’t dare move. Turning another way, she whispered, “Jingjing, where are you?”

“I…”

Yu Jing finished one word when a cold hand suddenly covered her mouth.

Thinking it was someone’s prank, she tensed. But the person holding her pressed their body close, fitting perfectly against her back.

Their warm breath brushed the sensitive gland at the back of her neck. Yu Jing shuddered, and fear crept in belatedly.

This person was half a head taller than she. Judging by their build, they weren’t one of the sixty trainees who’d made it to this round. They were likely an Alpha.

Could it be a staff member trying to harass her in the chaos?

The more Yu Jing thought, the more likely it seemed. Unable to speak, she bent her elbow to strike back.

The person swiftly read her intent. A cool palm gripped her wrist.

This person was much stronger than her, definitely an Alpha!

Yu Jing’s spine chilled, back. Her heart raced with anger and urgency. She lifted her foot to kick backward, but the person suddenly leaned down. Their noses brushed her damp hair.

“Don’t be scared,” they said softly. “It’s me.”

A familiar cool scent filled her nose as they whispered against her ear.