The Stand-In Alpha Goes Viral on a Dating Show - Chapter 12

The living room simmered with subtle tension. At the center of everyone’s gaze, Mingyu moved gracefully across the first floor, arranging decorations with focused intent. Meanwhile, Lu Xin, Su Yao, and Ruan Xiao—perhaps just unlucky—had all been assigned to cleaning tasks upstairs on the second or third floor.

Now, the three stood at the top of the staircase, watching the elegant figure flit about below, fretting over their lack of a legitimate excuse to get closer to her.

They had already gathered the basics. The two extra guests were Shi Yi, an Alpha painter, and Qu Huan, an Omega who worked as a theme park planner. These newcomers, along with Mo Wei—the heir to the Mo Corporation—as well as Chi Wan and An Ran, had all been assigned to the first floor.

If they wanted to switch assignments, they would have to negotiate privately. Chi Wan and An Ran were immediately out of the question—neither could cook, and none of the three wanted to be their assistants. Yet even among the others, no one was willing to trade.

Mo Wei had been blunt:

“Let’s be real—I like Mingyu too. I’m not about to step aside. You might as well give up now. With your backgrounds, do you honestly think you can outmatch me?”

The words left the trio pale with fury.

“You’re a little full of yourself, aren’t you?” one retorted. “The Mo family has more than one heir. You’re just a candidate, not the chosen one.”

Mo Wei’s expression darkened for a moment, but she quickly laughed.

“Well then,” she said, “let’s compete.”

With that, she turned and left, leaving the others seething, still standing at the stairway, plotting their next move.

Just then, out of the corner of their eyes, they spotted Chi Wan rushing out of the kitchen, visibly flustered and scanning the room like she was searching for someone.

The three exchanged looks, the same thought blooming in each mind: Is she… looking for one of us?

When Chi Wan spotted them, her eyes lit up instantly, and she quickly made her way over.

The trio thought simultaneously: Aha! So we were right. But… who exactly is she looking for?

None of them noticed that, because of Chi Wan’s sudden entrance, they had momentarily forgotten all about Mingyu. Their thoughts now revolved entirely around Chi Wan—along with a creeping sense of rivalry.

Behind the cameras, Meng Lan watched this unfold and furrowed her brows in displeasure.

Strange, she thought. She only met all of us today. Why hasn’t she ever looked for me like that?

Someone else wasn’t too pleased either—An Ran, who had just been left behind in the kitchen. Her fingertips still tingled with the warmth of Chi Wan’s lips from earlier, the strawberry-patterned bandage still fresh. She hadn’t even had time to fully recover from that moment of flustered intimacy before Chi Wan darted off—straight to her exes.

Unbelievable, An Ran fumed, she clearly hasn’t learned her lesson. Standing at the kitchen door, she peered quietly toward the staircase.

Chi Wan, still several steps away from her three exes, slowed her pace and muttered inwardly:

System! Quick! Calculate who has the highest probability of letting me give them a hickey!

[Apologies. This system does not support that function. Host must explore manually.]

Chi Wan puffed out her cheeks in frustration, instantly turning into a pufferfish.

Useless system! What can you do?

[Please don’t say that! I have multiple functions including—]

Lalalala, not listening! If you don’t have what I need right now, what’s the point of you!

As Chi Wan’s expression shifted from anxious to annoyed, the three women each flinched.

Wait, they thought, we didn’t do anything to upset her… did we?

Now thoroughly unsettled, they stood awkwardly as Chi Wan walked up, her gaze darting between them, scrutinizing each face.

“Chi Wan, who are you looking for? Don’t just stare—it’s creepy,” Lu Xin finally broke the silence, visibly nervous.

Chi Wan struggled for a response. She couldn’t very well say, Hey, can I give one of you a hickey real quick?

That would get her labeled a lunatic—or worse, a pervert.

Behind the camera, Meng Lan squinted, a surge of irritation bubbling in her chest.

So she really did come looking for them. But why? Was I that forgettable when we were dating?

She narrowed the camera’s focus entirely on Chi Wan, zooming in, almost like trying to peer directly into her heart.

Backstage, Assistant Director Chu Rou noticed the sudden extreme close-up. The lens was so tight it practically kissed Chi Wan’s face. And yet—even under that unforgiving scrutiny—Chi Wan looked stunning.

Her lashes fluttered like delicate wings, her slightly pursed lips revealed faint lines yet remained beautifully full and red, her cheeks puffed out in frustration looked soft enough to bite.

Beauty was visible.

The livestream’s comment section exploded:

【Finally some Chi Wan screentime! She’s so pretty! All pouty and sparkly-eyed—like a real-life fairy!】

【Thought maybe the crew hated her, but this close-up is basically a love letter. Don’t tell me the cameraman’s fallen for her too?】

【Chi Wan’s face is a total knockout. That kind of charisma is unreal.】

【Whoever pissed her off is clearly in the wrong. Protect Chi Wan at all costs!】

Chu Rou decided this couldn’t go on. The footage was clearly playing in Chi Wan’s favor—and for her, that was unacceptable. She pulled out her phone, muttering, Has Meng Lan lost her mind?

She messaged her to change the shot. No reply. No action.

Tch. Fine, she thought, I’ll handle it myself.

She switched the camera feed manually, cutting Chi Wan from the screen.

Truth was, Meng Lan hadn’t lost her mind—but she had been captivated. She’d kept the lens on Chi Wan longer than necessary, hoping to find a flaw in her features—something to crush the “goddess” image her fans adored.

But instead… she found none.

Strangely, even though she failed, she didn’t feel disappointed. What she felt was… something else.

If Lu Xin knew what she was thinking, she would probably say, Girl, she got you under a spell.

Back to Chu Rou—who now had a new plan. She glanced at Mingyu, currently arranging flowers. Flower arranging was an elegant art, one that demanded aesthetic sensibility.

Chi Wan, a village girl with questionable taste (as evidenced by her wardrobe), surely wouldn’t hold up in comparison.

Chu Rou approached:

“Chi Wan, you seem to have some free time. Why not go help Mingyu with the flower arrangements?”

The trio instantly gave her strange looks.

What are you thinking?! they wanted to scream. We want Chi Wan as far from Mingyu as possible! Why push her toward her?

But Chu Rou ignored their stares. She shot them a subtle trust me glance behind Chi Wan’s back.

Her logic was simple: Chi Wan, after being dumped and used as a stand-in for Mingyu, had to harbor resentment. Surely she wanted to prove she was better. This was the perfect chance.

There’s no way she would turn it down.

Except Chi Wan suddenly turned to her and smiled:

“Chu Rou… are you begging me?”

The room went dead silent.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Chu Rou bristled, offended.

“What do you mean?” Chi Wan stepped closer, unfazed, the click of her red heels sharp against the floor.

Something about her presence—maybe a flashback to that earlier wall slam—made Chu Rou’s legs go weak. She took half a step back involuntarily.

“I…” she stammered.

Ruan Xiao, finally catching on to Chu Rou’s motives, tried to smooth things over:

“Chi Wan, don’t take it the wrong way. Chu Rou’s just helping you out. Mingyu has multiple cameras focused on her right now—if you join her, it’ll be a beautiful shot. Flowers and a beauty—you will look amazing.”

She smiled, thinking her reasoning was sound.

But Chi Wan just gave her a glance and said flatly,

“Oh? So you’re begging me too?”

“Chi Wan, that’s uncalled for,” Ruan Xiao’s smile faltered.

She used to do whatever I asked, she thought bitterly. When did she grow so sharp? Even flattery backfires now?

If Chi Wan knew what she was thinking, she would laugh in her face:

That was the old Chi Wan you broke. The one standing here now? That’s me.

Chi Wan looked at them coolly.

“If you don’t like my tone, then I’ll just leave.”

She turned to go.

Panicked, Chu Rou grabbed her arm.

“Fine. I’m begging you. Please, just do it.”

Chi Wan paused, then said over her shoulder:

“If you’re going to beg, act like it.”

“What do you want?” Chu Rou asked stiffly.

Chi Wan turned back with a smirk, grabbed Chu Rou’s wrist—then bit down.

Hard.

She didn’t stop until a deep, red mark appeared.

“I don’t like how tightly you grabbed me,” she said with a sugary smile. “That was just a tiny bit of payback. Fair, right?”

“You…” Chu Rou stared at the bite mark in shock, heart pounding.

From the kitchen, An Ran witnessed the whole scene. Her fingers curled unconsciously, digging into the doorframe.