The Stand-In Alpha Goes Viral on a Dating Show - Chapter 15

Chu Rou couldn’t sit still any longer. After all, this was about her. She quickly cut the livestream feed and walked over, saying, “I saw that cat too. Fierce and sharp-clawed. It’s got a decent look, but its temper is awful. Still, it didn’t bite me.”

At this point, she suddenly recalled how Chi Wan had just publicly implied they were close. She paused for a second and revised her statement, “Well… not exactly. It almost bit me. Just barely missed.”

But as the words left her mouth, she thought of the mark on her arm. Her expression faltered again. Under the confused looks of the other guests, Chu Rou pressed her fingers to her brow and brushed the whole thing off. “Anyway, it’s nothing. I just felt a little cold, that’s all.”

“Oh…” Xia Meng opened her mouth but looked puzzled.

Chu Rou also realized how strange her explanation sounded. If she’d known it would come out like that, she wouldn’t have said anything at all. Wanting to change the subject, she glanced at Chi

Wan and said with a touch of emotion, “Your jacket’s not bad. Can even hide things inside, and no one can tell.”

Only then did Lu Xin and the others remember: that’s right, Chi Wan had said she was carrying something important, which is why she was wearing a jacket!

“Chi Wan, what’s the important thing you brought?” A wave of curiosity, mixed with nosiness, fell upon her.

“I can’t say. It’s my little secret,” Chi Wan replied with a sly smile. Her tone was ambiguous, half playful, half serious—like she was either teasing them or really hiding something crucial.

Someone tried to ask again, but Lu Xin cut her off and narrowed her eyes at Chi Wan. “Tch, we’re not falling for that! You just want us to die of curiosity, don’t you?” Her personality really is like a little wildcat. On this point, Su Yao was absolutely right!

After Chu Rou left, the guests resumed eating. Chi Wan noticed An Ran stealing glances at a certain dish several times, but it was too far for her to reach without standing, so she held back.

Chi Wan, however, had no such reservations. She stood up and, using the shared chopsticks, placed a portion of the dish into a small plate she had prepared earlier. This series of actions drew the attention of several people.

Especially the exes. They exchanged glances, as this dish was on the sweeter side—a flavor they all liked. But Chi Wan wasn’t particularly fond of it. Clearly, she was serving it to someone else.

But who?

With this question lingering in their minds, the exes couldn’t help but all look at Chi Wan.

Lu Xin pressed her lips together nervously, secretly hoping: She picked it for me, didn’t she? It must be me! Back when we were dating, she always served me this dish because I liked it.

Su Yao’s chopsticks paused mid-air. Her gaze followed Chi Wan’s every move: She’s looking my way—is it for me? Honestly, when we dated, Chi Wan was always the one trying to please me.

Meanwhile, Ruan Xiao felt the mark on her arm growing inexplicably hot. Judging by the portion, it’s just enough for one person—so she picked it for someone specific. Could it be me? She just did that to me earlier… Is this her way of making peace?

A storm of emotion brewed within each of them.

Even the camera lens slowly panned over, unknowingly zooming in. Behind the lens, Meng Lan and Chu Rou grew more anxious by the second.

Just then, Chi Wan placed the delicate white plate—skipping over Lu Xin, Su Yao, and the others—right in front of An Ran.

With a crisp clink, the dish’s recipient was made clear. The exes felt an instant rush of mixed emotions—disappointment and relief chasing each other.

Disappointed: Why didn’t she pick me?

Relieved: Well, at least she didn’t pick the others either.

After setting the plate down, Chi Wan sat down leisurely. As soon as she did, she was met with Lu Xin’s wounded look and a resentful question: “Chi Wan, there are so many of us—why would you only pick for her?”

“She’s injured. Didn’t you notice?” Chi Wan lifted her chin slightly, gesturing toward An Ran’s fingers.

“And she got hurt because of me. Helping her out a little—what’s the problem?”

She said this and pushed the plate a little closer to An Ran. “Come on, eat up, Miss.”

Facing Chi Wan’s curved eyes and slightly tilted head, An Ran felt unexplainably nervous. Under that focused gaze, she picked up a bite of food, put it into her mouth, and chewed slowly.

“How is it? My cooking’s not bad, right?” Chi Wan asked with a light laugh.

At that moment, An Ran felt as though even her taste buds had turned sweet. The flavor didn’t stop at her throat—it reached her heart.

She hadn’t intended to respond, wanting to savor the sweetness in silence. But Chi Wan wouldn’t let her off so easily. Under the table, she nudged An Ran’s knee with her own, leaned forward, and whispered teasingly into her ear, “Why so quiet, Miss? Is it tasty? Did I win your heart?”

Her voice was soft and sultry, sending a ticklish tingle through An Ran’s chest.

Even her fingertips felt hot. An Ran’s hand trembled slightly as she looked up, failing to hide the shadows in her eyes—an emotion Chi Wan caught immediately.

Chi Wan froze and leaned back slightly, wondering: Did I go too far with the teasing? Still, she couldn’t help but think: Wow, that look in her eyes… kinda scary.

She made a small apologetic gesture and returned to her normal posture. An Ran noticed and pressed her lips together. She realized she had overreacted and let too much of her real self slip through. Thankfully, Chi Wan didn’t seem suspicious.

Just as Chi Wan was about to focus on eating, the system suddenly came online:

[Ding! Change in the dating show plot detected. Would the host like to complete a temporary mission to unlock a story preview?]

Plot change? Temporary mission? Chi Wan felt her head spin. And when she asked what the task was, the system replied:

[Temporary mission: Engage in physical contact with An Ran!]

What?! Physical contact? Isn’t that kind of R-rated?

[Based on your current relationship, acceptable level of contact: tightly holding hands.]

Holding hands? But I just pissed her off! Why now of all times?! Chi Wan nearly blacked out. Forget it! Who needs a story preview anyway?!

[Strongly advised! Knowing some plot twists is better than none.]

Chi Wan secretly glanced at An Ran and bit her lip: Fine. I’ll try.

In her past life, An Ran had learned that no one liked the version of her after her personality shift. Even her employees would shiver just from her gaze. This life didn’t seem much different. Just now, she let a sliver of her real self show, and Chi Wan immediately pulled away.

The thought made her lips curl bitterly, her heart colder than ever, full of self-mockery.

Then, she felt a gentle nudge on her knee. At first, the contact was faint, and she was too caught up in her thoughts to react. But as the nudging continued—growing into a light rub—the skin there became more and more sensitive.

She couldn’t help but look toward the culprit, who was still smiling innocently.

Seeing her glance over, Chi Wan leaned in with a playful tilt of her head. “You still haven’t answered me—was it tasty?”

Her tone dropped at the end, sounding pitiful, even a bit hurt. Her lashes lowered slightly, and the corner of her mouth drooped just a touch—looking both gentle and resigned.

“You…” You’re not scared of me? An Ran blinked, honestly confused for the first time.

“What about me? You’re gonna say my cooking’s amazing, right?” Chi Wan leaned closer, seizing the opportunity with a smug grin.

Faced with her sly, fox-like gaze, what could An Ran do? She could only smile helplessly and nod in agreement.

Seeing her nod, Chi Wan finally relaxed. See! I must’ve imagined it earlier. She’s so soft—how could she possibly have looked that dark?

Thinking of the mission, Chi Wan inched her leg even closer under the table. With the tablecloth as cover, the contact between their knees intensified. “Don’t just nod—say something nice, okay?”

She lowered her lashes and gave her best pitiful expression—clearly fishing for compliments.

At the same time, her fingers began to stealthily reach toward An Ran’s hand—ten centimeters… five centimeters… closer and closer.

But their hands were both above the table. Touching now would be far too obvious. Chi Wan hesitated.

Suddenly, An Ran let out a soft gasp and shivered. Her chopsticks clattered to the floor. She couldn’t stand the ticklish sensation on her knee anymore. Despite trying to suppress it, her sensitive body couldn’t handle it.

Chi Wan glanced at the camera—now pointing elsewhere. This is my chance!

As An Ran bent down to pick up her chopsticks, Chi Wan whispered, “I’ll help too.”

She followed her under the table. An Ran was still searching for the fallen utensil when she noticed Chi Wan’s sudden presence, startling her enough to freeze.

Taking advantage of the pause, Chi Wan “accidentally” brushed against her hand. Her fingers teased at first, then deepened into a more intimate touch—finally interlocking their fingers, clasping hands tightly.

The act, along with their bent-over posture and sudden closeness, made both of them breathe a little heavier.

In that small space beneath the tablecloth, with so many legs nearby and the threat of exposure looming, their locked hands felt forbidden and electric.

Their hearts raced in sync.

Staring at the hands so intimately intertwined with her own, An Ran felt as if her very breath had abandoned her.