The Stand-In Alpha Goes Viral on a Dating Show - Chapter 22

“An Ran, what’s wrong?” Chi Wan called out as she reached for the door, her palm pressing against the panel, ready to push it open.

A sharp, panicked voice came from inside. “No! Don’t come in!”

(Exactly, Host! There’s a big difference between A and O! Right now, with a door between you, it’s fine—but what if you go in there and face a helpless little white flower, and your instincts take over?)

Chi Wan thought about it and agreed. Even just catching a whiff through the door was enough to make her feel lightheaded—if she actually went inside, would her rationality survive?

“An Ran, don’t panic. I’ll go get you an inhibitor.” She turned to leave, but then remembered to add, “I’ll be right back. Keep the door locked, and don’t let anyone in—especially Alphas!”

After watching the door shut in front of her, Chi Wan wasted no time heading downstairs to borrow one. “System, Alpha and Omega inhibitors are the same, right?”

(Yes. They’re universal—any inhibitor works on both A and O during a heat.)

Chi Wan decided that if she couldn’t borrow from an Omega, she’d try an Alpha instead.

But as she rounded a corner on the first floor, she ran straight into someone.

“Ow! That hurt!” The voice was unmistakably Lu Xin’s.

Before Chi Wan could say anything, Lu Xin’s nose twitched. “What’s that smell? Wait… are you in your susceptibility period?”

They’d never gotten close enough before for Lu Xin to catch Chi Wan’s scent, so she assumed this sweet fragrance must be her pheromones.

Chi Wan’s cheeks were slightly flushed, her breathing quick, her lips even more vividly red than usual. Lu Xin couldn’t help but stare—she’d never seen her with eyes so soft and brimming with emotion.

Why did she suddenly look… heart-flutteringly beautiful?

Since inhibitors were universal anyway, Chi Wan simply nodded. “Do you have any inhibitors? I need one.”

“You’re really careless—going into your susceptibility period without carrying any. Lucky you ran into me. I’ve got a whole box.” Lu Xin beckoned for her to follow. She was currently sharing a room with Su Yao.

A few meters from the door, Lu Xin stopped. “You wait here. I’ll be right back.”

Chi Wan didn’t know why she was hesitating, but it wasn’t her concern—she just needed the inhibitor—so she stayed put.

In truth, Lu Xin simply didn’t want Su Yao to see Chi Wan like this.

Moving like a thief, she slipped inside. Sure enough, Su Yao was at her laptop, handling company files. Lu Xin quickly grabbed two inhibitors and turned to leave.

But Su Yao’s nose was sharp too. She sniffed the air and frowned. “What’s that smell? Lu Xin, are you in heat?”

“You’re the one in heat!” Lu Xin shot back without thinking.

“Whoa, touchy. If you’re not, then why do you need inhibitors?”

“None of your business! Can’t I drink them for fun?” Lu Xin huffed, heading for the door.

“Wait. You don’t look like you’re in heat. Is this… a false heat?” Su Yao studied her closely. She didn’t see any signs of arousal—only guilt and evasiveness.

“False heat?” Lu Xin blinked in confusion.

“Yeah. Didn’t you know? Inhibitors only work during a real heat. If it’s a false one, taking them is bad for you.” Su Yao’s tone was matter-of-fact as she returned to typing.

“How can you tell the difference?”

That question wasn’t just Lu Xin’s—it was also Chi Wan’s.

“No idea. Su Yao wouldn’t tell me—just said to look it up myself. Probably something… indescribable.” Lu Xin shrugged. She’d grown up spoiled and carefree, never bothering to learn this stuff. Whenever she thought she was in heat, she’d just pop an inhibitor.

“Want me to look it up on my phone for you?” Lu Xin reached for her device, but Chi Wan hesitated and asked,

“If it’s a false heat, and you take an inhibitor…”

Before she could finish, Lu Xin said, “It’ll cause pain. Depends on your body—me, I’m fine. But if you’re weaker, it can hurt for days. That’s what Su Yao told me, anyway.”

“I see. Thanks.” Chi Wan took the two inhibitors and headed back toward An Ran’s room—but halfway there, she ducked into the restroom instead. Anran didn’t want anyone to know, after all.

Still… false heat? She needed to look that up.

As soon as Chi Wan left, Lu Xin pulled out her phone, tapped into a search, clicked the first result—and instantly turned scarlet. Her eyes went glassy as if she’d just been smacked with a brick of shame. “So that’s what it is… but isn’t that way too embarrassing?!”

Chi Wan was having the same thought. “Seriously? To tell if an Omega’s having a false heat, you check if the gland’s opened and if there’s… a very obvious reaction down there?”

How was she supposed to check that? On herself, sure—just feel. But on someone else? Forget it. Best let the little white flower figure it out herself.

If it was anyone else, she’d just give them the inhibitor. But An Ran seemed frail—if it was false and the pain lasted for days, it could be dangerous.

Lu Xin eventually recovered from her shock and went to find Chi Wan—she suspected Chi Wan was only showing mild symptoms, so it was probably false heat. But she couldn’t find her anywhere.

Hiding in the second-floor bathroom, Chi Wan could hear Lu Xin calling softly as she paced, but she didn’t answer. An Ran couldn’t wait much longer.

Once Lu Xin headed downstairs, Chi Wan slipped to An Ran’s door and knocked gently. “An Ran, I’m here.”

Inside, An Ran had collapsed against the door. Hearing Chi Wan’s voice, she struggled to her feet and turned the handle. The scent that rushed out was almost suffocating.

Chi Wan had planned to let An Ran check herself, but with pheromones this strong, if it was still a false heat, that would be absurd.

She was just about to hand the inhibitor through the crack when—thud! Something heavy hit the floor.

“An Ran? An Ran! Are you okay?”

No answer. Alarmed, Chi Wan shoved the door open.

The wave of scent hit her first, making her head spin. She shook it off and scanned the room, spotting the half-conscious girl slumped by the door.

Holding her breath, Chi Wan scooped her up and laid her on the bed, nudged the door shut with her foot, and switched on the bathroom’s ventilation fan.

Her fingers trembled as she uncapped the inhibitor.

Before giving it to An Ran, she brushed aside her hair to inspect the gland at the nape of her neck. As someone who had transmigrated into this world, it was her first time seeing an Omega’s gland—red, swollen, and bud-like.

For false heat, you were supposed to check if the inside was open.

Hesitating, Chi Wan extended her pinky and gently pressed—it felt like warm jelly, contracting shyly at the touch before slowly enveloping her finger.

The heat was intense—she yanked her hand back as if burned.

Maybe she’d moved too quickly, because An Ran let out a soft, breathy sound—half pain, half pleasure.

The delicate voice made Chi Wan’s body jolt. She slapped her own cheeks. What are you thinking?! Give her the damn inhibitor!

Her face was burning. Wait… am I in my susceptibility period too? Should I take one?

Don’t you dare! I’m pretty sure you’re in a false heat—just tough it out!

Why suffer if I don’t have to? I’m healthy—it’ll just hurt a little. Chi Wan decided she would… but plans rarely keep up with reality.

An Ran’s symptoms barely eased after one dose. Her gland was still tightly budded. Online advice said some cases needed two doses.

So both inhibitors went into An Ran’s system.

Chi Wan’s own flush deepened, but she couldn’t leave to get more—not with An Ran in this state.

Ding! Emergency mission—‘Touch the villain’s private area’—complete!

The system prompt jolted her memory—she still had that mission to get the matching panties to the bra.

An Ran was asleep… the perfect chance!

Chi Wan crept to the wardrobe, opened it, and smiled at the neatly arranged rows. But after rummaging through the entire cabinet, she came up empty.

No way… The crushing disappointment almost brought her to tears.

If it wasn’t here, then there was only one place it could be—on An Ran herself.

Ah… the painful realization!

Still clinging to a shred of hope, she sat back on the bed and reached for the zipper at An Ran’s nape, pulling it down just a little—then thought it too slow, zipped it back up, and tried to convince herself: I’ll just help her wipe off the sweat, and if I happen to see the panties, so be it.

Fetching warm water, she lifted the skirt and began wiping An Ran’s limbs. Gradually, she worked upward until her cloth brushed against a small triangle of fabric.

Her breath slowed, her heart raced—she stole a quick glance.

Same color. Same pattern. It was the one.

Resigned, Chi Wan finished cleaning, her excitement gone, even when she wiped her favorite pair of delicate feet.

How could she be so unlucky? The perfect chance, wasted.

Her disappointment was so deep she forgot to pull the skirt back down—or to notice the damp spot she’d left on it.