The Stand-In Alpha Goes Viral on a Dating Show - Chapter 4
Chi Wan stared at the suitcase, gritting her teeth in frustration. If I opened it now and reorganized An Ran’s clothes… would I still make it in time?
【Hehe, keep going, Host! You’re doing great!】
Great my ass! Chi Wan raged internally. Are you sure you’re a “Tragic Heroine’s Revenge System” and not some kind of pervert character-building program?!
【Please do not question this system’s name. Even systems have dignity!】
Then take a look at the missions you’ve assigned! Which one of them sounds remotely respectable? The first one at least used euphemisms like “personal belongings”—but the latest one just blatantly said “panties” with zero shame!
Chi Wan silently ranted to herself, when suddenly—
“Are you okay?” a soft, tentative voice reached her ears.
Startled, she looked up—only to meet An Ran’s clear, water-like eyes. Reflected in those eyes was her own flustered expression. An Ran’s long lashes trembled slightly, her eyes drooping at the corners, looking gentle, obedient—like a lost rabbit princess in the forest.
Her porcelain-pale cheeks carried a faint blush. That careful, almost shy expression added an air of innocence that was utterly captivating.
Chi Wan stared, momentarily stunned. An Ran turned her head slightly, sneaking a glance at her from the corner of her eye. A pale pink butterfly ribbon peeked out from her fluffy curls, falling against her elegant neck, enhancing her soft, ladylike aura. She bit her lower lip gently and asked in a quiet, delicate voice:
“What are you looking at?”
“I… uh…” Chi Wan cleared her throat awkwardly, trying to cover her embarrassment. “Nothing. Just thinking we should hurry—the filming might’ve already started.”
Without another word, she hoisted the suitcase onto one shoulder and marched toward the meeting point. The movement flexed her arms, the defined lines revealing strength beneath her slim figure. Her fingers tensed from gripping too tightly, the knuckles sharp and striking.
Even walking just a short distance along the lakeside under the blazing sun had left her dripping with sweat.
The heat dampened the back of her shirt, faintly revealing the outline of her bra strap. Somehow, the air seemed to carry a light, pleasant fragrance. An Ran’s petite nose twitched slightly, trying to capture the scent.
“You don’t have to rush so much, really…” An Ran followed behind her, struggling to keep up, panting lightly.
Still striding ahead, Chi Wan glanced back with a cheerful grin. “Well, I thought I’d speed up so we wouldn’t get nagged by the crew.”
She quickened her pace again. Remembering that An Ran was an Omega, she added, “Why don’t you walk a little slower? I’ll get my things and come back for you.”
Perfect. She might even have a chance to complete her next mission while at it.
Everything was going according to plan—until An Ran softly asked, “Then… should I stay here with the luggage and wait for you?”
“…Huh?” Chi Wan faltered mid-step, nearly stumbling.
Just then, a crew member noticed her disheveled, sweat-soaked state and rushed over. “You’re Chi Wan, right? What happened to you? How are you going to appear on camera like this?!”
“I’m fine, just need a quick rinse,” she replied, sighing internally. So much for slipping away to finish the mission.
She set the suitcase down, her arm glistening with a thin sheen of sweat. Veins at her wrist stood out faintly beneath her skin, and her crimson nail polish glowed against the contrast—radiant, sensual, and undeniably eye-catching.
“No water for now,” the crew member said, glancing at a text. “We just got word that a pipe burst. Water won’t be back for at least an hour.”
“Seriously…” Chi Wan muttered, increasingly exasperated by her string of bad luck.
But the crew member continued, “Oh, also—one of the guests had to cancel last-minute. The producers are picking a replacement now. So you all have at least an hour of free time.”
“What?” Chi Wan blinked, stunned. This… this isn’t what happened in the original plot at all! Could my arrival have triggered a butterfly effect?
【Ding! Minor plot deviation detected. No abnormalities found. Please continue your tragic-heroine-revenge journey!】
Even the staff member looked surprised by Chi Wan’s intense reaction. An Ran also glanced over, slightly puzzled.
Realizing she was overreacting, Chi Wan quickly looked around for a distraction. Her eyes landed on the lake—calm as glass—and inspiration struck.
“Can we swim in the lake?” she asked suddenly.
The crew member looked confused. “Uh… I guess? Should be okay?”
“Great.” Chi Wan flashed an “OK” sign and set the suitcase down beside An Ran. “Wait here for me, okay? I’ll just—”
She trailed off mid-sentence, because in front of her… was a pair of feet that could only be described as divine.
They were like polished white jade—delicately sculpted, flawless, perfectly proportioned. Truly the work of a master craftsman or perhaps nature’s own miraculous creation. One fraction more would’ve been too much; one less, too little.
The dainty toes seemed to sense the heat of Chi Wan’s gaze and curled shyly, their tips blushing pink. The sight made Chi Wan’s heart skip a beat.
The nails weren’t painted—just lightly glossed with clear polish, revealing a healthy, delicate pink underneath. The purity of it all gave the impression of a lotus blooming from clear water.
Chi Wan had always been a foot fetishist… but never, not once in real life, had she seen a pair of feet that truly captivated her.
Until now.
“You… what are you looking at?” An Ran asked, a little flustered. Her toes curled tighter under Chi Wan’s scorching gaze. Her hands balled into fists by her sides.
What’s with this heat… Is someone staring at my feet?
“N-Nothing,” Chi Wan stammered, forcefully tearing her eyes away. “It just looked like there was some dust on your foot.”
Clean freak? OCD? An Ran thought as those phrases flashed through her mind. Regardless, she relaxed a little. Although Chi Wan had her head lowered, her gaze was so intense, it had made her panic.
Even now, the memory of it made her uneasy.
Chi Wan quickly turned and hurried off to retrieve her own luggage. She also ducked into a changing room to freshen up, then rushed back toward An Ran.
From a distance, she saw An Ran standing quietly by the lake in a flowing white dress and a sunhat, like a delicate daisy in full bloom. The still lake mirrored her figure perfectly—tranquil, gentle. It was as if the entire world had faded away, leaving only her and her reflection.
For a brief moment, Chi Wan thought of the original story—the villainess who laughed as she drowned in the sea.
But the ocean was so cold… far too cold for someone this pure.
Yes, after just a short time together, Chi Wan believed that this An Ran was a naive little flower—gentle, unspoiled. Definitely not the cruel, vengeful “man-eating bloom” she became later in the novel.
“You’re back. Shall we go?” An Ran asked, turning her head slightly under the brim of her hat.
“Wait.” Chi Wan reached out and grabbed her hand. The thin sheen of sweat on her palm transferred to An Ran’s soft skin.
It was warm… slightly sticky. The thought of someone else’s sweat had initially made An Ran a bit uncomfortable. But when she caught a glimpse of Chi Wan’s hand—glistening, flushed, achingly beautiful—her unease instantly vanished.
In fact… she felt her heart pounding just a little harder.
An Ran had always been fascinated by Chi Wan’s hands. And now, with their palms pressed together, that fascination only deepened. She wanted to bring those hands closer, examine them carefully, maybe even hold onto them longer.
But they weren’t close enough for that… yet. Lowering her gaze, An Ran quietly suppressed her sudden impulse.
“What is it?” she asked, nervously biting her lip.
“Can you hold my phone? I’m going live,” Chi Wan said, handing it to her.
“Wait—we’re allowed to livestream?” An Ran asked, taking the phone anyway.
“Yup. I just checked. We’ve got an hour of free time—as long as we don’t head toward the villa.”
“So… what are you livestreaming?” An Ran adjusted the angle of the camera as she asked, her voice curious. Though her tone was calm, her eyes remained blank, like she wasn’t fully engaged.
“What am I streaming?” Chi Wan flashed a roguish grin, tugged off her red dress—and in the instant An Ran’s eyes went wide—
With a single leap, Chi Wan dove into the lake.
“Swimming, of course!”