Thirty Sixth Day of Pretending to Be an Alpha

After the emotional mentor learned about Xie Songchen’s situation, she fell silent. Not long after, she sent Xie Songchen a link to a video course on a cloud drive. The folder was titled “How to Increase Your Winning Rate in Battles with Love Rivals.”

Xie Songchen’s eyes lit up. He clicked on the video and watched for a while, then messaged the mentor, “Thank you.”

The mentor replied, “You’re welcome,” and repeatedly reminded him, “Please don’t do anything against moral standards.” It seemed he was genuinely worried that this student who bought the course might end up becoming a third party.

Xie Songchen spent the whole night going through the entire “Omega’s Guide to Flirting with A” and the video course content.

The next morning, when Chu Mo arrived at the company, he happened to run into Xie Songchen in the elevator. Chu Mo was taken aback and casually asked, “Why are you here so early?”

“For…” Xie Songchen started, wanting to say the line from the book, “To see you earlier.”

But at that moment, under Chu Mo’s gaze, he felt like a computer that had frozen—unable to function. It was such a simple sentence, yet he couldn’t say it.

Chu Mo filled in the rest of the sentence in his mind: To work hard and marry Chu Yun.

He immediately showed a knowing expression.

Soon, the elevator reached their floor, and Chu Mo walked out.

Watching his back, a flash of regret and self-loathing crossed Xie Songchen’s face.

Once at his desk, Xie Songchen messaged the mentor, “I couldn’t say it.”

The mentor, very dedicated, replied instantly—even in the early morning:

“It’s always like this the first time. What’s your current relationship with that alpha? Classmates? Or just ordinary friends?”

“He’s my boss,” Xie Songchen replied. “I’m his secretary.”

A few minutes later, the mentor suggested, “That’s easy. The secretary position makes it easy to get close to the boss. As a subordinate and an omega, you need to play to your strengths.”

Xie Songchen frowned, puzzled.

“What strengths?”

The mentor answered, “Didn’t you watch the video course? You need to show some vulnerability! What do those in power like the most? Of course, it’s the pure and innocent little white flower!”

Xie Songchen fell into deep thought. Little white flower?

How could he, as an alpha, pretend to be a little white flower? Besides, would Chu Mo really fall for that?

Half an hour later, Chu Mo was in his office handling documents when there was a polite knock on the door.

“Come in.”

Xie Songchen entered, carrying a steaming cup of latte. The weather had turned cold as winter approached, so he had prepared a hotter latte than usual.

Chu Mo’s habit was to drink coffee after finishing the first batch of work, and by then, the latte would be at the perfect temperature.

Looking at Chu Mo, many of the mentor’s suggested lines flashed through Xie Songchen’s mind. At this moment, he was supposed to say how hard it had been to prepare the coffee and show some vulnerability.

But when it came time to speak, he just couldn’t get the words out.

Xie Songchen wasn’t someone who was good at expressing emotions—not even the simplest words. Chu Mo found today’s Xie Songchen a bit strange: quieter than usual, not saying a word. What was wrong with him?

Xie Songchen placed the coffee on Chu Mo’s desk. Perhaps because he was distracted, he didn’t set the cup down steadily. The cup wobbled slightly, and a few drops of coffee spilled onto the back of Xie Songchen’s hand. He gasped in pain.

Being someone who feared pain, his hand immediately turned red.

Chu Mo reacted quickly, instinctively grabbing a few tissues from the box on the desk. He took hold of Xie Songchen’s hand and wiped away the coffee.

Xie Songchen’s body stiffened.

“How can you be so careless?” Chu Mo frowned, sarcastic as usual. “How can you be a secretary like this?”

Xie Songchen’s Adam’s apple bobbed. The spot where Chu Mo had grabbed him seemed even warmer than the place that got burned.

At that moment, Xie Songchen suddenly remembered the mentor’s advice—to show vulnerability to those in power. As if making a decision, he softly said, voice hoarse, ”…It hurts.”

Chu Mo remembered that Xie Songchen was very afraid of pain. Previously, when he had treated Xie Songchen’s wounds, the guy had tensed up at the slightest touch.

Chu Mo stood up and walked to the corner of the office. His office was well-equipped, with a high-end mini fridge in the corner.

Bending down, Chu Mo retrieved an ice pack from the fridge.

“An alpha who’s so afraid of pain,” Chu Mo chuckled, grabbing Xie Songchen’s hand and casually applying the ice pack to the back of it, “and you still want to pursue my brother?”

Watching Chu Mo tend to his burn, Xie Songchen couldn’t help but recall the incident at the bar with Xiao Chen. Looking at Chu Mo, he felt a pang of heartache.

Such a good person—why did he have to encounter that kind of scum O?

The more he thought about it, the more he felt he should find a way to rescue Chu Mo from this relationship.

Lost in thought, Xie Songchen remained silent.

Chu Mo, puzzled, looked at him.

Lowering his eyes, Xie Songchen’s voice carried a hint of apology, hoarse and magnetic, ”…Sorry for the trouble.”

Hearing this, Chu Mo’s eyes widened in surprise—what’s going on?

The main character gong actually said something like this? This doesn’t fit his cold persona!

Xie Songchen wanted to say more of what he learned from the book, but this was his limit.

After a moment, he awkwardly took the ice pack from Chu Mo, thanked him, and left the office, leaving Chu Mo standing there, bewildered.

After leaving, regret filled Xie Songchen once again. Why couldn’t I say something more?

With a cold expression, he sat at his desk and briefly described the incident to the mentor.

The mentor was very excited.

“What’s wrong with you? This was a great opportunity! You should have seized the moment!”

Xie Songchen replied expressionlessly, “I tried my best.”

“You could have said, ‘It’s all because I’m a little fool,’ instead of ‘Sorry for the trouble.’ That’s too formal, not suitable. You need to improve!”

Reading the mentor’s message, Xie Songchen fell silent.

It’s all because I’m a little fool?

Is this mentor even a serious mentor?

“But you’ve made progress,” the mentor encouraged.

“Next, you need to actively create conditions to warm up your relationship. After all, your goal is to defeat your love rival.”

Seeing these words, Xie Songchen still lacked confidence. Would Chu Mo really like a vulnerable version of him?

The mentor asked again, “Can I ask, what type of omega is your love rival?”

Recalling the scene with Xiao Chen, he frowned and replied with two words: “Green tea.”

The mentor, in a tone of unsurprised realization, said, “I see. It seems you’ve encountered a formidable opponent. You’ll need to put in some effort to defeat your rival!”

Feeling that the mentor made sense, Xie Songchen fell into deep thought.

⸻

Meanwhile, near C University’s university town, in a KTV club, Chi Cheng couldn’t help but frown the moment he walked in. The smell of smoke and alcohol was overwhelming, and the place was packed with young students.

Chi Cheng, dressed in expensive, trendy clothes, stood out like a sore thumb. The only cheap thing on him was the necklace around his neck.

Entering the private room, Chi Cheng looked at his good friend Cheng Cheng with disdain.

“Can’t you go to a better place to pick up omegas? Why come to a university town’s KTV? What’s next, picking them up at street stalls?”

Cheng Cheng, dismissing the omegas around him, responded,

“Dude, what’s gotten into you?” He sighed, “Why are you so edgy these days?”

Chi Cheng thought of Chu Mo having a partner, his fingers tightening. Dark circles were evident under his eyes—adding a touch of weariness that didn’t affect his looks but only deepened his cold aura.

Cheng Cheng boldly guessed,

“Did you get dumped?”

“What nonsense are you spouting?” Chi Cheng glared at him fiercely.

Cheng Cheng sighed in relief.

“That’s good.”

“Those two won’t last long,” Chi Cheng said through gritted teeth.

Cheng Cheng looked confused.

“Huh? Those two?”

Chi Cheng sat down on the cheap sofa in the private room, using exaggerated language to describe Chu Mo finding an omega partner.

When describing Xiao Chen, Chi Cheng nearly ground his molars to dust:

“Not half as good-looking as me.”

“Taller than Chu Mo, with an outdated hairstyle.”

“A big scar on his face.”

“Looks like he might commit domestic violence. Not a good person.”

”…”

”…”

Cheng Cheng was bewildered.

“Did President Chu find a special forces soldier?”

“Anyway,” Chi Cheng concluded, “Chu Mo and him definitely won’t last.”

His tone was filled with jealousy and bitterness.

Cheng Cheng looked at him, patting his shoulder.

“I’ve always wanted to say—liking a straight A never ends well.”

Chi Cheng slapped his hand away.

“Who said I like him?!”

Cheng Cheng thought, You’re just short of writing ‘jealous husband’ on your face.

Feeling restless, Chi Cheng left the private room and went to the KTV corridor to smoke. The surrounding rooms were filled with university students who had just finished exams, singing terribly. The soundproofing was poor.

Chi Cheng wanted to find a quiet corner.

At that moment, he stumbled upon a beta boy confessing to another boy in the corner. He was about to turn and leave—until he recognized the other boy’s face.

Chi Cheng froze.

⸻

Earlier that morning, Chen Songxie had been dragged to the KTV by friends from the club to sing. As the president of the anime club, he often skipped activities and was more of a hands-off leader—many in the club didn’t even know who he was.

This was the last gathering of the semester, and unable to refuse the invitation, Chen Songxie reluctantly agreed to come.

After a few minutes of singing, a beta told Chen Songxie he had something to discuss.

Chen Songxie didn’t expect that as soon as they stepped out of the private room and reached the corner, this would happen.

“President,” the beta blushed and asked, “Do you have a partner?”

The question caught Chen Songxie off guard. A partner?

Chen Songxie’s mind involuntarily thought of someone. His relationship with that person… was a one-day couple. If the other party renewed the contract, they might become long-term partners. But the other party hadn’t replied to his message.

Seeing Chen Songxie’s hesitation, the beta lowered his head and whispered,

“President, if you don’t have a partner…”

Chen Songxie’s Adam’s apple bobbed. Would Chu Mo renew with him? Why hadn’t he replied for so long? Could it be that their relationship would only remain as one-day partners?

So many thoughts swirled in his mind. The desire to continue being contract partners with Chu Mo had never been stronger.

“Actually,” Chen Songxie interrupted, speaking with difficulty, “Actually, I…”

He wanted to say that he did have a “partner.” But his “partner” hadn’t given him a formal answer yet.

However, before he could finish, a familiar yet unexpected voice rang out not far away, angry and sharp:

“Chen, are you even human?!”

Chen Songxie was stunned—and so was the beta.

Both turned in surprise to face the tall alpha.

Chi Cheng glared at Chen Songxie, his eyes nearly spitting fire.

“You clearly have a partner, yet you’re here flirting with a beta. How can you face him?!”

Chi Cheng knew the smartest move would’ve been to hide and take a photo of the scene to send to Chu Mo. But he couldn’t stand it. Even a second of hesitation in front of a confessor was a desecration of Chu Mo.

Chi Cheng couldn’t tolerate anyone desecrating Chu Mo—not even for a second.

So, unable to control his emotions, he stepped forward.

“Ah, no,” the beta panicked, “Well…”

He was just here to ask for gossip for his classmates. He never intended to confess!

But seeing the alpha’s fiery gaze—scarier than an ancient T-Rex—the beta didn’t dare explain further.

“I’ll go first,” he blurted, then bolted.

Chi Cheng was even more convinced the beta had tried to confess to Xiao Chen.

Seeing Xiao Chen unmoved, his expression turned even darker.

“What’s it to you?” Chen Songxie glanced at Chi Cheng coldly, ready to leave.

Chi Cheng reached out and grabbed his collar.

Chen Songxie’s brows furrowed, his temper flaring instantly.

Chi Cheng stared into his eyes, his tone chilling:

“If it concerns Chu Mo, it concerns me.”

He seemed to be telling Chen Songxie that his relationship with Chu Mo was no less significant than theirs as so-called “partners.”

Hearing Chi Cheng’s words, a wave of jealousy surged in Chen Songxie’s chest. He and Chu Mo weren’t official. But at this moment, the discomfort in his heart was undeniable.

His fingers tightened, clenching into a fist.

The atmosphere between them was tense—like a war was about to erupt.

“Don’t think you can run,” Chi Cheng said coldly. “I’m calling Chu Mo right now to tell him his partner is a scum O!”

As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Songxie’s anger suddenly vanished.

His clenched fist slowly relaxed.

What followed was an inexplicable nervousness.

Chen Songxie couldn’t help but wonder—Would Chu Mo refuse to renew because of this?

His Adam’s apple bobbed.

From a young age, Chen Songxie had never been one to fear anything.

But at this moment… he truly felt fear.

He feared that Chu Mo would refuse to renew because of this.

And what scared him even more—was that he didn’t even know why he felt this way about an alpha of the same gender.