Eleventh Day of Pretending to Be an Alpha

“What?” Chu Mo furrowed his brows, asking in confusion and shock, “You want to ask me out?”

Xie Songchen nodded earnestly, looking calm.

Chu Mo was stunned for a long moment before blurting out, “Are you trying to… pick a fight?”

He genuinely couldn’t figure out why Xie Songchen would want to ask him out.

Hearing this, Xie Songchen fell silent for a long time. Sometimes, he truly didn’t understand how Chu Mo’s mind worked.

“Yeah,” Xie Songchen said expressionlessly, pointing to the still-healing wound at the corner of his mouth. “Make sure you aim right here.”

Chu Mo awkwardly cleared his throat and frowned. “If you’re not asking me out for a fight, then I can’t think of a single reason you’d show up early on a weekend morning.”

Why would Xie Songchen come looking for him this early?

Chu Mo could only think of one explanation: assassination. That way, Xie Songchen could be with Chu Yun without interference.

Xie Songchen pursed his lips, looked at Chu Mo, and hesitantly asked, “Did you forget?”

Chu Mo was taken aback. “Forget what?”

A flash of disappointment passed through Xie Songchen’s eyes. After a moment, he looked at Chu Mo and said slowly, word by word:

“The custom suit.”

Chu Mo had promised that if Xie Songchen secured the project, he’d not only keep his place in the secretary department but also get a custom-made suit. But after the task was completed, Xie Songchen had waited and waited, and the suit never came. Finally, he couldn’t hold back anymore and came to find Chu Mo himself.

Chu Mo finally remembered. A hint of embarrassment flashed across his face, and he quickly said, “Of course I remember.”

As a boss, he couldn’t afford to break promises to his employees.

Xie Songchen looked at him expressionlessly. “You better.”

His gaze was so cold it made Chu Mo nervous. He didn’t understand why a custom suit was such a big deal that Xie Songchen had to come in person. And… wasn’t today supposed to be the protagonist’s date with the love interest?

“Xie Songchen, I haven’t forgotten the custom suit,” Chu Mo said seriously. “We can go any time. If you’ve got something more important to do, you should go do that first.”

He was hinting that now would be a good time for Xie Songchen to go ask Chu Yun out.

Since he was already here!

Xie Songchen gave a faint “oh.” Then, after a beat, he looked at Chu Mo and said, “Then let’s eat first. After that, we can go for the fitting.”

Chu Mo: ???

His brain was full of question marks. What was going on with Xie Songchen?!

“That’s not what I meant,” Chu Mo said, starting to feel flustered. “I mean, you can first… you can first…”

As a brother-obsessed CEO, he really couldn’t say, “You can go on a date with my brother,” could he?

Xie Songchen quietly watched him.

After a while, he suddenly said, “If you don’t come with me today, I’ll feel… deceived.”

Chu Mo looked at him. Despite feeling guilty, he still said firmly, “Do I look like someone with a lot of free time…?”

“I won’t take on any more projects you mention in the future,” Xie Songchen interrupted calmly.

Chu Mo froze.

Wow. The protagonist is actually threatening me—with his career!

Chu Mo’s entire mission was to help the protagonist succeed in his career. He absolutely could not let this happen.

“I’m someone with a lot of free time,” Chu Mo said seriously, changing his stance immediately. “Let’s go. I’ll take you to get the suit fitted right now.”

Hearing this, Xie Songchen stared at him for a moment. The corners of his lips twitched—then quickly smoothed back down.

“Okay,” Xie Songchen said, looking away and trying to hide the joy in his voice. “You should.”

Chu Mo sighed internally. I deserve this. For the sake of the protagonist’s career and love life, I’m really putting in the work.

“Let me change clothes,” Chu Mo muttered, grinding his molars. Losing a weekend hurt. “Wait for me downstairs.”

Xie Songchen’s gaze lingered on him. Chu Mo had clearly just showered. Droplets still clung to the ends of his hair. His skin looked paler from the cold water, and even in a simple tank top with a loose, casual outfit over it, he exuded an effortlessly magnetic presence.

Xie Songchen’s gaze involuntarily drifted downward, lingering at Chu Mo’s collarbone. He quickly looked away, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

His voice came out hoarse.

“…Hurry up.”

“Stop rushing me.”

⸻

Half an hour later, Chu Mo drove his low-key sports car and took Xie Songchen to a nearby mall that offered custom suit services.

As soon as Chu Mo parked, he was about to take Xie Songchen straight to the suit shop.

Unexpectedly, Xie Songchen said, “I’m hungry.”

Chu Mo paused and frowned. “Why are you so troublesome?”

Xie Songchen looked at him confidently. “I have low blood sugar.”

Chu Mo was just about to say, Stop using that excuse, when something clicked in his memory.

Back in high school, he had once attended a parent-teacher meeting for Chu Yun. At the time, Xie Songchen’s parents hadn’t shown up. He hadn’t differentiated yet—still cold-faced and handsome, but thin. As Chu Yun’s deskmate, Xie Songchen had come to the meeting alone and ended up sitting next to Chu Mo.

Midway through the meeting, he fainted from low blood sugar.

Chu Mo was startled. “Classmate! Why did you faint as soon as the math scores were announced? No matter how bad the score, you can’t do this!”

Amidst the sharp cries of the homeroom teacher, Chu Mo didn’t hesitate—he picked up the frail classmate and carried him to the infirmary. The diagnosis was low blood sugar, and only then did Chu Mo breathe a sigh of relief.

At that time, Chu Mo was about to graduate and had already begun taking over the family business. While Xie Songchen was unconscious, Chu Mo took a few work calls, introducing himself on the phone as the founder of Shengmo Company. He hadn’t noticed that the boy on the bed had woken up—until he suddenly did and jumped slightly in surprise.

“You’re awake?” Chu Mo exhaled, relieved. “The school nurse is giving you medication. You’ll be fine soon.”

The boy was naturally reserved, lips pressed tight, saying nothing. Chu Mo assumed he was just shy and didn’t press him. Instead, he dug out a few candies from his backpack. At that time, Chu Mo had just entered the workforce and always carried a bag. The candies were coffee-flavored—bitter and unpleasant—but helped him stay awake during overtime.

“These candies are concentrated coffee flavor,” Chu Mo explained. “The taste isn’t great, but they’ll help you stay awake. Keep them on you. Don’t faint next time.”

The boy took the candies, stunned for a moment.

Chu Mo said goodbye and turned to leave the infirmary when the boy suddenly spoke, his first question:

“Are you… an Alpha?”

Chu Mo stiffened for a beat before replying casually, “Of course. Otherwise, how could I have carried you here?”

Before leaving, he pointed to the boy’s palm and added, “Remember to eat the candy.”

At the time, Chu Mo had no idea this boy was Xie Songchen. If Chu Yun hadn’t told him, he might never have figured it out. The original novel only mentioned they were classmates—not that they’d been deskmates for three years.

⸻

“All right,” Chu Mo snapped back to reality and said to Xie Songchen, “Let’s go eat.”

Hearing this, Xie Songchen immediately pulled out his phone. He opened a review app and handed it to Chu Mo. “This app says these places are good.”

Chu Mo: “…”

This kid was seriously trying to milk a meal out of him.

He could only reply, “Then you choose.”

“You choose,” Xie Songchen said, looking at him seriously.

Chu Mo blinked.

Growing up, whenever he went out with family, he was always the one adjusting to his younger siblings’ preferences. No one had ever said to him, “You choose.” Now, suddenly given the option, Chu Mo didn’t even know what to pick. Worse, he hadn’t tried any of the places on the app. To maintain his Alpha-like physique, Chu Mo usually ate carefully planned, nutrient-dense meals.

Xie Songchen kept holding out the phone to him, his arm perfectly still and patient, not seeming to feel the weight at all.

Eventually, Chu Mo pointed to a rice noodle shop. “This one.”

“Okay.” Xie Songchen nodded and put away the phone. “I’ll treat you.”

Chu Mo was surprised. “You’ll treat me?”

He frowned, voice cold. “What, Xie Songchen, do you think I can’t afford rice noodles?”

“I got a bonus,” Xie Songchen said seriously. “I can afford this meal.”

Chu Mo hadn’t expected that. It was the first time an employee had ever offered to treat him. As they waited for the elevator in the parking lot, Chu Mo leaned against the wall, still digesting the idea.

“Xie Songchen, you’re really something,” he sneered once inside the elevator, his tone sharp. “Don’t think that just because you’re treating me to rice noodles, I’ll agree to you pursuing Chu Yun—”

Before he could finish—

“I’m treating you because you helped me with my wound last time,” Xie Songchen interrupted, sounding a little awkward. “Not for any other reason. Don’t get the wrong idea.”

Of course, Chu Mo thought. The protagonist wouldn’t admit it. The stubborn, slow-burn protagonist wouldn’t confess his feelings until the final chapter.

Chu Mo gave Xie Songchen a meaningful look but didn’t say anything more.

⸻

At the rice noodle shop, Chu Mo realized something: ever since transmigrating into the book, he’d been eating ultra-disciplined, pre-planned meals every day. He hadn’t touched rice noodles once.

Tasting them now, he found the flavor surprisingly amazing—and ended up finishing even the soup.

After eating, he noticed Xie Songchen was staring at him in a daze from across the table.

Chu Mo quickly put on a stern expression. “These rice noodles aren’t filling.”

Silently, Xie Songchen pulled out his phone and ordered another bowl.

Chu Mo, torn between maintaining his physique and wanting more, struggled for a while… then gave in and ate the second bowl.

Expressionlessly, Xie Songchen watched him. “Are you usually mistreated?”

Chu Mo replied calmly, “It’s just a cheat meal.”

“Then eat more.”

Watching him eat, the corners of Xie Songchen’s lips lifted—just a little.

⸻

After the meal, Xie Songchen paid the bill, then followed Chu Mo to the suit shop.

The shop was clearly high-end. From the quality of the fabrics to the design of the suits, everything screamed luxury.

After a moment of silence, Xie Songchen hesitated. “I just wanted a suit like everyone else’s. Isn’t this place… too fancy?”

Chu Mo almost forgot the protagonist wasn’t a big shot yet. It would still take time for him to grow into the business world’s richest man.

“What, you think I can’t afford it?” Chu Mo looked around the shop with obvious disdain. “I can afford to get a suit tailored for a secretary.”

Xie Songchen blinked, surprised. He hadn’t expected Chu Mo to pay for him.

Looking at him seriously, he said, “I’ll pay you back when I make money in the future.”

Chu Mo wanted to retort, but knowing that Xie Songchen was a proud, aloof Alpha, he held back. He simply gave a disdainful “Tch,” and muttered, “What a poor kid.”

Despite his words, Chu Mo took out his membership card and asked the staff to begin measurements.

Custom suits required a long list of measurements, and the process was tedious. By the time it was done, Chu Mo was yawning on the sofa.

⸻

Not far from the suit shop, the elevator doors opened—and an Alpha with short, flaxen hair and a great physique stepped out.

Chi Cheng.

He had dressed up nicely, hoping to look good for his rare meeting with Chu Mo. He’d even planned to buy a trendy outfit before the meetup.

Just as he was about to head to a fashion store, his gaze was drawn to a nearby suit shop window—where a familiar figure stood.

Inside the shop, Xie Songchen had just finished his measurements and was about to speak to Chu Mo when he caught sight of a figure emerging from the elevator.

He froze.

A second later, as that figure headed toward them, Xie Songchen turned to Chu Mo and said urgently, “President Chu, come help me with something.”

He looked serious—like it was actually important.

Chu Mo frowned. “What’s wrong?”

Xie Songchen picked up a tape measure and replied, “The staff measured my waist wrong. The numbers don’t match what I have in my fitness app.”

Then he handed the tape to Chu Mo, meeting his eyes.

“Can you help me remeasure my waist?” he asked sincerely.

Chu Mo was stunned.

But under that serious, steady gaze, he nodded.

The next second, Chu Mo stood up and wrapped the tape around Xie Songchen’s waist—carefully and with just the right amount of pressure. The slim curve of his waistline was immediately apparent. Through the shirt, Chu Mo could even see the faint outline of abs.

Focused on measuring, he didn’t notice the figure standing a short distance away.

Feeling the tape against his waist, Xie Songchen looked up and met the distant Alpha’s gaze.

The corners of his lips lifted into a triumphant smile.