Thirty Fourth Day of Pretending to Be an Alpha

Seeing the message from Xie Songchen, Chu Mo’s heart almost stopped. What? Xie Songchen ran into Xiao Chen at the bar?!

Chu Mo had just finished injecting the inhibitor, didn’t even bother to dry his hair, and hurriedly opened Xiao Chen’s chat box. 

He messaged.

Chu Mo: “Xiao Chen, if someone approaches you later, make sure not to reveal that we’re a fake couple!”

To emphasize the seriousness, Chu Mo replaced the period with an exclamation mark.

Xiao Chen was obviously busy drinking and didn’t reply. Chu Mo grew anxious, nearly calling him. Just then, Xie Songchen sent two more messages.

Xie Songchen: “Maybe he’s just stressed from studying and came to relax.”

Xie Songchen: “Or maybe I mistook him for someone else.”

Seeing the second message, Chu Mo worried Xie Songchen might try to confirm Xiao Chen’s identity. He quickly replied.

Chu Mo: “Xiao Chen is usually quite playful, I know that.”

Sitting in the booth under the bar’s dim lights, Xie Songchen’s expression was unreadable. His gaze occasionally drifted toward a certain direction. When his phone vibrated, he quickly took it out and unlocked the screen—it was a message from Chu Mo. This was the fastest Chu Mo had replied to him in a while.

At first, Xie Songchen thought Chu Mo would be angry because of the photo. But when he saw the message, his fingers froze. Staring at the screen, disbelief filled his eyes. 

Chu Mo could actually… tolerate such a thing? That omega was clearly being intimate with other alphas in the photo. And Chu Mo wasn’t angry at all?

Frowning deeply, Xie Songchen stared at the screen for a long time. Then, another message appeared.

Chu Mo: “I trust Xiao Chen. Those alphas are just his friends.”

Xie Songchen remained silent. He locked his phone and tossed it aside, then picked up a glass of beer and downed it in one go. A classmate next to him noticed and asked, “Xie Ge, what’s bothering you? Drowning your sorrows in alcohol?”

Taking a deep breath, the usually reserved Xie Songchen suddenly said, “I have a friend whose partner is fooling around in this bar, and he’s not even angry—what’s he thinking?”

His tone carried confusion, a hint of jealousy, and a touch of grievance.

The classmate misunderstood, thinking Xie Songchen had argued with his friend. He offered comfort, “Xie Ge, when it comes to friends, we usually advise reconciliation, not separation.”

Frowning, Xie Songchen retorted, “Even knowing he’s with a scumbag, you wouldn’t advise separation?”

With a knowing tone, the classmate said, “Of course. If your friend trusts his partner, it means he really loves them. It’s best for outsiders like us not to interfere.”

Hearing the word outsider, Xie Songchen’s expression turned even colder. The next second, he stood up. The classmate was surprised. “What are you doing?”

In a cold voice, Xie Songchen said, “I can’t just sit by and do nothing.”

With that, he left the booth. The classmate watched with admiration. Xie Songchen really values his friend’s relationship. Truly loyal.

In the corner, Chen Songxie was playing a boring finger game with others in the booth, yawning. The alphas around him were enthusiastic, but he couldn’t help zoning out. For some reason, he recalled the events of that morning—he had actually called an alpha “hubby.” In the past, Chen Songxie would never have imagined doing such a thing. But… he didn’t seem to mind?

Startled by his own thoughts—

“Got you, Xie Ge!” Xiao Wang grabbed his finger excitedly. They were playing a finger-grabbing game. Usually a game master, Chen Songxie had zoned out and got caught.

Just as he was about to drink, a figure appeared beside the booth. Everyone thought this person had come to the wrong place—except he was staring directly at Chen Songxie. Under the dim lights, Chen Songxie looked up and was surprised to recognize the face. Why was Chu Mo’s secretary here?

Xie Songchen’s gaze fell on Xiao Chen’s hand. His thumb was being tightly held by an alpha. This omega clearly had a partner, yet was playing flirtatious games with other alphas?

Anger surged within him. He looked down on this “Xiao Chen” and felt Chu Mo deserved better.

Sensing the tense atmosphere, Xiao Wang released his grip. Calmly, Chen Songxie looked up. “Is there something you need?”

“What do you mean?” Xie Songchen said slowly, suppressing his anger. “Do you think you’re worthy of him, doing something like this?” His tone was laced with disdain.

The people around them exchanged glances. Chen Songxie quickly understood the implication. Clearly, Xie Songchen thought he was the omega fooling around in the bar, being unfair to Chu Mo.

Standing up, Chen Songxie said calmly, “Let’s talk somewhere else.” He knew if they kept talking here, someone might slip up. Chu Mo had been good to him, paid him well—he couldn’t let him down.

Leaving the booth, Chen Songxie led Xie Songchen outside. The surroundings instantly grew quieter.

Looking at him coldly, Xie Songchen asked, “Does Chu Mo know you’re like this?”

“What’s it to you?” Chen Songxie took out an e-cigarette, his tone carefree. “You’re just a secretary. Why meddle in so many things?”

Xie Songchen nearly messaged Chu Mo right then—Your partner is into smoking and drinking!—but held back. Disgusted, he looked at the omega before him. “Chu Mo trusts you so much, and this is how you repay him?”

Just as Chen Songxie was about to retort, his phone rang. Chu Mo was calling. He answered it in front of Xie Songchen.

“Xiao Chen, let me tell you, right now—”

“You don’t need to worry about me. I’ll head back early,” Chen Songxie interrupted, deliberately sounding pitiful. “I ran into your secretary at the bar. He said I was fooling around and even scolded me.”

Frowning, Xie Songchen growled, “Can you stop talking nonsense?”

On the other end, Chu Mo paused. He quickly realized Xiao Chen was acting—judging by the voice, Xie Songchen was standing right there. After a brief thought, Chu Mo said, “Give the phone to Xie Songchen. I’ll talk to him.”

Instead of handing the phone over, Chen Songxie put it on speaker. The next second, Chu Mo’s voice came through clearly.

“Xie Songchen, don’t be harsh on Xiao Chen.”

Xie Songchen froze. The words left him breathless, his mind blank for a moment. He hadn’t expected Chu Mo to defend this omega.

Taking a deep breath, he suppressed his emotions. “…I didn’t,” he said hoarsely.

Chu Mo didn’t notice the shift in his tone and continued, “Xiao Chen is a good omega. He’s well-behaved. He wouldn’t mess around at a bar—I trust him.”

For a moment, Xie Songchen couldn’t tell what hurt more—the words “I trust him” or “don’t be harsh on him.” The jealousy, envy, and grievance left him speechless. Seeing the alpha in front of him stiffen, his face pale, Chen Songxie knew his goal was achieved.

“Xiao Xie was just worried,” he said with a smirk, speaking into the phone, “That’s why he misspoke. Hubby, don’t be mad at him.”

With a boastful tone, Chen Songxie hung up the call.

Already on the verge of breaking down, Xie Songchen’s defenses crumbled at the word “hubby.” His lips turned pale, but he maintained his last bit of stubbornness.

“How long do you think Chu Mo will like someone like you?” he said coldly. “He’ll see your true colors sooner or later.”

Unfazed, Chen Songxie replied, “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure my hubby always likes me.”

“…Is that so.” Xie Songchen’s gaze shifted from disdain to pity. “What’s the point of deceiving feelings like this? Let’s see how long you can keep it up.”

He didn’t believe this “Xiao Chen” could keep hiding his true self.

Chen Songxie smirked. “We’ll see.”

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Xie Songchen standing in the cold night air.

On the way back, Chen Songxie received a message from Chu Mo:

Chu Mo: “Thanks for helping me act just now.”

Chu Mo was grateful. At least Chen Songxie wasn’t the type to take money and ignore the aftermath. A more irresponsible omega might’ve spilled the beans already.

Chen Songxie: “Just doing my job.”

Chu Mo, feeling thankful, sent him a red envelope. But Chen Songxie didn’t accept it.

Truthfully, he was a practical person. If someone sent him a thank-you red envelope, he would usually accept it. He didn’t like owing favors—nor did he like others owing him. All relationships were best settled cleanly, like his current one with Chu Mo.

However, recalling Chu Mo’s words during the call—“don’t be harsh on him” and “I trust him”—Chen Songxie’s heart skipped a beat. He knew he was just playing the role of a fake partner. Yet those words still stirred something in him. For a moment, he almost believed Chu Mo was truly his partner.

Having never received much kindness growing up, he found himself addicted to the feeling of someone unconditionally standing up for him—even if it was fake.

Stopping under the dim streetlights, Chen Songxie stared at his phone for a long time. His throat was dry, his Adam’s apple bobbing. After a moment of silence, he impulsively pressed the voice message button and sent Chu Mo two voice clips.

Back at the Chu residence, in the study, Chu Mo finally relaxed. He put down his phone, dried his hair, and was about to go to bed when he noticed the voice messages.

Xiao Chen: [Voice 10”]

Xiao Chen: [Voice 3”]

Casually, Chu Mo played the first ten-second clip. The first five seconds were silent—Chu Mo wondered if Xiao Chen had sent a blank message. Then, suddenly, his clean and magnetic voice came through the earpiece:

“Do you want to… renew your wife’s subscription?”

Chu Mo was stunned.

The second message automatically played.

“Wife for direct rent, no agency fee.”