After Differentiating into an O, Pampered by an A - Chapter 23

After posting to her Moments, Ye Xing found herself standing in front of the mirror, turning her head to inspect her own rear. The silk robe, smooth as water, outlined a perfect curve.

Mm, no mistake about it, definitely a perky butt!

After admiring herself, Ye Xing glanced at the vintage clock hanging in the suite and decided to turn in early to avoid affecting tomorrow’s filming.

Early the next morning.

Ye Xing finished breakfast and cooperated with the program’s stylist to complete her hair and makeup early. The fixed cast had also gathered. There were four regular members: two women and two men—two Omegas and two Alphas. They were all veterans of variety shows in recent years, talkative and great at livening up the atmosphere. Ye Xing wasn’t stiff and soon became well-acquainted with everyone.

The van arranged by the director to take them to the venue arrived at the hotel entrance. Checking the headcount, the director realized Lan Xinqiao hadn’t come down yet. A quick phone call revealed the assistant’s reply: their artist had just finished a bath, brought her own makeup artist, and was still getting ready. They needed another ten minutes.

The director showed no outward annoyance, but Ye Xing sensed a flicker of impatience in the other artists’ eyes. Some even joked that Lan Xinqiao was “naturally beautiful”—a subtle jab at her being a high-maintenance “diva.”

Ye Xing sat to the side, waiting for the big star along with everyone else. Twenty minutes later, Lan Xinqiao emerged from the elevator in a seductive red dress and flaming red lips, walking toward them with a swaying gait.

She smiled sweetly, her voice soft: “So sorry for making everyone wait.”

Whoa! Lan Xinqiao’s outfit didn’t look like she was going to a field; it looked like she was heading to an awards ceremony.

Once everyone was present, the director signaled the staff. On the open ground outside the hotel, the clapperboard for this episode’s first “check-in” snapped shut. The moment the cameras turned on, Lan Xinqiao began waving and smiling at every lens like a peacock spreading its feathers.

Ye Xing, meanwhile, had already followed the others onto the business van. There were plenty of seats, but Lan Xinqiao chose to stand next to Ye Xing and ask: “Teacher Ye, may I sit here?”

Ye Xing smiled slightly: “As you wish, Teacher Lan!”

Could she really say no in front of the camera? She was truly impressed by this “Little Green Grass”—the girl had a deep game. Permission granted, Lan Xinqiao gracefully took her seat. She didn’t bother Ye Xing on the way but started chatting with the other guests.

After half an hour of chirping in her ear, the van drove into a private beach area and slowed down. Outside the window was a picturesque scene of blue sea and white clouds—and, of course, various promotional posters from the sponsors.

During the team selection phase, Ye Xing learned that groups would be decided by drawing lots. She chanted “Amituofo” a hundred times in her head. But she couldn’t beat Murphy’s Law; when she saw the name on her slip was “Lan Xinqiao,” she cursed fluently in her mind. She deeply suspected the production team of “black-box” manipulation.

Lan Xinqiao, seeing the result, had a satisfied glint in her eyes. She walked over to Ye Xing’s side. “Teacher Ye, wouldn’t you say we truly have a fated connection?”

Ye Xing shifted half a step to the side, maintaining distance. A cursed connection!

After teams were set, following the old rules, each guest filled out their “Punishment Wish Card.” The activities officially began.

Ye Xing was like she’d been injected with chicken blood, searching for hidden “treasures” on the beach under the scorching sun. However, Lan Xinqiao was being melodramatic, her “idol baggage” far too heavy. After running just a few steps, she claimed her strength was gone. She simply plopped down on the soft white sand and said in a coquettish tone: “Teacher Ye, I can’t run anymore. I can’t get up. I need you to pull me up.”

She held out her fair little hand, her eyes glistening with expectation. Ye Xing turned and saw this “pig teammate” behavior, her anger rising.

Steeling herself, she shouted to the director several meters away: “Director! Teacher Lan is failing! I think she has heatstroke! Get an ambulance for her!”

Her voice was so loud that everyone’s gaze shifted to Lan Xinqiao. Lan Xinqiao’s face turned white with embarrassment. She scrambled up, brushed the sand off her butt, and waved her hands frantically. “Director, I’m fine!”

While being taken away by an ambulance for being “too dedicated” is a good headline, doing it less than twenty minutes into the show would just get her flamed by netizens. She endured and continued filming.

Seeing Ye Xing intentionally keeping her distance made Lan Xinqiao feel very displeased. She remembered that when Ye Xing first met her, he was instantly captivated. She decided this must be Ye Xing’s “hard to get” tactic.

“Ye Xing, wait for me, let’s look together.”

“Ye Xing, you’re so amazing! We found more ‘treasures’ than the other two groups.”

“Ye Xing, it looks like we’ll definitely be first in today’s game.”

Faced with the noise behind her, Ye Xing turned away from the camera and rolled her eyes hard. Her lips curled into a smile, but she kept her body still and whispered in Lan Xinqiao’s ear: “Miss Lan, I beg of you, can you shut up? Are you a sparrow? Also, it’s me, not us.”

In the footage, the smile on Lan Xinqiao’s face froze.

The sun set, dyeing the blue sea a pale orange. The evening glow was like a koi’s tail sliding across the sky, tracing the romantic colors of a master painting.

Gold Territory International Hotel.

Because of Shen Yushu’s personal arrival, a heavy atmosphere filled the hotel from top to bottom. In the penthouse suite, Shen Yushu sat on the sofa facing the massive glass window, admiring the 180-degree sea view. Her fingers gripped her silver-grey phone as she sat with her long legs bent, silent.

Sun Xi stood behind her; the woman and the cat were both very quiet. Shen Yushu’s gaze frequently swept over her phone screen, her brows furrowing. It had been nearly five hours since she arrived at Zhou Island, and the WeChat message she sent to Ye Xing still hadn’t been replied to.

Is this woman even on the island? Did I see the location tag wrong yesterday?

Sun Xi couldn’t read Shen Yushu and felt the air was too stifling. She whispered, “President Shen, should I take Little Grape out for a bit? I won’t disturb your sunset viewing.”

“Meow~” Little Grape meowed at just the right time in the carrier, signifying her agreement.

A sudden, inexplicable irritation rose in Shen Yushu’s heart. She nodded and waved them away. She tossed her phone onto the sofa, no longer wanting to look at it. Perhaps due to the sudden emotional fluctuation, she felt stifled and hot. She stood up and headed to the bathroom, deciding to take a bath to soothe her mood.

The daytime portion of the show finished filming successfully. Because of Ye Xing’s outstanding performance and “variety sense,” the director and other guests liked her very much.

That evening, the director found a specialty restaurant on Zhou Island as a reward for the guests and to gather footage for local food promotion. Ye Xing’s head was buzzing after a day of Lan Xinqiao’s chatter. She could tell the “Little Green Grass” wanted to get back together. Naturally, she wanted to stay even further away.

Ye Xing clenched her fists and gritted her teeth until the moment the cameras turned off. Now, she just wanted to go back to the hotel. The director announced through a megaphone: “Thank you all for your cooperation today. After filming tomorrow, we will enter the crucial livestream phase. Please keep up the hard work!”

Assistants stepped forward to pick up their respective artists. Ye Xing was about to leave when a clear, pleasant male voice called out: “Teacher Ye, please wait.”

It was Zhao Tian, a fixed guest and a male Alpha. She thought it was about the show, but he asked if she wanted to go to a bar on the island with them. Ye Xing smiled, intending to politely decline, but Lan Xinqiao overheard.

She rushed up: “Sure, Teacher Zhao! Let’s go together!”

Ye Xing’s facial expression management failed completely. Did he even ask you? Ultimately, because all the guests were going, it would look bad if Ye Xing didn’t.

Inside the noisy bar VIP room, Ye Xing couldn’t avoid the social obligation of having a drink. She picked a cocktail that looked the most “innocent” and pink. The moment it hit her throat, a powerful burning sensation exploded in her chest, and even her lips went numb.

Her features scrunched up. Once she recovered, she said slowly: “Whoa, what is this? It’s too strong!”

Zhao Tian looked over with a faint smile. “Ye Xing, you really have a knack for picking. I ordered so many drinks, and you picked the one called ‘Beauty’s Fall.’ It has a serious kick later on.”

Ye Xing was bewildered; she had picked it because it looked the most refreshing. She felt nothing at first, just a stimulating taste. She used the drink as an excuse to leave early and return to the hotel.

Ning Youyou met her and noticed Ye Xing’s cheeks were flushed a dizzying peach-red. She helped her into the car. “Sister Xing-xing, are you okay?”

Ye Xing waved her off. “It’s fine, just one drink. Let’s go back, I’m tired.”

On the way back, as time passed, Ye Xing felt her cheeks getting hotter. Her breath smelled of the richness of rum. She rolled down the window for the night breeze, but the more it blew, the dizzier she felt. No way, just one drink? Is it really that magical?

At the hotel, fearing Ning Youyou would notice and tell Sister Ling—who would then get depressed about her artist getting drunk during work hours—Ye Xing forced herself to her door and told Youyou to go rest. Youyou wanted to help her tidy up, but Ding Ling called at that moment, so she left to handle work.

The moment Ye Xing pushed her door open, her legs went weak, and she nearly stumbled inside. She caught the doorknob just in time to avoid a faceplant.

Shen Yushu had felt unwell since arriving, so she had gathered the hotel managers for a meeting after dinner. Midway through, the glands at the back of her neck began to throb uneasily, and her body temperature rose.

Dammit, is the rut coming?

She stood up abruptly, needing her inhibitors. “That’s all for today. Go rest, we’ll continue tomorrow. Thank you for your hard work.” She left the room quickly.

Sun Xi wanted to follow, but seeing Shen Yushu’s dark expression, she decided to stay and play with the “Grape Princess” instead.

The elevator finally reached the penthouse. Shen Yushu’s slender fingers gripped her burning glands. Usually calm and restrained, she felt a sense of panic for the first time. As she moved to open her door, a jolt of numbness hit her. Her hand shook, and her room card fell.

She knelt to pick it up, but her peripheral vision caught the neighboring door—it was ajar. Between the door and the frame sat a woman’s snowy-white ankle; a high heel lay discarded nearby. Shen Yushu’s scalp went numb with shock.

On the floor, Ye Xing was slumped like a puddle of mud, completely defeated by the alcohol. She had no idea her current pose looked like a crime scene.

“Little Grape… Mommy misses you so much…”

“Go away, don’t touch me, you ‘Little Green Grass’…”

Drunk to the point of not recognizing her own mother, Ye Xing was mumbling to herself. Only because of this “panting” did Shen Yushu confirm she was alive; she had been ready to call the police.

Ye Xing probably heard the noise and wobbled back to her feet, but her sense of direction was gone. She stumbled out toward the hallway.

When Shen Yushu saw the woman’s face, she was stunned. “Ye Xing?”

The next second, she reached out and caught the staggering Ye Xing before she could fall again.

“Hm? What is it? So soft!” Ye Xing’s hand accidentally landed on Shen Yushu’s waist, and she gave a restless squeeze. Then, her boozy, scorching breath sprayed against Shen Yushu’s neck. “What ‘Beauty’s Fall’ wine… it’s nothing special.”

Hearing the drunken ramblings, Shen Yushu didn’t have her usual patience. The feeling she had been suppressing surged back. She exerted a sudden burst of strength and pulled Ye Xing off her. “Stay away from me!”

Likely hurt by the shove, the drunk Ye Xing’s temper flared. “So what if an Alpha is strong? I’m an Alpha too, okay?!”

The corners of Ye Xing’s peach-blossom eyes turned red. She stepped forward and pushed Shen Yushu. The force wasn’t small; caught off guard, Shen Yushu was pushed into the open room. Ye Xing staggered in after her and slammed the door shut with a “Bang!”

“Right… I’m a public figure. Can’t be photographed. Shhh!”

Shen Yushu: “…”

Shen Yushu had no desire to deal with this madwoman and intended to leave. But as she moved, her burning glands began to throb in waves. Her body started to tremble, and a manic heat rose within her.

Instantly, the scent of caramel rum filled the air of the large suite, mixing with the soft, sweet fragrance of cream cake.

As her pheromones ran wild, Shen Yushu’s strength left her, and she sank onto the carpet. The intense, heady fragrance stimulated Ye Xing like a hook, drawing her step-by-step toward Shen Yushu.

Shen Yushu gritted her teeth. “Don’t come over!”

Her usually cold and beautiful face was now tinged with desire due to the craving for pheromones. The red corners of her eyes were increasingly alluring. The familiar smell of rum made the alcohol rush to Ye Xing’s head again. She grabbed Shen Yushu, taking a deep breath of the scent that made her mind and body go soft.

“So sweet! I like this smell… rum cake, I like eating that.”

The drunk Ye Xing had no idea what her actions or words meant. She held Shen Yushu tighter. The silk shirt was smooth and delicate; she nuzzled into the other’s embrace like a kitten, exposing her snowy-white nape.

In the dim, amber light of the room, Shen Yushu’s breath hitched. Between the soft hairs, Ye Xing’s glands were like a delicate bud waiting to bloom—unopened, yet tempting one to see it in full flower.

“Sister… smells so good!” Ye Xing’s chin rested on Shen Yushu’s shoulder.

Forced by the agony of suppression, Shen Yushu’s eyes were stained with a dizzying shade of rouge, adding a touch of enchantment. Ye Xing’s voice was soft, and that one “Sister” caused the last string of her restraint to snap.

Her shimmering eyes filled with mist, and her gaze changed completely. Her cold voice turned husky.

“Ye Xing… I told you. Don’t come over, and don’t call me Sister. You’re the one who chose to provoke me.”

Her long lashes trembled like a butterfly about to take flight. The beast within woke up completely, breaking free from its cage and shattering Shen Yushu’s last bit of sanity.

Outside, the dark night sky was filled with stars like a brilliant Milky Way. Inside the dimly lit room, Ye Xing was slumped like mud against Shen Yushu’s shoulder, appearing to have fallen into a quiet sleep.

The scent of rum cake pheromones filled the room, rich and fragrant.