The next day, following through on his promise to Ji Nian, Ming Yi visited the private hospital Ji Nian had recommended.
Ji Nian had arranged everything in advance, and after hesitating at the entrance for a moment, Ming Yi nervously stepped inside. The psychiatrist was a gentle-looking woman. After talking with her for a while, Ming Yi gradually relaxed. She did not immediately press him on his problems; instead, she initiated a casual conversation, listening to his worries and offering small suggestions. Ming Yi was not sure if this was a specific psychological therapy, but after one session, he did feel a bit lighter.
After scheduling his next appointment, Ming Yi left the private hospital and got into the Xie family car. Seeing him return, the driver immediately lowered his head to send a message. Ming Yi had a faint premonition, and sure enough, a moment later, the phone in his pocket vibrated with a message from Xie Yunxie.
No Sanity During Office Hours: “Is it over?”
Another new nickname? Ming Yi blinked and replied briefly: “Yes, I just came out. It went smoothly. I have scheduled the next session.”
Ming Yi had told Xie Yunxie about seeing a psychiatrist on the way home last night. After all, they were now a community of interests with a common enemy. Ming Yi had worried his independent actions might cause trouble, but the concern was unnecessary. Xie Yunxie was extremely supportive of him breaking out of his pessimistic “let it rot” death-wish mentality.
Xie Yunxie was like an overanxious parent watching a child see a doctor, monitoring the progress closely. The moment Ming Yi emerged, he was there waiting to ask about the results. Ming Yi had rarely been cared for like this; the feeling was novel, but he did not dislike it.
As he described the doctor’s advice, Xie Yunxie sent a sticker of a puppy giving a serious thumbs-up to show his approval.
Suddenly, a call came in. The caller ID showed his manager, Sister Xu. Ming Yi’s heart skipped a beat, and his pulse quickened. He answered while watching the scenery outside retreat. “Hello, Sister Xu?”
Sister Xu’s voice was jubilant, as if she had won the lottery. “Ming Yi, where are you right now!”
“I am out. What happened?”
Sister Xu gave him an address, her voice full of energy. “Get here as fast as you can!”
Ming Yi grew more confused, mentally reviewing his recent actions. He lowered his voice. “What is it really?”
Sister Xu let out a hearty laugh. “What is it? Huge news! Get yourself ready before I tell you.”
Ming Yi faintly sensed something, and his throat felt dry. “I am ready.”
“Then listen carefully,” Sister Xu cleared her throat, her voice ringing clearly through the receiver. “Just now, the Ascension crew finalized the actor for Ying Buran. Congratulations, Ming Yi. You successfully defeated the other competitors and landed the role.”
Ming Yi froze. He understood the words individually, but the meaning they formed together seemed impossible to process. He successfully defeated the others? Was he dreaming? He pinched his arm and felt a sharp sting of pain.
It was real. The warm sun outside the window remained, but the miracle Ming Yi never dared to imagine had quietly arrived. By the time he snapped out of it, he realized he had sent several messages to Xie Yunxie.
Ming Yi: “I got the role I auditioned for!” Ming Yi: “Sister Xu wants me to sign the contract. Is it true?” Ming Yi: “It feels like a dream.”
A dozen seconds later, Xie Yunxie sent a photo of his own arm with a red pinch mark on it.
No Sanity During Office Hours: “Confirmed it for you. It is not a dream.”
Ming Yi could not help but smile. Even if they were not from the same world, was the way to distinguish dreams the same? His heart was pounding. He had so many questions: Why did Director Ji choose him? Was it really for his acting? But he quickly realized Xie Yunxie, being at the company, likely knew little of the inner workings. He should ask Director Ji these things later.
He slowly deleted the long paragraph he had typed, but Xie Yunxie sent two more messages as if they shared a telepathic link.
No Sanity During Office Hours: “Do not overthink it. Others might make mistakes, but Director Ji will not. He has a sharp eye; if he says you can do it, you can.” No Sanity During Office Hours: “I had someone look over the contract in advance. Sign it with peace of mind.”
Ming Yi stared at those messages for a long time before replying: “Yes!”
Signing the contract and finishing the process felt like walking on clouds. When he returned home at dusk, he noticed the villa lights were already on. Is Xie Yunxie back this early?
He pushed the door open, and a loud pop echoed in his ears. Colorful confetti rained down on his hair and shoulders. Under the grand shower of glitter, Ming Yi’s mouth fell open in shock.
“Congratulations on getting the role! Surprise!”
Accompanied by Xie Yunxie’s enthusiastic cheers, another string of confetti was released. Through the dense cloud of color, Ming Yi saw the grand state of the villa. The luxury home, usually so cold and high-end, was now covered in cheerful banners and balloons. To be honest, it looked like a marriage proposal scene.
Ming Yi was rendered speechless by this stroke of genius. “Thank you?”
Xie Yunxie seemed even more hyped than Ming Yi. “In the past, you were harmed by traitors; now you return reborn, destined to take back what is yours and stun the entire industry!”
Ming Yi gave a visible shudder from the sheer cringe of the reborn protagonist script. Xie Yunxie laughed, tossed aside the confetti popper, and opened his arms. His grayish-blue eyes were full of warmth. “Want a hug?”
Ming Yi’s lips curved into a smile, and he actually stepped forward to hug him. Xie Yunxie smelled of a low-key, steady pine cologne; it was non-aggressive and reliable. His build was sturdy, and the muscles beneath his suit felt powerful. The hug was firm and incredibly grounding.
Xie Yunxie patted Ming Yi’s back. “I told you that you could do it. Do not belittle yourself anymore.”
Ming Yi gave a low “Yes” and looked over Xie Yunxie’s shoulder. The living room was a mess. While he appreciated the sentiment, it gave him the distinct impression of a large dog having renovated the house. Recalling those eyes, the image of a Husky returned. Xie Yunxie is so Husky-coded.
After a friendly embrace, Ming Yi pulled back slightly. He squinted suspiciously. “You did not throw money at them to buy me the role, did you?”
Xie Yunxie immediately got defensive. “Am I that kind of person? Is Director Ji? If they did not pick you, why would I give them money? I only threw money in after they chose you!”
Ming Yi: “So you really did throw money in?”
Xie Yunxie was righteous. “After they confirmed you, I added a bit of investment. I just want you to have a better time on set. Is that a crime?”
Ming Yi laughed helplessly. “It is not. Thank you for the investment.”
Xie Yunxie was satisfied. Seeing glitter on Ming Yi’s hair, he naturally reached out to brush it away. Ming Yi’s eyes flickered, but he remained still, looking up at him without moving away. He was so obedient. Xie Yunxie’s fingers felt itchy; he suddenly wanted to pinch Ming Yi’s cheek.
Without an expression, Ming Yi’s downturned eyes and tight lips seemed cold and brooding. But when he looked up and smiled, he was exceptionally bright, like spring ice melting. The gland at the back of Xie Yunxie’s neck flared with heat. Snapping back to his senses, he withdrew his hand with a sense of boundaries.
Ming Yi, oblivious, looked at the streamers on the floor. “By the way, where is Song Xiong?”
“I was afraid he would eat something he should not, so I locked him in your room.”
They cleaned up the streamers together. While resting on the sofa, Ming Yi raised a concern. “I will be joining the crew soon, but Song Xiong has not had his vaccinations yet.”
“That is easy,” Xie Yunxie took a sip of water. “I will take him.”
“Are you not busy?”
“It is a flexible kind of busy,” Xie Yunxie corrected. “In the original plot, this villain frequently skipped work to commit crimes. So, me skipping work to take a puppy for shots is very lore-accurate.”
“But Song Xiong does not seem to like you. He barks every time he sees you.”
Xie Yunxie touched his neck. The temperature of his gland was finally dropping, and the pheromone concentration in the air was fading. He sighed in relief. “He probably does not like the smell of my pheromones. It is a bit pungent.”
Ming Yi was surprised. “Song Xiong can smell pheromones?”
Xie Yunxie smirked. “A dog’s sense of smell is many times more sensitive than a human’s. In theory, they can detect the odor molecules in pheromones.”
Curiosity piqued, Ming Yi asked, “Then what do your pheromones smell like?”
Xie Yunxie smiled but did not answer. Only a Beta who could not smell pheromones would ask such a question. If Ming Yi were an Alpha or Omega, he would realize he was already completely enveloped in Xie Yunxie’s scent. In Xie Yunxie’s world, this was an extremely offensive act. But Xie Yunxie despicably let it happen. He thought, Ming Yi is just a Beta; he will never smell it anyway. And in this world of Betas, no one can call me out.
“The concentration is higher near the gland. Do you want to try?” Xie Yunxie blurted out before he could think. “Maybe you can smell it there.”
His heart raced at his own boldness. Ming Yi, taking him literally, leaned in politely. “May I?”
Xie Yunxie gave a vague “Yes,” his eyes shimmering. He was lying; a Beta could never smell pheromones, even right at the source. But seeing Ming Yi’s curious eyes, he had coaxed him into it. He watched Ming Yi lean closer. A small, neat nose approached his nape. Xie Yunxie had not changed out of his suit yet; his collar hid the gland, but he could feel a warm breath brush against his neck.
The thought of Ming Yi smelling him caused the heat in his gland to explode again. Dense pheromones erupted, hitting Ming Yi square in the face. Ming Yi, completely unaffected, sniffed and said innocently, “I only smell the pine wood.”
“That is my cologne.” Xie Yunxie’s throat was dry. His canines felt itchy; it was a primal urge to bite down on something to relieve the pressure. He gritted his teeth. He is just sniffing you, why are your teeth itchy? Have some shame! Where is your Alpha virtue?
Xie Yunxie’s muscles tensed under his suit. With every breath, he smelled his own pheromones and the scent of Ming Yi: laundry detergent, soap, and Ming Yi’s own natural scent. Xie Yunxie had lied again. In some ways, an Alpha’s nose rivaled a dog’s. Ming Yi’s neck was right there, so easy to bite. He stared at the snowy skin until Ming Yi realized the atmosphere had shifted and pulled away.
“I cannot smell it,” Ming Yi said honestly.
Xie Yunxie forced a normal expression. “That is a pity. I cannot really describe the scent itself.”
Ming Yi suddenly felt a chill down his spine; it was a primal instinct telling him he was being watched by a large predator. Xie Yunxie looked different, not like his usual gentle self.
“I should go confirm the filming schedule with Sister Xu,” Ming Yi made a dry excuse to escape.
“Go ahead. Remember to come out for dinner.”
Ming Yi hurried to his room. As the door shut, Song Xiong rushed him, barking wildly as if he had brought something dirty into the house. Ming Yi leaned against the door, exhaling. What was that? He fanned his collar to dissipate the heat.
After dinner, Xie Yunxie went to his study. The system, having observed in silence, finally spoke. [Host, are you catching feelings?]
“No way. Do not talk nonsense. My orientation is Omegas!”
The system coldly pulled up a data chart. [System detection shows your pheromone levels have been extremely unstable lately.]
“That is normal! I have not had a single inhibitor since I was dragged here,” Xie Yunxie sighed. “Seriously, cannot you teleport some to me? I will die without them. These fluctuations are the first sign of a breakdown.”
[Apologies, Host. The system is powerless in this matter.]
“Useless!”
The system, feeling a bit guilty, lowered its tone. [As long as it is not catching feelings. In our line of work, the most taboo thing is falling in love with an NPC.]
“As if,” Xie Yunxie said. “He is a Beta. He cannot even smell me.”
The system moved on. [Speaking of which, how did he pass the audition? Did his acting actually improve?] The system had expected Xie Yunxie to use the backdoor, but Ming Yi passed on his own. It wanted Ming Yi in a trash movie to be a foil for the protagonist. Xie Yunxie brushed it off. “Acting does not improve overnight. I was just coaxing him to go to the set and film. Why are you taking it seriously?”
The system agreed. A vase actor becoming a powerhouse overnight was impossible. The director likely just liked his look. Once filming started, his lack of skill would be exposed.
[A friendly reminder: while building the laboratory, do not forget the daily Tyrant Value tasks. You almost missed yesterday’s.]
Xie Yunxie’s face went pale. The system forced him to complete tasks for Tyrant Value, Plot Completion, and Protagonist Satisfaction. He needed 100 Tyrant points a day. He used to get points by insulting the old butler or the previous scumbag friends. But the butler had retired, and the friends were too scared to call. Who else was there?
He looked at the cooperation project with the Yan family.
“I choose you, Brother-in-law!”