The official recording day of the dating show Matching Love finally arrived.
Since ENCHANTED was an independent band, Sheng Zhiyu was not signed to an entertainment company and had no manager. Outside of the niche underground music circle, he was considered a “civilian” guest.
Filming began the moment he stepped out of the car. Since it was summer, Sheng Zhiyu wore a printed white T-shirt and light blue jeans, accessorized with silver jewelry related to his band.
The sunlight from outside fell behind him, outlining his superior Alpha physique with a faint golden glow. The lighting was warm, yet his features were sharp and elegant. A mix of casual arrogance and refined beauty that created a unique sense of coldness.
His mere entrance was enough to make the previous guests fade into the background.
However, Sheng Zhiyu didn’t care about others’ opinions. His gaze swept the room and landed on An Yu.
When their eyes met, An Yu froze for a moment, and then his face turned bright red.
Although this was his first time filming a variety show, he had seen dating shows before. The young girls at his shop often chatted about them during breaks. He knew that a guest’s choice of seat, conversation partner, and even eye contact during the first meeting were all signals of interest.
How is Xiao Yu so bold?
Before An Yu could process this, a collective gasp erupted from the people around them.
He looked up to see that while Sheng Zhiyu had already taken a seat, the final “grand finale” guest had arrived.
A low-profile, luxury black sedan stopped at the door. Out stepped a man in a light blue shirt and white trousers—equally simple, yet equally eye-catching.
Someone reacted first: “No way! Wait, am I seeing things? Is that Movie Star Qi?”
“Qi… Qi Fan?”
“Ah, is it really him? A movie star is joining a dating show? That’s impossible, right?”
Because the difference in status was so vast, the guests couldn’t help but stand up and crowd the door even with the cameras rolling. When the identity of the final guest was confirmed, the room filled with exclamations.
—While the two final arrivals were equally matched in looks, Qi Fan’s status as a top-tier actor was clearly more prestigious.
Sheng Zhiyu gave a casual smile.
In a “Heartthrob” world, it didn’t matter if they were corporate moguls, academic elites, or top-tier actors; every powerful and distant character would eventually fall to earth for the sake of the protagonist, leading to an intense “crematorium” of jealousy.
This was just standard equipment for a protagonist.
Qi Fan stood at the door, a faint smile on his handsome, calm face. He casually met the heated gazes before him, letting his eyes settle on the lazy young master standing outside the crowd.
Sheng Zhiyu sensed his gaze and met it quietly. He wore a polite smile, but his eyes were cold.
Qi Fan took it all in.
Once all the guests had arrived, it was time for self-introductions. To maintain an air of mystery, the production team only allowed them to share their names, ages, and reasons for joining the show.
Their secondary genders and professions remained hidden for now.
Since it was the first day, the crew didn’t arrange any extra tasks. Instead, they asked everyone to prepare dinner together.
Tasks like buying ingredients, cooking, and decorating the dining area were split into groups.
An Yu volunteered to stay and cook. Just as he was about to look for a helper, he saw the young master set aside his sunglasses and walk toward him.
Sheng Zhiyu’s dark, grape-like eyes crinkled with a smile. “I’ll help you out.”
Sheng Zhiyu in daily life was very different from the dazzling lead singer on stage. An Yu felt his heart skip a beat and nodded belatedly. “Okay!”
Just as Sheng Zhiyu took an apron off the hook, he turned to see two figures walking toward the kitchen.
Qi Fan was clearly coming for An Yu, while the other person he was staring at Sheng Zhiyu so intensely that “we know each other” might as well have been written on his forehead.
Qi Fan naturally noticed the intense gaze. He lowered his eyes dismissively and realized the face looked familiar.
—This was the Omega who had been messing around with the young master when he caught Sheng Zhiyu in the restroom that day.
【Xu Tu, a Jasmine-scented Omega. Young Master Sheng’s ex-boyfriend or rather, “playmate.”】
Before meeting An Yu, the original Sheng Zhiyu was a flirtatious playboy who had given temporary marks to many people.
【Perfect. Xu Tu’s presence can hinder Sheng Zhiyu, and we can take this chance to boost An Yu’s favorability toward you.】
The System was busy calculating how much favorability Qi Fan could gain when Qi Fan spoke up in a neutral tone: “Is this student coming to the kitchen too? It seems like we don’t need this many people in here.”
Xu Tu froze, realizing Qi Fan had beaten him to the punch.
When the bodyguards had hauled him out of the restroom that day, Xu Tu had recognized Qi Fan. He guessed that the movie star and the young master knew each other.
Seeing Qi Fan come downstairs with him, Xu Tu had planned to take a gamble. Betting that Sheng Zhiyu wasn’t completely bored of him yet, and betting that Qi Fan wouldn’t embarrass a civilian in front of the cameras.
But he didn’t expect Qi Fan to strike first.
Xu Tu reacted quickly with a smile. “I felt like I couldn’t help much with the heavy lifting, so I came to the kitchen to find work. Is Mr. Qi working in the kitchen too?”
Standing behind the counter, Sheng Zhiyu let out a cold laugh.
Xu Tu was certainly “tea-like” (manipulative). Because of Qi Fan’s fame, his personal info including the fact that he was an Alpha was public knowledge. Xu Tu was hinting that he was an Omega, hoping Qi Fan would step aside.
However, Mr. Qi acted as if he didn’t understand the subtext. “I’d like to, but I sprained my wrist doing an action scene in my last film. I’m not sure if I can use much strength right now.”
Before Xu Tu could respond, An Yu spoke up first: “Ah? Is Mr. Qi injured?”
An Yu didn’t catch the hidden barbs between the two, but when Qi Fan mentioned a wrist injury, his first thought was how Qi Fan had helped him carry things in the shop a few nights ago.
“Yes,” Qi Fan replied naturally. “Xiao Yu knows about it too.”
Sheng Zhiyu, suddenly dragged into the conversation: “…”
Sorry, I didn’t know.
But An Yu’s gaze had already shifted toward him, filled with concerned inquiry.
“I wasn’t aware. But since Mr. Qi’s hand is uncomfortable, the kitchen is a better place for him than going shopping.” As he spoke, he handed the apron to An Yu.
Qi Fan’s gaze shifted from the ignored Xu Tu back to the space between Sheng Zhiyu and An Yu.
He had captured An Yu’s attention with a fake injury, but Sheng Zhiyu was creating an intimate moment with an apron.
The usually cynical young master, who expected others to serve him, was now standing obediently behind An Yu. His slender fingers hooked the apron strings; although he was just tying a knot, his movements were exceptionally slow.
An Yu tried to stay composed, but his ears were bright red.
Sheng Zhiyu finished tying a bow leisurely. When he turned around, Qi Fan was already standing where he had grabbed the apron.
“Is it outdoor BBQ tonight? Should we prep the ingredients now?” Qi Fan stepped in naturally, as if it were a given that the three of them were in charge of the kitchen.
An Yu nodded. “Yes, the crew prepared some vegetables here. I want to process them first.”
With the roles assigned, there was no room for Xu Tu to join. Sheng Zhiyu looked up at the ignored boy.
Since they were on camera, he intended to give Xu Tu a way out, but a man’s voice came from behind him.
“Xiao Yu.”
It was an intimate address, spoken in a low voice, at a distance where only the two of them could hear.
Sheng Zhiyu paused. When he turned his head, he saw Qi Fan holding up an apron with his fingertips.
“You’re good at tying bows, right? Could you help me?”
Sheng Zhiyu: “…”
He had seen people use apron-tying to flirt before, but he had never seen someone actively ask for it.
Yet Qi Fan smiled naturally. “After all, my wrist is sprained. It’s a bit inconvenient.”
Sheng Zhiyu thinned his lips. Just as he was about to look up, he saw An Yu washing a tray of vegetables in the sink. “Right, you have to take sprains seriously. Xiao Yu, help Mr. Qi tie his too.”
“…Fine.”
Sheng Zhiyu lowered his head, intending to finish quickly. But just as he touched the strings, the man’s fingertips brushed against the back of his hand, seemingly by accident.
A hint of lingering warmth trailed over his skin, leaving an invisible, humid mark.
Sheng Zhiyu tied the knot expressionlessly and immediately pulled away.
Just as he was about to help An Yu with the remaining vegetables, a sharp noise rang out behind him.
With a loud crash, a porcelain plate shattered into pieces.
Xu Tu stood before the fragments with a look of guilt. “I-I’m sorry, I just wanted to help.”
Sheng Zhiyu frowned. Before he could speak, he saw blood blooming on Xu Tu’s hand.
The scent of jasmine immediately spilled out along with the blood. Xu Tu clutched his finger pitifully. “I just wanted to help. Why am I so clumsy?”
Seeing Sheng Zhiyu’s face go cold, An Yu quickly said, “Don’t be angry. I’ll go get a broom and the first aid kit.”
Sheng Zhiyu ignored him and bent down to pick up the larger shards to make it easier for An Yu to clean later. But just as his hand reached down, Xu Tu grabbed him first.
The Omega’s blood smeared onto Sheng Zhiyu’s wrist, instantly leaving behind a concentrated scent.
On the surface, Xu Tu maintained a look of concern. “Don’t, it’s sharp.”
Sheng Zhiyu let out a cold laugh and turned to look him in the eye. “You think I don’t know that?”
His dark eyes lifted slowly, carrying the inherent danger of an Alpha, making the Omega instinctively shiver.
Xu Tu bit his lower lip, looking fragile. “…It hurts.”
Sheng Zhiyu sneered. “You didn’t feel pain when the shard cut your hand, but you feel it now? Your nervous system is quite unique.”
Xu Tu didn’t expect Sheng Zhiyu to be so cold. In the past, Sheng Zhiyu would fall into an Omega’s trap the moment he smelled even a bit of pheromones. Today, even after Xu Tu had smeared blood on him, Sheng Zhiyu hadn’t softened. He had become even colder.
As Xu Tu prepared to say more, a broom was thrust in front of him.
He almost lost his balance. Looking up, he saw Qi Fan holding the cleaning tools.
Mr. Qi still wore that neutral smile. “Why are you still using your hands? Go sit over there and wait to be bandaged.”
It was a suggestion, but it sounded exactly like “get out”—just like their meeting in the restroom.
With Qi Fan taking over, Sheng Zhiyu stood up, removed his apron with a cold face, and left the kitchen.
Lin Weiyu had warned him that this body had a low resistance to Omega pheromones. The moment the blood touched his skin, his Alpha instincts began to flare up.
Furthermore, because the original owner had temporarily marked Xu Tu, the “memory of the taste” kept fueling his predatory instincts, urging him to bite the Omega who was so boldly tempting him.
It felt like a craving. This body really couldn’t handle temptation.
His room was at the very end of the second floor. By the time he opened the door, Sheng Zhiyu could already smell his own leaking pheromones.
He looked around, his eyes cold and annoyed.
His suitcase hadn’t been delivered yet, and his suppressants were inside it.
The restless sensation made his front teeth itch. Sheng Zhiyu walked into the bathroom expressionlessly and turned on the cold water.
The bloodstains were washed away quickly, but the annoying scent of jasmine felt like it had seeped into his marrow, picking at him bit by bit.
He scrubbed his wrist until it was red and stinging, but it didn’t strip away the agitation.
When he tried to scrub harder, a large, slender hand blocked the water and caught his reddened wrist.
Sheng Zhiyu froze, watching his hand being held up by the man.
Qi Fan leaned down and smelled Sheng Zhiyu’s wrist. His deep pupils traveled from the pale arm to Sheng Zhiyu’s face. His voice was warm and deep, carrying a sense of comfort: “The smell has been washed off.”
His tone made it hard to tell if he was stating a fact or offering comfort, but the provocation in his next sentence was clear: “However, the scent of iris has become much stronger.”
Sheng Zhiyu narrowed his eyes, watching the Alpha lean closer. “Did that tiny bit of low-grade pheromones trigger your rut?”
Qi Fan lowered his head, his lips brushing over Sheng Zhiyu’s wrist. He whispered temptingly, “Do you need help, Young Master?”