I May Have to Offend You Again

After dealing with the staff situation, Director Chen returned to the production team's little villa and let out a deep sigh. "If I could do it all over again..."

The assistant director came over holding a bowl of braised beef noodles and naturally finished the sentence for him. "You'd choose Li Bai?"

"..." Director Chen, furious at his incompetence, knocked the bowl of braised beef noodles from the assistant director's hands. "Eat, eat, eat! All you know is eating! Choose Li Bai, my ass! Instant Heart is practically becoming a legal affairs variety show! And you still have the nerve to eat!"

Assistant Director: "..."

Instant Heartbeat was Director Chen's labor of love. Although it had remained unpopular for a long time, its popularity finally picked up after he gritted his teeth and invited several of the hottest young idols in the entertainment industry to participate.

He had originally thought they could take things to the next level this time, which was why he had spent a fortune inviting Best Actor Fang Yu and Cheng Cheng, the hottest traffic star of the moment.

Who would have thought the one causing the biggest stir would be the cheapest one!

Oh, and Lu Zhi, who had bought his way onto the show.

Whenever those two appeared in the same frame, they were either making porn or making trouble.

The livestreams kept getting forcibly suspended at the drop of a hat.

Seriously, it was exhausting.

"But..." The assistant director pulled out his phone and showed Director Chen the soaring data since the show began airing. "These past few days, our numbers and discussion levels have far exceeded those of the previous episodes! Director, your dream has come true! Instant Heart's reputation has finally gotten out there!!"

Director Chen trembled as he looked at the top search terms most closely associated with "Instant Heartbeat."

#President Lu Got Off Again#

#Shen Ranxin Stop Hitting Him Im Afraid President Lu Will Lick Your Hand#

#How Much Are Shen Ranxin's Unwashed Underwear#

Director Chen's vision went dark. He held out a hand. "Fetch my Quick-Acting Heart Rescue Pills..."

Realizing the severity of the situation, Director Chen chewed two Quick-Acting Heart Rescue Pills and decided this could not continue.

He had to change things. He had to pull out an unconventional move!

He was determined to make every CP he filmed end happily!!!

That evening, everyone was lounging around the little villa's sofa as usual, each doing their own thing. Cheng Cheng was cooking in the kitchen.

Shen Ranxin had dragged Jiang Ye into playing games with him. After all, Jiang Ye was a world-class professional player. It would be a waste not to take advantage of that.

The two sat shoulder to shoulder, leaning close together. Whenever Shen Ranxin's own screen went black, he leaned over to watch Jiang Ye's, and they occasionally whispered to each other. Their posture looked extremely intimate.

But that "intimacy" existed only in President Lu's eyes.

After all, both Shen Ranxin and Jiang Ye were Alphas. No one would find anything strange about two Alphas playing games together.

Shen Ranxin was once again focus-fired and instantly killed by the opposing team. As he entered a one-minute resurrection countdown, he gritted his teeth and said, "The village brats mock me for being old and weak—five of them focus-fired me at once!"

Jiang Ye said helplessly, "Teacher Shen, your positioning was off."

Shen Ranxin clicked his tongue. "What was that? What was that?! Captain Jiang, I spent 20 points to hire you as my gaming companion, and this is your attitude?"

Captain Jiang replied seriously, "Before anything else, consider whether you deserve it."

Shen Ranxin laughed and cursed at him. Just as he was about to start messing with the kid's head, his phone screen suddenly lit up.

Teacher Shen's Hook: [Shared audio] Invites you to listen together!

Shen Ranxin: "..."

In the entire dating show, only Lu Zhi stubbornly insisted on calling him Teacher Shen.

Poop-Smeared Mop, Lu Bu Reborn: What kind of ridiculous name is that?

Teacher Shen's Hook: I saw it online. They said it has a double meaning. I really like this name. Does Teacher Shen not like it?

Poop-Smeared Mop, Lu Bu Reborn: ...

Forget it. I didn't dare curse him out. What if he got off on it?

Poop-Smeared Mop, Lu Bu Reborn: Spit it out if you've got something to say.

Teacher Shen's Hook: I wanted to share my recent sleep aid with Teacher Shen.

Frowning, Shen Ranxin tapped on the audio. The next moment, the familiar sound of fabric rubbing together began playing.

It was followed by Lu Zhi's voice, tinged with tears.

It happened so quickly that Shen Ranxin did not have time to close it. His hand shook, and his screen went black again. By the time he frantically turned off the audio, he found Jiang Ye looking at him strangely.

Shen Ranxin: "..."

That spring, amid the drizzle over apricot blossoms, you said this was a sleep aid. Perhaps everything had been wrong from the very beginning!

Fortunately, his phone volume was not very high. Other than Jiang Ye, who was sitting beside him, no one else should have heard it.

With his scalp tingling, Shen Ranxin shifted his butt and sat a little farther away from Jiang Ye. "Is there any chance that... what you just heard was an illusion?"

Jiang Ye fell silent for a moment, his eyes full of sincere concern. "Did Lu Zhi hit you?"

Shen Ranxin was so embarrassed his toes could dig out the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang. "I told you, you didn't hear anything."

"Then do you like Lu Zhi? Are you dating Lu Zhi? But you're both Alphas, so your pheromones can't attract each other, right?" Still unwilling to give up, Jiang Ye leaned closer. His tousled black hair covered those clear, cool eyes, and there was not the slightest hint of teasing in his tone. "I mean, I have a friend. He seems to have recently fallen for an omega's pheromones. Do you think he likes that person, or is it just pheromone-induced?"

Shen Ranxin smelled gossip in the air and was about to pry further when his phone screen lit up again. He checked the message with his back turned to Jiang Ye.

Teacher Shen's Hook: If he gets that close to you again, I won't be able to resist sharing my sleep aid with him too, Teacher Shen.

Poop-Smeared Mop, Lu Bu Reborn: There's something wrong with your brain. I don't want to talk to you.

Teacher Shen's Hook: Teacher Shen is so mean. Are you bullying me just because you know I like you? Does Teacher Shen not like that sleep aid? Hmm... then I'll record a new version for Teacher Shen tonight, okay?

Poop-Smeared Mop, Lu Bu Reborn: ...

Teacher Shen's Hook: Come over to my side, okay?

Whenever Lu Zhi used that tone, it was most likely a sign that he was about to lose his mind.

Shen Ranxin could only reject Jiang Ye's eager, questioning gaze. After telling him they could talk on WeChat later if there was anything else, he plopped himself back down beside Lu Zhi.

Lu Zhi narrowed his eyes in satisfaction. His silver hair hid the jealousy in his gaze as he rubbed the tip of his nose against Shen Ranxin's shoulder.

Shen Ranxin pulled away slightly. "What are you doing? Didn't I already come back?"

So stop fucking losing your mind!

"I need to check whether Teacher Shen has another Alpha's scent on him." Lu Zhi spoke with complete confidence. "I'll get jealous. Can Teacher Shen bear to see me jealous?"

Shen Ranxin curled his lips into a faint smile. "If you're willing, it wouldn't matter even if you drank poison."

"Teacher Shen's words are so hurtful." Lu Zhi lowered his eyes and laughed softly. "It's fine. As long as Teacher Shen gives it to me, I'll drink anything."

Shen Ranxin closed his eyes, lowered his head, and messaged Jiang Ye to ask what he had meant earlier.

Jiang Ye was still typing when Lu Zhi's palm reached over and covered Shen Ranxin's screen. "Teacher Shen, I think I may have to offend you again."

Shen Ranxin: "?"