Overheard by the Second Male Lead

The screening room had small private suites. Jiang Yumiao liked peace and quiet, so he chose one and followed a staff member toward it.

Footsteps sounded behind him, and Jiang Yumiao turned to look.

Holy shit! It was the second male lead!

Ning Chunchi had already changed into a bespoke pale gray shirt, looking refined and aristocratic. His watch, however, had been replaced with a Richard Mille RM66. The unrestrained devil-horns gesture on its dial stood in stark contrast to his elegant, buttoned-up attire, much like Ning Chunchi himself: outwardly cultured and ascetic, yet hiding an abyss within that could drown a person.

Jiang Yumiao's eyes widened. He had assumed Ning Chunchi would either still be working or eating at the restaurant after finishing up. Why had he come to the screening room?

He asked, "Mr. Ning, did you just finish work? Have you eaten?"

Ning Chunchi said, "Yes, I just finished. I'm not hungry yet."

"Then, then would you like to watch a movie? I booked a room," Jiang Yumiao invited him.

Ning Chunchi's lips curved. He nodded and walked over to Jiang Yumiao, and the group followed the screening room staff into the private suite.

Unlike the hot spring area's overall decor, the suite was distinctly more modern and minimalist. The lighting was dim, and an entire projection wall stood before the dark red leather sofa.

The camera operators quickly set up their equipment, then turned and left. Even the PD went with them. This little private space now belonged entirely to the two of them.

Seeing everyone else leave, Jiang Yumiao realized only he and the second male lead remained. Perhaps because he had just revealed his feelings for the second male lead on the livestream, facing Ning Chunchi alone now made even the air seem to stand still.

Ning Chunchi sat down and looked at the long-haired omega, his eyes holding complicated emotions Jiang Yumiao couldn't decipher.

Jiang Yumiao lowered his head and opened the movie-selection touchscreen, hoping to pick something quickly and break the silence.

"Mr. Ning, is there anything you'd like to watch?"

"Anything's fine. You choose," Ning Chunchi said casually.

"Okay." Jiang Yumiao was distracted too. He randomly tapped a movie with a cover that looked warm and youthful.

After choosing the movie, Jiang Yumiao dawdled his way over and sat beside Ning Chunchi, leaving some space between them.

Still concerned that Ning Chunchi hadn't eaten, Jiang Yumiao picked up the menu on the table and ordered several Thai desserts.

Longan jelly with coconut milk, coconut bowl cakes, passion fruit sago cakes, steamed pumpkin custard...

Ning Chunchi turned to watch Jiang Yumiao busy himself and chuckled. "Are you ordering all that for me?"

Jiang Yumiao murmured a yes and straightened his back like a model student, sitting perfectly upright with both hands on his thighs.

Once the server brought in the desserts, the movie began.

It turned out to be an urban romance about a possessive, coercive relationship between an alpha and an omega. The cover had made it look like a coming-of-age campus movie.

It was actually pretty good. Jiang Yumiao became engrossed, his stiff posture relaxing as he gradually leaned back against the sofa.

Ning Chunchi didn't actually like sweets, but since the omega had ordered them especially for him, he obligingly tried every dish.

Only then did he discover that Jiang Yumiao wasn't paying any attention to whether he ate. The little thing was already absorbed in the movie.

Ning Chunchi: "..."

This was the first time he had ever been ignored while sitting beside someone.

Ning Chunchi gave two light coughs, pulling Jiang Yumiao's attention away from the movie.

Jiang Yumiao immediately sat upright again. Only now did he notice that the second male lead had started eating, and he hurriedly asked, "How is it? Is it good?"

"Not bad," Ning Chunchi said gently. Watching the omega, he added, "Quite sweet."

Only then did Jiang Yumiao relax. He had been worried he might order something Ning Chunchi disliked.

The second male lead's presence was simply too strong. Once Jiang Yumiao's attention had been diverted, he could no longer concentrate on the movie, his gaze constantly straying toward the second male lead out of the corner of his eye.

As perceptive as he was, Ning Chunchi naturally noticed Jiang Yumiao stealing glances at him. It pleased him for no particular reason, and the smile on his lips grew increasingly genuine.

The voices of the movie's two leads sounded in the background.

The alpha said angrily, "You want to be with me that badly? You schemed and stopped at nothing just to sleep with me!"

The omega sounded aggrieved. "What can I do? I like you!"

The alpha roared, "Can't you show a little restraint?"

The omega shouted back, "How am I supposed to show restraint around someone I like?!"

Jiang Yumiao and Ning Chunchi: "..."

It was even a trope-subverting movie in which the omega forced his love on the alpha.

But that dialogue... Jiang Yumiao couldn't help thinking of how he had avoided everyone and canvassed for votes on a livestream to complete his task of sharing a room with Ning Chunchi.

Naturally, Ning Chunchi thought of it too. He asked, "So this is the movie you wanted to watch?"

Jiang Yumiao gave a couple of awkward laughs. "I just picked it at random. The plot seems pretty original, hahaha..." He couldn't keep laughing.

Ning Chunchi gave him a searching look, then glanced at the title of the movie currently playing on the touchscreen.

The movie was called Don't Come Home Tonight.

Jiang Yumiao followed his gaze and saw the title too.

Under the second male lead's scrutinizing gaze, Jiang Yumiao wanted to cry but had no tears. He swore he really hadn't paid attention to the title when choosing it. He had only glanced at the cover!

Ning Chunchi suddenly said, "I understand."

"What?" Jiang Yumiao had no idea what the second male lead had imagined this time, but his instincts told him it wasn't anything good.

Ning Chunchi didn't answer. He was thinking about how Jiang Yumiao had canvassed for votes on the livestream and was now dropping hints through the movie's dialogue and title. Was he really so impatient to share a room with him, so eager to make him understand his feelings?

He had understood perfectly long ago. From that loving gaze on the beach, from the moment he received that letter, he had known.

Ning Chunchi decided to give the proactive omega a little reward.

"Do you like the grape-patterned gland patches?"

Jiang Yumiao froze for a moment, not understanding how the conversation had shifted to gland patches, but answered honestly anyway. "Yes! I love them! I'm wearing one right now." As he spoke, he turned his back to Ning Chunchi and lifted the long hair from his nape with slender, fair fingers, showing him the gland patch he wore.

Ning Chunchi's eyes instantly reddened.

Jiang Yumiao had only been an omega for three days. He didn't know what such a gesture meant to an alpha.

Take whatever you want. I'm yours for the taking.

Ning Chunchi reached toward Jiang Yumiao.

Jiang Yumiao was still wondering how Ning Chunchi knew his gland patch had a grape print. He wasn't stupid. Remembering how Ning Chunchi had asked yesterday whether he had any spare gland patches, he wondered if these hadn't actually been provided by the production team, but were a gift from Ning Chunchi.

He was just about to ask when a large hand with long, defined fingers lightly touched his gland. Then, rather than stopping, the hand grew bolder, sliding forward from his nape until it encircled his entire neck.

Ning Chunchi released his pheromones.

Cedar and ocean enveloped Jiang Yumiao, bringing his thoughts to an instant halt. Every bit of his attention focused on Ning Chunchi's large hand covering his neck.

Behind Jiang Yumiao, Ning Chunchi applied the slightest pressure with that hand and drew the omega entirely into his arms.

He let out a satisfied sigh, as though he had caught his prey.

With the most vulnerable part of his body held in that grip, Jiang Yumiao should have been terrified. Yet the warmth at his back and the familiar scent of cedar gave him an unprecedented sense of safety, like a little boat that had drifted for so long finally finding a harbor.

He felt utterly dependent on Ning Chunchi.

Ning Chunchi's lips were only a few millimeters from Jiang Yumiao's ear. The slightest movement from Jiang Yumiao would bring them into contact.

Jiang Yumiao heard the wicked alpha whisper in his ear, "I was in the lounge while you were livestreaming."