I'll Beat You to Death, You Useless Alpha

Xie Lin darted and weaved through the trees, reaching a stream in no time.

On the opposite bank, three little red flags stood in plain sight.

He rolled up his sleeves, ready to wade across.

"Wait, wifey!"

Xie Lin stopped and turned to look at the man running toward him.

"What? Do you have another way?"

"Sure do!"

Lu Ye crouched with his back to him.

"Hop on. I'll carry you across."

"...No need. I'll walk across myself..."

"Then should I carry you in my arms?"

Xie Lin reflexively took half a step back.

"Get up. I can get across myself."

"I won't take the flags. I just don't want you getting wet."

"Why can't I get wet? It's not like I'm some delicate Omega!"

[LOL, Xie Lin is an Omega, but he's not delicate!]

[He Jianing: Here comes the delicate Omega! Blegh!]

[Lu Lin are so sweet I can't stop grinning.]

[Where are the Xi Paper Wraps Ning fans? Did they just quietly disappear?]

[Hah, it's all because those fucking bastards on the production team broke up my ship.]

[??? What does the production team have to do with it? Fu's the one who set his sights on Xie Lin, okay?]

[Didn't someone online say the other day: he loves him, he loves him, he loves him?]

[That was me. I saw through everything ages ago. Heh!]

Lu Ye looked aggrieved.

"Wifey~ Give me a chance to show off!"

Xie Lin scoffed and stretched a long leg toward the stream-

Before his foot could touch the water, he was lifted off the ground.

"What are you doing?"

Lu Ye scooped him up in his arms and ran across in a few strides.

He lowered his head and kissed the corner of Xie Lin's mouth before setting him down.

Xie Lin instantly exploded, pounding him with punch after punch, each landing with a solid thud.

"Hey, hey, hey, doesn't your hand hurt? Want me to do it myself?"

"Fuck off! From now on, don't pick me up without my permission!"

[Hahahaha, Xie Lin's face is practically scarlet.]

[With all due respect, doesn't this count as sexual harassment?]

[Xie Lin likes it, Lu Ye likes it, the Lu Lin fans like it, and you're the only one who doesn't?]

[What makes you think Xie Lin likes it?]

[Hitting is affection, scolding is love. It's flirting, get it?]

He Jianing wheezed like a broken bellows, standing bent over with his hands braced on his knees on the opposite bank, yet still remembered to shout across the stream.

"Stop... stop hitting him... Xie Lin, calm down. Talk it out."

"Hah!"

Xie Lin sneered, giving Lu Ye a sidelong look.

"Someone's feeling sorry for you!"

As if he hadn't heard the sarcasm, Lu Ye urged him to get the flags.

"Quick, quick, quick! Grab them, and I'll take you back across."

"...What are you after?"

"You!"

Xie Lin glared at him, the corners of his mouth rising uncontrollably with a hint of smugness as he pulled up the flags.

Before he could turn around, Lu Ye scooped him up again.

By the time he reacted, he was already on the opposite bank.

"Put him down!"

Fu Yunxi rushed up to them, trembling all over with rage.

"He's my teammate! What right do you have to carry him?"

Lu Ye lifted his eyes, his gaze full of contempt.

"Some A-rank Alpha you are. You can't even outrun an Omega like Xie Lin. Useless!"

Xie Lin ignored them, struggled free, and jumped down. Without a word, he plunged back into the woods and started sprinting back.

He Jianing looked at Lu Ye in bewilderment.

"President Lu, you were already across. Why didn't you grab the flags while you were there?"

"I'm afraid of water."

"..."

"???"

Listen to that. Was that any kind of reasonable answer?

If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he really would have believed him.

He'd just run through the water as easily as if it were flat ground, practically flying along, and now he claimed he was afraid of water?

Who was he trying to fool?

Just then, Yue Lan dashed across, pulled up the flags, and waded back. She hoisted Yu Zhiwei onto her back and quickly plunged into the woods.

Her movements flowed seamlessly, all in one go.

[That's our Sister Lan! Such Alpha energy. Carrying Zhiwei is as easy for her as carrying a rag doll!]

Lu Ye kicked Fu Yunxi in the waist.

"What are you standing around for? Get running! If you dare let Xie Lin come last, I'll fucking rip your tendons out!"

As if waking from a dream, Fu Yunxi turned and ran back for all he was worth.

Yue Lan was carrying someone, after all, while he was sprinting with everything he had. He finally made it back to the starting point ahead of her.

Xie Lin, who had long since returned, was sitting on a little folding stool with his legs spread, eating bread.

Seeing Fu Yunxi return first, he let out a slight sigh of relief and discreetly glanced behind him.

"Stop looking!"

Fu Yunxi's face was black as ink as he ground his teeth.

"Lu Ye's still a long way behind."

"Says who?"

A lazy voice drifted out of the woods.

Yue Lan emerged from the trees carrying Yu Zhiwei, her forehead covered in sweat.

Lu Ye followed behind them at a leisurely pace, as if strolling through his own yard, in no hurry at all.

He Jianing urged him on anxiously.

"President Lu, hurry up! Yue Lan's running out of strength. We can easily overtake them."

Lu Ye scoffed.

"You may be an Omega, but you're still a grown man. What's wrong with letting the ladies go first?"

He Jianing looked upset, but inwardly, he was delighted.

He couldn't wait to come last. That way, he could be alone with Lu Ye in the kitchen.

Although the runners-up also had to cook, they would actually use separate kitchens and wouldn't disturb each other.

Besides, the viewers had all seen his efforts. If they came last, those people would only blame Xie Lin for dragging Lu Ye down.

He was merely an innocent, helpless teammate.

He bit his lip and lowered his head slightly.

"I was worried you'd be upset. After all, last place not only has to cook, but doesn't get to eat."

"That's you. I won't be going hungry."

As he spoke, his eyes curved into crescents, and he looked straight at Xie Lin.

"Right, wifey~?"

Xie Lin glanced at him and brushed the bread crumbs off his hands.

Wearing oversized slippers and holding a megaphone, the director walked up with a smile.

"First place goes to Yue Lan and Yu Zhiwei. Fu Yunxi and Xie Lin are tied for last with Lu Ye and He Jianing."

"Why?"

Xie Lin sprang to his feet.

"We clearly completed the task, and we were the first ones back..."

He trailed off, his eyes shifting toward Fu Yunxi.

"Don't tell me you didn't complete your Hidden Task?"

Fu Yunxi opened his mouth and gave an awkward smile.

"Sorry. I couldn't find an opportunity..."

"You motherfucker-"

Xie Lin kicked him to the ground, straddled him, and started swinging his fists.

"I'll beat you to death, you useless Alpha-"

[Uh, does this count as a personal attack from Xie Lin?]

[Isn't anyone going to pull him off? Is Xie Lin a violent maniac? Why does he keep hitting Yunxi?]

[What's done is done. Maybe look at your own failings. Did you not work hard enough to complete the task?]

[Fu Yunxi really deserves it. He did nothing the entire time and couldn't even complete a Hidden Task.]

[I can't take it anymore. I'm unfollowing him right now. This repulsive man can go die!]

[Hah, he can't even beat an Omega. Is his A-rank watered down?]

In an instant, #Water-Injected Alpha shot up the trending searches, reaching first place before long.

Fu Yunxi's fans collectively lost it, yet didn't dare make a sound in the livestream chat.

After taking several punches, Fu Yunxi grew increasingly furious. He abruptly stood up, nearly throwing Xie Lin to the ground.

He pointed at Xie Lin in rage.

"I was going easy on you! Try hitting my face again!"

Slap!

A resounding slap landed. Xie Lin shook out his hand and sneered.

"That's the first time I've heard someone ask to be slapped in the face. I had to oblige!"