The personal attacks had reached the lips

Eye. Gunk?!

How. Could. That. Be?!

Was. He. Lying?!

Luo Ming felt as if lightning had struck him, blowing him apart on the spot for an instant. Then he recovered, hurriedly backed away, turned his head, and rubbed his eyes. "..."

Damn it!

There really was some!

But he had washed his face...

Had his wickedly charming, wildly arrogant CEO persona just crumbled like that?

Ten thousand curses stampeded through his mind. Luo Ming put on his trademark languid smile and turned back around, perfectly composed. "I was up too late handling business yesterday, so I've got a little excess internal heat."

"Huh? Where did he go?"

Finding no trace of the omega on the balcony, he could not help blurting out the question.

"He left ages ago," Old Luo Fourth reminded him from behind. "Two more laps on the morning run. You coming?"

Luo Ming's gaze darkened a little. "Yes."

Before his words had faded, he rejoined the group without hesitation.

And so the four young masters began racing silently again.

Although the cameraman struggled a little to keep up, he still captured their conversation for the livestream.

"Fourth Brother, why have you never been roasted by Special Assistant Chen?" Luo Chen, running on the innermost side, suddenly asked.

"True," Luo Yu chimed in, puzzled too. "Since filming started, you haven't lost any points or been scolded."

His gaze suddenly turned sinister for an instant. "Don't tell me you bribed Special Assistant Chen beforehand?"

"Was that necessary?" Luo Chenghai raised an eyebrow, looking wise. "Isn't the reason I get special treatment..."

"My charm?"

The chat visibly choked for a few seconds before comments flooded in madly.

[Oh my god, I thought the fourth brother had some hidden depths. Turns out he's just as narcissistic.]

[Why haven't you been roasted? Don't you have any fucking self-awareness? You never even dared approach him, okay?]

[Who obediently finished washing his clothes yesterday, then obediently hung them up to dry? Do you really think you haven't lost points because of your face, rather than because you're being a model student?]

[As for who's the best-looking, I still think it's Luo Ming. Sure, he has eye gunk, but that doesn't hurt his looks. Hahaha, please let me keep laughing a little longer.]

[Pfft! Did any of you notice Luo Ming's expression just now? He looked like he'd encountered his natural predator. He couldn't even keep up his persona!]

[...]

While the livestream viewers were still discussing it, Chen Bei had already gone into the bathroom to brush his teeth.

He spat out foam as he recalled the original novel.

Based on three years of experience living inside a novel, no matter how ridiculously the earlier plot had gone off course, certain characters and important chapters were bound to appear.

For instance, the first love all four young masters shared-Qin Yufan.

There was no reason or logic to be found in a melodramatic CEO ABO novel.

Every character existed to drive the plot forward, especially creatures like the cherished first love, who could be good or evil.

They were nothing but stumbling blocks along the protagonist's romantic path, with omega rivalry wherever they went.

Although Chen Bei had only met him a few times, his hostility was inborn.

After all, in the novel, he was the culprit behind the original owner's forced exit.

Fuck.

We're both workplace tools. Why are we so eager to destroy each other? Do we really have to compete ourselves into the ground?

He could not help cursing silently as he spat out bubbles.

After washing his face, Chen Bei did some basic skincare and put his black-rimmed glasses back on. As he turned to leave the bathroom, the cameraman came right up to him with the camera on his shoulder. "Special Assistant Chen, it's a new day. Any new goals to achieve?"

Chen Bei thought for a moment, then said, "Ruthlessly snuffing out the light-the cherished first love. It starts with me."

The cameraman froze. "What?"

Chen Bei was just about to continue when someone hurriedly interrupted him. "The guest stars are here. The director wants everyone to gather at the entrance."

"Coming." The cameraman turned and ran with the camera on his shoulder.

Qin Yufan sat in his van watching a replay of the variety show's livestream. His fingertip suddenly landed on the progress bar, hitting pause, deliberately putting a refined, delicate face on display on the screen.

Looking at the somewhat sharp eyes behind the lenses, he asked slowly, "The supervisor is the CEO's assistant? He has that much authority?"

His older brother, who was also his manager, sat beside him and leaned over. "You didn't know? He's Old Luo's man. The young masters all have to show him some respect."

"Really?" Qin Yufan smiled, revealing pearly white teeth, looking bright and beautiful. "Then aren't the boys being kept on a pretty tight leash?"

"Can't be helped. Old Luo is still in charge," Qin Feng said with a frown. "Yufan, Meng Han from Star Dream Entertainment will also be filming with you this time. He and Luo Chen once..."

"I know. A temporary marking." Qin Yufan blinked. "Come to think of it, I should thank Meng Han for helping Luo Chen out of that bind. Otherwise, the consequences would've been unimaginable."

Qin Feng said, "Aren't you afraid he'll steal Luo Chen away?"

"What's there to be afraid of? A temporary marking isn't a permanent marking. Besides, Luo Chen's pheromones are most compatible with mine. Surely he wouldn't settle for second best?" Qin Yufan was unconcerned. "I wasn't there that time. Otherwise, Luo Chen would never have chosen an ordinary omega like that."

He paused, then added, "This Special Assistant Chen, though, is a real eyesore."

"Is he?" Qin Feng looked back at the screen. "What's so special about him?"

As the two spoke, the van had already come to a stop in the villa's courtyard.

The camera crew was in position early, ready to welcome the industry's rising young star.

Qin Yufan put on a gentle, lovely smile, opened the door, and addressed the camera as he stepped out. "Hello, everyone. I'm Qin Yufan."

Comments instantly flooded the livestream screen.

[It's really Yufan?! Oh my god, I'm so happy I could die!]

[I love his traditional-style violin performance videos so much. In just a few seconds, my ideal top-tier omega had a face!]

[Honestly, I was pretty disappointed when I first saw Meng Han. There wasn't much compatibility. But the second Qin Yufan appeared, I instantly wanted to ship them!]

[As the saying goes, three omegas make a drama. I wonder what sparks will fly between the guest stars and Special Assistant Chen. I'm so excited!]

After greeting everyone, Qin Yufan rose onto his toes and looked a short distance away.

The young masters, who had just finished their morning run and returned to their bedrooms to wash their faces thoroughly for fear of having any more eye gunk, were standing there in a row.

He greeted them warmly. "Hello! Long time no see."

He was about to walk over when he suddenly remembered something and turned toward Meng Han, who stood awkwardly to one side. "Shall we go together?"

"Huh?" Meng Han raised his face, looking a little overwhelmed by the attention. "Oh, sure."

"Don't be nervous." Qin Yufan took his hand and said gently, "They're all very easy to get along with. They promised me they wouldn't bully you."

Meng Han stole a glance at Luo Chen. Cut the bullshit. That guy tried to forcibly mark me before.

Qin Yufan seemed to sense his skepticism and smiled again. "You don't believe me?"

"So not only do you believe there are ghosts in this world..."

A voice suddenly sounded behind him, and Qin Yufan turned in surprise.

He saw Chen Bei walking over, his face expressionless.

He froze. "What?"

Chen Bei came to a stop and continued, "You also believe the bullshit that comes out of an alpha's mouth."

[Well then, the personal attacks have reached the lips.]