Free Web NovelChapter 55: Ch 55: Weary Returns and Gentle Holds
As the other guests trudged back into the resting area, their bodies marked by the grueling course, Su Wanyan maintained her polite facade while keeping a sharp, internal vigilance toward Gu Chengze.
She offered him a small, courteous nod and a gentle smile—the kind expected of a well-mannered alpha. Gu Chengze responded with a low snort, turning away sharply and heading toward an earlier spot with heavy steps. Lin Xuanyu trailed timidly behind him like a shadow.
For a fleeting second, Su Wanyan caught something unsettling. As Lin Xuanyu passed, his gaze drifted toward Mo Xingxue, and his carefully composed expression slipped—revealing a dark, calculating look filled with contempt.
It vanished almost instantly, masked by his usual fragile, tearful demeanor, but Su Wanyan noticed it immediately. Her brows furrowed. As someone who had read the original novel, she recognized that expression all too well. It was the same look Lin Xuanyu wore whenever he was scheming something sinister. freēwēbnovel.com
Not good. Su Wanyan unconsciously tensed, shifting closer to Mo Xingxue and little Mo Yan in a protective instinct. Still uneasy, she casually draped her arm across Mo Xingxue’s lap—a gesture common among intimately bonded alpha-omega pairs in this world.
Having only transmigrated three days ago from modern Earth, Su Wanyan saw nothing unusual in the action; to her, it was simply a comforting, protective touch.
Mo Xingxue, who had been gently playing with Mo Yan, suddenly froze. She felt the warmth of Su Wanyan’s arm resting possessively on her lap, the subtle weight both grounding and electrifying. Her face burned instantly, a deep flush spreading from her cheeks down to her neck and ears.
Is she really serious about that marriage proposal earlier? The thought sent her heart racing. She fanned herself lightly with her free hand, trying to compose herself, but the heat refused to fade.
The live barrage exploded with reactions:
[Hey, she’s getting braver!]
[YOOO?? ARE YOU THE SU WANYAN WE KNOW??]
[WAIT, THAT’S NOT HER!]
[SU WANYAN, WHAT IS THIS BEHAVIOR??]
[Y’all acting like it’s a bad thing but I know y’all be grinning so wide.]
[Haha, lol (accurate)]
[Can you not?? We’re trying not to jinx it!]
[My bad, bro.]
[Hey, but it’s seriously funny seeing Mo Xingxue turned red like a tomato, lol!] fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
[Right? It’s so amusing since she always had that cold expression on.]
[Fr, I’ve been her fan for years and this is the first time I’ve seen different expressions from her outside acting.]
[Su Wanyan, how can you do this to another omega? Have you forgotten me?]
[Upstai—no. Wife, since when were you awake?]
[Oh, I just got up just now... WAIT! Who are you calling wife?? I’ll never be your wife, psycho!]
[I’m not a dere, tsu-tsunder—]
[COPYRIGHT POLICE, STOP RIGHT THERE!]
Su Wanyan remained blissfully unaware of the chat’s frenzy, her attention still fixed warily on Gu Chengze and Lin Xuanyu. I’m sure those two are up to no good, she thought, nerves prickling. Facing the male lead and the protagonist of the original novel—the "golden children" favored by the world’s plot—was no small matter.
She exhaled a shaky breath, her hand instinctively searching for Mo Xingxue’s. When their fingers met, she clasped it tightly, drawing comfort from the connection.
Mo Xingxue, already lost in a whirlwind of flustered delusions, burned even brighter. The sudden intimate hold made her feel dizzy, but she unconsciously squeezed back, her grip grounding Su Wanyan’s anxious heart.
Don’t be scared, Su Wanyan, she told herself firmly. She glanced at Mo Xingxue and little Mo Yan, resolve strengthening. You promised yourself you’d help them. So toughen up. The gloomy weight lifted, replaced by quiet determination.
The resting area hummed with a mix of exhaustion and quiet reflection as the guests settled into their thoughts. Some nursed sore muscles, others replayed the slippery chaos of the course, while a few harbored deeper, more turbulent feelings beneath polite exteriors.
Just then, PD Xu Cui arrived with his usual energetic stride, gesturing for his assistant to hand him a colorful party popper. "Congratulations on passing the course, guys!" he announced cheerfully, pulling the string with a dramatic flourish. A burst of colorful confetti rained down around them.
He was met not with cheers, but with a wave of glares and looks of pure grievance. The alphas, in particular, looked ready to mutiny after the grueling, soaped-up ordeal.
Su Wanyan, who had instinctively started to clap in celebration, noticed the hostile mood and awkwardly froze mid-motion.
She let her hand rest gently again on Mo Xingxue’s lap instead, the casual intimacy going unnoticed by her but sending a fresh new wave of heat through the omega.
Mo Xingxue’s face burned brightly again, the flush spreading from her cheeks to her neck and ears. The PD is right here, yet she’s acting so boldly.. she thought shyly. Still, she made no move to remove Su Wanyan’s hand, a quiet sign that she didn’t truly mind the closeness.
PD Xu Cui met the collective glares with an amused smile, completely unshaken. In fact, he let out a hearty laugh. "Haha, you guys should’ve seen your faces!" His teasing only fueled the guests’ annoyance and grievances further. Qin Yuran, feeling particularly aggrieved, seriously considered reaching out to tug the PD’s goatee as petty revenge.
In stark contrast to Qin Yuran’s relatively innocent frustration, Gu Chengze glared at PD Xu Cui with murderous intensity. I’ll ruin you! I’ll ruin you until you come begging for mercy! he thought, clenching his already wounded fist so tightly that fresh blood dripped between his fingers.
His whole body trembled with barely contained fury, rationality slipping as he unconsciously began releasing his pheromones. The heavy, oud scent spread faintly but dangerously toward the PD, thick with murderous intent.
Just then, a gentle hand clutched his. Gu Chengze looked beside him to find Lin Xuanyu gazing up worriedly. The touch and worried expression snapped him out of his rage. He quickly pulled back his pheromones.
Lin Xuanyu offered a soft, reassuring smile that made Gu Chengze’s heart soften. Yes, this is how omegas should be. He resolved once more to "teach" Mo Xingxue proper behavior in the future—imagining her as his main wife and Lin Xuanyu as a devoted concubine. Mo Yan barely crossed his mind, her existence pushed aside like an inconvenient detail.
When everyone had finally settled, PD Xu Cui moved on to the important part. "Guys, for the first and second place winners, we have already made reservations at the restaurants you’ll be going to," he informed them with a knowing smile, deliberately keeping the destinations a surprise.
He then turned to the third and fourth place pairs with a slightly apologetic expression. "As for third and fourth place, we decided to let you choose the restaurants you want to go to. I apologize for the lack of preparedness from our team—we couldn’t find options that perfectly fit your palates."
Zhao Yichen, Song Meiyu, Qin Yuran, and Han Jiho all breathed audible sighs of relief, especially Qin Yuran and Han Jiho. They had half-expected to be sent to some questionable venue purely for entertainment value, but the PD proved more considerate than anticipated.
They assured him it was fine and that they already had a place in mind. PD Xu Cui visibly relaxed, playing with his goatee. How nice that the guests I picked this time aren’t obnoxious. Truly a blessing.
Seeing their disheveled states, he smiled wryly. "Let’s go back to the villa first to get you all cleaned up." The guests, suddenly reminded of their soap-soaked, sweat-drenched appearances, agreed immediately. No one wanted to head to dinner looking like they had survived a natural disaster.
Even Su Wanyan, who was far cleaner than the others, wanted to freshen up. PD Xu Cui beckoned them to follow, leading the way toward the parked vans. The alphas trudged along like overworked soldiers, bodies aching and steps heavy.
The barrage had plenty to say:
[Lol, they look like zombies.]
[My poor babies, it must’ve been hard.]
[No joke, even Qin Yuran who never runs out of energy is drained.]
[The alphas look so drained, I pity them.]
[All the alphas look like they are about to die, meanwhile Su Wanyan is just walking normally, as if that hellish course was just a walk in the park.]
[She’s a monster, don’t compare her to them, lol.]
While the group moved ahead, Su Wanyan deliberately slowed her pace as she pushed Mo Yan’s stroller. With her right hand, she reached out and clasped Mo Xingxue’s left, intertwining their fingers. Her gaze remained wary, fixed on Gu Chengze and Lin Xuanyu ahead. I don’t know what those two are planning, so better be safe.
To Mo Xingxue, however, the gesture felt far more intimate—bold and deliberate. A sweet smile bloomed on her lips as warmth spread through her chest. She really is getting braver.. seriously thinking about pursuing me.
The two walked hand-in-hand behind the group, a quiet pocket of warmth and unspoken feelings amid the weary procession, while darker schemes simmered just out of sight.
