Chapter 24: I Will Check It 

Ling Che’s lazy reply had a hint of airiness to it, which made Xu Tanghzou’s hair rise.

For a moment, his mind went completely blank. All the blood in his body suddenly rushed toward his face, turning it as red as a tomato. His breathing became disorganized.

Ling Che’s arm was firm. Xu Tangzhou had subconsciously wanted to hide, but there was nowhere to go.

The other person was wholeheartedly trying to help him heal the bite mark on the gland.

The bite mark needed healing, he told himself.

But he was already pitifully trembling from this help, and he could barely stand upright only after leaning on Ling Che. No matter how big he talked, or how wildly he drove cars in his mind like a dog, he was under the control of the Alpha. He couldn’t move, and there was no room for any struggle.

It’s so unfair.

As an Omega, Xu Tanghzou finally realized for the first time what was meant by ‘natural restraint of an Alpha’. 

The bite mark was very deep.

Ling Che knew that a few days later, it would completely heal at an astonishing speed and return to its original state. The gland would also be replenished with the Omega’s fluid until he took another bite, injecting new pheromones inside.

He was already looking forward to it now. 

This couldn’t be considered as being mean, because Omegas who were temporarily marked would automatically repeat this process.

Unless they were completely marked, when the bite mark would become permanent, becoming proof that they already had a life-long Alpha.

Ling Che would give it, but not now.

“It’s done.” Ling Che finally departed from the nape of his neck. His voice was hoarse when he spoke, “The bite mark might be itchy. Don’t itch it. I’ll check it later tonight.”

Xu Tangzhou’s heart was still pounding, beating against his eardrums: “......”

Ling Che spoke again: “Do you understand?”

The back of his neck was moist and cool. Xu Tangzhou dazedly nodded: “... I understand.”

Ling Che let go of him.

There was no expression on his face. It seemed as cold and arrogant as before. The Alpha who had just completed their first post-marking care ripped the gland sticker packaging apart and properly stuck it on his Omega.

There was a picture of a pink bunny on the gland sticker, in contrast to Xu Tangzhou.

There was only a single girlish sticker in the entire box, but Ling Che had still managed to grab it. He didn’t want to say anything.

Xu Tangzhou was still flustered, but he still felt that there was something wrong.

That feeling became stronger with the other person’s behavior.

Ling Che: “I will do it lighter next time.”

Xu Tangzhou opened his eyes slightly and was a little excited: “Really?! That’s great, you really should do it a bit lighter!”

Wh-why was it so strange?! Wasn’t Ling Che too enthusiastic? Or could it be because, after a temporary mark, Alphas would awaken their racial traits* and want to take care of Omegas?

TN: The author uses a world of warcraft term “racial traits”, which are abilities innate to a race

Xu Tangzhou felt that today’s Ling Che could be entered into a contest for the “Most deceptive behavior award”.

Looking at his reaction, Ling Che seemed to dislike how fragile he was again. He awkwardly said: “Let’s go. They’re waiting.”

After speaking, Ling Che didn’t wait for him and left. He placed his hands in his pockets and nonchalantly  walked out.

Walking out from the shady wooden cabin into the sunny yard, everyone was already in place.

All the guests took their seats. Ling Che was among them and began his daily ridiculing skit with Lu Chengan. The yard was noisy, and Ruby was running in circles around everyone. 

Xu Tangzhou left a bit later. When he arrived at the yard, Xiao Bai clapped his hands: “Everyone has arrived. Everyone, get ready!”

“Sorry.” Xu Tangzhou stood in line with the guests and first greeted everyone.

Ling Che was next to him. Under the sunlight, his brown hair and eyelashes became a shade lighter, and the stud earring on his earlobe was shining. After seeing Xu Tangzhou, Ling Che only glanced at him as usual. 

No one knew what the stunning Ling Che had just done to him.

“Welcome to day 3 of [Our Perfect Prip]!” Xiao Bai spoke those opening lines, “Wow! After a few days, everyone still seems to be bursting with energy! It seems that everyone’s journey has been perfect so far!”

Everyone: “......”

Xiao Bai: “Happy times are always short. I want to remind everyone that today is already almost the halfway point for this seven-day trip. Currently, the XingYue group has the most funds remaining. They relied on their hard work, intelligence, and perseverance to overcome their original disadvantage and survive until now! It’s worth mentioning that after today, the free rent for our CheZhou group will officially end. They will also enter the ranks of the frugal groups! Let’s fight side by side with everyone!”

This time, there was applause.

The Xia sisters and LuMi CP welcomed the addition of these two to their ranks. 

“Today, the popular destination to check-in is at the Bird’s Nest Restaurant.” Xiao Bai announced the location. “Aside from the CheZhou group who won yesterday’s game and obtained the opportunity for a free meal, the other two groups have to pay. However, everyone doesn’t need to worry. We have also arranged a lot of events that could change defeat into victory. As long as you all work hard, there will be plenty of opportunities to get a free meal!”

What “events that could change defeat into victory”?

It’s only a freshly dug pit just waiting for everyone to jump into it.

Xu Tangzhou became nervous after Xiao Bai’s announcement.

They only had 2000 remaining, how could they survive the next four days?

At the sound of the command, the guests dispersed to plan their routes.

Bird’s Nest Restaurant wasn’t too far from the beach where they were at. However, it was by a remote location with thick forests and high cliffs. It was a paradise that could only be reached by weaving along the winding mountain road. It couldn’t be reached by bus, let alone by bicycle.

The guests were faced with two choices. One way was to spend 400 to ride the cable car up to the summit. The other way was to walk up the mountain road, and then spend 80 to take the zipline to the summit.

Mi Fei was discussing with Lu Chengan how to get to the restaurant.

They wanted to ride on the cable car. A single car could seat four people. Aside from the driver, the car can seat four passengers. If they could convince another group to share the cost, then the cost would be much cheaper, even cheaper than two people taking the zipline.

The candidates for which group to choose was naturally Ling Che’s group.

However, Xia Xing asked them one step ahead: “Mi Fei! How about sharing the cost of the car with us?”

Ever since Xia Xing and Xia Yue quarreled and Mi Fei was ruthlessly shot down when he tried to mediate, they haven’t communicated on the show.

Mi Fei was a little surprised.

It was Lu Chengan who reacted a little quicker. He smiled gracefully: “Ok, sure.”

Looking at the Chezhou group on the side, Lu Chengan leisurely took off his sun hat and signaled: “Apologies Che Shen, we can’t share the expenses with your group today.”

Ling Che didn’t care at all: “Perfect. I don’t like sharing a car with other people.”

Lu Chengan treated him like a stubborn mule*. He finally got the pleasure of making Ling Che suffer a humiliating defeat for the first time.

*TN: A dead duck with a hard beak is essentially someone who stubbornly refuses to change their views.

After the two groups rowdily left, the two people left behind at the original location seemed a bit lonely.

“Zaizai.” Ling Che stood at his original location and asked nonchalantly, “How much money do we have left?

Xu Tangzhou was also thinking about this problem.

Ling Che’s voice brought him back. Upon being called, his heart skipped a beat. He only realized that he was still recording a show when he looked around at the cameras.

“We still have 2860 left.” Xu Tangzhou counted the money last night and clearly remembered the number, “How about climbing the mountain and taking the zipline?”

“Yes.” Ling Che had the exact same thought.

Xu Tangzhou asked Momo: “Momo Jie, is everything we eat at Bird’s Nest restaurant free today?”

Momo told him: “Yes! Some of the signature dishes could only be obtained after checking in today. Since you two won yesterday, today it’s free.”

Xu Tangzhou: What about the other dishes?”

Momo said: “Also free.”

After determining this point, Xu Tangzhou seemed happier.

“I have an idea.” He told Ling Che, “Since everything is free, and we shouldn’t waste food, shouldn’t we be able to take leftovers if we can’t finish what we eat?”

Ling Che understood what he meant and slightly raised his eyebrows.

Xu Tangzhou was about to share his thoughts.

They didn’t leave, instead, they went back into the cabin.

Ruby happily circled around them. Xu Tangzhou patted Ruby, but he didn’t go back to play with it. He found around four to five tupperwares of varying sizes in the cabin’s cabinet left behind by the owner. He also found a bag and put everything in it.

“It’s not considered a violation of the rules if we take leftovers of what we can’t finish.” Xu Tangzhou said while packing, “I’ve heard that the amount of food wasted by restaurants around the world every year can feed several hundred million people.”

Ling Che sat on a tall stool: “I don’t eat leftovers.”

Xu Tangzhou knew that he was a picky eater: “I could eat it. It wouldn’t be bad even if we could save on tomorrow’s meal expenses. We can buy just your portion.”

He spoke so naturally as if he didn’t even consider letting Ling Che eat the leftovers with him.

Xu Tangzhou’s father was a retired officer. His family’s education has been very strict. They would finish the food unless it spoiled.

The picky eater Ling Che didn’t say anything.

When Ruby circled around Xu Tangzhou again and tackled him to the ground, Ling Che lifted the dog with a single hand.

Momo had already seen that Xu Tangzhou replaced his gland sticker. Seeing Ling Che’s actions, she couldn’t help covering her mouth in excitement.

She understood, not even a dog was allowed to touch.

[I ship it!]

*

It wasn’t easy to walk up the mountain. Fortunately, there wasn’t too much direct sunlight.

On the way, Lu Chengan and the others who had already arrived kept sending messages in the messaging app downloaded by the program team. They were all photos of them leisurely tasting the coffee and wine in the restaurant. Lu Chengan and Mi Fei were being affectionate, while Xia Xing and Xia Yue were busy striking poses.

There wasn’t much of a difference between celebrities and ordinary people in private.

Lu Chengan sent a voice recording: “How come you haven’t arrived yet? I’m so lonely.”

Lu Chengan’s voice was very deep in the messaging app, with the magnetic sound of a man.

As Xu Tangzhou played the audio, Ling Che took away the phone.

Ling Che coldly said: “Senior Lu, be less sultry.”

Xu Tangzhou: “!!!”

Could he speak this directly?

After all, the other person was still a senior. 

The two passed through a moss-covered cliff, and Lu Chengan sent an audio recording back. Not only was he not angry, he even said: “My Xiao Mi likes it. Che Shen, are you envious?”

Xiao Mi’s voice message was also sent: “I’m so sorry, I couldn’t control him.”

Lu Chengan sent another photo of the two of them cuddling together in the hanging egg chair.

Mi Fei wrote a caption and tagged Lu Chengan: There’s a vicious dog at home.

Xia Yue appeared in the chat: “Zhouzhou, I’m begging you two, come quickly! I really can’t bear it anymore. They’ve been throwing dog food around this entire time!”

This time, Xu Tangzhou took back the phone for himself.

It seems that they were really bored and had waited for too long.

Xu Tangzhou took a photo of the scene in front of him and replied: “We’re almost there. Ahead of us is the zipline. You guys could wait in front of the zipline for us!”

After a couple of seconds.

Lu Chengan: “No way! Your group actually took the mountain road! It’s already been an hour, is Zhouzhou still fine?”

Ling Che was originally walking in front. Upon hearing what they said, he stopped and looked back at him. And then, for the first time, he took out his own phone: “Still fine.”

Xu Tangzhou knew that when his nose bled during his pseudo estrus that day, he gave Ling Che an impression that he was frail.

In reality, his body wasn’t half bad.

Lu Chengan said: “Che Shen, you don’t understand. Zhouzhou is an Omega, with thin arms and legs. Ask any Omega and see which one would starve themselves and climb a mountain to save money?”

Xia Yue said: “Zhouzhou, if you can’t walk any further, just let Che Shen carry you.”

Mi Fei: “Agreed.”

This group of people were watching the chaos happen.

They already arrived at the zipline. Ling Che went to buy water and also went to ask about precautions to take while ziplining.

The people in the group chat were still chatting nonstop. When they started talking about how weak Omegas were, Xu Tangzhou didn’t want them to think all Omegas were weak.

He pressed the voice record button, and accidentally said a flirty phrase: “Don’t think gege is weak, my abs are at their peak.”

Everyone knew this joke, and the next part of the phrase was “Don’t think gege is short, drinking milk while doing ‘sports’”.

TN: The original phrase was “Don’t think that gege is weak, my abs can open bottle caps. Don’t think gege is short, I can drink milk while f*cking” but I really wanted to make it rhyme (since it originally rhymed)

The group chat was silent for a while.

Lu Chengan: ???

Mi Fei: ???

Xia Yue: ???

Xia Xing: ???

Xu Tangzhou just realized that he had inadvertently revealed something. His icy persona has shattered, and his face couldn’t help but suddenly flush red.

This wasn’t his personal stream, and it also wasn’t the chat group with his bad friends.

He immediately recalled his voice message and only hoped that at least Ling Che was busy buying water and didn’t hear.

Ling Che came back.

He didn’t know why, but Xu Tangzhou felt that the back of his glands felt a little cold.

The Alpha slightly narrowed his eyes, and he happened to be holding a bottle of water: “Little gege, lend a hand, open the cap with your abs.*”

TN: Please listen to the audio drama for this part, it’s priceless--

Xu Tangzhou’s face suddenly turned redder.

“No no.”

TN: Chinese terms as pinyin in this chapter

"Ge" (older brother, could be used as a respectful address for male acquaintances) 

“Shen” (literally: god, but mainly for a highly respected and revered figure)

See glossary for more info.

Chapter 23 | TOC | Chapter 25

Hello!!! I finally finished exams! (Although I have a million more things piled up afterwards OTZ)

Here’s an update!

Also, I implore yall's to go listen to the audio drama for that line, it's priceless XD

Side note that my translation account twitter gets updates first! (I sometimes forget to put it on novelupdates...) https://twitter.com/littlemoontl 

I usually don't go on my tling account unless I post updates, so if any questions either email or go to my main account (where I usually chat about other stuff) 

Hello hello~ Please support the author at jjwxc, there's an Audio Drama S1 and a Season 2, and a simplified physical (You'll need to click on the ones that say 小行星)!

There's now a Spanish translation too! Gracias a Kuchiki Risa por traduciendo! (Español)

(Just a heads up that if there are any errors, feel free to reach out to me!)