Chapter 24 Cannon Fodder Ex-Boyfriend 24 It's as if they've swapped things...

His pale, damp hand gripped the doorknob, but before he could turn the gilded spherical handle, the next second, he felt a dry, rough sensation on the back of his hand, like a piece of wood that had been burning in a fire for most of the day, carrying a strong smell of gunpowder, so hot that Gu Shiyu suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Jiang Siran was also stunned for two seconds.

Their eyes met, and the two Alphas simultaneously released their hands as if electrocuted. But they immediately reached out again, resulting in another round of electric shocks…

The two Alphas stood locked in a stalemate for a long time before the ancient and heavy door. Neither of them wanted to back down; both wanted to be the one to rush in and appear before Li Qingran the moment the door opened. But at the same time, they truly didn't want to touch each other again, not even for a fleeting moment.

That's really disgusting!

Jiang Siran completely lost his patience. "Can you fucking stop reaching out? Didn't you hear him call my name?!"

"So what? Does calling someone's name mean they have to open the door? If that's so domineering, why not just install voice-activated locks on all the doors and change the passwords to your name?" Gu Shiyu sneered.

"This is my home!"

"My friend is inside!" Gu Shiyu refused to back down.

"Therefore, I also have the right to open the door, and even more so, if I find my friend injured or in trouble after opening the door, I have the right to hold you accountable!"

"Hey! You fucking want to..."

The two of them started arguing fiercely.

With the spherical door handle as the center line, two Alphas, similar in build but completely different in temperament, faced each other, like two vicious dogs each occupying half of the door. Both had a strong possessive desire for the spherical door handle and wanted to take over the use of it before the other.

"Squeak—"

Before they could do anything, the door was opened from the inside.

The arguing at the door abruptly stopped. The two Alphas, who had been locked in a standoff just a second ago, both turned to look inside.

In the dim light, a handsome young man stood tall and elegant, with black hair and gray eyes. His eyes curved slightly as he looked at the two of them, but the smile didn't seem to reach his eyes.

Are you... busy?

"..."

"If you're busy, I can wait a bit longer," Li Qingran said softly, her tone calm and gentle. At the same time, she took a step back with her left foot, seemingly wanting to give Gu Shiyu and Jiang Siran some space so they could finish dealing with the doorknob issue.

"No! No need!" Jiang Siran immediately reached out to stop the door that had been opened with great difficulty, only to be closed again after a few seconds, and explained anxiously:

"I'm not busy, I'm not busy at all, if it weren't for this person next to me—"

He seemed to want to call Gu Shiyu an idiot, but in order to maintain his image in front of Li Qingran, he swallowed the word back after it rolled around on his tongue. Jiang Siran ultimately couldn't think of a proper way to address Gu Shiyu.

"This person kept blocking me from opening the door, but I came in a long time ago."

"I'm sorry, I should have just kicked the door open instead of arguing with him. Please don't be angry..."

Jiang Siran cautiously looked at Li Qingran, and at the same time secretly reached out and hooked his little finger hanging by his side.

Whether the latter was genuinely not angry or simply didn't notice his actions, he didn't dodge.

Jiang Siran instantly became happy, while Gu Shiyu's eyes next to him grew even darker.

He still couldn't accept Li Qingran and Jiang Siran making such intimate gestures. He clenched his fists tighter and tighter, and his face became increasingly ugly as Jiang Siran went further and tried to get closer to Li Qingran's body. His dark eyes, reflecting the red light coming from inside the room, seemed to be burning with flames.

He finally couldn't resist and reached out his hand to Jiang.

The suffocating feeling of his neck being suddenly constricted made Jiang Siran instinctively take two steps back, following the force on the back of his neck. By the time he reacted, his fist was already raised and slamming into Gu Shiyu's face, which remained calm as if nothing had happened.

"Are you seriously sick? Are you trying to pick a fight?!"

However, before his fist could land, Gu Shiyu took a step closer to the house, not only dodging Jiang Siran's attack but also getting closer to Li Qingran than Jiang Siran himself.

Alpha's expression softened somewhat upon realizing this, but his demeanor remained serious, and his tone when addressing Li Qingran was filled with helplessness and disapproval.

"Some Alphas are just too violent, always wanting to fight and kill."

Jiang Siran, who was about to burst into action, froze on the spot.

Gu Shiyu continued slowly, "I'm so sorry for taking so long. I was very anxious when I heard your voice at the door. Did something happen? Are you hurt?"

"..."

Jiang Siran's back tensed even more, and his stomach churned violently, as if he had drunk a whole bucket of expired green tea and felt like vomiting.

That A is so damn cunning and treacherous!

Li Qingran didn't react as strongly as Jiang Siran. He simply smiled at Gu Shiyu and then said:

"Something did happen, but it wasn't me, it was Jingyi..."

Alpha pursed his lips, his brows furrowing slightly. His naturally aloof and delicate appearance, coupled with this worried gesture, made one want to tear out their own heart to solve all his problems, regardless of whether he was an Alpha or Alpha…

For example, Jiang Siran immediately came over and asked, "What's wrong with Su Jingyi?"

The story is finally getting back on track.

Li Qingran's lowered eyelashes twitched almost imperceptibly, but on the surface, he still looked troubled.

"He couldn't accept what I just told him and fainted. That's why I called your name so you could find someone to come and check on him."

"I'll go now!" Jiang Siran said, preparing to go downstairs to call the doctor.

However, before he could even turn around, Li Qingran grabbed him, "You should take him downstairs. There are too many Alpha pheromones in this room. I'm afraid that if he, an Omega, stays here any longer, he will have an even more serious reaction."

"Should I take him?"

Jiang Siran subconsciously looked at Gu Shiyu.

They were so good at stealing the show just now, why are they so silent now that it's time to put in the effort?!

Jiang Siran felt that Li Qingran's decision was somewhat inappropriate. "Is it not a good idea for me to go? Why don't we let him go instead?"

Jiang Siran looked at Gu Shiyu and said, "You weren't in a hurry to check on your friend's situation just now, but now I'm giving you that opportunity."

Thank you.

Gu Shiyu sneered inwardly, but outwardly he simply shrugged helplessly.

"Of course I'd like to, but I'm soaking wet and freezing cold right now. I'm really afraid of passing on my dampness to him. You know, Omegas are very fragile, and even a small accident can lead to more serious consequences."

As he spoke, he turned his gaze to Li Qingran.

"Qingran must have considered this issue when she sent Mr. Jiang."

It's strange that they're on the right track.

Li Qingran raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of a smile finally appearing in her eyes.

"That's true, so Ah Ran, I'll have to trouble you this time."

Alpha's gaze returned to Jiang Siran, his eyes watery and filled with a pitiful pleading.

"I was originally planning to go by myself, but you would be unhappy about that, so—"

"Wow!"

Before Li Qingran could finish speaking, Jiang Siran nodded in agreement to his request. The Alpha, who had stepped forward and pushed Gu Shiyu aside, had red eyes, like a little snake who had finally found its master. His dark green eyes were filled with emotion at Li Qingran's words.

"You don't need to say anything, Qingran, I'll go!"

The person in front of him is so determined not to touch her boyfriend of many years just to avoid making him jealous, so what's wrong with him becoming a mover for her sake?

Jiang Siran acted immediately, giving Li Qing a solemn hug before striding into the house without looking back. His expression was so resolute that anyone who didn't know better would think he was heading not to the sofa by the fireplace, but to a battlefield engulfed in flames.

Gu Shiyu gave a speechless twitch of the corner of his mouth, then turned his gaze to Li Qingran, who was also watching Jiang Siran leave, and looked him up and down.

The black eyes held doubt, confusion, unfamiliarity, and bewilderment.

He moved his lips, wanting to say something to Li Qingran during the few minutes Jiang Siran was away, but when the words reached his lips, he didn't know what to say.

"Mr. Gu, are you now regretting agreeing to my decision?"

Just as Gu Shiyu was struggling with his decision, Li Qingran's voice reached his ears.

Alpha didn't even turn his head. While looking at the situation on the sofa, he spoke to him with a slight upturn at the corners of his mouth, but his gray eyes, reflecting the firelight, remained cold and devoid of any emotion.

It really... feels so unfamiliar...

Gu Shiyu unconsciously pursed her lips and said in a deep voice, "No, I have no opinion on your decision just now. I just..."

"Just what?"

"It just feels like you're not quite the same as before."

"Really?" Li Qingran blinked, her voice still calm. "Then what do you think is different about me compared to before?"

It's different everywhere.

temperament.

look.

And there's also a certain... attitude towards him, or rather towards each of them...

Gu Shiyu clenched his fingers. He wanted to ask Li Qingran if she had been brainwashed by Jiang Siran again after he hung up the phone, otherwise how could she have accepted the other party in such a short time?

An Alpha.

Just because the other party will take him away from Su Jingyi? Didn't he also do that before—

Before Li Qingran could speak, Gu Shiyu was stunned for several seconds by the inexplicable thought that appeared in her mind. Her anger at Li Qingran's betrayal, her own plan, and Jiang Siran's departure was replaced by a sense of bewilderment.

He—no—how could this be—

He involuntarily looked up at Li Qingran, staring at her profile for several seconds until Alpha sensed his gaze and turned his head in confusion. He then snapped out of his daze, took several steps back, and his face turned pale instantly.

Li Qingran asked in confusion, "What's wrong with you?"

"No! Nothing! I wasn't thinking anything!" Gu Shiyu immediately retorted.

Li Qingran: "..."

He didn't even ask Alpha what he was thinking.

Sure enough, none of the main characters are quite normal.

Li Qingran, who had originally given Gu Shiyu two extra points for his good performance, deducted those points back.

At this moment, Gu Shiyu realized that her reaction had been a bit excessive, and awkwardly touched her nose. She then stiffly steered the conversation back to what she had been thinking.

"I just feel that your approach to problems seems to have changed a lot compared to before."

"Is there?"

Li Qingran raised an eyebrow slightly, and a faint smile seemed to appear in Gu Shiyu's gray eyes. But it might just be Gu Shiyu's illusion, because the Alpha only glanced at him and then looked away, just like every time they had ever been together before.

Li Qingran never looked at him for long. His gaze had been fixed on Su Jingyi, on Qi Ziyan, and even on the scenery outside the window.

His figure, however, would only linger in those grey eyes for three seconds before disappearing...

Gu Shiyu's thoughts drifted away again, but fortunately, this time they didn't wander for long before Li Qingran's voice pulled her back.

Is it possible that I haven't changed at all compared to before?

Alpha spoke softly, his tone calm and his voice slow.

"You think I've changed, maybe it's just that I'm not the same person you have in your mind, but that's just your perception, or the image you want me to project, isn't it?"

Gu Shiyu paused for a moment, then subconsciously retorted, "No, I didn't think that way. I've looked at a lot of your information, as well as how you usually interact with Su Jingyi, and even—"

"But you've never really spent any time with me, Mr. Gu."

Li Qingran chuckled and said, "The words on the documents are dead, but people are alive, aren't they?"

He should also be alive and well.

It shouldn't be confined by a few procedures, bound by a few tasks, or defined by a few strings of text.

Otherwise, why would he even bother developing consciousness? He could just stay in the loop of the game's storyline, repeating lines he'd said countless times.

Li Qingran stared intently at Jiang Siran, who had finally mentally prepared himself, in front of the sofa. He watched as Jiang slowly leaned down and approached the Omega whose body was wrapped in his coat. His gray eyes seemed to blaze with a flame.

Alpha next to him seemed to say something to defend himself, but Li Qingran didn't care. At this moment, he only wanted to know what the result of this experiment was.

Will the plot return to its original course, or will it completely collapse?

Li Qingran bit her tongue, and her fingers hanging at her sides trembled slightly.

888 was still praising him in his mind, "[You're amazing, host! You got involved yourself! You finally made the villain and the protagonist meet! You really worked hard, host. I've been locked in the dark room the whole time and haven't been able to help you much—]"

At this point, 888 was still a little puzzled.

I don't know if it's because I've been in the "little black room" too often, but this time the system seems a bit off. Every time they tell me I'll be released in three minutes, the door locks again before I can even get out...

Yeah?

That's really terrible.

Li Qingran gave a slight twitch at the corner of her mouth, her eyes never leaving Su Jingyi from the moment Jiang Siran approached him.

He watched as Alpha gently leaned down and then reached out to lift the black coat covering his face.

The orange-yellow firelight fell on them, casting their shadows onto the gray-black floor. The firelight flickered, and the shadows on the ground bent slightly, blurring and blurring, creating an atmosphere so vivid it felt like a movie scene. The two people in the scene should have been a loving couple, and at this moment, the Alpha was gently bending down to care for his Omega.

Li Qingran held her breath.

888 stopped talking.

Even Gu Shiyu, who was completely unsure of the situation, silently frowned and looked at the two people on the sofa.

He felt that something was not quite right, but this intuition was like a pebble dropped into the ocean, instantly swallowed up by his complicated thoughts and never to be found again.

Time seemed to slow down suddenly at this moment, so slow that the sound of the firewood in the fireplace seemed to be sped up to 0.5 times the speed, and the sparks inside rose slowly, drawing an orange-red parabola in mid-air in slow motion, before falling regretfully to the floor only one meter away from the carpet.

The sparks died out instantly, but a faint smell of ash rose up and then spread uncontrollably around the sofa.

The Omega, who was already unable to sleep on the sofa, struggled violently the moment the Alpha touched him. The coat he was wearing to soothe him slipped down as he struggled, and the smell of gunpowder in the air forced its way into his nostrils against his will!

"Hmm!"

The Omega, whose body had already reached its limit, let out a muffled groan of unbearable discomfort.

The next second, an extremely strong lemon scent surged towards Jiang Siran.

It carries an irresistible allure, as if preordained by fate.

Li Qingran watched as Jiang Siran, holding the Omega, froze in place.

This is normal, after all, Omega pheromones are fatally attractive to Alphas, not to mention that the one being attacked by the protagonist's pheromones is a villain who should be obsessed with him.

So, does the experiment mean everything is back on track?

Li Qingran bit his tongue, and the pain gradually calmed him down. A crazy idea in his mind seemed to disappear with this calm.

However, just before Li Qingran could completely calm down, before 888 could raise the banner of the plot returning to normal, in the distance, the Alpha kneeling on one knee suddenly lowered his head, opened his mouth, and then plunged his sharp canine fangs, which instantly released a large amount of pheromones, deep into—

His own hand...!?

Li Qingran was stunned.

He blinked subconsciously, trying to make sure he wasn't seeing things, but before he could refocus his gaze on Jiang Siran and Su Jingyi, he realized he hadn't seen anything wrong.

A faint aroma of red wine suddenly lingered around him, and at the same time, a burning heat appeared on his arm.

Li Qingran instinctively tried to break free, but before he could even raise his arm, Gu Shiyu unexpectedly pulled him outside the door.

With a bang.

The door was closed again.

In the dim light, before the Alpha could even react, a tall figure grabbed his wrist and slammed him against the door behind him the moment he stepped out of the room.

A rich aroma of red wine followed immediately—

"Hmm—"

Inside and outside the door, someone's breathing gradually became heavy, and someone couldn't help but let out a muffled groan during the struggle...

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Author's Note: Door: I've witnessed so much! How many pairs have been matched in this house?! [Cracking][Cracking][Cracking]

P.S.: Because I have to work on a promotion tomorrow, the update will be delayed until 11 PM on Saturday. I'll be sure to deliver a generous update and a red envelope then, so please be patient, my little darlings! Love you all! [heart eyes][heart eyes][heart eyes]