WBJAO CH: 3 – Guests Have Arrived

After the driver dropped off Shen Chiyuan, he drove away without hesitation—he still had to pick up the next guest.

Shen Chiyuan, now left behind, didn’t mind at all. Pulling his suitcase, he strolled leisurely toward the villa, admiring the seaside scenery along the way.

The production team had excellent taste in locations. The villa wasn’t far from the beach—just a three- to five-minute walk away. Surrounding the villa was a circle of cream-colored fences, with roses casually entwined along them.

Following the pebble path to its end, one would arrive at the villa’s main entrance. The villa had two floors, painted in a very pale blue that exuded a soft, soothing charm.

To the left of the pebble path was a spacious open area scattered with a few chairs and parasols, making it a perfect spot for gatherings or barbecues.

On the right was a swimming pool. Behind the pool, not far from the villa, was a sunlit glass greenhouse. Through the glass, one could see a variety of flowers inside, as beautiful as a crystal floral ball.

The small open space in front of the greenhouse wasn’t idle either—it featured two rattan swing chairs. Behind the chairs was a wall of climbing roses, adding an elegant touch to the setting.

Shen Chiyuan was inwardly astonished. Renting this villa must have cost a fortune—the production team clearly had deep pockets.

After marveling for a moment, Shen Chiyuan pulled his suitcase and walked inside.

For now, he was the only one here. Choosing rooms and such would have to wait until the other guests arrived.

Shen Chiyuan entered the door code.With a beep, the heavy door opened in response.

The first thing that came into view was a spacious living room. In the center sat an inviting cream-colored sofa that looked extremely comfortable. On either side of the living room were massive floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows, offering a clear view of the scenery outside.

Further in was the dining room. To the right of the dining room was a well-lit kitchen with excellent views, while the left was separated by a balustrade, seemingly leading to two rooms.

As Shen Chiyuan took in the villa’s decor, he pushed his suitcase into a corner. Looking at such a luxurious villa, Shen Chiyuan couldn’t help but feel that his suitcase seemed a little out of place.

Meanwhile, the once-quiet livestream chat began to stir as soon as the first person appeared on screen.

[Chat Messages:]

“Finally, someone’s here! I was about to fall asleep waiting.”

“Same! But who is this guest? I’ve never seen him in the entertainment industry before. Is he a newcomer?”

“I’m guessing he’s a rookie. Just look at that face, that waist, those legs—perfection!”

“Alpha or Omega? Butler! I need his full details in under a minute!”

“That face is insane! And the cameras on this show don’t even have beauty filters.”

“Butler! Where’s my info? Why is it taking so long?”

“I’m declaring this now: from this moment on, he’s my husband.”

“Hold up, he might be an Alpha.”

“I don’t care! My husband is gorgeous—fangirling so hard right now.”

The number of comments in the chat was increasing at an explosive rate.

Perhaps it was Shen Chiyuan’s appearance that gave viewers a reprieve from staring at the empty sofa, making the livestream exceptionally lively.Whatever the reason, the buzz was undeniably real.

Meanwhile, Shen Chiyuan inside the villa was completely unaware of the excitement in the livestream chat.

After taking a general look at the villa’s layout, Shen Chiyuan returned to the living room and sat quietly on the sofa, waiting for the other guests to arrive.

The livestream screen now showed an exquisitely handsome young man sitting on the sofa with his head slightly lowered. His entire being exuded an unparalleled tranquility, as though he existed in a space of his own, undisturbed by anything or anyone.

Shen Chiyuan didn’t have to wait long before the second guest arrived.

Hearing the sound of the door opening, Shen Chiyuan instinctively looked up. The newcomer paused momentarily upon noticing someone already seated on the sofa staring at him but quickly recovered.

The man was dressed in a khaki shirt paired with black suit pants. His sharp, sculpted features were flawless, like a masterpiece carved from marble. A pair of silver-framed glasses rested on his tall, elegant nose, giving him a refined yet reserved demeanor.

Pulling a deep black suitcase with one hand, the man smiled as he walked toward Shen Chiyuan.

As the man approached, Shen Chiyuan caught a faint minty scent—not overpowering, but subtly pleasant. It gave the impression of a mild-mannered Alpha.

Shen Chiyuan quickly stood up, stepping forward to help the man move his suitcase aside.

The man smiled and politely declined, “No need, I can handle it myself.”

Shen Chiyuan didn’t insist. “We’ll have to wait for everyone else to arrive before we can pick rooms.”

“Understood.” After placing his suitcase aside, the man turned back to the living room, looked at Shen Chiyuan, and spoke again, “Mu Songmian.”

Shen Chiyuan looked up. “Shen Chiyuan.”

Mu Songmian adjusted his glasses slightly and calmly said, “The caged bird longs for its old forest, and the pond fish yearns for its ancient abyss.”

Shen Chiyuan was stunned, surprised that Mu Songmian had immediately discerned the origin of his name.

His original name wasn’t Shen Chiyuan but Chi Yuan. However, his Omega father thought it sounded unrefined and had it changed. Wanting to leave the past behind, Shen Chiyuan accepted the new name.

Noticing Shen Chiyuan’s astonishment, Mu Songmian smiled faintly and said, “It’s a unique name, very thoughtful.”

Shen Chiyuan smiled as well. “Thank you.”

The conversation ended there. The two sat on opposite ends of the sofa, the villa so quiet that the faint hum of the cameras could be heard.

This was the first time Shen Chiyuan had spent so much time alone in the same space with an Alpha, and he felt a little uncomfortable.

Mu Songmian noticed Shen Chiyuan’s unease and assumed his pheromone-blocking spray had worn off. He spoke up proactively, “I’m sorry, I forgot to reapply my blocking spray when I came in.”

“Hm?” Shen Chiyuan looked at Mu Songmian in confusion.

Feeling slightly embarrassed, Mu Songmian nodded apologetically, stood up, retrieved the spray from his suitcase, and headed to the restroom to reapply it.

Shortly after Mu Songmian disappeared into the restroom, there was noise near the door.

The sound of suitcase wheels rolling across the floor grew louder—it seemed the other guests had arrived.

“It’s so hot! I shouldn’t have agreed to film this show here,” one person complained irritably.

“We’re already at the villa. Take a shower later,” another voice, gentle and soothing, replied.

“Oh? Looks like someone’s already here.”

Shen Chiyuan stood up, smiling as he approached. “Hello.”

The five newcomers all turned to look at him. When they saw Shen Chiyuan’s face clearly, they couldn’t hide their surprise. He was strikingly good-looking, but his appearance didn’t distract from his evident masculinity.

A boy wearing a floral shirt with long hair and striking, flamboyant features cleared his throat, brushed his hair back, and, after sneaking several glances at Shen Chiyuan, pretended to speak casually, “Hello.”

“You can leave your luggage in the living room for now. We’ll divide up the rooms later,” Shen Chiyuan said.

The five nodded, pushed their suitcases aside, and each found a spot to sit. They began quietly observing the people they would be living with for the next fifteen days.

The production team had yet to reveal the guests’ secondary genders. To find out, they would have to guess: was the person sitting across from them an Alpha, Omega, or Beta?

After all, the ultimate goal of a dating show was romance. Once the AO pairings were identified, the participants could choose their targets and begin their strategies.

On the villa’s sofa sat a group of handsome young men, each with a distinct style. To an outsider, it might have looked like some sort of convention for attractive guys.

Shen Chiyuan calmly scanned the people in the room. He could roughly guess which ones were Omegas and which were Alphas.

The differences between Alphas and Omegas were still fairly obvious. Alphas typically stood over 1.8 meters tall, with strong, sharp, and handsome features. Omegas, on the other hand, were usually under 1.75 meters, with more delicate and refined appearances. Of course, there were taller Omegas, but they were rare. As for Betas, their height was similar to Omegas, often around 1.7 meters. Their looks tended to be average—unremarkable enough to blend into any crowd. That said, exceptionally good-looking Betas did exist, though they were far from ordinary people.

The room was too quiet. No one seemed willing to speak and break the awkward silence.

Shen Chiyuan lowered his gaze to his hands resting on his knees, hesitating. Should he be the one to break the silence?

At that moment, Mu Songmian returned from the restroom, where he had reapplied his pheromone-blocking spray. He was slightly surprised to see that the living room had filled with people.

It only took him a moment to remember that this was a variety show, so it was only natural for more guests to arrive.

Mu Songmian’s presence immediately drew the attention of most people in the room.

Initially, the group had thought there were only six participants. Now, with his appearance, there were seven, which meant that if pairs were to be formed, someone would inevitably be left out.

It was clear that the production team intended to stir up drama. Being the odd one out would be incredibly embarrassing.

The five newcomers shared the same thought: once the secondary genders were confirmed, they’d have to act quickly and decisively. No one wanted to be the one left behind.

Each person had their own agenda. Whether they had come here willingly or joined the show for other reasons, none of them wanted to be labeled as unappealing or unattractive.

Shen Chiyuan, however, didn’t share their concerns. In fact, he thought it would be perfect if they all went out on dates, leaving him alone in the villa. He’d be much happier enjoying the luxury and peace of the villa on his own.

Opportunities like this didn’t come around often. For all he knew, this might be the only time in his life he’d get to experience something like this.

Mu Songmian placed the pheromone-blocking spray on the table and walked over to the sofa. His gaze swept across the people sitting there before finally landing on Shen Chiyuan, who was half-leaning against the armrest of the sofa. He said, “Everyone’s here now.”

Shen Chiyuan kept his gaze lowered, staring at the floor as if lost in thought.

With so many people present, Mu Songmian probably wouldn’t speak to him directly—after all, there were Omegas in the room.

Mu Songmian’s voice was deep and alluring, carrying a steady and persuasive tone. “Shen Chiyuan?”

“Hmm?” Shen Chiyuan was surprised to hear Mu Songmian call his name. He raised his head in slight astonishment. Mu Songmian didn’t seem bothered and smiled faintly as he repeated himself, “Everyone’s here now.”

“Hmm…” Shen Chiyuan was just about to nod when someone else on the sofa spoke up.

“Everyone’s here—does that mean we can choose our rooms now?” asked the long-haired man with strikingly flamboyant features.

Mu Songmian nodded in response.

The man sitting next to him, with a warm and gentle smile, added, “Shouldn’t we wait for the production team first? There are so many of us, and they probably have instructions on how we’ll be accommodated.”

The flamboyant man cast a few sideways glances at the person beside him, crossed his arms, but said nothing more.

Everyone agreed that the man had a point, though they couldn’t help wondering when the production team would show up. Ever since getting off the vehicle, they hadn’t seen a single crew member.

“If the production team doesn’t come out soon, are we just going to sit here until it gets dark?” a young-looking boy asked aloud.

Mu Songmian adjusted his glasses and replied, “They’ll show up. Without proper arrangements, it would be hard to record the show.”

Shen Chiyuan, seeing how everyone else was engaged in conversation, stayed out of it. He reminded himself to focus only on what he needed to do and not to involve himself unnecessarily.

While Shen Chiyuan remained silent, only Mu Songmian noticed his detachment. The others, fully absorbed in their chatter, didn’t seem to care.

Just as Mu Songmian predicted, the production team soon appeared. The director walked into the room and, looking slightly embarrassed, cleared his throat twice.

“Welcome to ‘Love, Starting at This Moment’. Love is an uncontrollable force—perhaps with a glance, a moment, or a turn of the head, you might find someone whose soul resonates with yours. We hope you’ll have fun on the show and maybe even find the one who makes your heart skip a beat.”

The seven participants politely clapped, their reactions varying from smiles to indifference, with some showing no emotion at all.

With the opening remarks done, it was finally time for the main event—room assignments.

The livestream audience grew visibly excited.

“Finally, it’s time for the room assignments! The moment we all love in dating shows!”

“The cradle where love begins!”

“I’m hoping for some drama! Please let there be drama!”

“The contestants this season are all so good-looking! But why haven’t I seen any of them in the entertainment industry? Are they all newcomers?”