Delicate, Yet Shamelessly Freeloading [Quick Transmigration] Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Alpha with Pheromone Disorder (14)

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[I feel like this voice sounds a bit like…]

 

[Maybe it’s just a coincidence? Though I also think it sounds really similar—]

 

[Who are you all talking about? Alright, you don’t want to say it, neither will I.]

 

[If it’s him, I remember he used to collaborate and streamed a bit of N-Personality, the top player “Seer Seven.” My Seer is actually the one who learned from him…]

 

Shui Que added Xiang Xun’s game ID that he had sent via WeChat. It seemed like it was a newly created small account.

 

The friend request was accepted instantly.

 

Xiang Xun: “Invite me.”

 

Shui Que obediently clicked to send the team invite.

 

His own game nickname was still Shui Shui.

 

When Shui Que focused, Xiang Xun’s was—

 

O Exclusive Shui Shui O.

 

Help, he felt like his toes were about to curl into the ground!

 

“Why did you pick this name…” Shui Que’s voice trembled with embarrassment.

 

Is it still possible to change his name now?

 

He didn’t want to play together anymore.

 

“It’s a new name,” Xiang Xun answered, amused. He was playing the game on his phone, while the computer screen showed the live stream. Shui Que’s blushing face was clearly visible, and Xiang Xun teasingly added another comment.

 

“You don’t like it?”

 

Shui Que hesitated before finally giving in. “As long as Brother Xiang Xun likes it, it’s fine.”

 

[Metal, Wood, Water, Fire… Xiang Xun.]

 

[Alright, I can confirm this is definitely not that person. Wasn’t he always acting cool and aloof, walking around with a permanent scowl? I can’t imagine him playing the ‘rich CEO falls for adorable streamer’ act here…]

 

[Which makes it even better, doesn’t it?]

 

[I have no idea what you guys are talking about. Go get your own private chatroom.]

 

[Stop stirring drama. Just watch my wife play the game!]

 

The first match started. Shui Que didn’t have many characters unlocked, so he picked one from the free rotation.

 

“Mercenary?” He glanced at the skill description but didn’t have time to finish reading before the countdown ended. “Whatever, he’s a soldier, so he should be strong, right?”

 

The chat quickly filled with explanations about rescuing teammates, small sacrifices, chair-camping strategies. Shui Que barely understood, but as long as he knew Mercenary was a good rescuer, that was enough.

 

His character had a passive ability that delayed damage and knockdowns.

 

That meant he wouldn’t immediately get taken down in zero seconds like last time!

 

At the very least, he’d survive until the delay effect wore off.

 

Xiang Xun picked Seer.

 

The map name in the bottom right corner read Sacred Heart Hospital.

 

A bird flew over Mercenary’s head as soon as the match began. Shui Que jumped. “What was that?”

 

“Owl,” Xiang Xun replied. “Seer’s pet. It can take a hit for you. If you’re about to get attacked, call me, and I’ll send it over.”

 

“Oh, oh! No worries, I’m fixing a generator inside a house. Totally safe.”

 

The moment he said that, an eerie sound effect played.

 

A translucent figure suddenly appeared right in front of him, swinging a blade. Before Shui Que could react, the screen flashed “Terror Shock”—a critical hit. His Mercenary’s health bar immediately dropped to near knockdown.

 

Shui Que froze. “What? But I didn’t even see the hunter walk up! How did she just appear?”

 

[Clueless streamer, that’s the Red Lady’s ability. She spawns a mirror image and attacks through reflections.]

 

[Do you know the Pythagorean theorem? Well, this has nothing to do with that. (grinning emoji)]

 

[Jump now! Use your elbow pads!]

 

Shui Que fumbled to activate his item. Meanwhile, the Red Lady had switched places with her mirror image and lunged at him again.

 

Panicked, he ran into the nearest wall, triggering his elbow pad ability—charging in a straight line.

 

Perfect execution.

 

Straight into the hunter’s blade.

 

Mercenary went down.

 

Shui Que: “…”

 

[This streamer plays like a meal service. Too easy for the enemy.]

 

[I’m stuffed, thanks for the feast.]

 

Xiang Xun had just arrived at the shack from the ruins and witnessed the entire disaster. He laughed out loud.

 

Shui Que, utterly humiliated, snapped, “Fine, I suck! But aren’t you useless too? Weren’t you supposed to give me the owl?!”

 

[Sweetheart, you really know how to maximize losses.]

 

[Clearly Xiang Xun’s fault! If he had given Shui Shui the owl earlier, he could’ve tanked the hit and kept repairing! dog emoji]

 

[Congrats to the rescuer for getting chaired first. Expectations fully met.]

 

[Your confidence in being terrible is kinda cute. Let me kiss you.]

 

Since the only rescue role among the four humans ended up on the chair while there were still five generators left, and the teammates who rushed in to rescue alongside Xiang Xun got stunned as soon as they made a move, the match ultimately ended in a draw. This was despite Xiang Xun single-handedly kiting for 200 seconds.

 

Shui Que felt a bit guilty, knowing full well that it was his own incompetence that had caused the situation.

 

“This was all my fault. I’ll pick a different character next round—I promise I’ll survive,” he said. Xiang Xun even comforted him, making Shui Que scratch his face awkwardly.

 

Why was he so patient…

 

He had forgotten to take the medicine Wei Qing prescribed yesterday. Selecting a character absentmindedly, Shui Que then shuffled across the floor in his fuzzy slippers to fetch a cup of warm water for his pills.

 

He poured four or five capsules into his palm, then tossed them all into his mouth in one go along with the water. His round eyes squeezed shut, long lashes trembling slightly. When he opened them again, he had already swallowed everything down.

 

Xiang Xun: “Are you sick?”

 

On-screen, Shui Que was still wearing his cozy home pajamas, his delicate features carrying a faint trace of illness. It almost felt like the scent of medicine and a soft, lingering sweetness could seep through the screen.

 

“Just a small cold,” Shui Que lied. Afraid that saying more would only invite more questions, he quickly changed the topic. “Alright, the game is starting!”

 

“This time, we’re definitely winning!” he declared with conviction.

 

But Xiang Xun said, “You missed it while you were getting water. The Cowboy on our team mentioned before the match that he’s your fan—he’s probably in the stream right now.”

 

“Huh?” Shui Que glanced at the status bar in the top right corner. Sure enough, there was a Cowboy on their team. He himself had randomly picked a Painter, Xiang Xun was playing a Batter, and the fourth teammate had chosen Professor.

 

None of them were beginner-friendly characters.

 

“Do your best, Cowboy!” Shui Que cheered. “With a streamer on your team, you can just sit back and enjoy the free carry!”

 

The opposing hunter was Geisha, and she headed straight for the big house at the start of the match, clearly aiming for Shui Que.

 

His Painter immediately abandoned the generator and turned toward the pallet. The Geisha stubbornly dashed forward, only to get slammed by Shui Que’s pallet drop.

 

Noticing that the progress bar at the bottom had filled up, he saw that his paint palette had also lit up in the inventory.

 

Wherever it glows, that’s where the action happens.

 

His Painter stood still, beginning to paint. He hadn’t realized he could move while painting, so when the Geisha sent a butterfly over the pallet and dashed through, she struck him cleanly with a hit.

 

Only then did Shui Que finally react—albeit sluggishly—like he’d made some kind of firm decision. He turned and bolted toward an open area.

 

“Where are you?” Xiang Xun, sensing that something was wrong, began scanning the map. “Send a signal. I’ll come find you.”

 

While running, Shui Que quickly sent a signal. Not far away, the Cowboy also sent out a quick signal—

 

“Stay still, I’ll help you!”

 

Painter actually stopped moving.

 

Then, the hunter struck him down with one hit.

 

[This default quick message is such a trap, LOL.]

 


[Shui Shui, that message meant ‘I’ll help you,’ not ‘actually stay still’—HAHAHAHA.]

 


[Such an obedient boy. Mommy’s heart is melting. Cowboy, hurry and save him!]

 

Cowboy rushed over at full speed, practically leaving sparks in his wake. Geisha spotted him and immediately went after him, wanting to land a hit to drive him away first.

 

Cowboy used his lasso, but it missed.

 

He failed to time his invincibility frames properly and ended up taking a direct hit, leaving him at half health.

 

Standing behind a pallet, he hesitated for a moment, mourning his own tragic misplay.

 

“Do you even know how to play? Using your skill just to give the hunter a free hit?” Xiang Xun instinctively scoffed. But realizing he sounded too harsh, he hesitated and quickly added, “I wasn’t talking about you—I meant Cowboy.”

 

Shui Que, who had just taken two hits at the start of the match, felt guilty. “…It’s fine, I went down too fast. Cowboy is actually pretty good. He just wanted to help me.”

 

[A streamer who feeds and a fan who feeds—he’s got both food and followers. What kind of feast is this? /Leaning back]


 

[LMAO—he opened his mouth to trash talk, and I had flashbacks to when he used to roast teammates while training for competitions.]

 


[Mr. Sour-Faced, King of Skill-Bullying. But his family invested in the entire gaming base anyway. /Lighting a candle]

 

Geisha turned back to deal with the downed Painter.

 

She had barely lifted him onto a balloon to carry him to the chair when Cowboy lashed out his whip, hooked him, and pulled him onto his shoulder. Batsman finally arrived, hitting the hunter with a ball and knocking her back.

 

Geisha staggered, crashing into a tree and getting stunned—giving Xiang Xun just enough time to go back and retrieve his ball.

 

The three of them kept weaving in and out of combat, constantly tangling with the hunter.

 

Shui Que went down again, but Cowboy lassoed him back up and carried him away, while Batsman stayed behind to fight off the hunter.

 

Without even needing to use any items, Shui Que somehow managed to win this round.

 

[Help—Shui Shui got into trouble, and two strong men came to his rescue. What kind of VIP treatment is this?]

 


[Meanwhile, Professor repaired four and a half cipher machines by himself. His hands were practically on fire. He even kindly shed scales along the way so the streamer could pick them up for protection, but the streamer didn’t even notice and walked right past them, LOL.]

 


[Professor player is devastated.]

 

After the match, Cowboy was still excited. He showered Shui Que with compliments before suddenly dropping a voice message:

 

“Shui Shui, do you have a boyfriend?”

 

“A 185cm sports student from the school basketball team. Alpha male. Interested?”

 

Shui Que felt an ominous chill. Panicked, he waved his hands and quickly explained, “No… I don’t date my fans.”

 

He had seen too many stories online about streamers, idols, and celebrities getting caught in scandals over dating fans. His mission might be to reel in rich men, but it wasn’t time for him to be caught in that kind of drama yet.

 

Xiang Xun, who had already found Cowboy annoying, left a cold and indifferent comment.

 

O Exclusive ShuiShui O: Continuing to settle down.

 

“President? Are you okay?”

 

The quiet of the student council office was broken by a voice that rang out in the afternoon.

 

Qu Jiuchao’s expression was cold. He sat slightly turned to the side, the light filtering through the blinds casting sharp lines along his brow bone and the bridge of his nose. Half of his face was swallowed in shadow.

 

He removed his headphones and looked toward the student who had knocked and entered.

 

The student wore a red armband on their left arm, clearly a fellow student council member.

 

The Beta stepped forward and placed a stack of files on the desk, speaking in a low voice. “President, here are the student records for Class 10 that you requested.”

 

“Mm.” Qu Jiuchao responded but did not open the files immediately. Instead, he took off his glasses, pulled a bottle of cleaning solution from the drawer, and sprayed it onto the lenses. With near-obsessive precision, he wiped them clean until they gleamed, reflecting the light.

 

Before even entering the room, the Beta had noticed that Qu Jiuchao had been staring at his phone screen.

 

Unable to resist, she stole a quick glance. It was a game interface, scrolling comments flashing across the screen, and a small window showing the streamer’s face. She caught only a brief glimpse and didn’t manage to make out their features.

 

Who would’ve thought that the cold, distant, almost unapproachable student council president actually watched game livestreams?

 

She had assumed that aside from elegant and physically demanding hobbies like swimming, skiing, and extreme sports, he had no other interests.

 

But seeing this… he suddenly felt surprisingly down-to-earth.

 

Noticing her gaze lingering on his screen, Qu Jiuchao locked his phone.

 

The corners of his lips curved into the faintest, almost imperceptible smirk, but his tone remained polite as he warned, “Is there anything else?”

 

“N-No, nothing else.” The Beta shuddered, quickly stepping out and closing the door behind her. “I’ll be going then, President.”

 

Qu Jiuchao lowered his gaze slightly, unlocked his phone with his fingerprint, and re-entered the livestream.

 

Through his earphones, Shui Que’s voice came through. “Thank you, Brother Xiang Xun.”

 

The way he called that name was so sweet.

 

Qu Jiuchao had thought that maybe Shui Que had been avoiding him lately because he was getting on his nerves. That was why he hadn’t come to class today.

 

So, while he was being ignored, Shui Que was busy warming up to someone else, wasn’t he?

 

Qu Jiuchao had only managed to track this down thanks to the phone call Shui Que received in the locker room that day.

 

Shui Que’s WeChat contact for that person was saved as—“Brother Manager Li [Orange Live].”

 

Qu Jiuchao opened the files, flipped through the most recent student records, and snapped a photo of the address.

 

He stuffed the notes he had painstakingly organized last night and this morning into his backpack, slung it over one shoulder, and left the office. With one hand, he sent a message on WeChat to someone else.

 

Qu Jiuchao: Register for me. I’m taking the afternoon off.

 

The other person simply replied with an “OK” sticker and didn’t ask any questions.

 

As his student ID card beeped at the school gate, he passed by Lu Fengchi, who was riding his bike back to campus.

 

Qu Jiuchao heard him talking on the phone, even deliberately pitching his voice higher. The sound made his stomach churn.

 

“You’re not coming this afternoon either?” The tall boy sounded completely lovestruck. “I even went out and bought that cheese grape drink you love.”

 

“Alright then, make sure to rest well.”

 

His voice faded into the distance, and his figure disappeared at the end of the path.

 

Damn it.

 

Was this how he usually acted around Shui Que too?

 

Qu Jiuchao’s expression remained completely blank.

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Huge shoutout to @candycorns2 on Discord for commissioning this! The chapter will be posted regularly, show your support for Ciacia at Kofi.

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