[ABO] The Despised One Becomes an Internet Sensation After Marriage - Chapter 19

Chapter 19

After Xu Zhimian came out, the room was empty; Fu Shiyan was nowhere to be found.

“…”

Xu Zhimian dried his hair and went to bed. It wasn’t until the middle of the night that he heard the faint sound of water running in the bathroom.

A night without dreams.

The results of the production crew’s voting were announced the next day.

“Congratulations to Teacher Xu’s team for taking first place in total points, earning 5 mission points this time. Teacher Lu and Teacher Zhou took second and third place, earning 3 points and 1 point respectively.”

“Great job!”

The others clapped in support.

【Boohoo! My ‘Zhi-Shi’ CP finally doesn’t have to stay in that broken little shack next time!】

【So relieved!! Waaa!】

【It’s just because they’re good at acting; after all, they’re both actors. How many couples in the entertainment industry are actually for real?】

【What’s the person above implying? Where does that leave my ‘Ze-Ming’ CP?! Lu Ze is as real as it gets. As a ten-year fan, I’ve watched him step-by-step become a ‘wife-slave’!!】

【…】

The points were tallied by the production crew.

A moment later, the director cleared his throat twice: “Well then, today’s task for everyone is quite simple. But before we announce it, we will launch another ‘Tacit Understanding Challenge’.”

This challenge was simple: a “Couple’s Paper-Catching Game.”

Xu Zhimian had seen it online—someone drops a piece of paper between two people, and without using their hands, they have to catch it using only their faces. Couples who catch it pass the challenge; those who fail will face a penalty set by the directors.

【Ahhh! More ‘sugar’ incoming! This is so sweet it’s giving me cavities.】

【I love it, I love it! I’m a sucker for this! I love the legal couples, you can ship them out in the open!】

The challenge began. For Lu Ze and Ye Ming, it was a breeze.

When it was Ji Yan and Zhou Yan’s turn, as the paper dropped, Zhou Yan leaned in very close. The faint smile on Ji Yan’s face froze almost imperceptibly, and he instinctively backed away. The paper slipped through them.

The two came to a standstill.

Lu Ze said with mock regret: “Aww, what a shame. If Dr. Ji had just leaned in a bit more, it would have been perfect.”

Zhou Yan shrugged helplessly at the camera. “Looks like we’ll just have to accept the punishment.”

Dr. Ji adjusted his glasses and nodded with a smile.

Xu Zhimian watched the two rounds closely, lost in thought.

When it was their turn, the paper dropped, and the two leaned in face-to-face, extremely close. Unexpectedly, the paper fell through the gap, and because they couldn’t brake in time, they collided. Xu Zhimian’s lips bumped against Fu Shiyan’s. The hand Fu Shiyan had on Xu Zhimian’s shoulder suddenly tightened.

Is Xu Zhimian licking him?

The crowd cheered: “Wow~ you guys really know how to do it!”

The production crew deliberately zoomed in, enlarging the frame.

【Ahem, can I just say… this is actually what I’ve wanted to see all along? Smirk/Smirk/Smirk】

【Hot/Hot/Hot I was actually looking forward to them failing the challenge! I didn’t expect them to actually fail!】

【Honestly, there was no need to rush. They could have kissed for a bit longer, hehe.】

【I feel like Xu Zhimian did it on purpose. He clearly could have leaned in sooner, but I saw him hesitate for a moment.】

【It’s just a little couple’s playfulness. Dog head/Dog head/Dog head】

【I feel like both of them are very ‘skilled.’ Dog head/Dog head/Dog head】

After a few seconds, the two pulled apart.

The crew probably didn’t expect two couples to fail. After a brief discussion, the director announced: “Since these guests failed the challenge, the punishment is: Teacher Xu’s team will clean the swimming pool, and Teacher Zhou’s team will go to the back mountain to gather firewood.”

Meanwhile, Lu Ze and Ye Ming were sent to go fishing on the sea.

The director winked: “Tonight’s dinner will be a seaside BBQ. The program will provide the grill, but as for the tools and ingredients, you’ll have to prepare them yourselves.”

“…” The outdoor pool at the villa wasn’t particularly dirty, just some leaves floating on the surface.

“Let’s start by skimming the leaves!”

No sooner said than done. Xu Zhimian grabbed the skimmer net and began scooping leaves from the edge. Fortunately, there weren’t many, and the leaves near the perimeter were quickly cleared.

However, some were still floating in the middle. Xu Zhimian was wearing shorts that ended above the knee; he glanced at Fu Shiyan, who was still in suit trousers, and decisively chose to get into the water himself.

Fu Shiyan grabbed him by the back of his collar: “Where do you think you’re going?”

Xu Zhimian replied righteously: “To skim the leaves, obviously!”

“…” Fu Shiyan took the net from his hand. “I’ll go. You go get the pool brush.”

“…” Seeing Fu Shiyan jump into the water so efficiently, Xu Zhimian didn’t refuse further.

The pool was about 1 meter deep, the water reaching mid-thigh. As Xu Zhimian walked back, he happened to run into Fu Shiyan climbing out.

Fu Shiyan’s trousers were soaked and clung to his legs, outlining the rippling muscles of his calves as he exerted force. The lines were smooth and defined, his thighs lean and powerful without being overly bulky.

When the three couples split up, they each had their own live stream. On Xu Zhimian’s side, the screen was once again flooded with “AHHHHHHHH.”

【Those are the legs of someone who hits the gym regularly. What do they call it online? Oh right, real-life manga legs!】

【Holy crap! Suddenly I feel like Xu Zhimian is a genius! You guys can keep cursing him, but he’s the one who married into a wealthy family, has a handsome and rich husband, and is raking in massive traffic from both fans and haters. He’s winning at life!】

【I’m never hating on him again. Waaa, I just want Brother to open a class on how to simultaneously get a handsome, rich husband with a great body. I’ll listen on my knees!!!】

【Hater turned fan. Decided: I’m going to camp out in this stream every day! I want to see exactly how he captured this rich, handsome, fit CEO husband!!】

Xu Zhimian couldn’t see the comments, so he had no idea he had just sent his live room to the top of the trending charts thanks to his “husband-taming” skills.

The directors were monitoring the streams constantly. The head director spoke into the intercom to the cameraman: “Get two more cameras over to the pool. Capture their interactions. Don’t delete any footage.”

…

“…” Fu Shiyan took one of the pool brushes from Xu Zhimian and ruffled his hair. “…One brush is enough.”

Meaning…

Xu Zhimian held up the brush: “No, I want to stand by your side.”

“Mianmian, be good,” Fu Shiyan tilted his chin up. “Go sit under the umbrella for a while. You can test the water later.”

There it is again. This man was starting his “performance” again.

Xu Zhimian’s eyes sparkled. He tilted his head up and gave Fu Shiyan a quick “mwah” on the corner of his lips. “Okay, Hubby.”

Feeling Fu Shiyan’s body stiffen almost imperceptibly, Xu Zhimian felt a surge of secret satisfaction. Hmph, who says I can’t play along?

【Holy crap! Is this the first time Mianmian called him ‘Hubby’?! Waaa, crying, why isn’t he calling me that!】

【Ahhh, I missed the recording! Mianmian’s ‘Hubby’ is truly lethal.】

【When has my Mianmian ever been this sweet! Ahhh, I’m dying. What kind of luck does Fu Shiyan have to see this side of Mianmian every day? Crying/Crying/Crying】

【Waaa, why can’t I be reincarnated as that pool brush!!】

【Waaa, I don’t even ask to be the brush, I just want to be the water in the pool. Pouty face/Pouty face/Pouty face】

【Sister above, I can hear your ulterior motives from ten thousand miles away.】

【…】

It was midsummer, and the sun blazed in the sky.

Soon, Fu Shiyan’s white shirt couldn’t escape the heat. Sweat soaked the fabric, making it cling to him, revealing his tight, well-defined muscle lines under the sunlight.

Fu Shiyan wasn’t the traditional “lean when dressed, muscular when undressed” type.

Even in just a shirt, his physique from long-term fitness was clearly visible; once the shirt was wet, it became even more apparent.

It was vigorous and full of power.

A focused Fu Shiyan cleaning the pool was exceptionally striking.

Xu Zhimian sat under the sun umbrella, chin in hand, swinging his legs lazily. It was a rare experience to see a man who usually sat high up in an office, untouched by the mundane world, acting as such a “virtuous husband.”

He remarked to the camera: “Consider this a benefit for the fans. To be honest, it’s my first time seeing Sir being so… virtuous.”

The cameraman’s mouth twitched. Describing Fu Shiyan as “virtuous” was weird and jarring, yet somehow, no better word came to mind.

【Waaa, Mianmian, Mama loves you! Today I finally experienced what ‘house-husband vibes’ means on the internet.】

【Turns out it’s not that I don’t like men, I just don’t like men who aren’t handsome and can’t do housework.】

【’Virtuous’ Hahahahahaha I’m dying. Decided: I’m finding myself a virtuous Alpha too.】

【What the—President Fu is just scrubbing a pool, why is he hitting all my kinks?! Now I finally get why people like pool play. Slurp slurp Those looming muscles look like they could do a lot of ‘work’.】

【Waaa, I have to find a guy like this! I have to! It’s okay if he’s not rich, with a body like that, the rest of my life would be blissful.】

【Crying/Crying Since when did Mianmian’s stream become so ‘thirsty’? I’m just an innocent child.】

【…】

Xu Zhimian leaned over to look at the comments and was immediately hit by the “thirsty” remarks.

“…” His eyes widened, and then he said seriously: “…What are you doing! You can’t be like that. He’s my husband.”

【Okay, okay, he’s your husband, your husband.】

【Got it, he’s yours, he’s yours.】

【…】

A row of similar comments flooded the screen.

After Fu Shiyan finished scrubbing the pool, the water became clear. His clothes were almost entirely soaked. He tugged at the shirt sticking to his skin and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

A sweet voice called out from behind him: “Hubby!”

“…” Fu Shiyan’s mouth twitched. He saw Xu Zhimian running over with a towel in hand: “Hubby, let me wipe your sweat!”

Xu Zhimian was wearing oversized slippers. As he ran up to Fu Shiyan, he suddenly realized the slippers couldn’t brake. He slipped, his body falling backward uncontrollably. Fu Shiyan’s eyes widened, and he quickly hooked an arm around Xu Zhimian’s lower back.

A burst of force pushed his body upright, but it overcorrected.

With a loud splash, a huge plume of water erupted from the pool.

“…”

【Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha】

【Hahahahahahaha, I’m dying hahahahaha】

【First time discovering Mianmian has such great variety show sense hahahaha I’m dead.】