After Joining a Dating Show, My Silly Ex Got Jealous - Chapter 2

With two more people in the house, the atmosphere grew increasingly subtle.

Ji Xiting and Qin Zheng were each perched on a single-seater sofa, putting as much distance between them as possible, yet that didn’t stop their mutual hostility from simmering. Shen Ruan and Si Wen sat on the central sofa, silently sipping water, neither willing to be the one to break the deadlock.

“Want some water?” Qin Zheng suddenly spoke up.

Three pairs of eyes snapped toward him simultaneously.

Qin Zheng sat perfectly upright, one leg crossed over the other, staring blankly at the ceiling. Even his sharp, aristocratic jawline seemed to be radiating a sense of petty defiance.

Shen Ruan and Si Wen instinctively followed his gaze toward the ceiling.

Ji Xiting looked up as well before dryly noting, “There’s no one there.”

“Truly no one,” Si Wen added, adjusting his glasses.

Qin Zheng retracted his gaze. “Who said there was anyone?”

Shen Ruan whispered, “I thought there was a guest hanging from the ceiling and Film Emperor Qin was talking to ‘him.'”

Qin Zheng felt every hair on his body stand on end. His face visibly paled several shades.

Ji Xiting let out a soft snort, prompting Qin Zheng to abruptly stand up and vanish into the kitchen.

A moment later, he returned with two glasses of water, casually placing one in front of Ji Xiting.

Ji Xiting peered at the clear liquid and curled his lip. “No honey?”

Qin Zheng let out a cold laugh. “The fact that I didn’t add arsenic is proof of my kindness.”

“Is that so?” Ji Xiting gave him a polite smile—the kind that never reached the eyes.

Qin Zheng returned the gesture with a smile of his own—the kind where the lips moved but the face remained frozen.

【Wow, as expected of a Film Emperor. Such high-level emotional nuance!】

【It seems our Ting-ge has been influenced by the Film Emperor’s acting skills. His expressions are spot on.】

【I mean… is it possible they’re just being real?】

Shen Ruan nervously picked at his pillow, but he couldn’t resist looking at Ji Xiting, whispering, “Ting-ge, I’m a huge fan. I really love your songs.”

Oh? A cutie and a fan? This was the perfect “neighbor’s advantage.”

Ji Xiting immediately flashed a charming, graceful smile. “A pleasure to meet you.”

Qin Zheng’s face instantly darkened to a thunderous scowl, scaring Shen Ruan so badly his blush vanished, replaced by a ghostly white.

Click—

The front door opened again, and the four of them scrambled to the entryway to greet the newcomer.

A man wearing jeans and a black-and-white checkered shirt walked in. Upon looking up, his eyes were met with four strikingly handsome faces, each with a completely different vibe.

“Hello everyone, my name is Zheng Jingren,” he said with a slightly reserved smile.

Ji Xiting greeted him warmly. “Hi, I’m Ji Xiting. Do you need help with your luggage?”

“Uh…” Zheng Jingren felt a piercing, almost physical gaze directed at him, and a sudden chill ran down his neck.

He quickly grabbed a pair of slippers and declined Ji Xiting’s offer. “No, no, I’m good. I can manage.”

“Alright then,” Ji Xiting said, sounding a bit disappointed.

This Mr. Zheng looked steady and handsome, giving off a very reliable vibe—the kind of “standard chef” found in every dating show. According to Ji Xiting’s experience, making friends with the cook was essential for survival!

Just as Zheng Jingren moved his luggage into the living room, the door opened yet again.

“Wow, there are so many people already!” A voice full of youthful energy rang out, drawing everyone’s attention back to the door.

The newcomer was wearing a red-and-white basketball jersey adorned with an NBA superstar’s signature. He was clearly a sports-loving student.

Shen Ruan’s face flushed again, and he quietly tucked himself behind Ji Xiting.

“Hello, I just arrived too,” Zheng Jingren said, familiar enough now to grab slippers for the newcomer.

“Oh, hey! I’m Zhen Jiankang. You can just call me Xiao Kang.”

Zhen Jiankang certainly lived up to his name—he looked incredibly “healthy” and fit.

Ji Xiting sized him up: young, sunny, and brimming with vitality. He looked exactly like Qin Zheng used to when he first started chasing after him.

Qin Zheng’s face, which had been dark since the athlete walked in, turned pitch-black the moment he saw Ji Xiting staring intently at the kid.

He stood beside Ji Xiting with his arms crossed, scoffing, “Coming here in a basketball jersey… he probably just finished a game. He must be covered in stinking sweat.”

Ji Xiting rolled his eyes, though he had to admit the comment made him feel a bit squeamish.

“I had a game this morning and came straight here,” Zhen Jiankang said blithely.

Ji Xiting: “…” He silently took a step back.

“But I showered and changed, so don’t worry! Hahaha,” Zhen Jiankang laughed loudly.

Ji Xiting’s retreat halted.

Once the luggage was settled and everyone had finished a round of introductions, the group drifted back toward the sofas.

As Ji Xiting walked, he felt a faint puff of air over his head, but his hair was styled firmly enough that it didn’t move. He turned around to find Zhen Jiankang walking behind him. When their eyes met, the boy flashed a row of eight brilliant white teeth.

Ji Xiting smiled back and turned his head. Was it just an illusion? There was no wind in the house, and the AC vents weren’t anywhere near them.

He suppressed his confusion and sat back down.

Shen Ruan and Si Wen took the two-seater, while Zheng Jingren sat somewhat stiffly at the edge of the large three-seater. Qin Zheng walked over to his original single-seater, preparing to sit.

As Zhen Jiankang passed behind him, the boy suddenly raised his arm and mimed a jump shot. The “wind” from his palm puffed forward, and Ji Xiting watched as several strands of Qin Zheng’s hair blew out of place.

“…” So that’s where the wind came from.

Qin Zheng was just about to sit down, his waist already bent, when he felt the sudden gust of cold air on his head.

Every hair on his body stood up. He practically leaped out of his skin, vaulting several steps away to huddle next to Ji Xiting, looking at the ceiling in pure terror.

The others were startled. “What’s wrong, Film Emperor Qin?”

Qin Zheng’s face was pale as he said hoarsely, “I think… there really might be a guest on the ceiling!”

Ji Xiting remained speechless. I think there’s a basketball hoop on the ceiling.

Shen Ruan rubbed his arms, terrified. “Don’t scare me! I’m most afraid of that stuff.”

“Don’t worry, trust in science,” Si Wen said calmly, adjusting his glasses.

Zhen Jiankang sat on the triple sofa and laughed. “It’s fine. I have a lot of ‘yang’ energy. Even if there’s something spooky, I can suppress it.”

Shen Ruan stole a glance at him and gave a shy, blushing smile.

Ji Xiting looked at the man beside him. Qin Zheng was standing stiffly at his side, eyeing the ceiling like a startled bird.

“Scared?” he asked.

Qin Zheng stiffened, looking down at him. “How is that possible?”

“Oh.” Ji Xiting gestured toward the opposite sofa with his chin. “Then go back over there.”

“…I suddenly decided I don’t like that spot.”

“Then you like mine?” Ji Xiting was in a rare, accommodating mood. “Fine, you sit here. I’ll go sit over there.”

He started to get up, but Qin Zheng grabbed his wrist.

Ji Xiting froze and turned to look at him. Qin Zheng’s face was turning red from the effort of holding back, yet he couldn’t squeeze out a single word of explanation.

The room fell silent. Four pairs of eyes watched them in perfect unison, their faces essentially performing the inner monologue of the audience.

After a long pause, Qin Zheng spoke with great difficulty: “This sofa is pretty big. Let’s just sit together.”

“Huh?”

Qin Zheng stiffened his neck and shouted, “Aren’t there supposed to be eight guests? Two more are coming—there won’t be enough seats!”

Why are you yelling? It wasn’t exactly something to be proud of.

Ji Xiting was left speechless as his arm was yanked, and he was pulled down to squeeze onto the single-seater with Qin Zheng. Fortunately, the chair was indeed wide enough; otherwise, two men over six feet tall would have been crushed to death.

The expected war didn’t break out. The other four shared knowing, ambiguous looks, though they kept their mouths shut to keep the peace.

Suddenly, the front door swung open again.

A series of heavy footsteps echoed as six bodyguards in black suits rushed in, lining up in two rows facing each other. The man at the front held a red carpet, unrolling it all the way from the entryway to the living room.

What a massive production!

The six people in the room were startled, silently standing up in a row like soldiers at attention.

Qin Zheng stared at the bodyguard holding the carpet. The more he looked, the more familiar the man seemed. He looked exactly like his family’s chef.

Wait—the other bodyguards looked familiar, too. They looked a lot like his gardener, his driver, his family doctor…

With the carpet laid out, the protagonist made his entrance. A pair of high-gloss leather shoes appeared, and as everyone looked up, a handsome man in a wheelchair was pushed into the room.

【Whoa! Arriving in a wheelchair? He’s got a strong spirit despite his disability?!】

【I’m so moved! This is the power of love!】

【That’s the power of technology. It has nothing to do with love.】

Qin Zheng’s gaze met the person pushing the wheelchair. Great, the butler is here too.

He then looked at the big shot in the wheelchair and asked expectantly, “Did Grandpa finally break your legs, Uncle?”

“Gasp—” Everyone turned to look at him.

Rumor had it that Qin Zheng was the sole grandson of the elite Qin family. The fact that his uncle had such a flashy entrance with so many bodyguards was proof enough that the rumors were true!

Ji Xiting curled his lip, thinking to himself that it was just as he suspected—Qin Zheng was nothing but a pampered young master who had never suffered a day in his life.

The man called “Uncle” raised a hand. The six bodyguards and the butler vanished from the house in an instant.

Everyone watched him in silence, debating whether to initiate a greeting.

Zhen Jiankang, fueled by his “yang” energy, spoke first: “Uh… holy—! Fuck! You!”

The others looked at him in horror. This kid is bold! Trying to act aggressive toward a “wheelchair boss” was a bold move!

But Zhen Jiankang looked even more terrified than they were, his finger trembling as he pointed at the man.

The group followed his finger and let out a collective “Holy shit!” Everyone was suddenly very brave.

The “wheelchair boss” straightened his long legs and stood up perfectly fine. He then took an elegant step forward and sat squarely in the middle of the triple sofa, firmly claiming the “C-position” center stage.

【A m-medical miracle?!】

【This is the power of love! I’m so touched!】

“I am Gu Pei. You may sit.”

His voice was deep and magnetic, like a low-register cello—the standard for a dominant CEO.

The group silently sat back down. Zhen Jiankang was quick enough to snag the single-seater Qin Zheng had originally abandoned. Zheng Jingren was a step behind and had to squeeze awkwardly into the corner of the triple sofa, terrified of being caught in Gu Pei’s overbearing aura.

“So you’re not a cripple.” Qin Zheng pulled Ji Xiting back down to sit with him, his tone sounding quite disappointed.

Gu Pei gave a light scoff. “I heard you broke up. Congratulations.”

Qin Zheng: “…”

Ji Xiting: “………” This is what they call collateral damage.

The room was so full it was almost bursting, yet the atmosphere was more awkward than it had been at the start.

【They don’t look like they’re here for romance; they look like they’re at a board meeting.】

【Even a business titan like Gu Pei is here for a blind date? Suddenly, I don’t mind blind dates anymore!】

【Wait, if Gu Pei is from the Qin family, why is his last name Gu?】

Having the same question, Ji Xiting whispered it to Qin Zheng.

Qin Zheng frowned. “Why are you so curious about his business?”

Ji Xiting was speechless. “Fine, don’t tell me.”

Whatever. He’s probably only curious because it’s my family.

Which basically means he’s curious about me.

Qin Zheng amused himself with his own logic before explaining, “His name used to be Qin Erlang, and my dad was Qin Dalang. Later, my dad felt ‘Dalang’ was unlucky and changed it, so Uncle changed his too.”

“Then why did he change it to that specifically?”

“Maybe because it’s the ultimate last name for a ‘Top’ in BL novels?”

Ji Xiting suddenly understood. The other guests who were eavesdropping understood as well. And the audience understood best of all.

【So it wasn’t about a strong spirit.】

【And it wasn’t a medical miracle.】

【It was the ‘CEO-Top’ trope that gave him the courage to stand up again!】