After Joining a Dating Show, My Silly Ex Got Jealous - Chapter 5

Each bedroom had only one camera, but it was capable of rotating several hundred degrees to cover every corner.

Ji Xiting yanked off his tie, unbuttoned his shirt, and couldn’t wait to step out of his stiff suit trousers. He finally let out a long, heavy sigh of relief. A suit was definitely not something meant to be worn all day; it was suffocating.

He opened his suitcase and knelt on the carpet with his back to the door, rummaging through his clothes. What should he wear? It had to be comfortable, but it also had to highlight his good looks. Actually, that was an easy choice, since he looked stunning in just about anything.

Sigh, being this handsome is such a burden; I don’t even get to experience the struggle of picking an outfit.

Ji Xiting smirked to himself as he pulled out a black short-sleeved t-shirt with an exaggerated “Guochao” (Chinese-chic) print on the back. It was a gift from a brand he endorsed. They had sent two: one in his size and one in Qin Zheng’s. He had given the other one to Qin Zheng, making them a pair of “pseudo-couple” shirts. If it weren’t for the fact that this shirt was as comfortable as pajamas, Ji Xiting never would have brought it here.

This was the one.

Ji Xiting straightened up and was just about to pull off his shirt when he heard his bedroom door swing open. Startled, he whipped his head around.

Qin Zheng walked in as if he owned the place and locked the door behind him.

Ji Xiting said blankly, “What are you doing?”

Qin Zheng’s gaze swept over him. The shirt was half-off, revealing a pale, elegant shoulder. His long legs were bare, and his rounded, firm rear was pressed softly against his calves. From beneath the hem of the shirt, the edge of his white boxers was barely visible.

“What are you looking at? You pervert.” Ji Xiting threw the t-shirt at him.

Qin Zheng was momentarily engulfed in darkness.

【What’s this? Is someone being a rogue? Let me see!】

【Wait, what are they doing covering the lens?】

【What?! Did they already do it? Don’t treat us like outsiders!】

Qin Zheng pulled the shirt off his head and chuckled. “I just came to see if you were done changing.”

Ji Xiting grabbed a pair of jeans, stood up with his back to Qin Zheng, and pulled them on. Qin Zheng was momentarily blinded by the expanse of white skin before seeing Ji Xiting walk toward him while clutching his unbuttoned shirt.

His heart skipped a beat, and he felt a wave of nervousness. However, Ji Xiting simply glared at him, snatched the t-shirt back, and turned around to pull it over his head.

A slim, supple waist flashed by, and the faint scent of men’s cologne drifted through the air. Qin Zheng touched his nose, relieved to find that no red liquid was spraying out.

“What are you actually here for?” Ji Xiting looked back at him crossly.

Qin Zheng retreated silently. “I really just came to see if you were finished.”

Ji Xiting rolled his eyes. “Now you’ve seen it. Get out.”

“Aren’t you coming downstairs?”

Ji Xiting ignored him. After hanging up his suit, he brushed past Qin Zheng and headed downstairs. Strangely, Qin Zheng didn’t follow him but returned to his own room instead. Ji Xiting didn’t know what kind of drama he was stirring up now and didn’t care to find out.

He walked into the kitchen and found Shen Ruan alone, organizing the things they had brought back. The petite figure was surprisingly efficient at tidying up.

“Xiao Ruan.” Ji Xiting walked over and flashed his most perfect smile.

Shen Ruan blushed. “Ting-ge.”

“Mm.” Ji Xiting stood beside him and utilized his most perfect deep “bubble” voice. “Let me help you.”

Take that, kid. I’ll charm you yet.

Shen Ruan’s face went from red to white as he asked in alarm, “Ting-ge, what happened to your voice?!”

“Huh?”

“Why is your voice so deep? You aren’t coming down with something, are you?” Shen Ruan was genuinely worried. “I have throat medicine in my room. I specifically brought it for you. I’ll go get it right now.”

Caring for his idol’s vocal cords was a mandatory duty for a die-hard fan.

“Come back here.” Ji Xiting grabbed the back of the kid’s collar and hoisted him back.

Shen Ruan frowned. “Ting-ge, don’t be afraid of medicine. You’re a perfect high-note singer; you have to take care of your throat.”

Ji Xiting: “…”

I can’t flirt with him. This kid’s idol filter is way too thick.

“I’m fine. I’m not sick.” He opened a bag of spicy strips and started snacking. “I have iron vocal cords. I can eat a spicy hotpot and be perfectly fine.”

Shen Ruan realized, “Oh right, you eat spicy strips every day and you’re always fine.”

Ji Xiting chewed for a moment, deciding to try one last time. “Xiao Ruan, our first date is coming up soon. How about we go together?”

Securing future plans. Ji Xiting was a pro at being proactive!

Shen Ruan looked troubled. “But Ting-ge, we’re ‘same-category zeros’.” As he spoke, he even made an “OK” sign with his fingers to represent the ‘0’.

Ji Xiting felt a headache coming on. “Go away. Who’s a ‘zero’ with you?”

“What are you talking about?” Qin Zheng’s voice arrived before he did.

The two in the kitchen looked toward him and were immediately rendered speechless. Qin Zheng was wearing an almost identical outfit to Ji Xiting’s. The same t-shirt and the same shade of jeans. They looked like twins.

【Tsk tsk tsk, Movie King Qin, you’re not even trying to hide your intentions, are you?】

【So peeking at Ting-ge changing wasn’t just for the view; you’re truly a master of ‘copy-paste’ fashion.】

【He’s marking his territory. What a calculating Top.】

Ji Xiting said with a complicated expression, “Are you playing Matryoshka dolls with me?”

Qin Zheng sauntered over with an air of smugness, propped his hands on the counter, and smiled. “Then you’re the one wearing me.”

“You’re wearing me.”

Their eyes met, and both let out a cold snort. Was there a deeper, more suggestive meaning to those words? Shen Ruan didn’t have a “strong masculine aura,” so he didn’t dare speak. After a moment of standoff, they both looked away.

Ji Xiting unscrewed a bottle of yogurt and handed it gently to Shen Ruan. “Drink some before the meal. It helps with digestion.”

“Thanks, Ting-ge.” Shen Ruan took it, looking a little happy.

Qin Zheng narrowed his eyes. He reached into a snack bag, pulled out some potato chips, and shoved them into Shen Ruan’s arms. “Eat some before the meal. It helps with weight loss.”

Shen Ruan gave an awkward smile. “Thanks, Movie King Qin.”

“Here, have some chocolate to boost your energy.” Ji Xiting placed a piece of Dove chocolate in Shen Ruan’s palm.

Not to be outdone, Qin Zheng stuffed a box of walnut cookies into Shen Ruan’s arms. “Here, the same kind your idol likes. It’s good for the brain.”

Ji Xiting ground his teeth. He was basically calling him brainless. Fine. He grabbed a jar of canned fruit and stuffed it into Shen Ruan’s arms. “Have some ‘sincerity’ (fruit hearts) so you don’t turn into a ‘petty heart’.”

“Have a candy to get rid of the sourness.”

“Have a…”

Shen Ruan’s face was almost hidden behind the mountain of snacks. He hurriedly stopped their childish behavior. “Gentlemen, please. I don’t want anything else. I can’t hold any more!”

Ji Xiting and Qin Zheng paused and looked at him.

“What is this, a snack rack?” Qin Zheng raised an eyebrow.

Ji Xiting glared at him. “Do snack racks talk?” He quickly took the snacks back from Shen Ruan’s arms, and Qin Zheng moved to help. With his arms lightened, Shen Ruan finally exhaled in relief. He looked left and right, deciding it was safer to stay away from these two. “Um, I’ll go get started on dinner.”

“Sorry, Xiao Ruan,” Ji Xiting apologized. He then picked up an apron. “Let me tie your apron for you.”

The “apron tying” scene was a staple of dating shows, and Ji Xiting wanted to be the one to do it.

Qin Zheng gave a light snort and picked up another apron. “I’ll do it for you, Shen Ruan.”

Hah, I knew it. Qin Zheng really is treating Shen Ruan differently. Ji Xiting sneered inwardly. He knew Qin Zheng was in a rush to join this show just to start his next relationship!

Qin Zheng looked over at him with a cold, smug curl of his lip. He knew Shen Ruan was a fan and was being so nice to him; Ji Xiting was just out here attracting trouble as usual!

Shen Ruan looked at the two “Matryoshka dolls” and thought seriously. If he let Ji Xiting tie it, Qin Zheng might secretly assassinate him. If he let Qin Zheng tie it, the man might just use the apron strings to strangle him. After weighing the risks, he silently took two steps back and suddenly bolted out of the dining room.

Help! We haven’t even started cooking and the kitchen is already on fire. This is terrifying.

“Xiao Ruan, I’m your idol! You should know how to choose…” Ji Xiting looked at the empty spot beside him and trailed off.

Qin Zheng was silent for two seconds before tying the apron around himself.

“What are you doing?” Ji Xiting asked, confused.

Qin Zheng went to the sink and washed his hands properly. “Cooking. What did you think, ‘kitchen play’?”

“You can cook?” Ji Xiting automatically ignored the second half of the sentence.

Qin Zheng was silent.

Ji Xiting: “…”

【So neither of you can cook? Then why did you scare Shen Ruan away?】

【They can’t cook, but they definitely know ‘kitchen play’! I don’t mind if you guys play!】

【Shen Ruan’s OS: The air is so fresh now that I’m out of the kitchen. Even the psycho in the wheelchair looks cute now.】

“Oh? You two are here.” Si Wen arrived wearing loose, deep-gray loungewear, holding a thermos.

Qin Zheng looked like he had been granted a reprieve. “Can you cook?”

“Yes, I’m here to help.” Si Wen filled his cup with hot water and blew on the tea leaves like an old-fashioned clerk. Was that pair of glasses on his nose actually reading glasses? Ji Xiting felt like he had discovered a startling truth.

“Everyone’s here.” Zheng Jingren arrived as well, smiling. “Didn’t we agree I’d cook today?”

“Thanks for the hard work.” Ji Xiting hurried to hand him the apron, asking enthusiastically, “Need me to tie it for you?”

With Movie King Qin’s heavy gaze boring into him, Zheng Jingren immediately took the apron and tied it himself with practiced ease. He gave Ji Xiting a gentle smile. “No thanks, I can manage.”

Ji Xiting was impressed. That smooth motion was clearly the work of a pro.

Si Wen walked up to Qin Zheng. “If you don’t know how, don’t take up space. Give me the apron.”

“Oh.” Qin Zheng instinctively complied, untying the apron and handing it over.

But as he followed Ji Xiting out of the kitchen, the more Qin Zheng thought about it, the more something felt off. Why did he see the shadow of his high school homeroom teacher in Si Wen? He shook his head to clear the eerie feeling.

Ji Xiting glanced at him. “Are you a possessed rattle-drum?”

The big boss in the wheelchair rolled past them and offered an objective evaluation: “You two are possessed Matryoshka dolls.”

Before they had gone far, Zhen Jiankang who’s fresh from a shower, came dashing down from upstairs. Upon seeing them, his eyes lit up. “Hey! You two look like a ‘sausage-in-a-sausage’ combo, like large intestine wrapped in small intestine!”

Ji Xiting took a deep breath, reminded himself that murder was illegal, and then swatted the back of Qin Zheng’s head. “Go and change your clothes!”

******

Note:

Matryoshka doll is a set of brightly painted hollow wooden dolls of varying sizes, designed to nest inside one another.

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