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

Every bedroom was equipped with a single camera, but it was a high-tech model capable of rotating several hundred degrees to track every movement a guest made.

Ji Xiting yanked off his tie, unbuttoned his shirt, and stepped out of his stiff suit trousers as quickly as he could. He let out a long, heavy sigh of relief because suits were truly suffocating if worn for too long.

He knelt on the carpet with his back to the door and began rummaging through his suitcase. He needed something that was comfortable yet still showcased his good looks, though that wasn’t a difficult task since he looked great in practically everything.

“Being this handsome is such a burden,” he thought with a smirk. “I don’t even have the struggle of choosing clothes.”

He pulled out a black T-shirt featuring a bold, trendy graphic on the back. It was a gift from a domestic brand he endorsed, and they had sent him two: one in his size and one in Qin Zheng’s. Ji Xiting had given the other to Qin Zheng a while ago, so they were technically a matching pair. He wouldn’t have even brought it if it weren’t as comfortable as a set of pajamas.

This would do.

He straightened up and was just about to pull his shirt off when he heard his bedroom door swing open. He jumped and spun around to find Qin Zheng strolling in as if he owned the place, even locking the door behind him.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Ji Xiting asked, completely speechless.

Qin Zheng’s gaze swept over him. The shirt was half-off, revealing a glimpse of pale, elegant shoulders. His long legs were fully exposed, and the soft curve of his backside pressed against his calves as he knelt. Through the gap in his shirt hem, the waistband of his white boxers was just barely visible.

“Stop staring, you pervert,” Ji Xiting muttered, tossing the T-shirt at his head.

Qin Zheng was suddenly shrouded in darkness.

*****

【Wait, is someone being a pervert? Let me see!】

【Why are they covering the camera? What are they doing?!】

【Did they just…? Don’t treat us like strangers; show us everything!】

*****

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

Ji Xiting grabbed a pair of jeans, stood up, and pulled them on with his back turned to Qin Zheng. The flash of fair skin caught Qin Zheng’s eye, and he felt his heart skip a beat as Ji Xiting walked toward him while still clutching his unbuttoned shirt. He felt a wave of nerves wash over him.

Ji Xiting simply glared at him, snatched the T-shirt back, and turned around once more to pull it on. A glimpse of a slender, flexible waist flashed by before the scent of light masculine cologne filled the air. Qin Zheng rubbed his nose, relieved that he hadn’t actually suffered a nosebleed.

“Why are you really here?” Ji Xiting snapped.

Qin Zheng backed away slowly. “I really just came to see if you were ready.”

Ji Xiting rolled his eyes. “Well, you’ve seen it. Now get out.”

“Aren’t you going downstairs?”

Ji Xiting ignored him. He hung up his suit and brushed past Qin Zheng to head down to the kitchen. Strangely, Qin Zheng didn’t follow him and headed back to his own room instead. Ji Xiting didn’t know what he was up to, and he didn’t care.

In the kitchen, he found Shen Ruan organizing the groceries alone. The smaller man was surprisingly efficient.

“Xiao Ruan,” Ji Xiting said, flashing his most perfect celebrity smile.

Shen Ruan blushed instantly. “Ting-ge.”

“Here,” Ji Xiting stood beside him and used his deepest, most resonant “honeyed” voice. “Let me help you.”

He was determined to charm the kid.

Instead, Shen Ruan’s face went from red to pale as he gasped, “Ting-ge, what happened to your voice?!”

“Huh?”

“Your voice sounds so heavy. Are you coming down with something?” Shen Ruan looked frantic. “I have some throat medicine in my room. I brought it specifically for you. Stay here, I’ll go get it!” As a die-hard fan, protecting his idol’s vocal cords was a top priority.

“Get back here,” Ji Xiting said, grabbing him by the collar.

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

Ji Xiting was at a loss for words. He couldn’t flirt with this kid because the fan-idol filter was just too thick.

“I’m fine, I don’t have a sore throat,” he said, opening a bag of spicy strips. “My throat is made of gold. I can eat the spiciest hotpot and be perfectly fine.”

Shen Ruan blinked. “Oh, that’s true. You eat those spicy strips every day and you’re fine.”

Ji Xiting chewed on a strip and decided to try one more time. “Xiao Ruan, the first date is coming up soon. How about we go together?” He wanted to secure a partner early, that was just good planning.

Shen Ruan looked troubled. “But Ting-ge, we’re both ‘0’s.” He even made a little “OK” sign with his hand.

Ji Xiting felt a headache coming on. “Stop that. Who said I’m a ‘0’ like you?”

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

The two in the kitchen turned to look and were immediately silenced. Qin Zheng was wearing an almost identical outfit; the same T-shirt and the same wash of jeans. They looked like twins.

*****

【Tsk tsk, Film Emperor Qin isn’t even trying to hide his intentions, is he?】

【So peeking at him changing wasn’t just for a show. You’re so calculating!】

【He’s marking his territory. What a devious Alpha.】

*****

“Are you playing ‘Matryoshka doll ‘ with me?” Ji Xiting asked, looking exasperated.

Qin Zheng leaned against the counter with a cocky grin. “If I am, it’s because you’re the one I’m ‘nesting’ with.”

“In your dreams.”

Their eyes met, and both let out a cold snort. The subtext of their words seemed far deeper than a simple joke. Shen Ruan, feeling the “Alpha energy” was getting too thick, stayed silent.

After a tense standoff, they both looked away. Ji Xiting opened a bottle of yogurt and handed it gently to Shen Ruan. “Drink some before dinner. It helps with digestion.”

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

Qin Zheng narrowed his eyes. He grabbed a bag of chips and stuffed it into Shen Ruan’s arms. “Eat some of these. It’ll help you lose weight.”

Shen Ruan gave an awkward smile. “Thanks, Film Emperor Qin.”

“Here, have some chocolate for energy,” Ji Xiting said, placing a Dove bar in Shen Ruan’s palm.

Not to be outdone, Qin Zheng shoved a box of walnut cookies at him. “Here, have what your idol eats. It’s good for the brain.”

Ji Xiting gritted his teeth, knowing Qin Zheng was calling him brainless. Fine. He grabbed a jar of fruit and pushed it toward Shen Ruan. “Have some ‘heart’ fruit so you don’t grow up to be narrow-minded.”

“Have a candy to get rid of that sour taste.”

“Have a—”

Shen Ruan was so buried in snacks he could barely see. He quickly stopped them. “Gentlemen, please! I don’t want anything else. I can’t even hold all of this!”

They both stopped and looked at him.

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

“Do snack racks talk?” Ji Xiting snapped. He quickly helped take the items back from Shen Ruan, and Qin Zheng joined in.

Once his arms were empty, Shen Ruan let out a breath of relief. He looked between the two of them and decided it was safer to stay far away. “Um… I’m going to go start cooking.”

“Sorry, Xiao Ruan,” Ji Xiting apologized. He grabbed an apron and said, “Let me tie this for you.” Tying an apron was a staple of dating shows, and he wanted to be the first to do it.

Qin Zheng scoffed and grabbed another apron. “I’ll do it, Shen Ruan.”

I knew it, Ji Xiting thought. He really does have a thing for Shen Ruan. He figured Qin Zheng had only joined the show to find his next boyfriend. Meanwhile, Qin Zheng shot him a cold smirk, thinking Ji Xiting was just being a flirt as usual.

Shen Ruan looked at the two “twins” and thought it through. If he let Ji Xiting tie it, Qin Zheng might murder him later. If he let Qin Zheng tie it, the man might just strangle him with the strings right then and there.

He decided to take the third option. He backed away two steps and then bolted out of the kitchen. “Save me! The kitchen is on fire and the food isn’t even touching the stove yet!”

“Xiao Ruan, I’m your idol! You should know who to choose!” Ji Xiting shouted to the empty air before falling silent.

Qin Zheng stayed quiet for a moment before tying the apron around himself.

“What are you doing?” Ji Xiting asked.

Qin Zheng washed his hands properly and said nonchalantly, “Cooking. Unless you were hoping for some ‘kitchen play’?”

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

Qin Zheng went silent.

Ji Xiting: “…”

*****

【So neither of them can cook? Then why did they scare Shen Ruan away?!】

【They can’t cook, but they definitely know about ‘kitchen play’! I wouldn’t mind seeing that!】

【Shen Ruan’s inner thoughts: The air outside that kitchen is so fresh. Even the crazy guy in the wheelchair seems cute now.】

*****

“Oh? You’re both here.” Si Wen walked in wearing loose, dark gray loungewear and carrying a thermos.

Qin Zheng looked at him like a savior. “Can you cook?”

“I can. I came down to help.” Si Wen poured some hot water and blew on his tea like an old man. Ji Xiting realized that the glasses on his nose actually looked like reading glasses. He felt like he had discovered a shocking secret.

“Everyone is here,” Zheng Jingren said, walking in with a smile. “Didn’t we agree that I was the chef tonight?”

“Thank you for your hard work!” Ji Xiting quickly handed him the apron. “Do you need me to tie it for you?”

With Qin Zheng’s piercing gaze boring into him, Zheng Jingren grabbed the apron and tied it himself with practiced ease. He gave Ji Xiting a polite smile. “No thanks, I can manage.” Ji Xiting was impressed by his efficiency.

Si Wen walked up to Qin Zheng. “If you don’t know what you’re doing, don’t take up space. Give me that apron.”

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

As he followed Ji Xiting out of the kitchen, Qin Zheng couldn’t shake a weird feeling. Why did Si Wen remind him so much of his high school homeroom teacher? He shook his head to clear the thought.

Ji Xiting glanced at him. “Is your head a bobblehead now?”

The tycoon glided past them in his electric wheelchair and offered a dry observation: “You two are just a pair of matching dolls.”

“…”

A moment later, Zhen Jiankang came running downstairs, fresh from his shower. His eyes lit up when he saw them. “Hey! You two look like a Matryoshka doll—one stuffed inside the other!”

Ji Xiting took a deep breath, reminded himself that murder was illegal, and then smacked the back of Qin Zheng’s head. 

“Go 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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