After Joining a Dating Show, My Silly Ex Got Jealous - Chapter 7

Ji Xiting listened to Si Wen lecture about the star-filled sky for so long that he had to force back several yawns, his eyes turning red from the effort.

Save me, save me, save me!

As if hearing his silent plea, Qin Zheng walked over with a sour expression. “What are you two doing?”

He’d only been gone for the time it took to wash a few dishes, and Ji Xiting was already out here watching the moon and stars with someone else? For all he knew, they had progressed from poetry and philosophy to discussing their life ideals.

To Ji Xiting, Qin Zheng’s voice sounded like heavenly music. He immediately whipped his head around.

Si Wen said leisurely, “We were just talking about our life ideals.”

Damn it, I knew it!

Qin Zheng’s face darkened even further. He forced himself between Ji Xiting and Si Wen, standing there like a stubborn block of wood. No, more like a thick-haired monk determined to tear lovers apart.

Ji Xiting stayed silent for a moment before saying, “Uh, you guys chat. I’m heading out.” With that, he practically fled the scene.

He really wasn’t cut out for interacting with high-IQ intellectuals. “Sapiosexuality” wasn’t for him; he only suited someone on his own level, specifically in terms of IQ!

He hadn’t gone far before Qin Zheng caught up, with Si Wen following close behind.

Seriously? Are they going to keep lecturing me? Master, stop chanting! This Monkey King admits his mistake!

“Why are you running?” Qin Zheng grabbed his arm. “Didn’t you see the stairs right in front of you?”

Ji Xiting batted his hand away. “Keep your nose out of your ex-boyfriend’s business.”

Qin Zheng: “…”

The group eventually made their way downstairs, only to find Gu Pei holding a mission card from the production team.

“What’s that?” Zhen Jiankang leaned in and read aloud, “Rules for the first date?”

Everyone: “!”

Here it was. The high-stakes first date was finally arriving. Everyone knew that a single date could shift the entire board; many “second male lead” victory stories started with a well-timed date.

The atmosphere grew serious, and the audience held its collective breath. Gu Pei handed the card to Zhen Jiankang. “You read it.” A Big Boss doesn’t do manual labor.

“On it!”

“The first date will take place on the third day. Guests have one day and two nights to consider who they want to ask out and must issue their invitations during this window.”

“The final pairings will be announced on the morning of the third day. Guests who successfully match will go on their date. If the selection is not mutual, the person who received the invitation must decide whether or not to accept.”

“We will match three pairs in total. The remaining person will be given a mystery mission.”

Zhen Jiankang finished reading, looking a bit confused. “What does ‘one day and two nights’ mean?”

“It means tonight, all of tomorrow, and tomorrow night are for making your move.”

“Ah, got it.”

The house suddenly went quiet. An invisible storm was brewing—the calm before the gale.

That calm was shattered by Zhen Jiankang, who “threw” another imaginary ball and looked at Shen Ruan. “You and me?”

Shen Ruan’s face flushed a deep red as he nodded decisively. “Yeah!”

Well, that was one mutual match sorted.

Ji Xiting realized this was a race. He immediately turned to the closest person, Si Wen. “Professor, how about us?”

He didn’t want to be the one left over! It sounded miserable.

Qin Zheng’s teeth let out a faint creak, while Si Wen stiffened and didn’t speak.

“Professor Si, I’m inviting you too,” Qin Zheng said with a “benevolent” smile.

Si Wen felt like he didn’t say “Professor Si,” but rather “Late Professor.”

He turned silently toward Gu Pei, who was leisurely watching the drama. “I’ll invite you then, Mr. Gu.”

Gu Pei paused, maintaining his dignity. “I’ll think about it.”

“Sure.”

Then Gu Pei added, “I’ve thought about it. Okay.”

Everyone: “…” Was that one second of contemplation really necessary?

And just like that, there were two pairs.

The production team probably hadn’t expected these guests to be so blunt, inviting people right in front of everyone without any of the “push-and-pull” or shy hesitation seen in previous seasons. The “one day and two nights” was wasted on them; they only needed five minutes.

With no one left to invite, Ji Xiting and Qin Zheng were both left high and dry. Their eyes simultaneously swiveled toward the only remaining person: Zheng Jingren.

*****

【Poor Old Zheng, why is it you and the couple again?】

【I see despair on Old Zheng’s face.】

【The dignity of a top scientist has officially crumbled.】

*****

With several pairs of eyes drilling into him, Zheng Jingren felt like he was facing a formidable enemy. He cleared his throat. “Uh, I think I want to do the mystery mission.”

“Then it’s settled,” the Big Boss declared.

Ji Xiting: “…” I knew this would happen.

Qin Zheng: Smirking.jpg

“So, do you want to pick the date spot, or should I?” Qin Zheng asked casually.

The small speaker on the ceiling chose that moment to oppose him again: “Invitations can be changed until the morning of the third day. Guests, please work hard to seize new opportunities!”

Damn it! The veins in Qin Zheng’s temples throbbed. Sooner or later, he was going to rip that speaker out.

“One more rule,” the speaker added cheerfully. “On the morning of the third day, everyone must send the name of the person they want to date to the production team, and the team will announce the final pairings!”

So, during these two nights, everything could change.

Qin Zheng suspected this was a last-minute scramble by the directors to save the drama, but he had no proof, unless he stole the script. But such a thing was beneath a Film Emperor.

The guests looked at each other, each seemingly harboring new thoughts. After a bit of verbal sparring in the living room, they retreated to their rooms. Whether they would stay there, however, was another matter.

Ji Xiting felt that one night wasn’t a big deal. He needed a good night’s sleep to recharge so he could invite someone in his best state; that was the professional standard for a top star.

He enjoyed a nice bath, listening to explosive rock music on a 360-degree surround sound system, singing and dancing along as he dried his hair.

“I walk among men but stay free, a carefree immortal from the heavens~”

Wearing a bathrobe and using the speaker as a microphone, he moonwalked out of the bathroom, feeling incredibly cool.

“Counsel heaven, counsel earth, counsel myself; forget the mountains, forget the waters. I forget my lov—AH!!!”

Ji Xiting hit a high note purely out of terror as he saw someone on his bed. “Holy crap! Qin Zheng, what is wrong with you!”

Qin Zheng was dressed in black silk pajamas, the outlines of his chest and abs faintly visible through the fabric. His legs looked impossibly long. His hair was damp and pushed back, revealing his flawless, deep-set features.

Honestly, Ji Xiting really did crave that face and that body.

“Where did you get this habit of just barging into people’s rooms?” Ji Xiting kicked at him. “Get out.”

He was only wearing a bathrobe. As he raised his leg, Qin Zheng’s eyes glazed over, and he stood up instantly.

Ji Xiting: “…You mother-f—”

Qin Zheng cleared his throat and yanked a blanket over himself, rolling into a cocoon.

“What are you doing?” Ji Xiting pulled at the blanket. “Go back to your own room.”

Qin Zheng buried his face in a pile of pillows. “No.”

“Oh?” Ji Xiting laughed. “Do you think I won’t actually beat you up?”

“Mmmph…” Qin Zheng let out a long, whining moan, his six-foot-plus frame squirming on the bed like a giant caterpillar.

Ji Xiting rolled his eyes and kicked him in the butt. “Fine, sleep then. I’m going to the other room.”

Just as he turned around, he felt a sudden tightening around his waist. After the world spun for a second, he found himself pinned onto the bed and stuffed into the covers. A perfect combo move.

“What are you doing!” Ji Xiting was annoyed. “Do you realize we’re broken up? And the livestream is still on!”

*****

【Ugh, move that annoying blanket! I can’t see anything!】

【I can fill in the blanks just by listening. Film Emperor Qin definitely has Ting-ge pinned down. Next comes the ‘this and that’!】

【Ahhh they’re doing it! My ship is doing it tonight!】

*****

Qin Zheng wrapped him in the blanket and then pulled him, cocoon and all, into a hug, burying his head in Ji Xiting’s neck. In a daze, Ji Xiting felt like he was raising a very large, very petty dog.

“What are you doing?” He didn’t even realize his own voice had softened.

Qin Zheng whispered, “I’m scared to sleep alone.”

“Stop faking.” Ji Xiting ruthlessly called his bluff. “You seemed perfectly happy living alone when you were filming before. You even video-called me to do… that.”

Qin Zheng gave a muffled chuckle.

“Tch, get out,” Ji Xiting struggled.

Qin Zheng held him tighter. “Ting-ge, that speaker scared me today. I really feel like there’s another guest on the ceiling.”

Ji Xiting looked up at the ceiling. Talking about this late at night… isn’t that a bit inappropriate?

“Just let me sleep here. I’ll just stay beside you and won’t do anything else.”

“…Take your hand off my waist before you say that.”

Qin Zheng pulled his hand back and propped himself up to look at him. “I really won’t do anything.”

Ji Xiting turned his face away, and Qin Zheng laid back down on him, burying his face in the crook of his neck. His warm breath made Ji Xiting feel flush.

“Fine, fine, get off. I haven’t even changed into my pajamas.”

Qin Zheng sat up immediately, pulling Ji Xiting up with him. The collar of the bathrobe was pushed open, revealing a wide expanse of pale skin that glowed softly like silk in the dim light.

“Tch, stop looking.” Ji Xiting pushed Qin Zheng’s forehead. Qin Zheng let himself fall backward, hugging Ji Xiting’s legs and whining.

Ji Xiting laughed and kicked him. “Get lost, you.”

Qin Zheng laughed too, finally letting go.

Having learned from the afternoon and seeing that the “silly dog” was still “at attention,” Ji Xiting took his pajamas into the bathroom to change before coming back out.

“Stingy,” Qin Zheng grumbled.

Ji Xiting sat back on the bed and gave Qin Zheng’s pec a slap. “Interest.” He’d let the man watch him change in the afternoon; he had to collect some interest for that.

“That’s it?” Qin Zheng patted his abs. “Don’t want to collect a bit more?”

Ji Xiting rolled his eyes and turned his back to him. “Lights out.”

“Okay.”

Silence followed for a moment after the lights went out, and then a warm chest pressed against Ji Xiting’s back.

“Ting-ge,” Qin Zheng whispered, carefully putting an arm around his waist. “Who are you going to date?”

“Take a guess.”

“Me?”

“Anyone but you.”

Qin Zheng sighed, closed his eyes, and prepared to sleep while still “at attention.”

******

【That’s it? That’s it?! Are you two going to do it or not?】

【They’re so sweet. This doesn’t look like an ex-couple; it looks like the honeymoon phase.】

【Even though they asked different people out, they still share a bed at night. Classic them.】

【Seriously, WHY DID YOU BREAK UP?!】

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