After Joining a Dating Show, My Silly Ex Got Jealous - Chapter 8

The next morning, Zhen Jiankang sprinted to Qin Zheng’s door, brimming with his usual energy to call everyone for breakfast. To his surprise, the door was wide open, and the bed was made so neatly it looked as though it hadn’t been slept in at all.

Had he already gotten up?

That didn’t seem right; he hadn’t seen anyone downstairs.

Slightly confused, Zhen Jiankang shrugged and moved over to knock on Ji Xiting’s door. “Ting-ge, breakfast time!”

The door opened from the inside. Qin Zheng walked out wearing his pajamas, his hair a wild mess as he gave a brief nod. “Morning.”

“Oh, morning,” Zhen Jiankang stammered, completely baffled. “Did you and Ting-ge swap rooms?”

Qin Zheng let out a low, knowing chuckle and brushed past him to return to his own room.

Zhen Jiankang: “?”

What was that enigmatic smile supposed to mean?

“Xiao Kang,” Ji Xiting said, walking toward the door. “What are you doing standing there?”

Holy crap. Zhen Jiankang understood that smile instantly.

“Nothing, Ting-ge! Just calling you guys down for breakfast.” He let out a nervous laugh. “Anyway, I’m heading down first. Hurry up and join us!”

He finished speaking at lightning speed and immediately bolted downstairs, taking three or four steps at a time in a way that made anyone watching fear for his life.

“Brothers!” Zhen Jiankang hissed as he burst into the kitchen, eager to share the fresh gossip with the group at the table. “Guess what I just saw!”

“A ghost?” Shen Ruan guessed.

“No!”

“The eighth guest?” Zheng Jingren asked curiously.

Zhen Jiankang shook his head, a devious grin spreading across his face. “Guess again.”

Gu Pei leisurely took a sip of his coffee. “Did you see my troublesome nephew walking out of his ex-boyfriend’s room?”

“Holy shit! How did you know?” Zhen Jiankang’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.

Si Wen said warmly, “When we came downstairs this morning, we noticed Film Emperor Qin’s door was wide open.”

“Huh? How come I didn’t see that?” Zhen Jiankang turned to Shen Ruan and Zheng Jingren, but they both shook their heads, equally in the dark.

*****

【You really can’t blame them. It’s just that Film Emperor Qin is too smooth.】

【And the three of you got up too early. Otherwise, you would’ve witnessed the masterpiece of Qin Zheng sneaking out of Ting-ge’s room and then opening his own door to make it look like he’d been there all along.】

*****

Zhen Jiankang and Shen Ruan had agreed to get up early for a workout, so they were the first ones up. Zheng Jingren, maintaining his professional integrity as the “chef,” had gotten up early to prep breakfast, so they had all missed the main event.

“So, do you think he just went there this morning, or did he never go back to his own room last night?” Zhen Jiankang gossiped.

The other four looked at him in unison, none of them saying a word.

“What? You guys aren’t curious?”

Everyone: “…”

Shen Ruan began winking frantically at him. Zhen Jiankang paused, then slowly turned around.

“Sss—” He sucked in a breath of cold air.

Ji Xiting stood there with a thin smile. “What exactly do you want to know? I can tell you myself.”

“No, no, no! I don’t want to know anything!”

Zhen Jiankang practically tripped over himself to pull out a chair for him, his tone dripping with flattery. “Please sit, Ting-ge! Today’s breakfast is a feast. What would you like? Your humble servant will serve you.”

“I’d like something bloody.”

“Don’t be like that!” Zhen Jiankang felt a chill down his neck. “Let me get you a bowl of porridge.”

Shen Ruan immediately whispered, “Ting-ge loves shredded chicken porridge.”

Coincidentally, Zheng Jingren had made shredded chicken porridge today, along with century egg and millet options, catering to everyone’s tastes.

“Coming right up!” Zhen Jiankang scrambled away to serve the porridge.

Qin Zheng arrived fashionably late, sitting down beside Ji Xiting. “Why aren’t you eating?”

“I am.” Ji Xiting picked up his chopsticks with measured grace.

Zhen Jiankang delivered the bowl immediately. “Here you go, Ting-ge. Careful, it’s hot.”

“Mm. You may be dismissed.”

“Understood!” Zhen Jiankang scurried back to sit next to Shen Ruan, still nursing a lingering sense of fear. Gossiping about someone’s private life only to be caught by the person in question. How awkward!

Qin Zheng was stunned. When did Ji Xiting and Zhen Jiankang get so close?

Serving him porridge?

He was the one who had slept beside Ji Xiting all night, yet within minutes of being apart, Zhen Jiankang was already swooping in? What was with this guy!

Ji Xiting didn’t care about his pettiness. He took a spoonful of porridge and looked surprised. “Who made this? It’s delicious.”

“I did,” Zheng Jingren said cheerfully. “Eat as much as you like.”

Qin Zheng’s head throbbed. There were only seven people in this house, and Ji Xiting already had “signals” going with five of them. Only Gu Pei was left.

Wait, no. Those two were actually very much in sync when it came to ganging up on him.

Damn it.

Qin Zheng lost his appetite instantly, fueled by irritation. Ji Xiting really was a natural flirt.

*****

【Film Emperor Qin, hahaha! I can practically smell the vinegar from here.】

【He is the human embodiment of aged vinegar.】

【He gets jealous so often. Given Ting-ge’s temper, it’s a miracle they lasted a year.】

*****

And it was true. Ji Xiting really couldn’t stand this trait of his. Not only was he suspicious of everything, but he’d also throw petty tantrums that required Ji Xiting to “pamper” him with his legs at least twice before he’d be satisfied. It was a spoiled habit.

Qin Zheng sat with his arms crossed, his face a picture of defiance.

“This is good. Try some.” Ji Xiting placed a small piece of egg pancake in his bowl.

Qin Zheng gave a huff, maintained his dignity for exactly one second, and then spinelessly picked up his chopsticks to eat the pancake. Since Ji Xiting was trying to appease him, he decided to stop being angry.

*****

【Oh, come on! You’re way too easy to win over.】

【Qin Zheng is going to be the death of me, haha. ‘I’m jealous but easily pacified’—he really is Ting-ge’s silly dog.】

【Does the Qin family bloodline have a ‘dignity for one second’ bug?】

*****

After the meal, Ji Xiting and Qin Zheng washed the dishes and tidied the kitchen together. Gu Pei’s assistant arrived with a stack of documents, so he took them up to the second-floor lounge to work. The others headed to the backyard court to walk off their meal and play some ball.

“Let’s head over too,” Ji Xiting said, drying his hands.

Qin Zheng pulled a tube of hand cream from his pocket and squeezed some out for him. With a loud splat, a massive glob of cream landed on Ji Xiting’s palm.

“Oops, squeezed too much,” Qin Zheng said with faux surprise. “Oh well, we can just share it.”

He tucked the cream away and took Ji Xiting’s hand, rubbing the cream into Ji Xiting’s skin while simultaneously coating his own. Suspecting he was just using this as an excuse to hold hands, Ji Xiting tried to slap the back of his hand.

Qin Zheng pulled away nimbly, and Ji Xiting hit thin air.

“Oh? Quite fast, aren’t you?” Ji Xiting crooked a finger. “Bring it here.”

Qin Zheng placed his hand back in Ji Xiting’s palm. Ji Xiting tried to slap it again, but Qin Zheng successfully pulled away a second time.

“…”

Qin Zheng laughed. “My turn to hit you. Come on.”

Ji Xiting reluctantly held his hand out. Qin Zheng made a feint, and Ji Xiting immediately yanked his hand back.

“I haven’t even hit you yet,” Qin Zheng laughed, his eyes fixed on him.

Ji Xiting pouted. “You’re cheating.”

“You’re just too sensitive.” While Ji Xiting was distracted, Qin Zheng landed a solid smack.

Ji Xiting hissed. “Mother-f—! Why did you hit me so hard!”

The back of his hand turned red instantly, and the distinct marks of fingers were visible. Qin Zheng’s heart skipped a beat; he grabbed the hand and began rubbing it, blowing on it gently. Ji Xiting had the kind of skin that bruised and marked easily. Qin Zheng hadn’t used much force, but it looked startling.

“Forget it. Too little, too late,” Ji Xiting said, pulling his hand away. “Let’s go play ball.” He wasn’t great at the hand-slapping game, but he could certainly settle the score on the court.

Qin Zheng took his hand again, whispering, “Does it hurt?”

“What do you think?” Ji Xiting shot him a side-glance.

Qin Zheng said sheepishly, “I think… it doesn’t.”

Ji Xiting: “?”

“Pfft—!” Qin Zheng burst into laughter and sprinted out the door.

Ji Xiting bolted after him, roaring, “You stupid dog! I’ll show you exactly how ‘red’ things can get today!”

On the court, Si Wen and Zheng Jingren were walking leisurely laps, while Zhen Jiankang was teaching Shen Ruan how to shoot three-pointers. Hearing a frantic mess of footsteps, everyone looked toward the entrance.

Qin Zheng and Ji Xiting came running in. As they neared the court gate, Qin Zheng slowed down, and Ji Xiting immediately caught up and leaped onto his back.

“Do you admit your mistake?” Ji Xiting said, putting him in a headlock.

Qin Zheng held his legs steady and laughed. “I admit it, I admit it! Spare my life, Ting-ge!”

“Then let me hit you back.”

“Fine, but let go of my neck first.”

Ji Xiting weighed his options. “No. I feel like I’m going to get the short end of the stick if I do.”

“Then what do you want?” Qin Zheng asked patiently.

Ji Xiting narrowed his eyes and suddenly gave Qin Zheng’s earlobe a sharp, playful nip. A warm, tingling sensation rushed from the earlobe through Qin Zheng’s entire body.

Qin Zheng’s heart hammered against his ribs. He instinctively looked at the four people on the court. The four “statues” immediately did a synchronized about-face, their backs looking stiffer by the second.

God help us. What did they do to deserve being trapped on a dating show with an ex-couple who spent their time slaughtering “single dogs” with public displays of affection? And they were the dogs!

“Fine, put me down.” Ji Xiting patted Qin Zheng’s head, preparing to flirt-and-run.

Qin Zheng’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He suddenly turned and carried Ji Xiting behind a century-old tree nearby. The thick trunk completely hid them from view.

Ji Xiting was dazed. “What are you doing?”

Qin Zheng set him down and immediately pinned him against the tree trunk. Ji Xiting’s head was cushioned by Qin Zheng’s palm. His beautiful fox-like eyes widened in surprise, and his pale pupils reflected Qin Zheng’s face.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, dappling them in light and shadow. The only sound was the rustle of the warm breeze through the branches. Qin Zheng looked down at him, his voice low. “Ting-ge, I want to…”

“We’re broken up,” Ji Xiting said, pushing at his chest. “Don’t get so close.” Between the “tree-thump” and the atmosphere, he was worried he’d lose his self-control.

Qin Zheng stared at him, his gaze falling to Ji Xiting’s lips. They were a healthy, pinkish hue; like fresh fruit waiting to be tasted.

Ji Xiting’s heart raced. His hands rested on Qin Zheng’s shoulders, his fingers unconsciously tightening on the fabric of his shirt.

“Ting-ge,” Qin Zheng whispered. He slowly leaned in until their warm breaths were tangled together.

The only thing Ji Xiting could hear was the frantic thumping of his own heart. A split second before their lips touched, he pulled away in a panic, shoving Qin Zheng aside.

He didn’t look back as he ran into the basketball court. He clutched his chest, his heart still pounding. He suddenly remembered a specific clause in their contract: before the final choice of the show, guests were not allowed to engage in “excessively intimate” behavior.

He almost lost a fortune! That was way too close for comfort!

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