Can You Believe It? I Ran into My Ex on a Dating Variety Show - Chapter 12

The six individuals simultaneously turned their gaze toward the two who had yet to express an opinion. He Xingzhi frowned slightly. Shi Yu’s expression remained unchanged, appearing as calm as ever. However, he did not eat spicy food. He did not touch it at all; even a tiny bit would force him to drink massive amounts of water to find relief. The last time he had tried spicy food was when he attempted to eat spicy crayfish. After struggling for a long time, he managed to peel only three. Even so, he had to gulp down nearly a liter of water to recover. He had a very plain palate.

He Xingzhi was the complete opposite. He lived for spicy food, especially spicy crayfish and grilled skewers. During the early stages of their ambiguous relationship, Shi Yu had followed He Xingzhi to food stalls. They would order ten pounds of spicy crayfish and everything on the grilled skewer menu, washing it all down with mug after mug of beer.

At that time, He Xingzhi did not know Shi Yu could not handle spice and ordered everything “extra spicy.” Shi Yu forced himself to take two bites and immediately began to choke. While using beer to kill the heat, he stared expressionlessly at He Xingzhi, who was enjoying the meal immensely. He was baffled. How could something so painful be delicious? Did his mouth not hurt?

Later, once He Xingzhi realized Shi Yu’s dietary restrictions, he never took him to those stalls again. He even spent several months learning a lighter, Cantonese style cuisine from a master chef specifically for Shi Yu.

Liu Xiuxiu looked at He Xingzhi, his ear tips turning slightly red. “Brother He, do you eat spicy food?”

He Xingzhi replied coldly, “I do not eat spicy food.”

This single sentence caused the livestream chat to explode. One user commented that Brother He’s bad temper had arrived, albeit late. Another warned Xiuxiu that He Xingzhi loves spicy food and not to believe his lies. Someone else laughed at the idea of He Xingzhi not eating spice, noting that the last time he was on a show, he completed a ghost pepper challenge without even changing his expression. A different viewer pointed out that Brother He is a total straight man because a delicate “Sweet O” like Xiuxiu did not trigger a hint of protective instinct in him. Fans of Shi Yu worried because he really does not eat spice and cannot cook. They noted he is a very picky eater and feared he would become even thinner after the show. Some reminisced that three years ago was his peak visual era when he was perfectly balanced, not too thin and not too fat, though he remains a god-tier beauty now.

“Ah, then what should we do? I have never made a dish without chili peppers,” Liu Xiuxiu said, looking as if he were about to cry. He Xingzhi was unwilling to give him a single word of response. Observations from the chat suggested Xiuxiu was already falling for him since the way he looked at He Xingzhi was so obvious. They noted He Xingzhi is the most “Alpha” man present and is considered the ideal type in the gay community.

Su Jingxi looked at Shi Yu. “What about you, Brother Shi? Do you eat spicy food?”

Shi Yu said calmly, “I do not. But do not worry about me; I will figure something out.”

Su Jingxi’s eyes lit up. “Brother Shi, do you know how to cook?”

Shi Yu shook his head. “I only know how to assist.”

Su Jingxi fell silent. The chat scrolled by with users wondering if they smelled romance. They questioned if someone was at Brother Shi’s home, reasoning that one usually only learns to assist if someone else is doing the cooking. While some were shocked at the possibility of him being in a relationship, others defended his professionalism, noting that despite being low-key, he always completes his projects successfully. His first drama broke records and his first movie made six billion at the box office, exceeding the performance of almost all his peers.

“That will not do. We are a team. How about I try making some lighter dishes? But I really cannot guarantee they will be good since I have never tried,” Liu Xiuxiu said, blinking his naturally downturned, pitiful eyes at Shi Yu. Fans commented on how cute Xiuxiu looked, describing him as a feast for the eyes.

“I can cook, but only light dishes,” He Xingzhi said with a foul expression, looking very reluctant.

Su Jingxi was surprised. “You do not look like the type who enters a kitchen.”

He Xingzhi’s face darkened, and he remained silent. He originally did not know how to cook. It was only because a certain someone was so picky that he grew thinner by the day, to the point where his bones poked He Xingzhi when he held him, that he bothered to find a master to teach him.

Su Jingxi slapped his hands together, not sensing He Xingzhi’s ill intent at all. He said excitedly, “That is perfect! Since Brother Shi does not eat spice, you can be responsible for your dinner and Brother Shi’s. Xiuxiu will cook for the rest of us. Zhao Yiliang and I will assist. Zhao Yiliang probably knows a bit, and although I do not, my mother always praised my hands-on ability.”

Xie Yuanzhou asked who was responsible for buying the groceries. Zhang Bin rolled up his sleeves, revealing strong biceps, and offered to carry things since he had plenty of strength despite not knowing how to cook. Liu Xiuxiu stole another glance at He Xingzhi and weakly suggested that the people who know how to cook should go to ensure nothing wrong is bought. Su Jingxi honestly admitted he probably could not even name half the vegetables.

Liu Xiuxiu looked at He Xingzhi with eager expectation, but He Xingzhi did not look back at all. Instead, he reached out his foot and gave Shi Yu’s leg a light kick. With a fierce expression, he said, “You are coming with me. I will choose, and you will carry. If you want to eat the food I cook, you have to contribute labor. I will not take care of anyone for free.”

Shi Yu stared at the hem of his pants, which had been dirtied by the sole of the shoe. He frowned and stood up. He Xingzhi thought he had made him angry and, for a fleeting moment, regretted his actions. However, before he could show any regret, he heard Shi Yu say, “Fine. But I need to return to my room to change my pants first.”

The chat noted that Brother Shi’s germaphobia was as severe as ever. Some felt that whenever these two were in the same frame, they seemed to be at each other’s throats. They wondered how much Shi Yu disliked He Xingzhi if he had to change his pants immediately. Others questioned if they had a grudge and if they could even go grocery shopping peacefully without fighting in the middle of the market. They suggested the pair should go to a supermarket because Shi Yu’s germaphobia might prevent him from stepping into a traditional wet market.

Shi Yu walked back to his room without looking back. He Xingzhi scratched his curly red hair impatiently and glared fiercely at Shi Yu’s retreating back. “Tch. Such a nuisance.”

The audience discussed He Xingzhi’s universal impatience. They wondered if Shi Yu’s germaphobia would prevent physical contact later in the show, as dating shows usually require some level of intimacy like hand-holding or flirting.

Based on visuals, many chose to ship He Xingzhi and Shi Yu, despite others pointing out it was the most impossible pair given their past tense interactions at the airport. Some felt they were more likely to become love rivals than a couple.