Can You Believe It? I Ran into My Ex on a Dating Variety Show - Chapter 17

“Brother Shi, this milk is so delicious. You should try it. I heard it is from a new sponsor. Since I am not a celebrity and you do not have any endorsements, we can both drink as much as we want.” Su Jingxi’s eyes nearly turned into cat slits because he enjoyed the drink so much.

Shi Yu held the milk but did not drink it immediately. “I have already brushed my teeth, but thank you for this. I will take it back to my room and drink it tomorrow morning.”

Su Jingxi: “Make sure you remember to taste it. It is really good.”

Shi Yu: “I will.”

Shi Yu prepared to return to his room. As he turned around, he saw He Xingzhi standing in the hallway. He did not know when He Xingzhi had arrived or how much he had heard, but He Xingzhi was staring at the milk in his hand with a dark, unhappy expression.

Su Jingxi felt a chill on his neck. He reached up to touch it and frowned foolishly. “Strange, why do I suddenly feel a chill behind my neck?”

It was only when Shi Yu walked closer that he saw He Xingzhi was also holding a bottle of milk. It was likely the same milk he had just been told to take back to drink. Looking at He Xingzhi’s sour face, Shi Yu walked up to him and stopped. He then reached out his hand. “Milk.”

He Xingzhi gripped his bottle tightly and said sarcastically, “Do you not already have one?”

Shi Yu took a direct approach and snatched the milk from He Xingzhi’s hand, while simultaneously stuffing the one he was holding into He Xingzhi’s palm. After completing the exchange, he walked away with the milk. Left standing there, He Xingzhi’s mood instantly brightened. However, he immediately felt angry at himself for being so spineless. How could he be coaxed so easily? He should have just poured the milk over Shi Yu’s head. He Xingzhi imagined countless ways to get revenge, but the corners of his mouth were harder to keep down than an AK-47.

[Your ex-boyfriend is so easy to coax. I bet he definitely wants to get back together with you.]

Shi Yu gripped the milk bottle a little tighter. He could certainly see He Xingzhi’s feelings for him, but he could not respond to that burning passion right now. If he softened his heart and responded now, it would only cause He Xingzhi even greater pain in the future. Currently, the hurt was controllable, but if they tried again, it might not be. Shi Yu did not want to take that risk. He would rather turn himself into a heartless person and let He Xingzhi hate him forever.

Shi Yu placed the milk on the nightstand, took off his shoes, and lay down on the bed. “3875, how much time is left?”

[Six months.]

Shi Yu closed his eyes, his eyelashes trembling slightly. In six months, he would not get back together with him, but he also did not want to cause He Xingzhi too much more pain. It would be best to maintain the current state and finish recording the show peacefully.

He Xingzhi took the milk Shi Yu had given him and returned to his room. The layouts of the rooms were similar, as were the nightstands. Although He Xingzhi had already washed up, he did not drink the milk. Instead, he placed it on his nightstand in the exact same position where Shi Yu had placed his. If He Xingzhi had not blocked his camera, the production team could have edited a shot of the matching milk bottles. At that time, the audience would surely have been shocked by the coincidence, creating another powerful tool for the fans of their pairing.

Night fell, and the guests returned to their rooms one after another. Su Jingxi had been playing games in the living room. When he saw Yan Jin coming down from the second floor for water, Su Jingxi rarely did not greet him enthusiastically. He simply glanced at him and returned to his room with his phone. This scene was caught by Xie Yuanzhou, who was standing by the window smoking.

In the production observation room, things were heating up.

“Just putting these guests together creates such strong chemistry and tension. Those three just now could easily be edited into a love triangle.” “I think Su Jingxi, He Xingzhi, and Shi Yu could also form a love triangle plot.” “There are fans for every pairing now. The votes for Shi Yu and Su Jingxi are quite high. Should we let them go on a date first? See if they can spark more intense flames.” “But He Xingzhi and Shi Yu look more compatible, do they not? Both in terms of atmosphere and visuals.” “It is because they are so compatible and controversial that we should not pair them up at the very beginning. We should let them start as rivals. Rivals becoming lovers is a much more popular trope and easier to generate dramatic plots.”

The staff were still working overtime. Several screenwriters gathered with the director and assistant director, arguing heatedly. Everyone held their own opinions and tried to persuade the others. The director listened for a while and discussed it quietly with the assistant director for a few minutes. Finally, he decided to resolve the matter by a majority vote.

“That is it!” The director closed the file in his hand. “It is decided. It is late. Everyone should go back and rest. We will proceed with the current plan tomorrow morning.”

The next day.

Breakfast was provided by the production team, but the guests had to participate in an activity to win it. Those who won could choose their breakfast items. Early in the morning, before the guests had even woken up, the staff had already set up the activity area. The villa was large enough that they could set up several activity spots without running out of space.

Shi Yu’s biological clock was always punctual. He opened his eyes at six in the morning. However, thinking that He Xingzhi was likely not up yet, he lingered in bed for a while. He tossed and turned for a bit, trying to go back to sleep, but failed. After lying there with his eyes closed for ten minutes without success, he gave up on the idea of a morning nap. Shi Yu fumbled for his phone and decided to check the internet for updates on the show’s recording.

At a glance, he saw a hashtag about the discord between him and He Xingzhi hanging at the bottom of the trending list. Clicking on the tag revealed various speculations about their argument at the airport. The netizens’ ability to make up stories based on pictures was as strong as ever.

Shi Yu was using a secondary account, so he was not afraid of accidental likes. After browsing for half an hour, he heard the sound of footsteps outside. He listened closely and recognized He Xingzhi’s voice. Hearing only one voice, he assumed he was on the phone.

“I am going for a run now. We will talk about it when I get back,” He Xingzhi said.

Shi Yu quickly scrambled out of bed. He put on his slippers, went to the door, and opened it. He Xingzhi had not gone far. He was holding his phone with an impatient look on his face. When he heard the door open, he looked over and met Shi Yu’s eyes. He was wearing a set of black athletic wear, and even his sneakers were black. He gave off a cold vibe that warned others not to approach.

In the three years since their breakup, although Shi Yu saw He Xingzhi everywhere in dramas, advertisements, and more, they had never met once in reality. This was partly due to his deliberate avoidance. Three years had passed, and the young man who had been full of childishness back then had now become a real man.

“You, come for a run with me,” He Xingzhi suddenly invited Shi Yu.