Can You Believe It? I Ran into My Ex on a Dating Variety Show - Chapter 8

Shi Yu had just finished throwing out the trash when he saw He Xingzhi walking in. Almost simultaneously, everyone else looked over as well.

Unlike Shi Yu, who disliked showing his face, He Xingzhi was like a male peacock in mating season, constantly flashing his beautiful tail on various screens. “Narcissist” was a label many anti-fans had pinned on him, though his loyal followers found his arrogant and cocky attitude adorable.

He Xingzhi’s schedule was packed with television dramas, movies, variety shows, and advertisements. For a period, whenever Shi Yu turned on the television, he saw He Xingzhi’s face. Whenever he stepped outside, he saw He Xingzhi’s advertisements hanging on buildings. Even while playing games, pop-up advertisements featuring He Xingzhi would appear. Three years after their breakup, He Xingzhi was still pervasive in every corner of his life.

Shi Yu sometimes wondered if this man actually needed to sleep. Where did he get so much time and energy for work? When they were together, his manager would have to ask him three times just to get him to film a single commercial.

The group offered enthusiastic greetings. He Xingzhi, sporting a sour face as if someone owed him billions, ignored everyone. He pushed his suitcase inside, not even bothering to fake a smile for the cameras. He sat down heavily onto a single sofa, his expression one of pure annoyance.

The bullet comments became even more lively.

[He is here! Still as sour-faced as ever, hahaha.] [Even Brother He’s angry face is so handsome.] [Who made my Brother He angry this time?] [I just love seeing Brother He’s arrogant “King” face, acting like he is too good for anyone.] [If Brother He is angry, it is not his fault; it is yours.]

[Wait! I think I figured something out! The live stream is focused on Brother He in the living room. There are four people here, making six total appearances. Two people are currently off-camera, so] [The person above is so smart.] [How can we even tell you and Einstein apart now?] [So the question is: what were Shi Yu and the rich heir Su Jingxi doing over there to make Brother He look so angry?] [I have the answer! Someone posted photos of Brother He leaving the airport. He was staring at someone in front of him. Although that person wore a mask and glasses, we can guess from the outfit and suitcase that it was Shi Yu. They were on the same flight] [I saw the photos too. Brother He looked furious. They probably had a conflict on the plane.] [That look makes me worried they will actually start a fight on the show.] [Both of them have exploding levels of hormones and god-tier beauty. They both look like “Tops,” otherwise, I would be shipping the “enemies to lovers” trope so hard.]

After waiting another half hour or so, two more people appeared at the door simultaneously. In terms of height and build, they were similar. Both were over 180 centimeters tall, but their styles were opposites. The one looking steady and elegant, even in stylish private clothes, was the young Best Actor, Yan Jin. The other, appearing in loose e-sports gear, was Xie Yuanzhou, the captain of last year’s championship e-sports team.

They were of similar stature, though the actor’s skin was a bit darker. At the entrance, they nearly got into a scuffle over whose luggage would pass through first. The viewers’ attention immediately shifted from the grudge between He Xingzhi and Shi Yu.

The bullet comments scrolled rapidly.

[This show is amazing! They are fighting already?] [Wait, are Yan Jin and Xie Yuanzhou not childhood friends?] [They were in the same school and class from kindergarten through high school.] [The buffs are stacked: Yan Jin versus Xie Yuanzhou, He Xingzhi versus Shi Yu. Two pairs of rivals. Let us bet on which pair hits each other first.] [@Director, I want to see rivals fall in love!] [I do not know whose “kink” just got activated, but it was mine.] [As expected of a dating show; I have already found my favorite couple on day one.]

All eight guests had arrived:

1. Top Celebrity: He Xingzhi
2. New Best Actor: Yan Jin
3. E-sports Champion: Xie Yuanzhou
4. Mysterious Big Shot: Shi Yu
5. Fashion Designer: Zhao Yiliang
6. Olympic Champion: Zhang Bin
7. Musical Newcomer: Liu Xiuxiu
8. Son of a Real Estate Tycoon: Su Jingxi

[With this lineup, I can already sense this show will be a massive hit.] [It would be a sin if it did not go viral.]

Production Team: “Everyone is here, and you should all be acquainted now. We will spend the next ten days here for the first stage of recording. The villa has two floors with four rooms each. The first floor opens to the pool, and the second floor faces the sea. To be fair, room selection will be done by drawing lots.”

“Is anyone there? Help me out! I cannot get in. Quickly, carry me in, hmph” A cute, androgynous voice sounded from the door. Since the camera had not cut over yet, this sweet voice sparked intense debate in the chat.

[Where did this ‘Green Tea’ person come from?] [What a disgusting voice.] [Is it a staff member? Please fire her; why is she acting like that at work?]

Amidst the malicious comments, a small group noted:

[What a cute voice.] [With a voice that cute, it must be a boy, right?]

Olympic champion Zhang Bin, who was sitting closest to the door, walked over. Expecting a person, he looked straight ahead at eye level. After looking around in confusion for a moment, the voice spoke again.

“Look down!” “I am down here, at your feet! Be careful not to step on me; I am very expensive!”

Zhang Bin looked down and was startled. However, he calmly squatted down and picked up an intelligent little toy car that weighed about twenty or thirty pounds. When the colorful, pretty little car was carried into the frame by the burly Olympic champion, the live chat went silent.

The guests, shocked, crowded around to look. Zhang Bin placed the self-proclaimed “Little Flower” car on the rug in the center of the living room.

“Hello, handsome big brothers! My name is Little Flower. I am here to deliver the drawing lot bucket! It is on my back. Pick one each; no grabbing!”

The production team had gone to great lengths to avoid staff members being harassed on screen. Poor Little Flower had been mistaken for a manipulative person. Little Flower spun around, allowing all the guests to take a square-folded piece of paper from the bucket.

“Handsome big brothers, please find your rooms based on your results! The live stream will end here, but since this is a dating observation show, there are cameras even in the bedrooms. Please do not treat my ‘friends’ roughly. Thank you!”

Shi Yu had just opened his paper when a hand reached over and snatched it. Su Jingxi opened it and said excitedly, “Brother Shi Yu, we are both on the first floor! We are so fated.”

Xie Yuanzhou added: “I am also on the first floor.”

Su Jingxi: “Wow! There is one more. Who is it?”

Yan Jin unfolded his paper and said, somewhat displeased, “I am on the second floor.”

He Xingzhi’s hand holding his paper betrayed a slight, undetectable tension. However, he still acted indifferent, as if he did not even plan to open it. The others opened theirs one by one. Zhao Yiliang and Liu Xiuxiu were both on the second floor.

Two people were left, with one spot remaining on each floor. Zhang Bin glanced at He Xingzhi’s disinterested face and gave up on interacting. He opened his paper and showed it to everyone: “I am on the second floor.”

In a corner where no one noticed, He Xingzhi’s tightly clenched fingers finally relaxed.