Drink This Bowl Of Dog Blood! [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 5

After laughing, Song Yanxing clicked on the third trending topic regarding his comeback. Under the moderation of his loyal fans and the studio, the comment section was generally harmonious, though some intense remarks remained from former fans who had turned into anti-fans after his retirement.

「User: Here is a joke: the great Best Actor Song, who retired on a whim, is now slinking back. Do not talk to me about an original heart.」

「User: Exactly. He was the first person in the industry to retire for love at his peak. He got married just like that—what did he think his fans were?」

「User: Replying to the anti-fans above: First, Song retired because he has his own life and pursuits. There is no need to keep harping on this. Artists are people too. Besides, he is an actor; we should focus on the work itself rather than his private life. Thank you.」

Despite the skeptical remarks from anti-fans, there were high-voted comments from fans defending him. Of course, some comments caught onto different details and steered the conversation elsewhere.

「User: Wait, did no one notice the phrase “return to silence”? While it could mean returning to a calm state from a hectic one, it might also mean returning to being single.」

「User: I actually think the person above makes sense. And looking at the leaked photos, Song Yanxing really was not wearing a ring on his left hand while carrying those things!」

The public’s speculation was quickly confirmed. Five hours after Song Yanxing announced his comeback, his long-dormant studio account reposted their boss’s Weibo to begin operations.

［Song Yanxing Studio v: “What is past is prologue.” Fear not the future, and dwell not on the past. This is our shared fresh start. There will be upcoming work in variety shows and films. Finally, we offer our sincere thanks to every “Little Star” who stayed and waited!］

The studio’s post indirectly informed the public that Song Yanxing had indeed divorced, sparking heated discussions among netizens. Most fans did not have a strong reaction since it was an actor’s private life. Instead, they were more amused by the viral meme of Song Yanxing buying strawberry seedlings.

Meanwhile, some netizens began guessing which show Song Yanxing—who usually focused on films and rarely participated in variety shows—would join.

「User: I have a bold guess. He would not be joining that divorce-themed reality show, would he?」

「User: You are overthinking it.」

A few comments that accidentally hit the truth failed to make much of a splash.

Once the small storm over the comeback passed, the day of the recording arrived. Initial preparations were complete, and the guests needed to arrive at the Heartbeat House one by one.

Song Yanxing pushed his packed luggage out of his room while listening to his manager’s final instructions.

“The recording is divided into house stays and short-distance trips. When the time comes, just do your best.” Jiang Wei felt overwhelmed whenever she recalled the variety show producer’s ecstatic expression upon hearing that Song Yanxing would participate in a Transit Love show.

Song Yanxing handed his luggage to his new assistant, Xiao Liu, and looked at the frowning manager. “Do not worry, I know where to draw the line.”

Recalling a certain someone’s trending topic about a farmers’ market, Jiang Wei silently rolled her eyes. Since he was her own artist, she added, “The program crew promised they will not edit things out of context or manufacture scandals, so you do not have to be too stiff.” She then added, “Since it is a dating show, there will still be work hours. I will filter the brand endorsements I have gathered for you.”

Song Yanxing nodded. He glanced back at the bedroom and said, “If you have time, come to the apartment and help me water the strawberries on the balcony. You do not need to do it every day; once every two days is fine. Since it is getting cool, it is best to water them at noon.”

Jiang Wei sighed while looking at Song Yanxing, who was acting like a worried father, but she agreed. After giving his instructions, Song Yanxing got into the car headed for the Heartbeat House.

The house was located in A City, about fifty kilometers from Song Yanxing’s apartment. Once he sat in the car, cameras from multiple angles began recording. He looked composed and showed no signs of nervousness.

The program director took out the script to begin the interview. Upon seeing the first question, she looked at the faintly smiling Song Yanxing and skillfully skipped the meaningless prompt.

“What is your ideal type?” the director read the second question.

Song Yanxing looked up. Tan Qiuyi’s face inexplicably flashed through his mind. He shook off the thought and replied, “It is hard to put into specific words. If I had to describe it, it would be someone who makes me feel comfortable when we are together, with a bit of a resilient personality.”

The director asked the final question: “If you had to choose a date location between the beach, a restaurant, an amusement park, or a cinema, which would you pick?”

“The beach,” Song Yanxing answered.

The car arrived at the house. Located in the suburbs of the Third Ring Road, it was a three-story European-style villa. Song Yanxing stepped out, pulled his suitcase toward the villa, and stopped at the entrance to read the small blackboard.

“Welcome to the Heartbeat House! Please follow these rules during your stay: 1. Do not reveal the identity of your X to others. 2. Do not exchange private contact information. 3. Physical contact and expressions are permitted, excluding formal confessions.”

After reading, Song Yanxing blinked thoughtfully and then pushed open the front door.

“Is no one here?” As expected, the living room was empty. He appeared to be the first to arrive. He reached for a pair of slippers at the entrance, but his eyes caught a pair of men’s shoes neatly placed in the shoe cabinet.

A trace of surprise flashed in his eyes. He glanced at the living room again to confirm no one was there. Bored, he decided to wander around the house.

While walking toward the back garden, he successfully found the missing guest. The youth was not wearing a coat, just a simple white turtleneck sweater and black casual pants. He stood with his back to Song Yanxing, crouching by several flower pots and looking mesmerized.

Sensing footsteps, Tan Qiuyi turned around. His gaze unexpectedly met those familiar peach-blossom eyes. The man standing there was tall, half a head taller than himself, with deep features and a gentle gaze. It was Song Yanxing, Grandma Song’s grandson.

Song Yanxing was also momentarily stunned. He was the first to speak. “Hello, I am Song Yanxing, a newly arrived member of the house.”

“Mhm. Hello, I am Tan Qiuyi,” Tan Qiuyi replied, snapping back to reality.

Appearing on a divorce-themed dating show together meant neither of their hearts were at peace. They both silently agreed that the best way to handle it was to pretend they did not know each other. Though it was not their first meeting, this was the first time Song Yanxing truly looked at the youth’s features up close.

Despite the white sweater, the youth’s skin appeared luminous. His eyes, paired with amber pupils, were exceptionally delicate. The black stud in his left ear was eye-catching, and his thin lips and straight nose gave him an aura of cold detachment.

Song Yanxing looked away. “It is a bit cold outside. Let us go in and sit down.”

“Alright,” Tan Qiuyi replied, dusting off his hands.

Song Yanxing led the way back to the living room. “Do you want to wash your hands? The kitchen is this way,” he suddenly asked, turning back.

Tan Qiuyi’s fingers behind his back twitched. After a second’s pause, he said, “Yes.”

They entered the kitchen together, and the sound of running water filled the space. Song Yanxing watched those long fingers becoming pristine under the water. Inexplicably, his heart began to stir with the sound of the stream. Unaware of the other’s thoughts, Tan Qiuyi naturally took the dry towel Song Yanxing handed him.

After drying his hands, they sat side-by-side on the sofa. Soon after, the front door opened. A man in a black suit coat walked in, his hair styled back, radiating the aura of a business elite. He set his luggage aside, changed his shoes, and walked to the living room.

Song Yanxing stood up to greet him, noticing immediately whom the man’s eyes first landed on.

“Hello, I am Song Yanxing.”

“I know. My family liked watching your movies. I am Zuo Yi.” Zuo Yi retracted his gaze and introduced himself. The two shook hands.

Tan Qiuyi stood up and gave a brief introduction. Once the pleasantries were over, they sat back down, with Zuo Yi sitting on the other side of Tan Qiuyi.

As the atmosphere fell into silence, the door opened again. This time, a cheerful guest with blonde hair, Cheng Siyou, entered and successfully livened up the mood. Then followed the fashion-forward Ye Hui, the curly-haired Meng Can, the cool Zhou Xiangyu, and Chi Ting, who bore some resemblance to Song Yanxing.

With all eight people gathered, the living room felt crowded. “Can anyone cook? The blackboard said we have to prepare our own meals after the first dinner,” Cheng Siyou said, breaking the silence.

“I can,” Song Yanxing said.

The guests were surprised that the Best Actor knew how to cook. Song Yanxing explained, “Celebrities need healthy meals, so I researched cooking techniques. I usually cook when I am free.”

Ye Hui looked up at the man, and memories of their married life surfaced. Song Yanxing had cooked for him and even researched his specific tastes, but at the time, Ye Hui’s heart was not in the marriage. He had only eaten those meals a handful of times. This thought left Ye Hui with complex feelings.

“Then I will help Mr. Song, even though I do not know how,” Cheng Siyou added eagerly. Tan Qiuyi said nothing, only looking up when Cheng Siyou spoke.

“If there are no objections, we will divide the labor. We need two for washing vegetables, two for grocery shopping, and two for tidying the table,” Song Yanxing said as the head chef.

Chi Ting and Ye Hui immediately formed the shopping team. That left washing and tidying. Tan Qiuyi thought for a moment and raised his hand. “I will wash the vegetables.”

Zuo Yi frowned slightly and added, “Then I will wash them with Qiuyi.”

Meng Can laughed. “Then I will tidy the table with the cool guy.” Zhou Xiangyu gave a cooperative smile and glanced at the laughing Cheng Siyou.

After assigning the tasks, they settled in for the housewarming meal. A hot pot of boiling spicy red oil filled the room with fragrance.

“Do you want some shrimp?” Zuo Yi asked Tan Qiuyi.

Tan Qiuyi shook his head. “No, thank you. I am allergic to seafood.”

Unaware of Zuo Yi’s stunned expression, Tan Qiuyi picked up a slice of fatty beef from the spicy broth, dipped it in sauce, and ate it. Moments later, a wave of heat surged from his throat to the tip of his tongue.

“Cough, cough, cough!” Tan Qiuyi began to choke, his porcelain-like face instantly flushing red.

Everyone at the table was immediately drawn to the commotion. Song Yanxing, who had been watching them out of the corner of his eye, was the first to stand up and head for the kitchen.

Tan Qiuyi wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes just as two glasses of water were held out in front of him.

“Drink quickly.”

“Here, drink.”

Tan Qiuyi looked up, unsure of which glass to take. One was from his ex-husband from a loveless marriage, and the other was from a man who was, for now, his friend. It was a difficult choice.