Joining A Dating Show With Five Exes - Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Sister Will Protect Xiao Shi

The temperature resting on her forehead was full of reverence and affection.

But what was even more concerning was the voice that echoed in her mind:

Detected ‘Lifeline Character.’ Please proceed to unlock.

Compared to the astonishment she felt when she first heard it from Xie Zhiqing, Cheng Shiyuan’s heart was now calm.

She could even find dark humor in the thought, wondering if the quality of her ex-lovers was somehow high, giving them something akin to “narrative luck” in a novel, which she could absorb to extend her life.

However, her indifferent demeanor seemed to have caused Chen Chuxing to misunderstand—

Soft lips, replacing the forehead, covered hers.

Almost imperceptibly, they trailed down the bridge of her nose.

Like a butterfly kiss.

Just as they were about to land on the other pair of lips, they were suddenly blocked by a slender index finger.

Chen Chuxing froze, looking at the pale, green-onion-like finger separating them. It wasn’t a powerful obstacle—she could easily brush it aside with a bit of force—but her heart plummeted.

Cheng Shiyuan was rejecting her.

The moment she realized this, her mind inevitably flashed through Cheng Shiyuan’s eventful two days on the reality show.

Leveraging her connections in the entertainment industry, Chen Chuxing could easily keep track of the dating show guests’ activities, even without being on set.

Even the ambiguous secrets hidden from the cameras.

There was the naive young puppy who courted danger by provoking rivals.

There was the arrogant viper who publicly embarrassed her at the art museum on their date.

And there was the childhood friend, who had always lacked boundaries and now brazenly sent bodyguards to monitor her.

Thinking of Cheng Shiyuan’s tolerance and indulgence toward them, even allowing one of those presumptuous rascals to leave that kind of seductive mark on her lips right in front of the camera…

No, maybe there was more than one who did that!

—So, anyone else can, but she alone is disqualified, is that it?

Chen Chuxing’s throat constricted. She was unwilling to face the fact that the exclusive privilege that once belonged only to her had now degenerated into common treatment available to everyone, and now she couldn’t even have it.

But she didn’t even have the right to protest, because the culprit who ruined their sweet past was herself.

Chen Chuxing gave a bitter smile but willingly accepted the punishment.

So, she continued to lower her posture, even into the dust if necessary, and carefully settled for an alternative, cautiously kissing the fingertip pressed against her lips.

No matter how burning and hungry her gaze was on the other’s red lips, she behaved like a pet that would never overstep its boundaries without permission.

Chen Chuxing knew from the start that with this naturally beautiful and inherently noble rose, brutality and reckless plunder were absolutely forbidden.

As the pursuer, she could only exhaust every means to earn her mistress’s tenderness and approval.

She restrained her usual sharpness. Her alluring, inherently aggressive eyes, which usually carried a captivating charm, became utterly pitiful with just a slight drop of the outer corners.

Like a cunning white fox, she tried to wag her tail like a dog, but the soft, fluffy movement still conveyed an innate seduction.

Cheng Shiyuan used to be completely helpless against this form of enticement.

But Chen Chuxing felt it still wasn’t enough.

Her lips continued to peck gently at the finger, lingering. She gazed up at her lover tenderly, and as she spoke, her slightly upturned lips were practically encompassing the fingertip.

“Doesn’t Xiao Shi want Sister’s kiss anymore?”

The mature, captivating voice that had enchanted the audience on stage was now presented in a submissive manner, carrying a pitiable, cajoling undertone, as if only willing to surrender before her alone.

Even someone who wasn’t Chen Chuxing’s fan would likely find it impossible to refuse her in this state.

Cheng Shiyuan had to admit she lacked a bit of resistance to this sight.

Moreover, Chen Chuxing’s kissing skills were indeed excellent.

Cheng Shiyuan was never one to deny herself pleasure.

Since the other party was sincerely begging her, it wouldn’t be completely out of the question for her to bestow a kiss, following the system’s demand, out of her great mercy…

Yet, even though she had decided to grant it, Cheng Shiyuan didn’t respond immediately.

She looked down at Chen Chuxing, who was in a humble posture, seemingly dedicating herself to a deity, and was in no hurry to unlock the system prompt.

Cheng Shiyuan slowly moved her fingertip, carelessly rubbing those red lips, as if playing with a decorative object at hand. Her movements remained deliberate, drawing out the suspense.

Because she wanted to appreciate Chen Chuxing’s rarely seen, enduring, tormented expression.

The screen goddess, unable to cope with the emotional disparity, could only press herself into the dust, pleading for her pity: “I will give you anything you want…”

So.

My dearest Miss, please don’t hold back. Take from me, enjoy me to your heart’s content—

Cheng Shiyuan’s movement suddenly paused.

Her lips stopped inches away, and she narrowed her eyes, noticing the incongruity in Chen Chuxing’s words.

“What do you mean, ‘I will give you anything you want’?”

Their breaths mingled closely, and her unique scent permeated the deepest parts of Cheng Shiyuan’s lungs.

But in such an intimate moment, Cheng Shiyuan intuitively felt that something was wrong.

—In the past, Chen Chuxing, who was slightly insecure about her background, would never have made such a “giver’s” promise in front of her.

Without exposing her vigilance, she raised an eyebrow, maintaining the spoiled Miss persona to the fullest, but with a teasing edge:

“I’m not short on money now, I just won an award, and the scripts rolling in aren’t few. Even if I wanted to find someone to marry, there should be a long line of people at my door.”

Words that would sound extremely narcissistic coming from anyone else only made her look like a smug little cat.

The little cat proudly lifted its head and justifiably questioned the keeper’s qualifications:

“You just said, ‘I will grant whatever your wish is.’ When did Heavenly Queen Chen acquire capital I don’t know about that allows her to make such a boast to me?”

She looked at Chen Chuxing, slightly lifting her chin, hiding the scrutiny and appraisal in her eyes.

Seeing the reward that was almost hers vanish again, a hint of bitterness inevitably appeared in Chen Chuxing’s eyes.

But a certain suspicion that had been lingering in her heart was confirmed by Cheng Shiyuan’s reaction.

She wasn’t affected by Cheng Shiyuan’s nearly sarcastic attitude. Her gaze even carried a more intimate concern, and she turned the conversation to another matter:

“Before joining this dating show, you were frequently appearing at the hospital, but you haven’t gone back for a check-up once since the show started filming. Why?”

Was there something special about this show, or… was it these guests on the show?

Cheng Shiyuan, who was just testing her, felt a jolt at her sudden, direct question!

—She’s been found out!

But the next second, Cheng Shiyuan immediately heightened her guard: How much has this person guessed?

Knowing Chen Chuxing’s character, she wouldn’t use unverified clues to bluff her, so Cheng Shiyuan simply didn’t deny it, breaking into a laugh instead:

“Chen Chuxing, you’ve got to be kidding me.”

“Breaking up and then acting like a stalker to pry into your ex’s whereabouts? Why didn’t I notice you were this kind of person before?”

“Is appearing at the hospital such a rare thing? People get sick when they’re alive, they see a doctor when they’re sick, and they go home when they’re better. Is that so hard to understand, or worth bringing up specifically?”

Chen Chuxing swallowed the words, “But you were going to the Oncology Department.”

Seeing Cheng Shiyuan’s look of disdain, as if she were only just getting to know her and preparing to correct her impression.

She closed her eyes. She knew Cheng Shiyuan was intentionally trying to pick a fight to distract her, but she couldn’t bear to genuinely upset her.

…But all she wanted to do was help her.

Has Xiao Shi now even refused to give her the qualification to ‘want to protect her’ again?

Chen Chuxing smiled bitterly, only able to suppress the dull ache in her chest, and backhanded a message to her assistant.

When the knock on the door sounded as planned—

The Miss, who would usually cling affectionately, retreated from her embrace without any hesitation.

Chen Chuxing lowered her eyes, having lost all interest in showing off her best acting skills, and simply asked coolly, following the pre-set script: “What is it?”

The assistant replied: “Sister You asked me to tell you that the competitor for that recent award has spent money on connections, and the judges plan to pre-select the winner.”

To her, in the past, an award that others could steal with a little money was insignificant.

But Chen Chuxing remembered that someone didn’t like her doing that.

She subconsciously looked at the person next to her with her head bowed, and she seemed to hear Cheng Shiyuan’s exasperated voice from the past, when they experienced similar situations.

“Spending money? What, are they the only ones with money? Chen Chuxing, you can’t be so stingy. Isn’t making so much money for moments like this?”

“It sucks to have to spend extra money on something that’s rightfully yours! But doesn’t it suck even more to have it stolen?”

Memories filled her mind, and Chen Chuxing’s eyes couldn’t help but carry a warm smile.

She changed her past style, raising her voice on purpose when answering, with a clear hint of anticipation:

“Since the other side likes to buy fame with money, let’s help her out. Tell Sister You to find time to contact a few reporters and give her some publicity as well.”

Chen Chuxing subtly looked at Cheng Shiyuan.

Xiao Shi told her to change this bad habit. Now that she’s obediently listened, can she get a word of praise from her—

Even if it wasn’t praise, something else would suffice.

But Chen Chuxing’s light dimmed little by little, and Cheng Shiyuan did not say another word to her.

Under the assistant’s bewildered gaze, Chen Chuxing suddenly pulled at the corner of her mouth.

She finally, and more clearly than ever, realized that she and Xiao Shi truly could no longer be as intimate as they once were.

Perhaps a complete stranger would have an easier time begging for Cheng Shiyuan’s attention than she would now.

Chen Chuxing lowered her eyes, glancing at the cup of black tea that was no longer steaming, with only condensed water droplets rolling down the side.

The cold water droplets seemed to roll into her heart.

She knew she wouldn’t get a single honest word from Cheng Shiyuan today.

Even if she wanted to help and protect her, Cheng Shiyuan, who had probably lost all trust in her, would only continue to use that clumsy disguise to try and lie to her.

Thinking this, Chen Chuxing couldn’t help but laugh self-deprecatingly again.

But as her former lover and her acting teacher, how could Cheng Shiyuan possibly think she would be easily fooled?

Was it because Chen Chuxing could never bear to truly put her beloved Miss in a difficult position?

Chen Chuxing withdrew her gaze and shifted the topic to the black tea Sister You had brought, asking softly:

“…Sister You sent this over immediately today knowing you were coming. Is it no longer to your liking?”

Hearing her words, which seemed to be about the tea yet also about the person, Cheng Shiyuan remembered how she was always looked after by her manager on set. Without a word, she returned to her side.

She took a big gulp of the tea she had forgotten to drink while indulging in her prank.

She looked Chen Chuxing straight in the eyes, saying provocatively: “The tea is, of course, always to my liking.”

As for the person—

She was about to deliberately say a few more stinging words, but before she could open her mouth, her body suddenly swayed.

Her vision went black, and in a moment of dizziness, she couldn’t even hold the teacup steady.

Cheng Shiyuan nearly collapsed.

But the next second, she clearly saw that the person who had been looking mournful was now calmly stepping forward to support her, even helping her place the teacup back safely.

Faintly, she heard a soft sigh.

In a mix of shock and anger, Cheng Shiyuan was speechless for a moment, only able to widen her eyes with effort: “Chen, Chu, Xing! You actually…”

But she could no longer see the other’s face clearly.

As darkness quickly spread before her eyes, the last thing Cheng Shiyuan saw was the persistently decreasing red countdown.

—Because of the interrupted kiss, Chen Chuxing hadn’t been able to unlock the system prompt yet!

The life countdown only appeared to have some leeway.

Cheng Shiyuan couldn’t predict if she would be able to open her eyes again before it reached zero.

And her hand, which she used her last bit of strength to reach out to grab her phone, was held tightly in Chen Chuxing’s palm, their fingers interlaced.

The clawing cat finally became docile, gently nestling into someone’s arms.

Chen Chuxing held this warmth that was lost and found again. She knew the sedative had taken effect and the other party couldn’t hear a word.

Yet, she couldn’t help but sigh and lightly scold her: “Little ungrateful one. You used to call me ‘Senior’ and ‘Sister,’ and now all you can do is call me by my full name?”

She tapped Cheng Shiyuan’s brow and had her assistant bring her a change of clothes, preparing to take off the eye-catching outfit she wore for the shoot.

Since she couldn’t get a single honest word out of that mouth, Chen Chuxing decided to personally take her to the hospital for an examination.

As she unbuttoned the top button by button, Chen Chuxing’s gaze lingered on the wound on her lower lip.

The pink, peach-blossom-like lips, even with makeup, couldn’t completely conceal the damaged mark.

It was easy to imagine how those people, who had just obtained the right to compete, had so brazenly and impatiently indulged their whims.

Until, into her jealous gaze, a vast expanse of snow-white skin revealed a more vivid, unrestrained provocation.

It was as if the person who left the mark knew they couldn’t exclusively possess this role, so they proudly imprinted their own brand on the peak they had already conquered.

Large patches of light pink dotted her chest.

In the softest parts, there were even faint blue finger marks.

—As if to deliberately provoke, a blatant challenge to the newcomers.

Chen Chuxing gently stroked the red mark with her fingertip and suddenly smiled. She leaned down and whispered in Cheng Shiyuan’s ear.

“Such a childish temper, only caring about your own pleasure. You used so much force; you must have hurt our Xiao Shi, didn’t you? It makes my heart ache.”

With seemingly affectionate comfort, she lowered her head, slowly covering those marks with her own kisses.

As their lips and teeth pressed together, Chen Chuxing’s gentle, no longer concealed, devoted murmur:

“It’s alright, Sister will protect Xiao Shi.”

“Since the body check-up will take time, why don’t we take the opportunity to play a game with those reckless children—”

“Consider it a formal greeting gift for our first official meeting?”

…

On the other side.

Ignoring Xia Ziran’s interference, Xie Zhiqing methodically completed the welcome ceremony setup task assigned by the program team according to her own rhythm.

During a break, she opened her phone. Seeing that Chen Chuxing hadn’t replied, she thought for a moment and then called Cheng Shiyuan instead.

But only the electronic voice prompt of “The subscriber you dialed is powered off. Please call again later” came from the other end of the line.