The Academic God Becomes an Internet Sensation After Joining a Dating Show - C15 - Poker

Bai Wenle’s finger froze mid-swipe on his screen.

Following Qing Lin’s gaze, he noticed a shelf of board games nearby, probably something the hotel provided to help couples liven up their stay.

Shen Xuzhi walked over and opened one of the boxes. Inside were round poker chips. “You want to play this?” he asked.

Qing Lin turned to Bai Wenle with a calm expression. “Wenle, do you know how to play?”

Bai Wenle hadn’t expected things to take this turn. Texas Hold’em? Seriously? Not League, not PUBG?

Still, saying he didn’t know how would be embarrassing. So, he straightened up and said confidently, “I’m a gaming UP, okay? Of course, I know how to play. Let’s go!”

Since Texas Hold’em required a dealer, Shen Xuzhi glanced toward the camera and called over Director Hong Shanyue.

[They really got the director to deal!? You guys are really something!]

After getting a quick rundown of the situation, Director Hong nodded and said, “I’ll explain the rules briefly.” He continued, “In Texas Hold’em, each hand begins with two players posting forced bets called the small blind and big blind. Then, each player is dealt two private cards known as hole cards. The game unfolds in four betting rounds: the initial round after the hole cards, followed by the flop, where three community cards are revealed, then the turn and the river, which add one card each. Players use any combination of their two hole cards and the five community cards to make the best five-card hand. After the final round of betting, players reveal their hands, and the strongest hand wins the pot.”

“Let’s begin. Post your blinds. I’ll deal your cards now.”

Each of the three players received two hole cards.

Qing Lin, the player after the big blind, didn’t even blink before calmly announcing,
“Raise.”

Shen Xuzhi followed with a simple. “Call.”

Bai Wenle: “?”

Wait…were their cards really that good?

He looked down at his own cards—a pair of sixes. Not bad. But judging by how confidently the other two bet, what the hell were they holding?

“…Call,” he said, deciding to play along and see how it unfolded.

“Raise.” Qing Lin pushed forward a stack of chips without even hesitating. Bai Wenle stared at him, stunned.

Shen Xuzhi rested a finger on his lips, considering whether to keep going. Then, catching sight of Bai Wenle’s confused expression, a mischievous thought crossed his mind.

“Fold.” Shen Xuzhi tossed his cards and looked straight at Bai Wenle.

Bai Wenle was thrown completely off.

Why did Xu-ge fold so suddenly? And now, should he keep going?

Qing Lin’s face remained expressionless, making it impossible to discern his thoughts. Caught in the tension of the psychological standoff, Bai Wenle gritted his teeth and decided to take a risk. “Call.”

The second round, the flop, revealed three community cards: one heart card and two diamond cards.

His chances of winning looked pretty good.

Bai Wenle placed a bet, and Qing Lin called without the slightest hesitation.

Just as the flop was revealed, they suddenly heard Qing Lin’s calm voice from behind.
“All in.”

Bai Wenle: “??”

Oh my god, was he serious? How could he be this reckless?

Bai Wenle froze. That kind of move usually meant a flush… or at least something close. There was no way he was going to risk it. Reluctantly, he folded.

But considering how much he’d already put in, this round was a painful loss.

“Alright! First round goes to Qing Lin!” Director Hong announced cheerfully.

Bai Wenle happened to catch a glimpse of Qing Lin’s hole cards and immediately cried out, “You didn’t even have a flush!”

Qing Lin replied coolly, “I never said I had a straight flush.”

Bai Wenle: “…”

He’d been completely bluffed!

[Hahahahaha! Pretending to have a flush? That’s next-level psychological warfare! Poor Lele!]

[Wait, look at Shen Xuzhi’s cards… he had two queens and still folded!]

 [HAHAHAHA Ah Zhi totally let his darling win! He couldn’t bear to let his wife sleep on the couch!]

[Xuzhi, you’re totally spoiling him. Look at that hand! You definitely would’ve won if you’d kept raising!]

[Wenle: Why am I playing games with this ridiculously-in-sync couple?]

Qing Lin, sensing something off, elbowed Shen Xuzhi lightly. “Stop going easy on me.”

Shen Xuzhi chuckled. “Alright, alright. No more mercy.”

They played a few more rounds, but it was no use. Bai Wenle got crushed every single time.

[These two are so cunning. No matter what cards they get, they never show a single expression. There’s no way to read them.]

[Wenle’s totally doomed.]

Determined to turn things around, Bai Wenle clenched his teeth and prayed for a good hand.

After posting the small and big blinds, he looked at his hole cards. A pair of kings—KK.

His eyes lit up instantly. That was a solid hand with a 70% win rate. Finally!

He immediately placed a confident bet. Shen Xuzhi took one glance and folded with a shrug.

Qing Lin hesitated for a moment, then called.

“Flop.” Director Hong revealed the three community cards: 10 of spades, 8 of spades, 3 of hearts.

“All in!” Bai Wenle was certain he’d win this round and shoved all his chips in.

He shot Qing Lin a smug, confident look. His expression all but saying, “Let’s see you beat that.”

Qing Lin, unfazed, gently pushed his chips forward. His eyes were lowered, lashes casting faint shadows as his gaze fell on the cards. He paused briefly, then looked up.
“Call.”

The confidence drained from Bai Wenle’s face. Panic kicked in. Even Shen Xuzhi raised a brow. He hadn’t expected Qing Lin to call.

[Qing Lin is such an all-in monster. You need nerves of steel to play against him.]

[He’s only got a 40% chance of winning this round. What kind of poker god is this guy?!]

[Damn, this is so intense. My palms are sweating.]

“You sure about that? I’m telling you, my hand’s a sure win,” Bai Wenle said, trying to sound intimidating while swallowing nervously.

Qing Lin leaned forward slightly, almond-shaped eyes curving with a cool glint. His gaze was calm, focused, and unreadable.

“Are you scared?” he asked softly.

Bai Wenle’s ears turned bright red.

How could he possibly be afraid!

“I’m taking everything back this time…” he muttered to himself, bracing for the outcome.

Director Hong continued dealing.

The turn: Jack of spades.

Bai Wenle still had the upper hand. At this point, he was nearly certain he’d win.

Only one card left.

He held his breath.

“Now, what’s the last one going to be…” Director Hong said playfully, slowly sliding the card forward and lifting the corner to reveal just a sliver of its color. He glanced around with exaggerated flair.

Bai Wenle was so tense, his face had turned bright red.

Then Director Hong flipped the card…

Queen of spades.

Gasps erupted across the room and in the livestream chat.

[!!!! Damn, damn, damn!]

[No way! This feels like it’s straight out of a novel. The queen of spades?!]

[Qing Lin is a literal god. How is he this lucky?! A real-life luck god!]

[Ahhhhhhh I’m losing it. He’s so cool, calm, poised, and brilliant! I love him so much!]

Qing Lin leaned back in his chair, double eyelids lifting slightly at the corners, his gaze full of quiet brilliance.

He laid down his hole cards and spoke in a voice so soft and refined it was almost cruel in its elegance.

“Bad Beat.”

A total shocker.

“That was unbelievable,” Director Hong said, stunned. “His hole cards were an Ace and a King. That final spade completed a royal flush. Not even pocket Kings could beat that.”

“Let’s go play another round!” Bai Wenle cried, still in disbelief at his terrible luck.

But Shen Xuzhi calmly reached over, placing a hand on the flustered boy to stop him. “I’d suggest you give up. Haven’t you noticed? He’s been calculating probabilities while playing.”

Bai Wenle shot a glance at Qing Lin.

“He’s estimating your hand range and the expected value of each move. If you keep going, you’re just digging your own grave,” Shen Xuzhi continued. “Just accept the couch tonight.”

Qing Lin, meanwhile, was off to the side, casually scribbling on a notepad while explaining something to a staff member.

“Mathematically, a three-times big blind open-raise is the most optimal pre-flop strategy. I can show you the proof if you’d like…”

[Book-smart people are truly terrifying.]

[This is the first time I’ve truly understood the power of knowledge.]

[If academic geniuses play cards like this, I’m doomed during Chinese New Year poker at home.]

[Another day of wanting to marry Qing Lin.]

Bai Wenle didn’t even know how to stay mad anymore. One lucky win could be brushed off as chance, but this many in a row? He had no choice but to admit defeat.

“Fine. The couch it is,” he muttered. “Maybe a firmer surface will be good for my back anyway.”

As he sulked, Qing Lin casually cleaned up the table and reminded them,

“This kind of game is fine for fun,” Qing Lin said calmly, “but don’t ever think about joining professional poker tournaments. That would count as illegal gambling.”

“No matter the game. Whether it’s poker, mahjong, or any form of entertainment, their true purpose is to build friendships, enhance relationships, and offer joy and relaxation. They should never be used for gambling. Gambling clouds your judgment, destroys families, corrodes social values, and threatens stability. It goes against the core values of socialism, and everyone should firmly reject it.”

Qing Lin remained composed, but the weight behind his words was undeniable.

[Promote a civilized society. Say no to gambling!]

[Hard work brings honor. Gambling brings shame.]

[Qing Lin is so gentle… but why does it seem like he’s not happy at all, even after winning?]

[Aaaahhh ShenLin supremacy! Ah Zhi’s eyes are practically melting beside him… He’s so in love!]

Once the sleeping arrangements were settled, everyone relaxed and began chatting more freely.

Bai Wenle, still trying to save face, kept the conversation going, animatedly telling Shen Xuzhi stories from his past esports’ competitions.

But Qing Lin wasn’t quite himself. He sat quietly, distracted, his thoughts seemed to drift somewhere far beyond the room, even though he was right there among them.

The livestream ended at 10 p.m.

Qing Lin was the first to return to his room to wash up. After showering, he sat at the edge of the bed, gazing out through the floor-to-ceiling window.

The lights were off. Outside, the sea was pitch-black and eerily silent. The vast ocean seemed to consume the sky entirely, leaving only a sliver of moonlight peeking through the darkness.

He towel-dried his hair, his expression still calm and unreadable. There wasn’t the slightest hint of satisfaction from having won the room.

Instead, an indescribable emotion gripped his chest, tight and suffocating.

He shouldn’t have played that game.

“Knock knock knock.” A soft knocking came from the door.

Qing Lin turned to see Shen Xuzhi standing there, holding a cup.

He had just showered too—his hair still damp, clinging to his forehead, making his sharp features look even colder and more intense.

“I brought you a cup of warm milk,” Shen Xuzhi said. “May I come in?”

Qing Lin stood up. “Of course.”

Shen Xuzhi stepped inside and placed the glass on the bedside table.

Qing Lin was wearing the hotel’s bathrobe, the faint scent of body wash still clinging to his skin. Droplets of water trickled down from his damp hair, trailing along the clean, sharp line of his jaw and the delicate curve of his collarbone.

Shen Xuzhi’s gaze lingered for a brief second on that pale stretch of skin before he picked up the nearby hairdryer.

“Let me dry your hair. You’ll catch a cold like this.”

Qing Lin glanced at the camera set up in the corner of the room. It was probably still recording for post-production footage, so he nodded. “Okay. Thank you, Shen laoshi.”

He shifted on the bed, settling cross-legged. As he lifted a leg, the edge of his bathrobe slipped open slightly, revealing a long, slender thigh and smooth calf, skin pale and luminous, with his toes faintly flushed pink.

Facing away from Shen Xuzhi, Qing Lin said softly, “Sorry for the trouble.”

Shen Xuzhi’s Adam’s apple bobbed. Without a word, he walked over to the camera and switched it off.

Qing Lin caught the motion out of the corner of his eye.

Before he had time to wonder why they weren’t filming anymore, he felt a familiar presence behind him, a soft, warm breath brushing over him, followed by the gentle whirr of the hairdryer.

“I’ll start now,” Shen Xuzhi said.

His voice was low and gentle, carrying a quiet warmth that seemed to linger near the ear.

Qing Lin’s breath hitched slightly. A subtle shiver passed through him as the warmth from the dryer mingled with the touch of fingers gently combing through his hair.

With his back turned, he couldn’t see Shen Xuzhi’s face, not even a silhouette. He could only feel.

Shen Xuzhi’s large hand moved slowly through his damp hair, brushing past the shell of his ear with a deliberate gentleness.

As he dried the ends, his fingertips swept lightly over Qing Lin’s nape, far warmer than the air from the dryer.

Then came Shen Xuzhi’s voice again, soft and low. “You didn’t look well after the game. Feeling tired?”

With the cameras off and wrapped in warmth, Qing Lin finally answered. “Just thought of some family matters.”

He paused, then adjusted his tone, making it sound lighter, almost careless. “No… not really family. Just some things from the past.”

It sounded casual, detached, even a little lazy, as if it didn’t matter much. But behind that light tone was a memory that wasn’t at all pleasant.

Qing Lin stared forward. Under the light, his cool-toned skin looked almost sickly pale.

Only the sound of the hairdryer remained in the room.

Blinking slowly, he could see the faint glow from the ceiling lamp reflecting in his eyes.

A long silence stretched between them before Shen Xuzhi finally spoke, his voice carried by the warm breeze of the dryer.

“It’ll pass.”

Then, as if pausing to gather his thoughts, he added softly, “You’ve done well, Qing Lin. You’ve come a long way.”