The Academic God Becomes an Internet Sensation After Joining a Dating Show - C22 - Sunset

“Sunset? That sounds so pretentious…” Bai Wenle muttered under his breath.

Qing Lin glanced at his watch. “We still have some time before the sun sets. Why don’t we wander around the market outside the aquarium first?”

Shen Xuzhi nodded silently, going along with whatever Qing Lin suggested, and Bai Wenle, without any strong objections, followed suit. The three of them stepped out of the aquarium and headed toward the nearby market.

The market was alive with a “Fun & Play” theme, filled with countless DIY stalls and shops selling handmade crafts. It stretched quite far, each booth showcasing its own unique style, some edgy with punk flair, others soft and whimsical with Lolita touches, and everything in between, representing a spectrum of aesthetics.

Qing Lin looked up with curiosity, his eyes scanning the trinkets displayed at each stall.

Suddenly, excited voices rang out nearby.

“Shen Xuzhi! Shen Xuzhi!”

“Is this shoot for the show?”

“Yeah, for that dating show, Follow Heart!”

The market was small, and without any crowd control, people quickly gathered around them.

With Shen Xuzhi’s popularity, many recognized him instantly, causing the narrow market paths to clog with eager fans.

“Shen Laoshi, the crowd’s becoming difficult to control. Let’s wrap this up and take a break in a nearby shop,” the VJ, trailing behind them, relayed the director’s instructions.

With no other option, Shen Xuzhi nodded in agreement. But as they moved, he realized Qing Lin wasn’t with them.

“Where’s Qing Lin?” he asked.

“Qing Laoshi is at a DIY booth over there. We’ve arranged staff so he can keep filming,” the VJ replied. “Looks like he’s making something by hand.”

Since the filming had already started, Shen Xuzhi didn’t want to disrupt Qing Lin’s good mood, so he went along with the plan to retreat. Bai Wenle followed, and the two of them waited for Qing Lin inside a nearby shop while Qing Lin kept filming.

They still had to film a group dinner later.

Because the three of them had wandered far during their date, the production team reminded them firmly, “Once Qing Laoshi finishes, we need to head straight to North Peninsula, or we’ll miss the recording.”

Before long, Qing Lin returned.

He was carrying a bag, apparently his “spoils of war.”

Though his face was mostly expressionless, a faint smile tugged at his lips. Bai Wenle noticed and teased, “Oho, what did you buy? You seem to be in a good mood.”

Shen Xuzhi got straight to the point. “Did you have fun?”

“Very much,” Qing Lin replied, casting a glance at the bag. “As for what’s inside… that’s a secret.”

Following the production team’s schedule, the three of them soon flew back to North Peninsula to join the group dinner filming.

Like the three of them, Qiao Weilan and Nan Yu, who had successfully matched, were also out on a date today.

The moment the three stepped off the plane, murmurs of envy rippled through those still trapped in “survival mode.”

“Oh my god, another helicopter! I’m so jealous. I really want to ride in one too.” Su Mingxuan’s envy was so intense, it felt like tears might spill from his eyes.

Jiang Wen stretched, rolled her neck, and said casually, “It’s fine. This survival round is just about helping with vegetable farming. My family does that back home, so it’s no big deal. I’m not jealous.”

Xu Jing winced and complained, “But my back still hurts…”

[Hahaha, Xuanxuan! You should choose Yian! I think she likes you—go for it later! Go ride that helicopter!]

[Sis Wen, can you keep up your idol image? You’re a Golden Film Actress, remember!]

[Mr. Xu really worked hard. He got the biggest plot of land but still couldn’t finish harvesting.]

[But this time, I’m really shipping An-an and Xuanxuan! Silly couple forever!]

Jiang Wen glanced at the trio and said, “You guys make quite the interesting group. This is the first dating show I’ve seen where three people go on a date together. So, tell me, what’s it like, dating as a trio?”

[I’ll tell you! It’s always Bai Wenle playing the third wheel!]

[Hahaha, poor Lele’s always the one getting hurt!]

Bai Wenle found himself at a loss for words. “Well… it’s pretty nice.”

Quickly shifting gears, he asked, “Hey, is everyone back now? Where are Weilan-jie and Nan Yu-jie?”

“They just returned,” Jiang Wen replied. “They had it easy too—went to soak in the hot springs. Now they’re in the kitchen, prepping ingredients for dinner.”

Hearing that, Qing Lin said, “Then I’ll go help in the kitchen too.”

After bidding the others goodbye, he stepped into the small kitchen and found Qiao Weilan and Nan Yu.

Nan Yu was washing vegetables, while Qiao Weilan struggled with cutting them. Her potato chunks were uneven, clearly showing her lack of skill.

But it was obvious Qiao Weilan wasn’t really there to cook. She was simply watching Nan Yu.

“Ah, Qing Lin.” Nan Yu saw him come in and smiled in greeting. “You’re back too?”

Qing Lin quickly returned the greeting, then caught Qiao Weilan shifting her gaze away and turning to look at him with a cool, aloof expression.

“Weilan, if you don’t know how to cook, don’t cause trouble. Go wait outside,” Nan Yu said firmly, taking the ceramic knife from Qiao Weilan’s hands.

Qiao Weilan looked aggrieved. “How am I making trouble…”

But when Qiao Weilan saw Qing Lin step in to help, she realized she was only in the way. Scratching her head, she stepped back reluctantly and walked out.

“Qing Lin, you’re here to help, right?” Nan Yu said with a gentle smile. “I just happen to need an extra pair of hands. All the ingredients are ready. Can you stir-fry?”

“Of course.” Qing Lin stepped over to the stove and began heating the pan.

“Shall I start by stir-frying this?” he asked.

Nan Yu nodded. “Yes, yes. Oh, and when you fry the potatoes, don’t add green onions. Weilan doesn’t like them, and I don’t want her picking them out later.”

Qing Lin nodded.

Come to think of it, Qing Lin didn’t really know Shen Xuzhi’s food preferences either.

And just now, stepping into the kitchen, he had sensed a different kind of atmosphere between Qiao Weilan and Nan Yu.

Would he and Shen Xuzhi ever have that kind of feeling too?

—

“Thanks to our two chefs!”

The Follow Heart group dinner began by the seaside.

Qing Lin brought out the last dish, untied his apron, and said, “All the dishes are ready—hope they suit everyone’s taste.”

[Braised pork ribs, stir-fried beef, sour and spicy cabbage, braised potatoes—just looking at those makes me hungry]

[This dating show has turned into a cooking show. The colors look amazing—he must cook often]

[Seriously, no one’s going to say my wife looks amazing in an apron?!]

Jiang Wen said, “Linlin is so good at this—whoever ends up with him will be blessed.”

[Xu-ge, did you hear that?]

[You still don’t get it?]

Su Mingxuan asked with interest, “So where did you guys go? Let’s hear about it.”

“Weilan and I went to the hot springs,” Nan Yu said. “There’s a hot spring villa on the north peninsula that’s surprisingly pleasant even in the summer heat. After soaking in the warm water, we just wandered around and chatted. Oh, and at the foot of Nanshan Mountain, there’s a rock-climbing club. Weilan was really eager to try it, but unfortunately, I’m no good at climbing.”

“How about you, Qing Lin?” Ning Yian turned her gaze to Qing Lin. “I already know. You’re actually a YouTube content creator with over a million subscribers. And you know Daniel? That’s amazing!”

Everyone around them let out a collective gasp of admiration.

“No, no, that was in the past,” Qing Lin said, steering the topic away. “We went to the aquarium. It’s a really beautiful place. Everyone had a great time.”

Bai Wenle poked at his rice bowl and reluctantly nodded in agreement, “Yeah.”

Sitting beside Shen Xuzhi, Qing Lin gave him a gentle nudge. “What do you want to eat? I’ll get it for you.”

Shen Xuzhi looked down, finding Qing Lin’s kindness endearing. “I’d like a piece of rib.”

“Okay.” Qing Lin picked up a rib and placed it in his bowl. “I made these ribs myself, they’re a little sweet. Since you’re from Hangzhou, I think you’ll like them.”

Shen Xuzhi took a bite. The meat was tender, perfectly balanced with just the right touch of sweetness.

His thin lips curved into a gentle smile, his brows softened, and he chuckled quietly. “Your cooking is amazing. Good enough to marry and be taken home.  

[He said it! He said it! I recorded it—this is basically a marriage certificate!]

[D*mn, this couple is going to kill me with sweetness someday!”]

Xu Jing sighed as he watched the scene. “In the previous two rounds, the people who earned the most gold coins were also the ones who got to go on dates. Only those in survival mode know the value of these gold coins, not only can you buy food, but you can also skip missions. If I’d known sooner, I would’ve tried harder.”

Qing Lin hesitated, then uncertainly offered, “How about… I give you all my gold coins?”

[Qing Lin, you just crushed me with that—do you even realize what you just said?]

[Xu Jing must like Nan Yu, but it seems like he also has a thing for Qing Lin? Aaaahhh, poor guy—everyone he likes is already taken!]

[Honestly… I don’t think he’d be able to handle Wenwen-jie either. Ugh, so sad.]

 “Later there’ll be another round of mutual selections. I hope I get to go on a date with the person I like,” Su Mingxuan said in one breath.

The people at the table erupted in cheers. “Oho, so Xuanxuan really does have someone in mind.”
“It must be Yian, right?”

Everyone burst out laughing. Yian’s face turned red instantly, thin-skinned as she was once they teased him.

Qing Lin’s eyes lingered on the pair, a quiet thought crossing his mind: They’re a contract couple too.

The meal passed with ease, and the sun began its slow descent, casting a warm glow across the sky.

As Qing Lin cleaned up, his gaze kept drifting toward the sun sinking over the sea, as if reluctant to miss the sunset.

Shen Xuzhi noticed.

While the others chatted and cleaned around them, he stepped quietly beside Qing Lin, lowered his head, and murmured gently into his ear, “Want to go watch the sunset?”

Qing Lin looked up.

Shen Xuzhi glanced toward the horizon, “The sea is just over there. We can still make it.”

A strange flutter stirred in Qing Lin’s chest. Without hesitation, he said, “Then let’s run away one more time.”

Side by side, they walked toward the beach, arriving just as the sunset began its breathtaking display.

The sun dipped slowly into the sea, blazing with fiery beauty. Layers of light and color clashed and danced, while tens of thousands of shimmering ripples transformed into waves of glowing water.

They stood in silence, watching the sunset.

A sunset that Liang Beiqi could only gaze at and never truly reach.

Qing Lin turned to Shen Xuzhi, the warm afterglow painting half his face. “Do you know why I wanted to see the sunset?”

Shen Xuzhi hadn’t had the chance to reply.

His words were swallowed by a sudden leap forward into his arms. Those delicate, pale hands curled tightly around him, anchoring him in an embrace.

Surprise flashed in Shen Xuzhi’s eyes as he realized how close they were.

Qing Lin’s bright, tender face filled his view, pressed softly against his chest, a radiant smile lighting up his features.

The stray tufts of hair atop Qing Lin’s head brushed against Shen Xuzhi’s jaw. Through the thin fabric of his T-shirt, Shen Xuzhi could feel the faint rub of Qing Lin’s nose against his chest.

It was as light as a feather’s touch, yet it stirred a nameless emotion inside him, swelling into a roaring tide.

Qing Lin lifted his eyes. “I wanted to see the sunset so I could give Liang Beiqi a hug.”

Shen Xuzhi’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly as he swallowed.

[Aaaahhh, so sweet yet so heartbreaking—how does this even happen??]

[Linlin! If you want to hug him, just do it! You don’t need a reason!]

[The emotional impact of Watching the Tides is so intense. Everyone, please support Xuzhi’s acting career. Directors, please take notice!]

[Oh my gosh, he absolutely knows what he’s doing, ughhh!]

Shen Xuzhi was nearly flustered, the string in his mind snapping, making him ask, almost pleadingly. “Then… can I hug you back?”

The vivid contrast between the ambiguity and the bright orange filled his vision, blurring faces and heightening every sensation.

He wrapped his arms tightly around Qing Lin, struggling to hold back the flood of emotions that threatened to spill over—

Because the emotions were buried deep, hidden away for far too long.

Just hold it for a little while.

Just for a moment.

Under the pretext of Liang Beiqi, under the guise of this couple’s contract.

Even if only for a brief moment—that’s all.