The Academic God Becomes an Internet Sensation After Joining a Dating Show - C25 - Handcuffs

“Do you want to kiss me?”

That single question stunned Qing Lin.

The warmth in his palm felt like a faint flame slowly licking his skin.

His mind went blank for a moment, then his heart began pounding wildly in his chest, a strange sensation, as if he were genuinely considering the possibility of wanting a kiss.

Shen Xuzhi’s eyes remained locked on him, deep and molten, lashes heavy with unspoken emotion.

Heat spread through Qing Lin’s body, pooling in his ears until they seemed ready to glow bright red.

Why say that all of a sudden?

It was so unexpected.

His thoughts were a bit jumbled, until his gaze dropped to the cards Shen Xuzhi was holding, with the show’s logo printed boldly on the back.

Only then did the fire in his chest begin to cool.

“Shen Laoshi, did you receive a task?” Qing Lin said softly. “If it’s a task…”

The rising warmth was suddenly quenched like cold water thrown on flames, steam seeming to rise from every bone.

Shen Xuzhi looked as though he had just survived a grueling ordeal, utterly drained of feeling. With cold lips, he muttered two words.

“Forget it.”

He released Qing Lin’s hand.

For a moment, Qing Lin simply stood there, sensing a loneliness in Shen Xuzhi’s posture.

Strangely, he felt the same.

Shen Xuzhi’s expression returned to its usual impassive mask as he showed Qing Lin the cards. “The production team gave us some suggestions for interactions.”

Taking them, Qing Lin flipped one over: A couple kiss while posing on the cliff.

Ah. So that was why Shen Laoshi had said that.

He skimmed through the rest.

In fact, the production team often handed out cue cards or even held them up  nearby when guests didn’t know how to act or felt awkward during dates.

Before, because Shen Xuzhi and Qing Lin’s chemistry had felt so natural, the crew hadn’t interfered.

But now, who knew what was going on.

The cards contained suggestions for interactions, not only for climbing scenes but any situation.

Qing Lin hadn’t even finished reading when a voice called from the distance. “Hey, Qing Lin!”

Looking up, he saw Ning Yian and Su Mingxuan, also on a date, quickly stepping out of a black car and hurrying over, pressing an envelope into Shen Xuzhi’s hands.

Out of breath, Su Mingxuan said to the crew, “This should be enough now, right?”

The production team staff nodded.

“Ah, I was really scared just now, I thought we’d gone overtime,” Ning Yian sighed in relief.

Qing Lin was puzzled and asked, “What’s that?”

Could it be they had forgotten to check what the production team gave them before their date?

“Ah, this is a penalty card. Yian and I were originally planning to go to the hot springs resort, but we accidentally walked into a trap set by the production team and ended up with this. However, the PD said that if we pass it to another couple within fifteen minutes, the penalty can be transferred. We were just trying our luck at the foot of Nanshan Mountain when we happened to run into you,” Su Mingxuan said, clasping their hands together. “We’re really grateful you saved us!”

Qing Lin: “……”

Shen Xuzhi: “……”

So… they came all this way just to hand over a penalty card?

“What’s the penalty?” Qing Lin asked.

Ning Yian shook her head. “We didn’t check. We didn’t dare look at it. No one can guess what the production team might make us do. And Xuanxuan’s afraid it’ll involve ghosts anyway.”

Su Mingxuan smiled, resting his head slightly against Ning Yian. “I just don’t want An-an to be punished.”

Watching the smiling couple, Qing Lin recalled that they were also contract partners. And they seemed to be doing well. Their “dumb couple” CP was very popular.

But something about Mr. Shen today felt off. He seemed unwilling to cooperate.

Could it be… he didn’t want to continue with him?

Shen Xuzhi opened the envelope and frowned after reading the penalty.

“Is there any way we can avoid it?” Qing Lin asked quickly, even without seeing the card’s contents. “I don’t want Shen Laoshi to be punished either.”

The production team discussed briefly before deciding that they only needed to answer one question correctly.

The PD turned to Shen Xuzhi. “Shen Laoshi, please calculate the following problem within ten seconds. If you answer correctly, you can avoid the penalty.”

The board flipped, revealing a very simple problem: (20 + 115) × 4 — 7

With ten seconds to spare, Qing Lin could solve it instantly. Shen Laoshi should be able to as well…

But Shen Xuzhi answered without hesitation in less than a second. “138,699.”

Qing Lin: ?

Without a flicker of guilt, Shen Xuzhi didn’t even blink as he said flatly, “Oh, that’s wrong.”

Qing Lin: ??

“Give me the penalty,” Shen Xuzhi said casually, shoving the card back toward them.

The crew handed over… a pair of handcuffs.

Qing Lin’s eyes widened at the sight.

They were finely crafted silver, engraved with the word Euphoria.

The rings were linked by a chain of even thickness, which Shen Xuzhi turned over in his knobby hands, somehow stirring a subtle tension in the air.

Damn, this punishment is pretty intense.

Before Qing Lin could react, or even peek at the penalty card’s details, there was a sharp “click.”

A cold metal ring locked around his wrist, its chill meeting his warmth in a jolt that felt almost chemical.

The sound of the lock was followed by Shen Xuzhi’s low, slightly hoarse voice. His eyes were impossibly deep, like dark marshes pulling him under.

“Handcuffed.”

Qing Lin’s mind buzzed, a tingling current shooting through him. A fine sheen of sweat formed on his skin, impossible to wipe away fast enough.

Shen Xuzhi linked the other cuff to his own wrist and tightened the clasp.

At this moment, a voiceover rang out.

“Penalty: The two who receive the penalty must wear the same pair of handcuffs for one hour and may not remove them during that time.”

Su Mingxuan almost wailed, “You call this a penalty! This is obviously a reward!”

Ning Yian wanted to cover her eyes. With the handcuffs on, the scene between Shen Xuzhi and Qing Lin was far too suggestive. Shen looked like he might devour him at any moment.

Qing Lin glanced at Shen Xuzhi, feeling that he was even more enigmatic than usual. He couldn’t tell what was going through his mind.

“Alright, starting now, the one-hour penalty begins. Please wear these handcuffs and continue your date.” the PD said.

Su Mingxuan and Ning Yian left, while Qing Lin stood there, still confused.

How had he gotten cuffed so suddenly?

And what about the date? Were they still going rock climbing?

Then suddenly, Shen Xuzhi raised his hand.

The chain pulled taut, lifting Qing Lin’s wrist with it.

Shen Xuzhi’s lashes curved up slightly as he squinted, his voice calm yet laced with a cold sort of affection.

“From this moment on, you can only follow me.”

For an instant, Qing Lin’s heart skipped a beat.

Though far from the sea, he felt as if he could hear waves crashing, the fierce, winding surf battering the rocks in his chest.

He wanted to hide, yet part of him resisted.

He was afraid, but not entirely.

Humans really are contradictory creatures.

At times, even rejection was unexplainable.

The very next moment, his hand was caught in a firm grip, the warmth of those fingertips already becoming familiar.

[OMG, are we even allowed to watch this? The possessiveness is off the charts!!]

[Ahh, Shen Laoshi is way too intense.  Lin Lin was made for little props like this.]

[Ahhh, Shen and Lin are absolutely killing it!!]

Led by Shen Xuzhi, Qing Lin walked out of the climbing club amid the live chat’s wild cheers.

Qing Lin endured twenty minutes that felt both fleeting and endless.

Because of the production schedule, the afternoon would include a makeup game segment. For now, Shen Xuzhi and Qing Lin could rest before heading back to the beach location.

In other words, they wouldn’t have to stay handcuffed together just yet.

The staff led them to an air-conditioned room, saying with a smile, “Please wait a moment. I’ll go get the handcuff keys.”

Clearly CP fans, they couldn’t resist glancing back as they left, sharing a knowing smile before slipping out of the room.

Shen Xuzhi and Qing Lin sat side by side on the same sofa, their arms resting naturally, yet their hands still linked. Qing Lin felt unusually sensitive, every slight touch seemed to set his skin aflame.

In the stillness of the break, they held hands in silence, the handcuffs still binding them with their wordless weight.

“Mr. Shen… the cameras are off now.” Qing Lin’s ears burned red with embarrassment, and he couldn’t stop himself from speaking. “Can you let go now…?”

Shen Xuzhi acted as if he hadn’t heard, his deep gaze lingered on Qing Lin, unreadable, as his grip only tightened.

Qing Lin drew a slow breath, forcing himself to wait until the man calmed. It wasn’t until the door swung open and a staff member appeared, key in hand, that Shen Xuzhi finally released him.

The staff handed the key to Shen Xuzhi. “Shen Laoshi, Qing Laoshi, we’ll be waiting outside. Once you’ve unlocked it, we can head back together.”

With that, she slipped out, closing the door softly behind her.

Qing Lin let out a quiet sigh of relief. Finally, they could take off the cuffs.

It wasn’t exactly a big deal, they were just linked together, but the cool metal rubbed against his skin, and Mr. Shen’s fingers were still threaded through his, fingertips idly brushing over the ridges of his knuckles.

…Better unlock it quick.

Shen Xuzhi lowered his head to glance at the key. For three seconds, he said nothing. Then, instead of unlocking the cuffs, he set the key down on the table.

Qing Lin looked up at him in surprise.

Shen Xuzhi tapped a finger against the tabletop, his tone almost offhand. “You do it.”

Qing Lin: …

He couldn’t shake the feeling that Shen Xuzhi might be teasing him.

But… it wasn’t lighthearted or playful.

There was something emotional beneath it, more like sulking, even a little childish provocation.

With no other choice, Qing Lin picked up the key from the table. Because of the angle, he started with Shen Xuzhi’s side. The keyhole was smaller than he expected, and the key itself tiny. No matter how he turned it, the lock refused to yield.

His brows knit together. Leaning in, he shifted closer, so close it felt like he was stepping into Shen Xuzhi’s arms.

Qing Lin’s skin was fair, and with the tug from the cuffs, a faint red mark formed around his wrist.

Shen Xuzhi’s gaze flicked upward. His usually composed eyes traced the line of Qing Lin’s hand before drifting to the slender neck touched with a soft, painterly flush. The younger man was completely unguarded, his collar loose enough to reveal the curve of his neck and the shallow dip of his collarbone.

Something in Shen Xuzhi’s expression darkened. The chill in his gaze deepened into something more dangerous—predatory, like a wolf watching its prey.

A myriad of tangled, indescribable emotions wrapped around his heart like seaweed, desperately trying to strangle a desire that had been rooted in him for years, sinking deep into his very bones.

Silent. Wordless.

And futile.

Shen Xuzhi leaned in slightly.

There were no cameras now.

He closed his eyes, kissing the air mere millimeters away from the crown of Qing Lin’s head.

He longed to capture this fleeting moment and make it eternal, or else restrain the surging emotions and steal a glimpse of the fireworks hidden beneath that paper-thin veil over his heart.

In that moment, he wished they could remain chained together for a lifetime.