The Academic God Becomes an Internet Sensation After Joining a Dating Show - C3 - The First Appearance

Wang Zhan felt a chill run through him at the sight of Shen Xuzhi acting this way.

He had known him for a long time, and ever since Shen Xuzhi entered the industry, he had always been distant and aloof. He kept a polite distance from others, rarely spoke unless necessary, and avoided social interaction whenever he could.

And now, here he was, sincerely calling someone cute.

And that someone was a guy.

Wang Zhan began to wonder if Shen Xuzhi had hit his head before leaving the house today.

Just to be sure his ears weren’t deceiving him, Wang Zhan cautiously asked, “Brother Xu, did you just say… Qing Lin is cute?”

“Mm,” Shen Xuzhi answered without hesitation, then even turned to look at him and asked in return, “Isn’t he?”

Wang Zhan: “……”

Absolutely stunned.

Completely stunned.

Shen Xuzhi’s face looked like it had been sculpted by hand. He was a favorite in the entertainment world, often placed at the center of fan-made ships. But he never got close to anyone. He lived like a monk, pouring everything into his music.

When the company first evaluated the dating show, they were prepared to reject it.

But Shen Xuzhi had personally pulled it back onto the table.

So this was what it looked like when an ice block finally melted? Some kind of sudden awakening?

Wang Zhan didn’t dare dig too deep, but Shen Xuzhi’s behavior was far from normal. He couldn’t stop himself from blurting out, “You’re not saying… you’ve fallen for him, right?”

Shen Xuzhi’s expression changed ever so slightly.

Wang Zhan immediately panicked. Brother Xu hated idle gossip. What if he had just been admiring Qing Lin’s looks without any deeper meaning? That would make things incredibly awkward.

But to his surprise, Shen Xuzhi didn’t get angry. He remained quiet for a few seconds, then leaned forward slightly. He ran a finger across his lips, his Adam’s apple moving subtly, and said,

“Was it that obvious?”

Wang Zhan sat frozen in place.

Holy sh*t.

He quickly scooted closer beside him. “No way, bro. You seriously—just like that—fell for him?”

“It wasn’t sudden.” Shen Xuzhi rested his cheek against his hand, his fingers long and graceful, speaking as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“But—but we’re still doing that dating show!” Wang Zhan exclaimed. “There are rules for the participants. You can’t break the contract!”

All contestants were required to stay single throughout the filming. If rumors of an off-screen relationship surfaced, it could cause a serious backlash online.

“Mm,” Shen Xuzhi responded calmly. “Qing Lin is part of the show too.”

“……”

The show hadn’t even started filming yet, and he’d already picked his love interest.

Sure, technically that wasn’t against the rules, but still! This really wasn’t okay!

All this time, Shen Xuzhi’s public image had been that of a top tier Alpha, cool and detached, like a flower blooming high on a mountain, admired from afar but never within reach.

Yet earlier, he had squeezed onto a narrow sofa just to sit next to someone.

If he went on the show acting like a peacock in mating season, not only would his whole persona collapse, but his fans would probably have meltdowns too.

“Brother Xu, I understand, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with you liking someone…” Wang Zhan began cautiously, already thinking ahead to potential PR disasters. “But you really need to take it slow. Don’t go locking sights onto him the second the cameras start rolling. Try to act like your usual self. Don’t be too obvious. Keep a bit of distance.”

Shen Xuzhi replied, “But it is a dating show.”

“No, no, I’m not trying to restrict you.” Wang Zhan sighed. “You know how controversial Qing Lin is right now. Because of his rank, there’s already a lot of negative talk online.”

“And just now, another bomb just dropped. The top rank on BiliBili had always belonged to the esports streamer Bai Wenle. He just posted on Weibo saying he regrets not joining the show. Now all his fans have turned their attention to Qing Lin, and they’re going after him.”

Wang Zhan pulled out his phone, opened Weibo, and showed Shen Xuzhi the comment Bai Wenle had written when he reposted the announcement from the official account.

[@AKZWenle: [Repost] Congrats, congrats! But it’s really such a pity. I missed it by just one day. It could’ve been me. T.T]

The comment section blew up.

[Lele, don’t be sad! That spot should’ve been yours from the start! That shameless guy from the study section snatched it away!]

[Our Wenle has three million followers and good looks too. Who even is Qing Lin?]

[@StarmeiEntertainment, your platform is trash. If it was rigged, just admit it. Stop pretending everything’s fair.]

[Boycott Qing Lin’s appearance! Honestly, even picking someone off the street would be better. This is disgusting. People who cheat their way up should just leave. XD]

Wang Zhan rubbed his forehead. “Bai Wenle is not even that well-known, but his fans are already tearing Qing Lin apart like that. You are the top celebrity in the entertainment industry. If people see you getting close to that kid from the beginning, the internet will eat him alive.”

Shen Xuzhi leaned back against the sofa, his dark eyes narrowing as they landed on a particular comment.

[Heh, Qing Lin must be some ugly loser. Why else wouldn’t he dare show his face on the livestream? Variety shows these days are all about looks. If you’re not good-looking, don’t even bother joining.]

His expression immediately darkened. His brows drew together, and his face grew tense, yet he said nothing.

“It’s one thing if a celebrity gets this kind of hate,” Wang Zhan muttered. “But for an ordinary person to be attacked like this for no reason… that must be really upsetting,” Wang Zhan added. “Then again, it’s a little suspicious too. Who knows? Maybe he really did latch onto a sugar daddy. People pull all kinds of tricks these days…”

“Wang Zhan.” Shen Xuzhi’s voice was low and cold, completely devoid of emotion.

Wang Zhan fell silent at once and tucked his phone away. Whenever Shen Xuzhi called his name like that, it meant he was close to losing his temper.

Shen Xuzhi’s expression turned even more frigid. After a moment’s pause, he said, “Call Director Hong. I need a word with him.”

There’s a saying that goes, “Even bad publicity is still publicity.”

Thanks to the wave of online buzz, Follow Heart quickly soared to the top of the most-anticipated variety show rankings. After just a couple of weeks of promotion, its subscription numbers far exceeded expectations.

Even though Qing Lin was seen as a bug in the lineup, the excitement over the rest of the cast kept audience enthusiasm high.

Seizing the momentum, Hong Shanyue made a bold move and announced a special livestream preview episode of the Follow Heart dating show.

[Wait, are they seriously doing a livestream?]

[Ahhhh! It’s really happening!]

[Wuwuwu… even though my idol is going on a dating show, I’m still going to watch while crying.]

On the first day of filming, when Hong Shanyue saw that the livestream had already surpassed 6.013 million reservations, his face lit up with a proud smile.

“Director Hong, your smile’s a bit creepy,” Shen Xuzhi said, glancing at him from across the screen.

The first episode of Follow Heart was being filmed on a remote island out in the middle of the ocean.

Since the island hadn’t been developed for tourism, everything remained untouched. Palm trees swayed in the wind, shadows flickered over the sand, and the heat was nearly unbearable.

After landing by plane, the guests still had to endure a three-hour boat ride to reach this isolated spot.

Hong Shanyue turned to look at Shen Xuzhi, the wildly popular singer now sitting under a beach umbrella in sunglasses, his expression clearly showing signs of irritability.

“Good thing I wasn’t livestreaming just now. That would’ve been caught on camera,” Hong Shanyue said.

Shen Xuzhi didn’t respond. He simply took off his sunglasses and looked out toward the horizon, where the sea met the sky.

For now, he was the only guest present on the main set. The others had been taken to different spots and would be arriving one after another.

“Since you agreed to do the opening segment, try not to look so icy,” Hong Shanyue said. “Luci, give Xuzhi a quick touch-up.”

The makeup artist stepped in, gently applying another layer of powder to areas where sweat had gathered.

Shen Xuzhi’s expression eased a little. He had always disliked being the opener. It meant sitting around for ages while waiting for everyone else to show up.

“Director Hong, it’s nine o’clock,” someone called from off-camera. “We’re ready to go live.”

Hong Shanyue gave a nod and signaled to the equipment teams. The livestream officially began.

Within seconds, viewers flooded into the stream, the numbers ticking upward at an astonishing pace.

Hong Shanyue’s voice came through as narration.

“Hello, everyone. Welcome to the preview livestream of our romantic travel variety show, Follow Heart. Tipping features have been disabled for this broadcast, so please sit back and enjoy the show.”

“The first episode of Follow Heart is set on Rowan Island, a stunning and secluded location surrounded by the sea. We’ve brought together eight captivating men and women to embark on an unforgettable journey.” After finishing the script, he called out with energy, “Now, let’s welcome our very first guest—”

The camera shifted to a sweeping shot of the ocean, shimmering under the bright sky. A flower-lined carpet had been laid across the beach, where soft waves rolled in and gradually deepened in color.

From the distance, Shen Xuzhi appeared. He walked toward the camera with a graceful stride, his figure striking, broad shoulders tapering to a narrow waist, long legs moving effortlessly. In one hand, he held a single, vibrant red rose.

[Ahhh, Xuzhi’s the one opening the show!]

[Shen laosi, I’m here! You look way too good today. It is a crime!]

[Damn, my boyfriend’s really out here joining a dating show for real.]

Shen Xuzhi stepped onto the set and, following the script, chose a spot to sit with casual ease. Despite the sweltering heat, he leaned to one side, perfectly styled and looking as if he carried a cool breeze wherever he went.

Before long, the second guest appeared.

Jiang Wen made her entrance in high heels, waving gracefully as she walked down the flower-lined path.

[Wenwen goddess! It’s really her!]

[She’s stunning! This year’s Golden Screen Award winner!]

From a distance, Jiang Wen waved toward Shen Xuzhi. He stood up politely, nodded, and greeted her with a calm, “Hello.”

As she approached and noticed the rose in his hand, she held up her own with a playful smile. “Oh? We both have roses. Does that mean we’re a match?”

Shen Xuzhi replied in a flat, serious tone, “No. Every guest received one.”

[Hahahahaha, Shen, you’re going to be the death of me!]

[I’m cracking up. This is peak straight-man response.]

[For a second, I felt bad for poor Wenwen.]

Before they could say much more, the third guest arrived.

Top boy group dancer Su Mingxuan strolled over with a bright smile. “What are you two chatting about?” he asked as he joined them.

[It’s Little Ming!]

[Su Mingxuan! Honestly, I don’t want you on a dating show. I just want you to marry me =q=]

Jiang Wen immediately noticed the rose in his hand and said, “Wow, so everyone really does get one.”

The three of them already knew each other to some extent. Jiang Wen and Shen Xuzhi had recently starred together in a film, while Su Mingxuan had shared the stage with Shen Xuzhi during his idol days.

Soon, the rest of the guests began to arrive, and the lineup was nothing short of impressive.

There was Nan Yu, a national-level ballet dancer; Ning Yian, a rising girl group center; Qiao Weilan, a wild and free-spirited guitarist; and Xu Jing, an internationally renowned young pianist.

[The national ballet’s little swan is really here!]

[Ning Yian?! How did they manage to gather such an insane lineup?!]

[No way…Qiao Weilan?! My ultimate girl crush is on this show?!]

[Xu Jing?! I just got back from his concert. I can’t handle this!]

[Hold on, a lineup this legendary and it’s free to watch?!]

Some of the guests were meeting for the first time, coming from different fields despite all being well-known. After briefly introducing themselves and exchanging a few polite words, everyone found a spot to sit and chat casually.

Meanwhile, the screen was exploding with real-time comments, full of praise and over-the-top fan reactions.

Suddenly, someone in the comments pointed out.

[Wait… isn’t that content creator guy not here yet?]

More replies followed in quick succession.

[Yeah, where’s Qing Lin?]

[Guess he realized he stole Bai Wenle’s top spot and that he isn’t good-looking enough to back it up, so now he’s too scared to show up]

[Just another fame leech. Even mosquitoes are less annoying. Still not here…what’s he doing, practicing his diva entrance?]

[Seriously? Making all these big names wait for some flop? Bet he’s probably too ugly to show his face on camera]

[Why couldn’t they have picked Wenle instead?]

On set, Jiang Wen seemed to realize someone was missing. She looked around and asked, “Hey, isn’t someone still not here?”

Just as she spoke, the seven guests heard a low, growing rumble in the distance.

They turned to look and saw a helicopter approaching from across the sea. It flew in low over the water, rotor blades slicing through the air. Painted in black and yellow, the body bore the show’s logo: Follow Heart.

[WTF??? There’s a helicopter?!]

Su Mingxuan was just as amazed. He grabbed Shen Xuzhi’s arm and said, “Whoa, there’s really a helicopter!”

It circled once, then landed neatly on a prepared helipad.

Its whirling blades stirred up the sand in huge gusts. The dramatic entrance drew everyone in, and they instinctively stepped forward for a better look.

[Okay, that’s actually kind of cool!]

[Don’t tell me… is that seriously Qing Lin showing up like this?]

[Ugly and extra? What a combo.]

[I’m fuming Let me roast him.]

As the helicopter came to a stop, a staff member in a black suit stepped forward and opened the door.

Su Mingxuan and the others had only gathered out of curiosity, wanting a closer look at the helicopter. But the moment the door opened, all eyes were drawn to the figure emerging from inside.

The wind from the rotors still whipped through the air as a young man stepped down.
His coat flared in the breeze, revealing a glimpse of fair, delicate skin and a slender waist. His ankles were sharp and graceful, his complexion clear and luminous.

Squinting into the sun, he lifted an arm to shield his eyes from the glare and swirling dust.

[Damn, he’s gorgeous!!]

The boy stepped out from a backdrop of blue sky and endless sea, radiant with youthful energy. His entire presence seemed to glow with a soft, natural light.

Everyone stood frozen, unable to look away as he walked toward them.

Su Mingxuan, in particular, looked like his eyes were about to fall out until Shen Xuzhi nudged him with an elbow.

“Sorry I’m late,” the boy said.

He looked up, his expression relaxed into a gentle smile. With one hand, he brushed aside his wind-blown fringe, in the other, he held a single rose.

His voice was warm and steady as he introduced himself, “Hello everyone, I’m Qing Lin.”

For a moment, the comment section fell completely silent.