The Academic God Becomes an Internet Sensation After Joining a Dating Show - C4 - Logic Puzzle

Qing Lin stood before them, his skin so pale it seemed to glow beneath the sunlight, making the red rose in his hand appear even more vivid, almost tender.

Across from him, the other guests were lined up, and cameras of every size zeroed in on him.

He swept a calm glance over the roses in their hands, then quietly lifted his own to his chest.

For a few moments, everything was still. Then, the comment section erupted.

[Wait—what did he just say his name was?!]

[Okay but… he’s actually hot? Like, really hot. Are we sure he’s not already a celeb?]

[This little UP is way too good-looking! He’s exactly my type. I don’t care what anyone says…dibs on calling him wifey first.]

[AHHH he’s adorable!! Like a living doll…so pretty, so soft! With that face, how was he not showing it off before?!]

[Was it plastic surgery? Or did they just grab some random C-lister to fake the identity?]

[There’s no way someone that good-looking would hide his face. Bet it’s not really him and just some stunt to stir hype. This show is just a gimmick.]

[Trying to clout-chase on a premium show like this? Bold move, huh.]

While the livestream chat was in an uproar, the set remained frozen in an eerie silence. No one said a word. They simply stared at him.

“Guests, please proceed to the next location.”

The on-site director finally broke the awkward pause, stepping in to move things along.

“Our final guest has arrived,” Hong Shanyue said cheerfully, flashing a smile. “What an entrance, right? I think everyone was a little stunned. Come on, don’t just stand there. Everyone, let’s head to the next shooting location!”

That finally brought everyone back to their senses, and the atmosphere gradually lightened.

Qing Lin, unaware of the chaos unfolding in the comment section, was just here to carry out his contract.

After the cast list had been finalized, Hong Shanyue had wired him 200,000 yuan upfront. The transfer was quick and straightforward, but it added a quiet sense of obligation on his part.

So, for Qing Lin, this was not just about fulfilling a contract. It was also about honoring the payment.
He had taken the role seriously from the start, reading the scripts, studying the schedule, and researching the other guests in advance.

A worker’s mindset, a worker’s discipline.

At the very least, he knew how to stay composed.

“Everyone, right this way,” someone directed.

The sea breeze was strong, blowing steadily along the coast. Most of the female guests were dressed in skirts, which made it difficult to move freely.

Ning Yian, in particular, had chosen high heels that sank with each step into the soft sand.

She wasn’t paying attention and stepped into a soft patch of sand. Her balance tilted, and she nearly pitched forward.

“Be careful.”

A hand caught her just in time, steadying her before she could fall. Ning Yian let out a soft breath of relief and looked up. It was Qing Lin.

“Thank you,” she said, a little flustered.

“You’re welcome.” Qing Lin glanced at the way she instinctively rotated her ankle and added, “You’ve got an old injury, don’t you? With heels that high, you really should be careful on this kind of terrain.”

Standing close by, Jiang Wen looked over with concern. “Little An-an, did you hurt your ankle before?”

“Yeah, I strained it a few years back during practice.” Ning Yian turned her ankle gently. “Feels like the old injury’s acting up again.”

Qing Lin helped her stand upright. His voice was calm and even. “Training in traditional dance must’ve been tough. I remember you once mentioned in an interview that you spent two or three hours a day doing flexibility drills, backbends, leg extensions, all of it.”

Ning Yian blinked in surprise. “You know I used to dance traditional styles?”

Qing Lin’s attention to detail caught her off guard. It was true. She had mentioned it once in an old interview. But that was years ago, back when she was still unknown. Those details hardly mattered then, and not many people remembered them now.

“Wow, you even know that?” Jiang Wen teased with a grin. “Don’t tell me you’ve got a thing for our An-an~”

Ning Yian turned to glance at Qing Lin.

She had worked hard, but her path in traditional dance had never really taken off. Her rise to fame only came later, after joining a survival show where she snagged center position thanks to buzz and controversy. She knew better than anyone how much of it was smoke and mirrors.

This dating show was just another way to stay relevant. These days, idol groups relied on image and branding. People no longer cared much about real dance or genuine music.

“My friend has been a loyal fan of yours for years,” Qing Lin said. “Even though I only followed casually, I’ve always admired your dancing. It’s bold, passionate, and full of stage presence. A hardworking girl stands out no matter where she is.” His voice was soft and steady, carrying a sincerity that naturally drew attention.

With just a few simple words, he managed to keep a respectful distance while still making the compliment feel warm and heartfelt.

Ning Yi’an looked at him quietly for a moment, then smiled. “Thank you.”

[This is really touching.]

[Damn, this guy seems smart.]

“Aww, darling, you’re way too smooth,” Jiang Wen teased, reaching out to pinch Qing Lin’s cheek. “And your skin is flawless. Big sis approves.”

Her playful tone drew laughter from the others, and others gathered around them.

Qing Lin finally relaxed.

After all, he had just gone over all this material earlier that morning.

He hadn’t only read the show’s prep notes. He had also done a deep dive, checking Baidu profiles, memorizing ages, heights, hometowns, career highlights, awards, and everything else he could find on each cast member.

It was a bit shameless, sure, but he wasn’t pretending entirely. His friend Huang Zishun really had been a dedicated fan of Ning Yian for years.

Now was the perfect time to recognize people.

The guy wearing smoky eyeliner was Su Mingxuan. The one with neatly slicked-back hair was Xu Jing. The girl with dreadlocks was Qiao Weilan. And the one with the sunny smile, who had just pinched his cheek, was Jiang Wen.

Then there was someone standing a little behind them…

Qing Lin’s gaze drifted over and stopped on a face that looked as stormy as thunderclouds.

In the back of the crowd stood Shen Xuzhi, striking and intense with deep-set eyes and sharp features. He wasn’t saying anything, but his entire aura screamed discontent, and he was staring directly at Qing Lin.

The moment their eyes met, Qing Lin faltered slightly.

Ah, what’s going on?

He touched the bridge of his nose, puzzled.

Was Shen Xuzhi really staring at him?

Well…they had met not long ago.

“Yian, if it’s hard to walk, you can hold onto my arm,” Su Mingxuan offered as he stepped forward.

“Thanks.” Ning Yian took his arm and turned back to Qing Lin with a bright smile. “Looks like I owe you a favor now.”

That reminded Qing Lin of something. “Would it be alright to ask for an autograph later? My friend’s a huge fan of yours.”

Ning Yian laughed. “Of course! Thanks for the support. You guys should come to our concert sometime!”

Qing Lin gave a courteous nod and happened to glance over, only to catch Shen Xuzhi’s expression growing even darker.

Qing Lin: “…”

What’s wrong with him?

“But seriously, showing up in a helicopter? That’s next-level cool. What kind of VIP treatment is that?” Su Mingxuan said with a laugh.

Qiao Weilan chimed in, “Seriously! I spent three hours on a boat just to get here. My back’s still aching.”

“It was so over the top. You totally stole the spotlight. We were all stunned—now that’s an entrance.”

Someone off to the side joked, “The crew’s clearly playing favorites. Where’s my helicopter ride?”

Qing Lin turned and looked back at the helicopter.

So… he really had been the only one to arrive that way.

The live chat, which had calmed down for a moment, suddenly exploded again.

[Is this upstart done showing off yet?]

[He got funded to join the show and shows up in a helicopter while the real stars take boats. And he still dares to act like he belongs.]

[Okay but… he’s absurdly good-looking.]

[Right? He’s so pretty it’s painful. That’s my wife now. Wifey forever.]

[He’s getting way too close to our An-an.]

Noticing how Shen Xuzhi’s expression had grown even darker, Jiang Wen raised an eyebrow and teased, “What’s wrong? Feeling jealous? Want a helicopter of your own?”

Shen Xuzhi’s expression tightened, his demeanor returning to cold indifference. His Adam’s apple moved as he swallowed, then replied flatly, “No.”

With his chin slightly raised and his dark eyes as deep as ink, Shen Xuzhi stared icily at the crowd gathered around Qing Lin.

Making a solo entrance by helicopter was admittedly dramatic, but no one could deny it left an impression. The grand entrance Hong Shanyue had arranged for Qing Lin did has its reasoning.

But still…

What was going on with this group of guests?

Why were they so excited? Why were they acting like they had never seen a helicopter before? Or was it that they had never seen someone good-looking up close?

Then there was Wang Zhan, who kept spamming him messages like “Calm down,” “Don’t get too excited,” “Maintain your composure,” and “Don’t be too forward.” His phone hadn’t stopped buzzing.

Shen Xuzhi’s expression grew darker by the second.

“All right, everyone, head inside,” Hong Shanyue said through a megaphone, guiding the group toward the filming tent.

Qing Lin followed the others, but he could feel someone watching him the entire way. He glanced back discreetly and saw that only Shen Xuzhi was walking behind him.

Their eyes met for a brief moment before Shen Xuzhi quickly looked down and ran a hand through his hair.

They had already met before the shoot, so Qing Lin wasn’t sure if he should say hello. But with the group moving ahead quickly, he held back the impulse and turned away without a word.

——————————————————————————————————————

The island was truly remote. The so-called filming house turned out to be a white tent that looked a bit like a Mongolian yurt. Fortunately, there was air conditioning inside. Without it, they would have been suffering from heatstroke within minutes.

Inside, a long table had been set up. Since Qing Lin was among the last to arrive, only two seats remained, placed directly across from each other.

“Qing Lin, sit here,” Ning Yian said, patting the seat beside her.

Qing Lin had no reason to decline, so he took the spot. Shen Xuzhi, who entered right after him, ended up sitting directly across from him.

Cameras were set up on both sides of the table, capturing every angle, leaving no expression unseen.

When Qing Lin looked up again, Shen Xuzhi’s face had already returned to a calm, unreadable expression.

“Finally, air-conditioning. You wouldn’t believe it, but the bus I rode in didn’t even have A/C. It was completely ridiculous,” Su Mingxuan exclaimed as he slumped into his chair.

He glanced around, then casually added, “Hey Qing Lin, your entrance was way too different from the rest of us. Be honest, did the director give you some kind of special treatment?”

It was meant to liven up the atmosphere for the show, but once viewers caught wind of it, the comments took on a different tone.

[Getting special treatment, huh? Whose young master is this?]

[Xiao Ming coming in strong!]

Qing Lin could pretty much guess what kind of criticism he was getting online. He wasn’t naive.

But judging by how the crew seemed eager for him to stir things up a bit, he decided to play along. “Mm, the director said it was a special privilege.”

“For real? So you did get special treatment!” the other guests joined in, their voices full of playful accusation. The comment section lit up even more.

“Director Hong, you’re playing favorites! Explain yourself. Why does Qing Lin get a helicopter? Is it because he’s good-looking?” Su Mingxuan leaned his chin on his hand and blinked with exaggerated innocence. “Am I not good-looking enough?”

[You’re the most handsome, don’t worry!]

[But Qing Lin is totally my type too…]

[Right? He looks so soft and huggable, like a doll come to life!]

[Easy for him—backed by a sponsor and already dragging in fans from the start.]

“Hey, hey, how am I playing favorites? I gave you all the same opportunity, okay?” Hong Shanyue defended himself using the megaphone.

The guests looked confused. “?”

Su Mingxuan echoed the sentiment. “The same opportunity…?”

When had that happened? Was there some kind of suggestion box, or had they missed a hidden offer?

“Yesterday.”

A quiet voice suddenly chimed in, and everyone turned toward Shen Xuzhi.

He spoke in a low tone. “The crew sent out a challenge. It said that anyone who solved it within the time limit would get a surprise reward.”

“Oh! I remember now!” Jiang Wen slapped her forehead. “Was it that riddle yesterday at lunch? The one about guessing someone’s identity?”

Just as she said that, the large screen at the back of the tent lit up, displaying the question.

[Xiao Zhang is in a relationship. Curious, their friends wanted to know who the partner was. Xiao Zhang gave the surname to Xiao Liu and the given name to Xiao Qi.

The possible names are:

He Qi, Yu Ke, He Bei, Zheng Xin, He Lan, Mo Xin, Mo Ke, Yu Feng, Mo Lan, Zheng Feng, Yu Xie, Yu Lan.

The conversation went as follows.

—Xiao Qi: I don’t know who it is.

—Xiao Liu: I knew you wouldn’t know.

—Xiao Qi: Now I know.

—Xiao Liu: Now I know too.

Based on the conversation, can you figure out who Xiao Zhang’s partner is? You have ten minutes.]

“Yes, that’s the one,” Jiang Wen said as she read the question again and groaned, holding her head. “Ten minutes? There are over ten names in here, and it’s all so vague. It gave me a headache.”

“I know, right? I spent half an hour trying and still couldn’t figure it out,” Nan Yu laughed. “I thought it was just some trick to mess with us. Didn’t think we were actually supposed to solve it.”

“Come on now, who says it’s unsolvable?” Hong Shanyue interjected. “Qing Lin figured it out.”

“Not only did he get it right, but he also even wrote down the full explanation. And the best part? He solved it in just one minute.”