The Academic God Becomes an Internet Sensation After Joining a Dating Show - C42 - The Dancing Skirt

“Welcome, viewers, to the live broadcast of Follow Heart! Tonight, our southern team’s two couples will face off in an electrifying Tango battle! Are you excited?”

[Tango!!]

[Ahh! Go for it!]

[Shen & Lin will win for sure!]

[Go, Zhang Nanyin and Liu Xin!]

The grand hall glimmered under dim lights, smoky yellow walls adorned with ornate frescoes, each detail highlighted by spotlights. The air thrummed with the flowing rhythms of dance music.

Three tiers of spectators surrounded the main floor, their eyes fixed on the empty stage, waiting for the dancers to appear.

With Argentine tango having few strict rules, the dancers were free to move however they pleased, giving everyone a chance to admire their dazzling performances.

It was mid-evening, just after two full days of grueling practice.

[Where’s everyone? Has it started yet?]

Outside, the follow PD gave the signal, and the couples stepped onto the stage. Suddenly, the audience erupted into thunderous applause, shouting “Genial!”

Liu Xin held Zhang Nanyin’s waist as they stepped forward from the waiting area. She wore a gold-scaled dress that accentuated her curves, lifting the skirt gracefully to greet the audience.

[Ahhh, Nanyin! Such charm! I love you!!]

[So beautiful! So confident! Boohoo, I want to learn Tango too!]

The Shen & Lin couple followed.

Unlike Zhang Nanyin, Qing Lin wore a long-sleeved black satin gown that clung to his slim figure. Modest at the front, it featured two cutouts at the collarbone that revealed glimpses of pale skin, hinting at elegance and subtle allure.

[Sigh, I didn’t join the online vote—why did everyone pick such a conservative option for my wife? Sigh]

[Where’s Shen Laoshi? Didn’t he come out yet?]

“Qing Lin.”

The call made Qing Lin pause mid-step on the stairs, glancing back. The camera tracked forward, capturing the moment. Though the front of the gown seemed modest, the back was a revelation, bare from the neck down past the hip line, exposing skin that was startlingly smooth and fair.

[OMG NO WAY!!]

[I knew this dress was perfect for my wife!!]

[Damn, that dress is more thrilling than seeing a nude body!]

[Linlin!! (heart-wrenching scream)]

While Qing Lin lacked the voluptuous curves typical of female dancers, their extreme slenderness carved the back into a landscape of sharp, distinct bones. A single line ran straight down the spine, dividing the skin into elegant, angular planes—tall, slender, yet utterly captivating.

Qing Lin had applied a touch of makeup. His long, thick lashes drooped lazily, his expression calm, almost indifferent, with a cold elegance.

Just then, the curtain lifted, and Shen Xuzhi walked toward him.

Seeing him, Qing Lin extended his hand. Shen Xuzhi took it reverently, lifting it to his lips for a delicate kiss.

[Strike! A queen and his knight!]

[No no no! Correction! It’s the queen and his loyal dog!]

Shen Xuzhi held Qing Lin’s hand as they descended the steps, guiding him carefully before resting a hand on his waist.

The ballroom’s heating was on full, so in his outfit, Qing Lin didn’t feel cold at all.
But Shen Laoshi’s closeness made the air feel a little too warm. The tips of his ears flushed red.

Where Shen Xuzhi’s arm curved around his waist was exactly the spot he had helped cover earlier that day.

Qing Lin had been troubled when he found out he would have to wear this backless outfit for the performance.

First, tattoos weren’t allowed on variety shows. Second, the dress chosen by audience vote couldn’t be rejected. Third, he didn’t want outsiders seeing his tattoo in the first place.

The tattoo was between the buttocks and waist, a spot hard to handle by himself. Using a patch would be too obvious, and asking staff to apply tattoo cover-up would raise questions.

As he pondered the dilemma, Shen Xuzhi had quietly entered, saying nothing at first. He simply stood there, calm as ever, observing Qing Lin for a few seconds. Then, with a soft click, the dressing room door locked behind him.

Leaning casually against the door, Shen Xuzhi’s voice was low and even. “Need help?”

…

Thinking back, Qing Lin could only blush in embarrassment. The room had been so quiet, so small. To let Mr. Shen cover him properly, he had to stand on tiptoe, bracing both hands on the vanity.

Shen Xuzhi’s touch was light, careful, precise.

The makeup sponge dabbed over the tattoo inch by inch, not cold, not hot, just faintly ticklish. Each time, Qing Lin had to hold himself back from flinching.

He had never felt so sensitive before. Gritting his teeth, he closed his eyes.

Whenever he dared to glance up, the mirror in front of him reflected his own face, steadily flushing red.

Thankfully, no one else could see.

“Welcome to our two couples, and welcome to everyone here to enjoy this Tango performance!”

Elvira’s voice snapped Qing Lin back to reality.

They were already standing at the center of the stage.

“Our two couples will each perform a dance,” Elvira announced. “After watching both, the audience may choose the pair they liked more.” She smiled warmly. “Now please enjoy the performance by Shen Xuzhi and Qing Lin—Por una Cabeza!”

Qing Lin looked at Shen Xuzhi.

He gently took his hand.

“Enjoy it,” Shen Xuzhi whispered.

The music began, its lazy yet playful melody drifting between them, shifting to minor keys, opening up into something passionate.

Qing Lin followed Shen Xuzhi’s lead, their steps weaving seamlessly with the violin and harmonica’s lively harmony, rhythms rising and falling in perfect measure.

As the tempo quickened, Qing Lin spun gracefully, only to be drawn back into Shen Xuzhi’s arms. The music carried them both, pulling the dancers and the audience alike into its thrilling climax.

[Linlin’s legs are not just legs, they are like the spring waters along the banks of the Seine!]

[Quick, drape those legs over my shoulders, shush, shush!]

[QL is so soft! You could pose him any way you like.]

[So hyped! This dance is absolutely breathtaking!]

Delighted at perfectly nailing a difficult step, Qing Lin beamed at Shen Xuzhi, like a child pleading for candy.

Shen Xuzhi returned the smile.

A warm sense of ease spread through Qing Lin. He was truly enjoying himself—feeling the music’s emotions, its rhythm, melody, pauses, and syncopations; letting his body flow naturally and cherishing the partner he danced with.

As the music slowed and the melody faded, they struck the final classic Tango pose, ending their performance.

The screen exploded with comments.

[Lin has improved so much! He’s got exactly the feeling the teacher described. Such talent, mommy loves you so much, awwwww!]

[So amazing, both of them smiling so happily. It’s true joy in dance]

[It feels like these happy moments can wash away an entire day’s fatigue.]

Qing Lin exhaled softly. Around them, the audience cheered even louder, clapping and shouting nonstop.

“Wow! What a spectacular performance!”

“They danced with such joy. I felt drawn right in. It was incredible.”

Zhang Nanyin leaned against Liu Xin with a smile. “They really suit each other, don’t they?”

In the middle of the cheers, Qing Lin and Shen Xuzhi bowed and left the stage, hand in hand.

Afterward, Zhang Nanyin and Liu Xin performed their dance as well. Compared to last night, their progress was remarkable too, a cheerful, lively performance.

[Both couples were amazing!]

[Can’t we vote online?]

[Ugh, they’re both my favorites]

The audience cast their votes, offering flowers to the couple who had moved them the most.

Qing Lin still felt a flutter of nerves. After all, this was only his own modest understanding of the dance—he had no way of knowing how others would perceive it. And it wasn’t entirely true that he didn’t care about winning. Deep down, he really did want to succeed.

Stacy stepped onto the stage to announce the results. “Both pairs danced beautifully, beyond expectations. I could feel the emotions you aimed to convey, and that’s exactly what Tango is about.”

The staff handed her the result card.

Stacy opened it, and after a quick look at the name, she smiled with delight. “Congratulations to Qing Lin and Shen Xuzhi! Their performance resonated with the most people tonight!”

Hearing their names, Qing Lin’s body relaxed instantly. His eyes shone, reflecting the lights around him.

Ah, that’s wonderful.

To be able to reach others— it truly was a beautiful feeling.

“So beautiful! I could see love on that stage!”

“Thank you for your dance! I’m in such a wonderful mood today.”

The audience pressed in warmly, surrounding them with praise.

Stacy stepped forward. “That was amazing, Lin. I’d even like to invite you to dance with me.”

Elvira chimed in enthusiastically. “Me too, me too! Lin, dance with me!”

Soon, even the veteran tango dancers joined in, crowding around Qing Lin.

“May I invite you?”

“You were stunning just now. I’ve competed in international tournaments—surely I’m qualified to be your partner?”

“Wait, I asked first!”

The scene quickly descended into chaos as everyone vied for a turn.

Shen Xuzhi hurried forward, shielding Qing Lin behind him and politely declining the eager requests.

Qing Lin, however, couldn’t help but feel secretly thrilled.

In a moment like this, if they were really a couple, what was he supposed to do?
Praise Shen Laoshi? Hug him? Or… kiss him?

Qing Lin tugged gently at Shen Xuzhi’s sleeve, but for a moment words failed him. He simply stared for a long beat before softly calling, “Shen Xuzhi.”

Shen Xuzhi turned his head and replied, “Mm. I’m here.”

The citrusy scent around him mixed with the rush of adrenaline from their victory, made Shen Xuzhi’s presence become more apparent.

“This is your reward.” The production team carried over a giant placard with bold letters: “Travel Prize: 150,000 Pesos.”

“Over here, you two!” The photographer called. “Look at the camera, let’s get a shot together!”

[Hahahahaha that reward board looks ridiculous.]

[Congratulations to the both of you!]

“Thank you all for watching! That concludes our tango competition. We look forward to seeing you next time!”

With that, their journey in Buenos Aires came to an end. The next filming location was farther south, at the Moreno Glacier.

Before departure, the production team granted everyone two days off to adjust and make their own plans. During this break, each guest stayed in hotels arranged by their managers and took care of any personal work obligations.

Since Qing Lin wasn’t part of the entertainment industry, he had no work duties and, being in an unfamiliar country, naturally relied on Shen Xuzhi’s team for guidance.

Wang Zhan carried his luggage into the room and smiled. “Get some rest first. Filming must’ve been exhausting.”

“Thank you, Wang-ge,” Qing Lin replied politely.

“Just call me Xiao Wang. We’ve met before. I’m Xu-ge’s manager,” Wang Zhan said. “Xu-ge has an interview with domestic media tonight. He’ll be back later than usual.”

Qing Lin nodded as Wang Zhan waved goodbye and left.

Dragging his suitcase inside, Qing Lin looked around the room. The Argentinian-style apartment had a small living area, and farther in was a bedroom with a large bed and a desk.

Qing Lin sat on the bed. He didn’t feel sleepy yet, so he opened Weibo to check the latest buzz about Shen Lin Qijing.

As expected, the top hot searches were plastered with:

#ShenLinQijingTango#
#QingLinBacklessDress#
#ShenXuzhiQueenandDog#

Qing Lin: “?”

He realized netizens’ creativity was far beyond his imagination.

Checking the time, it was about 9:30 p.m. in Beijing.

With nothing better to do, Qing Lin logged into app under a secondary account and quietly checked in on the ‘Orphic’ fan group.

The chat from Ou Fans Support Club (@^▽^@) was overflowing with notifications, messages rolling in nonstop. Qing Lin narrowed his eyes, a faint smile appearing.

Well, what luck. He had stumbled in just as “Orphic” himself had dropped by.

Qing Yejie, from childhood to present, never seemed to change his habits. His profile picture stayed the same for ages. His username consistent across the entire internet.

Qing Lin would have been hard-pressed not to recognize him.

[Wind in May: Ta-ta-ta-ta, could you recommend any good anime that’s come out recently?]

[Big Aviator: Ou-ta look, I had cake today!]

[Big Aviator: [Image]]

[Nameless Waster: What have you been up to lately, Ta? When will you draw something new, sob]

The messages flew by, but “Orphic” diligently replied to nearly all of them. Surprisingly, the chat had a pleasant atmosphere.

Then a new message popped up.

[Volcano: Ta, have you watched Follow Heart?]

Qing Lin, quietly observing, raised an eyebrow. Sure enough, his younger brother responded.

[Orphic: Oh, I’ve seen that show.]

The chat instantly exploded, messages firing off one after another.

[Wind in May: Ah! You watch dating shows too, Ta-Ta!]

[HuaHua: Follow Heart is super popular right now, I love Ning Yian, she’s so gorgeous]

[Little Balloon: Ta, Ta, Ta which couple do you ship? I ship ShenLin Qijing!]

[NotChangingMyNameUntilILose100Pounds: Aaaah ShenLin Qijing! Linlin and Shen Laosi are so perfect together!]

[Volcano: Yes yes yes! Linlin’s amazing—so smart, talented, beautiful, and he can draw too!]

[Small Balloon: This CP hits all my weak spots. Their livestream just now—oh my god, it was pure queen and loyal dog vibes]

[Small Balloon: Ou-ta, do you ship ShenLin Qijing too?!]

[Orphic: …I don’t ship them.]

[Orphic: They look completely fake.]

Reading that reply, Qing Lin couldn’t help but think, Yes, that’s definitely my brother.

Was he tactless and blunt, or simply honest and true to himself? Even behind the “Orphic” persona, his awkward, stubborn personality shone through.

[GachaEgg: Fake, huh… I don’t really think so]

[Wind in May: Aiya, Ta probably just doesn’t get the vibe. Besides, variety dating shows are performances anyway]

[NotChangingMyNameUntilILose100Pounds: Still, they’re really fun to ship…]

Most replies tried to soften Orphic’s blunt words, until a new message appeared.

[Small Balloon: QAQ Then doesn’t that mean we’ll never get to see a Shen Lin Qijing fanart drawn personally by Ou-ta?]

Qing Lin paused.

CP fanart? Hmm… actually, that didn’t sound bad. If “Orphic’s” fans wanted it, shouldn’t he give them a little satisfaction?

Without another word, Qing Lin opened Procreate.

Thirty minutes later, the group chat erupted.

[Volcano: Ta-ta! Your new Weibo post is gorgeous!]

[CP Overlord: Gorgeous! My goddess! Too beautiful, too sexy!]

[Wind in May: I love you, Ta-ta! [cry.jpg] [heart-launch.jpg]]

[Ou-baby: Aaaah! Too seductive!! How can even a rough sketch look this hot!]

Meanwhile, Qing Yejie sat at the counter, lollipop in mouth. Bombarded by notifications, he grabbed his phone.

Seeing the flood of messages, he froze, then immediately opened Weibo and clicked into Orphic’s homepage.

[@Orphic: △ Shen Lin Qijing CP Tag [heart.JPG]]

[Image]]

Orphic had just updated with a new post, uploading a loosely colored sketch.

The drawing was of two men smiling happily, scarves around their necks, eating ice cream together in the snow.

He even posted it under the ShenLin Qijing CP super topic, captioned with a pulsing heart.

“Damn.” Qing Yejie muttered under his breath.

Why had Orphic suddenly updated?

And worse—why a drawing of Qing Lin and that guy?

Shit. What rotten luck.

In the Ou Fans Support Club (@^▽^@), messages kept pouring in.

[CP Overlord: Too sweet, too sweet! Shen Laoshi is so handsome! Linlin’s smile is adorable!]

[Ou’s Little Sweetheart: QL is too cute! He looks so soft, let mommy hug!]

[Shasha-chan: Didn’t Qing Lin sketch Shen Xuzhi that other day too? The program didn’t show it, I really want to see!]

[Volcano: Shen Lin Qijing supremacy!]

Qing Yejie’s face darkened.

Shen Lin Qijing, Shen Lin Qijing.

What was so good about that Shen anyway? He clearly looked untrustworthy.

And yet Qing Lin even drew him… He had never even drawn his own brother before.

Why draw that Shen instead?

[Small Balloon: But Ta, didn’t you say you don’t ship Shen Lin Qijing? Why did you draw them?]

Annoyed just seeing the name “Shen Lin Qijing,” Qing Yejie nonetheless had to respond, lest his cover slip.

[Orphic: …Didn’t you guys say you liked it? So, I drew it.]

[Wind in May: Ta-ta, I love you!]

[Volcano: So doting on fans, Ta!]

[Small Balloon: Aaaah Ta-ta! Will you draw more CP fanart in the future?]

[Orphic: Later. Maybe later.]

[Orphic: I still don’t really ship them.]

After sending that, Qing Yejie figured Orphic wouldn’t need to update again for another three or four months.

Yet every time he caught sight of that fanart of Shen Xuzhi, a wave of nausea rose within him. Grinding his molars, he flipped the canvas and painted over Shen Xuzhi’s face.

Ship, ship, ship. Ship your damn selves.

Hmph. He never wanted to see that gross pair again.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Qing Lin stared at the screen, thoughtful.

Not shipping them, huh… Seems you still don’t understand the charm of Shen Lin Qijing.

Qing Lin picked up his pen again.

Five minutes later, another update hit Weibo. This one went viral instantly within the CP super topic, hitting a thousand likes in just two minutes.

It was a black-and-white full-body sketch of Shen Xuzhi holding Qing Lin by the waist as they danced the tango. Though loosely drawn, Shen’s broad shoulders, narrow waist, and the way he encircled Qing Lin radiated sheer, explosive tension.

The caption read,

[@Orphic: △ Shen Lin Qijing CP Tag

Shipping till death]