The Academic God Becomes an Internet Sensation After Joining a Dating Show - C44 - What's Going On? (Second Part)

Shen Xuzhi’s hand stopped in midair.

Jiang Liao looked on in disbelief, as though he had seen a ghost, his gaze shifting from Qi Youhuai to Qing Lin, and finally settling on Shen Xuzhi’s stormy expression.

Just then, the waiter arrived with a non-alcoholic cocktail. Without saying a word, Shen Xuzhi pushed away the glass of wine Qi Youhuai had offered, his face cold and unapproachable, and replaced it with the drink he had ordered.

“Florida Sunshine,” Shen Xuzhi said. “This one’s sweeter. You should try it.”

Qi Youhuai gave no response to Shen Xuzhi’s gesture. Instead, he turned his wrist ever so slightly, his pale eyes resting steadily on Qing Lin.

“Do you like sweet drinks?” he asked.

Qing Lin hadn’t even had the chance to answer Shen Xuzhi. He stirred his glass with the straw and replied, “Yeah, I do. Quite a bit.”

Qi Youhuai’s expression remained unreadable, his only response a faint nod.

Watching him speak this much to a stranger, Jiang Liao couldn’t hide his surprise.

All at once, he recalled that this dinner was supposed to serve as a quiet assist for Shen Xuzhi.

Turning back to Qing Lin, Jiang Liao grinned. “Qing Lin, working with Ah Zhi can’t be easy, right? Falling for someone so cold and distant on a dating show. Doesn’t it get frustrating?”

Qing Lin immediately came to Shen Xuzhi’s defense. “Not at all. Shen Xuzhi is kind, attentive, and considerate. He’s an excellent partner.”

“Oh~” Jiang Liao’s smile widened. “I think you two suit each other well. Ah Zhi’s never shown that kind of gentleness to anyone else.”

Leaning casually on the table, Jiang Liao raised his eyes to Qing Lin. “Have you ever thought about being together for real?”

Unexpectedly, Qing Lin didn’t even twitch an eyelid. “No.”

“Ah…” Jiang Liao froze, caught off guard by the decisiveness of the reply. He scrambled for words. “Then… why not?”

Anticipating the moment, Shen Xuzhi downed the liquor in a single breath, eyes glinting with curiosity as he awaited Qing Lin’s explanation.

But Qing Lin’s response wasn’t rational analysis.

“There’s no particular reason,” Qing Lin said softly, his narrow double-lidded eyes cast downward, expression calm and quiet. “I just feel that Mr. Shen deserves someone better.”

Everyone there was caught off guard.

Jiang Liao’s gaze flicked toward Shen Xuzhi, but Shen Xuzhi only shook his head, saying nothing.

Quick to recover, Jiang Liao immediately shifted topics. “Alright then, little beauty, how long will you be filming in Argentina?”

“Tomorrow we’re heading to the Perito Moreno Glacier in Santa Cruz Province,” Qing Lin answered honestly. “We’ll be staying there for three days.”

“The Moreno Glacier, huh? Oh, Lao Qi, didn’t we go there not long ago?” Jiang Liao nudged Qi Youhuai’s elbow. “Pretty fun, right?”

Qi Youhuai gave a simple, “Mm.” After a pause, he turned to Qing Lin. “It’ll be cold. Make sure you dress warmly.”

Qing Lin nodded obediently.

Jiang Liao’s brows lifted in mild surprise. Since Shen Xuzhi wasn’t eager to pursue the earlier thread, Jiang Liao let the topic drift to safer ground. And to his astonishment, Qing Lin seemed to converse more easily with Qi Youhuai than anyone had expected.

Qi Youhuai poured himself a glass of rum and asked casually, “Is school tiring?”

“Not really, my schedule isn’t too packed,” Qing Lin replied. After a brief pause, he added. “I didn’t expect the president of Chengqi Group to be so young. Are you the same age as Shen Xuzhi?”

Qi Youhuai didn’t respond immediately, his amber-colored eyes studying Qing Lin.

Realizing, Qing Lin quickly backtracked. “Sorry, did I overstep?”

“It’s fine. Ask anything you want,” Qi Youhuai answered, checking his watch. “I’m 26. My younger brother should be about your age.”

“You have a brother?” Qing Lin asked.

“Yes,” Qi Youhuai replied. “Do you have any siblings?”

“I do.” Qing Lin’s fingers tightened around his glass for a fleeting moment before he steadied his expression. “I have a younger brother too.”

Just then, a knock sounded, and a waiter entered carrying several cakes.

Qi Youhuai gestured lightly. “Set them in front of him.”

Qing Lin watched with quiet curiosity as each cake was placed before him, then turned to Qi Youhuai as if seeking confirmation.

Leaning back against the sofa, Qi Youhuai said indifferently, “I wasn’t sure which you’d like, so I got a little of everything.”

Qing Lin’s eyes lowered to the blueberry cheesecake placed directly before him. Was this… because he had mentioned he liked sweet things?

Beside him, Jiang Liao was quietly impressed. The interaction unfolding before him was so absorbing that he almost missed the vibration of his phone.

It was a message from Shen Xuzhi.

[Shen Xuzhi: What’s with Qi Youhuai?]

Jiang Liao could practically feel the edge of irritation seeping through the text. He tapped back a quick reply.

[Jiang Liao: I’m wondering the same.]

[Jiang Liao: He’s rarely this proactive]

A pause, then another message.

[Shen Xuzhi: Don’t let him start scheming.]

Jiang Liao’s lips curved into a smile. Today’s outing was turning out to be far more entertaining than he had expected.

Shen Xuzhi set his phone down on the table. For a moment he sat upright, then leaned sideways, resting against Qing Lin’s shoulder.

Qing Lin felt the weight and warmth of him pressing close, his body tilting slightly under it. A few strands of his hair brushed against Shen Xuzhi’s neck.

He tilted his head. “Mr. Shen?”

Without lifting his head, Shen Xuzhi pressed closer, arms slipping lightly around Qing Lin’s waist. He buried his face against the curve of Qing Lin’s neck, his voice low, hoarse, almost coaxing. “I drank too much.”

Qing Lin’s lips curved into a faint pout. Shen Xuzhi had only downed three drinks, yet here he was, behaving like a clingy, oversized dog.

He lifted a hand and gently patted Shen Xuzhi’s shoulder in quiet comfort.

Qi Youhuai, perceptive as always, stood up. “I’m stepping out for a moment,” he told the others.

Jiang Liao, watching Qi Youhuai’s retreating figure, also got up. “I’ll grab some more drinks too.”

Outside, night had settled. The bar’s open-air corridor overlooked a narrow, old-fashioned street lit with scattered strings of light.

Qi Youhuai slipped a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and leaned against the railing. The smoke drifted upward in the cool air, curling past him in pale threads. He narrowed his eyes toward the distance, exhaling a ring of smoke that dissolved into the wind, his profile shadowed with quiet melancholy.

“Wow, it’s a bit chilly out here.”

Qi Youhuai didn’t turn, yet from the voice alone, he already knew who it was.

“You’ve been talkative today,” Jiang Liao said, stepping up beside him, elbows resting against the railing. His gaze slid sideways. “So? What do you think of Qing Lin?”

Qi Youhuai flicked the ash from his cigarette, his voice carrying a faint rasp of smoke. “He’s a good kid. I quite like him.”

“Wow, that’s rare,” Jiang Liao remarked, casting a glance at the café down the street just as its owner flicked on the colorful lights. “I never thought I’d hear the word like from you.”

Qi Youhuai only took another slow drag, offering nothing more.

Coughing lightly at the haze drifting his way, Jiang Liao tapped his arm. “Stop smoking, hand it over.”

Qi Youhuai frowned and shot Jiang Liao a glance. The latter’s shoulder-length hair fluttered in the wind as he reached out. With a reluctant sigh, Qi Youhuai pulled a cigarette from his pocket and handed it over.

“Don’t interfere again,” he said, his tone as cold as the night air.

“How could I not?” Jiang Liao leaned lazily against the railing, gaze turned away but voice still carrying its teasing lilt. “You’re my patient too.”

Qi Youhuai gave no reply. His silence was as distant as ever. His eyes drifted to the glowing sign of the café across the street, as if some half-buried memory stirred there. He took the final drag of his cigarette and crushed it out.

More than ten minutes passed before the two of them returned inside together.

When he saw them return, Qing Lin spoke up. “Sorry, Mr. Qi, Dr. Jiang… Shen Laoshi isn’t feeling well. I think we’d better head back first.”

Jiang Liao raised an eyebrow at Shen Xuzhi. His act of feigned drunkenness was impressive, no wonder he won that best new actor award.

“Mm, that’s fine. Qing Lin, help Ah Zhi get some rest. You have to go to Santa Cruz tomorrow, so get some proper sleep,” Jiang Liao said.

With a small nod, Qing Lin reached out, wrapping his arm around Shen Xuzhi in an attempt to steady him and lift him up.

Shen Xuzhi, taller than him, leaned in with full weight, clinging bonelessly as though determined not to let go. It was obvious this wasn’t just drunkenness, it carried a streak of selfishness, of willful attachment.

“Shen Laoshi, try standing up…” Qing Lin coaxed helplessly. He didn’t mind the closeness, but walking like this was impossible.

Then, a firm hand pried Shen Xuzhi away.

Qi Youhuai had stepped forward, steadying him and slipping an arm under his shoulder. “I’ll help him,” he said simply to Qing Lin.

Qing Lin paused, then quickly replied, “Ah, okay. Thank you.”

Shen Xuzhi: “…”

Grinding his teeth, Shen Xuzhi shot Qi Youhuai a look, only to be pressed back down by the man’s steady hand.

“You’re supposed to be drunk, aren’t you?” Qi Youhuai said flatly.

“…Yes…” Shen Xuzhi muttered.

After all, the act had to look convincing.

Qi Youhuai helped Qing Lin settle Shen Xuzhi into the waiting car. After giving the hotel address, Qing Lin turned back. “Thank you, Mr. Qi.”

“You’re welcome,” Qi Youhuai replied evenly. “Until next time.”

Shen Xuzhi leaned back in the seat, eyes closed.

Next time my foot, he thought sourly.

The car started moving. Inside, it was just the two of them.

Shen Xuzhi slowly opened his eyes. The streetlights cast shifting shadows across his face.

“Shen Xuzhi, are you feeling better?” Qing Lin asked softly.

“Yes,” Shen Xuzhi replied. “I’m fine.”

“That’s good.”

Shen Xuzhi turned his head, gaze settling on him. The young man was slender and beautiful, light catching the contours of his face, eyelashes long and delicate, exuding a gentle demeanor.

Thinking of Qi Youhuai’s odd behavior, and how naturally Qing Lin had spoken with him, Shen Xuzhi felt a pang of irritation.

“What do you think of Qi Youhuai?” he asked suddenly.

Qing Lin blinked, caught off guard, then considered carefully. “I think Mr. Qi is very kind, approachable, and composed. He speaks clearly and is gentle.”

Shen Xuzhi: …

Kind? Gentle?

He had never heard anyone describe Qi Youhuai like that before.

He still trusted Jiang Liao.

What exactly is Qing Lin thinking? Were we sure he wasn’t being forced into this?

Shen Xuzhi’s hand curled into a fist, only to loosen again moments later.

He asked once more, his voice low, “Then what about me? What do you think of me?”

Qing Lin turned, meeting his gaze head-on. “Shen Laoshi has always been very good.”

Shen Xuzhi leaned back against the seat. Argentina’s brilliant streetlights blurred into the night, dimming the sky where the first stars were just beginning to appear in the east.

He looked at the scenery slipping away, his expression easing. “And you’ve always been very good too,” he murmured.

“Always,” Qing Lin replied.