The Academic God Becomes an Internet Sensation After Joining a Dating Show - C57 - Pinned at the Top

The words had barely slipped out before he realized how reckless they sounded.

Shen Xuzhi leaned back in the rear seat, dark eyes flicking up at him. His bone structure was exquisite, sharp under the dim, hazy overhead light that traced the contours of his face, casting a cold, hard sheen across the illuminated planes.

And of course, even his hands were striking. One rested against his temple, the slender wrist and pale skin revealing the subtle outline of knuckles and faint blue veins beneath.

His gaze narrowed, calm and unreadable. Then, slowly, with deliberate ease, he looked up, a faint smile tugging at his lips. His voice was low, languid. “You’re bothered that I didn’t reply?”

Heaven.

He must be insane.

Qing Lin turned his head away, biting his lip, unable to mutter a single word.

He couldn’t understand why he had blurted out that line in the first place, and now, with Shen Xuzhi teasing him over it, he was even more tongue-tied.

When he fell silent, Shen Xuzhi lowered his head and let out a quiet chuckle. How could someone be this endearing?

But he couldn’t just let it go. He still wanted to ask why he hadn’t messaged him in so long.

Shen Xuzhi opened the chat and scrolled through it. To his surprise, there really was no reply.

Opening their chat, he scrolled back through the thread. To his surprise, there really wasn’t a reply. He froze, then quickly checked other conversations.

And there it was, tucked in a recent work handover chat with Qi Youhuai.

[x:［image］]

[x: Looks so delicious, wish I could eat it with you]

Then he saw that Qi Youhuai had already blocked him.

Shen Xuzhi: “…”

So that’s how it was.

But thinking that Qing Lin had actually cared about this, Shen Xuzhi felt a strange sense of happiness. “Sorry, I’ve been a bit busy lately and there are too many things going on.”

Yet the apology couldn’t mask his true feelings. After his earlier teasing, it sounded more like an excuse than a sincere admission. To Qing Lin, it carried a subtle, playful hint of provocation.

Qing Lin merely shifted slightly and remarked indifferently, “Mr. Shen is so busy; it’s only natural you’d forget.”

Hearing this, Shen Xuzhi realized Qing Lin was genuinely displeased. He tugged at his sleeve, hurriedly saying, “Just turn around, will you?”

Qing Lin refused to spare him a second glance.

Panicked, Shen Xuzhi tilted his head, straining to catch a glimpse of Qing Lin’s expression. As he leaned closer, Qing Lin subtly turned his head to the side, deliberately avoiding his gaze.

“Qing Lin?” Shen Xuzhi asked.

Qing Lin’s face remained neutral, betraying no emotion.

Shen Xuzhi raised his phone. “I didn’t forget. I messaged the wrong person. Really. You can check my phone if you want.”

Qing Lin thought it unnecessary, but he glanced at it anyway.

The moment he saw the WeChat interface, he froze.

“I have a national tour scheduled for the second half of the year. I’ve been coordinating with the company these past few days. I need to review the confirmed setlist, and the rearranged tracks require resubmission.”

“My filming schedule also clashes with it. Director Guo is quite strict; we mostly shoot in isolation, so I rarely get access to my phone.”

“I actually did reply to your message, but I accidentally sent it to the wrong person. That afternoon I also bought an ice cream and took a photo, but it went to the wrong chat. Then my phone got confiscated.”

Qing Lin didn’t take any of that in.

His mind was a little all over the place.

Ah.

He was not mistaken.

That was clearly his name, paired with that little rabbit profile picture, pinned right at the top.

Mr. Shen… had pinned him.

He was pinned at the very top of Shen Xuzhi’s WeChat contacts.

“Qing Lin.”

Shen Xuzhi called out again, one hand resting on the back of the seat, leaning forward, his voice impossibly gentle.

Qing Lin’s thoughts were pulled back, and the only thing he clearly heard was:

“You’ve always been number one to me.”

Thump.

In the narrow, enclosed space, it was just the two of them.

Shen Xuzhi’s faint citrus scent curled around him, subtle yet inescapable. Beyond the windows, the night stretched deep and black, the glass reflecting their shadowed figures.

Thump.

The overhead light was weak, too dim, throwing restless shadows across the interior. Strands of hair fell loosely over Shen Xuzhi’s forehead, catching the glow in fleeting traces. Those deep, sincere eyes looked at him with unwavering intensity.

Thump.

Qing Lin awkwardly averted his gaze and stammered, “Sorry, Mr. Shen… I—I need to step out for some fresh air…”

He could hardly catch his breath.

His heart hammered so violently it threatened to burst free.

Before Shen Xuzhi could so much as respond, he pushed the door open and fled, not daring a backward glance.

Wang Zhan, burger in hand, glanced up just in time to see Qing Lin rushing past. For a moment, he thought something was wrong, but to his surprise, Qing Lin only kept his head down and hurried away.

Wang Zhan was left bewildered, unable to make sense of what had just happened.

He rushed back to the car, only to find Shen Xuzhi still frozen in place, utterly at a loss, one hand suspended midair as though it had been about to reach for something.

Meanwhile, Qing Lin had already run a long way.

What was happening?

What on earth was going on?

Breathless, Qing Lin tugged at his clothes and crouched low, chest heaving. Heat surged through him, spreading outward, setting every nerve, every cell ablaze.

Heavens.

Please—calm down, heart.

It took him a long while to steady himself. He thought he had regained control, yet the mere memory of being with Shen Xuzhi made his chest constrict and his pulse race all over again.

Just then, his phone vibrated.

He glanced down and saw a message from Huang Zishun.

[Huang Zishun: Linlin, can you send me that data analysis template? I can’t find it.]

Qing Lin took a deep breath and typed back.

[Lin: Sure, hold on.]

He sent the file, and Huang Zishun responded almost immediately with a stream of grateful messages.

Qing Lin stared at his phone, hesitating. After a brief internal struggle, he typed again.

[Lin: Shunzi, what do you usually pin to the top of your WeChat?]

After hitting send, he couldn’t bring himself to look at the phone again. What if—just what if—it really meant something? Could Mr. Shen possibly…

[Huang Zishun: WeChat?]

[Huang Zishun: Class groups, project teams, advisor stuff, right?]

[Huang Zishun: Mainly so you don’t miss important messages. Pinned chats are easier to spot.]

After sending all that, he couldn’t help letting out a small, exasperated sigh.

[Huang Zishun: Holy crap, now that you mention it, my work ethic is seriously on point.]

Qing Lin froze.

Work… work ethic.

[Huang Zishun: Why’re you asking this anyway?]

[Huang Zishun: Oh yeah, right.]

[Huang Zishun: How are our Linlin and that Shen Laoshi doing lately?]

[Huang Zishun: [Chuckling.JPG]]

Qing Lin replied coldly.

[Lin: Fine.]

[Lin: His attitude is quite proper.]

[Huang Zishun: ?]

After sending the message, Qing Lin pressed a hand to his chest.

Good. His heart’s back to normal.

What the hell!

What on earth am I thinking?

He must be out of his mind to harbor such reckless thoughts. Shen Xuzhi had pinned him to the top of his contacts for one reason only—work.

After all, they’d signed a contract. They were important partners.

Qing Lin lifted his gaze to the pitch-black sky above, forcing himself to stay grounded.

He had to remind himself not to let his emotions get tangled up in the acting.

______________________________________________________________________________

The warm-up phase was over, and the Yunnan journey of “Follow Heart” officially began.

Before the team could even depart, Nan Yu and Qiao Weilan unexpectedly announced their relationship on Weibo, sending shockwaves through the entertainment world.

[@QiaoWeilanSwag: Grateful to have met my girlfriend @NanYuyu]

The Weibo comments blew up, with everyone sending their congratulations and excitement.

Similarly, Shen Xuzhi’s own comment quickly sparked heated discussion among netizens.

[@ShenXuzhi-Liam: Congratulations [Flowers.JPG]]

Not long after, Qiao Weilan replied.

[@QiaoWeilanSwag: Wishing you the same! [Fist bump.JPG]]

[Ahhhhhhh, it’s Ah Zhi!]

[What does this mean?! Does it mean Shen Laoshi and Linlin are really together too?!]

[When will you officially announce it? When will you officially announce it?  Since you’re acting like this, I’m assuming you two are together!]

[SXZ has never denied it, and neither has Qing Lin. Who cares? No denial means it’s true, KSWL!]

The buzz continued for another day, growing so intense that the production team decided to act quickly. Without delay, they whisked the cast off to Yunnan.

Yunnan, hailed as the Land of Colorful Clouds, unfurled its breathtaking scenery before them. From the airport, they drove out to a small, picturesque village in Dali County.

This recording carried a special twist: the addition of children. The guests would be traveling alongside the kids, a marked change in focus from the newlywed journey that had come before.

Hong Shanyue oversaw everything down to the smallest detail, adjusting each camera with practiced precision before the live broadcast went on air.

At the filming site, Ning Yian, Su Mingxuan, Nan Yu, Qiao Weilan, Shen Xuzhi, and Qing Lin stood waiting with their luggage in tow.

[Here we come!]

[Yunnan! Yunnan! Yunnan!]

[Let’s see how they handle the kids!]

Hong Shanyue’s voiceover rang out clearly: “Welcome to Yunnan! Every corner of this province offers breathtaking scenery. We’re now in the picturesque Yulan Village of Dali, Yunnan. From here, we’ll journey westward with the children, exploring our nation’s magnificent landscapes together.”

The three groups of guests applauded, smiles spreading across their faces.

Ning Yian, who had always adored children, asked eagerly, “Where are the little ones now?”

Hong Shanyue replied, “They’re at the village chief’s house. They arrived before us. Let’s go meet them together.”

Everyone gathered their luggage and made their way to the chief’s home.

As soon as they entered, the three groups of guests saw two milk dumplings sitting on the floor playing with building blocks.

The little boy suddenly stood, pointing at them with his stubby fingers. “You guys! You’re the big brothers and sisters Mom said would come play with us!”

“Yes, yes, we are,” Nanyu said, crouching down with a warm smile. “What’s your name?”

“My name is Deng Baiyuan, but my nickname is Xiaoxiao. I’m five years old!” Deng Xiaoxiao shook his head excitedly. “Do you know how to play with blocks? Want to play with me?”

The little girl beside him looked far more timid. She nodded, her soft, sweet little voice following. “My name is Yang Ziqi, but you can call me Qiqi…”

She hid shyly behind a staff member, peeking out with wide, curious eyes.

[Aww, so adorable!]

[Oh my, that baby voice!]

[Xiaoxiao is so cute and speaks so clearly. No wonder he’s the son of a TV host!]

[Yang Ziqi? Is she Yang Feng’s daughter? The Olympic champion!]

Everyone present was practically melting at the two little ones’ adorable introductions.

“Xiaoxiao, Qiqi, do you remember what we told you back then?” the staff member asked.

“We remember! We have to use our flowers to find the matching brothers and sisters!” Deng Xiaoxiao exclaimed, bouncing with excitement. “Whose flower is blue? Xiaoxiao’s blue!”

Nanyu glanced down at the task card pinned to her outfit and said, “We’re blue! Xiaoxiao is in our group.”

Deng Xiaoxiao looked from Nanyu to Qiao Weilan. “Two sisters!”

“That’s right,” Nan Yu confirmed with a smile.

Xiaoxiao studied them for a moment longer. “Are you two sisters married?”

Without missing a beat, Nan Yu replied calmly, “Yes, we’re married.”

The little boy’s eyes lit up instantly. “Wow! That’s amazing!”

[Ahhhhhhh KSWL!]

[Wuwuwuwu the lilies of my hometown are blooming.]

Qing Lin, watching from the side, was utterly stunned.

Wow, they really are a couple.

It all felt so natural.

On the other side, Yang Qiqi matched the pink floral patterns with Ning Yian and Su Mingxuan.

But the little girl, being shy and timid in the unfamiliar rural surroundings, sniffled and cried quietly.

Her tears tugged at everyone’s heart. Su Mingxuan gently picked her up, patting her back and soothing her, while Ning Yian hurried over to offer comforting words, trying to calm her down.

Yet… why were there only two children?

Shen Xuzhi scanned the area and asked the production team, “Where are the other children joining us?”

A staff member gestured toward another building, directing Qing Lin and Shen Xuzhi over.

“This child is a bit special,” the staff member explained. “He couldn’t make it to the village chief’s house on time. You’ll have to find her yourselves.”

With that, they soon arrived at a large courtyard mansion. Numerous cameras were set up within the compound, clearly arranged for filming.

Several staff members in white T-shirts and ID badges stood around, their brows furrowed as they shook their heads slightly, clearly perplexed.

When Qing Lin and Shen Xuzhi arrived, the staff immediately sighed with relief.
“Finally, someone’s here,” they whispered among themselves.

Qing Lin found everyone’s reaction a bit strange as he followed the staff into the house.

The place was plain, an old kang bed stood in the center. And on top of it stood a little boy.

His cheeks were plump and rosy, lips like cherries, teeth neat and white. His big, watery eyes shone under a fringe of soft curls. He wore denim short overalls over a pale-yellow polo shirt, chubby arms and legs peeking out.

In the plain, unadorned surroundings, the child stood out, as though he didn’t belong there at all.

[Wow, what an adorable little cub!]

[Ahhh, let me squish him! That little face, I just want to pinch it!]

[This little cub looks so cool! Total heartthrob in the making! But… what’s he doing here…?]

The next second, the tiny bundle stomped his foot on the kang, hands on hips, glaring with wide eyes, and in his small, childish voice shouted. “You meanies! Big bad guys! Miaomiao, doesn’t want this! Miaomiao want to go home!”

Just then, a few staff members came running from the backyard, panting: “Little darling, please don’t run off…”

Qing Lin and Shen Xuzhi exchanged bewildered looks. “?”

“Originally, this child was part of The Metamorphosis of Little Ones,” an assistant whispered to Qing Lin and Shen Xuzhi. “But the production crew over there couldn’t manage him, so they asked if we could take him in.”

He hesitated for a beat before adding softly, “What do you think… is that alright?”

Before they could answer, the boy clambered down from the kang. His eyes, wide and startlingly bright, scanned the room. Then, spotting a crew member trying to approach, he bolted straight toward the door.

The staff were helpless. Spotting Qing Lin and Shen Xuzhi standing by the entrance, they called out desperately, “Please stop him!”

Being called out like that, Qing Lin looked at the tiny bundle running toward him.

How was he supposed to stop him? Grab him with his hands?

Qing Lin crouched slightly, ready to scoop up the child as he approached.

But then, unexpectedly, the boy slammed on the brakes just a meter away. He froze, staring straight at Qing Lin.

Silence descended. Everyone held their breath, unsure what the child would do next. Staff cautiously edged forward, trying to find a chance to pick up the milk dumpling.

Then the boy spoke in a small, clear voice. “You’re so beautiful.”

Qing Lin: “?”

Staff: “?”

Shen Xuzhi: “??”