The Academic God Becomes an Internet Sensation After Joining a Dating Show - C7 - WeChat
Qing Lin froze for a moment.
“Try… try what?” His voice trembled slightly
Shen Xuzhi lowered his gaze, glanced around the hallway, then rested his hand against the doorframe.
“This isn’t the best place to talk. Let’s go inside.”
Inside?
Did he mean his room?
“…That’s probably not necessary,” Qing Lin replied instinctively, taking a small step back and positioning himself in front of his own door. “It’s a bit messy in there.”
Shen Xuzhi looked down at him. Qing Lin’s features were soft and youthful, his hair neatly in place.
But his reaction… seemed a little too defensive.
Shen Xuzhi pushed his bangs back and offered a suggestion in a more relaxed tone.
“If you don’t want me in your room, then why don’t you come to mine?”
Qing Lin instinctively backed away once more.
Going to Shen Xuzhi’s room…
To be honest, letting him in might actually feel safer.
Shen Xuzhi stood there, waiting for a response, but Qing Lin remained silent.
After a brief pause, he finally said,
“Mr. Shen, I’m a decent person…”
“….”
Shen Xuzhi’s brow twitched slightly. He pressed his lips together, then slowly asked, “What exactly do you think I’m trying to do?”
Judging by Qing Lin’s expression, it wasn’t hard for him to guess. His gaze grew a little more serious as he added in a steady voice, “Don’t worry. I’m a decent person too.”
They had been standing in the doorway for far too long. People were starting to pass by every now and then, and the situation was becoming more awkward by the minute.
Placing his trust in the basic decency of humankind, Qing Lin finally gritted his teeth and let him in.
Shen Xuzhi followed Qing Lin into his room.
The island was quite secluded, and the vacation hotel room was modest in size. A simple double bed occupied most of the space, with only a small table and a single chair off to the side.
Shen Xuzhi glanced around briefly, then turned to Qing Lin and said, “Let’s sit on the bed.”
The words echoed in Qing Lin’s ears, and for a moment, he wasn’t sure he had heard correctly. “The bed?”
“Yeah, there’s more space,” Shen Xuzhi answered casually, his eyes half-lidded in a calm, unbothered way.
Qing Lin quietly drew a breath. Without drawing attention, he slipped his hand behind his back and started a voice recording on his phone.
It was better to be cautious. If Shen Xuzhi really had anything improper in mind, at least he would have proof.
But then Shen Xuzhi continued, “The table works too, but there’s only one chair. Not exactly ideal for a proper talk. I can stand, if that’s better.”
Qing Lin’s hand, which had been hovering near the recording button, slowly lowered.
Shen Xuzhi gave him a small nod, and seeing the quiet signal of agreement in Qing Lin’s expression, he took a seat at the edge of the bed.
As Shen Xuzhi sat down, his loose collar dipped slightly, revealing the smooth skin around his collarbones. When he looked up at Qing Lin, his gaze lifted gently.
“Want to sit?” He asked.
Qing Lin hesitated for a few seconds. Still cautious, he responded with a question of his own.
“May I ask what it is you wanted to talk about, Mr. Shen?”
Shen Xuzhi met his pale amber eyes, and for a moment, found them impossibly captivating.
He leaned forward slightly, his gaze drifting to the side, the corners of his eyes subtly lifting.
“I’d like to be in a relationship with you,” he said.
“…?”
The words came so abruptly and bizarrely that Qing Lin’s brain had to race to process them. After a long pause, he finally managed to say, “…Mr. Shen, do you mean being a contract couple on the show?”
Shen Xuzhi blinked, paused for two seconds, and said, “You could say that.”
Since Qing Lin had been standing the whole time, Shen Xuzhi felt awkward sitting alone, so he stood up too.
They weren’t standing far apart, and his sudden movement instantly shortened the distance between them.
The man’s body radiated warmth, with broad shoulders and long legs. When he stood, it felt as though he completely enveloped Qing Lin.
Qing Lin could smell the faint scent of cologne on Shen Xuzhi, mixed with the woody scent of warmth. It had an oddly oppressive allure that rendered him speechless.
“Director Hong probably mentioned it to you,” Shen Xuzhi said. “Shows like this usually include scripted romance arcs. To keep things running smoothly during filming, I need to stick with a consistent CP partner.”
Shen Xuzhi’s voice was like his scent, soft and subtle, lingering and wrapping around gently.
Qing Lin had originally intended to take a step back, but the man’s features were so impeccably refined that being this close only made one want to examine them even more carefully.
But now was not the moment to be paying attention to someone’s face.
Qing Lin hadn’t expected the conversation to take this turn, and he couldn’t understand why Shen Xuzhi had chosen him.
Was it something Director Hong had suggested? Qing Lin was a controversial figure after all, the kind who naturally drew attention. Or did Shen Xuzhi have his own reasons? But hadn’t he always seemed distant toward him before?
What confused him most was—
Qing Lin said, “But… I’m a guy.”
Shen Xuzhi gave a slight frown. “And what does being a guy have to do with anything?”
He glanced at Qing Lin with a hint of amusement. “Do you like girls?”
Qing Lin hesitated for a moment, then gave a slow nod.
“Have you ever dated a girl?” Shen Xuzhi asked.
“No,” Qing Lin answered.
“What about a guy?”
“…Also no.”
“Then how do you know you like girls?”
Qing Lin fell silent.
“…”
Shen Xuzhi rubbed his chin with a thoughtful look and said, “Same-sex marriage is legal now.”
Qing Lin gave a small nod. “Mm.”
“And same-sex relationships are pretty common.”
“Mm.”
Shen Xuzhi slid one hand into his pocket. “So… is there a problem?”
Qing Lin stayed quiet.
Not exactly a problem.
But it felt like there were quite a few things weighing on his mind.
Then Shen Xuzhi asked, “Can I have your WeChat?”
“…?”
The shift in topic came a little too fast.
Shen Xuzhi’s expression remained calm and unreadable, his face as composed as ever. Still, there was something about his tone, quiet and unexpectedly sincere, that made it feel like he was genuinely hoping for a response.
Qing Lin blinked, then suddenly remembered the backup phone Director Hong had given him, the one linked to his work account.
“Oh, right. Sure. Do you want me to scan yours, or do you want to scan mine?”
There was no answer.
Qing Lin glanced at Shen Xuzhi.
The distant, cool air that usually surrounded him had completely faded. His brows were slightly drawn together, and although his face stayed composed, there was a faint trace of hesitation in his expression as he said softly, “I want your personal WeChat.”
Qing Lin stopped with his hand still raised, halfway through scanning the code.
It took a moment for him to realize what Shen Xuzhi meant. He wasn’t asking for the work account.
That was strange. Didn’t Su Mingxuan just mentioned that Shen Xuzhi never added people on WeChat?
When Qing Lin didn’t respond right away, Shen Xuzhi swallowed nervously and cautiously asked, “Is that okay?”
“Uh… sure.” Still unsure what was going on, Qing Lin opened his personal WeChat.
He watched as Shen Xuzhi scanned his code and sent over the friend request. A notification appeared on the screen.
[Shen Xuzhi: I’m Shen Xuzhi.]
At that moment, there was a slight change in Shen Xuzhi’s expression. A faint smile appeared, rare and fleeting, like a mirage on the peak of a snow-covered mountain. It lingered for only a second before fading.
“Added,” Qing Lin said as he put his phone away.
“Mm,” Shen Xuzhi responded.
He lowered his eyes to glance at his phone, his long fingers gliding across the screen as if checking something.
For some reason, Qing Lin started to feel a little uneasy. He paused to think. Was there anything odd on his WeChat?
Without looking up, Shen Xuzhi asked in a quiet voice, “Is your WeChat profile picture a rabbit?”
“Yes.” Qing Lin paused, then explained carefully, “I took that photo by chance. I thought it looked cute, so I used it as my profile picture.”
Shen Xuzhi looked up naturally. His clear, well-defined eyes held a sudden intensity, and his lips curved slightly.
This time, he was truly smiling.
Shen Xuzhi looked at Qing Lin for a moment before smiling and saying, “Hmm, very cute.”
That smile caught Qing Lin off guard.
After everything that had just happened, and the way Shen Xuzhi had been steering the conversation from start to finish, Qing Lin suddenly realized he had completely lost control of the situation.
And that was not a good sign.
He quickly gathered his thoughts and spoke in a steady, serious tone.
“Mr. Shen, the truth is that I have no experience. I’ve never been in a relationship before. I’m completely new to this, and I’m not even part of the entertainment world. If we were to act like a couple on the show, I’m afraid it wouldn’t come across as believable. It could affect the outcome. I’m not sure this is a good idea.”
Shen Xuzhi didn’t seem the least bit bothered. “That’s alright.”
Qing Lin fell silent for a moment. “….”
His thoughts were all tangled up tonight. He licked his lips, clearly uneasy. “Mr. Shen, you really don’t have to push yourself. I don’t think we’re a good match.”
“I’m not forcing anything. I genuinely like Mr. Qing, and I think it would be great if things actually worked out.”
Noticing how cautious Qing Lin still was, Shen Xuzhi shifted the topic. He took out his phone, typed in a number, and held the screen out for Qing Lin to see.
“There’s compensation involved as well. You might want to think it over.”
Qing Lin glanced at the screen.
Wow.
That was a generous amount.
“I’m not trying to pressure you,” Shen Xuzhi said calmly. “You can think it over during the show. Just go with whatever feels right for you.”
The money was tempting.
But playing a role like that could be a hassle. If he agreed, he would have to commit and make it convincing.
Qing Lin asked, “So I’ll have time to think it over, and I’m free to say yes or no later?”
“Hmmmm.”
He looked directly at Qing Lin and spoke with a quiet intensity.
“You don’t have to know how to love. If you’re willing to try this with me, all you need to do is accept the way I treat you.”
Maybe it was the weight in his voice, but for a moment, Qing Lin felt something sink in his chest. The feeling faded quickly, yet it left behind a quiet ripple of unease.
Shen Xuzhi’s gaze stayed composed, but it held a kind of focus that seemed to press into Qing Lin. Wherever that gaze passed, it left a strange tingling sensation, as if the air itself had shifted.
Qing Lin suddenly remembered that Shen Xuzhi had been nominated for the “Most Promising Newcomer” award at a film festival this year.
This man, usually cold and distant, maybe even slightly impatient with him, was now watching him with such gentle eyes.
It didn’t add up.
It had to be an act.
Just as Qing Lin began to feel like Shen Xuzhi could see right through him, the man spoke again.
“I’m really glad I met you.”
Before Qing Lin could say anything in return, Shen Xuzhi went on, his voice softer now, warmer than it had been before. There was something delicate in both his tone and his expression.
“Then, good night.”
He gave a small nod and quietly stepped out of the room.
Qing Lin stood there, a little dazed.
What just happened?
That actually scared him.
He didn’t even have time to figure out what Shen Xuzhi really meant when his phone vibrated in his pocket.
Before he could even begin to figure out what Shen Xuzhi truly meant, his phone buzzed in his pocket.
He pulled it out and saw a notification from the device the production team had given him.
A playful little box popped up on the screen.
[Welcome to the Follow Heart family! After spending some time together yesterday, you’ve all gotten to know each other a bit better, right?
Now, please follow your heart and choose the guest who makes your heart flutter. Leave them a message!
Your choice will shape the path of your journey on the show.
Wishing you a beautiful and heartfelt trip!]
After leaving Qing Lin’s room, Shen Xuzhi made a phone call to Wang Zhan on his way back.
The company was still in the middle of marketing discussions, and Wang Zhan was caught up in the process. When he answered, he said, “Hey, Xu ge, what’s up? I’m a bit busy right now. If it’s urgent—”
Before he could finish, Shen Xuzhi interrupted with something entirely unexpected. “I think you were right.”
Wang Zhan replied with a puzzled tone, “Right? Right about what?”
Shen Xuzhi’s voice held an unusual seriousness, as if he had given it careful thought. His tone was solemn as he said, “Winning someone over, takes time.”