The Academic God Becomes an Internet Sensation After Joining a Dating Show - Chapter 58 - Underwear

Big and small eyes met, locking in a strangely intense stare. The boy’s gaze fluttered as he studied Qing Lin with intensity.

Just then, a staff member from Follow Heart, a junior intern assigned to this side, came hurrying over, panting. “Sorry I’m late!” he gasped, clearly exhausted from searching. His intern badge swung from his neck as he continued, “Sorry, sorry! It’s my first day, and this…”

Still wheezing, he fumbled open a notebook and muttered as he flipped through the pages, “This is the kid for group 2 from The Metamorphosis of Little Ones. Hmm… named Shang… Chaochao?”

The little one instantly pouted, cheeks puffing up in protest. “My name’s not Chaochao!”

Qing Lin leaned closer, glancing at the notebook. His eyes lingered on the messy scribble.
“This character reads more like ‘Miao’…”

The intern nodded awkwardly, bowing repeatedly while apologizing.

The child assigned to Qing Lin’s group was named Shang Miao, though everyone called him Miaomiao. He had been temporarily transferred from The Metamorphosis of Little Ones to join the Follow Heart production team.

“I’m Shang Miao, but you can call me Miaomiao. I’m four years old.” The little boy tugged gently at Qing Lin’s sleeve, his soft, babyish voice carrying a hint of shyness. “Can you bend down a little?”

Qing Lin nodded and crouched.

Miaomiao studied him for a long moment, then lifted his chubby hand to brush lightly against Qing Lin’s face. “You’re so beautiful,” he said with utter seriousness. “Miaomiao likes your eyes. They’re like gems.”

[HAHAHAHA!!]

[What the heck is that? Hahahaha!]

[Is the little one trying to flirt with QL? Hahahaha]

Not only Qing Lin, but the entire audience hadn’t expected it—the little troublemaker who had been causing chaos just a few days ago suddenly turned meek the moment he saw Qing Lin.

And the reason was… because he was good-looking.

This cub really cared about looks.

[Wait… his last name is Shang?]

[Hold up—he’s Shang Boze’s son?? No way. His wild, playful vibe is nothing like his award-winning dad—must’ve inherited it all from his dad!]

[No wonder this kid already has the aura of a future heartthrob.]

Qing Lin was a bit surprised. Judging from Miaomiao’s attitude, it didn’t look like he was being forced to switch teams.

“Miaomiao, from now on you’ll be filming with these two brothers,” the intern said.

Shang Miaomiao tilted his head. “What kind of show will we be filming with them?”

“It’s a travel program,” the staff explained. “They’ll be your temporary parents.”

Miao blinked, then exclaimed in shock, “So… that makes you my stepdad and stepmom?”

Qing Lin nearly choked. “What?”

“Stepdad.”
Shang Miaomiao pointed straight at Shen Xuzhi, then turned to Qing Lin. “Stepmom.”

Qing Lin and Shen Xuzhi: “…”

Qing Lin crouched down to meet Shang Miaomiao’s gaze, hesitated, then coaxed, “How about you just call me Linlin?”

“Mhm. Linlin,” Miaomiao repeated obediently.

“Good.” Qing Lin tugged Shen Xuzhi closer and introduced, “And this is Xuxu.”

Shen Xuzhi was pulled down beside him, their arms brushing against each other, bringing a coolness in the scorching summer heat.

He nodded. “I’m Xuxu.”

Shang Miaomiao blinked. “Are you two married?”

Qing Lin, remembering Nan Yu’s quick response earlier, replied smoothly, “Yes, we’re married.”

Then he added gently, “Miaomiao, do you want to come with us to film the show?”

Shang Miaomiao looked between Qing Lin and Shen Xuzhi before announcing firmly, “No.”

…

This little brat.

Shang Miaomiao stood with his hands on his hips. “My dad and Daddy aren’t like you two.”

“My dad is the one who loves daddy most in the whole world, and my daddy is the one who loves dad most in the whole world,” Miaomiao declared proudly. “Why do you both look so stiff? Aren’t you each other’s favorite?”

Qing Lin, Shen Xuzhi: “…………”

…Does this kid really have such top-tier parenting?

[Hahahahahahahaha what in the world has Shang Boze been teaching this child? The movie emperor really is a great husband.]

[You can totally feel how warm Miaomiao’s family is.]

Shen Xuzhi slipped an arm around Qing Lin and said calmly, “Of course we’re each other’s favorite. Xuxu loves Linlin the most.”

Qing Lin forced a smile and echoed, “That’s right! Linlin loves Xuxu the most.”

Miaomiao frowned, his little brows knitting together. “Do you think I’m stupid?”

“If you two are really married, then show Miaomiao your marriage certificate!” His chubby little hand sliced through the air. “Miaomiao knows all about your show. You’re obviously not married! How can you be my stepmom and stepdad if you’re not even married?!”

Qing Lin was about to respond, but Shen Xuzhi spoke first.

“We will get married.”

His hand, resting on Qing Lin’s shoulder, slid down to interlace their fingers. His voice was soft yet steady.

Qing Lin turned toward him. Shen Xuzhi’s expression hadn’t changed—his strikingly beautiful eyes were calm as ever, unreadable, yet somehow even more captivating than usual.

“We’ll get married, live in a big house together, adopt a cat, and spend our days simply and happily. We’ll even have children of our own,” Shen Xuzhi said. “So Miaomiao, I really hope you can teach me—as a new husband—how to take care of this family.”

Qing Lin lowered his head, his ears burning red.

Mr. Shen sounded way too convincing.

Miaomiao pouted. “Well… at least be like my dad and Daddy.”

That seemed doable. Qing Lin quickly suggested, “How about this: from now on, Miaomiao will be our standard. Whatever you say, Xuxu and I will follow. We’ll keep practicing until you think we’re ready to be your temporary parents. Deal?”

Children are children, after all. Miaomiao hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded. “Alright then.”

The staff all let out a collective sigh of relief.

“Wonderful! Wonderful!” the assistant director exclaimed. “Everyone, please follow me. Director Hong is waiting.”

As they started to move, Shen Xuzhi reached out to take Miaomiao’s hand—only for the boy to slap his wrist away.

Instead, Miaomiao turned and grabbed Qing Lin’s hand, pouting as he muttered, “I only agreed because Linlin is cute.”

Shen Xuzhi: “…”

Damn brat.

Once Miaomiao had been settled, Shen Xuzhi and Qing Lin led him over to join Director Hong Shanyue.

With all three families gathered, Director Hong explained the rules.

“Next, the children will have one full day to evaluate their temporary parents. The production team will give out assessment forms with tasks and point values. Only if you meet the score requirement will you pass their evaluation. Pass, and you’ll qualify for the next stage of the journey.”

Each family was handed a form.

Shen Xuzhi skimmed it—most of the tasks involved childcare.

“If everything’s clear, you can go and check your accommodations~”

Yulan Village stretched along the banks of Erhai Lake. From the higher ground, one could glimpse emerald ripples glittering under the still air, as though even the wind had paused to admire the view.

The Shen family followed their guide to their assigned home. When the door swung open, an exquisitely decorated courtyard appeared before them.

The little yard was filled with flowers and greenery, with a gravel path winding through. Wooden walls displayed nameplates for each family.

“Wow! So pretty!” Miaomiao shouted, dashing inside and running circles through the garden.

“The environment this time is really nice,” Qing Lin said as he followed after him.

Shen Xuzhi carried the suitcase inside and remarked, “Indeed, maybe the production team finally had a change of heart.”

“This place is way better than where I stayed last time,” Shang Miaomiao said, bouncing onto the mattress. “And the bed is so soft!”

Qing Lin cautioned, “Careful, don’t fall.”

Shen Xuzhi glanced around the guesthouse. There were two rooms in total, each with a king-size bed and its own bathroom. The accommodations were definitely top-notch.

After looking through the rooms, Qing Lin picked up the scoring sheet the production team had given them. “One of the tasks is making sure the child goes to bed on time. But wouldn’t it be unsafe to let Miaomiao sleep alone while we’re away?”

He thought for a moment. “Shen Laoshi, how about this? While we’re here in Dali, Miaomiao can sleep with me for two nights and with you for two nights. What do you think?”

“That works,” Shen Xuzhi replied.

…Though ideally, it’d be better if the three of them slept together.

Just as Qing Lin was about to fetch Miaomiao, he spotted the boy dragging his little suitcase into one of the rooms.

“Miaomiao?” Qing Lin called after him.

“I want to stay in this room.” Miaomiao pushed open the door and set his luggage inside. He looked back innocently. “What’s wrong, Linlin?”

Qing Lin blinked. “Aren’t you sleeping with us?”

Miaomiao gave him a puzzled look. “Linlin is sleeping with Xuxu, of course.”

“My Daddy always sleeps with Dad. I’ve been sleeping alone since a long time ago.” He smoothed the sheets with practiced movements, speaking with the confidence of an adult. “You two are so big—don’t tell me you’re scared?”

Planting his hands on his hips, he added with a smug little grin, “Miaomiao doesn’t babysit cowards.”

Qing Lin was left speechless. He stumbled backward—right into Shen Xuzhi.

Shen Xuzhi steadied him by the shoulders. “What happened? He won’t listen?”

Qing Lin looked up at him, flustered. “Miaomiao doesn’t want to sleep with us.”

“He’s just shy,” Shen Xuzhi said lightly.

“Not really,” Qing Lin muttered, lowering his voice. “He said he’s used to sleeping alone… and that Linlin should sleep with Xuxu.”

Shen Xuzhi paused, then smiled faintly. “Miaomiao really is a sensible kid, isn’t he?”

He picked up Qing Lin’s suitcase and walked toward the other room. “We’re staying here then, right?”

Qing Lin hurried after him, tugging lightly on his sleeve. He leaned closer and whispered, “This isn’t quite right.”

“Are you embarrassed?” Shen Xuzhi murmured back. “It’s not like we haven’t shared a bed before.”

Qing Lin covered his burning ears with both hands, chasing after Shen Xuzhi as he muttered, “That’s not what I meant at all…”

Shen Xuzhi stowed the luggage, glanced at the two-meter-wide bed, then turned to Qing Lin.

“Don’t worry. I already checked—the production team locks the doors at night and keeps staff on duty. Plus, Miaomiao’s monitor runs 24/7. If anything happens, we’ll be notified immediately.”

“I just heard from the assistant that it was because Shang Boze and his husband were heading abroad for vacation. Apparently, Shang Laoshi’s spouse tricked Shang Miaomiao into joining that ‘Metamorphosis’ show, which is why Miaomiao got upset and caused a scene,” he added.

Qing Lin listened quietly. After a moment, he caught on to what Shen Xuzhi had just said. “So… the device really stays on twenty-four hours a day?”

Shen Xuzhi stopped tidying up, stepped forward, and ruffled Qing Lin’s hair. “I believe the production team knows what they’re doing.”

Qing Lin bit his lip, saying nothing more—anything else might have sounded too ambiguous.

The next day would mark the official start of filming. True to his strict routine, Shang Miaomiao got ready for bed early, sticking to his usual 9:30 PM schedule from home.

While brushing his teeth, he spotted Qing Lin standing outside in a daze. “Linlin, why are you still out there?”

Snapped from his thoughts, Qing Lin replied, “The weather’s nice. I’m just enjoying the breeze.”

Miaomiao squinted at him knowingly, his mouth full of foam. “Linlin, you’re not avoiding sleeping with Xuxu, are you? But my Dad and Daddy always sleep together. And if you’re going to marry Xuxu someday, you’ll have to share a bed with him too. If you can’t even handle this, how can you be Miaomiao’s temporary parents?”

Qing Lin flustered, waving his hands. “No, no, of course not! Linlin will go sleep with Xuxu soon.”

Miaomiao spat out a bubble of foam. “Then why are you still standing here ‘enjoying the breeze’?”

He pushed Qing Lin back toward his room. “If you don’t go in, Xuxu will worry. My Dad can’t sleep without Daddy either.”

Qing Lin returned, and Miaomiao carefully closed the door behind him.

Inside, Shen Xuzhi looked up. “Did you find your luggage?”

“Director Hong is handling it. Even if they track it down, it’ll only get here tomorrow.” Qing Lin scratched his head. “I can’t believe I grabbed the wrong suitcase—and only realized so late.”

“It’s fine. The schedule was already tight, and the suitcases look identical.” Shen Xuzhi sat at the desk, gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose as he typed on the laptop. “Go wash up and sleep early. I’ll finish some improvements this demo and join you later.”

Qing Lin lingered, silent, sneaking glances at him as if he had something to say but couldn’t.

Shen Xuzhi noticed, adjusted his glasses, and smiled. “What’s this? Is our Linlin even younger than Miaomiao? Do you need me to tuck you in?”

Qing Lin knew he was being teased. His pale eyes dropped as he mumbled, “Mr. Shen… I don’t have a single change of clothes…”

That was when it clicked—he’d lost his luggage. All his clothes and toiletries were gone, and he couldn’t even shower properly.

Then came the quiet request: “So… if you don’t mind, could I borrow a set of pajamas?”

Shen Xuzhi couldn’t help swallowing hard. Just those few words were enough to make his body heat up.

Qing Lin, mistaking his silence for displeasure, added quickly, “It’s fine. I can just go buy some myself.”

“Don’t go out.”

His voice came out low and rough, breath heavy though his face remained calm. He bent over to search through his suitcase, pulling out a shirt and a few pairs of pants. Then, with a sudden grip on Qing Lin’s wrist, he turned his head and asked evenly:

“Do you need underwear?”

“Huh?” Qing Lin was caught completely off guard. “That… doesn’t sound quite right.”

“They’re new.” Shen Xuzhi approached with the pajama bottoms in hand. The frames of his glasses slid slightly as his bangs brushed against them, his dark eyes steady and unreadable.

He held the pants against Qing Lin’s waist to measure, then let his gaze linger on that slim frame. “You’re too thin.”

Qing Lin flushed faintly. “These pants look a little big.”

Shen Xuzhi fell silent for a moment, then a faint smile curling his lips, he said, “How about… not wearing any pants?”

Qing Lin: “!”

Absolutely not. That wasn’t an option either.

“I’ll find you a longer top. You could wear just that,” Shen Xuzhi suggested casually. “You don’t seem to like pants anyway.”

Qing Lin immediately thought back to that one time Shen Xuzhi had walked in on him in his room without pants—a complete misunderstanding. “That was an accident!”

But Shen Xuzhi had already retrieved a long shirt. Qing Lin blinked at it in confusion. “…A shirt?”

Shen Xuzhi nodded and handed it over. “Go change. The underwear’s new.”

Qing Lin stared at the crisp white shirt for a long moment, hesitating. He lowered his voice. “Mr. Shen… wouldn’t it be bad if the shirt got wrinkled?”

Shen Xuzhi said nothing.

Of course, that was exactly what he wanted—for the shirt to wrinkle, to crease, to bear some trace of Qing Lin wearing it.

Their eyes met, and suddenly the air thickened, the space between them charged with something difficult to name.

“This one’s the only shirt long enough,” Shen Xuzhi finally said after a pause. “I don’t have any recording sessions for now, so I won’t need it. Just wear it.”

With it put that way, there was no reason to argue further.

If Mr. Shen didn’t mind… then as a grown man, he really had no excuse to keep fussing.

After a short internal struggle, Qing Lin accepted the shirt and the underwear and slipped into the bathroom.

Warm water streamed down. Outside the thin bathroom door, Shen Xuzhi sat in silence, rubbing his knuckles over and over. His dark pupils gleamed with an unfathomable depth, a restless shadow flickering within.

When Qing Lin finally emerged, he was wearing Shen Xuzhi’s white shirt.

And in that moment, one thought struck him with unexpected force.

He never would have imagined—truly never imagined—how much larger Mr. Shen’s shirt would feel on him, even though they were both men.

The cuffs hung wide, the shirt long—far looser than anything Qing Lin usually wore. It covered his butt completely, leaving only the pale length of his thighs peeking out.

He picked up the underwear Shen Xuzhi had set aside for him.

It was only after pulling them on that Qing Lin realized just how ill-fitting they were.

Mr. Shen really couldn’t be underestimated.

The waistband sagged loosely around his hips, a full size too big, and the front gaped with far too much room. Just walking a few steps made it feel like a draft might slip right through.

The size was astonishing.

Outside, Shen Xuzhi sat trying to chant mental sutras, forcing himself into calm. But when Qing Lin finally stepped out of the bathroom, he ground his teeth so hard his molars ached.

The boy wore his shirt—loose, draping, and baggy against pale skin. Fresh from the shower, his cheeks still held the pink glow of steam. Damp strands of hair clung to his forehead, and beneath his eyes lingered the faintest flush.

Shen Xuzhi’s gaze darkened, his fists tightening at his sides. He really ought to look away.

Qing Lin, meanwhile, felt a bit self-conscious. In the boys’ dorms, he’d been used to this sort of thing—shirts, underwear, horseplay. Nobody cared. But with Mr. Shen, somehow, it felt different. Complicated.

Still, Shen Xuzhi had lent him clothes. He should at least thank him.

But just saying “thank you” seemed too bland.

Qing Lin thought for a moment. This, he decided, was something any man would like to hear.

“Mr. Shen,” he called.

Shen Xuzhi turned, water cup in hand. “Mm?”

Qing Lin said earnestly, “You’re really big.”

Shen Xuzhi: “Pfft!”

The water he had just swallowed sprayed out in a choking cough.

Big? What was big? Where exactly was he supposed to be big? Was this boy saying what he thought he was saying?

Was that… a compliment? Did Qing Lin mean he was satisfied with the size?

Watching the tips of Shen Xuzhi’s ears turn crimson, Qing Lin suddenly realized just how inappropriate those words had sounded between them.

It wasn’t just embarrassing—it practically counted as seduction.

But the words had already slipped out. Feeling utterly defeated, he scrambled onto the bed, pulled the covers up to hide half his face, and after a long silence muttered, “Thanks for the clothes, Shen Laoshi… good night.”

Shen Xuzhi’s face burned hot. He bent forward, elbows on his knees, both hands clamped over his cheeks as though trying to cool them. His brain felt like an overheated CPU about to fry.

Meanwhile, the boy lay quietly on the bed, leaving plenty of space beside him—an unspoken invitation for Shen Xuzhi to join whenever he pleased.

There were two blankets, of course…

Shen Xuzhi then lowered his head, rubbed at his temples, and clasped his hands awkwardly, his heart racing in his chest.

Ah.

How on earth was he supposed to sleep now?

___________________________________________________________________________

The next morning, Qing Lin woke to find Shen Xuzhi already gone.

He couldn’t remember when exactly Shen Xuzhi had climbed into bed the night before. Only half-awake, he’d felt the mattress dip, the warmth of another body close by, and the gentle tug of someone drawing the blanket up to his shoulders. A fleeting brush against his earlobe had lulled him back into slumber.

Blinking himself fully awake, Qing Lin glanced toward the bathroom just as the sound of running water faded.

A moment later, Shen Xuzhi stepped out.

Even beneath a thin layer of clothing, his tall frame revealed the sharp lines of lean, disciplined muscle. The collar of his shirt hung slightly open, hinting at the strength beneath. The sight drew the eye downward almost instinctively…

Qing Lin cleared his throat quickly and greeted, “Good morning, Mr. Shen.”

“Good morning,” Shen Xuzhi replied with his usual composure.

“Did you go for a workout?” Qing Lin asked.

“Yes,” Shen Xuzhi said with a nod. “I ran a lap along the Erhai coastline. The morning scenery was beautiful.”

After speaking, Shen Xuzhi couldn’t stop himself from sneaking a few more glances at Qing Lin. His ears turned pink as he quickly looked away and said, “The production team dropped off the outfits for today’s event. I’ll go grab them for you. The cameras will start rolling soon.”

Qing Lin watched him retreat in a fluster, then lowered his eyes.

The shirt collar gaped slightly open, revealing the pale line of Shen Xuzhi’s neck and the faint dip of his collarbone.

Once they had both changed into their outfits, they turned on the cameras and stepped out of the room.

“Should we wake Miaomiao first?” Shen Xuzhi asked.

“Sure. I’ll start on breakfast.” Qing Lin suddenly remembered, “Oh right, there’s a scoring segment for helping the child get dressed. Can you handle that, Shen Laoshi?”

“Of course.” Shen Xuzhi reached over to ruffle his hair with a smile. “Leave it to me.”

[The first taste of sweetness in the morning.]

[Wait wait wait—they shared a room last night. I need DETAILS. Spill!!]

Shen Xuzhi walked over to Miaomiao’s door and pushed it open carefully.

Worried the child might still be asleep—or bracing for morning grumpiness—he stepped in slowly. But instead of a sleepy mess, the room was already filled with bright morning light.

Shang Miaomiao was wide awake, sitting at the desk in his little pajamas, clutching an English textbook and reciting out loud.

Miaomiao: “Abandon. Abandon. Abandon.”

Shen Xuzhi: “…”

The boy looked up as soon as he noticed him. “You’re finally here.”

“Good morning, Miaomiao,” Shen Xuzhi greeted. “What are you doing?”

“Can’t you see? I’m memorizing vocabulary.”

Shen Xuzhi: “…”

…So Shang Boze’s tutoring methods were really this strict.

[HAHAHAHA vocab drills first thing in the morning.]

[Other kids are still crying and screaming in the morning, meanwhile this one’s memorizing English words?? I can’t—]

[Morning reading. What an excellent habit! Give this baby full marks!]

Miaomiao hopped off his chair and flexed his pudgy hands with a little huff. “Getting up so late, locking the door behind you… huh, kinda reminds me of my daddies. They always sleep in too.”

[Little cub!!! Watch your words!!]

[When your dad sleeps in, it’s because of ‘late-night exercise.’ But if it’s the two… Xuxu, ahem, that’s a different story.]

Shen Xuzhi cleared his throat. “Alright, Miaomiao. Let’s get dressed. We’ll have breakfast soon.”

Miaomiao nodded, went to his suitcase, and began changing clothes.

From shirt to pants, socks to shoes—he handled it all himself. He even remembered to put on his necklace, hat, and other accessories, each piece neat and precise.

Not a single thing was missed.

Standing to the side, Shen Xuzhi suddenly felt… a little unnecessary.

So, he asked, “Need any help?”

“I can tie my shoelaces myself.” Shang Miaomiao tugged at the elastic bands, his little head bowed as he muttered, “Daddy only needs to worry about Dad.”

“My daddy told me to take care of Dad first. Without Daddy, there wouldn’t be me.” Miaomiao laced up his shoes, stomped his feet a few times to make sure they were secure, then lifted his gaze to Shen Xuzhi.

He spoke with all the seriousness in the world:

“So Xuxu should do the same—love Linlin first, then worry about Miaomiao.”