The Academic God Becomes an Internet Sensation After Joining a Dating Show - Chapter 64 - Photography

[AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!]

[Spread the word—it’s happening! It’s finally happening! They’re about to DO it!!]

[Bed scene?! A Bed scene!! Production team, you absolute devils! Is this even allowed on a variety show?!]

[Shen Laoshi! Your hands are so sensible!]

The comment flashed across the live feed just as Shen Xuzhi leaned over to see what had rendered Qing Lin motionless.

Qing Lin rubbed his eyes, as though the words on the card might change if he did it hard enough.

Wait—bed scene? Seriously?

Can this even be aired?

Sensing the faint shift in the air beside him, he lifted his head—only to meet Shen Xuzhi’s gaze.

The man’s expression was unreadable. Calm. Composed. As if the words bed scene were as ordinary as sunny skies or mild wind.

There was no particular emotion in his dark eyes. Not a twitch, not a trace of surprise.

This made Qing Lin very dissatisfied.

That couldn’t be right.

A normal person—even a couple—would have flushed or at least looked away awkwardly. But Shen Xuzhi? He was perfectly unruffled.

What does Shen Xuzhi mean by that?

Could it be that, since he’s used to performing intimate scenes like bed scenes in a drama, he’s completely unfazed by such a request? Is he used to it—used to anyone?

Unbeknownst to Qing Lin, Shen Xuzhi had in fact blinked once, quietly lowering his gaze to hide the faint tremor of his lashes. The movement of his Adam’s apple betrayed him for just an instant.

What should I do… I’m just a little too happy. He thought.

If he looked too eager, Qing Lin would definitely misunderstand. Better to hold back.

So, he did—forcing his features into impassivity as he said mildly, “I hadn’t realized such keywords existed, Qing Lin.”

Qing Lin stared at him, unable to read the undercurrent. The more he thought about it, the colder his tone grew. “Oh.”

Shen Xuzhi tilted his head slightly, confused. “?”

Qing Lin’s brows furrowed, and that faint, indifferent look returned to his face. But the betrayal was in the flush creeping up his neck, a delicate pink that climbed from his collar to his ears.

Under the mountain sunlight, his pale skin seemed to glow faintly. His neck looked so slender and soft that a light squeeze might draw blood.

Shen Xuzhi’s eyes flicked toward him, instantly misreading the sign. Thinking Qing Lin was dizzy again, he stepped forward, retrieving the oxygen tank from his pack.

Before he could say anything, Qing Lin snatched it and promptly pressed the mask against Shen Xuzhi’s mouth.

“Mr. Shen,” he said, his voice flat but his ears burning red. “Why don’t you take some oxygen yourself?”

Shen Xuzhi froze, muffled by the mask. “??”

[Hahahahahaha what just happened.]

[No way—he’s jealous, right? Linlin’s totally jealous!!]

[These two, I can’t even—crying and laughing at the same time.]

Eventually, they took the cable car back down the mountain. All three teams had now returned to the starting point, getting ready for the next phase of filming. But before diving into the movie reenactment challenge, another task awaited them in Dali Ancient Town.

Since Mr. Shen hadn’t managed to wrap up his personal business while they were busy with the Cangshan Mountain task, he went ahead first.

Meanwhile, the crew organized a side task: posing for a local artist at a portrait studio in Dali Old Town.

However, because of Mr. Shen’s commitments, their team’s segment was temporarily suspended. To avoid the crowd of tourists and fans gathering near the studio, the production arranged a quiet guesthouse for Qing Lin to rest in.

“Qing Laoshi, please rest here for now,” a staff member said politely.

Qing Lin nodded, offering a faint smile. “Thank you for your hard work.”

After the staff left, the room fell into silence. Qing Lin walked toward the bed, stopping at its edge. The mattress was wide, soft, and much too inviting—its pristine white sheets like an unspoken temptation.

He stared at it for a long time, heat creeping up the back of his neck. Just the thought of the bed scene made his pulse quicken again.

He ducked his head, biting his lower lip. Then, in a burst of helplessness, he flopped down face-first onto the mattress. The sheets rustled beneath him, and he pressed his burning face deep into the pillow.

Ahhhhhhh.

A muffled groan escaped him.

It took Qing Lin quite some time before he finally lifted his face from the pillow. Though his cheeks were still a little flushed, he made an effort to steady his slightly racing heart.

How on earth was he supposed to film a bed scene?

Isn’t that kind of a personal, intimate moment?

And besides—Mr. Shen…

The moment that name crossed his mind, Qing Lin sat bolt upright, panic flickering through his gaze.

He fumbled for his phone and unlocked it with trembling fingers. He opened Bilibili.

As far as he knew, Shen Xuzhi had debuted as a singer-songwriter at nineteen. He’d modeled, then transitioned to acting after being scouted by a director. But whether he’d ever filmed… that kind of scene—Qing Lin had never dared to look it up.

Until now.

His thumbs hovered over the keyboard for a moment before he finally typed: “Shen Xuzhi bed scenes.”

The words looked ridiculous on the screen. He almost deleted them—but curiosity was a merciless thing.

His pulse hammered in his ears.

First of all, Mr. Shen kissed too well. That first kiss had left him dizzy, breathless, weak at the knees. Surely that meant experience, didn’t it?

And if Mr. Shen really had filmed intimate scenes before… Qing Lin couldn’t guarantee he wouldn’t feel upset.

Even though, logically, he had no right to feel that way.

He didn’t even understand himself anymore.

Qing Lin waited for the search results to pop up, genuinely afraid that if he saw Shen Xuzhi in a bed scene with some celebrity, he might end up throwing his phone.

Then the results showed up.

The top thumbnail nearly made his soul leave his body.

There was Mr. Shen, half-draped over someone on a bed, their bodies pressed close, kissing with wild intensity.

Qing Lin’s breath caught. His entire chest went cold.

Mr. Shen really has done this… no wonder he stays so composed—it’s the poise of a true professional.

Qing Lin quickly steadied himself. It was fine—actually, it even looked quite fitting. On the cover, Mr. Shen’s broad shoulders pressed close to the other person, exuding a quiet intensity, and that person was still dressed in a cheongsam…

Wait—what? A cheongsam?

Qing Lin squinted, leaning closer.

No. No way.

That wasn’t some actress. That was him.

In an instant, Qing Lin felt completely off again.

The more he looked, the clearer it became. The image had been edited—flipped and retouched. Someone had taken that shot from the variety show, the one where Shen Xuzhi held him and kissed him, and photoshopped a bed underneath.

The result was terrifyingly realistic. Qing Lin’s original posture on the blanket had been rotated too, making it look like he was clutching Shen Xuzhi’s waist.

Qing Lin’s entire face went crimson.

Below the thumbnail, the caption screamed:

[ShenLin CP Immersion: Erotic/Midnight Cut/Kissing Moans/Explosive/Headphones Recommended]

Qing Lin nearly dropped his phone.

He never imagined that beyond Weibo’s super topics, the BiliBili fan edits could be this feral. Still, some masochistic impulse made him click, he shouldn’t have.

The edit was… alarmingly good. The pacing, the transitions, the filters—the faint moans blended perfectly with the music, the lighting soft and sinful.

By the end of the three-minute clip, Qing Lin sat frozen, ears burning, phone clutched in both hands.

This—this was insane.

It was so convincing it almost felt real—like the two of them had been tangled together for three days and nights, the world outside forgotten.

Oh my god.

1.26 million views.

The comments section was overflowing with shameless remarks.

…I’ll include these stats in the report later. Qing Lin thought.

Qing Lin felt as though he had stumbled into an entirely new world. With the guise of “data research” as his excuse, he scrolled through the videos below with the rigor of a scientist.

[ShenLin CP Immersion: But he could at least wrap one arm around his waist, you know?]

[ShenLin CP Immersion: QL really gives off full Omega-in-heat vibes. I just want to make him cry.]

[Suspense Drowning | ShenLin CP Immersion: He doesn’t even seem to realize how much he loves him.]

[ShenLin Immersion: Nonstop sweet moments, top-tier emotional tension—from newlyweds to an A-list power couple.]

If it weren’t for how clearly fabricated they all were, Qing Lin might have believed the so-called ShenLin CP was real.

He was hooked. Completely hooked. He even forgot why he had opened BiliBili in the first place.

After scrolling endlessly, he lay sprawled across the bed, immersed in shipping the couple, entirely unaware of the subtle movement within the room.

Only when he caught the sound of footsteps did he look up—and froze. Shen Xuzhi was standing right beside his bed.

Qing Lin: “…”

He scrambled upright.

Shen Xuzhi had already removed his coat. Standing at the edge of the light, his tall, slender frame was half-shrouded in shadow. His expression was cool, detached, the glint of his gold-rimmed glasses resting perfectly on the bridge of his straight nose.

His dark eyes carried the faintest trace of something more, narrowing slightly as his gaze lowered. His voice was calm when he asked, “What are you watching?”

Qing Lin instantly turned off his phone and clutched a pillow to his chest. “I… was looking up study materials.”

At those words, “study materials,” Shen Xuzhi’s lips curved into a smile that carried an unmistakable meaning. With the elegance of a refined rogue, he sat down beside Qing Lin and asked casually, “So, have you been studying diligently?”

“…”

Qing Lin: “…Yes.”

Shen Xuzhi reached out and gave his head a gentle pat. “Good boy.”

Qing Lin’s face heated at the touch. After a moment of hesitation, he asked softly, “Are you finished with work, Mr. Shen?”

“Hmm. Sorry it took so long.” Shen Xuzhi’s tone softened. “Do you want to rest a bit more? Are you feeling unwell? If you’re tired, I’ll tell them to cut back on today’s filming.”

“No, no, I’m fine,” Qing Lin quickly replied. “I feel perfectly well. Let’s just get back to filming…”

But midway through, the thought of the upcoming “bed scene” struck him, cutting his words short.

Shen Xuzhi instantly understood what was on his mind. Patient as ever, he said, “Qing Lin, if you don’t want to do it, then we won’t film it.”

Qing Lin didn’t answer immediately. His amber eyes grew still and contemplative as he hooked his pinky finger around the fabric of Shen Xuzhi’s sleeve. “Mr. Shen, have you ever filmed a bed scene before?”

Shen Xuzhi paused. Then, leaning in slightly, he said, “No. I’ve never filmed one.”

His voice was low and soft, tinged with hoarseness. “I’ve never kissed anyone else either.”

The room was silent, broken only by the steady rhythm of their breathing. The glow from the overhead lamp cast faint outlines against the walls, and a sudden warmth ignited in his chest.

Qing Lin averted his gaze, tilting his head slightly. The light brushed gently across the bridge of his nose, leaving a pale patch of ivory in the dimness. His words came just as softly. “Then it’s fine.”

He hadn’t refused.

Shen Xuzhi’s eyes lingered on him, dark and deep.

Qing Lin, ever composed and quiet, kept his usual air of calm—but the crimson flush rising in his ears betrayed him, a small fissure in his otherwise flawless composure.

Just then, a knock sounded at the door. A staff member called from outside, “Are you two ready, Laoshis?”

“We have another photo shoot to complete first.” Qing Lin rose from the bed, not sparing Shen Xuzhi another glance, and walked out the door.

They arrived at the photo studio in the ancient city, where they were scheduled to shoot a set of ethnic-themed portraits.

The shop assistant greeted them warmly and led them inside.

“We still have one outfit left that hasn’t been photographed,” the assistant said cheerfully. “Take a look—I think it should fit you both.”

Qing Lin followed into the room, scanning the racks of costumes. “Only one set left?” he asked.

“Yes, because you arrived a bit late,” the shop assistant explained. “The other outfits have already been chosen by other groups.”

Qing Lin accepted it with a faint nod—until his eyes fell on the last remaining outfit.

A breathtakingly gorgeous Hani princess ensemble.

Qing Lin: “……………”

Behind him, Shen Xuzhi raised a hand to his lips, struggling not to laugh.

[Holy crap!! Holy crap!! Ahhhhhh!!!]

[Miracle Linlin! BJD dolls need a whole wardrobe of outfits!!]

[I can already picture this scene, aaahhh!]

[Linlin! Linlin! (heart-wrenching screams)]

Seeing the luxurious little strapless dress, Qing Lin said, embarrassed and annoyed, “I’m not wearing a skirt!”

The shop assistant quickly reassured him. “It’s not a skirt, it’s fine. Look, it’s a pair of wide-leg flared pants. Aren’t they beautiful?”

Qing Lin: “……………”

“Well then, please go ahead and change. I won’t disturb you,” the shop assistant said with a smile. “But please hurry—the session time is almost up~”

Qing Lin stared at the outfit in silence. Beautiful. Truly beautiful. But still…

Ah, whatever—I’ve already worn so much of this stuff anyway.

Gathering the clothes in his arms, Qing Lin turned to Shen Xuzhi. “Shen Laoshi, I’ll go change first. You should too.”

With that, he carried the outfit into the fitting room, changing slowly, fumbling slightly with the unfamiliar clothing.

When he finally emerged, Shen Xuzhi had already finished changing into his own attire. Lifting his eyes, he caught sight of the “princess.”

The strapless black-and-red patterned top hugged Qing Lin’s frame, revealing a clean, defined waistline with a subtle V-shape. Silver jewelry gleamed at his neck, while intricately embroidered flared pants fell elegantly to his ankles, the wide hem accentuating the slim lines of his figure.

His expression still carried a trace of displeasure, brows faintly furrowed, though his features remained strikingly refined. A delicate veil draped over his hair and fell across his rounded shoulders, partially framing two evenly proportioned, graceful arms. His long fingers bore temporary nail extensions that caught the light when he moved.

The ensemble suited him perfectly.

Qing Lin, growing increasingly uncomfortable under Shen Xuzhi’s steady gaze, finally snapped, “What are you staring at?”

Shen Xuzhi didn’t reply.

He reached for the diamond box on the table, dipping his fingers into the bottle to scoop up a handful before letting them fall back.

The tiny, sparkling gems clinked softly against one another.

Qing Lin heard the sound and turned his head, just as Shen Xuzhi began walking toward him.

He caught sight of slender fingers holding a single silver rhinestone.

“Qing Lin,” Shen Xuzhi said, his tone calm and steady. “You need to place a diamond on your belly button.”