The Academic God Becomes an Internet Sensation After Joining a Dating Show - Chapter 65 - Bed Scene

Qing Lin froze, utterly dumbfounded.

He glanced at the model’s reference photo. Sure enough, a diamond gleamed at the center of the navel—bright, dazzling, and impossible to ignore.

By then, Shen Xuzhi had already closed the distance. His eyes were lowered, dark and unreadable, as if it were uncertain whether his attention was fixed on Qing Lin or the rhinestone he toyed with between his fingers.

“Let me help you,” Shen Xuzhi murmured.

Qing Lin intended to refuse, but what slipped out instead was a soft, unthinking “Mm.” Before he could recover, Shen Xuzhi had already guided him onto the countertop.

The surface was high, and Shen Xuzhi’s arm settled around him in an awkward, steadying embrace.

The rhinestone spun lightly on his fingertip. A faint scent of citrus accompanied it as it drew closer.

Qing Lin could hardly endure it for more than a few seconds. The glint in Shen Xuzhi’s eyes made him turn away, gaze fleeing. “Maybe…”

“You’ll do it yourself?” Shen Xuzhi cut him off. “With those nail extensions, do you really think it’s possible?”

“…”

“Long nails won’t grip the diamond. You’ll struggle for ages. Let me do it—it’ll be faster.”

“…”

Qing Lin’s face burned crimson, his thoughts dissolving into haze. He had no argument to counter; Shen Xuzhi had already ensnared him completely.

Sensing his silence, Shen Xuzhi’s voice lowered, soft but firm. “Arch your back.”

Qing Lin sat atop the table. The loose fabric of the wide-leg pants proved unexpectedly practical, his legs half-spread as Shen Xuzhi positioned himself between them.

His abdomen was lean, his navel cleanly shaped. Placing the diamond there would only heighten its allure.

Yet the posture felt unbearably awkward. Qing Lin turned his head away, refusing to yield, though the tension in his body betrayed him. His hands, braced against the tabletop, tightened gradually. His knees locked rigid with strain.

Noticing his resistance, Shen Xuzhi slowly straightened.

He leaned close, circling to Qing Lin’s side, until his breath brushed the curve of his neck. His voice, stripped of all inflection, slid into Qing Lin’s ear.

“Qing Lin, where do you draw the line?”

A buzzing filled Qing Lin’s head.

He froze, fully aware of Shen Xuzhi’s meaning.

Enclosed within his arms, the citrus-tinged musk wrapped around him, potent and unyielding, turning almost aggressive.

Shen Xuzhi’s dark eyes swept over him as he leaned in, one arm curling around Qing Lin’s slender frame. A mischievous hand traced through the air, gliding from his collarbone down to the line of his tailbone.

Qing Lin shuddered, instinctively stepping forward—only to collide directly into Shen Xuzhi’s body.

Startled, he tried to retreat, but his spine pressed against Shen Xuzhi’s hand braced behind him. The touch was searing, burning through his back and setting fire to his cheeks.

Shen Xuzhi said nothing.

His palm pressed closer, sliding slowly from Qing Lin’s back down to his waist.

“Do you hate it?” he asked.

“…”

It wasn’t unpleasant—just a little ticklish.

Qing Lin offered no reply. He felt as though his voice had been stolen. Sensing his silence once again, Shen Xuzhi leaned closer, his lips hovering just above the skin near his collarbone.

He didn’t kiss him. Instead, he circled the silver chain resting against Qing Lin’s neck, then lifted his gaze to meet his eyes. “How about this?”

He seemed to crave a reaction, his tone low, insistent.

“Is this okay?”

Qing Lin didn’t resist. He shifted slightly, his dangling foot brushing against Shen Xuzhi’s thigh.

It was like a small indulgence for Shen Xuzhi. He let out a deep, rough sigh, and, his voice husky with breath, murmured into Qing Lin’s ear, “If you ever forget to trim your nails, just scratch my back.”

Qing Lin’s mind went blank. Spoken from Shen Xuzhi’s lips, the words felt devastating.

He couldn’t stop the jumble of thoughts flooding him—they were both adults, after all. How could he not understand?

Biting his lip, Qing Lin felt his entire body burn.

He was thinking about…

Meanwhile, Shen Xuzhi clenched his jaw, restraining the possessiveness clawing at him. Carefully, he peeled the adhesive backing from the diamond.

His palm pressed firmly against Qing Lin’s waist and abdomen, fingers parting just enough to expose the delicate hollow of his navel.

Qing Lin’s hands, resting stiffly on the table, twitched—his fingers pried apart, pressed together, then released again.

Help… my mind is spinning. He thought.

For a fleeting second, he even thought this would be the perfect moment for a kiss.

But Shen Xuzhi didn’t kiss him.

Instead, he placed the rhinestone carefully in place. The coolness against his navel contrasted sharply with the heat that seemed to consume the rest of him.

Shen Xuzhi pulled back slightly. But just as his gaze finally withdrew, he realized the person before him had eyes rimmed with tears.

Qing Lin’s waist truly suited that diamond—just like the tattoo etched in its place, it was unforgettable.

Yet Qing Lin kept his head lowered, trembling uncontrollably. When he finally lifted his gaze, those misty amber eyes looked utterly tormented, shimmering with tears. His voice cracked faintly.

“You’re teasing me…”

Shen Xuzhi froze.

A wave of panic surged through him. He wanted nothing more than to strike himself for losing control yet again—for pushing too far, treating Qing Lin this way.

Flustered, he saw those reddened eyes and felt his chest tighten with pain. He didn’t even know if he dared to hold Qing Lin, to offer comfort.

Qing Lin pressed himself forward instead.

Whether out of shame or sheer embarrassment, he refused to lift his head. All Shen Xuzhi could see when he looked down was the crown of dark hair, the ornate headdress shifting slightly as Qing Lin trembled against him.

His forehead pressed into Shen Xuzhi’s abdomen, his arms wrapped tightly around his waist.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to hurt you. I didn’t do it on purpose,” Shen Xuzhi blurted out in a rush. His voice trembled with urgency. “If you don’t like it, I won’t touch you again. If it’s still too uncomfortable, we’ll find another way. I… don’t be angry. It’s all my fault.”

He repeated his apologies again and again, one hand gently patting Qing Lin’s back as if soothing a frightened child.

Only after a long while did he feel the trembling in Qing Lin’s body begin to ease.

Silence stretched between them, heavy and fragile, until Qing Lin finally spoke. His words were soft, measured, deliberate.

“…You can.”

Shen Xuzhi stilled. “…What?”

Qing Lin didn’t lift his head. His teeth released the lip he had been biting, his voice almost inaudible.

“I said you can touch me.”

To be honest, he didn’t dislike it.

In truth, there wasn’t anything Shen Xuzhi did to him that he disliked.

At last, Shen Xuzhi’s restless heart settled. He lowered his chin onto Qing Lin’s head, holding him with quiet gentleness.

As long as Qing Lin was all right, nothing else mattered.

The salesperson, however, had grown suspicious. The fitting room had been occupied for far too long with no one coming out. Just as they pushed the door open to check, they caught sight of the two locked in an embrace.

Shen Xuzhi turned his head slightly, a cool glance sweeping over. The salesperson, perceptive enough to read the atmosphere, shut the door again without a sound.

_____________________________________________________________________________

By the time Qing Lin and Shen Xuzhi finally stepped out, both had already composed themselves.

Qing Lin reminded himself that since this was part of the mission, he needed to do it properly—he would be a proper model.

During the shoot, Shen Xuzhi was thoughtful enough to help cover the tattoos at his waist. It was still a little embarrassing, though.

When they first emerged, neither dared meet the other’s eyes.

[Wow wow wow, Hani Tribe couple outfits!!]

[Waaah, this photo studio is killing it! I swear I’m dragging my boyfriend here when I visit Yunnan!]

[Wait… did you two seriously do something in there?!]

[Calm down! There’s no way they could’ve finished in such a short time!]

There were three shooting locations. Qing Lin had a natural ease in front of the camera, and Shen Xuzhi had experience modeling for some time. Thanks to their strong coordination, the promotional photoshoot wrapped up remarkably quickly.

“Perfect! Absolutely perfect!” the photographer beamed, practically bouncing with excitement. “You two are so well-matched. Come take a look—pick a few favorites to bring home.”

Shen Xuzhi stepped forward as the freshly printed shots were displayed before him.

Each turn of the page left him more entranced. The posed images were gorgeous, but the candid moments—the stolen glances, Qing Lin’s serious focus during prep—were even more breathtaking.

His gaze lingered on one particular expression, Qing Lin’s soft earnestness shining through. Adorable, Shen Xuzhi thought. Adorable beyond words.

“I’ll take them all,” Shen Xuzhi told the photographer without hesitation.

“I see they do custom pendants over there,” he said. Then, picking a photo of Qing Lin glancing back, he added, “Make a pendant from this solo shot for me.”

[Mr. Shen, don’t fall too hard!]

[Taking all the negatives. Doesn’t a photo studio like this usually take around sixty-one shots?]

[He loves him so much, so much, so much!]

After the photoshoot, Qing Lin changed back into his own clothes and stepped outside. The shop assistant was arranging a display when he noticed Qing Lin approaching.

“Laoshi, would you like to try our local specialties?” he asked warmly.

He gestured toward the table. “This is our fresh flower cake, and this is milk curd.”

Qing Lin had never tasted either before, but the appearance alone was enticing. He accepted a small slice of the flower cake the staff had cut for him. The moment he bit into it, his eyes lit up. “This is so good!”

“Right? Right?” the staff member said, grinning with pride.

Qing Lin had half a mind to buy some and take it home, but then remembered—he was still in the middle of filming, and his phone was with Shen Xuzhi.

It would have to wait for another time.

Just then, Shen Xuzhi approached. His eyes fell on the piece of cake in Qing Lin’s hand. “You like it?” he asked.

Before Qing Lin could answer, a staff member rushed over. “Shen Laoshi! Qing Laoshi! There you are—the director for the movie reenactment is waiting. We need to hurry, please come with me.”

The word reenactment hit Qing Lin like a jolt.

Heavens, so soon?

He still wasn’t ready.

Scripts were handed to them as they were hurried along. “These are for the upcoming task,” the staff explained. “Please review your lines quickly, then follow me upstairs.”

Shen Xuzhi and Qing Lin exchanged a glance before climbing the staircase.

The room above was already arranged for filming. The setup was surprisingly simple: a wide bed with two pillows and a neatly folded quilt, cameras positioned on several tripods all around. A large monitor stood in front of the bed, with at least eight crew members gathered nearby.

The sight made Qing Lin’s chest tighten. He tried to mask his unease, but instinctively, his steps drew him closer to Shen Xuzhi.

Shen Xuzhi, too, was taken aback. Though he hadn’t filmed a scene like this before, he understood the usual procedure—and this wasn’t it. For a bed scene, there shouldn’t have been so many people lingering in the room.

Qing Lin could feel the weight of their stares. Shen Laoshi might be unfazed, given his experience, but how was he supposed to relax with everyone watching so closely? The thought only made his nerves worse. Quickly, he opened the script.

—If Miracles Had a Color, It Would Be China Red

Qing Lin blinked. “?”

He flipped through the pages. The adaptation was from the film Dare to Call the Sun and Moon to Renew the Sky, set in the 1970s. It followed a couple during the Reform and Opening-up era, sharing a quiet conversation before bed. Their dialogue reflected on the nation’s progress and the joys of everyday family life—a poignant glimpse into personal lives shaped by history.

The longer he stared, the redder the black text seemed to glow.

[HAHAHAHAHA!! Classic production team move! So patriotic!]

[Wuwuwu! So the “bed scene” is just under the blankets, purely talking—ahhh wuwuwu!]

[I knew it! Of course they wouldn’t actually film that—still, I didn’t expect this!]

Shen Xuzhi also glanced over the script. He was taken aback for a long moment—this caught him completely off guard.

His gaze flicked to Qing Lin. The younger man had already shed his earlier shyness, though his exasperation was obvious as he flipped through the pages.

Finding the reaction amusing, Shen Xuzhi murmured, “You look disappointed.”

Caught off guard, Qing Lin’s ears tinged pink. He turned his head away. “Nonsense.”

Just then, the director approached with an eager smile, extending his hand.

“Hello, hello! You must be from the Follow Heart production team. I’m Tang Shiqi,” he introduced himself.

Tang Shiqi was a close friend of Hong Shanyue—a filmmaker who mostly worked independently and rarely ventured into online content. Now residing in Yunnan, the filmmaker arrived specifically to help with the project.

“You’ve both read the script, right?” Tang Shiqi asked. “Good. You can head over to the bed and rehearse a bit; we’ll start the scene shortly. Don’t worry about the people around—just act naturally.”

Qing Lin nodded. After skimming through the script, he realized the scene was nothing more than a couple chatting in bed, ending with a simple hug.

“I actually think the intimacy here is too sparse,” he remarked. “A hug alone feels shallow—the couple’s bond should be stronger by this point.”

Tang Shiqi turned to them with a bright smile. “Getting into bed shouldn’t be difficult for you two, right? You probably sleep together often.”

Qing Lin almost burst into a cough.

Getting into bed? Sleeping together?

Tang Shiqi, however, spoke without restraint, entirely unaware how suggestive the phrasing sounded—and simply assuming they were a real couple. “Alright then, let’s begin.”

What could they say to that?

The first run-through began as a test shoot. After the clapperboard snapped, they delivered their lines, finishing the short dialogue. Tang Shiqi immediately gave them feedback.

“Qing Lin, don’t just sit there like a statue. Interact with Xuzhi a little more.” He tapped his chin thoughtfully, then added, “After you say, ‘I hope the whole family stays safe,’ lean into your husband’s arms.”

Qing Lin obeyed, shifting slightly closer to Shen Xuzhi.

“Why so stiff?” Tang Shiqi frowned. “Be more affectionate. Act coy. Xuzhi, wrap your arms around him. Make it intimate, make it happy.”

Shen Xuzhi adjusted without hesitation, professional as always. He slipped an arm around Qing Lin’s waist and, with effortless strength, lifted him against his body.

The quilt settled over them, concealing their movements beneath its folds. Qing Lin felt himself being shifted, then drawn fully into Shen Xuzhi’s embrace.

“Good, good. Xuzhi, hold his shoulders. And Qing Lin, hold onto him. Make it natural.”

Qing Lin’s sense of shame had long since worn thin. He relaxed, adopting a carefree attitude—whatever feels comfortable is fine.

He adjusted his position, looping his arms tightly around Shen Xuzhi and resting against his chest, clinging with the unguarded intimacy of a child clutching a stuffed toy in sleep.

As they shifted, their legs intertwined.

Qing Lin’s toes brushed against Shen Xuzhi’s leg by accident. He felt the man stiffen instantly.

Huh?

He tilted his head up. Shen Xuzhi’s expression remained composed, but the tips of his ears were undeniably red, and his body had grown rigid.

Is this spot… sensitive?

For some reason, a mischievous impulse stirred in Qing Lin’s chest. He gave in to it, brushing his toes deliberately against Shen Xuzhi again.