The Academic God Becomes an Internet Sensation After Joining a Dating Show - Chapter 66 - Drunkenness

A sense of complete unease gripped Shen Xuzhi.

Qing Lin’s toes were cool to the touch, soft and supple, their faintest graze sending sparks skittering beneath his skin.

The little devil, catching his reaction, grew bolder—playfully teasing his leg as though testing how far he could push.

The tingling sensation spread upward, winding through his veins until it seemed to set his entire body alight.

Shen Xuzhi clenched his teeth, stretched out his leg, and trapped Qing Lin’s restless pale limb between his own—a warning to keep still.

If it had been in the past, Qing Lin would never have done anything so childish.

But now, even while being held by Shen Xuzhi, he mischievously scratched the soft skin around Shen Xuzhi’s ankle, as if daring to resist being tamed.

Shen Xuzhi couldn’t help it and wiped his face with his hand.

He turned to the person nestled in his arms, torn between embarrassment and annoyance. Qing Lin, head lowered, was blatantly up to mischief, his expression giving nothing away yet his actions betraying him.

The staff busied themselves adjusting lights all around, but for Shen Xuzhi, the world had gone quiet. He could hear the steady cadence of their breathing, even the faint rhythm of their heartbeats overlapping in the silence.

With a heavy sigh, Shen Xuzhi slid his hand beneath the covers and gave Qing Lin’s thigh a sharp pinch.

Qing Lin jerked in surprise, wide eyes snapping toward him in panic.

Shen Xuzhi’s hand was large, spanning easily across his entire thigh.

As though in retaliation, he pinched harder than necessary. It wasn’t painful—more like a ticklish spark that sent an indescribable sensation up Qing Lin’s spine. He instinctively clamped his legs together.

[What are you two doing under there?]

[Sneaky little movements beneath the quilt—don’t hide it, let us see!]

[Hah, it’s heating up fast, isn’t it?]

Qing Lin froze, quickly stilling his restless feet. But Shen Xuzhi didn’t ease his grip, keeping his calf securely pinned.

Men and their petty revenge.

The filming went on without a hitch. The selected segment was safely patriotic and politically proper—an ode to the motherland and soaring ideals. For someone like Qing Lin, model youth to the bone, it was no challenge at all.

By the time they wrapped, night had already fallen.

That day’s filming of Temporary Parents was nearly complete. With all three families having finished their shoots, the next step would be reuniting with their “children.”

For now, with the kids absent and cameras switched off, the adults gathered and chatted. Their conversation naturally drifted toward the show itself and the endless tide of online gossip.

Su Mingxuan and Ning Yian formally congratulated Qiao Weilan and Nan Yu.

It was rare for a production team to carry no conflicting interests. What had started as a platform for Qiao Weilan and Nan Yu to make their relationship public had turned out to be a resounding success.

Above them, sparse stars dotted the sky. The wind in Yunnan was strong that night, brushing past with a cooling touch that softened the lingering heat of summer.

“Hey, why don’t we grab a drink?” Su Mingxuan suggested. “It’s still early, the kids aren’t here yet. Let’s take the chance to relax.”

Nan Yu declined gently. “We won’t be joining you. Wei Lan wants to take me somewhere tonight. We already arranged with our agent—Xiaoxiao will handle things once he’s back.”

Ning Yian raised a brow in understanding. “So, a date then?”

Qiao Weilan and Nan Yu exchanged a glance and laughed. Qiao Weilan draped an arm around Nan Yu’s shoulders and glanced at Qing Lin and Shen Xuzhi. “You two have been on a date before, haven’t you?”

The sudden remark drew every gaze to them. Qing Lin blinked in confusion.

Wait… the filming’s done. Do we really still have to keep up appearances?

Su Mingxuan leaned over and nudged Shen Xuzhi’s shoulder. “Ah Zhi, you’re coming, right?”

Shen Xuzhi wasn’t the type to attend casual gatherings, but Su Mingxuan was an old friend. Besides, he’d mentioned earlier that he had something important to discuss.

So, Shen Xuzhi went along—and Qing Lin naturally followed.

The dinner was hosted at Su Mingxuan and Ning Yian’s quaint courtyard home. They ushered the two inside, then closed and latched the gate behind them.

Su Mingxuan went to make sure all the cameras were turned off and that no microphones were still picking up sound.

Then he hauled a crate of ice-cold beer from the fridge and pulled out several large pizzas from the cabinet. Ning Yian, meanwhile, grabbed a pile of snacks from the cupboard.

Shen Xuzhi sat on the sofa, surveying the spread of food laid out before him. “Where did you get all this during the show recording?”

“I had Fei sneak it in for me,” Su Mingxuan replied with a grin. “Figured since we’re drinking, we might as well go all out.”

Shen Xuzhi arched a brow. “Did you forget Qiqi is coming back later?”

“Did you forget I can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk?” Su Mingxuan chuckled, cracking open a bottle and handing it to Shen Xuzhi.

“We know that too. We don’t plan to drink much—this is mostly about chatting and eating,” Ning Yian added lightly. “Qing Lin, want a bottle?”

“He doesn’t drink,” Shen Xuzhi interjected at once. “He’s not good with alcohol. I’ll take it.”

Su Mingxuan and Ning Yian exchanged a quick, knowing glance.

It was Qing Lin’s first time drinking and chatting privately with celebrities he had only ever seen on television.

Su Mingxuan was surprisingly talkative, much like his public persona, while Ning Yian was quieter than the confident image she portrayed on-screen—a reserved young woman in private.

Qing Lin listened in silence as they talked, eating as he did. Before he realized it, he had already polished off three slices of pizza.

“You must have something important to say,” Shen Xuzhi said, clinking glasses with Su Mingxuan. “You didn’t drag me here just to gossip, did you?”

For someone who had been so articulate just moments ago, Su Mingxuan suddenly grew hesitant at the question.

He exchanged a glance with Ning Yian, and then the two of them laced their fingers together.

“It’s like this,” Su Mingxuan said, gripping her hand tightly. “We’re together now.”

“Gah!”

Shen Xuzhi nearly spit out the drink in his mouth.

Wiping the corner of his lips, he stammered, “What did you say?”

Ning Yian’s cheeks flushed pink as she spoke softly, “I’m with Yian now. Because of our companies, we can’t go public, but we just couldn’t keep it to ourselves anymore, so we’re telling you secretly.”

Qing Lin was stunned.

The slice of pizza he was holding slipped from his fingers and landed on the table.

“Although we started out as a contractual relationship, as we got to know each other, we realized we’re actually quite compatible.”

Su Mingxuan ruffled his own hair with a laugh. “We didn’t want to be the only couple left unpaired on this dating show. Getting together sooner means everyone can be happy sooner, right?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, silence blanketed the room.

Su Mingxuan blinked, frozen for a beat, then glanced between Shen Xuzhi and Qing Lin in disbelief.

He couldn’t believe it himself. After a long pause, he raised a finger at the two of them, stammering, “Wait… you two…?”

“…?” Qing Lin was completely at a loss.

The heavy awkwardness lingered. Before he could speak, his phone suddenly buzzed with an incoming call.

“Linlin! Why aren’t you home?!”

He picked it up, hearing Shang Miaomiao’s voice on the other end. “Miaomiao? You’re back?”

“Yeah, I’m back!”

Shang Miaomiao dropped her bag in the living room and said with unrestrained excitement, “Linlin, when are you and Xuxu coming back? I have something super important to tell you!”

Qing Lin glanced at the other three who were watching him take the call and said to Shang Miaomiao on the other end, “What’s up, Miaomiao? Xuxu and I are out right now.”

“It’s super important! Linlin, hurry back!” Shang Miaomiao urged.

With that, he hung up.

Qing Lin listened to the dial tone, his expression conflicted.

“The kids are back. I just got a text—Xiao Fei said Qiqi fell asleep and went straight to her room,” Ning Yian mentioned.

“Miaomiao must need something. I should go back and check,” Qing Lin replied.

Shen Xuzhi intended to leave with him, but Su Mingxuan caught his arm.

“Hey, top scholar, why don’t you go check on him? Xuzhi and I can stick around a bit longer,” Su Mingxuan said with a grin. “We don’t get many chances to drink together like this.”

Qing Lin thought that sounded fine. With a nod, he stood, bid them goodnight, and headed back to find Shang Miaomiao.

The moment Qing Lin stepped out and closed the door, Su Mingxuan hooked an arm around Shen Xuzhi’s neck and whispered, “Seriously, bro? You still haven’t won him over?”

“I always thought you and the nerd were already together. Turns out you two didn’t end up together after all!” Su Mingxuan exclaimed. “My goodness.”

Then it hit him. “Doesn’t that mean you two are the only couple on this dating show who didn’t end up together?!”

Shen Xuzhi had already been feeling low after hearing about the other couple. Su Mingxuan’s remark only deepened his gloom.

He shoved Su Mingxuan’s hand away, grabbed a beer, and downed the bottle in one long gulp. His dark eyes glimmered with resignation.

Su Mingxuan raised an eyebrow. “So… did you confess?”

Shen Xuzhi stayed silent for a long moment before croaking out, “No.”

“You didn’t confess?” Ning Yian cut in, astonished. “How could that be? How would Qing Lin know you like him?”

Shen Xuzhi flicked a lock of hair aside with his finger, his eyes reflecting helplessness. His voice was rough as he said, “Of course I know.”

“I did try confessing before, but Qing Lin always thought it was just work. Everyone reacts differently,” Shen Xuzhi explained. “With someone like him, if he doesn’t realize his own feelings and you abruptly shatter the illusion, all you’ll get is distance.”

“Once that wall goes up, out of self-preservation, getting close again becomes incredibly difficult.”

He lowered his head, fingers tracing the glass bottle. He seemed caught in the tangle of his own emotions, unable to find a way out.

A heavy sigh escaped Su Mingxuan. “This… this is too sad.”

Seeing Shen Xuzhi’s expression, Su Mingxuan tried to lighten the mood. “If it doesn’t work, we’ll just soften him up slowly! What’s the big deal? It’s fine, Xuzhi! Come on, let’s drink! We’re not stopping until we’re completely drunk!”

Just then, Shen Xuzhi’s phone vibrated.

He thought it might be Qing Lin, but when he glanced at the caller ID, his expression shifted. Rising to his feet, he said to the two, “I’ll step out to take this call.”

Nearly ten minutes later, Shen Xuzhi returned.

Seeing the silly couple still wrapped up in each other, he sat down heavily and popped open ten beers in a row, leaving Su Mingxuan stunned.

Su Mingxuan: “What are you—”

Shen Xuzhi’s face remained expressionless as he replied flatly, “You said it yourself—no going home until we’re drunk.”

______________________________________________________________________________

By this time, Qing Lin had already returned to their home.

The staff informed him that Shang Miaomiao was in the living room. And as soon as he stepped inside, Shang Miaomiao came running toward him with a bright, delighted expression.

“Linlin, you’re back!” Shang Miaomiao rushed forward and threw his arms around him.

Qing Lin ruffled his hair. “What’s up, Miaomiao? Something happen?”

“Linlin, Linlin! Miaomiao wants to get married!” he exclaimed excitedly.

Qing Lin: “?”

A four-year-old suddenly declaring he wanted to get married late at night—perhaps he’d met some girl at school and picked up the idea.

Naturally, Qing Lin dismissed it as childish talk. He coaxed him gently, “Who are you going to marry, Miaomiao?”

Shang Miaomiao pulled out a camera and showed him a photo. “This is Teacher Su Zhan! When Miaomiao grows up, he’ll marry him! We’ll get married together!”

Qing Lin: “???”

He quickly bent down to take a closer look. On the screen was a strikingly young man, looking no older than sixteen. With delicate features, rosy lips, pearly teeth, and a gentle smile, he was undeniably beautiful.

Hah, a handsome guy.

But a teacher!

Still, Qing Lin hadn’t expected Shang Miaomiao to instantly fall for someone with such a huge age gap—let alone his teacher.

Taking a steadying breath, he crouched down and asked, “Why do you want to marry Teacher Su, Miaomiao?”

“Because Miaomiao likes him! Teacher Su is smart and pretty… Hmm, he also needs Miaomiao to protect him! My dad likes Daddy, so they got married. I want to marry Teacher Su too!” he said firmly.

Qing Lin discreetly wiped his brow. Patiently, he explained, “Hmm… but have you ever thought about whether this is the kind of ‘like’ that leads to marriage?”

Shang Miaomiao tilted his head, listening.

“The ‘like’ for marriage is the ‘like’ of love,” Qing Lin said softly. “It’s when your heart skips a beat when you see them, when you can’t help but want to touch them, when you want them to stay by your side forever. Maybe, Miaomiao, what you’re feeling is more like the affection between friends… or like what we have now—the love between family.”

The room fell silent. A child’s thoughts were incredibly simple and pure; their feelings of affection held no impurities.

All that could be heard was the steady ticking of the clock, marking time bit by bit.

After a long pause, Shang Miaomiao finally spoke.

“Linlin, do you really think little kids don’t understand what it means to like someone?”

Qing Lin froze.

Shang Miaomiao looked at him earnestly, his words slow and deliberate. “Little kids aren’t clueless about everything. We can actually sense things.”

“I’m small, but I can see it.” Shang Miaomiao blinked his round eyes and said, “Xuxu loves you very much.”

“I can also see that you love Xuxu very much too.”

The faint light in the living room spilled softly across them. Shang Miaomiao’s gaze was unwavering.

Qing Lin’s hand trembled slightly. His fingers curled inward as he clasped his hands together, rubbing his knuckles.

Some things, children understood. Yet adults stubbornly refused to see.

When it was time for Shang Miaomiao to go to bed, Qing Lin led him inside, watched him finish washing up, and gently stepped out to close the door.

The night sky over Dali wasn’t particularly dark. The summer air hung heavy with humidity. Outside the courtyard, the silver-gray pillars bore patches of rust, their surfaces entwined with vines.

Qing Lin walked into the small courtyard. The staff had already gone home. The equipment was shut down, no more flashing red lights. Now, the vast villa lay in silence.

He glanced at the time. It was already late.

Shen Laoshi still hadn’t returned.

He had intended to go to his room, but just then, his phone rang. It was Shen Xuzhi’s number—yet Su Mingxuan’s voice came through.

“Hey, top scholar! Are you home? Could you come pick up Xuzhi?” Su Mingxuan said. “He’s had a bit too much to drink. I was supposed to take him back, but Qiqi suddenly started crying, and An-an and I need to check on her.”

Mr. Shen had drunk too much?

Qing Lin asked, “How much did he drink?”

Su Mingxuan sounded sheepish. “Uh… he finished an entire case of liquor. We tried to stop him! But later, we just couldn’t persuade him anymore.”

Qing Lin was taken aback. Shen Xuzhi didn’t seem the type to get drunk so casually while out.

“Alright,” Qing Lin said after a pause. “I’ll head over now.”

“Okay, okay. I left him in the courtyard. You’ll see him as soon as you come in,” Su Mingxuan replied.

Qing Lin answered with a brief “Got it,” changed his shoes, and hurried toward Su Mingxuan’s house.

When he arrived, faint lights glowed from the courtyard.

The scattered lights seemed hazy, veiled in mist, shimmering dimly in his eyes.

He pushed the courtyard gate open gently and immediately saw Shen Xuzhi sitting in a chair, head bowed.

The soft glow from the lamp fell upon him, making his features stand out even more—handsome and striking. A light jacket hung loosely over his shoulders, unfastened, lending him a lazy air. His cheeks were flushed faintly from alcohol.

He must have heard the movement, for he lifted his head. His gaze met Qing Lin’s bright, calm eyes and lingered there.

After a few seconds, a slightly childish smile spread across his face. He reached out toward Qing Lin. “You’re here.”

Qing Lin stepped forward. Shen Xuzhi rose to his feet, opened his arms, and pulled him into an embrace.

It was a warm, tender embrace, made even more intimate by the misty night. A subtle hint of citrus clung to the hem of his coat, brushing against Qing Lin, while Shen Xuzhi lowered his head, as if inhaling the fragrance.

Qing Lin thought, once again, that Mr. Shen became clingy when drunk—just as he had been at the bar.

He patted his back, soothing him like a child. “I’m here to take you home.”

“Mm, okay. Home.” Shen Xuzhi clung to Qing Lin’s waist, rubbing against him like a large, affectionate dog.

The reek of alcohol surrounded him—he must have really drunk a lot.

“Why did you drink so much?” Qing Lin asked, trapped in his embrace. “Shall we go outside first?”

Shen Xuzhi didn’t move, only tightening his embrace a little more.

Qing Lin sighed helplessly, his voice softening. “It’s no big deal. Can we save the hugging for when we get back?”

Only then did Shen Xuzhi loosen his hold, slowly lifting his head to look at him.

Even drunk, he looked no different than usual—his gaze steady, his deep brow shadowed beneath the flickering lamplight. His clear eyes reflected only the man before him.

“Mm. Whatever you say.”

With that, Shen Xuzhi followed Qing Lin out of Su Mingxuan’s home.

Qing Lin pulled out his phone, looking for a nearby convenience store still open where he could grab a hangover cure.

But before he could find one, he turned and realized the man behind him had vanished.

Qing Lin froze in shock, then hurried back to the courtyard, only to discover Shen Xuzhi wasn’t there either.

“Mr. Shen?” Qing Lin called, his voice echoing softly in the still night. No response.

“Shen Xuzhi!”

Panic rushed through him. Shen Xuzhi couldn’t be left wandering like this. A celebrity, drunk and lost—if he were recognized by acquaintances or caught by sasaengs, it would be a disaster.

At this hour, the village lay deserted. The alleys were narrow, dim, and countless, stretching in every direction. He had no idea where Shen Xuzhi could have gone.

Qing Lin’s chest tightened with worry. Calls to Shen Xuzhi’s phone went unanswered.

He searched through several alleys in vain. Just as he was about to call Wang Zhan, Shen Xuzhi finally emerged from an empty courtyard, striding toward him.

Qing Lin rushed forward, his gaze sweeping the man from head to toe. “Where the hell did you go? You scared me half to death.”

Shen Xuzhi said nothing. His eyes were hazy from alcohol, his lids half-closed. Without a word, he took Qing Lin’s hand and placed something in his palm.

Qing Lin looked down.

It was a flower-shaped pastry.

The very same rose-flavored pastry he had eaten earlier that day—one he had found delicious but hadn’t gotten the chance to try again.

Mr. Shen… why give me this?

The tall man stood in front of him, his frame blocking half the light, casting a long shadow across the ground.

His voice was low, hoarse, and tinged with alcohol. “You like it.”

Qing Lin stared blankly at the rose pastry resting in his hand.

“You didn’t just go and buy this…” His voice faltered.

Shen Xuzhi smiled at his reaction. The faint blush of alcohol on his cheeks softened his handsome features, lending him a disarming beauty.

He somehow pulled out a large bag of fresh flower pastries and stuffed the whole thing into Qing Lin’s arms.

Holding the overflowing bundle, Qing Lin heard him say softly, “They’re all yours.”

The sheer unexpectedness of it left Qing Lin flustered.

Shen Xuzhi might have been drunk, but his eyes remained clear. They held Qing Lin unwaveringly, brimming with warmth instead of his usual cold detachment.

He steadied Qing Lin’s shoulders, guided him to a roadside bench, and helped him sit down. Then, lowering himself to one knee, he pulled out a bottle of medicinal wine, carefully lifted Qing Lin’s leg, and removed his shoe.

Uncorking the bottle, Shen Xuzhi murmured, “Time for a dressing change.”

From this close, Qing Lin gazed into those deep eyes. The man’s expression revealed no emotion—still detached, still calm—but threaded with a tenderness that made Qing Lin’s chest ache.

Even in his drunken state, Shen Xuzhi clung to him, to the wounds he carried, to every detail of his pain.

Qing Lin said nothing. Shen Xuzhi, noticing his silence, lifted his head. “Qing Lin?”

The cool moonlight drifted through his hair, catching in those dark, earnest eyes.

The night was filled with hushed whispers, the lights shimmering like stars scattered across the earth. The moon seemed to have fallen into the lake, its pull dragging him irresistibly forward.

“Shen Xuzhi,” Qing Lin murmured, feeling his heart hammering in his chest.

“Do you like me a little?”