The Academic God Becomes an Internet Sensation After Joining a Dating Show - Chapter 83 - Confession

“Congratulations to both Laoshis on your successful escape!”

After every successful escape, the Escape Room production team would release a shower of confetti and streamers. Shen Xuzhi and Qing Lin emerged drenched in the festive shower, reminiscent of wedding blessings.

This outcome was particularly special—the first time in the show’s history that a single team achieved victory. The post-game interviews took some time, and by the time they finished, night had fallen.

“Shen Laoshi, we were all on the edge of our seats watching from the control room,” an interviewer told Shen Xuzhi afterward. “This escape room episode was absolutely incredible. I guarantee it’ll be a hit when it airs!”

Shen Xuzhi changed out of his escape room attire and replied politely, “Thank you. You all worked hard.”

“No, no, it was a pleasure working with you!” The crew began packing up their equipment.

Shen Xuzhi glanced around before calling out to the staff again, “Where is Qing Lin?”

“Qing Laoshi? He wrapped up his shoot a little earlier,” the crew member replied, suddenly covering their mouth to stifle a giggle. “He told us that if you asked about him, we should say he’s waiting for you in the car~”

The remark carried a certain implication, prompting several directors and makeup artists familiar with Shen Xuzhi to tease him playfully.

“Oh my, waiting for you in the car~”

“Making progress, Ah Zhi? You’re improving.”

“Come on, Ah Zhi, put in some effort! If you still can’t win him over , isn’t that a bit embarrassing?”

Shen Xuzhi smiled and replied, “Got it. I’ll do my best.”

After thanking the crew once more, he dashed out of the recording studio.

The assistant director watched him leave and couldn’t help but remark, “See? Love really changes a person. Have you ever seen him smile like that during filming before?”

The producer chuckled beside him, “The power of love, huh?”

Shen Xuzhi jogged out the main gate and found the chauffeured van.

Wang Zhan texted him, saying he had to handle something upstairs and asked Shen Xuzhi and Qing Lin to rest in the van for a bit. He’d be back soon.

This area was deserted at night. Recent efforts to manage paparazzi and regulate fans had yielded significant progress, making the environment relatively safe.

Shen Xuzhi walked up to the van, opened the door, but Qing Lin was nowhere to be seen.

The vehicle was empty. Confused, Shen Xuzhi pulled out his phone to contact Qing Lin.

“Beep-beep-beep—”

After three consecutive calls went unanswered, Shen Xuzhi tucked his phone away, intending to return to the recording hall to search for him. He still feared Qing Lin might be in danger.

But just then, he heard footsteps.

Shen Xuzhi turned around and saw Qing Lin running toward him, holding a large bouquet of lisianthus in his arms.

The sight caught him completely off guard—the boy’s lifted hem, that mix of youthful vitality and sharp poise. Half his face was hidden behind the bouquet of lisianthus, his bright eyes half concealed, half revealed.

Shen Xuzhi stared at the flowers in his hands, assuming he’d encountered an enthusiastic fan.

But the next moment, Qing Lin reached Shen Xuzhi, panting as he thrust the flowers into his arms.

He collided head-on with the bouquet of lisianthus. Shen Xuzhi caught both the flowers and the boy in his arms. “What are you…”

“I wanted to give you flowers,” Qing Lin said, breathless but enunciating each word clearly. “These are the flowers I wanted to give you.”

The ends of the strands of hair falling across his forehead were slightly damp, likely from the light sweat of running over. The warm glow of the streetlight softly softened his features, making each strand of hair distinct.

“This is a lisianthus,” Qing Lin said. “It has another name. The thornless rose.”

“Roses have thorns. No matter how carefully you handle them, there’s always that tiny chance of getting hurt. But lisianthus don’t. They’ve shed their thorns and show their true selves with sincerity. You can hold them any way you like.”

Qing Lin paused, the blush on his cheeks deepening. “And there’s another meaning to it.”

“The flower language of the lisianthus is eternal love.”

“I’m wary of this world, but in front of you, I’m willing to let down all my defenses and embrace you.”

The moment Shen Xuzhi’s and Qing Lin’s gazes met, the crisp scent of flowers clinging to the hem of his clothes swept over him.

His heart raced, his blood boiling with fervor.

The summer night wind howled as it swept past.

“Shen Xuzhi, let’s be together.”

For an instant, it felt as though the entire world had vanished, leaving only the person before him.

The boy’s soft black hair was bathed in a gentle halo of lamplight, trembling lightly before Shen Xuzhi.

For a moment, he wondered if he was dreaming, or experiencing some kind of illusion.

But Qing Lin knew exactly what he was doing.

After wrapping up the post-interview recording, he dashed to nearby flower shops, searching one after another until he finally found this bouquet of lisianthus.

He wanted to make up for the regret of the roses, to sincerely express his feelings to Shen Xuzhi, to offer his true heart, and to tell him: Actually, I’ve always, always wanted to meet you again.

He couldn’t wait another moment; he wanted to tell him right away.

“Though this feels rather informal, I simply couldn’t wait any longer,” Qing Lin said without pause, watching Shen Xuzhi’s stunned expression.

“Shen Xuzhi, I like you. I…”

Before he could finish, a sudden tug seized his arm.

The car door swung open. Qing Lin was pulled inside, crashing onto the backseat.

Then, Shen Xuzhi’s presence pressed down on him.

The man’s body radiated heat. Broad shoulders, long legs. Drooping strands of hair obscured his eyes, covering his dark pupils. His entire frame enveloped Qing Lin, squeezing out all the air around them.

He gripped Qing Lin’s chin, forcing him to lift his head. Before Qing Lin could react, the kiss landed.

The kiss was unexpectedly fierce, urgent—utterly unlike Shen Xuzhi himself.

Qing Lin was pressed against the seat, kissed until he could hardly breathe. His chin kept tilting upward, again and again, as the lisianthus slipped from his hand, petals scattering to the floor.

A tingling sensation ran down his spine; his heartbeat pounded wildly.

Shen Xuzhi wedged himself between Qing Lin’s legs, creating a wide gap between them. One hand gripped his neck while the other caressed his face, prying open his teeth to lick and suck roughly.

Only the sound of their mingled breaths filled the car.

After an unknown duration of deep kissing, Shen Xuzhi finally eased off slightly. His fingers tangled in Qing Lin’s hair, kneading his scalp as he pressed his lips back against Qing Lin’s, grinding them together. “Qing Lin,” he murmured, “say something.”

“…” Qing Lin gasped. “Don’t block my mouth first.”

Shen Xuzhi smiled, his eyes brimming with joy. His double eyelids pulled deep creases across his lids, his expression tender.

He kissed Qing Lin’s cheek again, the warm, soft touch lightly grazing his lip before gently brushing along the side of his face.

“It’s not a dream after all,” Shen Xuzhi murmured.

Seeing him, Qing Lin felt dazed, as if memories from some unknown time were overlapping with the present. Perhaps they were completely different, or perhaps the same, but in his mind he knew clearly: these eyes seemed to have always been following him.

Shen Xuzhi clung tightly to Qing Lin, burying his face in the crook of his neck to breathe in his scent.

Qing Lin carried a faint, cool fragrance—serene and gentle—which complemented his flushed cheeks perfectly, making him look utterly captivating.

Amidst his racing heartbeat, Qing Lin caught sight of a faint lipstick mark peeking from beneath Shen Xuzhi’s collar. His face flushed, yet his gaze remained fixed. “Why is it still there?”

Shen Xuzhi followed Qing Lin’s eyes downward, pulling his collar lower as he replied, “This is the first kiss mark you left me.”

“How could I bear to wipe it away?”

The parking lot lay in the stillness of a summer night, empty and silent. Moonlight spilled over the car windows like sweet whipped cream, leaving gentle, warm white streaks—just like the pure lisianthus blossoms.

Qing Lin couldn’t suppress the flutter in his heart. His slightly cool little finger hooked around Shen Xuzhi’s hand.

Shen Xuzhi felt himself being pulled back, followed immediately by Qing Lin’s kiss.

His lips pressed against Shen Xuzhi’s, rubbing slowly and clumsily, kissing like a kitten.

Shen Xuzhi let him kiss without restraint, then heard the soft protest from beneath him. “Stop teasing me.”

Shen Xuzhi chuckled softly, his voice carrying a hint of teasing intimacy. “Not working anymore?”

“No, it’s working perfectly,” Qing Lin replied, looping his arms around his neck. “It’s just… I don’t want you to think I like you only for your looks.”

“Remember the art exhibition in middle school? You left a sticky note on one of the paintings,” Qing Lin said. “That painting was mine.”

Shen Xuzhi froze.

Of course, he remembered that painting. That day, Shen Fu had caught him writing a song, and after getting beaten, he’d fled with his guitar. Passing by the art exhibition, he’d spotted it immediately.

In the dim night, a person clad in colorful clothes had tossed aside their umbrella, walking alone in the rain.

Crystal-clear raindrops fell from the sky, staining the leaves and petals in varying shades of green and pink. Everything in the painting seemed to come alive.

Ah.

So, all the encounters since then had been reunions.

“I secretly drew you and kept it hidden for so long,” Qing Lin said. “Shen Xuzhi, I like you more than you imagine, and I liked you much earlier than you imagine.”

Memories surged forth, intertwining with years of pent-up longing, slowly crystallizing into a renewed wave of affection.

Their bodies pressed together, leaving no space, until Shen Xuzhi’s desire ignited, prompting him to rise hastily to avoid it. “Don’t move…”

Qing Lin wrapped his arms around Shen Xuzhi’s neck, his eyes fixed on him like the slow-flowing waters of a lake at night—pure, clear, and deeply affectionate.

He hooked his leg around Shen Xuzhi’s waist.

His pale, slender calf rested on Shen Xuzhi’s waist, pressing down lightly as their bodies drew closer once more.

A blatant invitation.

Shen Xuzhi growled, “What are you doing?”

Qing Lin remained silent. The dim car interior obscured his expression.

Another adorable kiss landed on Shen Xuzhi’s lips—a gentle peck that made no sound yet left him utterly spellbound.

Shen Xuzhi exhaled sharply, his brows furrowing as he swept his hair back. He grabbed his phone and dialed Wang Zhan’s number in a flurry.

The call connected quickly. His voice hoarse, he forced himself to sound calm. “We’ll drive the car back ourselves.”

Wang Zhan: “Huh? Hello? Hello?!”

Wang Zhan was utterly bewildered as the other end hung up without a moment’s hesitation….

Shen Xuzhi walked to the driver’s seat, clenched his molars, and drove off. The journey was silent, his speed carrying them swiftly to a deserted spot in the suburbs.

Without pausing, he slammed the front door shut, opened the backseat, reached in to pull his lover out, pinned him against the door, and kissed him.

Qing Lin responded eagerly to his kiss, his warm tongue tentatively tracing Shen Xuzhi’s lips, teasing him until he was tingling all over.

The young man, throwing himself into his embrace, kissed him with a raw innocence. Shen Xuzhi lowered his gaze, lifted him up, and seated him astride his lap, gripping his neck as he deepened the kiss.

Then Shen Xuzhi felt Qing Lin fumbling with the buttons of his pants, his hands trembling so badly he couldn’t undo them for ages.

Shen Xuzhi seized Qing Lin’s restless hands, gripping his wrists to signal him to stop.

The boy’s lashes were long and curled, his eyes amber-hued, his lips a vivid shade—every feature, every inch of him, constantly tempting Shen Xuzhi.

Seeing Shen Xuzhi like this, his voice softened from the kisses, as adorable as his clumsy lips. “Don’t you like it?”

How could he not like it…

Qing Lin bit his lip, his neck flushing crimson. “I want to help you too.”

Shen Xuzhi’s gaze darkened. After a moment, he bit Qing Lin’s ear, warning. “Don’t regret this.”

With that, he undid buttons with one hand, lifting him up to cradle him….

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Qing Lin felt only intense heat. Though the car’s AC ran, every surface felt scorching.

Heavy breaths echoed in his ear. Soon his arms grew numb, his mind buzzing, blank.

The lisianthus had scattered in disarray. His body was immobilized, enveloped by an inescapable, lingering aura.

Qing Lin’s face flushed crimson with emotion. He paused, then felt the rhythm slow, lowering his head with a faint gaze.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

The air inside the car carried a damp chill from the air conditioning. Though secluded, they were still outdoors, inside a vehicle—the subtle tension felt like an accelerant for their emotions.

Dust danced in the translucent light, silently swirling in the empty space.

The surrounding haze carried moisture, dampening even Qing Lin’s eyes. Beneath his gaze lay an unflinching directness.

Shen Xuzhi’s hand gripped Qing Lin’s hair, breathing heavily. His fingers were long, his palm broad, bony fingertips digging into the hair. Veins stood out prominently on his arms.

Qing Lin’s softened voice carried a sticky nasal tone.

Shen Xuzhi couldn’t resist, lifting him up to kiss him. Qing Lin sat tightly clasped on his lap, his head buzzing.

He saw the lip marks on Shen Xuzhi’s collarbone again.

Qing Lin paused for a moment, then leaned down to pull open Shen Xuzhi’s collar and bit down.

His lips were soft and warm as he sucked on Shen Xuzhi’s neck, lightly licking with the tip of his tongue.

Qing Lin was confused, his eyes misty as he lay sprawled across Shen Xuzhi’s chest, peering at his neck and murmuring, “Why can’t I leave a mark?”

“That’s not how you leave a mark,” Shen Xuzhi replied, his jaw tightening as he pulled him back toward him. Turning his head, he said,

“I’ll teach you.”