The Academic God Becomes an Internet Sensation After Joining a Dating Show - Chapter 87 - The Taste of Jealousy

Qi Youhuai’s eyes remained fixed on Shen Xuzhi’s hand wrapped around Qing Lin’s waist. He said coldly, “Still not letting go.”

Shen Xuzhi stared at Qi Youhuai, utterly stunned for a long time. Yet, there was no way he would just let go of Qing Lin. He deliberately pulled the young man tighter into his arms and said, “Why should I believe you? You…”

Qing Lin quickly wriggled out of Shen Xuzhi’s embrace and covered his mouth. “He really is my brother!”

Shen Xuzhi: “?”

Shen Xuzhi: “??!!”

The live-stream was going crazy. Netizens loved the drama and the barrage of comments surged:

[WHAT!! Qing Lin is Qi Youhuai’s biological younger brother?!! Biological, biological, not adopted!]

[? Didn’t Qing Lin cut ties with his own family for the greater good? Since when was CEO Qi become his brother?]

[As long as I care: Are Shen-Lin-in-the-Flesh living together!! They’re living together! Together!]

[OMG, I had heard the news about Chengqi Group before! The CEO’s family got into a car accident over ten years ago, and only CEO Qi survived, but he always said publicly that he had a missing younger brother. This, this, this, it’s actually Qing Lin???!]

[My God, that makes perfect sense! Qing Lin was adopted from an orphanage, and the year he entered the orphanage, according to the records, is the same year CEO Qi’s family had the car accident!! This is so dramatic!!]

[Holy crap, wait, what kind of deity is Qing Lin?]

So far: the content creator with millions of followers is him. The legendary regret of Tsinghua’s Science Academy is him. The first love of a chart-topping singer with millions of fans is him. And the long-lost younger brother a wealthy CEO has been searching for? That’s him too.

What the heck.

The level of shock is enough to kill a person if there was one more thing.

Shen Xuzhi finally released his grip.

Qing Lin stepped out of Shen Xuzhi’s embrace, looked at the GoPro not far away, and thought, this is great now.

The hot search will be ready in an hour.

Shen Xuzhi looked around at the surrounding crowd, took off his hat, and placed it on Qing Lin’s head.

Wang Zhan rushed over; he truly admired his boss, who had taken a flight immediately back to Hangzhou—such a total love-struck fool.

Shen Xuzhi handed Qing Lin over to Wang Zhan, saying, “You two go ahead.”

He watched Qing Lin get into the car, then turned and walked toward Zhou Xinglan.

Shen Xuzhi’s eyes were dark and deep, a sinister gloom spreading upwards from a low point, fixating on Zhou Xinglan. The air pressure was extremely low.

Beside him, Qi Youhuai was chillingly aloof, indifferent, and disdainful.

Shen Xuzhi spoke coolly: “It seems you haven’t remembered what Director Guo said. A role obtained by paying and serving as a lover should be cherished all the more.”

He sneered. “Mr. Qin’s bed warmer? Qin Liuchang, is that right? Qi Youhuai, you know that guy pretty well, don’t you?”

Qi Youhuai pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, put one in his mouth, and mumbled, “Qin Liuchang, you say? He came begging me just recently, asking me not to acquire the company under his banner.”

The lighter sparked in the darkness, Qi Youhuai lit the cigarette, and exhaled a puff of smoke into the night.

Holding a cigarette between his fingers, white smoke curled lazily before his eyes. He said lightly, “But since he still has time to keep a side toy, it seems he’s not short on a few businesses. I’ll have my secretary draw up the contract tomorrow.”

Zhou Xinglan was too terrified to utter a word, his face pale. He knew he was truly finished.

He had managed to offend both, th top-tier celebrity and the business magnate, and now that this level of scandal had come to light, his career was finished. From this moment on, he would be blacklisted and there was no way he could survive in the entertainment industry anymore.

Qi Youhuai took a drag from his cigarette, idly blowing out the smoke, only for Shen Xuzhi to snatch it away and crush it underfoot on the ground.

“Qing Lin doesn’t like the smell of smoke,” Shen Xuzhi stated. “As his brother, you can start quitting now.”

Qi Youhuai chuckled.

He raised both hands in a gesture of surrender, tossing the cigarette box into the trash can.

Only then did he realize why Shen Xuzhi, who had such a heavy smoking habit, had suddenly started quitting—so that was the reason.

It made sense. His little brother had grown up and couldn’t be kept forever, and handing him over to Shen Xuzhi was indeed the more trustworthy option.

Qi Youhuai savored the aftertaste of the smoke in his mouth, then looked back at Shen Xuzhi, scrutinizing him without reservation.

After a moment, he patted Shen Xuzhi’s shoulder and said, “Take good care of Qing Lin.”

“I need your guarantee that from today forward, he must be perpetually happy and well.”

The summer night’s heat thickened the breeze, and the street trees rustled with trembling shadows. The moment slipped quietly into the air, passing softly by the people as it faded away.

“I guarantee it.”

Shen Xuzhi finished, then added cheekily, “Brother-in-law.”

Qi Youhuai: “…………”

Qi Youhuai felt a headache coming on. He waved Shen Xuzhi away, saying, “I’m going to check on my brother.”

He then walked towards the car.

Qing Lin saw Qi Youhuai approaching and quickly got out of the car to greet him.

“CEO Qi,” Qing Lin called out. Qi Youhuai reached out and ruffled Qing Lin’s hair.

Qing Lin’s hair was fine, thick, and black, and felt nice to the touch.

“Since we’ve reunited as brothers, don’t call me CEO Qi anymore,” Qi Youhuai said. “Call me ge-ge.”

Qing Lin looked at him, smiling. “Ge-ge.”

“Mm.” Qi Youhuai smiled.

This was the first time Qing Lin had seen Qi Youhuai smile. He was quite handsome when he smiled, even gentler than Qing Lin had imagined…

Then, Qi Youhuai’s face was pushed away by a hand.

Shen Xuzhi emerged from behind him, his expression slightly annoyed and bland, yet he was actually smiling—though the smile was a bit fake, the kind that made people nervous.

“CEO Qi,” Shen Xuzhi’s voice sounded like he was grinding his teeth, “you are busy with official business. What are you still doing here?”

Qi Youhuai’s temper flared, and he turned around, saying bluntly, “Shen Xuzhi, you should hurry back to work. A man’s career is important. How can you waste time like this? Is this what I taught you?”

He then looked at Qing Lin, saying gently, “Qing Lin, you’ll come home with your brother tonight. I’ll give you a tour of our family business and also show you the house I bought you in Hangzhou.”

Shen Xuzhi immediately blocked.

So, what if he was his biological brother?

“CEO Qi, I finished my work early—this isn’t some random whim. Qing Lin is definitely staying with me tonight,” Shen Xuzhi declared.

“Hah, right. I haven’t settled the score for you two living together,” Qi Youhuai grabbed Shen Xuzhi’s arm and whispered, “You little brat, how old are you two?”

Shen Xuzhi, being pulled, replied, “Brother-in-law, didn’t you just agree?”

“My agreement doesn’t mean I allow you to live together before your relationship is official. I—” Qi Youhuai started.

At that moment, Qing Lin suddenly spoke up. “Brother, we’re together.”

Qi Youhuai: “…”

Qi Youhuai: “?”

Qing Lin looked up at Qi Youhuai, his eyes and cheeks flushed pink, a soft blush against his fair skin, his beautiful eyes sparkling. He repeated, “Shen Xuzhi and I are officially together.”

Qi Youhuai: “……………”

Shen Xuzhi used the momentary distraction to quickly get Qing Lin into the car, then climbed in himself and slammed the door shut.

He rolled down the window and told Qi Youhuai, “Thanks for the trouble, CEO Qi. My boyfriend and I will be heading home now.”

“…” Qi Youhuai called out, a sense of powerlessness in his voice: “Qing Lin…”

Qing Lin poked his head out from the side, saying a little sheepishly, “Sorry, Ge-ge, maybe we can talk another time. Tonight, I really want to be with Mr. Shen.”

Qi Youhuai: “…………”

Once a child grows up, there’s no holding them back.

Before Shen Xuzhi left, he kindly reminded him: “Qi Youhuai, you really should answer Jiang Liao’s call. Be careful, he might come after you with a knife.”

After saying that, he waved his hand at Qi Youhuai, kissed Qing Lin’s tender cheek right in front of him and rolled up the car window.

Qi Youhuai: “………………………”

Qi Youhuai’s face went instantly pale. He looked at Shen Xuzhi’s smug expression and didn’t even know how to react.

His phone was indeed vibrating non-stop. Qi Youhuai answered, and the voice on the other end immediately hurt his ears.

“Qi Youhuai!! Are you a goddamn lunatic! Can’t you say something beforehand if you’re not coming for your therapy appointment! Ah! You won’t even answer your phone! Do you know where I found you?! Hot Search!!”

Jiang Liao’s voice was unbearable. Qi Youhuai rubbed his forehead and muttered, “…I’ve just gotten back.”

There was nothing Qi Youhuai could do about Jiang Liao’s stream of curses, so he told his secretary to drive him over to Jiang Liao’s location.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Inside the car.

As soon as Shen Xuzhi got in, he refused to let go of Qing Lin, clinging to him like a big dog and burying his head in the crook of his neck.

Qing Lin felt ticklish from his closeness. He stroked Shen Xuzhi’s hair and asked, “Shen Laoshi, why did you come back?”

Shen Xuzhi closed his eyes, leaning on Qing Lin’s shoulder, and kneaded his waist in a spoiled manner. “I miss you.”

Qing Lin could hear his steady, strong heartbeat. A faint warmth lingered on his neck, carrying the light scent of citrus.

After holding him for a while, Shen Xuzhi pulled a card from Qing Lin’s pocket and looked up to ask him, “Is this the card Qi Youhuai gave you?”

Qing Lin looked at the card and nodded.

“Give it back.”

Like a child, Shen Xuzhi pulled the identical black card from his own bag. “Use mine.”

Qing Lin was forced to exchange the black card from Qi Youhuai for the one Shen Xuzhi insisted on pressing into his hand. Then he heard him say, “Don’t go live in the house Qi Youhuai got you.”

Shen Xuzhi continued, “My property deeds, bank cards, car, passbook—everything is yours to manage. Anything Qi Youhuai thought of, or didn’t think of, I will do for you.”

Qing Lin thought the man’s jealousy was particularly childish, but in a strangely charming way.

The flowing light and shadows outside the car window reflected the two men in an embrace. The man’s body was warm and solid, and Qing Lin could feel the vibration in his chest.

Shen Xuzhi’s voice was very soft, with a slight nasal quality, gently enveloping him, low and magnetic: “All of me belongs to you.”

Qing Lin’s heartbeat was racing uncontrollably, completely at Shen Xuzhi’s mercy.

The position of the embrace subtly shifted. Shen Xuzhi rested his chin unconsciously on Qing Lin’s shoulder, tilting his head to look at him, their hands intertwined.

They were close enough to touch, and Qing Lin truly felt his impulses spike just from looking at Shen Xuzhi’s face. Their breaths mingled intimately. Qing Lin tilted his head to meet his lips, but Shen Xuzhi leaned back just enough, leaving him missing by a hair.

Looking up again, he saw Shen Xuzhi gazing directly at him, seemingly waiting for a response.

Qing Lin let out a soft laugh. “Shen Laoshi, aren’t you ashamed? You’re even jealous of my own brother.”

Shen Xuzhi looked down. Qing Lin reached up, wrapped his arms around Shen Xuzhi’s neck, and lightly pecked his lips, smiling as he said, “There, Xuxu, be a good boy.”

“I am yours, too.”

The next moment, Shen Xuzhi lifted his hand, pressing the back of Qing Lin’s neck and pulling him closer. He parted Qing Lin’s lips with his own, his tongue brushing past and delving deeper. Warm breaths mingled against their skin.

Shen Xuzhi’s fingers intertwined with Qing Lin’s, gently tapping the back of his hand, his thumb softly caressing the protruding knuckle before tightening just enough to deepen the kiss.

Heartbeats surged within the car’s confined space.

Wang Zhan, driving in the front: …………

Six.