The Academic God Becomes an Internet Sensation After Joining a Dating Show - Chapter 98 - CEO X Subordinate AU Part 2

The Xilin Hui Sky Restaurant.

The top floor of the Xilin Hui Tower recently added a rotating restaurant. Now, it not only overlooks the night view of Hangzhou but also provides a 360 degree panoramic view.

The luxurious restaurant was a common dining spot for CEOs. Qing Lin and his older brother, Qi Youhuai, often came here. Although they often ran off to eat barbecue halfway through, it had to be said that the environment here was definitely one of the best in Hangzhou City.

Moreover, it was very romantic.

He had never felt it when eating with his brother, but with Director Shen, Qing Lin suddenly felt his heart racing.

The soft, non-glaring light warmly illuminated Shen Xuzhi’s profile. He had high eyebrows and deep-set eyes. The flickering candle on the table added to the ambiance, complemented by the elegant music slowly drawn out by a professional violinist from abroad.

The man sitting opposite him was a pleasure to behold.

The meal was extremely quiet. Neither of them said a word, but Qing Lin was quite happy.

Director Shen was truly a gentleman and was especially considerate. Even though they weren’t in a work setting, his thoughtfulness and patience remained.

He would pull out his chair when he sat down, cut his steak for him, save the few strawberry mousse desserts that Qing Lin liked, and order juice for him when he finished his drink.

In short, it was perfect. The way they were now was exactly like a date.

Director Shen would certainly make a wonderful boyfriend.

Of course, when they finished their meal and arrived at the hotel, Qing Lin started to panic again.

As soon as the hotel room door closed, Qing Lin was pinned against the wall and kissed.

Shen Xuzhi only sucked his lips for a moment, playfully biting his Cupid’s bow, and then followed the movement down, starting to undress him.

Qing Lin’s heart raced wildly. Instinctively, he tried to back away, but before he could even lower himself, Shen Xuzhi caught him again. The man’s hand slid up, cupping the back of his neck, forcing him gently but firmly against the wall.

“Why are you running?” Shen Xuzhi murmured, his voice low against the sound of Qing Lin’s unsteady breathing.

Qing Lin thought, why else would I be running? He had just walked through the door. He wasn’t mentally prepared. How could things be happening this fast?

His face burned, crimson to the point of seeming feverish. Shen Xuzhi pressed closer, pinning him once more, his lips brushing along Qing Lin’s collarbone as his free hand slipped deftly to his coat, shrugging it off.

“Wait, wait!” Qing Lin’s voice trembled. He reached out and pushed Shen Xuzhi.

Shen Xuzhi froze. His dark eyes, like pools of ink, gleamed faintly in the dim light.

Qing Lin forced down the words caught in his throat. Seeing the faint tension in the man’s expression, his heart pounded wildly, each beat louder than the last.

If he refused now… would that mean there would be no future between him and Director Shen?

He didn’t want to lose this chance.

He still wanted to hug him.

Qing Lin steeled himself, lowered his head, and shakily wrapped his arms around his neck, saying, “Not here…”

Shen Xuzhi looked at him for a long time, then bent down, picked him up, and walked to the bed.

………..

………..

Qing Lin’s consciousness was already hazy, his nerves drawn tight, a faint chill running down his spine.

The hotel bed was soft beneath him, but the air conditioning hadn’t fully warmed the room yet, and lying there, Qing Lin truly felt cold.

“Can you… can you turn up the temperature?” he murmured into the pillow.

“Cold?” Shen Xuzhi caught his restless hands, pulling him up slightly so he wouldn’t accidentally bury his face too deep.

He really was delicate—his skin flushed at the lightest touch, trembling from the faintest sensation, yet still shivering from the cold.

Then again, President Qing was far too slender, with not an ounce of excess on his frame. His skin was pale, smooth, and faintly pink—so beautiful it made one’s heart ache to tease him.

Shen Xuzhi leaned in and bit his shoulder blade. He didn’t hold back: “You won’t be cold for too long.”

Qing Lin bit down on his lip, turning his face away in a desperate attempt to steady his breathing—but that fragile rhythm was quickly broken. His chest rose and fell unevenly, and in the end, he could only reach out, clutching the pillow once more as though it were his last anchor.

“Tattoo,” Shen Xuzhi suddenly said.

Qing Lin was startled, and then felt the man’s large hand move up, pressing his palm on his lower back.

Shen Xuzhi looked at the tattoo on Qing Lin’s body. After a moment of silence, he leaned down and whispered in Qing Lin’s ear: “President Qing, how many people have you dated?”

Qing Lin was completely mortified. His usually calm voice was completely altered: “…I haven’t dated anyone…”

Shen Xuzhi suddenly went quiet.

Then Qing Lin was completely lifted, flipped over, and faced his not-so-happy eyes.

He was subjected to a rough handling.

“Ugh…” Qing Lin cried out in pain.

Ahhh, he misunderstood again.

“I’m not…” Qing Lin tried to explain, but his mouth was blocked. He tried to fight back and bite him, but he was quickly overwhelmed.

Shen Xuzhi was indeed a little upset. So, Qing Lin hadn’t dated anyone, and he had always been in relationships like this?

Was it because the CEO was too busy and didn’t have the time or energy to maintain a stable relationship, or was he just looking to satisfy his needs, and feelings of love and affection were simply not important?

Shen Xuzhi frowned and grunted. In that case, he didn’t need to be polite to him.

It wasn’t until he supported the man’s waist that Shen Xuzhi realized something was wrong.

Director Shen froze: “Qing Lin, you…”

Qing Lin was trembling all over. Not a single part of his body wasn’t flushed red.

Shen Xuzhi was frustrated. He lifted Qing Lin off the sheets and held him in his arms.

The slender person clung tightly to his shoulders, unable to stop crying.

Qing Lin felt too ashamed.

He had never cried before. Why were his tear ducts so active in this particular situation?

Shen Xuzhi certainly hadn’t expected the CEO to suddenly cry. He immediately started comforting him in a flurry of panic.

“I’m sorry, did I hurt you…”

“Don’t cry. I’ll take it slow, okay…”

“I’m sorry…”

Under the low coaxing voice, like that of a lover, Qing Lin slowly calmed down, though he still felt incredibly embarrassed.

But the warmth of the person holding him was so comforting that the chill from earlier seemed to fade away completely.

Shen Xuzhi saw that Qing Lin wasn’t responding. He gripped his chin, turned his face toward him, and quietly kissed him.

It was a very simple kiss.

There was no force, no roughness. It was just a rubbing of lips, no penetration, allowing Qing Lin to clearly feel Shen Xuzhi’s breath.

Qing Lin’s mind finally cleared up a bit. He hugged Shen Xuzhi’s neck and kissed him.

“Director Shen…” Qing Lin hooked his feet around his waist and said, “Let’s continue.”

………

………

When he woke up the next day, Qing Lin felt sore all over.

The morning sunlight streamed through the hotel window. The curtain wasn’t fully drawn, and a golden beam of light stretched across the floor.

Qing Lin struggled to turn over and found he was wearing pajamas, perfectly clean and fresh all over.

Only, Shen Xuzhi was gone.

Qing Lin looked at the empty bed beside him. It was already cold. Qing Lin had completely blacked out afterward and didn’t know if Shen Xuzhi had stayed the night. He even felt that what happened last night wasn’t quite real.

But the warm water and breakfast bread placed on the bedside table seemed to remind him that he had indeed slept with Shen Xuzhi.

Director Shen…

Director Shen was too incredible!

It was a super unforgettable first night.

He was gentle, skilled, and so attentive. Shen Xuzhi was truly…

Qing Lin buried his head in the quilt, and as he thought about it, his ears flushed again.

…Very suitable for marriage.

Qing Lin tidied himself up and checked the time. It was time to head to the company.

He drove to the company, dealing with a few documents and conducting a video conference on the way.

Then he received a call from his older brother.

Qi Youhuai: “Where were you last night?”

Starting so directly, Qing Lin hesitated for a moment and lied: “Working overtime at the company.”

The other side was silent for a while. After all, Qing Lin was already 26 years old. Being too protective wasn’t good, and he didn’t think his younger brother would do anything out of line, so he believed him.

“I’ll probably be back tomorrow. Let’s have dinner together then,” Qi Youhuai said.

Qing Lin: “Will sister-in-law be there too?”

Qi Youhuai: “.”

Qi Youhuai: “Doctor Jiang will be there too.”

Qing Lin nodded and said, “Okay, Ge-ge. See you tomorrow.”

Just as he was about to hang up, the other person called him back: “Qing Lin.”

Qing Lin: “What is it?”

Qi Youhuai said: “Do you have a partner now?”

Qing Lin’s first thought, unexpectedly, was of Shen Xuzhi. But after a moment’s reflection, he realized that what they shared wasn’t exactly proper—and for some reason, that thought left a faint ache in his chest.

“No,” Qing Lin drove his car into the underground parking garage.

Qi Youhuai said: “I think you’re about the right age and should find a suitable partner. So, ge-ge is going to introduce you to a few people…”

“Brother,” Qing Lin interrupted him, “Are you setting me up on blind dates?”

Qi Youhuai: “Mhm.”

Qing Lin got out of the car, never expecting he would have to face something like this.

“I don’t want to go on blind dates,” Qing Lin said.

Qi Youhuai said, “I’ve already sorted them all out for you—looks, age, family background, everything. You just need to go and meet them…”

Qing Lin didn’t want to listen: “Ge-ge I really don’t want to go on blind dates.”

Qi Youhuai: “Reason.”

Qing Lin was silent.

Reasons like being too busy with work to date were too fake and vague, and Qi Youhuai would definitely not accept them.

So Qing Lin said softly, “There’s someone I like.”

The other side fell silent.

The two people, neither of whom spoke much, remained silent until Qing Lin got on the elevator and arrived at the company. Only then did Qi Youhuai speak.

Qi Youhuai: “You still can’t get over your high school first love?”

Qing Lin choked.

“Qing Lin, it’s been so many years. I know you liked him, but if you haven’t met again, it means the fate wasn’t strong enough,” Qi Youhuai said gently. “You should let it go and allow someone new into your life.”

Suddenly, a wave of painful memories crashed over Qing Lin. The recollections from that time rose sharply to the surface.

That chance encounter back in high school—he still couldn’t forget it. It had carved itself deep into his bones.

As he stepped out of the elevator, Qing Lin thought of that first love whose name he still didn’t know. A flicker of irritation stirred in his chest, and he decided to keep up the lie.
“Yes,” he said, voice steady but faintly bitter. “I just can’t forget him. First love is the moonlight of my life. I will never, in this lifetime—”

But the moment he turned the corner, he froze. Walking toward him was Shen Xuzhi.

Qing Lin: “………”

The rest of his words vanished instantly from his throat.

“Qing Lin, that was clearly…”

Before Qi Youhuai could finish, Qing Lin hung up the phone.

He stood there, meeting Shen Xuzhi’s eyes.

Since he was still the CEO, his authority had to be maintained. Qing Lin adjusted his tie and said expressionlessly, “Director Shen, good morning.”

Shen Xuzhi looked at him: “Good morning, President Qing.”

Nothing seemed unusual.

He thought that was the end of it, but Qing Lin suddenly heard Shen Xuzhi say, “President Qing is quite devoted.”

Qing Lin looked over again. Shen Xuzhi was no longer looking at him.

The man bowed slightly and walked straight past him: “Excuse me.”

Qing Lin watched the man’s retreating back. It seemed he had heard everything he said on the phone.

Trouble.

He had thought that since they had even done the most intimate things, he and Shen Xuzhi would be more familiar with each other, but that didn’t seem to be the case.

Shen Xuzhi continued to work diligently as before, completing what he was supposed to do.

Then, every night, he would go to a hotel room with his boss. The next morning when Qing Lin woke up, Shen Xuzhi was nowhere to be seen.

Although his physical needs were met, Qing Lin was completely unsatisfied with this kind of relationship.

He wanted to date Shen Xuzhi.

But the even bigger problem was that Shen Xuzhi was impenetrable outside of bed. It was as if he was convinced that Qing Lin was only engaging in a friends-with-benefits arrangement with him. After the night ended, they reverted to a superior-subordinate relationship.

Lately, even physical contact had become less frequent.

Qing Lin was a little unhappy.

What did Shen Xuzhi even like?

Did he not like his type? But he seemed to enjoy it quite a bit when they were doing it.

Why was he keeping such a distance?

“Good morning, President Qing.”

The young female receptionist at the recording studio greeted Qing Lin.

“Mhm.” Qing Lin nodded to her, looked around, and didn’t see any sign of Shen Xuzhi.

“That!” the young woman suddenly said, “Director Shen is in the piano room.”

Hearing that, Qing Lin didn’t hide who he was looking for. He nodded and thanked her.

The young woman watched Qing Lin walk inside and excitedly took out her phone.

“Chengqi Online CP Shipping Group ヽ(≧Д≦)ノ“

[Ahhh! Ahhh! Ahhh! President Qing is here!]

[Is he going to the recording studio!!]

[Ahhh! Ahhh! Ahhh! No way, no way. President Qing definitely has a thing for Director Shen!]

[Of course he does! Do you remember those people who tried to approach President Qing before? They all hit a wall. Have you ever seen President Qing be this proactive?]

[Help me, I’m shipping this so hard! They’re so compatible! Do you remember the sports day that day? Director Shen could circle President Qing’s waist with one hand, ahhh! Ahhh! Ahhh!]

[Don’t always think of President Qing as cold and serious. I once saw him in casual clothes, buying cake privately—so adorable!!]

[Director Shen is such an Alpha! His… stamina seems unstoppable, and President Qing looks so fertile. They’re incredibly compatible—when they’re together, it’s just… 18+ vibes all around.]

The young receptionist was obsessed with shipping the two of them, and everyone in the group was thrilled. Who doesn’t love the gossip about their direct boss and the company’s CEO?

[Hey, hey, hey, isn’t it popular to name couples now? What do you think their CP name should be?]

[Let me think, this is important]

[Me, me, me, me!]

[I thought of one!]

[How about ShenLin Immersive!!]

[Nice! That’s good!]

[You are the best, Cuicui! CP Fandom Leader!]

[Then I’ll change the group name!]

“Chengqi ShenLin Immersive Internal Group (/≧▽≦)/~”

Qing Lin was, of course, unaware that he and Shen Xuzhi had already ignited a frenzy among the company employees.

He found the piano room. The piano room was different from the other transparent glass rooms. Qing Lin quietly opened the door, stepped in, and stood behind him.

The decoration of the music and arts office could be freely modified.

The Music Director had changed several times before Shen Xuzhi arrived, and each person’s style was distinct.

But the arrangement by Shen Xuzhi was definitely the cleanest and most comfortable he had ever seen.

The spacious room had no other clutter, wooden floors, and sheer white curtains were lifted by the breeze. A grand piano sat in the center.

The man was playing the piano. The melody was graceful. Qing Lin unconsciously stood behind him and listened until he finished the entire piece.

The music stopped.

“This piece is called Vasle Sentimentale no.2,” Shen Xuzhi said without turning around, his fingers resting on the keys. “Does President Qing like it?

Qing Lin, standing a little behind him and slightly stunned when his name was called, asked, “You knew I was here?”

Shen Xuzhi stood up and tidied up the sheet music.

Gold-rimmed glasses, a lazy gray sweater. He leaned against the piano, quietly watching Qing Lin.

Qing Lin found the intensity of his gaze a bit unbearable. He thought about the lack of physical contact in the past few days, so he walked toward him.

He cupped Shen Xuzhi’s face, stood on his tiptoes, and gently kissed him.

It was a very casual kiss. Qing Lin pulled away quickly, then resumed his usual nonchalant demeanor.

“You look very sexy when you play the piano.”

Qing Lin genuinely complimented him.

Shen Xuzhi stared at the person in front of him for a few seconds.

Qing Lin felt a little embarrassed under his gaze. Just as he was about to turn and walk out, his neck was pulled back abruptly.

Then came soft, hot lips. A large hand cupped the back of his head, gently massaging his cool scalp. Warm breath sprayed onto him.

Unlike Qing Lin, Director Shen always kissed very deeply.

Each kiss felt like he wanted to devour him. His tongue swept into his mouth, stealing his breath, as if he wanted to conquer every inch of him.

Qing Lin quickly became weak from the kissing, only able to cling to Shen Xuzhi. He was unstable and took a step back.

“It seems your first love was also very good at playing the piano.”

Shen Xuzhi suddenly said amidst Qing Lin’s ragged breaths. His finger teased his earlobe, which was then enclosed by a warm mouth.

Qing Lin was speechless.

However, he didn’t know how to explain, because his first love was indeed very good at playing the piano.

The sound of the piano mixed with the chirping of cicadas and the starlight on a summer night was something Qing Lin remembered for years.

Therefore, he had a certain filter for people who understood music.

…Of course, he couldn’t tell Shen Xuzhi any of this.

Seeing Qing Lin looking a little distracted, Shen Xuzhi grabbed his chin, turned his head, and kissed him: “Not focusing.”

Qing Lin felt like he was being lifted by Shen Xuzhi. Then he heard the chaotic sound of piano keys being pressed. He exclaimed: “Don’t!”

“Are you sure?” Shen Xuzhi looked down at him, then bent down and kissed Qing Lin’s flushed face. “Right, I’ve only gone one day without being with you.”

Qing Lin: “………”

Too suggestive.

He was put down by Shen Xuzhi and seated on the piano bench where he had just been playing.

Qing Lin sat on the bench, panting. His suit shirt was untucked in several places, and his collar was rumpled from all the touching. His heart raced wildly.

That was terrifying. He actually thought it was going to happen right here…

Then he saw Shen Xuzhi lock the door.

Before Qing Lin could recover from his shock, Shen Xuzhi was already pressing down on him.

A hot hand pressed his shoulder, pushing him back. Qing Lin’s back was pressed against the cold piano.

“I think President Qing likes a little thrill,” Shen Xuzhi said.

“I’m here to satisfy you.”

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Qing Lin still thought Shen Xuzhi was a good person.

In any case, Director Shen was handsome, highly capable at work, and his personality was decent. They were also very compatible in bed.

He really was perfect for marriage.

Speaking of marriage, Qing Lin had also been troubled by this recently.

Qi Youhuai had arranged many blind dates for him—overseas PhDs, industry elites. As Qi Youhuai said, “Your ge-ge wouldn’t hurt you,” every one of them was excellent, but Qing Lin simply didn’t like them.

“So, you didn’t even look at the resumes of the people I introduced you to?” Qi Youhuai said on the other end of the phone.

Qing Lin: “Ge-ge, a blind date isn’t a job interview. Why would I need a resume? I prefer to go by feeling.”

Qi Youhuai didn’t give him a chance to argue: “You’re going to meet someone this Saturday.”

Qing Lin: “Ge-ge.”

“This person is a friend of mine and Doctor Jiang’s. He’s excellent in all aspects. I think you’ll like him,” Qi Youhuai said.

Qing Lin really had no choice. Given Qi Youhuai’s tone and attitude, he probably had no chance to refuse.

Qing Lin sighed helplessly, thinking, Forget it. It’s just one person, nothing will happen anyway.

“I understand,” Qing Lin said. “Ge-ge, can you let Sister-in-law answer the phone?”

There was a slight rustle, followed by a light, jumping voice: “Little beauty~ What do you need me for?~”

This was immediately followed by Qi Youhuai’s low-spoken phrase, “Don’t call my brother that.”

“Doctor Jiang, it’s like this. I was thinking of those cold medicines at your hospital.”

“Oh!” Jiang Liao sat up from Qi Youhuai’s lap. “Honey, are you sick?”

Qing Lin: “No, no. I’m just thinking that the season is changing recently, so I should prepare them just in case.”

“Oh, I see. I thought you were going to take the cold medicine to see a lover~”

Qing Lin: “………”

The phone was taken back. Qi Youhuai said: “Remember, be sure to go.”

Qing Lin sighed: “I know.”

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Saturday evening.

Qi Youhuai and Jiang Liao arrived at Qing Lin’s house early in the morning and took him to a beauty salon for a thorough makeover.

This was Qing Lin’s first blind date. The whole family took it very seriously. Although Qing Lin felt it was completely unnecessary, since his brother was being so attentive, he could only let them have their way.

“Oh, our Linlin is just so pretty,” Jiang Liao couldn’t help but pinch Qing Lin’s cheek again, before being pulled back by Qi Youhuai.

Qing Lin’s outfit today was a sharp contrast to his usual style—a faux two-piece academic-style top paired with dark brown suit pants and simple canvas shoes. The beret on his head added a charming, distinctly collegiate flair.

Qing Lin was already an adult, and dressing this way felt awkward, “Isn’t this trying too hard to look young?”

Jiang Liao said, “Not at all. It suits Linlin perfectly. Besides, with that face of yours, who could even guess your age? Your family’s all the same. Would you believe Lao Qi is already over thirty this year?”

Qi Youhuai glanced at Jiang Liao.

Jiang Liao immediately laughed, wrapping his arm around his, “Good, good, good. Not Lao Qi, but husband~”

Qing Lin looked at the affectionate couple and suddenly thought that his brother’s love life had gone remarkably smoothly.

The two, who grew up together, naturally fell in love, then got married, and were sweet and happy every day. No wonder he was worried about his own love life.

Qing Lin was indeed at the top of his class since childhood and never thought about dating.

Then, when he finally liked someone, he didn’t even know who he was, only remembering the piece he practiced and his back.

Now, at this age, he had someone he liked, yet he felt he was only in a friends-with-benefits relationship with him.

…Thinking about it, it really was tragic.

Qing Lin had no choice. Seeing that it was time, he decided to get it over with quickly.

After Qi Youhuai and Jiang Liao left, Qing Lin drove to a cake shop.

Since he hadn’t really planned for any further developments, Qing Lin followed his own preferences. He chose a dessert shop he had always wanted to visit. Upon entering, he picked a seat and ordered a pile of desserts.

The environment was nice, and the desserts were delicious.

Qing Lin was already petite, and dressing a little youthful quickly attracted attention.

Until—

“President Qing, what a coincidence.”

The voice sounded like it came from hell, sending a chill down Qing Lin’s spine.

The spoon in his hand almost slipped. The cream melted in his mouth, the sweet, sickly taste slightly overwhelming his mind.

Qing Lin looked up and saw Shen Xuzhi sitting across from him, dressed in casual clothes like him, watching him eat cake.

Qing Lin suddenly froze.

He looked at the person sitting opposite him, his mind in utter confusion.

What did this mean? Was his blind date Director Shen??

Shen Xuzhi said, “I actually didn’t think President Qing would come. After all, you have heavy responsibilities, an unforgettable first love, and our relationship is just what it is. You shouldn’t have time for a blind date. I’m surprised.”

Qing Lin put down the fork in his hand.

Help!

His brother hadn’t told him anything this time. If Qi Youhuai had told him earlier that he and his sister-in-law’s friend was Shen Xuzhi, he wouldn’t have developed this kind of relationship with Shen Xuzhi, would he?

The cake shop was eerily quiet.

Qing Lin’s heart was pounding quite fast.

“So, President Qing, you’re clinging to your high school first love, looking for a marriage partner, and doing scandalous things with me all at the same time.”

“You better give me an explanation right now,” Shen Xuzhi was truly cold this time, his dark eyes filled with displeasure, and he said coldly,

“Or you’ll be crying it out in bed later.”