Chapter 11

Zhai Xingchen froze for a second.

Duan Yihua and Wen Nu and the others all looked at him.

"Can we pick within our own team?" Yan Zhi turned to ask the Production Team right away.

"Sure." Guo Bing said.

Their original script had Red-Blue pairings, but last night they changed their minds.

Because they needed to figure out the guests' romantic orientations first.

At least from what they could see so far, someone among them seemed more interested in Zhai Xingchen.

Since this was a Love Variety Show, what they needed was to figure out the guests' romantic orientations as soon as possible, then create conditions for them to fall for each other — not force-match CPs they thought looked good together. For them, Red-Blue or Blue-Blue pairings didn't matter — what mattered was having CPs and sparks.

A Love Variety Show needs straight balls, and Huo Cheng's move was exactly what they wanted.

Zhai Xingchen couldn't quite read Huo Cheng's play. He looked at Huo Cheng and raised an eyebrow.

Huo Cheng raised one right back at him.

Pei Xu, beside them, shoved his hands into his pockets with a cold look.

Yan Zhi smiled warmly, his voice even gentler: "The person being picked can refuse, right?"

But Hu Ying piped up right away: "You're gonna turn me down? I might cry on the spot!"

Huo Cheng looked at Zhai Xingchen: "Don't make me lose face."

Then he raised his brow again. His face was still smiling, but something in his eyes had lost its usual roguishness — he looked serious.

Zhai Xingchen didn't say anything else.

Golden sunlight poured down. Eight long-legged guys stood in a row on camera — easy on the eyes doesn't even begin to cover it.

Now only Pei Xu was left on the Blue Team, while three Red Team Guests remained.

But the three-way fight for one didn't happen.

"You guys pick first." Lin Qingning — usually quiet and gentlemanly — said to Duan Yihua and Wen Nuo.

Duan Yihua glanced at Pei Xu, then said: "I'm good either way. Xiao Nuo, you pick first."

Wen Nuo said: "…I'm good either way too."

[Unbelievable, nobody picked Pei Xu?]

[Pei Xu's temper is awful, he doesn't like anyone — anyone can see that. Duan Yihua and Lin Qingning are both rich and handsome, no way they're gonna press their warm faces against his cold ass. That Wen Nuo looks like he's got no guts, probably too scared to pick him.]

[Mind blown, wasn't Pei Xu supposed to be a top pick? If he ends up at the bottom of the popularity rankings that'd be hilarious.]

[I said it before — Pei Xu might be hot stuff on a regular love show, but The Red and Blue Signal is a rich-people show. Everyone here's loaded, who's gonna kiss his ass?]

The atmosphere was about to turn awkward when Lin Qingning walked over to Pei Xu on his own: "Then I'll pair with Pei Xu."

In the end, Pei Xu and Lin Qingning made a team.

Duan Yihua and Wen Nuo got paired up.

Pei Xu and Lin Qingning, Yan Zhi and Hu Ying — those two pairs looked good together no matter how you looked at them.

Easy on the eyes, too.

Zhai Xingchen looked at himself and Huo Cheng, then at Duan Yihua and Wen Nuo.

Those two pairs felt like pure socialist brotherhood and sisterly love.

Next up: activity assignments.

Huo Cheng picked the most intense one — the hydrofoil board.

"I really don't know how to do this." Zhai Xingchen said.

"Don't worry, I've got you." Huo Cheng said.

The four activities were spread far apart, so after pairing up, each team took a boat to their assigned stretch of sea. All four Live Streaming windows opened up.

This was a first for variety shows. The Production Team took it seriously, with the backend staff at Star Net watching all four windows' viewer counts closely.

Number one was Yan Zhi and Hu Ying's pair — they'd gone parasailing.

Second place, surprisingly, was Huo Cheng and Zhai Xingchen.

And from the barrage, Yan Zhi's pair had high individual popularity — mostly fans gathering.

Huo Cheng and Zhai Xingchen's window was clearly full of CP shippers.

"Their CP line is pretty much locked in." Liu Screenwriter said.

Huo Cheng's being proactive — now let's see what Zhai Xingchen's side looks like.

[Can someone explain what a hydrofoil board is?]

[It's the kind that jets you up into the air. All I can say is this sport requires two people to hold each other tight!]

[…Wow.]

That explanation was all they needed.

Huo Cheng and Zhai Xingchen boarded the yacht and set off. The sea wind was strong, blowing Zhai Xingchen's hair around. Once they were away from the group, he finally asked: "Why'd you pick me?"

Huo Cheng said: "Why wouldn't I pick you? You don't want me to?"

Zhai Xingchen said: "No, it's not that… out of the four Red Team guys, none of them caught your eye?"

He figured Huo Cheng didn't have anyone he liked and didn't want to flirt with them, so he picked a Blue Team bro to help out.

After all, of the eight of them, he and Huo Cheng were closest.

Sure enough, Huo Cheng shook his head: "Nope."

Then he asked back: "You?"

Zhai Xingchen said: "I just feel like we only just met. We don't really know each other yet."

"Anyone you want to get to know?"

Zhai Xingchen turned to look at Huo Cheng. Sharp features, buzz cut, even rougher-looking in the sun, but with this fierce, commanding air about him — right now he was showing off a row of clean white teeth, eyes bright.

"If I'd known you had someone, I wouldn't have paired with you." Huo Cheng said.

"I don't either." Zhai Xingchen said quickly.

He figured Huo Cheng was the type who took bro-code seriously — if he said he was interested in any Red Team guest, Huo Cheng would probably avoid that person from then on.

Huo Cheng grinned: "Then we're square. You haven't done hydrofoil boarding before, right? Let me tell you, I'm a pro. Later, gege's gonna take you flying!"

[Double fly incoming?]

[Take you flying? Hah, am I too dirty-minded, or is the LSP making innuendo?]

[It's over, I'm declaring this the dirtiest barrage in variety show history.]

[Sigh, who here isn't an LSP?]

Hydrofoil boarding — Zhai Xingchen had only ever seen it in movies. Strap a board with water jets to your legs, and the thrust could launch you over ten meters in the air.

But he'd genuinely never done it before.

The Production Team's safety measures were solid, though, and he knew Huo Cheng's water sports skills.

Huo Cheng tried it solo first.

He was incredible at it — shooting up out of the water, diving back in, swimming under that almost-transparent blue sea leaving white spray in his wake, tumbling, leaping, the board like wings under his feet, cool enough to rival Iron Man on water. Add in his healthy tan, easy grin, tall athletic build, and Zhai Xingchen was cursing the fact that the other four Red Team guests weren't here to see it!

Huo Cheng's performance was stunning. He could already picture the barrage — how many people were falling for this testosterone machine right now.

[Holy shit, that's fucking awesome!]

[My blood's pumping.]

[Huo Cheng is so hot ahhhh, so buff so MANLY so handsome. Huo Cheng please rail me.]

[That's insane, this is at the level of being able to compete in the flying board championship, right?]

Anyone who saw this moment in person would have a hard time not falling for him, right?

Zhai Xingchen sat on the Beach, wishing he could capture this moment to show Hu Ying and the others.

He suddenly overheard a crew member nearby: "Try to get full-body shots, and for close-ups, focus on his upper body."

"Don't worry, we can mosaic it in post."

Zhai Xingchen froze, then leaned over to look behind the camera.

Tch, of course — male lead is male lead for a reason.

For a moment he couldn't decide who was more gifted — Pei Xu or Huo Cheng.

Zhai Xingchen glanced down at his floral boxers. He had briefs on underneath, but if he got soaked through like Huo Cheng, there'd probably be some… outline. It was normal — unavoidable for divers and swimmers — but after hearing the crew talk, he still felt a bit awkward.

Wonder if after the show aired, netizens would crown him the smallest of the four Blue Team guys.

Damn.

What a shame he wasn't an 18-cm male lead!

The Production Team kept filming Huo Cheng from every angle, but after ten minutes or so Huo Cheng got impatient and called to Zhai Xingchen: "Come on, let gege show you how it feels."

Zhai Xingchen put on a life vest. A crew member asked: "How are you two gonna stand?"

Zhai Xingchen: "Huh?"

"Are you gonna stand with your back to Huo Cheng, or face him? How about face-to-face."

Zhai Xingchen said quickly: "Back to back."

He stood with his back to Huo Cheng and heard him say: "Lean into me."

The words had barely left his mouth when Zhai Xingchen felt a cold shock against his back.

Huo Cheng, soaked through, pressed right up against his back, wetting his shirt, then a pair of long, strong arms wrapped around him.

The chill hit Zhai Xingchen all at once and he shivered.

"Ready?" Huo Cheng asked from behind him, lips almost brushing his ear.

Zhai Xingchen said: "Take it easy on me, it's my first time."

Barrage: [Ahhhhhhh, Mom, I'm never pure again.]

[First time? Hehehe.]

[What's Huo Cheng the LSP thinking right now? I wanna know!]

Huo Cheng had only had a vague, stirring kind of interest in Zhai Xingchen before.

But the moment he held him, he felt himself wrapped in a warm, milky scent.

He'd been in the sea so long his body was freezing, and now pressed against Zhai Xingchen, he felt the warmth and softness hit hard. Holding someone tight in your arms felt amazing — this game the Production Team had set up really did mess with you both physically and mentally.

"We're flying now." Huo Cheng played a little trick, pulling Zhai Xingchen down into the sea with him.

They plunged into the water together. The cold shocked Zhai Xingchen all over, and then he felt Huo Cheng pull him back up through the surface.

Fine spray turned gold in the sun, falling off them in droplets. Zhai Xingchen opened his eyes to endless blue sky and sea, the water shimmering with golden ripples.

The barrage lost its mind:

[Damn.]

[Ahhhhhhhhh.]

[Screaming blood!]

[What kind of heavenly scene is this.]

Even the Production Team was stunned.

"Replay that in slow motion!" Guo Bing said.

After watching, Guo Bing got all fired up, gesturing grandly: "Cut that into the trailer!"

The moment they broke through the water together was gorgeous — especially in slow-mo, you could see every flying droplet. Zhai Xingchen's wet shirt clung to him, half his waist exposed, pale and supple, making people want to scream like marmots.

Huo Cheng went without saying — tall, powerful, the hydrofoil board was basically tailor-made for him.

They suddenly got the appeal of a blue-blue romance.

Huo Cheng's type works with a bottom too, but paired with a clean-cut top like Zhai Xingchen, there's even more spark.

The feeling of flying was incredible.

Legs weak with fear, but the thrill was addictive. Zhai Xingchen forgot everything for a moment, letting Huo Cheng carry him across the sea.

"Holy shit holy shit holy shit."

Only guy-speak could describe what he was feeling right now.

Huo Cheng asked with a grin: "Wanna try flying underwater?"

Zhai Xingchen asked: "Can we?"

"Take a breath."

Their bodies were still spinning in the air — Floating Boat Mountain nearby, the yacht on the sea, distant high-rises, the view constantly shifting. Zhai Xingchen sucked in a big breath, then felt Huo Cheng pull him down.

They plunged into the sea, instantly swallowed by water. Huo Cheng held him tighter, and they cut through the blue-green water like a fish.

Viewer count shot straight up:

[Heard the testosterone's exploding here?]

[Compared to the other three, this pair's vibe is so much better!]

[Came from Duan Yihua and Wen Nuo's stream — those two give off total besties-on-a-spring-trip energy.]

[Came from Yan Zhi and Hu Ying's.]

[Same, came from Yan Zhi and Hu Ying's. Couldn't stand how politely awkward they were — doesn't feel like a Love Variety Show, feels like a blind date!]

[Plenty of people from Lin Qingning and Pei Xu's stream too, right? Their broadcast already ended!]

[They should all come watch our Mars CP's stream — see what professional Love Variety Show contestants look like!]

Back on shore resting, Zhai Xingchen's biggest takeaway was:

Exhausted.

Hydrofoil boarding looked like it just ran on thrust, but it was actually super physically demanding. Plus the Beach here was unreal. After getting out of the water, Zhai Xingchen took off his shirt too, just left in shorts, sprawled out on the sand sunbathing. His follow-cam cameraman was shoving the lens right in his face, so he asked: "Can this even air?"

He joked as he said it, covering his chest a little.

The barrage exploded:

[Wow, so pink.]

[In the sunlight, it's a clear red.]

[Take your hand off! Why hide something this pretty, what is there I can't see?!]

[Nosebleed.]

[Shit, that body is insane — slim waist, legs for days.]

Zhai Xingchen noticed Huo Cheng had taken his shirt off too and pointed at him: "You guys should go film Huo-ge more, that body is worth filming."

He had a normal college-guy build — no extra fat, some muscle definition, mostly carried by youth, nothing special. But Huo Cheng was different — a guy who clearly worked out. Pit bull waist, shark-muscle abs, gorgeous from every angle.

Huo Cheng lay down next to him. The two of them sprawled on the sand, long arms and legs, looking like a scene from a romance drama.

The barrage wasn't the only one screaming — a bunch of the Production Team girls on site started shipping them too.

"How's it looking?" Guo Bing asked Liu Screenwriter.

Liu Screenwriter had specifically followed their team today.

"Pretty much confirmed — Huo Cheng's got feelings for Zhai Xingchen." Liu Screenwriter said, then sighed, "But…"

"But what?"

"But I don't think Zhai Xingchen likes Huo Cheng back. Look at his eyes — not a trace of shyness."

Zhai Xingchen was too open about it — felt like he saw Huo Cheng purely as a bro. Huo Cheng came from nothing, and he was smart — couldn't possibly miss that, which was why his behavior around Zhai Xingchen was different from his usual rough-and-tumble self. Clearly more careful, more restrained.

But the weird thing was — because of Zhai Xingchen's openness, the two of them actually had even more CP energy.

A romance between two tops was naturally gonna be different.

He thought Zhai Xingchen's most precious quality was that, despite being so good-looking, he wasn't coy or affected at all — just open and easy, like a straight guy.

Pei Xu had been lying in bed for over half an hour.

He and Lin Qingning were the first pair back. After a shower, he'd just collapsed on the bed.

One of the conditions for agreeing to come on the show — his aunt Zhou Lan had insisted — was that he could bring his phone. He'd checked the day's financial news first, then ended up on the Star Net app.

The Red and Blue Signal was Star TV and Star Net's flagship Q4 variety show, so even the app icon had The Red and Blue Signal branding. He tapped the app and The Red and Blue Signal's live window popped up.

The homepage still had The Red and Blue Signal's promo image, but it was very different from yesterday. Zhai Xingchen, who'd been on the edge before, was now moved to the center.

His and Lin Qingning's window only had the replay option left. Yan Zhi and Hu Ying were on their way back too. He casually tapped into Zhai Xingchen and Huo Cheng's stream.

The moment he opened it, the screen was full of filthy comments.

[Roll around on the beach already.]

[Did you see Huo Cheng's little look… sneaking another peek.]

[Legs for days, I'd look too.]

[Is Huo Cheng a leg guy? Feels like he keeps staring at Zhai Xingchen's legs.]

[Wants to look but doesn't dare, god, I wanna jump into the screen and tell him this is live, please restrain yourself.]

[He can control his eyes, but can he control his package?]

[Is there really a package? I didn't notice, I'm definitely gonna rewatch later!]

The more Pei Xu watched, the tighter his brow furrowed.

Are barrage comments this open now? No moderation?

The authorities should look into this.

He reached over and turned the barrage off.

With the barrage gone, he could finally see the actual scene.

Zhai Xingchen and Huo Cheng were lying on the beach sunbathing. Zhai Xingchen had one leg crossed over the other, looking totally content.

The stream quality wasn't super HD, the camera was a bit shaky, crew members occasionally wandered into frame — kind of messy, actually.

Pei Xu watched for maybe three or four seconds, then tossed his phone aside. He lay flat with his arm under his head, staring at the ceiling lamp, lost in thought.

Zhai Xingchen felt himself drying off and sat up. Huo Cheng brushed the sand off his back. Zhai Xingchen asked the Production Team: "Shouldn't we head back?"

Duan Yihua and Wen Nuo aside, he was dying to see how Hu Ying and Yan Zhi, and Pei Xu and Lin Qingning had done.

Wonder how their morning went, whether pink bubbles were flying.

"If you want to head back, you can." a crew member said.

Zhai Xingchen immediately looked at Huo Cheng: "Then let's go back."

"Let's grab something to eat first." Huo Cheng said.

"What about the others?" Zhai Xingchen asked.

"Everyone's eating out today, who's waiting for you to cook?" Huo Cheng said. "We're here to have fun, so just let loose. Stop worrying about them — am I that bad to hang out with?"

Huo Cheng grinned and got up to go buy food.

By the time they got back to the Red and Blue House, it was already 2 PM.

"Are we the first pair back?" Huo Cheng said, changing his shoes.

Zhai Xingchen shuffled into the living room in his slippers. It was empty, quiet: "Looks like nobody's back yet."

The words had barely left his mouth when Yan Zhi walked in.

"When'd you get back?" Zhai Xingchen said. "How was it, fun?"

Yan Zhi smiled: "Not bad. You guys?"

"We had a blast." Huo Cheng said, grinning.

Yan Zhi's smile was faint: "I can tell."

Zhai Xingchen asked: "Anyone else back? Pei-ge, Wen Nuo and them?"

"Wen Nuo and Duan-ge aren't back yet." Yan Zhi said.

Zhai Xingchen grabbed a water bottle from the fridge. For some reason, he couldn't twist the cap open. Huo Cheng reached over, took it, and had it open in two seconds.

Yan Zhi reached up and scratched his lip.

Voices came from the door — Duan Yihua and Wen Nuo were back too.

From their expressions, they'd had an okay time, but they looked pretty worn out — especially Wen Nuo, who looked pale.

Everyone was tired, and it was the afternoon, so they all went back to their rooms to rest. Yan Zhi was lying in bed when he heard faint music from next door.

Upbeat music — probably Huo Cheng playing it.

Once he settled in, he could gradually make out the melody.

Huo Cheng had showered, put on boxers, shirtless, and flopped onto his bed.

The song was "Stay in Love." The lyrics went:

[I'm crazy about you to death, because I can't resist this feeling.]

Today had been an incredibly happy day for him.

But once he calmed down, what filled his heart wasn't just happiness — there was confusion and a vague emptiness too. Zhai Xingchen's image kept surfacing in his mind, and his body still seemed to remember the silky smoothness of Zhai Xingchen's skin.

Actually, more than his looks, what was most striking about Zhai Xingchen was his skin — so fair, so smooth, so soft — it gave him this clear, clean feeling overall.

He lay there for a while, then pulled the thin blanket over his lower half.

Huo Cheng dozed off for a bit. When he woke up, the blanket was tented, his dreams full of that milky scent, all of it turned into hot, damp sweat under the covers.