How about a surprise bonus update

Next door, the Production Team had listened to the whole thing. They were all quiet.

None of them were trust-fund kids. Huo Cheng's past was basically a mirror of their own lives as wage slaves.

Miserable workers.

'Too bad we can't air this. If we could, it'd definitely score Huo Cheng a ton of points.'

'But in Zhai Xingchen's heart, it definitely scored points, right?'

'What's the use of points? Friendship points, not romance points.'

'I'm kinda starting to ship Mars CP. Zhai Xingchen... doesn't necessarily have to be the top, come on, look at the other male guests around him.'

Outside, the rain was easing off. The night was settling into quiet.

Upstairs, Duan Yihua and Wen Nu and the others were also talking about Huo Cheng.

Mainly because Huo Cheng had been the most active today, and they knew the most about him.

'But what surprised me most was that he was actually the top scorer in the college entrance exam... he doesn't look like a top student at all, more like a slacker.' Hu Ying said.

'Someone who built himself up from nothing—if he weren't insanely smart, daring, willing to fight for it, he wouldn't have what he has today.' Duan Yihua said.

'What's Huo-ge doing now?'

'Tech company, right? Software development?'

'I just know he used to work at Microsoft, then started a company with some friends.'

'When I was chatting with him, I vaguely remember him saying their company just closed a new funding round, led by Sequoia Capital.'

'He can fly planes too.' Wen Nu said.

'Huo-ge really is a treasure.' Hu Ying sighed.

Zhai Xingchen figured it wasn't scary for someone to be capable. What was scary was that this guy was already so successful and still kept improving, willing to try anything, daring to learn anything.

That was Huo Cheng's real charm.

Hopefully after tonight, Hu Ying and the others would see Huo Cheng in a whole new light.

Keep an eye on Huo-ge, this stock.

He had to say it—out of the eight guests on this show, excluding himself and Wen Nu who were just there to pass censorship, every single one was top-tier. Looks, background, ability—nothing was lacking.

Maybe tonight's drinking would completely shift the romantic dynamics in the Red and Blue House.

Zhai Xingchen closed his eyes, half-asleep. Just as he was about to drift off, he heard a loud thud.

He sat up immediately, turned on the bedside lamp, went out to look, and saw a dark figure leaning against the wall in the living room.

He quickly turned on the living room light, ran over, and held him up. 'You okay?'

Pei Xu shook his head, still looking pretty out of it. Zhai Xingchen righted the fallen chair and asked, 'You need to use the bathroom?'

Pei Xu hummed in response.

'I'll help you. Easy.'

That famous bass voice of his was somehow a little soft and cute. 'Thanks.'

The room layout was stupid. The bathroom should have been between the two bedrooms, but to get there they had to cross the small living room to the other side of the bedroom.

Pei Xu was wasted, basically draped all over him. The kind of guy who looked slim in clothes—tall and lean-looking but actually heavy. Pei Xu was second only to Huo Cheng in height among them. Zhai Xingchen staggered under his weight, his own pajamas getting rumpled. He barely managed to get Pei Xu to the bathroom, and the moment he let go, Pei Xu started to tip over, so he had to hold him up again.

Then he watched Pei Xu unzip right in front of him.

Holy shit.

Last time he'd caught a glimpse, he hadn't been in the mood to appreciate it. This time, he finally couldn't help but take it in.

The male lead is the male lead. No matter whose story, they all...

Outclass the rest.

He turned around, back to back with Pei Xu, feeling secretly inadequate, listening to the splash of water. Pei Xu was drunk and moving big—when he shook his hands dry at the end, his whole body swayed. Zhai Xingchen thought, thank god he's the top, because if it were any other Red Team male guest, this scene would be seriously weird.

The alcohol he'd drunk earlier was creeping back up, making him feel hot and restless.

Tonight, with Pei Xu drunk and no one covering the living room camera, the Production Team had captured the whole thing of Zhai Xingchen helping Pei Xu to the bathroom. It was deep into the night now, only two or three staff on duty. After watching, they wanted nothing more than to grab their cameras and chase them into the bathroom.

'Even better that we can't film in there—leaves endless room for imagination.'

Just imagine the fans of this CP seeing the two of them go into the bathroom together—what could possibly be happening in there? The imagination room is huge.

The bullet comments are gonna be full of screaming groundhogs for sure.

Everyone's a pervert here, no one's escaping.

Zhai Xingchen helped Pei Xu wash his hands, then walked him back to bed. Pei Xu sat down on the bed, dazed, and said, 'Thanks.'

The flush from the alcohol hadn't fully faded from his cheeks. Skin like jade, long neck, tall and strong build—yet right now he looked like a little kid, sitting up properly, nothing like his usual lazy, careless self.

'Get some sleep.' Zhai Xingchen was like a mother hen. 'Want some water?'

He picked up the cup by the bed and realized Pei Xu had already emptied it, so he went to the living room and poured another. Pei Xu took it and gulped it down in a few swallows.

Finished, he handed the cup back. 'Thanks.'

Pretty polite—good upbringing.

'You're welcome.' Zhai Xingchen said. 'Now sleep.'

Pei Xu kicked off his slippers, climbed onto the bed, and lay down.

On his back, very obedient.

He really hadn't expected Pei Xu to be this type when drunk.

He remembered—according to the spoilers, Pei Xu was known as the 'crying dog' in the drama's love triangle.

They said he cried a lot and was very dog-like.

Dog-like in being clingy and gentle?

Or dog-like in being sneaky and fierce?

Or dog-like in being restless?

Hard to say. Anyway, readers' 'endearing nickname' for him: Pei Dog.

At least right now, Pei Xu looked like a husky.

Zhai Xingchen felt his paternal instincts kick into overdrive. He bent down to tuck Pei Xu in, looked at him, and Pei Xu was staring back, eyes open, perfectly still.

'Sleep,' he said.

Pei Xu hummed. 'Thanks.'

Zhai Xingchen suddenly felt Pei Xu was staring at his chest, gaze subtle, a little dazed.

He looked down and saw his own pajamas were a mess—a button had come undone at some point, and the bedside light was hitting his chest.

He immediately tugged his pajamas closed and buttoned up.

He saw Pei Xu turn his head away, throat bobbing, looking really thirsty.

No wonder they say alcohol is a matchmaker for lust. Not that it makes you horny—but after drinking too much, you start looking like you are.

Even the aloof Pei Xu had that illusion going on.

Zhai Xingchen went and poured Pei Xu another cup of water, set it by the bed.

Pei Xu was already fast asleep.

Zhai Xingchen finally went back to his own room. Thinking about how Pei Xu had looked, he found it funny.

Turns out it wasn't just Huo Cheng who had a hidden side—even the cold Pei Xu did.

They really should show the Red Team Guests this side of them. Maybe they'd all change their minds.

Every one of them is a treasure, waiting to be discovered.

The Production Team felt Zhai Xingchen was a treasure too, well worth exploring.

'What day is Zhai Xingchen's Final Exam again?' Early the next morning, Guo Bing asked the moment he walked in.

'Wednesday.'

'So that's about three days,' Zhou Lan asked. 'Have you talked to the Dance School? How's it going? Did they agree to filming?'

At this, the Assistant Director got excited. 'The moment we brought it up, the school agreed right away. After all, it promotes them. They said they'd fully cooperate with the shoot.'

This was one of the Love Variety Show scripts—a chance to showcase the guests, tailored to each of them.

Like the water sports, which were designed specifically for Huo Cheng to show off his charm.

Now they were starting to create a moment for Zhai Xingchen to shine.

After seeing his dance video, Liu Screenwriter and the team immediately added this segment.

They planned to invite all the guests to the school to watch his Performance on the day of his Final Exam. And to surprise him—and keep him from getting too nervous—they decided to film him without telling him.

Maybe this would become one of the most iconic moments of this season of The Red and Blue Signal.

Zhai Xingchen rolled around in bed, opened his sleepy eyes and stared out the window in a daze. He kicked off the covers, lay on his stomach, and yawned.

Silky pajamas clung to his body—narrow waist, long legs, pale ankles, faintly pink soles.