Sheng Zhiyu and An Yu didn’t choose a specific destination but decided to drive around the resort island.
While setting the navigation, An Yu took the chance to check his phone. It seemed he had found some shocking gossip because he turned back to look at him: “Xiao Yu, it turns out Mr. Qi had a scandal with that guest from earlier!”
Sheng Zhiyu looked at him helplessly.
The hidden tension at the table earlier had been so obvious, yet An Yu could be this dense. Truly a “silly and sweet” heartthrob.
This was also a common trope for heartthrobs: Love Interests 2, 3, 4, and 5 would often have “ex-boyfriends” or “scandal partners” to add difficulty for the protagonist and to highlight the Love Interests’ protection of the protagonist.
The higher the buzz now, the more satisfying the “face-slapping” would be when the show aired. This would lead fans to abandon old pairings for the new one, seeing the heartthrob protagonist in a new light. After all, the “tsundere-to-lover” trope never goes out of style.
Seeing his excitement, Sheng Zhiyu tilted his head and leaned toward the side of An Yu’s neck to look at the gossip on his phone.
“Really? Let me see.”
Sheng Zhiyu was prepared to spend time alone with An Yu, so he had used a milk-scented blocker today. It was similar to An Yu’s pheromones and would reduce any repulsion.
By now, the blocker had mostly dissipated, but when Sheng Zhiyu leaned in, An Yu could still clearly smell the faint fragrance.
He dazed for a moment. When he looked down, he could see the boy’s striking purple hair and his refined, beautiful face under the sun.
His heart skipped two beats. When An Yu flusteredly looked away, his gaze suddenly caught Sheng Zhiyu’s shoulder.
…The outfit Sheng Zhiyu had dug out, while looking normal, had a buckle design on the right shoulder. It had come undone when he put on his seatbelt.
As a result, a section of pale collarbone and a slender shoulder were exposed through the opening.
An Yu saw a bandage stuck to his shoulder?
“What’s this?” He tilted his head to look again. Once he confirmed it was a bandage, he looked at Sheng Zhiyu nervously. “Xiao Yu, are you hurt?”
Last night’s scenes instantly flashed through Sheng Zhiyu’s mind. He raised his hand to cover his shoulder and gave a light cough. “No… a mosquito bite.”
“Oh, there really are a lot of bugs in the summer.” An Yu said with concern, “Did you put medicine on it? It’s not good to keep it covered like that, is it?”
A strange sense of guilt rose in Sheng Zhiyu’s heart, but he quickly calmed down. “I did. Help me buckle it.”
An Yu didn’t expect him to act cute so suddenly. He dazed for a moment and used one hand to help him close the… very “personalized” garment.
Seeing that he still wanted to ask more, Sheng Zhiyu used the opportunity to nuzzle his hand against An Yu’s palm, which was near his cheek. “You haven’t let me see yet.”
His soft, white cheek brushed his fingertips, creating a very subtle sensation. An Yu panicked, his fingers trembling on the screen. He didn’t know which topic he had clicked, but the interface suddenly jumped to the official Weibo of Matching Love.
Sheng Zhiyu saw that the top comment was a very sarcastic one.
[The production team must be truly desperate to invite just anyone. You dug up someone from an underground band and gave him a ‘civilian’ skin. What kind of special script are you planning for him? Are you really promoting someone with character issues?]
Below this comment was a string of emojis, and passersby were all eager for the gossip.
An Yu saw it too. Though he was slow, he wasn’t stupid. He could tell at a glance that the comment was targeting Sheng Zhiyu.
Except for Qi Fan, the guests were still supposed to be a secret. This comment was clearly orchestrated by someone.
As for the “character issues”… it probably referred to the original owner’s somewhat messy private life.
An Yu’s face turned pale with anger. He tapped the reply button to fire back, but Sheng Zhiyu rested his hand on An Yu’s wrist.
He smiled softly. “What do you want to post?”
“I… I want to tell them not to spread rumors without evidence.” An Yu was angry, but his voice lacked any real bite.
Sheng Zhiyu laughed and explained patiently: “With this kind of vague wording, whoever responds is the one claiming the label. After he’s finished throwing the dirt, he’ll just say, ‘I didn’t mention a specific person, why are you so anxious?’ Then he’ll label you as ‘guilty,’ effectively confirming the rumors.”
Looking at the timing and engagement of the comment, it had clearly been bought to the top.
It was obvious who was using these underhanded tactics.
An Yu felt a bit deflated. “Then what should we do? If it just hangs there in the comments, won’t other uninformed people be led astray?”
Sheng Zhiyu gave an “Mhm” and took the chance to look pitiful, leaning in front of him. “Yes, I feel so wronged.”
An Yu’s mood, soured by the bad comments, brightened slightly. He couldn’t help but reach out and ruffle Sheng Zhiyu’s hair. “Are you just going to let them scold you?”
“Not really.” Sheng Zhiyu pulled out his phone, tapped it a few times, and put it away. “Alright, done.”
An Yu made a confused sound, not understanding how it was “done.” Just as he was about to ask, the car started.
Sheng Zhiyu said seriously: “There’s an order to things. We should go for our drive first.”
The car wasn’t fast, and the breeze against their faces was comfortable. An Yu’s previous worry and hesitation seemed to be released into the wind, quickly vanishing.
In fact, Sheng Zhiyu hadn’t done much.
He had simply used his main account to repost the official announcement.
The niche circle had one downside: people within it didn’t care about outside opinions, so a few hired trolls wouldn’t necessarily be noticed.
But it also had an upside: the fans were loyal and fierce.
As the lead singer of ENCHANTED, Sheng Zhiyu might be unknown in the mainstream entertainment industry, but in the underground band circle, he was a very eye-catching rising star.
After the repost, his fans quickly arrived in the comments. They didn’t even need to deliberately debunk rumors; after posting two unedited photos and a live video, the official Weibo of Matching Love exploded.
The production team was very good at making trouble. Seeing Sheng Zhiyu repost it personally, they immediately boosted the young master’s status, even pushing several high-ranking trending topics.
By noon that day, the topic that replaced Qi Fan’s morning trend was #MostBeautifulLeadSingerShengZhiyu#.
【Gossip sync in real-time—】
Lin Weiyu’s cheering voice came from his mind.
【Just as you thought, the trolls this morning were hired by Sheng He. He originally wanted Xu Tu to flirt with you, and then expose your ‘black materials’ during the announcement to frame you as a ‘mistress’s son’ who stole someone’s spot. But Xu Tu refused to cooperate, and the marketing accounts he contacted couldn’t cause any waves. Now he’s so angry he’s throwing vases at home.】
Sheng Zhiyu held the steering wheel and leaned against the car window, waiting for An Yu to come back after buying ice cream.
Actually, it wasn’t without reason that Sheng He planned it this way.
The original owner’s personality was rebellious and violent, and he had a fatal pheromone defect. If Xu Tu had succeeded last night, Sheng Zhiyu would have definitely gone into a rut-induced frenzy and ended up in the hospital.
By then, an accident at the very start of filming, combined with a wave of “black materials” during the official announcement, would have triggered the original owner’s temper. He might have quit and run home to start a fight. At that point, the name “Sheng Zhiyu” would have been firmly planted on the negative trending charts.
【Sheng He is good at ‘tailored education,’ but unfortunately, that violent punk has been replaced. His schemes now look a bit laughable.】
Sheng Zhiyu gave a casual “Mhm.”
Just as Lin Weiyu thought he didn’t care, he heard him say: [Sync the footage of him throwing vases at home for me.]
Lin Weiyu: … I love your calm, wicked sense of humor.
After enjoying Sheng He’s breakdown, Sheng Zhiyu waited for An Yu to return, and they spent the afternoon driving around the island.
There was a famous market on the island. He accompanied An Yu for a stroll, bought a few things, and returned to the villa satisfied after harvesting three “Heartbeat Points.”
The other two pairs had returned earlier than them. As soon as Sheng Zhiyu and An Yu arrived, several gazes landed on them.
An Yu had a great time today and truly felt it was a date. His face was hot and red as he whispered that he was going to help and hurried into the kitchen.
Sheng Zhiyu wasn’t as shy. His sunglasses were still perched on his forehead, and he wore a heavy Hawaiian-style jacket, looking lazy and content.
He ran into another guest at the door. The person glanced at his clothes, then back at An Yu, and joked with a knowing look: “You two are progressing quite smoothly?”
Sheng Zhiyu paused. Just as he was about to answer, he saw a figure approaching from behind the person.
The figure grew closer, his expression cold—it was Qi Fan.
Dark trousers outlined his long legs. His pace wasn’t slow, but he didn’t look hurried either. He stopped behind the other person, right in front of Sheng Zhiyu.
Qi Fan’s gaze clearly swept over Sheng Zhiyu’s jacket, and his eyes cooled by another two degrees. He turned his head and said in a calm voice: “Dinner is being prepared. Since you’re back, go check the kitchen.”
The person in front of Sheng Zhiyu finally heard his voice and was startled. He turned back, wanting to address him as Mr. Qi, but the man had already left.
After a moment of silence, the person turned back to look at Sheng Zhiyu.
“Mr… Mr. Qi seems to be in a bad mood?”
Sheng Zhiyu shook his head innocently. “What happened?”
“Maybe the guest he chose didn’t pair up with him, so he’s a bit down?” The person pondered, finding the reason logical.
Recalling who Mr. Qi had sent his letter to, and looking back at Sheng Zhiyu, he joked: “Mr. Qi’s heart’s desire went out with you, and came back wearing matching clothes. It’s reasonable for him to be unhappy.”
Sheng Zhiyu feigned surprise.
The person laughed and patted his shoulder. “You’re probably the only one who dares to steal someone from Mr. Qi.”
Tonight’s dinner was again at the outdoor restaurant. An Yu couldn’t stay idle and went to help in the kitchen as soon as he returned. After confirming the kitchen was full, Sheng Zhiyu chose to help set the table.
When he reached the table, the first person he saw was Qi Fan.
The man was sitting in a chair, flipping through a thick book. He seemed to have finished most of it, as only a few pages remained.
The others hadn’t arrived yet. Sheng Zhiyu didn’t want to disturb his reading time and silently walked to the opposite corner of the table to sit down.
Just as he pulled out a chair, the man spoke calmly: “Sitting so far away—are you afraid my pheromones will affect you?”
Sheng Zhiyu’s movement stalled. He gave a casual smile, walked past two seats, and sat down in front of Qi Fan. “What are you reading, Mr. Qi?”
Qi Fan lifted his eyelids to look at him, seemingly confirming where he sat, then smiled and lifted the book’s title.
Sheng Zhiyu paused. He realized it was in German. He only knew a few daily phrases and couldn’t understand such complex words.
The clever Lin Weiyu immediately translated for him: 【…It’s a German ABO erotica novel.】
Sheng Zhiyu: “…”
Mr. Qi looks so serious, as if he’s studying an academic paper, but he’s actually reading smut?
【Technically, this is literature, not common smut.】
Fine, literature.
“Did you have fun today?” Qi Fan asked casually.
Their conversation looked like normal small talk in front of the cameras, but there were undercurrents that only the two of them knew about.
Sheng Zhiyu poured himself a glass of water. “I did.”
“Oh? I thought an Alpha affected by a rut would at least try to keep some distance from an Omega.” Qi Fan slowly closed the book. He turned his gaze to Sheng Zhiyu’s face and said in a voice only the two of them could hear: “It seems my comfort last night was very effective.”
Sheng Zhiyu didn’t expect him to bring this up so openly at the table. His hand holding the glass paused slightly, and he swept a glance at the surrounding equipment.
—Since the outdoor restaurant had just been set up, the crew’s equipment wasn’t in place yet, so the audio probably wasn’t being captured.
Sheng Zhiyu slowly rested his chin on his hand and looked back at him with a half-smile. “Then should I properly thank you?”
“I can’t take the young master’s thanks.” Qi Fan’s fingertips lightly tapped the thick cover of the book. He tilted his head. “But thanks to you, my rut has also become a mess.”
Sheng Zhiyu’s gaze paused. After being hinted at by his meaningful words, his gaze uncontrollably fell onto the man’s neck collar.
Qi Fan’s gaze followed his eyes. His thin lips curled into a smile, revealing a playfulness completely different from his restrained, dignified appearance this morning. “Sheng Zhiyu, surely you know who I’m wearing this collar for?”
…It was to seduce An Yu. It was to create a sense of contrast.
But even knowing those two meanings, the beast called “possessiveness” in the Alpha’s heart was still pleased.
The fundamental reason Qi Fan was wearing the collar was because of Sheng Zhiyu.
Because last night, he had made a complete mess of the man’s neck.
Sheng Zhiyu slowly put down the glass, turned his head slightly, and gave him a dangerous smile.
Qi Fan saw the little Alpha’s crimson tongue brush over his canine teeth, showing no remorse or guilt. “But didn’t you deliver yourself to me?”
Qi Fan stared at him. He belatedly felt the collar tighten slightly, and the hidden wound beneath it began to itch and sting.
He seemed to recall the feeling of being bitten last night.
Just once, and it seemed to have become an addiction.
“Xiao Yu… is Mr. Qi here too?” An Yu’s voice came from behind, interrupting their conversation.
He was carrying tableware, wanting to set the table and see Sheng Zhiyu, but he didn’t expect Qi Fan to be there.
Qi Fan watched as Sheng Zhiyu instantly shed his arrogance and returned to his “good boy” persona to help out.
He looked at the two figures by the table. Those two Hawaiian jackets that should have been tacky suddenly looked romantic on them.
The guests who arrived later also noticed the matching clothes and were all joking about it.
An Yu’s face was redder than the sunset, while Sheng Zhiyu stood in front of him comfortably. “No, I just saw them while shopping and liked them. If you guys want some, I’ll bring some for everyone next time.”
He looked like a dutiful boyfriend protecting his shy partner.
An Yu avoided the teasing and carried a pot of flower tea to pour water for everyone.
Just as he reached Qi Fan’s side, he heard the man say with a smile: “Yeah, they really do look good.”
Up close, the man’s voice was even steadier and deeper. An Yu looked at the man’s fingertips resting near the hem of his jacket and felt his breathing go shallow.
The man seemed to be seriously observing the fabric and pattern of the clothes. A moment later, he let go and looked at him with a smile. “Next time, could you bring one for me too?”
An Yu nodded stumblingly and finally found his voice after a long time: “Oh.”
After answering, he hugged the teapot and ran off.
Qi Fan’s gaze followed him for a moment before realizing that Sheng Zhiyu, across the long table, was also watching him. After An Yu left with a red face, their gazes met across the distance.
Sheng Zhiyu smiled. “Mr. Qi’s clothes are all handled by professional stylists and are usually designer brands. Can clothes bought randomly at a market really catch your eye?”
“Well, I don’t know.” Qi Fan smiled softly. “Maybe it’s because you two look very good wearing them.”
Sheng Zhiyu gave him a brief glance, didn’t reply, and turned to help An Yu.
Qi Fan stayed where he was, his fingertips lightly touching the collar, which aggravated the dull pain of the wound.
Even though the pain was echoing, a smile wouldn’t stop appearing on the man’s face.
Dinner was the same as last night—lots of laughter and chatting. Then, the crew reminded everyone that there would be another round of letter-sending tonight.
“However, tonight before the letter-sending, there’s another segment.” The crew gestured, and a map was suddenly presented.
A dating show wouldn’t be interesting with just dates and small talk.
Besides love at first sight and pheromone compatibility, there was another way to quickly spark feelings between guests: the Suspension Bridge Effect.
The reason this resort island was chosen for filming, besides the scenery, was because it had a haunted house that was world-renowned.
The guests needed to pair up in twos and explore the haunted house together, finding local specialty shells before they could come out.
“However, this time grouping won’t be based on letters.” The staff smiled and gestured for everyone to lift their bowls.
The guests’ seating was random.
“Guests with the same color on the bottom of their bowls will form a group. Please get ready.”
Hearing this, Sheng Zhiyu lifted his bowl and saw a conspicuous dark blue spot on the bottom.
The color was too familiar. His first reaction was to turn back and check An Yu’s color.
An Yu was orange. Others were yellow, green, red… his gaze went around the table. The one who was also dark blue was Qi Fan.
In the second of silence, Sheng Zhiyu suddenly remembered Qi Fan’s provocation when he first came over.
Did he intentionally make me change seats?
But he quickly dismissed the idea. If Qi Fan were to play tricks, he should have targeted An Yu.
And now, the guest paired with An Yu was Chu Baiqian.
Seeing their identical orange color, Sheng Zhiyu felt a slight sense of crisis.
Is the protagonist Gong going to act now? That meant boosting An Yu’s favorability wouldn’t be as simple from now on.
After dinner, the crew handed out ribbons to the guests symbolizing their groups.
The dark blue ribbon hung loosely from Sheng Zhiyu’s pale wrist. The silk texture somehow made his hand look even softer and whiter.
Qi Fan lowered his eyes to stare for a moment, suddenly recalling the sensation of his teeth against that skin last night.
It wasn’t appropriate to describe an Alpha this way, but the eighteen-year-old Sheng Zhiyu was like a soft, fragrant piece of sugar cake.
And now, the sugar cake himself was looking down with a slightly darkened face, as if thinking about something.
The production team only arranged three cars, so two groups would share a ride.
An Yu wasn’t used to being with strangers, so he naturally took the initiative to sit in the same car as Sheng Zhiyu.
The Omega was already timid, and being with a stranger made him low-spirited and quiet throughout the trip.
Sheng Zhiyu sat in the back row, resting his head against the window, but his gaze was on the two people in the front seats.
While he was wondering how the story between the protagonist Gong and Shou would unfold, a light blue ribbon fluttered into his peripheral vision.
Sheng Zhiyu snapped back and turned his head.
Qi Fan’s long fingers were twirling one end of the ribbon as he looked at him calmly. “It fell off.”
After such a long silence, someone finally spoke. An Yu seemed to have found a way to steady himself and turned back to look at Qi Fan. “This ribbon is very slippery. If it’s not tied well, it’ll easily come loose.”
Sheng Zhiyu raised an eyebrow, understanding why Qi Fan did this… does he want the protagonist Shou to re-tie it for him?
Then he heard Qi Fan say in a calm voice: “Yeah, I can’t tie it. Xiao Yu, could you help?”
…Why me?
Sheng Zhiyu gave him a cold look, but since they were filming and were in the same group, he had to help the man re-tie the ribbon.
Qi Fan looked down at the head leaning toward him. His gaze passed over the messy hair and landed on the rearview mirror.
Chu Baiqian’s gaze in the mirror was caught just like that.
Even though their eyes met, the man didn’t look surprised. He simply gave a faint smile and returned his focus to the road.
Qi Fan’s eyes darkened by two degrees. He looked back down and saw Sheng Zhiyu’s movements had stiffened slightly.
“…What is it?” he asked in a low voice.
“Nothing,” Sheng Zhiyu replied calmly.
His hesitation just now was only because he smelled pheromones on Qi Fan’s hand.
Because of last night’s kiss and bite, the scent of ebony and agarwood no longer carried the fierce suppression it had during their first contact. Instead, it gained an indescribable sense of familiarity.
It was like an invisible hook, easily using his sense of smell to bring back last night’s visual, tactile, and auditory memories… and taste.
Synesthesia is a wonderful transfer of sensations that strikes at unexpected times.
It made him feel a one-second impulse to bite down when he saw the man’s wrist.
Realizing things were taking an unfavorable turn, Sheng Zhiyu quickly tied the ribbon. Just as he was about to turn back, Qi Fan discreetly caught his fingertips.
The movement was hidden in the shadows, unnoticed by An Yu and uncaptured by the camera.
It was like a patient predator.
Then in the next second, Sheng Zhiyu felt the man’s cool fingertips trail along to his palm, drawing a line in the middle of his palm print.
Just as the itch began to spread, the man’s fingers slid into the gaps between his own, quietly interlocking their knuckles.
Like lovers, ten fingers interlocked.