The Love Reality Show's Big Boss and Little Sweetie - Chapter 17

【Why is the big devil touching Mu Chi’s face?】

【Not touching but pinching! Even the male god’s face turned red!】

【This is blatant bullying!】

【It’s clearly flirting】

…

The cable car reached the summit. Qi Liao deftly stepped out first, walked over to Mu Chi, and raised his arm. Mu Chi gripped his arm and stepped down.

Qi Liao waited for the others behind him with feigned nonchalance, also offering assistance to Hao Wenrou and Xu Wuxing. Seeing this, Lucas remarked, “Am I not a weak man? Can’t I ask for your help?”

Qi Liao rolled his eyes. “You’re taller than me.”

Lucas: “Only by half a centimeter. I could take off my shoes to be shorter than you.”

Qi Liao: “No need for shoes. Just chop off your heels.”

Lucas: “How cruel! I’m not Cinderella’s wicked stepsister.”

Qi Liao wasn’t in the mood to indulge him: “You’re not Cinderella either—stop acting all cute with me.”

“…”

Mu Chi thought to himself: Could it be that only he could get away with acting cute with Qi Liao? Was he truly special?

The thought made him feel like he was floating. Combined with the strong mountain breeze ruffling his hair and clothes, he looked like a living embodiment of ethereal grace.

【Oh my god, my idol is literally about to fly away!】

【Even the wind favors Mu Chi】

【I swear Mu Chi is a fallen immortal!】

【He’s so ethereal it makes everyone else look like ordinary mortals】

【“I wish to ride the wind back to heaven”—turns out that poem was describing reality】

【He’s the ethereal one, yet also the one catching chickens in the bamboo grove】

“Stop pretending. Let’s go.” Qi Liao called out to Mu Chi.

Mu Chi snapped out of character instantly and trotted along obediently.

Hao Wenrou noticed the red marks on Mu Chi’s cheeks. “Brother Mu, did mosquitoes bite you?”

Mosquitoes were indeed thick in the mountains, so Hao Wenrou’s assumption was understandable. Mu Chi gave a vague nod and shot Qi Liao a glance.

Big Mosquito Qi Liao: “…”

The group, backpacks slung over their shoulders, arrived at the only resort hotel atop the mountain. Located within a scenic area, most supplies were delivered by helicopter, making the night’s accommodation predictably expensive.

Mu Chi was stunned by the price ,three thousand yuan a night? Wasn’t that practically robbery?

“Maybe we should just watch the stars and head back?” Mu Chi only had one yuan and sixty cents. He couldn’t even afford the hotel restroom, and Qi Liao had already covered his ticket.

But Qi Liao swiped his card as if it were routine. “Tonight’s on me.”

Mu Chi: “…”

【Truly a wealthy heir, money to burn】

【This is the first time I’ve realized the wealth gap between me and the big devil, sob】

【Throwing down eighteen grand like it’s nothing—how could Mu Chi, with only one yuan and sixty cents, possibly keep up?】

【Hahahaha, Mu Chi’s eyes went completely blank】

The hotel faced east. While not extravagant, it pursued refinement. Holding his room key, Mu Chi took the private elevator to the third floor. Swiping the card opened the door to a mountain view bathed in twilight. The view should be even better during the day.

Xu Wuxing occupied the room to the left, Hao Wenrou to the right. Moving southward, the rooms belonged to Qi Liao, Lucas, and Ying Xuan. Taking the elevator meant passing by their rooms.

Mu Chi was truly sandwiched between men on both sides.

Why was Qi Liao’s room separated by another?It’s not convenient for a secret affair at all!

After pondering, Mu Chi set down his backpack and stepped out to catch Hao Wenrou’s attention. “Wenrou, let’s swap rooms.”

Hao Wenrou looked surprised. “Why?”

Mu Chi lied through her teeth. “Qi Liao snores when he sleeps. I’m worried he’ll disturb you.”

Hao Wenrou: “…Ah?”

Mu Chi was about to make up another excuse when she spotted Qi Liao leaning against the doorframe, his expression dark.

Qi Liao sneered coldly, “So my snoring is that loud? You can hear it through two or three walls from over ten meters away?”

Mu Chi stammered, “…I was just making that up. Sorry.”

Qi Liao snorted, then walked toward the elevator without acknowledging anyone.

Mu Chi experienced firsthand what it meant to shoot himself in the foot, and he chased after him with regret. When squeezing into the elevator, he didn’t catch up with the camera, which happened to be convenient for him.

“Ge, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. I just wanted to switch rooms with Hao Wenrou to be closer to you,” Mu Chi said cautiously, watching Qi Liao. “Please don’t be angry anymore, okay?”

Qi Liao shot him a sidelong glance, his expression still cold. “You think I’ll fall for that ‘give a slap and offer a date’ trick?”

Mu Chi had apologized and explained his reasoning, yet forgiveness remained elusive. Torn, he asked, “Then how can you not be angry? Do you want me to say in public that I want to be closer to you?”

“What can’t be said?”

Mu Chi fell silent for a moment as the elevator doors opened. “You don’t know my difficulties. I can’t destroy my image, otherwise I will have to pay one million.”

Qi Liao wanted to say what’s so difficult about one million, but suddenly remembered that he was in debt too…

Mu Chi tugged gently on Qi Liao’s wrist. “Ge, please don’t be angry anymore. I’m begging you.”

It was just a touch on his wrist, yet Qi Liao flinched as if scalded. The veins on his hand bulged slightly, an unshakable tingling spreading along his veins to his heart, leaving him numb and tingly.

Qi Liao could no longer harden his heart. “I’m not angry anymore. Let’s go stargazing.”

The two followed the signs to the observatory, scanning a QR code to enter their private booth.

The booth held nothing extraordinary: a booth-style seating area, a small table, three walls of tempered glass, and two telescopes mounted on the floor.

Central air conditioning cooled the entire observatory, each booth chilled to the bone. Stepping inside felt like entering an ice cellar. Mu Chi couldn’t help but shiver.

Seeing this, Qi Liao found the remote control and adjusted the temperature from 20°C to 26°C.

While Mu Chi was still reading the telescope’s instruction manual, Qi Liao had already begun setting up the equipment. Overwhelmed by the dense text, Mu Chi turned to the seasoned astronomy enthusiast for help: “How do I do this?”

Qi Liao explained each step as he adjusted it: “This is an equatorial mount. Loosen the nut, balance the counterweight with the telescope tube, then tilt it here. Keep adjusting the tube, and finally tighten the loosened nut and clamp.”

“Looks pretty simple,” Mu Chi remarked.

Qi Liao chuckled softly: “Then you’re smarter than me. It took me several tries to find the balance.”

Mu Chi: “Those who plant trees will enjoy the shade. You taught well.”

Qi Liao didn’t play modestly. He gave a nod. His teaching was indeed effective. Mu Chi had grasped it instantly.

Just as their mentor-apprentice bond deepened, the filming crew caught up. Ying Xuan and the others arrived.

Xu Wuxing was the first to rush over. “Brother Qi, Brother Mu, why didn’t you call me before coming?”

The tempered glass provided excellent soundproofing. Mu Chi hadn’t heard a thing and continued fiddling with the telescope. Under Qi Liao’s guidance, he adjusted the magnification, enlarging the moon until his eyes sparkled with excitement.

“So magical, and terrifying,” Mu Chi marveled.

Qi Liao remarked, “Everyone has a bit of gigantophobia(fear of giants) but curiosity is the key to overcoming it.”

Mu Chi lost all interest in practicing constellations. Merely observing these bizarre, otherworldly planets satisfied his curiosity immensely.

Meanwhile, Xu Wuxing, ignored by the others, froze in place.

Hao Wenrou stepped forward and knocked on the glass door. Only then did Mu Chi snap back to reality. Stepping out, he said, “There are plenty more private booths over there. Go check them out. You’ll need to scan the QR code. The couple booths are 100 yuan for half an hour.”

Hao Wenrou froze too, his smile twisting slightly. “Couple… booths?”

【!!!!】

【Holy crap, the big devil and Mu Chi booked a couple’s private room?!!】

【Just ten minutes apart, and they’ve already progressed this far???】

【They could go through the whole process of getting married and having kids tomorrow】

【Aaaaaaaaaah】

Mu Chi remained completely oblivious to anything amiss. “Yeah. It’s more cost-effective to pair up.”

“…Cost-effective?” Hao Wenrou, teetering on the edge, glimpsed a sliver of hope.

“A single booth costs fifty yuan for ten minutes, while a couple’s booth is a hundred yuan for half an hour. If you calculate it per hour, you get ten extra minutes.”

Ying Xuan chuckled, “It is quite cost-effective. Who wants to pair up with me?”

Lucas raised his hand. “Me.” He winked at the Leading Actor.

Ying Xuan: “…Wenrou, would you like to share a booth with me?”

Since Qi Liao and Mu Chi had already paired up, Hao Wenrou had no choice but to find someone else. He gave Ying Xuan a faint smile. “Sure.”

Lucas: “…Xingxing…”

Xu Wuxing: “I’ll go book a single room.”

“……………” Lucas felt utterly rejected, his heart nearly shattering.

Mu Chi took pity on him and suggested, “Lucas, why not book a couple’s private room…”

Lucas perked up: “Would you come?”

Mu Chi: “Just pretend someone’s with you. We won’t laugh at you.”

Lucas truly shattered, his sorrow scattered across the floor.

Qi Liao snorted and said to Mu Chi: “You’ve already wasted two minutes and forty-six seconds.”

Every second of stargazing was paid for. Mu Chi immediately rushed inside, slammed the door, and sprinted toward the telescope. But he tripped over the table, nearly taking a faceplant. Fortunately, Qi Liao reached out just in time to catch him.

“Ah, thanks.” Mu Chi hung limply on Qi Liao’s arm like a noodle. As he caught his breath and straightened up, he suddenly froze, staring down.

Qi Liao froze too, unable to believe the scene before him—his hand had slipped into the gap of Mu Chi’s snow-white shirt. His palm met something supple, smooth, and warm, softer than the finest silk.

That was Mu Chi’s abdomen.

Qi Liao had touched Mu Chi’s belly.