Chapter 2: Hugs

“You Also Have This Day” is China’s first live gay dating show. With its 12-hour live broadcasts and captivating characters, it attracted a large audience in just a year and a half, bringing unprecedented traffic and fans to its exclusive sponsor, Durian Video, and reviving the nearly dormant video website.

It can be said that the advertising revenue generated by this dating show has propped up half of Durian Video’s business.

Consequently, during the second season, a large number of third-tier celebrities came to test the waters, and without exception, their popularity skyrocketed, forming a mutually beneficial cycle with the official platform.

For the third season, Eating Durian was able to generously invite top entertainment star Mu Chi, two-time Best Actor winner Ying Xuan, internet-famous gaming streamer Hao Wenrou, singing and dancing prince Xu Wuxing, international supermodel Lucas, and the complete amateur Qi Liao.

Qi Liao’s popularity wasn’t particularly high initially. After all, compared to the others, he seemed to have few advantages besides his height and handsome features, and he also had a somewhat bad temper.

Until he crashed the only luxury car of the production team while chasing a wild boar that was disturbing the people. He didn’t feel sorry at all. He got out of the car with a hammer and calmly knocked the wild boar unconscious in front of everyone’s shocked expressions , saying “Let’s have roasted suckling pig tonight.”

He then made a phone call, and that night, someone delivered a brand-new luxury car to the production team as an apology.

Qi Liao glanced at it and said, “My driver, stay and have dinner with us.”

Netizens were shocked. Who is Qi Liao? He had a driver at home, didn’t care about luxury cars, and even cooked roasted suckling pig himself!

Could he be the wealthy young master who returned from a desert island survival show?

Indeed, he was. Soon, netizens dug out that Qi Liao’s family, the Qi family, specialized in investments, and the names of Qi family businesses could be seen in most popular IPs in the entertainment industry.

Of course, the entertainment industry is just a minor venture for the Qi family. Their main focus is the business world, where they have a high profile but remain low-key, rarely appearing in public. To date, there are only a few photos of the family’s leaders. In the photos, the couple in their fifties are Qi Liao’s parents, and the man wearing gold-rimmed glasses and exuding a refined air of decency is Qi Liao’s older brother.

As for Qi Liao, he went abroad for studies at the age of twelve and has returned to China only a few times in the past decade. However, the Qi family’s charitable ventures bear his name, and there are currently over a hundred mountainous area primary schools receiving funding from the Qi family.

Such a wealthy young man, returning from overseas studies, passionate about charity, a multi-talented athlete, and a skilled cook.His contrasting charm has evoked a surge of maternal love among netizens, and his followers have skyrocketed to over a million overnight.

Such sudden popularity can only be compared to that of Mu Chi in the past.

Qi Liao’s popularity skyrocketed, making him a popular guest on that season’s dating show.

However, while his fans accepted his cool and unconventional demeanor, Mu Chi’s fans were unhappy.It was obvious that Qi Liao only had a grouchy expression when he was with Mu Chi.

He practically had “disdain” written all over his face.

Fans of Mu Chi thought it was an unprovoked disaster. Their idol was so good, but he could be treated coldly. It was outrageous.

Mu Chi was also a man of integrity. If Qi Liao didn’t treat him well, he would also show his indifference to Qi Liao. In the past two weeks, the two of them had not spoken more than ten sentences from beginning to end.

Especially after the CP fans had paired up the “Dating Variety Show Big Devil x Gentle Little White Flower” and “Cold Male God x Gentle Little White Flower”, Qi Liao’s fans and Mu Chi’s fans became rivals, forcing these two CPs to the first and second place on the dating variety show couples list.

The other three guests became supporting characters.

Mu Chi and Qi Liao are widely recognized as “arch-rivals.”

Until Mu Chi accidentally rolled down a hillside, hit his head, and was hospitalized for three days.

For three days, apart from the announcement by Ritian Entertainment that Mu Chi was not in danger of life, there was no news. Fans were anxious, and Qi Liao’s fans kept their mouths shut. After all, this was something no one wanted to see.

On the third night, Ritian Entertainment finally announced that Mu Chi had recovered and could resume participating in the dating show the next day, finally putting fans at ease. Meanwhile, while Qi Liao remained silent on Weibo, the other guests all posted heartfelt messages welcoming Mu Chi back.

However, Qi Liao had never been one to post on Weibo, and he didn’t care to please anyone. Even so, it still left a subtle impression on netizens.

Mu Chi was discharged from the hospital, and hundreds of millions of netizens tuned in to the live stream. Seeing Mu Chi appear in bandages, fans burst into tears, but they were glad their idol was okay.

No way is he fine!

Mu Chi’s agent, Zhu Yinhang, made a shocking announcement: Mu Chi had lost his memory.

Netizens initially didn’t believe it. Mu Chi still looked so aloof, so intelligent, and so ethereal—how could he have lost his memory?

However, his apparent calm was a facade. Mu Chi moved, opening his arms and, to everyone’s shock, hugged Qi Liao.

【What the heck?????】

【Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!】

【What the heck???】

【The Big Devil’’s face is twisted】

【I really believe Mu Chi has amnesia…】

#Mu Chi Loses His Memory and hugged Qi Liao by mistake# This trending topic stayed on Weibo for a whole day, going viral across all social media platforms. The only regret was that the cameraman was so stunned he couldn’t record Mu Chi’s expression when he hugged Qi Liao.

So no one knew that Mu Chi was full of happiness, in contrast to Qi Liao’s coldness.

Zhu Yinhang was so stimulated by Mu Chi’s actions that he almost spit out a mouthful of blood. He suppressed the collapse in his voice: “Mu Chi, he is Qi Liao.”

Mu Chi: “?” He reluctantly let go of the cool guy’s neck. The other person was like an ice sculpture, cold and fierce.

He thought about it. Qi Liao… Qi Liao, that’s fine.

Love rivals and the like are all clouds just fleeting. What mattered was that he had taken a fancy to  this cool guy. Others simply didn’t meet his standards for a partner, so his feelings for the gentle one were undoubtedly just friendship.

Mu Chi observed Qi Liao’s face closely, truly divinely crafted. He nodded in satisfaction, “You’re good.”

Qi Liao’s expression was as if he wanted to devour someone: “…”

Mu Chi casually stepped aside and quickly hugged the other guests, “You’re all very good too.”

The other guests were still in shock and hadn’t had time to feel Mu Chi’s friendly hug when Mu Chi already let go, and the total time spent hugging them was less than the time spent hugging Qi Liao.

[…………]

【I want to be hugged by Mu Chi too, even if it’s just for a second】

【What’s wrong with you, male god!!!】

【Is this the power of amnesia? It feels weird】

【Wah wah wah, big brother】

Zhu Yinhang tried to salvage Mu Chi’s cool heartthrob persona, clearing his throat and mumbling, “Hmm hmm hmm.”

Mu Chi actually translated it, one million, “…”

Alright, the male god persona can’t collapse. Mu Chi immediately put on an expressionless face: “Since we’re all friends, please introduce yourselves so I can get reacquainted.”

Zhu Yinhang nodded in satisfaction. That’s the effect he wanted.

Qi Liao spoke first: “I’m not your friend. You guys go ahead.”

【==】

【Mu Chi has completely pissed off Qi Liao now】

【Fight, fight】

Mu Chi didn’t care; that’s just how cool guys are. The other guests introduced themselves briefly, each with their own thoughts, and boarded the program crew’s vehicle to go up the mountain.

Before heading up the mountain, Zhu Yinhang repeatedly urged, “One million, one million, one million, remember?”

Mu Chi’s lips twitched: “I remember.”

Even as Mu Chi dragged his suitcase onto the production team’s designated pink minibus, the shimmering sound still lingered in his ears.

A slender young man with delicate features approached, his eyes crinkling: “Mu Chi, can I sit next to you?”

Mu Chi: “One million.”

Hao Wenrou exclaimed, “What? A million to sit next to you?!”

Mu Chi snapped back to reality. The others turned their heads at this, and Qi Liao glared at him with a sarcastic smile.

【??? Has Mu Chi gone mad from poverty?】

[That’s not what he meant, right?]

Hao Wenrou sat awkwardly across from Mu Chi.

Mu Chi said, “Sitting next to me is free.”

Hao Wenrou was about to stand up when Lucas walked by and sat down next to Mu Chi.

Hao Wenrou: “!”

Mu Chi: “?”

Lucas had an Oriental figure with deep Western features and a healthy, tanned complexion. He had a short torso and long legs, and was dressed fashionably, with ornaments adorning his wrists and neck. He wore men’s perfume, a rich, sexy fragrance.

“Since it’s free, I’ll take the seat,” Lucas said with a mischievous smile.

The live stream chat was filled with cries of wails and excitement. Lucas had previously seemed interested in others, but now he was sitting next to Mu Chi and deliberately saying “free” and “sit down,” which was truly intriguing.

Mu Chi nodded indifferently, then leaned forward and continued talking to Hao Wenrou through the gap: “Do you have any water?”

Hao Wenrou smiled, took an unopened bottle of mineral water from his backpack, and handed it to Mu Chi.

Lucas interrupted, saying to Mu Chi, “Let me open it for you.”

Mu Chi took the mineral water directly, “I’m not a girl.”

Lucas apologized, “I didn’t think of you as a girl.”

“That’s good.” Mu Chi thanked Hao Wenrou, tilted his head back and gulped down the water, just like the heroic spirit of drinking water after a long run.

“…”

【Is he drinking water like this to prove he’s a man?】

【Mu Chi is already a man!】

After finishing the water, Mu Chi felt refreshed and had the energy to flirt again. He stood up and didn’t let Lucas move aside – he had a hunch that this man would make a few jokes, so he stood up and took a long stride to the front seat.

Lucas looked at him in surprise, then chuckled after a moment: “It’s really interesting.”

The mountain road was winding, and the minibus inevitably jolted a bit. Mu Chi held onto the seat as he made his way toward the front of the vehicle, where not only Qi Liao was sitting but also had a simple tea station.

Mu Chi thought that he could pretend to make tea and then sit beside Qi Liao.

As he swayed his way to the front, Mu Chi kept his balance, gripping the edge of the tea station, and locked eyes with the arrogant-looking “demon king” half a meter away.

Their gaze met briefly before Qi Liao turned his face toward the front window.

The leading actor Ying Xuan, also seated up front, spoke softly: The tea leaves are in the small drawer below. The water has just been boiled and is a bit hot. Do you need my help?”

Mu Chi politely replied, “Thank you, Uncle. I can manage on my own.”

But the thirty-five-year-old Ying Xuan momentarily suspected he was hallucinating. The young man’s voice was so beautiful, like the clashing of jade stones. How could he call him uncle?

He was only ten years older.

But faced with Mu Chi’s serious expression, Ying Xuan’s expression slowly cracked. Mu Chi had indeed called him uncle.

“……………”

【………………】

A suffocating silence.

#Shock! Mu Chi called Ying Xuan “uncle”!# It reached the second spot on the trending list within ten minutes.

This is a dating show, not a program where uncles and nephews reunite!

Mu Chi hadn’t even noticed his slip of the tongue. In his seventeen-year-old mind, Ying Xuan was old enough to be his uncle. But the sudden silence made him puzzled: “What’s wrong?”

No one answered.

The driver suddenly made a sharp turn, causing everyone—including the cameras following them—to sway. Mu Chi, caught off guard, fell into a sturdy, broad embrace, smelling the faint scent of honeysuckle and soap.

【!!!!!!!!!!】

Mu Chi looked up and once again met with Qi Liao’s handsome face.

Qi Liao subconsciously held the back of the neck of the person on him to prevent the bandaged head from hitting the window glass. Once they had stabilized, he saw the position he and Mu Chi were in, and his face instantly darkened.

It really looks like a princess hug!