The Love Reality Show's Big Boss and Little Sweetie - Chapter 25

On the way back from walking the dog, “You Also Have This Day” was about to end its broadcast. The director, dissatisfied because the love letter segment wasn’t dramatic enough, decided to have the guests interact with the audience and say good night.

Mu Chi said with no pressure: “Good night, everyone. Sweet dreams.”

Qi Liao, still wearing his usual cool expression, said: “Go to bed early. Staying up late makes your hair fall out.”

【…Are you polite, Demon King?】
【Don’t scold, don’t scold, sob】
【Already bald, nothing to fear】
【Qi Liao’s hair is really thick, even more than Mu Chi’s】
【Are you guys polite? Mu Chi really does have a bald spot】
【If not for that bald patch, he’d definitely have as much hair as the Demon King】

The director liked this kind of small banter, so he had the cameraman remind Mu Chi: “Netizens are saying Qi Liao has more hair, and you’re balding.”

Mu Chi: “…”

Qi Liao glanced at Mu Chi’s head. The wound was covered by hair, and you couldn’t see a thing.

Mu Chi used all his acting skills to hold in his breath, then exhaled deeply and said: “My hair is already growing back, thank you all for your concern.”

The stubble had already sprouted. In less than a month, it would grow back thick and dense, no less than Qi Liao’s!

He had to endure it. Soon he’d amaze everyone quietly. Thinking this, Mu Chi gave Qi Liao’s hair a resentful look.

After the broadcast, back at the villa, Mu Chi’s wound was allowed to get wet now. He washed his hair comfortably, but when his hand touched the scabbed wound, his mood sank again. Would it leave a scar?

A scar on the head wasn’t a good thing for a celebrity. The president of SunSky Entertainment was concerned and had Zhu Yinhang spend a large sum to import several scar-removal ointments from abroad. Mu Chi applied them one by one.

Downstairs, the cleaning staff of the program team were tidying up. The vacuum-mop machine hummed, and they wouldn’t leave until 8:30.

Xiao Tian knocked and came in to clean his room. Mu Chi, wearing a bathrobe, felt awkward, but Xiao Tian acted like he hadn’t seen anything, just quietly organized the desk and wardrobe, putting everything in order so there would be no “messy” evidence during live streams.

Mu Chi went to the small balcony to look at the night view. The cool summer wind brushed against his face. He closed his eyes, long lashes trembling, lips tingling slightly, suddenly reminding him of a strange sensation—

He had searched online for the video from the day he drowned, and saw Qi Liao giving him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Artificial respiration was just a rescue method, but it still made Mu Chi blush. This was his first time having such intimate contact with someone.

He tried hard to recall, and at night he dreamed about it—dreamed that Qi Liao kissed him.

Did that count as a first kiss?

Mu Chi agonized over it for a long time. Since no one else brought it up again and only celebrated his narrow escape, Mu Chi was too embarrassed to ask.

The wind grew colder, and the stars disappeared. Mu Chi’s bathrobe billowed in the wind. Suddenly, he heard a low voice: “It’s going to rain, go inside.”

He turned his head and saw Qi Liao closing the window. The soft bedroom light spilled out together with the tall youth’s silhouette—it was the person he couldn’t stop thinking about.

Mu Chi asked: “Is your room tidied up?”

Qi Liao: “My room isn’t messy, no need to clean.”

Mu Chi could tell. Though Qi Liao had a bad temper, he was neat and tidy, always keeping his room in order, handling things methodically, and keeping emotions steady—probably trained through racing.

Summer brought sudden rains. Thunder cracked loudly.

Though the villa was on a hillside, it was still high up. Mu Chi was woken up in the darkness, heart pounding with fear. He remembered many stories of people struck by lightning.

He switched on his bedside lamp, finding some comfort in the light.

But soon, lightning split the sky, thunder exploded, and it felt like electricity ran through the glass door. The next moment, Mu Chi was plunged into darkness. Only the flashes of lightning provided light.

Since childhood, Mu Chi had feared this kind of weather. He quickly tried his bedside lamp again, but it wouldn’t turn on. Neither did the ceiling light.

He got out of bed to try the desk lamp—also dead. The power was out.

Rain poured down in sheets, splashing against the balcony’s sliding door. Mu Chi flinched at the noise. Grabbing his phone, he fled his bedroom in a panic. The corridor was also dark.

His heart pounded as he turned on the phone’s flashlight and ran to Qi Liao’s room, knocking.

“Who is it?” Qi Liao’s awake voice came from inside.

“Ge, it’s me.” Mu Chi’s voice trembled.

Qi Liao got out of bed, turned the doorknob, and when he opened the door, a pale, fragile face entered his sight. He froze for a second: “What happened?”

Seeing the light still on in Qi Liao’s room, Mu Chi said, aggrieved: “The power’s out, I’m scared.”

The mountain’s thunder and lightning had a terrifying quality. Mu Chi looked like a startled little animal, eyes shimmering as if Qi Liao were his only refuge.

Something in Qi Liao’s chest felt like it was being scratched by cat claws. His Adam’s apple bobbed. “Come in first.”

Mu Chi’s eyes sparkled. “Mm, thank you, Ge.”

Qi Liao suddenly stopped him. “Don’t move, wait. Let me tidy up first.”

Mu Chi froze. A question popped into his head—didn’t Qi Liao say his room didn’t need tidying?

Then what was he tidying?

On this dark and stormy night, the only thing Qi Liao had to tidy was his bed.

From this, Mu Chi concluded that before he came in, Qi Liao had been… taking care of himself.

His face flushed. Seeing Qi Liao really straightening up the bed only confirmed his suspicion—no wonder he was so cool, still able to “conquer the heavens” even in such stormy weather.

If this were a cultivation novel, he’d definitely be a dragon-protagonist.

While Mu Chi got lost in his imagination, Qi Liao quickly tucked away the love letters. Yes—Mu Chi’s love letters to him.

After discovering the secret in one envelope, Qi Liao couldn’t sleep. He figured the other one must also hide something. Sure enough, inside the flap he found more handwriting.

The first love letter was pure and innocent. The second was bold and suggestive.

The contrast made Qi Liao even more restless, his body faintly burning.

He slipped both letters back into a drawer, covered them with paper, and closed it. His face expressionless again, he said: “Come in.”

Mu Chi, embarrassed, thought: ‘Oh my god, Ge has a whole drawer of condoms! So strong, I love it!’

Mu Chi stayed in the room for a while. Qi Liao poured him a glass of water. Mu Chi sipped slowly, and after he finished, Qi Liao said: “Let’s check the breaker. Maybe your room’s fuse tripped.”

Mu Chi set down the cup, unwilling: “I’m scared.”

Qi Liao thought for a moment, then took his hand. “Don’t be afraid.”

Mu Chi instantly forgot his fear. The warmth of another person’s hand, hotter than his own, made his heart feel cozy.

It wasn’t until Qi Liao led him down the stairs that Mu Chi suddenly realized—this was their first time officially holding hands, right? Hehe.

The breaker box was at the bottom of the stairs, next to a storage closet. In movies, closets like this always hid dark secrets.

The more Mu Chi thought about it, the more creeped out he felt. He clung to Qi Liao’s arm.

“What is it?” Qi Liao held the flashlight in one hand, opened the box with the other, and glanced at Mu Chi’s fearful face.

“Too dark,” Mu Chi said. Not only his room, but the hallways and stairwell lights were out. In this darkness, if something appeared…

“I’m not scared. What are you afraid of?” Qi Liao said lightly. “At first I thought you were a ghost.”

“Ah??”

“You’re so pale, and very light. You walk without much sound,” Qi Liao admitted awkwardly. “Repeat after me: prosperity, democracy, civility, harmony; freedom, equality, justice, rule of law; patriotism, dedication, integrity, friendliness.”

Mu Chi repeated it several times, and strangely, he wasn’t scared anymore. Of course, the most important thing was that Qi Liao was there.

The breaker box was floor-to-ceiling. Just finding his bedroom’s switch took a full minute. Mu Chi’s eyes blurred just watching. Qi Liao flipped several red switches up, but two of them snapped back down immediately.

“The circuit’s faulty,” Qi Liao said, clearly experienced. “We’ll need an electrician tomorrow.”

Unfortunately, one of the broken circuits was for Mu Chi’s bedroom.

Fortunately, Mu Chi’s goal had been achieved anyway.

The two went back upstairs, stopping at the landing. They looked at each other in silence. Qi Liao knew he should speak, but for some reason, he felt awkward.

Mu Chi tried to suppress his smile. Hooking one of Qi Liao’s long fingers, he said: “Ge, can I sleep with you tonight?”

Qi Liao forced out a stiff “Mm.” There was no other choice tonight. With the power out, Mu Chi was too timid to sleep alone.

Besides, his 1.8-meter-wide bed was more than enough for two people.

Besides, since Mu Chi asked, he couldn’t reject him.

Besides, he had no other thoughts—it was just sharing a bed for one night.

Yes, just that, nothing else.

Convincing himself, Qi Liao brought Mu Chi back into his room. He didn’t even notice that his heartbeat was much faster than usual.