The Love Reality Show's Big Boss and Little Sweetie - Chapter 27

Translator’s Note:

A quick note on terms:

• “Gege” is kept to preserve the specific affectionate/flirtatious tone between Mu Chi and Qi Liao.
• “慕哥” is now translated as the more natural “Brother Mu”.
• Qi Liao’s nickname has been changed from “Big Devil” to the more fitting “Demon King”.

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When Qi Liao entered the room and saw Mu Chi opening the drawer, his panic outweighed his anger. His harshness towards Mu Chi was merely a cover for his own guilt.

If Mu Chi were to find out that he had not only read the love letters written to him but also carefully kept them stored in the drawer, Qi Liao had no idea how Mu Chi would react, or how he himself would face him.

Qi Liao wasn’t ready for that. He hadn’t even figured out his own feelings for Mu Chi yet; now was absolutely not the right time for this to come to light.

But what did Mu Chi just say? Looking for condoms??

“I don’t have any condoms here,” Qi Liao found it ridiculous. “In your eyes, am I as unrestrained as you are?”

Mu Chi: “…Where am I unrestrained?”

“Hmph, you know exactly what I mean,” Qi Liao was convinced that beneath Mu Chi’s pure exterior lay a mind full of wanton thoughts. Besides, the evidence was right there in the drawer. “Your assistant is looking for you everywhere. Go back.”

Mu Chi walked out the door and, sure enough, saw Xiao Tian, her eyes red-rimmed, clearly having just cried: “Brother Mu!”

It was the first time he’d seen the girl so emotional. Mu Chi felt a bit embarrassed: “Uh, sorry.” He was at fault too for sleeping in Qi Liao’s room without telling anyone.

Just then, Xu Wuxing and Hao Wenrou came upstairs. Seeing Mu Chi in pajamas, they were stunned. Xu Wuxing asked: “Brother Mu, were you comfortable sleeping on Brother Qi’s sofa last night?”

Mu Chi: “I didn’t sleep on the sofa.”

“Then where did you sleep?”

“On the bed, of course,” Mu Chi said, completely unguarded. “Such a big bed, it was just right for two people.”

Never mind Hao Wenrou; Xu Wuxing looked as if the sky had fallen: “So you two slept together last night?!”

Mu Chi finally sensed something was off and cleared his throat: “I fell asleep very quickly. I don’t know if he slept on the bed or not.”

Right then, Qi Liao came out. Xu Wuxing hurriedly asked: “Brother Qi, did you sleep on the bed last night?”

Qi Liao let out a cold laugh: “Of course I did. I even kicked your Brother Mu off the bed and made him sleep under it.”

Xu Wuxing was shocked: “Really?!”

“Fake.”

“…”

Qi Liao disdained explaining further and went to make breakfast. Mu Chi was speechless for a moment before being urged by Xiao Tian to go change clothes and get ready.

Ten minutes before breakfast, all staff except the camera crew withdrew, and the live broadcast officially began.

Mu Chi dutifully held a magazine, maintaining his aloof male god persona, and said to the camera: “Good morning.”

A stream of “Good mornings,” colorful like fireworks, rolled across the live chat.

After breakfast, Qi Liao casually outlined the day’s plan: “The swimming pool needs cleaning and refilling after the heavy rain. Who’s on it?”

Ying Xuan volunteered: “I’ll handle the refilling.”

“You can’t manage alone. Take a few people with you, except Mu Chi.”

Ying Xuan smiled and asked: “Do you have something on?”

“Mn. Going to the temple.”

Upon hearing this, Xu Wuxing immediately raised his hand: “I’m coming too.”

Hao Wenrou said softly and weakly: “I haven’t been feeling well these past couple of days either. It would be good to go and pray.”

Lucas scoffed: “You’re only enthusiastic about things like this.”

Xu Wuxing retorted: “As if you’ve done so much for everyone. You even put a single bowl in the dishwasher and let it run for two hours.”

“The dishwasher exists to wash dishes. I’m just making the most of its function,” Lucas said matter-of-factly.

While they were arguing, Qi Liao had already picked up the car keys. “Mu Chi.”

Mu Chi stopped watching the spectacle and quickly followed Qi Liao. Xu Wuxing and Hao Wenrou trailed behind like tails.

Unexpectedly, Qi Liao didn’t let them get in the car. “Two people aren’t enough for the pool. You know how Lucas is. Go help Brother Ying.”

Bound by his persona, Hao Wenrou naturally couldn’t refuse and reluctantly agreed through gritted teeth. Xu Wuxing wasn’t so constrained; single-mindedly, he wanted to follow them.

The passenger seat was still Mu Chi’s. Xu Wuxing, alone in the back seat, chattered away, asking all sorts of questions, completely forgetting the fact that Mu Chi had just spent the night with Qi Liao.

Mu Chi, feeling somewhat awkward with Qi Liao, happily chatted and laughed with Xu Wuxing.

“Brother Mu, which Buddhas or deities do you believe in?” Xu Wuxing asked.

Mu Chi thought for a moment: “All of them. Whichever one I see, I believe in that one.”

Xu Wuxing laughed: “That’s called ‘Buddha in the heart.’ The books say people like that have great innate wisdom.”

“Really?” Mu Chi chuckled. “But I don’t want to become a monk.”

“You don’t have to be a monk to contemplate the Buddha. My grandmother chanted Buddha’s name her whole life, and she still experienced the eight sufferings of life,” Xu Wuxing said, uncharacteristically subdued. “I hope she has been reborn in the Pure Land.”

Mu Chi didn’t know how to comfort him, simply saying: “She will.”

People in the entertainment industry are often a bit superstitious. Those like Xu Wuxing, whose family has worshipped Buddha for generations, deeply believe in such doctrines. Mu Chi was different; his philosophy was more ‘believe it if you will, disregard it if you won’t.’

People are always willing to believe what they choose to believe and unwilling to believe what they don’t. It’s perfectly normal.

The car drove for a full two hours. It wasn’t exactly slow, but it certainly wasn’t fast. The production team was quite pleased; the Great Demon King was finally considering others’ feelings.

[I’ve yawned no less than a hundred times, almost fell asleep watching this]

[What’s wrong with the Great Demon King? Driving so slowly]

[I want to see the professional racer drive like the wind]

[Why isn’t the Great Demon King being demonic? A bit boring]

**The production team:…………You weren’t saying this before!**

The director couldn’t help but sigh; nowadays, netizens really were masochists. If you didn’t give them a mix of the whip and the candy, their nerves just wouldn’t be stimulated. With the rise of short-form video platforms, everything emphasized fast pacing. It was hard to be patient with anything anymore, let alone a live broadcast that ran over ten hours a day.

To create explosive moments, the director felt he had racked his brains and exerted tremendous effort, but it was a case of hard work not paying off—the results never matched the guests’ own spontaneous interactions.

Remembering how he’d heard in his sleep-filled state this morning that Mu Chi had “stayed over” in Qi Liao’s room, the director’s guts twisted with regret. He should have started the broadcast early, giving the day a joyous beginning.

Qi Liao drove to the city proper, passing through bustling streets to the old city district, separated from the new district only by a river.

Parking in an open-air lot, Qi Liao led them across a street to an ancient Guanyin Temple. “I’ve heard this place is quite efficacious.”

The group entered the temple. The camera crew felt a bit unsure about whether filming was allowed, but then a lay Buddhist practitioner came out and said, “You can film, no problem.”

So, they went to buy incense and candles and made donations. Qi Liao handed all his incense to Mu Chi: “You go and make the offerings.”

“Aren’t you going?” Mu Chi asked.

“With so many people, Guanyin would be too busy. It’s better if just you go.”

Hearing this, Xu Wuxing also gave his incense to Mu Chi, saying with a grin, “My luck is pretty good; I don’t need to make offerings.”

Mu Chi: “…That hurts.”

Mu Chi, who had been having bad luck since the dating show started broadcasting, now holding nine sticks of incense, knelt on the cushion under the others’ peculiar gazes and bowed deeply three times before inserting the incense into the bronze censer’s ashes.

A lay practitioner brought over a cylinder of fortune sticks. Mu Chi drew one bamboo slip, which read: *Past dangers and troubles, several layers deep, / From now on, experiencing again, forever free from harm. / A relaxed heart naturally has its own relaxed plans, / You will encounter a noble person who protects your holy merit.*

The lay practitioner smiled and said, “An Upper Middle Lot. All matters will be perilous but ultimately safe, you will naturally have help from a noble person, your future is worry-free, your body healthy, and your marriage blissful.”

Mu Chi was so moved his eyes welled up: “Thank you, Guanyin Bodhisattva, who rescues from suffering and hardship.”

After leaving the main hall, Mu Chi felt even the post-storm air smelled sweet. In high spirits, his peach-blossom eyes seemed to hold deep affection whenever he looked at anyone, his whole demeanor radiant.

Qi Liao had already guessed the result of the prayer and couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief along with him.

Even if it was just a psychological suggestion, as long as Mu Chi didn’t have any more life-threatening accidents, this trip was worth it.

[The fortune slip says Mu Chi has help from a noble person—it definitely means the Great Demon King!]

[I want the address of this Guanyin Temple within three seconds, I need to go make offerings too!]

[It also mentions a blissful marriage, and considering Mu Chi is on a dating show, and Qi Liao is his noble person…]

[That’s definitely what it means, I’m shipping it already!]

[Congratulations to my male god for the bitterness ending and sweet beginning!]

By the time they finished this trip, it was already noon. Qi Liao said, “Let’s grab a quick bite outside before heading back.”

Then they arrived at a five-star hotel restaurant.

Xu Wuxing: “…*This* is what you call a quick bite?”

Qi Liao said to Mu Chi with a slight trace of mockery, “Didn’t you say you wanted to taste delicacies from land and sea? Today, your wish is granted.”

Mu Chi accepted this quite readily. “Thank you.”

好的，这是接下来的翻译，严格遵循您的要求，保留原文的“风味”、文化概念和 idioms：

—

Normally, a restaurant like this requires reservations made in advance. Qi Liao produced a gold card, and the restaurant manager personally came to greet him, his smile the very picture of obsequiousness: “Young Master Qi gracing us with your presence is our honor. This way, please.”

The manager specially selected a window-side table for them: red velvet curtains, a white tablecloth, and a single bright red rose in a glacial vase. Qi Liao thought this rose resembled Mu Chi—gorgeous, fragrant, seemingly cool and sharp, yet actually incredibly sweet.

A piano in the corner was being played, its melodious and lively tune surrounding them. The fragmented light from the crystal chandelier fell, casting an elegant and charming atmosphere throughout the room. Laughter and spirit sparkled in the corners of Mu Chi’s eyes and brows.

Xu Wuxing said, “This place feels like a couples’ restaurant.”

Qi Liao’s movement of lowering his eyes to browse the menu paused slightly. “It’s just a place to eat.”

He raised his hand to summon a server to order: “Hand-cut Angus beef steak, steamed king crab with egg white, geoduck sashimi, abalone, and then a Utsoi soup, crystal tofu soup.”

The server noted it down and said cheerfully, “Please wait a moment, you three.”

As he spoke, another server brought a bucket of ice containing a bottle of red wine, deftly opened it with a corkscrew, and poured it into a glass decanter. “The manager’s complimentary wine. Would you like it now or with the meal?”

Qi Liao: “With the meal.”

The server then placed the decanter on a nearby sideboard and stood by attentively.

The service was so good that Mu Chi secretly glanced at the menu prices and immediately felt dizzy—a single serving of soup actually cost several hundred yuan.

In this stylish restaurant, it wasn’t appropriate for the camera crew to circle around filming, so they sat at a not-too-distant table to shoot, also ordering meals. Although the production team would reimburse them, they didn’t dare order much.

Mu Chi’s profile was flawless on camera, possessing a kind of pure and pristine feeling, giving fans a feast for the eyes.

[An immortal like him deserves all the delicacies from land and sea!]

[My male god should eat well!]

[Looking at Mu Chi’s peerless beautiful face, I can eat three bowls of rice with it!]

Xu Wuxing suddenly asked, “The production team will reimburse this meal, right?”

Qi Liao: “Doesn’t matter. They’re stingy by habit anyway.”

The production team: …Can you please leave us some face?

[The Great Demon King is still the Great Demon King!]

[Now it feels right!]

[I just love how he looks when he mocks people, so handsome!]

While waiting for the food, the three chatted. Xu Wuxing was the most boisterous and also rather guileless, often inadvertently making Mu Chi laugh. Whenever Mu Chi laughed, Qi Liao’s gaze would subtly sweep over his face.

Besides them, another couple walked in.

The woman was petite, heavily made up, and giggled as she nestled against the man, coquettishly saying, “I want to eat king crab. You said you’d treat me.”

“You really are a little temptress,” the man said dotingly. “I’ll let you eat your fill now, but tonight you have to let me eat my fill.”

“How annoying~!”

Xu Wuxing shuddered and muttered under his breath, “What kind of domineering CEO plot is this? My goosebumps are falling off all over the floor.”

Mu Chi glanced curiously at the couple. Coincidentally, the man also looked over, as if wondering who else besides him had the qualifications to eat in such a high-end restaurant.

When the man saw Mu Chi, he had no reaction. Seeing Xu Wuxing, still no reaction. But when he saw Qi Liao, his bull-like eyes widened and fixed: “Qi Liao?!”

Qi Liao glanced sideways, his expression unchanged, as if looking at a stranger.

“It’s only been a few years since we last met, and you’ve already forgotten me?” The man, furious and flustered, strode over quickly. “What are you doing here?”

Before Qi Liao could speak, the man looked again at Mu Chi and Xu Wuxing, suddenly understanding: “You’re participating in some gay dating show, right? This must be that so-called little celebrity? Tsk tsk, he does have some looks. Pity he’s a man. So disgusting.”

Qi Liao remained outwardly calm, but a clear gloom settled in his eyes. “Zhao Jie, get lost.”

The man named Zhao Jie was rather plain-looking, not even as tall as Mu Chi, and slightly portly. Hearing this, he let go of his girlfriend and sneered, “You tell me to get lost and I get lost? Who the hell do you think you are?”

Qi Liao’s hand rested on the table, lightly tapping it twice. “Fine, don’t get lost. Then kneel down and apologize to him.”

Zhao Jie pointed at Mu Chi’s nose. “You want me to apologize to him? What kind of thing is he— OW!”

Qi Liao had already stood up, grabbing Zhao Jie’s pointing finger and bending it backwards. Zhao Jie howled, his body contorting, his face full of resentment. “Qi Liao! How dare you touch me! My parents won’t let you get away with this!”

Qi Liao sneered: “How old are you, still acting like a baby needing your parents? Isn’t it embarrassing?”

Zhao Jie’s face flushed red with anger, like a piece of pork liver. “None of your damn business! Let go of me!”

Qi Liao continued applying force in the opposite direction. Zhao Jie was really about to kneel, only his mouth remaining hard. His little girlfriend, pale with fright, actually ran off on the spot. Zhao Jie was even more enraged and made it as if to kick and hit Qi Liao.

Qi Liao gave him a fierce shove. The nearly 200-pound Zhao Jie was thrown aside with ease, landing on the carpet like a dead pig with a heavy, dull thump.

No skin was broken, no bones or tendons injured, but it made Zhao Jie cry out in pain.

Qi Liao looked down at him from his superior position. “You wimp. Better go home and drink milk.”

Mu Chi was once again struck by how handsome Qi Liao was, his eyes sparkling with unconcealed admiration, fully exposed to the camera—Gege is really so cool, so badass, I like it so much!