Chapter 4: Confession

【What’s going on? Mu Chi isn’t faking it, is he?】

【From the start of the show until now, all the intimate moments on the     dating show have been between Qi Liao and Mu Chi. Is that really okay?】

【Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!]

No matter how much the live stream viewers were causing a commotion, Mu Chi couldn’t see it. He felt dizzy and his heart was racing: “I’m fine. I’m the man who won the long-distance running championship.”

As he spoke, he struggled a few times. With that movement, a cold sweat broke out on his body, his stomach churned, and he turned his head and vomited all over the floor.

Qi Liao was still holding him up, frowning slightly as if slightly disgusted, but he continued to help him, patting Mu Chi’s back, Mu Chi’s back was very thin, and Qi Liao immediately felt his back, causing his heart to skip a beat as if he had been burned.

Others rushed over, and the scene became chaotic, with no one knowing what to do.

Xu Wuxing exclaimed in shock, “Why is he vomiting pink? Is he poisoned?”

Qi Liao couldn’t explain it, and Mu Chi didn’t know what was happening either. Upon hearing the word “poisoned,” he fainted instantly. The production team hurriedly prepared to take him to the hospital.

“He probably isn’t poisoned.” Qi Liao carried Mu Chi on his back and headed toward the villa.

Hao Wenrou picked up Qi Liao’s shoes and placed them in a small cart, while Lucas and Xu Wuxing pulled a cart full of vegetables back toward the villa.

Actually, Mu Chi had woken up halfway there. He caught a whiff of the familiar soap scent and felt a stir in his heart, so he continued to feign unconsciousness. His face was nestled against Qi Liao’s neck, and he caught a faint whiff of tea scent. He had thought it was part of the soap scent, but upon closer inspection, it was coming from Qi Liao’s hair,a very refreshing scent.

It felt like he had smelled it somewhere before.

Mu Chi recalled an article in the library’s science journal, which stated that while human memory may fade, certain moments—such as a thunderclap-like sensation that shakes the soul, or a scent that quietly permeates the lungs—can suddenly resurface like seeds sprouting after spring rain. Every tender shoot that grows is a reminder of the past.

Mu Chi was certain he had once smelled Qi Liao’s scent up close.

He couldn’t help but lean in closer to smell again.

In that instant, Qi Liao’s back suddenly stiffened. He could feel Mu Chi’s breath on his neck, tickling him like feathers.

 Qi Liao clenched his back teeth and twisted Mu Chi’s thigh maliciously.

Mu Chi let out a startled cry.

Qi Liao kept his eyes straight ahead, thinking to himself that Mu Chi looked thin but his legs were quite fleshy… Wait, where had he twisted him just now?

In this position, the only part he could have touched was the inner thigh. Recalling Mu Chi’s cry just now… Qi Liao felt a surge of heat rising up, and strode toward the villa and tossed Mu Chi onto the sofa.

Mu Chi glared at Qi Liao, wanting to speak but too shy to do so.

Qi Liao said dryly, “No need to thank me,” and quickly changed the subject, “What did you eat for breakfast?”

Mu Chi listed what he had eaten: “Millet porridge, green beans, dried radish, a piece of steamed bun, and half a dragon fruit after meals.”

“Then it’s fine.” Qi Liao walked toward the cabinet near the kitchen, took out a cup and a packet of powdered substance, poured a cup of warm water to dissolve it, and handed it to Mu Chi.

“Milk powder?” Mu Chi asked.

“Glucose,” Qi Liao said. “You must be experiencing hypoglycemia.”

Mu Chi was surprised. When did he develop hypoglycemia? His body was that weak? The more he thought about it, the weaker he felt, and he laid down, unable to move.

Qi Liao holding the glucose water: “…”

Ying Xuan said, “When someone has hypoglycemia, they have no strength. You feed him.”

Before Qi Liao could agree, Lucas rushed over: “I’ll feed him. I’m more gentle.”

Xu Wuxing snorted: “If you’re talking about gentleness, there’s already someone here who fits the bill.” 

#tl.note (wenrou name contains gentle)

Hao Wenrou was pushed forward by Xu Wuxing and didn’t refuse. He took the glucose water from Qi Liao’s hands. His face was flushed, whether from the sun or something else, and his eyes were hazy, making him look extremely charming.

Qi Liao was blind and had no intention of looking at the beauty. He let go of the cup and furrowed his brows.

Hao Wenrou spoke softly to Mu Chi: “Mu Ge, get up and drink some glucose water. It’ll make you feel better.” It was like coaxing a child and people got goose bumps when they heard it.

Mu Chi said weakly, “Let me rest for a moment. Put it there for now. I’ll drink it later.”

“That won’t work. It will only be effective if you drink now.”

Mu Chi had no choice but to open his mouth and wait to be fed.

Hao Wenrou was at a loss, “Do we have a spoon?”

Ying Xuan brought a spoon, and Hao Wenrou fed Mu Chi the glucose water one spoonful at a time.

【Ah ah ah, Mu Chi and Wenrou are truly meant for each other!】

【The Demon King should be jealous.】

【Is Mu Chi vomiting pink because he ate dragon fruit?】

【Laughing so hard, I really thought he was poisoned.】

【I thought Mu Chi was a divine being, so his vomit is different from others.】

【It’s the first time I’ve seen someone vomit so beautifully/laughing and crying】

【I was so scared, luckily Mu Chi is okay】

【Did anyone notice? Mu Chi is a little funny after losing his memory】…

By the time Mu Chi recovered, lunch was ready. He was too lazy to make any expression, so in the camera, he looked as cold and aloof as usual, like an immortal who was detached from the mundane world.

There were six dishes and one soup, and except for the braised pork, all the others were vegetarian.

Seeing Qi Liao, wearing an apron, bring a large bowl of loofah and egg soup to the table, Mu Chi couldn’t help but secretly praise him, “How virtuous.”

Once seated, Mu Chi first used the soup to soak his rice, then picked up a piece of braised pork with a perfect balance of fat and lean meat, stuffing it whole into his mouth and chewing slowly. The aroma of the meat filled his lips and tongue, smooth and tender, yet incredibly juicy and tender when bitten into, almost melting in his mouth, incredibly sweet.

Mu Chi’s heart and stomach are deeply satisfied. A happy person is always eager to share their joy, so he picked up another piece of braised pork and placed it in Qi Liao’s bowl across from him.

Qi Liao: “…”

Others: “?”

The atmosphere suddenly grew quiet, and Mu Chi’s joy came to an abrupt halt. He finally remembered his persona and stared at Qi Liao with wide eyes, carefully picking the braised pork out of Qi Liao’s bowl: “Sorry, I put it in the wrong place.”

The braised pork took a detour and landed in Hao Wenrou’s bowl next to Qi Liao.

Hao Wenrou was at a loss for words, not knowing whether to thank him or not.

【…………】

【The habit of feeling embarrassed for others has resurfaced】

【Qi Liao takes care of Mu Chi so much, but Mu Chi is not touched at all】

【The Big Devil’s expression looks like he’s about to kill someone, hahaha】

Although Qi Liao was holding back his anger, he didn’t explode during the meal. He only glared at Mu Chi fiercely.

Mu Chi was already feeling guilty, and seeing Qi Liao glare at him made him even more uncomfortable. But he could only silently eat his rice—the cold and aloof male god persona couldn’t collapse.

After dinner, Hao Wenrou took on the task of washing the dishes. Mu Chi then realized that while cooking was always handled by Qi Liao and Ying Xuan, dishwashing was rotated among the four of them, with each person taking a day.

Now it was a three-person rotation. How could Mu Chi have the nerve to just eat and not do anything? He said, “I’ll wash the dishes tomorrow.”

“Mu Ge, you should just rest.” Xu Wuxing said, “Your body can’t afford to get tired right now.”

“What’s so tiring about washing dishes? It’s decided then.” Mu Chi didn’t want to argue, his eyes vaguely following Qi Liao, “What are the activities for this afternoon?”

Ying Xuan said, “We were originally going to pick apples, but it’s been changed to free time.”

“Why? I’m good at picking fruit.” Mu Chi perked up at the mention of fruit. His family used to have an orchard, and every summer was the season for picking fruit and climbing trees—he loved it.

Ying Xuan couldn’t help but chuckle, “Then can you pick stars?”

Mu Chi paused, “The stars are far away in the sky, out of reach.”

“But there’s one star you can reach.” Ying Xuan spoke with a double meaning.

Mu Chi asked, “Which star? A shooting star?”

Xu Wuxing interjected, “My star.” 

(#xing mean star in chinese)

Mu Chi: “…”

Ying Xuan: “…”

Qi Liao sneered, “I think it’s a star of disaster that can’t distinguish between front and back nasal sounds.”

Mu Chi looked at Qi Liao in confusion. He didn’t seem to have offended this young master yet. Could it be that a gentleman’s revenge is never too late?

Lucas looked at Ying Xuan with a half-smile, “You’re really quite clever.”

Ying Xuan: “Thank you, please don’t insult me.”

Lucas shrugged, “Too bad you met a little fool.”

Meanwhile, Mu Chi, completely oblivious to the  shura atmosphere, happily followed Qi Liao upstairs, racking his brain for ways to get closer to him.

The afternoon activities weren’t important; what mattered was whether he could interact with the cool guy.

【…………….】

【No way? No way???】

【The movie star actually likes Mu Chi too?!!】

【Great, besides Qi Liao, the remaining five all like Mu Chi】

【Five people?? Don’t scare me】

【Mu Chi also likes himself; a male god should be narcissistic!】

【What’s the difference between that and masturbating in front of a mirror?】

【Stop it! This is weird XP development!  I’m a firm believer in male gods x innocent flower fan】

……

The entire afternoon was truly free time.

Except for the time when Qi Liao went to the gym, Mu Chi followed him and feasted his eyes, his mind filled with Qi Liao’s broad shoulders, long legs, and masculine waist. The remaining hours were wasted.

Mu Chi really wanted to slap away the cameraman who was circling around him and Qi Liao, preventing him from saying a single word to Qi Liao. The path to pursuing a cool guy is long and arduous.

Just as Mu Chi thought the day was over, the assistant director invited them to a family’s home down the mountain for a meal, as the blessings of a 100th birthday celebration must be shared.

Mu Chi grabbed his flashlight, expressionless but ecstatic, and headed out. He was almost suffocating from the whole day of pretending. He wondered how he had ever endured it.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Qi Liao slip a small strip into his pants pocket, which seemed to have the words “glucose” on it, and Mu Chi couldn’t take his eyes off it.

Qi Liao walked toward him, passing by like the wind.

Mu Chi hurriedly asked, “Is that glucose?”

Qi Liao replied, “Glucose is also a sports supplement.”

Mu Chi felt deeply disappointed upon hearing this, “So it wasn’t prepared for me.”

As twilight descended, the sky was ablaze with vibrant hues like the last blossom of the day. Under the walls covered in blooming roses, Mu Chi, dressed in white, resembled a ghost—a sad one at that.

Qi Liao stared at him for three seconds, then pulled out the glucose and shoved it into Mu Chi’s arms. “Here, take it.”

Mu Chi’s eyes lit up, suppressing his excitement and followed.

The four people behind them: “…”

The cameraman: “…” Regretting not running to the front, otherwise he could have gotten more shots.

【Can the lighting be better?? We can’t even see what the Big Devil did to the Male God!】

【It seems like something was stuffed into Mu Chi】

【…Turns out it’s glucose】

Since Mu Chi had nowhere to put the glucose, he pinned it to his ear, where everyone could see it.

Qi Liao glanced over unintentionally and was speechless.

Mu Chi suppressed his facial expressions, but inside he was very happy. This was the first gift Qi Liao had given him, and he wanted the whole world to see it!

After Mu Chi’s thin little ears repeatedly dropped the glucose, Hao Wenrou couldn’t help but say, “Brother Mu, let me help you get it.”

Mu Chi thought for a moment, opened the glucose powder, poured it into his mouth, and let it dissolve slowly. He handed the packaging paper to Hao Wenrou and said, “Thank you.”

Hao Wenrou: “…You’re welcome.” It’s just throwing away some trash, after all.

The glucose melted in Mu Chi’s mouth, the sweetness reaching his heart. He couldn’t help but speed up to catch up with Qi Liao, maintaining a distance of one and a half meters.

Xu Wuxing rushed forward with a smile and said, “Why don’t we have a race to see who gets to the bottom of the mountain first? The first one to get there can ask the others for a reward.”

Lucas raised an eyebrow and said, “That’s a good idea. Shall we race?”

Ying Xuan: “I don’t mind. Let’s see what they say.”

Hao Wenrou hesitated for a moment, looking at Qi Liao and Mu Chi in front of him, “I can do it.”

Xu Wuxing called out to Mu Chi, who turned his face and replied in a cold voice, “Okay.”

Mu Chi was excited inside. This was too convenient—it was like someone bringing an umbrella when it was about to rain. He was the long-distance running champion of First High School. If he won, he would ask Qi Liao for a kiss as a reward.

Xu Wuxing was the first to run out, shouting happily, “Start now!”

Mu Chi didn’t expect Xu Wuxing to be so shameless.  He hurried to catch up but accidentally stepped into thin air, stumbling forward. He was about to fall flat on his face—

when his arm was suddenly grabbed, causing him to lose his balance and fall into a familiar, sturdy embrace.

Looking up, he saw the young man with his handsome features, his thick eyebrows furrowed, his eyes dark: “Can’t you just give me a break?”

Though it was a reprimand, Mu Chi could hear the concern in his voice. He stared intently at Qi Liao, his heart pounding in his chest, as if a rabbit were knocking on the door with a bouquet of flowers, filled with love, wanting to give the flowers to the beloved on the other side of the door.

“…I must have liked you,” Mu Chi murmured softly.

Boom—boom—boom boom—

The fireworks for the hundredth birthday celebration at the foot of the mountain began to bloom at that moment, their vibrant colors enveloping half the mountain in the deepening night. That dazzling light fell into Mu Chi’s eyes, curving into a soft arc.

Qi Liao was stunned, suspecting he was hallucinating. “What?”

There was no need to ask, because Qi Liao had heard it before, just three days earlier, in the morning Mu Chi had tumbled down the slope. He was clearly closest, and upon noticing something was amiss, he reached out to grab Mu Chi, but he was a second too late.

He watched helplessly as Mu Chi fell.

Afterward, he climbed down the slope, checked Mu Chi’s injuries as calmly as possible, saw that his head had hit a rock and was bleeding heavily, he picked him up, pressed his hand on the wound to stop the bleeding, and pinched Mu Chi’s nose with the other hand.

Mu Chi woke up, his peach-blossom eyes filled with confusion. After a moment, he seemed to feel pain, his beautiful face slightly furrowed, exuding a vulnerability he didn’t usually have.

Qi Liao said, “Don’t sleep.” He hoisted him onto his back and struggled up the slope.

Stepping over gravel, dead branches, and overgrown weeds, Qi Liao felt his breath against his neck. He should be out of immediate danger, as long as he was taken to the hospital in time.

“Qi Liao…”

“Don’t speak. Save your strength,” Qi Liao interrupted simply.

Mu Chi’s voice was like a kite string floating in the air, breaking with the slightest tug: “Qi Liao, I don’t really hate you.”

“…”

“If I die, I don’t want to… leave myself with regrets.”

Qi Liao wanted to say it wasn’t that serious, but for some reason, he suddenly became curious about Mu Chi’s next words.

Mu Chi’s voice grew fainter: “I don’t really hate you. Actually, I…”

“What?” Qi Liao asked.

“…I actually like…you.”

After that, Qi Liao carried the unconscious Mu Chi up the steep slope to the hospital and returned to the scene that afternoon to cooperate with the police’s routine investigation. Everything proceeded smoothly and orderly. Unlike others who felt guilty and panicked, Qi Liao showed no emotion at all.

No one knew that beneath his seemingly composed exterior lay a restless heart. Like the seeds of a dandelion drifting to distant lands, taking root and sprouting in sunny places, blooming into new flowers.