The Love Reality Show's Big Boss and Little Sweetie - Chapter 51

The whole roasted lamb had turned into a charred mess, its outer layer blackened and crusty.

Xu Wuxing inexplicably felt a sense of balance in his heart and ate with great relish. Qi Liao, expressionless, used his military knife to scrape off the burnt outer skin, cut the lamb into small pieces, sprinkled them with cumin, and gave them to Mu Chi.

The steaming, oily lamb melted tenderly in the mouth, leaving a fragrant aroma, completely devoid of the gamey mutton smell. Mu Chi ate a whole small plate in one go until his stomach felt greasy, then had some lettuce and oranges.

If there was one downside to this bonfire party, it was the heat.

The sea breeze was cool but couldn’t dispel the intense heat from the fire pit. Everyone kept their distance, only approaching to cut a piece of lamb when they really wanted to eat.

“So delicious,” Xu Wuxing sighed, tilting his head back. A small tuft of hair was tied on his forehead, looking less disastrous than before.

But Mu Chi still found it amusing and had to resist the urge to look at him.

After dinner, to salvage his image, Xu Wuxing suggested singing a song to liven up the night. Mu Chi led the applause: “Great.”

Blushing slightly, Xu Wuxing brought out a small speaker from the tent and played an accompaniment. It seemed he had prepared this in advance, just waiting for a chance to show off.

Under the starry night sky, with the sea breeze and the blazing bonfire, Xu Wuxing sang passionately: “Ah~ I once admired your face, was infatuated with your embrace, but now ah~ I love everything about you…”

Mu Chi: “…”

[Our Star has really improved; he can write his own lyrics now!]

[Hahaha, so sincere]

[Should’ve set up some heart-shaped candles for more atmosphere]

After finishing the song, Xu Wuxing looked at Mu Chi expectantly, “Brother Mu, what do you think of me?”

Mu Chi issued a good person card: “You’re a good person. I’ll always think of you as a little brother.”

Xu Wuxing looked resentful: “I don’t want to be your little brother. I will work hard to grow up, I’ll grow up everywhere.”

“…Your growing up will bring joy to your parents and your future lover. I congratulate you in advance.”

The rejection couldn’t be clearer. Xu Wuxing couldn’t press further, “Alright, when I’ve grown up, you must give me a chance.”

Mu Chi was about to give a vague response when he caught sight of Qi Liao’s slightly cold expression from the corner of his eye. He immediately changed his tune: “We are impossible. You’re not my type.”

Xu Wuxing was stunned, then ran away crying “Waaah!”

Once again, chaos ensued as a group of people chased after him, leaving only Mu Chi and Qi Liao behind.

The two looked at each other. Mu Chi smiled wryly: “He’s just a kid.”

Qi Liao: “Kids can be pretty annoying sometimes.”

The group dragged Xu Wuxing back for the third time. Ying Xuan, though thirty-five, felt his old legs were about to give out. He scolded, “It’s pitch black out there. No more running off.”

Xu Wuxing stared pitifully at Mu Chi, hoping he would change his mind.

Mu Chi hardened his heart and looked away. Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind. Otherwise, you’ll only suffer the consequences.

Xu Wuxing channeled his grief and indignation into strength: “I won’t give up! Unless you get married!”

Mu Chi instinctively glanced at Qi Liao, a look full of unspoken meaning.

Qi Liao was taken aback. The word “marriage” had never featured in his twenty-four years of life. But now, with that glance from Mu Chi, his heart skipped a beat, and the concept suddenly became concrete—if he were to marry Mu Chi, it seemed… rather nice.

This bonfire party, originally intended for Qi Liao, had been delayed for a long time by Xu Wuxing. Once he settled down, Mu Chi played a cheerful English song on the small speaker to enhance the atmosphere.

Everyone sat on folding chairs, eating fruit and snacks, chatting occasionally.

Hao Wenrou poured a few glasses of wine and said, “Let’s make a toast.”

Everyone stood up and gathered around the long table, clinking their glasses together. “Cheers.”

Lucas started telling stories, again about his hometown. Mu Chi asked, “Are you feeling homesick?”

“Yes,” Lucas admitted frankly. “But my parents have already left there, the house is sold. I can’t go back.”

A hometown with no one you know is no longer a hometown. Returning feels like being in a foreign land. Mu Chi deeply understood this feeling. “When I go back to my old home in the mountains now, I still get disoriented. All the neighbors have moved away.”

After sharing some heartfelt thoughts, Mu Chi, to lighten the mood, switched the small speaker to a more upbeat song. A female voice sang low and slow about fantasies of love.

As the notes began to soar, Lucas, holding his wine glass, started swaying his body. “Come on, babies.”

When it came to dancing, that was Xu Wuxing’s specialty. He swung his limbs and glided out, forgetting all his sorrows once he started dancing, focused only on the dance itself. “Come on, everyone, dance!”

At first, the others were still reserved. But when Mu Chi stepped out with dance moves, everyone’s shyness and inhibitions melted away.

Gradually, Ying Xuan and Hao Wenrou also started dancing around Mu Chi. Not to be outdone, Xu Wuxing cartwheeled around Mu Chi, jumping around more energetically than a monkey.

Mu Chi laughed heartily and called out to Qi Liao, “Come on!”

Qi Liao didn’t move.

Mu Chi pushed through the crowd and hopped over to Qi Liao in a few bouncing steps, grabbing his large hand and pulling him up. “Come on.”

Qi Liao moved closer to his energetically swaying body, his deep grey-brown eyes fixed intently on him. “I don’t know how to dance.”

“Besides painting, you also can’t dance.” Mu Chi grinned brilliantly. “So you’re not all-powerful after all. I’ll remember that.”

To say Qi Liao couldn’t dance was an understatement; compared to the others, he was practically a block of wood. Mu Chi pulled him close until they were almost touching. “It’s fine, I’ll teach you. How about the Tango?”

Qi Liao’s eyes lowered slightly, the sharp lines of his handsome face softening. “Okay.”

Mu Chi raised his right hand to hold Qi Liao’s left, a little higher than shoulder-level, and placed his left hand on Qi Liao’s broad shoulder. “Put your hand on my waist.”

Qi Liao, uncharacteristically clumsy, placed his right hand on Mu Chi’s waist. “And then?”

[It’s clear now, the Demon King really can’t dance.]

[Hahaha, Mu Chi always manages to uncover what the Demon King can’t do.]

[ Beauty and the Beast vibes.]

Mu Chi taught patiently: “You step out with your left foot first, then move right, right again, turn a circle— Ouch!”

Qi Liao had stepped on Mu Chi’s foot.

The beach shoes were thin, so the step hurt quite a bit. Qi Liao immediately withdrew his feet and dropped his hands. “Sorry.”

Mu Chi held back tears. “It’s fine, it’ll get better with more practice. It’s easy to step on your partner’s foot the first time.”

“Maybe I should just—”

“Come on!” Mu Chi refused to admit defeat. He was determined to teach Qi Liao. A hard night’s work for a happy latter half of one’s life— it was worth it.

The two started dancing again, their movements very slow. Qi Liao was careful not to step on Mu Chi’s feet again.

Xu Wuxing watched from the side,feeling jealous and sulky. “If Brother Mu danced with me, I’d definitely be better than Brother Qi.”

Hao Wenrou remarked with a tone of pointed sarcasm: “You’re a dancer originally, how can you compare yourself to Brother Qi?”

“We are both people lost at the ends of the earth, you’re not much better off than me.”

Hao Wenrou’s face turned blotchy with anger. “What I’m like is none of your business.”

Xu Wuxing: “Naturally it’s none of my business. So you shouldn’t be saying those sour words to me either.”

“…”

[Xu Wuxing has really improved; he can actually out-argue Hao Wenrou now.]

[Wenrou is about to become not-so-Wenrou anymore.]

[Tea-talk ultimately can’t withstand a heavy punch.]

[While those two were busy being jealous, the Demon King has already mastered the Tango.]

It had to be said, Qi Liao’s learning ability was astonishing. After Mu Chi taught him just twice, he remembered all the steps and danced like a natural-born dancer.

Xu Wuxing fell silent.

Everyone else fell silent.

[This is insane. Qi Liao actually unlocked a dancing skill?]

[It’s because the male god taught well—simple and easy to learn. I almost learned it myself.]

[I learn it as soon as I see it, but mess it up as soon as I try it.]

“Okay, let’s dance through the whole thing once.” Mu Chi was like a patient kindergarten teacher. “I’ll count the beats— one, two, three, four, five, six, seven…”

The two quickened their steps. Their intertwined hands and chasing feet were like a pair of lovers in that ambiguous stage—awkward and sweet.

The spirited music enhanced the dance, the blazing flames swayed for them, and even the starry sea seemed captivated.

Actually, dancing on the sand wasn’t easy. The kicked-up sand patted against Mu Chi’s calves, but under the firelight, it added a wonderful sense of sweetness.

The dance was short, but intense. Everyone watched quietly until the end.

Xu Wuxing was speechless. No one understood the meaning of dance better than him. Any emotion could be expressed through dance—flamboyant, bittersweet, sweet. Just a glance or a movement while dancing could convey it utterly and completely.

Only two people who liked each other could dance such a pure, passionate duet like that.

Mu Chi was slightly sweaty, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Qi Liao.

Qi Liao looked back at him the same way. The two smiled at each other.

“You danced really well.”

“You taught well.”

[…I want to report “You Also Have This Day” for single dog abuse.]

[I’m dying from sweetness.]

[If they aren’t dating, I’ll cut my head off and send it to the director.]

Director: …Thanks, but no need.

Sigh, they still saw through it. The production team collectively worried. Whenever a couple emerges on a show, just spreading sugar isn’t enough. It has to be more thrilling for the audience to stay.

Love rival confrontations… Damn it, Mu Chi just doesn’t take the bait! His eyes only have Qi Liao in them!

Wait… If Mu Chi doesn’t take the bait, what about Qi Liao? The Director refused to believe there was no one outside the show who liked Qi Liao, someone whom Qi Liao also knew.

The thick-skinned Director contacted Qi Yuan: “President Qi, sorry to disturb you. It’s like this…”

After hanging up, the Director revealed a wicked, evil smile: “Jiejiejie, the good show is coming.”

Production Team: Director, you really resemble a malicious villain.

Back with the group, Mu Chi, having finished dancing, drank a large glass of water. Lucas stroked his chin and asked, “I have a question, but I don’t know if I should ask.”

Mu Chi: “Then don’t ask.”

Lucas: “Were you dancing the female part in the Tango?”

Mu Chi: “…” How did he notice? “What, you want to dance too?”

Lucas laughed: “I wouldn’t mind being the female part if I danced with you.”

Mu Chi felt a chill of disgust: “I would mind.”

“Then I’ll be the male part.”

“I won’t dance with you.”

Xu Wuxing moved closer. “Brother Mu, I’ll dance with you.”

Mu Chi collapsed onto a folding chair. “So tired, can’t dance anymore.”

Xu Wuxing pouted, wanting to persist, but Qi Liao came over and unobtrusively blocked him. He said to Mu Chi, “I brought canned yellow peaches. Do you want some?”

Mu Chi needed something sweet to replenish his energy. “Yes.”

Qi Liao brought him the chilled can, wrapped in a handkerchief to prevent his hands from getting too cold, and placed a stainless steel spoon inside. “It’s a bit cold. Blow on it before eating.”

“Mm.” Mu Chi took the can and started eating happily. The slight chill felt incredibly comfortable from his taste buds down to his stomach.

Seeing Xu Wuxing still standing there, Qi Liao said “Move aside,” then squatted in front of Mu Chi and took one of his feet. “Let me see.”

After taking off the beach shoe, a small bruise was visible on the pale, slender top of Mu Chi’s foot. Qi Liao held it with both hands and pressed gently with his thumbs. Mu Chi immediately let out a soft sound: “It hurts.”

Qi Liao looked up, his Adam’s apple bobbing, and uttered one word: “So Delicate.”

How could it bruise from just one step? It bruised from a pinch too. Was Mu Chi’s skin made of water? So fragile.

Thinking this, Qi Liao still took out some bruise relief essential oil and began carefully massaging and kneading Mu Chi’s foot.

[……………………]

[Is this something I’m allowed to see?!]

[So staying up late does have its perks!]

[Mu Chi’s feet are really pretty. The foot touching is too suggestive/Drooling.]