[Eh, how did they leave the secret room already? There are still guests they haven’t met. I really want to keep watching them play games, it was so fun!]
[That back-of-the-hand kiss! Who understands? I really want to rewind that scene and watch it a hundred times! So gentlemanly, ahhhhh—!]
[For the mole, I voted for CEO Lu. He looks way too much like a straight man; can that be faked?]
[I voted for CEO Lu too, but he actually does seem a little interested in Little Bro!]
[Lawyer Si is also a bit suspicious as the mole, I’m betting on him first.]
[Lawyer Si’s little brother seems to know Little Bro. Is there a story between them? Madly eating melons!]
[If you’re brothers, then both should go for it (not really).]
[CEO Lu is starting to get jealous again, and I’m not even surprised. He looks like a control freak. Should I say all bosses are like this? Oh no, I’m getting my pain mask ready.]
[Maybe it’s just boss nature… Silence.]
[How come none of these people can cook? How can you catch a wife without cooking!]
[Just got here, how many tops and bottoms are in this show? How is there a straight man?!]
[Why do I feel like everyone is a top… Only Little Bro looks like a bottom. How does the production team cast people?!]
[Does no one think He Chen looks like a straight man? He doesn’t even hit on Little Bro. Only kisses the hand! How can he hold back!]
[As the saying goes, the one who least looks like a straight man is the straight man. I’m voting for Doctor Ji. He really looks too gay, like a yandere killer from a novel who kills after doing it.]
[Awoo, Lawyer Si, you’re getting cucked! Your little brother is making a move! Go hit him!]
[He Chen chatting with Jiang Xiao is just like roommates, no hint of romantic tension at all.]
[I feel like He Chen actually does like Jiang Xiao, but he doesn’t dare make a move; his personality is too reserved.]
[CEO Lu! Don’t be so ungrateful! Little Bro took the initiative to invite you to stay together, and you refused! Oh, it’s for a kiss, never mind then.]
[Why do I feel that kiss was so deliberate? Shouldn’t CEO Lu have pinned Little Bro against the wall and kissed him fiercely for an hour? How did he just kiss and leave? Could it be he’s trying to clear suspicion as the mole?]
[Collarbone chain! Lawyer Si has been wearing it all along! It really feels like he likes Jiang Xiao, otherwise he would have thrown it in the trash long ago.]
[I just knew CEO Lu was going to come in. I thought there’d be a fight. Didn’t expect CEO Lu to be so tough, actually planning to sleep in the living room!]
[CEO Lu is so tough +1]
[CEO Lu is so tough +2]
[Maybe he did it on purpose, pretending to be jealous because he doesn’t want to room with anyone else?]
[A brow kiss! I-I-I-I’m dead! I ship this CP, please get together quickly!]
[A kiss on the brow means affection, right? So what Lawyer Si means is, even if you don’t love me, I’ll always love you?]
[Holy, this interpretation is god-tier. I’m crying to death. What a century-long tragic romance.]
[I voted! Please sleep together tomorrow, I beg you!]
[Definitely don’t turn off the cameras!]
Three hours before the voting results were announced.
The weather seemed to suddenly improve. Everyone was gradually adapting to life in the cabin. Personal items like phones and computers were still with them, so some started handling work matters while others who were free went outside… to play basketball.
Jiang Xiao loved playing basketball. Although it had been a long time since he last touched one, his movements were a bit rusty at first but became increasingly skilled after a few practice sessions. Si Mingyu went without saying, and Ji Yanli played surprisingly well, too.
“Doctor Ji is really good at basketball.” Jiang Xiao was quite surprised.
Ji Yanli showed no hint of pride, just smiling a little: “It wasn’t as hard as I imagined.”
Jiang Xiao couldn’t help but look at He Chen, the only one on the court the few of them had been running circles around, who hadn’t managed to catch a single ball.
He Chen: “…”
Jiang Xiao tossed him the basketball, giving him an encouraging look.
He Chen lifted the ball, his movements hesitant, and threw it with a toss.
The basketball grazed the net and missed.
He Chen was at a loss: “Sorry, I’m not very good.”
“It’s fine, we’re all just playing for fun.” Jiang Xiao said, walking over to He Chen to adjust his posture. “When shooting, you can lean your body back slightly…”
Bodies just exercised were radiating heat. Jiang Xiao didn’t notice how ambiguous his movements with He Chen were, simply teaching him earnestly.
The tips of He Chen’s ears reddened slightly.
Si Mingyu saw it, his face immediately darkening gloomily. He looked ready to walk over but was blocked by Ji Yanli.
“What are you doing?” Si Mingyu’s tone had a menacing “die if you dare stop me” gloom.
“If you barge over and interrupt like that, you’ll be disliked.” Ji Yanli smiled, not intimidated by Si Mingyu. “Besides, Jiang Xiao is just teaching him to play ball, with no other meaning.”
“Mind your own business.” Si Mingyu was still full of hostility, but his tone weakened slightly. “Brother Jiang wouldn’t like him.”
Yet he kept staring fixedly at the two bodies pressed close together not far away.
His lips unconsciously pursed.
Can’t… can’t go crazy.
Otherwise, his brother would definitely hate him.
Seeing that Si Mingyu had no intention of going over, Ji Yanli nonchalantly lowered his eyes, picked up a bottle of mineral water from the side, and tilted his head back to take a sip.
His pitch-black pupils, however, narrowed slightly, moving imperceptibly, landing coldly on Jiang Xiao.
Jiang Xiao was completely unaware of the undercurrents surging among the others. He saw that He Chen hadn’t undergone professional training, so he taught him a few easier shooting postures, only then realizing the distance between him and He Chen was too close.
Actually, this was all very normal teaching, but Jiang Xiao forgot that the people around him weren’t straight men. Teaching hand-in-hand like this might very well give them the wrong message.
“…You try it?” Jiang Xiao said, trying to make his tone as flat as possible.
He Chen made an “Mm” sound, somewhat stiffly raised his hand, tried out the posture, and then shot.
With a “thunk,” the basketball went cleanly through the hoop.
“Wow—” Jiang Xiao gave face and applauded. He Chen was a bit in disbelief too and said thank you to Jiang Xiao.
Jiang Xiao’s eyes curved up slightly as he waved at him, then took the mineral water Si Mingyu handed over and started chatting with him.
Halftime break.
Sunlight broke through the dark clouds. A thread of golden light slipped through a gap in the clouds, landing just right on Jiang Xiao’s slightly damp hair, shining in his bright, clear eyes. He Chen stared blankly for a while, not knowing what he was thinking, then sullenly averted his gaze.
Jiang Xiao hadn’t played basketball this freely in a long time. Coming back to his senses, he just felt very hot. Right then, Si Mingyu handed him a bottle of ice water, still emitting cold air.
Awesome!
“Thanks.” Jiang Xiao said happily.
Si Mingyu stared at the rolling arc of Jiang Xiao’s Adam’s apple as he tilted his head back to drink, and the sweat beads like crushed diamonds on his skin, thinking: I really want to lick it.
“Brother Jiang.” Si Mingyu tried his best to control his breathing, afraid of scaring Jiang Xiao, and asked casually, “Tomorrow, do you want to stay with me?”
“Huh?” Jiang Xiao opened his mouth, wanting to say your brother already booked me first, but recalling what Si Lin had done, the words rolling on the tip of his tongue were a little hard to say.
He could still recall the kiss that landed on his brow, devoid of any erotic meaning, but instead cautious, solemn, and prudent.
His heart tightened for an instant.
Although after it ended, Si Lin didn’t say anything either, Jiang Xiao was still dazed for a moment.
“See you tonight.” Si Lin said.
“…See you tonight.”
Would this be enough to raise their CP support rate? Jiang Xiao subconsciously raised his hand to brush his forehead, but then paused, tilting his head up to look at the sky.
The sunlight had become scorching.
“Brother Jiang?” Seeing Jiang Xiao’s distracted look, Si Mingyu immediately had a bad feeling and said, “Si Lin went to find you.”
This sentence wasn’t a question, but a statement.
It also carried a faint anger.
“Mm…” Jiang Xiao planned to brush it off, but then heard Si Mingyu say, “Did Big Brother really forget about what happened before?”
“What happened?” Jiang Xiao felt energized.
Si Mingyu, however, hesitated, only saying through gritted teeth: “Do you like him?”
“…No.” Jiang Xiao said. “Haven’t I only just met all of you? Even if I liked someone, it would need a process.”
“He’s just a hypocrite who always pretends to be a good person in front of you.” Si Mingyu said resentfully. “Does Big Brother have to be fooled by his fake front every time? What an idiot!”
Jiang Xiao, inexplicably the target of a personal attack: “??”
“What did he do?” Jiang Xiao frowned slightly. “Tell me.”
“It’s because the first person Big Brother met in the secret room was Si Lin, so you subconsciously developed a good impression of him.” Si Mingyu didn’t answer, only murmuring. “Why wasn’t the person Big Brother met… me?”
“I didn’t really…”
“Really?” Si Mingyu’s eyes were icy cold, his voice losing its usual sticky sweetness. In that instant, he somewhat resembled Si Lin.
“Even if he did something, you’d always forgive him.” Si Mingyu said. “Clearly… I was the one who met you first.”
