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Chapter 2: The Gentle Scholar Male Lead – Wen Shijin
Warm but not overly so, distant but not aloof…
Even after finishing his morning run, Huo Qi showed no sign of breathlessness. His black shirt was meticulously buttoned up to the collar, exuding a cold, restrained aura tinged with an almost ascetic vibe. His slender, phoenix-like eyes remained as indifferent and composed as yesterday, devoid of any emotion.
The man who followed him in wore a simple white shirt, his demeanor gentle as jade, refined and composed—like an elegant nobleman who had walked out of a traditional painting.
When his delicate phoenix-shaped eyes glanced at you, they radiated warmth. But if you got closer, hoping to connect, a subtle sense of distance would become evident, making him difficult to truly approach.
Green Tea System: “The protagonist of the scholarly male lead story, Wen Shijin, has a personality that is warm but not overly so, distant but not alienating. He is approachable but guards his heart. Meticulous and intelligent, he possesses an exceptionally high IQ.”
“The illegitimate son of the Wen family, his mother was a kind, simple woman from a rural village who was deceived by a married professor from Jing University during a countryside survey. After suffering countless hardships, she passed away from illness but left her son with a heartfelt wish: to grow into a gentle, upright man who could contribute to the nation.”
“Thus, despite growing up in darkness and mired in hardship, Wen Shijin blossomed into a refined, extraordinary young man who could take one’s breath away.”
“Precociously intelligent, he skipped grades and worked multiple jobs to support himself. When he refused to acknowledge his paternal family, the Wen family retaliated by using their influence to make life difficult for him in the capital. Calm and composed, he signed up for the reality show, gaining selection due to his good looks. With room, board, and pay provided, and the added protection of a live-streamed program, the Wen family’s underhanded tactics were rendered ineffective.”
“When results for national-level academic competitions were released, his multiple first-place rankings earned him a direct admission to Jing University. With unparalleled talent in research and impeccable precision in experiments, he later resolved numerous world-class scientific challenges, becoming the youngest academician in the research institute and a nationally protected talent. Even his enemies were dealt with by the state on his behalf.”
This flood of information was absorbed by Ning Qingyan in an instant. She plated the fried egg onto a pristine white dish, then turned to glance at the doorway. With a smile curling at her lips, she said lightly,
“I made some breakfast. Would you like to join me?”
The morning light fell on the youth wearing an apron. His crescent-shaped peach blossom eyes gleamed bright and clear with his smile, instantly evoking a favorable impression.
Green Tea System: “Huo Qi’s favorability +1.”
Green Tea System: “Wen Shijin’s favorability +1.”
Huo Qi hesitated for a moment before responding in his usual cold tone, “No, thank you.”
Almost out of habit, he declined, striding briskly through the living room and heading upstairs, leaving Wen Shijin behind.
Ning Qingyan’s beautiful peach blossom eyes turned curiously toward the young man standing tall and straight at the doorway, his posture as rigid as a pine tree. The black-and-white contrast in his gaze conveyed a hint of nervousness befitting a first meeting.
Their eyes met. Wen Shijin gave a slight nod, his delicate brows serene.
“Hello, I’m Wen Shijin,” he said.
His voice, low and warm, was like fine jade falling onto a piece of rosewood—soothing and rich. Even this simple introduction was enough to evoke goodwill.
Live-stream comments:
“Ahhh, I will forever love gentle and refined men! His face reminds me of the devoted second male lead in novels!”
“The guy in the black shirt who just went upstairs is incredible too! Cold, elegant, and restrained—I love this type so much. I came here for my favorite idol Qingqing, but I’m about to switch sides!”
“Talk about a visual feast right from the start! The male guests’ quality is off the charts—way better than the typical fresh-faced celebrities. I was worried the all-amateur male lineup wouldn’t match the all-star female guests, but I feel like this show is going to explode in popularity!”
“The boy in the white shirt cooking breakfast—he’s every teenage crush come to life! I’m picking him for sure!”
…
The miniature cameras embedded in the corners began silently rotating, capturing close-ups and wide angles as the show’s director and assistants worked tirelessly to adjust the live-feed, ensuring the broadcast stayed seamless.
Ning Qingyan glanced at Wen Shijin’s suitcase and, while removing her apron, said softly,
“Hi, I’m Ning Qingyan, one of the male guests. Your room is the double on the left upstairs. If you haven’t had breakfast yet, feel free to come down after unpacking—I made plenty.”
The boy’s voice was clear and melodious, unlike the roughness of typical male voices. It was clean and pleasant to the ear.
Green Tea System: “Wen Shijin’s favorability +1.”
“Thank you,” Wen Shijin replied warmly, his phoenix eyes gentle. Carrying his luggage, he walked briskly toward the stairs.
The living room was now empty except for Ning Qingyan. She efficiently carried the dishes to the dining table. As the camera zoomed in, the audience could clearly see the simple, appetizing green side dishes and the large, perfectly round fried eggs.
Having long grown accustomed to Huo Qi’s rejections, Ning Qingyan was unbothered. She served herself a bowl of millet porridge and placed a piece of fried egg onto a small plate. With practiced skill, she spread a layer of Lao Gan Ma chili sauce on the egg, added a few pieces of crisp, juicy pickled cucumbers, and rolled it up.
Taking a bite, she savored the crispy egg, the salty chili sauce, and the refreshing cucumber. A sip of fragrant, sticky millet porridge completed the experience. The explosion of flavors made viewers’ mouths water, leading many to order takeout despite it not yet being lunchtime.
Live-stream Comments:
After entering his room, Huo Qi retrieved three laptops from his suitcase. His slender, defined fingers flew across the keyboards, displaying various stock trend graphs on the screens, their movements gradually converging. He paused briefly, unbuttoning his shirt single-handedly before grabbing a change of clothes and heading to the bathroom.
One button at a time, his collar loosened, revealing his well-defined collarbone and sculpted abs. After a quick shower to wash off the morning’s sweat, he washed his hair and reached for a dry towel to dry off. The towel carried a scent of sun-dried grass mixed with the fragrance of shampoo—a soothing combination.
As he wiped his hair, his mind flashed back to the innocent-looking boy holding the towel earlier. With a slight pause, he dismissed the thought. After finishing up, he threw the towel into the washing machine and resumed work on his laptop.
Meanwhile, Wen Shijin, whose limited luggage consisted of clothes, books, and daily necessities, quickly unpacked. Once done, he stepped out of his room.
The two men encountered each other at the doorway, nodding briefly as a silent greeting before descending the stairs one after the other in silence.
Ning Qingyan savored her meal slowly, almost indulgently. In her past life, after being cyberbullied and leaving the show prematurely, she lived under heavy debt and barely ate properly, often missing meals or eating poorly. This even led to stomach problems and diminished her sense of taste.
Now, every meal was a moment of gratitude and enjoyment, her eating style so captivating it could make anyone crave an extra serving.
Wen Shijin, who hadn’t had a proper meal for days due to the Wen family’s interference, also couldn’t resist the allure of this breakfast. After a red-eye flight to the island and seeing Ning Qingyan’s meticulous and aesthetically pleasing way of eating, he decided to join her.
Green Tea System: “Wen Shijin’s favorability +1.”
Hearing the system’s prompt, Ning Qingyan glanced at the composed and refined way Wen Shijin ate, her mind wandering. Three meals a day, ninety meals in a month. If each meal added one point of favorability, that would be 90 points in just a month.
With this thought, she smiled even more warmly at Wen Shijin. Her bright peach blossom eyes sparkled, looking exceptionally lovely.
Sensing her gaze, Wen Shijin looked up, meeting her mischievous, luminous eyes.
Their gazes locked. Ning Qingyan blinked lightly, her lips curving into a soft smile as she asked, “Is it good?”
Wen Shijin, caught slightly off-guard, felt a fleeting daze in his phoenix eyes but quickly composed himself. A faint blush dusted his earlobes. Sitting upright, he replied in his warm, deep voice, “It’s good.”
Green Tea System: “Wen Shijin’s favorability +1.”
Ning Qingyan’s gaze lingered briefly on his flushed earlobes before moving on, her smile deepening. Winning the favor of a future renowned scientist while he was still struggling in his early days was surprisingly easy.
Huo Qi, accustomed to simple breakfasts of bread or sandwiches paired with water or coffee, glanced at their harmonious dining atmosphere but quickly averted his gaze. He silently and swiftly finished his meal before retreating upstairs.
“She treats everyone this kindly. It’s just her nature,” Huo Qi thought as he looked down at the scene from above. His narrow phoenix eyes remained cold and detached as he turned and walked back to his room without expression.
Live-stream Comments:
At that moment, the sound of the front door opening caught Ning Qingyan’s attention. Her ears perked up as she looked toward the entrance.
The door swung open, and a flamboyantly colorful, trendy suitcase was kicked into the living room, skidding to a stop in the center before halting.