Lin Jindu didn’t overthink the barrage of comments, nor did he believe that a simple hug between him and Ji Chengyi would trigger any additional chemistry between them. Since he hadn’t resisted much when hugging Ji Chengyi at the supermarket before, he didn’t feel any extra fluttering either. He believed it would be the same this time.

“Then let’s do weighted squats,” he said calmly.

“Okay.” Cheng Song then turned to Yu Heyan, “And what about you, Heyan?”

“The same.” Although Yu Heyan didn’t want to hug Chi Xingwen in front of Ji Chengyi, doing weighted squats involved less contact compared to pull-ups.

“Both pairs of guests, please come forward to receive your punishment,” Cheng Song gestured graciously.

Lin Jindu and Ji Chengyi exchanged a glance and stood up from the sofa.

As they walked over, Ji Chengyi quietly informed Lin Jindu, “Mr. Lin, I weigh 63 kilograms.”

Even though Lin Jindu could easily lift two of him with his physique, Ji Chengyi still reminded him, giving him a mental heads-up. After all, this wasn’t a regular squat; it was a weighted squat. If Lin Jindu couldn’t get up because he was too heavy, it wouldn’t be good.

Surprisingly, Lin Jindu simply responded, “Mr. Ji, you should eat more normally. You’re a bit underweight.”

Ji Chengyi looked at him.

Before he could say anything, two staff members approached with two blankets of different colors.

Even though Ji Chengyi  had been tricked by the show’s setup before, at this moment, he naively believed that his earlier reminder to Director Li had worked. After all, weighted squats still had some risk of accidents.

Director Li probably laid out the blankets in case he and Chi Xingwen fell down, to provide a cushion.

But then—

“Wow, you guys are going all out! There’s even an acupressure mats?” Chi Xingwen looked at the two Yu Heyan on the ground, wincing.

Ji Chengyi: ?

Ji Chengyi took a closer look.

…Well, it turned out not to be a cushion, but an acupressure mats.

Cheng Song chuckled, “If it doesn’t really hurt, how it can be considered a punishment? How else will the husbands remember to care for their loved ones?”

Turning to Yu Heyan, Cheng Song asked, “Heyan, are you ready?”

Yu Heyan glanced at him, speechless.

Why ask such a silly question in front of his Brother Yi (Ji Chengyi) and that surname Lin!

“I’m young and strong, of course, I’m ready,” Yu Heyan boasted, looking at Ji Chengyi proudly.

Ji Chengyi didn’t look at him, instead, he raised his eyes to Lin Jindu, “Mr. Lin…”

Before he could finish, Lin Jindu directly said, “Mr. Ji, don’t worry, I’m fine.”

【Hey hey hey! Who’s worried about you, Lin Jindu! Ominous and mysterious.jpg】

【Is Yu Heyan okay? He looks like he needs a good talking-to!】

【Are you okay? Can’t you see my brother Yu is trying to lighten the mood? If everyone stays silent like some capitalists, why don’t you just switch to a mime show? Smiling.jpg】

【Say what you want, no fanbase jumps like. Smiling.jpg】

【That’s still better than a certain capitalist’s dog biting people randomly. Tsk tsk tsk.jpg】

Cheng Song, enjoying the show, casually spoke up, “If you’re ready, you can step up.”

Without much hesitation, Lin Jindu took off his shoes and stepped onto the plates.

Although Ji Chengyi hadn’t stepped on a acupressure mats before, he had seen how people twisted their faces during company team-building activities. Now, seeing Lin Jindu looking calm and composed, he couldn’t help but be curious about how terrifying the shiatsu plate really was.

He was tempted to give it a try.

But before he could act on his impulse, Lin Jindu adjusted his stance, noticing Ji Chengyi’s contemplation. He called out, “Mr. Ji.”

Ji Chengyi raised his eyes, “Yes?”

Like a curious child caught in the act, Ji Chengyi quickly suppressed his curiosity and regained his calm and composed demeanor.

But to Lin Jindu, it seemed unexpectedly obedient.

Lin Jindu suppressed a smile, advising him, “This can be a bit painful, Mr. Ji, its better not to try it casually.”

Ji Chengyi calmly rebutted, “Mr. Lin, you misunderstand. I wasn’t planning to try it; I was just figuring out how to cooperate with you.”

Lin Jindu didn’t call him out on it, simply saying, “Hmm.”

Ji Chengyi: …

Ji Chengyi blinked, quietly gazing at him.

【Oh my goodness, Mr. Ji is so obedient!!!】

【Sob sob, Mr. Lin, I’ll give you five yuan, please let me kiss your wife! I’ll give her back once I’m done… pleading.jpg】

【…Speechless, I literally said yesterday that the CEO couple’s marriage was purely strategic without any real feelings, I didn’t expect to be proven wrong so quickly…】

【Is a weighted squat on a acupressure mats really not excessive?】

【Don’t feel sorry for Mr. Lin! His wife is Mr. Ji after all!!!】

【Oh my! Please add twenty more, thank you.】

Lin Jindu had no idea how many people envied him.

As his bright eyes met Ji Chengyi’s for less than a second, he couldn’t withstand the gaze and lowered his eyes.

“Mr. Ji, just hug my neck if you’re ready,” he leaned closer to Ji Chengyi.

“Alright,” Ji Chengyi wasn’t melodramatic, and after saying those words, he directly wrapped his arms around Lin Jindu’s neck.

Ji Chengyi’s embrace wasn’t tight, and he even kept a bit of distance, trying to avoid touching Lin Jindu’s neck. However, due to Ji Chengyi wearing short sleeves, his cool skin lightly brushed against Lin Jindu’s neck.

In that moment, Lin Jindu felt his neck enveloped by a very comforting softness. It felt tingly and ticklish, like the tail of a certain furry animal. The elite-style education since he was three years old meant Lin Jindu hadn’t been hugged like this by anyone.

So even though Ji Chengyi didn’t really embrace him, the tingling sensation couldn’t help but make Lin Jindu’s heart skip a beat.

Soon after, his whole body became slightly tense.

He completely forgot that he had thought a hug wouldn’t lead to any extra chemistry between him and Ji Chengyi.

“It’s okay,” Lin Jindu said hoarsely, then bent down to lift Ji Chengyi’s knees with effortless ease, lifting him up.

Perhaps due to Ji Chengyi’s perfect body proportions making him appear taller, coupled with his reserved yet strong presence, Lin Jindu had never imagined Ji Chengyi as a fragile character needing protection.

But as he held him in his arms, Lin Jindu suddenly realized.

Ji Chengyi not only had a slim waist but was also quite petite.

【Ah! Princess carry, princess carry!!!】

【Oh my! Is Mr. Ji really that light? It seems like Mr. Lin lifted him effortlessly!】

【Sob sob, this height difference is killing me… Burst into tears.jpg】

Facing a situation he had never felt nervous in before, Lin Jindu was suddenly enveloped by an unprecedented tension.

As if afraid of accidentally hurting Ji Chengyi or causing him to fall.

Without hesitating further, he turned to Cheng Song and asked, “Can we start now?”

Cheng Song replied, “Just a moment, Mr. Lin, Heyan isn’t ready yet.”

Lin Jindu turned to look at Yu Heyan.

Yu Heyan: …

Yu Heyan had initially resisted stepping on the acupressure mats, showing hesitance to go up. But as soon as Ji Chengyi’s gaze shifted towards him, he immediately took off his shoes and stepped onto the plate.

However, as soon as he stepped on, a surge of unbearable pain shot up from the soles of his feet. He instinctively wanted to gasp but considering Lin Jindu’s calm reaction, he held it back.

He pretended to be at ease and waved to Chi Xingwen, “Come on, Xingwen.”

Seeing through his act, Chi Xingwen politely asked, “Are you sure you’re okay, Heyan? I might be a bit heavy.”

Yu Heyan forced a smile, “You’re so skinny, how heavy can you be? Come on.”

Chi Xingwen didn’t say much, walked over, raised his arms, and waited for Yu Heyan to lift him.

Bending down to hug… but he couldn’t lift him.

The pain in his feet was too much, he couldn’t exert force.

Chi Xingwen felt a bit awkward but covered it up, “I must be too heavy, sorry, Heyan.”

Yu Heyan: …

Ji Chengyi glanced at Yu Heyan and realized he was pretending.

But he didn’t care about Yu Heyan’s actions; he let him be.

Taking his time to prolong Lin Jindu’s wait, Ji Chengyi turned to Lin Jindu and said, “Mr. Lin, why don’t you lift me… Mr. Lin? Is there something on my face?”

Lin Jindu: …

Lin Jindu had never been in such close contact with Ji Chengyi before.

It wasn’t until just now that he noticed not only were Ji Chengyi’s eyes beautiful, but even his eyelashes were long and thick.

From the side, the tips of his curled eyelashes held a warm color, fluffy and lovely.

Appreciating the beauty, Lin Jindu was captivated.

He was so engrossed that he didn’t notice when Ji Chengyi turned his head…

Caught off guard by Ji Chengyi’s gaze, Lin Jindu felt a bit flustered. He cleared his throat and said, “No, Mr. Ji, your face is clean.”

Quickly changing the subject, he added, “It’s okay, you won’t need much effort to wait a bit longer.”

【Haha, Mr. Lin! Mr. Lin: busted! Caught peeking by his wife. Facepalm.jpg】

【Not much effort = a chance to hold his fragrant and soft wife a bit longer. Mr. Lin, you’ve got it all planned out. Smiling.jpg】

【If Mr. Lin is tired, he can hand Mr. Ji over to me, and I’ll hold him for a while. Shy.jpg】

【Wait, can Yu Heyan even do it? He’s been struggling for so long!】

【If you can do it, then go ahead! It’s a acupressure mat!! (Very loudly)】

【But Mr. Lin managed to lift him up so easily. Innocently blinks.jpg】

【Sometimes it’s good to reflect on oneself, check if you’ve been exercising regularly and if your muscles are getting stronger.】

Not only were the fans taken aback.

Even Yu Heyan was starting to feel internally bruised by Lin Jindu’s subtle jabs.

Rolling his eyes internally, he gritted his teeth and lifted Chi Xingwen.

Despite his attempt to appear nonchalant, the veins on his forehead betrayed the pain he was enduring.

Cheng Song approached, “Heyan, are you ready?”

Yu Heyan clenched his teeth and responded, “Yes.”

Cheng Song then turned to Lin Jindu, “Mr. Lin, are you ready, too?”

Lin Jindu: “Yes.”

Cheng Song smiled, “Once you’re both ready, you can start. But remember, Xingwen and Mr. Ji will be counting for your husbands. If the count is interrupted, you’ll have to start over.”

Yu Heyan looked at Chi Xingwen, his eyes carrying a subtle warning.

Chi Xingwen played innocent, “Don’t worry, Heyan, I promise not to make a mistake.”

Yu Heyan pretended, “It’s okay, no pressure. Even if you count wrong, it’s fine.”

Chi Xingwen rolled his eyes internally.

Not worried that Ji Chengyi might miscount, Lin Jindu lowered his gaze and said to him, “Mr. Lin, I’ll start now.”

Ji Chengyi nodded, “Okay.”

As soon as Ji Chengyi’s voice trailed off, Lin Jindu began to move.

His squat was quite fast.

The sudden descent made Ji Chengyi feel weightless.

Feeling a slight panic, he instinctively wrapped his arms around Lin Jindu’s neck.

Lin Jindu felt the strain and quickly let go, “Sorry, Mr. Lin, I didn’t expect you to move so fast.”

Lin Jindu: …

Lin Jindu pursed his lips, “Alright, I’ll go slower next time.”

Lin Jindu loosened his hold on Lin Jindu’s neck slightly, “Hmm.”

These few sentences instantly sparked a flurry of comments in the live chat.

【???!!!】

【Ah! Mr. Ji! Do you even realize what you’re saying!】

【What? Fast then slow? Can someone explain in detail?】

【Oh my goodness! Mr. Ji is such an innocent and charming beauty!!】

【This is not a kindergarten car! Can you show me what fast and slow means? So innocent.】

Unaware of the comments in the live chat, Lin Jindu’s clean eyes reminded, “Mr. Lin, it’s time for you to count.”

Lin Jindu nodded, “Okay.”

After his acknowledgment, he started counting for Lin Jindu.

Impressively, Yu Heyan, a regular at the gym, did the squats with the acupressure mat without breaking a sweat. He even slowed down his pace to accommodate Ji Chengyi’s earlier comment about speed.

Ji Chengyi, though not a fitness enthusiast, understood that slowing down while squatting with someone could put more strain on the lower back, potentially leading to injury. He advised, “Mr. Lin, you can speed up, I’m fine.”

Lin Jindu looked at him.

Two seconds later.

Reluctantly, Lin Jindu agreed, “Okay.”

Yu Heyan sped up as promised.

Although Ji Chengyi was mentally prepared, he still felt a sense of panic as Lin Jindu increased his speed, fearing that Lin Jindu might accidentally drop him. To ensure safety, he tightened his grip on Yu Heyan’s shoulder fabric, unknowingly creating a moment of tension.

The cameraman quickly zoomed in to capture Ji Chengyi’s hand gripping Lin Jindu’s shoulder. Ji Chengyi’s hand was slender, clean, and defined, with round, polished nails. The slight elevation of the blue veins on his hand added a touch of cold allure.

【These hands are so beautiful! Can you imagine how happy a college student would be to hold these hands! Crying.jpg】

【So spicy! Punish Mr. Ji by making him grab bedsheets in my bed!】

【Why are you showing me your hand? You’re showing a boring rational elite man like Lin! Complaining.jpg】

Though Yu Heyan couldn’t see Ji Chengyi’s hand gripping his collar, he gradually noticed a change in Yu Heyan’s breathing, which seemed slightly hurried. Thinking Yu Heyan was tired from the squats, Ji Chengyi reassured, “17… Mr. Lin, hold steady, we’re almost done.”

Yu Heyan: …

Yu Heyan took a deep breath and responded with a nasal sound, “Hmm.”

【Oh my goodness, Yu Heyan’s breath is so darn sexy!!!】

【Wow, so sexy! Can we get Mr. Ji’s perspective, please!】

【Keep it up, keep it up, I’m eating it all up!!】

Ji Chengyi didn’t realize how suggestive his words sounded. After noticing Lin Jindu’s rapid breathing and the warmth on his neck, he assumed Lin Jindu was feeling hot. Deciding to let him cool down, Ji Chengyi slowly loosened his grip on Lin Jindu’s collar, barely touching the air near the collar. This subtle change made Lin Jindu look at him with an obscure expression of melancholy.

Meanwhile, Ji Chengyi continued counting, “19, Mr. Lin, just one more to go.”

Lin Jindu quietly watched him and completed the final squat after taking a long time. Ji Chengyi finished counting 20 and patted Lin Jindu’s shoulder, “You can put me down now, Mr. Lin.”

Lin Jindu nodded, “Okay,” and gently set Ji Chengyi down.

Not noticing the clenched palm, Ji Chengyi handed Lin Jindu a bottle of water, “Mr. Lin, well done, have some water.”

Lin Jindu took the bottle, “Thank you,” and promptly drank half of it in one go.

Ji Chengyi observed, realizing how tough weighted squats could be. Meanwhile, Lin Jindu also completed the squats. In contrast to Yu Heyan’s heavy breathing, Chi Xingwen put down Yu Heyan with a red face and heavy breaths, nearly making Chi Xingwen stumble as his feet were numb from the abrupt release.

Chi Xingwen politely greeted Yu Heyan in his mind, but maintained his composure, offering him a bottle of water like Ji Chengyi, saying, “Heyan, well done, have some water.”

Yu Heyan took the water, smiling through the strain, “Thanks, Xingwen.”

“No problem,” Chi Xingwen smiled obediently.

Cheng Song, as both pairs had finished, applauded, “Well done, thank you both for your cooperation, brothers, you did great.”

Yu Heyan relaxed, “Not too bad.”

Cheng Song then turned to Lin Jindu, “Mr. Lin, how do you feel about it?”

Lin Jindu replied, “Very easy.”

Yu Heyan: …

Rolling his eyes internally.

Cheng Song then asked Chi Xingwen and Ji Chengyi, “Xingwen and Mr. Ji, how do you feel about this punishment? Are you satisfied?”

Chi Xingwen, respecting Ji Chengyi’s lead, looked at him expectantly, waiting for his response.

Ji Chengyi answered, “Satisfied.”

Following Ji Chengyi’s lead, Chi Xingwen echoed, “Yes, very satisfied.”

Cheng Song looked at them, “Do you think your brothers worked hard?”

Ji Chengyi replied, “Yes, they did.”

Chi Xingwen added, “Yes, indeed, they worked hard.”

Ji Chengyi glanced at him, and Chi Xingwen smiled obediently.

Ji Chengyi shifted his gaze to Cheng Song.

Cheng Song mischievously suggested, “Since you all agree that your brothers worked hard, why not give them a hug as a show of love?”

Ji Chengyi: …

Chi Xingwen: …

Yu Heyan: …

Lin Jindu’s gaze flickered as he looked at Ji Chengyi.

【Haha, I will really die laughing, in a movie with four people, only Mr. Lin has a name, haha】

【Mr. Lin: Reward me! Hurry, reward me! Dog wagging tail.jpg】

【The person above, you’re so good at describing it’s like you don’t care about your life!! Laughing to death.jpg】

Chi Xingwen, with his lively and cheerful persona, took the opportunity to hug Yu Heyan, “Brother, you’ve worked hard. Let your little brother give you a hug of love.”

Yu Heyan felt disgusted internally but patted Chi Xingwen  on the back with an appearance of brotherly affection, “Thank you, little brother, I’m not tired.”

Half of Yu Heyan’s fans were crying, asking Chi Xingwen to let go of their brother, while the other half were ecstatic.

Seeing the atmosphere, Yao Tong and the others joined in, “Oh.”

Ji Chengyi, feeling the atmosphere had reached its peak, seemed hesitant to participate, almost as if he was above the show’s proceedings. He lifted his gaze and asked Cheng Song, “Should I say that too?”

Cheng Song paused, “Huh?”

Realizing quickly, he nodded, “Yes, of course, especially since Lin worked so hard.”

Ji Chengyi didn’t confirm or deny, then turned to Lin Jindu, “Mr. Lin, I’ll proceed.”

Lin Jindu pursed his lips, calmly responding, “No problem.”

Ji Chengyi took a step forward, preparing to hug Lin Jindu’s neck.

Simultaneously, Lin Jindu instinctively leaned down to meet him.

In that moment, Ji Chengyi effortlessly embraced Lin Jindu’s neck, almost not needing to stand on tiptoes.

Feeling the familiar soft touch once again, Lin Jindu’s heart fluttered.

Then, a clear and pleasant voice echoed, “You’ve worked hard, brother.”

Ji Chengyi simply wanted to fulfill the program’s requirements, thinking it was just a trivial phrase. But to Lin Jindu, that seemingly trivial phrase sounded like a deafening roar in his ears.

Lin Jindu: …

【Ah! Brother!!!!】

【Jiu Min! Quick! Give me insulin! I can keep going!!!】 Translate Note (TN): The audience comment is referring to their online fans

【Oh my goodness! Is Mr. Ji trying to seduce someone to death? Is it me?? Nosebleed.jpg】

【Goodness, who said there’s no love in these aristocratic marriages! This is just too much to handle!!!】

【Hilarious, Mr. Lin expression is even more priceless than AK’s.】