Chapter 21

The two sat facing each other. It was Huo Xingming’s first time in this kind of restaurant, so he was actually quite curious. But sitting across from Bai Siyi, he felt both nervous and a little guilty.

Just as Huo Xingming was about to say something to ease the awkwardness, he looked up and saw Bai Siyi already devouring his food.

Huo Xingming: “……”

Bai Siyi stuffed a large spoonful of rice into his mouth and, meeting Huo Xingming’s gaze, looked puzzled. “Hm?”

Huo Xingming gave an awkward smile. “Nothing.”

At times like this, saying anything more would be unnecessary. Better not to disturb someone focused on eating.

So, Huo Xingming lowered his head and started eating as well. Surprisingly, the food actually tasted pretty good—just a bit greasy.

Other pairs on dates were going to high-end restaurants or aesthetically pleasing musical performances. Meanwhile, the two of them were having a meal at a fast-food joint.

The viewers in the live stream were silent:

【Help, they seriously look like food buddies. laugh and cry.jpg】

【This wasn’t the kind of meeting I expected. They’re so calm, polite, and courteous. I didn’t see that coming! sigh】

【Could it be that they’re both into each other’s looks? A negative plus a negative makes a positive?】

—

Bai Siyi quickly finished a bowl, then went to get another. Since there was no limit, he was going to eat his fill!

Huo Xingming found the food a bit too greasy. Halfway through, he started feeling full. But seeing how much Bai Siyi was enjoying his meal, he ended up absentmindedly finishing his own bowl while watching him eat.

After finishing, Bai Siyi looked at Huo Xingming and quietly asked, “Do you want some porridge?”

Huo Xingming: “……”

He shook his head. “No, no, I’m full.”

Bai Siyi glanced at Huo Xingming’s bowl. The bowls here were tiny, just slightly bigger than a fist. He was already full from just one?

Bai Siyi was someone who could eat a whole tray of steamed buns in one sitting!

He was convinced that Huo Xingming wasn’t actually full—he just felt too embarrassed to say so!

With great generosity, Bai Siyi said, “I get it, I get it. Let’s go.”

Huo Xingming: “……”

His mind was filled with question marks. What exactly did Bai Siyi think he understood? Because even he didn’t know.

In two minutes, Bai Siyi brought him to a nearby bun shop and whispered, “I know you want porridge. You also like steamed buns but don’t like rice. Right, your eating habits lean toward northern cuisine, don’t they? No wonder you’re so tall.”

Speaking of height, Bai Siyi started muttering in his head again. He still hadn’t reached 1.8 meters—was it because he didn’t eat enough wheat-based food?

Maybe he should start eating more steamed buns, dumplings, and noodles?

Huo Xingming felt a little awkward. Watching Bai Siyi ordering at the counter, he quietly said, “Uh… actually, I’m really full.”

Bai Siyi replied with a serious expression, “I know you’re embarrassed, but don’t be. For people like us, who do physical labor, we need to eat until we’re full. Especially you—working on a construction site, what if you get low blood sugar?”

As he spoke, Bai Siyi glanced at the staff, then leaned in and whispered, “Everyone already knows you eat a whole tray of steamed buns in one sitting. There’s no need to hide it. Having a big appetite isn’t something to be ashamed of.”

Bai Siyi was being completely sincere. If not for that million-yuan prize, he wouldn’t be treating Huo Xingming this kindly.

Huo Xingming: “……”

At this moment, Huo Xingming really wanted to go back in time and slap his past self.

Why did he have to post that kind of photo for no reason? Now look—whether he wanted to or not, he had to eat this entire tray of buns!

Bai Siyi thoughtfully ordered six fist-sized meat buns and an unlimited refill of porridge, then found them a seat.

“Eat up,” Bai Siyi said. “Since I promised to treat you to a meal, I’ll make sure you’re full!”

After all, the production team was covering the cost—he didn’t feel a bit of heartache.

Huo Xingming: “……”

Live Stream Comments:

【What’s with Piupiustar’s reaction? Xiao Bai is being so considerate, but he looks like he’s at a funeral. If you don’t want to eat, just don’t! Dog growling meme】

【I also think he’s still hungry. Didn’t he claim he could eat a whole tray of buns in one sitting? And let’s be real—construction workers eat a lot because their job is physically demanding.】

【This “construction worker” doesn’t seem very legit. Look at his hands—they’re as delicate as a rich young master’s, untouched by hard labor.】

【Whoa, I thought I was the only one who noticed! Piupiustar’s hands are seriously beautiful—white, slender, with well-defined knuckles. I kept quiet because I didn’t want to get flamed. Laughing and crying emoji】

—

Bai Siyi also noticed how nice Huo Xingming’s hands looked.

Since he had already eaten two bowls of rice and a plate of meat, he was stuffed. The six buns were entirely for Huo Xingming.

He sat across from him, watching him eat.

Huo Xingming picked up a hefty meat bun, feeling a heavy sense of pressure.

He glanced at Bai Siyi, who raised an eyebrow. “What’s wrong?”

Huo Xingming: “Nothing… I’ll eat, then?”

Bai Siyi encouraged him with a bright expression, “Go on, eat, eat! There’s more if this isn’t enough.”

Huo Xingming: “……”

Thanks, but this is definitely more than enough. He figured he wouldn’t want to eat buns or porridge for a long time after this.

As Bai Siyi watched Huo Xingming eat, he couldn’t help but notice that his dining habits were unusually refined. He couldn’t quite put his finger on what made it seem so elegant, but his posture was upright, his movements were steady and unhurried. He didn’t take huge bites, nor did he nibble in tiny ones—each bite was just right, making the whole process strangely pleasant to watch.

Even Huo Xingming’s hands were beautiful, completely unlike those of someone who had done rough labor.

Since Bai Siyi worked on a factory assembly line, doing garment ironing, his hands often had small burns, his nails had many hangnails, his skin was dry, and there were dark fabric fibers stuck under his nails that took careful scrubbing to remove.

After staring at Huo Xingming’s hands for a while, Bai Siyi became convinced—Huo Xingming must have come from a well-off family. That would explain why he could tip a million yuan without blinking.

But something must have happened to his family recently, leaving him unable to pay off that million on his credit card.

In order to survive, he had no choice but to go work construction.

Judging by how inconsistent his attendance was—three days on, two days off—he probably hadn’t been doing it for long and still wasn’t used to it. After all, his hands didn’t even have a single wound.

Suddenly, Bai Siyi asked, “By the way, what’s your name?”

When they first added each other on WeChat, they had exchanged names, but clearly, neither of them had taken the introduction seriously enough to remember.

While reluctantly chewing on a bun, Huo Xingming replied, “Huo Xingming. You?”

“Bai Siyi,” he answered, then hesitated before asking, “By the way, sorry if this is a bit intrusive, but why is your username ‘Piupiustar‘?”

Huo Xingming smiled slightly. “Piupiu~~ Doesn’t it sound like the sound of a star?”

Bai Siyi: “……”

Live Stream Comments:

【Well, damn, so that’s where his username came from…】

【To be honest, it sounds kinda childish… but also kinda not? Dog-head emoji】

【This is the same guy who gave his online girlfriend three knives as a gift. How mature were you expecting him to be? Laugh-cry emoji】

—

Bai Siyi was speechless for a moment. Under Huo Xingming’s expectant gaze, he silently nodded. “I mean… but shouldn’t the sound of a star be bling bling?”

Huo Xingming replied seriously, “Of course not. That’s the sound effect for when protagonists make their grand entrance.”

Bai Siyi: “……”

After another brief silence, Bai Siyi suddenly realized—why was he even discussing such a childish topic with Huo Xingming?

Anyone overhearing them would think they had just started kindergarten today. Smiling emoji.

Bai Siyi said, “That little distraction just now almost made me forget the main thing. Huo Xingming, come a little closer.”

Huo Xingming felt a little awkward. He put down his bun, practically leaned over the table, and lowered his voice. “What is it?”

Bai Siyi also lowered his voice. “To be honest, working construction has no future. The pay is way too low. Have you ever thought about changing jobs?”

Huo Xingming frowned in thought, then said, “You mentioned last time that I could work at your factory. I haven’t decided yet.”

In reality, he hadn’t even considered it. He had already planned to get himself blocked today—there was no way he’d actually go work just to keep up the act.

But Bai Siyi seemed genuinely invested in his career plans. “Actually, now that I think about it, having you work at our factory would be a total waste of your talents.”

Huo Xingming: “???”

Bai Siyi said, “How about this? I’ll point you toward a brighter future.”

He covered the mic with his hand and whispered, “You should become a mukbang streamer! You’d definitely blow up.”

Huo Xingming: “……”

Thanks, but he’d honestly rather just work at the factory.

Bai Siyi added, “But whatever you do, don’t sign with a company randomly. Just do it on your own and take small ad deals—you can make a lot of money that way.”

Huo Xingming took another bite of his bun. He could tell Bai Siyi was seriously trying to help him, but…

But weren’t they supposed to crash and burn today?

Why were they suddenly discussing career plans?

Huo Xingming carefully observed Bai Siyi. Ever since they met in person, Bai Siyi’s attitude had done a complete 180. Back when they chatted online, he hadn’t been particularly warm, yet now he was so enthusiastic.

It was hard for Huo Xingming not to overthink things.

Instead of answering whether he’d do mukbang, he asked, “This is our first time meeting. Didn’t the show give us a task…?”

Yeah—the task of deciding whether to continue or end things.

If they weren’t interested in each other, they could block the other person at any time, officially eliminating them.

Huo Xingming looked at Bai Siyi expectantly. “Xiao Bai, what do you think? Are you going to block me?”

Bai Siyi pressed his lips together and looked at Huo Xingming expectantly. “What about you? Do you want to block me?”

Huo Xingming: “……”

The tough question he had thrown out was now bouncing right back at him.

Putting aside the guilt he felt toward Bai Siyi—after all, she was just a girl who had been nothing but kind to him—he couldn’t bring himself to reject her in front of so many viewers in the live stream.

More importantly, he wanted Bai Siyi to stay on the show. If she continued participating in the live streams, who knew? By the time the show ended, she might actually become famous.

Of course, the most crucial reason was that only the person who got passed would be eliminated. The one who rejected their match would stay in the program and continue an online relationship with a new replacement guest.

Huo Xingming really didn’t want to go through another round of online dating. One macho man was already enough—if they brought in another, he was afraid he wouldn’t survive.

All he wanted now was to get passed and leave as quickly as possible.

So, Huo Xingming put down his bun and said sincerely, “I don’t want to.”

Bai Siyi: “……”

Bai Siyi’s smile froze.

He stared at Huo Xingming in shock. This guy… this guy actually doesn’t want to?

When they were chatting online before, wasn’t he always driving him up the wall? And now he suddenly doesn’t want to block him?

Huo Xingming watched Bai Siyi with both anticipation and nervousness. “What about you?”

Bai Siyi: “……”

Bai Siyi clutched his face in despair.

The worst part was—he didn’t not want to.

He just couldn’t.