Chapter 23

Since he still had a date mission in the evening, Huo Xingming had no choice but to temporarily abandon the idea of finding a construction site to lay bricks. Instead, he started worrying about where to go for the date.

Meanwhile, after parting ways with Huo Xingming, Bai Siyi immediately returned to the pink house and went to sleep.

He had said he still had work to do, but in reality, he had already finished his tasks at the factory in the morning. Besides, with his current cross-dressing appearance, it wasn’t really possible for him to go back to the factory.

Although he had long hair, it wasn’t unusual for men to grow their hair out. What was unusual was growing long hair while also wearing women’s clothing. He had heard stories of gay workers being found out in factories and then beaten up by their coworkers. While he felt that his own colleagues wouldn’t go that far, it was always better to be cautious.

Lying in bed, Bai Siyi even thought that dating Huo Xingming wasn’t bad at all. All expenses were covered by the show, and once it was over, he could come back and sleep.

If this were before, he wouldn’t even dare to imagine such a thing.

The factory workload was heavy, and he had always worked from morning till night without ever finishing early.

He was exhausted every day. He even muttered to himself again, “Could my short height be because of chronic sleep deprivation?”

Whatever. Bai Siyi pulled the covers over himself and shut his eyes, going straight to sleep.

—

Live Stream Comments:

【LMAO. Last time during their long-distance date, and now their first in-person meeting—everyone’s feeling nervous and excited except for Xiao Bai, who’s just focused on sleeping. laugh and cry.jpg】

【I have to say, Xiao Bai’s mindset is rock solid. No matter what happens, the first thing he does when he gets back is drink milk, sleep, and then get up for work.】

【Fine, he’s sleeping, but can the camera crew at least aim the camera properly? Why are we staring at his nightstand?! If you can’t do your job, let me take over!】

—

When Bai Siyi lay down to sleep, it was a little past 3 o’clock. He originally planned to sleep until six, then eat, live stream for an hour, and go dance at the hotel.

He had already missed two nights of work, losing 800 yuan for nothing. His heart was bleeding!

However, he felt like he had barely slept when he was suddenly woken up by the sound of a text message.

Drowsily, he picked up his phone and saw a message from Huo Xingming:

【Bai Siyi, I’m bored anyway. How about I visit you at work? Doghead.jpg】

Bai Siyi: “……”

Piupiustar: 【I was going to go lay bricks, but they didn’t want me. Work isn’t going anywhere, right? Whether I work one more day or one less day, it doesn’t really matter. So, where’s your factory? Come on, come on, send me the address.】

Piupiustar: 【You’re not replying. Are you too busy working? In that case, I’ll just ask the staff.】

Piupiustar: 【Bai Siyi! You lied to me! The people at your factory said you didn’t show up this afternoon!】

Bai Siyi: “……”

He glanced at the time. Almost 5 o’clock.

Sitting on the bed, his expression was full of “Is he insane?”

Bai Siyi took a deep breath. One million, one million, one million!

He got out of bed and glanced at the live-streaming camera in his room. The staff had gone to rest, and the camera was facing his nightstand, not him.

He got up, got dressed, and greeted the live stream camera, “Good afternoon, everyone. I’m up.”

There were significantly fewer viewers in the live stream since Bai Siyi hadn’t been visible for a while. Most people had switched over to watch Huo Xingming instead.

It couldn’t be helped—Huo Xingming was just too ridiculous. At first, the audience really disliked him, but his over-the-top antics, mixed with a bit of cluelessness, made it hard to truly hate him. Plus, he was good-looking and played the role of a poor man despite not actually being poor, which made the audience gradually change their opinion of him.

Some even started believing that all of Huo Xingming’s cringeworthy lines were scripted by the show’s writers.

The production team took the blame once again, left with nowhere to argue their case.

—

Live Stream Comments:

【Wow, the beauty is awake! Kiss kiss, wifey!】

【Xiao Bai looks even cuter just after waking up! His voice is so soft and adorable. Come here, hubby wants a kiss!】

【Huo Xingming seriously has no sense. Xiao Bai barely gets time to sleep—couldn’t he wait until evening?】

【Come on, guys, he has a mission! He has to take Xiao Bai on a date and go shopping! The show requires their date to last at least two hours. I’m dying laughing.】

—

Meanwhile, Huo Xingming was standing right outside Bai Siyi’s factory.

He had just gone in, claiming he was there to visit his good friend Bai Siyi. The workshop supervisor was well aware of the reality show—not only that, but she was an avid fan, watching it religiously every day.

Originally, she had seen the show as a way to promote the factory and its clothing brand. But the more she watched, the more invested she became.

And since she had a soft spot for Bai Siyi, she now found Huo Xingming increasingly annoying.

Since Xiao Bai wasn’t there, the supervisor didn’t even let Huo Xingming wait inside the factory. Outsiders weren’t allowed to loiter in the workshop.

So, after less than ten minutes inside, Huo Xingming was kicked out, looking utterly dejected.

Even after sending Bai Siyi so many messages, he hadn’t received a single reply. On top of that, Bai Siyi had lied about going to work!

Huo Xingming scowled at the live stream audience. “Xiao Bai actually lied to me. I hate liars—”

He abruptly paused, remembering just how many times he himself had lied to Bai Siyi over the past few days.

Gritting his teeth, he corrected himself, “Okay, maybe I don’t hate it, but at the very least, he should have replied to my messages. Today is date day.”

A staff member quietly reminded him, “Mr. Huo, Xiao Bai doesn’t know about the date mission.”

Huo Xingming: “……”

He turned and glared at them. “I hate you heartless showrunners the most!”

The staff: “……”

Since the responsibility for today’s date fell on Huo Xingming, he was also in charge of choosing the location.

But he had no idea where to go. His show persona made things difficult—he had to find somewhere affordable and in line with his poor man image.

He couldn’t just take Xiao Bai to a public park, could he?

—

Wait.

Why not a park?

Wasn’t there a chrysanthemum exhibition at the cultural park?

Bai Siyi got dressed, fixed his hair and makeup again, then put on a hat and mask before heading out.

He sent a voice message to Huo Xingming: “Sorry, I wasn’t clear. I’m not working at the factory this afternoon. Are you at the entrance?”

Huo Xingming quickly replied, his voice sounding both sulky and aggrieved: “Of course! I’ve been standing here for an hour.”

Bai Siyi was speechless: “Why didn’t you go home first? Or find somewhere to sit for a while?”

Huo Xingming: “My house is far away. Going back and forth would be a huge waste of time. Besides, there’s not even a rock to sit on around here! The cheapest drink at the nearby milk tea shop costs 6 yuan—I don’t have money!”

Bai Siyi: “……”

He had nothing to say. Scanning a shared bike, he quickly headed toward the factory.

By the time Bai Siyi arrived and met up with Huo Xingming, it was almost 7 o’clock.

The whole afternoon had been a mess. Huo Xingming was feeling stifled—mostly because of the production team. If they had a date mission, why couldn’t they have told him earlier? Instead, they waited until after he and Bai Siyi had separated to announce it. Then, factoring in Bai Siyi’s nap and all the back-and-forth…

Now it was already dark.

And the show had the nerve to say the date had to last at least two hours! By the time they got back, who knew how late it would be?

Huo Xingming was full of resentment toward the production team.

Bai Siyi felt bad for making Huo Xingming wait so long. Parking the shared bike, he walked over. “Why did you suddenly come looking for me?”

At first, Bai Siyi had been a little grumpy from just waking up, but then he remembered the one million yuan prize. And then, looking at Huo Xingming squatting at the factory gate like an abandoned puppy, waiting foolishly for over an hour, his irritation vanished.

Instead, he found it kind of funny.

The live stream viewers thought so too:

【Xiao Bai, I was watching the stream for you—he really squatted there for over an hour. He’s so dumb, I don’t even have the heart to roast him. Facepalm.jpg】

【Guys, if I lived nearby, I swear I’d put a broken bowl in front of him. Maybe then he’d have enough money to buy steamed buns for Xiao Bai tonight. Laugh-cry.jpg】

【I swear, these two don’t have enough IQ points between them.】

【I’m dying! Did you guys see that just now? Huo Xingming’s fake tattoo started peeling off! Hahahaha!】

—

After squatting for over an hour, whether from the sun or the wind, the fake patterned tattoo on Huo Xingming’s cheek had started lifting at the edges.

Wearing these things was uncomfortable to begin with.

But!

He hadn’t planned to wear it for this long! How was he supposed to know he wouldn’t get eliminated today and would still have to go on a date?!

If he’d known, he never would’ve put this stupid thing on!

Someone save his miserable life!!!

Huo Xingming expressionlessly reached up to press his palm against his cheek, discreetly smoothing out the fake tattoo.

Then, he looked at Bai Siyi with deep resentment. “Because the production team told me to find you for a date, but you just wouldn’t reply to my messages.”

Bai Siyi: “……”

After a few seconds of silence, Bai Siyi said, “Sorry, I actually finished my work early, so I went home to take a nap. I was planning to work a part-time shift at a bar tonight.”

The resentment in Huo Xingming’s eyes deepened. “You actually went home to sleep?!”

Bai Siyi coughed. “Yeah… Really sorry for not replying. Hm? What’s up with your face? Why are you covering it?”

Huo Xingming: “……”

He pressed his palm against his face again, making sure that damn tattoo was stuck on properly before finally lowering his hand and awkwardly saying, “My face is a little itchy.”

To be honest, it was kind of itchy. Damn it, did the glue on this tattoo have some weird ingredient that was giving him an allergic reaction?

He quickly pulled out his phone, opened the front camera, and checked his face. Fortunately, no redness—he was still as handsome as ever!

Bai Siyi: “……”

Bai Siyi said, “I have to check in at the bar at eight. Do you want to come along?”

Since they had to be on a date for two hours, the only option was to bring Huo Xingming along, because it was already past seven—there wasn’t enough time otherwise.

Huo Xingming followed Bai Siyi forward. “I’m fine with anything.”

At this point, he didn’t care anymore. This damn production team was inhuman, but at least Bai Siyi was easy to get along with—he was a good person. That made filming the show a little more bearable.

Bai Siyi’s bike pass only allowed him to rent one bike, and Huo Xingming didn’t have one at all. So, Bai Siyi had no choice but to take him on the bus instead.

Bai Siyi: “Do you have a bus card?”

Huo Xingming scratched his head. “Nope.”

Bai Siyi: “……”

With a sigh, Bai Siyi pulled out his own card and swiped it for Huo Xingming. Painful.

Of course, they were heading to the same place as last time—Bright Blue Bar—where Huo Xingming had previously freeloaded a member’s meal.

Bai Siyi led him through the employees’ entrance at the back. There were many staff members arriving for their shifts, and the bar’s floor manager was there too. As soon as he saw Bai Siyi and Huo Xingming, his eyes lit up.

“Yo! Xiao Bai, is this a new atmosphere team member?”

The floor manager was a young man who walked as if he had no bones, wearing heavy makeup and a strong perfume.

Huo Xingming hated this kind of person the most. Without a word, he silently shifted behind Bai Siyi.

Bai Siyi glanced at him and thought, Yep, definitely a straight guy. Bringing him here is really putting him through it.

But hey, there’s a free staff meal here!

No need to spend money to feed him.

Bai Siyi walked over, lowered his voice, and explained in his normal tone, “Manager, he’s not. He’s just my friend. He came to keep me company at work today.”

The manager gave an ambiguous smile and whispered back, “Boyfriend?”

Bai Siyi rolled his eyes. “Of course not!”

The manager frowned. “^[1]“Bringing fresh meat into a den of wolves” means bringing someone innocent, naïve, or highly desirable into a dangerous or predatory environment where they might be taken advantage of.Bringing fresh meat into a den of wolves—what exactly are you up to?”

Bai Siyi: “……”

Nothing much, just trying to get him a free meal.

The manager finally let them go. Bai Siyi changed into his dance outfit—a black sequined vest that plunged down to his chest, layered with a black jacket, paired with low-waisted shorts. He put on a pink wig, then pulled the wide-eyed Huo Xingming out of the dressing room.

Huo Xingming recognized this bar, but he didn’t say anything. He let Bai Siyi drag him to a corner seat, where Bai Siyi told him, “Stay here. I talked to the front desk—they’ll bring you an employee meal. There’s cake and drinks. If you’re still hungry after, we can eat again once I’m done.”

Huo Xingming thought Xiao Bai was really thoughtful, always worrying that he wasn’t eating enough. But honestly, he was still digesting that huge plate of steamed buns from lunch—his stomach wasn’t even hungry yet.

Looking at Bai Siyi dressed like this, he was a little dazed. “Bai Siyi, when you said you dance… this is what you meant?”

He thought the outfit was kind of ugly, and the pink wig was even worse. But he didn’t have the heart to say it out loud.

Bai Siyi glanced down at his outfit, then flicked his hair. “What’s wrong with it?”

Huo Xingming quickly covered his mouth and shook his head, afraid that if he wasn’t careful, he’d blurt out the truth.

One of the key survival rules in society: Never, ever tell a woman she looks bad! Even if it’s just her outfit!

Bai Siyi gave him a baffled look and then said, “Alright, just stay put. Listen—don’t go anywhere, especially not the restroom. And if anyone comes to talk to you, don’t respond. Trust me, none of them are good people.”

With Huo Xingming’s great physique and handsome face, people would approach him no matter what he was wearing—let alone now.