Chapter 39

Huo Xingming had been feeling conflicted the whole time. Even when Bai Siyi personally picked up some meat for him, he couldn’t bring himself to be happy while eating hot pot.

Just thinking about how much Bai Siyi cared about their differences made him anxious.

Such a great wife—where would he ever find another one if he lost him?

Huo Xingming ate his hot pot with a frown the entire time.

However, he didn’t let it show too much. After all, today was a happy day, and since Bai Siyi was in a good mood, Huo Xingming wanted to be happy too. So, he held back his emotions, deciding that he just needed to win Bai Siyi over first—he could slowly explain his family situation later.

Huo Xingming justified it to himself: Family wealth is family wealth. Those billions aren’t money he earned himself, so it’s not really related to him.

Right now, his personal assets weren’t much, and the company he just started was still in its early stages, not even making real profits yet.

So if he said he was broke, it wouldn’t count as lying to Xiao Bai!

Yes, that’s it.

Huo Xingming successfully convinced himself, then happily continued eating hot pot with Bai Siyi.

Since they were worried about being recognized, they booked a private room.

Inside, the two sat across from each other, eating hot pot. Huo Xingming kept cooking beef for Bai Siyi, scooping it up spoonful by spoonful and placing it into his bowl.

Bai Siyi felt a bit helpless. “That’s enough, I can’t eat anymore.”

Tonight felt incredibly extravagant. They had ordered so much fresh beef and expensive seafood, racking up a bill of over 1,000 yuan just for hot pot.

If this were the past, Bai Siyi would have been heartbroken over the cost.

The more Huo Xingming looked at Bai Siyi, the more he liked him.

How could someone be so perfectly his type?

God knew how excited he had been when he first found out Bai Siyi was a guy!

Huo Xingming sat there the whole time with a shy smile, his eyes burning as he stared at Bai Siyi.

Even though Bai Siyi had gotten used to Huo Xingming staring at him, he still couldn’t handle it.

Feeling a little embarrassed, he said, “Huo Xingming, can you stop looking at me like that?”

Lowering his voice as if afraid the waiter outside might hear, he added, “You seriously look like some kind of creepy stalker.”

Huo Xingming blushed and lowered his head. “But only with you.”

He wouldn’t act this way toward anyone else.

Just at that moment, the restaurant started playing First Love, and Huo Xingming hummed along for a couple of lines:

“Every minute, I long to see you, my dear first love…”

Bai Siyi: “…”

Bai Siyi felt that Huo Xingming was truly a passionate and straightforward person.

When it came to love, he was incredibly bold—like to him, liking someone meant liking them, and if he liked someone, he had to be with them. There were no unnecessary complications, and no obstacles could stand in the way of his love.

Young, energetic, reckless—yet still holding onto a simplicity that Bai Siyi envied.

Under Huo Xingming’s burning gaze, it was as if his eyes were saying:

“Ask me! Ask me if you’re my first love! Hurry up, ask me!”

He was already singing it out loud—wouldn’t it be rude not to ask?

Bai Siyi took a sip of tea, suppressing the smile tugging at his lips. Then he looked up and, with a surprised expression, asked Huo Xingming, “You even know Cantonese? That’s impressive.”

Huo Xingming was caught off guard. “Huh?”

After a two-second pause, he scratched his head. “I know a little, but I’m not fluent.”

Bai Siyi let out a neutral “Oh,” then lowered his head and continued drinking his tea.

Huo Xingming: “…”

Huo Xingming felt a little wronged. Bai Siyi didn’t ask anything about First Love! He had hinted so obviously!

If Bai Siyi had asked, he could’ve taken the opportunity to ask him about his past relationships. Otherwise, he didn’t even dare bring it up! He really wanted to know if Bai Siyi had ever dated anyone before!

—

After finishing the hot pot, the two sat there drinking tea and resting.

Suddenly, Bai Siyi became interested in Huo Xingming’s family background and asked, “Huo Xingming, what does your family do?”

Before, Huo Xingming had only mentioned that his family was “doing okay.” But after spending time with him, Bai Siyi had noticed that Huo Xingming seemed well-versed in etiquette, with elegant and gentlemanly manners, always being considerate and polite. He even spoke French and Cantonese. Bai Siyi started to suspect that Huo Xingming’s family might not be so simple.

The moment Bai Siyi asked, Huo Xingming’s heart skipped a beat.

Here it comes! He knew Bai Siyi would ask sooner or later!

He wasn’t ready to be completely honest yet, so after thinking for a few seconds, he carefully said, “My family runs a convenience store.”

To his surprise, Bai Siyi looked a little taken aback. “A convenience store?”

Huo Xingming nodded guiltily. “Yeah, we just sell drinks, snacks, stuff like that…”

Bai Siyi had always dreamed of opening a small shop and bringing his mother over to live with him, so he was actually quite interested. “Is your store big? Where is it located? Do you get a lot of customers?”

Huo Xingming: “…”

Why is he asking so many details?!

Huo Xingming rubbed his nose and glanced away. “Not too big… It’s near a residential area. Business is okay.”

Bai Siyi nodded thoughtfully. “That makes sense. Convenience stores should be in residential areas to make things easier for people. Opening one somewhere else wouldn’t be practical—you have to consider rent and your target customers.”

Huo Xingming rubbed his nose again and cleared his throat. “Yeah… exactly.”

Bai Siyi looked at Huo Xingming. “Now that the show is over, are you planning to leave the factory? You’ve already made over two million from this program, you don’t have any debts, and your family’s store is doing well. You don’t really need this job anymore.”

Bai Siyi even thought that inheriting a convenience store wouldn’t be a bad option.

For a moment, he actually felt a little envious of Huo Xingming.

Huo Xingming’s eyes widened. “Of course not! I still have to go to the factory.”

In his mind, he thought—he finally found a chance to get close to Bai Siyi, how could he just give it up so easily?

Bai Siyi lived in the factory dormitory, ate and slept there, worked there. And now, with his rising popularity, fans were looking for him everywhere. Going to a bar was out of the question, and even leaving the factory might mean sneaking around.

If Huo Xingming wasn’t in the factory, how hard would it be for him to see Bai Siyi?

With unwavering determination, Huo Xingming said, “This job might be tiring, but it’s stable! Free food and housing, full benefits—what more could I ask for? I think it’s great.”

Bai Siyi: “…”

He looked at Huo Xingming, feeling conflicted. He didn’t actually want to part ways with him.

But at the same time, he felt that Huo Xingming shouldn’t be working on an assembly line. The work environment, the job itself—it just didn’t suit him.

Before, he thought Huo Xingming was deep in debt, barely able to afford a meal, so he suggested the factory job as a temporary solution.

But now, knowing that Huo Xingming’s family was well-off, that he had plenty of money himself, and that he even spoke multiple languages—

These were things Bai Siyi had never known before.

Someone young, well-educated, fluent in multiple languages—he could easily land a much better job.

After a long internal struggle, Bai Siyi still tried to persuade him. “Maybe you should consider another job? Like translation or foreign trade? Those jobs pay really well.”

Huo Xingming shook his head. “No, work isn’t important.”

Then, he glanced at Bai Siyi, lowered his head shyly, and murmured, “Love is more important.”

Bai Siyi: “…”

He was completely speechless at Huo Xingming’s romance-driven mindset.

—

By the time they finished their hot pot, it was already past 9 o’clock.

Since neither of them had gone to work today, tomorrow’s workload was bound to be heavy. So, they decided to head back and rest.

Bai Siyi was returning to the Pink House for the night. He needed to pack up his things, and in the morning, he had a solo live stream scheduled. After that, he’d finally be off the show.

Huo Xingming, reluctant to part, walked him to the door of the Pink House, staring at him with deep unwillingness. “Xiao Bai, it’s only 9:30. It’s still early.”

Bai Siyi: “9:30 isn’t early. By the time I wash up and get into bed, it’ll be 10:30. I need to sleep early—I have work tomorrow morning.”

Saying this, he stepped forward, only to feel a tug on his shirt.

He turned back—

Huo Xingming was holding onto his sleeve, refusing to let him go.

Bai Siyi: “…”

Bai Siyi pulled his clothes back and whispered, “What are you doing?”

Huo Xingming leaned closer, saying, “Xiao Bai, I want to cuddle, I have skin hunger.”

Bai Siyi: “…”

Bai Siyi didn’t believe his nonsense.

He gently pushed Huo Xingming away and said in a low voice, “Stop messing around, go back and sleep early. If you’re late tomorrow, I won’t wait for you to have dinner.”

Previously, Bai Siyi had been avoiding Huo Xingming and hadn’t eaten with him for several days. Huo Xingming had gone to the factory canteen every day to find him, but each time, he was left empty-handed.

Huo Xingming didn’t stop him this time. He happily said, “Xiao Bai, let’s have breakfast together tomorrow. I’ll wait for you at the factory gate.”

Bai Siyi nodded and waved at him: “Go back quickly.”

Only then did Huo Xingming get into the program team’s car and leave the Pink House.

When Bai Siyi returned to the Pink House, the other female contestants had also returned.

After this confession segment, including Bai Siyi, Qiu Bo would also be leaving!

Bai Siyi was a bit surprised. The only successful couple from the segment was Jiang Mianshu, a female college student, who had been in an online relationship with a popular actor.

At first, Jiang Mianshu wasn’t interested in him, but after they met, they hit it off and chatted more and more. Eventually, during the confession segment, they exchanged love letters.

As for Xi Mo, she wasn’t interested in any of the male contestants. The one she was matched with wasn’t her type, so she decisively rejected him. However, since he didn’t reject her, she had to stay on the show and wait for a new male contestant to start an online relationship with.

Qiu Bo was in a bad mood, her face dark. After Bai Siyi finished his shower and went to the kitchen to get water, he ran into Qiu Bo. The moment she saw him, she angrily said, “She actually wrote me a thank-you letter? Ha, with my looks and my body, is she blind? How dare she?”

Bai Siyi: “…”

Bai Siyi slightly regretted coming to the kitchen. Qiu Bo looked a bit scary right now.

However, Bai Siyi still had to say, “Didn’t you also write a thank-you letter to someone?”

Qiu Bo slammed the table: “That’s not the same! She disguised herself as a man and tricked me! She’s a liar!”

Bai Siyi: “…”

Qiu Bo glanced at him and quickly added, “Uh, I didn’t mean to imply anything about you, Xiao Bai. I was just too angry.”

Bai Siyi thought of Huo Xingming and felt a bit happy. Fortunately, Huo Xingming wasn’t mad at him, nor had he rejected him. If that had happened, he would have been really upset.

At that moment, Bai Siyi’s phone pinged with a WeChat notification. He immediately opened his phone and entered the chat.

Piupiustar: 【Xiao Bai, are you asleep? I’m back.】

Right after that, another photo of abdominal muscles.

Huo Xingming seemed to be in a certain mood. He stood in front of the bathroom mirror, holding his phone and taking a selfie. Although he only shot his upper body, his physique was impressive, with large chest and abdominal muscles that looked like they would feel great to touch. His skin was pale, with droplets of water on it. His V-line continued downward, revealing just a hint of a tantalizing black shadow.

Huo Xingming held his phone in one hand and placed the other on his abdomen, looking very suggestive.

Piupiustar: 【Hey, I was showering and suddenly there’s no hot water. I’m so cold, Xiao Bai. Poor kitty.jpg】

Bai Siyi: “…”

Bai Siyi quickly glanced at the screen and immediately turned off his phone, then nervously glanced at Qiu Bo.

Qiu Bo was confused: “What’s wrong?”

Bai Siyi, with a red face, shook his head: “Nothing, nothing.”

Qiu Bo frowned: “Then why is your face so red? Like a tomato.”

Bai Siyi: “…”

It’s all Huo Xingming’s fault—why is he sending these kinds of photos!

Meanwhile, on the other side, Huo Xingming was still taking selfies in front of the mirror. He happily thought to himself, “Didn’t Bai Siyi say he loves macho guys the most?”

This should be macho enough, right?

He should be falling for me in no time.