AAUMOBIP C44

Dating Show 01

“Hello, this is the variety show contract. Thank you very much for giving us this opportunity.”

Liu He signed his name on the contract and smiled: “Pleasure to be working together.”

Sweet, Sweet Love was a dating reality show. Its popularity had surged because it didn’t restrict the guests’ sexual orientation. Here, participants could be paired up with same-sex guests as well. In fact, the show had quite a record—several guests who successfully matched in early seasons were still together, never having broken up.

Season five was about to air. Just before airing, promotional Weibo posts were released, and fans kept refreshing the feed—only to feel like their eyes were deceiving them.

How could someone who had never appeared on a dating show suddenly appear on one?

Among the newly revealed guest list, there was one name no one could have guessed—Yun Jingqiu.

Yun Jingqiu had already secured three of the world’s most prestigious Best Actor titles, his acting lauded as textbook standard. Known to be conscientious, hardworking, and constantly rising in popularity, he was also known for something very specific: being a complete “love brain”*. He had a partner, and even after years into their marriage, he and his spouse were still wildly in love.

Someone like that—he shouldn’t be signing up for a dating reality show.

And indeed, he never had before.

But now, Sweet, Sweet Love’s official guest lineup included Yun Jingqiu.

What’s more, Yun Jingqiu even reposted the Weibo, confirming himself that he’d be doing the show.

【What about Yun-sao***?!】

【Yun-ge, why are you going on a dating show? You already have a family!】

【Yun Jingqiu: He agreed.】

【He agreed and that’s all it takes? What if Yun-sao was just mad and said it in anger?】

【Open your love-brain and see—does it still include Yun-sao inside?】

As if it didn’t.

His relationship with Xiao He was solid. In fact, Xiao He would also be appearing on the dating show.

The fanbase simply ignored it—even though the promo list also mentioned a “mystery guest.” That was Xiao He! Yet no one guessed!

Yun Jingqiu, watching this, cursed internally.

【Yun Jingqiu: Enough! Our relationship is fine. This time I’m going on Sweet, Sweet Love with my baby. Without his permission, how would I dare join a dating show?!】

The fans: 【?!】

【What?! Yun-sao is also appearing?!】

【Let me analyze: which one of the guests is Yun-sao!】

【There are four male guests this season. Aside from Yun-ge and one idol, the other two mystery guests are regular people (non-celebrities).】

【So before airing, we really don’t know which one is Yun-sao.】

【Of course Yun-sao is the mystery guest!】

“Wasn’t it supposed to be confidential? Why just announce it outright?” Yun Jingqiu scolded down the phone, while watching his lover playing with their rabbit, Cream.

Unable to stay calm, he fumed: “What the hell is your production team thinking? If I don’t explain, I’ll instantly get labeled an immoral artist! By the time the show airs, the rumors will be that I’m divorcing! Didn’t I tell you to just reveal Xiao He’s name from the start? But no—you had to do this ‘mystery guest’ act, and then tell me to ‘interact naturally’ with Xiao He so fans can guess. Guessing what? That Xiao He is some kind of homewrecker?!”

If they really followed that script, until Xiao He’s identity was disclosed, Weibo would be full of people cursing him as a mistress, and Yun Jingqiu as a cheating scumbag seducing outsiders while married.

Yun Jingqiu could already envision the storm to come.

Was this really to give audiences a “surprise,” or just to put cracks in his relationship?

He didn’t get it. He had never intended to cooperate with this angle.

From the other end: “This… was our miscalculation. But the show’s heat right now—is thanks to you.” They tried flattering.

Yun Jingqiu couldn’t stomach it. Just hearing the director made him irritable—he hung up immediately.

Miscalculation? No. They just wanted his name and fame to stir hype. Later, after critics had had their field day, they’d leverage Xiao He’s fame and the supposed “reveal” to drive ratings higher.

The production team would profit perfectly.

As if he were still some industry newbie? Thinking they could exploit him this easily? Impossible.

Still…

He stopped himself, sighing furiously.

From nearby, Liu He heard that sigh and reassured him: “After this one is over, it’s done. They won’t have any hold over you anymore.”

Yun Jingqiu’s contract with Xingyao Entertainment was about to expire. He had already decided not to renew, planning instead to open his own studio.

But at the last moment, the company shoved this on him—forcing him into the dating show.

Yun Jingqiu knew it was a trap, but he had no choice—this was contractual obedience.

What calmed him somewhat—the fact that Xiao He was willing to stand with him.

Xiao He had never wanted to go public. Yet, not wanting him crumbling under the gossip, he volunteered to appear.

For that, Yun Jingqiu was deeply moved.

Xingyao wasn’t the worst agency; he had gained much under their support. Even if now they gave him a sickening resource, by right, he had no grounds to refuse. He had to bite the bullet.

Breathing deeply, he told himself—there was nothing “illegal” about the company’s actions. Only unethical.

After all, Sweet, Sweet Love was a top-tier gig. Outwardly, people would say, “The company is giving Yun Jingqiu special treatment.” But—he was a married man! How could he face a dating show alone?!

He seethed all over again.

“This will be your last variety show. After this, we’re independent.” Liu He hugged him gently from behind to comfort him.

“Mn.” Yun Jingqiu’s mood lightened a bit.

“I want Xiao He to comfort me properly,” Yun Jingqiu growled softly.

Playful, Liu He held his waist tighter.

Years married, no longer the fresh innocent boy—now, when Yun-ge hinted at intimacy, he understood full well.

That night, Yun Jingqiu enjoyed Liu He’s “comfort” in bed.

Soon, the filming began.

This season’s format was different—it would be shot entirely as a live broadcast, later edited into episodes.

Fans already knew Yun-sao would be participating, but not which guest he was.

The show wanted to hold that card, letting Yun Jingqiu and Liu He enter separately, to milk suspense.

Yun Jingqiu came in first, dragging a suitcase, stepping into the villa.

Live Comments:

【It’s Yun-ge!!】

【But Yun-sao didn’t enter with him??】

【We wanna see Yun-sao, we wanna see Yun-sao!】

【There are only four male guests this season—we’ll see soon!】

This round included four male guests and four female guests.

Two men and two women had been announced already, leaving four “mystery” guests.

Inside the villa, someone was already there.

“Hello, Teacher Yun,” a recently-popular idol quickly stood to greet him.

Yun Jingqiu removed his sunglasses, nodding: “Hello.”

“The rooms are all upstairs. We’ve already picked ours—handles with green tags mean unoccupied. Hurry and choose one. Let me help with the suitcase!”

Tightening his grip on the suitcase handle, Yun Jingqiu declined politely: “Thanks, I’ll do it myself.”

“Alright.” Relenting, the idol sat back on the sofa after a brief chat.

On the second floor, Yun Jingqiu worried. So many rooms—what if he and Liu He didn’t end up as neighbors?

But his phone had already been taken by production. During the show, their personal devices were confiscated—only the production-issued phones worked.

No point fussing—he picked a corner room, flipped the door tag to red (“occupied”), and went in to unpack.

He hadn’t filmed many variety shows before—certainly not a fully live one. He didn’t even realize most people would introduce themselves to the room camera while unpacking.

He just silently, methodically put away his things.

Live Comments:

【Yun-ge taciturn, hahaha】

【Probably not used to the full livestream. As an actor, he’s trained not to look at the camera—he hasn’t even glanced our way!】

【Yeah, seems that way.】

【When is Yun-sao coming?】

【Soon—new guest arriving! Look, a pretty “civilian” girl!】

【Another one! Wow, this guy’s handsome. Is that Yun-sao??】

【He looks young—like a university student.】

More and more guests arrived. Liu He, on his first-ever reality show, was quite nervous.

Dragging his suitcase upstairs, only three rooms remained open. He randomly chose one and moved in.

Half an hour later, all guests gathered in the living room.

The director announced the first task: “We’ll start with an icebreaker game, called I Have, You Don’t.”

“If one guest says something and you haven’t done it, you lose one chance. If everyone else has done it, then the person who said it loses one.”

“Each person has three chances. Lose all three, and you’ll draw for a Dare.”

“The winner of this game will be allowed to order takeout for dinner, within a budget of 100 RMB.”

The rules laid out, he spun a wheel with names.

It landed on Yun Jingqiu.

The director grinned: “Why don’t you start us off, Teacher Yun? Clockwise around the seating.”

Yun Jingqiu squinted: “This rigged, isn’t it?” He walked up, spun it himself—yet again, it landed on someone else, proving it was random.

Back in his seat, he started: “I’m an actor. I’ve filmed before.”

Eight guests total—two actors among them.

Liu He glanced his way, then wordlessly flipped one of his three cards over.

Every guest had three cards. If you hadn’t done the thing mentioned, you had to flip one facedown—meaning you lost a chance.

The idol asked, “I shot a music video. Does that count?”

“Music videos don’t count,” clarified the director.

“Commercials?”

“Also don’t count.”

In the end, only the two actors were safe. Everyone else lost one chance.

Next up, since he sat beside Yun Jingqiu, was Liu He.

With two chances left, he thought for a moment, then said: “I’ve watched all of Yun Jingqiu’s works.”

Yun Jingqiu arched a brow, lips curving, and teased: “So you’re a fan of mine?”

Playing along, Liu He said naturally: “Yes. I’ve admired your performances for a long time, so I’ve seen all of them.”

Since Yun Jingqiu’s body of work was broad, almost no one else could say that truthfully.

Consequently, five guests “died” that round, each flipping, leaving only Yun Jingqiu and the other actor safe.

The third guest tried: “I’ve eaten paper.”

Yun Jingqiu: “When I was starving in school, I once ripped a page out of my workbook to chew.”

Liu He: “In high school, my teacher caught me passing notes—so I ate the note.”

Turns out, plenty had eaten paper before. Counting carefully, every guest had.

So the one who’d brought it up lost instead. All three cards gone, he drew a Dare.

Opening the slip, reading aloud, he smiled wryly:

【Perform a trending internet dance】

Footnotes

* Love brain (恋爱脑 liàn’ài nǎo): Chinese slang meaning “someone so consumed by love that everything revolves around their partner,” often used teasingly.

** NG (No Good): (Not used here, but common before) Industry term for a failed acting take.

*** Yun-sao (云嫂): Literally “Sister-in-law Yun.” Fans nickname Liu He as this, treating him as Yun Jingqiu’s spouse. This usage playfully acknowledges the couple’s relationship.