AAUMOBIP C46

Dating Show 03

After the first pair of guests set off, ten minutes later, the second pair departed.

It was a weekday, so there weren’t many hikers.

Seeing cameramen lugging gear and several very good-looking people climbing, passersby quickly realized a shoot was in progress.

“Isn’t that Yun Jingqiu? And the one beside him is Yun-sao?”

“They’re doing a live broadcast! Haven’t you checked Weibo? Yun-ge’s on a dating variety show! The one next to him is Yun-sao!” a companion explained.

“I really want to go ask for an autograph, but they’re filming,” the friend said regretfully.

Yun Jingqiu and Liu He climbed slowly. Yun carried several bottles of water and some basic first-aid meds in his backpack.

His stamina was excellent; climbing wasn’t particularly tiring for him.

The production also wouldn’t set a ridiculously distant end point.

Liu He wasn’t carrying a pack, only a bamboo staff in his hand.

The director hadn’t given them any money. If they got thirsty en route and had no cash to buy water, they could borrow from the show to purchase on the mountain—

but any borrowed amount would need to be repaid tenfold in a later segment.

If the guests chose to carry water from the foot of the mountain themselves, that rule didn’t apply; the show provided free water and food at the base.

“Doing okay? Want me to carry it for a while?” Liu He looked at Yun Jingqiu’s backpack and offered.

At the start, he wasn’t tired and even wanted to share Yun’s load.

Yun Jingqiu shook his head. His current pace was matched to Liu He’s and felt quite easy.

This level didn’t count as tiring; filming demands were much tougher than this.

They kept climbing.

Climbing isn’t the same as walking on flat ground; on flat ground, it might take several kilometers to feel tired, but on a slope, after just one kilometer, fatigue kicks in.

Drawing a deep breath, Liu He adjusted his rhythm and continued.

The bamboo staff served as his trekking pole.

After a while, he asked Yun for a bottle of water and took a refreshing drink.

Yun Jingqiu didn’t look tired at all, scarcely sweating—completely at ease.

Was their stamina gap really that big?

Liu He couldn’t help wondering.

“Want to rest a bit?” Yun suggested. “No need to fight for first—just treat this like a hike.”

Liu He nodded; he had the same idea.

They rested in a nearby pavilion. A breeze blew; sweat evaporated and brought a welcome coolness.

Noticing them resting, a fan couldn’t help approaching and politely asked, “Yun-ge, could I have your autograph?”

Yun glanced at the crew to confirm, then signed. “Thanks for your support.”

“Thank you! You two are perfect together!” Clutching the autograph, the fan left, overjoyed.

There were many people on the mountain; it wasn’t possible to clear the area, but the crew needed to ensure smooth filming.

If every fan coming by asked for an autograph, they’d never finish the climb.

Autographs were okay, but not in such a setting.

After their rest, they continued upward, and no more fans approached for signatures.

The mountain wasn’t tall, but it couldn’t be finished in a single morning.

The production set the finish line at mid-mountain.

Yun’s backpack had plenty of snacks and drinks, and he fed Liu He along the way.

Liu He’s legs were tired—his stomach very full.

They reached the finish in third place.

Liu He immediately found a spot to sit and rest, not wanting to move at all.

For an office drone without a workout routine, this was brutal.

“I’ll massage you later—otherwise you won’t be able to lift your legs tomorrow,” Yun said with a laugh, sitting beside him.

Liu He wanted to stick his leg out for Yun to rub right now, but with so many cameras, he felt too embarrassed.

One pair was still not back; they waited on the summit.

While resting, more fans came to ask for autographs.

Yun obliged everyone and took photos with them, too.

The day’s tasks were all done, so they were now allowed to sign and take pictures with fans.

To Liu He’s surprise, someone even asked for his autograph.

He couldn’t help smiling and signed his name as well.

“You’re famous now,” Yun teased.

Liu He laughed and cursed: “And whose fault is that?”

If Xingyao Entertainment hadn’t forced this dating show on Yun, he wouldn’t be here at all.

Otherwise, Yun would wrap the show only to get scolded by hordes online—if people labeled him unethical, it’d be hard to keep working afterward.

When the final group finished, the production took everyone back.

Back in his room, Liu He covered the camera, showered, and collapsed into bed.

He was exhausted.

The afternoon was free time, also known as free dating hours.

Liu He only wanted a bed-date with the God of Sleep.

In Yun’s room, he took out a bottle of massage oil from his suitcase and flashed it at the camera. “Sometimes Xiao He stands in the lab all day. When he comes back, I give him a massage.”

Bullet comments:

[?]

[Is this the massage I think it is?]

Yun didn’t see the scrolling comments. Holding the massage oil he’d prepared, he headed toward Liu He’s room, muttering: “There’s technique to massage. Xiao He often praises my skills, says he always wants to add—”

Before he could finish, a voice came through his earpiece: “Teacher Yun, please switch topics quickly—this is not appropriate—”

“I said what?” Yun blurted automatically.

He hadn’t said anything explicit!

True—but still…

The director was at his wit’s end.

Yun reached Liu He’s door and knocked. No response.

He waited, knocked again—still nothing. So he keyed in the password and went in.

[He even knows the password? Planning to climb into his bed tonight?]

[Didn’t he do that last night? They’re legally married; knowing the password is normal.]

[I think Yun-sao was asleep, right?]

[Asleep, yes, and the camera got covered—can’t see Yun-sao sleeping.]

When Yun entered, the hallway camera couldn’t catch him, and the in-room camera was blocked as well.

Currently, he and Liu He were in a blind spot—only Yun’s lavalier mic could pick up audio.

“Yun-ge…?” Liu He stirred sleepily, turned over with a yawn, and looked at him.

“I’ll massage your legs. Go back to sleep,” Yun said.

Liu He nodded; his head felt heavy. He fell back onto the pillow and drifted off again.

Yun rolled up the hem of Liu He’s sleep shorts—short enough that a little roll exposed his legs.

Pouring oil into his hands, he began to massage.

Liu He’s leg muscles were tight; Yun used some pressure before the tension eased.

Liu He was fully asleep now—sleeping even more deeply under Yun’s hands.

The lav mic on Yun’s collar picked up every sound in the room.

The production crew listened for a moment, then decisively cut away to another pair.

If they kept broadcasting this, the stream would get banned!

After the massage, Yun couldn’t keep his hands off—his voice took on a pervy lilt: “Xiao He, your legs are so fair.”

“Ahem, Teacher Yun, you can switch off your audio device,” the earpiece reminded him.

Yun muted his mic and continued stroking Liu He’s legs.

In his sleep, Liu He felt a tickle and gave a little kick—unknowingly delivering his leg right back into the pervert’s hands.

#Is Yun Jingqiu’s massage legit?#

#Yun Jingqiu sugary sweet#

#Yun Jingqiu Liu He#

While Liu He slept, he and Yun trended in multiple hot searches.

They didn’t have their own devices, and the show equipment had no Weibo access, so they had no idea what was happening online.

Yun petted a bit longer, then showered in Liu He’s room, and climbed into bed to hold him while sleeping.

They slept until 3 p.m. Liu He woke feeling light and refreshed.

Blinking, he sat up, glanced around, then nudged the person beside him. “Yun-ge, wake up.”

Yun opened his eyes and caught Liu He’s hand. “Don’t want to get up.”

“I’m hungry.”

Yun couldn’t bear hearing that. At once, his eyes opened fully.

“I’ll wash up and then we’ll find something to eat,” Liu He said.

Yun nodded.

His legs were a little weak—a normal post-exercise feeling—but not as sore as expected.

A familiar scent hung in the room: the massage oil Yun always used on him.

So Yun-ge had come to give him a massage while he slept—no wonder he felt so relaxed.

He’d only had a bowl of noodles in the morning, and although he’d snacked plenty on the climb, after this nap everything had digested; his stomach now growled with hunger.

As always, the show’s kitchen was threadbare—he didn’t want instant noodles.

“This is your afternoon romance budget. Go find something outside. Come back for barbecue tonight.” The production handed Liu He 200 yuan.

Liu He: “Is this for all the guests, or just us?”

“All, all.”

He pocketed the money and went to get Yun.

Yun had just come downstairs from washing when he saw Liu He striding toward him.

“Yun-ge, let’s go on a date. My treat.” Liu He waved the 200 yuan.

Yun smiled. “Okay.”

He didn’t ask where it came from—easy enough to guess the show gave it; they hadn’t come with any money or belongings.

“Let’s also find a way to make a little extra,” Liu He suggested.

“If there’s any left tonight, all of it will be turned in,” the director intoned.

Liu He: “Pretend I didn’t say that.”

So much for saving some for tomorrow. They couldn’t exactly make money for the production, could they?

They decided to fill their bellies first—found a restaurant, ate well, then wandered the streets.

If something looked tasty, they bought some; if something looked fun, they bought that too.

In the end they kept 20 yuan for a taxi.

With the money gone, they returned to the show to wait for the barbecue.

“I’ll now announce tonight’s barbecue rules: the group that finished last on the hike will be responsible for grilling for everyone else; the others just eat,” the director said briskly, prompting cheers.

It’s less fun when you don’t grill your own, though.

“I’ll grill some for you later,” Yun told Liu He.

Liu He nodded.

The other guests also said they’d do a bit of their own.

But when it came to Yun and Liu He—their aura was unapproachable; no one tried to force themselves into their bubble.

Clearly a dating show, yet these two were doing it like a private date variety.

After eating and drinking their fill, Liu He lay down to rest—and once again, Yun climbed into his bed late at night.

By now, the production didn’t even bother stopping him. What was the point? Would it work?

Even if they stopped him now, in the middle of the night he’d sneak into Liu He’s bed anyway—how could they stop that?

Footnotes

 

 

1. Bullet comments (弹幕): Real-time on-screen viewer comments in Chinese streaming platforms, overlaying the video feed. 
2. Romance budget (恋爱经费): A show-provided cash allowance earmarked for the couple’s date expenditures during a segment.