I Turned a Competitive Variety Show into a Dating Show - Chapter 10

Shi Xu’s voice trailed off as Jian Zhi’s gaze became too direct, making her heart pound and her tongue tie itself in knots.

Jian Zhi sat cross-legged on the sofa, hugging a cushion. Overwhelmed with excitement after seeing their ranking, Shi Xu had leaned forward, her hands resting on the armrests, inadvertently forming a circle around Jian Zhi.

Jian Zhi’s eyes burned into her as she leaned forward. Shi Xu knew she should retreat and create distance, but she found herself frozen, trapped by those deep, ink-black eyes.

Leaning slightly to speak to Jian Zhi, Shi Xu found herself harboring a wicked thought as Jian Zhi drew closer.

Those petal-like lips are so beautiful. What would happen if I leaned down and kissed her while she wasn’t paying attention?

Just as she thought the distance would close completely, Jian Zhi stopped.

“Did you change my pajamas?”

Shi Xu’s heart jolted. Her sensual fantasies vanished instantly. She swallowed hard, feigning confusion. “What?”

Jian Zhi simply stared at her. Her usually warm, peach-blossom eyes now held a cold, piercing intensity.

Shi Xu’s guilt grew under that scrutiny. Her mouth went dry, her heart racing uncontrollably.

So close, she feared Jian Zhi could hear her heartbeat. Under that intense gaze, she couldn’t tell if it was attraction or panic.

All she knew was that her heart was racing.

It felt like a frantic deer was thrashing inside her chest, desperately trying to break free.

Jian Zhi leaned in closer, her faint, ethereal fragrance drifting into Shi Xu’s nostrils. The warm breath from Jian Zhi’s mouth brushed against her cheek, inexplicably making the tips of her ears burn.

Shi Xu was reaching her breaking point.

She clenched her fists, stiffened her neck, and leaned back as far as she could. Yet Jian Zhi’s presence remained inescapable, tickling her chest with an unbearable itch.

As the two remained locked in this tense standoff, Xue Qing glanced back and forth between them before nonchalantly lowering her head to focus on her task: voting for Senior Sister.

Let them sort it out, she thought. The immediate priority is securing Senior Sister’s first place.

The heat spread from Shi Xu’s ears to her face. Terrified Jian Zhi would notice her reaction, she only grew more flustered, her cheeks burning even hotter.

Jian Zhi clearly sensed Shi Xu’s nervousness, and something else… resistance. Her mood darkened inexplicably, and she calmly sat back down.

The oppressive tension vanished abruptly. Shi Xu exhaled deeply, her stiff body slowly relaxing as her heart rate began to slow.

But… why did Jian Zhi look so unhappy?

After spending these days together, Shi Xu could accurately gauge Jian Zhi’s mood. Though her excessively beautiful face was expressionless, the coldness in her eyes and the downturn of her lips clearly indicated her displeasure.

Shi Xu wanted to ask if she was the cause, but hesitated to speak. After all, Jian Zhi had been as silent as a gourd with its mouth sawed shut for so long.

“Something on your mind?” Jian Zhi suddenly turned to look at her.

The unexpected eye contact made Shi Xu’s heart flutter slightly, and she blurted out what she was thinking in a clear, watery voice: “Did I make you angry?”

Her tone was unusually cautious, a stark contrast to her usual flamboyant demeanor. As Jian Zhi gazed into her own reflection in Shi Xu’s glass-like eyes, she found herself inexplicably speechless.

“No, don’t overthink it,” Jian Zhi finally replied, averting her gaze and picking up the tablet beside her. Yet a strange restlessness stirred within her. She couldn’t deny Shi Xu’s striking beauty—her phoenix-shaped eyes sharp and commanding, her high-bridged nose, thin lips, and sculpted facial features all undeniably superior. But this was the first time she had noticed the glass-like color of Shi Xu’s pupils.

Such a stunning hue—she had never seen anything like it before.

Shi Xu felt a pang of sadness at Jian Zhi’s aloofness, but it lasted less than three seconds. Seizing the opportunity while Jian Zhi was distracted, she quickly sat down beside her.

It was originally a single-person sofa, but Jian Zhi was so slender that there was still some space left. When Shi Xu sat down, she not only filled the remaining space but also pressed tightly against Jian Zhi.

Jian Zhi glanced at her indifferently. Shi Xu immediately tried to smooth things over, saying, “Didn’t you say you didn’t want to participate in the live broadcast? Let’s think of a way to get out of it.”

Jian Zhi relented. She genuinely didn’t know how to handle a live broadcast or how to campaign for votes. In recent years, she had avoided variety shows, fearing that her reserved and stiff demeanor would disappoint her fans.

If she had a script, she could perform according to it. Or, like this show, if she was given a task, she could simply work hard to complete it. But live broadcasts required improvisation, and she couldn’t guarantee a smooth performance, let alone have confidence in winning Hype Points.

She needed to find a way to decline or negotiate with the production team to have someone else take her place.

Xue Qing frantically tapped the screen, typing, “What are you talking about? Being voted into first place proves Senior Sister’s immense popularity! Plus, the hype around her first-ever live broadcast will make the viewership explode. It’s the perfect opportunity to gain more fans!”

Jian Zhi pursed her lips, saying nothing. If Xue Qing could figure this out, the production team certainly had. They might even have orchestrated this first-place ranking themselves.

Seeing Jian Zhi’s expression darken further, Shi Xu quickly said, “Even though the live stream format was decided in advance, no one could have known it would fall on them. Some people just aren’t comfortable performing in front of a camera—it’s different from acting.”

Xue Qing looked up at her and said softly, “Didn’t you do a live stream before? You must have plenty of experience. Why don’t you teach Senior Sister?”

Shi Xu choked.

To be honest, live streaming was quite simple. Aside from camera presence, all you needed was the ability to chat comfortably with fans. Jian Zhi had no issues with camera presence, but her reserved personality might put her at a disadvantage against more outgoing personalities.

Most importantly, Jian Zhi herself was reluctant to do it. Even if forced into it, the live stream wouldn’t go well.

Teach her? What could I teach her? How to face the camera? Or how to force herself to be more outgoing?

The former wasn’t necessary, and the latter was impossible.

After considering it carefully, Shi Xu suggested, “Why don’t we talk to the production team and see if they can switch someone else in?”

This idea aligned perfectly with Jian Zhi’s own thoughts, and hearing it gave her a glimmer of hope.

“Do you think that would work?”

Shi Xu tried to reassure her. “Let’s try it. If it doesn’t work, we’ll figure something else out. The others would definitely want the extra Hype Points. It’s better to let someone who’s good at talking compete for it than for you to struggle through it. That way, we’ll have a better chance of winning.”

“But…”

Xue Qing started to protest, but Shi Xu shot her a sharp glare, silencing her immediately. Xue Qing obediently shut her mouth and cast all her remaining votes for Shi Xu.

The next day, Jian Zhi went to discuss the matter with the production team. They explained that since the vote counts were public, they couldn’t directly substitute someone else. However, they promised to negotiate with the other contestants to see if anyone would be willing to cover her livestream.

Shi Xu initially tried to use her influence to get her way, but neither her Big Sister nor Second Sister answered her calls. When she approached the program director, he refused her request, citing a lack of authority.

Having finally found a chance to impress Jian Zhi, only to have it slip through her fingers, Shi Xu angrily blocked her Second Sister. As for why she didn’t block her Big Sister? Embarrassingly, she didn’t dare.

Another day passed, and Jian Zhi received the production team’s final answer: no one was willing to cover her livestream.

No one was foolish enough to take on such a risky task. With Jian Zhi’s immense popularity, any substitute would be branded as a usurper by her uninformed fans. Instead of gaining popularity, they’d likely end up trending for all the wrong reasons, facing a barrage of online backlash.

No one wanted to touch this hot potato and invite such controversy, not even the most obscure, eighteenth-tier celebrities dared to risk it.

After much deliberation, Shi Xu decided to rally her supporters to vote Jian Zhi out of the top ten. But every time Jian Zhi’s ranking slipped by one place, her fans would redouble their efforts, flooding the polls with votes. Shi Xu had never realized how formidable Jian Zhi’s fanbase truly was.

Despite her relentless efforts until the final night, Jian Zhi remained in the top ten. By the time voting closed, Shi Xu’s plan had failed.

Shi Xu threw her tablet aside, buried her face in her pillow, and let out a heavy sigh. “What kind of fans are this stubborn? Even money can’t budge them.”

Exhausted both physically and mentally, she drifted off to sleep. When she woke up, it was already dark, the dormitory pitch-black and silent.

Shi Xu lay still for a while, waiting for her mind to clear completely before reaching over to turn on the bedside lamp. As the light flickered on, the shadow by the window startled her into a silent scream.

Jian Zhi glanced back at her before turning away again. A wine bottle and glass sat before her, suggesting she was drinking alone in her room.

Only then did Shi Xu catch the faint scent of alcohol in the air. She sat up and asked softly, “Are you worried about tomorrow’s live broadcast?”

“Not exactly worried,” Jian Zhi replied. “Just afraid I’ll mess up and disappoint my fans and teammates.”

Jian Zhi’s frankness surprised Shi Xu. As she approached, she realized Jian Zhi was drunk, which explained her unusual honesty.

Shi Xu knelt before her and said softly, “Sister, caring too much about what others think can be exhausting. I wish you’d be a little selfish and focus more on yourself. Don’t work so hard.”

“I don’t want to either…” Jian Zhi sighed, then took another large gulp of wine.

Remembering what had happened last time, Shi Xu quickly stopped her. “Don’t drink anymore. You’re already drunk.”

Jian Zhi stared at her for a moment, then pinched Shi Xu’s chin and brought the glass to her lips. “Then you drink it for me. Finish it all, not a drop left.”

Forced to tilt her head back, Shi Xu swallowed half the glass of red wine, some of the liquid spilling down her pale chin and onto her chest. The damp silk nightgown clung to her skin, revealing the curve of her br3asts beneath.

Jian Zhi gently rubbed Shi Xu’s lower lip, then licked the wine stain from her finger and pressed it into Shi Xu’s mouth. Suddenly, she smiled, her beautiful features softening like a blooming peach blossom, alluring and captivating.

“So beautiful,” Jian Zhi murmured.

A husky, low voice brushed past Shi Xu’s ear, making her heart tremble. As if possessed, she bit down on the finger.

“What’s so pretty?” she mumbled.

Jian Zhi leaned closer, her long lashes fluttering gently. Her peach-blossom eyes held a teasing smile, the corners tinged a deep crimson, as if she had been crying.

“What else could it be? Of course, it’s…”

Jian Zhi trailed off, deliberately teasing her. Shi Xu nibbled on her fingertip with her sharp canines, her tongue lightly brushing across the pad.

“Tell me properly, Sister.”

Jian Zhi’s hand trembled slightly as she withdrew it from Shi Xu’s mouth. Her eyes, glazed with a hint of intoxication, met Shi Xu’s gaze. Suddenly, as if remembering something, she hummed.

“What did you do to me when I was drunk last time?”

Shi Xu’s cheeks flushed crimson as she murmured, “It was Sister who did something to me.”

Jian Zhi’s lips curled into a smirk. “And what exactly did I do?”

They were so close their noses nearly touched. Recalling Jian Zhi’s constant provocations, Shi Xu mustered a sliver of courage.

“This, and this.”

She cupped the back of Jian Zhi’s head, pulled her closer, brushed their noses together, and then kissed her lips.