I Turned a Competitive Variety Show into a Dating Show - Chapter 3

The soft touch on her neck tightened Shi Xu’s heart. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms, using the pain to remind herself to stay rational.

The fragrance that had been swirling around her intensified, making her head spin and her vision blur.

Jian Zhi lifted her head from Shi Xu’s embrace, as if holding her breath. A flicker of shyness crossed her eyes, her gaze darting away.

Shi Xu thought she might have imagined it and leaned closer to get a better look, but Jian Zhi had already risen calmly, as if nothing had happened.

Jian Zhi stood up, smoothed her clothes, and turned to walk toward the sofa. Shi Xu’s heart raced, her mind in turmoil.

“Are you okay?” Xue Qing leaned in, dispelling the lingering romantic tension.

Shi Xu: “…I’m fine.”

Why does it feel like the air has grown heavy the moment Xue Qing arrived?

Jian Zhi grabbed the water bottle from the table and took a large gulp. Unseen by the others, the tips of her ears flushed crimson.

The atmosphere in the practice room remained subtly charged after the incident. After the training instructor left for the day, the three continued practicing on their own for a while before joining the rest of the group to return to the dormitory.

Shi Xu had always lived a comfortable life, getting whatever she wanted with ease. She saw no need to exhaust herself, whether in private or on camera, prioritizing authenticity above all else.

Xue Qing, caught between the two, sensed an odd tension in the air. She glanced left and right, but ultimately said nothing.

When they reached the dormitory entrance, Shi Xu noticed Xue Qing lingering and subtly positioned herself to block her path.

Xue Qing tilted her head, her eyes filled with confusion.

“You’re drenched in sweat, Miss Xue. You should go take a shower.”

Xue Qing raised her arm to sniff her armpit, then pulled up her collar to sniff her clothes. “I don’t smell anything,” she said innocently.

“Of course you wouldn’t notice it yourself. It’s like people with body odor—they never realize how pungent they are. Only those around them can tell.”

Xue Qing immediately tensed up. “Senior Sister, I’ll go shower and change first. I’ll come find you later.”

Shi Xu watched her leave, a faint smile curving her lips.

Don’t bother coming back, you third wheel!

As she turned, she caught Jian Zhi staring at her with an all-knowing expression. Shi Xu suddenly felt flustered, and the corner of her mouth dropped.

“Aren’t you going in?”

The words came out dry and strained, sounding completely unnatural.

Jian Zhi paused for a moment before saying, “Xue Qing is a simple girl. If you have something to say, be direct. Don’t bully her with veiled remarks.”

Before Shi Xu could reply, she added, “I know you dislike her. I’ll make sure she’s more careful.”

Jian Zhi gave her a deep, lingering look before stepping past her into the room. She knew Shi Xu’s feelings went beyond mere dislike for Xue Qing.

Or perhaps, she was simply expressing her dissatisfaction with Jian Zhi herself, Xue Qing just happened to be the target of her veiled barbs.

Jian Zhi sighed, feeling utterly drained.

Shi Xu watched her retreating figure, feeling like a mute person forced to swallow bitter medicine. She wanted to explain, but how could she? After all, she genuinely disliked Xue Qing.

But how could she be accused of bullying? Every word she’d spoken was the truth.

As Shi Xu stewed in her frustration, Jian Zhi emerged from the bathroom. Dressed in a silk nightgown with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows, her exposed skin glowed pink, radiating warmth and softness.

The lingering steam filled the dormitory, leaving Shi Xu’s mouth dry and her head swimming. She fled before Jian Zhi could approach.

Jian Zhi watched Shi Xu’s obvious avoidance, her brow furrowing.

Shi Xu ran all the way to the courtyard before her anxiety began to subside. Leaning against a wall, she took deep, repeated breaths, letting the cool night breeze soothe the feverish heat in her heart.

By this time, most people were in their dorms, making the courtyard quiet as water. The silvery moonlight bathed the ground, creating an atmosphere that helped calm her down.

Shi Xu sat on a swing, listening to the distant clamor from the dorms to pass the time. Though she couldn’t make out any specific words, she couldn’t help but sigh, “It’s true, where there are many people, there’s always liveliness.”

The image of Jian Zhi, fresh from her bath, kept flashing before Shi Xu’s eyes, tightening her heart again and again. It was more thrilling than riding a roller coaster.

“Ha!” She buried her face in her arms, utterly exasperated with herself.

Two hours later, she returned to the dorm. It was empty except for the faint lingering scent of Jian Zhi’s perfume. The fragrance had faded considerably, leaving her wondering how long Jian Zhi had been gone.

After showering and changing, Shi Xu lay down for a while, but Jian Zhi still hadn’t returned. With a sudden burst of energy, she sat up, threw on some clothes, and hurried out the door.

She searched the dorm area but found no sign of Jian Zhi. When she asked a staff member, she learned that Jian Zhi had gone back to the practice room.

Shi Xu stood at the doorway, gazing through the glass at the slender figure inside, her graceful movements mesmerizing. She unconsciously slowed her breathing.

Only two warm lights illuminated the practice room, casting a soft, amber glow on Jian Zhi. It was as if a spotlight had been deliberately focused on her, accentuating her refined elegance and making her appear almost otherworldly.

Spinning and leaping, she danced with abandon, sweat glistening on her skin like dew on a newly emerged butterfly, fluttering tirelessly.

Shi Xu suddenly realized that this was the real Jian Zhi—free, unburdened, and unconstrained by the need to perform for the cameras.

Jian Zhi danced with all her might until she collapsed from exhaustion. She lay on the cold practice room floor, her chest heaving with each breath, her eyes unfocused and vacant, yet a faint smile lingered on her lips.

Startled by Jian Zhi’s collapse, Shi Xu immediately pushed open the door and rushed inside. Jian Zhi turned her head, their gazes meeting across the room, time seeming to freeze in that moment.

Shi Xu’s heart pounded like a drum, as if it were about to burst through her chest. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came. Jian Zhi simply watched her quietly, neither breaking the stillness.

A voice urged her closer, her gaze involuntarily drifting to Jian Zhi’s slender, pale neck and glistening red lips. Shi Xu forced herself to look away, silently regulating her ragged breathing, trying to calm her tumultuous heart.

Jian Zhi didn’t hold out much hope for Shi Xu, but seeing her express such blatant disgust toward her, again and again, still stung.

Even a clay figure has some dignity, she thought. Does she think I’m easy to push around?

But Shi Xu hadn’t said anything outright. If Jian Zhi confronted her, it would only make her seem aggressive. Better to avoid trouble.

She sat up cross-legged, tugged her slipping clothes back into place, and resolved not to speak to Shi Xu.

It’s just this once. I’ll avoid her when we form teams later.

Shi Xu, having finally suppressed her excitement, asked, “When are you heading back?”

Assuming Shi Xu wanted the practice room, Jian Zhi stood up, grabbed her towel and water bottle, and walked past her with a cold glance. The perfume on her skin, intensified by sweat, grew even more potent and alluring.

Shi Xu trailed after her, step for step. Jian Zhi glanced back at her with a strange look. “Aren’t you going to use the practice room?”

“Ah? No, I don’t need it,” Shi Xu stammered.

A flicker of impatience crossed Jian Zhi’s eyes. “Then what are you doing here?”

Shi Xu bit her tongue. “I couldn’t sleep, so I was just wandering around.”

Jian Zhi said nothing more, striding away with long strides, as if trying to put distance between them. But Shi Xu remained close behind. The two returned to the dorms one after the other, prompting teasing remarks from the others about their diligent practice.

Listening to the sound of water running in the bathroom, Shi Xu’s mind was too agitated to think clearly. She couldn’t help but smile bitterly, unsure whether this was a reward or a punishment.

Jian Zhi emerged from the bathroom wearing a tank top and shorts, her left ankle bruised and swollen, clearly twisted.

Shi Xu stared at it for a long moment before calling out to her as she lifted the covers to get into bed.

Jian Zhi glanced at her, her gaze questioning and even colder than before.

Shi Xu pointed to her ankle. “Your ankle looks twisted. Doesn’t it hurt?”

Jian Zhi glanced down. “It’s fine. It’ll be better by morning.”

“But it looks serious. Maybe you should put some ointment on it?” Shi Xu said, mentally trying to remember where she’d put the first-aid kit.

Jian Zhi burrowed under the covers, concealing her injured ankle. “This isn’t something you need to worry about,” she said coldly.

With that, she pulled the blanket over her head, turned her back to Shi Xu, and lay down. Shi Xu’s heart felt like it had been pricked by a needle—not painful, but impossible to ignore.

Half-asleep, Shi Xu was awakened by a sticky, whimpering sound. She switched on the bedside lamp and found Jian Zhi trembling violently, as if trapped in a nightmare.

The words were indistinct, but Shi Xu saw tears streaming down Jian Zhi’s face.

Her cheeks and the tip of her nose were flushed red, her eyelashes wet with tears, and her body curled into a tight ball, as helpless as a lost child—a stark contrast to the aloof, arrogant woman she was during the day.

Shi Xu gently stroked Jian Zhi’s cheek, whispering, “Which one is the real you?”

The soft warmth of Jian Zhi’s skin pressed against her palm. Jian Zhi instinctively nuzzled her face against Shi Xu’s hand, her tightly furrowed brow relaxing slightly. Shi Xu’s heart skipped a beat, and she gently patted Jian Zhi’s back through the blanket to soothe her.

After what felt like an eternity, Jian Zhi gradually emerged from her nightmare. Once she was sleeping soundly, Shi Xu carefully withdrew her hand from beneath Jian Zhi’s cheek and cautiously stood up.

Her legs, numb from crouching for so long, buckled before she could react. She tried to shift sideways to avoid falling on Jian Zhi, but her ear still brushed against Jian Zhi’s.

Jian Zhi murmured in displeasure, and Shi Xu froze, barely daring to breathe. She lay on her side, gazing at Jian Zhi’s magnified, breathtakingly beautiful face. Overwhelmed by the sight, Shi Xu’s heart ached with longing, but she could do nothing. She buried her face in the blanket, inhaling the scent of Jian Zhi’s dark hair.

Jian Zhi had suffered from insomnia for a long time, and since joining the show, she hadn’t had a single good night’s sleep. Even the slightest noise would jolt her awake. But last night, she had slept remarkably well, which had noticeably improved her mood.

The bruise on her ankle had faded considerably, and when she touched it in the shower, it felt smooth, as if someone had applied something to it.

Glancing at the still-sleeping figure beside her, she dismissed the thought as wishful thinking. Shi Xu’s disdain for her was so obvious—how could she possibly have done something like that?

Lost in a beautiful dream, Shi Xu suddenly felt someone watching her. She abruptly opened her eyes, catching Jian Zhi off guard. Jian Zhi flinched, looking away as if she’d been caught doing something wrong.

Still half-asleep, Shi Xu’s gaze locked onto Jian Zhi, captivated by her beauty and oblivious to the other woman’s guilty expression.

They didn’t have much time to practice. Shi Xu, who had initially vowed never to push herself too hard, found herself spending every day in the practice room with Jian Zhi, losing several pounds in the process.

“After you two finish singing this part, give each other a meaningful look before starting the dance,” the dance instructor instructed, placing their hands together. Shi Xu’s fingertips trembled slightly, but she maintained a facade of nonchalance. Jian Zhi remained unchanged, her beautiful peach blossom eyes as still as a deep well, making it impossible to guess her true feelings.

As the music began, Shi Xu felt a tightening around her waist, followed by Jian Zhi’s breath washing over her.

They were so close that she could clearly hear each other’s breathing. She resisted the urge to look at Jian Zhi, yet her eyes inevitably took in every detail of the other woman’s beauty.

Her heart pounded against her ribs. She abruptly pulled her hand away, gasping for air, but the dance instructor pushed her forward from behind.

“Imagine she’s your lover,” the instructor urged. “Show more passion.”

At those words, Jian Zhi lifted her head and kissed Shi Xu, who had been pushed down toward her.