The Ex's Tears Are So Hot - Chapter 17
“Though he’s a bit clumsy sometimes, he always shields me at the first moment I need it.”
Whenever Guan Jinnian wanted to avoid conflict or escape reality, Xie Zhixin was always the one to catch his vulnerability.
As the thought crossed his mind, Guan Jinnian’s heart suddenly clenched—thumped hard once, then returned to normal.
Why had he completely overlooked this one thing about Xie Zhixin that had moved him the most?
Xie Zhixin was, in essence, a somewhat slow and not very sensitive person. Hadn’t he known that from the start?
In the end, it all came down to selfishness—he just wanted to enjoy the other’s strengths without accepting their flaws.
Guan Jinnian pressed his lips together and turned his head to look at the rice fields in the distance, falling silent.
Xie Zhixin was caught off guard by Guan Jinnian’s response. Instead of being smug as the audience might have expected, he lowered his head and fell into deep thought.
The viewers had been grinning ear to ear moments ago, but suddenly both leads went emo, leaving them confused.
【Hello? What did they say that triggered the emo switch?!】
【Maybe they were reminded of happy memories, and now that they’re broken up… it hurts.】
【Why does it feel like emotional knives are raining from the sky 😭】
【If you’re both still sad, then just make up already! Reconcile and feed us some sugar again, please /crying/crying/crying】
The PD quickly stepped in to smooth things over as the atmosphere got gloomier.
“Seems like both teachers hold each other in very high regard!” She flipped through the question cards quickly and found one a little more lighthearted. “Okay, next question: do you have any especially memorable experiences? Where did they happen?”
As usual, Xie Zhixin answered first:
“Last year, we went to the beach to watch the sunrise. When the sun came up, I looked at Jinnian’s profile and thought, ‘I want to come here every year with him.’”
Everyone turned to Guan Jinnian.
He instinctively adjusted his seatbelt, and the camera clearly caught the slight tremble of his eyelashes.
The PD, smelling gossip, pressed:
“And you, Mr. Guan?”
Without thinking too much, Guan Jinnian blurted out, “The back gate of the film studio…” He instantly realized he’d said too much.
It was where they had their first kiss—at the intersection near the food street by the back gate.
Xie Zhixin whipped his head around and swallowed hard. Then, trying to cover up the moment, he added awkwardly:
“…Yeah, that place had pretty good hot and sour noodles.”
The livestream chat exploded:
【Wait, something’s off with you two!】
【OMG what kind of code talk was THAT?!】
【There’s definitely a story behind that film studio—Camera crew, zoom in!】
The PD seized the opportunity: “What happened at the studio?”
Realizing he couldn’t cover it up, Guan Jinnian’s ears turned bright red. He closed his eyes briefly and gave in.
“…It’s where we had our first kiss.”
【OOOOOOHHHHH!!!】
【I knew it, I knew it!】
【So it’s their first kiss spot—that’s why it was so unforgettable. OMG it’s so sweet I’m ALIVE again!】
Everyone in the car, even the driver, was grinning ear to ear. Xie Zhixin’s gloomy mood from the previous question completely vanished, replaced by a bright smile.
The PD tried to keep a straight face as she asked, “Last question: what’s the most touching thing the other person has ever done for you?”
A specific memory flashed through Guan Jinnian’s mind.
“My first time as a lead actor, during the wrap party, I got pressured into drinking. He snuck in pretending to be a waiter and took several shots of baijiu for me. He almost had to be hospitalized.”
Xie Zhixin spoke up almost at the same time:
“One time I threw a tantrum and stormed out. Instead of getting angry, he made a table full of my favorite dishes and waited for me to come home.”
After they finished speaking, silence fell over the car. Only the soft hum of the AC remained.
【How did two people who loved each other this much end up like this…】
【Does every love story end the same in the end?】
【Wuwuwu… little couple, please reconcile. I’ll happily lose 10 pounds in exchange for your reunion.】
【Okay fine, I’ll lose 10 pounds too QAQ】
Guan Jinnian’s nose stung. Just as sadness began to rise in his chest, he heard soft sniffles next to him.
He turned his head—Xie Zhixin was crying again.
Guan Jinnian: “……”
“Why are you crying again?” he said helplessly.
It was bad enough without him saying anything. But the moment he spoke—in that naturally gentle, soothing voice—Xie Zhixin couldn’t hold back anymore. He buried his head into Guan Jinnian’s shoulder and sobbed.
While crying, he choked out:
“I don’t want to break up… If you don’t want me anymore, what am I supposed to do… wu wu wu…”
Even though the viewers had already witnessed Xie Zhixin’s infamous ability to cry on cue, seeing it again was still jaw-dropping.
【Bro, you really do have tears on wholesale…】
【I know I shouldn’t laugh because it’s so sad… but HAHAHAHAHAHAH】
【Even my preschool kid just asked me: “Mom, why is that gege crying again?” /laughcry】
【I hereby crown him The Tear Distributor /fist/ salute】
【Too talented—someone please get “Tears Brother” trending NOW!!】
Netizens who were just there for the drama started pushing the hashtag. Within three minutes, the tag #XieZhixinTearsWholesaleSupplier rocketed to the Top 3 of the trending topics.
People who hadn’t even watched the livestream got curious, clicked in, saw the crying clips and GIFs, and got instantly hooked. One after another, they fell head-first into the New Year CP fandom.
The show’s real-time viewership passed 10 million—another new high.
The producer watched the backend data and couldn’t stop smiling. He turned to Director Wang and gushed about how great it was to have these two on the show—ratings were guaranteed with them around.
…
Meanwhile, the very two stars who were being praised as “ratings gold” were tidying up their assigned house.
After arriving at the village, they were told to drop off their luggage first and then meet at the basketball court in 30 minutes.
The house had only the bare essentials—no food or daily supplies. They’d have to complete tasks to earn living materials.
This being a reconciliation-themed variety show, the producers weren’t about to let them sleep in separate rooms just for drama. So naturally, they were given only one room—with two single beds.
They tidied up briefly and followed the signs to the meeting point.
The other guests arrived at the court one after another. Once everyone was present, host Wang Yue reappeared.
“Welcome to Zhounan Village!”
The guests and surrounding villagers responded with enthusiastic applause.
“Zhounan is located in the south and is a natural hot spring resort village. But due to a lack of exposure, very few tourists know about it. Over the next ten days, your mission is to promote this village. If we manage to double its income, the task will be deemed successful. The reward will be upgraded accommodations for the next phase!”
“Of course, since today was a long journey, you’ll have the rest of the day to rest. The mission officially begins tomorrow~”
Lu Yue, a seasoned veteran of variety shows, knew the routine. She asked,
“So what are we supposed to do next?”
“There’s no way it’s that simple!” Wu Yi chimed in.
Wang Yue laughed and pulled out the mission card. “Nothing gets past Movie Queen Lu.”
“As you’ve probably noticed, there’s nothing to eat in your houses. So now, you’ll play a small game. Your performance will earn you points to exchange for supplies!”
He gestured toward the basketball court.
Everyone looked in the direction he pointed.
There, a giant inflatable pool filled with plastic balls had been set up. Above the pool was a narrow wooden plank just wide enough for one person to cross.
According to Wang Yue’s explanation, the four teams learned the game rules:
One person would wear a blindfold and carry the other on their back. The person being carried would give directions as they crossed the plank. At the end, they had to grab a plushie and return. The team with the fastest time wins; rankings would determine the number of points earned.
After drawing lots, Guan Jinnian and Xie Zhixin were lucky—they got to go last.
It was the best position. They could watch how others performed, learn from their mistakes, and adjust their own strategy based on the previous teams’ times.
Soon, the first team—Lu Yue and Qin Jin—stepped up. President Qin stood firm, put on the blindfold, and easily lifted Lu Yue.
They started after the whistle, with Lu Yue whispering directions in his ear. But perhaps due to a touch of male pride, Qin Jin insisted on following his own instincts. He almost stepped off the plank, costing them precious seconds.