Choosing Someone Else? Are You Tired of Living?

The beach on South Bay Island was fine and white, with waves gently lapping against the reefs.

If not for those dozens of black cameras and Huo Si beside them, radiating an aura of "Touch my person and I'll bury you," this place would have been an absolute vacation paradise.

At that moment, the four male guests had gathered in front of the Heart-Flutter Cabin on the beach.

Besides Huo Si and Jian Ning, the other two were:

Kevin, a popular boy band idol, was currently staring at Jian Ning as if he wanted to bore a hole through him. Clearly, he still held a grudge over that "family member" comment on the yacht.

Lin Mo, a retired esports legend, was a socially anxious homebody wearing thick black-rimmed glasses and a plaid shirt. He cowered in the corner, looking like he desperately wanted to go home and play games.

The director announced the rules through a megaphone:

"Welcome to Love Emergency, everyone! Our first segment is—Heart-Flutter Preliminary Selection!"

"Please take out your phones and send a heart-flutter text to the guest you want to pair up with. If the choice is mutual, you can form a team and enjoy a luxurious sea-view room. If it isn't... you'll have to accept a punishment and sleep in a tent!"

Jian Ning clutched his phone, his palms drenched in sweat.

[System, are you sure? As long as I choose someone else, the mission will be complete?]

System: [No. The mission requires you to "successfully avoid Huo Si and form a team." If the mutual selection fails, the mission will still be considered a failure, and the punishment will remain the same.]

Jian Ning glanced at Huo Si beside him.

The man was absentmindedly playing with his phone, his long legs casually crossed. The sea breeze lifted the ends of his hair, making him so handsome Jian Ning's knees went weak. He didn't seem to be considering whom to choose at all. His gaze clearly said, "Just try choosing someone else."

Jian Ning swallowed.

[How am I supposed to choose? If I choose Huo Si, there's no reward. If I choose someone else, Huo Si will probably assassinate me on the spot.]

[But that Truth-Telling Exemption is too important! What if Huo Si asks me about the system later? At least I'll have something to block him with.]

Jian Ning swept his gaze over the other two.

Kevin? No. That guy was a two-faced schemer. Teaming up with him would give him indigestion.

Lin Mo?

Jian Ning's eyes lit up. This esports legend looked honest, and he was socially anxious too. He should be easy to fool! As long as I choose him and he chooses me, wouldn't that settle everything?

So, while Huo Si wasn't paying attention, Jian Ning frantically winked at Lin Mo in the corner and mouthed:

"Choose—me! I'll—carry—you!"

Lin Mo had been nervously picking at his fingers when he suddenly saw the "big shot's family member" from the yacht batting his eyelashes at him. He was so frightened he nearly threw away his phone.

Lin Mo's inner thoughts: Holy shit? What's he doing? Does he have an eye twitch? Or is he threatening me? If I don't choose him, will he have his bodyguards throw me into the sea?

"Alright! Time's up! Send them!" the director ordered.

Jian Ning closed his eyes and quickly tapped Lin Mo's name before sending the message.

[Sorry, Mr. Huo! For freedom's sake! I can only emotionally cheat on you for one minute!]

"Now, let's announce the results!" The director smiled as he looked at the backstage data. "Let's see the first pair..."

"Huo Si." The director's voice jumped an octave as he read out the name. "Mr. Huo's heart-flutter choice is—Jian Ning."

There was no suspense whatsoever.

Everyone applauded, except Kevin, who rolled his eyes.

Huo Si put away his phone and turned to Jian Ning with a confident smile at the corner of his lips. "Let's go, Teacher Jian. I already had someone prepare the sea-view room."

Jian Ning froze in place, his toes already digging out a three-bedroom apartment in the sand.

He didn't dare look Huo Si in the eyes.

The director continued, "Next is Jian Ning. Jian Ning's heart-flutter choice is..."

The director's voice suddenly caught.

He looked at the card in his hand in disbelief, then at Jian Ning, and finally at Huo Si, whose expression had darkened in an instant. His voice trembled as he read out the name:

"—Lin Mo."

The air froze.

Even the sound of the waves seemed to stop.

The smile at Huo Si's lips vanished in an instant, replaced by a chill that made everyone feel as if they had fallen into an ice cellar.

He slowly turned his head to stare at Jian Ning, his voice terrifyingly gentle:

"Lin Mo?"

"You passed over me and chose a... gamer?"

Jian Ning shrank his neck, trying to bluff his way through with crooked logic:

"W-Well... Mr. Huo, I was thinking of you! Your status is so distinguished. I thought you must be tired of sea-view rooms, so I wanted you to experience the rustic charm of a tent..."

[Help! Don't look at me like that! I feel like I'm about to be turned into sashimi!]

[Lin Mo! Brother Lin Mo! You have to choose me! As long as we successfully choose each other, I can take the reward and run!]

Everyone's eyes turned toward Lin Mo in the corner.

Lin Mo could feel the tangible killing intent coming from Huo Si. That gaze seemed to say, "If you dare choose him, this day next year will be your death anniversary."

As a homebody who spent all year dealing only with computers, when had Lin Mo ever seen a scene like this?

His hand trembled, and he shouted in a tearful voice:

"Director! I chose Kevin! I swear! I absolutely didn't choose Jian Ning! I still want to live a few more years! Wuwuwu..."

Jian Ning: "..."

[Lin Mo, damn you! Where's your backbone? Where's your esports spirit?]

The director wiped his sweat. "Ahem, well... since Lin Mo chose Kevin, and Kevin also chose Lin Mo—actually, to avoid Jian Ning—congratulations to Lin Mo and Kevin on successfully choosing each other!"

"Then... Huo Si and Jian Ning have failed to choose each other!"

The system's merciless notification exploded in Jian Ning's mind:

[ Ding! Mission failed. ]

[ Punishment activated: Host, immediately and publicly confess your love to Huo Si for three minutes. ]

[ Requirements: Deeply affectionate, nauseatingly cheesy, and include at least three idioms. Timer starts now. ]

Jian Ning's vision went black.

Not only had he failed to get the reward, he had to sleep in a tent and confess in public?

What kind of human suffering was this?!

Huo Si was looking at him coldly, his arms folded, with an expression that said, "Let's see how you die."

"Failed mutual selection." Huo Si sneered. "Jian Ning, it seems you really want to sleep in a tent. Since that's the case, don't blame me..."

"Mr. Huo!"

Jian Ning suddenly shouted, cutting Huo Si off.

Since he was dead either way, he might as well die gloriously!

Under everyone's shocked gazes, Jian Ning charged forward and wrapped his arms around Huo Si's waist—mainly because he was afraid Huo Si would run away or hit him. He tipped back his head and looked at him with "deep affection"—actually despair.

"Mr. Huo! I'm guilty! I chose Lin Mo just now because... I feel inferior!"

Huo Si raised an eyebrow. "Inferior?"

[Make it up. Keep making it up.]

Jian Ning took a deep breath and began his "punishment confession":

"That's right! You're like the bright moon in the sky, while I'm merely a firefly on the ground. My admiration for you is like a surging river, endless and unceasing! But I was afraid I'd be too clingy and annoy you, so I tried to restrain my restless heart!"

Live-stream comments:

[????]

[What is this cringe pickup-line scene?]

[Has Jian Ning been possessed?]

Jian Ning ignored the comments entirely and continued shouting through gritted teeth:

"Mr. Huo, do you know? Every time I see you, my heart feels as if it's been struck by one hundred thousand volts! Your heroic and majestic aura, your beauty that could topple kingdoms and cities—Huo Si's face darkened—keep me awake at night!"

"I know I was wrong! I shouldn't have chosen anyone else! In this world, apart from you, who else could possibly deserve my sincere heart? My love for you is something neither the seas drying up nor rocks crumbling, neither heaven collapsing nor earth splitting, could ever change!"

"If heaven gave me another chance, I would definitely say three words to that choice: I choose you! And if I had to put a time limit on that choice, I hope it would be... ten thousand years!"

After blurting it all out in one breath, Jian Ning nearly passed out from lack of oxygen.

He panted heavily and cautiously looked at Huo Si.

"M-Mr. Huo... are the three minutes up?"

[I'm exhausted! I've never said so many disgusting things in my life!]

[Huo Si, isn't this enough already? I've degraded myself into a firefly. Can't you give me a way out?]

The scene was deathly silent.

Even the sound of the waves seemed especially awkward.

Huo Si lowered his head and looked at the little thing in his arms, face and neck flushed red, clearly so embarrassed his toes were curling, yet still forcing himself to act deeply affectionate.

The anger in his heart was like a punctured balloon, leaking away in an instant.

Though he knew every word was fake.

Though he knew it was all a scheme.

Still... it sounded rather pleasing.

Huo Si reached out, his long fingers gently pinching Jian Ning's chin and forcing him to lift his head.

"Seas drying up and rocks crumbling? Heaven collapsing and earth splitting?"

There was a hint of amusement in Huo Si's voice.

Jian Ning nodded frantically. "Yes, yes, yes! That's how firm I am!"

"Fine." Huo Si curled his lips and revealed his first genuine smile of the day. It dazzled Jian Ning's eyes. "Since you love me so much, then you shouldn't mind sleeping in a tent tonight, right?"

Jian Ning: "..."

[I mind! I mind so much! I want a sea-view room! I want air conditioning!]

Huo Si gave him no chance to argue. He directly scooped him up by the waist, slung him over his shoulder like a sack of grain, and strode toward the small tent at the far end of the beach.

"Um... Mr. Huo, I can walk by myself!" Jian Ning flailed over his shoulder.

"Save your strength." Huo Si lightly smacked his butt. "The tent doesn't have good soundproofing, and... there's no air conditioning. You used so many idioms just now. Don't you want to have a more hands-on 'deep exchange' tonight?"

Jian Ning immediately behaved himself.

[A deep exchange? We're sleeping in a tent and still have to exchange?]

[Huo Si, are you a devil?]

Night fell, and the starry sky over the island was especially dazzling.

Lin Mo and Kevin moved into the luxurious sea-view room, enjoying air conditioning and watermelon.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere inside the little tent on the beach was particularly... scorching.

Not only was the tent small, but after baking under the sun all day, it was as hot inside as a steamer.

The two of them were squeezed into the cramped space, practically sleeping skin to skin.

Jian Ning was too hot to sleep, but he didn't dare move around because he could feel that Huo Si's body temperature behind him was even higher than his own.

[I'm dying of heat! This isn't dating, this is a sauna!]

[If I'd known, I wouldn't have chosen Lin Mo for that stupid reward! My life is so miserable!]

Just as he tossed and turned like a pancake on a griddle, a hand suddenly reached over and pulled him into an embrace.

Then, a cool breeze drifted over him.

Jian Ning froze.

Huo Si had one arm around him while holding a palm-leaf fan in the other hand, somehow found from who knew where. He was lazily fanning Jian Ning.

"Stop moving." Huo Si's voice was laced with sleepiness. "A calm mind brings coolness."

Jian Ning felt the waves of cool air, and his body stiffened.

[He... is fanning me?]

[Such a big-shot CEO gave up a sea-view room to squeeze into a tent with me, and he's even acting as my personal fan?]

Jian Ning's nose suddenly stung.

He turned over to face Huo Si. In the darkness, he could see only the man's vague outline.

"Mr. Huo... is your hand tired?" Jian Ning asked softly.

"Shut up." Huo Si still had his eyes closed, but his hand didn't stop moving. "Say another word, and I'll kiss you."

Jian Ning immediately shut his mouth.

But the corners of his lips lifted on their own.

He quietly reached out and wrapped his arms around Huo Si's waist, burying his face against that reassuring chest.

[Forget it. Seeing how hard you're working, I won't call you an old bastard tonight.]

[I'll reluctantly... promote you. I'll call you Brother Huo instead.]

Outside the tent, the waves rolled in again and again.

Inside the tent, warmth filled the room.

Early the next morning, the live stream had barely begun when millions of viewers flooded in, hoping to see whether there had been any explosive follow-up to last night's "tent talk."

Then the camera turned.

Huo Si, dressed in that slightly wrinkled shirt, was crouching at the entrance of the tent... building a fire?

Meanwhile, their top star Jian Ning sat on a reef with a branch in hand, directing the aloof young master of the capital circle.

"Mr. Huo, make the fire bigger! That crab's about to burn!"

"Hey, that's my breakfast! Don't burn it!"

Huo Si dutifully added firewood, and there was even a streak of black ash on his face. Somehow, he gave off a bizarrely domestic husband vibe.

Live-stream comments:

[????]

[Is this a dating show? Isn't this Wife Swap?]

[President Huo can start a fire? Jian Ning dares to order President Huo around? Their household status is obvious at a glance!]

Just then, the director team's megaphone sounded again:

"Good morning, guests! How did you sleep last night?"

"Today, we'll begin the second segment—[Desert Island Survival]!"

"Please pair up and head deep into the island's forest to find the 'Love Treasure Chests' hidden by the production team! Inside are the ingredients for tonight's luxurious dinner!"

"Note: There may be 'surprises' (scary props) in the forest!"

The moment Jian Ning heard "forest" and "surprises," his eyes lit up.

[The forest is great! There aren't any cameras in the forest!]

[System, scan the island for any wild juicy gossip! Preferably the kind I can sell for money!]

System: [Ding! An abandoned cave has been detected deep within the forest. Not only is there a treasure chest from the production team inside, but also... real treasure left behind by pirates years ago.]

The branch in Jian Ning's hand snapped with a crack.

[Pirate treasure?!]

[Huo Si! Stop grilling crabs! Come treasure hunting with Daddy! We're going to get rich!]

Jian Ning leaped off the reef, grabbed Huo Si, and charged into the woods.

"Mr. Huo! I think our relationship needs to heat up! Come on! Let's sneak into the little woods!"

Huo Si looked at the little thing's excited—greedy—face and helplessly tossed aside the firewood.

"Sneak into the little woods?"

"Jian Ning, isn't that invitation... a little too direct?"