Getting ready for the dance

Lin Yuxi sat opposite him, looking at his crisp uniform, and her heart suddenly skipped a beat.

Everyone froze for a moment at Su Yue's words, then burst out laughing once they understood what he meant.

"Hahahaha! Yue, you really know how to catch people off guard!"

Lin Yuxi joined in with a soft laugh, squeezing her fingers together.

That was right. No matter how formidable someone was on the battlefield, he might be completely clueless in other areas.

Like dating.

The live comments erupted with laughter too. Su Yue had won quite a few fans with that remark. Discovering this unexpected side of him, everyone thought he was a little cute.

Though describing a man that way might seem odd, those with experience knew that calling a man handsome could simply mean he really was handsome. It didn't necessarily mean the person complimenting him had feelings for him.

But if you liked someone, you were very likely to describe them as "cute."

Shi Zhou laughed too. Su Yue really was...

Even his shyness was understated.

The contrast was rather endearing.

Why did he get the feeling that the second male lead was actually quite bashful?

Still, saying that aloud would probably shock everyone.

He was probably the only person who thought so.

No screenwriter could have come up with today's experiences and conversations. The authenticity and unexpected developments were wonderfully surprising.

Director Zhang watched the footage with satisfaction. "Now that everyone knows each other better, they're much more natural together."

They weren't so reserved anymore. That much was clear from the way they moved around one another.

Things were picking up nicely.

That evening, the production team arranged dinner for the guests on the spaceship's top deck.

The glass overhead was completely transparent. As they traveled between planetary belts at supersonic speed, it felt as though they were immersed in a flowing Milky Way of dazzling colors, beautiful enough to take their breath away.

After learning a little about Su Yue earlier, everyone was itching to know more. But he was tight-lipped, so they couldn't get much out of him. They also didn't want to discuss military matters on camera, afraid they might accidentally ask about something classified.

So they shifted their curiosity to Asta.

Actually, everyone was quite curious about the guests from the privileged elite.

The production team had chosen well, too. These weren't handsome men who relied on their families to show off. They had real abilities of their own.

Holding her fork, Yu Manman kept gazing upward, reluctant to look down. This dreamlike scene was exactly her sort of thing. She could never see enough of it.

After chewing the food in her mouth, Yu Manman suddenly asked, "Asta, do you see scenery like this during Startrack Downhill?"

Asta nodded and dabbed the corner of his mouth with his napkin. His table manners were elegant, his family upbringing evident in everything he did. "Of course."

Under everyone's persistent questioning, Asta smiled and said, "It's even prettier than this. We can go have a look if we have time."

Shi Zhou had been eating without saying anything.

He considered it. If he wanted inspiration for his paintings, perhaps a place like that would spark his imagination more easily?

But he gave up on the idea after another moment's thought and remarked, "Startrack Downhill must be pretty difficult, right? It's hard to find somewhere to practice, too."

It was a relatively niche sport. Many people followed it, but few participated themselves.

Though thrilling, highly entertaining to watch, and full of visceral beauty, it had one fatal drawback-

It burned through money.

For the fragile human body to perform extreme sports in space, the protective suit and board alone cost a fortune, never mind the training expenses and enormous insurance policies participants needed.

Asta quickly turned his head and craned his neck.

"It's actually not too bad. And Elysia Star, where we're headed, has a small simulated downhill course. It's perfect for practicing."

Shi Zhou's eyes lit up. "Sounds like we can go if we have time."

Asta smiled. Biting down lightly on his fork, he looked at Shi Zhou. "You want to try?"

"We'll definitely have to pair up for dates anyway. Let's pick each other and go try it."

He didn't have anyone he liked, and Shi Zhou seemed the same. He hadn't shown any special interest in anyone.

They could go have fun as two buddies, two good friends. He could even teach him.

He looked Shi Zhou over as he ate, his back and shoulders straight, his arms resting on the table as he chewed quietly. He looked smart. Easy to teach.

Asta felt thoroughly pleased.

Shi Zhou swallowed his food and thought it over. Though he really wanted to learn Startrack Downhill, he couldn't get in the way of finding the male lead a CP.

So he smiled without giving a direct answer.

"Sure. We'll see when the time comes."

That was enough to satisfy Asta. He nodded, and when Shi Zhou resumed eating, he did too.

He had only just lowered his head when he couldn't resist looking up again at Shi Zhou, diagonally across from him. Shi Zhou seemed to be enjoying his food so much that Asta's own appetite improved.

Even though they were actually seated quite far apart.

The production team had deliberately stirred things up by arranging a table for six, with three facing three.

Behind the camera, Director Zhang clicked his tongue, folding his arms with a slightly lecherous grin. The preferential treatment was so obvious.

Just look at how much effort Asta had to make to talk to Shi Zhou or look at him.

Yet Shi Zhou was the person he most wanted to talk to.

Asta's attitude was very straightforward. After he said that, everyone else moved on to another topic.

Asta sat at the first seat on the left, with Zheng Yu beside him.

After hearing their conversation, Zheng Yu glanced at Asta, lowered his head, and gripped his knife and fork, cutting his meat very forcefully.

Even the table seemed to shake.

Su Yue sat on Zheng Yu's other side. Zheng Yu had gone to considerable trouble to snag the seat between the two handsome men.

Su Yue glanced at the tablecloth being tugged and shaken, set down his chopsticks, and pushed back his chair. He nodded to everyone. "I'm done. I'll head back first."

The production team hadn't sent a camera operator into the dining room, using an overhead robotic camera instead, but the footage was still quite clear.

The live comments said:

-Tsk, this Zheng Yu.

-He sure grabbed that seat fast. Didn't even consider who the others wanted to sit with.

Some people thought that was simply how a Dating Reality Show worked.

-What's wrong with making the first move? You're supposed to fight for your chance on a Dating Reality Show.

Seeing Su Yue rise from the seat opposite him and walk away, Shi Zhou asked in puzzlement, "You're not leaving with us?"

Lin Yuxi smiled and remarked, "He seems to always eat pretty quickly. Maybe that's the military way."

After what had happened earlier, she was seeing Su Yue through rather rose-colored glasses.

As he ate, Shi Zhou suddenly gave Lin Yuxi a smiling look, making her duck her head and shovel food into her mouth.

Everyone returned to their rooms to freshen up. Shi Zhou took a shower, and since he hadn't slept very well the night before, he decided to catch a short nap.

Just as dusk fell, a staff member from the directing team knocked on his door, telling him the spaceship was lively tonight and inviting everyone out to have fun.

As usual, Shi Zhou grabbed a shirt, flattened a few tufts of sticking-up hair with a comb, and prepared to head out.

The staff member smiled. "Zhouzhou, that's too plain."

After returning from dinner, the guests had split up. Some went back to rest, while others approached the directing team to make their case.

Director Zhang had been delighted by the footage of their dinner, humming as he discussed with Editor Liu how to edit it to make viewers squeal with excitement.

Then the handsome men and beautiful women he'd had such high hopes for came to give him a headache.

After hearing them out, Director Zhang's mood dipped. He rubbed his forehead beneath his slightly receding hairline and sighed.

"Well... Xie Jiali and Bai Shen aren't here tonight. That wouldn't be very appropriate, would it?"

The first few days of a Dating Reality Show were quite important. First impressions mattered.

Especially at a dance, where physical contact could easily lead to sparks.

Zheng Yu hurriedly said, "Please, please! We're not doing anything. We just want to unwind."

It would be too conspicuous if he went to the dance floor alone. Bringing the other guests along would be ideal. Besides, Asta wanted to go too, so perhaps then...

He glanced at the man beside him.

Director Zhang was helpless. His main concern was getting flamed. Bai Shen's side would probably be fine, but Xie Jiali had plenty of fans. If each one hurled a single insult, the production team would have more than enough to deal with.

But Asta refused to give up either, leaving Director Zhang in a difficult position.

He was getting on in years. Couldn't they give an old man a break?

Honestly.

Editor Liu, the head of the writing team, was there too. After listening to the whole exchange, a mischievous gleam flashed in his eyes, and he grinned.

He leaned over and said a few words to Director Zhang. The director froze briefly, then immediately changed his expression as he looked at the guests before him.

With a meaningful smile, he said cheerfully:

"All right, then. But mind yourselves while you're having fun. You need to set a good example for the audience, not encourage inappropriate behavior..."

He rambled on at length, but Zheng Yu couldn't be bothered to listen. The moment he heard Director Zhang agree, he turned around and went back to get dressed up.

By the time he and the others were ready, Shi Zhou had only just woken up.

He looked down at his clothes in confusion. "These are perfectly fine, aren't they?"

"There's a little dance on the spaceship. That outfit isn't eye-catching enough," the staff member said unhurriedly.

Of course they wanted the guests to dress as strikingly as possible. It gave them better footage.

Zheng Yu blocked the doorway too, refusing to let him out. Hands on his hips, he said, "Don't waste that face of yours!"

He wore a fitted top that outlined his slender figure, paired with loose, flowing trousers that looked like a skirt unless you examined them closely.

Zheng Yu had also put on makeup tonight. It suited him beautifully, giving him a sophisticated, androgynous allure.

As an art student, Shi Zhou was quite accepting of different fashion styles.

But he preferred wearing the most ordinary clothes himself. Mainly, an unbearable memory from his past had left him terrified of skirts. Even something that looked like one was out of the question!!!

Startled, Shi Zhou's hair stood on end. He backed up several quick steps behind Asta and poked his head out. "What I'm wearing is perfectly fine!"

Asta wore a black leather jacket, looking tall and sharp. When Shi Zhou grabbed his sleeve, he couldn't resist raising a fist to his lips and quietly smiling down at his fluffy head.

He had styled himself to look very mature tonight, with his hair slicked back. He was both handsome and gentlemanly.

Shi Zhou's outfit had a youthful air, and the two of them looked rather good as a CP.

The camera kept filming the pair.

Though Asta looked mature, his words were as irreverent as ever. Smiling, he caught Shi Zhou's arm to stop him escaping.

Once he held him, an inexplicable warmth flared in his heart. Catching that faint, indescribable fragrance on Shi Zhou again, he blurted out in the heat of the moment:

"Just surrender yourself."

-Hahahaha, he makes it sound like the bride's about to climb into her wedding sedan.

-The commenter above knows how to ship!

-I agree. Zhouzhou's so gorgeous, it'd be a waste not to dress him up. First time I've supported Zheng Yu.

-Same! Production team, get him! Don't let this Zhouzhou escape!

The two women came over together.

"Are you guys ready yet? What's taking so long?"

Yu Manman always dressed meticulously, and tonight was no exception. She pushed the door open wearing a vintage butter-yellow dress with wide sleeves and exquisite makeup, as though she had draped herself in spring.

The entire living room seemed to brighten when she entered.

In her words, "Bogu Star was such a wonderful place. We've left it now, but I want to remember it in my own way."

The women hadn't rested at all after returning to their room. Once Yu Manman had showered and done her makeup, she gave Lin Yuxi a similar look.

They looked like besties or a little couple. Their livestream was bustling with people learning makeup tips and shipping them together. Most were women, and the atmosphere was wonderful.

Asta smiled. "We're not slow. Someone isn't cooperating."

Shi Zhou was held captive, looking utterly defeated.

Lin Yuxi glanced at Su Yue and touched the hair ornament at the back of her head a little self-consciously. She looked especially sweet and fresh tonight as she remarked,

"You know, dressing up really does look quite nice."

"Zhouzhou, just surrender yourself." She repeated the words with a burst of laughter.

Lin Yuxi's usual style was loose and androgynous. Tonight's outfit was a striking contrast, very princess-like.

"Come on, come on. We're going dancing later. If a girl asks you to dance, you can't just be wearing a shirt or a T-shirt, can you?"

Shi Zhou hadn't expected Lin Yuxi to betray him too.

Surrounded by the production team and his companions, he found the scene overlapping with a certain unpleasant memory of a childhood performance-

He struggled despairingly, then suddenly remembered something and looked at Su Yue. "...Why doesn't Yue have to?"

Leaning against the doorframe, Su Yue lazily lifted the corner of his mouth.

He wore the most ordinary fitted short-sleeved shirt, with distinct muscle definition visible as he moved. Shi Zhou wondered whether that was another uniform.

Yu Manman sighed admiringly. "Yue's already handsome enough in that."

Asta feigned displeasure. "Am I not handsome in this?"

Yu Manman blushed. "You are."

They were all handsome. Their show's cast was exceptionally good-looking, without a single unattractive man among them. Every one was a top-tier beauty.

A little embarrassed, Yu Manman cleared her throat, ran over, and threw herself at Shi Zhou, taking his hands. They play-wrestled as she laughed. "I don't care! You're wearing matching mommy-and-son outfits with me today!"

The production team chimed in. "Put it on."

Shi Zhou was laughing helplessly too. "Then Yue has to wear it as well!"

Yu Manman said, "I've got more matching accessories, just enough for both of you. How about a spring theme?"

She was a beauty and fashion blogger with so much luggage that it had to be checked in. After using matching accessories for herself and Yu Xi, she still had some left.

Ah, she and Zhouzhou could wear mommy-and-son outfits, and from Lin Yuxi's behavior today, she seemed a little interested in Su Yue...

Shi Zhou looked to the side and saw a faint smile in Su Yue's eyes. Realizing he wasn't opposed, he wavered a little. "...If Yue agrees, I'll agree too."

Su Yue had been jealous that morning. He seemed to like Yu Manman?

For the sake of the male lead's CP, Shi Zhou could make a little sacrifice.

Su Yue straightened. "All right."

Everyone froze, not having expected him to actually agree.

Asta straightened up and tugged at the collar of his leather jacket, the smile vanishing from his face.

Yu Manman caught on and immediately bounced with excitement, reaching out to high-five Lin Yuxi. "Yay, they both agreed!"

She nearly stumbled as she jumped, and Shi Zhou caught her. "Careful, Manman. Don't fall."

Two people's expressions changed at once.

Asta's expression turned grave, and he couldn't help clenching his fist as he stared at Shi Zhou's hand on Yu Manman's waist.

Then he instinctively glanced at Su Yue, but he couldn't read anything from him. Su Yue's expression was the same as ever.

Off camera, the production team doubled over with laughter, relishing the moment.

They exclaimed excitedly, "There really is something going on! There really is!"

Director Zhang said, "Zoom in on every one of their expressions just now! We'll cut them into the episode!"

This was great. Editor Liu really knew how to make things happen.

Thinking of how Asta had spent the whole day tormenting him with that face just begging to be punched, only to end up jealous over nothing himself, Director Zhang secretly reveled in his satisfaction.

That'll teach you to play your little games!