Heartbreak

Shi Zhou was puzzled. Why were they showing his solo interview?

There was nothing in it that could come back to embarrass him.

His goal had been to earn some money by joining the show as a background wingman, and he had done a good job of that. The only difference was that he had discovered the other guests were all pretty nice, so he had become friends with everyone.

He was a good buddy to the male guests and a confidant to the female guests, purely a supporting player. There really wasn't anything worth singling him out for.

Could he have misunderstood the production team?

Maybe this really had been a random draw.

But when he turned to look, almost everyone had straightened up and was staring intently at the big screen. Even their smiles looked slightly different from before.

That made him too embarrassed to say anything. He obediently followed their example, sitting up straight and turning toward the big screen.

After a glance, he realized this was footage from his second solo interview. The production team had been quite meticulous, though. To avoid giving him away, they had digitally changed his clothes to the outfit he had worn on the first day.

Hearing his own voice coming from the screen not far away felt rather strange.

Shi Zhou heard himself say:

"Have I ever been in a relationship... Not yet. I hope I can find someone on the show who loves me as much as I love them, haha."

He had made that up.

"The second question, hmm... Do I like men or women?"

"Women."

He had said women in his first solo interview, but the second half of the question had been: if he met a suitable person of the same sex, would he be willing to give it a try?

Shi Zhou had said it depended.

But the production team hadn't been satisfied with that version, so they had asked him to answer it again during his second solo interview.

At the time, Shi Zhou had even had a flash of inspiration. Oh, right. If I like women, won't I end up competing with two of the male leads for their CP partners?

He had even asked tentatively, "Should I actually say I like men?"

The staff member had smiled and said, "Never mind, just answer normally. We'll work with it as we see fit."

Did they think my answer was too long-winded, so they deliberately cut out the second half?

True, a background extra's detailed answers aren't that important on a dating reality show. If I were on the production team, I'd have cut it too.

The third question.

"What's your type?" the staff member asked.

"Someone a little mature, maybe? Or someone cute would work too. Hmm... I think those are the two types I like."

Shi Zhou watched himself rack his brains for an answer on-screen. In truth, he had never thought about this question himself, so he had just made something up. Still, a girl like that would complement him.

Then he had caught himself and hurriedly blurted out a few "Oh, oh, oh!"s. "Cut that last bit! It doesn't count, doesn't count! Let's start over!"

"Ahem... I like girls no matter what they're like. It's mostly about the connection. Whatever she's like is fine. I'll embrace my partner's thoughts and everything about her, and love her properly."

Watching himself on-screen, Shi Zhou covered his face. How had I thought I was being so clever and polished back then? Aaaaaah!

I look so ridiculously clueless on camera!

(/ω＼)

Aaaaaah!

Production team, why did you cut that tiny little sentence from the second question because it wasted time, but leave! Every! Bit! Of the third question in?!

You should've cut out all the unimportant stuff!

Xie Jiali couldn't muster a smile at the cute way Shi Zhou cupped his face in his hands one moment and blinked the next in the video.

The moment he had heard the production team read out Shi Zhou's name, he had known.

Shi Zhou's solo interview was being shown for their benefit.

Weren't you all so cocky?

One of you said it was an assignment from your boss, another said you were here to promote Ancient Earth's culture.

Knowing Heart-Pounding Expedition's usual tricks, they would never let them get away unscathed.

The corners of Xie Jiali's lips lifted, but his smile was rather bleak.

Although he had known the odds were fifty-fifty, his heart had gone completely cold when he heard that Shi Zhou liked women-and that he hadn't answered the second half of the question about same-sex relationships at all.

He comforted himself inwardly. It's okay. Hadn't I already prepared myself for this possibility when I joined the show?

Besides... 98% of people are actually bisexual. It just depends on whether there's room to explore it.

Even so, the blows he had suffered over the past two days had been too much. He couldn't pick himself back up right away.

Xie Jiali slowly closed his eyes, his raven-feather lashes hiding the bluish shadows beneath them. His pale pink, thin lips seemed to have grown even paler.

Seeing everyone fall silent, the host's smile deepened as they announced:

"All right, today's group interview is over. You can all head back and rest. Don't forget to send your first heart-fluttering text of the show in a little while."

Before the host had finished speaking, Su Yue was already the first to stand. Without a word, he strode out of the living room.

"Su Yue, where are you going?" someone called from behind him, but he didn't look back.

He pulled open the front door, letting the cold air rush inside. His tall, slender figure gradually disappeared beyond the doorway, merging into the night.

Shi Zhou frowned. It was still raining outside.

Where was Su Yue going?

Bai Shen was the second to stand, giving a slight nod.

"...Everyone's tired today. Get some rest early."

His sharp gaze swept over the production team. Then he breathed out, sounding a little weary, and pinched the bridge of his nose.

Everything was terribly quiet now. Shi Zhou looked from side to side, unsure what had happened.

Zheng Yu said something to Asta, who remained seated beside him. Asta gently shook his head, so Zheng Yu came over, nodded, and said:

"Good night. Get some rest, everyone."

Then he went upstairs.

Yu Manman and Lin Yuxi's smiles were somewhat forced. They, too, said "Good night" and "See you tomorrow" to everyone. Lin Yuxi had wanted to say something to Shi Zhou, but in the end, she bit her lip and followed Yu Manman upstairs to rest.

Xie Jiali leaned against the sofa, looking rather unwell. Seeing everyone like this left Shi Zhou uneasy, and he asked worriedly:

"Brother Xie, are you feeling sick? Should we call a doctor?"

His ailment was heartache. What use would calling a doctor be?

Seeing Shi Zhou show concern for him, Xie Jiali still couldn't help feeling a ripple in his heart. He looked at Shi Zhou with a faint frown, his voice soft, gentle, and a little hoarse:

"Be good... Go upstairs and rest first. I'm fine."

After repeatedly failing to persuade him, Shi Zhou could only tell the production team about it before slowly heading upstairs himself.

His room was the third on the left. Su Yue had even helped wheel his suitcase inside back then.

I wonder what he went out to do just now...

Standing at his door, Shi Zhou felt rather dejected.

Just then, steady, unhurried footsteps sounded behind him. Shi Zhou didn't have the energy to turn around.

What happened? Why did the mood suddenly turn like this?

All he wanted now was to open his door and get a good night's sleep.

Once he woke up, he could keep trying his best.

"Zhouzhou."

In the stillness of the night, Bai Shen's voice was like an elegant, gentle violin, soothing a restless heart.

Shi Zhou lowered his hand from the doorknob, turned around, and forced a smile:

"Brother Shen, did you need something this late?"

Bai Shen's sculpted brow furrowed slightly beneath the overhead light. He pressed his thin lips together and pointed to the lounge beside them on the second floor.

"Do you have time to talk?"