Chapter 74
Hearing those words, Shen Yanqing couldn’t hold back anymore—he suddenly let out a light laugh, his chest rising and falling faintly.
Xie Mi was startled and rushed up to cover his mouth.
“Big brother, the monks patrol at night!”
In the distance, a faint shadow flickered. Xie Mi quickly pulled him behind a pillar to hide, her eyes darting around in secret observation.
The consequences of breaking the rules in this temple—Qiu Chengye and Xiao Jingxi had already personally experienced them.
Thump, thump, thump…
Shen Yanqing’s heartbeat pounded so loudly it felt like it would burst through his chest and slam into her eardrums.
Unable to stand it any longer, Xie Mi looked up at him. “I’m telling you, if you’re this timid then don’t sneak out at midnight. You—”
Shen Yanqing pushed her head back down.
“Shh, they’re coming.”
At once, Xie Mi clamped her mouth shut, as quiet as a chicken.
She failed to notice, though, the restless flicker in someone’s eyes in the darkness and the faint blush at the tips of his ears.
Only when the monk’s footsteps faded away did Xie Mi breathe a long sigh of relief, casting a somewhat regretful glance at the tightly locked dining hall doors.
“Mission failed. I’m bailing.”
She turned to slip away, only for Shen Yanqing to block her path.
“Wait.”
“?”
He curved his lips into a smile. “The mission continues.”
At a remote corner of the temple walls—
With his height and long legs, Shen Yanqing easily vaulted over the wall and stretched a hand out toward her.
“Come.”
Xie Mi shook her head, rubbed her palms together, then scrambled up the wall with all four limbs like a gecko, successfully reaching the top.
“Piece of cake.”
Shen Yanqing clicked his tongue. “Alright then.”
He leapt down nimbly and held out his hand to catch her.
“Come.”
Xie Mi straightened up and jumped down with a midair backflip, landing smoothly.
“Piece of cake.”
Shen Yanqing couldn’t help but laugh angrily. “I think you’re pretty interesting.”
When it came to being single, she clearly had the subject mastered.
Luckily, he was already used to it—chasing other girls might require wealth, looks, and charm; chasing her mainly required a good mentality.
Shen Yanqing led her in circles through the temple grounds until he finally stopped at a patch of grass. Lifting it aside, a huge bag of snacks appeared before their eyes.
Xie Mi’s eyes instantly lit up green, nearly mutating on the spot.
But Shen Yanqing pressed a hand to her forehead to hold her back in time.
“You can eat, but I have a condition.”
Reasonable as ever, Xie Mi immediately declared, “As long as I can eat these snacks, you can make me drive a luxury car and live in a mansion and I’ll still agree!”
Shen Yanqing chuckled. “You little rascal, taking advantage of me huh?”
Xie Mi laughed awkwardly. “Then tell me, what’s the condition?”
“I’ll let you know once I decide.”
“…Fine!”
Though signing a contract without reading the terms was risky, refusing food at hand would be plain rude.
Xie Mi bit into a chicken leg with such gusto that tears nearly rolled down her cheeks. “Where did you get all this stuff?”
Compared to her wolfing things down, Shen Yanqing was leisurely—casually chewing on a lollipop, eyes curved as he watched her.
“I secretly asked the pilgrims to buy them during the day.”
Xie Mi quickly asked, “I heard the pilgrims really like you?”
Shen Yanqing’s heart stirred, lips curving. “You—”
“Then can you ask them to bring more tomorrow?”
“…Heh.”
The summer nights in the mountains made the stars more visible than in the city. The sky glittered like a Milky Way of scattered sand, breathtakingly romantic.
Suddenly, tiny green lights flickered in the valley, illuminating the silent night.
Munching on her chicken leg, Xie Mi looked up. “Fireflies.”
Shen Yanqing’s eyes softened as he turned to the girl staring at the fireflies, a smile tugging at his lips.
But then she turned to him with utter seriousness.
“You know, fireflies glow from their butts.”
Shen Yanqing: “…”
Wonderful. The romance shattered to pieces.
After eating their fill, the two climbed back over the wall, planning to end the night undetected. But suddenly, an angry shout rang out.
“What are you two doing?!”
Xie Mi’s hand shook so hard she nearly fell from the wall—only for Shen Yanqing’s warm hand to catch hers and pull her up.
Then she clearly saw the angry figure.
Xiao Jingxi.
He stood there, fury blazing in his eyes, glaring as if to pierce them through. “Secret tryst in the middle of the night?!”
Xie Mi and Shen Yanqing exchanged a glance, then, in perfect sync, jumped down and walked up to him.
Xie Mi shoved a bag of chips into his hand.
Shen Yanqing stuffed a lollipop into his mouth.
Xiao Jingxi: “?”
Though still furious, he assumed they were trying to bribe him with such pathetic methods. But before he could respond, the two suddenly bolted in opposite directions at lightning speed, leaving him completely unprepared!
Xiao Jingxi froze, torn between chasing left or right. But by the time he decided, both were gone.
Only Xie Mi’s booming shout echoed: “Someone’s sneaking food at midnight!!!”
Xiao Jingxi: “?!!”
Be human, will you!!!
In an instant, lights blazed across the temple. Monks rushed out from all directions, surrounding Xiao Jingxi—chips in hand, candy in his mouth.
So familiar…
“Listen to me, it’s not what it looks like—wait!!”
That night, everyone heard Xiao Jingxi’s miserable screams.
The next day, when Xiao Jingxi appeared on camera with bloodshot eyes, the audience had already made their predictions.
[I’ll say it first—this time his eyes are red from staying up reading the script all night.]
[Hahahaha, the one above gets it.]
Thus, the three-day temple life officially ended. The tortured guests finally left that devilish, heartless monastery. When the abbot, looking melancholy, suggested they come again next time, they could only force awkward laughs.
Yeah, no thanks.
Still, it did the trick—everyone had learned their lesson.
After three days without women, Qiu Chengye was eager to chat with Liu Woxing.
Xu Shuangrong took the initiative to show concern for Xiao Jingxi.
Xie Mi and Shen Yanqing chirped away, joined by Yu Jinzhe and Lai Bingxuan.
Director Niu covered his mouth in tears of joy.
It worked! The withdrawal test worked!
Compared to the temple, the villa now felt like paradise. Back there, the guests even found each other more tolerable. For two whole days, not a single fight broke out.
Meanwhile, another show on the same platform, Stars on the Run, officially announced its launch.
It was a chase game variety show: each episode would release 30 celebrities, who had to complete tasks while avoiding pursuit by “hunters.” Survive within the time limit, and the mission was accomplished.
Tomato TV had a tradition of cross-show guest appearances, and this time was no exception.
Thus, the entire cast of Love Observation was invited to join the very first episode of Stars on the Run.
