Chapter 24: Desensitization Therapy Called Sleeping Together
The lighting in the bedroom was excellent. The large balcony directly faced the green fields of the mountain forest. When the wind blew through the lush greenery, it brought a rustling sound. The air was fresh and transparent; it should have been a good place for relaxation.
But there was only one large bed.
Not only did Xie Shibai have a headache, but the fans in the livestream room were already wailing, as if only at this moment did they realize their brother was dating his rival, and they had to sleep in the same bed.
[One bed?!]
[What’s wrong with the program team ahhhh! How can there be one bed! How can the two of them sleep!]
[Ahhh Brother Lu, I don’t allow you two to sleep together!]
[Separate! Let my Brother Xie live alone ahhh!]
Unlike the solo fans’ breakdown, the CP fans popped up smiling.
[How else can they sleep? Sleep together!]
[Who could have thought? A few days ago we couldn’t even eat at the table, now we’re watching the CP we ship sleep in one bed!]
[Ahhhh good job program team! The room has cameras too. Thankfully I paid for VIP, hee hee this is what I deserve to watch!]
Lu Ciheng put away the luggage and stood in front of the camera, observing for a few seconds. “This camera is a bit in the way. Let’s dismantle it.”
Xie Shibai stood by and couldn’t help but give an “En.”
[????]
[What’s in the way! Is there anything we can’t watch!]
[What are you going to do behind our backs if you dismantle it?]
[You can dismantle the bed but not the camera!]
[Can you let us watch when you dismantle the bed (twiddling fingers)]
[Feel like LCH is very capable. Just now he carried luggage effortlessly. With max arm strength, he can definitely pick him up and bang hard (slurp).]
[Ahhhh! I think the same as the sisters! Feel like LCH is the type who will coax like a large dog afterwards, but won’t stop. If the angry XSB slaps him, maybe he’ll get excited enough to break the bed.]
[???? Can this livestream room block CP fans?]
[I’m convinced. My Brother Xie is the top (1), okay?!]
[With Brother Lu’s physique, can your brother be the top? Are you kidding!]
[My brother is the top!]
[My brother is!]
Although dismantling the camera wasn’t very feasible, turning it off or covering it with something was possible. Before the two could start putting it into practice, they were called down by the staff responsible for notifications.
The other three groups had also moved their suitcases and were now gathered in the living room.
The first day reserved a lot of extra time so the four groups of guests could adapt to the environment as soon as possible.
The program team considered it was the first day and bought some vegetables in advance to put in the refrigerator, stating that for the first night, everyone could figure out a way to eat. They could cook if they wanted, and they would proceed after the grouping was decided for tomorrow’s recording.
For dinner, they could choose instant food or box lunches from the program team.
As idols, Qiao Jiayi and Mi Qiran needed to control their diet. They said they wouldn’t eat dinner and left.
The other two groups couldn’t cook at all. Staring at each other, they went to look at the box lunches provided by the program team first, hesitating for a long time.
Instant food and box lunches were not within Lu Ciheng’s scope of consideration. He went straight to the kitchen, put on an apron, and started selecting ingredients.
Xie Shibai had a bad stomach and was a bit demanding about dinner time. Eating too late made Xie Shibai prone to reflux, and during the stomach recuperation period, Lu Ciheng didn’t feel at ease letting him eat other things.
Others were surprised to see this scene. They originally thought Lu Ciheng and Xie Shibai’s group was the same as them, after all, neither looked like someone who could cook.
“Teacher Lu actually knows how to cook?”
Lu Ciheng: “En.”
[Holy crap! Lu Ciheng actually knows how to cook???]
[Can’t tell at all!]
[Does he cook with that face?]
[I thought they were going to eat box lunches.]
[Hard to imagine. A cool guy who is cool, dazzling, arrogant, and dragging actually wears a little bear apron to cook.]
[Looking at this vegetable cutting posture, one glance shows he knows how.]
[Will it always be LCH cooking from now on?]
[Knowing how to cook doesn’t necessarily mean it’s delicious.]
Yu Rui thought Lu Ciheng was preparing to cook for them, so he simply stood in front of the island and guided a few times: “Didn’t expect Teacher Lu to be so capable. But frying with this heat won’t taste good, wait a bit longer.”
Xie Shibai’s brow furrowed slightly, and he asked, “You know how to cook?”
Yu Rui smiled. “Studied it for a few years, but I do it ordinarily.”
Xie Shibai looked at Yu Rui with cold eyes, saying unceremoniously, “If you do it ordinarily, then give less guidance to others.”
Yu Rui didn’t expect to be怼 (rebutted) directly in front of the camera. The smile on his face stiffened.
[Exactly. If you do it ordinarily, don’t guide others, right?]
[No matter how bad Brother Yu is, he cooks better than Lu Ciheng, right? Lu Ciheng looks like he can’t cook at a glance.]
[Can’t cook with this posture? Are you blind?]
Yu Rui watched for a while and couldn’t help saying, “Teacher Lu, I don’t eat potatoes or dairy products. I don’t like the one in your hand either, don’t put it in.”
[??? What does he mean? Not lifting a finger himself is one thing, but dictating to others?]
[Brother Yu is just reminding about dietary restrictions, what’s wrong with that?]
[What’s wrong? Standing next to someone cooking saying don’t eat this, don’t eat that, and you won’t let people scold him?]
[Who is he ordering around? Thinks he’s the emperor?]
[This daddy style is crazy, even ordering dishes.]
[Brother Lu won’t cook for him too, right? Cooking for XSB is fine, but not for others ahhhh!]
Wu Ke smiled awkwardly and pulled Yu Rui. “Stop talking.”
Mu Zhenzhen and Xu Xiangming also decided to cook noodles. They simply watched how Lu Ciheng did it to learn. Hearing Yu Rui’s words, the two looked at each other and whispered.
“Teacher Lu is cooking for Teacher Yu too? Didn’t they say we should prepare for ourselves this time?” Mu Zhenzhen felt in her heart that Yu Rui’s attitude was bad.
Xu Xiangming: “Probably not…”
Lu Ciheng didn’t listen to Yu Rui and put in vegetables and seasonings as usual.
After the noodles were cooked and the topping was ready, Lu Ciheng wiped the edge of the bowl clean and placed it in front of Xie Shibai.
He had a smile on his face, didn’t even look at Yu Rui, his eyes filled with expectation: “Teacher Xie, taste how it is.”
Yu Rui froze. He quickly looked into the pot and found there were only two portions. He couldn’t help asking, “Only two bowls, how is that enough for us to share?”
Lu Ciheng didn’t waste words, his tone brief: “Don’t have hands? If you want to eat, make it yourself.”
Yu Rui froze. His face felt burning hot as if slapped. He thought Lu Ciheng was cooking for everyone, but it turned out he only cooked for Xie Shibai, making his previous guidance lose all face.
[I almost thought LCH was going to make it for them all. I was thinking being a love-brain is one thing, but how could he be so submissive.]
[Brother Lu didn’t eat himself, is this for XSB?]
[Shocked knowing Lu Ciheng can cook, double shocked seeing him only cook for Xie Shibai.]
[Unexpectedly, some people are cool guys in private, but on the surface, they are simps who can cook. Brother Lu, exactly how much do we not know about you!!]
[CP fans are ecstatic, new material again!]
After dinner, the rest of the time was used for free activities to organize, rest, or familiarize themselves with the surrounding environment, but everyone chose to return to their rooms to pack their luggage. Today’s livestream was considered a warm-up.
After returning to the room, Xie Shibai saw the headache-inducing double bed again.
Lu Ciheng first skillfully pulled a towel to cover the lens, then found the switch for the audio recording equipment and turned it off.
Xie Shibai watched his actions. “You…”
Lu Ciheng’s lips curled up. Holding Xie Shibai’s hand, his arms naturally encircled the other’s tough, slender waist, his trailing tone unhurried: “Honey, haven’t hugged yet today.”
Just as the netizens were full of question marks, crying and shouting not to block the camera, the audio equipment counting down to shutdown recorded the last sentence Lu Ciheng said.
[Turning off the camera just for a hug?]
[Is it the hug I know?]
[Understand immediately what’s going on.]
[No, you two are rivals. You’ve quarreled countless times, why treat us as outsiders at a time like this?]
[LCH is such a clingy man.]
[Seem to understand a bit why XSB is so impatient.]
[How can a cool guy be so clingy in private?]
After the audio equipment was completely turned off, the connection between the livestream room and the cabin came to a brief end.
Even though they couldn’t see the picture or hear the sound, there were still many fans staying in the livestream room.
Xie Shibai’s ear was swept by the hot breath between words. Lu Ciheng’s arms had always been strong. The pressure was intense during the sudden hug. Xie Shibai subconsciously took half a step back. As soon as there was a little distance between them, Lu Ciheng chased up, like an enthusiastic large dog—retreat one step and he follows one step.
Xie Shibai turned his head away, his brow pressing low. “Let go. What time is this today? Fish have better memories than you.”
When shooting the promotional poster, the hug for the duo photo hadn’t had any gaps.
Lu Ciheng said logically, “En, I have amnesia today, so it’s the first time.”
He hugged very tightly, with absolutely no intention of letting go.
Xie Shibai’s eyes were cold. He tilted his head back slightly to look directly at Lu Ciheng. “Still not letting go?”
Lu Ciheng lowered his head slightly. His eyes reflected Xie Shibai’s cold face, and the corners of his lips hooked up. “Not even five minutes yet. Persevere a bit longer.”
Xie Shibai expressionlessly stepped on Lu Ciheng’s foot.
“Hss…” Lu Ciheng smiled and took a half step back, knowing that provoking him further would be crossing the line. Xie Shibai’s force wasn’t heavy, but he still acted pitifully. “Teacher Xie, foot’s broken.”
Xie Shibai remained calm and composed, calmly stepping around Lu Ciheng.
Without the camera shooting, the atmosphere was much more relaxed.
The only conflict remaining was the double bed.
There were no extra quilts in the room. They didn’t even have the option of sleeping on the floor.
Lu Ciheng’s black eyes blinked. The thought of sleeping together inevitably brought a wave of excitement. He stared straight at Xie Shibai, asking in a low voice, “Teacher Xie, there’s only one bed. Would you hate sleeping with me? If you hate it, I can sleep on the floor.”
He looked around, feigning regret. “Oops, no extra quilts.”
Xie Shibai wasn’t that dictatorial. He wouldn’t make Lu Ciheng sleep on the floor because of his own problem, especially without an extra quilt.
He paused for a few seconds. “No need.”
Lu Ciheng’s lips hooked up, and he immediately followed up, “Teacher Xie, don’t worry. I sleep very honestly.”
Xie Shibai hesitated for a few seconds and said, “Not allowed to cross this center line.”
Lu Ciheng nodded. “No problem, don’t worry.”
After washing up, the indoor lights were turned off, leaving only the faint moonlight spilling from the balcony, making the room less dim.
On the soft large bed, just lying there, he could feel the scorching body temperature belonging to another person beside him.
Xie Shibai looked out the window. His nerves were uncontrollably overactive. It couldn’t count as anxiety, but the vague presence made him unable to ignore the person beside him.
The sound of friction from the quilt fabric rang out. Xie Shibai could sense the person beside him moving.
Lu Ciheng turned sideways, using the moonlight to see Xie Shibai’s face clearly, and asked softly, “Teacher Xie, does your body feel uncomfortable?”
Xie Shibai turned his head and found Lu Ciheng staring at him, his eyes focused in the moonlight.
He didn’t speak.
Since Xie Shibai could remember, he had never lain in the same bed with anyone else. Although undergoing desensitization therapy with Lu Ciheng meant he could accept brief and multiple hugs, this feeling of having another person’s breathing sound and body temperature beside him all night—never guessing if there would be a touch in the next second—made his nerves sensitive.
In the darkness, the breathing sound of the other person by his ear was very light. A low tone suddenly sounded in the dark: “Teacher Xie, I think sleeping together should also be a form of desensitization therapy.”
Xie Shibai’s eyelashes trembled imperceptibly. “What?”
“We still have to record the program for a long time.” Lu Ciheng spoke unhurriedly. “Just sleeping together won’t involve excessive contact. It will definitely be easier than the first forty percent. Want to try?”
Xie Shibai fell into deep thought.
The variety show was fifteen days together, and there were many more episodes to record. Indeed, there would be a lot of time sharing a bed. If he didn’t overcome it, the upcoming program would be tiring.
“Teacher Xie, I’m going to touch your hand, just like reinforcing the handshake practice.” Lu Ciheng’s voice was low. Then, the back of Xie Shibai’s hand was tapped lightly a few times by a warm touch. Lu Ciheng’s finger pads slid across the back of Xie Shibai’s hand, drilling into the gaps between his fingers, slowly interlocking ten fingers.
Xie Shibai’s body tensed. Nighttime felt different from daytime treatment.
At night, a person’s vision is deprived. Compared to the situation where one can see during the day, touch carries more dangerous unknowns.
Lu Ciheng comforted, “Don’t be nervous, it’s me beside you. Shall we try fifty percent this time?”
Xie Shibai reacted for a few seconds. “No.”
Lu Ciheng’s finger pads ground against the protruding wrist bone on Xie Shibai’s wrist, touching the cuff and sliding upward. Just as he was about to touch Xie Shibai’s wrist—transitioning between the forty percent and fifty percent source of anxiety—
The sound of the quilt fabric suddenly became loud. In the darkness, Xie Shibai abruptly withdrew his hand.
Bang—
Lu Ciheng was caught off guard and kicked off the bed by Xie Shibai.
Xie Shibai clutched his arm, messy strands of hair sticking to his pale cheek, his chest heaving as he calmed his panting.
The feeling of the ruler striking his arm instantly reappeared. He couldn’t control his body, subconsciously choosing to clear away the residual pain of the ruler by pushing away the person who triggered it.
Sitting on the floor, Lu Ciheng was stunned for a rare few seconds. Then, as if realizing what happened, the corners of his lips hooked up, his eyes staring brightly at Xie Shibai.
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