Contract Romance Reality Show: My Rival Always Wants to Make It Real chapter 46.1

Chapter 46: Skin Hunger part 1

Lu Ciheng wore a distinct handprint on his face, yet he watched the staff adjust the livestream equipment with a beaming smile.

Xie Shibai held his coffee cup, his cold, aloof gaze resting on Lu Ciheng’s face. He really hadn’t used much strength; at most, it was a light tap. The red mark on Lu Ciheng’s face was entirely the result of the man covering it with his own hand to exacerbate the heat.

Lu Ciheng’s perverse habit of getting excited when slapped seemed far more severe than Xie Shibai’s own touch aversion.

Once the equipment debugging was complete, Assistant Lin distributed the pre-ordered drinks to the staff and guided them out. Before leaving, he craned his neck to glance at the mark on Lu Ciheng’s face, then looked at Xie Shibai. He opened his mouth, wanting to offer a reminder, but didn’t know what to say. In the end, he simply patted the head of the puppy, Potato, and closed the door in one smooth motion.

Standing outside the door, Assistant Lin scratched his head, confused and doubting his own memory.

Brother Xie chose Lu Ciheng for a contract marriage, right?

Why does it feel like their private interactions are just like on the variety show, without a trace of acting?

Their dynamic feels a bit like an old married couple.

Assistant Lin shuddered and immediately shook his head to toss those bizarre thoughts away.

The online premiere of Infinite Heartbeat featured a livestream promotional event where the guests would watch the episode along with the audience. Compared to the recorded version, this was their first time facing netizen comments directly since joining the show.

Xie Shibai leaned back against the soft sofa, eyes lowered as he waited for the broadcast to begin. His black hair was smooth and soft, and his cold, magnificent face bore little expression. His skin was fair, and he wore a soft knitted cardigan over his loungewear. Without any heavy styling, simply sitting there quietly was enough to capture everyone’s attention.

Fans in the livestream chat were already leaving messages.

[Brother Xie!]

[Hi Wifey!]

[Brother Xie looks so good today, and Dog Lu next to him looks decent too.]

[Hi Brother Lu!]

[I’m almost getting used to Brother Lu’s expression. Watching his old, icy promotional materials a few days ago actually felt weird, like looking at two different people.]

[Brother Lu is too double-standard, but we’ll get used to it, sigh.]

While waiting to connect to the main livestream room, their local camera was actually already live. The staff had forgotten this detail and hadn’t warned them beforehand.

Potato, the puppy, looked left and right before running with clear purpose to eat from a newly opened can of food.

Lu Ciheng sat tightly pressed against Xie Shibai. While waiting for the connection, his long arm wrapped around the waist of the person beside him. He leaned his head against Xie Shibai, his tone feigning pitifulness. “Teacher Xie, my face hurts a little. Can you check if it’s swollen? Do I need to ice it beforehand?”

[Dog Lu’s face really is a bit red, eh.]

[He must have put his face under Teacher Xie’s hand again.]

[Slapping the face is a bit much, isn’t it? Why does it feel like XSB has violent tendencies? He hits LCH’s face every time.]

[LCH fans know their idol’s temper. I really can’t tell if the person above is trying to stir up trouble or genuinely doesn’t know. Look at LCH—do you think there’d be a red mark on his face if he wasn’t willing to let XSB hit him?]

[Exactly. It actually makes me envious. I want to be hit by Teacher Xie too!]

[Upstairs, switch to your alt account before screaming. Every time someone fights their idol to be the dog, you’re there!]

[Wait a minute, do they know the stream is on? It feels like they haven’t looked at the camera.]

[ ! It seems so. Normally they would greet the netizens first. This time there’s nothing. I suspect they weren’t notified about what to do next.]

Xie Shibai felt a bit uncomfortable from the sudden touch. His shoulder was pressed against a broad, burning chest. His fingers curled slightly; subconsciously, he felt that this contact was… comfortable.

In his memories, skin contact brought only pain. This strange, subtle sensation felt tingly and unfamiliar.

It was weird, yet delicate.

Xie Shibai suppressed this strange feeling that made him feel a bit greedy for more. He reached out and touched the head buried in his shoulder, his cold eyes seemingly ripple-free. “Head up.”

Lu Ciheng obediently lifted his head, leaning his face closer.

Xie Shibai turned his gaze and raised his hand. His slender fingers brushed over the red mark that had already faded, staring directly at the face mere inches away, scrutinizing it quietly for a few seconds.

Lu Ciheng curved his eyes and rubbed lightly against the hand.

Xie Shibai pursed his lips. The contact with his fingertips felt like a mild electric current, transmitting a dense, tingling sensation to his fingers. He reached out and pinched Lu Ciheng’s cheek hard.

“If you had waited a little longer, your face would have healed completely. But it doesn’t matter; now it will swell.”

The livestream audience was just immersing themselves in how warm and fuzzy the scene was—Xie Shibai caressing Lu Ciheng’s face on camera, looking quiet and sweet—when the next second played out exactly as the netizens expected.

[LMAO, I was just saying it felt like I switched to the wrong channel because it was so sweet. Now it feels right.]

[Still the familiar flavor. This is satisfying to watch.]

[Teacher Xie, pinch my face! I can take it!]

[That little local dog in the back sure can eat.]

Lu Ciheng covered his pinched cheek, laughing low and muffled. “Teacher Xie is a miracle doctor.”

Suddenly, the phone beside them vibrated frantically.

Xie Shibai reached over to check the messages and found a long string of texts from Assistant Lin: The camera is on!

Lu Ciheng rested his chin on Xie Shibai’s shoulder, assuming some vixen was threatening his position as the main spouse. The corners of his lips pressed down, his eyes turning dark. “What’s wrong?”

Xie Shibai held the chat log up to Lu Ciheng’s face.

Lu Ciheng looked slightly surprised. He tapped the arm of the phone they were using to monitor the bullet comments, waking it from sleep mode.

As soon as he tapped it, their figures appeared on the screen, covered by a dense barrage of comments.

Xie Shibai: “…”

Did anyone discover we are a plastic couple during that interaction just now?

The main livestream connection started a bit earlier than the web broadcast time to warm up the audience.

After the other groups took their positions, the host arranged for everyone to introduce themselves and greet one another.

Su Xingran waved at Xie Shibai through the camera. “Long time no see, good afternoon Brother Xie.”

He and Li You were on separate screens. Although they weren’t present in the first few episodes, they were invited to the livestream for the sake of fairness.

Before Xie Shibai could reply, Lu Ciheng stuck to him, hugging him with full possessiveness.

Xie Shibai’s body paused. Lu Ciheng’s body temperature was high, radiating heat. When he hugged tight, the aggression was strong, and the friction of his arms against skin usually transmitted intense discomfort.

But unlike the pain and repulsion during an episode, it was obvious that this touch was transmitting comfort.

Xie Shibai glanced sideways at Lu Ciheng and pursed his lips.

Something is wrong.

Su Xingran: “…”

Isn’t Lu Ciheng a model worker? Why isn’t he out working?!

Mu Zhenzhen leaned close to her screen. “Teacher Xie, is that chubby dog in the back the one from the mountain cabin? You guys kidnapped it?”

Xie Shibai gave a hum of affirmation. “Lu Ciheng bought him.”

[When did this happen???]

[The day they left the cabin, LCH’s solo cam recorded it. He hiked over half a mountain to buy it. That’s a super expensive chubby puppy now.]

[Was it really that far? But it’s also amazing that the puppy could cross half a mountain to play at the cabin.]

[All thanks to those flailing short legs finding a long-term meal ticket.]

Mu Zhenzhen let out a “Wow” and whispered something to Xu Xiangming beside her. Faint words like “So good,” “So matching,” and “So romantic” could be heard.

[Why is Li You’s face so black? Hahahaha.]

[He’s very quiet this time.]

[He probably got scolded. Deserved it for those arrogant comments about wanting to be the mistress.]

[Suspected toxic solo-fan having a meltdown.]

[Realizing the guy he’s chasing not only treats him as a rival but also climbed half a mountain to buy a dog for his ‘sister-in-law’… if he doesn’t quit the show on the spot, his mental fortitude is strong.]

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