Chapter 20: Winning
Bai Qi was stunned. Feeling Bo Yan’s gaze beside him, he instinctively folded the slip of paper, his face flushing white then red.
“I…I’ll just stay in the cinema,” he stammered nervously, not daring to look Bo Yan in the eyes.
Bo Yan’s brow furrowed, his long fingers snatching the slip of paper from Bai Qi’s hand, lowering his head to glance at it.
The air seemed to fall silent for a moment.
Bai Qi had been observing his expression, but Bo Yan calmly lifted his eyelids, his black irises looking over: “It’s pretty simple.”
Simple? Bai Qi’s red lips parted.
The confession was fine, but the public kiss, even through paper, was too much. Bo Yan was a star; this would affect him badly.
The more he thought about it, the more inappropriate it seemed. Staying in the cinema wasn’t impossible; there were curtains, and at worst, he’d just have a sleepless night.
Before he could speak, Bo Yan frowned: “You don’t want to?”
Bai Qi immediately shook his head, just about to explain that Bo Yan was a star and it wasn’t convenient, when Bo Yan said: “I’m afraid of noise when I sleep. Can you share a room with me?”
His voice was low, an uncertain inquiry, the usually cold person now seeming a little helpless.
At this, Bai Qi had no more desire to refuse.
He almost forgot this; Bo Yan’s sleep schedule was similar to his and he also disliked noise, making the cinema impossible.
If he thought about it pessimistically, so many people sharing a room, and Bo Yan being a star, what if something happened?
Seeing four or five people already giving up due to the difficult tasks, the cinema would certainly be crowded. Bai Qi didn’t hesitate, nodding his agreement.
Bo Yan’s expression softened, showing Bai Qi his task:
[Truth: What did you feel during your first kiss?]
Bai Qi frowned, realizing that everyone’s tasks seemed excessive.
But looking up, he found Bo Yan’s expression indifferent, thinking that he’d probably answered this type of question on a show, so he relaxed.
Soon, everyone finished reading theirs, turning their attention to the two standing out in the corner.
Seeing them standing together, everyone knew they’d chosen each other as roommates. Some were surprised, others disappointed, but all curious about their game tasks.
As the instigator, the class monitor couldn’t help but approach Bai Qi to check his slip.
Seeing the task, even the class monitor was surprised, subconsciously glancing at Bo Yan.
“Bo Yan agreed to do the task with you?” he softly asked.
Bai Qi nodded.
The class monitor’s expression became unbelievable: “Did you understand the rules? This requires you and Bo Yan to kiss, and publicly.”
Having this pointed out, Bai Qi felt even more embarrassed, softly explaining, “We understood. We both dislike noise when we sleep and can’t sleep in the cinema.”
The class monitor almost jumped up.
Nonsense! Bo Yan was a dedicated actor; filming often involved difficult conditions. They were so tired they slept in sleeping bags, even falling asleep in chairs, how could they not sleep with noise? How could they possibly survive on his film set?
Only a naive and clueless Bai Qi would believe that.
The class monitor felt it was absurd. What was going on? Why would Bo Yan share a room with Bai Qi even for this? He didn’t need an assistant while sleeping.
Even if it was inconvenient for a star to sleep with everyone, he could cooperate with someone with an easier task, or even have a room to himself. If he asked, many would agree.
With mixed feelings, the class monitor couldn’t help but look at Bo Yan.
His gaze suddenly paused.
Bo Yan was looking down at the slip, unusually relaxed, his lips slightly curved upward, seeming happy.
The class monitor froze.
Damn.
What kind of emotion would make someone happy about kissing someone else?
He looked at Bo Yan’s tall figure, then at Bai Qi’s excessively beautiful face, finally scratching his head vigorously, walking away silently.
The class monitor’s subsequent hosting of the game was marked by flickering glances, constantly drifting towards Bo Yan.
Only when Bo Yan coldly looked back did he quickly withdraw his gaze, sweat gradually forming on his nape.
Yes, that’s how it felt. Bo Yan was cold to others, but different towards Bai Qi. He believed that if Bo Yan looked at Bai Qi with that gaze, the timid Bai Qi wouldn’t dare to stay with him.
He thought Bo Yan’s trip had a purpose, but never expected it to be Bai Qi’s body.
The class monitor felt incredibly complex, but Bai Qi was oblivious, looking down at his number.
Each slip had an order number; Bai Qi was fifth, Bo Yan twelfth.
The game soon began. The first pair was Li Mu Cheng and the class monitor.
Li Mu Cheng drew the first number. For some reason, his usually gentle face was cold, lowering his head to read his task.
“Truth: Name the person here you dislike the most.”
This caused a stir among the students.
“Damn, this is intense!”
“Who is it? Li Mu Cheng has such a good personality; he probably doesn’t dislike anyone.”
“Not necessarily.”
Everyone excitedly discussed, observing the surroundings, even Bai Qi looking curiously.
He knew Li Mu Cheng. He was gentle, so he wondered who he would name.
Many people subtly guessed, their gazes following Li Mu Cheng’s line of sight towards the tall, cold figure in the crowd.
Next to Bo Yan was Bai Qi’s slender, elegant figure. He was pure and alluring, making the room seem brighter.
However, their auras clashed; instead of being a match, Bai Qi seemed like a little white rabbit taken by a big bad wolf, making people want to save him.
The room was a bit chaotic; more and more people looked at Bo Yan.
Especially Li Mu Cheng, who looked almost without concealment. Bo Yan didn’t give him a glance, as aloof and detached as rumored.
He seemed only concerned with Bai Qi.
Li Mu Cheng’s grip on the slip tightened. Frowning, he opened his mouth several times but couldn’t speak.
The class monitor watched, enjoying the drama.
He knew who Li Mu Cheng wanted to name, but also knew that publicly saying those words would be a provocation to Bo Yan, likely leading to targeting by his fans, even Bo Yan himself.
But the benefits were huge. Such an action would undoubtedly attract Bai Qi’s attention.
If Bai Qi realized Li Mu Cheng said it for him, or even that he was bullied for him, Bai Qi’s kind nature might make him feel guilty enough to fall for him.
It depended on whether Li Mu Cheng dared to gamble for Bai Qi.
The class monitor watched him with folded arms and a tilted head, asking: “Li Mu Cheng, have you made your choice?”
Under everyone’s gaze, Li Mu Cheng lowered his head, his face devoid of its usual gentleness, his nails digging into his flesh.
After a while, avoiding Bai Qi’s curious gaze, he tossed the slip to the class monitor, coldly saying, “I dislike you the most.”
The class monitor smiled and took the slip.
Hearing this, everyone knew Li Mu Cheng was just saying it casually. Some laughed, others were disappointed, quickly losing interest.
The class monitor put the slip away, silently eliminating Li Mu Cheng as a candidate.
He didn’t dare to offend Bo Yan; how could he protect Bai Qi?
He couldn’t help but compare Bo Yan in this situation; even if he didn’t like Bo Yan, he couldn’t help but feel that Bo Yan would definitely not back down.
Shaking his head, he continued directing. Others’ tasks were also bizarre. Someone had to carry their roommate around the yard; someone had to recite love poems loudly with their roommate; someone had to recount their dating history.
The guy who had to touch his roommate’s abs went for it. Amidst cheers, he happily reached into his roommate’s clothes, touching randomly.
The game invigorated everyone, the atmosphere lively. Soon, it was Bai Qi’s turn (number five).
The room fell quieter, yet subtly more excited, eager to know Bai Qi’s task.
Many didn’t have high hopes; since they hadn’t chosen the cinema, the task must be easy to complete.
Under everyone’s gaze, the class monitor, suppressing his urge to look at Bo Yan, loudly read Bai Qi’s task.
Everyone was stunned, listening blankly, until realizing the room almost exploded.
What the hell, they actually agreed!
Everyone looked at them in shock; girls secretly shipping them were almost ecstatic.
Bai Qi stood in the corner, his ears red from the cheers, embarrassed to the point of wanting to escape.
He seemed to have overestimated himself. In this situation, he couldn’t kiss, and Bo Yan was a star; was it really okay?
Bai Qi almost wanted to back down. He’d just sleep in the cinema, or even on the floor in the living room.
His feet, in white sneakers, unconsciously stepped back, but Bo Yan took a step forward, his tall figure blocking the intense gazes.
A smile flickered in Bo Yan’s eyes as he stared at Bai Qi: “Let’s begin.”
With these words, the atmosphere reached its peak; many people blushed even before seeing anything.
This was a confession from the school beauty.
Bo Yan was straight; they didn’t think the confession was genuine. Even those who secretly liked Bai Qi didn’t mind, wanting to see how the emotionless beauty would confess.
As for the kiss through paper… this was too explosive; they didn’t expect it to actually happen.
The class monitor knew Bo Yan intended to kiss, his eyes wide open, shouting: “Come on! It’s okay!”
Under everyone’s cheers and encouragement, Bai Qi’s face became redder, lowering his head to softly say, “I like you.”
His soft voice was drowned out. Bo Yan seemed to not hear clearly, leaning in close to his ear: “Huh?”
Bai Qi sighed inwardly; as an actor, Bo Yan disliked sloppy acting.
Luckily, Bo Yan was so close, blocking many prying eyes. He took a deep breath, trying to imagine Bo Yan as the person he deeply loved.
His beautiful eyes stared at Bo Yan’s cold, jade-like features, trying to find his merits. He hadn’t looked so closely before; now he saw more and more, feeling that he was full of merits, worthy of being liked.
Bai Qi licked his lips, his cheeks flushed, beautiful enough to make Bo Yan pause momentarily.
“Bo Yan, I like you… I like you the most.”
His voice trembled, the ambiguous atmosphere swirling between them.
Bo Yan suddenly leaned down.
Through the thin piece of paper, he tilted his head, his light lips pressing down.
The sound around him suddenly quieted.
Unlike his expectation of no feeling through the paper, Bo Yan kissed deeply. Bai Qi’s scalp tingled, widening his eyes, instinctively trying to dodge.
Bo Yan’s large hand cupped the back of his head, deepening the kiss, his pale, cold jaw tight, his eyes captivating and seductive.
This scene made everyone present blush.
Bai Qi was so beautiful.
How could someone be so beautiful even while kissing? Like a ripe plum, his alluring color was striking; the slightest touch made his tender flesh tremble, looking fragrant and sweet from afar.
And the kiss was so intoxicating.
Bo Yan had never filmed a romance scene, but his lips looked soft, radiating a fatal charm. Even knowing it was acting, he seemed captivated by Bai Qi’s beauty, seemingly truly moved.
The room was silent, only the increasingly rapid breathing remaining.
The thin piece of paper couldn’t withstand the pressure, absorbing the ambiguous wetness, failing to hide Bo Yan’s body temperature. Bai Qi’s mind went blank, his slender bones trembling as he was forced to tilt his head, enduring the overly lingering kiss.
After an unknown amount of time, they separated. Bai Qi’s eyes were misty, slightly breathless.
His fingers instinctively clutched Bo Yan’s collar, his heart beating rapidly, his legs weak, dazedly being held by Bo Yan as they sat down to the side.
Only then did everyone in the room come to their senses.
The scene exploded.
…
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