LABMY CH138

The cool summer night breeze seemed to blow the starry sky over the deep sea into Pei Yao’s dreams, allowing him to sleep peacefully through the night. When he woke up, he was in an exceptionally good mood, smiling brightly at everyone he met.

Chu Caiyang, who had gone to the hospital due to a fever, had also returned. Wan Yuda took the initiative to approach him and ask, “Senior, how’s your health?”

Chu Caiyang nodded slightly, a bit indifferent, and said nothing.

People around him asked about his condition one after another. Pei Yao also spoke up, “Are you feeling better?”

Chu Caiyang curved his lips into a smile and looked at him. “My fever went down last night. I’m completely fine today.”

The stark contrast in Chu Caiyang’s attitude toward Wan Yuda and Pei Yao was too obvious to ignore.

• “Sisters, could it be that Chu Caiyang already knows?”
• “He left the island and went to the hospital. He must’ve seen the news online, so he probably knows all the disgusting things Wan Yuda did.”
• “Now that something’s happened, he’s hastily distancing himself. Even a senior like Chu Caiyang in the entertainment industry doesn’t have great character, huh?”

As soon as this comment was made, someone immediately fired back:

•  “The show has been filming for so long, and none of the guests seem to think there’s been a misunderstanding about the se-xual harassment incident. Chu Caiyang still treats Pei Yao well. Maybe reflect on whether your idol is just naturally annoying.”

Chu Caiyang had indeed already learned about recent events and had even listened to that recording from start to finish. Moreover, his team had told him some things that fans weren’t aware of.

Wan Yuda’s team had been trying desperately to contact him. They had attempted to reach him privately through the show’s production team, but the production team had firmly refused.

Wan Yuda’s team even proposed withdrawing from the show, but when faced with the enormous breach-of-contract fee the production team demanded, they backed down. Now, they were at a complete loss, forced to watch helplessly as Wan Yuda continued to provoke Pei Yao on the show, digging his own grave without even realizing it.

Anyone with a discerning eye could see that Wan Yuda was done for. His major fans and fan club managers had mostly abandoned him, exposing numerous scandals—some true, some false.

Now, Wan Yuda’s reputation was in tatters online, and all that remained was for him to leave the show and face the complete collapse of his career.

However, there was one thing Chu Caiyang didn’t understand—why was the production team refusing to let Wan Yuda go?

Keeping Wan Yuda on the show was entirely detrimental to them, with no benefits whatsoever. In fact, as things progressed, the show might even be forced off the air due to featuring a disgraced celebrity.

Given the severity of the situation, the production team could have immediately replaced him. The recording was leaked less than an hour before the show’s premiere. Replacing him on the spot would have caused minimal loss to the production team.

Yet, they didn’t. They did nothing. The entire production team acted as if they were unaware of the situation and continued filming as usual.

“I heard the investors behind the show don’t care about this matter,” his manager had said the night before.

Chu Caiyang glanced at Pei Yao subtly, not bringing up the topic again.

While at the hospital, Chu Caiyang had thought long and hard about who benefited from Wan Yuda staying on the show.

He came up with only one answer—Pei Yao.

From what he knew, after the allegations of se-xual harassment against Pei Yao surfaced, he had completely disappeared from screens, with no job opportunities. His contract with his company had even expired recently.

So why would the production team think of inviting someone with such a bad reputation onto a dating show?

And the moment Pei Yao appeared on the show, the recording was leaked.

With Wan Yuda remaining on the show, blissfully ignorant and constantly making a fool of himself, more and more people would grow to despise Wan Yuda and sympathize with Pei Yao.

As for the possibility of Wan Yuda having powerful backers trying to protect him, Chu Caiyang never even considered it. If someone had really been trying to shield Wan Yuda, his fanbase wouldn’t have collapsed so thoroughly, his public relations efforts wouldn’t have been so weak, and he wouldn’t have been left in such a hopeless situation.

So, someone was deliberately trying to clean Pei Yao’s name and bring him back into the industry.

Chu Caiyang chuckled.

Well, whatever the case, it had nothing to do with him. He was just curious—who was putting in so much effort to wash away Pei Yao’s tarnished reputation and elevate him again?

—

On the beach, six people sat in their respective chairs.

The show had reached its fourth day, meaning it was time for a more heartfelt segment.

The director smiled and said, “Today is an open discussion session. After spending four days together, it’s time to deepen your understanding of one another.”

Following the seating order, the first to speak was the CEO. He wore a formal suit and shirt, though without a tie. “I work as a professional CEO, managing my family’s corporate group. The company I oversee is Weina Group.”

Weina Group wasn’t a household name but had some level of recognition. As soon as he said this, he immediately attracted attention and playful teasing from the others.

The CEO chuckled, “Don’t assume the group belongs to me. I’m just managing it and earning a salary.”

Wan Yuda’s eyes darted around, and he teased, “Even as a manager, your salary must be pretty high, right?”

The CEO replied, “Around two million a year. Not as much as you all.”

Two million—naturally, he meant yuan. It was a considerable salary, but compared to celebrities, it was relatively modest.

Wan Yuda seemed a bit disappointed, sighing internally but maintaining an admiring expression. “That’s impressive!”

The gym owner revealed that his chain of gyms had thirteen locations, earning him a slightly higher income than the CEO.

Neither Chu Caiyang nor Wan Yuda disclosed their earnings. They simply talked about why they joined the show and their future aspirations.

When it was Jian Yuanbai’s turn, his answer stood out among this crowd of high-income, ambitious professionals.

“I’m a bodyguard. You all know that.”

He cast a resentful look at Pei Yao. “My last boss fired me. Now I’m homeless and destitute. Then the show contacted me.”

“A chance to find a partner and get paid? I agreed on the spot.”

Pei Yao felt his scalp tingle under Jian Yuanbai’s stare. The others burst into laughter, though whether there was hidden disdain in their laughter was hard to tell.

The gym owner joked, “Pei Yao, why don’t you rehire him? Otherwise, someone might starve after leaving the show.”

Though spoken as a joke, his tone when mentioning “starving” carried unmistakable malice.

Pei Yao immediately picked up on the hostility toward both himself and Jian Yuanbai. His tone cooled as he responded, “He’s just joking. With his skills—taking on four opponents in the water—how could he possibly have trouble finding work as a bodyguard?”

Though his words were meant to shut down the gym owner’s mockery, they also indirectly insulted him. Normally, Pei Yao wouldn’t have spoken so bluntly, but seeing someone ridicule Jian Yuanbai, he responded instinctively.

Jian Yuanbai spun his chair around. “No one wants me, Boss. You’re the best boss in the world.”

He slung an arm around Pei Yao’s shoulder. “I even got my driver’s license. Boss, reconsider hiring me?”

“Good boss, I’m very useful. Please?”

“Pei Yao, Boss, Little Sun.”

He leaned in close, pressing against Pei Yao affectionately, bombarding him with various endearing names. Pei Yao’s face turned bright red while the others laughed and egged them on. Unable to handle it, Pei Yao relented with a helpless “Fine.”

That night, however, Jian Yuanbai, now officially rehired, was hit with a devastating reality—he wouldn’t be sharing a room with Pei Yao.

Walking back slowly with his water cup, Jian Yuanbai deliberately stopped outside Pei Yao’s room, pretending to sip his water. He drank and drank, standing there for a long time, before finally returning to his own room.

Chu Caiyang watched him walk back with an empty cup and asked in confusion, “Where’s the water you got?”

Jian Yuanbai: “Drank it.”

Chu Caiyang: …Fine, reasonable enough.

At 11:30 PM, Jian Yuanbai suddenly sat up in bed. Across from him, Chu Caiyang was flipping through a book. Seeing him get up, he asked, “Where are you going?”

Jian Yuanbai: “Thirsty, going to get another cup of water.”

As he passed by Pei Yao’s room again, Jian Yuanbai muttered in his mind, “I really want to press my ear to the door and listen in.”

The system coldly responded, “Hold it in. That would be incredibly embarrassing.”

Jian Yuanbai retorted, “Aren’t you at all worried about Pei Yao’s straight-guy innocence?!”

The system was speechless. “First, there are two beds. Second, there are cameras. Third, Pei Yao and that guy aren’t even close.”

Jian Yuanbai returned to his room again with an empty cup. This time, Chu Caiyang didn’t even bother asking.

At 11:40 PM, Jian Yuanbai got up once more. Chu Caiyang was now genuinely puzzled. “Thirsty again?”

Jian Yuanbai: “Drank too much water, need the restroom.”

Saying that, he walked out, leaving Chu Caiyang staring at the ensuite bathroom in their room, utterly confused.

At 11:45 PM, Jian Yuanbai got up again. Chu Caiyang finally asked, “Is your bed covered in spikes?”

Can’t sit still for even a second?

The live chat was losing it.

• “HAHAHAHA, Jian Yuanbai, you’re down bad.”
   
• “Passing by Pei Yao’s room three times in an hour, I’m dead.”
   
• “Standing outside Pei Yao’s door drinking water like a slow-motion movie scene, I’m crying.”
   
• “Brother Jian, if you can’t hold back, just kick the door down already!”
   
• “Jian Yuanbai, stop simping so hard!”

At 11:50 PM, Chu Caiyang peeked out as Jian Yuanbai left yet again.

And he saw Jian Yuanbai walking at the slowest pace possible in front of Pei Yao’s door, his steps so light he could probably crush ants.

“What are you doing?”

Chu Caiyang’s sudden voice startled Jian Yuanbai. He hurriedly pulled Chu Caiyang back into the room.

Chu Caiyang: “Do you… actually like Pei Yao?”

Going in and out five times, hovering around Pei Yao’s door—anyone could tell. He asked, but he already had the answer in his heart.

Unexpectedly, Jian Yuanbai frowned. “Why would you think that?”

“That CEO guy… Pei Yao fits all his ideal partner criteria. I’m just worried about him.”

Chu Caiyang fell silent. After a moment, he reminded him, “This is a dating show.”

Jian Yuanbai sighed and leaned in. “Let me tell you a secret.”

Chu Caiyang: ?

Then he heard Jian Yuanbai say, “Actually, I’m Pei Yao’s uncle.”

“It’s only natural for an uncle to worry about his nephew, right?”

Jian Yuanbai was full of restless anxiety, imagining Pei Yao alone in a room with another man—a man whose ideal type matched Pei Yao perfectly. That frustration drove him to find ridiculous excuses to keep going outside, even forgetting about the cameras recording everything.

The live chat went insane.

• “WTF!!!”
   
• “I rarely curse, but Jian Yuanbai, go to hell!”
   
• “Uncle?! I REFUSE! REVOKE YOUR BLOOD RELATIONSHIP IMMEDIATELY!”
   
• “Jian Yuanbai opened his mouth, and my heart broke three times. AHHHHH!”
   
• “Yesterday, I said I’d never climb out of this ship. Today, I’m crawling out covered in dirt.”
   
• “Three times, three heartbreaks—Jian Yuanbai, you’re killing me!”

The audience was stunned. So was Chu Caiyang. “…Really?”

Jian Yuanbai frowned. “Why would I lie? It’s only natural for an uncle to worry about his nephew.”

Chu Caiyang: …

He wanted to say, this is a dating show. Even if you’re his uncle, you wouldn’t be pacing outside his room five times in one hour.

But he didn’t.

As an actor, Chu Caiyang was good at reading people, and he could clearly see it—beneath Jian Yuanbai’s calm facade was barely suppressed anxiety.

At midnight, Jian Yuanbai stepped out again—this time, he ran right into Pei Yao, who had also left his room.

Both of them were surprised.

Pei Yao: “Can’t sleep?”

Jian Yuanbai rubbed his nose, too embarrassed to admit this was his sixth time leaving. He just hummed in response.

Pei Yao: “Want to take a walk?”

Walking side by side along the moonlit beach, the restlessness that had tormented Jian Yuanbai for the past hour gradually faded away with the ocean breeze.

For that entire hour, he had been on edge, unable to sit still, his mind consumed by the thought of Pei Yao in a room with another man—a man whose ideal type fits Pei Yao perfectly.

A deep, inexplicable irritation had gnawed at him, as if something that belonged to him was being coveted by someone else. It had driven him to keep coming up with flimsy excuses to go outside, yet left him with no choice but to turn back each time.

Bound by the rules of the show, he couldn’t just barge into Pei Yao’s room. The frustration and unease had only built up further.

Pei Yao stepping out on his own was something Jian Yuanbai hadn’t expected.

But now, walking along the soft sand under the starlit sky, another thought crept into Jian Yuanbai’s mind—

What excuse could he use to make sure Pei Yao didn’t go back tonight?