LABMY CH139

Even if he was unwilling to return to the villa, a walk along the beach would still eventually reach its end. The night was deep, and it was getting late. They had to film the show tomorrow, so no matter what, they couldn’t keep wandering aimlessly.  

The person beside him changed direction, stepping toward the villa. Jian Yuanbai kept thinking of reasons to make Pei Yao stay, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t come up with a suitable one.  

Emotionally and logically, he had no reason to stop Pei Yao from returning to his room.  

When they stepped into the villa’s living room, Pei Yao glanced at Jian Yuanbai. “Time—”  

Before he could finish his sentence, Jian Yuanbai interrupted somewhat urgently, “Want a drink?”  

Pei Yao’s eyes widened slightly. “Huh?”  

Since he had already blurted it out, Jian Yuanbai steadied himself and repeated, “Have a drink?”  

And so, the scene turned into the two of them sitting on the sofa, drinking fruit wine. Since they were on a show, they couldn’t drink actual alcohol and could only have low-alcohol fruit wine—mildly sweet and slightly intoxicating, but not enough to get drunk.  

“You…”  

Pei Yao pursed his lips and downed the fruit wine in his glass, only for Jian Yuanbai to swiftly refill it to the brim.  

Due to exhaustion and sleepiness after a long day, Pei Yao grew slightly annoyed after Jian Yuanbai refilled his glass for the fifth time. His eyes held a flickering fire, and his full, beautiful lips looked dewy from the wine, making him appear both vibrant and stunning.  

He started to say something, but under Jian Yuanbai’s questioning gaze, he held back, pressing his lips together. Sitting cross-legged on the sofa, he sipped his wine occasionally, his head bobbing slightly with drowsiness.  

For some reason, he couldn’t bring himself to refuse this person. All he could do was suppress his irritation and force himself to stay awake, waiting for this person to drink his fill and finally let him sleep.  

Jian Yuanbai could tell he was sleepy. Pei Yao’s head was nodding like a little chick pecking at grains. He tried to ignore it, but in the end, he couldn’t bear it. Leaning closer, he carefully asked,  

“Are you tired?”  

Pei Yao shot him a glare, his beautiful eyes misty with drowsiness, coated with a thin layer of physiological tears. It made his glare lack any real force, instead making him look adorable.  

Jian Yuanbai continued, “Why don’t you sleep here?”  

He patted the sofa. “It’s big enough.”  

Pei Yao felt so tired his mind wasn’t functioning properly. He suspected he had misheard and asked, “But there’s a bed… Why would I sleep on the sofa?”  

Jian Yuanbai’s brain stalled. He couldn’t come up with a reasonable explanation. He couldn’t just say that he didn’t want Pei Yao to go back to his room. After all, this was a dating reality show, and everyone had been abiding by the room assignments for days.  

If he couldn’t use Pei Yao as an excuse, then could he use himself?  

That thought surfaced, and Jian Yuanbai sighed, reaching out to grasp the hands that Pei Yao was holding his wine glass with.  

“There’s a gay guy in my room. I can’t go back to sleep there.”  

One sentence turned Pei Yao’s already dazed and sleepy brain into a complete mess. He tilted his head slightly and let out a baffled “What?”  

Jian Yuanbai leaned in closer, his flawless, striking face nearly overpowering, yet his words became even more incomprehensible. “I’m a man of virtue. If my future wife sees me sharing a room with a gay guy—”  

With a serious expression, he stated, “How could I ever face her?”  

“W-Wait…” Pei Yao wanted to rub his temples, but both his hands were being held by Jian Yuanbai. “Aren’t you here on this dating show to find a partner?”  

“Shouldn’t you be getting to know the others?”  

At the mention of “getting to know others,” a strange discomfort flashed through Pei Yao’s heart. But he was too drowsy and lightheaded to dwell on that fleeting feeling.  

Jian Yuanbai quickly refuted, “But I don’t like Chu Caiyang. I should keep my distance from him.”  

Pei Yao looked at the strikingly handsome face so close to his, his eyes dazed, his brain failing to process. “But you… you’ve been sharing a room with me for a long time.”  

Jian Yuanbai answered without hesitation, “You’re different.”  

The second half of his sentence should have been: Because we are uncle and nephew, so of course, it’s different from others.

However, in Jian Yuanbai’s assumption, Pei Yao was likely a child that the original owner’s sister had bought. So, he refrained from bringing up their relationship directly.  

Instead, he thought that perhaps this was why, in the original storyline, this person became Pei Yao’s devoted subordinate—out of a sense of guilt.  

Jian Yuanbai didn’t need redemption. He would support Pei Yao with both hands, whether as an uncle or as the host of the Long Aotian Support System.  

You’re different.

Those words left Pei Yao speechless for a moment. His lips parted slightly, his expression showing surprise and confusion. His beautiful eyes carried a hint of avoidance.  

The night was deep, the surroundings silent. In the vast living room, only the two of them remained. In the quiet of the night, the faintly rapid heartbeats were particularly loud.  

Jian Yuanbai spoke again, “But sleeping alone in the living room would be weird. So… Can you stay with me?”  

Pei Yao’s gaze flitted away. He stammered, “I… I… I’m going to sleep now.”  

Saying that, he suddenly stood up to leave—only to have his wrist caught.  

Pei Yao turned back, looking at Jian Yuanbai’s hand gripping his arm. They locked eyes, neither speaking.  

The odd atmosphere stretched on until Jian Yuanbai let go. “Forget it. Go back to your room.”  

His tone was calm, but the disappointment was obvious.  

Pei Yao left. Jian Yuanbai downed the rest of his fruit wine in one go, leaned back on the sofa, and pressed an arm over his forehead. Through the gaps between his fingers, he watched Pei Yao’s retreating figure as he returned to his room.  

The thought that there was a man inside that room—someone whose type perfectly matched Pei Yao—made Jian Yuanbai restless.  

He closed his eyes, pressing his tongue against the roof of his mouth to suppress the inexplicable frustration boiling inside him.  

When he opened his eyes again, he saw Pei Yao tiptoeing out, hugging a blanket.  

Jian Yuanbai abruptly sat up, both surprised and delighted. “You—”  

Pei Yao’s ears were completely red. He couldn’t explain his own actions and could only feign aggression. “W-what? Can’t I bring a blanket to sleep?”  

The villa’s sofa was large—three different lengths—but not big enough for two grown men to sleep separately. Only one was the right size; if Jian Yuanbai lay on the others, his feet would still touch the floor.  

Pei Yao didn’t understand how things had turned out like this. He curled up against the firm, broad chest behind him, an arm securely wrapped around his waist.  

Jian Yuanbai even whispered softly, “Go to sleep.”  

Pei Yao buried himself in the blanket. Before him was the enclosed darkness of the sheets, behind him the scorching heat of a strong chest. The air conditioning was on, but the summer heat seemed to seep through.  

He thought, How could I possibly fall asleep like this?

Yet, before he knew it, exhaustion overtook him, leaving him too tired to overthink.  

Since it was late, the staff had stopped filming, so no one had followed them to the beach. The cameras only resumed when they returned to the villa’s living room.  

Now, the two who had wandered off-camera for a while were lying together on the sofa, fast asleep in each other’s arms. The night-owl viewers watching the livestream saw everything.  

But…  

• “This would be so shippable—if only they weren’t uncle and nephew.”  
• “Three heartbreaks, three BEs… My imaginary limbs are about to wither. Jian Yuanbai, your sins are unforgivable!!”
• “My heart is dead. Jian Yuanbai, how are you going to repay what you owe me?”
• “Can we revoke their blood relationship? Give me a rewind button, please. Damn it.”
• “Good news: The first pair to sleep in each other’s arms has appeared. Bad news: They’re uncle and nephew.”
• “A romance variety show where an uncle and his nephew participate together—does this really make sense? Shouldn’t the production team give an explanation?”

That night, the topic of an uncle and nephew participating in the same dating show slowly climbed the trending charts, and its popularity continued to rise.

However, no matter how high the buzz got, the audience never received any explanation from the production team. The show simply continued broadcasting as if nothing had happened.

In reality, the director was also struggling to find the right words.

Jian Yuanbai and Pei Yao—these two were personally designated by the high-ranking boss of Obsidian Investment, a company that held a major stake in the show. Even with the growing calls for an explanation, the director had no way to respond.

When he asked Assistant Li, who had been stationed at the filming site for days, all he got in return was a simple “Don’t worry about it.”

Fortunately, there were only two days left until the show’s seven-day run would conclude. Under this silent treatment, the program reached its final day.

After seven days of isolated cohabitation on the deserted island, only Wan Yuda and the gym owner chose to leave the show as a couple.

The director looked at the six contestants sitting on the beach and smiled. “Do you all remember the additional game rule of our show?”

“Whether or not we can identify the straight man will depend on today’s final game.”

As the seven-day program was coming to an end, everyone was in a good mood. Hearing this, they eagerly asked what the game would be.

“A kissing game,” the director announced mysteriously.

His words surprised the contestants. Chu Caiyang waved his hand. “I didn’t find a romantic interest here. You want me to kiss someone? No way.”

Then he added, “Unless you pay me extra.”

The others burst into laughter, and the director chuckled along. “You don’t actually have to kiss. Of course, if you do, I won’t stop you.”

The kissing game required contestants to pair up and stand inside a wooden picture frame, staging a fake kiss for three minutes. They could use their hands to cover their mouths.

While each pair mimicked a kiss, the other four contestants would observe their expressions, movements, and behaviors. Based on their observations over the past week, they would then vote on who they believed was the straight man.

The director explained, “Whoever correctly identifies the straight man will receive a commemorative gold pendant engraved with ‘Cha Love’ from our show.”

“If the straight man manages to conceal his identity well, he alone will win a grand prize—a car worth 388,000 yuan.”

The director turned to the contestants, who gasped in excitement. “Of course, if only one person correctly identifies the straight man, then they alone will win the car.”

The valuable prize quickly piqued the interest of the contestants and audience alike. While most of them weren’t exactly short on money—except for Jian Yuanbai, who openly flaunted his wealth—Pei Yao, despite his past controversies, was also perceived as financially secure.

• “I’m straight. Can I join the show too?”
• “Hurry up! I’m definitely straight. Let me in!”
• “Are you guys really willing to sell out for a 380,000-yuan car? I’m different. I’d do it for just 300,000.”
• “Fine, fine, 380,000 it is. No undercutting!”

The generous prize successfully reeled in the contestants and viewers, bringing the show’s finale to a climax. The pairing results were unsurprising:

Wan Yuda and the gym owner naturally teamed up since they had already decided to leave as a couple. Chu Caiyang was paired with the CEO, while Jian Yuanbai was with Pei Yao.

Jian Yuanbai wasn’t particularly interested in watching the other contestants’ staged kisses. He had little desire to stare at other people kissing—fake or not. He didn’t care about the gold pendant, nor did the 380,000-yuan car interest him.

Unlike the others, who were engrossed in the spectacle and engaged in lively discussions, he seemed detached from the game altogether.

That is, until he and Pei Yao stepped onto the platform behind the wooden picture frame.

The frame separated them from the onlookers, allowing only their upper bodies and faces to be seen.

Their earpieces were removed. Jian Yuanbai and Pei Yao locked eyes and slowly leaned in.

Jian Yuanbai reached out, gently cupping Pei Yao’s jaw while using his other hand to block the audience’s view of their lips.

They were extremely close—only two centimeters apart. Their breaths mingled, their warmth palpable.

For three whole minutes, they had to convincingly stage a kiss. To make it look real, they couldn’t just stand still. Jian Yuanbai subtly tilted his head, their noses brushing for a fleeting moment before parting.

Pei Yao had his eyes closed, but his long, thick eyelashes quivered fiercely, casting a small shadow under his eyes like tiny fans fluttering.

Without his sight, his other senses heightened. He could clearly hear Jian Yuanbai’s breathing. The warm exhales brushed against his face, feeling unusually hot despite the gentle summer night. The heat on his own face grew more intense.

His heartbeat grew erratic, pounding wildly in his chest. His mind raced. “You’re different.” Those words seemed to echo in his ears once again.

Nervousness, embarrassment, an uncontrollable heartbeat—his emotions swirled together, making his body tremble slightly.

Jian Yuanbai, with one hand on Pei Yao’s face and the other gripping his shoulder, could easily sense his nervousness. He leaned in closer and whispered, “Relax.”

“You’re too tense. You’ll give yourself away.”

Being called out only made Pei Yao more flustered. He took two deep breaths to calm himself down. To distract himself, he whispered back, “I signed a ‘straight man’ contract. You should vote for me.”

“If I win the car, great. If not, the gold pendant isn’t bad either.”

He knew their lips were shielded by Jian Yuanbai’s hand, and with their earpieces removed, there was no risk of anyone seeing or hearing them.

Jian Yuanbai stared at him—at his flushed, embarrassed face, at his trembling eyelashes, at his lips, which were soft and red like spring petals, glistening as if kissed by morning dew.

At this close distance, a thought crossed Jian Yuanbai’s mind: If he kissed Pei Yao right now, would the body in his arms tremble even more?

A voice whispered temptations in his ear. Succumbing to impulse, Jian Yuanbai tilted his head and pressed his lips down.

The warmth against his lips made Pei Yao’s eyes fly open in shock. He stared at the man in front of him in disbelief. “You—”

But the moment his lips parted to speak, the other man seized the opportunity, slipping past his defenses to explore the soft, warm space inside.

Jian Yuanbai closed his eyes, relying purely on sensation to deepen the kiss. His lips and tongue tangled with Pei Yao’s hesitant, retreating one, leaving his mark in every corner of the intimate space.

His kiss was deep, even the way he licked the base of Pei Yao’s tongue carried a hint of unrestrained vulgarity, filled with an unspoken, intense desire.

When the three-minute timer rang, the sudden chime jolted Pei Yao awake. He forcefully shoved away the man who had kissed him without warning.

He wanted to glare at Jian Yuanbai, yet he didn’t dare meet his eyes. His heart pounded like thunder, his face burned a fiery red—like the blazing clouds at sunset, or an overripe honey peach.

Pei Yao was flustered by the kiss, but what unsettled him even more was the fact that he wasn’t the least bit angry about it.

Embarrassment, frustration, a hint of indignation—it was all there, yet there was no real anger. That realization left Pei Yao so flustered that he didn’t dare look at Jian Yuanbai.

On screen, his face was impossibly red, his eyes glistening with moisture, and his lips even redder, coated with a thin layer of sheen.

Anyone could tell—he had just been thoroughly, intensely kissed.

The comment section exploded.

• “Wait… they actually kissed, right? They really kissed?!”
• “Holy shit, he used his tongue, didn’t he? He totally did!!”
• “That was intense—aren’t they supposed to be uncle and nephew?!!”
• “I’m about to start shipping them again AHHHHH!!”
• “Who else can relate? My smile just won’t go away!”
• “This is bad. The fact that they’re uncle and nephew is making me even more excited!!!”
• “I always thought I was pretty normal, but after this kiss… I’ve officially been diagnosed as a deviant.”
• “The thrill of forbidden love—it’s them kissing, but it’s my heart that’s racing!!!”
• “Jian Yuanbai, you bastard!! The other night, I actually believed you were just worried about your nephew. Turns out, you’re one hell of a shady uncle!”

On screen, Jian Yuanbai lifted his thumb, wiping away the faint trace of saliva on his lips. He wanted to wipe Pei Yao’s lips as well, but the startled man widened his eyes in panic, dodging away like a skittish little animal.

“…Sorry.”

Jian Yuanbai knew he had acted on impulse, but oddly enough, he didn’t regret it.

He gazed at Pei Yao, whose face was as red as a ripened honey peach, his eyes dark and unreadable.