The All-Rounder Slacker Becomes a Hit on the Dating Show

[The author's other story, "Can I Get a Kiss Even If I'm Chuunibyou?", is currently being serialized...]

Qi Yang owns a roadside fried chicken shop in a third-tier city. He joins a dating show where celebrities and non-celebrity contestants choose each other, all for the money. Only after arriving does he realize that his ex-boyfriend is one of the celebrity contestants.

Dating Show, Episode One

Qi Yang's hair sticks out in every direction, his face covered in stubble. He slumps dejectedly in a corner.

Netizens: One man has ruined an entire dating show.

During an interview, Qi Yang is asked why he came on the show looking like that.

Qi Yang: "Life's exhausting. I wanted a few days to let myself go and unwind."

After the episode airs, he gains 100,000 followers.

Netizens: Sob, this is the state of young people today. Every month, there are a few days when you just want to give up and lie flat. This gloomy uncle cured my mental exhaustion.

Dating Show, Episode Two:

During Truth or Dare, Qi Yang makes the bare minimum of social effort, looking thoroughly unwilling.

Netizens: So half-hearted. He's just here to make money without doing the work.

During an interview, Qi Yang is asked why he looks so down.

Qi Yang: "Socializing is exhausting. I need a moment to zone out and clear my head."

After the episode airs, he gains 400,000 followers.

Netizens: Crying for everyone who struggles with group socializing. Meeting too many strangers at once is exhausting. It's better to give yourself a break.

Dating Show, Episode Three:

When the celebrities and non-celebrity contestants choose partners for their first date, the gloomy uncle vanishes without a trace.

Netizens, bewildered: Where's my life mentor?

National Best Actor Gu Yan appears at the filming location with an arm around a handsome, gloomy guy. "Why don't you say hello to everyone?"

"Qi Yang." The handsome man raises his eyes reluctantly.

After the episode airs, he gains a million followers.

Netizens: I thought we were the same kind of person, until I found out you're a handsome guy... Sob, so handsome!

As the show continues, everyone discovers that Qi Yang isn't just handsome. He can sing and dance, and he plays guitar too.

Netizen A: The lazy couch potato is actually an all-around ace?!

Netizen B: A handsome hidden gem! I'm a fan now.

Netizen C: I hope Best Actor Gu treats my dear Qi Yang well, sob...

Qi Yang: ?

He slacked off on a dating show and accidentally became famous? He even got his ex-boyfriend back?

Later, people dig up that Qi Yang appeared on a talent show six years ago and debuted in the center position, only to be shelved as soon as he debuted. Others discover that Qi Yang and Best Actor Gu have known each other for years and were high school classmates. Someone else finds out that Gu Yan's condition for joining the dating show was that Qi Yang be the designated non-celebrity contestant.

Rekindled love, two equally powerful leads who dote on each other.

Sweet and satisfying, one-on-one. Blurb archived on Weibo @Zhaobeicaigou, 2022.12.26. Blurb revised, 2023.03.06.

Coming soon: "Outdated Ship Becomes a Hit Across the Internet"

Synopsis:

Yao Zhou has been shelved by his awful agency for three years. After losing a lawsuit, he suddenly owes fifty million in breach-of-contract damages.

He couldn't pay it back in ten lifetimes of work.

At his wits' end, he runs into his top-tier star ex-boyfriend, whom he once treated terribly.

The man shoves a marriage contract at him. The contract offers fifty million.

Yao Zhou: Even if he wants to play BDSM, I'll go along with it.

Yao Zhou prepares himself for physical and emotional torment, and reality turns out exactly as he'd expected.

*

Huo Yiwen brings him along to an industry event and makes him stand to the side as punishment.

"Stay here. Don't move around."

Yao Zhou stands there, aggrieved, wolfing down the free snacks.

Three hours later, Huo Yiwen says sarcastically, "Why aren't you sitting down? Can't you see the chairs?"

Yao Zhou forces a smile. Damn it, I'll just swallow my anger.

*

Huo Yiwen is filming and gives him a tiny role as the male lead's sidekick. The male lead is Huo Yiwen.

"Do a good job. Don't make me look bad."

Yao Zhou endures it all, playing the perfect lackey both on and off set.

After filming wraps, Huo Yiwen gives him a cold look. "I was talking to my assistant. I didn't tell you to fetch me a glass of water."

Yao Zhou endures it all: Damn, damn, damn! It's all for the money!

*

Yao Zhou puts up with it again and again, planning to cut ties with Huo Yiwen after a year.

But

There are actually obsessive fans shipping him with Huo Yiwen, even though their pairing is old news!

When Huo Yiwen makes him stand for three hours.

The ship fans: Zhouzhou is so adorably clueless. He didn't even know to find a seat! No wonder Brother Huo couldn't focus when he was talking to the famous director!

When Huo Yiwen orders him around.

The ship fans: Zhouzhou is so obedient. What a perfect wife! No wonder Brother Huo always brings him along to film shoots!

The outdated ship "A Leaf on a Small Boat" gradually becomes a hugely popular pairing!

Yao Zhou: My eyes are always brimming with tears.

*

As time goes by, Yao Zhou reasonably suspects that Huo Yiwen's marketing team is behind all this. Huo Yiwen is using him to gain fans, then polish his image and refine his fanbase! He wants to squeeze every last bit of value out of him! Fifty million yuan in exchange for fifty million fans!

Yao Zhou: What a ruthless man!

Yao Zhou scoffs at Huo Yiwen's awful behavior. As soon as their one-year agreement is up, he's out of there!

But, he gets caught on the very day he tries to leave.

The man pins him against the wall, grips his neck, and kisses him fiercely.

Dazed by the kiss, Yao Zhou sees Huo Yiwen coldly tugging at his tie.

"I've been pursuing you all year, and this is how you repay me?"

"Looks like I've been too easy on you."

"We've been married long enough. It's time we did what husbands are supposed to do."

Yao Zhou: !!!

[Key points]

1. Sweet and satisfying entertainment-industry romance, two strong leads, rekindled love, married first and in love later, kept-partner romance.

2. No real-life inspirations. Please respect original works.

3. Includes onscreen comments. Please don't read if that bothers you.

Blurb archived 2024.11.17 on Weibo @Zhaobeicaigou

Theme: Live well, and the butterflies will bring the flowers into bloom