Scum A with a Sweet Black Lotus O – Chapter 25.1
by Little PandaDating Show Phase One: Contestants’ Ages and Occupations Revealed!
Pei Xuezhi’s heart suddenly softened.
“Sister, Sister Yun…”
The murmured words came one by one, barely forming complete phrases, yet revealing special feelings.
Fu Chaoyun had turned her head away, watching the movie, but still heard it. She turned back, her beautiful eyebrows furrowed, making her whole face appear slightly serious.
These should have been flirtatious words, but for some reason, Pei Xuezhi became nervous like a schoolchild caught not paying attention in class.
Even though she had always been a diligent student…
Fu Chaoyun just gave Pei Xuezhi a light glance and said, “Speak properly.”
This was the line Pei Xuezhi had always used to brush off Fu Chaoyun, but with the same expression, now coming from Fu Chaoyun’s mouth… their roles had suddenly reversed.
Pei Xuezhi: “…”
Fu Chaoyun continued seriously, “Just say directly what you want to eat. I know you’re hungry, no need to be so mushy about it.”
Before Pei Xuezhi could respond, Fu Chaoyun couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter, her eyes becoming especially captivating.
From within the amber-colored warmth seemed to emerge a small hook, like the soul-catching chains of the Black and White Impermanence [mythological figures who collect souls], but what it captured was a living person’s passionate heart.
Pei Xuezhi’s heart settled, and she also started laughing, “Alright, then I also want…”
ใShe’s really just ordering food?!ใ
At this point, the danmu comments turned angryโ
ใIt’s rare for Pei Xuezhi to take initiative… you got your chance and you wasted it!ใ
ใRNM [common internet slang expressing frustration], give me my money back!ใ
ใDid I come to this livestream just to watch you list menu items? No, no, director, do it over! Do it over!!!ใ
ใEh? Am I the only one who thinks this is quite sweet?ใ
The livestream chat was filled with wailing, with the few dissenting opinions being drowned in the flood of complaints.
The System rarely praised Fu Chaoyun, but now it said, ใYou did well!ใ
Fu Chaoyun didn’t want to acknowledge it, but the System pressed on, becoming endless.
ใHey host, do you actually like Pei Xuezhi or not?ใ
“Of course I like her,” Fu Chaoyun answered almost without thinking, though with a somewhat casual attitude, “Go ask anyone on the street, who doesn’t like a beautiful person?”
ใAh this…ใ The System was directly stumped.
“But it hasn’t reached the point where we must be together,” Fu Chaoyun added, while glancing sideways at Pei Xuezhi herself.
Just now she had sensed it, Pei Xuezhi seemed to be testing her, though for unknown reasons…
But it doesn’t matter, as long as she still has that beautiful face, she can “forgive” her~
Helping out and getting her out of awkward situations are just things done in passing.
Overall, Pei Xuezhi’s treatment of her isn’t as cold as when they first met, so that counts as progress, right?
Occasionally they can even get close… yay~!
Thinking of this, Fu Chaoyun followed her true feelings, “Things are quite good as they are now.”
The System was silent for a moment, then analyzed and concluded, ใSo you just want to flirt without commitment?ใ
“Mm-hmm~” Fu Chaoyun didn’t deny it.
ใHuman trash!ใ
Fu Chaoyun wasn’t embarrassed at all about being scolded, and said lightly, “If I wasn’t being this human trash, you’d be the one with a headache now.”
The fence-sitting System: ใ……you’re doing great, host!ใ
Suddenly. Fu Chaoyun’s vision darkened again, with Pei Xuezhi’s hand covering her eyes. When she spoke again, her voice was no longer as cold and distant as before.
“It’s reached another scary part, should I narrate it for you?”
Fu Chaoyun didn’t answer.
“As…” Pei Xuezhi paused, her voice carrying a hint of hesitation, “a return favor.”
“Alright.”
This time, Fu Chaoyun agreed very quickly.
She didn’t know where Pei Xuezhi’s unusual behavior today came from, what thoughts she was harboring, or if it was simply that she couldn’t accept?
Fu Chaoyun didn’t want to think too deeply about it, or rather, she was consciously ignoring this point, just listening to Pei Xuezhi’s voice slowly coming from beside her, and only felt…
How cute.
Fu Chaoyun suddenly let out a light gasp, and Pei Xuezhi’s voice abruptly stopped.
“It’s a bit scary,” Fu Chaoyun said.
Pei Xuezhi thought for a moment, “Should I try telling it to you in a different way?”
The response was a sudden weight on her shoulderโFu Chaoyun had leaned her head against it.
This time using a safer position, barely touching, from this angle, Fu Chaoyun couldn’t bite the gland under her neck.
Pei Xuezhi stiffened slightly.
The sudden physical contact made her somewhat uncomfortable, yet it seemed… not so uncomfortable after all. At least after that brief pause, Pei Xuezhi relaxed her body again, not pushing Fu Chaoyun away.
And the kitty who had gotten “scared” and came to act spoiled, nuzzled again, finding a more comfortable position.
Now she closed her eyes herself, looking absolutely well-behaved, so Pei Xuezhi didn’t need to cover them anymore.
“Go ahead and tell it,” Fu Kitty said in a soft voice.
In a moment.
In the darkness, Pei Xuezhi’s voice sounded again…
ใAhhh!ใ
ใI see it, sugar! It’s unexpected sugar!ใ
ใEven if it’s just the thin sugar coating on medicine packaging, I’ll take it!ใ
ใKSWLKSWLใ [Internet slang meaning “dying from laughter”]
ใNow let Fu Chaoyun have a scene with Qi Changfeng… that’s not too much to ask, right? Who cares about Fu Chaoyun’s narration, Qi Changfeng, I declareโyou are! My god!ใ
Qi Changfeng, who was being praised endlessly by the audience: … scared, terrified, trembling.jpg
As the movie ended, the time had reached 10 PM, and it was finally time for the first round of revealing the guests’ occupations and ages.
Qi Changfeng wasn’t as lucky as Fu Chaoyun.
He had to accompany Ni Jiaojiao, and moreover had to maintain his big alpha image, couldn’t dare to look away, could only stare at the screen, putting on a fearless face.
Through the whole viewing, Qi Changfeng’s limbs were weak, the paleness on his tough-guy face impossible to hide.
“Class monitor” Qi Changfeng asked for sick leave, with Ni Jiaojiao responsible for comforting him;
Fu Chaoyun, as a semi-staff member, was neglecting her duties, busy cuddling with Pei Xuezhi at this moment;
As for Fu Li… ah, better not mention it!
…With no other choice, the hosting task could only be handed to “Life Committee Member” Jian Yi.
ใHere it comes, here it comes.ใ
ใI feel tonight’s reveal segment might be different from what we imagined, intuition says there will be surprises!ใ
ใRubbing hands like a fly.jpgใ [Internet meme expressing anticipation]
Jian Yi walked to the front, directly turned on the lights, reusing the scene, with everyone still in the ground floor living room, maintaining their previous seating arrangements.
Jian Yi smiled gently but helplessly. The show ใLove at First Sightใ had no script except for occasional guidance, relying entirely on guests’ spontaneity, so Jian Yi had no cue cards, just empty hands spread out.
“Should I break the ice and start with myself?”
Compared to the two couples currently hitting it off, the “eternally devoted” Fu Li, and the drama-watching Jian Yi, his presence wasn’t actually very noticeable.
But his personality was gentle and attentive, often helping others, and with no threatening presence, everyone else in the villa got along well with him.
Oh~ except for Qi Changfeng.
“Doctor!” Fu Chaoyun was the first to shout out, being super cooperative and respectful.
Fu Chaoyun remembered that when Pei Xuezhi had found her to apply medicine, she said Jian Yi had told her where the medical kit was in the villa.
Everyone hadn’t been at the villa long on the first day, to notice this detail, whether from habit or professional instinct, so Jian Yi’s profession must be medical-related, right?
“I also guess Brother Yi is a doctor,” Ni Jiaojiao added, “Brother Yi is very attentive to hygiene, and I noticed his fingernails are trimmed very neatly and beautifully…”
Even while feeling unwell, Qi Changfeng didn’t forget to target this potential “love rival”โas he believed.
So, as soon as he opened his mouth, he went straight to disparaging, “Being so attentive and gentle normally, I bet he’s a pediatrician?”
“I also think Brother Yi is a doctor,” Fu Li added quietly.
“Perhaps… a surgeon?” Pei Xuezhi suddenly spoke up.
Jian Yi looked over, and before Pei Xuezhi could say more details, he smiled and directly nodded in acknowledgment, “Xuezhi is correct.”
He seemed uncomfortable with too much attention on himself, then spread his hands and directly announced his identity.
“Neurosurgeon, Jian Yi, 27 years old this year.”
“Wow! Brother Yi is amazing…”
“And you don’t look that age at all!”
“Doctors really know how to take care of themselves!”
“Ah… isn’t that more like traditional Chinese medicine doctors’ thing, isn’t Brother Yi a Western medicine doctor?”
“Thank you,” Jian Yi accepted the praise, his gaze sweeping around before landing on Qi Changfeng, with a smile that suggested he enjoyed watching the drama unfold.
“Next up, Changfeng? You want to go?”
After that interruption, Qi Changfeng’s after-effects from watching the horror movie had improved slightly, at least his legs weren’t as weak anymore. Hearing this, he stood up confidently, wearing a proud “go ahead and guess” expression.
“Brother Changfeng looks older than Brother Yi, right?”
Fu Li wanted to show off, but as soon as he spoke, Qi Changfeng shot him a murderous glare, scaring Fu Li into shrinking back and not daring to speak again.
Fu Chaoyun wasn’t afraid of Qi Changfeng, and continued, “Looking at this expression, he must be younger than Brother Yi? 25, or 26? Though looking at him, he can’t be that much younger.”
She wasn’t trying to help Fu Li out of the awkward situation, but was genuinely interested.
Qi Changfeng continued glaring.
Ni Jiaojiao looked at Qi Changfeng, skipping the age topic, and tentatively spoke, “Are you… a fitness trainer? Personal trainer?”
Qi Changfeng’s muscle proportions had always been quite exaggerated in daily life.
Qi Changfeng’s expression suddenly dropped, “…Close, but not accurate.”
It wasn’t that he felt his profession was something to be ashamed of, but the show’s rules required acknowledging when someone guessed correctly or close to the answer, to continue guessing.
Being guessed so quickly reduced his chances to show off, which made Qi Changfeng, who was used to flaunting himself, somewhat uncomfortable.
With their relationship being what it was, others naturally wouldn’t compete with Ni Jiaojiao to guess.
Ni Jiaojiao narrowed it down, “Swimming coach?”
“…Yes.”
After speaking, he also stepped forward like Jian Yi to report his information, “I’m a swimming coach, but I’m 23 years old this year!”
When this age was revealed, the other five guests showed surprised expressions similar to when they learned Jian Yi’s age, though not quite the same.
Everyone looked Qi Changfeng over.
Jian Yi: “Really can’t tell that at all…”
Ni Jiaojiao: “Indeed…”
Fu Chaoyun asked a scientific question, “So excessive sun exposure really does make you age faster and look more weathered?”
“I’m still here, I can hear you!”
Qi Changfeng, being evaluated on the spot, was about to lose it – this was completely different from his imagined scenario of being the center of admiring attention after revealing his identity!
“And!” Qi Changfeng emphasized with his last dignity, “Our swimming pool is actually indoors!!!”
After a round of laughter, it was Fu Li’s turn next.
Ni Jiaojiao: “Xiaoli must be the youngest, right?”
Jian Yi: “Should still be in school, right? A student?”
Qi Changfeng said maliciously, “This is a dating show, participating guests must first be adults, so 18? 19? 20? 21?… Maybe like the two of us before, there’ll be another surprise reveal.”
Regarding Fu Li, Fu Chaoyun didn’t speak, just leaned her head on Pei Xuezhi’s shoulder again, just like when watching the movie earlier.
As if unable to bear the bright light from the living room chandelier, Fu Chaoyun narrowed her beautiful eyes, looking languid.
Perhaps already used to the leaning from earlier, Pei Xuezhi didn’t refuse, and seeing this, she even thought for a moment before shifting her body slightly to help block some of the light.
Fu Li, still not giving up hope, continued to look expectantly toward the two of them, hesitating.
Fu Chaoyun didn’t even open her eyes, but in the end it was Pei Xuezhi, who was being used as a pillow and usually quiet, who spoke up.
“I guess the age is around eighteen or nineteen, a student, right? Shouldn’t be over twenty.”
Being basically guessed correctly in one try, Fu Li immediately showed a shy smile, “Was I that obvious? Everyone guessed so accurately!”
“I’m eighteen years old this year~ Indeed a student, a freshman at H University,”
“So young,” Qi Changfeng sighed wistfully.
“Yes, youth is wonderful,” Jian Yi also said.
“H University… that’s in our city, little brother has good grades,” Ni Jiaojiao added.
“No, no,” Fu Li modestly waved his hands, “Just scored twenty or thirty points above the cutoff line, barely made it in, hehe, got lucky~”
“Getting in at all is already impressive, after all it’s considered the second-best university in our city. Brother Fu Li has a bright future ahead,” Ni Jiaojiao praised.
Fu Li quickly denied it again.
“However…” Ni Jiaojiao looked at him, suddenly changing her tone, “Brother Fu Li has just become an adult, with school and all, the future looks promising, and at Brother Fu Li’s age, wouldn’t it be better to focus on studies?”
“Ah?”
Ni Jiaojiao continued smilingly, like a caring older sister, “I’m not trying to lecture~ I have relatives who took the college entrance exam, and I’ve been through that period too, I know how hard high school is, especially the third year, it’s normal to want to relax after the exam, but I recommend not going too wild in university, or you might regret it later.”
“Besides, isn’t it a bit too early to join a dating show now?”
“I-I am studying properly,” Fu Li suddenly became coy, “Just… just suddenly wanted to have a sweet romance.”
“Little brother is very good-looking, and has good grades, someone like you must have had quite a few pursuers in both high school and university, right?” Ni Jiaojiao said with a smile.
“And with people your own age, there’s no generation gap. On a dating show, if the age difference is too big, aren’t you worried about running out of things to talk about in the future?”
“No, no, not at all.”
Hearing this, Fu Li shook his head like a rattle drum, hesitated for a moment, but still said, “The people at school are about my age, but they’re all too immature. I like someone who can take care of me a bit more, preferably someone who can protect me.”
“Besides, I can learn to adapt to her.”
While speaking, his gaze secretly glanced toward Fu Chaoyun, doe eyes slightly lowered, innocent and shy, clearly still not giving up.
Meanwhile.
Fu Chaoyun, being stared at, was very good at avoiding the situation, hadn’t participated in any discussion related to Fu Li, and now, perhaps feeling sleepy, maintained her position leaning on Pei Xuezhi’s shoulder, eyes tightly closed.
Pei Xuezhi also lowered her head, noticed a strand of hair sticking to Fu Chaoyun’s fair cheek, finding it somewhat bothersome.
After pausing for a moment and thinking about it, Pei Xuezhi still reached out to brush it away.
Neither of them looked at Fu Li, yet their atmosphere was harmoniously isolated, with nothing from the surroundings able to penetrate it.
Ni Jiaojiao smiled, “So you like older brothers and sisters.” She paused, then said meaningfully, “But always accommodating others doesn’t necessarily lead to happiness~”
Fu Li disappointedly withdrew his gaze, and hearing Ni Jiaojiao’s words, his cheeks turned rosy again, but he still gave a slight nod.
ah what a cliffhanger. Thank you for the chapter!