Upon realizing this possibility, a shiver ran through him. “Then I’d rather sleep on the sofa.”
Chi Xingyu’s expression also soured as he suddenly recalled something and walked to Tong Suo’s room.
It was the same for them.
Jiang Ciyuan’s bed had been removed.
This method clearly bore the mark of the production team.
As the show entered its final phase, they also wanted to boost their performance.
They were being forced to sleep together in the same bed.
The viewers in the comments became excited as well.
— Ahhh, is this for real?
— Is this something I can actually see on a dating show? Season three really knows how to create drama.
— Tong Suo, please protect yourself!!
— Am I about to see something that can’t be broadcast?
— Jiang Zong, please be gentle, don’t scare our Tong Suo!!
Although they had briefly huddled together while camping, that type of open air environment was hardly comfortable and wouldn’t provoke any deeper thoughts.
However, a familiar room was a different matter.
For some, sharing a bed was a punishment, but not for everyone.
Jiang Ciyuan looked at the bed that had been taken away, and his reaction was not as intense as Chi Xingyu’s; instead, he turned to Tong Suo and asked, “Are we sleeping together tonight? Do you mind?”
When his voice fell, everyone turned to look at Tong Suo.
Chi Xingyu’s emotions were particularly strong among them.
Tong Suo could hardly let someone sleep on the floor, but recalling the experience of being grabbed and subdued that night, he hesitated and replied, “…Alright.”
“Thank you,” Jiang Ciyuan said.
His gratitude made Tong Suo feel a bit shy, “No need to be polite. I only have one blanket, but it’s warm. You can use it too.”
Chi Xingyu gnashed his teeth in frustration.
How naive could one be to think Jiang Ciyuan was genuinely thanking him? It was all a façade; he could hear the real intentions behind it.
“If you’re sharing a blanket, why not offer to lend him yourself too?” Chi Xingyu remarked.
Tong Suo looked confused, “How would that work?”
Chi Xingyu replied, “…Being this clueless and still claiming to have been in a relationship.”
He would probably still say thank you if he was completely used up.
He turned back to his own room, still feeling a suffocating pent-up frustration that he couldn’t shake off; everything he saw seemed utterly displeasing.
After a while of calming down, Chi Xingyu realized his reaction was a bit excessive.
This was the production team’s arrangement.
Tong Suo had no choice but to comply; could he really drive someone away? If that were to happen, the broadcast would probably garner a lot of backlash.
Just then, the door opened again.
Chi Xingyu turned with an apologetic face, “I overreacted earlier, I’m sorry.”
He couldn’t help it; just thinking about Tong Suo sharing a bed with Jiang Ciyuan made his blood pressure spike, and he still hadn’t calmed down since.
“So you can say sorry.”
The voice startled Chi Xingyu, who frowned upon seeing Zhong Yi enter. “Why are you here?”
“What else would I do? Without a bed, I can only sit in a chair for now. Tong Suo doesn’t live here, so how could I stay?”
“…” Chi Xingyu asked, “How are you sleeping tonight?”
“On the sofa downstairs, I guess,” Zhong Yi sighed, “I really can’t tell whether I’m here for a dating show or for suffering, sleeping outside and now on the sofa.”
Chi Xingyu stood up and rolled up his blanket and pillow, “You can have this bed; I’ll sleep on the sofa downstairs.”
Zhong Yi’s eyes brightened; though tempted, he still modestly replied, “How about we share instead?”
“No way,” Chi Xingyu disdainfully shot back, “I’d rather sleep on the sofa.”
Zhong Yi fell silent, realizing he was merely being polite.
Chi Xingyu clutched his blanket and headed downstairs.
If Zhong Yi, such a pampered prince, had to sleep on the sofa for a night, he would probably complain endlessly the next day.
Chi Xingyu, on the other hand, didn’t care; when he was tired after training, he could sleep anywhere—even draped over a gaming chair.
As night fell, most of the lights in the hall dimmed.
Chi Xingyu tossed and turned on the sofa, unable to sleep, and finally got up to turn on the small lamp at the corner of the sofa. His gaze involuntarily wandered upstairs.
The surroundings were very quiet, with only the faint sound of insects buzzing.
Agitated, Chi Xingyu took out his tablet and engaged in a game to relieve his frustration.
Meanwhile, upstairs, Tong Suo nestled under the covers, puzzled as to why Chi Xingyu was angry with him; he should be the one who was more upset.
Just then, he felt the mattress sink slightly behind him.
A faint cold fragrance wafted through the air.
Tong Suo slowly turned over to see Jiang Ciyuan sitting on the edge of the bed, unexpectedly meeting his gaze and causing him to flinch. “Are you going to sleep?”
“Mm, can I lie down?”
Jiang Ciyuan’s polite tone made it hard for Tong Suo to refuse, and he obediently curled up his blanket to make enough space.
After Jiang Ciyuan lay down, the warmly scented blanket covered him, bringing with it a faint aroma.
He reached out to turn off the lamp.
Tong Suo tried hard to ignore the fact that there was another person beside him, but in the darkness that deprived him of sight, his other senses became acutely aware; he could even feel Jiang Ciyuan’s breaths rising and falling.
“Are you nervous?”
Jiang Ciyuan’s sudden voice cut directly to Tong Suo’s current feelings.
It made him feel a bit exposed.
In the dark, Tong Suo muttered, “No.”
“But your body is very tense,” Jiang Ciyuan said, turning to face him, lightly brushing his cool fingertips over Tong Suo’s forearm.