Chapter 30: The Big Gray Wolf and the Little White Rabbit

Zhou Yili moved with no hesitation. His impossibly long legs carried him forward without hindrance, the silver chain at his waist swaying in a lazy arc, a display of arrogant elegance so captivating it was impossible to look away.

Shen Jixing’s gaze landed on his waist. He found it amusing—how could someone be so brazen even with their eyes covered? When a person is plunged into darkness, aren’t they supposed to be at their most fragile and fearful?

“Stop,” Shen Jixing abruptly called out, snapping back to himself.

Zhou Yili halted immediately, his knee seemingly bumping into something.

He pressed his knee forward. “Is this an obstacle?”

The air stilled for a couple of seconds before Shen Jixing replied politely, “That’s me.”

“…”

“So close, really close.”

“You brat, why are you poking my wife with your knee?!”

“?”

“Sorry, after following this brat for so long, I’ve never seen such a delicate beauty—one touch with the knee and the whole body shudders.”

“If I’m being a bit crude, I’ll see myself out…”

In the monitoring room, the director was anxious. Thankfully, thankfully, Emperor Shen couldn’t see the live comments.

Imitating Fang Siqian’s tone, the director held his forehead. “These little flowers of our country, honestly…”

The assistant director was speechless.

Shen Jixing paid no mind to the brief interlude, his tone cool as he instructed the handsome blindfolded man before him.

“Turn around and squat.”

Zhou Yili heard the arrogant command, and that strangely provocative urge to conquer quietly surged again. He pressed his sharp little canine tooth against his lip and, turning, squatted down.

Shen Jixing glanced at the bow behind him. “?”

A bow?

He didn’t even need to bother figuring out how to undo it; with a casual tug at one ribbon, it came loose.

Shen Jixing closed his long lashes, feeling the same weary helplessness as if, after exhausting effort, he’d discovered the answer was simply 1+1=2.

“Don’t tell me you can’t even untie a bow—”

The black ribbon, like a beautifully wrapped gift, slid off Zhou Yili, revealing his rebellious, wild, and strikingly handsome face. He turned his eyes, still dazed from the sudden light, the blue tuft of hair atop his head swaying.

“What?”

“…”

Shen Jixing couldn’t be bothered to argue. “Never mind. Look for the key, there’s not much time.”

Zhou Yili’s gaze followed to his reddened wrists, restrained by the cuffs. He knelt on one knee, eyebrows raised as he studied them for a couple of seconds.

“What if I don’t look for it?”

Shen Jixing: “?”

His lips parted, about to say, “Did I just untie a leash for a dog?”

Zhou Yili stood up, mischief lighting his face. “Just kidding. Wait here.”

In the pitch-dark room, one in black, one in white—one moving, one restrained.

“Big Bad Wolf × Little White Rabbit!!!”

“What a strange dating show—put a man and woman together, it’s a battle to the death; put two men together, and the sexual tension’s about to burst off the screen~”

“I’m speechless. You people will ship anything, you must be starving.”

“Shen Jixing must be trying to use this for publicity, to wash his image. Dream on. Just wait!”

The netizens sensed that the fans were holding back something big.

Meanwhile, Zhou Yili spotted the key placed atop the chandelier.

But it was hard to reach.

Director You was clearly not making things easy; the only prop that could help, a chair, had been glued to the floor with superglue.

It wouldn’t budge no matter how they tried.

“Are you sure superglue is really that strong?” the assistant director asked.

“Don’t underestimate superglue!” the director replied incredulously. “I tested it myself—my shoe sole is still stuck on your second-floor balcony… Never mind.”

“?”

“…Impressive,” the assistant director conceded.

But Zhou Yili didn’t bother with the chair.

He didn’t even intend to use a prop. Instead, he simply leapt up where he stood, his agile, lean body springing into the air, long arms easily hooking the key and bringing it down.

The comment section was left in shock.

Stamina, endurance, staying power?

Damn, what a specimen.

Zhou’s fans: “He’s not straight, you’re welcome.”

The comments: “Oh.”

Key in hand, Zhou Yili sauntered over to Shen Jixing.

Shen Jixing watched his cocky, unrestrained manner, reminiscent of a wild young lion returning from a hunt, and guessed his next line would probably be: “Beg me.”

Unexpectedly, Zhou Yili simply glanced at Shen Jixing’s bound wrists, said nothing, and bent down to unlock the silver cuffs.

He straightened, lazily glanced at the red marks, slid one hand into his trouser pocket. “Let’s go.”

Shen Jixing replied coolly, “Mm.”

The first round ended.

The guests each exited their rooms and gathered in the main hall—this was also their first official meeting.

Sheng Que had always been sociable and was already chatting with the two female guests.

Then footsteps sounded behind them, followed by a familiar, irreverent voice.

“Hey, son, what are you guys talking about?”

Sheng Que hadn’t expected anyone to speak so brazenly on the show; he even doubted his own ears but never suspected Zhou Yili.

With a bright smile, he turned, pointing to his tousled chestnut curls.

“I want to dye mine green too.”

Cen Susu giggled.

Qi Yan was speechless.

“Zhou Yili?!” Sheng Que’s eyes widened; he hadn’t expected to run into his childhood friend here. He greeted him with a “crow flies over” handshake.

“Drop dead!”

Anticipating this, Zhou Yili dodged nimbly.

Sheng Que, unable to stop himself, stumbled straight toward the newcomer. Shen Jixing, brow slightly furrowed, steadied him, sparing Sheng Que from stopping his fall with his chin.

“Thank you, thank you,” Sheng Que blurted instinctively.

Shen Jixing withdrew his hand. “It’s nothing.”

Zhou Yili, face dark, dragged Sheng Que away, thinking it might have been better not to dodge.

“You know each other?” Cen Susu asked curiously. Despite her heroic aura in action, she now looked like a bashful anime girl.

“We do, not well,” Zhou Yili replied, brushing off his hands elegantly as if he’d touched something dirty.

Sheng Que was still stunned by his first encounter with Shen Jixing. “Yeah, you could say it’s a typical master and pet relationship.”

Zhou Yili shot him a cold look.

Sheng Que turned to Shen Jixing, waving. “Hi, Brother Shen~”

Shen Jixing: “…”

“Brother Shen?”

“Wait, you all really know each other?”

“I told you, Shen Jixing is just here for hype. That last round looked more like a performance, haha.”

The next moment—

Shen Jixing asked in return, “And you are?”

Sheng Que’s smile froze.

It transferred to Zhou Yili, who folded his arms and smirked, relishing Shen Jixing’s aloofness.

Meanwhile, Shen’s fans seized the moment—

“Call him?”

“Hype? Old friends?”

Sheng Que had no idea how to explain. He couldn’t exactly say, “I’m your ex’s best friend. You don’t know me, but I’ve heard your name eight hundred times. In my heart, you’re already an unofficial member of our gang… probably.”

He respectfully approached Shen Jixing, reaching out to shake his hanging hand. “I’m a fan, Emperor Shen.”

Shen Jixing, unused to physical contact, stiffened for a second before withdrawing his hand.

He wasn’t sure what to say. “Mm.”

Sheng Que, the eternal extrovert, cracked.

One bout of outgoingness, a lifetime of introversion.

He began to doubt his dog brother. Are you sure you ever managed to win over this ice-cold beauty?

Zhou Yili, who knew even that Sheng Que only wore red underwear, could easily read the look in his eyes.

Of course.

Not only did I win him over, but…

Zhou Yili’s gaze swept over Shen Jixing’s meticulously buttoned collar, the sliver of pale, flawless neck, Adam’s apple sliding as he looked away, silent.

…I’ve tasted him, too.