Chapter 9 – Revealing Our Jobs

“Rich, really rich,” Tang Yinuo clapped his hands in admiration. His family was quite wealthy too, and he counted himself a second-generation rich kid, but he still couldn’t compare to Wei Buyan.

Cheng Yichi nodded seriously. He had just slightly opened his mouth in surprise, almost dumbfounded. Now, with an envious look, it was like Wei Buyan had been pulled down from a pedestal. It made people realize even a top actor had some material desires — kind of cute.

“Yichi, why such a big reaction?” Bai Ruyu laughed. “I thought actors made a lot of money.”

“Not really rich,” Cheng Yichi waved his hand. Others didn’t know, but his salary wasn’t that high. He’d never seen those huge 2-million-yuan-per-episode paychecks. His own pay was more like tens of thousands for movies, around a million for TV shows, making maybe three or four million a year total, and then he had to support his team and studio costs. Buying a house like this was way out of reach.

But he was an actor. Idol salaries — he had no clue.

Cheng Yichi said, “Who doesn’t want to be rich?”

“So, what’s your job… landlord? CEO? Boss?” Tang Yinuo asked Wei Buyan.

Wei Buyan said, “Sort of a boss. I go manage things and check accounts regularly, but most of the work is handled by people below me. I don’t need to worry too much day to day. Sometimes I make investments.”

“Nice,” everyone said together.

Cheng Yichi guessed his age: “24?”

“Hey.” Wei Buyan smiled and shot him a flirtatious look. “Teacher Cheng is good at reading people.” He winked. Cheng Yichi smiled back. “Just average.”

—

“Next, next!” Jiang Heng asked. “Wei Buyan, hurry and choose, I don’t believe I’m the youngest.”

He felt a bit unlucky—no advantage in age or job. He was just a young student with a decent family but no real skills. Who would pick him? He ignored Li Yi. Looks didn’t mean much in a dating show. He was starting to suspect Li Yi was a liar, just here for the prize money.

Bai Ruyu was chosen. He was a bit surprised — he thought Wei Buyan would pick Tang Yinuo since they had such a good chat.

Wei Buyan rested his chin on his hand and said, “I want to see what kind of job a gentle and beautiful person like you has. You’re a few years older than me.”

That was a clever way to say it, and Bai Ruyu immediately blushed.

Strangely, Tang Yinuo didn’t show any jealousy. Cheng Yichi thought, “Uh oh, my CP might be doomed.”

But hey, I can ship a new CP! Cheng Yichi got excited again.

Bai Ruyu slowly took out a photo and showed it to everyone: a warm yellow chair with a fashion magazine on it. Bai Ruyu made a peace sign with his right hand. Behind him was a blackboard, but the writing wasn’t clear.

“What’s this?” Cheng Yichi leaned closer. He and Tang Yinuo were so close that Tang Yinuo casually brushed up against him, like he could kiss him if he turned his head.

Cheng Yichi was suddenly tapped on the shoulder by Li Yi, who looked curious and moved away from Tang Yinuo a bit. Li Yi looked down and said, “Bro, I want to see too.”

Cheng Yichi immediately felt protective and, after asking others who had seen the photo, passed it over to Li Yi.

The photo didn’t reveal much, and Li Yi didn’t want Tang Yinuo and Cheng Yichi getting too close, so he looked at it longer.

“Designer, right?” Li Yi said after a while.

Bai Ruyu’s eyes widened: “How did you know?”

“He guessed right?” Cheng Yichi, treating Li Yi like a younger brother, proudly said, “Awesome, Li Yi!”

“Yeah, how did you guess?” others echoed.

Li Yi, happy to be praised by Cheng Yichi but hiding it, pointed to a very small white spot on the blackboard in the background: “That’s probably a mannequin for designing clothes.”

“That small? You could see that!”

It really was tiny — almost easy to miss. Bai Ruyu smiled and nodded. “I’m a fashion designer, Lan.”

“I know you!” Tang Yinuo exclaimed. “You’re the rising star who just won the fashion week gold award! Isn’t your teacher Leo?”

Bai Ruyu shyly nodded.

Cheng Yichi remembered hearing about him before: “I’ve heard about you. Ruyu’s really excellent — handsome, gentle, good at cooking, and very capable. Perfect partner material!”

He said that for Gu Zichen’s sake — his own CP was still the same — but Bai Ruyu felt like it was a sweet confession.

Gu Zichen glanced at Bai Ruyu: “Yeah, perfect partner material. But I’m not interested yet.”

Bai Ruyu was 26, the oldest here, but he wasn’t upset about it. His strong qualities would help him find the right person.

Tang Yinuo was a contrast: not a student but a director’s assistant, and only 24. Cheng Yichi thought he looked 18.

“So cute!” Cheng Yichi laughed.

Tang Yinuo held his face and said softly, “Ah! Brother Yichi said I’m cute, I’m so happy!”

Cheng Yichi pinched his cheek then turned away. Tang Yinuo kept holding his face, feeling his cheeks warm and needing to cool down.

Next was Fang Yunshi. His photo was hard to guess and very dark — no one could figure it out.

Fang Yunshi suddenly said, “Brother Yichi definitely knows. This is our secret.”

???

Everyone’s eyes turned to Cheng Yichi. He was confused — secret? What secret?

He remembered Fang Yunshi tugging his jacket yesterday, letting him feel it. At first glance, it was just a normal jacket, but the texture felt very leather-like.

Leather jacket job…

Cheng Yichi blurted out, “Race car driver!”

Fang Yunshi’s eyes lit up, a sweet smile appearing: “Yes!”

Actually, it was a racing suit, not a leather jacket, but the material looked similar. It wasn’t a full suit because Fang Yunshi had the designer modify it for daily wear, making it easier to handle during races.

“Such a huge contrast!”

Who’d think this shy, reserved kid was a passionate, adrenaline-fueled racer?

Cheng Yichi said, “If I get a chance, I’ll definitely watch your race. You must be really special.”

Fang Yunshi smiled and nodded, tugging at his pants shyly: “I’ll wait for you.”

This wasn’t just their secret anymore — it was their promise.

Fang Yunshi wasn’t sure what liking someone or feeling moved meant — he was slow with feelings, having little experience with love or being loved. His parents forced him onto this show; he didn’t come by choice. But he knew his heart raced for two things—

Racing, and Cheng Yichi.

No, Cheng Yichi was a person.

He wasn’t sure if it was love, but he really wanted it.

“23-year-old race car driver, good luck!”

Gu Zichen was the second last. Cheng Yichi asked, “Is it because I’m not interesting anymore, so you saved me for last?”

“You’re the finale,” Tang Yinuo teased.

Cheng Yichi said slowly, “The finale is the second last. I’m just the send-off.”

Tang Yinuo almost laughed out loud.

Gu Zichen’s clues were easy to guess and fit his serious persona — always masked, with a stethoscope and white coat, a surgeon who operated.

Gu Zichen was 27 and already a vice director at the hospital. Successful career.

“Impressive,” Cheng Yichi said again, thinking about Gu Zichen doing surgery. Sensitive and clean, he probably washed his hands many times after, but never hated the blood on his clothes during surgery.

Cheng Yichi told him his thoughts. Gu Zichen paused, surprised. Many people admired doctors, but no one had looked at it from that angle. Indeed, he always cleaned himself carefully after surgery, but during the operation, he didn’t feel the cleanliness obsession. Strange.

Cheng Yichi said, “You must really love your job.” His eyes shone.

Gu Zichen’s heart trembled deeply.

“Cheng Yichi,” he said softly. Cheng Yichi smiled, looking at him like that, thinking: how long before I stop falling for him?

Better control it now. No future for them.

“Your turn.”

Cheng Yichi took out a photo of his side job—

It was a car.

Inside the car, obviously a photo taken from inside looking out. The outside scenery was blurry, showing it was taken while driving.

What job was this? Hard to guess. Fang Yunshi guessed it was a race car driver like him.

Cheng Yichi smiled and shook his head.

Wei Buyan thought for a moment: “Traveler?”

Cheng Yichi asked, “Is that a job?”

Wei Buyan explained, “One of those vloggers who travel and film while playing.”

“Oh, that’s not it either.”

Everyone racked their brains but couldn’t figure it out.

Li Yi suddenly made a bold guess. He stared at Cheng Yichi and slowly said four words: “Didi driver?” (Didi is a ride-hailing app, like Uber)

“Bingo!” Cheng Yichi snapped his fingers happily. “Yes!”

Everyone was stunned. So down-to-earth! And no one found out?

Cheng Yichi excitedly showed them his ride-hailing app screenshots, all five-star reviews: “I always wear a mask. No one recognizes me! Plus, I love watching my passengers — it really helps my acting!”

He said it proudly. Even as a driver, he was the best and most charming in the car!

After a while, Wei Buyan suddenly said, “Yichi… have you thought about what happens if the show airs and you take more rides? Won’t you get found out?”

Cheng Yichi’s smile froze. He… forgot. Uh oh.