Chapter 19 – Live Broadcast Begins

The next day, Cheng Yichi didn’t sleep well, with faint dark circles under his eyes. After carefully reviewing the eight confession texts from the previous night, he realized some participants might simply be expressing pure admiration—like Fang Yunshi, who had sent messages for several consecutive days. While adorable, these weren’t necessarily romantic intentions.

This put his mind at ease.

After brushing his teeth, he put on a trendy domestic streetwear hoodie that looked particularly stylish. The moment he stepped out, he ran into Tang Yinuo.

Tang Yinuo, kitten-like in demeanor, immediately pounced and clung to him softly, asking, “Yichi-ge, do you know what activity we have today?”

Still slightly groggy, Cheng Yichi reached up to pat Tang Yinuo’s head. “What activity?”

“We’re starting the livestream today! It’s already begun!”

Cheng Yichi jolted awake, noticing the multiple cameras set up in the hallway. After a brief pause, he quickly composed himself and greeted the lens warmly: “Hi everyone, long time no see. I’m Cheng Yichi.”

The pre-launch promotion for “Who’s the Liar” had been remarkably successful. Though the livestream was scheduled to begin at 8 AM on Thursday, by 7 AM, numerous viewers were already waiting in the stream. Since this dating show emphasized genuine emotions, participants rarely engaged in group activities outside dates. To address this, the production team devised a solution: livestreaming the likely shared morning hours from 8 to 10 AM in the shared house, followed by evening cooking sessions starting at 6 PM. During dates, streams would split accordingly, though participants retained the right to opt out—after all, none were here for clout, and broadcasting intimate moments would be inappropriate.

Thus, the tentative streaming schedule became 8–10 AM and 6–10 PM.

Most early viewers were simply here for the eye candy. The male participants announced earlier were exceptionally attractive—both in looks and careers—leaving audiences curious: How would such outstanding men navigate romance?

Despite all announced participants being non-celebrities, the waiting crowd was substantial.

At 8 AM sharp, Bai Ruyu and Gu Zichen appeared in the kitchen, sparking an immediate surge in comments:

OMG! I knew they’d be perfect together! Look at this pair—talent meets beauty! Gu Zichen, hurry up and cook for our Bai beauty!

So it wasn’t just filters… They’re ridiculously good-looking. Even the entertainment industry doesn’t have visuals this strong. Bai looks so pure in white, like a literal moonlight.

Gu Zichen’s skin isn’t that red? The preview said he’s sensitive—will he blush if Bai touches him?

Unaware of the chatter, Gu Zichen had agreed with Bai Ruyu to learn some Chinese breakfast dishes, having noticed Cheng Yichi’s preference for items like soup dumplings and wontons over Western options. He wanted to make them for Cheng Yichi.

Bai Ruyu laughed. “Gu Zichen, you’re really something, huh.”

Huh? What’s this about? Spill the tea—I’ve got data to spare (dog emoji).

Knowing he was at fault, Gu Zichen smiled without responding. Bai Ruyu continued, “Let me teach you egg-wrapped pan-fried dumplings. We should finish before Yichi wakes up.”

Gu Zichen offered a sincere smile: “Thank you, I hope he’ll like it.”

“Sure thing.” Bai Ruyu patted his shoulder. “Treat me to dinner when this works out.”

He? What he?

…

The ship I’m rooting for seems off… “Treat me to dinner when this works out”? Who’s Mr. Gu making these potstickers for?

Gu Zichen clumsily cracked an egg, instantly shattering his aloof and abstinent image in the audience’s eyes, though this made him seem more down-to-earth.

Bai Ruyu guided him step by step—adding oil, pan-frying the dumplings, flipping them, adding water. Gu picked up the frying technique quickly, finishing in no time. He even thoughtfully prepared small dishes of vinegar and chili oil on the side. Resting her chin on her hand, Bai Ruyu thought: Men, once they put their heart into something, become more meticulous than anyone.

They prepared other breakfast items for everyone else, but that plate of potstickers was set apart, beautifully arranged and utterly eye-catching.

—

When Cheng Yichi turned toward the camera, it was no exaggeration to say the barrage exploded.

The live stream even lagged several times—not from a surge of viewers, but because the screen was completely flooded with comments:

Bro, what are you doing here?

Fans of Cheng Yichi, known as “Chi Yu,” quickly spread the word in fan communities. Within minutes, the live stream’s viewership skyrocketed as both genuine fans and curious onlookers flooded in—only for the screen to go completely black. Your live stream has gone AWOL! Please refresh and try again.

Help! It took the stunned Chi Yu fandom a moment to remember this was a same-sex dating show. Did this mean their idol had not only come out but was also actively dating?

Forum discussions erupted just as quickly, with one trending post titled:

Serious Discussion: Why Has Your Cheng Yichi Disappeared Only to Resurface on a Same-Sex Dating Show—Coming Out or Clout-Chasing?

1L
Has Cheng run out of roles? Resorting to dating shows for cash? Coming out? Image ruined much?

5L
Hard to believe, but may I ask OP: Are you out of your damn mind?

10L
Let’s be real—Cheng Yichi isn’t some traffic-dependent celeb. He doesn’t play by fandom rules or rely on fans to eat. After years of acclaimed roles, taking a break to join a show and get paid to date seems harmless.

16L
But… why is everyone assuming he’s come out? Wasn’t he straight? And given his acting chops, playing gay wouldn’t be hard.

21L
Seriously, who acts 24/7 in real life? Celebrity personas crumble in livestreams precisely because maintaining a facade is exhausting. At Cheng’s level, would he even need to chase clout as a liar? I think he might be using the show to come out—same-sex marriage is legal now. Maybe he’ll even meet his soulmate here. Every contestant is top-tier; honestly, Cheng’s winning here.

25L
Fair point. So… is Teacher Cheng a top or bottom?

28L
Definitely a top—he’s got abs!

29L
But he also has those back dimples…

45L
Not sure if my ears deceived me… but I think Bai Ruyu just mentioned Cheng Yichi, saying something like “before Yichi wakes up.”

46L
??? So my ship just got sunk by my own husband???

—

The internet was abuzz with discussions, but the production team couldn’t stop grinning from ear to ear—for one simple reason: their show “Who’s the Liar” had become an overnight sensation!

After greeting the cameras, Cheng Yichi paid them no further mind, letting Tang Yinuo cling to him as they descended the stairs.

Around Tang Yinuo, Cheng Yichi always displayed his more protective, boyfriend-like side.

Cough cough, the gorgeous award-winning actor and the beautiful executive assistant—this pairing is unexpectedly sweet.

In the kitchen, Bai Ruyu and Gu Zichen were still present. Normally at this hour, Cheng Yichi would still be asleep, but having slept poorly the night before, he’d risen earlier today.

“Morning,” Cheng Yichi said, grabbing a bottle of cold milk from the fridge. Just as he was about to take a sip, Gu Zichen wordlessly pushed a glass of warm milk toward him.

Meeting Cheng Yichi’s questioning look, Gu Zichen simply said, “It’s warm.”

Then he slid a plate of pan-fried dumplings with egg toward him. “Breakfast is on me.”

Perhaps because he’d already confessed his feelings, Cheng Yichi noticed Gu Zichen had become more direct yet quieter, almost as if he were shy.

With a smile, Cheng Yichi said, “Thank you, Zichen.”

Though Gu Zichen hadn’t explicitly stated he’d made it for him, the fact that this was the only plate prepared spoke volumes.

Gu Zichen explained, “The others have work, so I packed breakfast for them to go. This wouldn’t travel well.”

Cheng Yichi nodded, using his chopsticks to transfer half the dumplings to Gu Zichen’s bowl. “Try some yourself.”

Gu Zichen froze.

Cheng Yichi chuckled. “They’re clean—I haven’t used these chopsticks yet.”

Gu Zichen thought to himself: That’s not the issue. I wouldn’t mind if you had.

Tang Yinuo glanced at Bai Ruyu, who remained expressionless, quickly grasping the situation. He pouted at Cheng Yichi, “Yichi-ge, I want some too.”

Cheng Yichi hesitated briefly until Gu Zichen gave an almost imperceptible nod. Only then did he share some dumplings from his own plate. “Here, try your Zichen-ge’s cooking.”

This subtle exchange went unnoticed by Tang Yinuo, who happily dug in, chewing on his chopsticks like a child.

But the audience caught every moment!

Seriously, folks, if I hadn’t seen these little interactions, I’d never believe this pairing could be so sweet!

Holy—! Forget about award-winning actors or doctors! This ship is sailing—I’m totally aboard!

Bai Ruyu, being a designer, had flexible working hours. Gu Zichen had taken time off yesterday for their date and couldn’t afford to skip work today. Though the hospital had granted him leave for the show’s matchmaking premise, he remained conscientious, rushing back whenever possible.

Had Cheng Yichi not risen early, he’d have missed him entirely.

Cheng Yichi asked Bai Ruyu, “Are you heading to the studio today?”

“Not today. My schedule’s light this week,” Bai Ruyu replied, mindful of the live broadcast and careful not to mention Cheng Yichi’s side gig directly.

Cheng Yichi approached his secondary work leisurely, stretching his arms and loosening up. “No rush, I’ll go in the afternoon.”

I always thought Bai was wifey material, but Teacher Cheng’s got such soft energy too. If I call him wifey, will Wei Shijian come after me?

Wei Shijian was a villain role played by Cheng Yichi—a ruthless, cold-blooded killer who became a psychological shadow for many viewers. In fact, after “A Che,” most of Cheng Yichi’s roles leaned toward strong, intense characters. That’s why, despite having so many idol-worshipping fans, he had very few “husband fans.” Female fans loved both his acting skills and his looks, while male fans only admired his acting. Some male fans even considered themselves his “wife fans.”

Though Cheng Yichi had plenty of “mom fans,” the absence of “husband fans” was rather peculiar.

When these two were together, there was a sense of serene harmony.

The livestream ended quickly. Bai Ruyu sighed in relief and glanced at Cheng Yichi, who was reading. Cheng Yichi habitually wore glasses while reading, and when he noticed Bai Ruyu looking at him, he turned his head slightly. Perhaps because he was immersed in the book, his expression was distant and cold, startling Bai Ruyu for a moment.

This was the Cheng Yichi he had originally known, yet now it felt strangely unfamiliar.

And they had only been together for a few days.

“What’s wrong?” Cheng Yichi set the book aside, removed his glasses, and rubbed the Jingming acupressure point—his movements fluid and effortlessly cool. Bai Ruyu thought, Damn, that got me.

He had always been drawn to that uniquely melancholic aura. He also had a thing for people who wore glasses.

But the thought passed quickly. He asked Cheng Yichi, “With the camera rolling the whole time, everything felt so awkward.”

Cheng Yichi reassured him, “It’s fine, just ignore it. Don’t pay too much attention to online opinions. Remember why you joined this show in the first place.”

Bai Ruyu thought: My original intention? Poof—gone!