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It was already 11:30 p.m. now. Ignoring the advertisements, the show had already been running for 70 minutes, and there should only be about a dozen or so minutes left. But Xia Rong no longer had the interest to watch it so pointedly anymore.
Objectively speaking, the program was very interesting; it was dense with humorous parts, its rhythm was well-knit, and it brought both bursts of laughter and warmth to one’s heart. However, the game and challenge format was no longer novel, and the main tasks designed to provoke hilarity were concentrated on the six guests. And even in this first ‘half’-episode, Xia Rong could already see the persona prototypes the program group had set for them: Ye Mang was the big brother next door with leadership skills, Kang Yifan was the simple-minded energetic little sunshine, Gao Junming assumed the need for strength and stamina, Zhang Xin was the tsundere-foodie-otaku, Su Chi was indifferent but highly intelligent, as for Xia Rong…
He should be the only one with any hint of being a villain amongst everyone.
The final scene was the same scene as the trailer, it was frozen on the frame where Su Chi had Xia Rong pushed against the tree trunk. Su Chi’s burning anxiety and Xia Rong’s immense pride in himself, given all the lead up before this point, Xia Rong even thought had he been an ordinary viewer watching the program, he would probably also think: Why is this one called Xia Rong so annoying? Not doing his own task well, but still wanting to rob others when he falls behind?
The TV screen had already changed to ads, but Xia Rong was still slightly zoned out towards it. Su Chi took the remote from his hand and turned off the TV, then said, “It’s almost 12. There’s still filming tomorrow. Go to bed earlier.”
“I won’t.” Xia Rong came back to his senses, picked up his phone, and opened Weibo. “I have to see what they’re saying about me…”
[Notifications: +9999]
[Messages: 9760]
Weibo’s newly adopted notification page made him very irritable. Everything from @ to comments and likes crowded together, wasting space and reducing efficiency. Looking at it now, it felt even more annoying.
【xxx commented on your microblog: Just finished watching Liang Ou, er, how could you be such a person? 】
【xxxxx commented on your microblog: if your team fell behind, you should just work harder, exert yourself to catch up. Robbing someone else’s things so they won’t be able to complete their task, what is this? [anger]】
【xxx forwarded your microblog: After watching Liang Ou, I’m a little disappointed with Xia Rong [erha] Is the young master temperament really only suitable for viewing from afar but not for dallying? [ doge ]】
【xxxx forwarded your microblog: My heart aches for our family’s Su Chi, so pitiful.】
【xxx…】
These were all the latest messages. Xia Rong then went to his own Weibo page. The fortunate thing was, the popular comment arena was still under his fans control:
【Rongrong is super handsome today ahhh, confessing to our ‘tender and juicy’1 Rongrong-gege.】
【Xia Rong (1) didn’t break any rules of the game and (2) didn’t use any vile means. Please, that cat ran to him on its own, he only seized the opportunity in passing, OK ?】
【Have some people never played games before? Is it wrong to want to win these days? [smile]】
【Certain group of sanctimonious b★tch★s and moralistic emperors, so fussy even when just watching a variety show. As a child, did you guys just run home to cry and complain to your parents when you lost a game? It’s just a game. You know what a game is?】
【Those trying to fight for Su Chi’s justice, just take a look at the other’s microblog [screenshot] He already said they are friends. He himself doesn’t even mind, what small biscuit2 do you consider yourself as?】
…
Xia Rong’s mood fluctuated as he jumped back and forth between the latest messages and popular comments. Although as a popular celebrity, he has suffered through no shortage of curses from anti-fans regularly, but…
Xia Rong rolled around on the bed while hugging his phone. “…Being misunderstood like this just makes me feel so f★ck★ng aggrieved!!!”
He rolled and rolled, then he noticed that something wasn’t quite right— This bed seems to be a bit too spacious? Eh, where’s Su Chi?
With his head topped by hair that had become tousled from his rolling around, he sat up. A paw patted him on his knee, then a silver gradient British Shorthair climbed up with a pounce.
Xia Rong tossed the mobile phone aside and changed to sitting cross-legged, allowing the cat to climb between his legs. The other sat himself down, raised his head up, meeting Xia Rong’s large eyes with his small ones.
It was still Xia Rong who couldn’t help but laugh first, he then stretched out his hand to scratch the British Shorthair’s chin. “Are you like this because you feel you’ve wronged me? Bearing a rod3… Oh, no, acting cute to offer an apology?”
The British Shorthair had been so comfortably scratched by the other that his eyes were already squinted. As soon as Xia Rong’s hand stopped, he even came over, taking the initiative to rub himself against Xia Rong’s fingers.
“You think I’ll forgive you if you just start acting cute?” Although this was what he said, Xia Rong’s hand had begun to pet down the other’s back, obviously very intoxicated with this tactile sensation. “Too naive… At the very least, you have to turn over your belly for me to touch before it’s okay… Mhm! Your guts have grown, even dare to hit me!”
In fact, the so-called “hit” was only a pat against Xia Rong’s chest by the other’s paw where the claws were already retracted.
The silver gradient British Shorthair raised his face again, his big eyes dark and shiny, then in a concise and comprehensive manner, “How [to] solve [one’s] worries, [the] only [way is to] scuffle4.”
“Okay!” Xia Rong wasn’t someone who had never been in a fight as a student. Rather, it was only after he entered the entertainment industry that he seldom encountered troubles that still could be solved with a good, refreshing fight. He gladly accepted the challenge. Rolling over with a twist, the clothes he had just put on for a short time again slid down and a little orange cat with four white fluffy claws jumped from within. With an “ao,” it rushed and pounced towards the silver-grey kitty in front of him.
The two cats tussled from one end of the bed to the other end of the bed, battling it out until both the land and sky overturned, where even the sun and moon dimmed… with a bed full of cat hair flying all over, unceasing mewing rippled through the room.
“You sure have a lot of fur… Huu… Forget it, not changing back tonight, otherwise, I’ll have to clean the bed full of cat hair.” The little orange cat pressed the silver gradient British Shorthair down as he gasped for air.
When British Shorthair tried to flip over, the little orange cat immediately added more strength into suppressing the other, but it seemed he was forcefully embracing the other instead. “Hehehehe, see how you can escape from the palm of my hand… slither~”
With no other alternative, the British Shorthair said, “Don’t lick, I’ll change back later.”
“Oh.” Xia Rong could only give up this cat licking posture that he had become more and more adept at and buried his cat face in the British Shorthair’s warm and fluffy belly, sighing, “It really does feel much more refreshing after a fight.”
“And don’t stick to me there either.” The British Shorthair lifted a foot and kicked the other. “…You move up a bit.”
Xia Rong reluctantly shifted up, his head now against one of the British Shorthair’s forelimbs. “Days with a cat to pet are simply blessed, no worries at all…”
Su Chi said, “Moreover, they can also take care of each other. If one were to suddenly change into a cat, the other can help resolve it first thing.”
Xia Rong pillowed himself on the nice and warm cat arm, with a bit of sleepiness. “En, that’s right…”
Su Chi, “Therefore.”
Xia Rong, “En, therefore…”
Su Chi, “Do you want to move in and live together?”
Xia Rong, “En…nh—?!”