Volume One, Chapter 15: The Game and Shen Qi Deliver a Double Blow to Xiao Kun

Lin Xiaolu and Bai Qinghe exchanged a glance, both seeing in each other’s eyes the threat Shen Qi posed to their own families. They couldn't help but reflect on the men at home—shorter than Shen Qi, less handsome than Shen Qi, and lacking his physique.

As for ability... Shen Qi could play the piano, guitar, sing, compose, and cook. What could their men do? The two women started to compare, yet as they weighed the differences, they didn't seem as worried as before. A man might be talented, but if he were just a "kept man," he would surely be scorned by the public. They chose to believe their own men weren't so bad after all.

The broadcast switched back and forth: one moment showing Shen Qi working in the yard, the next showing Shen Xiaokun playing mobile games indoors. Male viewers flooded the comments, begging not to see Shen Qi working.

[Quick, switch back to Xiaokun! My wife keeps comparing my physique to Shen Qi's, and I've already been beaten up several times.]
[Is this meant to provoke us?]
[Get out of here!]
[Don't even mention it; my wife is currently signing me up for a gym membership.]

Female viewers, however, insisted they wanted to see Shen Qi.

[Even if Shen Qi doesn't say a word, this scene is beautiful enough.]
[Sisters, I’ve taken screenshots, and my phone wallpaper is already changed.]
[My husband has already been beaten into the hospital for an IV drip—he's suffering from a night of longing for Shen Qi!]

In the studio, everyone couldn't help but laugh at the comments. Zhuo Yiyi laughed and asked, "Pop diva, Shen Qi's physique is just too good, isn't it? How can you bear to leave him to come to work?"

Li Huangge’s face flushed instantly. Truth be told, when she was at home, Shen Qi never walked around shirtless. He had always conducted himself as a hired employee, adhering to the principle of not crossing the line. Walking around shirtless would inevitably lead Li Huangge to suspect that he was trying to shift the nature of their relationship, plotting to secure a long-term meal ticket by trading on his looks and charm. Seeing his defined upper body now, Li Huangge’s ears burned a bright red.

*This guy’s physique is even better than I imagined...*

Watching the sea of female fans fawning over him in the comments, Li Huangge couldn't help but feel a swell of pride. However, her professional instincts kicked in. With such a handsome face and a perfect physique, even without talent, he could be an idol. Combined with the exposure from this variety show, Shen Qi was already effectively famous. Not to mention, he could play instruments, compose, and sing—he was a natural-born star with both looks and substance.

If she could sign him to Huangge Entertainment...

Li Huangge made a major decision on the spot: she had to make Shen Qi debut! Fu Qing, who was staring at her phone and had done absolutely nothing all day, shared the same thought, her mind entirely occupied by the possibility of launching Shen Qi’s career.

The more she thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. Fu Qing felt that Li Huangge’s eye for talent was truly remarkable; she had scooped up someone born for the entertainment industry. Fu Qing also believed that Li Huangge truly intended to make things official with Shen Qi; if she succeeded, it would effectively cut off any chance for other entertainment companies to poach him. Fu Qing had already begun mapping out the strategy for his packaging and promotion.

*Wait... what packaging?* Shen Qi didn't need any, did he? Just debut him as he is—what woman could resist that?

...

Finally, Shen Qi finished tilling the soil, planted seeds, and watered the plot. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and offered a warm smile. "Well... in a while, Huangge will be able to eat fresh eggplant and cucumbers."

[Oh my, I want to eat Brother Qi's eggplant and cucumbers too.]
[Wow! Is there really a treasure like Shen Qi in this day and age? He can even farm?]
[It’s clear there’s no housekeeper in Huangge’s home. Look at the other small vegetable patches—the peppers and cilantro were definitely planted by Shen Qi too.]
[My goodness! How can there be such an excellent man in this world? The water he uses to nurture these vegetables isn't just water—it's love.]

Li Huangge realized she was starting to get carried away. *No, no, I must continue to vet him!* Even if he were perfect in every way except for being a "kept man," and even if he loved her deeply, he was different on camera than he was in private, so she had to observe further.

Shen Qi returned inside, grabbed some clean clothes, and slipped into the bathroom. The comments section erupted in wails.

[Is the production team broke? It's just one more camera in the bathroom; why not install it?]
[Turn up the volume! I want to hear the sound of the shower.]
[Can someone save the water from Shen Qi’s shower for me? I feel like that water would be more refreshing than any bottled spring water.]

The comments were as infuriating as they were hilarious. When Shen Qi emerged from the shower, his damp hair and the muscles exposed by his tank top sent the female viewers into another frenzy. As he reached the second floor, he saw Shen Xiaokun playing a game. Xiaokun glanced at him but remained indifferent, burying himself back in his phone.

"Darn it! Lanling Wang! You're killing me!"
"No, no, no... missed it... oh, dead again!"
"Support, follow me! Can't you see I'm fighting two on one?"
"My teammates are so useless..."

He lost again. Shen Xiaokun opened his match history in a rage, and the viewers couldn't help but chuckle. It was a clean sweep of marksmen with no mobility skills, a bright red four-game losing streak staring them in the face.

"Hahaha..." Shen Qi leaned over while drying his hair and couldn't help but laugh.
"What are you laughing at!" Shen Xiaokun glared at him.
Shen Qi chuckled, "Look at your own records; is there a chance that... maybe you're the one who’s useless?"
"Me? Useless?" Shen Xiaokun angrily pulled up his rank. "Do you see what rank this is? This rank is very hard to achieve! You don't know anything."

Shen Qi sat down next to him and took a look. "Pfft..."
"You!" Shen Xiaokun was fuming. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Shen Qi sighed. "Sigh... Diamond I... I thought it was some kind of high rank."

As a young boy trying to act like a grown-up, Xiaokun couldn't stand being ridiculed like this. "Fine, fine! I'll start another round and show you my skills!"

Shen Qi, bored, decided to watch. Xiaokun picked his signature hero, Yu Ji. Three minutes into the game, just as Xiaokun was about to head to the top lane, Shen Qi shouted, "There's someone in the bush! A jungler and a mage!"
Xiaokun retorted, "I don't believe a word you say!"

The moment he stepped into the bush, Daji stunned him, and Ake jumped out. Yu Ji went down before either of them had even finished their skill combos.
"This..." Shen Xiaokun was embarrassed.
Shen Qi pointed at the screen and burst into laughter. "You silly, Daji and Ake haven't been seen for a long time, the top lane is fighting, and the mid-lane minions are already at the enemy tower—they were obviously lying in wait for you in the bottom bush."

Shen Xiaokun was stunned; he had no rebuttal.

[This is hilarious. Xiaokun is suffering a double blow from the game and Shen Qi.]
[Poor kid, I can see his face turning green.]
[Just listening to Shen Qi's analysis, he has a deep understanding of the game. He's probably a pro.]
[Anyone can talk a big game. It's easy to see things from the sidelines; that doesn't prove Shen Qi is actually good.]