Became a National Couple with My Ex Chapter 6: Am I Dead or Something?

By the time the car had circled the dance center for the third time, Lu Yuan had finally finished explaining to Bian Xu what a dating reality show actually was.

The more he explained, the heavier the mood in the car became.

So heavy, in fact, that even after three full laps, the driver still didn’t dare ask, "Where to next?"—he just quietly started a fourth circle.

After calling it "attention-seeking" and "playing house," Bian Xu now gave the show a third review: "So… is it just a bunch of people who can’t find a partner all thrown together?"

Honestly, not an unfair take. But still…

Lu Yuan hesitated. "Well, you can’t really say that. I mean… hasn’t Miss Liang already found someone?"

"……"

If silence had legs, it would’ve run far, far away by now.

At this point, Lu Yuan was lucky to still be alive with the way he talked.

"But actually, the success rate on these shows is super low," he quickly backpedaled. "A lot of people don’t even go on there for love. Some just want publicity, others are trying to build a following or break into showbiz…" He trailed off, then offered weakly, "Maybe Miss Liang’s doing it as part of a career move? You know, boost her visibility?"

"Am I dead?" Bian Xu slowly tapped his chest with one finger. "Is that what this is? I died?"

"Well, Miss Liang has always been pretty independent… never really liked relying on you…" Lu Yuan mumbled.

He gave him a sharp look, silently telling him to shut up while he still could.

Lu Yuan snapped his mouth shut immediately.

The car went quiet. Bian Xu’s face darkened as he picked up his phone and called Liang Yixuan.

There was a faint static buzz—then a robotic voice came through: "Sorry, the number you dialed is currently unavailable. Please try again later…"

Bian Xu frowned and hung up. He was about to redial when something occurred to him, and he lowered his hand.

"Lu Yuan."

"H-here!" Lu Yuan turned around nervously.

"Call her."

Lu Yuan blinked, then quickly understood. He put his own phone on speaker and dialed Liang Yixuan’s number.

The same robotic voice played again: "Sorry, the number you dialed is currently unavailable…"

Bian Xu quietly undid one of the buttons on his shirt and opened his text inbox.

Lu Yuan, thinking hard, borrowed the driver’s phone, typed in Liang Yixuan’s number manually, and called again.

"Brrr——"

This time, the call actually went through.

At that exact moment, Bian Xu finally found her last text in a sea of "99+" unread messages——sent a month ago.

The steady dial tone felt like it was echoing underwater, distant and muffled. Bian Xu stared at the screen, frozen, eyes locked on two cold, simple words:

"We’re over."

His finger hovered motionless over the screen.

No one knew how long he stared.

"…Don’t bother," he said hoarsely.

At that moment, Liang Yixuan was upstairs in a villa, packing her suitcase.

She saw the missed call—an unfamiliar number. Thinking of the show’s rule about minimizing personal phone use during filming, she didn’t give it much thought. She turned back to the closet and went on hanging her clothes.

Fifteen minutes earlier, the last two cast members had finally arrived. After some quick small talk, everyone went to their assigned rooms from the production team.

Liang Yixuan was paired with the "Female Lead" of the show—Cheng Nuo, the girl in the suspender dress. The two of them would be sharing a double room.

For the sake of privacy, the cameras in the guests’ bedrooms were only set up around the doorway, and the audio recording range was also limited.

As soon as Cheng Nuo stepped into the blind spot, she muttered, "Finally, no more awkward small talk… After the third guy and girl showed up, if it weren’t for the second guy keeping things going, I swear we wouldn’t have been able to keep the conversation alive…"

By "the second guy," she meant Shen Ji.

Earlier, the third male and female guests had arrived at the villa one after another—he came in dressed head-to-toe in black leather, and she wore a sharp office-lady suit. Put together, they were basically two mutes.

The only reason that conversation didn’t completely die was because Shen Ji had taken the lead and guided the flow with ease.

"I’m not very good at keeping a conversation going either," Liang Yixuan said apologetically.

"You can tell you’re introverted, it’s totally fine," Cheng Nuo reassured her. "The third guy and girl just give off that ‘too cool to talk’ vibe. The production team really knows what they’re doing—claiming there’s no script, but the ‘roles’ are clearly assigned with surgical precision."

Just as she was saying that, there was a knock on the door—knock knock knock—and Cheng Nuo jogged over to open it.

Liang Yixuan looked over and saw the guy in the hoodie who had helped her carry her luggage earlier.

This was "Male Lead No. 1," who had introduced himself with a line she still remembered: "I’m Lin Xiao Sheng—‘xiao’ as in laughter, ‘sheng’ as in life."

Compared to the slick, business-like Shen Ji, and the stiff third guy who was cold from head to toe, Lin Xiao Sheng gave off the vibe of a playful neighborhood kid. He even had dimples that showed when he smiled.

"I’m about to make dinner—anyone want to help?" Lin Xiao Sheng smiled and gestured downstairs. He said "anyone," but his eyes were clearly on Liang Yixuan, who was still far from the door.

Cheng Nuo, ever the good wingwoman, chimed in, "I haven’t finished unpacking—Yixuan, why don’t you go today? We’re all going to take turns anyway."

Liang Yixuan folded the last piece of clothing, then nodded. "Sure, I’ll head down now."

She followed Lin Xiao Sheng to the open kitchen on the first floor.

Though Lin wasn’t as talkative in big group settings, he actually chatted quite a bit one-on-one. He seemed pretty skilled in the kitchen too. While deciding on what dishes to make, he did most of the talking, and Liang Yixuan mostly listened.

The fridge had already been stocked with ingredients by the production team. Liang Yixuan helped out, washing and chopping vegetables at the island counter.

"You really don’t have a favorite Chinese dish?" Lin Xiao Sheng asked while rolling up the sleeves of his hoodie. "I can make pretty much anything."

"You can focus on everyone else," Liang Yixuan replied while picking celery. "I don’t eat much at night—I’ll just make myself some chicken breast later."

"Fair enough," Lin nodded. "Actually, I think I can guess what your job is."

The show required guests to keep their identities and ages secret until the second night, but honestly, Liang Yixuan’s job was probably the least mysterious of all.

As a ballet dancer, her "three long, one small" figure (long legs, arms, neck, and a small head) was unmistakable, and her posture stood out naturally.

She smiled and didn’t deny it, then quietly focused on chopping vegetables. From celery and carrots to shredded potatoes and bamboo shoots, she cut each ingredient into precise, uniform pieces and neatly arranged them in separate bowls.

When Shen Ji came downstairs and saw this scene, he smiled before he even said a word.

Lin Xiao Sheng glanced over from where he was stirring the pan but didn’t say anything.

Liang Yixuan looked up and asked, "What’s funny?"

Shen Ji pointed to the countertop. "I was just thinking—you might have a little OCD. Or… maybe a cleaning habit?"

Only then did Liang Yixuan realize that ever since Bian Xu was no longer part of her life, her obsession with order had gotten even stronger.

Kind of like revenge shopping—but instead, this was revenge freedom.

All the ways she used to restrain herself just to accommodate Bian Xu—now, she wanted to do the exact opposite.

She nodded a little awkwardly. "Yeah… maybe a bit."

"Don’t worry, it’s not a bad thing," Shen Ji said after thinking for a moment. He gave a small, uncertain smile. "At least, I don’t think so. I’m kind of the same—I count it as a strength."

Somehow, no matter what they were talking about, Shen Ji always had a way of making people feel at ease.

Liang Yixuan was just about to say something when Lin Xiao Sheng suddenly turned to Shen Ji and asked, "Weren’t you on the terrace chatting with Cheng Nuo and the others? If you’ve been gone this long, won’t they mind? They seemed pretty afraid of awkward silences."

"You're more thoughtful than I am," Shen Ji smiled at him, then grabbed a few glasses from the cupboard. Just before leaving, he noticed a plate of chicken on the counter with a noticeably small portion. He turned to Liang Yixuan. "That tiny bit of chicken breast—is that your dinner?"

Liang Yixuan nodded. "It’s just boiled. I figured no one else would want to eat it, so I didn’t make much."

"Don’t worry, that’s fine. I eat it too when I’m trying to bulk up," Shen Ji said, eyeing her carefully. "Looks like I guessed right about you earlier."

Liang Yixuan had a naturally petite frame—already much slimmer than the average woman—yet she still stuck to a strict low-fat diet. Like Lin Xiao Sheng, Shen Ji had likely deduced her profession based on that logic.

But Liang Yixuan didn’t quite understand what he meant by "guessed right about you."

Then she suddenly remembered that when she first walked through the door earlier, Shen Ji had stared at her for a moment like something had clicked.

"You know me?" she asked, a little surprised.

Even Lin Xiao Sheng turned his head, curious.

"Can I say? If not, they can edit it out," Shen Ji glanced around, then smiled at her. "I’ve seen you perform before."

East Shore Plaza, 66th Floor – Rooftop Restaurant & Bar by the River

Night had fully fallen. Candlelight flickered across the open-air terrace. Sitting by the glass railing and looking down, the river was dotted with the shimmering lights of fishing boats, reflecting off the water like scattered stars. Golden lights linked up the towering skyline, and the endless city traffic flowed like a living map.

Bian Xu stared out for a while, then withdrew his gaze and tapped a third cigarette from its pack.

Across from him, a man lounged in a leather chair, watching him with amused confusion. "This is rare. When the hostess said you were here, I didn’t believe her. I thought you looked down on the food and drinks here?"

Bian Xu lit his cigarette and tapped the ash gently into the tray, silently suggesting that he’d only come here to smoke.

"…Alright then." Zhou Zirui stopped trying to make small talk and grinned. "The guy who usually dives straight into romance every time he sets foot in Nanhuai… What’s up with you tonight? Staying out of trouble for once?"

"You always pick the same thing to smoke," Bian Xu said while pressing out the cigarette. "Don’t you get tired of it?"

"Well, depends on the cigarette, right? A good one never gets old," Zhou Zirui answered with a smile, playing along with the cryptic tone.

Bian Xu snuffed out the stub, nodded, and said, "Then you go enjoy it."

"Me? I wouldn’t dare." Zhou Zirui’s eyes flicked, suddenly serious. The riddle wasn’t so fun anymore. "Wait—are you and Miss Liang really over?"

"That was over a month ago. What, you living in the Stone Age?"

"Well, you never said anything. How was I supposed to know?" Zhou Zirui blinked and tried to recall. "A month ago… don’t tell me the paparazzi ruined it? But Miss Liang’s pretty easygoing. Just coax her a little and she’d forgive you, no?"

"I look like I’ve got that much free time?" Bian Xu brushed some lint off the front of his shirt.

"Yeah, actually," Zhou Zirui shrugged. "You’re clearly free right now."

"Not anymore," Bian Xu stood up, pushing his chair back. "You’re paying."

"Huh?" Zhou Zirui got up too, confused. "What did you even consume here?"

Bian Xu pointed up at the sky. "The air."

"…"

Artists. They’re all crazy.

It was past 10:30 when Bian Xu returned alone to Lanchen Tianfu.

He hadn’t been back in a long time. The apartment felt hollow, lifeless. When the crystal chandelier flicked on, the silence echoed through the place like a vacuum.

He paused in the entryway for a few seconds before walking in. Halfway through, he suddenly turned back toward the console table near the front door.

Sure enough, the backup access card was still lying there quietly, untouched for who knows how long.

He looked away lightly and headed into the living room. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a stack of gift bags on the coffee table. He raised a brow and opened the box at the top of the pile.

Inside was a brand-new necklace—white gold chain with a pendant shaped like flower petals, encrusted with diamonds. The tassel shimmered under the light, catching every glint.

Bian Xu frowned, trying to recall—it had been a gift for Liang Yixuan. He must’ve given it to her after one of his long work trips.

But he’d never seen her wear it.

He let out a soft, bitter laugh and closed the box. Just as he turned to leave, a sudden wave of frustration surged. He spun back around and swept the gift bags off the table.

They landed on the thick carpet with barely a sound, like punching into a pillow.

Bian Xu loosened the collar of his shirt, walked over to the bar, and grabbed a bottle of red wine. As he poured, he flipped on the record player next to the counter.

The wine trickled into the decanter in a steady stream. Strings began to swell gently into the silence.

The moment the violin began to play, Bian Xu froze mid-pour.

A vivid memory slammed into him.

He turned his head toward the grand piano in the living room.

The last time he heard this exact ballet piece, he had been sitting right there on that piano bench.

It was last December. One night, after Liang Yixuan came over, she wasn’t sure what to dance to. He’d told her to pick something from the record shelf.

She browsed for a long time, finally choosing this one—Adolphe Adam’s《Giselle》ballet. Before playing it, she’d even cautiously asked, "Is this okay?"

He told her to just dance.

So she did. She danced out that entire story—

In medieval Germany, a sweet, innocent village girl named Giselle met a nobleman disguised as a commoner—Count Albrecht—by the Rhine River. The naive young girl quickly fell in love with the handsome stranger.

But the joy didn’t last. Just as Giselle happily told her village about their love, she discovered Albrecht had been lying all along—he was already engaged to a noblewoman.

Devastated, Giselle died of heartbreak.

Stricken with guilt, the Count visited her grave with lilies, begging the spirit queen to bring her back.

But the spirit queen refused to forgive. She wanted him to pay for what he did—with his life.

Yet even in death, Giselle still loved him. She stepped between him and the queen, shielding him with her own ghostly presence.

……

That night, in this very house, Liang Yixuan had played the role of Giselle—a girl who gave everything for love.

Gentle, eager to please, full of genuine affection. It had seemed like she, too, would love with unwavering devotion.

A soft dripping sound hit the floor.

Bian Xu snapped back to reality and looked down. Wine had overflowed from the decanter, spilling across the edge of the bar and soaking into his shirt, leaving a messy, dark red stain.

He let out a heavy breath, slammed the bottle down, and walked toward the bathroom.

The moment he opened the door, a faint scent of lavender drifted through the air.

Bian Xu stopped at the threshold. He recognized the scent.

During her intense training periods, Liang Yixuan often had trouble sleeping. She used to light lavender aromatherapy to help calm herself before bed.

Every time he walked into the bathroom while she was showering, he’d smell that same scent.

At first, he’d found it a bit cloying—but not enough to kill the mood.

He would still step into her shower, or slip into her bath, and pull her into his arms.

With the water rippling around them, the whole bathroom would take on a different, intoxicating atmosphere.

Now, his knuckles whitened around the doorknob. He clenched his jaw, then yanked open the shower door and grabbed the diffuser stone, tossing it into the trash can.

Just as he bent down, something suddenly caught his eye—a stark flash of white.

At the bottom of the laundry basket lay a crumpled piece of white lace, torn beyond recognition.

He slowly bent down and picked it up.

His nerves—already stretched to the breaking point—snapped completely the moment he felt that familiar fabric in his hands.

Bian Xu braced both arms against the edge of the sink, his back curved, and slowly shut his eyes.