Gu Panqiu hesitated, reluctant to leave the set of the R-rated shoot before gently picking up Jiujiu from the bedroom. Leaning close, he whispered, “Jiujiu, Brother Yanyan misses you, so he wants to video chat with you.”
Jiujiu bobbed his head happily. “Okay!”
Sunshine seemed to spill into the living room, turning it into a cheerful kids’ TV show set.
Despite being only five, Fu Yan already knew some simple pinyin[1]. Due to his brother complex, he even went so far as to create a WeChat account just so he could send his brother voice messages and sometimes clumsily tap out a few words to chat. With great pride, he gave himself the username: King of the Forest.
Fu Yue handed his phone to Jiujiu, who immediately sprang into action in his adorable yellow chick pajamas. Waving his tiny hand enthusiastically at the camera, he chirped, “Hiii! Brother Yanyan, good evening!”
Fu Yan bounced around his bedroom like a tiny whirlwind. The room was a jungle of green—toy snakes slithered over the shelves, and stuffed lions prowled the corners—like a miniature tropical rainforest.
Dressed in his ghillie suit, he crouched on the bed and asked, “Jiujiu, is Uncle Qiuqiu here?”
“He’s here!” Jiujiu chirped. “Daddy, come over!”
With a playful glint in his eyes, Gu Panqiu scooted closer. “What’s wrong? Did you miss me, Yanyan?”
Fu Yan’s voice was full of respect. “Thank you, Uncle Qiuqiu! The cookies were really yummy!”
Gu Panqiu chuckled warmly, “Don’t mention it! I’ll make more cookies for you next time. Now, you two have a nice chat!”
Once again, Jiujiu popped up in front of the camera. “Jiujiu, look…! This is my hippo, and this is my dinosaur egg. If you open it, there’s a little dino inside…” Fu Yan gushed excitedly.
By now, Jiujiu had his tiny face almost pressed to the phone lens, peeking at the world beyond with bright, curious eyes.
After all, he was just three and a half, and the world was still a big, mysterious place. Anything odd or unusual made him giggle with fascination.
Fu Yue nudged the phone a little farther from Jiujiu. “Careful, Jiujiu, don’t get too close, or you’ll hurt your eyes.”
Batting his lashes like a little angel, Jiujiu whispered, “Okay, Uncle!”
Fu Yan was at it again, showing off his giant poodle at home. Jiujiu pressed his little face right up to the camera, watching Fu Yan feed the dog. “Wow! Such a big toy!”
“No, no! Snakey is a fake snake, but Lily is a real dog!” Fu Yan hurried to correct him.
Jiujiu blinked for a moment, then his face lit up. “That big doggy is so cute!”
Bursting out of his bedroom, Fu Yan pointed at the little white cat with a heart on its back, curled on a cat bed in the living room. “This is Dongdong! My brother rescued him!”
Jiujiu tilted his head, his memory a little fuzzy. “I think… I’ve seen this kitty before… That day it snowed so much… so it went to Uncle’s house, right?”
Upon hearing that, Gu Panqiu leaned closer, peering at the kitten. Sure enough, it was the tiniest of the litter Fu Yue had sheltered under an umbrella that day.
Fu Yue remained silent, yet his gentle gaze never strayed from Jiujiu.
His eyes were deep-set, his lashes long enough to shadow the dark gleam of his pupils. Though his bone structure was prominent, those eyes softened his features, giving him a look that was more tender than intimidating.
But with just his looks, Fu Yue somehow managed to turn the set from a children’s show to something straight out of an R-rated film.
Gu Panqiu was thinking that Fu Yue might be a bit too nice to his son. Before he could dwell on it further, Fu Yue suddenly turned toward him. “I watched the online clips of the show and heard you performing your original song at the bar.”
Gu Panqiu’s eyes gleamed with anticipation as he looked at Fu Yue. “Yes?”
Maintaining a serious demeanor, Fu Yue spoke formally, “Though you’ve already debuted, given that you’ve been half-sidelined and are genuinely seeking another chance, I’d like to invite you to attend the second round of Solo auditions next Tuesday.”
Before Gu Panqiu could utter a word, Fu Yue’s serious gaze met his. “Gu Panqiu, the entertainment industry is like a large dye vat[2]. I hope you’ll stay true to your original intentions and keep honing your skills.”
His words were not harsh, but they hung in the air. Then he went to the kitchen to cook, leaving Gu Panqiu and Jiujiu stunned in the living room.
Indeed, the entertainment industry was a large dye vat that could shape anyone into whatever image it wanted.
At that moment, Gu Panqiu realized that CEO Fu had pegged him as a scandalous vixen. As a former King of the entertainment world, he never imagined he would one day be misunderstood like this.
A soft chuckle escaped him as he lowered his head, unable to hold it in.
Still, people like Fu Yue were rare in the entertainment industry—a world driven by fame and profit, where everyone was pragmatic and everything boiled down to self-interest.
Fu Yue, however, was different. Perhaps he feared Gu Panqiu might get into trouble with others again, and so decided to give him a chance.
A teasing smile lit his eyes. “CEO Fu, what do you take me for?”
Gu Panqiu’s soft curls grazed Fu Yue’s arm, drawing his attention to the depths of Gu Panqiu’s dark eyes. In that moment, Fu Yue felt a flush rise to his face.
Being so close, he could catch the faintest hint of perfume on Gu Panqiu.
Fu Yue sliced the potato into thin strips, pausing to shoot him a sharp look. “And what, exactly, do you think you are?”
“Oh, me? A superstar,” Gu Panqiu answered without a second thought, a sly grin curling his lips.
Upon hearing that, Fu Yue’s eyes narrowed, as if he were looking at a complete fool.
Gu Panqiu lifted his gaze, searching for his eyes. For someone with such a cool, austere face, his smile was unexpectedly warm, even sweet. “You’re twenty-five this year, right?”
Fu Yue frowned slightly. “Yes, what about it?”
“That makes me two years younger.” Gu Panqiu batted his eyelashes. “So, Big Brother, what are we having for dinner tonight?”
Fu Yue averted his gaze, though his heart was beating faster than before.
Gu Panqiu had a peculiar fondness for watching the dashing Fu Yue—with that roguish, heartbreaker face of his—put on that stern, scolding front. The striking contrast fascinated him, only making Fu Yue all the more intriguing in his eyes.
“Big Brother, I’m angry.” Gu Panqiu stepped closer, confident that Fu Yue loved being called that. “You’ll have to make me something tasty to cheer me up!”
His voice was melodious to begin with, but when he acted cute like that, it softened into a gentle lilt that made it impossible for Fu Yue to say no.
How did I not notice this side of Gu Panqiue before? Since when did he become so good at acting cute? Didn’t I call him an idiot a few years back? Ah, forget it. Considering how cute he’s become, I’ll let bygones be bygones.
Gu Panqiu’s sweater hung loosely around his shoulders, the neckline gaping wide. It draped lazily over him, shifting with his movements to reveal a glimpse of his slender, graceful collarbone.
Fu Yue’s gaze lingered on his collarbone for a moment before he restrained himself, forcing himself not to glance any lower.
With a pleased expression, Gu Panqiu ran his tongue over his lips. His skin was as smooth as silk, making his lips look even rosier.
Seeing Fu Yue move slightly closer, Gu Panqiu’s eyes curved teasingly. “Do my omega pheromones smell good to you?”
Fu Yue took a moment to collect his thoughts, then fixed Gu Panqiu with a serious look. “You’ll eat whatever I make for dinner, and don’t even think about being picky,” he declared.
However, Gu Panqiu could hardly believe how easily he had managed to mooch a meal from Fu Yue.
He mused to himself that Fu Yan must be leading a pretty good life. With a brother like Fu Yue, who had little patience for his mischief, he could probably get any toy he wanted. And if he ever got into real trouble, a sweet word and a little pout would have the tall, impressive Fu Yue rushing to cover for him.
After finishing the skit, Lu Yao and Shen Yao descended the stairs, one after the other, only to see Fu Yue and Gu Panqiu deep in conversation in the kitchen. Gu Panqiu tilted his chin to meet Fu Yue’s gaze, their words flowing between them as if the rest of the world did not exist.
From the stairs, Lu Yao gritted his teeth and roared, “Gu Panqiu, are you out of your mind?!”
Below, Gu Panqiu simply slid on his noise-canceling headphones, ignoring him entirely.
Standing behind Lu Yao, Shen Yao frowned as he witnessed the person he liked being berated. “Lu Yao, what did Qiuqiu do to upset you? Is it really necessary to yell at him like that?”
In Lu Yao’s eyes, Gu Panqiu had fully become a bewitching minx, weaving his charms to beguile all the men on the set.
But this was not the Gu Panqiu he had known before!
Lu Yao had grown up alongside Gu Panqiu, so he knew all too well that eager-to-please nature ingrained in his very bones. But now, that meek, self-effacing Gu Panqiu was gone, and in his place stood a soul that felt utterly foreign to him.
He had no time to puzzle over his change, though. What he could not fathom was how Fu Yue could give Gu Panqiu the time of day yet would not spare him even a single word. The thought made rage coil hot in his chest.
Lu Yao shot Shen Yao a look over his shoulder. “Teacher Shen, your taste in music and partners could seriously use an upgrade.”
Whenever Lu Yao got riled up, his tongue ran faster than his brain. After all, the last song his group released had been produced by Shen Yao, who had gone for a more avant-garde approach—splitting the track into three concept-driven sections. Most listeners could not wrap their heads around it, but those who did thought it was genius.
Despite that, Shen Yao remained impassive. At twenty-eight, he was not about to act as rashly as Lu Yao.
He gave Lu Yao a wry smile. “Teacher Lu, I have to say it’s admirable that, as a rapper, you want to hit a few more high notes. But talent isn’t something you can achieve with effort alone. If you can’t hit them, then maybe don’t. Otherwise, you’ll just make a fool of yourself.” You are reading on g.com, the official source.
Lu Yao’s eyes went wide. “I’m the best vocalist among all active boy-group rappers! The ace with the most ten-million-view fancams across six generations! My album photocards have topped sales for two years straight! And you’re seriously telling me I don’t have what it takes?!”
Shen Yao had not expected Lu Yao to launch into a passionate defense filled with a whole spiel of over-the-top fan praise. Stifling a laugh, he shared, “Lu Yao, just so you know, there are no cameras here. Only the living room on the ground floor has them.”
Lu Yao instantly composed himself, quietly readjusting his collar and hair—idol vanity in full display, even now.
Meanwhile, Gu Panqiu parked himself in front of the cameras in the living room, his spot a perfect haven from the chaos. Lu Yao knew better than to lose his composure on camera. Instead, he shot a sharp glare at Gu Panqiu before retreating to the kitchen in search of his white moonlight.
“Brother Yue,” Lu Yao piped up. “What are you making?”
Fu Yue’s voice was cool as ice. “Sweet and sour ribs[3].”
“I’ll help!” Lu Yao darted forward. “I picked up a trick or two from my groupmates…”
Fu Yue waved him off. “No need, I can manage by myself.”
No more than five minutes had passed before Fu Yue slid back into the seat a little over a meter from Gu Panqiu.
His gaze stayed fixed on the camera, certain Lu Yao would not show up to make a scene.
As expected, Lu Yao had not followed. Just out of the camera’s view, he shot daggers at Gu Panqiu, but when he glanced at Fu Yue, his eyes were a tangle of emotions.
On the other hand, Gu Panqiu fought hard to keep a straight face, stifling a laugh.
Of course, Fu Yue would still spare Lu Yao some dignity in public, but Lu Yao? He never gave the original host any. Whenever he was displeased, he would hurl insults without holding back.
After his mother called Fu Yan away to do his homework, Jiujiu ended their chat. Then he held the phone in his little hands and handed it back to Fu Yue. “Thanks, Uncle Sharky!” he chirped.
Fu Yue lifted the yellow chick Jiujiu into his arms and spoke in a deep, warm voice, “Aren’t you the sweetest little thing, Jiujiu?”
Having grown more comfortable with him, Jiujiu had become much bolder. He scampered off to the bedroom and came back, hugging his half-finished puzzle. “Uncle, Daddy, let’s finish it together!”
In this strange new place, the people he liked most were Gu Panqiu and Fu Yue.
With both hands, he held out the puzzle to Fu Yue, looking up at them with wide, hopeful eyes.
However, Fu Yue could not bring himself to refuse. Gu Panqiu’s eyes arched in a gentle smile as he crouched down. “Hmm… Jiujiu, let’s find where the little bunny’s tail is hiding.”
Jiujiu hopped twice like a little bunny, then spun around to tug at the tiny tail on his pajamas. Beaming like a pocketful of sunshine, he chirped, “The bunny tail’s right here!”
In the observation room, He Bei gaped in stunned silence, his mind too rattled to string a single word together.
“Tell me, He Bei,” the host, Wang Yuyu, asked, “is CEO Fu always this gentle with children?”
“Yeah, he’s got a younger brother, and he’s always treated him well,” He Bei muttered, eyes flicking toward the man in question. “But… look at them… playing a puzzle with a kid. Don’t they kinda look like…”
“…A family of three,” Lu Yao’s teammate, Huo Jiacheng, blurted, eyes wide with shock. “But our young boss is usually so strict at work! He never curses when he scolds people, but there’s still a sharp edge to every word. Lately, our company’s been preparing to debut a junior group. When he went to observe them, one of the juniors made a mistake in a move. CEO Fu called him into the office and lectured him for twenty whole minutes.”
He Bei threw his head back, laughing. “So… your junior’s okay, then?”
Huo Jiacheng nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “After he got back, he was crying one minute and dancing like crazy the next. Then he said he’d work harder so as not to let CEO Fu down. But honestly… we’ve never seen CEO Fu this gentle. Is he always like this with every kid?”
He Bei scratched the back of his head, a sheepish look crossing his face. “Hmm… I don’t think so.”
He drew in a sharp breath, suddenly realizing that something was amiss.
Why on earth is Fu Yue so nice to Gu Panqiu’s son?! Has he also fallen under Gu Panqiu’s spell?!
The author has something to say:
Present-day CEO Fu: Ah, forget it. He’s actually kinda cute now, so I’ll let bygones be bygones.
Future CEO Fu: My wife is too cute! Come here and let me give you a hug!
After being stuck on this for a few days, everything finally clicked into place. Their first date is just around the corner!
[1] 拼音 (pīn yīn): It is the romanized phonetic system used to write the sounds of Chinese characters.
[2] 大染缸 (dà rǎn gāng): It’s a Chinese idiom that is used to describe a place or environment that can easily have a corrupting or negative influence on people, leading them to lapse into vice.
[3] 糖醋排骨 (táng cù páigǔ): It looks something like this –