Chapter 24 The Rose Trap
Fu Yanle was forced to sit in the white leather chair, his hands still trembling slightly on the piano keys. Yu Jingchen's focused gaze was undoubtedly a silent pressure and urging. He took a deep breath, looked up and said, "If I sing, you can let me go."
Yu Jingchen did not answer, but only reminded him: "Sing well, don't just give me a perfunctory reply."
Fu Yanle turned his head, played for about ten seconds, and said without looking up, "I'm afraid if I take it too seriously, it won't just be my beauty that makes you admit defeat later."
"..."
Yu Jingchen chuckled to himself.
"His kisses still linger on my eyes."
A smile flickered across his lips.
A languid voice escaped Fu Yanle's lips, followed by a gentle kiss on the corner of his eye.
Fu Yanle shrank back, as if kissed by willow catkins in the wind.
Yu Jingchen leaned forward, his hands on the armrest, his body pressed against Fu Yanle's back, like petals embracing a flower's stamen. He was like a cat that had been coveting for a long time and was finally able to steal some fish; his lips curled up in triumph, yet his gaze was deep and uncertain, filled with a mixture of gain and loss, as he finally received some response after such a long wait.
"..."
Fu Yanle's heartbeat became erratic, the drunkenness that had dissipated with panic returning, and this kiss was far more potent than two bottles of liquor. He licked his dry lips, silently cursing Yu Jingchen as the most cunning hunter in the world.
“De l'homme auquel j'appartiens (I belong to this man)”
When he gently embraced me.
Qu'il me parle tout bas (whispering to me)
"J vois la vie en rose" (A rosy life unfolds before my eyes)
Yu Jingchen stood behind him like a tall, solid wall, giving Fu Yanle an irreplaceable sense of security and danger. This illusion was too contradictory and complex for Fu Yanle to understand.
His eyes were still burning.
Yu Jingchen's kiss was too light and too quick, like an illusion that left no time to think, like the last piece of cream cake that could not be savored.
His eyes were still burning.
As he became distracted, the song's progress bar gradually moved forward. The last note trembled and fell to the ground. Fu Yanle uncontrollably sang the wrong key and then realized his mistake.
His eyes were still burning.
—It's getting hotter and hotter.
"It sounds really good." Yu Jingchen pressed his breath against Fu Yanle's right ear, sparing no praise or pressure. "You did a great job, Yanle."
The heat from the corners of his eyes spread wildly across his face, and his already burning ears suffered another blow. Fu Yanle felt as if he had personally pushed his head into a hot spring and suffered a round of torment for no reason.
Lu Minghe's move was indeed a dirty trick, but he was also a fool who brought it upon himself!
Fu Yanle's pretty face was adorably red. Those once vibrant sharp edges had long since softened, becoming like soft, fuzzy down that would blush shyly at the slightest breeze. The aggressiveness on her face had vanished, leaving her utterly harmless. Yu Jingchen felt that if he reached out, he could pinch her until she was sweating.
"You are like a red rose soaking in the autumn rain. Many people think that red roses are vulgar and can be seen everywhere, but I think they are real, straightforward, passionate and bold, such as their beauty and rich fragrance. In my opinion, you are very much like a red rose, but of course, you are different from the other millions of roses. The fertile soil of the universe has only nurtured one red rose with the name [Fu Yanle]."
[Fu Yanle] is now working in his field.
Perhaps he is now qualified to swear that [Fu Yanle] will not be transplanted elsewhere in the future.
"You are so beautiful that even the autumn rain has to hold back, afraid of ruining you. So it gently sprinkles down, patting your petals and adorning your stamens."
Yu Jingchen's gaze was gentle, and his demeanor and tone were just like those of a teacher, but Fu Yanle felt like he was being burned through.
Stop talking!
He reached out to cover Yu Jingchen's face, trying to silence the overly aggressive mouth and rescue his own ears from the warm, dangerous territory. But Yu Jingchen was already on high ground and wasn't about to back down.
As they pushed each other, they both straightened up. Yu Jingchen's height of 1.92 meters gave him an advantage, and he naturally chose to continue his attack:
"You tried your best to remain indifferent in the rain, but your petals softened. A wicked flower thief stopped in front of you, ignoring your lovely warnings and cries, and reached out to pinch your stem. With a gentle shake, you spilled water all over the ground. Soft—"
"Shut up!" Fu Yanle jumped onto the chair and finally managed to grab Yu Jingchen's head.
"Don't say it!" he warned fiercely. "Shut up!"
“I have the freedom to speak.” Yu Jingchen frowned slightly and rebuked, “Yan Le, you are depriving me of my rights.”
"But you're using your power to bully me!" Fu Yanle felt ten times more aggrieved than him. "I'm no match for you. It may satisfy your perverse pleasure to bully me like this, but what am I supposed to do? You have to shut up!"
Yu Jingchen sincerely exclaimed, "Yanle, you are very domineering and unreasonable."
"Yes! I am domineering and unreasonable, so what!" Fu Yanle's tone was fierce, but his expression softened his tone. "Brother Chen..."
Yu Jingchen was utterly devastated by the trembling hook in his words. He grabbed Fu Yanle's chin, like pinching a rose in the rain, cruelly accusing her of being unkind and pleading, "You're still acting coy."
"I didn't!" Fu Yanle exclaimed in panic, letting go of the chair and jumping off. Her feet touched the soft carpet, and she hesitated, her beautiful curly hair trembling as it released a rich fragrance.
Rum forcefully squeezes into the heart of a rosy rose, together weaving a dangerous dream that is both alluring and addictive: the aroma is remarkably similar to the scent of Fu Yanle when slightly tipsy.
“You probably don’t know this,” Yu Jingchen suddenly said, “I bought this bottle of essential oil.”
"What?" Fu Yanle's eyes widened as he remembered the bottle of essential oil that the housekeeper had delivered yesterday and which he had placed in the bathroom.
Yu Jingchen was amused by his expression and said, "You always smell the same after you wash your hair, so I guess it's your usual essential oil."
Fu Yanle was very attached to his established household items and rarely changed them; this was his habit. Yu Jingchen knew this.
“I can distinguish the notes of rum, rose, and sandalwood,” Yu Jingchen said.
Fu Yanle was stunned.
Why did Yu Jingchen look at him without any apparent abnormality, yet he often felt something was off?
The answer to this question was verified at this point.
Because he didn't notice the undercurrents hidden behind the calm gaze, just as he thought Yu Jingchen was simply walking past him casually and normally, but in fact, Yu Jingchen had already discerned the scent of his hair oil.
Yu Jingchen is an elegant and refined hunter. He is patient and meticulous, concealing his fierce claws beneath a veneer of indifference or calm. The prey thus believes it is not within the hunter's sights, but in reality, it has already been locked on and unknowingly fallen into a harmless trap.
But... Fu Yanle was a little confused. Why would they hunt him down?
Yu Jingchen said, “I consulted a partner who works in this field, and he gave me a list of 23 suspects. I bought them all and spent three days identifying their scents at different times of the day. I selected what I thought was the right answer and had the housekeeper bring it to you. The housekeeper said you were happy when you received it, so I knew I had made the right choice.”
He lowered his head and sniffed the scent of Fu Yanle's hair.
“Piège à roses—it is the 'rose trap' I wove for you.”
It's over. Fu Yanle was stunned: Yu Jingchen is the most cunning hunter.
"Yanle." Yu Jingchen brushed aside a few strands of hair sticking to the corner of Fu Yanle's mouth. "Is there anything you want to say to me?"
Fu Yanle was at a loss for words. "What should I say?"
“You should say you shouldn’t have pretended to be drunk to test me, shouldn’t have flirted with me, apologize to me to beg for forgiveness, or,” Yu Jingchen soothingly scratched Fu Yanle’s chin, his tone smiling, “or if I bullied you tonight, you can ask me for compensation. Yanle, you can say whatever you want.”
The former is reaping what they sowed, and accepts the consequences of their gamble.
The latter is about acting cute and ingratiating, then pushing their luck.
Fu Yanle didn't choose any of them.
“I didn’t have any favorite flowers before, I just accepted whatever people gave me. Then, you gave me the Classic Lilac, and that was the first time I had a detailed definition of what a flower should be.” Fu Yanle heard his own heartbeat, which was much faster than the melody of “La Vie en Rose,” making him feel a strange pressure and making it difficult for him to speak.
“But from now on, if you wish,” he said generously, “I will allow you to give me red roses.”
*
The first episode of "Star 3" will officially launch on Saturday night at 9 pm, and will be broadcast simultaneously on TV and online platforms.
That night, Fu Yanle barely escaped from the tiger's jaws, but unfortunately, he tripped and fell while running away. Although Yu Jingchen, the wicked tiger, didn't laugh out loud, he could still see the mockery on the other's face.
Even more unfortunately, in his shame and anger, Fu Yanle accidentally knocked off the tablet wrapped inside the blanket. It crashed into the wall with the force of Gonggong striking Buzhou Mountain in anger, and was forced to die a natural death.
Yu Jingchen doesn't use his tablet much at home, so Fu Yanle thought for a moment, opened WeChat, and found the housekeeper who was home to celebrate his mother's birthday.
【Brother Qiao, Brother Qiao, calling for Brother Qiao!】
The butler quickly replied: "Young Master Fu, call me the butler!"
Fu Yanle typed: [Okay, housekeeper, is there a tablet at home? I want to watch the show; my phone screen is too small!]
Housekeeper: [I took my tablet. Isn't the TV screen big enough?!]
Fu Yanle typed: 【I want to see live comments!】
Butler: [Then I suggest Young Master Fu go to Mr. Fu's study to watch it on the computer. That way, he can satisfy both the need for a screen and the need for live comments!]
Fu Yanle thought for a moment and replied: 【Okay, I'll go check. By the way, did Auntie like the birthday present I prepared?】
In both his lifetimes, Fu Yanle had never given a gift to a woman. After learning that the housekeeper was going home to celebrate his mother's birthday, he specifically asked Yu Jingchen for help and learned that the housekeeper's mother liked pink. So he bought a pink pearl bracelet from a friend as a token of his appreciation.
Qiao Ge: [She loves it so much, she hasn't taken it off since. Young Master Fu has completely captured her heart! Thank you for your trouble, Young Master Fu. (heart.jpg)]
[Auntie, I'm glad you like it. Remember to pass on my birthday wishes! (Frog exhaling.jpg)]
Fu Yanle blew a breath, grabbed his phone, and left the bedroom.
The study was on the third floor. When Fu Yanle pushed open the door, a familiar voice came from inside—
"The production team is a scoundrel, but unfortunately, they're not smart enough; they try to cheat, I call them little idiots; they want me to take out a loan, I'll smash their job. Aaaaaaah, goose goose goose goose goose!"
Isn't this his own composition?
Yu Jingchen is also watching the show!
Fu Yanle strode confidently to the desk, as if he had discovered some little secret, and said triumphantly, "I caught you!"
Yu Jingchen calmly looked up and said, "Come and watch together."
"Oh." Fu Yanle immediately withdrew his deliberately protruding chest muscles, picked up a leather stool, and sat down next to Yu Jingchen behind the desk.
A plate of small cream puffs was placed on the table. Fu Yanle put on disposable gloves and said, "Share half with me!"
"Eat up." Yu Jingchen placed the hot water cup on his left next to him.
"Thank you." Fu Yanle held a cream puff in one hand and a water glass in the other, looking up at the computer screen. "Aren't you going to turn on the live comments?"
Yu Jingchen said, "I only want to see you."
"..." Fu Yanle took a big bite out of half a cream puff, and mumbled as the ice cream burst open, "Turning on the comments can be a lot of fun, check it out!"
The word "ma" made Yu Jingchen's palm itch as he held the mouse. He flicked his fingertips and turned on the live chat.
The screen instantly became crowded. Yu Jingchen frowned slightly as he watched the comments floating past Fu Yanle's forehead.
The video was currently showing Fu Yanle chatting on WeChat on the sofa, and the large screen behind him was indeed displaying it clearly. Fu Yanle took a sip of water and glanced at the comments.
What a loving grandfather and filial grandson! The way Fu Yanle interacts with his grandfather is so adorable!
[I clearly saw the murderous intent on the director's face—Fu Yanle, in danger!]
Wait a minute, is this Brother Chen Fu Yanle's older brother? Fu Yanle seems so well-behaved when she talks to him!
I don't think so! This way of addressing someone doesn't sound like you're calling your own brother; it sounds more like you're calling a brother who isn't related by blood.
[Holy crap, could it be her love interest? I have a feeling Fu Yanle isn't quite straight.]
[Seconded! Furthermore, Fu Yanle even used a GIF of a frog spitting out a heart, something he's never done in all his years online!]
...
Damn it! Fu Yanle angrily bit into the cream puff!
"My lover?" Yu Jingchen said thoughtfully, "This netizen is quite good at guessing."
Damn! Fu Yanle almost choked to death on the cream!
Then Meng Xinqiu appeared, and as he expected, the comments section was full of speculation about their relationship.
[Does anyone know anything about Meng and Fu?]
Meng Xinqiu was very gentle to everyone, but Fu Yanle seemed reluctant to interact with her.
[Why don't you want to talk to me? Fu Yanle is so well-behaved! Gentle top x seemingly obedient bottom, let's ship them!]
[Meng Xinqiu is also from Nanjing University! A gentle senior and a junior, they're a perfect couple!]
[Please don't be ridiculous. The fake degree scandal caused such a huge uproar, and Xiao Fu was criticized all night. Both of them were filming a variety show on set, but did Meng say a single word?]
[Professor Meng has no obligation to clarify things for him. There are so many students at Nanjing University; he doesn't know everyone! Besides, they're seven years apart!]
If they know each other, it means there's no romantic feeling between them, at least Meng Xinqiu hasn't shown that much affection for this junior; if they don't know each other, it's understandable that Meng stands idly by, but then the sweet moments for the CP fans don't hold up!
...
[Stop arguing, my brother's here!]
Fu Yanle looked at Gu Jiming on the screen and recalled the first time she met Meng Xinqiu in her previous life.
It was his twentieth birthday that day, but Su Fengyao's phone remained switched off all day. That evening, he sat on a wooden chair in the small garden, eating extra-spicy fried rice noodles while muttering to himself.
Meng Xinqiu later appeared when she returned to school to attend a lecture on broadcasting and editing.
Meng Xinqiu handed him a pack of tissues, offering no words of comfort or inquiry, and silently stayed with him for nearly two hours.
They met and exchanged contact information that day. At that time, he thought Meng Xinqiu was the most considerate and warm person in the world. Later, Meng Xinqiu asked him to meet as a "senior," and they went to an art museum and a dance performance together... He regarded Meng Xinqiu as the best senior.
"..." Fu Yanle bit off the other half of the cream puff, while the screen was playing the scene of him arguing with An Shigou.
He used to think he was actually very lucky.
Although he had no memory of spending time with his mother, and had seen his father bring different men and women to his mother's bed countless times, and suffered his father's indifference, even scolding and beatings, he met the old man and Lu Minghe.
The old man grew up in the compound, and although his own childhood was dull and harsh, he tried his best to give Lu Minghe a carefree and joyful one. Lu Minghe often tricked him into getting beaten by the old man. But when Lu Minghe was thirteen years old, he was surrounded by thugs, and it was Lu Minghe who stood in front of him and took the punches and kicks for him, even getting knocked out by a stick and ending up in the hospital.
A family friend of Su Fengyao has a younger brother named Gu Jiming who loves to cling to him, treating him like an older brother and even calling him the best person in the world. Su Fengyao tells him "I like you" every day, and looks at him as if he were someone she cherishes. Many people say they are a match made in heaven.
Fu Yanle was the happiest person. He was once so certain of that.
Only on his deathbed did he learn that Su Fengyao's phone was off because she was taking care of the "sick" Lin Qingtong all night. Meng Xinqiu's appearance in the small garden was deliberate; every moment spent with him was just part of a plan. Gu Jiming always liked to cling to him, but he didn't truly treat him as a brother; like Su Fengyao and Meng Xinqiu, he had ulterior motives.
All the warmth was premeditated.
He was merely a tool they used to substitute for or help Lin Qingtong. All the "good" turned into "evil," and their intimate faces twisted into hypocritical ghosts overnight. But this wasn't the most tragic part. The truly tragic part was that none of this was what he wanted. In this well-known deception, he was just a mindless and soulless puppet, simply standing in the middle of the table, manipulated and used by the participants without his knowledge.
Fu Yanle is the dumbest idiot.
The cream puffs on the plate hadn't diminished in a long time. Fu Yanle remained expressionless within sight, but Yu Jingchen noticed his breathing had become heavier.
Fu Yanle lay there with his eyes open, having just experienced a daydream.
Yu Jingchen stroked the watch strap and suddenly spoke, "Yanle."
"...Hmm?" Fu Yanle snapped out of his daze and subconsciously turned his head. "What's wrong?"
The melody had already begun, and Fu Yanle, dressed in striking red, lay on her side on the ground, her beautiful shoulder bones resembling a pair of butterfly wings, spreading out through the thin veil of smoke.
Yu Jingchen looked at Fu Yanle on the screen; the peach blossoms at the corners of his eyes were shimmering with vibrant colors. As expected of Fu Yanle, even with such slightly exaggerated makeup and colors painted on his face, he carried it off effortlessly—a perfect match of color and scenery. Yu Jingchen didn't turn his head. "What's my name?"
"Huh?" Fu Yanle stretched out her worried little hand and carefully placed it on Yu Jingchen's forehead. "Have you lost your memory? Or have you lost your mind because I'm so beautiful? Forgive me for speaking frankly, but you seem like a little idiot."
Yu Jingchen didn't mind his slander and said, "I was just asking."
"Oh. Your name is Yu Jingchen. You are the light of the universe, the star of the galaxy, the emperor of the world, the harbor of my dreams, and the driving force for my progress." Fu Yanle expressionlessly rested his head on Yu Jingchen's shoulder, abruptly changing the subject, "Brother Chen, people outside say you are a ruthless person, the kind without a heart."
“That’s not a person, it’s a specimen.” Yu Jingchen reached out and rubbed the curly hair at his neck. “Or a doll, a skeleton. Yan Le, everyone has a heart.”
"It's just a way of putting it, a metaphor, it doesn't mean you really have no heart!" Fu Yanle admired her own exquisite dance moves. "I just want to ask you, this song is quite sad, do you feel anything for it?"
"Destined to never be close, I'll keep my love for you a secret, lest I disturb you and thus stay away."
The singing continued.
"Having a crush must be tough," Fu Yanle sighed dramatically. "You clearly like someone, but you don't dare tell them. You can only watch from afar, and you have to be careful with your gaze. Just imagine, if you suddenly saw your crush being all lovey-dovey with someone else, how heartbreaking would that be!"
He touched his heart. "If it were me, I'd be in so much pain!"
“...Yes. It’s excruciating, agonizing,” Yu Jingchen said in a hoarse voice. “It’s a kind of relentless, unbearable pain.”
So immersed in the role? Could it be that Yu Jingchen also had a crush on someone?
Fu Yanle restrained the urge to look up, subconsciously biting his lower lip to suppress that irrational and strange emotion.
So what if he has a crush? Everyone has the right to have a crush. Besides, he had an ambiguous relationship with Su Fengyao before, and Yu Jingchen didn't mind. It's just a marriage of convenience!
But... Fu Yanle touched her uncomfortable chest and suddenly, like a wilted flower, she slumped off Yu Jingchen's shoulder.
Yu Jingchen reached out and supported Fu Yanle's head, looking down to ask, "What's wrong?"
His tone returned to normal, as if the intense emotional fluctuations just now were merely Fu Yanle's illusion.
"...Nothing much." Fu Yanle sat up straight and continued watching the variety show, only to find the screen filled with comments like, "[Fu Bai is handsome and became the emperor overnight!] [Fu Bai is handsome and awesome!]"
Fu Bai is handsome... Wait, is that his and Tang Wanbai's CP name?
Although the name was quite fitting, it still made Fu Yanle feel a little guilty. He secretly glanced at Yu Jingchen's face and found that, whether it was his subjective judgment or something else, Yu Jingchen's face looked really sour!
“Um…” Fu Yanle said, “CP names are quite common; any relationship can have one. You know, Lu Minghe and I also have a CP name!”
"Oh?" Yu Jingchen said, "What's your name?"
Fu Yanle proudly declared, "You damn brothers!"
Upon hearing this, Yu Jingchen paused for a moment, then asked, "Who named it?"
"The old man! He likes to call us bastards." Fu Yanle waved his hand generously, "But we don't hold it against him."
“Oh. Besides these two, there’s also the blindfolded couple with Meng Xinqiu, the auspicious words couple with Gu Jiming, and the side dish couple with An Shigou.” Yu Jingchen turned his head, his expression unchanged. “You come up with a couple name for us.”
"Huh?" Fu Yanle said cautiously, "How about we call them the 'Wealthy Couple'? It's both true and auspicious!"
Yu Jingchen refuted this, saying, "I've heard that there's a default order to the names of couples."
"Fisherman? Pedantic? Stunning? Subject? Submit?" Fu Yanle slapped his thigh and made the final decision, "Oh dear, none of them are auspicious or lucky, so let's call it this!"
Yu Jingchen felt a sharp pain in his thigh, reached out and grabbed the fist of the culprit—Fu Yanle, and summarized the comments: "It was love at first sight with Tang Wanbai, an old friendship with Meng Xinqiu from school, a younger man's crush with Gu Jiming, and a bickering couple with An Shigou."
Perhaps choked by the cream puff, Fu Yanle's throat trembled, "Goose!"
"You and Lu Minghe are childhood sweethearts, so what about us?" Yu Jingchen's thumb rubbed against Fu Yanle's knuckles, as if urging, yet also threatening, "What are we?"
This was beyond Fu Yanle's extensive knowledge, so he quickly asked humbly, "Brother Chen, you have a lot of knowledge, you explain!"
At this point, the progress bar had been moved to the first episode's real-name voting segment. On the screen, Fu Yanle faced the camera and unhesitatingly cast his vote for "My Favorite Star Guest" for Tang Wanbai.
"..." Yu Jingchen pursed his lips, but his tone was very gentle, "Marriage first, then love, okay?"
wipe!
Fu Shixian really wanted to shout, "You're so slutty!" but Yu Aili's expression and tone were not so calm, and even carried a hint of displeasure.
That's right! Everyone has a bit of possessiveness, let alone someone in a position of power like Yu Jingchen, whose desire for control is definitely very strong. Besides, although it's a marriage of convenience, on the surface they're a married couple! With so many couple names for him and other people plastered all over the screen, it's understandable that Yu Jingchen is unhappy!
After analyzing Yu Jingchen's emotions, Fu Yanle wisely warned himself not to provoke Yu Jingchen. He smiled slightly and said shyly, "It's all good, it's all good."
At this moment, Tang Wanbai on the screen happily cast her vote for Fu Yanle, and the message "[Fu and Bai are beautiful and go hand in hand]" instantly filled the entire barrage.
wipe!
Then, An Shigou on the screen cast her vote for Fu Yanle with a smug look on her face. [The smug An Shigou suddenly became a fan of Fu Yanle] and then came out on top.
Wipe it off!
In a daze, Fu Yanle heard a lament. He grabbed Yu Jingchen's hand and murmured like a devil, "The CP they're shipping is fake! It's fake, fake, fake, fake, fake—"
"Stop." Yu Jingchen pinched the mouth that was trying to brainwash him.
Fu Yanle: "Pfft—Pfft—Pfft!"
Yu Jingchen released his grip, and Fu Yanle managed to utter one last "pfft." He was about to rebuke Yu Jingchen: You shouldn't deprive others of their freedom of speech! The next second, Yu Jingchen wiped his lips with his thumb.
"!"
Fu Yanle opened her mouth in surprise, accidentally pressing it against Yu Jingchen's thumb. The "ah" that had just peeked out from her throat rolled back in panic, not daring to come out again. Her upturned tongue also retreated timidly, afraid of making the atmosphere even more ambiguous.
Yu Jingchen raised his gaze to Fu Yanle's eyes, which were slightly wide with panic. He then moved his fingertips away and wiped the crumbs from the corner of Fu Yanle's mouth, showing them to Fu Yanle.
“Your eyes are so wide open, so cute,” he said.
"!"
Fu Yanle dared not look directly into Yu Jingchen's eyes, nor dared he look at the crumbs between his fingertips. His gaze was forced to wander like a rabbit, frantically and pitifully searching for a hiding place, until finally he bumped into the hunter's leg and fell dizzily into the net.
Yu Jingchen gently pinched Fu Yanle's face, forcing him to look at him and focus his gaze on him.
"You're so cute," Yu Jingchen said, enunciating each word clearly. He leaned closer, staring at Fu Yanle's increasingly flushed face for a while, before finally sighing in frustration.
He asked cautiously, "If I kiss you now, will you be angry?"
The theme song was playing on the computer, and Fu Yanle caught the sound of his own unruly heartbeat in his own singing. He licked his dry lips and honestly said, "You kissed me that night too, and I... I wasn't angry."
"I have a very good temper," he thought.
“It’s different. The kiss on the corner of your eye that day.” Yu Jingchen seemed to be savoring the memory. “It also carried the scent of roses from your hair.”
The scent of the rose trap was cool and alluring, but Fu Yanle's face was burning hot. Yu Jingchen suffered the torment of alternating hot and cold sensations during that fleeting kiss, and even now, he still feels lingering fear.
"Different?" Fu Yanle looked at Yu Jingchen in shock. "Then where else do you want to kiss me?"
Yu Jingchen answered him with his actions.
The theme song abruptly stopped, blocking out the wind. In the brief moment of complete silence, Fu Yanle tasted the honey on Yu Jingchen's lips. He instinctively stepped back, only to be pressed down on the back by Yu Jingchen's hand.
Fu Yanle had nowhere to escape, and didn't even dare to close his slightly open mouth, hastily preparing himself for a wanton attack. However, Yu Jingchen did not dare to act recklessly.
The kiss lasted only a few seconds, without any passionate fusion or lingering resistance, just a gentle touch. Yu Jingchen felt like the poorest child who had been given a lollipop out of pity. He dared not devour it, but cherished it like a treasure, only daring to press his lips to it and smell the candy with his nose, as if only in this way could he both savor its taste and cherish it forever.
Fu Yanle was as obedient as candy, remaining completely still.
After an unknown amount of time, Yu Jingchen took a slight step back and asked in a hoarse voice, "Are you angry?"
"..." Fu Yanle heard the sound of his Adam's apple bobbing. He was silent for a moment, then whispered, "Angry."
Yu Jingchen's hand on Fu Yanle's back curled slightly. Just as he was about to speak, Fu Yanle lowered his eyes and said reproachfully, "You were smoking a cigar just now. I smelled honey."
“…Sorry.” Yu Jingchen patted Fu Yanle’s back gently. “I rarely smoke.”
"It's okay, it's...it's alright," Fu Yanle said confidently. "I'm very forgiving!"
Yu Jingchen chuckled and praised, "Yanle is the most generous child in the world."
"Thank you." Fu Yanle noticed a big secret out of the corner of his eye, and quickly turned his head to point to the screen, "It's over!"
Let me go!
Yu Jingchen turned his head, sighed with some regret, and said, "We recorded for two days, and the edited version is so short."
"Each episode of the variety show is about an hour and a half long, and some clips and interviews will be included in the behind-the-scenes footage," Fu Yanle said. "I have to go record the second episode on Monday. Fortunately, the recording location is in Nandu, so I don't have to go too far."
"Okay." Yu Jingchen glanced at the time in the lower right corner of the computer screen. "It's getting late, let's go back and rest."
Upon hearing this, Fu Yanle jumped up and dashed out the door at the speed of a dog chasing someone, as if Yu Jingchen would turn into that vicious dog that bites people the next second.
"Bang!"
The study door was slammed shut. Yu Jingchen looked away, his tone displeased, "You didn't say goodnight to me today... fine." He smiled and said softly, "Goodnight, Fu Yanle."
Yu Jingchen leaned back in his chair, the scent still lingering in his breath—the faint sweetness he had tasted from Fu Yanle's mouth, much like Fu Yanle himself.
People in the industry basically describe Fu Yanle with three words: good-looking, playboy, and love-obsessed.
No one said he was sweet, because no one noticed.
Fu Yanle's sweetness lies deep within; only those who sincerely seek it out are qualified to savor it.
Yu Jingchen reached out and grabbed the mouse, then clicked on the interview clip of Fu Yanle.
In the video, Fu Yanle is wearing a white fleece sweatshirt, and her curly hair is hidden in a pink beanie, making her look like a peach with fine fuzz.
Host: "The first episode has been recorded. Yanle, can you share your thoughts? You can share your thoughts on the show or the guests."
Fu Yanle, with his Q-version doll in his lap, said, "The show is pretty good, but the director is too stingy and likes to glare at me with murderous eyes. He should get rid of this flaw of blurring the lines between public and private matters. As for the guests, we weren't familiar with each other before, but I had a very pleasant time working with Wanwan."
The live chat was instantly flooded with comments like "Fu Bai is so beautiful".
Yu Jingchen subconsciously wanted to turn off the bullet comments, but then stopped: Ha, why should I turn them off? They're all fake.
Host: "Yes, Yanle and Wanwan's duet dance was absolutely stunning and beautiful! I was watching the video until midnight last night, and many of my friends were watching it online at the same time. My WeChat Moments was flooded with beautiful pictures. Now there are many reaction videos online, and many official Weibo accounts of dance arts have also reposted and liked it. It has really gone viral."
Yu Jingchen recalled that night when an elder friend of his, who was a daily "product recommendation machine" on WeChat Moments, also posted a clip of Fu Yanle, followed by a simple and honest "thumbs up."
Host: "Even the fans only just realized that Yanle has such professional skills. Why didn't you think of showing them to your fans before?"
Fu Yanle said, "They can rely on their looks, why rely on their talents? Besides, they are very easy to please. Just by looking at my face, they can activate skills that harm their bodies, such as [giving their brother twins from a distance] and [nosebleeds flowing into the ground to nourish more perverts]. I am thinking of them."
[I can attest: Every time Xiao Fu shows his face, I end up staying up all night for days on end. Damn it, I get my full attendance bonus deducted every month!]
[Add one! From the first live stream until now, I haven't had a single good night's sleep. My face is all sallow. Fu Yanle in his red outfit keeps circling around in my head, doing splits and backbends! Damn it, Fu Yanle, pay me back for my skincare products!]
[Let me be frank! The night of the live stream—I had a wet dream! I woke up in the middle of the night, opened a fanfiction app, and wow! There was already fanfiction being produced, and some authors were incredibly prolific, updating 6000+ words every night at a rocket speed!]
[Sisters from the same nest! And they all want to sleep with Xiao Fu themselves, not be slept with by him. It can only be said that after this battle, Xiao Fu can't even conquer the wives anymore.]
[He's a total uke! Aren't fair-skinned, beautiful, delicate, long-legged, foul-mouthed, and fierce bottom more appealing? Xiao Fu's current persona in our group is that of a foul-mouthed, beautiful bottom who needs to be disciplined before he behaves—various punishments and play-piupiu fun!]
[Hey sis, what app is this? I'm dying of thirst!]
I want to know too!
[...]
"..." Yu Jingchen frowned, but still picked up the keyboard and typed: 【+1.】
Many comments in the live chat used the same name, so Yu Jingchen took out his phone, searched for it, and clicked to download.
Host: "That's true, after all, when I browsed the comments section, Yanle's fans were really deeply immersed in 'Fu Xue' (a popular online figure known for his 'Fu Xue's style') and couldn't extricate themselves. Will Yanle give his fans some little surprises from time to time in the future?"
Fu Yanle pinched the doll's belly and said, "Let's see if they're worthy of it. They're always calling me a scumbag in the comments section. Don't think I don't know. They'd better apologize and admit their mistakes, or when I'm in a bad mood, I'll just go online and randomly pick a lucky cutie."
You fucking seduce me, but you only show up once a month. Isn't that just passive-aggressive behavior?
[I already said it today—Fu Yanle is the biggest scumbag ever! Damn it, come and chop me up right now! If I don't see you tonight, you're fucking dead meat!]
[Pass this down—Xiao Fu won't do it!]
[...]
[I'm no tougher than my sisters, I confess! I'll kneel on Xiao Fu's crotch and confess! Seven times in one night! Confessing and reflecting every night!]
[Holy crap, sis, put on your pants and get out of here! Give me the chance!]
[The day I can have Xiao Fu, I'll—play a clip of Xiao Fu dancing on the big screen, play Xiao Fu's "La Vie en Rose" on the bedside speaker, and then sit on him and make him speak French.]
"Smack!"
The mouse in Yu Jingchen's hand was slammed down hard.
Host: "The dance performed by Yanle and Wanwan today is about a couple who love each other but cannot be together. There are many kinds of love in the world. Yanle, have you ever thought about what your own love is like? Or what kind of person do you like?"
Yu Jingchen slightly curled his index finger on the mouse and turned up the volume a bit.
Fu Yanle looked thoughtful and said, "I can't figure out what love is like. As for the person I like, well, it's probably someone who will always care about me."
The host exclaimed in surprise, "This standard sounds low at first glance, but it's actually very difficult. Especially in today's fast-paced society, it's rare to find someone worth pursuing in a two-way street. Some people may even develop an indelible pessimism after a single failed relationship and stop believing in love altogether."
“Yes.” Fu Yanle adopted an otherworldly air. “I’m not exactly lucky, and I might never meet someone like that in my lifetime. Maybe someday when we’re walking our grandchildren in the park, we’ll run into a handsome, lonely old man in a pink beanie. But I won’t let past failed relationships make me pessimistic about love or resistant to new ones.”
Fu Yanle paused, his eyes clear, "I welcome 'you' to my side or appear before me at any time. I will not be defeated by past failures, nor will I be apprehensive or trembling. As long as I can, I will still boldly like you and accept you."
Yu Jingchen's breath hitched, and his heart pounded like a drum.
"Everyone has the right to be lucky, and I believe Yanle will definitely meet the right person." The host smiled. "Yanle, are you someone who cares about looks? Do you have any requirements regarding your partner's appearance?"
“People like beautiful things.” Fu Yanle pinched the doll’s belly and then its feet. “My requirements aren’t high, just something similar to me is fine.”
The live chat was instantly flooded with comments like "You're so lonely," "Handsome grandpa with pink hair," and "Marry Chang'e, you idiot."
"That's quite a high standard," the host said. "It seems Yanle has very high standards, after all, you see your own face every day. Is there anyone you think is very good-looking?"
Fu Yanle nodded, "Yes."
“…” Yu Jingchen pursed his lips tightly.
Fu Yanle said, "However, due to privacy concerns, I cannot disclose the name."
The host asked curiously, "Is she from outside the entertainment industry?"
“Yes. My…brother is incredibly handsome.” Fu Yanle raised an eyebrow. “Objectively speaking, I think he exudes something from head to toe.”
The host smiled and said, "Beautiful?"
“Not only that, there’s also—” Fu Yanle’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he blew a kiss toward the camera.
"philter".
Author's Note:
This chapter unlocks new achievements for Da Yu: [La Vie en Rose*1], [Red Rose Gift Qualification Card*1], [First Kiss*1], [Snuggling*1], [Xiao Fu's Appearance Verification*1]
I feel a little better, hahaha!
Oh, by the way, the updates tomorrow and the day after will also be at midnight, then it will revert to 9 PM afterwards, muah~
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