A world-class lovestruck fool

"Five million, five million! Aaaah, here I come!"

"We made it across! We won, we won! First place!"

Seeing how happily the young man smiled, Fu Sichen's eyes filled with amusement too. "Yes, you came first."

"Not me, us! Us! Hubby, the two of us came first!"

Xu Chao turned excitedly, tilting his little face up slightly, the man's handsome face reflected in his eyes as he cheered with delight.

Sunlight spilled down, gilding the man in a faint, soft glow. With his sharply defined features, high nose, and deep eyes, he was incomparably handsome, like a god descended to earth.

Xu Chao's heart could not help pounding at the sight.

He suddenly seemed to understand just how much "better than a club's male models" meant. That handsome face, that incredible body, that powerful presence-he really was worth his weight in gold!

Hiss-

A top-tier male model!

Watching Xu Chao stare straight at him with a silly smile, Fu Sichen bent slightly closer. His thin lips parted, his deep, magnetic voice almost carrying a hook. "Yes, us."

Xu Chao's little face instantly flushed bright red, like a fruit hanging high on a branch, vivid and tender, tempting someone to pluck it.

Xu Chao hurriedly lowered his head, but his heart beat even faster, with an itchy, restless urge.

After two seconds of indecision, his little head won out over his big head.

Xu Chao howled and pounced like a hungry wolf.

Whatever, with the mood already set like this, not going in for a hug would be inexcusable!

Besides, this handsome man was his legally wedded husband. What was wrong with copping a feel?

So Xu Chao not only pounced, but nuzzled the man's pecs over and over. Firm, springy, and so nice to rub against!

The curve of Fu Sichen's lips grew even more pronounced, his smiles flowing even more freely.

The drone circled overhead, filming them from every angle.

The live comments went completely nuts too.

[What's going on? Wasn't this a jungle murder case? Why is the whole screen full of pink bubbles?]

[Hehe, quick recap: the jungle murders are over. Now it's time to celebrate and enjoy the fruits of victory.]

[Oh my god, they're so, so, so sweet! Top cp is definitely real. Young Master Fu's icy face doesn't have the acting skills for this!]

[These two look so good together. Both gorgeous guys-a match made in heaven!]

Shen Xinbai and Lou Jun sat in the car behind them, watching the scene unfold before their eyes. Their thoughts differed, but both wore equally unpleasant expressions.

Shen Xinbai was filled with confusion, envy, jealousy, and resentment.

Lou Jun felt mostly disbelief. Xu Chao had loved him for so many years, clung to him for so many years, and even gone so far as to push the boundaries of the law for him. How could he suddenly stop liking him?!

Just then, a crowd suddenly surged in from all around, accompanied by enthusiastic shouts.

"Chaochao, you won! You won! I'm so happy for you!" The pig-farming auntie's eyes brimmed with excitement.

"Chaochao, you helped our village catch those villains! You're incredible!" Tears streamed down the elderly village chief's face.

"Xu Chao, you're my idol! Grandpa Chief said you're the village's only hope. I wanna learn from you!" A seven- or eight-year-old little kid looked at him with admiration and longing.

Startled by their enthusiasm, Xu Chao soon began waving eagerly. "Folks, I, Xu Hansan, am back!"

Leaning on his cane, the village chief excitedly shook Xu Chao's hand.

"Good, good, good! Xu Chao, you truly are our village's lucky star. If it weren't for you, things would've been terrible..." Tears streamed down the village chief's face.

Xu Chao was baffled. Sure, everyone loved him, flowers bloomed at the sight of him, and cars blew their tires when they saw him, but wasn't this a bit much? Was this some new way of praising someone to ruin them?

Xu Chao blinked and timidly tried to withdraw his hand. "Uncle Chief, I didn't really do anything."

The village chief wiped his eyes. "You did so much! Those mercenaries abducted several women from our village and forced them to cook and show them the way. If you hadn't caught that bunch, Xiu Rong and the others wouldn't have made it back!"

Xu Chao was surprised. "I didn't see them."

The village chief wept. "They'd gone out to catch wild boars, so they weren't where you were. Once those men were caught, the women were rescued too."

Xu Chao recalled that there had indeed been several villagers who died unjustly in the original novel. So they were from Damai Village.

But now they were all still alive. Everything was just right!

"Xu Chao, we'll hold a village feast in a bit. You'll have the seat of honor!" the village chief declared loudly.

Xu Chao grinned from ear to ear. "Hehe, it was nothing, really. As long as everyone made it home safely. I still have to go to the police station to give a statement."

Although the village chief very much wanted Xu Chao to stay and celebrate with them,

he understood the priorities when the police were involved, and reluctantly saw Xu Chao into the police car.

The villagers saw him off all the way, refusing to go home.

Xu Chao was a little moved too. He had never expected that one small action of his would save so many lives and earn so much gratitude.

All this time, he had thought he had simply transmigrated into a book.

Apart from the main characters, everyone else was merely an emotionless NPC.

But now, he felt with increasing clarity that this was not just a book, but a real world.

Here, everyone he met was a person of flesh and blood, with thoughts and feelings.

Suddenly, the man's deep, magnetic voice sounded beside his ear. "What are you thinking about?"

His ear tingled, and Xu Chao's heart sped up again. He cleared his throat. "Nothing."

Fu Sichen hummed and said nothing else, concentrating on playing with Xu Chao's hand.

Only then did Xu Chao notice that their hands had somehow become tightly clasped together.

For some reason, his cheeks began burning again.

Ahem, this wasn't very appropriate, was it?

Two men alone together, holding hands-how improper.

Xu Chao slowly tried to pull his hand free.

The man only held it tighter.

"When you give your statement later, just tell them everything truthfully," Fu Sichen instructed.

Xu Chao nodded and asked curiously, "Everything?"

Fu Sichen looked at him. "Hmm?"

Xu Chao blinked, a playful note entering his soft voice. "Even the secrets we wrote on each other's palms?"

Fu Sichen's eyes abruptly curved, and he instinctively tightened his grip on Xu Chao's hand. "What do you think?"

Now Xu Chao no longer dared tease him, the tips of his ears red.

[Ooh, what secrets?!]

[We're all friends here. Tell us already, or we'll crawl under your bed tonight to eavesdrop.]

[They have so many little flirty gestures! Holding hands, being all clingy-do they have to be this sweet?!]

Once they arrived at the police station, the group split up to give their statements, bringing the jungle livestream to an end.

Xu Chao followed them inside with practiced familiarity. Seeing Lin Yang's bewildered expression, he even reassured him. "Don't be scared, Yangyang. Follow the police's lead and tell them whatever they ask. First room on the left. Yes, that's right. Don't worry, I'll take responsibility if anything happens."

Lin Yang: "..." Wait, Chao. How familiar you are with this is kind of scaring me!

Fu Sichen was the first to finish giving his statement.

The moment he came out, several people immediately gathered around him.

The director asked with concern, "President Fu, they didn't give you a hard time, did they?"

A middle-aged man smiled warmly. "President Fu, you must be tired after giving your statement. Have a seat and some water."

Fu Sichen glanced at them, then entered the small conference room nearby with the middle-aged man.

"President Fu, we owe you a great deal for stepping in this time. Otherwise, I'm afraid this case wouldn't have been resolved so quickly," the middle-aged man thanked him sincerely.

Fu Sichen looked at him impassively and spoke bluntly. "It's not that you couldn't have resolved it so quickly. You couldn't have resolved it at all."

The jungle had complex terrain, changeable weather, and extremely poor reception, along with an especially large number of wild animals.

Hunting people down in that vast jungle was simply out of the question unless they cast an inescapable net.

That was also why the mercenaries had felt secure even knowing that drones were filming them at all times.

They were confident that even if the police saw the livestream and came after them, they would never catch up.

The middle-aged man's smile grew awkward, but he had to admit it. Smiling, he said, "Yes, and that bunch were all extremely skilled at concealing their identities in the jungle. Oh, I've just applied to the higher-ups for commendations and a cash reward."

As though remembering something pleasant, Fu Sichen's eyes curved slightly. He asked instead, "How much?"

The question left the middle-aged man stunned.

Wait, was President Fu short of that little bit of money?

But meeting the man's serious, inquiring gaze, the middle-aged man suppressed his speechlessness and answered earnestly.

"Well, since this was a major case with considerable public impact, and the successful capture was entirely thanks to you two, the higher-ups should offer a fairly substantial reward. Altogether, it should come to around five hundred thousand."

"Five million," Fu Sichen said directly.

The middle-aged man froze. "Huh?"

Actually, for cases with this much public impact, in a developed city, even providing a single lead could earn a reward of several hundred thousand, let alone directly handing over the criminals as Xu Chao and Fu Sichen had.

But theirs was a small, outlying city. They were poor-flat broke!

The middle-aged man awkwardly touched his pocket. Just as he was about to speak, Fu Sichen continued, "I'll provide the five-million reward. Award it solely to Xu Chao in an official capacity. I'll have my assistant contact you later to transfer the money."

Huh?!!!

Had he heard that right?!

Even with all his years of experience, the middle-aged man had never encountered such extravagance. He stammered, "Th-this isn't really appropriate, is it? I-we..."

Fu Sichen's lips curved. "Chaochao deserves it."

Outside, Xu Chao had also emerged from the interview room and was excitedly discussing something with Lin Yang. Their cheerful, animated voices drifted into the conference room.

Fu Sichen rose to leave, then suddenly remembered something else. "Oh, and make sure to praise him a lot. Make him a big red flower to wear too. He likes those."

The middle-aged man froze for two seconds before hastily agreeing. "Yes, yes, of course. There'll be a reward, a certificate, and a red flower. That's what a hero deserves."

As the door clicked, the middle-aged man was truly bewildered. His sworn older brother far away in Jingshi had said Young Master Fu was sinister, ruthless, vicious, and unrestrained.

Nonsense!

Complete nonsense!

Fu Sichen's retreating figure clearly radiated nothing but the glory and greatness of a lovestruck fool.

When Fu Sichen went outside, he saw Xu Chao huddled together with Lin Yang, the two of them chattering about something.

The sight inexplicably displeased him. Lowering his eyes slightly, he called softly, "Chaochao."

Xu Chao's ears instantly perked up, and he turned in delight.

"Hubby-"

"You're out! Did they give you a hard time?"

Xu Chao ran happily over as he asked after him. Once beside Fu Sichen, he even patted his own firm little chest.

"If they bully you, just tell me. That officer in charge earlier is my sworn big brother. He'll back me up if anything happens..."

Fu Sichen looked at him with a faint, knowing smile.

Xu Chao's chattering mouth immediately shut tight. Fine, he had overestimated himself.

Soon, the others came out one after another.

Biting his lip, Cheng Yu glanced left and right before finally walking over with an awkward expression.

"Thank you for today. And-and I'm sorry. We didn't mean to lead those kidnappers over to you."

Even as he spoke, Cheng Yu felt ashamed enough to wish he could bury his head in the ground.

Betraying trust and selling out friends was disgraceful under any circumstances.

Xu Chao glanced at him, blinked, and smiled. "I know. Seeing your calves shaking in terror and how you looked ready to burrow into Teacher Wen's arms like a total coward, I knew you didn't have the guts to sell me out."

Cheng Yu, who had been feeling deeply ashamed, suddenly lifted his little face and stared wide-eyed at Xu Chao in disbelief. "What are you saying? Xu Chao, what are you saying?"

Wait, wasn't a normal person supposed to comfort him right now? Or even just give him a good scolding? Why was he mocking him for being a coward?

Pah! Who was a coward? He was an unparalleled tough guy, fierce as hell, without a cowardly bone in his body!

Xu Chao was thoroughly amused by Cheng Yu's outrage. He pointed at the tall man behind him with one little hand. "Teacher Wen, wasn't Cheng Yu exactly like that?"

Cheng Yu whipped his head around and glared fiercely at Wen Shiting, as if saying, If you dare say yes, you're dead meat!

Wen Shiting's lips curved in a helpless smile. If he dared say yes, the little fellow would never stop making a fuss today.

"No. Xiao Yu was very brave today."

Once praised, Cheng Yu no longer cared about that childish nickname. He raised his brows and looked smugly at Xu Chao. "Hear that? Wen Shiting said I was brave. Stop slandering me."

Xu Chao fired back in rapid succession.

"Teacher Wen was just humoring you, and you actually believed him."

"Cheng Yu, fool other people if you want, but don't fool yourself too."

"Hehe, let me act out how you looked, and you'll see what a coward you were."

True to his word, Xu Chao turned and threw himself into Fu Sichen's arms, rubbing his little head against the man's broad chest while putting on a coy, artificially high voice.

"Boo-hoo, hubby, I'm so scared! I'm so frightened! You have to hold me tight!"

Who had done that?!

This was rumor-mongering, defamation, slander!

A pink flush spread across Cheng Yu's cheeks. With a howl, he charged at Xu Chao, hands flailing.

Laughing, Xu Chao ducked behind Fu Sichen.

He poked his fluffy little head over the man's shoulder and stuck out his tongue. "Bleh, bleh, bleh! Come catch me! Catch me!"

Cheng Yu: "..." Aaaah, he was going to die of anger!

"You think you're so great just because you have a husband? Stop hiding behind him if you've got the guts!" Unable to catch Xu Chao no matter what he tried, Cheng Yu grew even angrier.

Xu Chao wagged his little head smugly, his voice sweet. "I have a husband, so I am great! Get one yourself if you can!"

Hearing that, Cheng Yu instinctively turned toward Wen Shiting, meeting the man's ocean-deep eyes.

His face instantly turned red.

Then, mortified and furious, he roared at Xu Chao.

"Why would I want a husband? My image is being single. I don't rely on a husband!"