Going home

In the blink of an eye, a month had passed. With the entire round of filming finished, everyone was packing up.

Gu Nian'an had packed his luggage and was about to head downstairs when Ji Yaozhi suddenly came over. Scratching his hair, he said a little awkwardly, "Let's add each other so we can keep in touch."

Gu Nian'an smiled warmly, scanned his code, and saved him as Brother Yaozhi.

Dazzled for a moment by the young man's smile, Ji Yaozhi felt a little unsettled. It seemed that ever since they met, Gu Nian'an had always been smiling, like a little sun.

Mu Chen came over as well and gave a meaningful smile. "Nian'an, why are you adding someone else behind my back? You haven't added me yet. I want in too."

Thinking that Mu Chen had always looked after him and that there was nothing wrong with making a friend, Gu Nian'an added him too, then lowered his head to edit the contact name.

Watching the man's smile, Ji Yaozhi's gaze darkened slightly, and an inexplicable irritation rose in his chest. But before the three could say anything else,

Yun Bingxia came up carrying the cat. The moment she saw Gu Nian'an, she approached him. "Gu-Gu, the director said we can take the kitty home to raise. I'm entrusting you with the great responsibility of raising it."

With that, she stuffed the cat into his arms without giving him a chance to refuse.

Looking at the kitten in his arms, Gu Nian'an's eyes flickered slightly. In the end, he did not refuse, tacitly agreeing to it.

After he had also added Ji Baiwei and Yun Bingxia, his manager, Li Manwen, drove over to pick him up.

In the car, Gu Nian'an stroked the kitten's head now and then. Sister Li had arranged pet transport for him, so the kitten would arrive in Hai City when he did.

Suddenly, Gu Nian'an froze. Oh no! I haven't told Fu Xiuyuan about this yet! He was living with Fu Xiuyuan now, so he needed his permission before keeping a cat.

There had been so much going on lately that he had forgotten all about it in the rush. He took out his phone, his finger hovering over the call button, but still did not know how to tell him.

Just then, Li Manwen suddenly turned back. "Nian'an, you've had a bit of a breakout now. What are your plans next?"

At her words, Gu Nian'an's body stiffened involuntarily. Seeing that he seemed not to have caught on, Li Manwen could not help finding it amusing.

She continued explaining, "Your variety show has generated quite a lot of buzz. You have over three million followers on Weibo now. Didn't you know?"

Only then did Gu Nian'an remember that he had not checked Weibo at all. When he opened it, notifications kept popping up on his phone.

He pressed a hand to his forehead, feeling a headache coming on. Suddenly finding himself inside a book and then suddenly becoming famous was really more than he could take in.

Seeing his reaction, Li Manwen gave a soft chuckle and said gently, "Didn't you say before that you wanted to be famous? Why aren't you happy now that you are? Anyway, how did you meet Mr. Fu?"

She recalled the time Gu Nian'an had fallen ill and been hospitalized. When she went to visit him, he was nowhere to be found, so she hurriedly called the director to ask, only to learn that Fu Xiuyuan had taken him away.

She had been utterly shocked at the time. How had Gu Nian'an become involved with Fu Xiuyuan? Was he being kept? That did not seem right either. If that were the case, Fu Xiuyuan would surely have stepped in to help when Gu Nian'an was being so viciously smeared back then, but he had not.

Gu Nian'an paused, considered how to phrase it, then said, "He's a friend I met recently."

Li Manwen raised an eyebrow and smiled noncommittally. Seeing that he did not want to answer, she stopped pressing.

Gu Nian'an spent the entire journey thinking but still could not figure out how to bring the matter up with Fu Xiuyuan.

Not even by the time he arrived home with the cat.

As soon as he entered, he saw the man leaning casually against the sofa, handling the documents in his hands, his bearing both refined and languid.

Hearing footsteps, the man turned his head slightly and saw that the young man had returned. In a low voice, he said, "What are you standing there for? Why aren't you coming in?"

As he spoke, his gaze brushed over the cat in the young man's arms. He paused briefly, then turned his head away as though nothing had happened.

Since he had already seen the kitten, Gu Nian'an stopped trying to hide it and approached with small steps.

Holding the kitten in front of the man, he asked quietly, "Sir, this is the production team's cat. Can I keep it at home? I'll look after it and make sure it doesn't cause you any trouble."

With that, he looked at the man with some anticipation.

Perhaps their time together these past few days had made him feel that Fu Xiuyuan was not merely the cold, heartless man described in the book. He wanted to try asking. If it did not work out, he could leave the kitten at Sister Li's home for her to look after.

Then take it away three years later.

Looking at the young man's slightly apprehensive eyes, a trace of helplessness crossed Fu Xiuyuan's gaze, but he still said calmly, "Mm, you can."

He waved a hand dismissively, glanced lightly over the young man and the cat, then picked up his phone and went upstairs.

Seeing that he had agreed, Gu Nian'an could not help letting out a small breath of relief. He rubbed the kitten's head vigorously and whispered, "Luckily, he agreed. Otherwise, you'd have to live somewhere else."

Still, recalling the man's reaction just now, Gu Nian'an could not help worrying that he might not like the idea very much.

But then he shook his head. Never mind. I've already caused Fu Xiuyuan so much trouble. I'd better try to keep the kitten out of his sight.

Gu Nian'an got up and returned to his room upstairs. Waves of drowsiness washed over him, and he fell asleep as soon as he lay down on the bed.

When he woke again, dusk had fallen outside. Remembering that he had not fed the kitten, he went downstairs to get the cat food he had brought back.

He rummaged through his bag, found the remaining half bag of cat food, and poured some into a bowl along with warm water from the kettle.

Watching the kitten lower its head and munch noisily on its food,

Gu Nian'an could not help stroking its head.

In return, it gave him a sweet "meow."

Just then, a sound came from the door behind him. Thinking the man had returned, Gu Nian'an got up to greet him.

But the people who came in were four unfamiliar men carrying quite a few things. Gu Nian'an grew a little nervous and was wondering whether to go upstairs.

Just then, Fu Xiuyuan came in right behind them.

Seeing him return, Gu Nian'an walked over with small steps and asked softly, "Sir, who are they?"

Looking at the slightly flustered young man, Fu Xiuyuan said casually, "I bought a few things. They're here to deliver them."

Gu Nian'an turned to look at the four men, not yet understanding what that meant.

The man continued, "Put everything on the third floor."

The four men carried the things up to the third floor one after another. Gu Nian'an turned to the man, a question in his eyes.

Fu Xiuyuan rubbed his thumb ring, then reached out to take the young man's arm and led him upstairs.

Gu Nian'an followed, puzzled.

Upon reaching the third floor, he froze at the sight before him. The four men had assembled a luxurious cat house, with plenty of cat trees around it.

All kinds of cat toys had been set to one side, while the inner room held cat litter and a whole assortment of other things.

The cabinets in the outer room were filled with all sorts of cat treats, cat food, cat litter, and medicines the cat might need.

Gu Nian'an was a little stunned by it all. It seemed he had found the kitten a powerful patron.

At a loss, Gu Nian'an's eyelashes fluttered as he stammered, "Sir, isn't this a little excessive? I can take care of the cat myself. You don't have to go to all this trouble."

Looking at the young man's slightly reddened ears, a hint of amusement flickered in Fu Xiuyuan's eyes. He said offhandedly, "It's only a cat. The Fu Family isn't that stingy. Besides, you're my partner now. I'm hardly going to mistreat my partner's cat."

Gu Nian'an wanted to say something, but seeing how little the man minded, he silently closed his slightly parted lips again.

He only said softly, "Then thank you, sir."

Just then, a little "mew" came from behind them. They both turned to look. At some point, the kitten had run upstairs too, and its eyes shone as it looked at the furnishings in the room.

Gu Nian'an turned and picked up the kitten, holding it in front of Fu Xiuyuan. After stroking it a few times, he told it, "Hurry and thank Mr. Fu for setting up your room."

As though it understood the young man's words, the kitten gave Fu Xiuyuan a sweet smile too.

Looking at the kitten's smile, Fu Xiuyuan suddenly thought of Gu Nian'an for some reason.

So alike.

The thought flashed through his mind.

He glanced at the young man's soft hair again and could not help reaching out to ruffle it. Under Gu Nian'an's surprised gaze, he explained as though nothing had happened, "Your hair was messy. I was fixing it."

At that, Gu Nian'an's lips curved into a smile. "Thank you, sir."