Li Jiyuan immediately let out a hearty laugh and said, "Well, what a coincidence. Let me tell you, little brother Nian'an, Fu's just cold by nature. If you ever feel wronged while you're with him, come find me anytime. I'll help you get even."
Gu Nian'an smiled faintly and said softly, "It's all right. He's very gentle, and he's always taken good care of me."
Fu Xiuyuan froze at his words. Seeing the young man gazing at him tenderly, he felt a sudden ripple in his heart. He instinctively looked away, his eyes flickering several times.
But all he said in a low voice was, "Eat first."
Gu Nian'an smiled, stopped looking at him, and lowered his head to continue eating.
The other three, who had taken in their entire exchange, exchanged glances. The same peculiar thought rose in all their minds: they belonged under the car, not here.
The meal ended amid occasional chatter between the five of them. As they walked out of the restaurant, a chilly breeze swept past, bringing a shiver of cold.
Gu Nian'an shuddered instinctively.
Seeing this, Fu Xiuyuan took off his coat and draped it over him as though it were nothing.
Gu Nian'an paused, then looked up at the man and asked softly, "Aren't you cold, sir?"
The man simply shook his head.
Gu Nian'an reached up, took his hand, and gently rubbed it. "You're lying. Your hand is clearly cold, sir," he murmured.
Fu Xiuyuan's eyes flickered, but he said nothing.
"Fu, come here a moment." Li Jiyuan suddenly turned and beckoned to him.
Fu Xiuyuan glanced at the young man beside him, and Gu Nian'an said softly, "I'll wait for you here."
Fu Xiuyuan acknowledged him, then rose and walked over.
Watching Li Jiyuan and Fu Xiuyuan talking in the distance, their conversation inaudible to him, Gu Nian'an suddenly grew a little distracted.
So, unlike in the book, the male lead had a group of good friends around him too. He wasn't alone.
That was good...
Someone suddenly patted his shoulder. Gu Nian'an emerged from his thoughts and turned to see Wan Xufeng.
He looked at him with some confusion.
Wan Xufeng rubbed his nose and put on a smile before saying hesitantly, "You're younger than all of us, so let me call you little brother Nian'an."
A trace of hesitation crossed Gu Nian'an's eyes, but he still nodded.
Wan Xufeng looked up at Fu Xiuyuan's back in the distance. After considering his words for a long while, he slowly began, "Though I don't know what's going on between you and Fu.
"But I more or less grew up with him, and I've seen all the awful things he's been through over the years. I used to worry about whether someone with his personality could find a partner to spend his life with.
"Then I met you."
Something seemed to occur to him, and the man sighed softly before continuing, "I can tell Fu cares about you a lot. It's just that he can be a little strange sometimes. I hope you can be patient with him."
Thinking of Fu Xiuyuan in his youth and the methods he had used, Wan Xufeng didn't know whether to feel afraid or sigh. But they were relatives as well as longtime friends, and now he had finally found someone he liked.
Remembering the gentle atmosphere surrounding the two of them earlier, he sincerely hoped Fu Xiuyuan would be happy.
Gu Nian'an was briefly taken aback. Seeing the well wishes and concern in Wan Xufeng's eyes, he felt a curious emotion suddenly well up inside him for some reason.
Wan Xufeng didn't know that he and Fu Xiuyuan were only together because of a contract. He truly regarded him as Fu Xiuyuan's partner and hoped they would be happy...
An almost imperceptible softness flickered in his eyes. He nodded solemnly and said earnestly, "I will."
For these three years.
Wan Xufeng smiled too, patted the young man's shoulder, and turned to leave.
Before long, Fu Xiuyuan returned, though his expression was slightly grave.
Gu Nian'an couldn't help feeling worried and asked gently, "Did something happen, sir?"
Thinking of the little moves Fu Shirui and Fu Wensheng had been making lately, which Li Jiyuan had just told him about, Fu Xiuyuan's gaze darkened.
He idly turned the thumb ring on his hand, shook his head, and only said, "Nothing."
Seeing this, Gu Nian'an asked no further questions. He simply took his hand in silence. "Let's go back."
"All right." The man tightened his grip on his hand in turn.
The next morning.
After seeing the three of them off, Fu Xiuyuan asked, "Would you like to visit Clear Mandarin Duck Mountain?"
The mountain was part of his mother's family's assets and was now under his management. The snowy mountain scenery was beautiful this time of year.
Gu Nian'an thought of this too and nodded in agreement, a little excited.
The two soon drove to a guesthouse in the mountains. At the sight of Fu Xiuyuan, the owner immediately came forward with a warm welcome. "CEO Fu, your room is ready. You can go straight in."
When they reached the room and opened the door, the first thing they saw was an enormous floor-to-ceiling window. The scenery outside was clearly visible through it. Blue-green curtains hung around it, and a thick shag carpet had just been laid across the floor.
The furnishings inside were all quite rustic, and the air conditioner had been set to a comfortable temperature, making the entire room warm and cozy.
Gu Nian'an took off his shoes and stepped onto the thick carpet, marveling, "It's so soft."
Watching the smiling young man, Fu Xiuyuan couldn't help the slight upward curve of his lips. He had specially commissioned this carpet. When he thought of coming here, he had taken the opportunity to have another one made and placed here.
"Let's go out for a barbecue later, before winter fully sets in."
This guesthouse's special attraction was being able to barbecue in the courtyard while admiring the scenery, which drew many visitors. But they had made arrangements in advance this time, so the two of them were the only guests and didn't need to worry about anyone disturbing them.
Gu Nian'an's eyes brightened slightly at this. In his previous life, he had loved mountain forests and especially enjoyed watching outdoor barbecue videos to unwind, but he had never had a chance to try it himself.
Now that he had the chance, he couldn't help agreeing repeatedly in delight.
Fu Xiuyuan spoke to the guesthouse manager, who prepared the barbecue equipment for them. Once the two had rested a little, they could go and use it straightaway.
After washing up, Gu Nian'an put on a white winter outfit Fu Xiuyuan had prepared. The top was entirely covered in white fluff, and the trousers were off-white casual pants in a matching style.
It made the young man look like a little white snowball.
Looking at the young man after he had changed, Fu Xiuyuan's eyes flickered slightly, and he turned the thumb ring on his hand.
Noticing the movement of his hand, Gu Nian'an asked curiously, "Sir, that thumb ring you're wearing is so beautiful. Where did you get it?"
The man's hands had well-defined knuckles, with veins clearly visible across their backs. The jadeite ring on his thumb was beautiful.
He had been with the man for so long, yet he had only just noticed it.
Following the young man's gaze, Fu Xiuyuan said evenly, "My mother left it to me."
His mother had originally planned to have the jade made into a peace pendant for him, but for some reason, she had suddenly changed it to a thumb ring. It had been too big when he was little, so he could only wear it around his neck. Now it fit perfectly, so he wore it often.
Gu Nian'an couldn't help pausing at that answer. Remembering that the man's mother had passed away, he fell silent, afraid of accidentally touching on a painful memory.
Seeing the faint guilt in the young man's expression, a trace of amusement crossed Fu Xiuyuan's eyes. He said gently, "It's all right. Those things are long past. This thumb ring is made of jadeite. My mother originally planned to have it made into a peace pendant for me, but later, for some reason, she changed it to a thumb ring. After wearing it for so long, it became a habit."
Gu Nian'an nodded slightly at his words.
That afternoon, heavy snow suddenly began to fall, putting an end to their barbecue plans.
Before you continue