Misunderstanding

The man sat silently on the sofa, thinking of what Gu Nian'an had said: "I have a family member who takes good care of me now."

Gu Nian'an had no friends around him, so had he been talking about him? Suddenly, Fu Xiuyuan felt warmth flow through his heart, and the corners of his lips curved upward involuntarily.

But then he remembered Gu Nian'an's slightly reddened eyes, and his expression changed abruptly. Although they were husbands by contract, he still ought to protect him properly during these three years.

After thinking for a moment, he picked up his phone and dialed a number.

Gu Nian'an looked at his eyes, which were still red after he had accidentally gotten chili in them, and was just about to pick up a towel to wipe them.

Just then, a knock suddenly came at the door.

Who would come this late? Puzzled, Gu Nian'an walked over and opened the door. Looking up, he saw Yu Songqing standing outside with a strange expression. He asked in confusion, "Is something wrong?"

As the door opened, the first things Yu Songqing saw were the young man's soft hair and moist eyes. He couldn't help freezing for a moment. After several seconds of silence, he slowly said, "Thank you for the bread and milk."

Then he looked at the young man's still-reddened eyes and added somewhat nervously, "The food you made was... very... good."

Gu Nian'an couldn't help smiling at that. He really was the Yu Songqing from the novel, poor at socializing and socially anxious to boot.

He looked cold and distant, but was actually gentle and kind. Despite the original owner's attitude toward him before, all Gu Nian'an had done now was give him a piece of bread, and he had come to thank him.

"You're welcome. Just call me Nian'an." The young man smiled brightly.

Looking at Gu Nian'an's upturned lips, Yu Songqing didn't know why a thought suddenly flashed through his mind. They must be sweet.

When he realized what he was thinking, the tips of Yu Songqing's ears instantly reddened, and he hurriedly turned his head away.

Then, feeling that had been a little too obvious, he turned back again, his gaze flickering as he said in embarrassment, "You can call me Songqing. Good night."

Without waiting for Gu Nian'an to respond, he turned and left.

Watching Yu Songqing's retreating figure, which looked as though he were fleeing, Gu Nian'an smiled until his eyes curved. When he had read the novel, many readers had loved the contrast in Yu Songqing's personality.

He hadn't gotten it back then, but now that he was in the world of the novel, he finally understood. Gu Nian'an couldn't resist a quiet laugh as he turned and closed the door.

At that moment, the hallway camera turned slightly.

[Ahhhhhhh, darling! Don't let this pretty face fool you!!]

[Honestly, I'd be shy too.]

[Gu Nian'an looked so cute poking his head out the door, like that peeking kitty JPG.]

[Yu fans, give it up. Your precious darling can't handle him.]

[Well, as a random passerby who's watched this far, let me be the first to call him my wife.]

[Wait, wait, so he's redeemed just like that?]

[No one's redeeming him. He's just a pretty face, that's a fact. But who wouldn't like a pretty face who's gorgeous, sweet, cute, and can cook? You don't? Fine, don't fight me for my wife.]

[Just putting this out there, does anyone else think the Songqing/Nian'an ship is kind of good? Yu Songqing is hilarious when he's shy. He's even stuttering.]

[Then count me in.]

[Me too.]

[Can you let our darling shine alone? You brainless pretty-face fans need to stop forcing random ships.]

Sunrise spilled into the house, and the aroma of food filled the entire place.

"That smells amazing! Gu Gu, what did you make?" Yun Bingxia came striding briskly downstairs with her hair loose, her eyes lighting up at the dishes on the table.

"Gu Gu, you're incredible!" Excited, she reached out to hug Gu Nian'an as she finished speaking, but a pair of hands suddenly reached over from beside him and pulled him away.

Mu Chen said with a cheerful smile, "Xiaxia, boys and girls should keep their distance. Come sit down and eat."

Yun Bingxia seemed to wilt. "Oh~ all right," she replied helplessly, then sat down and began eating. One bite later, she perked right back up.

Gu Nian'an couldn't help finding it funny. In the original novel, Yun Bingxia was innocent and liked girls, so naturally, he hadn't thought her actions meant she had any such intentions toward him.

Seeing Yun Bingxia wilt after her failed hug, only to perk up instantly after tasting the food, he couldn't help laughing aloud.

Mu Chen also looked at the two of them in amusement.

The live comments were going wild with laughter.

[I can't, Xiaxia is so cute.]

[I swear I could see ears on Xiaxia's head drooping, then popping right back up when she tasted something good. Hahahahaha.]

[You're hurting my eyes with all that noise, person above.]

[The way Gu Nian'an looks at Xiaxia is seriously so doting.]

[Just passing through to enjoy the Mu Chen/Nian'an ship.]

[I'm speechless. Am I the only one who thinks Gu Nian'an is putting on an act?]

[Person above, nobody cares about you.]

[Yes, just you.]

Before long, Ji Baiwei, Ji Yaozhi, and Yu Songqing came downstairs one after another. Seeing the food on the table, Ji Baiwei shot Ji Yaozhi an exasperated glance.

Ji Yaozhi grinned back. Heh-heh.

Yu Songqing walked over to Gu Nian'an in a few quick strides, swiftly pulled out a chair, and sat down. A hint of scrutiny flashed in Mu Chen's eyes as he watched.

As far as he knew, Gu Nian'an and Yu Songqing had clashed openly. Why had they suddenly...

Before he could figure it out, Gu Nian'an stood and went to the kitchen. When he returned, he placed a few pieces of rock sugar beside Yu Songqing's hand.

Breakfast included unsweetened soy milk, and Yu Songqing liked sweets-the kind of liking where he practically lived for them. But no one except those very close to him knew this, not even his fans. After all, a cool, aloof idol liking candy was something of a contrast.

Yu Songqing froze, then casually dropped the rock sugar into his soy milk and stirred. He stole a glance at Gu Nian'an, who was eating quietly, only for their eyes to meet.

He quickly turned away, pretending to be nonchalant, but his ears were already bright red, and his heart was racing.

Ji Yaozhi had been watching what was happening over there. His gaze moved between the two of them, and he raised his eyebrows, seemingly pondering something.

Mu Chen silently swallowed the soy milk in his mouth. His earlier question seemed to have found an answer.

[Tsk, tsk, tsk. Yu Songqing, look at you. Absolutely hopeless.]

[Stay away from our darling, you pretty face! He needs to watch his weight, and you're giving him sugar!]

[Your darling's ears are bright red.]

[I'm dying. Look at Yu Songqing.]

[Gu Nian'an is way too cute. I hereby declare that he's my new wife.]

[Are you a wife thief, person above?]

[I'm half-dead laughing. Best Actor Mu is observing discreetly, Ji Yaozhi is sneaking looks, Ji Baiwei is turning a blind eye, and only Yun Bingxia has her head down, focused on eating.]

[I want to eat my wife's cooking.]

Watching the steadily climbing view count, the director joked with the assistant director, "I didn't expect Gu Nian'an to have such a knack for variety shows. I'd originally wanted him to stir up trouble."

The assistant director raised his eyebrows slightly and said casually, "Isn't this good too?" Online opinions were polarized, but as someone well acquainted with the entertainment industry's inside workings, he rather liked the kid.

"True." Remembering the phone call he had received earlier, the director couldn't help remarking, "But to think Gu Nian'an has connections to Fu Corporation. I'd wanted to create a little conflict. You really couldn't tell. Not at all."

The night before last, he had suddenly received a call from the CEO of the Fu Group, asking him to take good care of Gu Nian'an and investing ten million as well. The director had been stunned.

Looking at the ten million credited to his account, he couldn't help laughing in delight. He hadn't expected Gu Nian'an to have a financial backer, much less the CEO of Fu Corporation. Luckily, he hadn't offended him.