Volume One, Chapter 94: Eating Candy

Fu Linhan was a man of great loyalty. Others might be willing to sacrifice for their brothers; he, for his brothers, would go so far as to disgust both others and himself.

“Dongzi, she's allergic to perfume, gets carsick already, and the pungent scent only makes it worse—she feels like vomiting.”

Pei Jingmo cooperatively took out a preserved plum candy, peeled the wrapper, and held it to his lips.

“Have a candy.”

“Ah~”

He opened his mouth to eat it and then flashed an unbearably sweet smile. “So sweet—candy tastes best when you feed it to me.”

As he spoke, Fu Linhan cast a provocative glance at Lu Rongrong in the passenger seat.

Lu Rongrong nearly ground her teeth to dust. She laughed in fury. “You two really do have a close bond.”

Fu Linhan’s smile deepened. “Well, we did share a bed, so of course we’re close.”

Lu Rongrong glanced at Gu Yuandong. Ever since she got in the car, he hadn’t spared her a single look, only gazing at Fu Linhan with indulgence. Anyone who didn’t know would think they were lovers.

“Is that so? But Young Master Fu isn’t he fond of married women? When did he start liking men?”

Fu Linhan waved his index finger. “I never define my orientation—male or female, it’s all the same.”

Saying this, Fu Linhan, like a boneless creature, leaned into Pei Jingmo’s arms. “Dongzi, Miss Lu won’t look down on me for this, will she?”

Pei Jingmo stroked Fu Linhan’s hair comfortingly. “Miss Lu grew up abroad, very open and progressive. She doesn’t even mind carrying on someone’s family line; how could she care about a little quirk like yours?”

Fu Linhan wasn’t done. “If you ask Miss Lu to have your child, will you still love me as much as you do now?”

“Always. Only when the mountains crumble and the heavens unite would I dare to leave you.”

Lu Rongrong shuddered in disgust. She hadn’t expected Gu Yuandong to say something so saccharine, and she was furious.

Looking at Guo Rang, who was driving, she noticed he showed no expression at all. It seemed he was accustomed to Gu Yuandong and Fu Linhan’s antics, but suddenly, a seed of doubt was planted in his heart.

Could Gu Yuandong really like men? After all, he’d spent years in a barracks without women, young and full of energy, needs unmet—who else could he turn to but men?

She desperately wanted to marry him; could she really end up as a “wife to a gay man”?

Fu Linhan and Pei Jingmo noticed the changes in Lu Rongrong’s expression and exchanged a glance. Fu Linhan pushed it even further.

—

Song Qingyu and Xie Liuzheng arrived at Nine Emperor Mountain and checked into their hotel first.

The hotel was at the summit, so the view from the window encompassed half the mountain. The hills were ablaze with maple leaves, splashing autumn’s passion and vitality with abandon.

“Qingyu, let’s explore a bit, then eat, and soak in the hot springs this afternoon. How about it?”

“Sounds good.”

The mountain air was splendid; the two couldn’t wait to step out, hand in hand, running along the maple-lined paths.

Xie Liuzheng loved taking photos, while Song Qingyu enjoyed photographing Xie Liuzheng. They walked and snapped pictures as they went.

When she saw the beautiful scenery, Song Qingyu was happy but felt a slight regret.

If only Pei Jingmo could see this.

Xie Liuzheng noticed her mind was elsewhere and rested her chin on Song Qingyu’s shoulder. “What’s wrong? Missing your ‘dirty pastry’ at home?”

“Not really—”

“Come on, you can’t fool me. That look in your eyes, that expression—you’re thinking about a man!”

Song Qingyu: “...I just think it’s a pity he can’t see such beauty.”

“Why not send him pictures?”

Song Qingyu’s eyes lit up. “Oh, right. How could I forget?”

Xie Liuzheng rolled her eyes and muttered, “Love makes people foolish.”

Song Qingyu didn’t catch that. “What did you say?”

“I said I’ll take photos of you. Send your picture along with the scenery—he’ll be even happier.”

“That’s not necessary.”

Xie Liuzheng didn’t know the specifics of their relationship, but Song Qingyu was clear: sending her own photo wasn’t very appropriate.

Xie Liuzheng assumed Song Qingyu was just being stubborn and secretly took some pictures of her, sending them to Pei Jingmo.

Pei Jingmo was still in the car when he received the photos on WeChat. He first looked at Song Qingyu’s images.

“Nine Emperor Mountain is beautiful, the maple leaves are stunning. Take a look.”

Pei Jingmo examined each photo carefully, unable to hide the tenderness in his gaze.

“Very pretty. Keep warm.”

He saved every picture, then opened Xie Liuzheng’s message.

Several photos of Song Qingyu—she wore a white sweater, the red maple leaves creating the most natural and beautiful backdrop. Standing amidst them, she was breathtaking.

He cherished those photos, saved them to his album, and looked them over repeatedly.

He then sent Xie Liuzheng a “thank you” and a red envelope of 888.

Xie Liuzheng accepted it without hesitation.

When they reached the hotel, Lu Rongrong saw Gu Yuandong and Fu Linhan were staying in the presidential suite and was shocked. “You two are sharing a room?”

Fu Linhan hooked his arm around Pei Jingmo’s, acting sweet. “Dongzi and I always share a room wherever we go. Sometimes Yi Nian’s with us, and the three of us share one room too.”

“You—”

“I kick the covers at night, so Dongzi has to cover me up. Otherwise, I might catch cold.”

Fu Linhan smiled at Pei Jingmo. “Isn’t that right, my Dong?”

Pei Jingmo was about to answer when he suddenly saw Song Qingyu and Xie Liuzheng at the end of the corridor.

The two stood stunned—they’d obviously overheard Fu Linhan.

Pei Jingmo: “...”

“Oh my god!”

Xie Liuzheng grabbed Song Qingyu’s arm. “Qingyu baby, did I see and hear that right? Your Mr. Gu and our Mr. Fu are a couple?”

Fu Linhan saw them too and froze awkwardly.

He was doomed!

His effeminate act had been seen by Song Qingyu and Xie Liuzheng!

But that wasn’t the main issue—the main issue was, would Song Qingyu misunderstand?

He frantically signaled Pei Jingmo, asking what to do.

Pei Jingmo looked at Song Qingyu’s shocked face, feeling a headache coming on.

He then turned to see Lu Rongrong watching him suspiciously. He smiled, “You’re right about everything. Let’s head back to our room.”

Fu Linhan could only grit his teeth and keep up the act. “Alright.”

Once inside, door closed, Fu Linhan let go of Pei Jingmo and threw himself onto the bed in despair.

Annoyed and aggrieved, he said, “For you, I sacrificed a lot—my image is ruined.”

Pei Jingmo stroked his hair to soothe him. “I owe you this time. Ask for whatever you want.”

Seeing Pei Jingmo’s calm, unruffled expression, Fu Linhan suddenly sat up. “You’re really unfazed—aren’t you worried Song Qingyu will misunderstand? How will you explain?”

“No need to explain.”

“Huh?”

“My body’s reaction is the truest and most effective answer. For anyone but my wife, I can’t get hard.”

Force-fed a mouthful of dog food, Fu Linhan had no appetite for it.

“Ay—who knows how much Lu Rongrong believed, but Song Qingyu and Xie Liuzheng definitely misunderstood.”

Fu Linhan looked at Pei Jingmo. “Explain yourself—I’ve sacrificed enough, I’m not helping you clear this up.”

As expected.

Xie Liuzheng dragged Song Qingyu into their room and immediately launched into gossip mode.

“Good heavens, I’ve thought about every possibility—even wondered if you might be Mr. Gu’s secret love—but never imagined Mr. Fu is his white moonlight.”

Song Qingyu was surprised too.

She’d heard from Pei Jingmo that he and Mr. Fu met because Mr. Fu had a car accident while dating two beauties—not exactly someone who liked men. How did this happen? He’s into both men and women?

Song Qingyu was shocked. Mr. Fu didn’t seem like that kind of person.

Xie Liuzheng said, “Thinking carefully, it makes sense. Gu Yuandong and Fu Linhan are life-and-death brothers; maybe Gu always kept his feelings hidden so their friendship wouldn’t be ruined. Mr. Gu’s been secretly in love all along.”

“Mr. Fu used to like married women, but probably picked up hints that Mr. Gu liked him. He struggled for a long time, but when Mr. Gu decided to marry Lu Rongrong, it spurred him to confront his feelings and finally be with Mr. Gu in the open?”

Song Qingyu thought it over—Mr. Gu did dote on Mr. Fu. It seemed whatever Mr. Fu wanted, Mr. Gu would provide.

The Gu and Fu families were prominent in Beijing; surely their families wouldn’t approve. Their future path would be tough.

“We can only give them our blessings.”

“Yeah, I’ll wave the flag for Mr. Gu and Mr. Fu~~~”

That’s what she said, but thinking of the awkwardness, Song Qingyu prayed not to run into them these couple of days.

But things rarely go as planned.

When the two went down for dinner, they ran into the three men; and as if that wasn’t enough, Chu Xingzhi and Sheng Yuru had arrived as well.

Sheng Yuru had dragged Chu Xingzhi along to soak in the hot springs, hoping to win him over—she was in a good mood, but the moment she saw Song Qingyu, her face fell. “Song Qingyu, why are you everywhere?”