He shot an uncertain glance at Gu Panqiu, who sat unruffled, sipping his soup at an unhurried pace. His face betrayed nothing, as if that fleeting touch had been nothing more than an accident.
Yet the spot where Gu Panqiu had touched him felt like it was aflame, making Fu Yue wonder whether he had gone too long without… releasing.
When he looked up again, Gu Panqiu’s eyes twinkled with amusement, a faint smile tugging at his lips. Fu Yue could not tell whether Gu Panqiu was teasing him or trying to seduce him.
After a few drinks, Shen Yao grew more talkative. He picked up some food and placed it on Jiujiu’s plate. “Here, eat more, Jiujiu.”
“Th-thank you, Uncle,” Jiujiu whispered, peeking up shyly.
Shen Yao looked at Gu Panqiu with a tender gaze and clinked his glass against Gu Panqiu’s. “Qiuqiu, if we end up together, let’s have another one.”
Gu Panqiu nearly choked on his drink, blinking in surprise. “Teacher Shen, you’re thinking way ahead, aren’t you?”
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Fbld Zys’p elpkal vs cl y qyvbla qktwal vs Kkwfkw pvkaale y rlnwzkya ckvvladlpp kd Ww Zwl’p blyav, y rydt ps pvasdt bl yzxspv czwavle swv, “R’x Kkwfkw’p eye!”
Tkp rasvlnvkhl pvalyj oyp sdl vbkdt; bkp rspplppkhldlpp, bsolhla, oyp psxlvbkdt lzpl ldvkalzu. Ekvb y qasod, bl nyalqwzzu rzynle y rklnl sq akcp sdvs Kkwfkw’p rzyvl.
Kkwfkw zssjle wr yv bkx yde nbkarle, “Mbydjp, Bdnzl!”
Nk Hbw bye fwpv saelale vbl nyjl yde oyp pzknkdt kv qsa lhlausdl. Gzz sq vblx bye y rklnl… lmnlrv Qw Vydikw, obs rasrrle bkp nbkd sd bkp byde yde ypjle, “Ebyv ycswv xkdl?”
Uyaaukdt y ale, blyav-pbyrle nyjl, Nk Hbw yrrasynble bkx. “Jasvbla, usw byhl vs lyv vbkp!”
Ww Zwl nywtbv y tzkxrpl qasx ynaspp vbl assx. Qssedlpp, kv pyup, “R zshl usw, Ckwikw.”
Gv vbyv xsxldv, vbl saela Fbld Zys bye rzynle yv y Yknblzkd-pvyaale alpvywaydv yaakhle.
Rv qlzv zkjl bl yde Nk Hbw olal vaukdt vs sdl-wr lynb svbla. Qakddkdt, Fbld Zys elnzyale, “R xktbv dsv nssj yp olzz yp Ww Zwl, cwv Ckwikw, usw’al yzoyup kd xu blyav. R’zz xyjl pwal vs saela vbl clpv vyjlswv qsa usw.”
Gu Panqiu glanced at the spread of dishes before him, a troubled frown flickering across his face. “Thanks, I’m already full. You all go ahead.”
Even so, Shen Yao’s eyes lit up at the perfect chance to feed Qiuqiu; as he spoke, he reached over and placed a chicken wing into Gu Panqiu’s bowl.
Sitting beside Shen Yao, Fu Yue noticed Gu Panqiu was truly stuffed, so he slid the chicken wing into his own bowl. With everyone at the table giving him knowing looks, he explained calmly, “He’s had enough. I’ll eat it.”
Gu Panqiu propped his chin in his hand; his eyes curved in a smile that was not quite a smile.
That night, sleep eluded Fu Yue. His mind was filled with Gu Panqiu, gazing up at him from his arms. From somewhere upstairs, the soft notes of a piano drifted down. He got up and followed the music to the bar counter on the second floor.
The bartender had already finished for the day, leaving Gu Panqiu alone in the bar.
A single lamp cast a warm glow, a cigarette dangling from his lips as his fingers coaxed music from the piano, smoke curling in slow, lazy spirals around him.
His curls fell lazily around his ears, and his whole body carried a languid ease. Even the melody he played was languid and tender, each note dripping with a sense of intimacy.
Shadows flickered across the dimly lit room, and Fu Yue had never seen Gu Panqiu so utterly focused, so utterly serious.
He watched the smoke rings drift from Gu Panqiu’s lips, and for a moment, even his fingers on the keys seemed impossibly delicate and elegant. The music flowed with a life of its own, like the tide rising in the sea.
In his mind, Gu Panqiu had always been mediocre at best. He had only ever seen him perform once—on his debut stage—and by the standards of Nova Entertainment, Gu Panqiu would have barely scraped by with a C rating.
Just recently, Gu Panqiu performed one of his original songs on the first episode of 5041, which Fu Yue watched intently. If it were not for the program’s sound editing, his performance would have easily earned an A+.
Curiosity got the better of Fu Yue. Could a person really change so much in just a year?
So he decided to give Gu Panqiu a chance; he had to see for himself what tricks Gu Panqiu was hiding up his sleeve.
Sensing Fu Yue’s presence behind him, Gu Panqiu’s fingers lingered over the piano keys, slowing to a deliberate crawl. The cigarette dangled from his lips as he tilted his head, meeting Fu Yue’s gaze. A slow, wicked grin spread across his face, and he blew a perfect smoke ring.
Instantly, the room fell into a heavy, suffocating silence.
His eyes arched into a smile as he looked at Fu Yue, his lips silently mouthing: Were you listening to me play?
Momentarily taken aback, Fu Yue blinked and stepped closer. “Who would smoke while playing the piano?”
Gu Panqiu stood and sauntered up to him, a bright smile lighting up his face. “That would be me. But don’t worry, I don’t smoke much—just once in a while.”
Fu Yue looked into Gu Panqiu’s beautiful eyes. When did this guy turn into such a little fox? He wasn’t half this spirited before. Who on earth is this person?
That night with Gu Panqiu had been nothing but a blur of alcohol and drugs, so he could hardly recall what had really happened. Even so, he had never dwelled on it, nor had he ever harbored any designs on Gu Panqiu.
“Preparing for next week’s competition?” Fu Yue questioned, a hint of curiosity in his voice. “When did you learn to play the piano?”
Gu Panqiu edged closer, a faint dimple appearing on his cheek as he smiled—a small, sweet crease that made him look impossibly cute. “I learned it in secret,” he admitted.
Fu Yue felt his heart skip a beat, so he forced himself to look away, not wanting to fall under Gu Panqiu’s spell.
“Is Jiujiu asleep?”
“He’s watching cartoons downstairs, but I need to check if he’s off running around,” Gu Panqiu replied, his eyes curving into playful crescents. Then, with a hint of teasing, he added, “Fu Yue, why don’t you look me in the eye when you talk to me?”
Fu Yue glanced at Gu Panqiu, whose eyes sparkled with satisfaction. “That’s more like it! If you didn’t look at me, I might think you dislike me. After all, I’ve upset you before.”
“I don’t dislike you.” Fu Yue shook his head.
“Really? You don’t?” Gu Panqiu rose onto his tiptoes, tilting his head back to find Fu Yue’s nose with a playful glint in his eye. “Wow… you’re so tall! I always have to look up at you.”
As Fu Yue followed Gu Panqiu’s movement, his gaze fell on the delicate curve of Gu Panqiu’s slender throat and the pale skin of his neck.
The height difference felt just right for a kiss.
Gu Panqiu turned and walked away, leaving behind a faint scent of cedar and a hint of smoke in the air. Elusive and enigmatic, he moved with the grace of a cat, making it hard for Fu Yue to grasp him fully.
He lit a cigarette for himself, sank into a chair, and silently took a slow drag. His heart still pounded wildly against his chest.
Gu Panqiu had indeed changed.
This version of him seemed almost foreign, as if… he were an entirely different person.
Though he joined this variety show for Jiujiu, he could not deny that he was drawn to Gu Panqiu. There was… something about him. Maybe he just had a knack for romance?
Fu Yue’s phone buzzed, snapping him out of his thoughts.
He Bei: Need an exorcist?
Fu Yue: Did it work for Shen Yao?
He Bei: …Not at all. Is Gu Panqiu that irresistible, or are you guys actually sick?! I can tell something’s off… you’re not thinking straight!
Fu Yue stubbed out his cigarette and texted back: I’m perfectly clear-headed.
Back in his room, Fu Yue quietly typed “Gu Panqiu” into Baidu, wondering what his horoscope was.
February 14th—Valentine’s Day. That was Gu Panqiu’s birthday.
A small smile tugged at Fu Yue’s lips as he realized his own birthday came just a day later, on the 15th. Both of them were Aquarius.
Fu Yue kept scrolling and stumbled upon a fan-made video called “Qiuqiu’s Tearful Moment.”
It captured a famous scene from the very first episode of 5041. Back then, he had barely paid attention, fast-forwarding through most of it.
In the clip, Gu Panqiu’s smile was tinged with sorrow. A single tear slid down his cheek as he confessed, “Lately, I’ve been dreaming of my child’s father… I still love him… I haven’t forgotten him.”
Gu Panqiu looked so pitiful that his fans’ hearts ached for him, so they all began calling out to Jiujiu’s father. “Look at our Qiuqiu! He’s such a beautiful, gentle, and devoted wife! If you don’t want him, there are plenty of guests lining up to sweep him off his feet!”
Fu Yue watched the video three times in a row, stunned. Does Gu Panqiu really love me this much?
The author has something to say:
Fu Yue: Are these people out of their minds? Have they been starving their whole lives to be buying this much? What if my wife stuffs himself sick?!
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