The zoo on the island might not be big, but it held a world of wonders—and terrors—for little Jiujiu. As soon as he caught sight of the large reticulated python, tears immediately welled up in his eyes. With a trembling voice, he turned to Gu Panqiu and whimpered, “Daddy, this snakey isn’t real, right? It looks so fierce! Waaah!”
As if proving his worst fear, the snake hissed and reared up in the air, scaring Jiujiu out of his wits.
Still crying, he scrambled behind Gu Panqiu’s leg and buried his face. “It’s real! I don’t like it! Make it go away!”
Gu Panqiu could not help but laugh softly, shaking his head in amusement. “Alright, alright, Fu Yue, let’s head out.”
Fu Yue’s lips curved into a reassuring smile as he bent down, gently covering Jiujiu’s eyes with his large hand. “Don’t worry, Jiujiu. The snakey can’t come out.”
Jiujiu’s bottom lip trembled with grievance as he reached up with both tiny hands. “Hug me, Uncle…”
Fu Yue scooped him up effortlessly, and Gu Panqiu’s eyes arched into a smile. “Fu Yue, what did you bribe this little guy with? He’s so attached to you!”
The following parts of the text will be scrambled to prevent theft from aggregators and unauthorized epub making. Please support our translators by reading on secondlifetranslations (dot) com. If you are currently on the site and and you are seeing this, please clear your cache.
Kkwfkw czkdjle kd nsdqwpksd yv Qw Vydikw, vbld ewt kdvs bkp rsnjlv yde rwzzle swv y pxyzz cyt sq Y&yxr;Yp.
Qw Vydikw’p pxkzl ellrldle. “Tyby, ps bl alyzzu oyp cakcle.”
Mbl xkeeyu pwd nzkxcle bktbla, yde vbl blyv ralpple esod alzldvzlppzu, ps xwnb ps vbyv Ww Zwl’p czynj pbkav bye pvyavle vs pvknj vs bkp pjkd.
Mbl eyxrldle qycakn ynnldvwyvle vbl nsdvswap sq bkp oykpv, vbl zkdlp pwcvzu hkpkczl cldlyvb vbl xyvlakyz.
Maykzkdt clbkde bkx, Qw Vydikw vssj kd vbl hklo yrralnkyvkhlzu yde xyahlzle yv UOX Ww’p kdnalekczl qktwal.
Mbl xsxldv vbl vball sq vblx pvlrrle swv sq vbl gss’p cynj tyvl, Qw Vydikw’p lulp olal kdpvydvzu eayod vs y okpbkdt vall, kvp caydnblp nshlale okvb ale akccsdp vbyv qzwvvlale kd vbl callgl.
Fvydekdt clqsal vbl vall oyp yd lzelazu xyd, bkp hsknl oyax yp bl prsjl vs Qw Vydikw. “Zswdt xyd, nyal vs xyjl y okpb? Mbkp vall byp pvsse qsa shla qkhl bwdeale ulyap, yde kv’p clld czlpple cu vbl xswdvykd tse. Gduvbkdt usw okpb qsa okzz pwalzu nsxl vawl.”
Uwakswp, Qw Vydikw kdiwkale, “Ebyv nyd usw okpb qsa? Nshl? Uyalla?”
“Anything at all,” the old man replied with a twinkle in his eye. “Sincerity is what makes it work.”
Gu Panqiu paused beneath the wishing tree, gazing up at the multitude of bells that danced in the wind. A hint of longing flickered in his eyes.
Beside him, Fu Yue, ever the spoilsport, grumbled, “You actually believe in this?”
“Of course! You’re a businessman, Fu Yue. Surely you believe in a bit of superstition?”
Fu Yue answered flatly, “I don’t.”
I didn’t use to believe in it either. And yet… here I am, standing because of it.
He purchased a wishing ribbon and carefully wrote his wish with a Parker pen.
Fu Yue watched him from a short distance away, curiosity flickering at what he might be scribbling.
“You’re not wishing to get rich, are you?” Fu Yue glanced over.
“You’re so shallow,” Gu Panqiu replied. “I’m not showing you. Turn around.”
Surprisingly, Fu Yue actually did as he was told.
In his past life, Gu Panqiu had been a man of fame and endless wealth. But the moment he was diagnosed with a terminal illness, it all vanished in an instant.
Health was what mattered most!
Qiuqiu put his hands together in prayer and closed his eyes earnestly as he whispered his wish to the old tree.
I want to live a healthy life…
And then… become ridiculously rich!
Jiujiu mimicked his actions, clasping his tiny hands together and murmuring softly to the wishing tree.
“What are you whispering about, Jiujiu?” Fu Yue looked at Jiujiu in his arms. “Did you overhear your daddy’s wish?”
“Nope!” Jiujiu beamed up at him, his big, sparkling eyes full of affection. “I asked the mountain god to make Daddy’s wishes come true!”
This little one was impossibly sweet—obedient, thoughtful, and always thinking of his daddy.
Fu Yue pinched Jiujiu’s chubby cheeks. It almost hurt to see how sensible this child was. “Jiujiu,” he noted, “you should make a wish for yourself too. Make another one.”
Jiujiu let out a tiny whimper as his cheeks were being pinched, then closed his eyes. “Heehee, I already made one! But I’m not telling you, Uncle!”
By evening, the production crew had laid out a lavish seafood feast for Gu Panqiu and Fu Yue in the presidential suite.
Fu Yue took a shower first, and when he came out, he had changed into a dark gray shirt.
The fabric was stiffer than his black one, lending him an air of refined elegance when he buttoned it all the way up to the collar.
His meticulous nature was a habit as ingrained as breathing; even the shirt he had changed out of was washed and pressed within minutes. Then he settled quietly in the living room, scrolling through Weibo as he waited for Gu Panqiu.
First, Gu Panqiu soaked in the hot tub with Jiujiu for a while. Then Jiujiu hopped into the kiddie pool, splashing around gleefully, a tiny golden rubber duck perched jauntily on his head.
“Daddy, I wanna play a bit more! You go eat first!” Jiujiu looked up at his daddy with a sweet, obedient smile. “Don’t worry, I’ve got my floatie!”
Glancing at his watch, Gu Panqiu nodded. “Alright, I’ll check on you in half an hour. If you need anything, just call for Daddy, okay?”
Gu Panqiu glanced toward the bathroom mirror. Reflected within was a man draped in a deep-black V-neck bathrobe, his damp hair dripping down his temples like a merman who had just emerged from the depths of the ocean.
Then, he took the seat across from Fu Yue. Beads of water from his still-damp hair slid down to his collar, tracing a slow, teasing path deeper inside.
His gaze flicked over the buttons of Fu Yue’s shirt as he propped his chin on his hand, studying him with a languid curiosity. “Don’t you feel warm?”
The two sat facing each other like lovers on a date.
Fu Yue met his eyes, but just that quiet sweep of Gu Panqiu’s gaze down his neckline was enough to make heat stir beneath his skin.
That was when it hit him—what had changed most in Gu Panqiu were his eyes. They gleamed with a captivating allure that drew him in.
With that in mind, Fu Yue felt a flutter of curiosity within him. “Where’s Jiujiu? Didn’t he say he was hungry just now?”
“He wants to play a little longer. Let’s eat first.” Gu Panqiu arched a brow at him. “Care for a drink?”
Fu Yue poured half a glass for Gu Panqiu, then filled his own glass to the same level.
Under the dim, amber light, Gu Panqiu lifted his glass and took a slow sip. Their eyes met over the rim, and in that instant, the air between them thickened with something dangerously suggestive.
Fu Yue recalled telling his assistant just the other day, “I’d rather eat shit than date Gu Panqiu.” But that was yesterday. Today, he had to admit that his so-called “former love rival” had piqued his interest.
“You don’t seem to like spicy food,” Fu Yue observed. “Not a fan?”
“It’s not that,” Gu Panqiu explained patiently. “I have to take care of my throat, so I try not to smoke much and eat spicy food even less.” He gave a small shrug. “I actually do like hotpot, but I’m just trying my best to control myself.”
Fu Yue frowned slightly, puzzled. “You’re that strict with yourself? Then why do you smoke?”
With a playful glint in his eye, Gu Panqiu answered, “Maybe… I’m just lonely.”
“Have you been into any songs lately?”
“Yeah,” Gu Panqiu replied, lazily propping his chin on his hand. Then, he began to sing softly, “May the evening breeze drift through my heart, and blow away my tears; Like a kite chasing you.”
“I’ll wait for you my whole life through, let true love keep you near; Like the lamp that guides you home in my dreams.”
Gu Panqiu had only casually sung a few lines, but for Fu Yue, it felt entirely different from before.
Every shift in tone, every ounce of emotion, even the way he pronounced the Cantonese words—Gu Panqiu’s skill had grown leaps and bounds. It was as if… a hidden talent coming into full light.
For some unknown reason, Fu Yue could even sense the aura of a Heavenly King.
The server set the day’s dessert before them: pineapple pudding. Gu Panqiu, who loved pineapple in his past life, savored it slowly, letting the sweet, tangy flavor linger on his tongue.
“Lu Yao must’ve been pretty amazing as a trainee, huh?”
Fu Yue nodded. “He worked hard, aced every evaluation for three years, and was a pretty well-rounded trainee.”
“Yeah, Lu Yao dances really well,” Gu Panqiu remarked. “And he’s not bad-looking either.”
Fu Yue felt a sudden twinge of jealousy as he heard Gu Panqiu praise Lu Yao.
But from what he had seen the past few days, Gu Panqiu clearly seemed to have moved on from Lu Yao.
Wasn’t he still supposed to be in love with the little one’s other dad?
His eyes curved into a mischievous smile as he leaned closer to Fu Yue. “When you guys were running on the beach this morning, Lu Yao really gave it his all for you. So… what do you think of him?”
Fu Yue blinked, then shook his head. “He’s just a little brother to me.”
Gu Panqiu tilted his head, eyes sparkling with amusement. “Oh… a little brother, huh?”
Unwilling to dwell on the memories of Lu Yao’s relentless pestering, Fu Yue changed the subject. “Let’s talk about you. Why give up being an idol to become a singer?”
“Idols exist to make people dream,” Gu Panqiu explained. “But singers… they build a sanctuary out of melody—a few minutes of haven where anyone can rest. No matter your age or what you’ve been through, there’s always a place that belongs to you.”
Gu Panqiu had only taken a few spoonfuls of pudding when a faint itch crept over his skin. Thinking it was just his imagination, he continued eating, only to find the sensation intensifying.
When Fu Yue glanced up again, his expression hardened. Red streaks had bloomed across Gu Panqiu’s neck, shockingly vivid against his white skin.
Fu Yue’s brow furrowed in concern. “Are you allergic to seafood?”
Gu Panqiu blinked, genuinely confused. He had no idea what this body was allergic to, but the itching was now so bad it almost hurt.
Just then, Jiujiu came scampering out of the bathroom, dripping wet from head to toe.
Upon hearing Fu Yue’s words, he darted over and peered at the red marks on Gu Panqiu’s neck. With a fierce look that only a three-and-a-half-year-old could muster, he declared, “Daddy, you’re so naughty! Did you eat pineapple?”
Gu Panqiu’s whole body felt itchy enough to drive him mad. He never thought someone could be this allergic to pineapple. With a bitter laugh, he confessed, “I… did have a pineapple pudding just now.”
Once again, Fu Yue stared at him like he was the biggest fool alive.
“Do you have any meds?” he asked.
Gu Panqiu shook his head. “No, I didn’t bring any.”
Then, Fu Yue turned to the staff and asked whether there was a place to buy medicine on the island. When he learned there was a small pharmacy—albeit a fair distance away—he swapped his shoes and headed for the door.
Gu Panqiu stood. “No need to trouble yourself. I can go.”
But Fu Yue shot him a stern look and gently pressed him back into the chair. “Fools really shouldn’t go out. Someone might take advantage of you.”
Gu Panqiu murmured a soft “oh” and watched Fu Yue close the door behind him.
His family in his past life had never been particularly happy. After his parents divorced, he moved in with his grandfather, who barely paid him any attention. His relationship with his father was tense, and by the time he rose to fame at seventeen, his grandfather had already passed away.
He had never truly been cared for—until Fu Yue came into his life. For a moment, it felt strange, and he did not know how to respond to such care.
Before long, Fu Yue returned with a small bag of medication in hand. “Wow, that was quick!” he exclaimed, eyes wide with surprise.
Fu Yue pulled out a small bottle and explained, “Take two tablets at a time.” He then held up a tube of ointment. “And this… You can apply it yourself later.”
Gu Panqiu accepted it, smiling brightly. “Thank you, CEO Fu.”
Without a word, Fu Yue sat on the sofa like a military dog resting after completing its mission.
Gu Panqiu dabbed at the ointment in front of the mirror, straining awkwardly to reach the spots tucked beneath his collar and along his back.
Glancing over, Fu Yue felt an urge to assist, but the thought of applying the medicine himself felt a touch too intimate.
At that moment, Gu Panqiu turned to him, his eyes glistening with pleading. “Can you help me, CEO Fu?”
Fu Yue asked knowingly, “Can’t reach it?”
“Mm-hm.”
Fu Yue stepped forward and picked up the ointment. One hand gently lifted Gu Panqiu’s soft curls, while the other applied the medicine. “Is pineapple really that delicious?” he questioned in a low voice.
The moment his hand brushed Gu Panqiu’s delicate neck, Fu Yue’s ears flushed red again in the mirror.
Upon seeing this, Gu Panqiu said innocently, “Mmm, so yummy!”
Fu Yue’s fingers moved in slow, careful strokes over Gu Panqiu’s porcelain-white shoulder. The faint red marks beneath his fingertips made his chest tighten. A rush of heat surged through him, and even his breath grew heavier.
The image of their bodies intertwined… seemed as though he was biting at the nape of Gu Panqiu’s neck.
On the other hand, Gu Panqiu seemed a little uncomfortable and shifted restlessly. That small wriggle set Fu Yue’s blood on fire.
He drew in a rough breath, eyes shutting tight. “Don’t move.”
His voice came out low, edged with tension. In the mirror, Gu Panqiu stilled, his eyes lifting to Fu Yue’s lashes—long, shadowed, trembling. “Okay, Big Brother,” he murmured, “I’ll be good.”
The author has something to say:
Qiuqiu’s just way too cute! Fu Yue, hurry and bite him already! You’re an Alpha, for heaven’s sake! (Just kidding!)
Lyrics are quoted from the song “When the Spring Breeze Blows” by A Li Yue.
Second Life Translations' Comment Policy
1. Be kind and respectful. Comments with curses will be put under moderation.
2. No links to other websites or asking for links.
3. No spoilers!