Saturday dawned cold and snowy in City B with a blustery wind whipping through the neighborhood. Outside their apartment building, Gu Panqiu and his son were building a small snowman. With a gleeful smile, Jiujiu carefully stuck a carrot where the nose should be. After one last look at their creation, he reluctantly took his father’s hand and climbed into the car bound for the reality show set.
Filming had officially begun for the first episode of the same-sex dating reality show, 5041.
The reality show set was divided into two sections: an outdoor television studio housed in a villa outfitted with cameras to capture every moment of the guests’ daily lives; and an indoor observation room where a few well-known celebrities from the industry sat as panelists.
At half past eight, a Maserati purred to a stop. The door swung open, and out stepped Shen Yao, a top-tier producer and the first guest of 5041.
Decked out in designer streetwear and toting an electric guitar, he was the first to take a seat on the sofa on the ground floor.
“Here comes the first guest. It’s none other than the renowned Shen Yao!” the host Wang Yuyu announced. “He Bei, since you’re friends with him, you’re the one who knows him best. So tell us, what kind of person does he like?”
In the observation room sat He Bei, a top-tier music producer. Not only was he a close friend of Shen Yao, but he had also grown up alongside Fu Yue.
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Dragging his suitcase behind him, Luo Siqi stepped into the living room. The moment he spotted Shen Yao, his eyes lit up. With a sunny smile, he greeted, “Hello, Teacher Shen. I’m Luo Siqi. I’ve listened to loads of songs that you’ve written.”
“Shen Yao.” He extended his hand toward Luo Siqi, a calm smile playing on his lips. “A pleasure to meet you.”
After a brief exchange, the two each claimed a sofa. Opposite him, Luo Siqi stole quiet glances at Shen Yao.
There was something about Shen Yao—handsome in a worn-down, world-weary sort of way—that made him hard to approach. The gap between insiders and ordinary folk was real, and while he stayed behind the scenes, he was still a top-tier producer.
Shen Yao looked up and inquired, “How old are you?”
“Oh, I’m twenty-three.”
“That makes me five years older.” He pulled a cigarette from his pocket. “Mind if I smoke?”
“No, not at all.”
He Bei found Shen Yao’s appearance on the dating show quite amusing. A grin crept across his face as he commented, “Looks like they’ve already started checking each other out.”
Just then, Gu Panqiu stepped out of the taxi, dusty and travel-worn. He first lifted Jiujiu out, then carried out their luggage.
Compared to the first two, who were dressed head to toe in designer labels, he looked far more low-key in his plain white down jacket.
Jiujiu had on a grey duffle coat and a beret perched on his head. He locked eyes with the cameraman, both clearly unsure what to make of the moment.
“Hey, kiddo,” the cameraman cooed. “Come give me a hug.”
Jiujiu blushed a little and ducked behind Gu Panqiu, clutching his leg like a shield.
“Haha, he’s just teasing you.” Gu Panqiu crouched down to fix the red Gryffindor scarf around Jiujiu’s neck. “Let’s go inside, it’s cold out here.”
Jiujiu gave a little nod, his gaze flitting nervously around. With so many staff bustling about, he clammed up just like he always did in crowded places.
With a timid grip on Gu Panqiu’s hand, he stepped into the opulent villa rented by the production crew.
The guests in the observation room erupted, their voices tumbling over one another in astonishment. The host exclaimed, “Thanks to this program, I only found out yesterday that Gu Panqiu has a son! And what a beautiful little boy he is, like a living doll!”
The guests in the observation room erupted, talking over one another in shock. The host exclaimed, “It was only because I’m hosting this show that I found out just yesterday Gu Panqiu has a son! And he’s such a gorgeous little thing, like a real-life doll!”
He Bei tilted his head, his eyes following the well-behaved Jiujiu trotting after his dad. “Well, looks like our show just got a whole lot more interesting. Single dads have every right to pursue love too. Just because they’re rare doesn’t mean they don’t exist.”
“Well, well, so this little guy is Gu Panqiu’s very own son?” Hu Li chuckled, eyes twinkling. “If he’s gay… does that mean he actually gave birth to the kid himself?”
“That’s right,” the host chimed in. “Only about one percent of men can give birth to children, and it’s even rarer in the entertainment industry.”
“It’s been over a year since Gu Panqiu last showed his face, hasn’t it? At this point, he’s pretty much left showbiz. But when he does make an appearance, he gives everyone quite the surprise.”
Among the guests was Huo Jiacheng, the main vocalist of Right, who also happened to be Luo Yao’s groupmate.
He had heard whispers about Gu Panqiu’s obsessive crush on Lu Yao, the most popular member of his group. So he was floored when Gu Panqiu suddenly seemed to have a change of heart and even signed up for a dating reality show.
“Had a kid at nineteen? Only Gu Panqiu could pull that off.” Huo Jiacheng let out a low whistle. “Damn, that’s wild.”
“Alright, let’s take a look at what Gu Panqiu’s note says… ‘Let fate take its course,’” the host Wang Yuyu announced. “Tsk, looks like Xiao Gu’s quite the free spirit.”
Gu Panqiu had spent the past few days regaining his strength. Though his frame remained slender, his features now gleamed with renewed vitality, restoring his looks to their peak brilliance.
As the camera zoomed in, his aloof features were flawless from every angle. Even his skin seemed to glow as if lit from within. Calling him a god-tier beauty would hardly be an exaggeration.
The moment Gu Panqiu stepped in with a little child in tow, Shen Yao and Luo Siqi, who had been sitting on the sofa, both rose to their feet and briefly introduced themselves.
Gu Panqiu gently patted Jiujiu’s head and introduced themselves. “I’m Gu Panqiu, and this little one here is Jiujiu.”
Being just a regular guy, Luo Siqiu had no idea that Gu Panqiu would be bringing his son onto the dating reality show.
As soon as he spotted Jiujiu, a flicker of curiosity crossed his face. “Is this your brother or nephew?”
Gu Panqiu shook his head and answered, “He’s my son.”
“Your son?” The words hit Luo Siqi like a bolt from the blue. For a moment, his mind went blank. “Oh… right… I see.”
“Jiujiu, say hello to the uncles,” Gu Panqiu encouraged calmly. “Don’t be nervous; Daddy’s right here with you.”
“Hello, Uncles,” Jiujiu whispered softly. “Daddy, are we gonna live here?”
“Mm-hmm, that’s right.”
“No other kids here?” Jiujiu peeked around nervously. “This house is so big!”
“Yes, there aren’t any other kids here, but Daddy will always be with you,” Gu Panqiu reassured gently. “We just moved to a new place, but on Monday, I’ll still take you to kindergarten like I always do.”
Gu Panqiu moved into the family room on the ground floor that the production crew had set up just for them. He knelt on the plush carpet and sorted through the clothes, while Jiujiu crouched down beside him, pulling garments out of the suitcase to help.
“Oh, what a thoughtful and beautiful child.” He Bei smiled fondly in the observation room. No wonder even Fu Yue, who’s always so stingy with compliments, couldn’t help but praise him.
“Oh my gosh, he’s just too adorable! He even helps his dad fold clothes.”
“I know, right?” Wang Yuyu beamed. “Jiujiu is such a well-mannered child.”
Still in the living room, Shen Yao exchanged a glance with Luo Siqi. Noticing the astonishment still etched on Luo Siqi’s face, Shen Yao asked, “Do you like kids?”
Luo Siqi shook his head and admitted, “I’m kind of afraid of kids. Their crying drives me up the wall.”
Shen Yao shook his head with a wry smile. “Yeah, I’m no fan of them either.”
At that moment, the second Top made his appearance.
Li Zhu strode through the doorway, his leather jacket creaking softly with each movement. But he was so tall that he bumped his head on the doorframe as he came in.
Pushing the door fully open behind him, he spotted Shen Yao and Luo Siqi sitting on the sofa. “Hello, I’m Li Zhu, a law student at University B. It’s nice to meet you both.”
“This one’s really handsome!” Huo Jiacheng chuckled. “He looks pretty young too, probably even younger than Luo Siqi. I’d say he’s a university student?”
“That’s definitely the campus heartthrob!” Hu Li exclaimed. “Look at that shy smile; it’s just too cute!”
“Here’s what Li Zhu wrote,” the host announced, reading off the slip. ‘I’m willing to burn my whole candle for the one I love.’”
She raised an eyebrow, grinning. “Oho, looks like we’ve got a hopeless romantic on our hands. So… is he a top or bottom?”
“Any guesses?” she laughed, glancing around.
He Bei propped his chin with one hand. “Come on, isn’t it obvious? He’s clearly a top.”
Luo Siqi poured Li Zhu a glass of water, flashing a bright smile. “I go to the university right next to yours!”
Li Zhu sat down beside him, grinning. “No way, what are the odds?”
By the time Gu Panqiu had settled Jiujiu and stepped out of the bedroom, Li Zhu and Luo Siqi were deep in conversation. Shen Yao sat off to the side and scrolled through his phone in silence while Luo Siqi kept sneaking glances his way.
Without a word, Gu Panqiu sat beside Shen Yao, lowering his gaze as he scrolled through nutrition meal plans for children. Both were absorbed in their own phones as if they were sharing the bench like strangers—close in distance but worlds apart.
Shen Yao had heard the rumors that Gu Panqiu was love-crazed, open, and loose. But when they finally met today, there were no flirtatious quips, no cheeky charm. Instead, Gu Panqiu kept his distance, cool and disinterested with everyone around him.
“Wanna chat?” Shen Yao’s tone was gentle, but there was an edge of curiosity beneath it. “It’s been over a year since your last public appearance, hasn’t it?”
“Yeah. I’ve been focused on taking care of the little one at home,” Gu Panqiu replied.
“You’re raising your son on your own?” Shen Yao asked, curiosity lighting his gaze. “The kid’s father doesn’t help out?”
“We haven’t been in touch since we split.” Gu Panqiu lied again without hesitation. “But my son’s really well-behaved.”
As Gu Panqiu spoke, his words tapered off softly, each syllable laced with an unexpected gentleness.
He came on the show just to earn a living, with no interest in dating. All he wanted was to coast through the month and be a salted fish2 咸鱼 (xián yú): The term originally comes from Cantonese slang for a corpse. Now, it is also a Chinese internet slang term that is used to describe someone who is lazy, unmotivated, and has no intention of doing anything. when it came to love.
Gu Panqiu had seen all kinds of handsome men in his past life, far too many to count. Plenty had shown interest in him, but by now, Heavenly King Gu was completely immune to their charms.
One by one, the guests arrived on set. As the first round of self-introductions began, the production crew signaled that the cameras were officially rolling.
The living room instantly felt packed the moment nine men squeezed inside.
The guests the production team brought in were either loaded or strikingly handsome, each one practically glowing with their own halo.
Gu Panqiu sat in a quiet corner, lazily sipping juice as he half-listened to the guests introducing themselves. After all, mingling clearly was not on his agenda.
“I’m Fei Yang, a fitness coach. I guess I’m probably the oldest guy here,” he reckoned, flexing his biceps for effect. That was all it took to make Chris, the flirty, eyeliner-wearing bottom, squeal like a fangirl.
“My name is Yang Chen, and I’m nineteen this year,” Yang Chen introduced himself brightly. “I love working out, and I’m pretty good at most sports. I’m working as a dance instructor at a studio right now. If you’re into sports too, Brother Fei, maybe we could work out together sometime?”
Chris burst out laughing. “What are you on about? It’s still broad daylight!”
Fei Yang glanced at Chris and questioned, “What’s your name? Maybe we could work out together sometime.”
“I’m Chris, a mixed Chinese and British beauty influencer. My life revolves around just one thing: the pursuit of beauty in all its forms. My Chinese name is Yi Shuaishuai, but you can just call me Shuaishuai.” Then, with a playful glint in his eye, Chris added, “I’m hoping to find a big, tough top who’s domineering, fierce, and loves me loads.”
After saying so, Chris threw a wink at the trainer, as if sending some kind of secret signal to Fei Yang.
Gu Panqiu’s gaze fell on another stunning beauty in the room. His jet-black hair cascaded down his back, and his wide, flowing pant legs trailed on the floor with each graceful step.
Cradled gently in the beauty’s arms was a Golden British Shorthair with striking green eyes. The young man stroked the cat’s head and said, “Hello, everyone. I’m Cui Hang, and I really love cats… That’s why I brought mine along. This is McGonagall, and she’s very well-behaved. I hope he hasn’t scared anyone!”
The kitten in his arms let out a soft meow.
Luo Siqi patted him on the shoulder. “Bringing a cat isn’t anything special since someone in our show even brought their kid!”
Caught off guard by the sudden cue, Gu Panqiu shot a quick look at Luo Siqi, then replied in a hushed tone, “Yeah, my little one would really like McGonagall.”
Shock rippled through the group, and someone blurted out, “A child? You’ve been married before?”
“I’ve never been married.” Gu Panqiu stirred his coffee absentmindedly. “I’m a single dad. My little one is three and a half years old, and he’s been by my side all his life.”
“Wait, you’ve got a kid, but you’ve never been married?” Yang Chen burst out. “Then where’d the kid come from?”
Gu Panqiu tilted his head, an amused smile curving his eyes. “I gave birth to him, that’s where.”
The author has something to say:
This story starts off a little slow, but don’t worry, once the main couple starts interacting, things will really pick up steam.
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