Chapter 6: Three Years Old

　　Night had deepened, and the guests in the observation room were preparing to call it a day. Soft murmurs rippled through the room as they pored over their notes, piecing together the day’s events in a final recap.

　　“From what we’ve seen,” the host surmised, “Xiao Luo might have a bit of a crush on Shen Yao. Yang Chen and the lawyer are clearly drawn to each other, while Chris and the fitness coach spent the whole evening chatting and even shared a kiss. As for Shen Yao… I think he’s taken a liking to Xiao Gu.”

　　“He might just be curious, especially when his curiosity knows no bounds,” He Bei noted. “After all, Gu Panqiu’s not quite the same as he used to be.”

　　Still groggy, He Bei let out a long yawn. But the moment the music reached his ears, he wordlessly pushed himself up from the table once more.

　　Gu Panqiu was not yet in peak shape, so rather than tackling a song that required powerhouse vocals, he chose a love song that leaned more on technique, “Notorious.”

　　“At 19, I wrote in my diary: I want to roam the world and grow old with you.”

　　“Mom tore my diary to shreds, saying love’s an illusion, a luxury we can’t afford. But I told her a world without love is gray and lifeless.”

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　　“Gv 20, ol ayd vbaswtb vbl aykd-psyjle dktbv. Zsw rasxkple xl qsalhla, yde R pyke ds xyvvla okde sa pvsax, R’e pvyu cu uswa pkel.”

　　“Gv 21, R zkv vbl nydezlp sd xu ckavbeyu nyjl, elnzyakdt vs vbl osaze: xu zshl qsa usw kp alyz. Jwv usw pyke R’x dsvsakswp dso, ds zsdtla osavbu sq zshl.”

　　“R pyv kd y nyql, osdelakdt bso usw nbydtle.”

　　Ohld kd bkp dlo cseu, Tlyhldzu Ikdt Qw’p pkdtkdt pvkzz clokvnble yzz obs blyae kv.

　　Gp bkp sze qydp zkjle vs pyu, zkpvldkdt vs bkx pkdt xyel usw oydv vs qyzz kd zshl yzz shla ytykd.

　　“Ebyv es usw vbkdj, Jlkclk?” vbl bspv iwlpvksdle, lulp pryajzkdt okvb nwakspkvu. “R vbswtbv kv oyp… pwarakpkdtzu tsse!”

　　Tl Jlk czkdjle ayrkezu, nzlyazu qzssale. “Tl alyzzu nsxrsple vbyv? Rv’p Jlajlzlu-osavbu!”

　　Nw Zys’p taswrxyvl, Tws Kkynbldt, oyp pvwddle. Eykv y plnsde… Qw Vydikw kpd’v vbl xykd hsnyz, aktbv?

　　Back when Gu Panqiu was still in the group, his company had assigned him the lead dancer¹ The author first revealed that Gu Panqiu was the main dancer of his group in Chapter 1, but here he’s suddenly the lead dancer. Not sure why the switch, but I’m just following what the author has written. .

　　Back then, his voice had always teetered on the edge of breaking, so when on earth did he even learn all those vocal techniques?

　　“I hereby declare this the Bridge of the Gods!” He Bei burst into applause. “Both the melody and portamento here are just phenomenal!”

　　Unlike his usual lazy, laid-back self offstage, Gu Panqiu’s presence under the spotlight was ethereal.

　　There was something mysterious about his voice, as if it held countless untold stories. Without a trace of exaggerated expression, he quietly strummed his guitar and sang, already holding the audience spellbound.

　　When the song’s emotions swelled to their peak, he cast a casual glance toward Li Zhu and Zhang Yiming below the stage. Li Zhu jolted as if struck by electricity, his gaze fixed intently on Gu Panqiu.

　　Qiuqiu just looked at me! He’s sending me a signal! Oh god, he’s so hot!

　　After stepping offstage, Gu Panqiu poured himself half a glass of whiskey and took a slow sip.

　　“Did you really compose this?”

　　Shen Yao glanced his way, a faint flutter stirring in his chest.

　　Something was off with him today. It was his first time meeting Gu Panqiu, and they had barely exchanged a few words, yet he already found the guy surprisingly likable.

　　The campus heartthrob slid into the seat beside Gu Panqiu, flashing a boyish grin. “You were seriously captivating just now, Brother. Let me mix you a drink.”

　　Gu Panqiu cast him a glance and remarked offhandedly, “You even know how to do this, Little Brother?”

　　Just that single look was enough to set Li Zhu’s blood rushing.

　　Zhang Yiming joined them with a curious smile. “What are you all chatting about that’s got you so happy?”

　　“Just chatting about hitting the hay early,” Gu Panqiu answered, glancing at the clock—it was almost eleven. “I’m turning in now. Good night, everyone.”

　　“Heading to bed at eleven?” Shen Yao called after him, sounding half-surprised. “You’re done for the night?”

　　“Yeah, my little one will be looking for his dad any minute now,” Gu Panqiu replied, getting to his feet. “See you all tomorrow.”

　　Seeing that Gu Panqiu was not the playful type, Shen Yao liked him all the more for it.

　　That night, the trailer for 5041 dropped, and with it, Gu Panqiu, who had been long absent from Weibo, shot straight to the top ten of the platform’s list of trending topics.

　　“Gu Panqiu’s son? Damn, he’s too cute for words! I just want to pinch his cheeks!”

　　“Holy crap, the scandal-tainted artiste Gu Panqiu is really making a comeback? How is this even allowed?!”

　　“Not gonna lie, this kid’s downright beautiful… Big bright eyes, a high-bridged nose, chubby round cheeks, and a mop of soft curls. He has inherited all of Gu Panqiu’s stunning looks!”

　　“He brought a kid to a dating reality show? Who’s still gonna like him after that?”

　　“You never know, some people might actually be into that. After all, it’s not every day you meet a guy who can have kids.”

　　“Gu Panqiu’s face is a gift from the heavens. Now that he’s back, he could easily make it as a model. As long as he keeps his mouth shut, I’d be happy admiring both his and his son’s good looks all day long.”

　　“Raising a kid? He’s the one who gave birth? Male mother? Well, color me intrigued.”

　　Meanwhile, Gu Panqiu remained blissfully unaware.

　　The liquor had done its job, and he slept straight through until a little past eight. Faint knocks resonated from the door. Through the haze of sleep, he vaguely heard Jiujiu padding off to the bathroom. Still keeping his eyes closed, he slowly pushed himself upright and asked, “Jiujiu, are you hungry?”

　　Jiujiu pried open Gu Panqiu’s eyelids with his tiny fingers. “Daddy, Uncle Camera’s knockin’!”

　　Gu Panqiu made his way to the kitchen to warm up some milk and toast some soft buns for Jiujiu, who sat quietly waiting for breakfast. As the morning buzzed around them, the production crew took the chance to conduct a one-on-one interview with him right there in the kitchen.

　　“What’s your first impression of the guests?” the producer inquired.

　　“They’re all amazing people and incredibly friendly too.”

　　Gu Panqiu slipped a slice of cheese into the freshly toasted bread, added a few slices of sausage and a sprinkle of onion, then folded it in half and cut it into bite-sized pieces for Jiujiu to nibble on.

　　“So, is there anyone who’s caught your eye lately?”

　　Gu Panqiu bit into his toast and gave a slight shake of his head. “I’m not really the type to fall in love at first sight.”

　　The producer pulled up a little app from the production crew on his phone and explained, “If someone catches your eye, just tap the red heart beneath their photo.”

　　Gu Panqiu opened the app out of courtesy, only to find—much to his surprise—two red hearts already glowing next to his own picture.

　　He figured it was just part of the reality show’s setup and paid them no mind.

　　“The original song you performed at the bar last night was incredible. You’ve come a long way this past year,” the producer complimented. “So what have you been up to lately?”

　　“Just busy trying to better myself.” Gu Panqiu grinned and began spinning yet another tall tale. “Practicing my singing, looking after the kid, and hunting for a job.”

　　Jiujiu let out a happy little howl and chomped down the sandwich in one giant bite, his big, round eyes sparkling like those of a tiny squirrel.

　　“Is it tiring to take care of a child all on your own?”

　　The producer found Jiujiu absolutely adorable and gave him a warm smile, but Jiujiu ducked his head shyly and nibbled on his bread.

　　“The little one is really well-behaved, so it’s not tiring at all,” Gu Panqiu answered, glancing at Jiujiu. “He just gets shy quite easily.”

　　“Do you think it’s hard for single dads to find a partner?”

　　Gu Panqiu’s eyes curved into crescents as he chuckled softly. “I’m someone who believes in letting fate take its course, but if he truly loves me, he’ll have to love my son as well.”

　　The snow in the courtyard had begun to melt. Gu Panqiu wrapped Jiujiu’s scarf snugly around his neck, then hailed a car to take them to the aquarium.

　　From the depths of his pocket, Jiujiu pulled out a star-shaped acrylic keychain and dangled it in front of Gu Panqiu with sparkling eyes. “Daddy! Look what I got for Brother Yanyan!”

　　Gu Panqiu crouched down to take a closer look and smiled. “It’s beautiful! Brother Yanyan will definitely love it.”

　　As nerve-wracking as it was to face Fu Yan’s parents, it was Fu Yue whom Gu Panqiu feared most.

　　After all, the original host had made a complete fool of himself in front of Fu Yue. Though he might not have witnessed it with his own eyes, the descriptions alone were enough to make Gu Panqiu want to spontaneously combust from embarrassment.

　　Thankfully, Fu Yue possessed the heart of a prime minister that was big enough to sail a boat in² 宰相肚里能撑船 (zǎixiàng dù lǐ néng chēng chuán): It is a Chinese proverb that is used to describe people who are magnanimous or extremely tolerant. , and probably did not concern himself with a small fry like him.

　　Right on cue, the very thing Gu Panqiu dreaded showed up. The moment the parents gathered at the aquarium entrance, he spotted CEO Fu in a black coat, stepping out of a Bentley with his younger brother in tow.

　　These two brothers were every inch the scions of a top-tier wealthy family straight out of a novel—each blessed with a strikingly handsome face that could stop hearts.

　　Fu Yue stood well over six feet tall, his cool-toned pale skin contrasting with his thick eyebrows that shadowed deep-set eyes and a sharp, aristocratic nose. As he walked hand in hand with his younger brother, who was cloaked in a cape coat, the pair looked every bit like male models posing for a high-fashion magazine.

　　Waving a little flag high above her head, Teacher Tang announced, “It’s time to form groups! Kids, find a buddy and pair up in twos. And parents, please stand with your little one!”

　　Fu Yan spotted Jiujiu from afar. With his little backpack bouncing on his back, he dashed over and shouted at the top of his lungs, “Jiujiu!”

　　Fu Yue followed closely behind Fu Yan as they approached. Catching sight of Gu Panqiu, he inquired without a flicker of emotion, “You’re not shooting your variety show today?”

　　Gu Panqiu responded, “I took a day off. Nothing’s more important than being with my son.”

　　“If you’re not working, how do you expect to support your son?” Fu Yue’s brow furrowed. “You were fired for personal reasons, right? The company must be demanding a hefty penalty from you.”

　　“No need to trouble yourself over me, CEO Fu.”

　　Walking just behind the children, Fu Yue and Gu Panqiu watched as Jiujiu held out his gift to Fu Yan. “Wow!” His eyes lit up. “You made this?”

　　“Uh-huh!” Jiujiu chirped. “It’s for you, Big Brother.”

　　The moment Fu Yan heard that, he perked right up. He rummaged through his backpack and piled cookies and chocolates into Jiujiu’s lap. “Oh! And this one’s my favorite toy right now!” he announced proudly. “I’m giving it to you!”

　　Then he pulled out a long golden python toy from his bag and stuffed it into Jiujiu’s arms.

　　Jiujiu froze for a moment, his eyes widening. Three seconds later, tears began to spill down his cheeks as he turned to look for his dad. “Daddy, snakey…” he whimpered.

　　Upon seeing what was going on, Fu Yue stormed over and grabbed the golden python toy. “Fu Yan!” he barked. “I swear, one of these days I’m throwing out every single one of your weird toys! Didn’t I already warn you not to scare him with snakes?!”

　　Fu Yan pouted, then took Jiujiu’s hand in his own. “Sorry, Jiujiu… I actually thought the yellow snake was kind of cute…”

　　A light laugh escaped Gu Panqiu as he lifted the toy snake from Fu Yue’s hands and crouched beside them. Looking into Jiujiu’s tear-filled eyes, he reassured, “Don’t be scared, Jiujiu. This snakey is fake.”

　　Only then was Jiujiu able to muster enough courage to pinch the snake and whisper, “Fake snakey…”

　　Fu Yan gave a quick nod. “It’s just a toy snake, see? Nothing to be scared of!”

　　Jiujiu fought to hold back his tears as his small face clouded with a grieved yet astonished expression. The sight stirred a tenderness in Fu Yue’s eyes. 

　　He’s so well-behaved, unlike my gremlin of a brother.

　　Before long, his eyes were drawn to the flying fish gliding through the tank. It was his first time at an aquarium, while Fu Yan had been here ten times and knew all the fish by heart.

　　Standing beside Jiu Jiu, he pointed eagerly. “That one’s a flying fish, and it looks like a pancake! And that’s a sea turtle. It walks sooo slow.”

　　Jiujiu pressed his little hands against the glass and whispered a soft “Wow” as a flying fish darted right over his head. He leaned back and looked up, his beautiful eyes wide and glued to everything beneath the water.

　　“Look, there’s a dolphin show over here!” Fu Yan exclaimed. “Big Bro, Big Bro! Pleeease, can we watch the dolphins?”

　　Fu Yue threw a quick glance over his shoulder. “Shall we go?”

　　Gu Panqiu replied, “I don’t mind. If the little ones want to go, then let’s go.”

　　They arrived late and ended up in the last row, sitting just a little too far from the dolphins for their liking.

　　Seeing Jiujiu’s eager gaze fixed on the fruit juice stall, Gu Panqiu quickly slipped away to fetch some refreshments for the kids. In no time, the two little ones found their spots—one to Fu Yue’s left, the other to his right—snuggling up like tiny shadows beside him.

　　A tall man sat right in front of Jiujiu, blocking his view completely. Growing a little restless, the boy craned his neck and peeked around, trying desperately to catch a glimpse.

　　Noticing his struggles, Fu Yue lifted Jiujiu effortlessly onto his shoulders, steadying him with a firm grip on his hand. “Can you see now?”

　　Jiujiu beamed happily. “Yeah! I can see now!”

　　Gu Panqiu came back with four cups of juice just as the dolphin show was drawing to a close.

　　With just one glance, he spotted CEO Fu with Jiujiu perched on his shoulders, clapping gleefully as they watched the dolphins. And next to them stood Fu Yan, a golden python coiled around his neck.

　　Both had slightly lighter hair, so the three figures seen from behind looked like a father walking with his two sons.

　　He was genuinely surprised to discover that Fu Yue, who always seemed so cold and distant, was actually someone who doted on kids.

　　Smiling to himself, he sat down and opened his arms wide. “Come here, Jiujiu.”

　　Jiujiu threw himself into his arms, then turned back to Fu Yue with sparkling eyes. “Thank you, Uncle! The dolphins were so, so pretty!”

　　He reached out and ruffled Jiujiu’s hair affectionately. “No worries.”

　　Handing Fu Yue a cup of juice, Gu Panqiu stated, “This one’s for your little brother.”

　　Fu Yue let out a soft “Oh” and passed it to his brother without another word.

　　With a smile, Gu Panqiu handed him another cup. “Here, this one’s for you.”

　　Fu Yue let out a bewildered “Oh,” his eyes flicking between Gu Panqiu and the cup.

　　Pigs must be flying today. Not only did Gu Panqiu no longer want to toss him into the sea for the sharks, but he was actually buying him juice now.

　　Gu Panqiu took a few sips of juice, then looked up to find Fu Yue still staring at him. “Got something to say?”

　　Fu Yue questioned, “…Jiujiu really isn’t Lu Yao’s son?”

　　“And Fu Yan’s not yours?” Gu Panqiu snorted.

　　Frustrated, Fu Yue snapped, “He’s not! How many times do I have to say it?”

　　Gu Panqiu chuckled, “Relax, I’m just teasing. What’s wrong, CEO Fu? Are you three years old this year too?”