Extra Chapter: Let’s go see Linda

Shu You had never imagined that he could actually return.

Early in the morning, when he woke up on his familiar and comfortable bed, he was completely bewildered.

A large black-eared dog suddenly pounced on him, enthusiastically licking his face. Shu You exclaimed with joy, “Linda!”

The dog didn’t know he had traveled through time, but it happily woke him up.

Shu You leaped out of bed and excitedly ran around the house.

Great.

This 80-square-meter mortgaged house.

Great.

This 100-yuan water and electricity bill.

He’s back.

Wait, did he really come back or was it just a dream?

Shu You quickly checked the time to see if it was still the same day he traveled. The time hadn’t changed.

At that moment, the doorbell rang.

Linda quickly darted out and barked at the front door. Shu You hurried over to open the door and saw Lin Mingxu standing there, wearing a complex expression.

“Lin Mingxu.”

Shu You was astonished.

What’s going on? He came back, and he even brought his family along?

Linda barked, “Woof woof woof.”

Lin Mingxu looked at him, then glanced around the house, and finally looked at the dog.

“So, this is the one you say goodnight to every day.”

His expression wasn’t very pleasant, but he remained calm. “So, that’s how it is.”

“Um…”

Shu You suddenly felt guilty.

At that time, he didn’t know how to explain his time travel, and he was afraid that Lin Mingxu would think he was just a character from a book and had delusions. So, he used the excuse of a dream to cover it up.

Now that everyone has traveled together, how can he find an excuse?

Shu You: “Let me explain.”

“No need,” Lin Mingxu raised an eyebrow. “When I came here, an old man with a white beard told me that we are just temporarily here for a few days and will soon return.”

“Oh,” Shu You replied.

So, that’s how it is.

A mix of complex emotions suddenly surged within him. Shu You stood still for a few seconds, but Lin Mingxu had already entered the house and leisurely walked around all the rooms.

Just as he expected.

Shu You’s house wasn’t big, with two bedrooms and a living room, decorated in a comfortable and pleasant manner. It was also very clean and tidy.

In fact, it was overly tidy to the point of feeling minimalistic.

But from the open cabinet doors, there were still plenty of things inside, everything that should be there.

It was the kind of place that clearly showed it was occupied by a single person who could take care of their own life without relying on others.

Lin Mingxu walked back, placed a large hand on Shu You’s shoulder, and looked down at him. “Shu You.”

Shu You snapped back to reality. “Ah, what’s wrong?”

“Show me your world, how about it?” Lin Mingxu said.

Shu You: “…”

These words seemed to touch a certain place in his heart, and he suddenly became lively again. He enthusiastically said, “Sure.”

Although the two worlds were very similar, there were still some differences.

The delicious shops downstairs, the discounted items in the nearby supermarket, the beautiful flowers in the nearby park, and the different feelings brought by the local environment.

The whole day, Shu You walked around with the dog, accompanied by Lin Mingxu, exploring here and there.

After returning home, Shu You habitually collapsed on the couch and murmured to himself, “So much fun.”

It turned out that the familiar places and familiar scenery, which he had grown accustomed to, were now imbued with new colors because of Lin Mingxu’s presence.

“Woof woof woof.”

Linda ran to his side and found a spot on the couch, squeezing herself next to Shu You and lying down.

While adjusting her posture, she kept a close eye on Lin Mingxu.

What’s going on? Why isn’t this man leaving?

Lin Mingxu took off his coat and hung it up. When he turned around, he only saw the couch completely filled, with no place for him at all.

Hmm.

Because Shu You lived alone, there was only a double-seater couch in the house.

Lin Mingxu paused for a moment, then calmly spoke, “Are you hungry?”

“Let’s eat, let’s eat.”

After wandering for so long, I’m really hungry. Shu You was about to get up when Lin Mingxu suddenly grabbed him. “Shu You.”

Shu You: “Ah.”

“We’re only staying here for a few days.”

Shu You: “Yeah.”

“You can’t take the money you’ve saved with you.”

Shu You: “Darn.”

That’s really how it is. He came back just to stay a few days, and he won’t be able to come back again. So, why cook and save money?

With this realization, Shu You waved his hand and said, “Let’s not cook, let’s go out to eat.”

They left Linda at home and went to a nearby restaurant.

Linda: “Hey, they’re going out without me.”

Once they were seated at the nearby restaurant, Shu You spoke seriously, “Lin Mingxu, I’ve figured it out.”

“I’m not holding back anymore.”

Lin Mingxu: “What?”

“I’m not holding back anymore.”

Shu You repeated those four words and slammed his bank card on the table. “Today, I’m going to have a big feast.”

Lin Mingxu: “…”

Luckily, he didn’t misunderstand.

After eating their fill, they returned home.

Shu You went back to the couch, and just as Lin Mingxu was about to join him, a black-and-white figure quickly dashed past him and took the other seat on the couch.

After sitting down, the figure wiggled its butt and cast a light glance at him.

Lin Mingxu: “…”

This dog seems to be a Border Collie.

Lin Mingxu calmly suggested, “Should we take a nap on the bed?”

“Okay.”

Shu You stretched his arms and pouted playfully. “But I’m a bit tired.”

“I’ll carry you.”

Lin Mingxu naturally walked over, faced Linda’s surprised gaze, and carried Shu You away.

Carried away, into the bedroom, closed the door, all in one go.

Linda: “Uh-oh, someone is stealing my owner.”

With a start, she quickly jumped off the couch, ran to the bedroom door, and opened it.

Well, she’s a Border Collie. How could she not know how to open doors?

The doorknob squeaked and opened.

On the bed, Lin Mingxu turned his head. “…”

Almost forgot, a dog is a dog, and a Border Collie is a Border Collie.

With his buttons half undone, he walked over with a stern face, locking eyes with Linda for three seconds.

Lin Mingxu: You leave.

Linda: I’m not leaving.

And then the negotiation failed.

Linda took advantage of an opening, squeezed through his legs and the gap of the door, and swiftly jumped onto the bed. She nudged the half-asleep Shu You with her nose and bit onto the corner of the blanket, covering up the scene.

Lin Mingxu: No, no, considering that Shu You is only here for a few days.

Lin Mingxu held back.

Luckily, the bed was big enough.

So, on the left side of Shu You was Linda, with her head nestled in his embrace.

On the right side was Lin Mingxu, his strong arm wrapped around Shu You’s waist.

As Shu You drifted off to sleep, he felt a bit warm.

Pushing on the left side, it was furry.

Pushing on the right side, it was warm.

Shu You: Did he end up in an animal world?

With a drowsy look, he opened his eyes and saw a dog head on his left and a man’s head

on his right. At this moment, neither side noticed that he had woken up; they were just looking at each other.

That gaze, that look, that gaze.

Shu You was puzzled. “What are you guys doing?”

“Nothing.”

Lin Mingxu stiffened for a moment, then casually said, “Shu You, before you leave, do you want to make arrangements for your dog?”

“Oh, right.”

Shu You suddenly realized. “If you hadn’t mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten.”

Linda: “…”

He took out his phone and started making a call.

After the call, Shu You turned back and patted Linda’s head, reluctantly saying, “Ah, just the thought of leaving her, I really can’t bear it.”

“Well then.”

Shu You looked up at Lin Mingxu. “I’ll spend more time with her these days.”

Lin Mingxu: “…”

For some reason, he felt like he was lifting a rock only to drop it on his own foot.

Therefore,

In the following days, Shu You would bring Linda with him wherever he went. He bought snacks, toys, and canned food for Linda, and even topped up his membership card at a nearby pet store. Previously, he had thought it was not cost-effective and unnecessary, but this time he spared no expense.

A few days later, they both had a feeling that it was time to go back. Shu You held onto Linda tightly, his eyes slightly red. “When she was only two months old, she was so tiny.”

“At four months old, she got gastroenteritis and became skin and bones. I fed her goat milk powder every two hours.”

“At six months old, she got spayed, leaving a long scar on her belly.”

“Wuwuwu…”

Lin Mingxu fell silent.

Apart from the time they had a conflict, it was the second time Lin Mingxu had seen Shu You so heartbroken.

As if possessed by a ghost, he spoke up, “We can take her back.”

Shu You: “What?”

His eyes widened, and he stared at Lin Mingxu without blinking. “Lin Mingxu, what did you just say?”

“We can take Linda back with us.”

Once he opened his mouth, everything flowed smoothly. Lin Mingxu explained to him, “When the old man with a white beard brought me here, he said I could make a wish.”

This wish could only be made when they were about to leave.

Lin Mingxu thought that he would make a wish for Shu You to be happy and joyful for a lifetime.

But without Linda, his happiness would be missing a piece.

Although it was just a small piece.

But how could Lin Mingxu bear to see his little sunshine being blocked by dark clouds?

Moreover, the old man said his abilities were limited, so it would be best not to make too big of a wish.

After much consideration, perhaps bringing a dog back could work.

He took a deep breath, looked at the dog in Shu You’s arms, still baring its teeth at him, and turned his head away. He said, “We can ask him if it’s possible to make a wish to take it back with us.”

Lin Mingxu had made up his mind.

They would make a doghouse in the garden when they returned.

The dog would not be allowed in the bedroom.

Not allowed on the bed.

Not allowed on the sofa.

And most importantly, not allowed to compete with him for Shu You’s attention.

Shu You was overjoyed.

He fluttered like a little bird and without saying a word, he threw himself into Lin Mingxu’s arms and raised his head to peck him on the face.

Then, to express his joy, he quietly leaned towards Lin Mingxu’s ear and shyly said a sentence.

“Lin Mingxu, let’s ride the merry-go-round tonight.”

Lin Mingxu “…”

Forget it, this dog is worth it.

–The End–

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ry’s note: Finally, He is Too Stingy, This Sand Sculpture Cannon Fodder is finished~

Thank you to all the readers who have patiently waited for updates and supported it.

I hope you enjoy reading it. ♡＾▽＾♡

See you in the next translation~ °ღゝ◡╹)ノ♡

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Extra Chapter: Campus Childhood Sweetheart

Lin Mingxu injured his leg while playing basketball.

It was a friendly match organized by the neighboring school, but the court was not well leveled. Lin Mingxu made a three-point shot and fell to the ground. When he got up, his bones were aching, and that’s when he noticed a bloodstain on his calf.

Shu You was watching the game on the sidelines and instantly teleported over, surprisingly calm, and scored the first 120 points.

Fortunately, the bones were not seriously injured.

He just needed a few days of rest, and it would be best not to move around too much.

The homeroom teacher agreed without hesitation, temporarily assigning Shu You to sit with Lin Mingxu, and chose to turn a blind eye to their whispered conversations during class.

So Shu You pretended to listen attentively in class while writing small notes.

Does it hurt? (Shu You)

No, it doesn’t hurt. (Lin Mingxu)

What do you want to eat for lunch? (Shu You)

Lin Mingxu will bring it from home.

Shu You immediately felt envious.

Forget it, forget it. It must be because of Lin Mingxu’s injury.

But he still passed a note of his own.

Envious. (Shu You)

Envious of what? (Lin Mingxu)

Envious of losing your freedom to choose, hmph. (Shu You)

Lin Mingxu: “…”

The bell rang, and Shu You pushed Lin Mingxu’s wheelchair to take him to the restroom.

Since they were both boys, there was nothing to be shy about.

Shu You pushed him all the way to the farthest corner and extended his arm as a support while turning his head in the opposite direction.

“Are you feeling better?” (Shu You)

“Not yet.” (Lin Mingxu)

“Are you feeling better?” (Shu You)

“Not yet.” (Lin Mingxu)

“Hey, why isn’t it better yet?” (Shu You)

Lin Mingxu returned to his wheelchair expressionlessly and said, “It’s better now.”

At that moment, a voice from the neighboring stall said, “I’m not feeling better yet, wait for me.”

Shu You: “…”

No, you shouldn’t make random promises to others.

As they were about to leave, the neighboring stall finally opened. A tall boy walked out and was surprised, “Oh, it’s not my friend.”

“Sorry, sorry,” he chuckled. “I thought my friend was urging me from outside.”

The three of them walked out of the men’s restroom, and indeed, a slightly shorter boy was waiting outside. He seemed impatient and said, “Why are you so slow? I still need to buy something.”

“I’m coming, I’m coming.”

The two of them walked away, one in front and one behind. For some reason, Shu You felt a subtle atmosphere between them.

He couldn’t describe it, but it seemed different from ordinary classmates.

Lin Mingxu silently averted his gaze and said, “Let’s go back to the classroom.”

The whole day, Shu You was confined to Lin Mingxu’s side, until the afternoon physical education class.

Of course, Lin Mingxu automatically took a leave for PE class. Shu You joined the rest of the students for warm-up exercises, and from the field, Lin Mingxu saw Shu You chatting and laughing with a boy next to him.

The other boy was a new transfer student who had just joined yesterday.

First glance.

The two of them engaged in lively conversation.

Second glance.

The transfer student said something that made Shu You burst into laughter.

Third glance.

The teacher asked them to line up, and the transfer student happened to be next to Shu You. While running, he was still talking.

Lin Mingxu: “…”

He turned his head away and stared intently at a small yellow flower under the tree on the edge

of the field.

Perhaps due to the changing weather, the little yellow flower looked withered and would soon wither completely.

With a gust of wind, the little yellow flower fell.

Lin Mingxu “…”

When Shu You turned his head after running laps, he saw Lin Mingxu in his wheelchair at the edge of the field, staring blankly at an empty spot, as if lost in thought.

That kind of absent-mindedness with no apparent reason.

Something stirred in his heart for no reason, and Shu You turned to the transfer student and asked, “Are you free tonight?”

“Yes.”

The transfer student couldn’t help but smile when he saw Shu You. “You just have to come find me.”

Shu You nodded vigorously and agreed.

PE class is over, followed by dinner, and then the torment of evening self-study. After finishing, the Lin family came to pick them up. Shu You got into the car with Lin Mingxu and didn’t forget to roll down the window, saying to the transfer student not far away, “Don’t forget, okay?”

Lin Mingxu heard it and said expressionlessly, “He’s the new transfer student.”

“Yeah,” Shu You wondered, “He sits in front of you.”

“We’re not close,” Lin Mingxu turned his head away and said, “I’m not like you, making friends so quickly.”

“Lin Mingxu, you should build good relationships with your classmates,” Shu You said.

“It’s not like that,” Lin Mingxu replied.

Many people were willing to take care of him. It was like a role reversal. If Shu You got injured, many people would show concern. But he only wanted Shu You’s help. He couldn’t say those words.

Shu You smiled brightly, “Since I worked so hard, sacrificing my time and energy for you, shouldn’t you give me something in return?”

“Mm,” Lin Mingxu nodded.

“I’ve put so much effort into it. Shouldn’t you commend me for something?” Shu You continued.

“Mm,” Lin Mingxu nodded again.

“Then, what are you planning to give me?” Shu You asked.

Silence followed, and Lin Mingxu finally managed to say, “What do you want?”

“Just remember it,” Shu You said confidently, “When I accumulate enough, give me something big.”

The conversation was almost over, and the driver in the front said with a suppressed smile, “Young Master Lin, we’ve arrived home.”

Shu You didn’t feel awkward at all and replied, “Okay, you can get off. I need to go back.”

Their homes were on the way.

Unexpectedly, Lin Mingxu reached out to stop him and said, “Wait.”

Shu You asked, “What’s wrong?”

After a pause, Lin Mingxu casually said, “You can sleep at my house tonight. I’ll give you a little extra.”

“Oh,” Shu You hesitated for a moment but agreed.

They had been best friends for many years and were used to sleeping over at each other’s houses. They just needed to inform their own families, and they even had a lot of clothes at each other’s houses.

Shu You pushed Lin Mingxu into the Lin residence, and as expected, he was welcomed by everyone.

The housekeeper auntie exclaimed, “Ah, Shu You is here!”

Shu You greeted her, “Hello, Auntie Wang. How is the ointment I bought for you last time?”

Mrs. Lin said, “Ah, Shu You is here!”

Shu You greeted her, “Hello, Auntie. How come you look younger again? If you continue like this, I’ll have to call you ‘little sister’.”

Mr. Lin said, “Ah, Shu You is here!”

Shu You greeted him, “Hello, Uncle. Have you successfully lost weight recently? You’re almost as slim as Lin Mingxu.”

Even before Lin Mingxu reached the living room, Shu You was already surrounded by everyone.

At that moment, a cold wind blew, and a yellow withered leaf floated down above Shu You’s head.

Lin Mingxu “…”

Because Shu You was present tonight, three extra dishes were added to the dinner.

The four of them sat happily at the dining table, and Mr. and Mrs. Lin kept serving food to Shu You.

“Shu You, eat more. Why are you all height and no meat?”

“Oh, you should eat more. You’re still growing, and you need to keep up with your nutrition.”

Shu You accepted everything and finished all the food.

After the meal, he pushed Lin Mingxu to the garden to aid digestion.

The Lin family’s garden was well-tended by Mrs. Lin and always maintained a good state. However, it was difficult to combat the effects of the weather. Most of the flowers had reached the end of their blooming period, and some evergreen trees thrived, presenting a beautiful view.

As they walked, Shu You glanced at his watch and said, “Lin Mingxu, I’ll go out for a moment.”

“What are you going to do?” Lin Mingxu raised an eyebrow.

“I…” Shu You hesitated for a moment and vaguely replied, “I need to take care of something.”

Lin Mingxu frowned, “You can’t tell me what you’re doing?”

“Cough.”

Shu You was still being mysterious, saying, “I’m going to the transfer student’s office for something, I’ll be back soon.”

The transfer student.

Those three words ignited a fire within Lin Mingxu.

His fingers stiffened, but he casually said, “Then come back early.”

“Okay.”

Shu You happily ran out through the back door of Lin’s house.

In fact, he had considered staying at Lin’s house tonight to make it easier for him to go out and do something.

Lin Mingxu returned to his room.

On his way through the living room, Lin’s parents asked him, “Where’s Shu You?”

“He went out to buy something.”

Without hesitation, Lin Mingxu said, “He’ll be back soon.”

“Oh.” Lin’s parents didn’t think much of it. “Then go to the kitchen and ask Aunt Wang if we have any fruits at home. If we do, prepare a fruit platter for when Shu You comes back, and you two can eat together.”

Fortunately, Lin’s house had five floors with an elevator installed during the renovation.

After Lin Mingxu finished in the kitchen, he entered the elevator and went back to his room alone.

Shu You’s school bag was casually placed on his bed.

Lin Mingxu casually opened a book and, after ten minutes, had only turned one page.

No, he definitely wasn’t curious about what Shu You and the transfer student were doing.

Twenty minutes passed, and Lin Mingxu hadn’t even turned a single page.

No, he definitely wasn’t overthinking because of this.

Thirty minutes, one hour, one and a half hours, two hours passed, and Shu You finally returned.

He rushed in, looking dusty and tired, and sat on Lin Mingxu’s bed, picking up a toothpick from the table and poking at a watermelon. “Oh my goodness, I’m exhausted.”

“Their house is so far away, luckily I caught the last bus.”

Lin Mingxu’s heart sank. “You went to their house?”

“Yeah.”

Shu You subconsciously replied, then suddenly his eyes shifted, and he covered his mouth. “Uh, I just went to get something.”

Lin Mingxu wondered why he couldn’t get whatever it was at school tomorrow.

Shu You started eating the fruit, one bite after another, continuously and with his head lowered, as if afraid of being seen by Lin Mingxu.

Lin Mingxu had already seen it, and it made him feel even more frustrated. He said, “Slow down, don’t choke.”

“It’s fine, I won’t.”

Shu You ate even faster, and half the plate of fruit ended up in his stomach. Lin Mingxu gritted his teeth and, seeing that the door was closed, suddenly said, “Shu You.”

His voice lowered, very soft. “Come here.”

Shu You didn’t understand, so he looked up at him.

There was something familiar in his eyes.

Shu You blushed immediately. “What are you doing?”

He muttered as he walked over, but his body reflexively leaned in. Lin Mingxu reached out and held him in his wheelchair.

Shu You didn’t dare to sit down forcefully. He braced himself, with one hand still covering his mouth, as if there was something he needed to hide, making the atmosphere even more peculiar.

Lin Mingxu’s other hand pressed against his waist, pushing him down and securing him in place.

“I want to kiss you.”

The person who had been teasing him all day was now finally in his arms. Lin Mingxu couldn’t help it anymore. “I want to kiss you now.”

“But we agreed to wait until after the college entrance examination.”

“This will affect our studies.”

Lin Mingxu didn’t want to think about all that anymore. “Just one kiss, let’s give it a try.”

Shu You still disagreed.

His mouth was still covered, and his eyes, when visible, were big and bright, incredibly beautiful. His long, delicate eyelashes blinked, sparkling like little stars. Lin Mingxu couldn’t help himself, so he embraced his waist and drew closer and closer.

Shu You quickly evaded, saying, “No, not today.”

“Why not?”

Lin Mingxu froze, and a bunch of thoughts suddenly rushed through his mind. “Why not?”

“Because…”

Shu You stuttered, “Because…”

“Because of the transfer student.”

Lin Mingxu couldn’t hold back his frustration and gritted his teeth, asking, “Don’t you want to give it a try with me?”

“What the heck?”

Shu You was stunned. “What are you thinking, Lin Mingxu?”

“…”

Lin Mingxu realized he misspoke and turned his head away without saying a word.

Shu You was puzzled for a moment. “No, Lin Mingxu, what are you thinking?”

Lin Mingxu turned back to look at him, his tone filled with resentment. “Then what were you doing today?”

“Uh…”

Shu You stumbled.

He hesitated for a while before stuttering, “Aren’t you injured?”

Lin Mingxu said, “So?”

“Weren’t you almost injured to the bone?”

Lin Mingxu replied, “So?”

“The transfer student’s family owns a famous restaurant that specializes in beef bone soup.”

Shu You mustered up his courage and said loudly, “I just wanted to learn how to make beef bone soup from them so that I could make it for you to replenish your strength.”

He had originally planned to surprise the other person with this secret, but it was revealed that same night.

Lin Mingxu was speechless.

And Shu You’s lips were slightly red.

There was also a faint fruity scent mixed with another familiar scent.

The scent that was often present in the kitchen.

Lin Mingxu “…”

He understood.

Lin Mingxu was at a loss for words for a while, but after a moment, he directly asked, “What did you go out to eat?”

“Just a little bit.”

Shu You blinked his eyes. “I only had a tiny bit.”

“Because their beef bone soup is so delicious, and it’s a night market nearby.”

So he had tried a bit of barbecue, stinky tofu, and crayfish. He had just a taste of each.

He even ran around downstairs when he came back to get rid of the smell on his clothes.

Lin Mingxu had nothing to say.

And Shu You’s lips were slightly red.

This time…

He didn’t avoid it.

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Extra Chapter: Couple Variety Show (2)

After a few days of running a farmhouse inn in a remote village, the production team finally returned to the big city.

Amidst a joyful and harmonious atmosphere, all three pairs of guests successfully withstood the severe tests and reached the next level.

The group drove to a large shopping mall. At this moment, the streets were bustling and lively. The production team got off the car with their bags and hurriedly entered the mall, attracting a crowd of onlookers. They quickly increased their pace and headed to the third floor, where the prepared activity area was located.

Upon entering, it turned out to be a supermarket.

“Here it is.”

At this moment, the host popped up, saying, “Since you couples are starting a life together, here, each group will be given 100 yuan. Use it to buy daily necessities, with a maximum of two items per kind, no more than that.”

“Just a friendly reminder, for every five additional items you purchase, you can have an extra chance at the lucky draw.”

“I don’t understand the rules of the lucky draw. What does it mean?”

“It means that each group will be given 100 yuan, and the more items you buy within the category of daily necessities, the more chances you will have for the lucky draw. That’s what it means.”

“Thanks for the translation earlier. It’s not that difficult to understand, hehe.”

“Hey, it seems like Shu You and Lin Mingxu are likely to win this challenge too. If the show continues like this, let’s have a two-hour lung capacity competition.”

“Yeah, we want to see some kissing.”

The live comments have already taken a strange turn. Shuyou and Linyuan enter at this moment and start discussing.

“Lin Mingxu, you push the cart.”

Shu You thought for a moment and said, “Daily necessities.”

Strictly speaking, there are quite a few items that can be classified as daily necessities, but the production team surely wouldn’t make it that easy. There is a high probability that these items will be useful later.

Therefore, Shu You rolled up his sleeves and went through everything he needs for clothing, food, housing, and transportation in his mind.

Toothpaste and toothbrush combo on special for 9.9 yuan.

Buy one get one free toilet paper roll on special.

“Wait a minute.”

Shu You suddenly stops his hand reaching for the toilet paper and earnestly opens the calculator on his phone.

“Well, this one is 4.8 yuan per pound, I’ll choose this.”

[“Wow, so you can calculate discounts like this based on weight. It seems like I bought things at a slightly higher price.”]

[“Haha, my mom has already picked up the calculator, hehehe.”]

They bought a bunch of stuff, and Lin Mingxu’s cart was filled with quite a lot. He raised an eyebrow and asked, “Is the total price enough?”

“It’s close.”

Shu You thought for a moment and calculated in his mind, “It’s enough, hehe, it seems like we’ll even have a few yuan left.”

Shu You already understood the routine of the production team. They would give money during tasks, so whatever they buy belongs to the guests themselves.

Shu You walked around the snack aisle and grabbed a bag of potato chips.

They were the first to finish. Shu You and Lin Mingxu calculated the bill, holding a steel coin while waiting at the entrance.

Shu You suddenly had an idea and winked at Lin Mingxu, “Do you prefer heads or tails?”

LLin Mingxu’s eyebrows twitched, and he suddenly asked, “Is there a special meaning?”

Shu You blushed and coughed, “What kind of special meaning do you want?”

So the man leaned closer and whispered a few words in his ear.

Shu You: “…”

Damn, today he’s going to fight against evil forces.

And then…

He lost, the evil force won.

Shu You was shocked, “How did you know it was heads?”

Lin Mingxu remained composed and said, “I guessed.”

“I don’t believe it.”

To ensure a comfortable sleep at night, Shu You decided to be a sore loser, “Best out of three, let’s do it two more times.”

In the second round, Lin Mingxu lost.

Shu You immediately became energized, “Quickly, the last time.”

The cameraman felt that something interesting was happening here and moved the camera over.

[“Ah, what are they doing?”]

[“So cute, it seems like they’re flipping a coin.”]

[“It feels like with Shu You around, we’ll never be bored.”]

The coin was thrown high into the air, spinning and falling down. Shu You’s eyes were quick and his hand fast, he caught it and nervously asked, “So, which side do you think it is this time?”

“Just wait a moment.”

Shu You had a pillar behind him, and there was no one nearby. Suddenly, Lin Mingxu approached, bent his arm, and took Shu You behind the pillar when the cameraman turned his head.

The cameraman hesitated, should he follow them or not?

He remembered the director’s instructions, to prioritize the overall situation.

Behind the pillar, Shu You looked up and gestured with his eyes, asking, “What’s wrong?”

Lin Mingxu lowered his gaze slightly, then leaned down and kissed the corner of Shu You’s left lip.

He then kissed the corner of his right lip.

With a deep gaze, Lin Mingxu said with hidden meaning, “Front is acceptable, and reverse is also acceptable.”

Shu You thought, “Lin Mingxu, are you that kind of person? Can’t you pretend not to understand?”

Five minutes later, the two finally came out.

[“What the hell? Why couldn’t we see anything from our esteemed selves?”]

[“No, is it really that intense? It’s just a kissing scene. I’ve seen worse.”]

[“They underestimated us. Hurry up and serve us the main course, or else we’ll kneel down and beg you.”]

After three rounds and two wins, Shu You rubbed his face hard, trying to hide some traces. Coincidentally, the other two couples finished settling the bill.

Based on the overall evaluation, Shu You’s group took first place.

The production team brought the lottery box and started the draw.

Shu You’s group could draw three times, while the others could only draw twice.

The prizes weren’t valuable items, just some ordinary little trinkets and funny toys. Shu You drew two red string bracelets, and the last one was…

“What is this?”

It was a colorful piece of paper, a printed discount coupon.

Shu You looked at both sides and murmured, “Maserati 5 yuan discount coupon.”

[“I can’t believe it. I won one too, and I immediately tore it up, hahaha.”]

[“It’s really speechless. Can I afford a Maserati with just this 5 yuan discount coupon?”]

[“You’re right. What we lack is not a 5 yuan discount, but a Maserati.”]

[“But wait, look at Shu You.”]

[“Great!”]

Shu You was overjoyed and turned to hand the coupon to Lin Mingxu, saying, “Take it. We’ll use it for our next Maserati purchase.”

Lin Mingxu: “…”

It’s hard to say this thing is useless, but if you say it’s useful, it does seem to have its use.

And it’s especially useful in their household.

[“Hahaha, this is too funny. Only Shu You’s family could make use of it.”]

[“My silence has dried up. Is this the first time the Maserati 5 yuan discount coupon has been used?”]

[“That’s right, Shu You will buy a Maserati and won’t let go of the 5 yuan discount.”]”]

The other two couples drew keychains, a pair each.

Everyone put them on immediately. Shu You reached out and examined the red string on his wrist. In the next second, another hand wearing the same red string reached out and intertwined their fingers.

The barrage went crazy again.

[“Ahhhh, I haven’t had lunch yet. I really don’t want to be too full, sob sob.”]

[“Red string, it’s the red string.”]

[“Although, if it were a bit thicker…”]

[“Why can I understand the previous comments?”]

Carrying their personally purchased daily necessities, the guests got back into the car. After a bumpy ride, the production team took them to the mountains on the outskirts.

[“So that’s why they bought daily necessities. Hilarious.”]

[“Turns out it’s camping, tents, and bonfires. Hehehe.”]

[“Same rule as before, each family gets a travel bag.”]

Inside were tents and some simple picnic items, enough to spend a good night.

And as usual, they had to do it themselves.

Shu You was quite good at it, but the production team provided a simplified instruction manual. After reading it for a while, Shu You turned around and found that Lin Mingxu had already started setting up.

He seemed to really know what he was doing.

Before long, a two-person tent was set up and it looked very sturdy.

Shu You blinked and said, “Lin Mingxu, how did you…”

When studying abroad, the man who works diligently is particularly handsome. After finishing work, Lin Mingxu explained, “I went camping with my classmates.”

“I see.”

Shu You suddenly realized and looked at Lin Mingxu, who was very skilled in setting up their temporary home.

“Oh no, now I’m drooling over Lin Mingxu again.”

I feel like if anything happens, Lin Mingxu can really be relied upon.

Yes, that’s the feeling. Even if they’re thrown into the wilderness, they can still survive with perfect cooperation.

Now all that’s left is eating and drinking.

Of course, the production team continued to keep the guests busy.

They had some simple ingredients and cooking utensils for camping. The utensils were usable, but they had to exchange the ingredients with something.

This is where the household items they bought earlier come in handy.

They can bring out the extra items to exchange for food ingredients.

Shu You was really good at it. In terms of daily life, I’m willing to call him the first-place winner.

I’ve taken so many notes. I feel like I can finally save some money this month.

That’s right, my mom praised me for being sensible.

Sure enough, Shu You took out the items and picked some things to exchange.

In the end, the two of them decided to have a barbecue.

After all, it’s a reality show about love and marriage. The production team didn’t turn it into a real survival show. They thoughtfully provided barbecue ingredients and charcoal.

Shu You skillfully sprinkled cumin while muttering to himself.

As he sprinkled, he kept muttering.

The cameraman couldn’t resist his curiosity and approached a little closer.

Shu You said, “Lamb skewers, beef skewers, chicken skewers, they all smell delicious.”

[“I’m so hungry.”]

[“I couldn’t help but order takeout.”]

The aroma wafted from afar, and even the production team holding their boxed meals couldn’t help but drool.

After finishing cooking, Shu You specially gave some to the other two couples.

Time flew by, and it was already evening. The bonfire was indeed lit, and the six of them sat on folding chairs, chatting around the fire.

“Hey Shu You, do you and your boyfriend plan to get married?”

As they chatted, it naturally led to topics related to love and marriage.

The flickering flames were warm. After a moment of thought, Shu You nodded and answered, “Yes, we do. After all, when you reach this stage in a relationship, marriage is inevitable.”

[“Hahaha, what a funny thing to say.”]

[“But it’s not wrong to say that. After all, those who are not proponents of being single will eventually get married when they’re in a relationship, hahaha.”]

[“Wait, I want to know at what stage they’re at.”]

The guests couldn’t help but ask, “So, do you have any ideas about the wedding?”

Shu You smiled shyly, “We are just debating whether to find sponsors to support us or directly advertise for our own company.”

He opened his small mouth and said, “The benefactor fathers can also see my seamless integration of ad lines.”

[“Hahaha, is he really that meticulous in planning?”]

[“Ah, ah, I want to watch their wedding live stream.”]

[“It’s really hilarious that Lin Mingxu saved on advertising fees, hahaha.”]

Lin Mingxu looked over with a slight dark line, and Shu You smiled, showing his teeth. “Don’t worry, I won’t turn the wedding vows into ad lines.”

[“Hahaha, poor Lin Mingxu.”]

[“By the way, it’s actually a good deal. Hiring Shu You is equivalent to hiring Lin Mingxu.”]

[“Who can afford to have Lin Mingxu say ad lines?”]

[“So in the end, it will become a competition among sponsors to see who can get a relationship with Lin Mingxu for free. I’m also happy with that.”]

Lin Mingxu decided not to seek sponsors and found that promoting their own company is the most cost-effective.

But later, they can let Tang Le release some news and receive more red envelopes. Shu You would agree to that.

He couldn’t help but look towards Shu You’s direction. In the flickering firelight and under the starlight, the smile on the young man’s face became even more radiant and brilliant.

Yes, all the red envelopes should go to Shu You, for fun.

The evening chat came to an end, and everyone went into their tents to sleep.

Shu You was no exception.

However,

Just as he entered the tent and hadn’t even settled down, Lin Mingxu was quick to close the tent’s zipper.

The light went out too.

What followed was

Facing forward, then backward, then forward again, then backward.

In the end, it doesn’t matter, it doesn’t matter.

---

Extra Chapter: Couple Variety Show (1)

Shu You and Lin Mingxu participated in a dating variety show.

Three couples were divided into three teams and filmed separately in different places, with tasks arranged for them, all livestreamed.

For some reason, Shu You drew a lot that led to a particularly distant place.

First, a five-hour flight, then a five-hour train ride, followed by another five-hour bus ride. They finally arrived at a rundown station in a county town, and Shu You felt uncomfortable sitting down.

He stumbled and grabbed Lin Mingxu’s arm, his face pale, and his mouth filled with exhaust fumes. “Lin, Lin Mingxu, I can’t do this anymore.”

Lin Mingxu suggested, “Should I carry you?”

“No,” Shu You replied.

Suddenly, Shu You snapped out of it, realizing how embarrassing it would be to livestream in such a state.

With only three hours left until the designated meeting time set by the production team and still a long way to go, Shu You took a deep breath and calmed down. As he looked up, he saw a cow outside the station.

The old yellow cow stared at him for three seconds and let out a “moo.”

Lin Mingxu made a call to find transportation but couldn’t find any. He put away his phone and searched for Shu You. He found Shu You squatting in front of a wall, engaged in a strange conversation with the cow, exchanging sounds.

“Moo.”

“Mooo, mooo, mooo.”

“Moo.”

“Mooo, mooo, mooo.”

The owner of the cow came out from a nearby shop and said, “Hey, what are you doing? Stay away from my cow.”

Shu You blinked his eyes and asked, “Brother, is this cow used for pulling carts?”

The cow owner replied, “Yes, that’s right.”

“Brother, can you give us a ride?” Shu You asked.

The cow owner said, “If you pay, sure. But wait a moment, where are you going?”

Shu You showed him the address, and the cow owner paused for a moment, saying, “It’s quite a distance.”

Five minutes later, as the viewers of the livestream opened their mobile phones, computers, and tablets, they saw the blue sky, white clouds, and a slowly moving ox cart on the dusty road.

In front of the cart was a rural uncle, and behind the cart were two people.

Shu You on the left was smiling, while Lin Mingxu on the right had a blank expression.

The comments flooded with laughter, wondering what happened. Did Lin Mingxu’s Bentley break down? Where did they throw it? I’ll go pick it up, haha!

[“Hahaha, I can’t stop laughing!”]

[“Yes, it’s a rented ox cart by Shu You, haha! But I’m curious how he knew this person was going to the same place, haha!”]

At this moment, even the cow owner couldn’t help but ask, “Hey, young man, what a coincidence.”

“Not really,” Shu You smiled and said, “The cow told me you’re from that place.”

The cow owner had been raising cows for decades and had never had a conversation with a cow before.

Could it be that this was the legendary talking cow?

[“What the heck, hahaha! How did Shu You communicate with the cow, hahaha!”]

[“I don’t believe it. Maybe the production team arranged it in advance. But Shu You did “talk” to the cow for quite a while, haha!”]

The ox cart’s speed was not slow, mainly because the road conditions were decent. Though it wasn’t paved with asphalt, the cement ground was relatively smooth.

After an hour of bumpiness, they finally arrived at their destination. Shu You stretched and twisted his waist to recover, then turned to look at Lin Mingxu.

Lin Mingxu stepped down from the ox cart without changing his expression, maintaining an aura befitting a high-end business banquet.

A barrage comment appeared at this moment.

[“Hahaha, is this the first time Lin Mingxu has been this close to a living cow in his life, haha!”]

The man was dressed casually today, carrying a travel bag. After getting off the cart, they bid farewell to the cow and Shu You specifically ran to the side of the cow’s head, whispering something in its ear.

The cow let out another “moo,” as if saying goodbye.

[“Alright, I’m too curious. What exactly happened?”]

Shu You chuckled and said, “Just kidding, I can’t really talk to cows.”

He pointed in the distance and said, “There was something hanging at the back of the cart with the village’s name printed on the packaging.”

[“Oh, I see. But it’s really hilarious, hahaha! Look at the expression of that ox cart big brother, hahaha!”]

[“Shu You can always come up with something funny no matter where he goes, hahaha!”]

Lin Mingxu “…”

He has a keen observation, worthy of praise.

[“Hahaha, what’s going on? There are four big words written on Lin’s face, “With Great Honor,” hahaha!”]

[“Let me secretly say that I am an employee of Lin’s company. Every time Shu You comes, we all have so much fun, hehehe.”]

The ox cart left, and the two finally found the meeting point. After waiting for a while, the other two couples arrived.

One couple is a popular young actress and her newlywed husband, both actors.

The other couple is a veteran singer and a famous variety show celebrity.

Except for Lin Mingxu, everyone else is a professional entertainer. They know how to liven up the atmosphere, and with Shu You’s presence, it’s even more amazing.

There are jokes and witty remarks one after another, making the program’s director ecstatic, thinking that the viewership ratings will definitely soar.

When people gather, it’s time to think about lunch. But this kind of program is meant to keep the guests busy. Not only do they not provide meals, but they also give each team only fifty yuan ($7.8) and let them buy their own ingredients.

There is a nearby market.

When the money was given to Shu You, his eyes lit up with joy. He looked at the fifty yuan and said to Lin Mingxu, “Great! What do you want to eat?”

[“Hahaha, I wonder if the program team did it on purpose.”]

[“Fifty yuan is too much for Shu You. Even if you give him ten yuan ($1.56), he can make three dishes and a soup.”]

[“That’s right, I remember last time Shu You said he could make three egg pancakes with just one egg, hahaha!”]

[“Actually, it’s possible. Who makes egg pancakes with only eggs? You still need to add flour. If you only use eggs, that’s just frying an egg.”]

[“I know, have you tried those egg waffle snacks from the milk tea shop? You don’t even need one egg to make them. Don’t ask me how I know, after all, I’m just a working person.”]

Lin Mingxu didn’t hesitate at all. “Buy whatever you want to eat.”

“Alright.”

Shu You excitedly headed straight to the market. As soon as he entered, he accurately found the meat section and locked onto fresh pork ribs.

“Half a pound of spare ribs.”

“Ten yuan for five hundred grams.”

“This vegetable doesn’t look fresh. Look, the leaves are yellow. Give me a 20% discount. I’ll take it.”

[“I don’t know why, but my mom came over to watch too and praised Shu You for being good at bargaining.”]

[“That’s right, my whole family is watching this program.”]

Shu You carried the bags and miraculously still had twenty yuan left in his hand.

There was a small shop at the entrance of the market. Shu You handed the bags to Lin Mingxu and went inside. He came out shortly after, holding two bottles of AD calcium milk in his hand.

“I used to drink this when I was a child.”

He inserted a straw and handed one bottle to Lin Mingxu, who raised an eyebrow and took a sip.

“It’s very sweet.”

Shu You smirked, “Actually, buying a whole pack would be cheaper, but there are only two of us, so never mind.”

[“I can smell the dog food. It’s so sour.”]

[“I used to drink this when I was a child. (Crying) Actually, I still drink it now.”]

[“Damn, Shu You is really tempting when it comes to spending money.”]

The two of them carried the purchased ingredients and walked back side by side. The cameraman specifically gave a close-up shot, and from a distance, the couple looked extremely compatible.

When they returned to their lodging, the production team had set up the kitchen for them to cook their own meals.

Shu You naturally took charge without saying a word and went in to stir-fry. While he was cooking, Lin Mingxu suddenly walked in, with his sleeves rolled up, revealing his strong and powerful forearms. He handed a warm towel to Shu You.

Shu You didn’t even turn his head and casually tilted it to let Lin Mingxu wipe off the fine sweat on his forehead.

[“How annoying.”]

[“Ah ah ah, I can’t take it anymore, I can’t take it anymore, I can’t take it anymore.”]

After wiping off the sweat, the food was almost done. It looked and smelled delicious. Lin Mingxu took care of serving it.

Six guests sat around the same large round table, and the others couldn’t help but look over.

“Shu You, what delicious food did you make? It smells so good.”

“Wow, Shu You, you actually made all meat dishes. Is fifty yuan enough? I feel like I’ve only bought a few items and it’s all gone.”

“Shu You, can I have a bite, just a small bite?”

“I also want to have a bite, just a small bite, wu wu.”

Shu You generously said, “You can all have some, let’s eat together.”

Next to them was Xiao Hua Song Yimei. She and her husband were not good at cooking and couldn’t resist anymore. She quickly thanked them and picked up her chopsticks to pick a large piece of braised pork. As soon as she took a bite, her whole person froze.

Tears welled up in her eyes, “I don’t know if it’s because I’ve been dieting for too long, wu wu wu, why is it so delicious?”

“Shu You, is this really made by you? I’ve eaten dishes made by a professional chef before, and this tastes almost the same.”

“Not bad.”

Shu You nodded and admitted, “You figured it out. I used to work under a chef.”

“Wait a minute, Shu You, how many times have you worked? It feels like you’ve done everything.”

“I didn’t do everything.”

Shu You thought for a moment and humbly smiled, “I’ve only worked in dozens of different jobs.”

[“Ha ha ha ha ha, the legendary king of part-time jobs.”]

[“Master one job, master all jobs. Shu You is too amazing, ha ha ha ha ha.”]

The other three people also started using their chopsticks.

One bite for you, one bite for me. They quickly finished all the dishes on the table. In the end, all of Shu You’s dishes were completely eaten, while the dishes they made themselves were still leftover.

“Shu You,” Song Yimei teared up, “where do you live? Can I come over to have meals in the future?”

Shu You blinked and hadn’t spoken yet when Lin Mingxu suddenly stood up and said, “I’ll go wash the dishes.”

“Hey, wait.”

Everyone scrambled to argue, “We’ll wash the dishes, we’ll sweep the floor. Shu You, you rest. President Lin, you accompany Shu You, that’s enough.”

[“It’s the treatment of a chef, ha ha ha ha ha.”]

[“To be honest, cooking is very tiring. If the food really tastes that good, I’m willing to wash the dishes too.”]

[“Washing dishes isn’t tiring if you have a dishwasher, but cooking delicious food really requires a lot of effort.”]

[“Oh no, I’m starting to envy President Lin.”]

Everyone enjoyed this meal happily. After finishing, Shu You yawned and was about to find a place to take a nap when Lin Mingxu suddenly said, “Let’s go to the rooftop.”

It was the rooftop of the rural courtyard, usually used for drying grains. It was clean and tidy because it had been converted into a homestay. There was a double swing chair and a large parasol.

The sun was just right, the temperature was comfortable, and after eating and drinking their fill, lying here would make one almost melt with comfort.

The two of them sat down together and leaned against the back of the chair.

The camera continued to follow them, but they had gotten used to it. Lin Mingxu wrapped his arm around Shu You’s shoulder, sharing the weight. Shu You instinctively leaned closer and rested his head on Lin Mingxu’s shoulder.

“Lin Mingxu,” Shu You yawned again and murmured, “I’m a bit sleepy.”

“If you’re sleepy, then sleep.”

Lin Mingxu adjusted his position again to make him more comfortable. However, Shu You stubbornly shook his head, “No, I feel like I’m a mushroom now. Mushrooms don’t sleep.”

Lin Mingxu “…”

Not only did Shu You call himself a mushroom, he also raised his arm and waved it randomly, saying, “Look at how big the sun is. I’m going to melt from the heat.”

“Ah, ah, ah.” Suddenly, he became worried and said softly, “What if I melt? What would you do?”

Lin Mingxu “…”

He gritted his teeth and said, “I won’t do anything.”

“If you melt in the sun, I’ll shovel you up and put you in the freezer.”

Shu You “…”

No, Lin Mingxu actually went along with his train of thought.

So Shu You murmured again, “But I’m afraid of the cold.”

Lin Mingxu calmly replied, “Then I’ll come inside and accompany you.”

Live Audience

[“I’m dying of laughter, is this their usual style? Hahaha.”]

[“This conversation, I surrender, it’s like aliens arrived on Earth for the first time.”]

[“I feel like if we dissect Shu You, he might really be an alien.”]

The two of them are talking nonsense, not making any sense. The director behind the monitor is utterly confused, wondering if they’re secretly giving signals.

Finally, as Shu You kept talking, he became more and more sleepy. Slowly, he turned his body and nestled himself in Lin Mingxu’s embrace, finding a comfortable position and closing his eyes.

His eyelids were closed, but his mouth wasn’t, and he mumbled, “Aren’t you going to sleep?”

Lin Mingxu raised an eyebrow, “You sleep first.”

“No, I want to sleep with you.”

Shu You opened his right eye, then his left eye, then closed both eyes at the same time, his eyeballs still rolling around. “Together.”

“Okay.”

Lin Mingxu gave in because he realized that if he didn’t sleep, Shu You wouldn’t sleep either.

With the thought that they still had filming in the afternoon and it would be best to rest at noon, Lin Mingxu also closed his eyes, planning to take a short nap.

And then…

Shu You’s hand reached over.

They had done everything couples would do, and they were even planning to register for marriage. So Shu You, half-asleep, without any hesitation, felt like he was at home. He reached out with one hand, then the other, skillfully touching Lin Mingxu’s abs, resting his head on his chest, and smacking his lips.

As if possessed, he blurted out, “Boyfriend, you’ve been getting better and better lately.”

[“Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah.”]

[“Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah.”]

[“Ah ah ah ah, can we watch this? Ah ah ah, too bad their clothes aren’t off.”]

[“Can I buy an advanced screening ticket to watch it, can I?”]

Lin Mingxu stiffened slightly.

As someone who took Shu You’s compliment of being good-looking and having a good physique as motivation for his recent workouts, he absolutely wouldn’t admit to it.

So Lin Mingxu casually said, “Oh, really?”

“Yeah.”

Shu You’s eyes were closed, but his hands were already mischievously exploring his own body, touching wherever.

As he continued touching, Lin Mingxu became even more tense.

His face turned dark, and he lowered his voice, gritting his teeth as he whispered in Shu You’s ear, “Aren’t you supposed to be sleeping?”

“Sleep, sleep, sleep.”

As soon as Shu You heard his slightly hoarse voice, he immediately understood, his face turning red. “I’m going to sleep now.”

He quickly retracted his hand, trying to sleep seriously, but it was already too late.

Lin Mingxu directly pressed him down on the rocking chair, fiercely kissing him for five minutes before letting go.

Director: “Quickly, quickly, pull the camera back, otherwise we won’t be able to broadcast it.”‘

---

Extra Chapter: Lin Mingxu Go Back

On the second morning, Lin Mingxu woke up alone in bed.

Subconsciously, he reached out, but only felt emptiness. He immediately opened his eyes and looked around the room, but couldn’t see his significant other.

Lin Mingxu furrowed his brows slightly and noticed that something was amiss in the room.

It seemed like something was missing.

Something was missing.

Suddenly, a sense of unease filled the man’s heart. He quickly got up, pushed open the bedroom door, but found himself in the room he had lived in since childhood, not the master bedroom on the third floor that he and Shu You had chosen.

This is…

Based on this alone, he couldn’t be sure of anything. But next, Lin Mingxu searched the entire house and found no signs of Shu You living there.

To be precise, there were only traces of himself and his parents in the house, as if it hadn’t been renovated and there was no other person. It was as if his rebirth was just a dream.

A dream.

Lin Mingxu tightly clenched his fingers, forcing himself to calm down.

It couldn’t be a dream. Dreams wouldn’t be so vividly real. He couldn’t have created Shu You in his dream.

Shu You was one of a kind.

Shu You, Shu You, Shu You.

Thinking of his beloved in his heart, Lin Mingxu couldn’t help but worry.

If this was another twist of fate, then where was Shu You? Would he disappear?

If he went missing, Shu You would definitely be worried.

Stay calm, Lin Mingxu. You need to stay calm. Panicking won’t solve anything.

He decided to go about everything as usual.

He changed into a suit, got dressed, casually had breakfast downstairs. The driver was already outside with the car.

Lin Mingxu looked at the driver’s appearance, and his heart sank.

Even the driver was the same as before.

He got in the car, the vehicle started, slowly leaving the residential area and merging onto the street.

As they drove, the man casually asked, “Zhang, do you know Shu You?”

“Shu You?”

The driver shook his head, smiled innocently, and said, “I don’t know. Mr. Lin, do you have something to do with this person?”

Lin Mingxu replied, “No.”

In no time, they arrived at the company, which was the new location Lin Mingxu had moved to. He had bought a building here that corresponded to his previous life, causing his heart to sink further.

Assistant Song Yu approached him, saying, “Mr. Lin, we have the company’s regular meeting this morning, and you have a scheduled meeting with Mr. Zhang at ten o’clock.”

It wasn’t Tang Le.

It felt like being abruptly thrown from a comfortable and warm spring into an icy and snowy landscape. Lin Mingxu felt a chill all over his body, but he forced himself to remain calm and said, “Understood. Cancel everything that can be canceled. I have some urgent matters to attend to.”

“Alright, Mr. Lin.”

Song Yu was somewhat puzzled, but quickly complied. Lin Mingxu walked swiftly into his office, without a word, sat in front of the computer, and began searching for information.

Shu You was so popular, and there was already a separate page about him on the encyclopedia.

But he found nothing.

The last trace of hope in his heart was shattered. Lin Mingxu’s expression became terrifyingly gloomy, and he stood there motionless.

It was only when Song Yu knocked on the door that he snapped out of it.

The man’s eyes had become as dark as a sky filled with dark clouds, ready to unleash a storm, just one step away from collapse. Song Yu didn’t notice anything amiss and simply reported, “Mr. Lin, Mr. Ming is here. He said he has something to discuss with you.”

Mr. Ming.

Upon hearing that particular surname, Lin Mingxu suddenly remembered something. He gritted his teeth and said, “Let him in.”

Song Yu exited, and not long after, Mr. Ming walked in. It was indeed Ming Qiuyun.

Ming Qiuyun was very polite to him, as if they weren’t very familiar. “Hello, Mr. Lin. Thank you for making time to see me. After you mentioned that you wanted to renovate your house, I went back and checked the layout plan of your residential area and made a few design proposals.”

Lin Mingxu looked up at him and interrupted him directly, “Do you know Shu You?”

“Shu You?”

Ming Qiuyun was taken aback and murmured, “I don’t know him. Does he also need renovation?”

“No,” Lin Mingxu replied coldly, feeling frustrated and with no outlet to vent. He continued, “If he’s not renovating, then I won’t be renovating either, at least not for now. I’m sorry for making you come here for nothing.”

Ming Qiuyun seemed a bit stunned.

But as someone in this line of work, he had heard many rejections and didn’t give up easily. He tried to persuade Lin Mingxu, saying, “Has another company approached you? You can still take a look at our proposals. Having more options is not a bad thing, right?”

“I really won’t be renovating,” Lin Mingxu said, averting his gaze and dismissing him. “You may leave now.”

Without Shu You, what’s the point of renovating a new house?

Before his rebirth, it was to fulfill his parents’ wishes. After his rebirth, it was to create a home together with Shu You.

Now, he had lost both his past life and Shu You.

He no longer had any intention to renovate.

Lin Mingxu’s attitude was so evident that Ming Qiuyun could only leave with regret. However, before he could turn around, Lin Mingxu suddenly called out to him, “Wait.”

Shu You had mentioned Ming Qiuyun many times, and Lin Mingxu had even suspected if he was somehow connected to Shu You’s ‘dream.‘

But now, as he frowned and carefully observed Ming Qiuyun, his mind was completely blank.

His mind was filled with nothing but Shu You, unable to think of anything else.

Shu You had delicate and adorable features, with lively and expressive eyes. When he made funny faces, he became vivid and lively.

Shu You had a slender and tall figure, with slender arms and legs, and a bit of flesh on his buttocks. It always made Lin Mingxu can’t help but want to feed him more.

Shu You was a rising star in the entertainment industry, gaining more and more fans. Now, he had to wear hats and masks whenever he went out to avoid being recognized.

Images of their moments together kept emerging in his mind, preventing him from thinking of anything else.

So, Lin Mingxu raised his hand, rubbed his forehead, and said expressionlessly, “I’m sorry, you can leave now.”

Ming Qiuyun.

What was wrong with this person? Was it amusing for him to be jerked around like this?

Although he bid him farewell politely, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of exasperation. As a result, he quickened his steps as he left.

Ming Qiuyun quickly arrived at the underground parking lot, got in his car, and drove away from Lin Mingxu’s company. At that moment, his phone rang. It was a call from a friend, asking if he wanted to have dinner together.

It was a close friend, and they spoke without reservations. Ming Qiuyun had his Bluetooth earphones on, and couldn’t help but complain about the events of the day. “Damn, who knows what he meant? One moment, he wants renovations, and the next moment, he stops you for no reason. It’s so baffling.”

“Hey,” his friend chuckled. “Didn’t you say he’s a handsome guy and single? How come you’re already complaining after just one night?”

“He is indeed a handsome single guy,” Ming Qiuyun replied irritably. “Really good-looking. You’d say the same if you saw him. And he’s single, of course I was surprised.”

“But I told you last night, that kind of person is not suitable for me. I prefer someone more enthusiastic and younger.”

“Forget it, forget it,” Ming Qiuyun said with a sigh. “I think my neighbor, that fitness guy, is becoming more and more appealing. Next time, I’ll ask him out for dinner and give it a try. You know, there aren’t many high-quality options in our circle. I want to enjoy dating while I’m still not old.”

“Hahaha,” his friend laughed heartily. “I wish you find someone soon.”

On the large bed in the Lin family’s home, Shu You had another dream.

He dreamed of a peculiar scene that he couldn’t understand at all.

In the dream, he stood by a great river, with fierce and turbulent waters. There were no bridges or ferries nearby. He stood on the bank, gazing at the scenery when suddenly, a fisherman appeared not far away.

It was an old man with a long white beard, wearing a bamboo hat and smiling. He asked Shu You, “Young man, which way is the south?”

Shu You was taken aback.

He pondered for a while and honestly replied, “I don’t know, I’m not a local.”

“…”‘

The old fisherman cleared his throat and said, “Good child, you’re so honest. I’ll grant you a wish.”

Shu You’s spirit stirred, and he replied, “Give me a winning lottery ticket.”

“It’s not about money.”

“Then give me a superpower that will make me wealthy.”

“I said it’s not about money.”

“Oh.”

Shu You expressed a slight disappointment and said, “I thought you were a fairy.”

“Fairy or not, they can’t do everything. Thank you.”

The old fisherman became unhappy. “Anyway, you have to make a wish that I can fulfill.”

“But how do I know if you can fulfill it?”

Shu You blinked his eyes and honestly said, “What if I make a wish that you can’t fulfill, or another wish that you still can’t fulfill? What then?”

The old fisherman was perplexed. “Make a wish for love, like making your boyfriend love you forever.”

“No need.”

Shu You shyly said, “Things are good as they are now.”

He didn’t doubt whether Lin Mingxu would love him or worry about the uncertain future. Whatever the future held, he would face it bravely and positively.

The old fisherman shook his head. “Then I’ll go.”

Shu You had a strange dream.

At six o’clock in the morning, Shu You abruptly woke up from the dream that felt both real and unreal.

Subconsciously, Shu You turned on the bedside lamp and turned his head to look at the man beside him. The man hadn’t been awakened by his sudden movement.

Not only that, but Lin Mingxu’s eyes were rapidly moving, as if he was also dreaming.

And it seemed to be an intense dream.

Wait a minute, this is the legendary phenomenon of sharing a dream while sleeping together.

Once this thought emerged, Shu You suddenly wasn’t sleepy anymore. He casually dismissed the scenes from the dream and quietly turned over, leaning close to Lin Mingxu’s ear, and whispered, “Lin Mingxu.”

Lin Mingxu didn’t wake up.

“Lin Mingxu,” Shu You suppressed his laughter and playfully said in a low voice, “You’re a vegetable now, wake up, your family is calling you.”

Lin Mingxu’s eyes moved even more vigorously.

“Lin Mingxu.”

Shu You struggled to hold back his laughter. He jokingly said in a mysterious tone, “Wake up quickly, your search history has been exposed.”

Lin Mingxu still didn’t wake up.

Shu You felt annoyed. It seemed that Lin Mingxu had a strong mental fortitude and wasn’t afraid of such things at all.

He had no tricks left and felt that something was off. After waiting patiently for a while, Lin Mingxu finally woke up.

The man suddenly sat up, seemingly startled. He was covered in cold sweat, as if he had just had a nightmare.

Regaining his senses, Lin Mingxu turned his head abruptly and looked at Shu You. “Shu You?”

“It’s me, it’s me.”

Shu You formed a heart shape with his hand, smiling and saying, “Free wake-up service, please recognize the Shu You brand.”

Lin Mingxu remained silent, only fragments of words could be heard, not complete sentences.

He was just unable to bear the nightmare of returning to the previous world, experiencing heartbreak for the first time, and feeling the pain like his heart was shattered.

After getting drunk, he fell asleep.

When he woke up again, he had come back.

He had returned.

Back to the world with Shu You.

Lin Mingxu couldn’t help but tightly embrace him.

“Shu You.”

His voice sounded like surviving a disaster, like a great celebration, like holding onto the most precious treasure.

Shu You was stunned. Lin Mingxu really had a nightmare.

He felt embarrassed that while Lin Mingxu was having a nightmare, he was playing around.

Shu You quickly hugged him back and earnestly said, “I’m here, I’ve always been here.”

As if to guarantee something, he repeated sincerely, “I’m here, oh, I won’t leave you.”

After coming to this realization, he realized something.

This world was real.

His feelings, the people around him, his affection—it was all real.

In this real world, there were no plotlines.

He truly no longer dwelled on those things and gained the courage to move forward.

As long as he bravely walked on, made choices, lived, liked, and loved.

“Mmm.”

After a while, Lin Mingxu finally responded in a low voice. Then he slightly loosened his arms and gazed at the person in front of him, placing a kiss on the corner of the young man’s lips.

“Shu You.”

Lin Mingxu turned off the bedside lamp with a click.

At that moment, he suddenly had a strong urge.

An urge to confirm.

To confirm the other person’s existence.

To confirm his own existence.

So…

Familiar and trembling waves surged up. Shu You didn’t have time to be puzzled as he was swept into it, bouncing on the crest of the waves.

Over and over, and over again.

Finally, he heard the burning breath of the man by his ear and the suppressed, deep whispers.

“Don’t leave me.”

“Mmm.”

“Don’t run away from home.”

“Mmm, mmm, mmm.”

Yes, the Lin family was also harmonious today.

It was truly wonderful.

---

Extra Chapter: Talk Show and Open

On the evening of the beginning of spring, Shu You was performing at a theater in the neighboring city.

“Hello, everyone. I’m Shu You.”

He already had many fans, and there were also dedicated audience members who came all the way to this city to support him. Several fluorescent signs were raised in the audience, with his name written on them along with his English name.

“Last time on the show, I mentioned that my boyfriend had succeeded in his business venture, so I can’t make jokes about his entrepreneurial endeavors anymore.”

“Somebody left me a huge comment saying it’s a pity and they still want to hear them.”

“To be honest, I also really want to share them, but I can’t contradict myself.”

Laughs

At this moment, a kind laughter emerged from the audience, and people were whispering to each other, “Is this the same variety show where Shu You gained popularity?”

“Me too, me too. Let’s exchange WeChat and send each other Shu You’s emojis.”

On stage, Shu You paused for a moment and continued, “But my boyfriend helped me solve this problem.”

He held the microphone in his left hand and slightly raised his right hand to show everyone the engagement ring on his finger. With a smile, he shared, “He proposed to me, and now he’s my fiancé.”

“Ah, as expected.”

“Displaying affection, displaying affection is Shu You’s traditional project. Criticizing openly, showing affection secretly.”

“Here we go, I came here specifically to hear jokes about Shu You’s boyfriend. It’s so satisfying to see it live.”

“Sister in the front row, I’m different from you. I’m a fan of Shu You’s husband, and Shu You is my wife.”

“So, now I can continue with jokes about my fiancé.”

Shu You blinked playfully and said, “In the future, I can even tell jokes about my husband.”

“But the unfortunate part is, he really succeeded in his business venture, so now I can’t find any flaws in him.”

The audience members said, “Damn it, this display of affection is too much.”

“After all, he’s good-looking, tall, and a kind-hearted person. He succeeded in his business venture. In short, I suddenly realized that I unknowingly got myself an exceptionally outstanding boyfriend.”

“But in my eyes, he is still the diligent young talent who was working hard on his business venture.”

At this moment, Shu You paused again and emphasized, “Young, talented.”

“It means that even if he gets older and is no longer as handsome, money will still make up for it.”

The audience burst into laughter.

“For example, at that time, we were very poor, and we lived frugally.”

Shu You cleared his throat, “You know, it’s mainly because I’m thrifty.”

Laughs

“Shu You is so self-aware, haha.”

“Yes, Shu You is the stingiest person I’ve ever met, but fortunately, he’s not as stingy as Scrooge“Scrooge” is a reference to the character Ebenezer Scrooge from Charles Dickens’ novel “A Christmas Carol.” Scrooge is known for his extreme stinginess and reluctance to spend money.. He’s within a normal range of stinginess, haha.”

“Well, thinking about it, if I had the skills of Shu You in managing money, my mom definitely wouldn’t complain about me every day.”

“Being thrifty, I have a lot of experience.”

Shu You smiled and continued, “I told my boyfriend, you know, the water used for washing vegetables can be used to water plants, and the water used for washing hands can be used to flush the toilet.”

“At that time, we had just started living together, so we didn’t know each other well. When I said this, he looked at me with a very puzzled expression, as if I were an alien.”

“But not long after, because the pipes were as old as the house, the drainage got blocked.”

“I immediately demonstrated the seven-step handwashing technique to him and tried to solve the problem by pouring water into the toilet.”

“And then…”

Shu You intentionally paused and looked at the audience, who shrugged their shoulders. “And then, as expected, it didn’t flush.”

“Hahaha, I thought it would flush.”

“Me too, I’m really laughing to death.”

“I took a closer look, and what do you think was the reason?”

Shu You shrugged again, “It turned out I didn’t use enough water.”

“Laughing to death, you never disappoint.”

“You really live up to your name, Shu You. You only use such a small amount of water to wash your hands.”

“I suddenly want to know how much Shu You’s monthly water and electricity bills are.”

“Water and electricity bills.”

Upon hearing their conversation, Shu You chuckled and said, “Just a reminder, there might be coupons for discounted electricity bills from the official provider recently. Remember to take advantage of it.”

The audience responded, “Wow, I’m going to claim it right away.”

“Love it, love it. Watching a comedy show and saving money. My mom praises me for being thrifty.”

“In summary, in the beginning, we had a rough start in life.”

“He’s used to being generous, and I’m more frugal.”

“But the circumstances at that time didn’t allow him to be too generous.”

“So, usually, I spend the money, and he pays, which satisfies both my thriftiness and his generosity.”

The audience commented, making it seem like they were a perfect match.

One responsible for saving, the other for spending.

“So much so that now I think it’s more comfortable to be in a relationship with someone complementary. It’s like two irregular semicircles fitting perfectly together, forming a whole.”

“But…”

Shu You winked mischievously and said, “After all, now I speak with a filter, so it doesn’t count.”

“Hahaha, you admitted it. Showing affection shamelessly, hahaha.”

“Shu You, who is your boyfriend, anyway?”

Even though Shu You occasionally mentioned his boyfriend, he had kept his identity, name, and personal information well hidden.

He wasn’t a celebrity in the entertainment industry and didn’t have paparazzi following him.

Over time, questions about how good-looking Shu You’s boyfriend was, whether Shu You’s boyfriend was made up, and whether Shu You actually had a boyfriend became the famous “Shu You’s Three Questions.”

Today, Shu You had no intention of addressing these questions either.

“I can only say that my boyfriend is real.”

Shu You blinked his eyes and said seriously, “Otherwise, who bought me the engagement ring?”

“What if I bought it for myself?”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

Shu You didn’t hold back and stared at that audience member, smiling mischievously, “Don’t leave right away. I’ll give you an autographed photo later.”

“Hahaha, I’ll remember that, Shu You.”

“Don’t leave after school, Shuyou. Hahaha.”

The performance ended.

Amidst the applause and cheers from the audience, Shu You walked lightly to the backstage area and drank a special throat-clearing beverage.

As he turned his head, he saw Lin Mingxu standing not far away, raising an eyebrow as he looked at him.

“Ahem.”

Shu You knew that Lin Mingxu would come to pick him up today, but he didn’t expect him to arrive so early.

“Did you see it?”

He couldn’t help but cough and proactively asked, “My performance.”

“I saw it.”

Lin Mingxu admitted.

It’s hard to describe the feeling of watching Shu You perform from the audience’s perspective, even though it wasn’t the first time.

But when Shu You mentioned him during the performance, it felt different.

He was like shining.

Radiantly shining.

At that moment, Shu You on stage, under the spotlight, in the eyes of the audience, was magical.

And it firmly captivated Lin Mingxu’s heart.

So…

Initially, the jokes that left him slightly speechless, now he listened to them without any change in expression. After all, everyone knows now that Shu You has a boyfriend, and they are very affectionate.

At least this satisfied some of Lin Mingxu’s inner thoughts.

As for the specifics, it was just an ordinary and private matter of love.

The two of them walked side by side, heading outside.

At the exit, there were scattered spectators leaving one after another. Some sharp-eyed individuals quickly recognized a familiar figure and promptly took photos.

Before long, a new post appeared on a certain online platform.

[LittleMelonLovesEatingMelon: I captured a picture of Shu You and his boyfriend! They really look perfect together. #Picture #Picture #Picture]

Originally, this was just a small account with a few hundred inactive followers. However, due to the post, it quickly made its way to Shu You’s fan page and was even retweeted by his dedicated fans.

The next morning, Shu You woke up feeling a familiar soreness and reached for his buzzing phone by the pillow. It was a call from Wu Youzhe.

“Shu You.”

“Bro, Brother Wu.”

“Shu You, why are you so unenthusiastic today? Did your battery run out?”

Shu You replied, “No.”

Struggling to get up with his sore back, he leaned against the soft cushion on the bed. “I just need to rest today.”

“Don’t do that.”

Wu Youzhe sounded urgent. “You’re on the hot search, don’t you know?”

“It’s just a hot search.”

Shu You didn’t think much of it and sarcastically remarked, “Anyway, I don’t have many fans. It’ll blow over soon.”

“It’s different this time.”

Wu Youzhe raised his voice. “You were seen with someone last night, don’t you know? If you don’t want things to get too complicated, you better handle it quickly.”

“What?”

Shu You was a bit confused.

Last night, he was with Lin Mingxu.

Why did it sound like he was with someone else from Wu Youzhe’s tone?

He quickly hung up the phone and logged into his Weibo account to check.

Hmm, this time the phone didn’t freeze. It seemed like the situation wasn’t too serious.

After reading for a few minutes, Shu You finally understood what had happened.

Perhaps, maybe, he should ask Lin Mingxu if he wanted to go public.

Initially, he thought that involving Lin Mingxu, who was not part of the entertainment industry but rather a businessman, might have an impact on him.

And Shu You was used to being low-key. He had never considered himself a celebrity and still saw himself as that nerdy guy from before.

But now…

Lin Mingxu still hadn’t replied.

Shu You eagerly clicked on the hot search and started reading what people were saying.

[Netizen A: Is this really Shu You’s boyfriend?]

[Netizen B: Does simply walking together mean they’re a couple? Then my brother and I walking together would be misunderstood too.]

[Netizen C: Are you and your brother that close? If so, my friend, be brave, okay?]

[Netizen D: Wait, this guy looks somewhat familiar.]

Enter the all-knowing detective netizen.

They claimed to be able to uncover anything, whether it be the filming locations of fleeting scenes in movies and TV dramas, clothing and accessories, home decor, or even well-hidden celebrities. They could find out everything.

And today, the netizens were just as efficient in digging up information.

[Netizen D: Found him! It should be this person.

Their body type, hairstyle, and side profile all matched, except for one thing. This person seemed to have come from a wealthy family since childhood, while Shu You mentioned that his boyfriend had only recently achieved success after a period of struggle.]

[Netizen E: I also found some traces while digging deeper. I’m a bit excited. This is my first time actively participating in the gossip frontline.

Not only did I find some information about this person, but I also found evaluations from his classmates during his school days.

Wow, he attended an extremely expensive private school and was practically the real-life version of a campus heartthrob.

Both in terms of appearance and abilities, he was outstanding. Oh no, oh no, if I were Shu You, I might also like him.]

[Netizen F: Hold on a second, let’s not jump to conclusions. Could it be that Shu You’s story has been artistically enhanced? Perhaps there are some compromises for the sake of performance, which might not be entirely true.]

That statement is a bit delicate.

Below, there were clamoring crowds of onlookers. Suddenly, a furious fan of Shu You exclaimed, [What do you mean? Are you saying that Shu You fabricated a story for performance?]

[Netizen G: I didn’t say that. I just mentioned artistic embellishment. Maybe the real experience was adapted. And besides, it might not necessarily be the person he mentioned. It could be someone else.]

The topic started to go off track.

Wu Youzhe called again.

“Shu You, you can’t just ignore this,” he said anxiously. “These people are spreading rumors that you broke up with your previous boyfriend and found someone wealthy, and they’re spreading it with such vivid details.”

“You need to discuss with Lin Mingxu and figure out how to respond.”

Shu You was a bit confused.

But after thinking for a moment, he calmly said, “Don’t worry, I’ll figure it out.”

He hung up the phone and returned to the internet.

The narrative was indeed starting to shift.

Netizen H suggested, [Shu You, come out and respond. Which one is your boyfriend? Is it this bronze entrepreneur who failed in his business or this gold second-generation tycoon?]

Netizen K added, [They’re always showing off their love on stage. Could it all be fake? One does stand-up comedy, selling this kind of image. Is it interesting?]

Netizen L chimed in, [There aren’t many fools. These three are just a bunch of clowns.]

Shu You pondered for a while when suddenly the door was pushed open. Lin Mingxu walked in carrying breakfast. Seeing that Shu You was already awake, he raised an eyebrow and said, “Awake?”

“Awake, awake,” Shu You instinctively flinched a little and chuckled, “Can I apply for a work-related injury?”

“Sure.”

Lin Mingxu set up a small table for him, allowing him to have breakfast in bed. He also got closer, gently kissed the corner of Shu You’s lips, and smiled, “Then I’d like to apply for overtime pay.”

“Boyfriend, are you working overtime?” Shu You asked.

Lin Mingxu answered calmly, “I didn’t before, but now I want to do 996.”

Shu You: “…”

Lin Mingxu, where is your face?

Oh, Lin Mingxu’s personal funds were all in Shu You’s hands, so there was no problem.

Thinking about the growing number in his bank account, Shu You felt a bit relieved and hummed a little, “It hurts.”

He complained, “Boyfriend, you don’t love me anymore. You don’t even feel sorry for me.”

“In that case, I won’t work overtime today. I’ll massage you.”

Lin Mingxu immediately softened his attitude. He reached out his arm, his large hand finding the right spot with precision, and gently started massaging.

Shu You was taken aback. Lin Mingxu’s fingers were really skillful.

He didn’t dare to move and quickly changed the subject, telling Lin Mingxu about the hot search.

After listening, Lin Mingxu simply asked, “Do you want to go public?”

For him, going public was a good thing. But ultimately, it depended on Shu You’s thoughts.

“It’s not a problem,” Shu You pondered for a moment.

Both his and Lin Mingxu’s careers were stable and thriving. Going public wouldn’t have any negative impact.

However, he curiously asked, “How should we go public?”

“I’m open to anything,” Lin Mingxu just looked at him and left the decision to him, “You can choose how to go public.”

“But,” after a brief hesitation, Shu You said, “A few days ago, there was a magazine interview. Maybe it’s a good opportunity.”

Lin Mingxu also had a verified mega-blog account, but he left it to Tang Le to handle and hadn’t personally used it.

He logged into his account and indeed saw some good news. Lin Mingxu casually followed Shu You, found the magazine’s promotional post, and retweeted it with a caption.

The fresh and hot gossip ignited everyone’s enthusiasm. Soon enough, someone discovered Lin Mingxu’s new update and clicked on it.

Netizen X exclaimed, [Wait, what did I just see?]

[Better late than never, could it be that the big shot has finally appeared?]

A group of people flooded in, rapidly increasing Lin Mingxu’s fan base.

[Lin Mingxu: Thank you all for your concern. I am indeed the rumored boyfriend, a relatively new entrepreneur, not very successful.]

Everyone: “…”

Seems like I’m tasting this kind of melon for the first time.

My mood is strange, but my stomach feels full. What’s going on?

I understand, that’s the bittersweet taste of dog food, like the smell of my brother’s feet when he’s in love.

After all the fuss, this is indeed someone’s boyfriend.

Hilarious! That G, that H, that K, you guys are the Three Stooges, haha!

GHK ran away.

Shu You scrolled through the screen, laughing softly as he read. As he laughed, he leaned back in Lin Mingxu’s arms and let him feed him a large piece of dessert.

He had been spoiled to the point where he could hardly take care of himself.

A comment was pushed to the top.

[Netizen T: I found out that the big shot indeed comes from a good background, but he is also excellent himself and truly started his business from scratch.

It seems there’s another story inside this, wow, there are even legal documents. This melon is somewhat inspiring. It is said that the big shot’s family had a major incident and lost everything. At that time, the big shot, who was broke and penniless, coincidentally met Shu You, and it matches the jokes that Shu You tells.

Impressive, they really are a devoted couple.

And this, although the big shot started his business from scratch, the company is about to go public. If this isn’t considered successful, then I’m simply useless.]

Other netizens:

[Oh no, I was jumping with excitement before, now I’m kneeling while looking at my phone.]

[Indeed, they’re good-looking and outstanding. Shu You praises Lin Mingxu every day, and it’s not without reason.]

[Ah, ah, ah, how can I compete with Shu You, such a outstanding rival?]

Another sudden comment appeared.

[Lu Chenbi: Hello everyone, if you want to know the specific love story of Shu You and Lin Mingxu, please follow me, the party involved. My performance time is xxxxxx, and the location is xxxxx.]

[Hahaha.]

Unable to hold back, Shu You completely buried himself in Lin Mingxu’s embrace, snuggling against his chest and shoulders, unable to stop trembling.

With a soft body in his arms, and his cheeks blushing, his disheveled hair swaying back and forth, it felt like he was shaking Lin Mingxu’s heart.

It made his heart itch, difficult to resist the emotions.

So, his eyes darkened, and he gently embraced the person in his arms, leaning in for a kiss.

“Lin Lin Mingxu.”

The Lin family today is also harmonious.

It’s truly wonderful.

---

Half a month later, Shu You and Lin Mingxu moved.

They moved to a place where they could freely plant bamboo and indulge in it.

The bamboo shoots that haven’t grown out of the ground are called bamboo shoots. After the spring rain, the bamboo will sprout and grow, getting taller and thicker.

Most bamboo species prefer warm and humid places and require a lot of water.

With sufficient water and suitable temperature, bamboo can grow quickly, tall and large.

Sometimes, one hand is not enough to hold on, so you have to use both hands to exert effort.

But effort from just the hands is not enough because, after all, bamboo’s ultimate destination is to be eaten.

So they exerted themselves, with heave-ho, heave-ho, heave-ho.

From morning till night, from night till morning, they worked tirelessly for several days.

In front of Lin’s house, there is a front yard, and at the back, there is a backyard.

When Shu You moved in, he saw an empty space in the backyard. It used to have some flowers and plants, but they had all withered and now it was empty.

Lin Mingxu held his hand and showed him the entire house’s decoration, stopping here with a smile on his lips. “Should we plant something here?”

His mind was full of bamboo, but with a light cough, he stopped this impractical idea.

“Sure.”

Shu You was so exhausted that he kept yawning day after day, making him unable to get up.

Luckily, he didn’t have a job during the day.

Lin Mingxu asked him, “What do you want to plant?”

“Do I even need to say it?”

Shu You looked at him strangely. “With such a big piece of land, of course, we should plant vegetables.”

Cucumbers, eggplants, peppers, and beans, plant them all.

With such a large piece of land, once it’s planted, we can save a lot of money on groceries.

Lin Mingxu: “…”

He miscalculated. He forgot that Shu You didn’t have a romantic gene.

However, Planting in spring and harvesting in autumn, by that time, with a bountiful harvest and signs of abundance, it would be another kind of beautiful sight.

Like entering a warm mountain from a lonely and cold one, filled with the scent of human life, it was the most settling.

The two of them entered the house again, went around, and unanimously chose the master bedroom on the third floor, next to Lin Mingxu’s original room.

Shu You chose this room because he could see the backyard from the back window and the front yard from the front, which was very convenient.

Lin Mingxu said, “You’ll be on guard duty.”

“Not a problem,” Shu You straightened his chest. “I am the last line of defense in this house.”

Lin Mingxu: “…”

Yes, this house may be beyond saving.

And he was willingly accepting it.

To celebrate the move, Shu You and Lin Mingxu cooked four dishes and a soup together, making a particularly sumptuous dinner.

After finishing dinner and tidying up the dishes and chopsticks, Lin Mingxu’s expression began to change.

Shu You hadn’t noticed yet.

He came out of the kitchen, dried his hands, and happily flopped onto the sofa, tilting his head. “Lin Mingxu, I’m so happy.”

Having family and a loved one feels so good.

With shining eyes, a smiling face, he exuded joy from the inside out.

Seeing him like this, the man’s heart softened, and he walked over to sit beside him, making a sound of agreement.

Shu You leaned against him and looked up, continuing to gaze at him. “Boyfriend, you’re really good.”

This time it was a real boyfriend.

And he was truly amazing.

As they lay there, Lin Mingxu’s heart softened, and he couldn’t help but lean down and kiss him. “Shu You.”

“You’re amazing too.”

“So…”

The second half of the sentence disappeared amidst their lips and tongues, gradually fading away.

So…

They wanted to continue being this good together.

And on this night, the pajamas were put to use once again.

Making the most of everything, fully displaying Shu You’s thrifty spirit, glowing and radiating until the last shattered second.

“Ah, Lin Mingxu, you owe me clothes!”

During the Lunar New Year, Shu You’s variety show aired.

After its broadcast, his popularity skyrocketed, and many people traveled from far away just to see his live performances.

After another performance, Shu You bowed and wiped the sweat off his forehead. He took the mineral water that Wu Youzhe handed to him and drank several mouthfuls.

“There’s a shoot at the end of this month, and there’s a magazine interview the day after tomorrow. Oh, and a fashion magazine wants you to do a photoshoot.”

Shu You was surprised, “Even fashion magazines are interested in my comedy show?”

“Not exactly.”

Wu Youzhe sincerely confessed, “They are interested in your face.”

“Oh.”

After leaving the backstage area, Shu You went directly to the restaurant through the staff corridor.

Once inside, he began to eat heartily.

Wu Youzhe was dumbfounded. “Didn’t you say the staff canteen charges for meals?”

“I’m not an employee anymore.”

Shu You proudly straightened his chest. “I’m the boss’s boyfriend now.”

The boss even wanted to transfer this place to his name, but Shu You hadn’t agreed yet.

He felt that it wasn’t the right time to take over behind the scenes. However, Lin Mingxu suggested hiring a professional manager so that Shu You wouldn’t have to worry about it.

But for the time being, they couldn’t find someone who was knowledgeable and capable of managing.

“You’re amazing,” Wu Youzhe said.

While talking, he became the boss of a comedy show and could eat freely in the staff canteen.

After enjoying a meal, Shu You walked with him to the parking lot. Before Shu You could say anything, Wu Youzhe waved to someone not far away, his face beaming with a smile.

“My wife and daughter have come to pick me up. I have to go. It’s my daughter’s birthday the day after tomorrow.”

He casually explained to Shu You, then happily ran off. Shuyu watched him leave and suddenly caught sight of someone familiar from the corner of his eye.

He had seen that person somewhere before, more than once.

He couldn’t help but carefully observe the person and realized that he did know him—it was Lu Chenbi.

But why was Lu Chenbi here?

Lu Chenbi looked sneaky.

He didn’t notice Shu You and walked straight from the parking lot towards the clubhouse. However, Shu You was standing at the entrance, and the two of them immediately crossed paths. Lu Chenbi’s face and eyes widened in surprise.

“Why are you here, Shu You?”

“Um,” Shu You blinked, “I’m doing part-time work here, hosting a comedy show.”

“So, it’s this place.”

Lu Chenbi’s expression changed, and he angrily said, “Alright, I’ll choose this place then.”

Shu You asked, “What?”

“Just a comedy show, right?”

Lu Chenbi raised his head proudly. “I’ve heard that anyone can do a comedy show, so why can’t I? I can do it too.”

Since Shu You mentioned that comedy shows and their conflicts were intertwined, he wanted to give it a try.

“I want to regain my confidence and break free from my destiny.”

Lu Chenbi declared confidently, “I also want to become a comedian.”

“I’ve already thought of my content. I’ll just make fun of my dad.”

Shu You: “…”

Alright, if it makes you happy.

“And you, Shu You,” Lu Chenbi looked at him with enthusiasm, “I want to be your competitor, your nightmare. Just like what you did to me, I want to leave you with no way out.”

Lu Chenbi was quite threatening.

After careful consideration, Shu You decided not to tell Lu Chenbi that he and Lin Mingxu were now the owners of this place.

Lu Chenbi, full of confidence, went in to perform. As Shu You turned around, he saw Lin Mingxu standing behind him. He didn’t know when he had arrived or how much he had heard.

This scene felt so familiar.

Shu You cleared his throat. “Lin Mingxu, how about you listen to my explanation?”

Lin Mingxu remained silent.

“Why did you use an extra word?”

Lin Mingxu had no expression on his face. “Because I don’t need to listen.”

“Oh.”

Shu You blinked his eyes. “Boyfriend, you don’t love me?”

“I love you.”

Lin Mingxu interrupted his playful banter and looked deeply into his eyes, focusing only on him. He repeated those words, “I love you, Shu You.”

“Let’s get married.”

“I…”

Shu You’s eyes widened in astonishment.

He had said that sentence reflexively, but he never expected Lin Mingxu to counter it so decisively and even mention marriage.

His heart felt as if it had been filled with warmth, and he became light. It was as if he could fly to the sky, yet love kept him firmly grounded.

With a loved one as an anchor, there was a home to return to.

He would never lose his way and would never be alone again.

Large snowflakes began to fall once again.

Fluttering down, they scattered in their view.

Shu You and Lin Mingxu didn’t take the car; they walked directly in the snow.

As they walked, their hair and shoulders were covered in snowflakes.

Shu You’s eyes lit up, and he quietly looked at the man, coincidentally meeting his gaze.

Their fingers tightened, interlacing without distinction.

Together forever, until old age.

He thought that he could anticipate the arrival of that day.

As long as they had those beautiful memories, courage would naturally well up from the depths of his heart, and he believed that they would be able to walk hand in hand to that day.

By some strange impulse, Shu You blurted out, “Lin Mingxu.”

The young man’s eyes sparkled, shining brightly in the winter night, as if emitting light.

“I said I wouldn’t mention ‘boyfriend’ in my comedy show anymore.”

“But,” Shu You smiled, his eyebrows curved, “I can mention ‘husband.'”

–End of the main text–

---

ry’s note: Finished!

Don’t worry, there’s still an extra chapter to come~ ♡ ～(‘▽^人)

---

Order four dishes.

Using too many paper towels.

Shu You stared at Lin Mingxu in astonishment. Does he even know what he’s saying?

But hold on.

Who is that person praised for being cheerful, generous, and not stingy?

I… I can’t remember.

Did Lin Mingxu really say that?

He now began to doubt not the credibility of the plot but his own brain.

Could it be that he mixed the plots of several books together?

And Ming Qiuyun is not the protagonist. He is just a supporting male character who appears later and gets close to the protagonist.

His mind was in chaos, and he stared blankly at Lin Mingxu. The fur on his head froze in strange angles.

Unable to resist, Lin Mingxu reached out and smoothed his fur, coughing dryly, “Shu You.”

He could only confess, “At that time, you were all I could think about.”

Shu You suddenly broke up with him and ran away. If he hadn’t known some special channels to quickly locate him, he wouldn’t know how far he would have run.

His heart and mind were filled with this little troublemaker. He had no thoughts about anyone else.

So, after much thought, he could only come up with these two points.

All because of Shu You’s association.

When Shu You ate, he would order as little as possible and use fewer paper towels.

It’s called protecting the Earth.

“Lin Mingxu”

Pondered for a moment. He really didn’t have much of an impression. “Do you think his design is good?”

“It’s alright.”

Shu You didn’t understand interior design, but the renderings looked pretty good and beautiful.

Lin Mingxu took out the folder of the decoration and flipped through a few pages.

Several thoughts lingered in his mind, and finally, he spoke, “Do you want to choose his design?”

“Not really.”

Shu You didn’t particularly like this design, but he glanced at it more because of the name Ming Qiuyun.

“Then let’s look at others.”

Lin Mingxu looked at him deeply. How could he not see it? Shu You repeatedly mentioned this person, there must be some hidden reason he didn’t know.

He might not know that reason, but he would never allow any barriers to arise between them, not even a hint of it.

So Lin Mingxu calmly said, “Among the three companies Tang Le chose, they are all good, and their after-sales reputation is also good.”

Shu You opened his mouth in surprise, “Ah, but…”

Huh?

But does he have any reason to choose Ming Qiuyun?

He’s not the protagonist, so he doesn’t have to choose the design for the protagonist.

Moreover,

The protagonist is now his.

His.

These two words floated into his mind again, and Shu You’s heart was instantly filled with bubbles shining in the sunlight, reflecting colorful hues.

Once he understood this, all thoughts about the protagonist and the plot faded away.

It felt like unburdening himself, discarding a heavy stone, dispersing dense fog. Suddenly, there was unprecedented brightness and clarity in Shu You’s heart.

With a smiling expression, he chuckled, “Alright, let’s look at others.”

The other three companies selected by Tang Le were indeed excellent.

They were the best in the industry, and their design plans were also impressive. With sufficient budget, Lin Mingxu naturally received the best.

After discussing it with Shu You for a while, they settled on one of the companies.

Once they agreed, Lin Mingxu had Tang Le notify them, and the decoration company responded quickly. Not long after finishing lunch, their staff arrived at the door.

They attached great importance to this project and sent three people.

The leader was also a design director who meticulously explained every aspect of the plan to them. While Shu You listened, he also took notes on his phone.

It didn’t take long to finish, and the two junior designers followed the director out. The one on the left sighed, “When can we be the wealthy clients ourselves?”

“Indeed.”

The person on the right also sighed, “Having such a good-looking boyfriend who cares about home decoration, it seems like their relationship is great. Your home is my home, there shouldn’t be much difference.”

“You guys.”

The design director shook his head, “Too young, you haven’t seen the essence at all.”

The two people, “Ah.”

“Do you know what Mr. Lin’s boyfriend does?” the design director sighed, “I’ve seen his performances, his name is Shu You, he’s a stand-up comedian.”

The middle-aged director cast a pitying gaze at his two apprentices, “Based on your performances just now, tsk tsk tsk.”

They would definitely become material for his performances.

The two people remained silent.

After the onlookers left, Shu You and Lin Mingxu continued to be affectionate in the office.

Perhaps they were still in the honeymoon phase, as they focused on their respective tasks but occasionally glanced at each other.

Shu You pretended to play with his phone on the sofa, secretly stealing glances at Lin Mingxu.

Lin Mingxu pretended to work but would occasionally lift his head to look in Shu You’s direction.

A quick glance, then another.

As they continued to exchange looks, they…

They hugged each other.

And then they kissed.

As they continued kissing…

Shu You’s face turned red, and he quickly broke away, saying, “Lin Mingxu, I’ll go back and pack my things.”

“Shu You.”

Before he could run out of the office, Lin Mingxu called out to him.

Looking at him, Lin Mingxu’s eyes held a deeper meaning, “Once we move, we…”

“I got it, I got it.”

Shu You’s cheeks flushed, and he quickly escaped.

The heat on his face only dissipated slightly after he ran out of the office building.

Then another pressing question emerged in his mind.

What should he do?

No, how should he specifically handle it?

According to this development, he would definitely be the bottom.

It was said that as long as the bottom lied down, it would be fine.

Ah, but how could he let Lin Mingxu bear all the burden alone?

Shu You decided to fully exert his subjective initiative and actively study to understand what to do.

So, that evening when Lin Mingxu returned home, he didn’t see Shu You.

Dinner was already prepared, still hot in the pot, but the person who would warmly greet him when he entered was nowhere to be found.

Frowning, he suddenly had a bad feeling.

Yes, it was that kind of feeling that grew stronger and stronger after living together with Shu You.

At the same time, strange sounds came from the direction of the bedroom.

“Mmm.”

“Ah.”

“Oh.”

One after another, back and forth, with a certain rhythm.

Lin Mingxu “…”

Every evening when he came home, he would see his boyfriend being silly.

Lin Mingxu’s mood was complicated as he walked towards the bedroom.

The door was slightly ajar.

The room was not lit, only the flickering light from the computer screen, which made the face in front of the screen look particularly eerie.

Rapidly alternating between darkness and brightness, full of excitement.

Shu You was wrapped in a blanket, lying on the bed, nervously and anxiously staring at the screen, focusing on a crucial moment.

“Click.”

The light turned on.

Shu You “…”

He hurriedly closed the computer, panicking, “Lin Mingxu, why are you back?”

Just as he closed the computer, a sound came out, “Beep.”

Lin Mingxu, “…”

Shu You, “…”

His face instantly turned red, and he stammered, “Th-That, I just wanted to learn something.”

To be prepared for the future.

Lin Mingxu laughed and cried, “Where did you find those videos?”

You really managed to find them.

“Well…”

Shu You nervously explained, “I consulted the almighty netizens.”

There were high-quality ones, uncensored ones, all sorts of them, everything you could imagine.

For some reason, Shu You was initially excited, but as he watched, he felt that something was off.

“He didn’t have that legendary blood rushing or overwhelming excitement. It was just, just an ordinary movie.”

He even felt a little disgusted.

In the end, before Lin Mingxu came back, he was pondering whether he was actually a straight guy, inherently repelled by the same s*x.

And then Lin Mingxu came back.

When Shu You saw Lin Mingxu, he involuntarily projected his face and figure onto him.

Whoosh.

He quickly jumped off the bed, but because he jumped too quickly, he almost stumbled and fell. Stuttering, he said, “I-I-I’ll go cook.”

“But the meal is already prepared,” Lin Mingxu said, promptly supporting him and raising an eyebrow in a half-smile. “Did you forget?”

Shu You felt terrible because he did indeed forget.

He stood awkwardly in place, but Lin Mingxu didn’t let go of him.

Without even taking off his coat, in this posture, without hesitation, Lin Mingxu began kissing him.

He had probably just come in from outside, still carrying a slight chill, and even his lips felt cool.

But Shu You had been trapped under the covers for so long, and his whole body was hot.

So Shu You was stimulated, trembling slightly, and his body became even hotter.

It was arid and unbearable.

His brain felt like it was going into overload and shutting down.

Unable to think, thoughts paused, no reaction at all.

He could only passively, nervously, let Lin Mingxu kiss him.

Their lips and tongues intertwined, so sweet.

It was a completely different experience from watching those things.

Shu You subconsciously closed his eyes, his breathing becoming rapid. But in the next second, he suddenly remembered something and hastily pushed the man away. “Lin Mingxu, didn’t we agree to move first?”

Lin Mingxu, …””

Damn it, who said that?

Oh, it was himself.

He stared at Shu You like a wolf, with the meat right in front of him, fragrant and tempting, but it was going to be interrupted because of this reason.

Shu You forced a dry laugh. “You said it yourself, you can’t go back on your words.”

“A man should keep his promises. A man who doesn’t keep his word won’t do.”

Lin Mingxu gritted his teeth. “Who said that?”

“You did.”

“No.” Lin Mingxu ground his teeth. “I meant the second part, the ‘won’t do.'”

“Oh.”

Shu You shyly lowered his gaze. “I came up with that myself.”

Lin Mingxu, “…”

You really do come up with things.

However, regardless of who said those words, whether they were true or not, Lin Mingxu couldn’t tolerate the idea of himself being unable to perform.

Even if it was just a thought from Shu You.

He took a few deep breaths in place, finally bringing his sanity back, but his gaze remained dark, like a fierce beast ready to pounce in the darkness.

Shu You felt a shiver running down his spine from that gaze.

He was quite embarrassed as well.

He felt like his relationship with Lin Mingxu was different from others.

Completely the opposite.

They called each other boyfriends, slept on the same bed for so long, and only now did they start saying they liked each other.

Even though their bodies were so close, their hearts ranked last.

Now that he thought about it, during the time when Lin Mingxu was first attracted to him, he must have endured quite a bit.

Shu You stopped his attempt to run away, hesitatingly approached and whispered something in Lin Mingxu’s ear.

Lin Mingxu’s gaze paused.

He said something in his ear again.

Shu You “…”

Aside from the other things, what’s up with that panda pajama set?

---

The next morning, Shu You found himself sleeping with his feet towards the head of the bed, in Lin Mingxu’s embrace.

He felt like an octopus, and if it weren’t for his four legs being an integral part of his body, he might have run over to entangle with Lin Mingxu.

Shu You’s face turned red instantly. Subconsciously, he pulled back, but afraid that Lin Mingxu would notice, he retreated quietly.

But the next second, the man opened his eyes, his clear gaze raised an eyebrow and he said, “Shu You.”

“What are you doing?”

Shu You froze in his position, with his bowing posture, and chuckled awkwardly, “I’m going to get breakfast to surprise you.”

“No need,” Lin Mingxu curved his lips and suddenly approached, giving him a morning kiss.

The kiss was sticky and tender, making Shu You relax completely. After the kiss, Lin Mingxu calmly said, “That’s the surprise.”

Shu You counted silently.

Blushing and with bare feet, he ran all the way to the bathroom.

Then he stared at himself in the mirror, almost not recognizing his own reflection.

Radiant and as if he was about to become rich instantly.

The Shu You in the mirror grinned foolishly.

At some point, Lin Mingxu stood at the doorway, looking at him gently.

Just looking at him.

Shu You met his gaze in the mirror.

He extended two index fingers, one on each cheek, and made a funny face.

Lin Mingxu raised an eyebrow and walked over, exchanging another kiss with him.

And then, he took out a black card.

Lin Mingxu handed the black card to Shu You, his expression unchanged, and said, “It’s for you.”

One day, he would change Shu You’s habit of excessive thriftiness.

To make him happier than before, to live better, and to ensure he would never regret being together with him.

Shu You felt a little shy.

He put away the black card and quickly went to his suitcase, searching for something he could give to Lin Mingxu.

As a token of their commitment.

However, after searching for a while, Shu You realized that everything belonged to the previous owner, and he didn’t have anything of his own.

Blaming himself, he was too stingy. As long as something could still be used, he would never buy a new one.

By his calculations, the only things in the house that could be considered his were the mattress and an electric blanket.

But neither of these things could be used as a gift.

On the way back, he continued to ponder over this problem.

Beside him, Wu Youzhe looked at him anxiously.

“Shu You, Shu You.”

He called out several times, but Shu You didn’t respond.

These past few days, he had been in a state of confusion.

First, Shu You suddenly ran away from home, then his condition during the recording of the program was so poor, and he said those strange things. Then Lin Mingxu showed up on the set, angrily taking Shu You away. Wu Youzhe had imagined ten thousand scenarios of a domineering CEO taking his runaway wife, and none of them were positive.

Last night, seeing Shu You in good shape, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. But Shu You was drunk, so he couldn’t say much and left soon after.

And now…

He felt that Shu You still wasn’t quite right.

“Shu You,” Wu Youzhe couldn’t help but speak up, “Do you remember you have a performance as soon as you go back?”

At Keshexiaoju.

Originally, they were supposed to have a few days off, but because the program team suddenly asked him to do some additional filming, he lost his break.

Shu You’s gaze wandered, not looking at him at all, “Don’t remember.”

Wu Youzhe: “Then do you remember what I said to you last night?”

Shu You’s eyes flickered and turned to another direction, “Don’t remember.”

Wu Youzhe: “…”

He hesitated, but involuntarily followed Shu You’s line of sight, oh, it was Lin Mingxu.

Just at that moment, Lin Mingxu also looked over and reached out to hold Shu You’s finger, his eyes full of smiles.

Shu You chuckled.

Wu Youzhe suddenly felt like a third wheel.

The group disembarked the plane, each going their separate ways.

That evening, Shu You started using his phone to search for information.

“What is a good gift for a boyfriend?”

“What should be chosen as a token of love?”

“What do CEOs generally like?”

First, Lin Mingxu doesn’t play video games.

Second, Lin Mingxu gave him his black card.

Third, an electric toothbrush, maybe consider adding it to the list.

Fourth, a belt… cough cough cough.

For some reason, his mind was filled with the image of Lin Mingxu elegantly rolling up his sleeves from last night.

Maybe it was because of their mutual affection, Shu You’s mind was now filled with unhealthy thoughts.

The kind of thoughts that shouldn’t be known by others.

As soon as his mind opened up, even the electric toothbrush suddenly seemed terrible.

Shu You quickly wiped away those thoughts from his mind. The next morning, he changed into a new outfit and went out.

He decided to buy a watch for Lin Mingxu.

Considering the money he had earned during these days, it was enough to buy a high-end one that would match well with Lin Mingxu.

The shopping mall wasn’t too far from his place. Shu You took a bus and arrived at the largest mall nearby. As soon as he entered, he saw the jewelry and watch counters on the ground floor. He looked around and, unexpectedly, caught sight of a familiar figure.

Oh, that back silhouette looked really familiar.

He kept looking in that direction and, whether it was due to his gaze or not, the person turned their head and looked back. With just one glance, Shu You widened his eyes in shock.

Wait, it was the protagonist, Shi Mingqi.

No, it was Ming Qiuyun.

Ming Qiuyun recognized him.

As the boyfriend of a major client, he needed to be extra careful.

He quickly put on a social smile and walked over, greeting, “Mr. Shu.”

Shu You: “…”

Pretending not to exist now, is it a little too late?

His expression quickly changed, and he put on a fake smile, similar to the one used during the New Year when visiting relatives, facing Ming Qiuyun, “Hello, Mr. Ming.”

“It’s me, it’s me,” Ming Qiuyun happily said, “I didn’t expect to meet you here. Mr. Shu came to buy something?”

Shu You nodded reservedly, “Yes, I came to buy something.”

Ming Qiuyun saw the counter behind him and said enthusiastically, “Buying a watch? What a coincidence, I’m also planning to buy a watch.”

He paused for a moment and his tone turned slightly sweet, “I’m buying it for my boyfriend.”

Shu You: “What a coincidence, I’m also buying it for my boyfriend.”

Wait, no.

Ming Qiuyun already had a boyfriend.

He was astonished and couldn’t close his mouth.

But Ming Qiuyun misunderstood his expression and shyly smiled, “Actually, we haven’t confirmed our relationship yet, but I want to take the initiative and confess to him on his birthday.”

Shu You murmured, “Birthday.”

“Yeah,” Ming Qiuyun smiled naturally, “So it can also be considered a birthday gift.”

Shu You felt like his brain wasn’t functioning properly.

Ming Qiuyun is the protagonist, huh?

His boyfriend should be the protagonist’s love interest.

Although he had almost forgotten the plot, he still remembered that since Lin Mingxu had encountered Ming Qiuyun, oh no, now Lin Mingxu was his.

He was his.

Thinking of this, Shu You suddenly straightened his chest and said, “Hello, Mr. Ming.”

Ming Qiuyun “…”

Why did he have to greet him again?

An hour later, Shu You excitedly ran into the office building, greeted the receptionist girl with joy, and then hurriedly entered Lin Mingxu’s office.

“Lin Mingxu.”

Shu You’s face was filled with happiness. Seeing no one else in the office, without saying a word, he threw himself into the man’s arms and tilted his face up, happily saying, “I’ve come to see you.”

Lin Mingxu couldn’t help but tease him, “I remember, we’ve only been apart for three hours.”

“So what?” Shu You confidently said, “I missed my boyfriend. Is it not allowed?”

Lin Mingxu: “…”

Speechless, he could only kiss him.

Shu You was tickled by the kisses, giggling and playfully trying to dodge, but Lin Mingxu caught him and pressed him onto his lap.

It seemed like an office scene.

Shu You quickly turned his eyes and put on a serious face, saying, “Mr. Lin, may I assist you with anything?”

Lin Mingxu needed something.

He needed it badly.

His Adam’s apple moved, and he put on a serious expression, asking, “What services do you offer?”

Shu You coughed dryly, “Quarterly budget, logistics management, anything related to saving money, we have it all.”

Lin Mingxu: “…”

All those daydreams and fantasies, in the end, were in vain.

He felt somewhat speechless, released the person in his embrace, and Shu You took the opportunity to slip away quickly. He turned around and asked, “What about the renovation proposal you sent me last time?”

“It’s on the bookshelf.”

Lin Mingxu adjusted his sitting posture helplessly and resumed his work.

Shu You searched on the bookshelf and indeed found a thick stack of documents. There were files from several companies and the one sent by Ming Qiuyun, all kept together.

He carefully looked through each one and unexpectedly found that Ming Qiuyun’s design was quite good.

Holding the folder in his hand, Shu You walked back leisurely and casually asked, “Hey, Lin Mingxu, do you think this rendering looks good?”

“It’s not bad.”

Lin Mingxu glanced up from the pile of files and asked, “Do you like this one?”

“This one was designed by the person who was brought to the company by Ming Qiuyun”

Shu You’s fingers tightened behind his back, and he casually said, “I met him today when I went out. Seems like he really wants to get this project.”

“That’s true.”

Lin Mingxu finished reading the file and replied, “Renovating a five-story villa is not a small project for their company.”

The budget is also quite generous, reaching seven figures, without an upper limit.

“What do you think?”

Shu You pursed his lips and stared at him, blinking without a break, “What do you think of his design?”

“I haven’t seen it yet.”

Lin Mingxu raised an eyebrow with hidden meaning and said, “You broke up with me before you finished looking at it.”

He didn’t have the mood to look at it.

Shu You: “…”

His face turned red, and he put the folder down, obediently approaching his boyfriend to coax him, “Ah, it was all just a misunderstanding.”

The youth acted spoiled and nestled in his embrace, as if willingly falling into a trap, but still rubbing against his chest.

“Let’s leave the past behind.”

“Okay.”

Lin Mingxu hugged him and whispered, “You should think the same way.”

Oh.

Shu You gritted his teeth inwardly. Lin Mingxu was good at taking advantage of the situation.

The knot in his heart seemed to be unraveling. Shu You made up his mind, looked up at the man, and directly asked, “Lin Mingxu, did you know Ming Qiuyun before?”

Lin Mingxu’s eyebrows furrowed slightly.

Shu You seemed to be mentioning this person all day today.

His mind raced, thinking of various possibilities, and finally casually replied, “I didn’t know him before, but during your business trip and photo shoot, there was a social gathering, and he was there too.”

They had a meal together.

Shu You widened his eyes.

So, when he wasn’t around, Lin Mingxu had contact with Ming Qiuyun.

His heart thumped, rising to his throat, and he couldn’t help but ask, “And then?”

“And then I went home.”

Lin Mingxu looked at him strangely, as if asking, “What else could have happened?”

Shu You: “…”

He stuttered, racked his brain to find a breakthrough, and inexplicably blurted out, “Don’t you think he’s good-looking?”

Tall and slender, he should be popular in social circles.

Unexpectedly, as soon as those words were out, Lin Mingxu raised an eyebrow immediately, “Do you think he’s good-looking?”

“Didn’t you say before that you think I’m the best-looking?”

There was even a hint of jealousy.

Shu You was dumbfounded. Did Lin Mingxu make a mistake about his target?

The man once again held him in his lap, and his big hand pinched his cheek with hidden meaning, saying, “Speaking of which, you sweat a lot last night. Perhaps the blanket was too much.”

“Shu You.”

Lin Mingxu stared into his eyes, like an eagle locking onto its chick, not letting him escape. He asked, “When do you plan to share a bed with me again?”

This embarrassed Shu You, and he couldn’t come up with a good response. He stammered, “Aren’t you planning to move back?”

Lin Mingxu’s family villa had five floors, and he didn’t want to share a bed with him. Something seemed off.

Oh, so they were in a non-serious relationship.

Shu You’s ears turned red, and he pretended to remain calm, saying, “Wait a moment.”

“Wait for what?”

Shu You made up his mind and looked straight at Lin Mingxu.

“I want to ask you,” he clenched his fingers behind his back and slowly asked, “What do you think of Ming Qiuyun as a person?”

What kind of question was this?

Lin Mingxu was slightly taken aback.

After a long pause, he inexplicably said, “He orders four dishes during meals and uses too many tissues.”

Shu You”…”

---

The champagne has arrived.

Shu You happily opened a bottle, filled himself up with joy, then without blinking, directly poured himself a whole glass.

Lin Mingxu “…”

He began to regret not refusing firmly.

After finishing one glass, he had another.

After emptying this glass, there was another one.

Shu You gulped and drank half a bottle of champagne.

His eyes blinked, shining brightly, like the little stars in the sky at this moment, indicating a sleepless night.

Lin Mingxu was also sleepless.

He took a deep breath. “Shu You, stop drinking.”

But for Shu You, this wine was like high-octane fuel.

The more he drank, the more energized he became.

His eyes became brighter and brighter, shining in a way that gave Lin Mingxu a faintly familiar feeling. He softly spoke, “I want to drink.”

Lin Mingxu couldn’t help but ask, “Why do you suddenly want to drink?”

“Because…”

Shu You giggled, “Because I feel beautiful today.”

Beautiful in his heart.

Happy.

And he wanted to drink.

Lin Mingxu’s heart trembled for a moment.

The words of dissuasion couldn’t be said anymore. Lin Mingxu took a glass and poured himself one too.

He was also happy.

In a pleasant mood.

The two of them, glass after glass, unknowingly finished two bottles of champagne.

After finishing, Shu You let out a burp, slumped on the sofa, staring at the ceiling with a silly smile.

“Hehe.”

He muttered to himself, “Lin Mingxu likes me.”

Lin Mingxu also sat beside him, reached out his arm and embraced his shoulder, whispering in his ear, “Yes, he likes you.”

“Just you.”

Shu You’s smile became even wider, mumbling again, “Actually, I like him too.”

Why did Shu You have to add an “actually”?

Shu You leaned closer, with a mysterious look on his face, “Don’t tell anyone about this.”

Lin Mingxu “…”

He understood that Shu You was already drunk.

Shu You wasn’t just drunk, he also started to act freely.

He stretched his arm straight up and waved it a few times recklessly, exclaiming cheerfully, “I’m so happy.”

“So I made a major decision.”

Lin Mingxu’s heart skipped a beat, only to see Shu You covering his face shyly, “I decided not to leave him.”

“But I reserve the right to run away from home at any time.”

Lin Mingxu felt both angry and amused, half helpless he said, “You’re deciding not to leave now?”

“Yes.”

Shu You blinked his eyes, speaking seriously, “He doesn’t let me drink, so I want to.”

“I want to know, what will he do if I insist on drinking.”

He was testing.

Testing Lin Mingxu’s limit.

Still like a little puppy.

Both adorable and pitiful.

Unable to resist, Lin Mingxu hugged him tightly again and kissed his forehead, “Shu You, thank you for not leaving.”

Thank you for being willing to stay.

Shu You giggled, completely unaware of what he had said. He felt dizzy, whether it was from the alcohol or something else, he fell into Lin Mingxu’s embrace, his eyes wide open, staring at him.

As he stared, a sentence popped out.

“Lin Mingxu, you’re really handsome.”

Lin Mingxu raised an eyebrow, “Do you like it?”

“Yes.”

Shu You admitted without hesitation, “The moment I saw you, I thought you were good-looking.”

“Then you…”

Lin Mingxu’s heart was filled with countless thoughts, and he asked unintentionally, “Is it because I’m good-looking that you like me?”

Shu You shook his head, “No.”

Lin Mingxu, “Then what is it?”

Shu You, “It’s because besides being good-looking, you have many other qualities.”

Lin Mingxu, “For example?”

Shu You lowered his gaze, feeling shy. He said, “For example, your figure is also very good.”

Lin Mingxu “…”

His mood was a bit complicated.

He whispered, “It seems that I was the one who fell for you first.”

“Really?” Shu You asked in surprise, “When was that?”

Lin Mingxu hesitated and moved his lips, then finally said, “It was when you got drunk for the first time.”

It was those beautiful, moist, puppy-like dark and bright eyes.

They made his heart skip a beat for the first time.

Unfortunately, Lin Mingxu didn’t realize it at that time. It was only later, upon reflection, that he realized it was the beginning.

The beginning of the two of them.

Now, Shu You wouldn’t remember anything after getting drunk and waking up.

So he could honestly talk about this matter.

“Wow,” Shu You blinked his eyes forcefully, looking extremely shocked.

How could it have happened so early?

Wasn’t it not long after he transmigrated into the book?

Upon hearing this, a flower seemed to bloom in his heart, and a song seemed to be released.

A serenade swirled in the moonlight, and someone suddenly shouted from outside the window, “Why are you practicing the violin so loudly in the middle of the night?”

Shu You “…”

It turned out it wasn’t his imagination.

Unable to resist, he ran to the window, opened it, and shouted, “It sounds so good! It’s not noisy at all!”

The person outside “…”

Lin Mingxu expressionlessly pulled him back and locked the window.

The two stood by the window.

He looked at Shu You, and Shu You looked at him.

Suddenly, they burst into laughter.

It was the first time Shu You saw Lin Mingxu laugh so happily.

It was a hearty, cheerful, and carefree laugh.

No longer the aloof and cold protagonist from the novel.

Instinctively, he threw himself into the man’s arms and looked up with a smile, “Lin Mingxu, you’re laughing.”

Yes, he was laughing.

Lin Mingxu’s eyes and lips were filled with a smile. He lowered his head slightly and kissed his lips.

Once, twice, thrice.

Shu You was kissed until his head spun, and he leaned against Lin Mingxu, his weight completely relinquished.

His cheeks turned red, and his ears flushed. His legs went weak as if they had lost all feeling. Lin Mingxu’s strong arms supported and embraced him, as if he couldn’t get enough, repeating it over and over again.

It was the affectionate act between lovers.

So it was natural and fitting, so it fell into place.

So it was only right and unique.

While they were kissing, Shu You suddenly murmured, “Lin Mingxu, your belt buckle is poking me.”

The belt buckle…

Lin Mingxu’s expression stiffened for a moment.

Shu You looked up and pouted playfully, saying, “It’s a bit hard.”

Lin Mingxu’s body also stiffened.

The young man in his arms began to squirm and fidget, being particularly restless. Lin Mingxu clenched his teeth, his eyes deep and intense, about to speak, when Shu You suddenly slipped out of his embrace.

Lin Mingxu “…”

He bent down and began examining Lin Mingxu’s belt buckle.

“Your belt buckle…”

Lin Mingxu’s heart skipped a beat.

Then Shu You said, “It looks like Hermès.”

Lin Mingxu, “Yes.”

His mouth twitched, “Get up.”

“No.”

Shu You refused his proposal and enthusiastically said, “I had one before, exchanged with shopping mall points.”

Lin Mingxu “…”

“After saving up points for a long time, I had everything else in the house, so I picked it out. They said I was ranked first on the points leaderboard, so they gave me the belt.”

Hearing him say this, Lin Mingxu suddenly thought of something.

Wait, it seemed like he didn’t know anything about Shu You’s past, and he had never heard him mention it before.

Before, Shu You didn’t dare to reveal his identity, so he didn’t say anything. But now, he should be able to.

Lin Mingxu tightened his fingers, as if nothing had happened.

He asked, “Shu You, you told me before that being stingy was a habit you developed from a young age.”

“Yeah,” Shu You casually replied, “My parents used to run a business, but they went bankrupt, and we went through difficult times.”

“My father also fell ill, not a serious illness, but we couldn’t even afford any medical expenses.”

Since then, Shu You made up his mind to always have savings to ensure his daily life and emergency funds.

Later on, he became addicted to saving money.

He became increasingly thrifty.

Lin Mingxu felt full of pity in his heart.

He reached out to help Shu You up, but he didn’t move, so he ended up crouching down halfway, locking eyes with Shu You.

The man gently said, “You don’t have to worry about these things in the future.”

No need to save money because he was wealthy and willing to let him spend freely.

When wealth reaches a certain level, money is just a number, and Lin Mingxu had confidence in himself.

“That won’t do.”

Unexpectedly, Shu You vigorously shook his head and said, “Being thrifty is a way of life.”

Lin Mingxu “…”

He said it made sense.

But even so, he still felt sorry for Shu You.

Lin Mingxu contemplated for a moment and then said, “Shu You.”

“In the future, we’ll hire someone to do the housework at home. You don’t have to do anything, just be happy every day.”

“If you want to do stand-up comedy, go ahead. If you want to pursue other careers, I will support you.”

“Zhu Feiche’s Guesthouse, he plans to sell it, and I will take it over.”

While Shu You performs, he can eat as much as he wants, however he wants.

“So, ” Lin Mingxu concluded, “you don’t have to be so thrifty.”

“I’m not anymore.”

After listening to this, Shu You felt warm in his heart, and without thinking, he said, “I’m frugal because I want to, not because I don’t have money.”

“But you look like you don’t have money,” Lin Mingxu said.

“I have money.”

“Then explain how you managed to clean up hundreds of houses?”

“Hundreds of houses?”

Shu You chuckled, his drunken rambling lacking logic, “In the farming game, I have ten buildings and three large farms.”

Lin Mingxu “…”

He suddenly felt the familiar urge to kill.

Lin Mingxu was momentarily unsure whom he should feel sorry for, but then Shu You said, “Oh, my parents divorced later, and I lived alone.”

Because of constant arguments due to poverty, his parents separated and formed new families.

At that time, he was still underage.

So Shu You stubbornly thought that if he had enough money, enough money to help his family, they wouldn’t have ended up in that situation.

And he became even more frugal.

Lin Mingxu decided to continue feeling sorry for Shu You.

Just as Lin Mingxu felt conflicted, a fierce knocking sound suddenly came from outside the door.

“Shu You.”

“Brother Wu.”

“Shu You.”

“Brother Wu”

Shu You remembered that he had forgotten something.

It was his manager.

Shu You, like a bird leaving its nest, quickly let go of Lin Mingxu and headed straight for the door.

Lin Mingxu, who remained in place, was speechless.

He decided to find a moving company and move back to his villa in the Lin family’s estate.

He would also hire a few burly professional bodyguards and not allow anyone to enter.

He took a deep breath, calming certain instincts. But in the blink of an eye, Shu You suddenly returned.

The young man stood in front of him, his eyes sparkling like little stars, flickering like the shimmering sea under moonlight.

He slightly raised his heel and planted a kiss on Lin Mingxu’s cheek.

“Lin Mingxu.”

Shu You smiled mischievously, “I like you the most.”

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