Side Story (5) : Jealous Fox (1)
In early April, <Don’t Be Afraid, It’s Me> officially finished its run in cinemas.
Song Jianchu’s debut film as a producer received both critical acclaim and box office success. For Song Jianchu, who was a first-time producer, this marked a huge success in his career.
Everyone believed this internet celebrity turned talented producer was about to set sail, formally entering the film industry.
However, two months later, rumors surfaced that Song Jianchu was joining the ranks of those taking the postgraduate entrance exam.
The online community, eagerly awaiting the next work from this promising producer, erupted in confusion.
[What? Why would you do this, son?]
[Alright, I’m balanced now. Turns out even wealthy people choose to take exams.]
[Why isn’t the little brother continuing to apply for graduate programs abroad? Could it be because of regret from not taking the college entrance exam?]
[Don’t speculate on the thoughts of a scholar. Sweetheart, let’s meet in the online class!]
[So, does even seeing Song’s debut involve cramming for exams? Yay!]
[Trust me, you’ll regret it. You don’t understand the misery of being an exam dog.]
…
In fact, several months earlier, Song Jianchu had already received an offer from a prestigious overseas university. Instead of choosing film production-related subjects, he decided to continue pursuing his undergraduate major.
After much consideration, he chose to stay in China to further his studies.
Although Song Jianchu didn’t explicitly tell anyone, it was widely understood that his decision was because of his significant other.
Most of Mu Ye’s work was in China, making it impossible for him to go abroad. Even if he worked hard to catch up with studies overseas, at least one or two years of separation was inevitable.
The development of certain subjects in top domestic universities was in no way inferior to those abroad. For Song Jianchu, studying was merely a means of self-enrichment; he felt no necessity to live apart from Mu Ye.
Moreover, continuing his education was Mu Ye’s suggestion.
Despite excelling in his career, Song Jianchu’s age was a factor, and Mu Ye didn’t want him to enter society too early. There was still a long time ahead to live in society, and Mu Ye valued the innocent student life as a precious life experience. He didn’t want Song Jianchu to miss out on any specific stage of growth.
At the end of December, Song Jianchu participated in the graduate entrance exam.
In March, Song Jianchu ranked first in the initial total score and entered the professional interview at B University.
In June, Song Jianchu was admitted to B University with the first-place score in the comprehensive interview and received the admission notice.
The netizens witnessed a series of trending topics, starting from the entertainment mindset of rich people taking exams, gradually losing their humor, and ending up feeling bitter.
[So someone can actually score 95 in politics? I always thought it was a made-up legend by exam prep institutions.]
[Understand now? We’re just ordinary people; it’s not about having money.]
[I’m out, this world’s impossible to navigate [waving goodbye].]
[Listen, Song Jianchu, thank you for not taking the college entrance exam back then.]
[Family, let me advise you, quickly paste the god of exams’ photo on your bedside and pray daily for good study habits [praying].]
9I have the god of exams’ school’s limited edition 1-inch photo! DM me if interested!]
[Sister upstairs! DM me!]
[Please, I really need the god of exams’ recent photo! Thanks to the kind-hearted sisters! May they have peace and prosperity in their lives!]
Exam God: “………………”
The exam God’s expression turned ugly, and he almost crushed his phone in his hand.
Why did he spare that crappy school back then?
Early in the morning, experiencing a strong mental shock, Song Jianchu’s aura was extremely low as he leaned against the headboard, contemplating how to completely destroy that photo, ensuring it never appeared anywhere on Earth again.
Mu Ye rolled over, moved his arm, and sleepily hugged him, glancing at his phone screen, almost laughing out loud.
Suddenly feeling Song Jianchu’s expression chill a few degrees, Mu Ye immediately composed himself and patted his head, “Don’t be angry; the netizens mean no harm.”
Song Jianchu: “How can I completely destroy this thing?”
Mu Ye sat up beside him, took the phone, and looked at it seriously, “Actually, I think instead of destroying it, it’s better to utilize its value reasonably.”
Song Jianchu: “?”
“Hang the photo on an NFT and auction its electronic copyright; it’s definitely worth more than those pixelated avatars.” Mu Ye hugged Song Jianchu’s shoulders and jokingly continued, “After listing it, I’ll be the first to bid. Maybe I’ll become the world’s richest man through dividends from each resale.”
“…”
“In the future, you won’t have to rely on me for retirement.” Mu Ye leaned against his shoulder, raised his head to kiss his cheek shamelessly, “Aren’t I brilliant?”
“…”
Song Jianchu’s eyes were complicated as he took back the phone.
He didn’t respond.
Mu Ye grabbed Song Jianchu’s phone, and the two inexplicably started to play-fight.
“Tsk.” Mu Ye’s pajama buttons were half undone as he sat up, rubbing the bite marks on his wrist, “Who’s this little wolf? Brother is okay with biting.”
Song Jianchu wasn’t the blushing, naïve little puppy who would listen to whatever nonsense Mu Ye said anymore. However, when Mu Ye pretended to be pitiful, he sometimes relented.
Song Jianchu hesitated, “Bitten?”
“Red.” Mu Ye looked aggrieved, showing him his wrist, “You’re so ruthless, Song Jianchu.”
Song Jianchu quickly got up to check, tossing aside the phone he had been guarding, “Let me see.”
As he leaned over, Mu Ye suddenly looked up, a slightly mischievous smile curling his lips. There was a misty allure in his eyes, and his unique gaze was captivating in the morning light.
In the moment when Song Jianchu was captivated by the beauty, Mu Ye’s warm hand firmly pulled him close by the waist.
Mu Ye smoothly got what he wanted, squinting his eyes seductively as he sensually invaded Song Jianchu’s mouth, tantalizingly entwining their tongues, stirring up the blush-inducing sound of saliva exchange.
“!!!”
Without any defenses, Song Jianchu was pulled into the sheets effortlessly by the cunning fox.
“Brother.” It had been a long time since this person had teased him to the point of blushing, and Song Jianchu’s heart was beating wildly. He turned his head slightly and moistened his lips, “No, I have to meet my advisor this afternoon.”
Lately, Mu Ye had become more and more unrestrained, and whenever he felt like it, he didn’t care about much. He skillfully reached into the bedside table and pulled out a thin plastic package, removed his shirt with one hand, and continued his masculine actions.
Pressing him down with one hand, Mu Ye gripped a corner of the package between his teeth, sensually tearing it open, using a persuasive and deceitful gaze, “Just once, won’t waste much of your time.”
Song Jianchu knew there was something fishy about trusting him.
“Brother has to go on a business trip tonight.” Mu Ye was shameless, speaking pitifully, “The youngest and cutest ‘Chu Chu’ will only get to sleep once.”
“But every day is the youngest day for me.”
Even though he knew this person was just blabbering, Song Jianchu willingly fell for it and closed his blazing eyes, obediently lying still.
Mu Ye, true to his word, reluctantly let him go close to noon.
Under the pretext of curiosity about the postgraduate reporting process, Mu Ye, acting as a half-parent, accompanied him out in the afternoon and personally drove Song Jianchu to the school.
To avoid disrupting the school’s order, both of them were completely covered, their faces shielded tightly.
Because he debuted too early, Mu Ye hardly experienced a normal college life, which was one of his biggest regrets.
Song Jianchu continuing his studies was like fulfilling a dream indirectly for him.
Escorting the top scorer to school for registration, even though no one recognized him wrapped up like a rice dumpling, Mu Ye was quite proud.
Passing by classmates discussing this year’s graduate school newcomers several times, Mu Ye suddenly stopped, wanting to “casually” take off his sunglasses.
But Song Jianchu stopped him in time.
He could only brag verbally, stopping in front of the list of new students, sighing satisfactorily to Song Jianchu, “Chu Chu, am I amazing?”
Song Jianchu: “?”
Wasn’t this a result of his own exam?
Mu Ye slightly lowered his sunglasses, his eyes ambiguous and proud, “Although I’ve never been number one since I was young, from now on, I’ll be able to sleep every day—”
Song Jianchu immediately stuffed the coffee straw into his mouth, his heart pounding, looking around regretfully, “Mr. Mu, please be quiet.”
“Umm.” Mu Ye held the straw in his mouth, gave him a faint smile, and his eyes curved beautifully at the corners.
Song Jianchu’s defensive ability had degraded again, and he started feeling his face heat up, awkwardly turning his gaze away.
When he used to be in school, getting the top spot for Song Jianchu was quite normal. Everyone in school was used to his grades, and even when he returned to his cold home, no one would praise him.
But this time during the exams, he felt an unprecedented sense of joy from start to finish.
Especially now, seeing Mu Ye being so proud, Song Jianchu couldn’t help but feel a bit self-important.
However, something unexpected happened.
Mu Ye’s good mood, from escorting the top scorer to school registration, suddenly crumbled the moment he met Song Jianchu’s advisor.
“Professor Lu, hello.” Mu Ye quickly adjusted his surprised expression and shook hands with the professor.
Professor Lu politely shook hands with him, his face expressionless, lacking the enthusiasm one would show when meeting a star, making the already awkward situation even more awkward for a few seconds.
“You should go back first,” Song Jianchu said, “You have to leave on a business trip tonight, right?”
“Um, then I’ll head back first.” Mu Ye smiled at Professor Lu, “Please take care of him in the future.”
Professor Lu nodded slightly, neither warm nor cold, “Take care.”
Mu Ye held back his desire to chat with the top scorer’s family and put on a mature and steady image of a parent.
As he left, the look he silently passed to Song Jianchu was slightly more resentful, with a hint of warning.
Song Jianchu met Mu Ye’s resentful gaze and felt an unsettling intuition, a feeling of foreboding.
Song Jianchu: “…”
It turned out his intuition hadn’t deteriorated.
That night, when Song Jianchu video chatted with Mu Ye, he faced the first wave of the jealous fox’s deliberate teasing.
Mu Ye didn’t show his face, the video paused coldly at his chin, calling him by his full name, “Song Jianchu, are you deliberately upsetting me?”
Song Jianchu was puzzled, “Upset you about what?”
The jealous fox started to make a fuss for no reason, “With so many outstanding professors at B University, why did you pick this one?”
Song Jianchu honestly said, “Because he’s the most outstanding.”
Mu Ye pursed his lips and stayed silent for two seconds, not showing his chin anymore, softly saying, “You praised him for two months. Do you really admire him that much?”
Song Jianchu was puzzled.
Praising for two months? He had simply introduced him once, hadn’t even covered half of it according to Baidu Baike.
Seeing Song Jianchu’s silence, Mu Ye continued, “So young and still looks like that, do all you academic high achievers like fellow high achievers?”
Song Jianchu was utterly bewildered. “…”
Looks like what? Where did that conclusion come from?
Mu Ye lifted the camera. “You dare to ignore me?”
Song Jianchu suppressed a smile. “Brother, you’re so strange. What’s there to be upset about?”
Mu Ye was taken aback, looking hurt. “Jianchu, are you annoyed with me?”
“…” Sensing trouble, Song Jianchu instantly tensed up, hurriedly explaining, “That’s not what I meant, I was saying—”
“Sorry, I’m being weird.” Mu Ye covered up his hurt feelings, smiled faintly, and said, “Just ignore me, sleep early, good night.”
Mu Ye ended the video call.
Song Jianchu: “…”
Now he couldn’t sleep at all.
Song Jianchu couldn’t concentrate on reading either. He lay alone in the spacious bedroom, surrounded by Mu Ye’s scent.
Staring at Mu Ye’s WeChat profile picture, Song Jianchu reflected for a moment, feeling that he shouldn’t have said that just now.
He knew Mu Ye was irrationally jealous, especially when they were apart.
He shouldn’t have told the truth.
After hesitating for a moment, Song Jianchu called back.
Mu Ye, having just arrived overseas, answered the video call with wet hair after a shower, wearing a white bathrobe, leaning against the headboard, and not saying anything.
Song Jianchu had a clear read on Mu Ye’s inner feelings now, understanding it all at a glance.
Mu Ye was waiting for him to coax.
“Brother.” Song Jianchu called out.
Mu Ye turned his gaze, still unhappy.
So childish. Was this guy really twenty-eight?
Song Jianchu lay on the pillow, biting his lip trying not to laugh, and asked, “Should I change advisors then?”
Mu Ye’s expression softened slightly, without much emotion. “Did I tell you to change advisors? Do you see me as someone who makes unreasonable demands?”
Yeah.
Song Jianchu: “No, you’re especially mature.”
Even Mu Ye didn’t believe it himself, deliberately keeping a straight face. “Now you’ve learned to lie?”
Resting his chin on his arm, Song Jianchu smiled slightly. “Really, the person I admire the most is you.”
Mu Ye had no doubt about this. After all, he was his number one fanboy.
There was finally a hint of a smile in Mu Ye’s eyes, which quickly vanished, and he said seriously, “Remember your words, even if that teacher is very impressive, you’re not allowed to admire him more than me.”
Song Jianchu was already quite adept at coaxing. “Don’t worry, that’s impossible.”
Mu Ye was quite pleased, completely coaxed, and said gently, “Study well with your advisor, aim to surpass him in the future.”
Song Jianchu breathed a sigh of relief. “You’re not angry anymore?”
“When did I ever get angry?” Mu Ye frowned. “Don’t slander me.”
“Oh.”
Both of them gazed at each other through the screen for a few seconds, missing each other in their hearts.
Mu Ye reluctantly said, “Sleep early, there are classes tomorrow.”
“Yeah.” Song Jianchu replied, “You too.”
They bid each other goodnight and ended the video call.
Turning over and lying down, Song Jianchu found the situation quite funny but then felt an emptiness inside.
Mu Ye wasn’t home often, but today felt particularly strange without him.
He went out to fetch Wait and Mint, about to turn off the lights to sleep, when his phone screen suddenly lit up.
[MY: If you miss me, check under the pillow. Left a gift for you.]
[MY: Goodnight ♥]
Curious, Song Jianchu flipped open his own pillow but found nothing.
He then lifted Mu Ye’s pillow.
His gaze froze, and Song Jianchu’s eyes lit up as he slowly reached for something under the pillow.
It was a Mu Ye merchandise doll.
Song Jianchu sniffed it near his nose, recognizing the familiar scent.
Song Jianchu calmly stared at the doll in his hand, thinking Mu Ye was indeed childish.
He wouldn’t keep such a girlish toy by his bedside.
Moreover, Pei Shinian was supposed to come to wake him up for their morning run tomorrow, afraid that if he saw it, he’d be teased for a year.
Song Jianchu put the doll into the bedside drawer, hugged Wait, turned off the light, and lay down.
Fifteen minutes later, the lamp by the bedside lit up again.
Wait lay on the bed, squinting, watching his master sneakily take out something good from the bedside drawer, bury it deep under the covers, and lie down calmly.
He lay down peacefully too.