“Sister, where are you? Please come save me.”
Wan Tong stared at the message on her phone and immediately dialed a number.
Jian Shiyu, her younger cousin, was the youngest in the family and thus the most strictly disciplined. Every time he sent her messages like this, it usually meant he had run away from home and was looking to stay with her.
It was only then that she remembered, Jian Shiyu’s university was quite close to B City.
However, she herself was currently staying with Chu Yuanxun. How could she possibly take care of him?
As soon as the call connected, Jian Shiyu quickly gave her an address before abruptly hanging up.
Wan Tong stared at her phone, half-suspecting that Jian Shiyu was actually a spy sent by her uncle and cousin to keep an eye on her.
She took a few sips of ice water, only to hear Chu Yuanxun’s phone vibrating non-stop. She walked back into the room, picked up the phone, and went to the bathroom door.
“A’Xun, Leng Jing is calling you.”
Only the sound of running water came from inside.
“A’Xun?” Wan Tong leaned in closer and called again, “A’Xun, did you hear me?”
Separated by the door, the temperature in the air seemed to keep rising, igniting the blood coursing through Chu Yuanxun’s veins once more.
He braced one hand against the wall, letting the cold water pour over his head, washing away the burning desire surging from deep within his body. The water soaked his bangs, making them cling to his forehead, while his dark eyebrows and eyelashes appeared even darker, like ink.
The impulse he had barely managed to suppress was stirred up again by the sweet, delicate voice outside the door.
His lips, tinged with an almost sinful redness, curved slightly. In a hoarse voice, he murmured toward the door, “Don’t make a sound, Tongtong.”
Wan Tong froze. “What’s wrong with you?”
This time, the person in the bathroom didn’t reply. But amidst the sound of rushing water, there seemed to be a faint, increasingly heavy breathing…
“…” Wan Tong silently turned around, tossed the phone aside, and ran out.
She made some toast, sausages, and a fried egg, then poured a glass of yogurt. Only then did Chu Yuanxun emerge from the master bedroom.
He had changed into fresh clothes, his hair still slightly damp, moisture lingering on his face. A clear droplet of water traced a path down his temple, sliding from his sharp jawline to his faintly flushed neck.
Noticing the half-empty bottle of ice water on the table, he reached for it. “Girls shouldn’t drink cold water.”
With that, he twisted the cap open and gulped it down himself.
“Oh…” Wan Tong sipped her yogurt while secretly admiring the scene in front of her.
This version of Chu Yuanxun, lazy yet undeniably sexy, was so breathtaking that she couldn’t look away.
Just then, Chu Yuanxun suddenly lifted his gaze. Feeling guilty, Wan Tong blurted out, “Do you usually shower in the morning?”
The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them. Quickly, she added, “You don’t have to answer. I was just asking randomly.”
But Chu Yuanxun, completely unfazed, replied calmly, “Just today.”
“Oh… I was just checking Weibo earlier,” Wan Tong awkwardly changed the subject. “We signed an agreement with the production team. If you keep this up, be careful, they might sue you for breaching the contract.”
Last night, after she had fallen asleep, Chu Yuanxun had posted a Weibo update.
Chu Yuanxun : [Doesn’t it look good?]
The post included a picture, the traditional ink painting of himself that Wan Tong had drawn during the filming of the show when they were on a date in an old alley.
Since it was his first time posting on Weibo, his fans had gone wild, pushing the post to the trending topics overnight.
“They all said it looks good,” Chu Yuanxun said, eating breakfast with his usual focus.
Wan Tong stifled a laugh. After the seventh episode of <Falling for You> aired, the show’s guests frequently trended online. With his stunning looks and straightforward personality, Chu Yuanxun had gained even more fans. Of course, his fans would say he looked good.
But his post also stirred some controversy. A significant portion of viewers felt that the XunYuan CP was being ruined and suspected an ambiguous relationship between Chu Yuanxun and Jian Wantong. Some fans were even losing their minds, demanding clarification from him and the production team, and harassing other guests.
As they ate breakfast, Leng Jing suddenly arrived. Entering from the hallway, he called out, “A’Xun, why didn’t you answer my calls? You’ve got a case to—holy shit!”
Leng Jing froze in his tracks, staring dumbfounded at Wan Tong sitting at the dining table.
“Good morning.” Wan Tong took a bite of toast and hesitated before greeting him.
“G-Good morning… hehe…” Leng Jing let out a stiff laugh while sneaking a glance at Chu Yuanxun, barely able to contain his excitement.
—Damn, what kind of speed was this?! Chu Yuanxun had only been filming with Jian Wantong for four days, and they were already at this stage?!
“You guys chat. I’m heading out for a bit.” Wan Tong wiped her fingers and stood up slowly.
The next second, Leng Jing saw the usually composed and indifferent Chu Yuanxun lift his gaze. “Where are you going?”
Leng Jing stood to the side, watching the scene unfold like a drama. Oh? This was the first time he’d seen Chu Yuanxun take the initiative like this.
“Just wandering around,” Wan Tong replied vaguely. She actually wanted to check on Jian Shiyu and see if he had been sent to catch her. But there was no need to tell Chu Yuanxun that.
“I’ll go with you—” Chu Yuanxun started to say, but Leng Jing quickly interrupted, “A’Xun, you have not only a case today but also a meeting with your professor. You can’t skip it.”
Chu Yuanxun shot him a cold, piercing look. Leng Jing responded with a beaming smile.
“I’ll go by myself,” Wan Tong added.
Chu Yuanxun silently walked to her side and accompanied her to the entrance.
He stood beside her, watching as she changed shoes, his thin lips pressed together, his jawline taut.
Wan Tong noticed that Leng Jing was standing far away and hadn’t followed. Only then did she lower her voice and say, “Go ahead with your work. Thanks for taking me in last night.”
“Mm.” When receiving gratitude from others, Chu Yuanxun always responded in this cold and distant manner.
But at this moment, he seemed more sullen than usual, his expression even carrying a hint of grievance…
It felt as if she had slept him last night and was now heartlessly abandoning him.
Wan Tong picked up her phone, ready to leave, but her wrist was suddenly grabbed.
“Mm? What’s wrong?” Wan Tong’s voice carried a smile, and the curve of her lips was filled with honeyed sweetness.
Chu Yuanxun lowered his eyes to look at her. The shadows cast by his thick lashes blended seamlessly with the darkness in his black pupils. “Will you come back to stay?”
Wan Tong stood on tiptoe, leaning close to his ear and whispering, “As long as you welcome me.”
“Mm, remember to come back.” A warm glow flickered in the depths of his dark eyes, and a faint smile lifted the corners of his lips.
“Alright, stop staring. No matter how much you look, she’s not going to jump out of the elevator.” Leng Jing tugged at the collar of Chu Yuanxun’s shirt, pulling him back inside and slamming the door shut.
Chu Yuanxun pushed him aside and neatly arranged the men’s slippers on the floor. “Remember to return the key.”
“Come on, are you serious? If anyone embodies ‘choosing love over friendship,’ it’s definitely you!” Leng Jing fumed in mock indignation, laughing as he cursed, but still obediently tossed the key back to Chu Yuanxun.
By the fountain at Fangzheng Plaza, Wan Tong spotted Jian Shiyu in the distance. Instead of approaching, she stood a short distance away and called him.
Jian Shiyu adjusted his baseball cap and put the phone to his ear. “Sister, hurry up. I’m starving.”
He spoke in an unhurried tone.
“Alright, I’m almost there. Send me the address.” Wan Tong replied before hanging up.
Looking up, she saw Jian Shiyu fiddle with his phone before obediently sitting down to wait for her.
Her phone vibrated with a new message, a location pin and a short text from him: [Sister, I’m not tricking you.]
Wan Tong : “…”
After a while, she strolled over at a leisurely pace.
The Jian family’s children were all good-looking. Although Jian Shiyu had only just started college, he was already a campus sensation.
“Xiaoyu.”
Jian Shiyu stood up at the sound of her voice, his handsome face breaking into a grin as he spread his arms and pulled her into a hug. “Sister, you’re here.”
Wan Tong gave him a light smack on the shoulder. “Cut it out. Be honest—did Uncle or your Brother contact you?”
Jian Shiyu released her, draping an arm around her shoulder as they walked. His tone was calm and unwavering in loyalty. “They did, but I’m on your side.”
Wan Tong glanced at him sideways and smiled. “At least you have a conscience. What do you want to eat? My treat.”
“I want seafood porridge, cold appetizers, double-skin milk pudding…” With each dish he listed, his tone grew more resentful.
Wan Tong choked on air and pinched his waist. “Are you here to settle scores with me?”
The dishes he mentioned were all ones she had either made or eaten on a show.
“Hiss…” Jian Shiyu sucked in a breath, looking even more aggrieved. “Sister, I don’t want you to date anyone.”
“Huh? So you want me to stay single forever?”
“Why would you be alone? You have me.”
“Stop with that nonsense. After we eat, you’re coming with me to the hotel to pick up my luggage.”
“Oh…”
Neither of them expected that one meal and a trip to the hotel would land them on the trending searches.
Not only were Wan Tong and Jian Shiyu trending, but photos of Chu Yuanxun meeting Yuan Qingqing also went viral, causing an explosion of discussions.
The hashtags #Jian Wantong and Mysterious Young Boy Meet at a Hotel# and #XunYuan CP Secretly Meet# were neck and neck in popularity, with discussions skyrocketing.
[Holy crap, is Yuanxun CP real?! Ah Wei is dead! Jian the Homewrecker, go seduce someone else!]
[Is that Jian Wantong’s boyfriend? He looks so cute and handsome!]
[Ahhh, XunYuan CP is locked in! They never disappoint!]
[I told you! XunYuan CP is unbreakable! Chu Yuanxun will definitely come around!]
[But… in the preview for Episode 8, it looks like Jian Wantong and Chu Yuanxun are going on a one-on-one date… With her charm, what man could resist?]
[Honestly, I kind of want to see Jian Wantong and Chu Yuanxun together. It actually seems kinda sweet. Chu is surprisingly cute around her!]
[Uhh, but Chu Yuanxun posted the portrait drawn by Jian Wantong on Weibo and then went on a date with Yuan Qingqing. Doesn’t that seem a little scummy? Either that, or it’s just a PR stunt to hype up the show.]
…
The internet was buzzing with speculation, but Wan Tong remained blissfully unaware that she was trending.
She had spent the entire day goofing around with Jian Shiyu. By the time they finally dragged their luggage to an apartment building, night had already fallen.
“Sister, why aren’t we staying at a hotel?” Jian Shiyu asked, his tone puzzled, but his gaze darkened slightly as he glared at the door, as if trying to burn a hole through it.
Chu Yuanxun, huh? He’d better be ready to meet him properly.
“I’ll introduce you to a new Brother. Maybe we can even save some money,” Wan Tong said, completely serious despite the nonsense she was spouting.
She had promised Chu Yuanxun she’d come back, and she wasn’t one to go back on her word.
Besides, having Xiaoyu around was nice, it would put her family more at ease.
Meanwhile, Chu Yuanxun had already returned home early. Though the trending topics had been swiftly suppressed, his Weibo page was still blowing up.
*Ding-dong*
When the doorbell rang, Chu Yuanxun quickly got up.
The door opened, revealing a young man and woman standing obediently at the entrance. At their feet were a suitcase and a backpack.
Chu Yuanxun’s gaze swept over Jian Shiyu, carrying a sharp glint, but when it landed on Wan Tong’s face, his eyes softened. “You’re back.”
“Mm…”
Just as Wan Tong responded, Jian Shiyu reached out and draped an arm around her shoulder, leaning in intimately. “Sister Tongtong, is this the kindhearted friend from the show who took you in for a night?”
“…Yes.” Wasn’t he asking the obvious? And why use such a weird description?
Sensing that Jian Shiyu was up to something, Wan Tong glared at him, about to explain when he suddenly rested his head on her shoulder. “Sister Tongtong, don’t be mad at me. I know I was wrong. I won’t run away from home again.”
Wan Tong forced a stiff smile, exasperated, while Chu Yuanxun’s face had already darkened. He pried Jian Shiyu’s head away and spat out three words, “Come inside first.”
Jian Shiyu ground his teeth and watched as Chu Yuanxun led Wan Tong inside first before pulling his suitcase along to follow.
Wan Tong was the only girl among the Jian family’s grandchildren, and the whole family adored her. He had come here with an important mission—
To keep a close eye on Chu Yuanxun!
While Wan Tong made a call on the balcony, the two men sat in the living room. One lounging lazily, the other expressionless. When their eyes met, sparks seemed to crackle in the air.
“What’s with that woman on the trending searches?” Jian Shiyu crossed his arms, his tone icy. “What do you take Tongtong for?”
“And what position do you have to ask?” Chu Yuanxun merely glanced at him before shifting his gaze back toward the balcony.
“If you dare hurt her, I won’t let you off. And I’m taking her away. Don’t think you can manipulate her with your tricks anymore.”
Jian Shiyu’s wary, almost defensive stare made Chu Yuanxun narrow his eyes slightly. “And who exactly are you?” Though he already had a guess.
So… this wasn’t a romantic rival. It was a member of the cub protection squad?
“You don’t need to know. Tongtong likes me the most. Who do you think you are?” Despite trying to act mature, Jian Shiyu’s façade was starting to crack.
“She’s living here with me. What do you think?” Chu Yuanxun was usually quiet, but when he spoke, it always hit like a gut punch.
Their locked gazes sent invisible lightning crashing between them, the air thick with tension.
Just then, the balcony door slid open with a *whoosh*, and Wan Tong stepped inside.
She sensed the strange atmosphere and looked at the two men on the couch, puzzled. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing. Brother Xun is very talkative, and he said he already ordered a bed. It’ll arrive soon.” Jian Shiyu’s voice was mild, his eyes slightly narrowed in a smile.
Chu Yuanxun’s eyelashes flickered as he cast him a sidelong glance, snorting softly. “Mm, it’s on the way.”
Jian Shiyu smirked triumphantly before adding, “Brother Xun studied law. I have some questions to ask. Can I take up some of your time?”
“Sure.” Chu Yuanxun nodded.
Seeing them getting along so well, Wan Tong was momentarily surprised. Men’s friendships were truly baffling.
But soon, Jian Shiyu regretted it.
Damn it, was Chu Yuanxun reciting legal texts? And why did he keep switching between Chinese, English, and French? Jian Shiyu felt like his brain was melting, but he couldn’t back down, not when his goal was to keep this man away from his Sister! So, he endured it with a look of noble sacrifice.
After a long day of travel and mischief, exhaustion hit him hard. Half an hour later, he was fast asleep on the couch.
Chu Yuanxun clapped his hands lightly and got up, heading toward the master bedroom.
Wan Tong was inside, reorganizing Jian Shiyu’s luggage. When she saw him enter, she asked, “What is it? Where’s Xiaoyu?”
Chu Yuanxun crouched in front of her, not answering immediately. Instead, he asked, “Younger Brother?”
Wan Tong nodded. “Mm, my younger cousin. The one you saw at the hotel last time was my older cousin.”
Chu Yuanxun stared at her, his finely sculpted features deepened by the glow of the light. After a moment, he slowly spoke. “How many more brothers do you have in your family?”
Know your enemy, know yourself. He needed to assess just how big this ‘cub protection squad’ was.