“Ahhh! Is it true?? Did you get together after the show?”
Chu Yuanxun didn’t answer but lifted his gaze past the two people in front of him. His lips curved into a subtle smile before he walked around them and left.
At the airport, Wan Tong had somehow been recognized by a few passersby who asked for her autograph and photos. To avoid unnecessary trouble, she simply wore a mask.
As soon as she got out of the car, she heard Chu Yuanxun calling her name. She pulled down her mask and ran toward him, throwing herself into his arms as usual, rubbing against him slightly before asking in a soft voice, “Did you come out here just to wait for me?”
“Mm.” Chu Yuanxun cupped her face and kissed her a few times.
Still unsatisfied, he ran his fingers through her hair at the back of her head, the hum in his throat overflowing with joy.
Wan Tong chuckled, her eyes reflecting the glow of the streetlights, and his figure within them.
A burning sensation spread through Chu Yuanxun’s throat. His hand gently stroked the back of her neck before he gave in and pecked her lips again.
“Weren’t you supposed to be back the day after tomorrow?” His voice carried a slight nasal tone.
“I just wanted to see you.”
Chu Yuanxun’s heart clenched, and he pulled her closer, pressing her firmly against him as if trying to merge her into his own body.
“Let’s go home,” he whispered into her ear.
But Wan Tong rubbed her stomach and said, “But I’m a little hungry…”
Her coquettish tone made Chu Yuanxun’s heart melt into a puddle. He lifted his chin and gestured toward a nearby late-night eatery. “I’ll take you to eat something.”
“Okay!”
Hand in hand, the two walked away, leaving behind the pair of young women still standing there in utter disbelief.
“Oh my god, was that Jian Wantong just now…?”
“Yeah, it was her!”
“Damn, this is major news!”
“Quick, post it on Weibo!”
As Wan Tong sipped her porridge, she finally had a chance to check what had been happening online in the past few hours.
The last two episodes of the show had aired together, and the audience, displeased with the outcome, had already vented their frustrations at the production team. Now, their biggest curiosity was what had happened after filming ended.
Wan Tong opened her phone camera and aimed it at Chu Yuanxun, who insisted on squeezing in next to her.
He was holding a glass of water in one hand, slightly tilting his head back just as the rim of the glass touched his lips. At that moment, the flash went off, making him glance sideways.
And just like that, the camera froze his expression in time. Because of the flash, his eyes seemed to hold shattered starlight, the background darkened, and the hand holding the glass was illuminated in cool white tones, with faintly visible veins and distinct knuckles, a feast for hand lovers.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Posting on Weibo, of course. Maddie and the others already made their relationship public. Why didn’t you tell me earlier…” Wan Tong muttered as she quickly tapped on her screen.
Chu Yuanxun set his glass down and leaned in slightly, his arm draped loosely across the back of her chair as he peered at the words she was typing.
Jian Wantong : [The one and only little cutie in the world is right here❤️]
Just as she was about to post it, she elbowed him. “Hurry up and post too! Don’t leave me hanging here alone.”
Chu Yuanxun chuckled and actually took out his phone.
The moment Wan Tong’s post went up, he immediately shared it, adding just one word : [Mm.]
“Eh? What’s going on? The fans’ reaction is a little weird…” Wan Tong scrolled through the comments, seeing rows of smiling and gossiping emojis, feeling like something was off.
A fan helpfully shared a trending topic:
#We Are Together#
Wan Tong clicked on it, and unexpectedly found herself at the center of the gossip.
Earlier, a blogger had uploaded a short video capturing her and Chu Yuanxun embracing. Though the lighting was dim, it faintly showed Chu Yuanxun lowering his head for a kiss…
The blogger briefly described the scene outside the bar where they were spotted and even included Chu Yuanxun’s words at the end. The post quickly went viral.
By the time Wan Tong saw it, the topic had already amassed millions of views and nearly a hundred thousand discussions.
[Ahhh, official announcements may be late, but they’re never absent! I’m a single dog getting wrecked by all this sweetness in the middle of the night!]
[At first, I thought this was a promo for some drama, but turns out it’s actually the JianXun couple! My heart is full! And that neck-touch move from Chu Yuanxun is everything!]
[Almost missed this gossip! If I rush over to that bar now, do you think I’ll still catch them being lovey-dovey in person??]
[I want to hear Chu Yuanxun say that line with my own ears! Also, how did they end up together? Please, give us more sweet moments!]
[Oh my god, even without filters, Jian Wantong looks so elegant! And the way she cuddled into Chu Yuanxun was adorable! Love it, love it, love it!]
[No matter what, I just hope they stay happy together! No more unnecessary drama, please! I’m rooting for this ship!]
pThank god that annoying Yuan Qingqing wasn’t involved! I skipped through all her scenes in the last two episodes! Ahhh, JianXun, please just get married already!]
…
Wan Tong hadn’t expected things to unfold this way, but it didn’t really affect their decision to go public.
The show had aired its final episodes, and now, they could date openly.
By the time they got back to their apartment, it was nearly midnight.
At the entrance, Chu Yuanxun wrapped his arms around her and nibbled at her lips, which inevitably led them to the bed.
Though they had shared intimate moments before, they had never gone all the way. But tonight, Chu Yuanxun was more passionate and rough than usual, pulling at her clothes until they were in disarray, leaving faint red marks blooming on her delicate skin.
And finally, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, they became one…
The air felt as if it had been ignited, turning hot and tinged with an unspoken intimacy. As the girl curled up in his embrace and drifted into deep sleep, he gently stroked her slightly flushed cheek before pressing a light kiss to her forehead, finally holding her close and settling into quiet contentment.
His heart was overflowing, so full that it felt like it might spill out of his chest.
For the first time, he could somewhat understand those who constantly flaunted their love on social media.
His phone album was filled with pictures of her—every shot capturing what he saw as the most adorable, most genuine version of her.
But he couldn’t bring himself to share them.
In the end, the photo he chose was from last year, the day he first laid eyes on her.
At 4 a.m., after reposting Wan Tong’s Weibo post announcing their relationship, Chu Yuanxun posted another Weibo update.
Chu Yuanxun : [Like]
Not even a punctuation mark.
But that was just his style.
Night owls scrolling through Weibo were initially puzzled when they saw the attached image, it was a picture of him. Shouldn’t he have posted a photo of Jian Wantong instead?
It didn’t take long before someone noticed the hidden detail.
Though the image featured Chu Yuanxun, sharp-eyed netizens recognized the background, it was the exact spot where Jian Wantong had waited for male contestants to confess in both seasons of <Falling for You>. Blurred in the distance, her silhouette could faintly be seen, along with the show’s equipment and crew.
And this photo had been taken on the final day of filming for the previous season!
So… was it possible that Chu Yuanxun had met Jian Wantong that day and fallen for her? And that the only reason he joined the second season was because of her?
At first, he had shown zero interest in any of the female contestants. Then, the moment Jian Wantong made a surprise appearance, he completely changed, actively approaching and flirting with her.
All because he had liked her all along!
Oh my god, was Chu Yuanxun secretly the ultimate sweetheart? What kind of next-level slow-burn romance was this?
His way of showing love was simply legendary!
The internet was in an uproar, but Wan Tong had slept in until noon. By the time she woke up, Chu Yuanxun had already prepared a meal and was waiting for her.
As she drank her soup, her eyes landed on the marks scattered across his neck. She silently lowered her head.
She had kept her nails long, and last night, her nails and teeth had both been in action… The evidence was all over him. But still, wasn’t this a bit too brutal?
Chu Yuanxun wasn’t in a hurry to eat. He absentmindedly touched his neck and casually remarked, “There are more on my back. Want to see?”
Wan Tong : “…”
She glared at him in embarrassment and gulped down half a bowl of soup before muttering, “I have some too… My legs are weak…”
The moment the words left her mouth, she wanted to slap herself. Why was she competing in a battle of injuries?
Chu Yuanxun, on the other hand, reached out and stroked her head. “Sorry. I’ll be more careful next time.”
Wan Tong : “…”
She would recover in a few days, but his wounds, some of them had bled. They might even leave scars.
She pointed at the band-aid on his throat. “Be honest. Did you put that there to protect yourself from me?”
Chu Yuanxun coughed lightly, then slowly peeled the band-aid away, revealing two clear bite marks.
“Stop! That’s enough.” Wan Tong hurriedly stopped him and had him stick the band-aid back on, but her face was burning.
Dear God, what had she done last night?
She was genuinely worried she might have actually killed him in the heat of the moment.
“You could… remind me next time. I can control myself,” she mumbled, avoiding eye contact.
Chu Yuanxun let out a low chuckle but quickly stifled it, afraid she would get embarrassed and lash out. Instead, he solemnly said, “Anything Tongtong does to me, I can accept.”
So his girlfriend had a tiny aggressive streak? He found it rather endearing.
Wan Tong’s face grew even hotter, and she let out a soft hum of acknowledgment, deciding to drop the subject.
They didn’t leave the house that day. After a satisfying meal, Chu Yuanxun, still high on newfound pleasures, ended up devouring the drowsy Wan Tong twice more before the day darkened.
Turns out, a young man newly introduced to intimacy had zero self-control.
Later that night, Wan Tong finally saw his Weibo post. She zoomed in on the photo and stared at it for a long time before turning to him.
“You really fell for me at first sight back then?”
Chu Yuanxun rolled over, pressing her beneath him. He buried his face in the crook of her neck and murmured, “Mhm. The moment I heard you fumbling through rejecting those two guys, I suddenly had the urge to take you home.”
That photo had been taken by Leng Jing, who had joked that it could be used for matchmaking. He never expected it to capture such a meaningful moment.
Hearing his deep but boyish voice, Wan Tong’s heart melted. “So you joined the show just for me? But how did you know I’d be there?”
“I overheard you talking to Director Zheng that day. You said you’d be in the second season. But you showed up so late…”
His tone turned a little aggrieved toward the end, and he pouted against her skin.
Wan Tong giggled at the ticklish sensation. “I was sick. I only joined after I got better.”
Chu Yuanxun lifted his head, his dark eyes locking onto hers.
“It was just a minor illness. I’m fine now,” she quickly reassured him.
He pulled her into a tight embrace, mumbling softly, “The Jian family’s bar is too high.”
Back then, to him, she had seemed completely out of reach. He had even attended one of her concerts, but he couldn’t get anywhere near her. That’s why he had chosen to join the show.
Wan Tong patted his back gently. “Nonsense. My family is very easygoing.”
Chu Yuanxun : “…”
He had already experienced the ‘fierce’ power of her cub protection squad.
This season of <Falling for You> had faced some backlash, but it was undeniably even more popular than the previous one. Especially after JianXun became an official couple, the show’s reputation soared once again.
The private dining room of the grand restaurant was filled with an unusually solemn atmosphere. Besides Wan Tong and Chu Yuanxun, several well-dressed men sat at the table. Each of them was handsome but carried an air of scrutiny as they looked at the pair.
“A’Xun, this is my Cousin Luoting, Cousin Zhouxing, Cousin A’Di… and this is my Cousin Jian Shitong1…” Wan Tong introduced four of her older cousins before turning to Jian Shiyu. “Xiaoyu, you’ve met before…”
Chu Yuanxun nodded politely to each of them, unfazed by the sharp gazes directed his way.
It was Wan Tong who was nearly dying of nerves. Who would’ve thought they’d suddenly demand to meet Chu Yuanxun?
Finally, she pointed to the stern-looking Zheng Tianqiong and introduced him. “A’Xun, this is my Uncle, Director Zheng. You’ve met before…”
Chu Yuanxun’s expression remained unchanged. He had been tricked by Zheng Tianqiong before, but since the man was both an elder and someone who cared about Wan Tong, he maintained his composure and remained polite.
“Uncle.” He even addressed him as Wan Tong did.
Zheng Tianqiong and the other men’s expressions turned subtly strange. Their hostility was so obvious, yet Chu Yuanxun seemed entirely unfazed.
Still, Zheng Tianqiong had some concerns. If Wan Tong ever found out about how he had once set up Chu Yuanxun, there would be no end to the trouble. Luckily, it seemed that Chu Yuanxun had no intention of telling her…
Jian Shiyu, who had come along purely for the entertainment, now felt a bit of sympathy for Chu Yuanxun. Chu Yuanxun looked just like a lamb thrown into a den of wolves.
But, after all, they had lived together, and Chu Yuanxun would be his future brother-in-law. It wouldn’t hurt to build some rapport.
Clearing his throat, Jian Shiyu suddenly asked, “Chu Yuanxun, you like my sister, don’t you? But why didn’t you confess on the show?”
He had only meant to lighten the mood and satisfy his own curiosity, but his question made the atmosphere even more awkward.
Zheng Tianqiong shot him a glare. Of all the things to bring up…
Jian Shiyu touched the bridge of his nose innocently. Did I say something wrong?
Since the show had become a hit, his and Wan Tong’s sibling relationship had been exposed again. Back at school, countless senior girls had hounded him for gossip. Everyone was dying to know, what was Chu Yuanxun thinking when he gave up the chance to confess?
Surely, someone else in the room was at least a little curious? Wasn’t Wan Tong?
What Jian Shiyu didn’t know was that Zheng Tianqiong had already reported the entire situation in their family’s cub protection squad group chat.
In fact, nearly everyone in the family, except for Wan Tong and a few younger members, was already aware of how Zheng Tianqiong had set Chu Yuanxun up.
The moment Chu Yuanxun spoke, everyone’s attention snapped to him, including Wan Tong, who was watching expectantly.
“It’s nothing, really…” he said, his voice calm.
“I just prefer to express my feelings outside the cameras.” Then, he suddenly turned his gaze to Zheng Tianqiong and deliberately emphasized, “I even told Director Zheng that I would contact her after the show.”
Zheng Tianqiong : “…” This brat was throwing his own words back at him.
Weren’t those the exact words he had used to advise Chu Yuanxun before?
Wan Tong seemed to catch onto something but remained silent. Naturally, she was on Chu Yuanxun’s side.
After that, Zheng Tianqiong fell mostly silent, but Jian Shitong and the rest of the protection squad continued tossing key questions to Chu Yuanxun. If it had been anyone other than Chu Yuanxun, they would’ve been scared stiff.
By the end of the meal, the group was somewhat satisfied with him, but they didn’t show it, still keeping their intimidating expressions.
Meanwhile, Cousin Luoting excused himself to use the restroom. Wan Tong noticed his phone screen lighting up repeatedly, and when she glanced around, she saw that the others also glanced at their own phones at the same time.
Were her Uncle and Cousins chatting in a private group?
She stared at the happily-eating Jian Shiyu and quickly ruled him out. That fool probably wasn’t in the group.
After some thought, she quietly grabbed Luoting’s phone and entered the passcode. To her surprise, the chat she opened was titled ‘Cub Protection Squad.’
Chu Yuanxun also peeked over. Wan Tong pinched his palm, signaling him to stay quiet, before turning her attention back to the screen.
Zheng Tianqiong : [I’m staying silent. You guys take over. This kid is so calm it makes me want to punch him.]
Jian Shitong : [He’s a PhD in law. His eloquence is top-tier when necessary.]
Jian Tong : [Eloquence alone won’t do. What if he wins every argument with Tongtong in the future? What if she’s the one who gets upset? No, no, deduct points.]
Mo Di : [From my observations, he doesn’t even dare to raise his voice at Tongtong…]
Zhouxing : [Acting! He’s definitely faking it to lower our guard!]
Zheng Tianqiong : [Tongtong is too naive. Chu Yuanxun looks harmless, but he’s got skills. Just look at the show!]
Mo Di : [Director Zheng, you do remember that it was your show, right?]
Zheng Tianqiong : […]
Jian Shitong : [We never should’ve let Xiaoyu go. That fool got completely won over.]
Wan Tong looked up at the so-called ‘fool’ Xiaoyu and felt both exasperated and amused. What is all this nonsense?
They actually had a group chat. And that ridiculous name?
Meanwhile, Chu Yuanxun silently withdrew his gaze and took a sip of warm water to calm himself. He hadn’t expected the Jian family’s cub protection squad to be this extensive. There were a total of 31 members in the group.
So the ones here tonight were just the scouting team?
Wan Tong scrolled through the chat before lowering her head to type a reply.
Luo Ting : [I like Chu Yuanxun, really. He treats me well too, so don’t worry. If I ever feel wronged, I’ll be the first to tell you!]
After she sent the message, Jian Shitong and Zhou Xing almost spit out their tea, coughing uncontrollably.
She waved her Cousin Luoting’s phone in the air before setting it aside.
“……” The men silently put away their phones and lowered their heads to sip their tea.
Jian Shiyu glanced at them in confusion. “What’s wrong with you guys?”
“Nothing. Eat more. You probably haven’t been eating well at school,” Wan Tong said with a smile.
Jian Shiyu grinned at her and nodded vigorously. “Sister, you should eat more too. You’ve lost weight.”
Wan Tong nodded. “Mm.”
Beside Jian Shiyu, Zheng Tianqiong reached out and patted his shoulder, letting out a silent sigh.
Jian Shiyu : “……” A sudden chill ran down his spine.
- the first three are her maternal cousins, while Jian Shitong is her paternal cousin. ↩︎