“Do you want to kiss me?”
Suddenly, Jiang Fuyue opened her eyes, pupils jet black.
The man froze as if struck by lightning, his whole body going rigid. He didn’t dare meet her gaze, even instinctively retreating backward.
Flustered, cowardly.
But the next second, the girl curved her lips in a smile. Just as he pulled back, she leaned forward.
Lips met lips, eyes locked on eyes.
Breaths tangled.
In that instant, the man grew even more stiff than before, muscles taut, his body like a block of wood.
He stared at everything before him in disbelief, suddenly overcome with the sense of unreality, as though he were floating on clouds.
Weight seemed to drain from his body at a speed he could feel, until only a light, drifting soul remained.
And the thread tethering that soul was firmly held in the hand of the smiling girl before him.
She controlled all his direction, seized every one of his senses.
Heartbeat thudded, breath held tight.
As the suffocating feeling closed in, the man’s cheeks flushed red.
Jiang Fuyue pulled back just a little, her lips brushing against his scorching breath. With a smile, she reminded, “Breathe.”
But the man thought she was leaving. Without thinking, his hands clamped around that slender waist and pulled her hard against him.
Warm to the touch, a perfect fit in his palm.
“Hss… gentler…”
Only then did he belatedly ease his strength a little, yet still held her so she couldn’t break free.
Since Jiang Fuyue had taken the initiative to kiss him, she didn’t plan on retreating.
Her hands naturally circled his neck, fingertips softly brushing along his side of the neck.
Who would’ve thought—this small action made the man shiver all over, his breathing suddenly turning rapid, and the force of his kiss deepened, grew harsher…
“Mm!”
“Sorry,” breath hot and uneven, eyes tender with a trace of innocent pleading, “I couldn’t help it…”
When it comes to this kind of thing, never underestimate a man’s capacity to learn.
All the more so when that man is Xie Dingyuan—a top-tier authority who can handle biochemistry with ease.
Once he treated kissing as if it were a research subject, Jiang Fuyue was doomed.
“You… how much longer do you… mm… want to kiss?”
“A little longer.”
“….”
“Is it done yet?”
“Just a while.”
“….”
“Xie Dingyuan, that’s enough!”
“Not enough.”
Jiang Fuyue: Did I just dig a pit and bury myself in it?
If, the moment she kissed him, the initiative had still been in her hands—by now, things had slipped completely out of control. Someone had long since quietly flipped host and guest.
…
Who knew how much time passed before Xie Dingyuan finally let her go. By then, Jiang Fuyue’s cheeks were flushed crimson, her peach-blossom eyes shimmering with mist. She leaned against the seat, breath slightly uneven.
The man, on the other hand, wore a face full of satisfaction, the corners of his lips tugging higher and higher, mood buoyant.
Kiss stolen, success!
“You…”
“I’m heading back.”
Both spoke at the same time.
After Jiang Fuyue finished, she pushed open the car door and got out, walking toward the house without looking back.
Xie Dingyuan rolled down the window and called after her: “Yueyue—”
The girl’s steps faltered, but she didn’t turn her head.
“See you tomorrow.” His deep voice spread into the night breeze, laced with an unmistakable trace of laughter.
Jiang Fuyue quickened her pace.
Behind her came a low chuckle: “I’ll be waiting for you.”
…
Before Jiang Fuyue even took out her keys, little brother Jiang—like he had a radar installed—came pattering over to open the door for her.
“Sis—”
“Good boy.” Jiang Fuyue patted his head, suddenly realizing the height wasn’t as easy to reach as before.
Right, the little teen had grown taller—not the same short bean sprout as before.
“Sis, where did you go? Did you eat?” He fetched her slippers as he asked.
“Already ate. Was today’s event smooth?” Jiang Fuyue changed shoes and walked inside.
Little Brother Jiang followed close at her heels: “It went well! I even saw a big celebrity!”
“Which star?”
He named someone—a boy band member who had exploded in popularity in the last two years, the center position, with fans said to be fiercely loyal, commercial value among the top in domestic entertainment.
This year, he had successfully transitioned with a hit xianxia drama, his future glowing bright.
“…He had so many fans. The moment he appeared, everyone was screaming his name, lightboards everywhere—it was like a red ocean.” At this point, Little Brother Jiang’s eyes shone with envy.
So being a star meant being loved by so many.
Jiang Fuyue: “You also have lots of fans.”
But Little Brother Jiang shook his head: “It’s not the same.”
“What’s different?”
“Fans like him because he’s handsome, acts well, sings beautifully, dances impressively. Uncle Wu says that’s called… professional ability!”
“But my fans like me just because I can eat…”
He couldn’t quite explain the difference, but he felt it.
“I think he’s more amazing, more deserving of love!”
The boy’s eyes sparkled: “Sis, I want to be a star too, someday. Can I?”
Jiang Fuyue raised a brow. “Being a star looks glamorous, but they actually have to put in more effort than ordinary people and shoulder more responsibility. You should know that.”
“Mm-hmm! I know. Uncle Wu says stars get chased by paparazzi, cursed by haters, every move, every look, every expression gets magnified. So even if you’re tired, you can’t yawn. Even if you have a runny nose, you can’t blow it. Smoking, drinking, picking your eyes or nose—anything damaging your image—you can’t do it.”
“I also heard Uncle Wu say that if you have a girlfriend, you can’t go public, or you’ll lose fans.”
Jiang Fuyue: “So, you still want to be a star?”
Little Brother Jiang nodded firmly: “I do.”
“?”
“Even if the requirements are harsh and difficult, if so many people like you, it must be because you’re worthy of their liking. Then of course you should do better than ordinary people!”
“If you’re just the same as everyone else, why would anyone like you?”
Jiang Fuyue’s brow lifted, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.
She hadn’t expected Little Brother Jiang to have such thoughts.
These days, almost every celebrity in the industry was calling on paparazzi and fans to give them more freedom and space.
So if they got caught smoking, swearing, spitting—it hardly raised an eyebrow anymore, not like twenty or thirty years ago when standards were stricter.
But doing the job of a star, taking astronomical pay, while demanding freedoms equal to ordinary people—why should that be?
Most in the entertainment circle seemed to have forgotten the basic professionalism of “hold the position, fulfill the duty.” Fans, too, kept lowering their standards for idols, even to the point of blind indulgence.
Things like: “As long as he’s handsome, who cares if he sleeps around.” “Morals follow looks.” “Don’t blame him for being scummy, blame the woman for not controlling him.”
In truth, it was all because stars kept lowering their own standards.
And yet Little Brother Jiang’s thinking…
Straightforward, upright!
Jiang Fuyue sat down on the sofa, face turning serious: “Do you really want to walk the star’s path? You’re sure? No regrets? You’re still young, you don’t have to rush. Waiting until after high school to decide isn’t too late.”
Little Brother Jiang stood before her, no longer acting spoiled. His hands clasped behind his back, his posture straight as a rod.
His eyes shone with determination: “Sis, I thought about this a long time ago. It’s not a whim, not some brainless impulse, I…”
He paused, then smiled a bit shyly. “I want more people to like me, and I want to be worthy of their liking.”
Back when Little Brother Jiang chose livestream eating, the siblings had already had a similar talk.
Now, looking at Jiang Chenxing, Jiang Fuyue overlapped him with the little boy from before.
“Really thought it through?”
“Mm-hmm!”
“Was that speech taught by Wu Qian?”
Little Brother Jiang’s eyes widened, and only after a long pause did he squeeze out: “…It’s also what I wanted to say myself.”
Tsk!
“Alright.” Jiang Fuyue waved her hand. “The day after tomorrow, have Wu Qian come over. I’ll talk to him myself.”
The boy’s eyes lit up. “I’ll call Uncle Wu right now!”
He dashed off.
Jiang Fuyue shook her head with a smile.
Still, Xingyue’s management strategy indeed needed some change.
“Sis—” Suddenly, Little Brother Jiang poked his head out halfway down the stairs.
“Mm?”
“Are you going to see that uncle who drives again tomorrow?”
Jiang Fuyue: “!”
“His car is so cool, like a big box.”
“!”
“Where did you see that?” she asked calmly.
Little Brother Jiang pointed upward: “From the second-floor window. But why did you two stay in the car for so long without getting out?”
Jiang Fuyue’s eyes flickered, she coughed lightly: “…We talked for a bit.”
“Oh. I know that uncle, he lives next door. He once drove me to school, but it was a different car. He has so many cars…”
Jiang Fuyue: “Weren’t you going to call Wu Qian?”
“Mm! Going now!”
The sound of footsteps faded upstairs. Only then did Jiang Fuyue let out a slow breath.
Yesterday’s quiz answer was A~ Old Xie finally made it through! Congratulations, celebrations!
