Song Yu tensed up, afraid that Fu Yuqian would come out on the spot and shock his mom. He quickly ran over, leaped onto Fu Yuqian’s lap, and straightened up to cover his mouth, only to have his paws caught by Fu Yuqian, who casually stroked him.
“Meow.” Song Yu let out a low call, his voice full of warning. Fu Yuqian, if you dare to shock my mom, I will seriously fall out with you!
But Song Yu’s mom became intrigued and curiously asked, “What kind of girl is she?”
“She’s a childhood friend of mine, a few years older than Song Yu, but very caring,” Fu Yuqian carefully chose his words. “She’s beautiful and graceful, good at housework and cooking, and comes from a well-off family with two older brothers.”
Song Yu rolled his eyes. He had never seen someone praise themselves like this before. He quietly breathed a sigh of relief—at least Fu Yuqian knew his limits. But he couldn’t help but wonder, How is he going to produce such a beautiful ‘sister’ in the future? Is he planning to cross-dress?
Actually, cross-dressing wouldn’t be a bad idea. With Fu Yuqian’s looks, he might just be able to pull it off. Although his build was a bit too sturdy, he might end up looking like a muscular Barbie.
Song Yu was itching to see it.
“She sounds amazing.” Song Yu’s mom seemed a bit concerned. “But would she really like our Xiao Yu?”
“She does. She’s a big fan of his—has been following him since his debut and has always wanted to meet him. But for various reasons, it hasn’t happened yet,” Fu Yuqian spun his story more fluently. “Even her family members are fans of Xiao Yu.”
He thought Song Yu’s mom would be overjoyed to hear this, but to his surprise, her brows furrowed as she scrutinized Fu Yuqian.
Fu Yuqian suddenly had a bad feeling.
“Xiao Fu, that person… is you, isn’t it?” Song Yu’s mom asked, her tone calm but filled with certainty.
Fu Yuqian felt like he had been struck by lightning. For someone as calculating as he was, his face went blank upon hearing this—he didn’t even know how to react. As for Song Yu, he was completely dumbfounded. How did Mom know? How did she figure it out? Is she really this smart?!
Seeing the identical looks of shock on both man and cat, Song Yu’s mom remained composed, smiling lightly.
“Xiao Yu is very straightforward about what he likes and dislikes. If he hated you, he wouldn’t have befriended you at all. And yet, despite that, you kept trying to befriend him—doesn’t that seem a little suspicious? Furthermore, you once gave Xiao Yu roses—his favorite flower. Your gaze towards him is very affectionate—I’ve noticed it. And tonight, you came over to spend New Year’s Eve with me, which is way beyond what an ordinary friend would do.
Sometimes, I browse Weibo and look up news about Xiao Yu. When I started suspecting, I searched online and discovered the Pisces Super Topic. Of course, before asking just now, I wasn’t completely sure. But your reaction confirmed that I was right.”
Fu Yuqian gently set Song Yu down on the table and stood up stiffly. For once, he was at a loss for words. He nervously tried to explain, “Auntie, I… I’m sorry…”
Song Yu also stood on the table, anxiously shifting his weight between his paws, his tail straightened with tension. Why does this feel like we’re coming out together, even though we’re not actually together?!
“Sorry for what?” Song Yu’s mom’s expression remained unreadable.
Fu Yuqian’s palms were sweating. He spoke with sincere honesty, “I’m sorry for lying to you just now. There is no such girl… It’s me. I’ve liked Song Yu for three years.”
Song Yu nearly bit his own tongue. Is this how an apology is supposed to go?!
But Song Yu’s mom just chuckled. “I appreciate your honesty.”
Fu Yuqian let out a small sigh of relief and cautiously asked, “So… Auntie, do you approve of us?”
She shook her head. “That’s up to Xiao Yu. Whatever he likes, I like. So asking for my opinion doesn’t matter. As long as Xiao Yu accepts you, I’ll accept you. As long as you treat him well, I’ll like you.”
Song Yu’s eyes welled up with emotion. His mom was truly amazing. How could there be such a reasonable and understanding mother in this world?!
Song Yu meowed and tried to pounce into his mom’s arms for a hug, only for her to coldly block him with her hand.
“There’s no need for you to plead on behalf of your dad. I won’t put in a good word for him in front of Xiao Yu. He’ll have to win him over himself.”
“…”
Song Yu’s tears of gratitude were forcibly held back.
Even Fu Yuqian nearly lost his composure and had to pinch his palm to keep himself in check.
“Auntie, thank you,” Fu Yuqian solemnly bowed to Song Yu’s mother. “I will do my best to pursue Xiao Yu and be filial to you alongside him.”
Only then did Song Yu’s mom smile. “Sit down and eat.”
With that, the two men and the cat resumed their meal. However, Song Yu, feeling hurt by his mother’s earlier words, decided to give her the cold shoulder for five minutes.
As he ate, Song Yu’s thoughts wandered. His mother truly was intelligent. When he was young, that man had gambled away everything, and his mother had done everything she could to hide money to pay for his education. Later, when that man committed murder, she exhausted every possible option, but they were simply too poor to resist those in power and had no choice but to compromise. She endured the suffering while secretly gathering evidence of his crimes. In the end, when Song Yu reported him, it was based on the evidence his mother had painstakingly collected.
But the smarter a person is, the harder it is for them to move past things sometimes. That’s why his mother eventually broke down.
He absolutely couldn’t let his mother go through that kind of trauma again, even if it meant staying in Xingyue forever.
As for whether or not he would be with Fu Yuqian, he decided to wait until he was back in his own body to think about it—he had a strong intuition that he wouldn’t stay in cat form forever.
After all, what could a cat and a human even do together, even if they were a couple?
After dinner, Fu Yuqian diligently cleaned up before bidding farewell to Song Yu’s mother, holding Song Yu in his arms.
As they walked downstairs, Fu Yuqian let out a long breath, looking as if he had just survived a catastrophe.
Song Yu meowed. So even you, Fu Yuqian, have someone you’re afraid of.
Fu Yuqian lifted Song Yu up so their eyes were level. “Yiyi, since Auntie isn’t stopping me from pursuing him, how do you think I should go about chasing Xiao Yu?”
“Meow.” You can’t pursue someone who isn’t even awake yet.
“In dramas, they always show someone holding the other person and kissing them until they start feeling something. What do you think of that idea?” Fu Yuqian asked.
Song Yu let out a loud meow. Mom, help! This guy is being a pervert again!
Fu Yuqian laughed, looking especially alluring under the beautiful moonlight.
—
In an apartment building near Sheng’an Hospital, Ying Qi called his mother, but no one answered even after the call disconnected. She was probably in surgery again.
Growing up in a family of doctors, he was used to the busyness. Everyone in the family was a workaholic—if they got an emergency call on New Year’s Eve, they would drop their chopsticks and leave immediately. Ying Qi was no exception.
When Ying Qi was a child, every time this happened, he would put down his chopsticks, hug his teddy bear, and go next door to Auntie Fu’s villa. Auntie Fu, already used to it, would always prepare an extra set of tableware for him so he could eat at their home. After dinner, he would sleep with Fu Dage.
The reason he didn’t sleep with Fu Yuqian, Qin Erge, or by himself was because Qin Erge was too beautiful and had been harassed before, making him resistant to any physical contact. As for Fu Yuqian, he had insisted that he was used to sleeping alone. Even if he had to sleep with someone, it would only be with his future wife. Ying Qi, on the other hand, didn’t sleep alone because he was afraid of the dark.
So, he only slept with Fu Dage.
Fu Dage was calm and reliable. Sleeping next to him always gave a strong sense of security.
Later, after returning to China and taking over Sheng’an, Ying Qi had lived alone ever since.
As an adult and a doctor, he was no longer afraid of the dark—but he had grown afraid of loneliness.
He tossed the frozen dumplings he had bought at the supermarket into boiling water, his sharp yet handsome brows carrying a trace of loneliness. In the past, he would occasionally spend holidays with Fu Yuqian. The two of them would make do with a simple meal, maybe drink some beer, and it was fine. But this year, Fu Yuqian had abandoned him without hesitation to gain favor with his future mother-in-law. Now, he was left on his own again. Even though his apartment was just a one-bedroom unit, a little over 60 square meters, it felt overwhelmingly empty.
Maybe… it was time for him to start dating. After all, once the new year passed, he would be 27.
But what kind of girl did he like? Ying Qi found himself at a loss.
As he got lost in thought, the water started boiling over. He quickly added some cold water and covered the pot again. The person he liked had to be very beautiful, with a slim figure and a good personality.
Just as he was scooping the dumplings out, the doorbell suddenly rang.
Ying Qi was puzzled. He walked to the door and peered through the peephole—only to see someone who absolutely shouldn’t be here.
Fu Dage—Fu Yuting.
(Fu Dage” (傅大哥) means “Big Brother Fu” or “Eldest Brother Fu.)
With confusion written all over his face, Ying Qi opened the door. “Fu Dage, what are you doing here?”
“I’m here on a business trip. Just got off the plane.”
Fu Yuting bore a strong resemblance to Fu Yuqian, but his features were even more chiseled, exuding a more mature masculinity. He was also more physically imposing, standing at 1.9 meters tall, making the 1.81-meter-tall Ying Qi seem much smaller in comparison.
He was dressed in a black cashmere coat with a carbon gray Burberry scarf wrapped around his neck. His expression was as cold and unreadable as ever.
“Why are you home alone? Didn’t you spend New Year’s with Yuqian?”
“You know, your little brother only has a wife, not brothers—right now, he’s busy living with his future mother-in-law.” Ying Qi smirked, having completely seen through Fu Yuqian’s ways. “Fu Dage, have you eaten dinner yet? I just made some dumplings.”
“I only had a simple meal on the plane. I’ll join you for some,” Fu Yuting replied as he took off his coat. Like a dutiful little wife, Ying Qi quickly took it from him and hung it up, then bent down to find a pair of slippers in the shoe cabinet. “Good thing I didn’t make seafood dumplings, or you’d have an allergic reaction.”
Following behind Ying Qi toward the dining table, Fu Yuting’s lips curved slightly. “You still remember my seafood allergy?”
“Of course, one bite and you’d break out in hives.” Ying Qi brought out an extra plate from the kitchen, split the cooked dumplings in half, and pushed a portion toward Fu Yuting. “I remember when you had that allergic reaction—must’ve been when I was about eight. It scared me so much. That’s when I thought being a doctor would be great—being able to help others immediately when they need it.”
Because of his experience handling surgical scalpels, Ying Qi’s fingertips had a thin layer of calluses. But his fingers were long, clean, and well-shaped, with rounded, pinkish nails that looked especially nice under the warm white lighting.
Fu Yuting’s gaze flickered slightly, following Ying Qi’s hands up to his face.
“Let me try one first.” Ying Qi picked up a dumpling, blew on it, then took a bite. After tasting it, his eyes curved into a smile. “Delicious! Fu Dage, try one!”
“Mm.” Fu Yuting also picked up his chopsticks.
After dinner, Fu Yuting helped clean up as well. After all, the three Fu brothers had been taught by their parents to do housework from a young age. Ying Qi put the dishes into the dishwasher and asked, “Fu Dage, where are you staying tonight?”
It was quite late, though there were plenty of hotels near the hospital. However, none of them were particularly high-end, and Fu Dage probably wouldn’t be comfortable staying in one.
“I’m a bit tired. Can I stay here?” Fu Yuting asked naturally.
“Stay here?” Ying Qi was momentarily stunned. “I only have one bedroom.”
Fu Yuting nodded. “Then we’ll sleep together, just like when we were kids.”
“That works.” Although Ying Qi was somewhat intimidated by Fu Yuting, he also respected him deeply and saw him as an older brother. It was perfectly normal for a brother to stay the night.
It was already close to eleven, and since Fu Yuting had just gotten off the plane, Ying Qi frowned slightly. “Fu Dage, you didn’t bring a change of clothes?”
“No, this trip was quite rushed. I’ll have my assistant buy some tomorrow.” Fu Yuting lied without hesitation. In reality, his assistant and luggage were at the hotel, fully prepared.
Ying Qi didn’t suspect anything—after all, there was no reason for Fu Dage to lie to him. “Then you can wear my pajamas for tonight. Let me see… I should have a loose-fitting set.” He rummaged through his wardrobe and eventually found a set. It was light blue, with a cartoon pig printed on the chest.
“It’s a bit childish, but it’ll have to do for one night.” Ying Qi grinned.
Fu Yuting hesitated for a moment before accepting it.
The bathroom was inside the bedroom. Ying Qi sat on the lazy sofa reading a book, listening to the sound of running water. He smiled to himself—thankfully, with Fu Dage here, he wouldn’t feel lonely.
Before long, Fu Yuting came out of the shower, dressed in the cartoon pig pajamas. His damp hair hung down, making him look a few years younger. Ying Qi hadn’t seen Fu Yuting dressed like this in a long time and grinned. “Fu Dage, you look so young in these pajamas—like a college heartthrob.”
Fu Yuting sighed and reached out to ruffle Ying Qi’s hair. “Stop teasing me. Go take your shower.”
“Got it! I’ll be quick.”
Ying Qi only had one blanket on his bed. He originally planned to get another, but after pulling it out, he found it slightly damp—definitely uncomfortable to use. Apologetically, he said, “Fu Dage, the extra blanket is a bit damp. You’ll have to share mine.”
“…” Fu Yuting’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly. In the dimly lit room, he concealed his reaction perfectly. “It’s fine. It’s just for one night.”
“Mm.” Completely unsuspecting, Ying Qi climbed onto the bed from the other side, lay down, and turned to Fu Yuting with a smile. “Fu Dage, turn off the bedside lamp. Let’s get some rest.”
Fu Yuting complied, switching off the lamp. The room was instantly plunged into darkness, and their breathing became more distinct. He lay down beside Ying Qi, with only a fist’s width of space between them. Just as Ying Qi closed his eyes to sleep, Fu Yuting’s voice suddenly sounded.
“How have you been lately?”
“Pretty good. Just the usual work routine—kind of boring.” Ying Qi turned toward Fu Yuting. “What about you? Has it been tough?”
Sensing Ying Qi’s movement, Fu Yuting’s breathing hitched for a second. “I’m used to it.”
“Even so, you have to take care of yourself. Don’t overwork just because you’re young.”
“I know. Thank you.” Fu Yuting’s voice was deep and magnetic in the quiet night. “Have you been seeing anyone?”
Ying Qi shook his head. “Not yet. I was just thinking tonight that I should probably start dating. But I just haven’t found someone I like. Honestly, there are girls at the hospital who’ve confessed to me, but it always feels like something’s missing.”
“Could it be that after spending so much time with Yuqian, you’ve also started liking guys?” Fu Yuting asked.
“Eh?” Ying Qi had never considered this possibility before. Hearing Fu Yuting’s words, he started to think. “I’m not sure… maybe? But it doesn’t really matter whether it’s a man or a woman. My parents wouldn’t mind either.”
“Do you want to try?”
Ying Qi didn’t quite understand. “Try what?”
Just as he finished speaking, Fu Yuting suddenly leaned in. A burning hot palm precisely pressed against Ying Qi’s shoulder, while another hand cupped his chin, pulling him into a kiss.
Ying Qi’s eyes widened in shock. His first instinct was to struggle, but Fu Yuting was strong—there was no way he could break free. The warmth on his lips sent a tingling sensation up his spine, making his scalp go numb. His fingers instinctively clutched at Fu Yuting’s pajama shirt, trying to steady himself. Fu Yuting’s kiss was both domineering and gentle, making it hard for him to resist.
By the time the long kiss ended, Ying Qi felt like he was suffocating. At some point, he had ended up lying on top of Fu Yuting. Now, Fu Yuting was gently patting his back, helping him catch his breath.
“How do you feel? You don’t dislike it, do you?” Fu Yuting’s voice was slightly hoarse, making it sound especially seductive.
Ying Qi had never thought of himself as someone affected by voices, but at this moment, he wasn’t so sure. Still, he couldn’t let himself be swayed so easily—this was all happening too fast! He tried to get off Fu Yuting, only to be stopped. Fu Yuting even issued a low warning:
“Don’t move.”
The moment Ying Qi realized why he shouldn’t move, his entire face burned. He had no idea how things had escalated so quickly. In a panic, he covered his face with both hands, as if that would make everything disappear.
Fu Yuting lifted his head slightly and placed a soft kiss on his forehead. “If you don’t find it repulsive, then be with me.”
Ying Qi froze. “Fu Dage, what do you mean by ‘be with you’?”
“I mean a romantic relationship. Eventually, we’ll get married.” Fu Yuting’s tone was calm, as if stating something obvious. “Is there a problem?”
“Of course there’s a problem! Who confirms a relationship just because of a kiss? Isn’t that too reckless?” Ying Qi was completely baffled. “I don’t even know if I like you! And I don’t know if you like me either!”
Fu Yuting frowned. “You don’t like me?” His expression held a hint of danger, as if he’d pin Ying Qi down right then and there if he said no.
Ying Qi shrank back slightly, swallowing hard. “Y-you… don’t hit me. Let me think about it.”
Fu Yuting knew that Ying Qi might need time to accept this sudden shift in their relationship. Hearing his response, he was surprisingly patient. “Alright. Give me your answer in the morning.”
“……” Ying Qi felt that Fu Dage might be a little too domineering!
But he couldn’t beat him anyway.
“One more thing—I almost forgot to say it.” Fu Yuting pulled Ying Qi into his arms. “I love you.”
Ying Qi, who had just managed to clear his head a little, completely short-circuited again.
After Fu Yuqian brought Song Yu home, he followed the usual routine—cleaning him up first, then meticulously taking care of him from head to toe. Song Yu lay there comfortably, sprawled out like a cat pancake. And as a reward for his loyal servant, he naturally decided to sleep with him.
Before going to bed, Fu Yuqian opened the bedside drawer. Song Yu immediately turned to look. He still remembered how, on the first day he turned into a cat, he had discovered that all of Fu Yuqian’s drawers were locked.
But this time, right in front of his eyes, Fu Yuqian took out a photo of him.
It must have been an enlarged printout. In the photo, he was making a heart gesture with his hands, smiling brightly.
Then, Song Yu watched in stunned silence as Fu Yuqian kissed the photo and softly said, “Xiao Yu, wake up soon. I love you.”
Song Yu: “……”
He wasn’t sure if it was because he had been influenced by Fu Yuqian’s behavior, but he suddenly had a strange thought—keeping a photo in the bedside drawer like that… wasn’t it a little too convenient for certain activities?
He refused to think further.
As an actor, all of Song Yu’s kiss scenes had been filmed with camera tricks. Aside from being kissed in his cat form, he had never actually experienced a real kiss before. But watching Fu Yuqian reverently kiss his photo tonight, he suddenly found him a little pitiful.
And, strangely enough, he started wondering what it would feel like to kiss Fu Yuqian.
Realizing where his thoughts were going, Song Yu curled up in embarrassment.
Author’s Note:
Recommending a novel by my good friend—《Married in Secret to My Rival, the Top Idol》 by Yu Runyan! If you’re interested, be sure to add it to your reading list!
PS: App users, please manually search for the author’s profile and add it to your favorites!
Jump to the novel:
As a popular idol, Mu Nan’s biggest dream was to sing the hottest songs, act in the biggest dramas, and, as a bonus, date a man with an eight-pack.
But before he could find the perfect man, a marriage contract suddenly fell from the sky and hit him right on the head. And the other party? None other than his long-time industry rival—Cheng Han.
Mu Nan: [expressionless.jpg] “Marrying him? I’d rather die.”
Cheng Han: [resisting.gif] “I’m straight. No way.”
But then, one day, a breaking news article surfaced—”Mu Nan and Cheng Han caught making out in a car for two hours!”
The gossiping masses finally understood: Oh, so they weren’t just rivals—they were actually a couple!
Mu Nan, struggling to get out of bed while clutching his sore backside: “I swear it’s not what you think!”
Cheng Han, casually wiping the corner of his mouth: “Thanks for the invite. Just got out of bed. My so-called rival is quite sweet and delicious.”
Mu Nan, flipping the table in rage: “Screw this, I’m done with the entertainment industry!”
Special Thanks To:
Grenade Throwers:
- Wu Xing Que Qian Hao Duo Nian (1 grenade)
Landmine Droppers:
- Zha Lie De Chao Hua (6 mines)
- Guan Zhuang Wang Zai., Shen Wei (2 mines each)
- Wu Yu (1 mine)
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- Wu Xing Que Qian Hao Duo Nian (16 bottles)
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Thank you, my dear readers, for your support! Muah~ ❤️
