Chapter 44: Bullied Miserably

Released on April 6, 2026

Tonight’s events didn’t just terrify Fu Yanli—Jiang Shunnian was scared too. But he didn’t want to hold up the crew’s progress because of his own issues, so he set those matters aside for now and focused on finishing the shoot first.

When Fu Yanli hugged him, that wave of lingering fear finally surged up inside him.

What if he’d gotten hurt due to some oversight, or worse, died from sheer bad luck? What would happen to Nono? He’d promised to watch Nono grow up, step by step.

Even more frightening was the thought of never seeing Fu Yanli again.

So, in that embrace, the tension Jiang Shunnian had been holding cracked open. He needed intimacy, someone close to vent it all on.

And his only option was Fu Yanli.

Unknowingly, his attachment and affection for Fu Yanli had grown this deep.

After he said those words, Fu Yanli’s gaze darkened in an instant, turning predatory like a big cat on the hunt. A shiver raced up Jiang Shunnian’s spine.

But before he could react, his feet left the ground—Fu Yanli had scooped him up with one arm.

It was the kind of hold you’d give a child. Mortified, Jiang Shunnian perched awkwardly on Fu Yanli’s sturdy forearm, trying to squirm free, only for Fu Yanli to pin his lower back. Scorching heat seeped through his clothes straight to his skin, and Fu Yanli’s voice rumbled low: “Shunnian, don’t move.”

Effortlessly, he strode toward the master bedroom with Jiang Shunnian in his arms. Jiang Shunnian’s face burned crimson as he draped over Fu Yanli’s shoulder, his mind racing. Am I getting devoured tonight…?

No way, that would kill me.

Fu Yanli carried him straight into the bathroom. The moment Jiang Shunnian’s feet touched down, he bolted for the door—but Fu Yanli snatched his wrist and yanked him back.

“Running away? Shunnian, wasn’t this what you wanted?” Fu Yanli’s eyes sparkled with amusement, his grip unyielding.

“I only said a kiss. I didn’t say anything about… showering,” Jiang Shunnian shot back, cheeks aflame.

Is this heading straight for a shared bath?

Isn’t that too fast?

But Fu Yanli was firm: “Shunnian, I won’t do anything you don’t want. Just say stop anytime, okay?”

He was dead serious—this man always kept his promises.

Jiang Shunnian didn’t agonize over it long. It was already the early hours of the morning; they couldn’t waste time.

They’d kissed plenty of times already. What was one shared shower?

Right?

With that thought, Jiang Shunnian nodded lightly—but he pleaded for Fu Yanli to turn off the lights.

“Not until we’re back in the room,” Fu Yanli replied.

Jiang Shunnian started to protest, but Fu Yanli gave him no chance, pulling him into his arms and claiming his lips.

The searing kiss brimmed with dense emotion, like threads of a web wrapping Jiang Shunnian tight. He melted without thinking, eyes fluttering shut as he responded softly.

Fu Yanli’s kissing skills were masterful; Jiang Shunnian drowned in it completely. When they finally broke apart for air, his clothes had vanished unnoticed, leaving only his trembling underwear as the last line of defense.

Jiang Shunnian: “…”

How the hell did that happen?!

“You’re beautiful, Shunnian. So incredibly beautiful.” Fu Yanli had never been one to lust after looks—he’d seen countless beauties, and he himself was handsome enough.

But Jiang Shunnian was perfection: a perfectly proportioned frame of lean muscle, porcelain-smooth skin, pink peaks on his chest, a waist slim enough for two hands to encircle, long straight legs with a fleshy red mole on the inner thigh—innocent yet seductive, utterly maddening.

The sight he’d missed four years ago was finally his to behold.

Fu Yanli’s gaze raked over him aggressively, top to bottom. Shame burned through Jiang Shunnian; he wanted to cover himself, but Fu Yanli didn’t give him a second, gripping his waist and dipping to kiss his neck while flicking on the shower.

Amid the rising steam, Jiang Shunnian’s breaths grew ragged. Fu Yanli devoured him inch by inch, kissing everywhere.

He was perched on the vanity, arms looped over Fu Yanli’s shoulders—half-pushing, half-clinging.

Fu Yanli’s slightly stiff hair scratched teasingly against his thigh.

Jiang Shunnian’s body went limp, held up only by Fu Yanli’s hands.

By the end, he’d nearly died from pleasure.

“Y-you… how could you…” Jiang Shunnian’s breaths were a mess; he couldn’t even stand.

Kiss marks bloomed across his skin like red plums in snow—stunningly beautiful.

Especially over the faint scar on his lower abdomen, covered thickly.

That spot was hypersensitive; Fu Yanli’s kisses there had wracked him with uncontrollable spasms.

He thought the night’s intimacy was over, but Fu Yanli took his hand and guided it downward, voice husky and sexy: “Shunnian, help me out.”

His palm closed around something like a baguette— no exaggeration, he couldn’t even wrap his fingers fully around it.

Jiang Shunnian recoiled instantly: “I can’t!”

Is this even human? Did Fu Yanli evolve from the wrong species?

But Fu Yanli’s earlier attentions had been too thorough. He’d been the one giving all along, so… just this once?

Overcoming his fear, Jiang Shunnian started helping.

But his hand cramped up, and Fu Yanli still wasn’t done!

Exhausted from filming all night and now this, Jiang Shunnian could barely lift his wrist. He looked up, whining: “I’m tired.”

Fu Yanli went for the kill, tapping somewhere: “Then use this.”

Jiang Shunnian: “…”

…

By the time he was cleaned up and carried to bed, Jiang Shunnian passed out in seconds.

He woke the next morning in a daze, disoriented as if he didn’t know what day it was. The room was silent; Fu Yanli was gone. Trying to sit up, he was felled by soreness in his legs.

Hiss, that really hurts.

Last night was terrifying.

I need to talk to Fu Yanli. We should stick to emotional stuff only.

Don’t men past twenty-five start slowing down? He’s over thirty—how is this possible?

Unscientific.

Jiang Shunnian could only muse abstractly: This really is a novel world, huh? No logic required.

He eased out of bed and noticed ointment slathered on his legs—cool and soothing.

At least he has a conscience.

On the nightstand was a note in Fu Yanli’s elegant, ornate script, just like the man himself: Shunnian, sorry, I have work today and can’t stay with you. Dinner on me tonight as apology.

Below it, Nono’s round yet spirited handwriting: Daddy, why does Big Daddy need to apologize? I’m off to school—see you tonight, love you.

The big and small notes side by side warmed him; Jiang Shunnian couldn’t stay mad.

Limping to the kitchen with the wall for support, he found breakfast left by Fu Yanli. He warmed it up and devoured it all.

He was starving.

Glancing at the clock: already 11:30.

Right on cue, Fu Yanli called. Jiang Shunnian picked up but said nothing. Knowing he’d gone overboard last night, Fu Yanli apologized swiftly: “Sorry, still hurting?”

Jiang Shunnian huffed.

Fu Yanli coaxed: “I’ll kneel on the keyboard tonight. Forgive me, wife?”

That word nearly made Jiang Shunnian leap up. Wife?!

Dropping his cool act, he retorted: “Don’t call me that! I haven’t agreed to anything!”

No wonder Auntie said not to agree too soon. I don’t even want to imagine what’s waiting if I do.

He’d wreck me with that thing.

Fifty it is, then. Should be done by fifty.

Oblivious to Jiang Shunnian’s thoughts, Fu Yanli kept sweet-talking. Curled in the cloud-like covers, Jiang Shunnian savored a rare moment of leisure.

That evening, Fu Yanli ordered delivery. Jiang Shunnian enjoyed a feast, seeming appeased—but at bedtime, he shut Fu Yanli out without mercy.

Nono wanted to bunk with him, but Jiang Shunnian had buttoned his loungewear to the top, terrified the boy would spot the fading marks. No way was he risking it; he shut out the little one too.

The door slammed. Nono furrowed his tiny brows and looked up at his Big Daddy gravely: “Big Daddy, what did you do to Daddy?”

Daddy never rejects me. Must be Big Daddy’s fault.

Scooping up Nono, Fu Yanli didn’t brush him off: “You’re too little for the details. We’ll talk when you’re older.”

Nono pondered, then dropped a bombshell: “I saw Daddy’s lips are swollen. Did Big Daddy kiss wrong and hurt him? Want me to look up the right way to kiss?”

Fu Yanli: “…”

Forgot my kid’s a genius—school’s teaching him more.

Even with skin thick as a fortress wall, Fu Yanli couldn’t explain his expert technique to a child. He just ruffled Nono’s fluffy head: “Don’t worry about grown-up stuff. Just enjoy life. Your birthday’s coming—Grandma wants it at the Manor, all of us together. Sound good?”

Nono’s past birthdays were just with Daddy; this was his first with more family. Precocious as he was, he still had a toddler’s excitement. His eyes lit up: “Yeah! Big Daddy, can I invite Atticus and Lu Yunchuan? They said they have gifts for me.”

Fu Yanli had deliberately stressed “family,” omitting outsiders. Those two brats didn’t deserve an invite.

But facing Nono’s eager gaze, he swallowed his gripes and relented: “Sure, if that’s what Nono wants, Big Daddy agrees.”

I’ll watch them like a hawk. One wrong move, they’re out.

“Thanks, Big Daddy!” Nono beamed.

Jiang Shunnian rested two full days before bouncing back. His resilient skin had faded the marks nicely; tonight, he could share a bed with Nono.

Work called next: foundation and lipstick ads.

Still with his assistant and bodyguard, he arrived at the brand’s local branch. The rep was a handsome foreigner fluent in Chinese, greeting him with a smile: “Hi, Teacher Jiang. I’m the brand manager—call me Xia Xiangqi.”

Play Chinese chess? Jiang Shunnian blinked, puzzled.

Xia Xiangqi grinned proudly: “Right, ’cause I love your country’s chess—it’s so profound. I’ve been studying it forever. Picked the name with a Chinese friend’s help.”

Jiang Shunnian nodded. Got it. Stereotype of foreigners with quirky Chinese names confirmed.

The name aside, the guy was a pro. He nailed the shoot brief; Jiang Shunnian got it instantly. They meshed perfectly.

The footage was stellar—especially the lipstick. In a crisp white shirt, seated, Jiang Shunnian let a stylist apply it to his lips, gazing at her with gentle, indulgent warmth. Pure heart-melting allure.

The tagline would read: Every shade blooms like love.

Xia Xiangqi eyed the gorgeous man in the lens, a bit smitten. Post-shoot, he hinted subtly: if Jiang Shunnian became his lover, more collabs awaited.

Jiang Shunnian smiled: “Sorry, I’m taken.”

Fu Yanli really is the perfect shield.

Word got back to Fu Yanli somehow. Citing the “insult” of being a secret fling, he bargained his way into bed with Jiang Shunnian.

But Jiang Shunnian forbade any funny business and plopped Nono between them.

Joking? Nono’s birthday’s soon—can’t hobble into the Manor.

Fu Yanli sighed. If he could choose, he wouldn’t be built like this.

Next time, fingers first…

Slowly chip away at Jiang Shunnian’s defenses.