Chapter 50: I Love You

What they were about to do went without saying.

Jiang Shunnian startled and struggled at once. “It’s daytime right now!”

“Then we’ll indulge in some daytime debauchery,” Fu Yanli replied succinctly.

Fu Yanli’s strength had always been formidable. The man was over thirty, but he exercised diligently, his physique showing no signs of decline. His abs were perfect enough for a male model contest, and his arms were rock-solid, impossible to budge.

Jiang Shunnian was scooped straight into the bedroom and deposited on the bed. Before he could scramble away, a barrage of kisses crashed over him like waves, enveloping him completely.

From initial resistance to gradual reciprocation, Jiang Shunnian had grown entirely accustomed to Fu Yanli’s kisses—they were just that pleasurable, after all.

His final plea was to draw the curtains.

Otherwise, he absolutely wouldn’t go along with it.

His boundaries kept dropping lower and lower. Jiang Shunnian had never imagined he’d ever fool around with someone in broad daylight.

The blackout curtains didn’t fully block the room’s light. Sunbeams sneaked through the gaps, as if peeking at the intimate silhouettes on the bed.

The young man on the bed was exquisite, like a work of art—even his fingertips were stunningly beautiful. He was kissed from head to toe.

He couldn’t muster a complaint about the man’s perverted antics, because every time he opened his mouth, all that escaped were wordless moans.

“Shunnian, let’s give it a try. You can yell stop anytime, okay?” Fu Yanli pleaded softly. “I would never bear to hurt you.”

Jiang Shunnian had always been a soft-hearted person, especially since he already liked Fu Yanli so much. He couldn’t resist the persistent coaxing. Caught off guard, he nodded in agreement—and then—

Jiang Shunnian held back again and again, but in the end, he couldn’t hold out. He shoved Fu Yanli away hard, tears nearly spilling from his eyes.

“How about you knock me out? It’s too torturous. Or take some more medicine.”

Jiang Shunnian proposed what he considered a brilliant solution.

They were both men, after all. A lifetime of going Platonic was too cruel—not to mention bad for the body. Fu Yanli had already been incredibly considerate of him. He couldn’t ask for more.

Plus, he’d secretly looked it up: the beginning was the hardest part. Once you succeeded and adjusted, it got better.

Last time, they’d both fallen into a trap and gone all the way heedlessly. Sure, he’d been hurt afterward and taken days to recover, but how wasn’t that a success?

Fu Yanli was amused by Jiang Shunnian. He lay back, pulling Jiang Shunnian atop him. Jiang Shunnian settled quietly, nestling in. In the deep autumn chill, Fu Yanli’s slightly elevated body temperature and supple skin made for the perfect burrow.

“Baby,” Fu Yanli said, “I’m the one being too hasty. Let me think of a way.”

He hadn’t wanted to consult Cheng Jingming at first—this was emasculating, easy fodder for the guy’s mockery.

But now, it made sense: Cheng Jingming was the professional. Maybe he had better ideas.

He wanted Jiang Shunnian, yes—but not at the cost of harming him.

They held each other, basking in the warmth, as Fu Yanli’s desires gradually subsided. He began sharing recent events with Jiang Shunnian.

“Remember Pei Qingrong, Pei Qingyi’s cousin? Turns out he dated Lu Qinghe. Lu Yunchuan is their child—paternity test confirmed it. They broke up abruptly and completely, leaving Pei Qingrong hung up on him ever since.”

Jiang Shunnian was stunned. So Lu Qinghe had the same constitution as him? Or did Pei Qingrong, like Fu Yanli, possess some superhuman fertility that let men bear children?

But Fu Yanli shook his head. “Probably not the same. Pei Qingrong seemed to know from the start that Lu Qinghe could carry a pregnancy—he wasn’t surprised by Lu Yunchuan’s existence. But I have no interest in prying.”

“Yeah, it’s their privacy, after all. What about Lu Qinghe? Willing to get back together?” Jiang Shunnian pressed.

“Doesn’t seem like it. Lu Qinghe’s stance is that Pei Qingrong can help raise the kid, but he himself just wants to focus on research—no romance.” Fu Yanli thought of his recently increased calls with Pei Qingrong and felt a pang of sympathy.

Good thing Jiang Shunnian wasn’t like Lu Qinghe. He was softer-hearted.

Jiang Shunnian pondered. “I haven’t interacted much with Lu Qinghe, but I suspect his social anxiety isn’t innate—probably developed later. Maybe a rough family background or some bullying trauma.”

Back in school, Jiang Shunnian had heard about a boy from another school who got bullied—stripped naked, photographed. He slit his wrists. They saved him, but he became a shell of himself, like a walking corpse. Even in scorching summer, he’d wear long sleeves and pants, hiding his body from the world.

Maybe Lu Qinghe was the same—concealing his looks, shunning all contact. Likely scars from youth.

It suddenly reminded Jiang Shunnian of a script Pei Qingyi had given him—a stack of them. One was about school bullying. It had shocked him; that humiliated despair could dampen a lifetime.

But then it pivoted to romance: the male lead fell for the girl who saved him. She agreed to be with him. Happy ending, and he even forgave his bullies—not fully, but made peace with the past.

Jiang Shunnian had found the ending stifling. If it were him, he’d never forgive. And if Fu Yanli learned he’d been bullied? He’d pursue vengeance relentlessly.

Still, he liked the theme and marked it. Wondered if President Pei would approve, maybe get the screenwriter to revise.

“You make a good point. Pei Qingrong and I suspected as much, but Lu Qinghe clams up about his past. Pei Qingrong doesn’t dare investigate privately—hoping for a breakthrough instead.” Fu Yanli ran a hand over Jiang Shunnian’s smooth back. “I’m so lucky, Shunnian. Thank you for returning my feelings.”

Jiang Shunnian shook his head. “No need for thanks. You’re good enough to draw me in. But it’s wild—you being a pure romantic is one thing, but Pei Qingrong too? No wonder people say elite families breed hopeless romantics.”

“Elite families prioritize profit. Lavish material lives, sure—but spiritually hollow. So they crave real emotion more.” Fu Yanli explained.

Jiang Shunnian thought it sounded like a humblebrag. “What’s wrong with material comforts? They satisfy so many needs. I saw this street interview: give you twenty million, but no love ever—tons of people jumped to say yes.”

“Shunnian, people are greedy. Once you have something long-term, it loses its shine. You start chasing what’s missing.” Fu Yanli said, “So, Shunnian—once you’ve had me forever, can you cherish me more?”

“Shouldn’t I be saying that?”

By traditional logic, Jiang Shunnian was the vulnerable one, begging for Fu Yanli’s cherishing.

Fu Yanli chuckled lowly. “Maybe I’m just a hopeless romantic. I could love you forever and it wouldn’t be enough. I want to reserve your next life too—life after life.”

The heartfelt words bewitched Jiang Shunnian utterly. Emboldened, he blurted, “How about we try again? They say good technique makes it feel good too. You’ve studied up these past days, right? Don’t tell me you haven’t.”

“Of course I have. I want to give you the perfect experience.” Fu Yanli pinned the fidgety Jiang Shunnian, smiling. “Not today, though. We’ve made real progress already.”

Jiang Shunnian had only said it half-seriously. The moment the words left his mouth, that dull ache flashed back, making him want to retract them.

Good thing Fu Yanli cherished him so.

Jiang Shunnian snuggled contentedly back into Fu Yanli’s arms.

“One more thing I want to tell you. Just hear it out—no overthinking.”

Fu Yanli outlined his plan simply.

The Qin family’s roots ran deep. Even with scandals piling up, if protected, they’d rebrand and stir trouble again. So Fu Yanli aimed to uproot their umbrella first—then ally with other families to crush them.

He’d identified the person and was digging into their dirt: duped by the Qins, or cut from the same cloth?

He’d uncovered enough: the guy wasn’t clean—greedy, a real corrupt leech.

The Fu family had focused on business, no grand ambitions—mutual benefits with local elites, no deep ties.

But the Pei family, old-money aristocracy, had broader networks. Thanks to Lu Qinghe, Fu Yanli’s rapport with Pei Qingrong had warmed lately.

The Qin rise plundered other elites’ resources, breeding resentment. Fu Yanli had floated the idea; Pei Qingrong was eager to team up.

In exchange? Fu Yanli helping Pei Qingrong win Lu Qinghe—or at least uncover his needs.

He’d made headway already.

Lu Qinghe adored his mentor—the only one who’d ever treated him kindly. An old-school scientist devoted to national progress, Lu Qinghe wanted to donate Fu Corporation’s latest chip to the state.

But that chip succeeded thanks to Fu Yanli’s backing, and Lu Qinghe’s social anxiety made asking impossible.

Under Fu Yanli’s deft probing, Lu Qinghe confessed the wish.

Fu Yanli supported it fully. The Fus had amassed fortunes; money was just numbers now. They weren’t ruthless capitalists hoarding everything. Donating a chip? No-brainer.

Lu Qinghe showed rare joy. When Fu Yanli mentioned needing Pei Qingrong’s connections, he paused—but said nothing.

His view of Pei Qingrong seemed to soften a bit.

“No big moves for now, but to muddy the waters, we’ll hit Qin Group with minor business skirmishes. They won’t sit idle—will fabricate attacks on Fu Corporation. But I’ve prepped countermeasures.” Fu Yanli explained in detail, making it clear for Jiang Shunnian. “Shunnian, don’t worry about me, okay? Focus on your own stuff. Your drama’s about to air—I’ll hold off announcing the national collab till after, so it doesn’t steal your buzz.”

Jiang Shunnian couldn’t help laughing. “True. Right now, you and Nono are both A-listers. That news drops, who cares about my show?”

He took the advice. Business wasn’t his wheelhouse; no point forcing involvement. “Just stay safe. Who knows what the Qins might pull.”

Fu Yanli shared the worry. He’d hired extra bodyguards, hidden ones shadowing Jiang Shunnian against any Qin kidnapping plots.

That was another reason to decapitate the Qins’ protector first. Miss the killing blow, and their retaliation would be feral. He couldn’t risk failing to protect Jiang Shunnian.

The futures Jiang Shunnian had described terrified him every time.

He couldn’t lose him.

In the endgame, he’d stash Jiang Shunnian and Nono somewhere secure till the dust settled.

But no need to tell him yet.

“Got it. I will.” Fu Yanli kissed Jiang Shunnian’s forehead. “We’ll protect Nono for sure.”

Jiang Shunnian hugged Fu Yanli’s neck, nodding fiercely.

Yes—they’d keep Nono safe.

Fu Yanli didn’t head to Fu Corporation until after lunch. Before leaving, he slipped on a custom watch for Jiang Shunnian—blue-toned, its face studded with rare blue diamonds, dazzling and opulent. It made him look both noble and stylish.

“I commissioned this months ago, just got it.” Fu Yanli smiled. “Meant it as a confession gift, but Shunnian—you already have all my love. No gift needed as a bonus. I love you.”

Jiang Shunnian stared at the stunning watch, his heart brimming with love. Dating was bliss—pure emotional high.

He leaned in for a kiss. “Thanks, I love it. As thanks, we can try two more centimeters.”

Laughter danced in Fu Yanli’s amber-gold eyes. “Deal. Thanks, wife.”

For the watch’s sake, Jiang Shunnian let the pet name slide.

Promo materials for the events rolled out steadily, hype unwaning. Starlight Bestowed on You was set to premiere soon.