The box was still made of sandalwood. When Fu Yanli brought it home, Jiang Shunnian thought it was some expensive piece of porcelain.
But when he saw Fu Yanli not opening it and instead carrying it straight to the bedroom, Jiang Shunnian instantly realized what it was. He grabbed the suitcase he’d prepared in advance and bolted for the door.
Fine, he already knew what it was.
He needed to change his flight—take the plane tonight!
Of course, he didn’t get away. Fu Yanli caught him around the waist.
Fu Yanli had even sent Nono back to the manor ahead of time to Shen Lingyi for the night, just to prevent Jiang Shunnian from using him as an excuse.
Clearly, he had ulterior motives.
“Baby, it won’t hurt. We’ll start with the thin one,” Fu Yanli coaxed, trapping him in his arms and pulling out all the sweet talk.
Jiang Shunnian was too embarrassed to even open his eyes, wishing he could find a hole to crawl into.
As soon as the Medicinal Jade—about as thick as Fu Yanli’s middle finger—was taken out, a pleasant, fresh fragrance filled the air. Jiang Shunnian buried his face in the sheets, his body rigid with tension.
But Fu Yanli was an expert at relaxing him now, his technique growing ever more skilled. If there were a competition for this sort of thing, Fu Yanli would take first place without a doubt.
In the few seconds Jiang Shunnian lost himself, Fu Yanli moved swiftly and inserted it.
Jiang Shunnian clamped a hand over his mouth to stifle a near-breakdown sob.
Afterward, drenched in sweat, Jiang Shunnian was carried off by Fu Yanli to bathe.
With every step, the presence of the Medicinal Jade was intensely felt. Jiang Shunnian couldn’t help but sink his teeth into Fu Yanli’s pecs. Fu Yanli grunted, pressed down on a certain spot, and Jiang Shunnian instantly behaved.
I’ll endure this time, he thought. Once I can do it for real later, I’ll join shoots back-to-back, live apart from Fu Yanli long-term, and make sure he doesn’t get an easy meal.
But Jiang Shunnian forgot that a starving man could be more terrifying than a wolf.
As Fu Yanli had said, it really wasn’t uncomfortable—just a strong presence at first, then quick adaptation. That night, Jiang Shunnian’s sleep quality was surprisingly good.
The next morning, bathed in dawn light, the beauty seemed to glow, pure and radiant.
Fu Yanli could barely bring himself to blink, even holding his breath unconsciously.
When Jiang Shunnian frowned slightly at the removal of the Medicinal Jade, that hint of fragile sensuality made Fu Yanli lose control and kiss him all over again, utterly entranced.
He took care not to leave marks on any exposed skin, at least.
Flying commercial again with Yu Yanchen, the man was on the verge of madness: “Bro, be real with me—did you secretly start cultivating immortality?”
That skin’s luster was like it had a built-in beauty filter glow. Clearly, he’d snuck a marrow-cleansing pill!
Jiang Shunnian blanked for a second, suddenly recalling how Fu Yanli had mentioned last night that this Medicinal Jade not only nurtured there but the whole body. It had cost a fortune and was extremely precious.
His earlobes heated up. Jiang Shunnian feigned nonchalance: “Cultivating what immortality? You’ve gone dumb from reading.”
“How’d you know? Haha, I just got cast in an immortal cultivation drama as the upright senior brother. Director says my vibe fits perfectly.” Yu Yanchen didn’t notice anything off in Jiang Shunnian’s expression. “I’m a sword cultivator this time—gotta practice swordplay. They say the weapon’s super cool, whoosh whoosh whoosh!”
Sometimes, Jiang Shunnian envied Yu Yanchen’s pure innocence, untouched by the corruptions of love.
The plane landed smoothly at C City Airport, a spot frequented by celebrities. Passersby spotted the sunglasses-wearing duo—top-tier handsome vibes radiating off Jiang Shunnian and Yu Yanchen—and whipped out their phones to snap pics.
Yu Yanchen grinned and waved cheerfully, his 6’2″ frame broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted, long-legged, exuding total boyfriend energy with his bright white smile.
Beside him, Jiang Shunnian’s lithe figure had perfect proportions, his condition and aura flawless—any shot was magazine-ready.
Their joint photos hit the internet unrecognized at first. Unaware netizens gushed over the CP vibes.
That height and build difference was chef’s kiss.
But the buzz was only a few thousand when fans clocked them and scooped up their faves.
Everyone knew Jiang Shunnian and Yu Yanchen were pure bros, supporting each other from their small-time days.
Jiang Shunnian had no clue about the online chatter, but speed-surfer Shen Lingyi spotted it and forwarded it to her son, pointing accusingly: “Look at you—not even an official title yet. What a disgrace. Don’t say you’re my son out there.”
Shen Lingyi was reveling in this. Before Jiang Shunnian joined the Fu Family, she could use stuff like this to jab Fu Yanli. Now with Jiang there, her son was constantly outmaneuvered.
It was downright refreshing.
She adored Jiang Shunnian.
And his new drama was so good. She’d started just to support her daughter-in-law but was now hooked, dying to see what happened next.
Fu Yanli saw the online buzz, face darkening.
He’d tested Yu Yanchen before—no funny business toward his wife. But the misunderstanding still grated.
Yet he was powerless. Couldn’t feed his wife resources to snag him movie/TV emperor awards for a shoutout at ceremonies. Couldn’t announce he was Jiang Shunnian’s other half online.
The Fu exec who crushed billion-yuan deals in business was always helpless with wife matters.
In the end, he just messaged Jiang Shunnian: Finish recording and come home early.
Recording started at 2 p.m. In the TV station’s backstage, the makeup artist was at a loss—Jiang Shunnian’s flawless, gorgeous face needed nothing added. Anything would be gilding the lily.
They settled on a hairstyle.
The artist couldn’t resist whispering, “Teacher Jiang, what’s your skincare routine?”
She could tell—no medspa work, just peak natural skin.
Many stars she’d worked on had wrecked skin from irregular schedules and all-nighters, relying on makeup and edits. Good skin? Sure, but nothing like Jiang Shunnian’s.
Jiang Shunnian paused, mumbling vaguely, “I’m just born with it.”
It felt like bragging—mortifying. He rarely used products and had no idea how to recommend any.
The artist didn’t press, whether she bought it or not.
Jiang Shunnian endured the awkward silence.
Recording kicked off. The host grandly introduced the Starlight Bestowed on You cast, having them share role insights and shoot anecdotes. Jiang Shunnian nailed it effortlessly, full of killer lines.
Then came the games.
First: Advanced “guess the phrase,” where you translated to English for teammates to guess.
Seeing the simple cue cards, Jiang Shunnian had a bad feeling. Called out by the host, he pulled a dead-inside face, cracking up the audience.
“Shunnian, in that Baby Travel Plan live stream, Nono did all the tasks—no chance to hear your English,” the host teased. “Show it off today.”
Same network as Baby Travel Plan, so safe to reference. Everyone knew his English sucked from last time.
“Promise, if we lose, don’t blame me—you know my level,” Jiang Shunnian said, cracking up at his own trash English. “Should’ve prepped with Nono.”
Louder laughs.
Teammates Lin Weiyu and Yu Yanchen cheered: “No worries, Shunnian. Say it—we’ll take the punishment together if wrong.”
Losers got doused.
“You said it—it’s on tape,” Jiang Shunnian grinned, hedging. “We’re doomed anyway.”
Yu Yanchen thumbs-upped.
Game on.
First phrase: Starlight Bestowed on You.
Program mercy. Despite his English, he nailed it: “Star, light, give, you.”
Lin Weiyu: “Starlight Bestowed on You, our hot drama!”
Thumbs up from Jiang Shunnian.
Second stumped him: The loom’s chirp chirps again; Mulan weaves by the door.
Kindergarten to grad school leap!
Jiang Shunnian scratched his head. Chirp chirp? Chick? Chick-ken? Chi-ck-en?
Blank. Brainstorm: “KFC!”
Yu Yanchen: “KFC!”
“No, no—the third word’s right. Again, KFC!” Jiang Shunnian gestured wildly, ditching the rest, banking on those three for the first line.
Big, clear, straight-A-failure eyes pleading telepathy with Yu Yanchen and Lin Weiyu.
Lin Weiyu pondered, then: “Click-click, click-click again, Mulan weaves facing the door!!”
“Weiyu, you’re a genius!” Yu Yanchen marveled.
Worshipful look from Jiang Shunnian.
Second took forever. Third: In heaven we’d be paired-wing birds, on earth entwined trees.
Despair in his eyes. Vocab fail—only “sky” and “bird.”
He flapped arms like wings, chanting them.
Even sharp Lin Weiyu blanked.
Everyone dying laughing.
Jiang Shunnian: peak beautiful despairing straight-A-failure.
Yu Yanchen guessed: “Sky bird?”
More misses. Jiang Shunnian: “Pass.”
Fourth: “If love lasts long, why need morning and night?.”
He squatted, mock-sobbing pitifully: “Can’t you go easy on us straight-A-failures? I’ll learn, okay? Nono can teach me when I get home.”
Fifth was easier: “Raise my cup to invite the bright moon; my shadow and I make three.”
Cup pose one hand, circle moon other: “Moon, three, people.”
Lin Weiyu again.
Jiang Shunnian near-tears of joy.
Time up—three correct, all Lin Weiyu carries.
Jiang Shunnian slunk back, patted by Yu Yanchen: “We rocked. Maybe they got less than three.”
Nope. Hosts nailed five easy. They lost.
Three distinct hotties lined up under water basins. Yu Yanchen, bubbly: “Pose for the splash?”
Jiang Shunnian: “What pose?”
“Ultraman classic laser blast!”
“Sure,” Jiang Shunnian laughed.
On cue, they struck goofy gestures—drenched.
Jiang Shunnian’s white embroidered shirt clung wet, tracing a stunning waistline.
Audience “whoa”-ed. Gorgeous body—made for toying.
Five-plus hours later, near 8 p.m., Jiang Shunnian wasn’t even tired. Maybe his health improving?
Quick crew dinner at the station, then back on the plane.
No work for now—audition for that Republican-era drama in half a month.
Jiang Shunnian suggested delicately: he could work, shoot an ad even.
Staying home meant Fu Yanli torment.
But Pei Qingyi positioned him as rising powerhouse actor, not idol traffic star—though his looks could totally coast on face.
Moreover, with Shixu Media under Fu Yanli’s banner tilting all its resources his way, Jiang Shunnian had no revenue-generating obligations in exchange. He only needed to do what he loved—star in roles that honed his acting skills.
That was why Zhao Yuanzhou had politely turned him down. Later, Pei Qingyi messaged Jiang Shunnian. He’d indeed taken his advice, rewritten the ending, and even cast Jiang Shunnian as the male lead. But from project approval to pre-production would take another half year, with filming not starting until the second half of next year.
In other words, Jiang Shunnian was still in a state of unemployment.
For the first time, he found himself both looking forward to and embarrassed about going home.
But I miss Nono, he thought, so he gritted his teeth and headed back anyway.
By the time he got home, Nono was already asleep. This time, afraid of waking the boy, Jiang Shunnian didn’t go to his room.
Back in his own bedroom, as Jiang Shunnian moved to take a shower, Fu Yanli pulled him into a hug. Jiang Shunnian quickly pushed back. “I’m really tired tonight.”
“I wasn’t planning on messing around anyway,” Fu Yanli chuckled lowly. “So scared?”
Of course I’m scared—you’re not the one getting stuffed, Jiang Shunnian thought.
But in the end, he still got coaxed into letting Fu Yanli put it in.
The episode aired a week later, perfectly timed with the launch of the foundation and lipstick ads Jiang Shunnian had shot earlier. The collision sent his popularity skyrocketing once more.
Especially that househusband aura in the ads, which had countless netizens boldly chiming in.
Only I want to lock Jiang Shunnian away so I can have him all to myself?
Aaaah, have you seen Jiang Shunnian’s waist? So damn sexy—I wanna grab it and do some naughty things.
That gentle househusband vibe on him is too tempting. Once I make bank, I’m buying Jiang Shunnian home.
No one knew when it started, but Jiang Shunnian’s fans and casual fans alike began calling him “wife.” He took it in stride, but Fu Yanli spent days with a gloomy, unhappy expression.
Jiang Shunnian even had Nono teach him the English versions of those poems. After diligently learning them, he filmed a video proving his effort: he recited them once, then Nono followed with a perfect rendition.
The milky-sweet, impeccably standard pronunciation blended English with classical poetry into a veritable auditory feast, leaving Nono’s fans utterly satisfied.
This world really can’t go on without Nono the Great King!
As for Jiang Shunnian, sure, he tried hard—but he was still better suited to playing househusband at home, doting on wife and kids!
Once Starlight Bestowed on You wrapped up successfully, nearly the entire cast went on shows, and Jiang Shunnian’s acting earned rave reviews from countless people, all hoping he’d take on more roles.
After this period, the internet buzzed again. Fu Yanli had directly handed both chips over to the nation, an act that rocketed his reputation sky-high. Countless people reached new peaks of admiration for Fu Corporation. Naturally, they remembered the Qin Group’s patent theft and swarmed their official account to trash them.
It was hard to say there wasn’t some handiwork from Fu Yanli in that.
But they had done wrong. They’d lost the lawsuit recently and shelled out a fortune in compensation. Now, they had zero grounds to argue back and could only take the mockery.
Meanwhile, the international economic summit slated for January—which few had paid attention to—saw search volume explode after Fu Yanli received an invite.
Upon hearing Fu Yanli would attend, Lucien smiled and said the competition on his end was nearing its close. Barring surprises, he’d win, so he’d be at the summit too.
To thank Fu Yanli for raising his child, he’d prepare a gift and hoped to have a family dinner with Fu Yanli afterward.
Fu Yanli’s eyes lit up. “So you’ll be taking Atticus with you this time?”
