FLME Ch79

Chu Han dared to ask questions, but Yu Wen didn’t dare to make a sound.

He took two bites of a biscuit, looked at Chu Han, and suspected that this might be some new “play” between the couple—he didn’t understand it, but he respected it.

“…Mm.”

Under the tense gaze of Feng Chengzhou and Chu Han, he remained quiet for a long time and finally squeezed out a single, profound word.

—“Interesting. Things are getting interesting.”

—“So is it true? This whole loving and not fighting thing—isn’t it just made up to fool everyone?”

“If there’s no love, how could we be together? It’s just a normal couple’s way of getting along. There’s no need to focus so much on our private lives—focus more on the works instead.” Chu Han forcibly steered the topic back.

Yu Wen was still nibbling on his biscuits in the back, but his expression grew heavier with each bite.

He didn’t understand what kind of “play” this was.

Were they going for the “national couple” angle? Why? With their shaky relationship, weren’t they afraid of the house collapsing someday?

Sitting there, he looked like he had a thousand juicy secrets trapped in his mouth—he wanted to spill them but couldn’t.

Netizens eagerly cheered, calling him to come forward. Feng Chengzhou had no choice but to secretly signal to Chu Han.

Feng Chengzhou: Coordinate a bit.

Chu Han: Got it. He’s good at talking; let him handle it.

These two? Zero tacit understanding.

Yu Wen dragged his chair and sat between the two. He didn’t want to occupy such a conspicuous position, but Chu Han suddenly acted like he was possessed and insisted that Yu Wen had witnessed their love blossom and bear fruit, so he should recount their relationship from a third-party perspective.

Yu Wen: …Do I need to vouch for them? A detailed outline of Rise, Film Emperor!?

The problem was, even in their published works, there wasn’t much detail about their relationship.

He looked at Chu Han’s resolute and encouraging expression and was rendered speechless. On the side, Feng Chengzhou frowned in thought, not understanding this strategy. After pondering for a while, he decided to cooperate—if Chu Han was doing this, there must be a reason.

Then the two of them looked at him with encouraging eyes.

“Uh, I, regarding their relationship…” Under the expectant gaze of everyone, Yu Wen stammered, “They are indeed very loving, um, the kind of destined official couple that overcomes all obstacles to be together…”

–“Official couple?”

—“You’ve changed, Yu. You used to only support official couples.”

—“Weren’t they supposed to be natural soulmates, seamlessly perfect except for busy schedules? Why now is it overcoming obstacles?”

“Soul what? Soulmates?”

Yu Wen caught a glimpse of this comment, and unable to control himself, read it out in disbelief.

He was truly grateful he had been focused on eating biscuits earlier; otherwise, his facial expressions would’ve long betrayed him during this “confession of love.”

Chu Han poked him in the waist.

Yu Wen twisted his waist awkwardly from the poke and quickly said, “Ah, yes, yes, yes. They’re soulmates with no misunderstandings, and they communicate frequently…”

—“Chu Han! I saw you poke him!”

—“Good grief, our melon king is clearly dying to spill it all. Let him talk!”

—“Our king of secrets has stayed tight-lipped all his life—can’t we let him be a sieve for once?”

Under the pressure of his friend’s glare, Yu Wen closed his eyes, steeled his resolve, and started making things up. He hadn’t expected that the PR team’s story for Chu Han and Feng Chengzhou was so polished. Whenever he slipped, the netizens caught him, repeatedly grilling him.

—“Fighting? Didn’t they say they don’t fight?”

—“…It’s not really fighting, just occasional miscommunication. For instance, when Chu Han was considering signing with Huiteng, he didn’t because of a miscommunication…”

—“But they just said they fell in love at first sight and have such a deep connection they don’t even need to communicate!”

“Connection? Connection—” Yu Wen finally couldn’t hold it in, turning his head to grit his teeth at Chu Han: “You two, a deep connection and love at first sight—”

Was it really love at first sight? I don’t even want to say anything about you two!

And a deep connection? Without me, who knows when you’d even make it to home base!

Unexpectedly, Chu Han replied seriously and innocently, “We really do have a deep connection. I always know what Chengzhou is thinking.”

The livestream comments: “Name the other’s favorite food.”

Feng Chengzhou: “Grapefruit.”

Chu Han: “How would I know that?”

Yu Wen spread his hands, wearing a “knew it” expression.

—“Yu Wen: I don’t even bother to comment.”

—“These two don’t even seem to live in the same world.”

—“Prince Feng is about to have an existential crisis.”

—“Wife: Why should I know his favorite food? President Feng: (stabbed in the chest).”

“True deep connections are rare in this world. There’s no need to chase such soulmates; for ordinary people, love is mostly about working things out.” Yu Wen said seriously. Then, he abruptly changed his tone. “Of course, love at first sight is possible. Knowing Chu Han’s personality, it’s very likely he fell for President Feng at first sight—”

Feng Chengzhou, still sulking, perked up at this, leaned in happily, and asked, “Our first meeting was on the street. Were you there at the time? Or did Chu Han tell you? Did he fall in love with me at first sight?”

“Not at all. I was just making it up,” Yu Wen said coldly. “You’re handsome, and Teacher Chu is shallow, so there’s a big chance he fell in love with you at first sight.”

Feng Chengzhou: “…”

“Yu Wen.” Chu Han was genuinely embarrassed by his words. Admitting that he had been swayed by Feng Chengzhou’s physique was already hard to confess. He had only recently realized his affections were so superficial—before, he had always thought he valued inner qualities over outward appearances. Now, with Yu Wen pointing it out so bluntly, he felt particularly awkward around Feng Chengzhou.

And yet Yu Wen, oblivious to the live broadcast, added, “Although Teacher Chu is shallow, after much deep interaction, they are now incredibly compatible, practically on a soul-mate level. Yeah.”

—“Yeah.”

—”What kind of deep interaction? Chu Han previously said they were in a Platonic relationship.”

“Huh?”

Yu Wen, who had managed to keep his composure earlier, completely lost it when he read that comment.

“Platonic, Pla—” He tried to salvage the situation, but the absurdity of the idea was too much. The more he tried to say it, the funnier it became, and he could barely get the words out.

—”Melon King: hears something utterly ridiculous.”
—”Melon King: (shocked) (processing) (can’t process) (laughs anyway).”

“Platonic love,” Feng Chengzhou took over, speaking solemnly. “It’s about pursuing spiritual connection and the purity of rational, emotional love. We’re striving for a Platonic ideal in our relationship.”

Chu Han nodded perfunctorily.

The livestream comments teased him: “Platonic love means no ‘do’—if you dare, it’s over. A million viewers are watching you two.”

Chu Han: “Huh???”

His tone betrayed shock, emotion, disbelief, and complete rejection all at once.

That little sound alone nearly caused him to lose control of his expression entirely.

Yu Wen propped his chin on his hand and said, “I don’t understand what you two are doing… It’s not shameful; just tell the truth.”

The comments echoed his sentiment.

That “no ‘do'” remark had truly rattled Chu Han. Perhaps it was the fear of being nagged by netizens in the future. His reason for going public was to date openly and confidently, but if “no ‘do'” was part of the deal, what was the point of going public?

“The earlier comments were just part of a script. The intention was to encourage people not to focus too much on our private lives, but it seems to have backfired,” Chu Han said seriously. “In truth, we’re not that in love. We haven’t been together for two years—not because we’re busy, but because we don’t have feelings for each other anymore.”

Feng Chengzhou: “I still have feelings.”

Chu Han: “I don’t.”

Feng Chengzhou: “…”

For the first time, Chu Han shared his perspective with the public. Some details even Yu Wen didn’t know, though he had vaguely guessed at them. The comments section instantly exploded, lagging the stream to a near PowerPoint presentation.

Compared to a sugary couple’s memoir, viewers were far more interested in these imperfect truths.

It was also the first time Feng Chengzhou heard Chu Han’s side of things. He had always thought they were just having a spat and would reconcile sooner or later. Who could have guessed that his wife was this close to completely losing feelings for him?

Chu Han wanted to keep it brief, but Feng Chengzhou, sitting nearby, kept questioning every point where their understanding diverged. By the end, Feng Chengzhou was slumped over the table, utterly dejected, like a fragile willow swaying in the wind, looking as though he might shatter at any moment.

—”President Feng: sobs—”

—”Oh no, this wave is aimed right at Feng Chengzhou.”

—”President Feng may look alive, but he’s been dead inside for a while now.”

—”CP shippers on the rooftop, only to find Feng Chengzhou already in the center spot.”

Yu Wen, sensing the shift, retreated to his role as the behind-the-scenes emcee. Feeling peckish in the meantime, he ordered some food from the hotel. While Feng Chengzhou was metaphorically passing away, Yu Wen sat on the sofa in the background, gleefully watching the drama unfold, cheeks puffed with spaghetti. His eyes sparkled whenever he heard new, juicy details.

—”Next life goal: reincarnate as the Melon King’s sidekick. Why does he always eat so well?”

—”A word of advice to all celebrities: if you’re breaking up or getting married, make sure to reserve a spot for the Melon King. When he stumbles upon drama, it’s usually a big one. Take note.”

Meanwhile, in S City, a vice president had just finished a meeting and walked into his office, glowing with confidence. He called for his secretary.

“How’s the public response to our young master’s relationship reveal?”

Though he asked, Bian Ce was brimming with certainty. He had managed PR for countless celebrity relationships under the company’s umbrella, but none like this one. It was a challenge he had meticulously researched, crafting a strategy so flawless that failure was impossible. If it failed, he’d reverse his name!

The secretary, wiping sweat, gave an awkward smile. “It’s… unexpected.”

“What?” Bian Ce frowned.

The secretary pulled up the livestream for him to see.

After two minutes, Bian Ce realized the PR script had gone to waste.

These two weren’t just loose cannons—they were runaway horses. No, wait.

He spotted Yu Wen in the background, happily eating spaghetti on the sofa.

It wasn’t just the couple that had gone rogue.

Anything involving Yu Wen turned into a stampede of wild horses!

Handing the phone back to his secretary, Bian Ce calmly said, “Forget it, forget it…”

Everything is fate.

Starting today, call me Ce Bian.

*

The livestream ended late, so Chu Han and Feng Chengzhou decided to stay at a nearby hotel for the night.

Yu Wen logged into Weibo, finding his DMs, mentions, and comments all at 99+. He hadn’t interacted with fans in a while, so he posted a selfie.

The gossip crowd flocked to him instantly.

“Are they sleeping together tonight…? How would I know?” He muttered, scrolling through the increasingly outrageous comments under his post. “I’m not a surveillance camera…”

To a comment asking, “Do Chu Han and Feng Chengzhou sleep together after a fight?” he replied: [Small gossip, no peek.]

He was surprisingly picky.

Netizens were delighted and started leaving even stranger comments.

—”I’m really curious, Melon King, I’m begging you to indulge me.”

—”Hahaha, will they even sleep in the same room tonight? Will President Feng wake up in the middle of the night crying?”

—”President Feng wakes up at midnight: ‘He doesn’t love me!'”

—”This is very important to me. Please go find out.”

Amid the clamor, considering that Chu Han was probably still downstairs having a late-night snack, Yu Wen figured it wouldn’t hurt to ask. He picked up his selfie stick and, responding to the demands of the eager netizens, started a livestream as he headed downstairs.

However, as he passed the stairwell, he saw Feng Chengzhou sitting there alone, his silhouette exuding a desolate and sorrowful aura, filled with a sense of tragic melancholy.

Yu Wen stopped in his tracks, hesitated for two seconds between choosing Chu Han or Feng Chengzhou, and ultimately decided to interview Feng Chengzhou first.

“President Feng,” he called out, striding over. Feng Chengzhou turned his face at the sound of his voice. He wasn’t crying, but his expression was heavy, resembling that of a heartbroken, lost male protagonist straight out of a TV drama.

Yu Wen informed him that he was livestreaming.

Feng Chengzhou: “Sorry, I’m not in the mood to be on a livestream right now.”

Yu Wen replied, “Oh, that’s fine. I won’t broadcast you. I’m just here to ask, will Chu Han be sleeping with you tonight?”

Feng Chengzhou looked at him.

Yu Wen blinked innocently.

“Yes,” Feng Chengzhou finally said, but then suddenly choked up. “Even if we argue, I can still share a bed with him, because he doesn’t really love me. He only loves my—”

Yu Wen: “Stop—no need to finish that sentence.”

He quickly bolted out of the stairwell. The viewers, hearing Feng Chengzhou’s choked voice, burst into laughter.

To ensure authenticity, Yu Wen, after asking Feng Chengzhou, went downstairs to ask Chu Han the same question.

“What kind of ‘sleep together’ are you asking about?” Chu Han asked sincerely.

Yu Wen: “…Sorry to bother you.”

The fact that he could say something like this showed that the netizens’ thoughts were still quite innocent. They were simply concerned about whether the emo Feng Chengzhou could cuddle his wife to sleep tonight. But with Chu Han’s response, their imaginations were utterly defeated.

Turning around, Yu Wen ended the livestream and returned to his room. He found the comments under his Weibo post were still skyrocketing, with everyone praising him for his enthusiasm.

—“Yu Wen is reliable. If there’s something, he’ll really step up.”

—“Bro, you’re my only bro.”

—“Without you, who else treats me like a kid?”

Yu Wen selected a couple of comments to reply to, then washed up and went to bed.

Just as he was about to fall asleep, he unexpectedly received a call from Xi Su.

This was truly rare. Usually, if there wasn’t anything major, Xi Su wouldn’t even bother to send a message. Yu Wen couldn’t remember the last time he got a call from him—must’ve been ages ago.

He picked up. “Hello?”

The other end was very quiet, with only the faint sound of breathing.

Yu Wen: “Xie Heyu?”

The other end chuckled softly.

“You recognized me so quickly?” Teacher Xie’s voice was languid. Yu Wen, curled up under his blanket, felt as though the other’s presence and warmth seeped through the phone, wrapping around him like a cozy cocoon.

“Xi Su is talkative; he couldn’t stay this quiet even if he were a corpse,” Yu Wen said, his face buried in the blanket, his voice muffled. “You live nearby, so it must be you.”

Xie Heyu: “You blocked me.”

Yu Wen: “Mhm.”

Xie Heyu: “Not letting me out?”

Yu Wen: “Not letting you.”

Xie Heyu: “I miss you terribly when I can’t hear your voice.”

Yu Wen: “I only blocked your WeChat, not your phone.”

Xie Heyu: “Then can I call you tomorrow?”

Yu Wen: “Whether I answer depends on my mood.”

Xie Heyu chuckled. “What did I do to upset you?”

“Did you call me in the middle of the night just to ask this?” Yu Wen said lazily. “If I go back to S City and you still haven’t figured it out, I’ll tell you. But if I do tell you, you’ll have to agree to one thing for me. Unconditionally.”

“Alright,” Xie Heyu agreed without hesitation.

The topic ended, but neither hung up.

Two calm, quiet breaths intertwined and tangled across the distance.

“Goodnight,” Xie Heyu finally said after a while. “I called to say that.”

After the call ended, Yu Wen stared blankly for a moment.

The blanket tonight felt so comfortable…

He tossed his phone aside, shifted into a more relaxed position, and thought to himself, Tonight, I should sleep well.

And with that, tomorrow would surely be another energetic day!