Part 5
Although a five-year-old understands a lot, his comprehension of some things was still simple. For example, marriage on TV. It was two people living together with a child, with a daily âIâm homeâ and âIâm leaving.â In foreign shows, there were good morning kisses and goodbye kisses. Tang Mian had never been part of a typical family, but he felt that the atmosphere between Jiang Shulu and Tang Yue just fit.
But Tang Yue felt a pang of guilt. âAm I not doing a good enough job?â When he was sad, the corners of his eyes drooped even more. If he had ears, they would probably be drooping too.
Tang Mian cupped Tang Yueâs face in his small, warm hands. Whenever Tang Yue held him, he felt like he was holding a little furnace that could soothe his long years of loneliness.
âNo, thatâs not it,â Tang Mianâs voice was still light and cheerful, with a hint of complaint. âDaddy, you always overthink things. Of course I just want you to be happy.â
The production team even added cute special effects to this split screen. When Tang Mian spoke, animated emojis would pop up, looking adorable.
âI can feel it, you know,â Tang Mian said, snuggling closer to Tang Yue and lowering his voice. âDaddy is happier when heâs with Uncle Jiang.â
Growing up by Tang Yueâs side, Tang Mianâs world was one of seasons, plants, and animals. The connection with nature that Tang Yue had once longed for became the source of Tang Mianâs upbringing. As a result, he possessed a wild freedom that neither Tang Yue nor Jiang Shulu had. His words seemed to carry the untamed spirit of the wind. Even at his young age, he already had an unconstrained air about himâspontaneous, joyful, and smart, saying whatever came to mind. He was almost the complete opposite of Tang Yue.
That was why he was so good at discerning Tang Yueâs emotionsâwho he was happy with, and who he was less happy with.
Jiang Shulu had become Tang Mianâs first choice in planning Tang Yueâs future.
[I love this kind of intimate conversation.]
[When I was five, I was still playing in the mud. Brother Mian is already worrying about his dadâs love life.]
[But kids mature so early these days.]
[Did Tang Yue forget heâs wearing a mic? Hahaha.]
âIsnât marriage just two people who love each other living together?â Tang Mian asked. âUncle Jiang already kissed Daddy, and Daddy said he loves Uncle Jiang. Isnât that enough?â
[Kids are so innocent, ahhh, so cute.]
[I feel like itâs been a long time since Iâve heard such a pure definition of marriage.]
[What is the original purpose of marriage? Have we forgotten, orâŚ]
[Thatâs how I understood marriage when I was little too. You like each other, youâre together, you become a family, buy a dress and a ring, and thatâs it.]
Tang Yue smiled. The more he looked at Tang Mian, the more adorable he found him. He couldnât help but kiss his baby. No one could see him nuzzling his face against Tang Mianâs cheek, but the sound of the kiss and the rustle of clothes were picked up by the mics, followed by the childâs exasperated, âDaddy, donât kiss me!â It was impossible not to smile.
Jiang Shulu had actually brought this up with him before, but the atmosphere was too good right now, and Tang Yue couldnât resist teasing Tang Mian. âBut itâs not good if Iâm the only one who feels that way, right?â
Back on Planet 9787, Tang Yue had never dreamed of marriage. He thought he was destined to die old in a landfill, fated never to have the kind of fairytale love his parents had.
Coming to this world, this blue planet with a different civilization, marriage seemed very romantic. At least, Tang Yue loved attending weddings. It was different from the flowers and applause on stage. It was the brideâs long, flowing wedding dress, the groomâs sharp trouser cuffs, and the flower on his lapel. He had even seen women in suits and men in wedding dresses, which he found endlessly fascinating.
Liu Xichao, who had attended a wedding with him, would nudge his shoulder and ask, Little Yue, do you want to get married?
Tang Yue would look at the couple exchanging rings. At that moment, Jiang Shulu had just finished giving a speech on behalf of Away and was walking back. The sunlight was warm, the piano music was gentle.
âYeah,â Tang Yue had mumbled.
But the person I want to marry isnât my main lead, he had thought at the time.
He never imagined that after all this time, the CP itself would be rewritten. In a world beyond the text, Tang Yue felt that same urge again.
âHow could you be the only one who feels that way!â Tang Mian exclaimed, then sighed dramatically. âDaddy, you look like you really want to get married.â He looked up at Tang Yue. Though he was still young, countless people had already confirmed that his eyes were the spitting image of Jiang Shuluâs.
[Like father, like son, hahahaha.]
[Who doesnât want to get married! That ideal, love-of-a-lifetime kind⌠and yet, and yet.]
[Sob, I feel like Tang Yue is so careful, but heâs been so much better these past few days. Theyâve definitely talked things out!]
[Waiting for a grand public announcement.]
Before, Tang Yue would have denied it, deceiving himself. But he had given birth to Tang Mian. Almost no one knew the feeling heâd had the moment he first saw his child. Across two worlds, Tang Mian was the family he had lost and found again. How could he bear to tease him any longer?
Thinking Tang Yue was unhappy, Tang Mian got anxious and threw himself into his fatherâs arms. âDaddy.â
âIâm not unhappy,â Tang Yue said, kissing him. His voice was full of laughter. âI was just teasing you. Why donât you ask Uncle Jiang about it some other time?â
The livestream had been showing only a fixed shot of the tent, capturing people coming and going. Jiang Shulu, who had been standing behind it, now circled around to the front. He and Miu Shuhuai had talked for a bit, then taken off their mics and stepped into the shadows to say a few more words. It was nothing more than Jiang Shulu asking why he was here. Miu Shuhuai had dodged, saying the show invited him.
âI heard your brother has a project recently,â Jiang Shulu said.
âNo way, are you trying to bribe me?â Miu Shuhuai replied.
Jiang Shulu smiled gently.
Miu Shuhuai folded quickly. âThe showâs investor invited me. I havenât met her, but anyway, the audience wanted me here, and it is fun.â The man with the buzz cut shrugged. âYouâre a guest too, so this doesnât violate the confidentiality agreement, does it?â
Jiang Shulu already knew the investor was Liang Yi. Her meddling was so obvious it was almost refreshing. âWhat did they ask you to do?â
âThey want me to be a third wheel between you and Tang Yue,â Miu Shuhuai said. âBut are you and Tang Yue really dating?â
Everyone was curious about this. Sixty percent said it was impossible, still believing it was scripted. The reason? If they were going to date, they would have done it long ago. And it was true. Miu Shuhuai was also curious about the current situation.
Away from the camera, Jiang Shulu was closer to the man Miu Shuhuai had seen in the news these past two yearsâeven less approachable than he was during his idol days.
âYes,â Jiang Shulu confirmed.
âThen can you marry him? Your family would never allow it, right?â Miu Shuhuai was truly gifted at getting under peopleâs skin, but Jiang Shulu just smiled.
âWhy would it be impossible?â
âI know the Jiang family is under your control now, but if you donât get married and have a child, you canât have fullâŚâ Miu Shuhuai was partially in the know; his own brother had some dealings with the Jiang family and knew some inside information. He had heard about someone returning from abroad. Was he supposed to be Jiang Shuluâs replacement? âArenât you afraid that if you insist on being with Tang Yue, youâll lose everything?â
Unexpectedly, the other man chuckled. âWhat makes you think Iâll lose everything?â Jiang Shulu said. âBesides, I already have Tang Yue.â
He patted Miu Shuhuaiâs shoulder and walked towards Tang Yueâs tent.
Watching his retreating back, Miu Shuhuai murmured, âWhy was that kind of hot?â
But Jiang Shulu never expected to overhear the conversation between Tang Mian and Tang Yue. He took off his earpiece and walked to the tent entrance. Without a word, he unzipped it.
Inside, Tang Yue instinctively hugged Tang Mian and looked over. On screen, the moment had the feel of a scene from a TV drama. Tang Mian had been on the verge of tears, then got angry at being teased by Tang Yue and started punching the air. Tang Yue was laughing uncontrollably, trying to kiss him again, only to be rejected.
Jiang Shulu knelt on one knee at the edge of the tent. âItâs me,â he said.
Tang Mian scrambled over with a happy cry, calling out a cheerful âUncle Jiang!â
âThereâs good food outside. Why donât you go eat first, Mian Mian?â Jiang Shulu suggested.
Tang Mian agreed. Jiang Shulu watched him put on his shoes and tried to help, but the little boy refused.
The next second, Tang Mian pushed him into the tent, and the five-year-old thoughtfully zipped up the entrance behind them.
âDaddy, you and Uncle Jiang can sleep for a while first, okay?â
[What a filial son.]
[Forward this Tang Mian, and your OTP will sleep in a tent together.]
âBrother Shulv, how did youâŚâ
The next moment, Tang Yue was pulled into an embrace, just like how he had been holding Tang Mian.
âYue Yue,â Jiang Shulu murmured, âhave you ever thought about what kind of wedding you want?â
â Some nagging (aka support) from the in-laws (his sister).
Bonus Short: âWeâre All Brosâ
Tang Yue doesnât like using lip balm.
If his assistant isnât around, heâs even more likely to forget.
One time, the four of them were on a variety show.
Partway through, the other three were separated from Jiang Shulu for an activity.
Tang Yue was exhausted and collapsed to the side.
Yao Lixin noticed his lips were chapped and told Liu Xichao to get a lip balm.
Liu Xichao: You donât have one?
Yao Lixin: Youâre the only one who brought a bag. Just give one to Tang Yue.
Liu Xichao fished one out and gave it to Tang Yue.
After Tang Yue applied it, he let out a curse.
Liu Xichao: Is that the yellow peach flavored one?
Tang Yue nodded.
Liu Xichao: I think thatâs the leaderâs.
Tang Yue froze as if turned to stone.
Liu Xichao: Itâs probably fine. Whatâs the big deal? Weâre all bros.
Tang Yue was on the verge of tears.
Iâm such a scumbag! he thought.
Later, Liu Xichao told Jiang Shulu about it.
Jiang Shulu saw that Tang Yue seemed to really mind.
âItâs fine,â he comforted him. âWeâre all bros.â
â
After they started living together, Tang Yue was still the same.
The assistant would sometimes take Jiang Shuluâs clothes to the dry cleaner and always find several different flavors of lip balm in the pockets.
Is the boss planning to expand into the cosmetics industry? she thought. So ambitious!
â
Jiang Shulu: Didnât you say you didnât like using my lip balm?
Tang Yue: Weâre all bros, whatâs the big deal?
Jiang Shulu was speechless.
â
Later, after Tang Yue kissed him.
Jiang Shulu: Arenât we bros?
Tang Yue: Weâre all bros, whatâs the big deal about a kiss?
Jiang Shulu: Fine.
Tang Yue: Weâre all bros, letâs doâŚ
Jiang Shulu: Weâll talk about that tonight.
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