The young lady is very enthusiastic.
Qiao Shu couldn’t refuse the enthusiasm, plus he was also very moved, so he agreed. Then they were led by the young lady to under a tree, and then the young lady took out her phone and searched for a photo to show Qiao Shu.
The young lady was super excited: “You guys can pose like this. This pose is absolutely suitable for you. It will definitely look good! Perfect!”
Qiao Shu took a look: “……”
Piggyback?
“No, no.” Qiao Shu quickly waved his hand: “This won’t work. Really, it won’t work.”
Qiao Shu was a bit tempted, but he’s a dad now. Carrying him like that would be quite hard on the stomach. Zai Zai would definitely protest.
Protecting Zai Zai is Dad’s responsibility.
The young lady was a little disappointed: “Really won’t work? This pose would look really beautiful.”
Qiao Shu awkwardly smiled: “Let’s just take normal poses.”
Young lady: “Okay.”
After taking the photos, the young lady handed the Polaroid back to Qiao Shu. When she was leaving, she suddenly said, “I feel like I know you guys from somewhere. But I can’t remember for a moment.”
Qiao Shu: “……”
He felt guilty and said, “Haha, really? We’re often told we have familiar faces.”
Qiao Shu: “Maybe that’s the reason?”
“Right?” Qiao Shu looked at Gu Chenyan.
Gu Chenyan remained calm: “Hmm.”
The young lady was puzzled: “Is that so?”
Qiao Shu felt nervous.
Fortunately, the young lady didn’t continue to inquire about this familiarity. She held her boyfriend’s hand and turned to leave. After walking a few steps, she stopped and turned back, smiling at Qiao Shu and Gu Chenyan: “Wishing you two a long and happy relationship. You’re such a perfect match!”
Qiao Shu smiled back: “Thank you.”
The young lady and her boyfriend left the little forest after a while. Qiao Shu held Gu Chenyan’s hand and looked up, asking, “Uncle Gu who matches with Qiao Qiao, where are we going next?”
Gu Chenyan rubbed his head, then took out a map from his backpack: “We’re going to Modern Square. We’ll have lunch first, then take photos.”
Qiao Shu: “Okay.”
It’s a bit far from here to Modern Square, so the two of them rode shared bicycles to the nearby bus stop.
It was almost eleven o’clock.
Gu Chenyan: “Hungry?”
Qiao Shu rubbed his stomach: “A bit.”
Gu Chenyan: “Let’s take a taxi there, it’ll be faster.”
Qiao Shu hesitated.
The point of this program is to save money to win the big prize. Taking a taxi is too expensive.
But then he thought to himself, he came to record this program mainly for popularity and fun. The grand prize, in the end, would all go to Jiang Jiayu. So his efforts to save money wouldn’t make much difference.
Plus, Gu Chenyan was here too.
So Qiao Shu asked, “Will taking a taxi be very expensive? Will we run out of money for accommodation tomorrow?”
Gu Chenyan: “Within a hundred yuan should be fine.”
Qiao Shu decided instantly: “Okay! Let’s take a taxi!”
Gu Chenyan rubbed his head and said gently, “Don’t worry. Even if we spend the money, I can still earn it back. I’ll try my best to help you win the final grand prize.”
Qiao Shu smiled: “That’s not important.”
Qiao Shu: “What’s important is that we have fun. Of course, we should afford accommodation.”
There were many taxis nearby.
Taxis were much faster than buses, and the two of them quickly arrived at Modern Square, paying eighty yuan for the fare.
There were many restaurants near the square, as well as many snack shops. Gu Chenyan looked around and asked, “What do you want to eat?”
Qiao Shu thought for a moment: “Let’s walk around and see.”
Gu Chenyan: “Okay.”
The two of them walked hand in hand near Modern Square. When they reached the entrance of a French restaurant, Qiao Shu couldn’t help but stop and look at the picture of the steak, his mouth watering.
Gu Chenyan noticed: “Do you want to eat that?”
Qiao Shu shook his head and started walking again: “That’s too expensive. Our budget isn’t enough for a meal there. Let’s go eat somewhere else and find a place where we can get full.”
Gu Chenyan frowned.
There was no reason to deny Qiao Shu’s desire to eat, but it would violate the rules of the program. Qiao Shu would probably not want to do it either.
Suddenly, his gaze halted.
Gu Chenyan: “Wait.”
Qiao Shu: “Huh?”
Gu Chenyan took Qiao Shu’s hand and walked back. The restaurant was set on the third floor, and Gu Chenyan led Qiao Shu to the elevator.
Gu Chenyan: “This restaurant is hiring a temporary pianist. I’ll go give it a try.”
Qiao Shu blinked.
Pianist?
Qiao Shu, feeling bewildered, followed Gu Chenyan into the restaurant. They reached the counter, and Gu Chenyan explained the situation. The receptionist asked them to wait for a moment and went to call the manager.
Qiao Shu looked up at Gu Chenyan.
Gu Chenyan rubbed Qiao Shu’s head and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Qiao Shu blinked: “You can play the piano?”
Gu Chenyan: “Hmm.”
Qiao Shu’s eyes lit up. He was about to say something when the manager came out.
The manager was French. He walked up to the two of them, casting a suspicious glance at them.
Gu Chenyan stepped forward and began conversing fluently in French with the manager, chattering away.
Qiao Shu couldn’t understand French, so he stood quietly on the side. Suddenly, he noticed the manager glancing at him, and he looked back in confusion, then glanced at Gu Chenyan.
Gu Chenyan rubbed his head.
Suddenly, the manager nodded and said something to Gu Chenyan in French.
Gu Chenyan nodded.
Then, he took Qiao Shu by the hand and walked towards the piano placed in the center of the restaurant.
Gu Chenyan: “Wait for me.”
Qiao Shu nodded.
Gu Chenyan leaned down and kissed Qiao Shu’s forehead, then squeezed the back of Qiao Shu’s neck before sitting down at the piano.
His slender fingers rested on the white piano keys, and after a few seconds, a smooth and pleasant melody filled the restaurant.
Qiao Shu didn’t understand music, but he felt that Gu Chenyan played exceptionally well. It was the most beautiful piano piece he had ever heard. Qiao Shu listened attentively, his eyes filled with admiration for the elegant man playing the piano.
Clap, clap!
Qiao Shu snapped out of his reverie and saw the manager applauding enthusiastically, with a smile on his face as he looked at Gu Chenyan. He also noticed some customers in the restaurant applauding in their direction.
Qiao Shu felt a sense of pride.
This was Gu Chenyan playing the piano, and everyone was praising Gu Chenyan’s music.
Another round of chatter ensued.
Gu Chenyan stood up and conversed with the manager for a while. While Qiao Shu felt proud yet bewildered, Gu Chenyan finished his conversation with the manager and then led Qiao Shu to sit at a nearby table.
Qiao Shu: “I-is it okay now?”
Gu Chenyan: “Hmm.”
A waiter approached and handed each of them a menu.
Gu Chenyan: “What would you like to eat?”
Qiao Shu was still somewhat worried. He leaned close to Gu Chenyan’s ear: “Can we really eat here?”
Gu Chenyan nodded: “Yes.”
Gu Chenyan: “The manager agreed that if I play the piano during this time slot, he’ll treat both of us to a meal.”
Qiao Shu widened his eyes: “Really?”
Gu Chenyan chuckled: “Yes, really.”
Gu Chenyan: “Don’t worry.”
With Gu Chenyan’s assurance, Qiao Shu felt somewhat relieved. He hesitantly ordered a steak, and Gu Chenyan ordered one for him as well, along with some desserts and drinks.
Qiao Shu felt a bit anxious: “Will our piano-playing earnings be enough to cover this?”
Gu Chenyan laughed: “It’ll be enough.”
Their meals arrived soon after.
Gu Chenyan accompanied Qiao Shu for a while, then quickly got up and sat back at the piano.
While eating his food, Qiao Shu watched the man playing the piano. A big smile gradually spread across his face, his eyes shining brightly.
His husband—
The most outstanding!
The best!
Another round of applause.
Excited, Qiao Shu joined the surrounding customers in applause. Gu Chenyan stood up amidst the applause, gracefully bowing to the audience before walking towards Qiao Shu.
Gu Chenyan: “Are you full?”
Qiao Shu nodded, unable to resist tiptoeing and kissing Gu Chenyan’s lips in front of everyone: “You’re amazing!”
Qiao Shu: “The piano playing was so beautiful!”
Gu Chenyan chuckled lightly: “If you like it, I’ll play for you when we get home.”
Qiao Shu nodded happily: “Mm-hmm.”
Gu Chenyan played intermittently until one o’clock, finally concluding this temporary job.
He bid farewell to the manager with Qiao Shu.
Qiao Shu saw the manager saying several exciting things to Gu Chenyan. He couldn’t understand, but he felt the manager was praising Gu Chenyan.
As they were leaving, the manager suddenly looked at Qiao Shu.
Manager: “Qiao Shu.”
Some clumsy Chinese.
Qiao Shu: “???”
The manager smiled and said, “You have a very good partner.” He looked at the two of them. “I wish you both the best.”
Qiao Shu couldn’t help but show a sweet smile: “Thank you.”
Walking on the street, Qiao Shu’s mood was still exuberant. He held Gu Chenyan’s hand and walked with a skip in his step, his eyes always on Gu Chenyan.
Gu Chenyan: “Why do you keep staring at me?”
Qiao Shu: “Mr. Gu today is so handsome. I just want to look more.”
Gu Chenyan teased him, “Wasn’t I handsome yesterday?”
Qiao Shu: “Handsome.”
Qiao Shu: “Mr. Gu is handsome every day, but especially handsome today, especially when playing the piano.”
Qiao Shu: “Little Mr. Qiao’s eyes are stuck on Mr. Gu and can’t look away.”
Gu Chenyan chuckled.
He was about to speak when suddenly the voice of the program director came through his earpiece: “Qiao Shu violated the rules. Misaddressing. Two instances of ‘Mr. Gu’, a total fine of ten yuan.”
Gu Chenyan: “…”
He looked at Qiao Shu.
Qiao Shu was still staring blankly, clearly having heard the director’s voice as well.
After a while, Qiao Shu finally reacted. He pouted and innocently said, “I forgot.”
Gu Chenyan chuckled.
He rubbed Qiao Shu’s head.
Although the director’s interruption dampened the mood for a moment, Gu Chenyan quickly comforted Qiao Shu. Hand in hand, they asked a passerby for directions and soon arrived at the statue where they needed to check-in.
It was a statue of a great figure.
Check-in requirement: Guests, please solemnly salute in front of the statue of the great figure.
As before, they asked a passerby to take a photo. Standing in front of the statue, they saluted as required, and then took a picture.
The second check-in location was completed.
The third location was in the City God Temple of the ancient city, which was particularly lively with people coming and going.
Check-in requirement: Kiss and take a photo under the marriage tree.
Instead of immediately taking a photo, Qiao Shu eagerly dragged Gu Chenyan to a nearby stall and “splurged” on a red cloth.
Qiao Shu: “Uncle,” this time he remembered the address, “let’s make a wish.”
Gu Chenyan: “Alright.”
Qiao Shu, holding the brush borrowed from the stall owner, pondered, “What should I write?”
“How about ‘together for eternity’?” His eyes lit up as he looked at Gu Chenyan, filled with deep love, anticipation, and greed.
Greedy for Gu Chenyan to have no end.
Gu Chenyan smiled: “Okay.”
He embraced Qiao Shu from behind, holding his hand. Together, they used the brush to write beautiful black characters on the red cloth.
Finally, they signed their names together.
Qiao Shu carefully dried the ink on the red cloth and then went to the stall owner, asking him to teach him how to tie the red cloth.
He learned earnestly.
Soon, he mastered it and tied a very beautiful knot on the red cloth.
Qiao Shu, with sparkling eyes, held Gu Chenyan’s hand and walked towards the marriage tree.
Standing under the marriage tree adorned with red cloth, he lifted the hand holding the red cloth towards Gu Chenyan and said, “Let’s throw it together.”
Gu Chenyan’s hand wrapped around Qiao Shu’s, softly saying, “Okay.”
They didn’t exert much force together. Fortunately, with just one throw, they managed to hang the red cloth on the treetop, and it wasn’t too low.
Qiao Shu jumped with joy, clinging to Gu Chenyan. He hugged Gu Chenyan’s neck and looked down at him with a very happy smile: “Mr. Gu, look! Look! We threw the red cloth up there! We did it!”
Qiao Shu: “Our wish will definitely come true!”
“Hahahahaha!”
Gu Chenyan held up Qiao Shu’s buttocks, his face full of gentle smiles: “Hmm.”
Gu Chenyan: “It will come true.”
The check-in photo was quickly taken.
Standing under the marriage tree, Qiao Shu tiptoed. He tilted his head back and gently kissed Gu Chenyan’s lips.
Gu Chenyan lowered his head.
Click!
The photo was beautiful.
Qiao Shu looked at the Polaroid photo with a sweet smile. “We’re really a perfect match!”
Gu Chenyan chuckled lightly: “Hmm.”
The fourth check-in location was inside the ancient city. They needed to find a special brick wall and take a photo with it.
Qiao Shu: “…”
A brick wall?
The program team is up to something!
They heard that this supposedly special brick was hard to find. Qiao Shu and Gu Chenyan asked many people together, but no one knew. In the end, it was an elderly janitor who showed them the way, and they finally found the allegedly special brick.
Check-in task: Take a heart-shaped photo in front of the brick wall.
The last check-in location was the endpoint clock tower.
At this moment, there was still some time left, about fifty minutes until the task deadline. The clock tower wasn’t far from the ancient city, and it would take less than twenty minutes to ride a shared bike there. Gu Chenyan rode the shared bike with Qiao Shu slowly towards the clock tower.
Qiao Shu sat at the back of the bike, swinging his legs leisurely. Suddenly, he tugged at Gu Chenyan’s clothes.
Gu Chenyan: “Hmm?”
Qiao Shu: “Uncle, do you remember the condition you agreed to before?”
Gu Chenyan: “Hmm.”
Qiao Shu licked his lips: “Then park the bike.”
Gu Chenyan stopped the bike, putting both legs on the ground. He turned to look at Qiao Shu.
Qiao Shu got off the bike and stood on the ground. He pointed to a dessert shop not far away where people were lining up: “I want to eat ice cream.”
Gu Chenyan looked at him.
Qiao Shu coquettishly said, “Uncle, I really, really want to eat ice cream. You promised.”
Qiao Shu: “You can’t go back on your word.”
He blinked and looked pitifully at Gu Chenyan.
Gu Chenyan: “You already had lunch.”
Qiao Shu pouted in grievance: “But I still want to eat.”
Qiao Shu: “Uncle~”
Qiao Shu: “Uncle~”
Gu Chenyan sighed. He pinched Qiao Shu’s nose: “You can only have half.”
Qiao Shu’s eyes lit up: “Okay!”
This dessert shop seemed to be quite popular, bustling with activity, and the queue was quite long. Fortunately, the staff inside were efficient.
Gu Chenyan parked the bike aside: “Wait for me here. I’ll go buy it.”
Qiao Shu nodded: “Okay.”
Gu Chenyan went to join the queue.
Qiao Shu stood by the bike, watching Gu Chenyan, occasionally wriggling his nose and licking his lips in anticipation.
After a while, when it wasn’t Gu Chenyan’s turn yet, Qiao Shu took out his phone and snapped a picture of Gu Chenyan.
Gu Chenyan happened to look over.
Click!
The photo was taken. Qiao Shu smiled and waved at Gu Chenyan, then lowered his head to post it on his social media.
【Qiao Shu: Mr. Gu is buying ice cream for me. The best Mr. Gu in the world (photo)】
Qiao Shu looked at the posted social media post, his face sweetly unable to contain the smile.
Suddenly, he felt strange.
Qiao Shu turned his head and saw a muscular man standing very close to him, staring at him.
Qiao Shu: “…”
The man, noticing that Qiao Shu had spotted him, smiled at him.
Qiao Shu felt even more uneasy seeing that smile. He cautiously shifted away from the man, who kept smiling at him. Qiao Shu moved again.
Successfully creating some distance, the man finally stopped looking at him and turned his gaze elsewhere. Qiao Shu breathed a sigh of relief.
Was it just his imagination?
Maybe that person wasn’t smiling at him just now.
Qiao Shu looked back up at Gu Chenyan.
At the dessert shop, it was now Gu Chenyan’s turn. Qiao Shu saw him, and a smile once again spread across his face.
He licked his lips, still craving the ice cream.
He was about to have his ice cream!
Oh yeah!
But before the smile could last a few seconds, Qiao Shu’s expression turned from shock to anger.
He backed away several steps, clutching his buttocks. He glared at the muscular man who had come up to him and even touched his buttocks.
Qiao Shu: “What are you doing!”
Unexpectedly, the muscular man showed no sign of guilt for his inappropriate action. Instead, he stood arrogantly in place and smirked provocatively at Qiao Shu. “Just giving you a little touch!”
“Who told you to seduce me with those flirty smiles earlier?”
Qiao Shu: “!!!”
He had never seen such shameless and lewd behavior! When did he smile at this person? When did he try to seduce him? Qiao Shu was about to explode with anger!
He almost rushed forward to fight!
But the man’s muscular physique stopped Qiao Shu in his tracks.
Qiao Shu clutched his stomach. No, he was pregnant. He couldn’t fight!
Qiao Shu turned his head and looked towards the dessert shop, seeing Gu Chenyan hurrying towards him with ice cream in hand.
Qiao Shu: “Gu Chenyan…”
Gu Chenyan quickly arrived in front of Qiao Shu, reaching out to shield him behind him, his gaze sharp as he looked at the muscular man. “What are you doing?”
The muscular man, seeing Gu Chenyan approaching, showed no fear at all. He even flaunted his well-developed muscles and provocatively said to Gu Chenyan, “Are you this little slut’s lover?”
“You’re pretty lucky. Your little lover’s butt is really perky.”
Qiao Shu was furious. “You!”
Gu Chenyan handed the ice cream to Qiao Shu gently. “Take it.”
Qiao Shu was stunned.
Then he saw Gu Chenyan calmly taking off his jacket.
Whistle
The muscular man whistled at Gu Chenyan. “Want to fight me?”
Muscular man: “Fine.”
He leered at Qiao Shu. “If I win, your little lover will spend the night with me. How about that?”
Gu Chenyan remained silent.
His gaze at the muscular man grew colder and colder. He casually threw his jacket on the bike and then walked towards the muscular man.
Qiao Shu, too nervous to even care about the ice cream he had been craving so much just moments ago, felt a sudden pang in his heart. The ice cream fell to the ground, but he didn’t even glance at it. Instead, he nervously reached out and grasped Gu Chenyan’s hand, looking up at him with concern. “Gu Chenyan…”
Gu Chenyan ruffled his hair. “Don’t worry. I’ll be back soon. Be good.”
He let go of Qiao Shu’s hand.
Qiao Shu stood there, watching nervously as Gu Chenyan approached the muscular man. He saw the muscular man confidently swinging his bulky arms and hammering toward Gu Chenyan.
Qiao Shu’s eyes widened in fear, and he held his breath.
People kept gathering around, some taking out their phones to record videos, while several others broke through the crowd and came to Qiao Shu’s side, shielding him securely.
But Qiao Shu didn’t notice any of it.
His anxious gaze was fixed entirely on Gu Chenyan. He saw Gu Chenyan twist the muscular man’s arm and give it a hard twist.
“Ah!”
The muscular man let out a miserable scream.
Gu Chenyan’s gaze remained icy cold. He didn’t stop there but lifted his knee.
“Ah!”
The muscular man screamed in agony once again.
With a cold expression, Gu Chenyan subdued the muscular man, who had lost his ability to resist due to the pain, and forcefully twisted his hands with his slender fingers.
The whole process took less than a minute.
Gu Chenyan effortlessly brought down this seemingly powerful and badass muscular man.
And not a single hair on Gu Chenyan’s head was out of place.
“Qiao Shu.”
Gu Chenyan, still restraining the muscular man, turned to look at Qiao Shu. “Which hand did he touch you with?”
Qiao Shu was stunned.
At this moment, he was neither nervous nor afraid anymore. His entire body was boiling with excitement because of Gu Chenyan’s swift actions. He blinked and thought for a moment before saying, “I don’t know.” He complained with a hint of grievance, “By the time I noticed, he had already touched me.”
Gu Chenyan asked, “Is that so?” He turned back to the muscular man with an expressionless face. “Since you don’t know, then…” His fingers exerted force without any expression, breaking both of the muscular man’s wrists.
The muscular man screamed in agony once again, begging for mercy desperately.
Gu Chenyan turned a deaf ear to his pleas.
With a cold expression, he threw away the muscular man’s hand and stood up leisurely, then lifted his foot.
“Ah!”
The muscular man’s scream pierced the sky.
Because Gu Chenyan had stepped on the five fingers of the muscular man’s hand with his foot.
Gu Chenyan coldly crushed the muscular man’s fingers under his foot, one by one, mercilessly. After crushing one hand, he heartlessly continued to press down on the muscular man’s other hand with his foot.
The screams lasted for a while.
After a while, Gu Chenyan coldly released his foot. Without even glancing at the miserable muscular man on the ground, he walked towards Qiao Shu. He reached Qiao Shu’s side, gently rubbed Qiao Shu’s head, then looked up. His gentleness faded, replaced by a cold gaze towards a man beside Qiao Shu. “Take him to the hospital and call the police.”
The man responded, “Yes, sir.”
Qiao Shu only then noticed the people around him.
The muscular man was quickly taken away, and the crowd gradually dispersed. Qiao Shu pursed his lips, feeling a bit dry-mouthed as he looked at Gu Chenyan.
Gu Chenyan asked, “Were you scared?”
Qiao Shu shook his head.
He licked his lips and said, “I wasn’t scared. In fact, I was quite excited.”
Gu Chenyan raised an eyebrow.
Qiao Shu glanced around, then suddenly reached out and grabbed Gu Chenyan’s arm, pulling him to the side.
He dragged Gu Chenyan into an alley.
Then he pushed Gu Chenyan against the wall, tiptoed, and fiercely kissed the man in front of him, who made his blood boil and his heart race.
