The boyfriend was indeed petty.

Comparing how he was treating the Persian cat with the time when Pei Zhen was the Persian cat, Pei Zhen suspected if Fu Sichen was schizophrenic.

“You treated me rather well before…” Pei Zhen choked on his words as if saying those words reminded him of the kiss.

Cough cough.

He couldn’t help being shy!

Although Pei Zhen loved little animals, he’d never kiss them. It wasn’t that he minded; he just didn’t have that habit.

“That’s different.” Fu Sichen exchanged looks of disdain with the Persian cat and then smiled as he turned to Pei Zhen. “Pei Zhen, I liked you.”

When he smiled, it was as though his eyes contained a million twinkling stars, bright and resplendent against the vast darkness. It was mesmerizing.

Pei Zhen’s face heated up and he coughed, unable to help but smile back. “I like you too, very, very much…”

How lucky my life has been, to have met you, to have liked you, and to have been liked by you. Despite sexual orientation, the most important thing is that whatever I like, I can find in you.

And more than that, whatever you like, can be found in me.

Pei Zhen had gone from strength to strength in recent days, the movie The Scam had pushed his acting ability to a new height.

With the Film Awards approaching in December, netizens debated as to whom the year’s Best Actor would be, and opinions differed.

In the past, the expected winner was always Fu Sichen, but Pei Zhen’s reputation was gradually catching up. They were almost shoulder-to-shoulder, and it caused quite a heated discussion!

On the day of the Film Awards, Pei Zhen had just finished his rehearsal. It was via an invitation from the National Television for the huge Lunar New Year program. The preparations had to be done way in advance.

As he left the broadcast performance hall, a gust of wind swept past, and Pei Zhen shivered in the freezing cold.

Winter had truly arrived, and it was predicted to snow within the next few days.

“Keep warm. Keep warm.” Xiao Nian had brought a jacket and hurried towards Pei Zhen against the headwind. “Be careful not to catch a cold. You’d look terrible on stage with a running nose.”

“Don’t jinx me with your words,” Pei Zhen chided.

Saying that, he couldn’t help but felt a little puffed up. “Hehe, you think that I stand a chance to be up on stage to receive the award?”

Where the Best Actor throne was concerned, Pei Zhen was quite a determined contender! He found it hard to believe that he couldn’t defeat Fu Sichen!

“Receive what award?” Xiao Nian snorted disdainfully. “You? Perhaps you might be considered for going on stage to help give out an award. Daddy, not that I’m saying this to annoy you, although Big Boss Fu hadn’t been filming much in the latter half of the year, but don’t you forget, he is the male lead for The Scam.”

Xiao Nian still has his misgivings about that.

Although Fairy Girl Xiao looked straight as a pencil, in private, he did secretly read ‘Red Sleeves’ web novels—stories on ‘platonic pure-love’, as he had a thing for those sort of socialist brotherhood-love relationships.

He had watched The Scam, went in laughing and came out crying. Pei Zhen was quite disdainful when he found out about it but eventually recalled that at the time of filming, Xiao Nian wasn’t around.

Fu Sichen sent him on various other errands.

Xiao Nian was extremely carried away by the movie and was emotionally exhausted watching it. At one point, he was so into the show that he actually gave Pei Zhen hateful glares, and even created an ‘anti-Pei Zhen’ chat group.

Although, eventually he was ripped to shreds by Pei Zhen’s fans.

“It’s not possible.” Xiao Nian took another look at Pei Zhen and was unwavering in his own assessment. “Daddy, you are fated to be the bottom party—both in the bed and in your acting career.”

Daddy Pei was annoyed. “Scram.”

“Daddy, I’m just preparing you, psychologically.” Xiao Nian was still going on and on after getting Pei Zhen into the mini-van. “Things don’t happen more than thrice isn’t it so. You’ve been in the running three years in a row, and you’re full of confidence every year but end up falling flat on your face.”

As expected they had received an invitation from the organizer again, saying that Pei Zhen had gotten into the Best Actor nomination list.

Xiao Nian was feeling the pain—life was just too fragile. He no longer had the endurance to bear the label of ‘the manager whose artiste has lost the Best Actor title’.

Pei Zhen gave the great manager Xiao a dirty look. Talking to a commoner was getting him nowhere. He might as well look for the male idol.

Coincidentally, Male Idol Fu sent through a text message at the same time: [Just making my way from the hotel, what about you?]

Pei Zhen’s slender and long fingers typed out a reply: [I’m thinking of how best to kill you off [smile].]

[Kill me off with lust and passion in bed [silly smile].]

Pei Zhen shot Xiao Nian yet another dirty look.

He couldn’t understand it, was Fu Sichen’s usual prim and proper demeanor all an act? Why was it that when they were together, he’d become a totally different person?

That man was full of dirty thoughts, how shameful.

Pei Zhen remembered that when they were in high school, a classmate came over to his place, insisting that he had a treasure to show him.

They were youths and naturally curious. The mysterious ‘treasure’ turned out to be gay pornographic videos.

Pei Zhen had little interest in those things. From the time he was a child, he was tragically flooded by images of bones shown to him by his parents. It would have been very odd if he had cultivated an interest in matters of the flesh.

But he was egoistic.

He pretended to be cool and collected and watched the film with his classmate. Just when it came to the part where the bodies entwined, the Genius Fu next door suddenly appeared at the doorway.

At that instant, Pei Zhen turned a bright scarlet.

The embarrassment of being caught red-handed!

He fumbled around for an explanation, but his childhood buddy Genius Fu had an expression cold as ice. Genius Fu immediately turned to go, looking rather infuriated.

The Fu Sichen that Pei Zhen knew back then was out of reach, restrained and distant, as though nothing worldly could touch him.

Who would’ve thought that the rascal was a pig’s hoof!

[Can your thoughts be more constructive?] Pei Zhen rolled his eyes wearily. [I was talking about killing you off in terms of acting skills!]

[Oh? Best Actor? If you win this year, I’ll let you top me.]

On top…?

Though still talking dirty, Pei Zhen was suddenly in a good mood and called Fu Sichen immediately. “Hey, Mr. Fu, it’s all set then. If I really end up getting the Best Actor Award, you’ll let me top you!”

While it’s true that it was less strenuous being the bottom party, Pei Zhen had thought through it. Even if it were only for his boyfriend, he’d have to try it at least once!

Fu Sichen didn’t hesitate one second. “Pei Zhen, you know that when it comes to you, I’ll always stand by my word.”

Initially, Pei Zhen had planned to turn up at the event in his suit, but things were different with the bet in place.

Right after hanging up the phone, Pei Zhen ordered the driver to drive to the mall. He made an appointment with an image consultant so that he could look his best!

Meanwhile, Xiao Nian was muttering on the side, saying, “Oh, well, that’s not bad too. If you don’t end up with the award, you can use your beauty to throw a tantrum and have your way with Big Boss Fu.”

Pei Zhen shot Xiao Nian yet another dirty look.

No matter how the great manager Xiao tried to put him down, Pei Zhen’s sense of self-confidence was flying high.

Pei Zhen came from a line of good genes. All those years plastering on so much makeup, his skin was still enviable.

The image consultant worked quickly, and in no time, he gave Pei Zhen a whole new look.

The grey suit looked exquisite on him.

With a raise of his eyebrow, he looked every bit stylish and deadly handsome.

Especially with the red tie, he was dashing and alluring all at once.

When he stepped out of the changing room, even Xiao Nian, who had been with Pei Zhen for so many years, drew in a deep breath.

“Pei Zhen, you’re finished.”

Pei Zhen chuckled.

“Just you wait till Big Boss Fu shows his raw instincts.”

“Huh.”

Pei Zhen smiled.

He had to admit; he was doing it on purpose.

If he didn’t dress to kill, how would he enchant Fu Sichen so that Fu Sichen would allow him to do as he pleased?

With that, the Best Actor candidate finally felt ready to make his entrance at the event.

By then the reporters and fans had all gathered at the entrance of the hotel. Although the weather was freezing, the atmosphere was abuzz with excitement.

The fans were all excited by the celebrities who were trickling in. But when Pei Zhen appeared, shrieks and screams filled the air.

“Arghhhhhh!” Pei Pei… “So dashing!”

“I’m going to faint! Daddy, I love you!!!”

“Daddy Pei!!!”

Pei Zhen had overdone it. The security on site had to go into overdrive to bring order to the crowd. They had to deploy more staff.

“Behave.” Pei Zhen felt quite bad, gesturing to his fans to calm down. “Don’t push. It wouldn’t be good if someone got injured.”

Indeed the influence of a popular celebrity was great. The fans onsite really did calm down somewhat. The security gave him a look of appreciation. If it weren’t for Xiao Nian pulling back Pei Zhen in time, Pei Zhen would have continued to coax his fans, and it would have gone on forever.

“No need to thank me. I’m a member of the young Pioneers!”

Fu Sichen and Pei Zhen arrived one after the other.

Fu Sichen had a business meeting and got to the event just on the dot.

It wasn’t clear if it was intentional on the organizer’s par; they had placed a female celebrity right between the two men. However, the pressure became a little too great to bear when the two male idols kept looking at each other. She finally couldn’t take it.

“B-Best Actor Fu.” The event was starting in two minutes, and it was the time that the reporters were all on the alert. But the female celebrity couldn’t care less, and stammered a little as she said to Fu Sichen, “I… may I change seats with you?”

Fu Sichen very quickly replied, “Of course.”

He stood up readily and gestured her towards his seat, waited for her to get up, and then he sat down in her seat.

“What’s your name?” Fu Sichen was expressionless but spoke firmly, “If you wish to make a movie in the future you can look me up.”

The female celebrity was awed and touched by the honor. “Oh! Thank you! Thank you!” That was like pizza falling from the sky.

“Not a problem,” Pei Zhen said, smiling, “We should help each other out, after all, we’re all in the entertainment circle.”

No way, the female celebrity thought. She knew only too well what it was like. How many people would try to bootlick their way into Fu Sichen’s favor and never have a chance? The entertainment circle was never a place where people would help each other!

How many people would’ve lusted for the seat between the two male idols? To be honest, she too only managed to secure it through special means.

The female celebrity who received the promise was a little emotional and couldn’t contain her happiness. She wanted to strike up a conversation, but as far as Fu Sichen was concerned, that wasn’t part of the deal. After he had done his niceties, he turned to focus on his young boyfriend.

Under the watch of a countless number of cameras, Fu Sichen didn’t care to restrain his loving attention.

Holding his young boyfriend’s hand and with his body slanted to face his young boyfriend, the two whispered to each other lovingly. Then, as though tickled by a secret that they were sharing, the two started to laugh unanimously.

It was way too sweet!

Obviously, there were other people seated in the same row, but for some reason, the two men had the uncanny ability to set themselves apart from the rest of the people. It was as though there were only two of them in the universe.