◎Flirty Hottie◎
In mid-August, Paris’s vacation season was already halfway over.
During the day, it was a bustling and prosperous tourist hotspot, but Song Chan preferred the cool refreshment here after the serene evening quieted down.
Over the past month in Paris, the work Song Chan was responsible for had basically been completed, and the crew only had the final wrap-up shots left.
Yesterday, Director Chen announced that the first batch of staff who had finished their tasks could return home early to prepare for the subsequent filming arrangements in Hangbei.
Song Chan’s name was on the list of the first batch to return, while Su Yicen’s filming tasks were not yet complete, so he was expected to leave one or two weeks later than her.
As her departure date drew nearer, that top idol’s clinginess had also been increasing day by day.
Su Yicen had gone from sneaking into her room every few days and refusing to leave at the beginning, to entering naturally as if this place were his own room.
Song Chan knew that once she returned home, they probably wouldn’t see each other for about ten days, and that guy who couldn’t go without his “meat” definitely wouldn’t let her leave easily.
But strangely, she no longer resisted Su Yicen’s closeness in her heart; she even somewhat missed their time alone together.
That feeling was like the fluttering heartbeat of a girl experiencing her first crush upon seeing the person she liked.
Perhaps without realizing it, and she didn’t know when it started, Song Chan clearly felt that her feelings for Su Yicen had indeed changed.
She had started to become somewhat unable to leave him.
This shift in emotions probably first began when Song Chan supervised Su Yicen to eat on time.
After they developed the necessary interactions, Song Chan also started proactively sharing her daily life with him.
Gradually, everything seemed to form a habit.
She began to actively ask Su Yicen if he had eaten properly, how many NGs he had during filming that day, and if he had encountered anything fun.
After this emotional closeness, Song Chan gradually accepted Su Yicen’s excessive clinginess.
For a moment, Song Chan even felt that they no longer seemed to be the partners who had once signed a secret marriage agreement just to cope with pressure from their elders to get married and decided to help each other out.
Their current way of getting along was just like that of an ordinary couple in the heat of romance.
The flight home arrived as scheduled.
After the plane landed in Hangbei, Song Chan walked into the terminal, listening to the familiar local accent around her and seeing Chinese characters everywhere, which nearly brought excited tears to her eyes.
It had only been a little over a month abroad, but the excitement upon returning was still overflowing.
The only difference from when she first landed in Paris was that this time, Su Yicen was not by Song Chan’s side.
Fortunately, she had made a new friend in the crew, the makeup artist Xiao Shi.
They returned together, which reduced a lot of the stress from the long flight for Song Chan.
Xiao Shi’s home was not in Hangbei, so she had to stay in the hotel arranged by the crew. Song Chan didn’t have anyone picking her up either and planned to take a cab home, so she could keep Xiao Shi company while waiting for the crew’s car.
During their idle chat, Song Chan inadvertently glanced and saw that Xiao Shi’s phone wallpaper was actually a selfie of Su Yicen. She couldn’t help but ask.
“Are you a Su Yicen fan too?”
Xiao Shi glanced at her phone screen, unable to hide the fangirl gleam in her eyes.
“Of course! Su Yicen is so handsome, and he’s got great acting skills too—who wouldn’t love him!”
The topic hit right on what Xiao Shi loved most, and she excitedly opened her photo album to show off.
“Chanchan, do you want some? I have over a thousand Su Yicen photos on my phone…”
As she said that, she even waggled her eyebrows and mysteriously lowered her voice, leaning close to Song Chan’s ear.
“And! I also have his….”
“Post-bath wet body pics…”
“What?!” Song Chan was a bit shocked and a bit dumbfounded.
Her gaze uncontrollably shifted to Xiao Shi’s phone screen.
That so-called “post-bath wet body pic” was actually just a low-res screenshot from Su Yicen’s filming behind-the-scenes footage, showing him shirtless in the set bathroom.
Seeing Xiao Shi enthusiastically open WeChat to package and send her those thousand-plus Su Yicen photos, Song Chan quickly waved her hands in refusal. “Thanks, thanks, no need to send them to me…”
Song Chan appreciated the kind gesture, but she absolutely could not accept them.
Otherwise, if a certain someone saw over a thousand of his photos saved on her phone, that guy’s peacock tail wouldn’t know how high it would fan.
“But your wallpaper is pretty interesting too.”
Xiao Shi’s eyes curved slyly as she looked at Song Chan’s lit-up phone screen, smiling as she commented.
“This is a… very cute… peacock in full display?…”
“For attracting wealth? Or peach blossom luck?”
Xiao Shi asked seriously, trying to probe the deeper meaning behind this wallpaper.
Song Chan was a bit troubled. She lightly bit her lower lip, thought for a moment, and came up with a relatively accurate response.
“…Probably attracts… flirty hotties?…”
Her words sent Xiao Shi into a fit of laughter. She then asked her.
“I haven’t asked you yet—which male celebrity do you like? Do we have any in our crew?”
Song Chan shook her head. “I stopped chasing stars a long time ago.”
Xiao Shi: “I mean what style you like! Our crew has gathered the two top idols of domestic entertainment.”
Xiao Shi: “Su Yicen and Zhou Chiyu—there must be one you like, right?”
As she spoke, Xiao Shi carefully sized up Song Chan’s appearance.
“A cool beauty and a puppy boy would be a perfect match. Do you like Zhou Chiyu?”
If someone had asked her that before, Song Chan probably would have immediately agreed, saying she liked Zhou Chiyu.
But now she hesitated. She didn’t want to continue that pretense.
Her answer was soft but firm.
“Su Yicen…”
“I have more feelings for him.”
This was the first time Song Chan had faced her own heart in front of someone else.
Her phone suddenly vibrated. The person on the other end seemed to sense it and sent a message at just the right time.
Seeing the “Peacock in Full Display” contact name on the screen, Song Chan’s lips curved slightly without her realizing.
Xiao Shi, who saw the same scene, seemed to suddenly understand.
She smiled and teased, “No wonder you set a flower peacock as your wallpaper—the deeper meaning is right here.”
Xiao Shi: “This is your flirty hottie?”
Xiao Shi: “Your boyfriend?”
The successive teasing questions made Song Chan a bit shy, but she didn’t deny it.
Song Chan: “…Sort of.”
Xiao Shi: “What do you mean ‘sort of’? You guys aren’t together yet?”
Song Chan didn’t know how to answer and finally just said.
“It’s a legal relationship.”
“Oh~” Xiao Shi got the implication in her words and didn’t pursue further.
After waiting for a long time, the car finally arrived. Song Chan saw Xiao Shi off and watched her leave.
After more than a month abroad, Song Chan missed Lady Xu and Mr. Song at home terribly. Since Su Yicen wouldn’t be back for a while anyway, she planned to stay at her parents’ house for a few days first.
Once in the car, Song Chan remembered she hadn’t replied to Su Yicen yet.
In the WeChat chat, Su Yicen’s messages were pinned at the top. She tapped in to reply.
Peacock in Full Display: 【Landed?】
Song Chan: 【Landed.】
The person on the other end seemed to have his phone right in hand. Song Chan had just sent her message when his reply came.
Peacock in Full Display: 【What was on the plane meal?】
Song Chan: 【No idea, wasn’t hungry so didn’t eat.】
Peacock in Full Display: 【Tired? Did you sleep this time?】
Song Chan: 【Not bad, slept a few hours, not too tired.】
He asked one question, and she answered one.
After a few casual exchanges, Song Chan realized it should be early morning in Paris. She asked him.
Song Chan: 【Isn’t it dawn in Paris now?】
Song Chan: 【Why aren’t you asleep?】
Peacock in Full Display: 【Because you’re not here.】
Seeing his reply, Song Chan couldn’t help but chuckle. This guy really lived up to the contact name she had given him.
Song Chan: 【Su Yicen, stop messing around. Go to sleep.】
Song Chan: 【Not chatting anymore. Rest well.】
Song Chan: 【Good night.】
Peacock in Full Display: 【Good night】
Her phone stayed quiet all evening, with no further messages from him.
Until Song Chan was showering in the bathroom and heard the continuous WeChat notification sounds outside—she knew it was him messaging again.
She sped up her shower a bit. When Song Chan came out and checked WeChat, she was truly startled.
In the short time she hadn’t looked at her phone, Su Yicen had sent her dozens of messages.
Scrolling past a bunch of various crying emojis, Song Chan patiently read from the first unread one.
Peacock in Full Display: 【Chanchan! You didn’t ask me what I had for dinner today!】
Peacock in Full Display: 【But I was very obedient and sent it to you proactively!】
Following that, Su Yicen sent two photos of his dinner that evening.
The plate had tomato pasta, steak, and fries—not the healthiest, but that’s what they ate a lot of over there.
Ten minutes passed without a reply, and Su Yicen sent a message to complain.
Peacock in Full Display: 【Chanchan, you’re ignoring me (grievance)】
Peacock in Full Display: 【My fragile heart is hurt (big cry)】
Another ten minutes without a reply, and Su Yicen simply started bombarding her with messages.
Peacock in Full Display: 【Song Chan, you’re still ignoring me (big cry) x3】
Peacock in Full Display: 【If you don’t reply, I’ll cut my belly with fries.】
Peacock in Full Display: 【I’ll hang myself with pasta!】
Peacock in Full Display: 【I’ll bash my head with steak!】
Peacock in Full Display: 【Song Chan, I’m wasting myself away like this.】
Peacock in Full Display: 【And you still won’t reply?】
Peacock in Full Display: 【Wahhh, I can’t go on living!】
Peacock in Full Display: 【Song Chan, does this even look like a chat?】
Peacock in Full Display: 【This is clearly the message board you left me.】
Peacock in Full Display: 【I get it, Song Chan—you’re playing hard to get with me!】
Peacock in Full Display: 【I was only satisfying your lust for my body, trying to seduce my way up.】
Peacock in Full Display: 【Now that you’ve got it, you’re ignoring me, huh?】
Peacock in Full Display: 【Great! Woman, you’ve made me love you even more!】
Peacock in Full Display: 【One day, I’ll win your heart too!】
Looking at Su Yicen’s messages, the curve of Song Chan’s smile grew more obvious. Her fingers tapped on the screen to reply, and she explained.
Song Chan: 【Stop, I’m replying—stop now.】
Song Chan: 【Was showering just now, didn’t see my phone.】
Peacock in Full Display: 【Can’t stop, love you more (stars in eyes)】
Peacock in Full Display: 【My wife even explained to me…】
The chat boxes kept popping up nonstop. Song Chan sent a speechless emoji to interrupt him.
Song Chan: 【Su Yicen, act normal.】
Song Chan: 【Can you not be such a hopeless romantic?】
Peacock in Full Display: 【My wife calls me a hopeless romantic!】
Seeing this from Su Yicen, Song Chan was successfully amused by him. She didn’t even know when “hopeless romantic” had become a compliment.
The clingy guy on the other end still hadn’t reined in his fanned tail feathers and kept displaying them.
Peacock in Full Display: 【Wahhh, wife, I love you even more.】
Peacock in Full Display: 【Wife, kiss~】
“Chanchan, come out and eat some fruit!”
Their chat was interrupted by Xu Wan’s voice from outside the door. Song Chan replied to him.
Song Chan: 【Lady Xu is calling me to eat fruit. No more chit-chat.】
Song Chan: 【Eat properly and rest early.】
Song Chan: 【Take good care of yourself.】
Peacock in Full Display: 【Wife, kiss~】
Song Chan: 【Go work.】
Peacock in Full Display: 【Wait till I get back to kiss you.】
Even biting her lip, Song Chan couldn’t hide the smile tugging at her mouth.
After telling Su Yicen what she was doing, Song Chan knew he wouldn’t bother her for a while, so she left her phone in the bedroom.
In the living room, Xu Wan and Song Qiwen were watching something and laughing as they chatted. They looked up and beckoned her to sit beside them.
“Chanchan, come quick. Your dad just went downstairs and saw fresh mangosteens and mangoes at the supermarket. Knowing you love them, he bought a bunch.”
The table already had mango chunks peeled and speared with toothpicks, mangosteens cracked open to reveal the tender white flesh, and her favorite yogurt poured into cups.
Song Chan sniffed, unable to help feeling emotional. The feeling of being home was truly wonderful.
Perhaps because Song Chan had never been away from home for so long and so far, this time when she returned from Paris, she clearly felt that Lady Xu’s maternal love was a bit overflowing.
Although she knew very well that this overflowing maternal love wouldn’t last long—soon it would turn into arguments over her holing up in her room without coming out, or blaming her for every speck of dust on the floor because of a single strand of hair, using all sorts of bizarre excuses to pick fights with her.
But at this moment, the feeling still made Song Chan cling to it and depend on it.
She hung her entire body around Lady Xu’s neck, nuzzling against her like she was acting spoiled, then took a deep breath of the air that carried her mother’s scent, a sense of security spreading through her entire heart.
Song Chan couldn’t help but confess, “Mom, I love you.”
She hugged Xu Wan’s arm tightly, squeezing until she could barely breathe. Lady Xu patted her and teased.
“You’re almost thirty, yet you still act like a little baby, so clingy with Mom…”
Lady Xu’s teasing words were overheard by Mr. Song nearby. He pulled a photo of baby Song Chan from the album he held in his arms and placed it between the two of them.
He smiled with emotion. “Chanchan is your little baby.”
“It feels like it was just yesterday, but in the blink of an eye, the child’s all grown up.”
Xu Wan picked up the conversation, lightly patting Song Chan’s arm, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes becoming more pronounced.
“Yeah, and we’ve gotten old too.”
Seeing that hundred-day photo made Song Chan realize that her parents had started reminiscing about the past by flipping through old photos.
The visual impact in that instant made her feel like her mom and dad had aged quite a bit.
Xu Wan flipped through the diary in her hand, filled with expectations for Song Chan’s birth and records of her growth milestones. Not a single word mentioned love, but every stroke brimmed with it.
As she looked, Lady Xu didn’t forget to show off to her. “Later, if you have a kid, you can make one of these too…”
Hearing that, Song Qiwen immediately chimed in from the side.
“Chanchan, you have no idea—in the time you were abroad, your mom acted like she didn’t care on the surface, but she hugged this diary and looked at it every single day…”
Xu Wan never admitted defeat to anyone. She teased Song Qiwen right back.
“I wonder who it was that missed his daughter so much he got drunk in the middle of the night, looked at photos while drinking, cried his eyes out, but wouldn’t call his daughter because he was afraid of disturbing her sleep…”
“I was drunk…, you can’t believe what a drunk says…”
The family flipped through the photo album full of memories when Xu Wan suddenly spotted one—a photo of Song Chan and Su Yicen from when they were kids.
Xu Wan pulled out that photo, its edges already faded and yellowed, and asked her.
“Chanchan, do you still remember this photo?”
Song Chan took it and held it in her hands. She immediately recognized her younger self, but at first, she really didn’t recognize the little fatty next to her.
Looking at the pitch-black eyes in the photo, which seemed unchanged, she tentatively asked.
“Is this Su Yicen?”
“Yeah.” Xu Wan told her, “This was taken by your dad the first time you two met.”
Thinking back, Xu Wan felt a bit regretful. “Back then, we were so busy taking photos of you two kids that us adults didn’t even get a proper group photo to commemorate…”
Talk of regrets was endless, and it wasn’t early anymore.
Xu Wan told Song Chan to finish her fruit quickly, then shooed her back to her room to rest.
That photo from their first meeting with Su Yicen was also taken into the room by Song Chan.
She lay on the bed, looking at the young Su Yicen in the photo. His chubby little face was stern and expressionless, but traces of his current appearance could be seen between his brows.
His hand tugged at the hem of his clothes as he stood beside her, his posture clearly showing restraint—far cuter than now.
Looking at that once-tender face reappearing before her eyes.
Back then, Song Chan never could have imagined.
That little fatty by her side, whom she didn’t particularly like, would one day become a big star. She couldn’t have foreseen that they would form such a deep bond.
She also remembered that slip of paper with Su Yicen’s contact info.
Song Chan picked up the phone on the table; the paper was tucked into her phone case. The handwriting on it had blurred somewhat due to the correction fluid dissolving.
Lying in bed, she held it up to the light from the ceiling, which shone through the paper and revealed the line of text hidden beneath the correction fluid.
Song Chan focused her gaze. On that small slip of paper, she clearly made out those two lines of tiny but neatly written words.
Her heart felt like it was gripped by someone, suddenly tightening fiercely, her heartbeat skipping half a beat.
It read.
【Song Chan, I like you】
【It started from the first time we met, before I even knew what liking someone meant.】
—Su Yicen
Looking at the words hidden under the correction fluid on the yellow kraft paper.
Song Chan’s mind went blank, but more than that, she felt shocked. She confirmed over and over that she wasn’t seeing things.
She seemed to have received a confession—one from Su Yicen.
More precisely, it was a confession from the 17-year-old Su Yicen, to her.