When An Le Yan woke up, it was just getting light.

The early morning sunlight slanted through the window, wrapped in a hazy white curtain, becoming soft and gentle, without any trace of heat.

He opened his eyes and looked at the light blue ceiling, and it took him a while to remember that he was in the Fu Shicang family’s house.

An Le Yan struggled to sit up, raising a hand to rub his forehead.

He had a headache, was thirsty, and his head was still spinning. He hesitated by the bedside for half a minute before finally curling back into the blanket.

The feeling of a hangover was too awful. An Le Yan closed his eyes and sighed deeply—he could never drink so much again.

He wasn’t someone who overindulged in alcohol. As Fu Shicang’s assistant, he always made sure to stay sober when his boss had social events, making sure Fu Shicang got home safely and settled in before his day ended.

But last night…

He only remembered that the atmosphere was great, and everyone was happily toasting him. Even Cang Ge smiled and clinked glasses with him a few times.

Although he tried to control himself and not drink too much, several types of alcohol mixed together, and once he got drunk, there was no stopping it. After that, his memory became blurry. How did I end up in this room?

An Le Yan suddenly shivered. He should have come to the right place, right?

He turned his head toward the window. Outside, the large leaves of the parasol tree trembled in the wind, casting swaying shadows into the room.

On the desk by the window, a few high school competition collections and extracurricular books were still placed. On the bedside table, there was a clumsy little craft on display.

No matter how he looked at it, this room seemed to belong to a high school student.

His brain sluggishly processed for a while, then he suddenly thought of a possibility. Oh no, this couldn’t be Cang Ge’s room when he was a child, right?!

He quickly jumped off the bed but froze again.

He was wearing soft pajamas that carried the familiar scent of citrus and mint, but they were definitely not his clothes.

And they were too big. An Le Yan tugged at the collar, feeling like half of him could fit into it.

“Knock!” The door suddenly knocked, and Fu Shicang’s voice came from outside, “Xiao Yan, are you awake? Can I come in?”

A gasp came from the room, and the door immediately opened. Fu Shicang appeared at the door, holding a cup of water in one hand and An Le Yan’s clothes in the other.

“How come you…” The man paused, his words caught in his throat.

The boy seemed to be in a hurry to get back into bed but accidentally tripped. He was now struggling to sit up. His feet were propped up on the edge of the bed, with round, fair toes, tinged with a healthy pink.

He was wearing the pajamas he used to wear in high school. Last night, afraid the light would wake him up, Fu Shicang had put them on in the dark.

Now, looking at it, they were even too big. The wide collar had already shifted to one side, exposing half of his shoulder and delicate collarbones. The scars along his waist peeked out like delicate flower buds, soft and resting against the collarbone.

A branch of red apricot extends out of the wall…

A line of poetry flashed in his mind, which automatically continued:

The red apricot branch brings spring to the head…

Fu Shicang cleared his throat, forcing himself to look away and put the cup on the bedside table.

Turning back, the young coser was already shrinking into the bed.

He couldn’t help but laugh and pat the large bulge in the blanket: “Your clothes are done washing, I’ve put them by the bedside. Hurry up and wash up for breakfast.”

As he stood up, preparing to leave, he couldn’t resist glancing at the bed again. The boy was curled up in the blanket, but had accidentally exposed half a toe, rosy and incredibly cute.

Shy? Why are even the toes red? And what about the rest of his body…?

A few seconds later, Fu Shicang retracted his hand, stiffly turning around and walking out.

My god, what’s going on here?

A few minutes later, after the door had closed, An Le Yan poked his head out from the blanket, feeling like a hot, red shrimp.

He slept in Cang Ge’s room, and it seemed he was wearing Cang Ge’s clothes. Not only was he occupying someone else’s space, but his disheveled appearance had also been caught…

He shrunk back under the covers, going into self-isolation.

Downstairs, breakfast was already set on the table, and the guests slowly started to make their way to the table, each with a look of having just woken up.

“Good morning, Brother Fu—” Bai Jingchen held back a yawn, adjusting his disheveled hair, “You’re being such a perfect host, busying around early in the morning.”

Mu Wei nodded in a daze: “I admire you. You drank quite a bit last night, but look at you, you’re the only one who seems awake and could run a marathon.”

The guests laughed weakly.

It was true. Everyone else had just been pulled out of bed by the program crew. Yin Xin sat at the table with his eyes still half-closed, while Fu Shicang, standing beside him, was full of energy, even smiling more than usual.

“Brother Fu, did you meet a fairy last night?” Anderson rubbed his head. “You know, like when someone gets drunk and sees a fairy, and the fairy gives them an elixir.”

“Did the fairy come down to Earth? Was Niulang drunk at that time?” Mu Wei wondered.

“The elixir was from the Queen Mother of the West. It was given to Hou Yi, not Niulang, right?” Yin Xin came to his senses and raised a question.

“Who told you this story? It’s all mixed up!” Nie Changxing bit into a crystal shrimp dumpling, “Wow, this dumpling is so good. Le Yan, where… eh, where’s Le Yan?”

Everyone was used to seeing him busily running around during breakfast, but suddenly, it was Fu Shicang who was busy, and An Le Yan was nowhere to be seen.

“He didn’t drink too much last night, did he?” Mu Wei frowned. “I don’t think I saw him after the second half…”

“It’s okay,” Fu Shicang called out as he served a large pot of fish porridge, “I called him earlier. He should be here soon.”

Just as he finished speaking, An Le Yan hurried in.

“Sorry, I was just chatting with the butler for a bit.” An Le Yan pulled out a chair and sat down. “You all woke up so early.”

“They were all called by Director Zhang,” Fu Shicang served a bowl of porridge in front of him. “Today is the last day of the first episode. Director Zhang wants to shoot a promotional short film. We’ll go to the amusement park before it opens to film for a bit.”

“I didn’t expect Director Zhang to be into merry-go-rounds,” Nie Changxing peeled a boiled egg. “It’s already the second day, and he hasn’t given up on getting us to ride the carousel.”

As it turned out, shooting the carousel scene did indeed turn out beautifully.

The summer morning still had a slight mist. The amusement park, unlike the previous day’s chaos, now displayed a tranquil, less familiar side.

The birds chirped sweetly, curiously watching the group of strangers entering the empty park.

Beside the carousel, there was a small children’s theater that was temporarily set up as a dressing room and makeup area. Yin Xin stood there, holding a luxurious satin evening dress with lace ribbons and looked at Director Zhang in confusion: “Why do we have to wear this?”

“We need to create some atmosphere. Anyway, no one’s watching, so we can make it feel more like a story,” Zhang Mao grinned at the guests being forced into their costumes by the makeup artist. He silently gave Fu Shicang a thumbs-up.

Today was the last day of filming for the first episode. Originally, they were supposed to film the farewell scene at the villa.

But tonight, the first episode of Delicious Relationships was going to air. Everything was prepared, but yesterday, at the amusement park, the program crew couldn’t control the leaks from the fans. Many had posted small videos online, causing a stir. Viewer anticipation had doubled.

Zhang Mao had very high standards for himself. Since expectations were so high, he wanted to deliver something better than the audience expected. The rushed ending of the amusement park event left him feeling it was lacking.

He felt like something was still missing.

Last night, unable to sleep, he was smoking outside the door when he happened to run into Fu Shicang. They had a chat.

“Want to film the carousel scene? Easy, the park is right next door. Just get in touch with the manager, and before it opens, we can shoot. Just keep the crowd under control,” Fu Shicang lit a cigarette for Zhang Mao. “But I think you’re not really considering this. You want to create more of an atmosphere, make it more memorable, and attract people who’ve already seen the park videos back in.”

After chatting with Fu Shicang, Zhang Mao became excited, and with the help of his assistant director and scriptwriters, they quickly drew up a new plan.

An hour later, the guests had finished their makeup and wardrobe and were gathering at the small theater door.

Everyone at the villa was dressed casually, with the most formal attire being worn only when going out for dinner. When they saw each other in courtly costumes, it felt quite fresh.

“Yinxin looks really good in courtly attire,” Anderson adjusted the lace trim on Yinxin’s sleeves. “Just add a color palette or something, a proper court artist.”

Nie Changxing looked at him strangely, “Anderson, who did you learn Chinese from? It sounds like half ancient, half modern?”

Anderson tapped his forehead, “Must be the textbooks. Last time, An also said my word choices weren’t quite right.”

Speaking of An Le Yan, they all looked around, but they couldn’t spot him.

“No need to look, he’s already ready,” the cameraman smiled. “Le Yan gets dressed in courtly attire so quickly. Those complicated clothes, he puts them on by himself in no time. The makeup artist said he doesn’t need much touch-up, just basic foundation, so he’s already been out for half an hour.”

“Ah, then let’s hurry and go out too.”

The guests rushed out, heading toward the nearby carousel.

The early morning’s clear sunlight painted the amusement park like a colorful oil painting.

In front of the romantic and luxurious carousel stood a figure, backlit.

The medieval tight-fitting vest accentuated his slender waist, while the wide breeches, leather boots, and lace-trimmed wide-sleeve shirt further elongated his figure, making him appear elegant and graceful.

His hair was combed back, with a small ponytail at the back of his head, tied with a delicate satin ribbon forming a small bow. An Le Yan looked like a little prince out of a fairytale, leaning against the railing, watching the carousel spin before him.

“Le Yan!” Someone called out to him, and he turned his head in response.

Against the dreamy backdrop, the young man’s smile was like a flower fresh with morning dew, refreshing and stunning. Even the luxurious, colorful carousel behind him seemed to pale in comparison in that moment.

The amusement park shoot lasted about two hours, and by the time it ended, everyone except An Le Yan and Fu Shicang was completely exhausted.

“Seriously, Director Zhang, do you think we’re all movie actors? You even want eye contact scenes… I’m just happy if I manage to have any eye contact,” Mu Wei grumbled after countless NGs, finally passing after struggling through it. He couldn’t care less about romance or elegance and simply collapsed on the grass.

Yinxin and Nie Changxing were equally exhausted.

Anderson and Bai Jingchen were slightly better off, as they were more used to being in front of the camera, but to meet Director Zhang’s requirements, they also gave it their all. By now, their minds were buzzing, their gazes vacant, no longer exuding the usual flair.

“Fu Ge is a movie actor, so that’s fine, but why is Le Yan so good at acting in these shoots?” Bai Jingchen spoke with a bit of a strange emotion, unsure whether it was jealousy or something else.

During the shoot, An Le Yan’s scenes were no fewer than his own, but they were mostly perfect in one take, looking effortless.

“He’s naturally in tune with the role and feels the atmosphere,” Director Zhang was watching the replay of the last shot with Fu Shicang. It was An Le Yan turning around, with only one word required from Director Zhang—joy.

In the shot, the young man seemed to have been awakened, slowly turning around.

His lively eyes finally returned to their usual expression, and when they met the camera, joy rose from the bottom of his eyes, like the first light of dawn, layer after layer.

The emotion gathered together and, at a certain moment, broke through the barrier, like the sun finally breaking through the clouds, lighting up the earth in an instant.

“After this variety show ends, I’m thinking of recommending Le Yan to Director Guo,” Zhang Mao watched the replay again and said to Fu Shicang, “This kid has great expressive eyes. He’s a natural for movies.”

“That depends on his own opinion,” Fu Shicang looked at An Le Yan, who was talking with Nie Changxing, “The entertainment industry is too complicated. Not everyone is willing to dive in.”

Zhang Mao shot him a sideways glance, “What, are you worried he’ll be taken advantage of?”

Fu Shicang’s gaze remained on the young man in the distance, and he said indifferently, “As long as I’m here, who would dare to take advantage of him?”

“Then what are you worried about?” Zhang Mao’s temper flared, and he teased, “Wasn’t it around this age when you started acting? When he enters the industry and puts in the effort, his achievements won’t be any less than yours.”

Fu Shicang slowly withdrew his gaze and met Zhang Mao’s eyes, “I already said, as long as I’m here, he doesn’t have to struggle so hard. Of course, if he’s willing, I’ll fully support him.”

Zhang Mao’s eyes flashed, and he suddenly grinned, pulling Fu Shicang aside, “I’ve been meaning to ask you, has your attitude towards Xiao Yan changed?”

Fu Shicang lowered his head in response.

In just two days, his feelings for An Le Yan had undergone such extreme and intense changes.

At this moment, his former mindset seemed to recede like the tide, the impression becoming blurry, leaving only the final decision as solid and firm as a rock in water.

He chuckled softly, “I’ve always had the same attitude towards him.”

On the way back to the city, An Le Yan was the first to get into the car but chose to sit in the last row.

“You guys are all exhausted, catch up on some sleep. Director Zhang said we’ll be filming another segment when we get back to the villa.”

Mu Wei, already out of complaints, got in the car and fastened his seatbelt before closing his eyes.

“The last row is too bumpy, aren’t you feeling carsick?” Fu Shicang stopped Yinxin, who was about to get into the car last, “There’s still space in the car for Director Zhang’s team, go sit there. You’ll rest better.”

Yinxin nodded and turned, Fu Shicang got in the car and noticed the four people sprawled across their seats, then sat directly next to An Le Yan.

The car rocked gently on the way back, and An Le Yan glanced at Fu Shicang.

Both of them had worked hard for two days, and at this moment, Fu Shicang’s eyes, hidden behind his glasses, revealed signs of exhaustion. He took off his glasses and gently rubbed his brow.

Before, Cang Ge often had that kind of expression.

Because the work was so mentally and physically exhausting, he would always rest whenever possible in a vehicle.

An Le Yan shifted slightly to the side, giving Fu Shicang more space to sit comfortably.

The car was silent. The four in front seemed to be asleep, and even Fu Shicang had his eyes closed. After a while, An Le Yan quietly took something small from his bag and observed it in silence.

“Wood carving? Did Uncle Fang give it to you?” came the low question from beside him.

An Le Yan looked up, “Did I disturb your sleep? I’ll put it away.”

“This thing doesn’t make any noise, how could it disturb me?” The man chuckled lightly.

His laugh was low, yet it made An Le Yan’s ears tingle. He instinctively moved away a little, almost bumping into the car window.

“Be careful,” Fu Shicang leaned back slightly, “Don’t sit so close to the window.”

An Le Yan turned and moved a bit more toward the center, his fingers still tightly clutching the wooden carving.

Fu Shicang was more interested now. “Uncle Fang’s craftsmanship is pretty good, he even won an award in his early years. Why did he give you an unfinished piece?”

The wooden carving in An Le Yan’s hand was a small chess piece, exquisitely detailed with smooth curves. However, the crown on top was only partially formed, with blurry details, seeming like it wasn’t fully carved yet.

He held the chess piece tightly in his hand, “I just like this one.”

“What’s with that expression? It’s like I’m trying to steal it from you,” Fu Shicang patted An Le Yan’s clenched fist, “Can’t I have a closer look?”

They tussled for a moment like children fighting over a toy. Just then, Anderson, with his head tilted forward, mumbled something, sounding like a blur of sleep talk. An Le Yan was startled, and reluctantly loosened his grip, handing over the chess piece.

But Fu Shicang refused to take it. Instead, he grabbed An Le Yan’s hand and brought the chess piece closer to his own face.

He adjusted his glasses slightly.

It was indeed an unfinished piece, and on the small circular base, there was a crookedly carved “Fu” character.

Fu Shicang furrowed his brows, Did I carve this?

In his hazy memory, he did indeed learn wood carving from Uncle Fang for a while. He’d made countless failed pieces, but this chess piece was one of his more successful works. However, due to his busy studies, he eventually abandoned the hobby. He hadn’t expected that An Le Yan would find it.

He changed his mind, reached out, grabbed the chess piece, and casually placed it into his pocket.

“That’s mine, give it back to me,” An Le Yan said softly.

“An Xiao Yan, this isn’t the gift the butler gave you; this is the one from my bedside drawer, right?”

Fu Shicang’s gaze flickered, and he grabbed the slender wrist of the young man. “Come on, tell me honestly, An, why do you have my stuff?”