Chà Chà Novel

Following the kid out the door, Fu Baihan looked down at him. “…Sweetie?”

Su Nuo let go of his arm and patted his chest. “They were so annoying.” Then he got smug again. “The struggles of being too charming!”

“So you’re using me as a shield?” Fu Baihan pressed his tongue against the roof of his mouth, unhappy for no clear reason.

It wasn’t that he thought the kid had gone too far. He just suddenly felt a pang of loss that his kid had reached the age of exploring romance.

He’d grown up. He wasn’t the little treasure Fu Baihan kept at home anymore. Someday he’d start a family with someone else, leave him, and treat him with polite distance.

Was this what empty-nest syndrome felt like?

“Brother, it’s just pretend for a little bit.” Su Nuo blinked. “Don’t be so stingy.”

“Who’s stingy?” Fu Baihan couldn’t help laughing.

“Then why are you pulling such a grumpy face?” Su Nuo put his hands on his hips. “You’re obviously the one getting the good end of the deal!”

Fu Baihan looked at him. “What good end?”

Su Nuo pointed at himself. “Look. Such a young, talented, charming guy, and you got him without even having to chase him.” He coughed twice. “Even if it’s only temporary.”

He didn’t need to stress the “young” part quite so much… Fu Baihan patted his hair. “Fine. It’s an honor to be your shield.”

Su Nuo lifted his chin. “It is.”

He thought it was a great idea. Remembering how ugly Chu Boyan’s face had looked just now felt amazing.

Hitting on me? As if you’re good enough.

Chu Boyan had all the traits of a main male lead, and confidence was a big part of that. Even though he felt guilty toward Su Nuo and regretted what he’d done, he still believed that if they met again, winning Su Nuo over would be a piece of cake.

In reality, what he thought was Su Nuo’s deep devotion was just Su Nuo coming to his senses after an impulsive start cooled off. He had liked him, sure, but there was never anything soul-deep about it.

If Su Nuo had truly been devoted, Chu Boyan would never have had the chance to go see Su Yujin. When Su Nuo liked someone, he was very clingy.

Su Nuo letting Chu Boyan do whatever he wanted was because he was figuring out his own feelings and looking for the right moment to break up.

But him wanting to break up was one thing. Chu Boyan cheating was something else entirely.

If you liked Su Yujin, why didn’t you do something about it earlier?

You were promised to Su Yujin since childhood for over ten years, officially engaged for three, cold and uninterested the whole time. And the moment you became my boyfriend, suddenly Su Yujin looked appealing? That feeling of being made a fool of infuriated Su Nuo.

Even though he knew now that it wasn’t really Chu Boyan making a fool of him. It was fate.

But he didn’t care. These were the people who actually hurt him. Why should he graciously forgive them just because of some plot setup? His family wasn’t running a home for saints.

Besides, even if Su Yujin was the real culprit, Su Nuo would still hold it against all of them.

Feeling something warm against his face, Su Nuo snapped out of his memories and stared at the coffee in Fu Baihan’s hand, confused. “Brother, when did you buy that?”

“While you were sitting here spacing out like a dummy.” Fu Baihan put the coffee in his hand. “So busy acting you can’t remember anything else.”

“So was my acting good?” Su Nuo didn’t hold back. He took a sip and fished for a compliment.

“Mm. A certified drama queen.” Fu Baihan’s smile was full of teasing.

No wonder the kid chose film school and wanted to act. Look how he could slip into a role at a moment’s notice. This path suited him perfectly.

Su Nuo mumbled, “You’ve changed. You just got me and you already don’t appreciate me.”

Fu Baihan: “…?”

Give him an inch and he takes a mile. Fu Baihan seriously wondered if he needed to put some limits on the kid’s habit of breaking into dramatic performances at any moment.

Back at the hotel, Fu Baihan packed their things. “Where do you want to go camping tomorrow?”

Su Nuo, gaming nearby, looked up. “What camping?”

Fu Baihan put down what he was holding. “At the café, didn’t you say you wanted to go camping?”

Su Nuo remembered and laughed. “I just said that. Brother, let’s go back to the slopes tomorrow?”

Fu Baihan came over, took his phone, leaned down, and pinched his cheek. “There’s no ‘just saying’ with me. We’re going camping tomorrow.”

“Huh?” Su Nuo looked up, stunned.

Was his brother going through some kind of midlife crisis?

Not daring to provoke his unpredictable brother any further, Su Nuo nodded obediently. “I really, really want to go camping.”

Mean brother.

“Good boy.” Fu Baihan was satisfied, and ignored the look on the kid’s face that clearly said he was cursing him under his breath.

Whenever Fu Baihan went abroad before, he always had secretaries and assistants with him. Traveling like this with no work at all, just taking the kid to enjoy himself, had never happened before.

It was relaxing, sure. But since his kid never sat still, Fu Baihan had to keep an even closer eye on him.

Back when the kid first started showing signs of rebellion, Fu Baihan had thought about leaving him alone for a while to figure things out on his own. But later he found he couldn’t do it. He wasn’t the kind of parent who could properly guide a kid to grow up.

He’d rather Su Nuo stay childish and innocent and clingy.

Now the kid had changed. He wasn’t in a hurry to grow up and leave anymore. He was even willing to follow Fu Baihan around all day, and didn’t push back or defy him when he was told what to do.

Sure, he yelled at Fu Baihan more openly and jumped up to hit him, but in Fu Baihan’s eyes, that was no different from being cuddly.

He didn’t know what had caused this change, but he loved spending time with his little brother like this.

So Fu Baihan really didn’t want the little brother who’d just gotten close to him again to turn around and fall in love with some other man.

Thinking about Su Nuo’s age, Fu Baihan felt a sense of crisis.

His Nuonuo had gotten a whole drawer full of love letters at fifteen. Now that he was growing out of his awkward teenage phase, it’d only be worse.

That evening, Su Nuo and Fu Baihan went to a local bar to soak up the atmosphere. They’d come all this way. They couldn’t just stay in the hotel.

“Star-ge would love this place.” Su Nuo looked around at all the exotic beauties and thought this was Ji Xinghui’s paradise.

He could probably flirt with five people in one night!

“Why bring him up?” Fu Baihan looked at Su Nuo. In the dim light, his expression was cool. He’d traded his usual suit for a more casual shirt and trousers with the sleeves rolled up, looking both buttoned-up and dangerously attractive.

Su Nuo couldn’t help comparing. If Fu Baihan wanted to, he’d definitely be way more popular than Ji Xinghui.

All he had to do was show a little gentleness, and no one could resist him.

My brother’s so good. In this life, I’m definitely setting my standards right. Stay away from scumbags, stay away from Su Yujin’s curse.

“Don’t pick up any bad habits from him, got it?” Fu Baihan told Su Nuo. He really didn’t trust Ji Xinghui’s morals.

After all, Ji Xinghui didn’t have any.

Su Nuo looked away. “I know…”

During the day at the ski slope, lots of people had hit on Su Nuo, but Fu Baihan’s murderous aura beside him kept anyone from staring too long. Now, sitting in a bar, countless eyes were lingering on them.

Beautiful women swayed over to invite Fu Baihan to spend the night with them. Su Nuo was shocked at how bold and open they were, while Fu Baihan sent all these admirers away with a single sentence: “Sorry, I like men.”

The beauties left looking disappointed. Su Nuo tugged at the hem of his shirt. “Brother, wanna bet a guy’s going to come hit on you next?”

Fu Baihan: “Don’t I already have someone?”

Su Nuo said boldly, “That was the daytime script. If you want me to perform at night, that costs extra!”

“Raising your price on the spot?” Fu Baihan raised an eyebrow. “But all my cards are already in your hands, sweetie.”

The tips of Su Nuo’s ears turned red. “Liar! I only have one secondary card!”

In this kind of atmosphere, everything sounded like flirting. Especially from someone as proper as Fu Baihan suddenly using that slightly playful tone. The contrast made it even more charming.

“That’s the only one worth anything,” Fu Baihan said with a smile. “I gave it all to you and you’re still not satisfied?”

“Okay, okay, okay, I’ll do it as a favor.” Su Nuo was still innocent after all, with no real romantic experience. He felt like he’d just been flirted with and couldn’t even look at him.

I thought my brother was a decent man!

But I forgot, how could a decent man be friends with Ji Xinghui… I’ve been fooled. A big bad wolf in sheep’s clothing!

Su Nuo had guessed right. Lots of people eager to approach Fu Baihan were watching. A few beautiful women had gone first, and they’d come back with the news that he liked men, which instantly got a different crowd excited.

These days, a good top was really hard to find.

In short, they wanted to sleep with him.

The first to boldly try his luck was a man who looked like a polished professional. In a place like this, his unbuttoned collar had a particularly seductive air.

“Are you free tonight?” His eyes were full of hooks as he gazed at Fu Baihan with longing.

Su Nuo sighed. Time to get to work.

He and Fu Baihan had been sitting very close, but Fu Baihan had blocked him from view, so he hadn’t drawn much attention. Now he leaned in and spoke in their language. “Not tonight. Not any night. He’s mine.”

The man looked a little surprised to see him. He glanced at Fu Baihan, but still couldn’t resist and didn’t want to give up. He licked his lips. “Are you sure? I promise I’m better than him.” He pointed at Su Nuo.

Su Nuo: “???”

What makes you so sure?! If you want to flirt, fine, but don’t put me down to do it! Besides, he already said he’s taken and you’re still trying. Do you have zero professional ethics?

Su Nuo finally understood just how in demand Fu Baihan was.

And Fu Baihan seemed to want to watch him perform, lounging there lazily like he wasn’t the one being invited and fought over.

Su Nuo puffed out his cheeks. “Whether you’re better or not, he only likes me.”

Fu Baihan stroked his hair like he was soothing a kitten.

Su Nuo huffed. “Stay away from him.”

The man was very disappointed. “You really won’t consider it? I’m open to a threesome too…”

Su Nuo: “Brother!”

What nonsense is he saying!

If you don’t turn him down right now, I’m throwing out this script!

Seeing the kid on the verge of a meltdown, Fu Baihan held back a laugh, pulled him into his arms, and turned a cold look on the man. “Didn’t you hear what my darling said