Chà Chà Novel

Su Nuo sat up and reached for Fu Baihan’s arm, signaling him to hand over the phone.

He’d assumed it was just his manager checking in or reminding him about work, so he hadn’t minded Fu Baihan answering. But as soon as he heard Su Yujin’s name, he knew trouble had arrived.

Fu Baihan held the kid’s hand to stop him from fidgeting. His expression was still gentle, but to Chen Wenyu, his voice sounded unusually stern. “What opportunities did he take? Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

Chen Wenyu cleared his throat. “Everything we let him find out was fake. It didn’t affect Nuonuo’s work schedule, except for this audition.”

Tattling to the parent was effective, sure, but he couldn’t go running to him over every little thing. That would make their team look useless.

What if President Fu got fed up one day and disbanded them all, sending them home to farm?

Sure enough, Fu Baihan’s tone eased at that, though he spoke to the young master. “Sweetie, do you want this role?”

That was the domineering CEO way: no need to ask whose production it was, no need to think about who’d been cast. If the young master wanted it, he’d get it.

Chen Wenyu felt great. When you were the one with connections, nobody disliked having that kind of backing.

Su Nuo took the phone, got the full story from Chen Wenyu, and shook his head. “If they’ve cast Su Yujin, then I’ll pass.” They hadn’t signed anything, so withdrawing wouldn’t count as breaking a contract.

“We could keep pushing for it,” Chen Wenyu urged.

“No need,” Su Nuo said. “Brother Chen, let’s look through some other scripts.”

He was firm, so Chen Wenyu didn’t press further. “Okay.”

Su Nuo knew very well there was something uncanny about Su Yujin. Things that clearly defied logic, Su Yujin could force into happening, like this casting. Even with Director Zhao Chengye’s strict standards, he’d managed to slip in.

If Su Nuo himself could be reborn, then some supernatural forces in this world weren’t so surprising.

Su Nuo was deep in thought, wondering what power Su Yujin had to pull this off. But to Fu Baihan, his silence looked like the kid was dejected, bullied and backing down.

“Sweetie, since when are you so easygoing?” Fu Baihan pressed his palm to Su Nuo’s cheek, his voice slightly hoarse.

Su Nuo stretched out his arms and was pulled into a hug. He huffed. “I just can’t be bothered wasting time on him.”

He loved the role, but missing it didn’t mean there’d be no other chances. He’d always believed in his acting. Now that he was reborn and no one was holding him down, he could do perfectly well on his own.

“Besides… Su Yujin will learn what he shouldn’t touch.” Su Nuo yawned lazily. “Ge, stop scaring my manager all the time. He’s trying really hard.”

“Little brat.” Fu Baihan kissed the tip of his ear. “Ungrateful.”

“Say that again and I really will make you sleep outside.” Su Nuo blinked at him mischievously.

Fu Baihan could never stay mad at him. In the end, all he said was, “If you can’t handle it, tell me.”

Their kid didn’t need to be afraid of anyone. In a place like show business, nobody was allowed to bully him.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Su Nuo nodded without any real attention. “Go change already, your buttons are digging into me.”

Fu Baihan: “……”

More and more spoiled.

Su Nuo buried himself in Fu Baihan’s arms and asked quietly, “Ge, are you still mad?”

“I’m not mad at you.” Fu Baihan patted the kid’s back.

“Are you busy tomorrow?” Su Nuo had heard his secretary call to confirm his schedule and wondered if he’d have time for him.

“I have a meeting. Want to come?” Fu Baihan asked.

“What would I do there… I’ll wait in your office. Tomorrow you have to help me with my homework.” Su Nuo wrapped his legs around him.

He’d missed the registration window for electives and ended up stuck with Economics Research, which had nothing to do with his major. Only later did he realize it was a brilliant choice.

If only his brother could take the exam for him. He’d definitely get full marks.

“Then what do I get in return?” Fu Baihan chuckled. “Having me ghostwrite is very expensive.”

Su Nuo blushed. “Kisses aren’t enough?”

“Sweetie, the course is advanced level.” Fu Baihan stroked his waist suggestively. “What’s a kept lover supposed to do, hm?”

“Perv.” Su Nuo kicked him. “I’m still little!”

“Where are you little?” Fu Baihan teased.

The kid bit him with a growl. Fu Baihan held him tighter. “All right, go to sleep.”

With skin that thin, it only made him want to tease him more, to see him red-eyed and breathless.

Fu Baihan’s meeting started early, so he woke the kid early. Su Nuo was dragged out of bed, changed in a daze, washed his face, went downstairs for breakfast, and fell asleep against him again the moment they got in the car.

Fu Baihan sighed. Work really wasn’t something his little treasure was cut out for. Earning money to support the family, he’d better leave that to himself.

Fu Mingyuan had considered grooming Su Nuo for the company. Though he had an outstanding son holding up the board of directors, he wasn’t stingy about letting Su Nuo into the center of power.

But faced with his dear old father’s high regard, Su Nuo begged to be spared.

If I ran the company, the Fu Group could go from richest family in the country to bankrupt.

Once the old man understood how the kid really felt, he had to let the idea go.

That’s fine. The eldest son could keep working for many more years. He could handle it.

Fu Baihan, who shouldered the whole family’s burden: “……”

The young master had come to the office, and the entire secretarial pool was overjoyed.

Ever since Su Nuo got busy with school and his various shoots, they’d seen him less and less. When the young master wasn’t around, President Fu was a cold, merciless work machine, and they didn’t dare make a single mistake. But whenever the young master was there, President Fu became a warm, doting big brother with eyes only for him, and was much more lenient with them.

After being lovingly fussed over by the secretary sisters, with snacks piled in front of him, Su Nuo had the sudden illusion that he was a toddler dropped off at daycare.

It had to be an illusion!

Switching to his alt account to browse Weibo while waiting for Fu Baihan to finish, Su Nuo curled up comfortably on the sofa.

Nobody could imagine the joy of slacking off in the CEO’s office.

“Hello?” When Xi Zhou called, Su Nuo was a little surprised. “Shouldn’t it be nighttime where you are?”

Xi Zhou leaned toward the camera. “I’m coming back tomorrow. Kiddo, come pick me up at the airport?”

Su Nuo propped his chin and shook his head. “Nope. I’m not going to be a third wheel.”

“Xuanxuan went to Europe. I’m coming back alone.” Xi Zhou grinned. “Does the big star have time in his schedule?”

Su Nuo laughed along. “I’m very busy.”

“I heard the Su family’s adopted son stole your magazine cover shoot?” Xi Zhou sounded exasperated. “If Xuanxuan hadn’t mentioned it, I wouldn’t even have known. Kiddo, you really can’t keep letting this slide.”

“Ugh, what are you calling me?” Su Nuo glared at him. “Who’s your kiddo? Want me to have your dad come have a word with you?”

“It’s because Xuanxuan joined your fan club! Seriously, she’s so busy voting on charts for you she doesn’t even have time to go on dates with me. She’s your mom fan, so shouldn’t I get bumped up a generation too?” Xi Zhou joked.

“Hold on, my brother’s coming right now,” Su Nuo threatened.

“Stop! I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” Xi Zhou begged for mercy. Who wasn’t afraid of Fu Baihan?

“What time should I pick you up tomorrow?” Su Nuo asked. Bickering aside, he was still going to pick him up.

“Three in the afternoon.” Xi Zhou turned serious. “When I’m back, I’ll shoot you a new cover.”

“Okay, you shoot it.” Su Nuo nodded. “From now on I’ll appoint you as my personal photographer.”

When Fu Baihan came back from his meeting, Su Nuo was still on a video call with Xi Zhou. They’d gone from classes to what they’d eaten the past few days to their game ranks, chatting away happily.

Fu Baihan lowered his eyes to sign some documents. After listening for a while, his grip tightened on his pen.

Why did he have so much to talk about with Xi Zhou?

He went out, poured a cup of coffee, and came back to find the kid still hadn’t so much as glanced at him and was excitedly telling Xi Zhou where he’d take him to eat. Fu Baihan went over and pinched the kid’s cheek.

Su Nuo’s attention snapped back. “Ge?”

When Fu Baihan appeared on screen, Xi Zhou didn’t dare pretend not to see him and greeted him properly. “Ge.”

Calling you “Ge” so you’ll look out for me out there.

Big Brother’s response: Get lost. Especially, get away from my little brother.

“Want some coffee?” Fu Baihan dismissed Xi Zhou and looked down at Su Nuo.

Su Nuo sensed something right away. “Mm, thanks, Ge~” He hung up on Xi Zhou and pouted. “Xi Zhou’s so annoying. Whenever Sis Xuanxuan isn’t around, he won’t stop yapping.”

Good thing Xi Zhou couldn’t hear that, or he’d probably have burst out of the screen to punch him.

So I’m just a tool, huh?

“He’s coming back?” Fu Baihan asked.

“Yeah. I’m picking him up tomorrow. There might be a class reunion.” Su Nuo watched Fu Baihan’s face and decided his brother was a jealous jar of vinegar.

Ge, get a grip. Xi Zhou has a girlfriend. Can’t I even hang out with him?!

“I’ll drive you,” Fu Baihan said, ruffling his hair.

“No need. He’s not important enough for you to come too.” Su Nuo flattered him expertly. “Ge, don’t worry about him.”

Seeing his eager little suck-up act, Fu Baihan laughed, the ice on his face melting away. “Sweetie, what are you afraid of?”

“Afraid you’ll be unhappy.” Su Nuo stood up and kissed his cheek. “Ge, can I go out and have fun?”

“Of course you can,” Fu Baihan said firmly. “You can do whatever you want.”

Su Nuo thought he was starting to resemble a henpecked husband.

It wasn’t that Fu Baihan saw Xi Zhou as a threat. Hearing the kid chat so animatedly with Xi Zhou made him wonder whether he himself was usually too boring. There was a natural age gap between them, after all. He worried Su Nuo was only enjoying the novelty, and once they were together he’d find Fu Baihan wasn’t as wonderful as he’d imagined.

Before, he’d been his all-powerful big brother. But now, he was just an ordinary man who wanted to love him until they grew old.