Three days after the final exams was the regional finals of "Super New Voice." The program team specifically notified all contestants to arrive at the studio by 10 AM that day for preparations.
Qiu Qiu had rested well the night before and was in high spirits. On the morning of the competition, he crawled out of his tent at six o'clock. Before his feet even touched the floor, however, a pair of large hands reached from behind, wrapped around his slender waist, and effortlessly dragged him back onto the bed.
Losing his balance, Qiu Qiu let out an "aiya" and fell against his godfather's chest. With one hand pressing against the small of his back and the other shaking open the thin blanket, Fu Ruien pulled the dazed Qiu Qiu under the covers with him into the same bed.
The air conditioner was on in the room, making it quite chilly, but under the thin blanket was the warmth of Fu Ruien's body, carrying the scent of a mature man's hormones.
Qiu Qiu's heart raced uncontrollably for a few seconds. Squirming a bit, he turned around in his godfather's arms to face Fu Ruien's chest. A soft chuckle came from above his head. Too embarrassed to look up, Qiu Qiu buried his blushing face firmly into his godfather's embrace.
Fu Ruien gently patted his back, soothing him as if he were a little child. It was as if they carried opposite magnetic poles, tightly clinging together.
As the saying goes, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and grand ambitions... begin with going back to sleep.
While mentally scolding himself for his lack of willpower, Qiu Qiu breathed in the scent from the side of Fu Ruien's neck and drifted back into a deep sleep.
...When he woke again, daylight filled the room.
The clock showed it was already nine. Qiu Qiu scrambled out of bed in a panic, flailing about on the large mattress for a while before finding his way off.
Fortunately, breakfast had been prepared the night before. Clutching a sandwich in his hand and holding a bag of milk in his mouth, Qiu Qiu rushed out in a groggy state. Only when he reached the elevator did he remember he'd forgotten his guitar, so he hurriedly dashed back.
He had only taken two steps back when—"thump"—he collided with Fu Ruien's chest.
Fu Ruien, who was holding his guitar for him, steadied himself. Seeing Qiu Qiu's forehead already red from the bump, he said with concern, "Don't rush. I'll drive you there."
Qiu Qiu shook his head in refusal. "No, no, it's morning rush hour. The streets downstairs are jammed solid. The subway will be faster."
Fu Ruien reached out and touched his nose. "You underestimate your godfather too much. Do you think I only know how to drive a car?"
"Wow—" Qiu Qiu exclaimed, scenes from Hollywood blockbusters flooding his mind. "Is there a helipad on the rooftop? Are we flying there by helicopter?"
He began to worry. He was just participating in a competition; wouldn't this be too flashy?
"...You're overthinking it. There's a motorcycle in the garage downstairs."
Fu Ruien didn't drive often, usually traveling discreetly in a business car. But in truth, he privately loved collecting luxury vehicles. Even the motorcycle he only rode two or three times a year was top-of-the-line—heavy-bodied yet not clumsy, with a black finish accented by silver flecks, full of wildness and dynamic energy.
Qiu Qiu had never ridden on the back of someone else's vehicle before.
Fu Ruien asked, "Didn't your dad give you rides on his bike when you were little?"
"He did, but I was only four or five then, and I always sat on the front bar."
Fu Ruien laughed. "Alright then, next time godfather will buy a bicycle and let you sit on the crossbar too."
Qiu Qiu took it as a joke. He was twenty-one now; adults didn't have the same soft, pudgy little bottoms as kids. Sitting on a crossbar would hurt his butt.
He put on the helmet and carefully climbed onto the motorcycle's rear seat. Fu Ruien twisted the throttle, the engine roared like thunder, and they galloped out of the garage like a wild horse.
The powerful acceleration startled Qiu Qiu. He quickly leaned forward, pressing himself tightly against Fu Ruien's back, his hands firmly gripping the clothes at Fu Ruien's sides.
The agile motorcycle swiftly weaved through the traffic, leaving dust and noise behind.
Fu Ruien's body shielded Qiu Qiu from the wind. Safely tucked in his little space, Qiu Qiu felt like a chick sheltered under its parent's wing. He rested his head against Fu Ruien's back. Inside the enclosed helmet, all noise seemed to gradually fade away. When he closed his eyes, only the sound of his own heartbeat in his chest was clearly audible.
It was as if a melody began to play in his mind, growing from distant to near, from faint to deep. Notes flowed through his heart. Qiu Qiu gathered these fleeting sparks of inspiration, repeatedly refining them in his mind, gathering each leaf and petal until, unconsciously, he had composed another song.
When Fu Ruien's motorcycle stopped, Qiu Qiu was still immersed in the musical atmosphere.
Fu Ruien actually really wanted Qiu Qiu to hold onto him a while longer and didn't mind the sideways glances they might get at the TV station entrance. Unfortunately, the program team's designated meeting time was approaching, so Fu Ruien could only gently nudged him to wake him up.
Only then did Qiu Qiu realize they had arrived at their destination. Flustered and embarrassed, he jumped off the bike, bid a reluctant farewell to Fu Ruien with his guitar on his back, and headed inside.
Previously, the assistant director had mentioned that the sponsors from Enrui Group would come to watch the finals. Qiu Qiu had mistakenly thought it would be his godfather coming. It wasn't until the rehearsal day that he learned it would be a team responsible for the investment. Of course, considering Fu Ruien's status, it would be beneath him to attend a mere regional final.
Just the thought that his godfather wouldn't be there to watch him compete made Qiu Qiu feel somewhat listless.
“Sing well,” Fu Ruien said, noticing his low spirits, squeezing his fingertips as he promised, “If you win, godfather will give you a reward.”
"What reward?"
"Haven't decided yet. But Qiu Qiu can think about what wish you have. Godfather can fulfill it."
Qiu Qiu immediately raised his hand. "I want to move the tent..."
Fu Ruien cut him off directly. "Change your wish. That one's not allowed."
"Then, don't give me massages at night..."
"Change your wish. That one's not allowed either."
Qiu Qiu felt extremely wronged. Godfather was such a big liar, going back on his word and breaking his promises.
They couldn't linger too long at the TV station entrance. After giving a few more detailed reminders, Fu Ruien rode off on his motorcycle. Qiu Qiu waited until even the motorcycle's exhaust fumes were out of sight before walking into the TV station, looking back over his shoulder every few steps.
Who would have thought that as soon as he entered the lobby, he would run right into acquaintances—Da Xiong and Little Li.
This time, the two were wearing matching pink fan support shirts. The design printed on their chests was no longer Qiu Qiu's ID photo but an adorable and playful chibi-style cartoon, clearly drawn in Da Xiong's signature style. They were carrying several cardboard boxes filled with light boards, fans, and wristbands. With just one glance, Qiu Qiu felt almost blinded by the pink.
Da Xiong greeted him warmly. "Qiu, was it our dad who brought you again?"
"...That's my godfather..."
“Same family, no need to be polite.”
Beside him, Little Li widened her big eyes, suddenly threw the things in her hands to the ground, and tears instantly flooded down her face. Yet even while crying so dramatically, her eyeliner remained perfectly in place.
Qiu Qiu hadn't seen this ex-girlfriend of his for many days and had almost forgotten how dramatic she could be. She could cry on command; while others were still brewing their emotions, her mind had already played out a whole scene of life and death separation.
Qiu Qiu had somehow touched a nerve in her sentimental heart again, and he cautiously asked her what was wrong.
Little Li said bitterly, "Qiu Qiu, it's been so long since we last met. How did you even change your sexual orientation?"
Qiu Qiu's face flushed red as he stammered, "My godfather and I have a pure father-son relationship."
"You can only fool a straight guy like Da Xiong with that line."
Da Xiong hurriedly chimed in, "I wasn't fooled. That vice president obviously wants to sleep with him. He's the only one who doesn't realize it."
...Actually, Qiu Qiu knew too...
But knowing was one thing; whether he could leave was another story altogether.
