The day was bright, the sun full and warm, and the countryside sparsely populated. The pond water glimmered green and clear.
On one side, a few meters apart, Fang Dinghao was holding his rod, eyes on the float. On the other side, Lu Chen and He Xiaoyuan had their rods on the stand. He Xiaoyuan sat on a small stool, Lu Chen perched on a large rock by the riverbank, texting back and forth.
Lu Chen: “How do you want to approach this?”
He Xiaoyuan: “No idea for now.”
He Xiaoyuan: “But I guess he won’t want some stranger suddenly coming over to chat and disturb his fishing.”
Lu Chen: “A lot of people probably approached him while he was fishing before.”
Lu Chen: “Yang Yun did the same.”
He Xiaoyuan: “I know.”
He Xiaoyuan: “So let’s just wait and see.”
After the conversation, He Xiaoyuan put away his phone. Just then, the float twitched. Lu Chen got up to grab the rod and, sure enough, another fish was hooked.
He Xiaoyuan followed, helping remove the fish from the hook and placing it into the riverside basket. He smiled, beginning to appreciate a bit of the fun in fishing. “This is actually pretty fun.”
Lu Chen baited another hook and cast it back into the water. “Remember, I took you fishing during New Year too. Another time, I’ll take you sea fishing—that’s even more fun.”
He Xiaoyuan glanced toward Fang Dinghao’s side of the pond, then leaned close to Lu Chen. “I’ll stay here. You go ahead and do your thing.”
Lu Chen stood, steadying the rod: “No rush.”
He Xiaoyuan, curious: “Aren’t you busy today?”
Lu Chen looked around: “It’s rare to have a weekday to spend with you.”
He Xiaoyuan smirked, realizing: He’s not free, he’s just taking the chance to have a date.
“I’m working,” He Xiaoyuan reminded him.
Lu Chen replied calmly: “I’m not stopping you. You work, I fish.”
Really.
He Xiaoyuan nudged Lu Chen’s arm.
Lu Chen turned to him, lifting his free arm to pull him into a hug.
Suddenly, the float dipped again. “Got one! Got one!” He Xiaoyuan said, lifting the rod—a fish was on.
He laughed: “Am I just lucky, or is fishing really this easy?”
Nearby, Fang Dinghao, still holding his rod steady, heard this and silently rolled his eyes. Only a pure beginner could say something like that.
He wondered why the fish kept going to the neighboring rods instead of his. Was the bait gone? He lifted his rod to check—no, the bait was still there. No fish were biting.
Fang Dinghao: “…What, did the fish switch to dog food today?”
Annoyed, he glanced around. But seeing the warm sun overhead, he closed his eyes, inhaled deeply, and felt his mood lift—day 712 of not working, and life was good!
Across the pond, Lu Chen had He Xiaoyuan watch the rods while he went back to the car. When he returned, he carried a small table, boxes of fruits and snacks, a few bottles of different drinks, and even a large umbrella for shade.
He Xiaoyuan was surprised. Lu Chen had come prepared—was this a pre-planned outing or just a casual picnic?
Lu Chen set up the umbrella just so, letting some sun touch He Xiaoyuan but not too much. He arranged the table, opened the snack boxes, and handed each of them a wireless earbud to listen to music on their phones. Finally, he put on sunglasses.
With everything ready, it looked like a full-on relaxation setup.
Fang Dinghao hadn’t seen all this, but the umbrella and movement nearby made it hard not to notice. Seeing two people, with food, drinks, and company, he nearly snapped his rod again.
Why not just throw a party on this tiny pond?!
Lu Chen was feeding He Xiaoyuan, giving a chip here, a piece of fruit there.
Fang Dinghao: …
He was floored.
After two hours, Fang Dinghao caught four fish in total, packed up, and left. His car was parked across the pond, separate from Lu Chen and He Xiaoyuan. As he loaded his gear, he glanced sideways and caught a glimpse of Lu Chen leaning over the young handsome man under the umbrella, pressing a kiss to his lips.
Fang Dinghao nearly lost it.
He realized that he had been completely unnecessary just now, his presence only hindering their display of affection.
He slammed the trunk shut: Hopefully they’re not here to spy on me.
Hopefully he never finds out which company these two belong to!
By the pond, Lu Chen tilted He Xiaoyuan’s chin, planting a few more kisses. He Xiaoyuan looked toward the other side, where the white car had disappeared, and said: “He’s gone.”
Lu Chen followed his gaze, remarking: “Amateur.”
He Xiaoyuan raised an eyebrow.
Lu Chen: “I mean in fishing.”
He Xiaoyuan pondered, then went back to thinking about how to approach the tech genius nearby, while Lu Chen stroked the top of his head, down the back, to the nape of his neck, covering it with the palm of his hand and giving a gentle squeeze.
He Xiaoyuan pulled his thoughts back, shrinking his neck in mock annoyance. “You didn’t come to teach me fishing—you came to ‘cause trouble.’”
Lu Chen chuckled, still holding the back of his neck, leaning close to He Xiaoyuan’s face. “How am I causing trouble?”
He Xiaoyuan pouted, “Abusing company time—today you’re skipping work.”
Lu Chen drew him closer into his arms, lowering his head to press a kiss to He Xiaoyuan’s lips. “I’m using it for your benefit, too.”
The rods on the stand wiggled. “Fish! Fish!” He Xiaoyuan shouted.
Lu Chen released him and went for the rod while He Xiaoyuan scrambled free, leaping onto Lu Chen’s back as if punishing him. Lu Chen held one rod in one hand and reached back with the other. This time, he called out: “Fish!”
“I’m your fish!” He Xiaoyuan tightened his embrace around Lu Chen’s neck.
Lu Chen murmured sweetly, “The fish is a fish, but you’re my treasure.”
He Xiaoyuan laughed. “Cheesy!”
On the drive back, Lu Chen followed in the car behind. He Xiaoyuan, driving, reflected: just observing the situation today confirmed what Yang Yun had said—Fang Dinghao cared only about fishing and nothing else.
If he tried to strike up a conversation under the pretense of fishing…
He Xiaoyuan: Not going to work.
As Lu Chen said, plenty of people had likely tried that method before.
He Xiaoyuan’s mind cleared: the approach had to be reversed—he needed to find a way for Fang Dinghao to initiate conversation.
What method could he use?
Since fishing ended earlier than expected, He Xiaoyuan didn’t leave work immediately. He returned to the office—not out of business, but because he was preoccupied with the Fang Dinghao “case” and wanted to stay on top of it.
At his workstation, Qin Chengfei happened to be there. He Xiaoyuan casually asked how to get someone’s attention.
Qin Chengfei looked up from his files. “With your looks? You already draw attention.”
He Xiaoyuan pressed on: “But how do I make them start talking to me?”
Qin Chengfei leaned closer, speaking in a low voice: “Make them curious about you.”
Curious…
He Xiaoyuan: “Any examples?”
Qin Chengfei turned slightly, lowering his voice: “Like how I’ve always been curious where you found such a big boyfriend.”
A spark of inspiration hit He Xiaoyuan, but he missed catching it in the moment.
Qin Chengfei was waiting for a response. He Xiaoyuan, realizing, blinked and said, “Why do you care?”
Qin Chengfei shrugged. “Gossip, it’s a human trait.”
Ding!
He Xiaoyuan finally caught that fleeting spark of inspiration.
Right! Gossip! Everyone loves gossip!
That evening, Lu Chen came to He Xiaoyuan’s apartment. He Xiaoyuan deliberately held Lu Chen’s face, planting a kiss on the left cheek, then the right. “Boyfriend, will you go fishing with me again tomorrow?”
Lu Chen looked at him slowly, expression soft, then immediately said, “Sure.”
The next day, Fang Dinghao had another “chance encounter” with He Xiaoyuan and Lu Chen.
Why “chance encounter”? Because Fang Dinghao had changed ponds entirely—not the same as yesterday. The location was far away, chosen at random, parking wherever seemed convenient.
Even with the word “coincidence,” Fang Dinghao could barely believe it.
He turned to check the car behind him, wondering if it had a tracker. He scanned the surroundings, suspecting he was being followed.
This was insane.
Now he was 100% sure—they were deliberately here for him.
Facing the small river, he exhaled slowly: which company are these people from? Persistent like a stubborn plaster—so annoying.
Never mind, fishing.
A few meters away, the other two had set up their gear, bait prepared. Lu Chen stood by the water, rod in hand, legs stretched long, poised.
After a moment, He Xiaoyuan looped his arms around Lu Chen from behind, resting his chin on Lu Chen’s shoulder.
Lu Chen tilted his head: “Hmm?”
He Xiaoyuan whispered in his ear: “It’s fine, you fish.”
Lu Chen, lightly laughing: “Such a clingy little cat today.”
“Mm.” He Xiaoyuan replied.
After a moment, he leaned closer, whispering: “If I say something that surprises you later, don’t react. I’ll explain after.”
Huh?
Nearby, Fang Dinghao: Here we go again—those two can’t separate, like conjoined twins.
Fang Dinghao: I’m blind!
The day was sunny and warm.
Each side of the river, fishing quietly, not interfering.
Fang Dinghao: Not coming over? Let’s see how long you can hold out.
He Xiaoyuan, still holding Lu Chen from behind, whispered: “I’m starting now.”
Fang Dinghao: Hmph, when these two come over to find him, he’ll…
Suddenly, a loud voice rang out from next door:
“Your family disagrees, and you keep stalling me! Isn’t my youth my youth?!”
“How much longer do I have to wait!”
Fang Dinghao froze, rod in hand. At the same time, his ears perked and his body subtly leaned toward the source of the shouting, trying to eavesdrop. Whoa! Gossip!
Nearby, Lu Chen, yelled at twice, muttered: “…”
This was completely unexpected.
Too unexpected.
His wrist trembled slightly as he held the rod, turning slowly, only keeping his facial expression under control out of habit: ?
He Xiaoyuan winked repeatedly at him, continuing the act—letting go of Lu Chen, stepping back two paces, mock-pained expression, pointing: “Go away! I don’t want to see you now!”
Fang Dinghao: Holy shit!
Lu Chen: “……”
Lu Chen really was Lu Chen. The moment he caught He Xiaoyuan’s frantic blinking, he understood. After his boyfriend finished yelling another line, Lu Chen set the fishing rod back onto the rod rest, spread his arms, and reached out toward the young man. He raised his voice just enough to make sure the person next door could hear clearly.
“Baby, listen to me. It’s not what you think.”
Fang Dinghao: Holy shit!
As Lu Chen pulled him into an embrace, he lowered his voice and spoke quickly. “What kind of act is this?”
He Xiaoyuan muttered back in a low voice, “Love that can’t be fulfilled. Romeo and Juliet.”
As he spoke, he began struggling.
Lu Chen put on a posture of refusing to let him go, holding him tighter. “Thanks for not giving me an extra wife.”
He Xiaoyuan shot back, “That’s crossing the line.”
One struggling, one insisting on holding on, the two went back and forth. Fang Dinghao had already turned his entire head to stare openly.
“Let go of me!” He Xiaoyuan shouted.
“Baby, listen to me!” Lu Chen said.
Fang Dinghao, eyes wide: Holy shit!
Lu Chen cupped He Xiaoyuan’s face. “You have to believe me. I’ll fight for us with my parents.”
“You won’t!” He Xiaoyuan snapped. “I even told you to secretly go home and take the household registration booklet, and you still wouldn’t!”
Fang Dinghao: Holy shit!
The two of them went through several more rounds of hugging and resisting. Finally, Lu Chen put on an angry expression, grabbed his jacket, and strode off. He Xiaoyuan picked up the bag of ground bait and hurled it at his retreating back.
“Take your three-thousand-yuan-a-pound bait with you! I don’t want it!”
Fang Dinghao: Nice throw!
Then, a beat later: Holy shit—what kind of bait costs three thousand a pound? No wonder the fish aren’t coming to my side!
He Xiaoyuan angrily kicked at Lu Chen’s back, then turned around, went back to the riverbank, and kicked again, sending pebbles splashing into the water.
Fang Dinghao: Wait, let him think this through. These two are together, but their families don’t approve? The younger one told the taller one to steal the household registration booklet…
He Xiaoyuan looked furious on the surface, but thought to himself: Is this enough?
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Fang Dinghao glance his way, then quickly look away.
That should do it, He Xiaoyuan thought.
He pulled out his phone and added another dose—pretending to send a voice message, he shouted at his phone, “If you can’t do it, then break up! Don’t waste each other’s time!”
At that exact moment, Lu Chen strode back quickly, tossed his jacket straight onto the ground, and in a few long steps reached He Xiaoyuan by the river. He grabbed his arm, turned him around, and pulled him into a tight embrace.
Fang Dinghao: Holy shit!
With his head buried in Lu Chen’s chest, He Xiaoyuan whispered, “Why are you back?”
Lu Chen held him firmly, one hand still cupping the back of his head. Without moving his lips, he murmured, “The plot needs twists and turns to be engaging.”
Blocked from Fang Dinghao’s view, He Xiaoyuan quietly raised his hand and gave a thumbs-up.
Lu Chen said, “Pretend to cry.”
He Xiaoyuan immediately started sobbing. “Go! Why won’t you leave? Didn’t you say you were leaving?!”
Not far away, Fang Dinghao held his fishing rod, body facing the river, but his neck and head had long since twisted completely toward them.
This drama looked amazing.
What company are these two from?