It was Su Pu’s first trip abroad, his first international flight, and he was flying first class.
After boarding, a flight attendant asked for their meal preferences and then placed a heart-shaped sticker on the headrest next to Su Pu.
Su Pu stared, puzzled.
Li Jichuan leaned close and explained, “This marks you as a ‘Beloved Passenger.’ Anyone with this sticker gets extra attention from the crew.”
Hearing this, Su Pu’s eyes lit up.
Such a wonderful thing existed?!
His cheeks flushed red. The little mute felt a bit embarrassed.
Why was he being named a “Beloved Passenger” upon boarding? Was it because he was cute, or because he had been genuinely polite and cooperative with every ground staff member, efficiently separating items for security checks, and tidying up trays afterward?
While he pondered, the attendant returned with their drinks.
Li Jichuan ordered red wine; Su Pu chose soda water.
The attendant also gave Su Pu two snack packs—not Li Jichuan’s. Only he received them.
Su Pu lifted his chin slightly, mischievously glancing at Li Jichuan, a hint of teasing in his eyes.
But as this was his husband, he couldn’t hog the snacks, so he generously shared a pack with Li Jichuan, gesturing playfully—no thanks needed.
Li Jichuan suppressed a smile, gratefully accepted a snack, and fed a piece to the little mute.
“Eat more, silly.”
With no table space for snacks near his computer and phone, the flight attendant had placed them on Su Pu’s small tray—clearly, this could be interpreted positively.
The power of belief was strong.
After takeoff, Li Jichuan busied himself with work while Su Pu enjoyed a parade of meals served by the attendant, devouring everything with an impressive appetite.
After all, this was what a “Beloved Passenger” was supposed to do!
Watching Su Pu happily overindulge, Li Jichuan finally intervened.
“Sorry, his stomach is sensitive. Too much food now will keep him from sleeping well tonight,” he explained politely to the attendant bringing rib-eye steak.
The attendant nodded. “Understood, Mr. Li.”
Then she looked at Su Pu. “If you need anything else, just press the call button.”
Su Pu obediently smiled at her.
Once she left, he finally relaxed, succumbing to slight food-induced drowsiness. His eyelids fluttered.
Li Jichuan adjusted his seat, allowing him to lie flat. “Go ahead, sleep well,” he said.
Feeling guilty that his husband was working while he slept, Su Pu got up, retrieving some low-sugar, low-calorie snacks from his small backpack, and handed them to Li Jichuan.
Li Jichuan looked at the packaging. “Did you buy all this?”
Su Pu nodded. It was his first time abroad, with little experience.
He had intended to buy some items for himself in case of jet lag, but as he shopped, the cart became filled with things he thought Li Jichuan would like.
The little mute couldn’t help it—he liked this person very, very much and wanted him to be happy.
Li Jichuan accepted the snacks, helped Su Pu lie back down, working with one hand while the other rested lightly on his stomach, gently patting him to sleep.
Under such tender care, Su Pu soon fell asleep, waking only at Heathrow to the arrival announcement.
Li Jichuan had efficiently packed up their belongings and observed him.
If he hadn’t woken, he wouldn’t have minded carrying him off the plane.
Su Pu groggily got up, stomach still full, straightened his clothes, and checked that the heart sticker was still there.
It was!
Relieved, he folded his blanket, adjusted his seat, and tidied the area.
Li Jichuan waited, suppressing a smile.
Finally ready to disembark, Su Pu noticed a heart sticker on Li Jichuan’s seat headrest too.
Looking ahead, he saw that another passenger in the front rows, with a bandaged arm, also had a heart sticker.
Su Pu’s face lit up with joy.
So, he wasn’t the only “Beloved Passenger” after all! Cheerfully, he stepped off the plane.
Li Jichuan followed behind, each day loving him a little more than the last.
Arriving at the hotel, Su Pu immediately changed into light spring clothes. London was slightly cooler than Yun City.
A sweatshirt with light blue jeans—loose, comfortable, youthful, like a freshman.
“Yo, Xiao Pu, heading out?”
Li Jichuan’s face was calm, but inside he was panicking.
Su Pu’s outfit wasn’t unusual, but in a new place, attention would naturally gravitate toward him.
With London’s more open social culture, many people might try to approach Su Pu!
The little mute remained blissfully unaware, smiling and nodding at him. He pulled a long list from his backpack—all the cafés he wanted to visit.
Their own café, designed with Pei Zhicheng, had just been finalized, and Pei was busy with renovations, while Su Pu planned to use this time to hone his skills.
Fortunately, Li Jichuan had already made preparations.
Ding-dong—
Someone rang the doorbell.
Su Pu opened the door to find a fragrant, attractive young woman greeting him warmly.
“Hi, you must be Lee’s wife, right?”
Su Pu blinked in confusion.
“Mei, come on in!” Li Jichuan called from inside.
Sister?
Su Pu instantly went on high alert, pouting as he led her into the suite’s living area.
Li Jichuan looked at Su Pu’s startled expression and felt a brief thrill.
But the matter still needed to be clarified—Su Pu tended to overthink things.
“This is Mei—her English name. She doesn’t like the English name her grandfather gave her—it’s too childish—so she forced us to call her Mei.”
Mei crossed her arms, slightly exasperated. “Do you have to go into such detail…”
Then she looked at Su Pu. “My English name is Melody. It happens to be the same as a cartoon bunny, so all my life I’ve been getting these overly cute pink gifts. Honestly, I can’t really accept it…”
Melody… My Melody?
Looking at Mei herself—dressed all in black, makeup bold and daring—it made sense why she couldn’t tolerate anything too saccharine…
But she was undeniably beautiful.
Li Jichuan glanced at Su Pu and continued, “We were college classmates. Mei stayed here to pursue her PhD and got married last year.”
Su Pu nodded, finally feeling reassured.
Mei shot Li Jichuan a mocking look, silently thinking, So you have your day too.
He pretended not to notice and continued explaining to Su Pu, “In the next couple of days, Mei will show you around. She and her wife both live in London and know quite a few good local cafés that only insiders would know.”
Mei nodded and draped an arm over Su Pu’s shoulders. “Stop listening to him ramble. If he goes on, it’ll be dark before he shuts up. Come on, I’ll take you out.”
Su Pu just had time to nod before she pulled him away, leaving a surprised look for Li Jichuan.
Li Jichuan’s voice followed them out the door, an instinctive reminder:
“Mei, be nice to him. Don’t push him into anything.”
Mei tilted her lips and gave him the middle finger. “Shut up.”
Privately, Mei was much gentler. She looked over Su Pu’s list of places to visit, pinned them on a map app, and immediately plotted a route.
Her vehicle was a tall, rugged SUV, and she explained, “My wife is Icelandic. This car goes with us to Iceland every year. Even though we go annually, it still feels incredible.”
Su Pu listened, fascinated by her descriptions of the foreign land and scenery, feeling envious.
After spending the afternoon together, Mei’s chatter opened fully. She confessed that outside of being classmates, she and Li Jichuan first met through their parents arranging a matchmaking dinner.
“Lee was literally dragged there by two men, pinned to a chair for dinner with me. I thought, wow, this guy is so stubborn, refusing to yield.”
“Luckily, on the first meeting, we were honest about our orientations, and he finally felt at ease talking to me. When Lee talks about his family, he always seems helpless.”
Li Peirong’s management style was tight and suffocating. Compared to worrying about breaking up after arguments, Li Jichuan feared that his family might split them apart.
Love should be about the two people involved—anything else would be unfair. So Li Jichuan preferred not starting a relationship rather than delaying anyone’s happiness.
“One day, Lee suddenly called to tell me he was marrying the one he liked. I was completely shocked!”
Mei shrugged with some regret. “But then the old man passed away, delaying your wedding.”
Su Pu listened quietly, then typed: “Before grandpa passed, he apologized to Mr. Li. He recognized his mistakes.”
Mei glanced at him, surprised. “Really? I thought that grandfather and grandson would be at odds forever!”
Su Pu smiled. “Grandpa passed peacefully.”
As Mei continued driving, she noticed something unusual. Su Pu’s behavior didn’t quite match what Li Jichuan had described.
After a pause, she carefully asked, “Xiao Pu, what about you? How’s your relationship with your family? I heard your mother passed away…”
Su Pu typed away: “My mother passed. My father and my half-brother on my father’s side are still alive.”
Mei slowed the car, heart racing.
“And now? How is your relationship with them?”
Su Pu lowered his eyes. After a moment, he held up his phone: “Now, I’ve decided to forget them.”