With a swiftness that caught everyone off guard, Shen Xingsui rushed over and covered a box, exclaiming, "Teacher Fu!"

Fu Jinxe was startled by his dramatic action.

Catching his breath, Shen Xingsui said, "I'll handle it."

Fu Jinxiao raised an eyebrow in surprise, teasingly commenting, "What's in that suitcase of yours? A bomb?"

"No..."

A hint of blush appeared on Shen Xingsui's face. He struggled with how to explain that his suitcase contained someone else's albums and memorabilia. After all, it sounded a bit... obsessive, didn't it?

"I can handle it myself," Shen Xingsui said, holding the suitcase defensively. But when he met Fu Jinxiao's deep, penetrating gaze, he became even more nervous and stuttered, "It's not fitting for someone like you to be handling such menial tasks."

Fu Jinxiao looked amused, as if purposely teasing him, "Every now and then, it wouldn't hurt."

Shen Xingsui faltered, thinking, 'Why is he being so playful?' He clutched the suitcase and responded nervously, "No, that's alright..."

Seeing his anxious demeanor, Fu Jinxiao finally chuckled lightly and released his grip, saying, "Just kidding."

Shen Xingsui was taken aback.

"You've been out for quite a while. At least call home and let them know," Fu Jinxiao suggested as he moved towards the exit, "I invited you, so I'll call your mother."

He didn't even ask for an explanation.

He just found a valid and logical reason and left. The ever-perceptive Fu Jinxiao wouldn't make things awkward.

However, Shen Xingsui hesitated, feeling that Fu Jinxiao was a tad displeased. As they passed each other, he called out nervously, "Mr. Fu, I..."

Fu Jinxiao paused. When he wasn't smiling, he exuded an aura of cold intensity. Looking down at Shen Xingsui, his voice softened slightly, filled with a magnetic gentleness, "Relax, Xingsui."

Shen Xingsui stiffened. It seemed to be the first time Fu Jinxiao had addressed him so casually. Looking up, he met the man's deep, impenetrable gaze.

Fu Jinxiao stared intently back at him, "We're equals. I respect your wishes."

The tension in Shen Xingsui's heart seemed to dissipate instantly.

It felt as though, in many ways, the person who understood and reassured him the most was this man, who he had always deemed unreachable. Even when they met face-to-face, and he got to know more about him...

Shen Xingsui smiled faintly.

His admiration for Fu Jinxiao only grew.

Setting his phone aside, Fu Jinxiao instructed, "Go ahead. Your friend Wang is waiting for you."

Shen Xingsui nodded.

The call had ended, but Wang Meican was still waiting for a response. Shen Xingsui crouched down to open his suitcase, which he had bought for a mere 50 yuan back when he was broke. He needed it for gifts when he went to participate in the "Starlight" show, and couldn't afford anything better.

"Strange, why won't this latch open?"

Shen Xingsui realized that this cheap suitcase might've been damaged during transportation, making the latch jammed and unmovable.

"No way..." Shen Xingsui sounded almost desperate. "I can't get this open. Do I have to pry it? I don’t even know how to pick locks."

Wait.

There was someone who could.

Shen Xingsui recalled that during a show, the renowned actor Fu had skillfully picked a lock using a wire from a toy. It was impressive.

But...

Seriously? Shen Xingsui covered his face with both hands, flushed with embarrassment. He had just refused Fu’s help, and now, he might need to shamelessly ask for assistance again.

When Fu Jinxiao returned, he saw Shen Xingsui squatting beside his luggage, seemingly contemplating life's mysteries.

Fu Jinxiao poured a glass of water and casually inquired, "Have you sent it to Sister Wang yet?"

"No..." Shen Xingsui's face grew redder as he spoke. "I can’t open the suitcase."

Fu Jinxiao looked surprised, "What?"

Feeling utterly embarrassed, Shen Xingsui blurted out, "For some reason, the button's stuck, and I can't open it. I'll deal with it when I get home tomorrow."

Fu Jinxiao paused for a moment, staring at the red-faced figure under the light, and then chuckled.

This kid was truly amusing.

While he hadn't been entirely indifferent about the suitcase situation earlier, realizing he might still be an outsider to Shen Xingsui did bother him. But now, watching the flustered young man, all those slight annoyances faded away.

Placing the glass back on the table, Fu Jinxiao asked leisurely, "What are you planning to do when you get home?"

Caught off guard, Shen Xingsui hesitated, "Smash it? Break it open?"

"Hmm?" Fu Jinxiao responded without mercy, "That lock is button-operated. It’s not as easy to break as other locks. Even if you could, how do you know you won't damage the contents inside?"

Shen Xingsui froze in alarm.

The suitcase contained his treasured belongings, items he cherished deeply. The thought of damaging a disc or something else inside was unbearable.

Panicking, Shen Xingsui stammered, "So, what should I do?"

Fu Jinxiao, reclining lazily on the sofa, replied calmly, "I’ve learned a thing or two about locks before. Perhaps I could give it a try..."

Shen Xingsui's face lit up with gratitude, "I would be so grateful!"

A hint of amusement flashed in Fu Jinxiao's eyes, resembling a hunter who had cleverly set up a trap, watching his prey walk right into it, all while the unsuspecting prey remained deeply grateful.

...

After examining the suitcase for a moment, what seemed an insurmountable challenge for Shen Xingsui turned out to be child's play for Fu Jinxiao. With nimble fingers, Fu tinkered for a bit, and with a satisfying "click," the suitcase opened.

Shen Xingsui exclaimed in delight, "It's really open!"

Fu Jinxiao remarked, "The lock's core was just aged, that's all."

As the suitcase slowly opened, revealing just a tiny slit, Shen Xingsui belatedly realized and rushed over, hugging it tight as if fearing someone might glimpse its contents. He stammered in gratitude, "Thank you, thank you so much."

In Fu Jinxe's hands, the suitcase had indeed shown a gap. Overwhelmed with anxiety and afterthought, Shen's eyes were glued to Fu Jinxe.

Fu Jinxe was half-crouched on the floor. The cold living room light cast shadows on him, his expression obscured.

Unease gnawed at Shen Xingsui.

quite a while

Finally, Fu Jinxe looked up, his face inscrutable. Shen Xingsui, for all his intuition, couldn’t read him. With a slight smile, Fu remarked, "Is it that precious?"

Shen Xingsui hesitated, "I... you..."

Fu Jinxe languidly replied, "Fine. If it's that treasured, take good care of it."

For some reason, hearing the words "take care" from Fu felt different, making Shen's ears burn.

Fu Jinxe, however, seemed more at ease. "I spoke with your mother earlier. She initially planned to send the driver for you, but since you're here with me, she told him to head home."

Shen Xingsui exclaimed, "Huh?"

His mother always had a way of surprising him.

The idea of staying in his idol's home was both shocking and thrilling. Fu Jinxe led him to the guest room, "This was originally my study. I’ll be in the room next door. Let me know if you need anything."

Shen Xingsui obediently nodded, "Okay."

After sending Fu off, Shen finally felt at ease and turned to inspect his suitcase. Inside were several music manuscripts, handwritten and precious to him. After some searching, he found the one that Jian Zhi had stolen.

Shen Xingsui photographed the manuscript and sent it to Wang Meican.

Wang Meican, who had been waiting, immediately replied, "Great job. I'll contact our experts to compare this with Jian Zhi's version. It's not the best time to clarify things. I heard Jian Zhi's studio is planning something. We'll wait and strike when the time is right."

Shen Xingsui responded, "I'll follow your lead."

After settling in, he began working on the music piece he had to submit in five days.

This piece was crucial to Shen Xingsui. He was already a day behind because of Jian Zhi's antics. Over the next four days, he had to give it his all. The room, once a study, had a desk nearby with pen and paper. Shen took a sheet and began sketching the outline of his composition.

He had a bad habit. When engrossed, he'd lose track of time, often working until the early hours. That night, he fell asleep past dawn.

"..."

Damn.

Waking up, Shen checked his phone and realized it was already 9 AM, surprised that Fu hadn't woken him up.

He quickly got out of bed and opened the door to find breakfast on the dining table. Beside it was a note from Fu Jinxe, saying he had left for a schedule but reminded Shen to have breakfast before leaving.

Shen Xingsui felt a pang of embarrassment.

It was his first overnight stay at his idol's place, and to his mortification, he overslept and didn't even get to see him in the morning!

However, as he glanced around the room, a sense of astonishment struck him. Did Fu Jinxiao really trust him that much? Leaving behind what seemed like a stranger in his home? Everyone knew Fu Jinxiao was a private person. Were there any valuables in the house? Could he genuinely trust him?

Though the trust seemed implausible, when it became reality, a ripple of joy swelled in his heart.

The feeling of being trusted was immensely gratifying.

...

Shen Xingsui quickly finished his breakfast, cleaned the dishes, and even went so far as to clean the living room and kitchen. He returned to the study, straightened out the bedding, and ensured everything was pristine before leaving. He was intent on leaving a good impression on his idol.

Leaving Fu Jinxiao's residence, Shen Xingsui first returned to his home to drop off his luggage. Some of his albums and photos were damaged, so he decided to buy new frames at a nearby mall while donning a hat to stay inconspicuous.

The mall was busy, but in the hustle and bustle, not many paid attention to him.

He quickly chose appropriate frames and proceeded to the cashier, where an elderly woman was taking an unusually long time.

The cashier said, "Ma'am, you owe an additional five dollars for this bag of potatoes."

The elderly woman seemed flustered, “Can I wait for my grandson? He'll be here shortly to pay.”

The cashier offered an apologetic smile, “I'm sorry, but we have a line here. You could come back and queue later.”

The elderly woman hesitated, clearly at a loss.

Stepping forward, Shen Xingsui said, "It's alright. I'll cover it for her."

The elderly woman, with gratitude evident in her eyes, said, "Thank you, young man. I'll repay you shortly."

Shen Xingsui smiled, "It's no big deal, really."

After paying, as he was about to leave, the elderly woman stopped him, "Young man, please wait. My grandson will be here any moment."

Shen Xingsui tried to politely refuse, "It's okay, ma'am. There's really no need..."

In the midst of their discussion, a young man approached.

A young man with a buzz-cut, wearing a grey down jacket, said, "Grandma, I'm back from the restroom. Have you finished shopping? Let's go..."

His words trailed off as his gaze met Shen Xingsui's.

Recognizing the newcomer, Shen Xingsui offered a gentle smile, "Hello."

The young man hesitated, "Is that... Xingsui?"

Shen Xingsui nodded, slightly surprised he was remembered, "It's me. It's been a long time."

"I didn't expect to see you here. I'm Zhang Chi. Remember me? I just returned from overseas. I saw you on TV. You're a celebrity now! Your songs are amazing..."

Shen Xingsui smiled appreciatively, "Thank you."

Zhang Chi was an old middle school friend, once one of his closest buddies.

Later, An Ran joined the class. Everyone loved the kind and gentle An Ran and disliked Shen Xingsui, who had poor grades and often misbehaved. Influenced by An Ran, many distanced themselves from Shen Xingsui, including Zhang Chi. They isolated him.

The elderly woman nearby remarked, “Thanks to this young man, he paid for my potatoes.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chi chuckled, “Thank you, Xingsui. Let me repay you.”

“No need, it was a small gesture,” Shen Xingsui dismissed gently, advising, “In the future, try to stay close to the elderly when shopping.”

Zhang Chi felt a touch of guilt, responding, “I will.”

Zhang Chi always felt an inexplicable guilt towards Shen Xingsui.

The feeling was indescribable, and back then, since everyone else disliked him, Zhang Chi followed the crowd to avoid being ostracized.

In reality, Shen Xingsui never wronged him, yet when Shen Xingsui needed someone, Zhang Chi chose to look out for himself.

Shen Xingsui said, “I should go now.”

Watching Shen Xingsui's retreating figure, Zhang Chi called out instinctively, “Xingsui!”

Shen Xingsui turned around.

“I mean… We are old classmates. Maybe we can catch up sometime?” Zhang Chi's voice wavered slightly, “It’s been many years after all…”

Shen Xingsui gave a gentle laugh. His bright eyes sparkled, leaving Zhang Chi momentarily entranced.

However, Shen Xingsui remarked, “Is there a point?”

Brought back to the moment, Zhang Chi felt a heaviness in his heart.

“I guess even after all these years, no one would want to catch up with me,” Shen Xingsui commented softly, downplaying the pain from their past, “No one ever considered me a friend anyway.”

Trying to alleviate the tension, Zhang Chi uttered, “That’s not true…”

Shen Xingsui interjected, “It doesn't matter anymore.”

Zhang Chi was taken aback.

“It's in the past,” Shen Xingsui waved slightly from a distance, “I don’t dwell on it anymore.”

The man in front of him smiled freely, his eyes devoid of any past resentments. But Zhang Chi couldn’t help but recall an afternoon years ago when Shen Xingsui had come to him, only to be cruelly avoided. Their eyes had locked, filled with hurt, for what felt like an eternity.

That afternoon, and many times since, even after graduation, haunted Zhang Chi's dreams, causing him to wake up in distress.

Back then, it was Shen Xingsui's silhouette that watched Zhang Chi leave; now, roles reversed, Zhang Chi watched as Shen Xingsui walked away without looking back, his strides firm and unwavering.

...

the next day

While in his car, Fu Jinxiao received an email.

It was from music producer Zhang Jiang, asking him to listen to some newly-composed tracks and seeking his opinion on them.

Wang Mei Can remarked, "How many versions have we gone through and yet none seem satisfactory?"

Fu Jin Xiao replied softly, "There are many talented composers, but few who resonate with me. One can easily discern compositions made without heart. My standards aren't high; it's just that few meet them."

Wang Mei Can was speechless: "..."

"You always have a point."

Zhang Jiang also sent him a WeChat message: "Choose one from these three songs. I bet you'll pick one today."

Disliking Zhang Jiang's arrogant tone, Fu Jin Xiao scoffed and sent an annoyed emoji before even listening, aiming to deflate his inflated confidence.

He started by listening to the first two songs.

They had melancholic melodies and showed the composer's detailed thought, but something seemed amiss.

By the third song, Fu Jin Xiao's expectations were low. With a mindset of simply passing time, he played it. As the melody unfolded, the casual look on his face suddenly transformed into one of deep concentration.

Wang Mei Can noticed and asked in surprise, "What happened?"

After listening to most of it, Fu Jin Xiao messaged Zhang Jiang even before the song ended, "Who's the composer?"

Zhang Jiang replied triumphantly, "Are you satisfied now? I knew you'd choose this. He's always been to your taste, right? I saw how you wanted him to be the composer but didn't have the nerve to ask, so I did it for you. Happy?"

With a knowing smile, Fu Jin Xiao responded, "How did you know it was him?"

"Do I really need to guess?" Zhang Jiang shot back, "The way you light up around him is as evident as a blooming ancient tree. Your feelings are clear as day!"

Fu Jin Xiao was left speechless: "..."

Just as he was about to engage further with Zhang Jiang, he received a notification from Weibo. Jian Zhi, silent for over ten days, finally made his move.

During this period, Jian Zhi had been on edge, fearing Shen Xing Sui might reveal evidence against him which could tarnish his reputation among fans. As the days went by and Shen Xing Sui remained patient, Jian Zhi's anxiety grew. He was not one to be passive, so after much consideration, he made a statement.

Jian Zhi's Weibo post read, "Regarding the song plagiarism accusations, my younger 'brother' Shen Xing Sui claimed the song was his original work. I refuted because the lyrics were my team's creation. However, I would like to clarify: the controversial chorus was indeed composed by Shen Xing Sui. He gifted it to me for my birthday with permission to use. I'm unsure why he recently accused me of plagiarism, but I'm willing to reconcile and even pull the song from platforms if need be."

He also shared an old birthday card from Shen Xing Sui which indeed mentioned gifting him a song.

This post immediately became a hot topic:

"Wow, so that's the truth."

"So you did copy, didn't you?"

"Is it really copying if Shen Xing Sui gifted it to him?"

"Shen Xing Sui is so manipulative!"

"I'm disgusted."

Jian Zhi's move was indeed a masterstroke.

He suspected that Shen Xingsui had the original manuscript, so he preemptively admitted to taking it. However, he then presented evidence accusing Shen Xingsui of plagiarizing him. In doing so, he positioned himself on moral high ground, allowing himself to act without restraint.

After reading it, Wang Meican cursed, "This Jian Zhi is utterly shameless."

Fu Jinxiao scoffed.

Wang Meican sighed and said, "If that were the case, Xingsui would surely know he took it, and he wouldn't accuse him of plagiarism. Therefore, the claim of 'gifting' lacks factual basis. We just need to focus on this to counter-attack. We have the original manuscript, and we can also challenge his audacious claim that he was the original creator."

Fu Jinxiao's expression grew serious. "Let's head back to the company."

Wang Meican nodded, "If they've declared war, we have no reason to back down."

Shen Xingsui also saw the news right away and was astonished by Jian Zhi's brazenness. Anger and urgency filled him as public sentiment seemed to lean towards Jian Zhi, accusing the true creator of betrayal. This was the exact scenario Jian Zhi wanted.

Just then, a post from an ordinary user soared to the top within a mere ten minutes.

That Weibo user's name was: Zhang ChihaveDu (张弛有度).

He posted after Jian Zhi's lengthy article, and it seemed he had deliberated deeply before stepping forward: "Hello everyone, I'm a junior high schoolmate of Shen Xingsui. I recently returned to the country and missed a lot of what had happened. I've caught up over the last few days and deeply regret not speaking up sooner. Fortunately, it seems I'm not too late."

"I was his classmate and one of his good friends in junior high."

"Back then, Shen Xingsui's brother Jian Zhi was already a somewhat famous singer. I knew that Xingsui had written a song for Jian Zhi and had planned to gift him the song on his birthday. We, his friends, were fortunate to attend that birthday party. I can attest, the score was never given."

"Jian Zhi wasn't kind to Xingsui."

"They were on the balcony that day. My friends and I hid and eavesdropped. Jian Zhi discarded the score on Xingsui, denouncing it as trash and nonsense. He forbade Xingsui from ever writing for him again. That night, Xingsui cried. We got him some cake and even took a photo."

Below the post, there was an old, slightly yellowed photo. In the center stood a teary-eyed boy— a young and slightly rebellious-looking Shen Xingsui, with a cool smirk, his eyes still shining brightly.

The post ended with a contemplative statement.

"I debated for a long time about speaking up. I'm a coward, often choosing silence to avoid conflict. But I've realized that no pain can compare to the guilt of long-term silence. Jian Zhi owes him an apology, and so do I."

This post skyrocketed to the trending list within ten minutes.

It even surpassed Jian Zhi's post, becoming the most discussed topic online—the juiciest story of the latter half of the year.

As netizens expressed their shock, Shen Xingsui's Weibo also updated. This time, he posted comparison shots of the musical scores and explained the circumstances of retrieving the manuscript from the Jian family. He emphasized that if they hadn't gotten the original, Jian Zhi would never have released his statement. Then he played parts of a recording from the Jian house:

"How does your score become yours? You've lived off our family for years; everything belongs to us."

"Why should I apologize?"

"If anything, I was overestimating you!"

These derogatory remarks shocked the public, shattering Jian Zhi's long-held image of a gentle big brother.

At the same time, under Wang Meican's arrangement, many more music creators spoke out today: [The continuation is not provided.]

#JianZhiBuysOriginalSongsAtLowPricesForSelfUseWithSecretThreats#

#JianZhiBeingArrogantAndBullyingNewcomersWithoutFame#

#JianZhiPlagiarizedOriginalsFromFolkSingers#

One after another, the top trending topics shook everyone's values. The netizens went crazy:

"Is this for real?"

"I feel like I'm gorging on endless gossips today."

"Jian Zhi, this disgusting ghost."

"Ban him, the infamous artist. Oh my god!"

Meanwhile, Fu JinXiao's official account posted an update, revealing the teaser for a new album. The highlight, drawing everyone's attention, was the credit line in the middle.

Composer: Shen XingSui

Arranger: Shen XingSui

Lyrics: Fu JinXiao

This announcement immediately sent the netizens into frenzy:

"Wow, recognized by Master Fu!"

"The world's two-line love letters all bear the same name."

"My two favorites are collaborating!"

"XingSui's originality got Master Fu's endorsement!"

"Hahaha, take that, plagiarist! How do you like that?"

Unlike before, after the incident with Jian Zhi, Shen XingSui received wholehearted support from the netizens. His Weibo was inundated with comments, especially about the original drafts.

Among the drafts Shen XingSui exposed, one had previously been sent to Fu JinXiao. Making it public now made him nervous, given all the crazy fan things he'd done on his anonymous account—like posting adoring comments on nearly every single one of Fu JinXiao's posts. Particularly during hard times, he loved sending long messages to Fu JinXiao.

They were mostly ramblings.

But he wrote so many of them. Over the years, he watched Fu JinXiao grow, and each day he'd share tidbits of his own life, as though Fu JinXiao was also witnessing his own growth. Since Fu JinXiao never responded, he figured he probably never saw them. After all, who would remember drafts from so many years ago?

With that thought, he switched back to his anonymous account.

However, the long inactive account now showed notifications. Even before checking, his heart raced.

Shen XingSui's hand trembled. It was just one notification, but it made him so nervous he could barely breathe. When he accessed the homepage, the nickname "Fu JinXiao's Official Wife" was still displayed. The 'new follower' notification flashed in red. He hadn't posted in so long; who would follow him?

Clinging to a glimmer of hope, he clicked to check.

A newfound friend.

In the past week, you gained a follower: Fu Jinxiao V.

Shen Xingsui's eyes widened as if he was about to catch fire. His heart raced, almost leaping from his throat. Doubting the reality of it all, he checked the notification, only to see that a mega-account with billions of followers had followed him, causing him to break down.