This might be the first time Fu Jin Xiao felt a hint of vulnerability in front of his beloved.

But, after all, the great actor remained composed, even in this situation. Though slightly uncertain inside, he maintained a calm exterior, laughing gently, "Well, what I mean is, don't compare yourself to me."

Shen Xing Sui, slightly exasperated, responded, "You..."

Fu Jin Xiao took out a keychain from his pocket. It featured a chibi cartoon figure resembling Shen Xing Sui— an adorable black-haired figure, holding a pen, poised to write with a cute musical note beside. It swayed endearingly with the chain's movement.

Shen Xing Sui, surprised, asked, "Is this...me?"

Fu Jin Xiao nodded.

Only then did Shen Xing Sui realize that Fu Jin Xiao might have been collecting these figurines of him. Somewhat bemused yet curious, he asked, "Have you truly collected them all?"

Fu Jin Xiao nodded again.

Shen Xing Sui, caught between amusement and mild exasperation, mumbled, "I'm right here, why collect so many?"

The surroundings were bustling and lively.

People occasionally brushed past them— there were children's playful noises, and the cacophony of decorated carts. The evening twilight bathed the duo, and Fu Jin Xiao, with a slight curve of his lips, bent down to whisper in Shen Xing Sui's ear, "I find them adorable."

A simple phrase left Shen Xingsui stunned. As if fireworks were bursting within his heart, illuminating it with brilliance. His earlobes turned pink, and a giddiness washed over him. His cheeks flushed, all because of that one sentence.

After that, he didn't pursue it further, dutifully following Fu Jinxiao like a devoted spouse.

The viewers were left in agony:

"What did he say?"

"Ah, Shen Xingsui looks so happy, and we're left in suspense!"

"That's not fair!"

"I'm so curious now!"

The show concluded that evening. Though the guests faced initial hiccups, they managed to obtain invitations to the Fairy Tale Kingdom ball.

The next day, the director led them to board a ferry.

"The island we're headed to boasts the most exquisite scenery around, often referred to as the Fairy Tale Island. It's a place where princes and princesses declared their love. At the highest point of the island stands a palace, which hosts a grand fairy tale banquet annually. All the fairies and elves attend. And at dusk, the first couple to arrive there will be blessed with happiness."

Everyone gasped, "How romantic!"

After numerous challenges, the director surprised everyone with this touch of romance at the end of the season.

"Though each of you has an invitation, the Fairy Tale Kingdom is now under threat. The minions of the Dark Lord, who also have invites, aim to disrupt the ball. To prevent this, you must unlock the Moonlight Box before dusk. This will bar them from the palace!"

Shen Xingchen asked, "Where's this box?"

Glad he'd asked the crucial question, the director replied, "The box is in the castle. The medals you all hold are the keys. There are eight in total, and you need them all."

So the medals they won at the amusement park were for unlocking this box today.

"That sounds easy," Wen Shengge remarked. "We just need to get to the castle before dusk, right?"

Everyone nodded in agreement.

But, knowing the show, it was never going to be that simple.

"The journey to the box is perilous. The Dark Lord's minions are on the hunt for those with the medals, aiming to claim the box for themselves. Also, there's a traitor among you. To ensure the medals' safety, I suggest you split up," the director said, his face grave.

Shen Xingchen exclaimed, "A traitor?!"

Teacher Tuya laughed, "I thought they'd skip that twist this season. Looks like we can't avoid it."

"Why, in three seasons, have I never been chosen as the traitor?" Shen Xingchen, feigning outrage, pointed at himself, "Director, you all really lack vision!"

Everyone burst into laughter, thoroughly amused.

Perhaps because it's the final season, the idea of a traitor wasn't as tense. Everyone seemed more engrossed and devoted to each game, perhaps due to an unspoken sense of nostalgia.

After announcing the start of the game, the director's team kindly handed over a map: "There are four open paths here. You can form four groups and ascend the mountain separately."

The guests gathered to discuss, "Given the circumstances that we don't know who the traitor is, and we're also unaware of any methods the dark lord's minions might employ to seize the medals, we should proceed as follows: we all carry medals, right? After each segment of the path, we should rendezvous at the midway station. If anyone's medal goes missing, their companion is likely compromised."

Everyone agreed.

Only Fu Jinxiao smirked, leisurely asking, "What if his partner is already dead and is merely pretending to have the medal to deceive us?"

The group fell silent.

Fu, the mastermind, always managed to pinpoint the crux of the matter.

Shen Xingsui commented, "There will be discrepancies. If the medals are forcibly taken, there'll be noticeable differences."

"I concur," Teacher Li nodded, "For now, let's stick to this plan and draw lots for groups."

The draw paired Shen Xingsui with Li Xu'an, Fu Jinxiao with Feng Fan, Shen Xingchen with Xu Qinkè, Teacher Tuya with Wen Shengge, and Ning Ze with Teacher Li.

Li Xu'an approached with a handshake and a smile, "Looking forward to working with you."

Shen Xingsui reciprocated.

As they walked together, Li Xu'an casually asked, "Who do you suspect might be the mole?"

"I have no idea," Shen Xingsui sighed, "Everyone's an actor. Their performances are impeccable. The past two times, I couldn't guess until the very end."

Li Xu'an grinned, "I think this time, the production team might choose someone entirely unexpected."

Shen Xingsui glanced at him, "Who do you suspect?"

"I'm not sure," Li Xu'an shrugged, "There's not enough evidence to theorize yet."

All Shen Xingsui could do was smile helplessly.

As they ventured forth, they soon encountered a group of elderly women in peculiar-looking poofy dresses. With golden hair and an ethereal aura, the ladies greeted, "Welcome to Fairy Island. We are the resident fairies. Are you heading up the mountain for the ball?"

Shen Xingsui responded, "Yes."

"Oh, splendid!" The old ladies examined the two for a moment, then chirped, "To pass, you must take our little test."

The challenge was to endure tickling without laughing.

Shen Xingsui lay down in a woodland hut where several old women and fairies, each holding a feather, tickled him. From the outset, Shen Xingsui wore a faint smile, so despite technically laughing, the fairies deemed it within rules and let him pass.

Upon exiting, Li Xu'an queried, "How did you manage not to laugh?"

Shen Xingsui answered, "Just endured. When it's your turn, try to ignore it."

However, Li Xu'an turned out to be extremely ticklish. No sooner had he entered than raucous laughter echoed from within, entirely uncharacteristic of the idol's typical demeanor.

The live audience roared with laughter.

"I never expected this from you, Li Xuan."

"Hahaha, do you really have such a low threshold for laughter?"

"Aren't you all curious? Why didn't Shen Xing sui share the trick with Li Xuan when he came out?"

The elves outside approached with a tinge of regret, "I'm sorry, he didn't pass our test. He can't proceed any further."

Li Xuan, with a flushed face from laughing, emerged saying, "Xing sui, I apologize. I couldn’t hold it in; it was just too ticklish!"

Shen Xing sui smiled understandingly, "It's okay, I get it."

Li Xuan unhooked his badge, offering it up, "I can't go on. I hope you can take my badge back to the castle, unlock the Moonlight Box, and maintain the peace of the fairy tale world."

Accepting the badge, Shen Xing sui affirmed, "Don't worry, I've got this."

He continued on, reaching the relay station soon after. Originally there were eight of them, but now only four remained.

Teacher Tu Ya stated, "So… each of us now has two badges, right? Our partners didn't make it through."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Teacher Tu Ya suggested, "Let's move forward together. If one of us gets eliminated and loses even one badge, we won’t be able to open the box. So even if only one of us reaches the end with all the badges, it will be worth it."

Fu Jin xiao chimed in, "I'm in."

While plans sound good, reality often begs to differ.

As they approached the towering castle, a majestic structure revealing itself to the group, they encountered another challenge within the nearby woods.

Seven dwarfs, of small stature, posed a question, "If you aren't servants of the Demon King, you would surely know our names."

Tu Ya hesitated, "Xing sui, do you know the names of the seven dwarfs?"

Shen Xing sui shook his head frantically, "I don't think the book mentioned it!"

Without the correct answer, they wouldn’t gain entry. Dusk was fast approaching, and if they didn’t unlock the box before evening, a great calamity would befall the castle.

An idea flashed in Tu Ya’s mind. She grabbed Shen Xing sui’s hand, whispering, "There's a door in this cottage. I'll distract the dwarfs; you slip out!"

He expressed his concern, "What about you?"

Handing over her two badges, now totaling four in Shen Xing sui’s possession, Tu Ya urged, "I'm not as familiar with fairy tales as you are. Even if I made it inside, I'd probably fail the subsequent challenges. But you stand a better chance. Go, Xing sui! Unlock the Moonlight Box and save us all!"

Shen Xing sui hesitated, caught in his emotions.

With a gentle push from Tu Ya, he found himself outside the cottage, "Go now!"

As Shen Xing sui bolted towards the castle, viewers lamented:

"The medal has been handed to the traitor."

"Sui-sui, you've betrayed Ya-ya's trust."

"Oh, the production team chose the least suspected person."

As Shen Xing-sui ran outside, he noticed that both Fu Jin-xiao and Xu Qin-ke were nowhere to be found. The day was gradually turning dark, the afternoon sun slowly changed to a golden hue. As the sun began to set, the ancient castle was bathed in a beautiful glow from the twilight.

He panted heavily as he reached the entrance of the castle.

Upon opening the doors, the castle's grand hall was brightly lit but empty, save for the cameraman. The echoing footsteps as he climbed the stairs made him feel isolated, much like life's journey. Initially surrounded by friends and fervor, in the end, one is left alone.

Reaching the top floor, he saw a familiar figure: "Teacher Fu?"

Fu Jin-xiao stood there, his silhouette next to the Moonlight Box. He had arrived early, likely due to a different challenge or perhaps to attend the evening ball. Dressed in a black tuxedo, the setting sun cast a silhouette that emphasized his tall, regal stature, making him look every bit the prince.

"Your outfit..." Shen Xing-sui, catching his breath, chuckled, "It reminds me of the first time I saw you in person, on the Starlight stage."

Fu Jin-xiao raised an eyebrow, "How did you see me then?"

Shen Xing-sui took a moment to recall, "Back then, I thought you were incredibly handsome, shining brightly. You seemed like the unattainable moon, too distant for me to touch or approach."

Fu Jin-xiao smirked, "Seems my charm hasn’t faded."

Shen Xing-sui blushed, "You were always impeccable."

Pleased, Fu Jin-xiao gestured, "Brought the medals? I've placed four already. Bring the remaining four, and we can open the box."

Shen Xing-sui nodded, "I've got them. Let me place them."

The box was exquisitely crafted, surprisingly compact with slots for the medals. As Shen Xing-sui was placing them, the live-stream audience became frantic:

"No, don't do it!"

"Teacher Fu, don't trust him!"

"Sui-sui is the minion of the demon king!"

Once all eight medals were placed, the box opened, revealing a delicate wooden container. Just as Fu Jin-xiao was about to engage with it, Shen Xing-sui swiftly took it away.

Fu Jin-xiao looked at him, surprised.

For the first time committing deceit, Shen Xing-sui's heart raced. Holding the box, he stammered, "I'm an underling of the demon king. My mission was to seize this box. You were a step behind, now it's mine!"

A momentary silence enveloped the room.

The warm glow of the setting sun bathed them. As their elongated shadows faced each other, Fu Jin-xiao, undeterred and smiling slyly, said, "Are you sure?"

Shen Xing-sui hesitated but nodded, "Absolutely!"

Fu Jin-xiao, maintaining his gentle smile yet now resembling a triumphant fox, stated, "Alright then, it's yours. No turning back."

Shen Xingsui's eyelashes quivered slightly, taking a moment before realizing. He glanced down at the box in his hands, recalling Teacher Fu's scheming. With some hesitation, he asked, "Is what's inside this box a fake? Or something potentially dangerous?"

"Tsk..."

Fu Jinxiao sighed, his tone laced with a hint of teasing, "Little minion, if you're so curious, why not open it and see?"

The live audience found this amusing:

"Hahaha, has the Devil's minion been stupefied?"

"I knew the forces of evil wouldn't prevail."

"Good thing Teacher Fu swapped out the box."

Shen Xingsui hesitated for a moment, looking over his shoulder at the show's cameraman, who shrugged to indicate his own ignorance. This only made Shen Xingsui even more anxious. He thought, "Even if it's absurd, it can't be something truly terrifying, right?"

Taking a deep breath, he decided to open the box.

The moment the wooden box snapped open, like the legendary Moonlight Treasure Box being unveiled, Shen Xingsui froze in place as he saw its contents. His face locked in disbelief, his eyes widened, and upon catching the gentle smile on Fu Jinxiao's face, he glanced down at the box once more. Initially flustered, he soon burst into uncontrollable laughter, his eyes reddening.

As the camera zoomed in, what lay inside the wooden box was a classically elegant, crystal-clear ring.

With trembling hands, Shen Xingsui looked at Fu Jinxiao and whispered, "Is this... for me?"

Fu Jinxiao walked gracefully towards him in the twilight, dressed in an exquisite suit. He met Shen Xingsui's gaze with a firm and loving smile, "Yes, you won it. It's yours."

Shen Xingsui, overwhelmed by disbelief and elation, stuttered, "But isn't this a prop from the show? Can I really keep it? Do I have to return it later? Everyone's badge helped unlock it, how can I..."

The director of the show finally stepped in, laughing, "This is our ultimate prize for the season. This ring, funded by the Fu family, was crafted by a renowned jewelry master. All our show's guests contributed to its design."

Shen Xingsui blinked, "All... the guests?"

"Of course!" The director nodded with a smile. Behind him, other eliminated guests made their way up the castle stairs. "They all pitched in."

Teacher Tuya sighed, "I really racked my brains to find a reason to gift you this badge."

Teacher Li teased, "We all put in tremendous effort to get these badges. We all wanted to, as friends, celebrate your engagement and contribute to your journey."

Shen Xingchen, hands on hips, said to Shen Xingsui, "With your undercover acting skills, they might as well have cast me."

Everyone burst into laughter at his jest.

This was Fu Jinxiao's last public appearance before retiring. Here, in the final episode at the castle of Starlight, from talent show to variety show, from facing doubt to ridicule for his years-long unrequited fandom, Fu Jinxiao always steadfastly moved towards Shen Xingsui, showering him with unapologetic favoritism and open admiration on screen.

The wooden box was taken from Shen Xingsui, who looked at Fu Jinxiao with mild surprise.

Fu Jinxiao, with his slender fingers, opened the wooden box and took out the ring. He had always been carefree and smiley, but at this moment, he became solemn. Noticing Shen Xingsui's sweaty forehead from the earlier rush, he whispered, "Sorry, did I scare you?"

Shen Xingsui quickly shook his head, "No, not at all."

"That's good." Fu Jinxiao smiled, "I used to tell you often that your biggest flaw is your lack of self-confidence. But I later realized that many flaws are hard to change. Instead of making you find confidence, why not just give it to you directly?"

Shen Xingsui was taken aback.

He felt insecure. After the incidents from his past life, he was left without family, without friends. The world ostracized him, labeling him a villainous pawn, an outsider, an unlovable entity.

"I like you," Fu Jinxiao's melodious whisper reached his ears, the man gazing deeply into his eyes, murmured, "No, I love you."

Even when Shen Xingsui was reincarnated.

Destiny made him return on the very day he was cast out of his family. It seemed fated that he'd live another life without a home.

"I want to be with you." The two stood close, their shadows stretching and mingling. The man spoke softly, "I left my family home early and have been alone for so long, used to the solitude. I never thought of wanting more, but being with you, I yearn for a home with you."

"Xingsui..."

Fu Jinxiao's voice lingered on his name, gently holding his hand. The proud man, often placed on a pedestal, now knelt before him on one knee, eyes unwavering, and whispered, "Will you marry me?"

The setting sun cast a golden hue upon the castle.

As time ticked on, the grand clock atop the castle moved its hands to the hour. The clear, lingering chimes echoed throughout, resonating within the ancient walls. Tears welled in Shen Xingsui's eyes, his hands slightly trembling. As the chimes ceased, his voice, soft and sincere, answered, "I do."

Author's note: Happy wedding, Xingsui! The end – time to celebrate! ?

Thank you for your support! There will be many side stories coming up, including award ceremonies, newlyweds, stories about Shen's parents and Xingsui's childhood. Let me know in the comments which side stories you'd like to read about!

Also, here's a sneak peek at a story I might be starting soon. If interested, check out my column to save:

Title: "After Being Cheated On, Ended Up with My Ex's Rival"

Synopsis:

When Jian Yile planned a birthday surprise for his boyfriend of seven years, Jiang Cheng, he was the one left shocked, finding Jiang in their home with someone else.

Overwhelmed with betrayal.

He decisively broke it off, cutting ties cleanly.

The unfaithful Jiang Cheng scoffed, "After leaving a top-tier celebrity like me, who do you think you'll find in this industry? Don't come crawling back."

But Jian Yile searched.

Not only did he find someone, but he also found Jiang's arch-nemesis, another top-tier celebrity. Feared by all in the industry for his temper, rumored to have gone through 19 managers in just three years of debut: Shen Duo.

The formidable Shen Duo, arrogantly declared, "I despise managers and all these formalities. Even if I were to die today, jumping from here, you won't be able to control me!"

Young master Shen Duo was incredibly finicky.

Jian Yile, on the other hand, was a master of culinary arts, skilled in every aspect.

"The young master has a fiery temper and tends to act rashly."

"Jian Yi Le is thoughtful with a clear sense of logic."

"While the outside world awaited with bated breath for Jian Yi Le to become the 20th manager dismissed by him, Shen Duo declared in front of all the media, 'The person I can't live without in this world is my manager. I can't endure a day without Jian Yi Le.'"

"#ArtistsMentoredByMeAreAmazing#"

"#AfterBreakingUpWithMyBoyfriendIEndedUpWithHisNemesis#"

"#YearsDrivenByRejectionAndAmbition#"

"Thank you again for all your support. Feel free to bookmark other stories you like. It would be best if you bookmark the author for notifications on future updates. Thanks for your company! Bows deeply~"

"Special thanks to the angels who sent me special votes or nourishing gifts from 2021-09-12 14:38:39 to 2021-09-13 15:24:24~"

"Thanks to the angel who gave me a landmine: Wind's Sunflower? 1 count;"

"Thanks to the angels who sent nourishing gifts: Mu Chen Night Rain 70 bottles; Wu Yanyu, QAQ 50 bottles; Meow Meow 20 bottles; I Am a Cat 13 bottles; Shallow Smile Pear Blossom Fall, Towards the Sun, Midsummer 10 bottles; Fragmented Orange, Beiming Has Fish 5 bottles; Thinking of You, Half Summer 2 bottles; Mao Xin Lingyi, heifunei 1 bottle each."

"I am deeply grateful for all your support! I'll keep doing my best!"