Meng Fu followed Li Yue to the dining room and sat down. She propped her chin with one hand. When Li Yue had brought the bowls and chopsticks and was preparing to eat, she suddenly opened her mouth and said:
“I, on the contrary, want to find a boyfriend.”
The hand with which Li Yue was holding the chopsticks paused, and his brain directly crashed. He raised his head to look at Meng Fu, his lips opening and closing several times. He faintly had a thought in his heart — he definitely had to say something right now — but again didn’t know what he should say.
If he said it was pretty good, it felt not quite right; if he said it wasn’t good, it seemed that also wouldn’t work.
Meng Fu raised her eyes and glanced at him with a smile that was not quite a smile, and then asked him:
“I wonder if Director Li has any suitable friends around, to introduce to me?”
Li Yue immediately felt as if his heart had been stabbed with a knife. He handed the chopsticks to Meng Fu, somewhat stiffly saying: “No.”
Meng Fu took the chopsticks and, pretending to be very regretful, sighed and said: “That’s really too bad. I can only go ask others then.”
After she finished speaking, she paused for a while and asked Li Yue: “Director Li, why are you still standing? Hurry and sit down to eat. I’m already hungry. Director Li’s culinary skills are so good — do you often cook at home?”
“No,” Li Yue said.
Meng Fu continued smiling and asked: “Could it be that I’m the first one to taste Director Li’s cooking?”
Li Yue said in a low voice: “If instant noodles and myself aren’t counted, then probably the first.”
“Really? Then I must properly have a taste,” Meng Fu’s smile at the corner of her lips deepened. She picked up the chopsticks and seriously tasted Director Li’s cooking, giving high praise to every dish.
Li Yue, thinking about Meng Fu planning to find a boyfriend, felt somewhat tasteless when eating, yet for the moment could not clearly sort out why he felt this way.
Seeing him like this, Meng Fu very unkindly ate an extra half-bowl of rice.
After the meal, Meng Fu helped him tidy up the bowls and plates into the kitchen, then returned to the living room and picked up a stack of newcomer profiles, casually chatting with Li Yue. She was planning to organize a talent show variety program next year and wanted to select a few people in advance — but Director Li seemed to have a bit of a misunderstanding, thinking Meng Fu was looking for a little boyfriend.
Meng Fu picked out a few with decent conditions, about to ask for Li Yue’s opinion, when she found that Li Yue was staring solemnly at the topmost profile.
Meng Fu asked him: “What’s wrong? Any problem?”
Li Yue said: “This person already has a son. Isn’t that inappropriate?”
Meng Fu lowered her head and looked again at the candidate’s profile and said: “It’s written here that he’s unmarried, and he’s only nineteen this year.”
Li Yue clicked his tongue and sent Meng Fu a copy of the profile materials that Gao Xi had sent him earlier.
After Meng Fu finished reading, she simply and neatly eliminated that profile — they were looking for idol trainees, not for someone to participate in Where Are We Going, Dad?
She picked out another handsome young guy from the other pile of profiles and asked: “This one is also not bad, Director Li, what do you think?”
Li Yue glanced at it and immediately frowned, asking: “Where is he ‘not bad’?”
“His name rolls smoothly off the tongue, looks handsome, cheerful personality, 1.8 meters tall, and can dance Latin.” Meng Fu said.
Actually, he himself could also be described this way, except — hearing the last part he swallowed his words — he didn’t know how to dance Latin. Would he have to learn?
No — why am I comparing myself with him!?
Meng Fu smiled at him and said: “I think it’s okay. Let’s keep him for now.”
Under Director Li’s extremely extremely resistant gaze, Meng Fu put the little handsome guy into the stack of selected candidates.
Meng Fu only left Li Yue’s place at dusk — it was Li Yue who drove her home.
After returning home, Li Yue watched all the movies Meng Fu had acted in until after two in the morning.
Even lying in bed, he tossed and turned unable to sleep — his mind full of Meng Fu’s figure, some from the movies, some from reality, which finally intertwined, turning into an image of Meng Fu standing hand-in-hand with a man whose features were blurred in front of him.
Li Yue hurriedly drove this terrifying image out of his mind.
Is Meng Fu going to have a boyfriend? What type does she like? What kind of boyfriend would she have? If she has a boyfriend, can he still cook for her himself?
He gradually realized that he was being a bit abnormal. Gao Xi falling in love had nothing to do with him, so what did it matter to him if Meng Fu wanted to fall in love?
Oh, he seemed to indeed want it to have a little to do with him.
His feelings toward Meng Fu had deteriorated, or maybe from the beginning the label he had pasted was wrong.
He seemed to… have a bit of the desire to be Meng Fu’s boyfriend.
The more Li Yue thought about it, the more he regretted — when Meng Fu said she wanted to find a boyfriend, why didn’t he ask if he himself could do?
But — what if he himself couldn’t?
Would he still be able to see her in the future?
Li Yue tangled and tangled back and forth, until the sky grew faintly bright before he closed his eyes and slept. Then he slept for only two hours before getting up to work.
In the next few days, Meng Fu would squeeze out time every day to come see Li Yue, and by the way, chat with him about the matter of the trainees.
Director Li was really too fun — eating vinegar while saying sour words and still not knowing that he was eating vinegar.
Meng Fu felt that teasing him was almost becoming addictive.
The staff also noticed that Director Li was a bit strange these days.
They encouraged Gao Xi to go ask, but Gao Xi wasn’t stupid — he hadn’t lived enough yet.
Today, Meng Fu had something to do and couldn’t come.
Rare creature Li Yue patrolled the workroom puffed up like a pufferfish, wherever he walked, it was as if a black cloud covered that place, everyone was trembling with fear, always feeling that any moment now a bolt of heavenly thunder would split down.
What’s wrong with Director Li again!
In the end, they really couldn’t take it anymore, so simply threw dice in the group chat — whoever rolled the smallest number would have to take care of this matter.
Gao Xi, the unlucky one, immediately rolled a 1 — selected in misfortune.
He could only explain his last words properly in the group, then heroically went to Director Li.
He organized his words, and directly hit the bullseye by asking: “Director Li, how come Miss Meng didn’t come find you today?”
Li Yue was fiddling with the computer.
Hearing Gao Xi’s question, he snorted and said: “She went today to see the handsome guy whose name is nice-sounding, who is 1.8 meters tall, who has four-pack abs, and who can dance Latin.”
Gao Xi hadn’t yet reacted, when he heard Li Yue sigh and say: “I’m old now, not likable anymore.”
“Ah?” Gao Xi’s face was full of confusion — what nonsense was Director Li spouting?
Moreover, why did it sound so sour!
Director Li was probably really having a problem.
Gao Xi sighed and asked: “Director Li, what exactly is wrong with you?”
Director Li stood up innocently and said: “What’s wrong with me? There’s nothing wrong with me, I’m very good, ah.”
Gao Xi: “……”
So sour it could almost open a vinegar workshop — how is that “very good”?
Gao Xi lowered his voice and reminded Li Yue: “Director Li, women don’t like men who are petty and jealous.”
Li Yue quickly turned his head to look at Gao Xi and said: “You even understand this?”
“What’s so hard to understand?” Gao Xi lifted his chin. Although he had never been in love, his theoretical knowledge was very rich.
He asked: “Is Miss Meng going to have a boyfriend?”
Li Yue looked silently at Gao Xi for a good while before making a sound of acknowledgment: “Mm. She said she wants to find a boyfriend.”
“Miss Meng herself told you?” Gao Xi asked again.
Li Yue nodded.
Gao Xi immediately saw the problem inside all this — how long had Meng Fu and Li Yue even known each other? How could this kind of thing possibly be casually said to their Director Li.
He hurriedly asked: “Why did she suddenly tell you this?”
“How would I know?”
Mentioning this, the pufferfish puffed up a bit again.
Gao Xi continued to ask: “Then before she said that sentence, didn’t Miss Meng say anything else to you?”
Li Yue furrowed his brows and thought for a moment, and said: “Before she said that that day… she asked me if I had a girlfriend, and also asked me if I lacked a girlfriend.”
In Gao Xi’s heart, he cursed a “fuck”, Meng Fu was actually so proactive!
Meng Fu was already being this direct, and Director Li was still eating vinegar? Was he feeling inferior because of his age, thinking he was not good enough for her?
Director Li — would he even feel inferior? Heavens, what kind of midnight horror story was this! Moreover, wasn’t he just one year older than Meng Fu?
Thinking about their Director Li’s usual public image, Gao Xi immediately gave rise to a bad premonition in his heart.
He asked Li Yue: “Then what did you say at that time?”
Li Yue replied: “I said being alone was quite good.”
Until now he still hadn’t realized exactly what he had missed, only feeling a bit of regret that when Meng Fu said she wanted to find a boyfriend, he hadn’t immediately volunteered himself.
Only now, seeing the little handsome guys that Meng Fu was picking every day, all of them being quite different from him, Director Li felt even more embarrassed to recommend himself.
Gao Xi simply hated iron for not becoming steel [恨铁不成钢 hèn tiě bù chéng gāng — meaning “to hate someone for not living up to expectations”], gritting his teeth and staring at Li Yue’s head, practically wanting to pierce through his skull.
How did he end up following such a fool of a boss!
And poor goddess too — fancying such a fool! Meng Fu had already brought things up to this extent, yet he still said “being alone is quite good,” eating vinegar for so many days — it was simply deserved!
Gao Xi constantly told himself to restrain himself, and asked: “Why didn’t you say you were lacking a girlfriend at that time?”
“But I wasn’t lacking,” Director Li blurted out immediately, answering so happily and crisply.
Gao Xi took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled, and raised a thumbs up toward Li Yue: Good, you’re pure and aloof, you’re amazing — you don’t lack a girlfriend — then what vinegar are you eating now?
“Wait! Wait!”
After several days, Li Yue finally began to understand a little the meaning of Meng Fu’s words. He raised his hand and scratched his head: “I think I’m starting to lack one.”
Being alone was indeed quite good — but if it could be being together with Meng Fu…
Gao Xi silently looked at Director Li and didn’t say a word — he really didn’t want to pay him any mind.
“Then why did she ask me that back then?”
Li Yue became anxious and started pacing in circles on the spot, “If at that time I said I was lacking, would she have…”
He spun faster and faster, and the string in his brain that managed his emotions finally also started turning.
Meng Fu wanted to find a boyfriend, and asked him if he lacked a girlfriend — this was actually already very obvious!
“So it was like this!”
Director Li heavily slapped his own forehead, and then couldn’t help but start laughing foolishly.
Gao Xi turned around and faced away from Li Yue — he was really afraid he would get infected by Director Li’s foolishness.
Li Yue laughed for a while, and then suddenly couldn’t laugh anymore.
Because Meng Fu now seemed to prefer that handsome guy who could dance Latin.
Could it be that she only liked him for a fleeting moment?!
Li Yue’s face turned as heavy as water.
He thought maybe he really had to go learn Latin dance. Was it still in time to learn this at his age?
He took out his phone, searched for a Latin dance video, and bowed his head to watch attentively.
Gao Xi thought he was about to ask Meng Fu out to meet — but when he stretched his neck and peeked,
he found that their Director Li was actually watching Latin dance videos at this moment!
He truly couldn’t understand their Director Li’s brain circuit anymore.
Even a person like this could have a girlfriend — heaven really isn’t fair.
Gao Xi hesitated for a long time, but in the end still couldn’t help asking: “Director Li, are you not going to find Miss Meng now?”
Li Yue turned off his phone, turned his head and asked: “If I go over now, would I be annoying?”
Gao Xi fell silent for a moment — he felt that Director Li staying here was also quite annoying — but for the sake of returning to his comrades whole and unharmed, he could only smile and say: “How could it be, Director Li?”
Li Yue thought for a bit and said: “Then let me ask her first.”
He lowered his head and sent Meng Fu a message. Not long after, Meng Fu replied, saying she was currently watching a Latin dance performance.
Latin dance! This damned Latin dance!
Li Yue waited for a while, and then Meng Fu sent another message, saying she had time in the evening and felt a bit like eating a meal cooked by Li Yue, asking if Director Li would be willing to cook.
Could Li Yue possibly be unwilling? He wished every day for Meng Fu to come over and eat.
He, old and withering in color, only had these little tricks left.
As night fell, the city lights made night as bright as day.
After finishing her work, Meng Fu directly came over to Li Yue’s place.
Director Li was wearing a gray apron and busying himself in the kitchen.
Meng Fu leaned against the door frame watching him, and just like that, half an hour passed without her feeling bored.
Tonight, Li Yue stewed a fish, which needed to simmer in the pot for a while longer to absorb flavor.
He washed his hands, walked over to Meng Fu.
Meng Fu met his gaze for a moment, then lowered her eyes — her gaze falling onto the little panda on the pocket of Director Li’s apron.
Quite cute, Meng Fu commented inwardly, quite matching with Director Li.
Behind him, the little soup pot was bubbling and gurgling, from the TV in the living room came a soft melody, Meng Fu felt it somewhat familiar, just as she was about to turn her head to see what was playing on TV, she heard Li Yue ask her:
“When Miss Meng invited me to join the variety show, I said I wanted Miss Meng to promise me a request.”
Meng Fu raised her head, the corners of her lips holding a trace of a smile that seemed there and yet not, raising her eyebrows and asking: “So has Director Li now decided what he wants me to do?”
Li Yue lowered his head, looking into Meng Fu’s eyes, and said slowly: “In the later stages of this variety show, each judge-director is required to lead trainees to make a short film.”
Meng Fu nodded.
She was aware of this procedure — was Director Li’s request related to this too? Was she happy for nothing again?
When on earth would he finally get enlightened?
Li Yue didn’t know what Meng Fu was thinking, and continued: “Each director can invite a friend to act as a special guest performer. So… can I invite Miss Meng to act as a guest performer?”
Meng Fu silently sighed again in her heart — couldn’t Director Li have something a little more serious to say? Had he still not eaten enough vinegar after so many days?
Seeing that Meng Fu didn’t speak, Li Yue hesitated slightly, then reached into his apron pocket and took out a card, handing it to Meng Fu. His voice lowered slightly, and he said:
“I know Miss Meng prefers making money — this here is all my fortune — whatever Miss Meng wants, she can take, of course, if you feel it’s inappropriate, it’s also no problem.”
Meng Fu couldn’t help letting out a soft laugh.
She took a step forward, suddenly pulling the distance between them much closer.
She raised her hand and tapped the panda ear on the pocket of his apron, then took the card from Li Yue’s hand, lifting it up to take a look.
She was actually quite curious how much fortune Director Li had, but right now there were more important things to do.
She placed the card back into Li Yue’s apron pocket, curved her lips and said softly: “As for money, it’s not necessary. Director Li, I now have something else I want more.”
Li Yue didn’t know why, but he suddenly became nervous. Both of his hands clenched into fists, his eyes didn’t even know where to look, his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down, and in a hoarse voice he asked:
“What does Miss Meng want?”
Meng Fu once again sighed in her heart — if she kept teasing like this, this pufferfish might really be angered to death.
She directly asked: “Right now, I want Director Li’s person — I wonder if Director Li is willing to give?”
Li Yue immediately froze.
What kind of world is this!
How come another producer wants to keep a director?
This entertainment circle really cannot be saved!
“I…” his whole face flushed red.
He wanted to agree — but Director Li couldn’t corrupt the moral atmosphere of the circle!
But if he didn’t agree to such a good opportunity — would she go find that Latin-dancing guy?
Director Li’s brows furrowed tightly —he was about to be tangled to death.
Meng Fu waited for him for a long time but still didn’t hear Director Li reply. She asked:
“Why isn’t Director Li speaking? Is this a rejection of me?”
Director Li pressed his lips together and said to Meng Fu: “I’m not a casual person.”
When Director Li said this, he was so serious — but Meng Fu truly couldn’t hold it in, and let out a “puchi” sound of laughter.
Li Yue frowned and looked toward Meng Fu.
Seeing this, Meng Fu hurriedly straightened her expression.
She coughed lightly and asked him: “Then what does Director Li think counts as ‘not casual’?”
“I must have a proper title,” Director Li said solemnly.
Meng Fu very cooperatively nodded, gave an “mm,” and asked him: “What kind of proper title does Director Li want?”
Li Yue thought for a moment, then said with difficulty: “At least… at least it has to be boyfriend.”
Meng Fu, forcibly holding back laughter, asked him: “But didn’t Director Li think being alone was quite good? Wouldn’t this make it too hard on Director Li?”
Li Yue: “……”
Which wire in his brain had been loose that day for him to say that!
Now he even had to be dragged out and executed for it!
Li Yue took a deep breath, steadily looked toward Meng Fu.
Meng Fu, being looked at by him like this, actually became a bit nervous herself, the smile at the corners of her mouth gradually fading.
Then she heard Li Yue say very seriously:
“No. I like you.”
He paused for a moment, then continued: “I like you, Miss Meng. I want to be with you. Will you be willing?”
Originally, Meng Fu had still wanted to tease him a little more — but seeing him like this, all her joking thoughts disappeared.
She lifted her arms, wrapped them around Li Yue’s neck, tilted her head and smiled, saying:
“I’m willing, ah.”
Her eyebrows and eyes curved gently, as if containing countless dazzling starlights.
On her lips was a thin layer of lip gloss, making them look moist and full, like a jelly waiting for someone to taste.
Li Yue slowly raised his hand, landing it on her waist.
At the moment of hugging her — he felt as if he possessed the entire world.
It was as if countless fireworks blossomed above his head, falling like a rain of stars, everything turning into the best appearance.
Only a slight lingering smell of burnt paper still floated around, but very quickly it turned into thick syrup.
Li Yue’s arms tightened, pulling Meng Fu closer into his embrace.
And Meng Fu, taking the opportunity, tiptoed, wanting to get even closer to this director — but just as her lips were about to touch Li Yue’s chin, Li Yue suddenly released her and cried out:
“Finished! Finished!”
Meng Fu froze — Finished what?
She slowly lowered her hands and asked doubtfully: “What’s wrong?”
Could it be Director Li had some kind of family rule, forbidding kissing before marriage?
Li Yue hurriedly turned around, muttering:
“The fish is about to burn! The fish is about to burn!”
Meng Fu really hadn’t expected that even at a moment like this, Director Li could still be thinking about his fish.
She leaned against the doorframe, watching Li Yue scramble around in panic, laughing nonstop.
Smoke and fire misted around, and the scent of burnt fragrance filled the air.