Chapter Sixty-One: Su Murou’s Envy

Ji Mei was not particularly beautiful; among all the women Chen Fang had ever encountered, her looks wouldn’t even make the top ten. And yet, somehow, Ji Mei gave Chen Fang a sense of peace.

Of course, Chen Fang admitted that his initial interest in Ji Mei was driven purely by physical attraction. He believed Ji Mei felt the same—if he weren’t so handsome, she wouldn’t have been drawn to him. In this era, everyone cared about appearances. The spark of attraction was always ignited by a fondness for someone’s face or figure. That’s why one-night stands had become so common: the essence of a fling was simply to satisfy that craving for each other’s bodies, then walk away the next morning as strangers.

To be honest, Chen Fang’s original intention was just that. But after sleeping with Ji Mei, he didn’t feel the usual boredom or disinterest. Truth be told, he wanted to sleep with her again—and keep sleeping with her. You could call Chen Fang a creature of desire, but harmonious relationships between men and women always involved sex, and Chen Fang felt no shame about it.

Chen Fang wanted Ji Mei. Ji Mei wanted Chen Fang. That was enough.

Sometimes we are all lonely, sometimes we fail and fear elimination, longing to find someone who understands. I have waited many times for the future—when will you arrive? Amidst the crowds, there is always your presence; with you, there is love.

After the second chorus, the song transitioned into a surge of emotion. Love inevitably brings periods of calm; life doesn’t offer endless passion and surprises, so in those tranquil moments, loneliness creeps in, sometimes even annoyance with one's partner.

Chen Fang did not shy away from these issues. Through the lyrics, he expressed them simply and clearly. People always crave novelty. When the freshness fades, you yearn for another dose of excitement, perhaps from someone who isn’t as attractive or well-tempered as your partner, but the novelty itself is irresistible.

People are animals, and animals have their instincts. But what Chen Fang wanted to say was: don’t let the loneliness and lack of novelty in routine life cause you to miss the one who loves you most.

Perhaps in months, years, or even decades, Chen Fang would grow tired of Ji Mei, and Ji Mei might feel the same toward him. Yet Chen Fang would never forget that, long ago, a woman named Ji Mei had offered him her whole heart, willing to sacrifice much for his sake.

Chen Fang was certain: Ji Mei loved him. And so, this song was not only for Ji Mei—it was for himself as well.

This song, “A Special Someone,” was performed by a singer named Khalil Fang, who was not particularly famous. His music, much like himself, didn’t leave a deep impression at first listen, but was perfect for looping, often playing for an entire day. Chen Fang loved this style of song. In fact, among all the love songs he knew by heart, “A Special Someone” was the most unforgettable.

Of course, this song was also a powerful tool for wooing women. From the heat in Ji Mei’s gaze now, Chen Fang could feel her love burning fiercely. If it weren’t for Su Murou being the third wheel, Ji Mei would have already rushed over and pinned him down.

After all, the clearest sign of love was action.

Su Murou felt a pang of sourness in her heart. She was truly envious! Yet, Chen Fang was her best friend’s boyfriend; no matter how lacking in principles she might be, she could never undermine her friend’s relationship.

The guitar’s melody slowly faded. The song neared its end.

If I could love only one person for a day, let every moment turn back in time. Life holds endless possibilities; you are the special someone I was meant to meet.

As the final line was sung, Chen Fang exhaled softly. In the past, he’d sung this song to seduce girls, to coax them into bed. Now, he was singing it sincerely for one woman, and the thought struck him as astonishing.

The next moment, a graceful figure darted toward him, nestling into his arms. Chen Fang quickly set his guitar aside—not out of concern for the instrument, but fearing its metal body might hurt Ji Mei.

Ji Mei was strong. Chen Fang felt as if she might break his waist with her embrace.

Seeing this, Su Murou grew even more jealous. The stench of romance was like snail noodles—everyone claimed to hate the smell, but once the chopsticks touched the bowl, they devoured it with gusto.

In that instant, Su Murou felt like a giant light bulb—one with a thousand-watt glow.

Chen Fang chuckled, gently patting Ji Mei’s back, whispering into her ear, “Your best friend is still here.”

It was effective. Ji Mei slipped out of his arms and cast a slightly resentful glance at Su Murou, seemingly displeased.

Su Murou, bewildered, wore a questioning look—she hadn’t done anything! Why was Ji Mei looking at her that way?

Chen Fang couldn’t help but laugh. “Miss Su, did I disappoint you?”

He asked.

Su Murou, caught off guard, paused for several seconds, then coughed, “Not bad. Barely passable. But you need to work harder and earn more money, or how will you support Bonyu in the future?”

Her words were tantamount to accepting Chen Fang.

Ji Mei’s cheeks flushed slightly. In truth… she could support Chen Fang herself. Ji Mei even regretted that if Chen Fang hadn’t chosen to become an artist, they could have openly announced their relationship, gone through a lengthy courtship, and eventually married.

Now, that was impossible. As an artist, love was the greatest taboo. Scandals were permissible, but genuine relationships were not. If a real romance were exposed, fans would abandon him en masse.

For Chen Fang’s sake, Ji Mei not only had to conceal their relationship, but also ask Su Murou to help keep the secret.

“Murou, you must keep this confidential!” Ji Mei urged.

Su Murou understood the gravity of the situation. “Don’t worry. As long as he doesn’t betray you, I’ll keep your secret. But if he fools around with other women, hmph…”

As she said this, Su Murou narrowed her eyes, giving Chen Fang a dangerous look.

Ji Mei wasn’t worried. She trusted Chen Fang. After so many nights together, Ji Mei understood his preferences—he didn’t care much for beautiful women, but couldn’t resist those with stunning figures.

Ji Mei was confident about her own body. If nothing else, the two basketballs on her chest were an undeniable asset.

Chen Fang snorted inwardly. Who could he possibly seduce? Having Ji Mei at home was more than enough; no other woman could compare.

Then, something occurred to him.

“There’s something I should mention ahead of time,” Chen Fang said, looking at Ji Mei.

Ji Mei’s eyes were puzzled.

“In a few days, I’ll be participating in a variety show called ‘Let’s Fall in Love Together.’ My partner will be An Tinghan, but don’t worry—I have no interest in that round-faced girl. It’s purely for the sake of the program,” Chen Fang explained, afraid Ji Mei might get jealous after seeing the show, so he was giving her a heads-up.

Before Ji Mei could respond, Su Murou excitedly pressed her face close to Chen Fang’s. “An Tinghan—is that the superstar An Tinghan?”

“Yes, it’s her,” Chen Fang nodded.

Ji Mei’s gaze was tender. “I’m not that petty.”

Su Murou was filled with admiration. What Chen Fang didn’t know was that An Tinghan was Su Murou’s idol. After all, An Tinghan had become a superstar in just a few years—a perfect model for girls like Su Murou.

At that moment, Su Murou wasn’t envious of Ji Mei for having such an outstanding boyfriend. Instead, she was jealous of Chen Fang for having the chance to work with An Tinghan.