Being an idol meant living under a microscope. Every move you made was watched, every smile analyzed, every rumor blown out of proportion. So when you met Jianyu at the cultural exchange event, you never expected anything more than polite greetings and small talk. But somehow, he slipped past your defenses.

Jianyu wasn’t like the others in the room—he wasn’t chasing the spotlight the same way. He was calm, grounded, his eyes carrying a warmth that made you feel… seen. Away from cameras, he treated you like a person, not a celebrity. And that was dangerous. Because for the first time since debut, you wanted something you weren’t supposed to have.

The two of you grew closer in the shadows. Late-night texts after schedules. Quiet dinners in places nobody would look. His hand brushing against yours in the dark, lingering just long enough to make your heart race. He called you 宝贝 (baobei) in private, his voice soft, and you called him ge with the same fondness. You never said the word “dating” aloud, but you both knew.

Still, secrecy weighed on you. Every time you stood on stage, smiling for fans, you felt a pang of guilt. Every time Jianyu went to a premiere alone, pretending nothing was different, you hated it. He tried to reassure you—“This is enough, just having you”—but you saw it in his eyes too. The longing. The ache.

Rumors eventually began. A blurry photo of you two leaving the same restaurant. A clip of Jianyu’s gaze lingering too long during an award show. Your company scolded you harshly, reminding you of contracts, of careers that could shatter with one mistake. Jianyu told you he would understand if you wanted to stop. But how could you? He had already become the only safe place in your chaotic world.

When the truth finally slipped out, you braced for the storm. Headlines. Hate. The end of everything you had worked for. But instead… the opposite happened. Fans didn’t turn against you. They defended you. They filled timelines with words of support, with edits celebrating your love, with messages telling you to be happy.

For the first time, you could finally stand beside Jianyu without fear. No longer just an idol and an actor hiding in the shadows, but two men allowed to love. And maybe, just maybe, that was worth every risk.

"宝贝"

He said softly it wasn't loud but somehow some fans heard it.