Comrade: Almost a Cat-astrophic Love Story

Panda Novel

Fu Sichen’s culinary skills were quite peerless.

Not that Fu Sichen made a show of it usually. Most people just assumed that he led a pampered life.

“A gift?” Now the show host was curious and probed further, asking, “For whom?”

Although she had asked it aloud, the show host believed that Fu Sichen would decline to answer. The show host had even thought of a response to that likely scenario.

“For your fan? Ahhh… Best Actor Fu indeed, it’s no wonder you’re so popular.”

Alas, before the host even had her line ready for delivery, Fu Sichen said in his deep and attractive voice, “It’s for Pei Zhen.”

The show host happened to be Pei Zhen’s die-hard fan. She paused when she heard Fu Sichen’s answer, and blurted out without thinking, “What grievances do you have that you would hurt my Daddy Pei!”

The lofty and glamorous celebrity that Fu Sichen was, it was inconceivable that he should know how to cook! It was his virgin attempt to make chocolate bites, and he wanted to give it to Pei Zhen—for sure, he must be waging a personal vendetta against Pei Zhen!

Fu Sichen narrowed his eyes, as did everyone among the audience.

Finally, the show host got over the unexpected answer and wiped the perspiration from her brows. She forced an embarrassed smile, which couldn’t hide her surprise. “Cough, cough… I-I mean… haha, it’s Chinese Valentine’s Day, and yet you’re thinking of Pei Zhen. You must be good buddies.”

The audience was still silent. For the sake of filming, the show director himself started clapping. That led to some applause among the audience, but as the response was somewhat half-hearted, it was a bigger embarrassment than before.

The veteran show host, a lady with almost ten years of experience, finally suffered her first defeat! She glanced at Fu Sichen, who was very obviously and decidedly displeased. She started to pray fervently in her heart. “Daddy Pei, please bless me so so I don’t get a penalty!”

“Ahhhhchhhiii…”

The person nestled in the chair gave a loud sneeze, almost dropping the script he held in his hand. That made Xiao Nian, who was just next to him, nervous.

“Daddy.” Xiao Nian looked at Pei Zhen with a worried expression. “Did you catch a cold? You have to take some medicine. I’ll ask Xiao Qu to go out and buy some.”

“I don’t have a cold.” He blew his nose with a serviette and quickly grabbed on to the assistant who was sent to buy medicine. “I’m fine! Your Big Brother Pei is as healthy as… ahchoo!”

With the sneeze, Big Brother Pei’s script flew out of his hand and landed on the dressing table with a thud. It knocked over the bottles and vials of makeup, sending them rolling off the table onto the floor.

“Damn it.” Pei Zhen finally caved in, and sat back limply into the chair, misty-eyed. “I guess I really do have a cold after all—I wasn’t sneezing because someone was thinking of me.”

Taking medicine wasn’t the worst thing, compared with an injection. Xiao Nian sent the assistant to buy some medicine and Pei Zhen relented. But before the assistant left, Pei Zhen spelled out some important instructions.

“Buy something sweet. I’m not going to take anything bitter.”

The assistant tripped over himself and almost tumbled down the flight of stairs.

Still, it’s fortunate that, at least, the Chinese Valentine’s Day activities publicity trailer had already finished filming. The ambassador company was a luxury goods retailer, and they were giving out a bracelet with a minimum purchase.

One of the gifts was a bracelet made of red beans, which had symbolic meaning.

Moreover, to prove to the consumers that the bracelet was handmade, the company had specially requested for Pei Zhen to demonstrate the making of one.

“The red thread must be strung this way, and then this end goes into here… that’s right, and then add the red bean.”

The workers led Pei Zhen step by step through the process. Pei Zhen’s fingers were long, slender, and beautiful, but he was hopeless at handicrafts.

Although the steps of making the bracelet were exactly the same, the bracelet produced by the workers looked like a piece of classy accessory; while Pei Zhen’s craftsmanship was sloppy and his bracelet looked like it was strung by an animal’s paw.

“It’s so ugly it’s got character!”

“It’s set! I will just buy it! The bracelet is mine!”

“Whether gold bracelets or silver bracelets, they would never be as good as Daddy Pei’s bracelet!”