Romance Variety Show: The aloof and beautiful fourth female lead is always coveted.

Bai Yanyun was taken aback at first, then his eyes lit up.

The fact that Gu Jinxing said this shows that he also cares.

Others might not understand, but Bai Yanyun could tell.

Bai Yanyun immediately suppressed his carefree smile and tentatively asked, "Brother Jinxing, I saw you were reluctant to leave for a long time. If you're so worried about her... why don't you stay with Xiao Chu?"

Ignoring the other person's shocked look, he said bluntly, "Anyway, you are an orphan that your parents rescued. You have no blood relation with Xiao Chu, and even your house and household registration are separate. There will be no obstacles in terms of law or ethics."

"Bai Yanyun!"

Gu Jinxing's brows furrowed suddenly, and he snapped at him in a low voice.

Besides the usual authority of an elder brother, there was also a hint of tension and panic in his voice.

"How can you say such things carelessly? Be careful what you say!"

He and Xiao Chu...?

How could he have such outrageous fantasies?

"Be careful with your words and actions, be careful with your words and actions..." Bai Yanyun repeated these words over and over. Instead of being scolded, he sighed deeply. "Brother Jinxing, your parents gave you this name hoping that you would be upright and prudent in your conduct, not that you would lock away all your emotions, joys and sorrows for the rest of your life. This name is a blessing, an expectation, but not a shackle."

"Brother Jinxing, you are my elder brother and a member of our family forever. That's a fact that no one can change. But before that, you are first and foremost Gu Jinxing."

The words spoken by Gu Jinxing's usually carefree and unreliable younger brother struck a deep chord in his heart.

"Brother, you can do whatever you want, and protect the people you want to protect."

"So what if you really like Xiao Chu? You can maintain the status quo using the identity you deem appropriate, or you can stay by her side in a way that makes you both happy. I support all the decisions you make."

"Besides—whether Xiao Chu likes you or not is another matter, after all, you're already 28 years old," Bai Yanyun teased, seizing the opportunity. "What if Xiao Chu thinks you're too old?"

"I'm saying this just to tell my brother... don't let other people's opinions define your life. No one's life should be defined."

A long silence fell over the car.

Gu Jinxing remained silent for a long time.

The man's deep eyes were fixed on the traffic ahead, his gaze churning with a multitude of complex and unfathomable emotions.

The responsibility, commitment, and restraint of an elder... and also, from the very first time I met Bai Nianchu today.

He had been suppressing the deep-seated stirrings within his heart.

The two brothers remained silent.

It wasn't until the traffic light turned green that Gu Jinxing suddenly reached out his hand.

A palm with calloused skin gently landed on Bai Yanyun's head and gave it a brief but firm rub.

The movements were somewhat stiff, yet they carried a weight that could not be spoken.

That was Gu Jinxing's unique, heartfelt gratitude to his elder brother.

Bai Yanyun felt the warmth coming from above her head and silently raised the corners of her lips.

He knew that he had successfully planted a seed in Gu Jinxing's heart.

Gu Jinxing just needs some time to nurture and care for it, and to listen attentively to its voice.

He looks forward to the day when the seed sprouts.

*

Heart-Fluttering Cottage.

As soon as Bai Nianchu returned, she was surrounded by girls asking her all sorts of questions.

"Nianchu, was that guy who helped you carry your things when you got off the bus... also your brother?" Jiang Meng was the first to speak. She had been too embarrassed to look closely and had only glanced at him briefly.

"Yes, he's my older brother," Bai Nianchu said.

"No wonder, he looks a bit like you," Ye Siyao exclaimed sincerely. "Your family has such good genes. I also have an older brother, but he's not as handsome as yours."

Wen Shanshan smiled and said, "I still think that Brother Jinxing who picked you up this morning is more handsome."

The girls were surprisingly unanimous on this point.

I think so too~

"A brother who isn't related to you by blood, isn't that... kind of like a childhood friend?"

With Bai Nianchu's return, the live stream gradually became lively:

[Baby Girl 4 is finally back! We missed you so much! (✧∇✧)]

[Haha, if that's the case, then Brother Gu seems more like a childhood friend than Lin Zhao. Do you guys remember how cold Lin Zhao was to the fourth female lead at first? If Lin Zhao hadn't revealed himself, who would have known he was the fourth female lead's childhood friend? Zero people could have guessed!]

[That's right! (Holding up a checkmark emoji)]

Am I the only one who thinks this brother-sister duo is delicious? Just secretly shipping them.

[Sigh, everyone's swooning! That hug this morning left me speechless; that subtle, almost imperceptible back-to-back kiss was exactly what I was looking for.]

I want an older man! I want an older man!

The girls' conversation naturally turned to relationships.

Upon learning that the composed and handsome Jinxing from this morning was 28 years old and had never been in a relationship, they all showed expressions of surprise.

"Impossible...? I can believe someone is still single at 28, but is it normal for someone to have never been in a relationship at 28?" Jiang Meng looked incredulous.

That really hit a nerve.

Xu Muyang, who had been sitting on the sofa eavesdropping on the girl's conversation, snorted and said awkwardly, "What's wrong with that? I'm 25 and I've never been in a relationship."

A man's competitive spirit can sometimes come out of nowhere.

Ling Yan, who was reading a professional book on the sofa, suddenly looked up and said, "I don't."

Chen Yuze, who was passing by, scoffed: "I was busy with training and competitions before, and I didn't have time to think about anything else."

Even Su Yi'an, the oldest among them, explained with a smile: "When I was in school, I was busy studying, and after graduation, I was busy working. All my energy was occupied, and I really couldn't find time to meet people of the opposite sex."

The female guests looked at each other in bewilderment.

Did any of them ask?

The live stream chat erupted in laughter:

[Hahaha, these men who are so busy proving themselves are hilarious.]

[I can't take it anymore, the female guest's expression is practically acting out my performance!]

You're right, but there's a small problem: Who asked you? Who asked you?

[Hahaha, 0 people asked them this!]

"So you're all 'mother singles'."

Ye Siyao was kind enough to give them a way out.

The male guest asked casually, "What about you guys?"

In reality, he was deliberately watching someone's expression.

The girls tacitly understood that the only person these men wanted to ask was Bai Nianchu, and they didn't expose it.

"As for me, I've talked to two people," Jiang Meng said.

"One," Ye Siyao recalled. "We dated during college, but broke up after graduation because of the long distance."

"I also have two," Liu Zhiwei said without going into details.

"I've dated three people," Wen Shanshan said with a smile. "Two in college, and one after I started working."

All eyes turned to Bai Nianchu.

The girls were gossipy, while the men's eyes held a hint of anticipation.

They knew it was rare for someone to have never been in a relationship from their school days to their working life, and they didn't hold out much hope. Their question was mainly to find out more about Bai Nianchu, and... it would be even better if they could find out her preferences regarding her boyfriend.

"No," Bai Nianchu said.

Putting aside her past life, she hasn't actually had a relationship with anyone in her current body.

"No!?" Everyone was stunned.

Bai Nianchu has never had a boyfriend?

"So beautiful, and she's never even dated?" Wen Shanshan voiced everyone's thoughts. "She really is a high-class beauty."

Liu Zhiwei said meaningfully, "Some people got a good deal."

It's obvious she was referring to the group of men who were secretly delighted, their smiles barely contained.