Overly Dependent [Showbiz]

● The quality of my early works is questionable. Read with caution!

● My new novel, A Transmigrated Detective in Ancient Times, is currently being serialized.

○ My completed detective novel, Abnormal Death, is long and ready to binge.

● Romance + career | Growth | Nurturing | Slow-burn, extra-sweet romance

Gu Xici is 36 when he takes on the first variety show of his life, alongside top-tier star Lou He.

They first met on a film set. Gu Xici was 16, and Lou He was six months old, playing the newborn son in his drama.

From then on, this father-and-son duo in the entertainment industry became inseparable. The stars come and go, but their father-son bond lasts.

Gu Xici spent the first half of his life focusing on his career. In the second half, he focuses on Lou He.

★ Scene One

Gu Xici has just wrapped filming his new drama when a WeChat message from Lou He arrives.

The Big Goose Who Doesn't Cost a Thing: Old Gu, want to do a parent-child variety show?

Gu Xici: No.

The Big Goose Who Doesn't Cost a Thing: Save your son, he's about to starve QAQ~

Gu Xici: Get lost.

The Big Goose Who Doesn't Cost a Thing: I'll never be your big goose again.

Gu Xici: I'm in!

★ Scene Two

Lou He: "Gu Xici, I thought of you as an elder, and you want to hit on me!"

Gu Xici: "We're father and son on-screen, a married couple off-screen. Doesn't make a difference."

Lou He: "I'm still young, and the company doesn't allow dating."

Gu Xici: "You're not that young. You're already twenty."

Lou He: "Dating means paying a penalty, and I don't have any money."

Gu Xici: "I'll pay it for you. How about a boyfriend who's practically delivered to your door?"

Lou He immediately threw himself at him. "Mwah, mwah!"

Gu Xici: "!!!!!"

★ Scene Three

One day, Lou He is photographed shopping with a woman.

Fans flock to Gu Xici's Weibo comments: [Dad Gu, you've got a daughter-in-law!]

Gu Xici replies: [That's my mom. Please leave her alone.]

One day, Lou He is photographed having dinner with a woman.

Fans comment: [Dad Gu, you've got another daughter-in-law!]

Gu Xici: [That's my sister. Please leave her alone.]

One day, Lou He says in an interview that he's dating someone.

Fans comment: [Dad Gu, this time you really have a daughter-in-law.]

Gu Xici: [It's me. Please leave me alone.]

● Reader's Guide ●

[Note: It's a long story and wanders off course a bit, so feel free to pick and choose what you like.]

1: Slow-burn, sweet romance, with romance and career running side by side.

2: Older top, sixteen-year age gap. The bottom is 20 when he appears, and the top is 36.

3: They aren't father and son. They only played father and son onscreen. Neither has any romantic history.

4: A story about growth and nurturing, not a traditional romance-focused entertainment-industry story.

5: Entirely fictional setting with no real-life inspiration. Please don't associate it with anyone in real life.

6: The top pampers the bottom and favors him above all others, with irrational, unconditional devotion.

7: Cover used with permission from CSNG Zhongyi (non-exclusive).

8: The blurb has been saved as a screenshot in my Weibo archive. Written July 15, 2021.

● This is the next story I'll start, after the whole thing is written!

● Plot + romance | Ancient-era investigations | Soul transmigration | Younger top

● Sickly, shrewd detective bottom VS a novice, thrill-seeking, scheming prince top

Ting Xiu is an excellent detective. On his first day at his new job, he encounters someone drowning.

With a commitment to serving the people, he jumps into the river without a second thought to rescue them.

But his calf suddenly cramps, he loses his balance, and he ends up drowning too.

Even more absurdly, when he wakes up, he finds he has transmigrated to ancient times.

After trying every possible way to get back with no success, he decides to return to his old profession and investigate crimes in the ancient world.

His first task is to turn the tables and punish the person who pushed the original owner into the water.

He gathers evidence, writes a formal complaint, and reports the crime to the local authorities.

With all the evidence in hand, the court delivers its verdict in open session, and the whole city hears about it.

His reputation soon spreads. Whenever there's an unsolved case in the surrounding villages, the authorities invite him to help investigate.

Prince Yu Bo Jingyu, traveling incognito, is framed and thrown in prison.

His subordinates ask Ting Xiu to help find the real culprit and clear Bo Jingyu's name.

Ting Xiu assumes Prince Yu will pay him for his help.

But when they meet, the prince's first words are: "I've taken a liking to you."

His second words are: "Come be mine."

His third words are: "I guarantee you'll enjoy endless wealth and luxury."

Under Bo Jingyu's expectant gaze, Ting Xiu coldly gives him a single word: "Pervert."

----Short Scene 1----

Bo Jingyu: "Didn't you say you regretted coming with me? Why are you clinging to me now?"

With a dozen fierce dogs in front of him, Ting Xiu promptly gives in.

"Your Highness, please be the bigger man and save me. From now on, I'll do whatever you say."

Bo Jingyu: "You'll really do whatever I say?"

Ting Xiu nods furiously. "Yes."

Bo Jingyu waves his hand and says, "You may all leave."

The fierce dogs disperse.

Ting Xiu: "???"

● Pre-release: Galactic Top-Tier Star, Earning 100 Million a Day. Please add it to your reading list.

Fang Chixu is the son of the Alliance's richest man and a wildly popular top-tier star in the galaxy, earning an average of 100 million star coins a day.

Liang Wansen is a newly powerful figure in the Federation and one of the candidates to become the next leader of the Galactic Federation government.

On the night of Fang Chixu's coming-of-age birthday party, Liang Wansen arrives uninvited, bearing countless rare treasures.

Fang Chixu looks at the tall, handsome, and imposing man before him. "Who are you?"

Liang Wansen gets straight to the point: "I'm Liang Wansen. I ask for Fang Chixu's hand in marriage."

The guests are stunned. Is this really the Liang Wansen they think it is?

That night, the two make the headlines of the galactic entertainment news.

Fans: [Who is this guy? Never heard of him. He thinks he's worthy of marrying our darling Chixu?]

After looking up Liang Wansen's background, the fans immediately apologize to the powerful.

[We were blind to your greatness. He's worthy. They're perfect for each other!]

Rumors say theirs is a marriage of convenience between politics and business. They appear to be in love, but are really just trying to win votes for the election.

Then the two announce through their respective channels that they'll appear on a dating reality show.

Haters: [Let's see how you fake it now! Can't I tell real romance from fake romance?]

After the show airs, the haters all post apologies.

[Sorry, I was wrong. They're truly in love! Ahhh, they're so good together!]

Director: "At the end of the show, is there anything you'd like to say to each other?"

Fang Chixu: "I love you, Liang Wansen." No feeling, all acting.

Liang Wansen: "I love you too, Fang Chixu." No acting, all feeling.

Theme: Face every difficulty bravely, and it will eventually be overcome