“It’s not impossible…” Zhou Shiwen wrestled with his complicated feelings inside, then gritted his teeth and said, “Mom, if you really like him, I don’t object. He’s young, fine, but there’s no way I’m calling him Dad. Also, you have to bring him over to meet me.”
Shen Qing’s worried expression faded, and her beautiful eyes sparkled with renewed light. She smiled warmly. “That’s what you said. Mom knew Wenwen looks out for her. What a good boy.”
Zhou Shiwen blushed furiously at his mother’s praise and quickly changed the subject. “Which school does he go to, Mom? How did you meet him?”
“We met online. He’s a handsome young guy who really knows how to charm a woman…” Shen Qing beamed as she described him step by step. According to her, he was a reliable partner—especially since she liked him so much. But the more Zhou Shiwen listened, the more off it sounded. This didn’t match Haoran at all. An excellent student? Haoran was a slacker.
And they met online? Mom had known Haoran since he was a kid. The story only confused him more. He’d actually wanted to ask outright earlier if it was Haoran, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it. Now, hearing her description, he held back that impulse. Once she finished, Zhou Shiwen said, “If he’s as great as you say, Mom, I won’t stand in your way. Do what makes you happy. Just… he’s too young. Don’t let him fool you. Bring him by tomorrow so I can take a look.”
He put special emphasis on that last part. “Do I look like some foolish woman to you?” Shen Qing gazed at Zhou Shiwen with an expression reserved for silly children, which only made him more embarrassed. “If you want to meet him, Mom will bring him over tomorrow.”
Shen Qing already had her story prepared. The man she’d described was real, but he was just an actor she’d hired. Wenwen’s attitude was more open-minded than she’d expected, but she knew a direct confession that it was Little Ranran would be too much for him to accept.
That afternoon, she lined up an actor—a high school freshman at an ordinary public school in G City. He had top grades, a handsome face, a poor background, and an honest, unassuming demeanor.
The fee she offered wasn’t cheap. In truth, she saw it more as helping the boy out, with the acting gig just a convenient bonus.
…
The next day at noon, the sun shone brightly and warmly, with a gentle breeze that put everyone in a relaxed mood. Shen Qing drove to pick him up and brought him back to the villa to wait for Wenwen’s return. “Have some tea.”
In the living room, Shen Qing brewed a pot of tea and poured a cup for the boy sitting across from her, who looked a bit awkward and stiff. He was a handsome teenager dressed in simple clothes—his shirt was faded on the surface, clearly worn for years. “No, thank you… really, no need.”
Mu Haipeng waved his hands hurriedly. The elegant and radiant woman before him exuded refined poise and luxurious grace. Her stunning face made it impossible for him to meet her eyes. He’d never seen a woman so beautiful.
She had hired him to play her partner and paid him an amount that could only be called a fortune. He was deeply grateful, but facing such a glamorous woman in this role felt strange. He didn’t dare entertain any stray thoughts and felt a profound sense of inferiority. “Relax. It won’t matter if you don’t perform well.”
Shen Qing reassured him. She knew he was honest and bashful—not the ideal choice for an actor, truthfully. “Mm.”
Mu Haipeng took a deep breath and nodded. Watching the fidgety boy, Shen Qing sighed inwardly. This was probably going to flop.
As time passed, the villa’s front door opened, and Zhou Shiwen returned from school.
The two went to greet him. To Shen Qing’s surprise, the boy who’d been so shy moments ago now stepped forward with a bright smile and extended his hand to her son. “Hi, I’m Mu Haipeng.”
His smile was radiant and completely natural. “Oh, hi.”
Zhou Shiwen gave him a once-over. The other boy seemed like a sunny, outgoing type—easy to like. He shook the offered hand.
For some reason, though, when he pulled back, Zhou Shiwen noticed the other’s palm felt a little damp. “Come on in and chat.”
Shen Qing glanced at Mu Haipeng, and she had to admit she’d underestimated him. She noticed his left hand, hidden behind his back, trembling slightly. Clearly, he wasn’t as calm as he appeared.
But he’d committed to the role and was surprisingly professional about it. Good potential.
The three settled on the living room sofa. Zhou Shiwen sat across from Shen Qing and Mu Haipeng, who were separated by a seat as Shen Qing had specified beforehand. Though Mu Haipeng wouldn’t dare get any ideas about the woman beside him, a man couldn’t help feeling a twinge of regret.
Fortunately, he quickly adjusted and started chatting casually with Zhou Shiwen across from him. They were both high school freshmen with excellent grades, so they had plenty to talk about.
Watching the two boys bond over school topics, Shen Qing smiled to herself and observed quietly without interrupting.
After a bit of small talk, Zhou Shiwen started to feel something was off. The guy and his mom showed no affection at all—not like a couple in love.
Mu Haipeng felt helpless too. Shen Qing had only asked him to meet her son and kill some time chatting. Once that was done, he could leave.
As for any intimate gestures to sell the relationship? She’d explicitly forbidden anything crossing the line, or there’d be no pay. She’d been deadly serious about it, as if she truly cared about that boundary.
With time nearly up, Mu Haipeng stood to say goodbye. After their brief exchange, Zhou Shiwen had taken a liking to him and tried to convince him to stay. “Have dinner before you go.”
“Haipeng, stay and eat with us. This place will be like your home from now on, anyway.”
Shen Qing chimed in too, and she meant it sincerely. His performance had impressed her.
Those words stirred waves of emotion in Mu Haipeng’s heart. Though he knew it was all an act, he mustered the courage to look directly at the radiant woman before him for the first time.
Her beautiful eyes rippled like a vast starry sea, brimming with enchanting allure. Just one glance, and he quickly bowed his head.
In the end, though, he stayed for a meal.
Afterward, as he left, a deep sense of loss washed over him.
Some women were like stars high in the sky—unforgettable from the very first sight.
