All the Cubs I Raised Became Big Shots – CH18

Chapter 18

[Cream Cake Enthusiast]: Sorry, Daddy Fang. Also, sisters, does anyone have more resources on our new dad? Begging on my knees.”

 @Cream Cake Enthusiast: “If Fang Huai makes it to the next round, I’ll call him daddy. Lol.”

[Pfft, another one has lost their mind.]

[How many is that today?? Hahahaha.]

[Alright, looks like today Fang Huai has picked up a whole bunch of new daughters, sons, and pet dogs. Get in line—some people ahead of you haven’t even officially acknowledged their ‘ancestor’ yet.]

“……”

Scenes like this had become incredibly common on Weibo today.

Just minutes ago, many people were mocking and ridiculing Fang Huai. But now, they were quietly deleting their posts, some even dragging their whole families into the fanbase—frantically searching for old videos and photos of him. And even after binge-watching, they still weren’t satisfied.

At the same time, the attitude on the livestream took a complete 180-degree turn.

[WTF, this is insanely good?! Those shady marketing accounts that were spreading hate—SHOW YOURSELVES!!!]

[I almost missed out on a god-tier singer because of those trolls, I’M CRYING!!!]

[BABY WUWUWU, Mommy knew you could do it!! You really made it happen QAQ!! My little Huaihuai is the best!! Kisses, hugs, lifting you up high!!!]

[I think he might get the highest score of the night… Maybe even higher than Lu Yu. This song is a masterpiece—did he write it himself, or did someone else compose it?]

[At first, I felt bad that he had to go up against Lu Yu… Now, I’m feeling bad for Lu Yu going up against HIM. Pfft.]

The shocking plot twist at the end of Star Light was beyond anyone’s expectations—even movies wouldn’t dare to pull something this dramatic. The underdog, who no one believed in, had completely turned the tables, nearly surpassing the top contender for the championship, and setting the entire stage on fire!

In just half an hour—

The hashtags #FangHuaiStarlight and #FangHuaiTrueFragrance skyrocketed up the trending list, pushing aside celebrity divorce gossip and even Lu Yu’s much-anticipated comeback performance.

Whether people had watched it live or were waiting for the edited clips, everyone knew that tonight had been a massive “I take back everything I said” moment.

Some fans even made memes—comparing the judges’ expressions before Fang Huai’s performance (dismissive, unimpressed) vs. after (shocked, teary-eyed). They also contrasted the audience’s indifference at the start with their wild enthusiasm afterward. These hilarious reaction memes went viral, pushing Star Light and Fang Huai’s name even higher in popularity.

And the nickname “Performing Arts Boy”, which had faded into obscurity for a while, came roaring back into the public eye.

*

The thunderous applause lasted for a long time.

In that moment, the electric atmosphere reached an all-time high. Screams and cheers nearly blew the roof off!

The veteran singer on the judging panel, eyes red and misty, wiped away tears while holding up a scorecard. The girls in the audience who had supported Fang Huai from the beginning were crying so hard their voices shook.

Neither the host nor the production team had expected such a dramatic reversal at the end. They were so caught off guard that it took a moment for them to react.

As the judges prepared to give their scores, the applause gradually quieted, leaving a brief pause in the room.

The stage lights hadn’t shifted yet—Fang Huai still stood under a single, lonely spotlight.

Under the light, his light amber eyes met the audience’s gaze—a bit dazed, a bit confused. It was as if he was surprised by their overwhelming enthusiasm, or maybe still lost in the emotions of the song, unable to fully return to reality.

His eyes were slightly red-rimmed.

But he didn’t look sad—if anything, his confusion stood out more.

A tall, slender teenager stood alone on the vast, empty stage—handsome, untamed, but a little uncertain of what to do next.

That image struck a chord deep in many people’s hearts.

For a brief moment, the venue was silent.

And then—Whistles and screams erupted again!

“Fang Huai, I LOVE YOU!!!”

“YOU’RE THE BEST!!!”

A girl who had supported him from the very beginning shouted at the top of her lungs.

Her voice was already a little hoarse.

One by one, more and more people joined in—the shouts grew louder and louder.

They waved their glow sticks, still overwhelmed by excitement, their voices nearly breaking:

“FANG HUAI!!!”

“DON’T CRY, YOU’RE AMAZING!!!”

“BABY, GO FOR IT!!!”

Fang Huai stood there, listening for a moment.

After a long pause, he took a step back—And bowed deeply toward the audience.

“…Thank you,” he said, holding the microphone, looking toward the camera and the crowd.

He smiled—handsome, clean, and brilliant—his entire expression radiating warmth and joy.

“…Thank you for liking me. I’m… really, really happy.”

His voice was still slightly nasal from just finishing the song, and the tip of his nose was a little red.

His light amber eyes shimmered, like they had been washed clear by water—bright and dazzling.

And in that moment, many people felt that same familiar, heart-racing sensation all over again.

A girl in the audience, feeling playful, shouted, “Not just ‘like’ you!”

“Huh?”

Fang Huai blinked in confusion. “You… don’t like me? Sorry.”

His gaze was so pure and innocent that even his dazed, slightly flustered reaction was absurdly adorable.

The audience burst into laughter and cheers again. The girl shouted once more:

“We LOVE you!!”

“I LOVE YOU TOO!!”

“Fang Huai, I LOVE YOU!!!”

Fang Huai’s ears turned red as he awkwardly touched the side of his face. He had no idea how to respond, so he simply whispered, “Thank you… Thank you all.”

[WTF, IS THIS EVEN LEGAL?? HOW CAN SOMEONE BE THIS CUTE???]

[Is it just my mom-filtered vision, or is he both handsome and adorable at the same time?? This feels unfair.]

[Alright, I’m sold. Rustic, wholesome country boy supremacy!]

At that moment, the judges, after a serious discussion, finally reached their decision on Fang Huai’s score.

But they didn’t reveal it immediately. Instead, the lead judge smiled at the camera and teased:

“As everyone knows, many people didn’t believe in Fang Huai at first,” he said. “Even we, the judges, didn’t expect… that Fang Huai would bring us such a massive surprise.”

“Fang Huai, thank you for coming to Star Light. Thank you for your music.”

“Our final score for you is—”

“9.9.”

The highest score of the night.

For one stunned second, the recording studio fell dead silent.

And then—

The place EXPLODED.

*

In the audience.

Lu Yu stared at the radiant figure on stage, his face darkening for a split second. But the moment the camera panned to him, he immediately flashed a bright, flawless smile.

“Lu Yu,” a staff member asked, “what are your thoughts?”

“He completely deserves it.” Lu Yu’s smile didn’t falter, his tone as gentle as ever. “Congratulations to him, and best wishes as well. I’m honored to have such a strong competitor, and I look forward to interacting with him more in the future.

“Let’s grow together.”

As he spoke, he formed a heart shape with his hands. “Fang Huai, keep going!”

The moment the camera turned away, however, his smile faded.

*

Not far away.

The thunderous applause and cheers continued.

Fans shouted loudly—“Baby, go for it!” and “Fang Huai, I love you!”—their voices echoing down the halls.

At the entrance of the corridor, a man in a sleek suit stood silently, his expression unreadable.

When he heard the words “We love you”, the corners of his lips curved slightly… but then tightened again.

For a split second, his dark eyes flickered with something… almost like sadness.

Fang Huai… had so many people who loved him now.

And in the future, there would be even more.

It was only natural.

He was just that good.

“President Ye?” His secretary’s voice carefully pulled him from his thoughts.

Ye Yuyuan let out a soft “Mm,” lowered his gaze, and turned to leave.

But suddenly, his steps faltered.

His dark eyes shook.

—A cleaning robot was rolling past him, sweeping the hallway for the hundredth time.

But this one had a small metal clip on its back, holding a tiny paper card.

It was the same model as the ones from two nights ago at Starlight Entertainment’s headquarters. Identical in appearance.

And coincidentally, after that night, Starlight Entertainment had replaced all of its cleaning robots. The old models were swapped out.

…But Fang Huai didn’t know any of this.

He only knew… that the little robot who had once told him “I like you” was gone.

Ye Yuyuan paused for a moment, then bent down to pick up the small paper card. It was hastily written by Fang Huai before he went on stage, the boy’s handwriting elegant and distinct:

“Thank you for liking me.”

“May you and the one you love never be separated.”

“……”

Ye Yuyuan stood in silence for a moment, his gaze softening unexpectedly.

The usually reserved man pressed his lips together slightly, his slender fingers holding the card as his eyes traced over the words, inch by inch.

After a long while, he lowered his gaze. His cold, indifferent eyes softened in a way that was almost unbelievable.

He curled the corner of his lips slightly and murmured,

“I’ll take your blessing.”

…Never be separated.