All the Cubs I Raised Became Big Shots – CH70

Chapter 70

After Ye Yuyuan spoke, the car fell into silence again. His expression remained calm—unchanging from start to finish—yet there was a faint gloom lingering between his brows.

Lin Huan sat in the backseat, head lowered, scrolling through her phone—a stark contrast to her attitude yesterday. She seemed bored and uninterested.

A follow-cam was installed in the car, and at that moment, the livestream was broadcasting their date. The show aired all three dates simultaneously, but the order in which they appeared in the livestream was random.

Viewers had just finished watching Yin Wanyue and Fang Huai visit the great white shark exhibit, and then rode a roller coaster with Feng Lang and Duan Yang.

[I never knew what the inside of a Maybach looked like before. Thank you, production team. Thank you, President Ye, for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. 55555 (crying emojis)]
[Exactly as I expected—this atmosphere is so awkward HAHAHA. President Ye is truly the ultimate straight-laced, unromantic man.]
[Makes sense. With a face like his and a bank account balance like this, if his personality didn’t have some flaws, how could he still be single?]
[I don’t think he’s emotionally unintelligent. He just isn’t interested in any of the guests.]

The camera lingered for just a moment before quietly cutting away.

Lin Huan, having scrolled through her phone with nothing else to do, noticed a book on the seat next to her.

She hesitated for a moment before asking, “Can I borrow this to read?”

She had expected someone like Ye Yuyuan to keep books on data analytics or the future of artificial intelligence in his car.

Surprisingly, the book was a Japanese novel titled “Unrequited Love.”

Ye Yuyuan gave a faint “Mhm.”

Lin Huan picked up the book and casually flipped through it—until she suddenly froze.

…Inside one of the pages was a wooden token.

Not just a random scrap of wood—it had been carefully carved, its edges smoothed and polished. On the back, there was a symbolic totem.

Lin Huan’s mind flashed back to a conversation she’d had with a friend just a few days ago during a trip:

“There’s an abandoned grand theater in the outskirts of Nan City, and next to it stands a hundred-year-old tree. They say it’s a wishing tree, incredibly effective.

You write your wish on a wooden token and hang one piece on the tree—while keeping the other piece for yourself.

More often than not… the wish actually comes true.”

At that time, her friend had even shown her the wooden token she had kept. Her friend was frail and often sick, and on the token, she had written a wish for good health.

Lin Huan wasn’t from Nan City and was skeptical about local superstitions, but she had still memorized the design of the wooden token—its carved edges and the totem drawn on the back.

So President Ye believes in this too?

She wondered what he had wished for. The thought felt both absurd and fascinating.

It was certainly impolite to pry into someone’s privacy, and she had no intention of doing so. However, as she closed the book, her peripheral vision accidentally caught sight of the writing on the token.

…Only two characters.

If she wasn’t mistaken, they read—Lin Huan’s heart pounded wildly!

She suddenly found herself unable to control her expression, feeling as if she had stumbled upon something she wasn’t meant to see.

But when she met Ye Yuyuan’s gaze in the rearview mirror—those deep, dark eyes—a realization suddenly struck her like lightning.

This was Ye Yuyuan’s car.

Everything she had seen was because he wanted her to see it.

This was a hint. Or rather, a reminder.

She recalled the fleeting thoughts she had just entertained about Fang Huai, those delicate, budding feelings. And just at that moment—coincidentally or not—she had come across this wooden token.

After carefully considering what she had seen, the bubbling pink thoughts in her heart quietly faded away.

Feeling flustered, she shut her eyes, but the image of that wooden token kept replaying in her mind.

What had Ye Yuyuan wished for?

The writing on that token was bold and forceful. It wasn’t about money, power, fame, or peace and happiness.

Every stroke, every character… spelled out one name.

…Fang Huai.

*

At the Aquarium

While Yin Wanyue was in the restroom, Fang Huai received a call from Shi Feiran regarding his album.

The preparations for Abyss Moonlight were complete, and its promotional campaign was set to begin in a few days. There was an important year-end music award they could still compete for if they acted quickly. Otherwise, the next major award wouldn’t be until April next year, which would be far too long of a wait.

Of course, despite the tight schedule, Fang Huai’s team never compromised on quality.

Everyone who had worked with him knew his standards well.

He had once stayed in the recording studio until 2 AM, obsessing over a single offbeat rhythm, repeatedly discussing and revising it with the sound engineer—meticulously fine-tuning every tiny detail.

“You need to prepare yourself,” Shi Feiran warned him again. “The results might not be what we hope for.”

“That’s something we can’t control. All we can do is our best.”

In reality, Shi Feiran had already conducted a small round of testing and market research—and the response wasn’t very encouraging. He was deeply concerned about the album’s sales and reception, afraid it might end up pleasing no one.

The year-end award was prestigious, but…

The problem was, the judging panel had a terrible habit.

They didn’t just evaluate based on quality—they also considered seniority.

If a newcomer submitted their work, there was a high chance that the judges wouldn’t even bother listening to it.

This was Shi Feiran’s biggest worry.

But they had to give it a shot. With the popularity of Signal of the Heart, the album’s sales shouldn’t be too disastrous—and the judges might take that into account.

Fang Huai nodded. “It’s fine. I understand.”

He could only do his best. Everything else was beyond his control.

After hanging up, he continued watching the tropical fish through the glass.

They were pale in color, and among them, two fish in particular looked like peach blossoms.

Suddenly, the two fish bumped their lips together for a moment—then quickly separated and swam away in opposite directions.

Fang Huai’s eyes widened slightly. “…?”

[It’s a kissing fish! 23333, our little cutie’s reaction is adorable!]

[A single cutie just took 10,000 points of emotional damage from a pair of couple fish.]

[Cutie, I volunteer!]

Yin Wanyue soon came back and stood beside Fang Huai, watching the fish together. The two kissing fish kissed again.

As they walked forward, they started chatting—mostly Yin Wanyue talking.

Since they had previously touched on the topic of “liking someone,” and because the show itself revolved around romance, the production team had subtly hinted for them to discuss relationship-related topics.

“Someone like Film Emperor Feng,” Yin Wanyue analyzed, “he seems gentle and affectionate, but he’s actually not easy to fall in love.”

“Lin Huan, on the other hand, she’s the type of girl who falls in love wholeheartedly. Once she likes someone, it’s probably for life.”

Fang Huai watched the tropical fish for a while before suddenly turning to look at Yin Wanyue and asking, “What about Ye Yuyuan?”

Yin Wanyue raised her eyebrows in slight surprise before chuckling.

“Oh, President Ye? Hmm… how should I put it?”

It was hard to find the right words to describe him.

He was definitely inexperienced in relationships—his awkwardness in this area was obvious—but…

“‘I love you, but you are free.’” Yin Wanyue said thoughtfully. “That’s the feeling he gives me.”

Fang Huai froze for a moment.

He wanted to ask something, struggled with his thoughts for a while, but in the end, he wasn’t sure what he even wanted to say.

“I think…”

As Yin Wanyue listened, she stopped by a vending station to buy some water.

Just then, a staff member with a friendly smile walked up and asked, “Hello! Would you be interested in trying out our diving experience?”

Fang Huai & Yin Wanyue: “?”

The staff pointed toward the glass wall behind them.

They were standing inside a transparent tunnel. The entire aquarium was designed with glass tunnels, allowing visitors to walk through and view the exhibits with water and fish surrounding them from all sides—above their heads, beside them, and even beneath their feet.

The last exhibit had been the White Shark Zone, and now they were in a different section, filled with gentler, harmless fish—some of which were even affectionate towards humans. There were even species used for fish therapy.

Because Signal of the Heart was filming, the aquarium had temporarily cleared the visitor pathways. However, the exhibit areas themselves remained open.

Through the transparent tunnel walls, Fang Huai and Yin Wanyue could see a young girl in a diving suit, guided by a staff member, swimming underwater.

She was holding a handful of fish food, and several fish swirled around her excitedly.

“This is our new project. We haven’t officially started promoting it yet,” the staff member said with a smile. “No waiting in line required.”

Yin Wanyue quickly understood—the aquarium knew they were filming a live show and didn’t want to miss out on this golden opportunity. They were trying to promote their new attraction through the program. She had to admit—it was a smart business move.

Fang Huai glanced at the scene with curiosity but didn’t respond.

Unfortunately, Yin Wanyue was on her period, so she had to decline.

“Then I won’t go either,” Fang Huai said immediately.

He was actually quite interested, but there was no way he’d leave Yin Wanyue alone. That would just be too awkward for her.

“Go ahead, cutie,” Yin Wanyue said casually, sitting down. “I’m a bit tired anyway, so I’ll rest for a bit. I actually wanted to try it too, so you can go and tell me what it’s like. If it’s fun, I’ll come back next time.”

The two hesitated for a moment before Fang Huai finally gave in.

“Alright, I’ll be back soon.”

Yin Wanyue nodded with a smile.

She lowered her head to scroll through her phone for a while. When she looked up again, she suddenly started coughing violently.

Had she seen that right? Ye Yuyuan… why was he here?!

*

Twenty minutes later.

Since this was a recreational diving activity, the water wasn’t very deep, and no special training was required.

Fang Huai changed into the diving suit, put on the equipment, and got familiar with the basics under the instructor’s guidance. It didn’t take long before he got the hang of it.

He had to admit—the underwater world was truly fascinating.

There was no sound of air movement anymore, only the muffled noises of water. The world felt distant and isolated, with nothing but the sound of his own breathing filling his ears. Water surrounded him, enveloping his entire body, and tiny fish gently nibbled at his fingers.

His mind suddenly drifted far away.

Just now, Fang Huai had really wanted to ask Yin Wanyue—what does it feel like to like someone?

He had asked another girl the same question once.

Her answer back then was: “I want to kiss, I want to hug, I want to always be with that person.”

Later, he played Lin Shuheng in a drama.

Lin Shuheng’s feelings for Fang Jianguo seemed to have some of that “want to kiss, want to hug” element. But Fang Huai had clearly realized—that wasn’t the most important part. That was just a small fraction of it.

What mattered more was something entirely different—

—When you see that person, the whole world lights up.

Suddenly, you become just an ordinary person, experiencing the joys and sorrows of everyday life.

Everything in your world gains sound and color.

It was a feeling so humble, so cautious, that you wouldn’t dare to voice it out loud.

Underwater, Fang Huai opened his eyes.

He was wearing goggles and a breathing tube—the kind that extended up to the water’s surface. Since the water wasn’t deep, he didn’t need an oxygen tank.

The current brushed against his skin, his forehead strands swaying in the water, moving naturally with his motions. Beneath them, his clear eyes were slightly fogged over.

Suddenly, the lights dimmed.

The lighting here was designed to adjust periodically based on the fish’s natural rhythms. It seemed that the cycle had now reached the “dimming phase.”

Fang Huai instinctively held his breath.

His once-clear vision blurred into darkness, and for a fleeting moment, panic set in. Fang Huai reached forward with the flow of the water until his fingers touched the cool glass wall—

In the dim world, a touch of color suddenly appeared.

Fang Huai stopped in front of the glass, momentarily forgetting to breathe, staring ahead in a daze.

Just beyond the glass was the transparent tunnel corridor for visitors. The corridor lights had dimmed as well, yet somehow, despite the haze and darkness, Fang Huai spotted Ye Yuyuan at a glance.

The man stepped into the tunnel, walking silently forward with his usual handsome yet reserved demeanor.

He was a man of restraint, his emotions buried deep. At first glance, he seemed distant and unapproachable. Fang Huai had seen comments about Ye Yuyuan online after getting to know him, and he often doubted whether they were even talking about the same person.

The Ye Yuyuan he knew was reliable, trustworthy, and even…

Even?

Fang Huai felt as if he had grasped onto a loose thread, only for it to slip away from his fingers almost immediately. He parted his lips, a small trail of bubbles escaping, as he pressed a hand lightly against the glass, staring outside—confused yet intent.

He watched as Ye Yuyuan walked toward him, stopping directly in front of him.

Ye Yuyuan tilted his head slightly, his dark eyes fixing on the transparent glass.

“Ye Yuyuan.” Fang Huai held his breath, shaping the words silently with his lips. “You came here?”

He recalled that Ye Yuyuan and Lin Huan’s date had been at an art exhibition.

Ye Yuyuan remained silent for a moment before giving a faint nod.

I came to see you.

That was the answer Ye Yuyuan gave in his heart.

Fang Huai instinctively smiled.

His eyes curved with his smile, and though water and glass separated them, it felt as if some invisible barrier had vanished entirely. His heart still pounded fast, his breath quick, a faint tingling spreading up his spine. He knew he was sick, yet this sickness brought him an inexplicable thrill and joy.

“I really wanted to see you.” He clumsily gestured, bubbles escaping from his lips as he said, “I wasn’t avoiding you on purpose before.”

Ye Yuyuan’s expression flickered with confusion.

Fang Huai was certain he couldn’t hear or understand him, and somehow, that realization made him feel relieved.

The lights dimmed further.

The tunnel behind the glass was empty, the corridor deserted. Fang Huai was completely submerged, water gliding smoothly over his skin as he continued, “I kind of regret not coming to the aquarium with you.”

“Of course, I like Yin Wanyue a lot too, but… you and her are different.”

Ye Yuyuan gazed at him, silent and serious.

At that moment, Fang Huai paused.

Different.

How… how were they different?

Beyond the glass, Ye Yuyuan’s thin lips suddenly moved. He said something.

Fang Huai didn’t know how to read lips. He blinked in confusion. “What?”

Ye Yuyuan looked at him silently. A faint glimmer of amusement appeared in his eyes.

Then, he repeated himself.

Fang Huai: “Telling me to come out? Wait a second, I’ll be quick—”

Ye Yuyuan hesitated for a moment, then slowly pressed a hand against the glass.

Whether intentional or not, his palm landed exactly where Fang Huai’s hand was.

Only then did he lift his gaze to meet Fang Huai’s, his dark eyes softening as he looked at him—gently, attentively.

The atmosphere grew still.

The words Fang Huai had been about to say vanished from his mind. Lowering his gaze, he stared at the person so close to him, separated only by his diving mask, the seawater, and the glass.

The water ebbed and flowed, tiny tropical fish slipping through his fingers. All sounds faded away. The lights dimmed little by little, water murmuring past his ears, and yet—he could see Ye Yuyuan clearly.

From his striking brows and eyes, to the bridge of his nose, to his lips.

He was looking at him. And in the depths of his pitch-black eyes, Fang Huai’s reflection was all there was—as if he alone made up Ye Yuyuan’s entire world.

Fang Huai had never paid much attention to people’s appearances. But he knew one thing—Ye Yuyuan was beautiful.

So beautiful that it made him want to…

Just as that thought took shape, the lights around him went out completely.

All sound vanished from his ears, leaving only the pounding of his heartbeat—louder and louder, hammering against his ribs, his breath growing shallow and erratic.

Fang Huai clenched his palm, his throat tightening.

With the aquarium plunged into darkness, the thought surfaced again—slowly, this time, like a revelation.

He had never seen someone so beautiful before.

So beautiful that it made him want to… kiss him.

So he wasn’t sick after all.

Fang Huai stood there, lost, disoriented, as the realization struck him.

He was just… moved.

By Ye Yuyuan.

In that instant, it was as if fireworks had exploded in his mind—brilliant bursts of light, countless stars flickering to life, dazzling and overwhelming. A storm of fire and rain crashed down upon his world, shaking him to his very core.

His vision was swallowed by darkness, but for the first time, colors he had never known surged through his consciousness—shattering the old and painting something new into his life.

And in that overwhelming moment of shadow and revelation, Fang Huai lifted a hand, removed his diving mask…

His heartbeat roared.

Lowering his eyes, moving only by memory, separated by the glass—

He kissed the first person he had ever liked.

*

Much later, Fang Huai would finally learn.

That day at the aquarium, through the glass, Ye Yuyuan had looked at him so intently, repeating the same words over and over.

Those words were: “I like you.”

And in the instant the lights died—when the world plunged into darkness—

When Fang Huai pressed a kiss against the glass—

On the other side, someone had lowered their eyes, leaned in…

And kissed him back.