Volume 1, Chapter 143: Whoever is in this room tonight will be in great danger.

Early morning.

Jiang Yu climbed out of bed and let out a yawn. The television series had finished filming and concluded; a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders, and he had slept exceptionally soundly last night.

The only downside was that he hadn't slept in his bed. He had been too hasty in his retreat yesterday and ended up in his study instead of his bedroom.

As for why he hadn't left, an excited, burly man was still blocking the way outside the door. If he had stepped out, who knew what might happen? A young man must always protect himself well at home.

Fortunately, the study was covered in a soft carpet, which was actually quite comfortable to sleep on.

He gently opened the study door. The burly man was asleep on the floor outside.

Jiang Yu tiptoed, intending to step right over him, but accidentally trod on the man’s foot.

President Wang opened his eyes, bleary with sleep, and looked at Jiang Yu. "Why are you up so early?"

Jiang Yu’s eyes darted around. "Oh, you were drunk last night and fell asleep on the floor. I’ll have your driver come pick you up."

The still-dazed President Wang nodded and laid his head back down.

Before long, his driver arrived at the house.

Jiang Yu smiled. "Your boss stayed up a bit late last night. Take him home."

The driver nodded, hoisted President Wang up, and carried him away, delivering him back to his residence in Jiangxia.

An hour later, President Wang slowly blinked his eyes open, sat up in bed, and let out a roar: "Jiang Yu, don't let me catch you next time!"

But by then, Jiang Yu was happily enjoying breakfast and scrolling through his phone. There were dozens of missed calls, all with the same contact name: Editor Cherry.

With so many messages, perhaps he should reply?

Jiang Yu tapped a few times, set his phone face down on the table, and began packing. He was set to join the Spring Festival Gala production team today.

Just then, the door opened. It was Su Muyu. They had agreed she would accompany him to the Gala, and after it concluded, he would go home with her.

Jiang Yu had intended to give her a proper hug, but Su Muyu’s eyes were red-rimmed, and there was a flicker of anger in her gaze.

"What’s wrong this early in the morning? Who upset you?"

Su Muyu threw herself into Jiang Yu’s arms, looking aggrieved. "You are just too heartless. Gui Li is so pitiful."

Hearing this, Jiang Yu couldn't help but laugh, gently stroking her smooth, long hair. "If you think about it, isn't this the best ending? The ending is whatever the audience imagines it to be."

Su Muyu thought about the final chapter and nodded, though she remained somewhat unconvinced, nuzzling into his chest like a little kitten.

Jiang Yu rested his chin on the top of her head. "Alright, don't be sad. If we don't leave now, we’ll miss our flight."

***

Meanwhile, Cherry, who had pulled an all-nighter trying to reach Jiang Yu only to finally drift off, opened her eyes.

With bloodshot eyes, her first instinct was to check her phone. Seeing a red notification dot on the ID she had been thinking about, she excitedly opened the chat window.

Upon opening it, she found only one sentence: "‘Zhu Xian’ is finished. I need a good rest. Dear editor, see you for the next book!"

When she tried to call him back, all she heard was: "The user you have dialed is temporarily unavailable."

He hadn't blocked her; it was just that Jiang Yu was currently on a flight heading toward the capital.

Exiting the airport, Jiang Yu and Su Muyu were about to call a car when a young man approached, looking visibly excited. "Hello, are you Teacher Jiang Yu? I’m from the Spring Festival Gala production team, sent to take you to the hotel. Just call me Xiao Zhou."

Jiang Yu smiled. "Xiao Zhou, sorry for the trouble."

***

After checking in, Jiang Yu brought his suitcase into the room.

Su Muyu followed, looking around, a satisfied expression on her face. "The environment is quite nice."

"It is," Jiang Yu said, taking a running leap onto the bed and bouncing. "I never imagined I’d have the day where I’d perform at the Spring Festival Gala."

"Yes, I never thought you’d make it to the Gala so quickly either. Who would have thought that the shy boy from our school days would be standing on the Spring Festival Gala stage just a few months later?" Su Muyu laughed. "Do you remember how confident you were singing solo at the graduation party?"

"Of course I remember..."

The two lay on the bed, chatting about the past.

Time slipped by. Su Muyu checked the time.

"It's good to know where you're staying. Get some rest and prepare for the Gala. It's getting late, so I'll go find a different hotel. I'll come to see you in between rehearsals."

Hearing this, Jiang Yu, who had been lying down, sat bolt upright. "You’re going to stay somewhere else?"

"Yes, why?"

"No reason, it’s just... this room is quite large, why waste the money? I’ll be off rehearsing anyway, so no one will be here during the day. Why don't you just..."

Su Muyu gave him a playful look. "No one is here during the day, but someone is here at night. That would be very dangerous."

Jiang Yu’s lips curled upward. He sprang from the bed with lightning speed and caught Su Muyu in his arms.

Su Muyu let out a gasp as she was pressed down onto the bed.

Their breathing quickened.

"You said it was dangerous at night. May I ask, Miss Su, what is the source of this danger?"

Su Muyu’s face was flushed a brilliant red. Her lips, coated in lip gloss, were dewy and plump, slightly parted, exhaling a faint, warm heat.

"It’s still daytime, and look at this. Are you saying it won't be even more dangerous at night?"

Jiang Yu grinned. "As Miss Su’s boyfriend, I have a duty to protect my girlfriend. I would never let you fall into danger."

"The biggest danger is you..."

"Mmm..."

"Jiang Yu..."

A phone ringtone erupted, pulling the two of them back to reality just as things were heating up.

Jiang Yu gritted his teeth and located his phone. The caller ID showed it was his mother.

Could it be that brat Jiang Ru again? Was the "Five-Year College Entrance Exam, Three-Year Simulation" not enough for her last time?

Su Muyu straightened her clothes, watching Jiang Yu’s teeth-gnashing expression, and couldn't help but laugh.

Hearing her laughter, Jiang Yu rolled his eyes in annoyance. *Jiang Ru, you better hope you actually have something important!*

"Son, where are you right now? Are you busy with work?"

He answered the video call, his temper ready to flare, but he forced it down and put on a smile.

"I’ve been a bit busy lately! Mom, have you eaten?"

"I have. It’s the dead of winter, make sure to wear more clothes, don't catch a cold."

"I know."

"Son, Mom heard that people in your line of work often can't come home for the New Year. I called to ask, are you coming home for the holidays this year?"

Jiang Yu felt a pang of regret. "Mom, I probably can't make it home for the New Year this year. I still have work."

Upon hearing this, a visible shadow of disappointment fell over Pan Lanzhi’s face. "Work comes first, don't you worry about us at home."

Seeing this, Jiang Yu smiled. "Mom, even if I can't be home, you’ll be able to see me on TV. Your son is going to be on the Spring Festival Gala!"

Pan Lanzhi went completely still.

"The... the Spring Festival Gala?"