After ninety-nine online romances, I finally met my ex in person when school started.

Zhu Xun Chuan looked at the message Gu Qing Han had sent on the screen: "Inspecting the authenticity of your leave request," without the slightest hint of panic. He tapped the screen lightly, typing out four words with one hand.

"I'm ready to serve you anytime."

He pressed the send button and then placed his phone face down on the table.

Across from her, Su Mucheng gripped her phone tightly, her knuckles taut. The internet was in an uproar; clips of Pei Yanyu's live stream at Peking University's Centennial Auditorium were everywhere.

"Brother Chuan." Su Mucheng's voice trembled, her peach blossom eyes filled with panic. "Everyone outside is going crazy. Hundreds of paparazzi have blocked the entrance to the film studio. Senior Pei's convoy is about to get off the highway in twenty minutes. The production team said in the group chat that Director Wang is smashing his walkie-talkie, and the recording has been completely paralyzed."

Su Mucheng moved closer to Zhu Xunchuan and hugged his arm. She wasn't afraid the show would be canceled; she was only afraid that the movie queen with tens of millions of active fans and invincible capital would rush into the RV and snatch Zhu Xunchuan away right in front of her.

She was completely powerless to fight back.

There was a frantic banging on the door. The producer outside was frantic, his voice trembling: "Brother Chuan! Teacher Su! They can't hold them off outside! The security is about to be broken up by the reporters, what do we do?"

Zhu Xun Chuan patted Su Mu Cheng's hand, then got up and opened the door a crack.

Director Wang was standing outside, sweating profusely, frantically shouting into his phone. Upon seeing Zhu Xun Chuan, Director Wang nearly cried: "Master Chuan, you're like my own father! This program has a performance-based agreement; if Actress Pei comes in and causes a scene, the breach of contract penalties could bankrupt the production company!"

"Twenty minutes," Zhu Xun Chuan said calmly. "Load all the cameras and core equipment into the vehicles. All the celebrities will get into the vans, with the windows covered by black curtains. The non-celebrity guests will sit in the two minibuses."

Director Wang was stunned: "The gate is blocked by hundreds of cars, how are we supposed to get out?"

Zhu Xun Chuan didn't explain, took out his phone, and dialed Lin Yuan's number directly.

"Lin Yuan, use my account to contact the 'Sea Cliff' private resort in Dongjiang Port, Tianjin." Zhu Xun Chuan's tone was clear and decisive. "Book it all, for a week. Money is not a problem, I need to see the admission permit within half an hour."

After giving his instructions, he switched to his contacts and opened an unmarked, encrypted number. It was a private line that Old Master Shen had left at the Tianjin Military Region Logistics Department.

"North Gate 2 of the film studio," Zhu Xun Chuan said in a low voice, "I need to borrow three heavy logistics trucks registered on the military region's intranet to clear a passage for the film crew's convoy."

Ten minutes later, at the main gate of the film studio.

Hundreds of entertainment reporters and paparazzi were setting up their cameras and microphones, their eyes glued to the gate. Everyone was waiting for Pei Yanyu's convoy to arrive, ready to capture the first glimpse of this epic public feud.

No one noticed that the abandoned North Gate 2 of the film studio had its metal gate pulled open from the inside.

Three heavy trucks with military green camouflage tarpaulins flashing their hazard lights and roaring engines forced their way through. Immediately afterward, a dozen black vans, minibuses, and equipment vehicles followed closely behind the trucks, filing out one after another and disappearing into the darkness unnoticed.

Inside the nanny van, Su Mucheng walked barefoot on the cashmere carpet, looking at the night view rushing past the window, still feeling somewhat unreal.

A devastating crisis that could have shaken the entire entertainment industry was averted by two phone calls from Zhu Xun Chuan, turning into a road trip for a sudden escape.

The bright yellow streetlights on the highway swept into the car in waves.

Zhu Xunchuan leaned back on the sofa and closed his eyes to rest.

Su Mucheng carefully moved over and knelt down beside him. She didn't dare ask about Pei Yanyu, so she reached out and unbuttoned the top button of Zhu Xunchuan's shirt to make it easier for him to breathe.

Zhu Xun Chuan opened his eyes and looked down into her wet, peach-blossom eyes.

"Afraid?" Zhu Xunchuan asked.

Su Mucheng shook her head vigorously, then pressed her face against his knee and wrapped her arms around his thighs.

"As long as I can be by my brother's side, I'm willing to run away anywhere." Her voice was soft, revealing a desperate and clingy devotion. "I don't care about those trending topics, and I don't want to go back to Peking University. I just want to stay with you like this."

Zhu Xun Chuan reached out his large hand and placed it on Su Mu Cheng's head. His fingers ran through her soft hair, gently stroking it.

"No one can ruin my plan." Zhu Xun Chuan's voice was deep and resolute. "Sleep soundly. When we wake up tomorrow morning, we'll watch the sunrise at the beach."

Su Mucheng was completely enveloped by this sense of security, and her tense nerves relaxed. She obediently closed her eyes, nestled on his lap, and fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning.

"Sea Cliff" private resort in Dongjiang Port, Tianjin.

The salty sea breeze dispelled everyone's fatigue from staying up all night and moving between locations. Sunlight spread across the golden sand, and waves crashed against the rocks.

Director Wang stood in front of a detached villa with a private infinity pool, looking at the extremely luxurious security facilities around him, his hands trembling with excitement. What was originally a mess facing cancellation at any moment has now been completely transformed, becoming the pinnacle of domestic dating reality shows in terms of production quality.

The way the production crew looked at Zhu Xunchuan had changed from awe to complete worship.

Inside the spacious panoramic glass observation room, all kinds of camera positions have been set up.

Zhu Xun Chuan, dressed in a loose white linen shirt, black casual trousers, and wearing a Patek Philippe watch, sat in the main observer's seat. His powerful aura of authority allowed him to firmly occupy the center position.

Su Mucheng finished her makeup and hair early, completely ignoring the gazes of the staff around her, and walked straight to Zhu Xunchuan.

She bent down, gently pinched the collar clip microphone between her hands, and carefully pinned it to Zhu Xun Chuan's shirt collar. Her movements were soft and delicate, carrying a strong sense of exclusivity. After tidying it up, she smoothed out the wrinkles at Zhu Xun Chuan's collar.

"Is the sound recording normal?" Su Mucheng turned to ask the sound engineer.

The sound engineer nodded, sweating profusely.

This isn't the nation's first love at all; she's more like a virtuous little wife serving her husband as he leaves for the day. The entire production crew tacitly kept their mouths shut, no one daring to glance at her.

"All departments, get ready! Three, two, one, power on!" Director Wang shouted, holding up the walkie-talkie.

The monitor screen lights up.

On the beach outside, five couples who had once been in love and then broken up entered one after another, each carrying their own luggage, as strangers. Some deliberately avoided eye contact, while others secretly exerted force when shaking hands; undercurrents instantly surged.

The recording has officially begun.

Zhu Xun Chuan looked at the ordinary men and women on the screen, his slender fingers twirling the pen, preparing to give his first evaluation.

The phone on the table suddenly started vibrating violently.

The screen lit up; it was a WeChat location sharing invitation.

Sender: Gu Qinghan.

Zhu Xun Chuan didn't answer, but instead opened the previous message sent by Gu Qing Han.

A screenshot of a high-speed train ticket, destination: Tianjin Station. Immediately following is a text message: "Just got off the high-speed train, still 20 kilometers to go."

Zhu Xun Chuan put down his pen and whispered something to Su Mu Cheng beside him.

"I'm going to have a smoke, you go ahead and record."

He stood up, pushed open the glass door of the observation room, and walked along the wooden boardwalk toward the resort's gate.

The sea breeze was slightly cool.

Just as Zhu Xunchuan reached the security post, a black Audi A6L with a Beijing license plate broke through the morning mist and came to a steady stop outside the resort's main entrance.

The car door remained closed. The rear window slowly rolled down.

Gu Qinghan sat in the leather chair. Today she was wearing a fitted black trench coat over a white silk shirt.

The gold-rimmed glasses perched on her high nose bridge accentuated her aloof and intellectual air.

Their eyes met in the air.

Gu Qinghan stared coldly at Zhu Xunchuan's slightly open linen shirt collar, his gaze sweeping over his calm face, which showed no trace of illness.

"Congratulations, classmate." Gu Qinghan's voice was cold and clear, carrying a hidden emotion. "Your follow-up examination for the Traditional Chinese Medicine department has already taken place at the Tianjin seaside?"