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

Su Mucheng was stunned.

"If you can't bear to part with her, then don't." Zhu Xun Chuan reached out and openly tidied a stray hair behind Su Mu Cheng's ear. "My girl doesn't need to weigh these things. She just needs to stand there, and people will naturally come to her."

This statement not only commented on Lu Zhou on the screen, but also directly gave Su Mucheng a strong sense of security.

Tears welled up in Su Mucheng's eyes. Completely oblivious to the cameras, she gripped Zhu Xunchuan's clothes tightly with both hands. The intense sense of inferiority she felt because of Jiang Yao and Xia Wanying's sudden arrival vanished in that instant.

Xia Wanying on the left and Jiang Yao on the right both fell silent. They knew Zhu Xunchuan was trying to balance things, but his words, "If you can't bear to part with it, then don't," still struck them deeply.

After filming wrapped, Director Wang excitedly yelled "Cut!"

Su Mucheng's manager immediately stepped forward and took Su Mucheng, whose eyes were red, backstage to touch up her makeup.

Zhu Xun Chuan stood up, loosened his tie, and turned to walk towards the restroom in the corridor outside the studio, where there were no surveillance cameras.

As soon as I reached the deepest corner of the corridor, a scent that blended cool woody notes with wild roses wafted towards me.

The sounds of high heels and Doc Martens footsteps stopped simultaneously.

Jiang Yao and Xia Wanying, one on each side, blocked Zhu Xunchuan in front of the corridor wall.

Jiang Yao casually unzipped her black leather jacket. With her hands in her pockets, chin slightly raised, and eyes radiating a fierce intensity, she asked, "Honey, who were you really talking to when you said 'hitting a brick wall' on camera just now?"

Xia Wanying leaned against the wall beside Zhu Xunchuan's ear, one hand resting on her chest. Her pure white haute couture suit accentuated her stunning figure. She leaned closer, her voice cold yet provocative: "Mr. Zhu, your words are indeed sharp. I just wonder, whose ledger will ultimately honor these verbal promises?"

The corridor was dimly lit and the space felt cramped.

Facing the two women attacking from both sides, Zhu Xun Chuan did not retreat an inch.

He took a single step forward. His tall figure, exuding an overwhelming sense of oppression, instantly closed in on the two. Zhu Xun Chuan spread his arms wide, placing both hands on the walls on either side of the corridor.

The space was instantly compressed to its limit.

Zhu Xun Chuan used his strong chest to press Jiang Yao and Xia Wan Ying against the wall at the same time. The three of them were almost pressed together.

Xia Wanying's breath hitched. Jiang Yao also unconsciously held her breath.

Zhu Xun Chuan lowered his head. His warm, masculine breath sprayed onto both of their faces at the same time.

"We haven't settled the score from last night at the beach, and you're already trying to pressure us after the show?" Zhu Xun Chuan's gaze darted back and forth between the two women, his voice extremely low. "Have I been too lenient with you guys?"

That absolute control belonging to men instantly dismantled the shell of capital and violence.

Xia Wanying tried to back away, but her back was already pressed firmly against the cold brick wall. She turned her head away, not daring to look directly into Zhu Xun Chuan's deep eyes.

Jiang Yao reacted quite differently. The ferocity in her eyes melted into a pool of spring water, and her gaze became extremely dreamy. Instead of dodging, she tiptoed, tilted her head slightly, and parted her red lips to meet Zhu Xun Chuan's lips.

Just as Jiang Yao's red lips were about to touch Zhu Xun Chuan's.

"Buzz—Buzz—Buzz—"

A sudden, extremely piercing vibration shattered the already tense and ambiguous atmosphere that was on the verge of spiraling out of control in the corridor.

The sound came from the inside pocket of Jiang Yao's leather jacket. That was the most crucial, proprietary, encrypted communication device of the Jiang family in the Northern Territory, only activated in the event of a cataclysmic event.

Jiang Yao frowned deeply. The dazed look in her eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a chilling aura.

She reluctantly stepped back, pulled her pure black satellite phone out of her inside pocket, and glanced at the garbled information that popped up on the screen.

"What's wrong?" Zhu Xun Chuan noticed the change in her aura and asked in a deep voice.

Jiang Yao gripped her phone tightly, her knuckles turning white. She looked up at Zhu Xun Chuan, her voice so cold it seemed as if ice shards could fall from it.

"Something's happened in the North. Someone's stolen Jiang family's goods."

The ambiguous atmosphere in the corridor was instantly replaced by a chilling, murderous aura. Jiang Yao's eyes, which had just been full of affection, were now frozen with a terrifying frost. She gripped the pure black satellite phone, her knuckles bulging from her grip.

"Old K, seal off the entrance to Tianjin. Tell Ah She that since that shipment is lost, use the heads of his entire family to make up for it." Jiang Yao's voice was flat, yet it carried a chillingly bloody undertone.

She hung up the phone and stuffed it back into her leather jacket pocket. Xia Wanying leaned against the other wall, arms crossed, watching coldly. Capital had always scorned the bloodshed and ruthlessness of the underworld.

Jiang Yao turned around, the murderous aura she exuded, ready to devour anyone, still lingering. She took a deep breath, preparing to bid farewell to Zhu Xun Chuan.

Before she could speak, Zhu Xun Chuan reached out his large hand, grabbed the back of her head, and forcibly pulled her back into his arms.

With a "bang," Jiang Yao's nose bumped into Zhu Xun Chuan's solid chest.

Zhu Xun Chuan lowered his head, and with the warm fingertips of his other hand, he gently pressed Jiang Yao's brows together, slowly smoothing out her furrowed brows.

"You don't need to put on this murderous act in front of me." Zhu Xun Chuan's voice was deep and mellow, revealing absolute tolerance.

These casual words instantly shattered Jiang Yao's layers of defenses.

The terrifying aura emanating from her crumbled in that instant. Her body went limp, and her eyes involuntarily reddened. Just a moment ago, she was the decisive and ruthless empress of the Northern Frontier; now, she had become a girl who had suffered a tremendous injustice outside.

She clung tightly to Zhu Xun Chuan's waist, burying her face in the crook of his neck, greedily inhaling the crisp scent of sea breeze and tobacco emanating from him.

"Husband..." Jiang Yao's voice was thick with nasal tone, and the cold voice that had just issued the kill order had become incredibly sweet and innocent. "The old man is getting old, and those old things down there are restless. They even dare to touch my goods."

"Do you need me to accompany you to the Northern Border?" Zhu Xun Chuan gently stroked her back, following her wine-red short hair.

"No need." Jiang Yao snuggled against him. "If I can't even handle this little thing, how will I protect you in the future?"

Xia Wanying watched this scene from the side and said coldly, "If Miss Jiang is busy, she should go back and deal with it. Don't delay Mr. Zhu's recording of the program."

Jiang Yao peeked out from Zhu Xun Chuan's arms and glared fiercely at Xia Wan Ying, but quickly leaned back against him softly.

Zhu Xun Chuan ignored Xia Wan Ying's provocation. He bent down, put his hands under Jiang Yao's legs, and picked her up horizontally.

Jiang Yao gasped and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I'll take her to rest for a bit. Mr. Xia, please make yourself at home." Zhu Xun Chuan said this, then carried Jiang Yao directly to the VIP lounge at the end of the corridor, which was not open to the public.

Xia Wanying stared at the solid wood door that had closed in front of her, bit her red lips, and stomped her high heels heavily on the ground.

The lounge was dimly lit. Heavy velvet curtains completely blocked out the sunlight, with only a few wall lamps emitting a warm orange glow. The waves and winds of the surrounding beach were kept out by the glass, and the room was filled with absolute privacy and a sense of security.

Zhu Xun Chuan carried Jiang Yao to the large leather sofa and gently put her down.

Jiang Yao didn't let go; instead, she pulled Zhu Xun Chuan to sit on the edge of the sofa. She took off her heavy Martin boots and wrapped her long legs around Zhu Xun Chuan's thighs.

With a "rip," Jiang Yao reached out and unzipped her black leather jacket, tossing the slightly heavy coat onto the carpet beside her.