Heartthrob, Your Image is Crumbling!

Chapter 587: Jiang Xinyi

Pan Min did not ask too much about Zhou Yuwen's romantic history. The two of them ate at a large round table. The table was so large that even though they sat in adjacent seats, there was still a sense of distance between them. Aside from chatting a bit more at the very beginning, Pan Min spent the rest of the time simply eating her meal with quiet elegance.Zhou Yuwen even had the feeling that Aunt Pan knew he had other women besides Su Qing. However, since Pan Min did not ask, it was impossible for Zhou Yuwen to take the initiative to test the waters.

The two of them coexisted peacefully in this manner. That evening, Zhou Yuwen made a phone call to Su Qing from his room, asking her if Pan Min had mentioned anything about his other women.

"What is it?" Su Qing was still burying her head in her design work. Because it was just a practice rendering, she did not need to think too hard and simply kept her head down to draw. She wore a white shirt, and though her chest was not particularly well-endowed, the two undone buttons revealed her snow-white, swan-like neck and a gold necklace, giving her an aura of cool elegance and sophistication.

Zhou Yuwen recounted the events of the day in detail.

He said, "I feel like Aunt Pan probably knows about my relationships with other girls. Yan Yan and Tao Tian visit my office every day, and now Aunt Pan is working at my company. Has she really never brought it up with you?"

Su Qing genuinely sounded a bit bewildered upon hearing this. She replied, "My mom has never mentioned any of that to me. Maybe she's just a bit slow to notice and hasn't thought much about it."

Zhou Yuwen did not believe this for a second. Recalling how Pan Min had sat perfectly upright during their meal, dining with absolute elegance, he felt certain she knew everything but simply chose not to interfere.

Thinking along these lines, Zhou Yuwen developed another trace of a good impression toward Pan Min.

He could not help but sigh, remarking that if Su Qing possessed even half of Aunt Pan's sensibility, they might not have had such massive conflicts in their previous life.

"Thinking about it like this, do you think there's a chance you aren't actually Aunt Pan's biological daughter? The two of you are nothing alike."

"What nonsense are you spouting?!"

Zhou Yuwen's utter nonsense sparked Su Qing's displeasure. She retorted, "It's also entirely possible that my mom just doesn't want to get involved in your messy affairs!"

"You'd better exercise some restraint, Zhou Yuwen. At the very least, don't go around acting like you have a harem of women in front of my mom!"

Su Qing warned him sternly.

Zhou Yuwen replied that of course he knew.

The two chatted for a little while longer before hanging up. Tossing and turning in bed that night, he found himself entirely unable to sleep.

Stepping out of his room to pour a glass of water, he noticed that the light in the first-floor bathroom was actually still on, and the pattering sound of a running shower drifted out.

Zhou Yuwen tilted his head to take a look and spotted Pan Min's shoes left outside. He figured she must be taking a shower in there.

Even though she was his mother-in-law, there was still a clear boundary between men and women.

Furthermore, Zhou Yuwen truly could not fall asleep tonight.

Deciding to just grab his car keys and head out, Zhou Yuwen initially wanted to find a girl to talk to. However, counting on his fingers, he realized that he actually did not have that many girls in his life.

There was Zheng Yanyan, Tao Tian, and Lu Lin.

As well as Shen Yu and Li Shiqi.

For some reason, Zhou Yuwen did not feel like seeking out any of them.

Just as Zhou Yuwen was at a loss for where to go, He happened to receive a message. It was from Jiang Xinyi.

"Did my mom go looking for you today?"

Jiang Xinyi rarely texted Zhou Yuwen.

In fact, even on the occasions when she did send a message, Zhou Yuwen rarely replied. Over time, the two of them communicated less and less.

Tonight, seeing the message from Jiang Xinyi, Zhou Yuwen hesitated for a moment before finally replying with a simple "Yeah."

Having just returned from the company and now lying prone on her bed, Jiang Xinyi let out a quiet sigh in her heart upon reading his response.

She texted him back: "Don't mind her. My mom always feels like we still have a chance."

In the past, Jiang Xinyi had also felt that she and Zhou Yuwen might still have a chance.

However, her repeated enthusiasm was ultimately met with his coldness every time, leaving her utterly devoid of any hope.

To be honest, Jiang Xinyi felt that their current situation was actually quite nice. Even though they weren't together, they could still work together and discuss problems as a team. This in itself was perfectly fine.

Zhou Yuwen could read the sense of helplessness hidden within her messages.

He felt that he had truly let Jiang Xinyi down.

"Are you at home?" Zhou Yuwen asked.

"Yeah."

It was strange today; Zhou Yuwen had actually sent her a second message. After replying with a simple affirmative, Jiang Xinyi added, "I just got back from the company and I'm a bit hungry. I remember you took me to a small alleyway once. There was a hotpot place in there that was absolutely delicious. I really miss it~"

Zhou Yuwen smiled upon reading this.

He asked Jiang Xinyi if she wanted to go grab a bite right now.

"???"

Jiang Xinyi abruptly sat up from her bed, staring at Zhou Yuwen's message in absolute disbelief.

"Right now?"

Jiang Xinyi sent another message.

Zhou Yuwen replied that yes, right now.

"If you want to go, I'll come pick you up."

"Am I dreaming?"

"Did the hairy crabs my mom sent over actually work?"

Jiang Xinyi sent two messages in a row, making Zhou Yuwen chuckle. He told her to forget it if she didn't want to go.

"Wait, don't! What time are you coming over? Let me get ready."

"No rush. I estimate it'll take me about thirty minutes."

"Okay!"

Despite having been so exhausted that she could barely get up earlier, Jiang Xinyi now hurriedly scrambled out of bed to take a quick shower, freshen up, and change her clothes.

Thirty minutes later, Zhou Yuwen's Land Rover parked downstairs by Jiang Xinyi's villa. With just a quick phone call, the door to the small villa opened. The long-haired Jiang Xinyi appeared, looking gorgeous as she briskly walked up to Zhou Yuwen's car, opened the passenger seat door, and hopped inside.

Jiang Xinyi had just showered. Her fluffy long hair was freshly blow-dried, and a fragrant waft of shampoo filled the air the moment she stepped into the vehicle. She was dressed in a black base shirt paired with deep blue, wide-leg denim jeans—a loose, simple outfit for dressing up that perfectly suited her image.

She was clearly overjoyed, but after getting in the car, she deliberately used a slightly perplexed tone, saying, "The sun rose from the west today. To think you actually initiated plans with me."

Zhou Yuwen smiled upon hearing this and said, "Isn't it because a gift binds the hands? Since I've already eaten the hairy crabs, I definitely have to return the favor."

"Then I need to have my mom send you hairy crabs every single day!"

Jiang Xinyi declared, tilting her chin upward.

Zhou Yuwen replied that she had better forget about that.

At that, Zhou Yuwen started the car and asked Jiang Xinyi if she still wanted hotpot.

"I'll head over there now."

She had said she wanted hotpot earlier, but now that they were actually going, Jiang Xinyi thought about it seriously and said they should probably skip it.

"Why?"

"You've already eaten, haven't you?" Jiang Xinyi asked.

Zhou Yuwen, nodding, confirmed that he had indeed eaten.

And Jiang Xinyi felt that getting hotpot for just one person was a bit of a waste.

"How about you keep me company and we head to the school instead? I actually really miss the spicy hotpot there."

"Right now?"

Zhou Yuwen checked the time. It was already nine-thirty.

Jiang Xinyi, nodding, told Zhou Yuwen that the spicy hotpot window at the school didn't close until ten-thirty. They still had time.

"I'm graduating soon, and I'm still a bit reluctant to leave," Jiang Xinyi said.

Zhou Yuwen said, "Oh right, you're about to graduate."

At that, Zhou Yuwen turned the steering wheel, and the two headed in the direction of the university town.

It was late June, right in the heart of graduation season. The university town was bustling with activity, as countless students commemorated their youth in their own unique ways.

Pink magnolias bloomed quietly in the summer night.

The lights in the dormitory building were all blazing bright, while out on the sports field, scattered phone lights resembled a sky full of stars.

Countless students were sitting on the grass of the sports field, singing songs together.

The running track was completely packed with people. After parking his car, Zhou Yuwen could not help but tease that Jiang Xinyi had picked the perfect time to visit.

Jiang Xinyi, however, replied with a touch of melancholy, repeating that it was time to graduate.

Yes, it was graduation time.

Having lived through two lifetimes, Zhou Yuwen actually understood this sentiment more deeply than anyone.

From the day of his rebirth, everything had felt incredibly surreal.

Looking back now, he found that two whole years had already passed.

When the new semester started, he would already be a junior.

Even with a second chance, his youth still seemed to slip away in the blink of an eye.

Suddenly, Zhou Yuwen thought of his own youth.

From 2013 to 2017, he had experienced far too much, yet in a flash, it all felt as fleeting as a passing shadow.

There was a time when Zhou Yuwen had kissed Su Qing in front of the bookshelves in the library.

And then, in the middle of the night, participating in that so-called 'Color Run', where countless people reveled on the sports field without even knowing why.

Then there was that certain night...

Someone suddenly screamed, "IG is badass!"

Following that, shout after shout of "IG is badass!" echoed throughout the entire boys' dormitory.

At that time, regardless of whether they followed the team or not, it seemed everyone was roaring the exact same phrase.

In the blink of an eye, so many years had already gone by.

Even though Zhou Yuwen had experienced rebirth, that raw feeling of youth could never truly return.

A man cannot step into the same river twice.

Thus, Zhou Yuwen found it impossible to fully empathize with the graduating students around him.

It was already ten o'clock, yet the canteen remained packed. People weren't there to eat; they simply gathered in small groups to play cards and chatting.

He ordered a bowl of spicy hotpot for Jiang Xinyi. She ended up paying for it, as Zhou Yuwen did not possess a meal card for this school.

Jiang Xinyi asked Zhou Yuwen if he wanted a bite.

Zhou Yuwen replied that he had already eaten.

By the time the piping hot, steaming bowl of spicy hotpot arrived, Jiang Xinyi could hardly wait. She confessed that her absolute favorite thing was the spicy hotpot from the school, and she had lost track of how many times she had been craving it.

But as one person, she was always too lazy to come over on her own.

Zhou Yuwen scoffed at the idea of being too lazy to make the trip. It was nothing more than pressing down on the gas pedal, after all.

Jiang Xinyi shook her head and murmured, "You don't understand."

"Because you've never lacked people to keep you company."

As she spoke, her voice carried a trace of sadness.

Zhou Yuwen didn't know how to respond to that, so he simply lowered his head and noted that the food looked pretty appetizing.

"I'll go grab a small bowl and keep you company for a few bites."

Hearing this, Jiang Xinyi couldn't help but let out a short, amused chuckle.

She asked Zhou Yuwen, "Didn't you say you weren't going to eat?"

"I feel like it now."

Jiang Xinyi rolled her eyes at him.

In truth, Jiang Xinyi ate very little. After all, it was late at night, and she wouldn't gorge herself.

The main reason was simply that she hadn't visited the school in so long and had genuinely missed it.

After finishing the spicy hotpot, Jiang Xinyi suggested they take a stroll around the school.

Zhou Yuwen naturally kept her company. Then, as they wandered the campus, the two of them very naturally held hands. It truly was completely instinctual; the moment Jiang Xinyi reached her hand out, Zhou Yuwen effortlessly took hold of it.

Even at ten o'clock, the campus sports field remained incredibly lively.

Out on the field, a graduate was strumming a guitar and singing.

On another side, a phone was propped up on a stand. Getting closer, they realized someone was livestreaming on Douyin.

That wasn't the only person livestreaming on the field. A rough glance revealed three or four different streams going on. There were groups gathered in circles doing activities, and graduates clutching guitars as they belted out tunes.

And then there were also girls dressed in JK uniforms livestreaming nearby.

Taking in the scene, Jiang Xinyi could not help but sigh in awe. "It looks like your app has truly exploded in popularity."

Zhou Yuwen brushed it off, stating that they were barely scratching the surface.

"Livestreaming is just now starting to gain traction. They don't have a clear path to profitability yet, and relying solely on viewer tips is still a bit flimsy," Zhou Yuwen explained.

"If livestreams don't rely on viewer tips, then what do they rely on?"

Jiang Xinyi asked curiously. Because she paid close attention to Zhou Yuwen, she had also taken the time to understand the Douyin app.

In reality, Jiang Xinyi genuinely believed that Zhou Yuwen's app was exceptionally well-designed. Allowing users to both shoot videos and livestream meant it was spreading through the student demographic much faster than similar platforms like Huya and Douyu.

Jiang Xinyi felt that the only thing Zhou Yuwen lacked right now was a few massive internet celebrities who could drive the platform's momentum, similar to stars like Feng Xiaomo or Zhou Xiaoke.

She thought Zhou Yuwen ought to poach one over; after all, he was certainly not lacking money.

However, Zhou Yuwen shook his head, indicating that it would be pointless.

The quality of those streamers varied wildly. Rather than throwing money around to poach them, it would be much better to cultivate his own talent in-house.

"How do you plan on doing that?" Jiang Xinyi asked.

Zhou Yuwen replied that they would just take it one step at a time.

The two of them completed a couple of laps around the sports field.

Then, they stood nearby for a while, listening to several graduates singing their hearts out.

By 2015, folk music had already exploded in mainstream popularity.

Artists like Ma Di and Song Dongye led the charge.

Right now, over on the field, someone was belting out the lyrics to "South of Nanshan."

A handful of girls stood nearby, listening in sheer, spellbound rapture.

Zhou Yuwen and Jiang Xinyi also lingered for a bit to listen.

At this moment, a boy took the initiative to approach them. "Hello there! Do you happen to have the Huya app on your phone?"

"?"

Zhou Yuwen was bewildered for a second before telling him no.

Looking a bit disappointed, the boy quickly added that Douyin would also work just fine.

"Oh, I have Douyin," Zhou Yuwen replied.

The boy then explained that he wanted Zhou Yuwen and Jiang Xinyi to pull up the livestream on their app to help boost their viewer count a bit.

"We're a band just trying to get a little more exposure," the boy pleaded earnestly, pressing his palms together in a gesture of supplication.

Unbothered, Zhou Yuwen opened Douyin and searched for the account exactly as instructed. He discovered that there were just over a hundred people watching the stream. Subtracting the dozen or so people standing around on the field, that meant they still had at least ninety online viewers.

This proved that his stream was actually doing quite well.

Even Jiang Xinyi remarked that the singer was quite good.

Zhou Yuwen, nodding, signaled his agreement.

"South of Nanshan" was not a particularly difficult song to sing, but its overarching melody carried a distinct thread of sorrow. As Jiang Xinyi continued to listen, tears inexplicably began to stream down her cheeks.

Catching sight of this, Zhou Yuwen was a bit surprised and asked her why she was crying.

She frantically wiped at her tears and shook her head, insisting that it was nothing.

"I just got some sand in my eye."

Zhou Yuwen pointed out that there wasn't a speck of sand to be found anywhere around there.

He leaned in closer, wanting to inspect her eye and see if she truly had gotten sand in it.

Right at that moment, however, Jiang Xinyi embraced him tightly.

She whispered, "Zhou Yuwen, I've missed you so much."