Chapter 120: Journey to China

It was past eight in the evening when the filming for "A Date with Lu Yu" concluded. With no further commitments for the day, Jiang Yihan and his team headed to a hot pot restaurant to enjoy their dinner.

The outer wall of the restaurant was a large glass pane. As Jiang Yihan ate, he looked out at the cold winter night. The warmth of the hot pot made the group feel cozy from the inside out, and they ate with great gusto. Outside, five fans—labeled A through E—were huddled together, rubbing their hands to keep warm.

"The young master was incredibly handsome today," B said first.

"Right? It was my first time seeing his stage performance up close. It was simply perfect," C said, unable to hide a smile at the memory.

"I wonder how he’s doing inside. We can’t see anything," D said with a hint of regret.

"He went to the second floor, so he’s probably having a good time," A said, blowing a puff of warm air into their cupped hands.

"Why are there only a few of us here? Where is everyone else?" D asked, puzzled.

"They probably lost track of him or didn't know he suddenly decided to eat here," A replied. "We only knew because of E, but I suspect others will be catching up soon. It’s so cold; I didn't wear enough layers."

"Tell me about it, it's freezing," the others agreed.

Suddenly, E, who had been silent, let out a stuttering sound: "Uh..."

"What's wrong?" B asked. Everyone followed E's gaze and looked up. It was Jiang Yihan—it was actually Jiang Yihan!

"Aren't you all cold, staying out here?" Jiang Yihan asked, his tone a mix of amusement and concern. He had spotted these familiar faces while looking out the window and had come out out of worry.

"Hehe, hehe," the group laughed awkwardly, unsure of how to respond. Having already checked into a hotel, their budgets were tight; if they were to eat at a place like this, they would likely struggle for the rest of their stay in Beijing.

"Come inside. It’s warmer in there," Jiang Yihan said, taking the lead. Toward his fans, he felt a mix of love and resentment; he was grateful for their devotion, yet stung by their previous lack of trust.

Still, these fans were just kids, and he didn't want them suffering for his sake. "Don't tell anyone I'm treating you to dinner today, or everyone will come looking for a free meal and I’ll go bankrupt," Jiang Yihan joked. He had calculated that their budgets were likely exhausted by the high costs of the city and decided to treat them.

The young girls were too excited to speak, watching as Jiang Yihan signaled the waiter to help them order. They felt incredibly lucky—first the chance encounter at the hotel, and now this intimate interaction. Watching Jiang Yihan walk away with a smile, they were deeply moved. Their feelings for him had shifted from mere adoration to a sense of aspiration; such artists were rare indeed.

Inside, the few lucky girls had hit the jackpot, but the people gathering outside were less fortunate. About two hundred people were waiting in the biting wind. Many pressed their faces against the glass, hoping for a glimpse, but since Jiang Yihan was on the second floor, their efforts were in vain.

After a night of mixed emotions, Jiang Yihan participated in three more events the following day. After rushing across Beijing, he flew to Shanghai in the afternoon.

The crowd at the airport was smaller than before, partly because he used the VIP channel, and partly because he would be returning to Beijing soon for a fan meeting. Still, seven or eight hundred people gathered at the airport.

Upon arriving in Shanghai, Jiang Yihan shot promotional posters for the Ziyi fashion brand's spring collection. Ziyi had already handed the contract for the next three years to Li Ran. Although the current contract didn't expire until March, it was clear that Jiang Haotian's decision to keep Jiang Yihan was a wise one.

He spent a pleasant afternoon in an interview with the magazine *Cool Light Music*. He remembered his first interview after his debut; it had been with their correspondent in South Korea.

"Jiang Yihan, you signed and debuted shortly after going to Korea for your studies, and everything seemed to go very smoothly. Looking back at these two years, do you have any regrets?" asked the reporter, a petite but sharp-eyed young woman.

"Actually, there are regrets. No one’s life is perfect," Jiang Yihan said, pondering. "For instance, I had very few friends at school."

"When I first arrived in Korea, Li Ran was there to take care of me, so I wasn't very proactive about making Korean friends. I felt quite lonely at school. I sat by myself in class. Shortly after, I signed and debuted, which made making friends even harder," he said with a pout. "I would go to department meetings occasionally, but I realized I didn't know anyone. People would recognize me, but there was a sense of distance. That school life was different from what I had imagined."

"Did you participate in school trips or other activities?"

"Only once," Jiang Yihan recalled. "It was around March or April of 2005. I went to Everland. But when I got there, I saw everyone in groups, and I was all alone. It felt like I had been abandoned. I had to leave early for a schedule, so I only played for a few hours. That memory makes me feel a bit sad."

"It's true that with so little time to spend with friends, it's hard to get close, which is a common regret of university life."

"Yes, my memories of university, aside from classes and exams, are very vague. I suppose that’s a memory I won't get to enjoy in the future either," Jiang Yihan sighed with a smile. "I'm busier now, so it’ll be even harder to make friends."

"What about the friends you were closer to, like those from class?"

"I do have friends—Jin Xiaoxi, Li Yimei, and a few others. They treated me well." Even mentioning Li Yimei, he felt a twinge of pain, though he kept his composure. "They were great, and would occasionally come over to my house. But as I got busier, we saw each other less, which is a pity. Still, I believe we'll remain friends. So, I can't say my university life was a total loss, right?" He offered a warm smile.

"Let's talk about the songs on your third Korean album and your first Chinese album, *Stories*."

"The third album took a long time to create; it was an intermittent process since May of last year," Jiang Yihan said, sipping his coffee. "It reflects my emotional journey over the past six months—from hitting rock bottom to finally seeing the light."

"Your title track, 'Rainbow,' is an upbeat song, a departure from your usual lyrical style. Why the shift to hip-hop?"

"There are many reasons. 'Rainbow' represents my current situation—finding clear skies after the storm. I also wanted to challenge myself with a new style; a fresh face marks a new beginning."

"The song is great, very comfortable with a good rhythm," the reporter noted. "Your album also features lyrical tracks like 'Inter Sleep,' which are very difficult, yet you handle them with ease. Do you prefer lyrical ballads or upbeat hip-hop?"

"You can't really compare them; they represent different sides of me," Jiang Yihan said, tilting his head. "The lyrical style makes me feel more like a gentleman, or perhaps gentle? While hip-hop is more energetic, stylish, or even a bit sexy—haha, it's embarrassing to say that about myself." He touched his head, blushing.

"Not at all, it's a very apt description. It seems there is much more to be tapped in your musical talent," the reporter said. "How do you find Shanghai?"

"I’ve always wanted to see this metropolis, but never had the chance," Jiang Yihan said sincerely. "I haven't been able to explore much because of my schedule, but I look forward to learning more about it. The fans here are very enthusiastic, and I’m very grateful."

"Does this performance in China mean you have more plans here in the future?"

"Of course. China is my homeland, and there are so many people here who care for me. Why wouldn't I develop my career here?" he replied naturally. "The company is already planning for this year, so I think we will have plenty of opportunities to meet."

"That's great to hear. I'm looking forward to your next appearance," the reporter said. "Finally, let's talk about your film. Li Ran mentioned you shot a movie with Lee Hyori. What is the status of that?"

"I can't believe Li Ran told you that!" Jiang Yihan said, clearly caught off guard. "The filming is done and it's in post-production. It's a sad love story between a man who cannot speak and a girl with a terminal illness. It's worth looking forward to."

The interview concluded on a high note.

The schedule in Shanghai remained busy, but once it was over, Jiang Yihan returned home to see his mother, Zhou Bing. Jiang Ziyi and Li Ran accompanied him, while the rest of the staff returned to Beijing to prepare for the upcoming fan meeting.

Meeting his mother didn't bring too much excitement; instead, the empty house reminded him of his late grandmother.

Jiang Haotian was an unavoidable topic. After all these years, Zhou Bing had let go of much. "He has his own family and his own life to live, just as we have ours. Xiaohan, don't be so fixated on it; don't overthink it."

Jiang Ziyi had no memory of her father; he was a stranger to her. The only one troubled was Jiang Yihan. He looked at his mother, noting the traces time had left on her face, and held her hand. "Mom, I know he has nothing to do with me, but it feels strange seeing him. After all, I once hoped so much for his return, only to be disappointed time and again. I can't act like nothing happened. But I will try to calm myself and treat him as nothing more than a boss. As you said, aside from blood, we are strangers."

"Xiaohan, don't hate him. It will only make you suffer," Zhou Bing said, stroking her son's face with a pained expression.

"I just feel he owes me a father, and I'm afraid he won't be able to repay that debt in this lifetime," Jiang Yihan said softly.