Chapter Forty-eight: The Secret Realm

A row of Mercedes lined the street, surrounded by a group of people dressed in luxurious, high-end fashion, radiating a strong aura of wealth. In the center of the gathered light stood Jiang Chen, clad in black, outwardly calm yet silently commanding the attention of everyone present. When his gaze swept casually over a spot, the light traced the contours of his face. That aloof, icy demeanor emerged naturally, giving him a frightening sense of distance and indifference.

The street was noisy, yet in Ye Mian’s ears, it was strangely quiet. She stared blankly across at him, dazed for a moment. He had changed—changed completely.

Under the dimness of October, yellow leaves on both sides swayed in the wind. His once gentle features had sharpened, his lips drawn in an indifferent line, a new earring gleaming beside his ear, and his slender, pale fingers held a cigarette—so refined it bordered on excessive. He had never been so severe before. But now, he closely resembled the person he would become in the future.

Qin Feifei also gazed intently for a long while before tugging Ye Mian's hand. Seeing her standing there in a daze, she found it odd. “Are you out of your mind?” After all, their school was full of handsome boys, many of whom pursued Ye Mian, but she had never given any of them a second look.

Faced with her friend’s question, Ye Mian didn’t know how to answer. Qin Feifei, a local, glanced at the group and said, “These are all the second-generation rich kids of Wencheng. I used to go to school with them. The one in the middle looks unfamiliar but is the most attractive. I’ve heard classmates mention him—his name is Jiang Chen. Seems like another rich heir.”

Ye Mian’s mind was in turmoil, lightning flashing inside her head. She thought: Are there really rich heirs with such tragic lives? Yet the scene before her almost erased the boy from Jiangcheng, fading him from her memory. His hardships had vanished, gone in an instant, and soon he would become a star forever out of her reach.

Of course, Jiang Chen had always been a first-generation rich.

Without giving her time to prepare, his growth had far surpassed anything she imagined.

The chilly autumn wind picked up. The group of young men seemed about to leave. Someone stepped aside, and Jiang Chen lifted his gaze, sweeping it toward the school gate.

The sudden movement made Ye Mian’s breath catch. She immediately turned and pulled Qin Feifei in the opposite direction. His transformation was so dramatic that she didn’t know what to do, compelled by instinct to flee.

Her mind was a jumble of thoughts, lacking any clarity. If Jiang Chen saw her, what would happen? Would he greet her? Or pretend not to know her?

It seemed the last possibility was most likely. After all, during that summer vacation, he hadn’t even replied to a single message from her.

Instinctively, she didn’t want to face such an outcome. Ye Mian couldn’t help but sniffle, escaping in the most timid way possible. Her head buzzed, her eyes began to sting, like a child who had done something wrong.

For the first time, she tasted the bitter tang of unrequited love. The suffocating feeling threatened to drown her.

She recalled the youth films she had seen before, where the heroine unconsciously avoided him, unable to control her panic, her heart pounding, and a subtle sense of inferiority scratching at her. She hadn’t understood it before, grateful that youth had spared her pain. But fate is cruel; now she hadn’t escaped any of it.

This feeling was unbearable.

...

Jiang Chen’s gaze brushed past the flickering shadows of trees, landing on two distant figures. His eyes still held fatigue, the smoke forcing him to maintain composure. His loss of control lasted only a moment; soon, he withdrew his gaze and got into the car.

Night descended.

The car traveled to the bustling Yun Ge Lake Bridge, entered the twilight, and stopped in front of a whiskey bar called Secret Realm.

The car door opened. Jiang Chen stepped out, walking unhurriedly into the bar.

Inside, dim lights glowed, pure music lent an air of sophistication, the leather sofas were soft and inviting, the air carried a custom scent, exuding privacy and a pure sense of luxury—everything felt decadent and comfortable.

No matter how stressed someone was, stepping into this environment made them want to relax and enjoy a drink. It was very popular among professionals; even at seven in the evening, many tables were already occupied.

Jiang Chen glanced around, then turned directly to ascend the black staircase to the second floor, entering a lounge.

Leaning against a leather chair, his mind replayed the distant figure he had just seen. Perhaps his vision was blurred, or perhaps fatigue conjured illusions, but he thought he saw the moonlight unique to Jiangcheng’s old district.

He began to recall the last scene when he left Jiangcheng.

He had taken only three hundred thousand yuan from Jiangcheng. He invested it all in a nearly bankrupt bar, leaving himself fifty yuan, saving the bar from closure.

The bar survived.

With only a one-yuan coin left in his pocket, starving for two days and unable to pay tuition, the bar’s returning funds saved his life.

Over the past two months, many said he was born for business, that his name would surely appear in future financial news.

But he knew it wasn’t enough.

Despite his foggy mind, he tirelessly took out his laptop, reviewing investment transactions, his fingers tapping on the desk.

...

Qin Feifei, dragged away by Ye Mian, felt bewildered. She wanted to stop and ask, but seeing Ye Mian’s red eyes, she silently closed her mouth.

After rounding the street, Ye Mian stopped. Qin Feifei, panting, finally asked, “Wait, what’s going on? Is your ex-boyfriend in there?”

The inevitable tales of rich heirs and beauties.

Tsk.

It seemed increasingly plausible.

Ye Mian stared at her friend for a few seconds, silently shaking her head. “No.”

Qin Feifei dismissed it. “Then why are you running?”

Ye Mian had no answer, shaking her head again.

Qin Feifei found her adorable; since it was something Ye Mian couldn’t talk about, she decided not to ask. She took Ye Mian’s hand. “Alright, let’s go eat. Isn’t Wang Xiang having a birthday soon? Let’s go celebrate with her.”

Wang Xiang was another roommate from their dorm, and their relationship was good.

Ye Mian considered it and nodded. Her mind was a tangled mess—better not to think about it.

After dinner with Qin Feifei, they checked the group chat for the location and took a cab to Secret Realm at Yun Ge Lake.

Getting out, Ye Mian felt uneasy.

Why were they at a bar?

Qin Feifei was full of excitement. “This bar is supposed to be really popular, just a bit expensive. Wang Xiang said she’d treat us, so we get to hang out with a rich girl.”

Ye Mian understood. Some people did like celebrating birthdays at bars or karaoke. In her previous life, she’d gone to quiet bars with friends and saw nothing wrong with it.

Nowadays, college students keep up with the trends.

They were adults; going to a bar was no big deal.

Except...

Ye Mian looked up at the bar.

This place… certainly looked expensive.

When they approached, a bartender opened the door, saying, “Please, come in.”

Polite yet gentlemanly.

Ye Mian nodded and thanked him.

In the air drifted a familiar scent, faint but pleasant, making Ye Mian feel at ease.