Chapter Fifty-Eight Jiang Yu—Who Is He, Really?

Gu Feifei instinctively glanced at Jiang Yu. His head was bowed, and a cold gleam flickered in his eyes, hinting at murderous intent.

She hurriedly spoke, "Yanran, Xuyuan, please stop. I've made up my mind. Even if it means saying goodbye to my acting career, I will never agree to Young Master."

Huating Entertainment, the premier entertainment company in Huaxia, boasts hundreds of contracted celebrities and once propelled the 'Six Kings of the Mainland' to fame. By 2009, the company’s market value had already surpassed ten billion dollars.

As Huating’s rising star, Gu Feifei—radiant and unparalleled—became a sensation across the country as soon as she debuted, attracting countless admirers. Among them, the most renowned was the Young Master of Huating Entertainment.

However, he relied heavily on his background, and his private life was notoriously chaotic. Years ago, he drove a female star to suicide by jumping off a building. The women he tainted ranged from popular actresses to wealthy heiresses; if not a hundred, then at least eighty or ninety.

Gu Feifei understood well that even if she accepted the Young Master’s pursuit, given his temperament, she would be discarded after a year or so, once the novelty wore off, her fate more miserable than being blacklisted.

The entertainment industry is a muddy pool: insiders try to escape, outsiders clamor to enter. Two years ago, the infamous 'sofa audition' scandal broke, known even among common folk.

Du Yanran appeared regretful, yet her smile persisted, a hint of schadenfreude in her demeanor.

She held onto Xuyuan’s arm lovingly. "Feifei, no matter how strong a woman is, she still needs a shoulder to lean on. You’ve fought so hard to reach your position. Are you really willing to let it go?"

Gu Feifei shook her head. "Enough, please. If it comes to that, I’ll simply find another table to dine at."

Du Yanran giggled, "Alright, I won’t say another word."

Gu Feifei stood up and smiled politely. "Let me introduce—"

Before she could finish, Han Chen sneered, "We know. Jiang Yu, right? The infamous 'withered prodigy' of the Jiang family in Yuncheng. I remember, back then, he even tried pursuing my girlfriend."

Jiang Yu?

Du Yanran and Xuyuan had never heard this name before.

Sun Wanyue’s heart tightened. She grabbed Han Chen’s arm, "Chen, stop talking. Let’s eat."

Han Chen was stunned; normally, upon seeing Jiang Yu, Sun Wanyue would have mocked him mercilessly. Her tongue could cut deeper than a thousand blades, making even June feel chilly.

Jiang Yu looked at Han Chen and calmly asked, "After everything that’s happened, you haven’t heard any news?"

Han Chen sneered, "What news?"

Jiang Yu's lips curled in a cold smile, but he said no more.

The truth was, Han Chen did have some status, but only within Yuncheng. Outside the city, he wasn’t even worthy of carrying shoes for Young Master Liu and his circle. That he hadn’t heard about the events in Liusha Town was to be expected.

Different circles, different worlds.

During dinner, conversation flowed freely, the atmosphere lively. Just as they were curious why Jiang Yu suddenly appeared at Gu Feifei’s side, Jiang Yu himself wondered at Han Chen and Du Yanran’s familiarity, as if they were old acquaintances.

"Feifei, since we’ve met, let’s return to Yuzhou together. I heard the Tengshan Hot Springs were built this year. The area is a dormant volcanic zone, so the springs are warm year-round. Many celebrities come here to relax."

Du Yanran was very enthusiastic. Gu Feifei glanced at Jiang Yu; seeing he had no objections, she nodded. "Alright."

Xuyuan boasted, "Tengshan Hot Springs is an investment by the overseas firm in Monan Province, reportedly costing three hundred million. Construction began two years ago and took three years to complete."

Han Chen and Sun Wanyue exclaimed in awe.

Three hundred million—no matter where you are, that’s a major project.

Even the so-called largest villa district in Yuncheng only cost two hundred million. Compared to Tengshan Hot Springs, there’s still a gap.

"Brother Xu, how do you know all this?" Han Chen asked.

Xuyuan replied with confidence, "Because I’m friends with Young Master Liu Yiyang from the overseas firm. Around here, if anything happens, just mention Liu’s name."

A sharp light flashed in Han Chen’s eyes. He smiled, "I hope you’ll introduce me to Young Master Liu, Brother Xu. I’ve heard much about him. Those so-called rich heirs in Yuncheng are nothing compared to him."

Everyone had heard something about Young Master Liu.

Jiang Yu grew curious. "So this Young Master Liu has quite the family background?"

Xuyuan glanced at Jiang Yu disdainfully, smiling, "Of course. Liu’s family is close to ten billion, not as big as the Xia family in Jiangbei or tycoons like Ma Tianzong, but among the younger generation, especially in Yuzhou, he’s the leader of the Four Young Masters."

Jiang Yu smiled slightly and fell silent.

With Gu Feifei and Du Yanran agreeing to spend the next day at the hot springs and return to Yuzhou the day after, Jiang Yu saw she was interested and said nothing further. Accompanying her on this journey was, after all, his way of making amends for his guilt.

After dinner, the group strolled through the night market.

Jiang Yu’s words had already been disregarded by everyone. Privately, after hearing Jiang Yu’s background from Han Chen, Xuyuan became even more contemptuous. So he was just a poor nobody, while Gu Feifei’s status made it incomprehensible that she’d associate with him.

With curiosity, Xuyuan followed behind.

Gu Feifei and Du Yanran walked arm-in-arm, chatting like sisters.

Han Chen approached Jiang Yu, lowering his voice. "Jiang Yu, I don’t know how you ended up with Gu Feifei, but let me warn you: a woman of her stature, beauty, and influence is not someone you can covet."

Jiang Yu’s mindset was already tranquil. He smiled, "Oh? Then tell me, what sort of person is worthy to be with Gu Feifei?"

Han Chen said proudly, "At the very least, someone of Young Master Liu’s status, or the Young Master of Huating Entertainment. You being at her side is just humiliating yourself."

Jiang Yu looked directly at Han Chen. "Seems you still don’t know who I am. Tonight, you might want to ask Sun Wanyue."

Han Chen snorted, lips twisted in a cold smile, clearly unimpressed.

...

That night, in a luxurious room.

Han Chen’s gaze lingered through the bathroom’s glass. Steam swirled inside; beneath the shower stood a blurred figure.

He wasn’t particularly interested in intimacy. Since returning, his mind had been elsewhere. He knew Jiang Yu was just the leftover son of the Jiang family in Yuncheng, yet Jiang Yu’s words tonight had left him unsettled.

After more than ten minutes, Gu Feifei emerged draped in a bath towel. Her shapely legs glistened with droplets, and she was as alluring as a lotus rising from the water.

"Chen, what’s wrong? You’ve been gloomy since we got back," Sun Wanyue whispered.

Han Chen gritted his teeth, finally voicing his question. "Wanyue, is there something about Jiang Yu I don’t know? Don’t lie to me—my intuition says you do. Ever since you agreed to be with me, mentioning Jiang Yu makes you lose your composure."

Sun Wanyue bit her lip, fearfully shaking her head. "Chen, please don’t ask. Let’s just stay away from him from now on and not provoke him."

That night, she knew deeply that she and Jiang Yu were no longer possible. After days of consideration, she decided to be with Han Chen. His background would spare her family a decade of struggle.

Thus, that figure—almost divine or demonic—was buried in the depths of her heart, unwilling to be recalled.

"Wanyue, tell me," Han Chen pressed.

Sun Wanyue sighed, helpless. "Jiang Yu is a devil. I saw him with my own eyes—he used horrifying methods to kill three assassins. That night, he was like a reaper from hell. I’ve never seen him so cold. Especially his eyes—utterly devoid of emotion, like the gaze of Buddha statues in a temple, indifferent to all living things."

"Chen, please stop asking."

As she spoke, Sun Wanyue’s eyes welled with tears and her body trembled.

These days, she had nightmares every night.

In her dreams, there was nothing but a pair of icy, merciless eyes, blotting out the sky, staring at her, making even her soul shudder.

Han Chen pondered for a moment, then hugged Sun Wanyue. "So, Jiang Yu must be a martial artist. That would explain everything you’ve said. But no matter how strong he is, so what? This is no longer an era where brute force conquers the world."

"No matter how powerful you are, before absolute authority, it’s still not enough."

Sun Wanyue whispered, "But he’s very good friends with Xia Ning."

Han Chen burst out laughing, "Wanyue, you’ll never reach those higher circles. What’s Xia Ning compared to others? The world is vast—many people’s backgrounds far surpass Xia Ning’s. Take Liu Yiyang, Young Master Liu; even Xia Ning would have to treat him with respect."

"Knowing Xia Ning isn’t enough to be a trump card in my eyes. I thought Jiang Yu had some impressive background, but it turns out he’s just good at fighting. He treats that as his greatest asset, haha. Standing next to Gu Feifei, he must just be her bodyguard. That explains all my doubts."

Han Chen’s voice turned cold. In his mind, Jiang Yu’s status and background were nothing worth considering.