Chapter 101: Forever Together with Nian Nian

The system shifted the camera to Jiang Hu.

“This place looks so familiar,” Mo Nian Nian muttered, then suddenly realized something. She looked in a certain direction and saw Jiang Hu standing in the corner, gazing up at her.

Jiang Hu met Mo Nian Nian’s eyes and smiled faintly.

A chill ran down Mo Nian Nian’s spine. When did Jiang Hu arrive?

“Just got here,” came the reply.

For some reason, the way Jiang Hu looked at her unsettled Mo Nian Nian deeply.

Still, she hadn’t done anything wrong, so she walked confidently toward him. “Why are you back?”

Jiang Hu glanced at her a few times, then smiled. “Finished early, so I came back.”

His gaze shifted to Huang Xiuwen, and his smile grew brighter. “Brother Huang, what are you doing here?”

“Just happened to be attending an event here today as a guest,” Huang Xiuwen said with a faint smile. “You’ve done well, kid—already an international star.”

Jiang Hu stood close beside Mo Nian Nian, so close they could almost be mistaken for one. He reached out and wrapped his arm around her. “I owe all my success to you, Nian Nian.”

He hugged her and nuzzled her affectionately. “Missed you so much.”

Mo Nian Nian was a bit speechless but finally went along with it.

Their intimate demeanor caught Huang Xiuwen’s attention, and his eyes flickered. It seemed the rumors were true.

That kid Jiang Hu really was lucky.

Though Huang Xiuwen hadn’t spent much time with Mo Nian Nian, he admired her greatly. He was a bit unwilling to give up on her so easily.

He smiled slightly. “Well, since Jiang Hu’s back, how about lunch this afternoon? Nian Nian and I were just talking about it.”

Nian Nian.

Jiang Hu bit his back teeth, his eyes darkening.

“No need. I want to go home,” he said pitifully to Mo Nian Nian. “Nian Nian, can we go home?”

Jiang Hu’s begging was indeed effective.

Besides, Mo Nian Nian had been tired all day and wanted to go home as well. She turned to Huang Xiuwen. “We’ll head back first.”

Jiang Hu’s black eyes locked onto Huang Xiuwen with a hint of challenge, like a beast sensing its territory being invaded, radiating danger.

This only stirred Huang Xiuwen’s competitive spirit—he hadn’t felt this way in a long time.

“Then when Nian Nian is free, we’ll arrange something,” Huang Xiuwen said.

Mo Nian Nian hesitated. Honestly, she didn’t really want to go out again. The earlier incident at the mall’s performance had been thanks to Huang Xiuwen’s timely help nearby.

Out of courtesy, she felt she should invite him to a meal.

Mo Nian Nian sighed inwardly—being human was complicated.

Jiang Hu stared at Mo Nian Nian’s profile, his gaze growing colder. He took it upon himself to answer for her, “Not convenient—Nian Nian hasn’t had time lately.”

Mo Nian Nian felt a surge of relief. “Sorry, I really haven’t had time recently.”

Huang Xiuwen looked somewhat disappointed. “Alright then, let’s keep in touch when you’re free.”

Jiang Hu’s face darkened. Nian Nian was really being disobedient. How should he punish her?

Any lingering goodwill he had toward Huang Xiuwen instantly evaporated, plummeting into the negatives. He wasn’t even sure what he’d do if Huang Xiuwen kept getting close to Mo Nian Nian.

[Male lead malice points +5, current malice points 64.]

Mo Nian Nian’s eyes widened. Seriously?

Her hard-earned reduction in malice points had vanished in less than ten minutes.

She knew Jiang Hu was upset but wasn’t sure why.

Could it be because she had spoken a few words with Huang Xiuwen?

That couldn’t be it.

[Male lead malice points +5, current malice points 69.]

As Mo Nian Nian pondered Jiang Hu’s anger, his malice points rose another five!

God knew how hard she had worked to lower those points.

If she didn’t do something fast, she suspected Jiang Hu would sneakily undo all her efforts.

Why was this guy so difficult?

Mo Nian Nian forced a smile. “Jiang Hu, how’s the filming lately? Tiring?”

Jiang Hu was silent for a moment. “Nian Nian, I feel awful.”

“Because of Huang Xiuwen?” Mo Nian Nian asked belatedly, her face full of helplessness. “I really have nothing with him—we just bumped into each other and exchanged a few words.”

After speaking, Mo Nian Nian realized she hadn’t done anything wrong—why was she explaining to Jiang Hu? Ridiculous.

A shadow suddenly crossed Jiang Hu’s eyes. “I don’t like anyone getting close to Nian Nian. I want to be with her forever.”

Mo Nian Nian: ??

So that’s what Jiang Hu had been thinking all along? No wonder he disliked everyone around her.

She had thought it was because he was introverted and aloof, but this was the real reason.

Should she say, no wonder he’s the darkened male lead?

Mo Nian Nian tried to correct his mindset. “Jiang Hu, your way of thinking is really problematic.”

“Nian Nian, I don’t want to change, and I won’t. Whenever I think of others near you, I don’t know what I might do.”

“...Murder is illegal.”

“Nian Nian,” Jiang Hu stared intently at her, “the control is always in your hands.”

He had always known he was a madman, wearing a gentle mask to deceive countless people. He was disillusioned with life and disliked everyone.

He observed others’ joys and sorrows from afar.

But now, he willingly handed the reins to Mo Nian Nian, giving her full control.

From now on, whether he obediently stays by her side or descends into hell depends entirely on her.

“Jiang Hu... that’s impossible...”

Even Mo Nian Nian herself couldn’t predict her own future—how could she fully take charge of Jiang Hu?

He was too obsessive, and she didn’t know how to deal with him.

Stay away? She had tried, but it didn’t work.

There was nothing Mo Nian Nian could do with Jiang Hu.

In her first world, she could leave as freely as she pleased, but not anymore.

A faint plea appeared in Jiang Hu’s eyes. “Nian Nian... I really can’t live without you. Please.”

He reached for Mo Nian Nian’s hand. Seeing she didn’t resist, he pressed further.

He wrapped his arms around her like a big dog, acting spoiled. “Nian Nian, please?”

“Jiang Hu, stand properly and speak like an adult.”

“Nian Nian~”

His voice trailed upward, teasing like a little flirt.

[Host has consented to stay with him. It’s just a promise, host, please agree.]

Mo Nian Nian felt irritated. [How can those two things be the same?]

Jiang Hu was so good at pushing boundaries. Mo Nian Nian had to guard her own limits, not yielding an inch, or she feared she’d break every boundary because of him.

[Host, think about it—we’re both doing this for the mission. Once you agree, Jiang Hu’s malice points will start dropping rapidly.]

Right, the mission.

Well... maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea.

Under Jiang Hu’s almost pleading gaze, Mo Nian Nian nodded.

[Male lead malice points -20, current malice points 49.]

Jiang Hu’s eyes sparkled like a billion stars, dazzling and radiant.

Mo Nian Nian’s expression was complicated. Could anyone’s feelings be that pure and intense?

Pure and burning, without a single trace of impurity.

The warmth stirred faint ripples in Mo Nian Nian’s heart.

Jiang Hu called out her name countless times, each more heartfelt than the last.

The door clicked open, and someone entered. “Sweetheart, we’re back. Missed mom and dad so much.”

Two middle-aged, slightly plump people walked in, decked out in gold and jewels, as if wearing their entire fortune.

They locked eyes with Mo Nian Nian and Jiang Hu, who was still clinging to her. The atmosphere turned tense.

Jiang Hu calmly let go and sat quietly beside Mo Nian Nian, calling out politely, “Uncle, Auntie.”

Mo’s mother broke the ice. “Haha, this must be little Jiang. We’ve heard so much about you.”

They took on an interrogative stance, as if wanting to extract every detail of Jiang Hu’s ancestry.

Jiang Hu answered each question, even briefly mentioning the parts of his past he least wanted others to know.

After the questioning, Mo’s father invited Jiang Hu to play chess, wanting to assess his character further, while Mo’s mother pulled Mo Nian Nian into a room to talk.

“You moved fast, daughter, snagging Jiang Hu so quickly,” Mo’s mother said with satisfaction. “You were so obsessed with him before, we all couldn’t stand it. We even tried to set you up with him, but you refused.”

“Now it seems things are going well,” she sighed. “We didn’t even know that boyfriend you brought home was Jiang Hu.”

Mo’s mother talked non-stop, leaving no chance for Mo Nian Nian to interrupt.

Finally, when her mother quieted, Mo Nian Nian hurriedly said, “Boyfriend? Don’t listen to what Auntie says.”

“Why aren’t you together yet?” Mo’s mother’s face was filled with disappointment, as if saying, Daughter, you’re hopeless. “Don’t worry, Mom will definitely help you win over Jiang Hu.”

Mo Nian Nian looked helpless. “It’s really not what you think. Jiang Hu and I...”

For a moment, Mo Nian Nian couldn’t find the words to define their relationship.

“In short, Jiang Hu and I aren’t together. He’s just living at my place.”

Mo’s mother’s expression grew even more suspicious. “Daughter, you wouldn’t have forced Jiang Hu, right? But from what I saw earlier, it didn’t look like that.”

Mo Nian Nian spent a long time explaining clearly that they were simply cohabiting.

Mo’s mother wasn’t convinced. “There’s no one else here. Daughter, just tell Mom—how far have you and Jiang Hu gone?”

Mo Nian Nian had once been crazy about Jiang Hu; everyone knew it. She practically stared at him all day. Mo’s mother suspected that if Jiang Hu appeared before her, she’d devour him alive. So none of her words carried any credibility.