Chapter Ninety-Four: Coveting Her Warmth

As soon as the reporter finished speaking, the scene fell into sudden silence. They had been warned not to ask questions in that direction, yet there were still fearless warriors among them. Fellow journalists around cast looks of admiration.

Director Wang sensed something amiss and hurriedly began, "This matter—"

"I'm chasing after her, and I will succeed," Jiang Hu said, holding the microphone with a voice growing softer yet more resolute, eyes unwavering.

As Jiang Hu’s words spread online, chaos erupted immediately. A massive wave of fans unfollowed him, some even turning hostile, claiming he no longer deserved their admiration.

Jiang Hu’s agent anxiously called him several times, almost on his knees pleading. Jiang Hu was on the rise in his career; this was tantamount to courting disaster.

Jiang Hu’s expression remained unchanged. "I know. Don’t bother about it."

Those fans never factored into his considerations.

Unable to persuade Jiang Hu, the agent turned to Mo Nianian with a phone call.

"Jiang Hu announced his relationship? With whom?" Mo Nianian sat up tensely.

Could Jiang Hu have leaked this?

"Not yet, but it’s close. His fans are reacting fiercely—mass exoduses, backlash, and his Weibo comments are unbearable."

Mo Nianian recalled the original script, where the endless abuse from fans was the final straw that overwhelmed the male lead.

"Let them leave then. True fans want the best for their idols. They genuinely like and support Jiang Hu."

Ever since the peak, false worshippers emerge; at twilight, devoted believers remain.

Mo Nianian instructed the agent to monitor online comments and delete anything too extreme.

Some fans were simply not worth keeping. This might even be a blessing, as those who stayed would be more loyal.

"Sir, who are you looking for? And how do you have the villa keys?" Mo Nianian heard her aunt’s voice and suddenly remembered she hadn’t told her about Jiang Hu.

She hurried downstairs. "Auntie, he’s someone I invited. He’s been living here recently."

Jiang Hu stood beside Mo Nianian. "Nianian, I’m back, and I brought you your favorite crayfish."

The aunt eyed Jiang Hu for a moment, then smiled knowingly. "I understand, Miss. Don’t worry, my lips are sealed."

That very night, the aunt, despite her promise, shared the matter with Mo Nianian’s parents across the ocean. They called back late into the night, expressing care for Mo Nianian before subtly probing about Jiang Hu.

Mo Nianian barely managed to handle the situation.

From downstairs came voices of Jiang Hu and the aunt gossiping.

"Young man, you look familiar. Have we met somewhere before?"

"Probably not."

"Haha, well, if I had, I’d surely remember someone as handsome as you."

The aunt lowered her voice. "Tell me honestly, how long have you been seeing Miss Mo?"

"Why do you ask that?"

"You know how our Miss Mo is—pretty and wealthy, yet at this age, she hasn’t brought a single boy home."

Jiang Hu’s eyes brightened slightly, listening intently.

The aunt grew livelier, chatting endlessly with Jiang Hu.

"Nianian, come upstairs, I need to talk to you," Mo Nianian interrupted to break them up.

She suspected that if this continued, her aunt would spill all her secrets.

---

Though some of it was what the original person did, it still sounded awkward.

Jiang Hu looked up and replied, "Okay."

The aunt clapped her hands. "Go ahead then. I should get off work and head home. By the way, will you eat here? I’ll buy more groceries."

Jiang Hu nodded, and the aunt acknowledged.

Jiang Hu walked upstairs briskly. "Nianian."

Mo Nianian called him over, unsure what to say. She had no real reason to seek him out, but silence felt awkward.

She rubbed her head. "Never mind, you can go get it."

Jiang Hu glanced at the time. "Now you want me to fulfill my duty? I’m always ready."

He moved a little closer.

"Wait! What are you doing?" Mo Nianian’s eyes widened as she pushed him away. "You’re overthinking; I don’t mean that."

Her resistance was so obvious that Jiang Hu’s mood sank.

"Nianian, I really want to know what I did wrong. We were getting along so well before."

Why couldn’t she just keep deceiving him?

He couldn’t understand.

At first, he truly thought Mo Nianian liked him; he was excited and thrilled, stepping right into the trap she set.

He thought he had found salvation, only to realize it was an illusion.

Nianian didn’t like him—she even rejected his closeness.

He wondered why.

"There’s no why—it’s just… I do admire you, but only as a friend. I hope you understand."

But he didn’t want to be just a friend.

He thought of Mo Nianian like a madman, the only sweetness in his world.

So beautiful, he wished to drown in it forever.

"I understand."

To hell with friendship; he only wanted to possess Nianian deeply, to be with her forever.

But it was impossible. Nianian resisted; he guessed the reason she distanced herself was because he had revealed his feelings.

Jiang Hu buried his emotions deeper.

He was willing to wager his entire life on this gamble.

After all, they could never be apart.

---

The massive fan exodus and backlash inevitably affected Jiang Hu. His irrational fans created chaos at events, claiming he was unworthy and demanding he quit showbiz.

They bombarded every brand Jiang Hu endorsed with messages demanding a change of ambassador.

Even the shows he participated in were targeted with complaints, causing headaches for the production teams.

With Mo Nianian as a steadfast presence, Jiang Hu’s endorsements suffered little damage, but black fans always managed to infiltrate events, catching everyone off guard.

For safety, Jiang Hu declined recent job offers.

Mo Nianian returned to her previous life, enjoying comfort and ease.

Now, the aunt helped with grocery shopping; Jiang Hu handled everything else.

Mo Nianian increasingly felt she hadn’t made a bad contract.

Lying on the sofa, she called out loudly, "Jiang Hu, help me cut the watermelon."

Two seconds passed with no response from Jiang Hu’s room.

She called out again, "Jiang Hu?"

No reply. She got up and went to his room.

---

The room was pitch black; Jiang Hu hadn’t turned on the light.

"Why don’t you turn on the light? It’s so dark."

"Nianian, don’t."

Jiang Hu crouched on the floor.

Mo Nianian followed the glow of the computer screen and saw him.

She reached him, "What’s wrong?"

Her gaze fell on Jiang Hu’s computer.

Below his Weibo posts were disgusting insults and curses.

“Disgusting! I spent so much money voting and promoting him, and this is how he repays us?”

“Has Jiang Hu dropped dead today?”

“That’s enough! Don’t idols have a rule not to date or go public during their rise? This is so frustrating.”

“Wishing Jiang Hu to fail miserably.”

“So what if he’s dating? What business is it of yours? He can’t be single forever.”

“Are you a brainless fangirl? Don’t you know the unwritten rules of fandom? Enough with defending Jiang Hu.”

Mo Nianian exploded. The love they once had for Jiang Hu had turned into hatred; human cruelty was laid bare.

They hid behind keyboards, arrogantly playing gods as they viciously attacked others.

She immediately called to have all these people recorded, IP addresses traced, and brought to court.

Even after all this, Mo Nianian remained unsettled.

She didn’t know how to comfort Jiang Hu. Who would feel good seeing such comments?

After much thought, she said dryly, "Don’t be sad. They aren’t real fans."

"Nianian, how can people just stop liking someone like that?"

"Because they aren’t sincere. True fans who want the best wouldn’t treat you this way."

"Not sincere?" Jiang Hu’s eyes flickered towards Mo Nianian.

So Nianian wasn’t sincere from the start, which made it easy to take everything back?

It wasn’t fair at all, Nianian.

"But don’t worry, there are still many fans quietly supporting and encouraging you. No matter what you do, they stand behind you."

"Nianian too?"

"Yes."

Suppressing his emotions, Jiang Hu’s voice trembled. "Nianian, can I hug you?"

Seeing him so distressed, Mo Nianian nodded.

Jiang Hu hugged her tightly, wanting to merge her into his very bones.

[Male lead hostility level -1; current hostility level 64.]

Mo Nianian: ...

This plot felt all too familiar.

But seeing Jiang Hu so vulnerable, she couldn’t bear to push him away.

Really, why couldn’t fate grant them even a little kindness?

Mo Nianian admitted she hadn’t been kind to Jiang Hu all along, yet in the end, he still craved this warmth.

She sighed deeply, sensing ill omens. It seemed unlikely she’d leave this world anytime soon.

What could she do to complete her mission without being so heartless?

The best way would be to pretend to be with Jiang Hu, but that would be terribly unfair. Fake is forever fake; it could never become real.

So difficult—too difficult.