Chapter 86: Why Are You Here

From the moment she stepped out, the man sitting in the car had already noticed her.

The young woman was bundled in an oversized down jacket, a hat pulled snugly over her head, the fluffy trim making her delicate face appear even smaller.

Lian Hanqi quickly got out of the car. As that exquisitely beautiful face drew nearer, he found himself unable to control the pounding of his own heart.

By the time he came to his senses, the young woman was already standing right in front of him. She was half a head shorter, gazing up at him with a look that was particularly endearing.

“Get in the car first,” he said.

As soon as Yun Fu got in, she caught the familiar scent of sweet porridge—her favorite.

“You haven’t had breakfast yet, have you?” Lian Hanqi offered her a thermos box, spoon already prepared.

His features were right before her eyes—a face that was usually cold and indifferent, now unexpectedly softened by tenderness.

He wore a black overcoat, which didn’t seem as warm as a down jacket, but for some reason, Yun Fu felt that he was even warmer.

“It’s an eleven-hour flight from the Imperial Capital to here,” he said. He must have arrived around five in the morning, meaning he set out at about six the previous evening.

Had he crossed eleven time zones just to bring her a bowl of porridge?

Lian Hanqi looked at her, meeting those beautiful eyes, and all other feelings faded away, leaving only a gentle warmth in his heart.

Thinking back to what he’d witnessed yesterday—the interaction between her and that man—a trace of anxiety had crept in. But he was not someone who would sit idly by, so he'd immediately arranged a flight to come over.

Yet from the moment he saw her just now, there was no longer room in his heart for any other thought.

He only wished for the girl in front of him to be happy, always.

So he said, “That’s right. So if you don’t eat now, it really will go cold.”

Yun Fu was momentarily stunned, then slowly began to eat the sweet porridge, spoonful by spoonful.

It was flavored with chestnuts and corn—just the way she liked it.

“Are you busy next?” he asked.

Yun Fu shook her head. “Not busy.”

“Good, I’m not busy either. Would you like to explore some other places in Italy with me?”

She glanced at him, catching the seriousness in his eyes, and smiled. “Alright.”

Her sudden, radiant smile took his breath away; Lian Hanqi’s Adam’s apple bobbed unconsciously.

“How much luggage do you still have upstairs?” he asked.

“It’s all packed up,” she replied.

Lian Hanqi nodded. “Lian Feng, please bring down the luggage.”

Once Lian Feng had retrieved her things and Yun Fu had finished her porridge, she felt a comfortable warmth spreading through her.

“Where are you taking me?” she asked.

“Do you like skiing?”

“It’s alright.”

“Then let’s go skiing. Tomorrow, I’ll take you somewhere else.”

Yun Fu nodded.

She thought Lian Hanqi would take her to a ski resort, but as they drove on, the road led instead to a private estate.

A manor sprawling across half a mountainside unfolded before her eyes, and Yun Fu even spotted a helicopter parked in the courtyard.

She couldn’t help but raise her brows in surprise; Lian Hanqi was even wealthier than she’d imagined. She should have charged him more for medical fees last time.

“Set your luggage down first. We’ll go skiing this afternoon. What would you like for lunch—how about a barbecue?” he asked.

He had already arranged everything, so why bother asking her? Yun Fu lazily nodded and followed him into the manor.

There were few people in the estate—some with yellow skin, some with white—likely the staff.

There were many rooms. Lian Hanqi told Yun Fu to pick whichever she liked, then followed behind, carrying her luggage himself, stunning the staff into silence.

Only Lian Feng, trailing behind, remained utterly composed.

“Settle in first. Afterward, will you come shopping for ingredients with me?” he asked.

“You’re going shopping yourself?”

He smiled, reaching out to ruffle the fur on her hat. “What, you don’t trust me?”

“No, it’s just… I’m surprised.” She truly was—she’d expected him to delegate it to someone else, not to personally take care of everything.

—

With the live broadcast of the first episode of “Our Journey” over, online discussions about the show were everywhere.

Most chatter centered on Yun Fu and Xi Rou’er’s piano performance at the end.

Gradually, the tone shifted.

“What right does Yun Fu have to be compared to Xi Rou’er? One’s an international film queen, the other’s a barely known star.”

“Exactly. Has Yun Fu even cleared up all her scandals yet? How dare she think she can compete with Xi Rou’er—she must have nerves of steel.”

“Even ten more years wouldn’t put her on Xi Rou’er’s level. So what if she plays the piano well? The entertainment industry isn’t just about being good at the piano.”

“Right, she has no notable works, yet people compare her to a film queen. Even criticizing her gives her undeserved attention.”

“Notable works? That’s a joke. All she’s done are those melodramatic soap operas where she just stares blankly. It’s painful to watch.”

“Maybe she only knows that one song. If she’s really capable, let her win a film queen award.”

Yun Fu’s fans were indignant, but the lack of representative works was an undeniable fact.

Xi Rou’er, as a film queen, could outshine Yun Fu with a single endorsement—the two weren’t even in the same league.

There was never any real competition, but for some reason, the internet was flooded with side-by-side clips of their piano performances, with a not-so-subtle undertone of comparison. Naturally, Xi Rou’er’s fans couldn’t sit still.

Thus, the entire web was soon mocking Yun Fu, leaving her fans feeling helpless.

Even in sheer numbers, they couldn’t rival the opposition.

Just then, SC Technology suddenly posted on Weibo.

“Time flies, but you remain unchanged @YunFu. The wait is over. Let’s explore the mysteries of time and the universe with technology, together.”

Attached was a video.

It had been a long time since the initial promotional film, which had mostly showcased the Skyscape Watch, with Yun Fu only making brief appearances—so much so that many had forgotten about it.

But this new video was an advertisement, starring Yun Fu herself, running a full three minutes.

SC Technology’s office tower was among the tallest in the Imperial Capital, its giant outdoor screen visible to the entire city. At this moment, it was playing Yun Fu’s commercial.

A flawless, fair wrist, a boundless starry sky, a mysterious and powerful watch.

The video opened in a laboratory. The camera shifted, and there was Yun Fu in a white lab coat, her refined makeup magnifying her beauty.

Her expression was serious, eyes lowered to her work. The camera followed her gaze, transforming the scene into a captivating universe.

Yun Fu, dressed in a white gown, became the sole point of brilliance in the dim expanse of the cosmos…

At the end, her cool, clear voice rang out—“Come with me to explore the time of the universe.”

It was Saturday afternoon, two o’clock, back home—a perfect time. Whether office workers or students out on holiday, anyone passing by the capital’s giant screen would see Yun Fu’s breathtakingly beautiful face.

And that mysterious, stunning watch.

“I almost forgot—didn’t SC release a promo video before? Yun Fu is the brand ambassador!”