Chapter 114: The Photograph

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Entertainment Always Around — No Ads
Story Published: January 2007
Recommended Song: Humming Urban Stereo – Ha

Disclaimer: This story is purely fictional. Any resemblance to real persons or events is entirely coincidental!

Just as everyone was eagerly anticipating how Jiang Yihan would make his comeback, a series of photos unexpectedly brought him to the forefront before anyone else. Photos themselves are nothing unusual, but the content of this particular set ignited intense discussion among fans.

Here’s what happened.

A few days ago, with the album production completed and entering post-production, Jiang Yihan’s work was finished. The film shoot and poster sessions were also wrapped up. Thus, before his official return, Jiang Yihan had a rare chance to rest. Apart from practicing and exercising, his daily life had become somewhat monotonous. So, one afternoon, he decided to give himself a break and strolled into a café bookstore.

Inside, you could find all kinds of books and order a cup of coffee, then settle into a comfortable couch to leisurely spend the afternoon reading. Outside the store was a large wooden deck surrounded by lush greenery and several giant umbrellas shading exquisite rattan chairs—part of the bookstore’s outdoor section as well.

At that moment, Jiang Yihan sat in one of the rattan chairs under an umbrella, wearing a white baseball cap. Before him was a steaming cup of coffee, and in his hands, a thick book. The sunlight scattered casually on the ground, occasionally carrying the clear, pure scent of sunshine. With Jiang Yihan’s refined, serene demeanor, he looked like an unembellished oil painting come to life.

He was thoroughly enjoying this quiet afternoon—breathing in the fresh sunlight, savoring the rich aroma of coffee, immersing himself in the ink-scented pages of the book. His body gradually relaxed, cherishing this beautiful moment alone in the tranquil atmosphere. Yet, a small incident interrupted the peace.

After reading for a long while, Jiang Yihan lifted his gaze from the book to stretch his neck and rest his eyes by taking in the surrounding greenery. Unexpectedly, he spotted a familiar figure in another corner—a young woman also wearing a hat and sunglasses, with a cup of coffee before her. She curled up comfortably in a rattan chair, her book resting on her knees as she read attentively. Jiang Yihan studied her carefully, feeling a sense of recognition but unable to recall who she was.

Just as Jiang Yihan was about to give up, she looked up, and their eyes met briefly in the air. Jiang Yihan smiled as he finally recognized her. She returned the smile, but neither moved; they simply greeted each other from a distance before lowering their heads to their respective books again.

It was Yoon Eun-hye.

Jiang Yihan lowered his head and smiled, recalling vividly their time recording “Love Letter.” It all felt like yesterday, yet half a year had already slipped by amid busyness and leisure. Time had quietly passed, and now, when we look back, it’s been a very long while.

There had been plans to collaborate with Yoon Eun-hye on a drama—scripts were even discussed—but last year’s unforeseen events caused them to miss that chance. It was a regret, but after regret passes, whether the future holds a chance to make up for it and collaborate again, no one knows.

Taking a sip of coffee, the bitterness mixed with a faint sweetness, filling his mouth with an intoxicating flavor. Unconsciously, Jiang Yihan’s lips curled into a gentle smile before returning his gaze to the book, resuming the interrupted reading.

Everything seemed peaceful and natural. As the sun set and the sky painted with evening glow, Jiang Yihan prepared to leave, and Yoon Eun-hye was ready to go as well. They rose almost simultaneously, sharing a smile. Inside the bookstore, they returned their books one after another and walked toward the exit together.

“Hello, Jiang Yihan,” Yoon Eun-hye greeted first, still somewhat formal—their acquaintance having been brief.

“Hello, Yoon Eun-hye,” Jiang Yihan replied politely. “You came here to read too? Not busy lately?”

“Heh, not too busy. I just finished filming a drama and want to take a good rest. I come here occasionally to relax.” Yoon Eun-hye stretched slightly, savoring the comfortable afternoon, a languid pleasure beyond words. “The environment here is nice, the service is good, and I’ve been here many times. The owner is familiar, so I like it.”

“Heh, what a coincidence,” Jiang Yihan smiled, his expression momentarily mesmerizing those nearby. “It’s my first time here. I stumbled upon this place today and thought I’d relax a bit.”

“Yeah, quite the coincidence,” Yoon Eun-hye smiled too. “So, have you been busy recently?” She asked cautiously, aware they shared a circle, and although not close, she had heard bits about last year’s events, even if not fully understanding them.

“Not too bad,” Jiang Yihan sensed her careful tone but was unbothered. “Album preparations and other work are on track. I was pretty busy earlier, but lately, I’ve had a bit of downtime. I’m still tired, though, so I took this chance to enjoy a peaceful afternoon.”

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“That’s good. We’re all usually quite tired, so when relaxing, we should really enjoy it,” Yoon Eun-hye exhaled, feeling more at ease. They had reached the door, and after hesitating briefly, she said, “I’ll head off now. Hopefully, we can meet again sometime.”

“Yeah, you go ahead. I’ll head to the practice room later. See you,” Jiang Yihan smiled and waved goodbye.

After parting ways, Jiang Yihan returned to the practice room.

What was supposed to be an ordinary afternoon became the source of the aforementioned stir due to a passerby’s photo. In the picture, Jiang Yihan and Yoon Eun-hye were captured just as they reached the doorway, looking at each other, chatting, wearing enchanting smiles that sparked wild imagination.

This photo unexpectedly became the focal point of Jiang Yihan’s “comeback,” drawing heated discussion from the media and fans alike. The main topic, naturally, was “rumors.”

In Jiang Yihan’s two years since debut, he had only one notable rumor with Lee Hyori, and more recently, a secret girlfriend surfaced. But everyone knew he had broken up with her, and Lee Hyori denied the rumors. So now, what about Yoon Eun-hye? Was it true or false? What was the situation? Regardless, all eyes were on the two of them.

Upon hearing the news, even though they were apart, both Jiang Yihan and Yoon Eun-hye shared the same expression: “This is absurd.” Indeed, they just happened to meet and exchanged only a few words. How could such rumors arise? It was baffling.

Their managers and agencies publicly declared the purity of their relationship, yet speculation persisted, as people believed rumors never emerge without reason.

Regardless, Jiang Yihan began his 2007 in a special way.

It wasn’t until several days later that the bookstore owner’s statement cleared the air for both of them. They had merely bumped into each other, spoke only briefly, and there was certainly no hint of anything ambiguous.

This conclusion drew two reactions: disappointment from the media and happiness from the fans.

The media was naturally disappointed. They had enjoyed last year’s endless, explosive Jiang Yihan news, which made their work exciting and easy. Now, with fewer stories, working with Jiang Yihan was becoming more difficult. Besides feeling frustrated, the media had no solution.

Fans, however, were delighted. Rumors are never good for idols. Even though Jiang Yihan was a talented idol who had proven his innocence strongly last year, the damage caused by rumors remained powerful. So, after debunking the gossip, the once noisy fans finally calmed down.

Earlier it was mentioned that Jiang Yihan’s 2007 began with a set of photos, while Yoon Eun-hye had only one. What about the other photos? They turned out to be a delightful treat for the fans.

That day, as usual, Jiang Yihan went to the gym to work out. Preparing for his comeback stage required stamina and breath control, so running was essential. Ten kilometers daily was a must.

Wearing a white tank top and loose sports shorts, with an iPod on, Jiang Yihan ran with focus. Sweat soaked his tank top, leaving marks on his shoulders, arms, and collarbones. His hair was drenched with sweat, occasionally dripping. This Jiang Yihan exuded an extraordinary charm—a wild, masculine sensuality.

Remember his height and weight? At 180 cm and only 55 kg, Jiang Yihan appeared slender. But now, he was lean but well-proportioned, with muscles, not lacking in flesh. No wonder his stamina was excellent. Being light didn’t mean weak.

Exercising was normal, so what caused the stir? The connection to the photos made it clear: someone secretly took pictures of Jiang Yihan running and posted them online, sparking heated discussion.

In the photos, Jiang Yihan’s eyes focused straight ahead, sweat clearly visible on his collarbones. His thin body under the tank top appeared well-shaped. His sweaty face radiated masculine beauty, quite different from his previously gentle, gentlemanly image. This Jiang Yihan seemed truly manly.

Though the photographer didn’t dare use flash, so despite high resolution, the images were somewhat blurry. Still, these unique, captivating photos naturally ignited enthusiastic discussion.

A post on the official forum about these photos immediately became the center of attention.

Original poster: “Master’s physique is really great. Because he’s so slim, his collarbones are very prominent—so sexy. Look at his arms and the shape visible through the soaked shirt; you wouldn’t guess he weighs so little. Ah, Master is so sexy.”

“Also, did you see his gaze? Focused men are indeed the most handsome.”

Reply 1: “I remember Master once said he thinks he looks best when his hair is wet after showering. I always imagined it, and now here it is! His wet hair, some sweat dripping, a bit messy… so sexy.”

Reply 2: “All the ladies are drooling, haha.”

Reply 3: “Rarely see this side of Master. Really admirable, haha.”

Reply 4: “Ah, I must keep these photos! How can Master be so perfect?”

Reply 5: “Is Master going for a sexy vibe with his third album? His body looks amazing.”

Reply 6: “Ladies, stand up! Applaud Master! As expected, Master is hiding his talent. I heard before that he said he didn’t have a good figure, which is why he wore so many clothes. Now it seems he was just keeping us guessing, haha.”

…

Previously, Jiang Yihan’s stage costumes always covered him thoroughly. Though stylish and layered, they concealed his physique, which was a constant regret for fans.

Remember last year’s second album “Can I Love You?” It sparked heated debates about Jiang Yihan’s figure.

Looking back on Jiang Yihan’s debut history—the first album “Castle,” the second “Can I Love You?”—through all programs in 2006 and early 2007, Jiang Yihan never showed his arms, barely revealing sleeves. This was his limit. On a show, a host once asked on behalf of fans why Jiang Yihan never showed off his body.

Jiang Yihan shyly smiled and replied, “I don’t have a good figure. If everyone saw it, I guess not many fans would support me, haha. It’s better to keep some mystery.”

Whether true or not, the fact was Jiang Yihan always protected himself carefully. Even his debut show, “MpICK,” a documentary-style program, never showed his relaxed side.

So, this tank-top photo, though simple, excited fans enormously.

Continuing the forum thread:

Reply 810: “Haven’t seen Master for a long time. Didn’t expect his comeback photo to be so explosive, haha. I’ve been wondering when we’d see Master’s figure. Though it’s just a small tank top, it sparks many imaginations.”

…

Reply 1007: “I’m a lady who loves this!!”

Reply 1008: “Master’s figure is so good. Next time, don’t cover up so much on stage, haha.”

…

Although a bit blurry, the photo sparked immense enthusiasm on the forum and heightened anticipation for Jiang Yihan’s third album.

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