Chapter Fifty-Nine: The First Scandal

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The night gradually deepened.

Jiang Yihan’s drunkenness was slowly fading. As he looked at Li Hyori, who was sleeping against him, Jiang Yihan’s mind grew clearer, and he recalled what had happened earlier, a wave of embarrassment surging up within him.

Jiang Yihan had always regarded Li Hyori as an elder sister, but it was undeniable that Li Hyori possessed a certain allure. Driven by the impulse of alcohol, Jiang Yihan had acted beyond the boundaries of their sibling-like relationship—though it was a momentary lapse, he still felt uneasy. His body grew rigid, unsure where to place his hands.

Li Hyori awoke as well, instantly sensing Jiang Yihan’s awkward stiffness. She knew that maintaining their relationship as siblings was the best choice for both of them. Mature as she was, Li Hyori quickly concealed the disappointment in her eyes, sat up, and flashed a broad smile, her eyes curving sweetly. “Yihan, what’s wrong? Why are you so uncomfortable?”

“Hehe.” Jiang Yihan had no idea what to say, so he scratched his head in embarrassment.

“Yihan, you call me sister, and I treat you as my younger brother. That’s how it should be, understand?” Li Hyori reached out, ruffled Jiang Yihan’s hair a few times, and said firmly, “Don’t overthink it.”

Li Hyori’s composure gradually dispelled Jiang Yihan’s embarrassment. He tucked the memory of that kiss away, while Li Hyori cherished it quietly in her heart.

“Come on, let’s go have some fun at the karaoke bar,” Li Hyori suggested with a radiant smile still lighting up her face. Jiang Yihan pursed his lips and nodded.

“Hello, I’d like a private room,” Li Hyori said to the attendant at the karaoke bar’s counter.

“Certainly, please wait a moment,” the attendant replied with a smile.

After Jiang Yihan and Li Hyori had entered their room, the karaoke bar attendants began to gossip.

“Was that Li Hyori just now?” a young man asked, the hearts in his eyes betraying his fascination.

“Yes, I think so. She’s beautiful even without makeup,” another young man chimed in.

“But who’s the guy with her?” a young woman wondered aloud. “Could he be her boyfriend?”

“Boyfriend?!” Everyone was startled. If it were true, it would be big news.

“Does anyone recognize that guy?” The question hung in the air; evidently, no one did.

“He was wearing a hat and kept his head down. No one could see his face,” said the attendant at the counter.

“Why don’t we use the excuse of providing service to take a look?” The suggestion was quickly agreed upon.

A petite girl was chosen as their representative. Carrying two glasses of water, she knocked on the door and entered.

Jiang Yihan and Li Hyori had dropped their disguises, revealing their true selves. They were singing a lively song (imagine “Wash Wash Wash” by The Flowers band), growing happier as they sang, dancing, bouncing, nodding, and clapping to the beat—completely wild.

The young girl, seeing these stars in such a different light, thought to herself, “They really are just ordinary people.” The room was dimly lit; she placed the water on the table, just a meter away from the two who were singing themselves hoarse.

“Just leave the water there. If we need anything, we’ll call you, okay?” Jiang Yihan shouted, sticking his head out, but his voice was drowned out by the booming speakers. Realizing he wasn’t loud enough, he burst out laughing.

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Despite the loud music, the girl didn’t catch what Jiang Yihan said, but she saw him clearly. Clutching her wildly thumping heart, she hurried out and closed the door behind her, leaning against it as if her strength had drained away—she was a diehard fan, a completely devoted supporter.

The other attendants gathered around her, curiosity bubbling over. “Who was it? Who was it?” they pressed.

“Xiaoya, could it be…?” Her close friend, seeing her state, sensed something was up.

Xu Zhengya, trembling with excitement, nodded repeatedly. Her friend, upon confirmation, grabbed her hand, and the two jumped and squealed with joy while the others looked on in bewilderment.

“It’s Jiang Yihan, it’s Jiang Yihan!” Xu Zhengya cried out, announcing the identity of the “mystery man.”

Most of them immediately understood. Even those who weren’t fans knew that, in the karaoke bar business, Jiang Yihan had been the most requested singer of the year. His song “Sweet Breakup” topped the request charts, and the runner-up was “Castle,” also by Jiang Yihan. Working in a KTV, it was impossible not to know.

Astonishment spread—this hottest newcomer of the year was at their workplace, together with Li Hyori. It was truly unexpected.

Afterwards, everyone scrambled to serve the room, just hoping to catch another glimpse of the two stars. Jiang Yihan and Li Hyori were so immersed in their singing, so easygoing, that it only fueled the staff’s enthusiasm.

For Jiang Yihan and Li Hyori, tonight was about casting aside all worries and simply singing, shouting, and letting themselves go. They were ordinary people, but their profession required them to always be under the spotlight, wrapped in a halo that made them seem different. Yet they, too, could be happy, angry, troubled, sad, and in need of release.

Jiang Yihan sang loudly, while Li Hyori smiled at her “little brother.” Jiang Yihan had appeared in the public eye in such a short time, with flaws still apparent, but he had won immense popularity through his own efforts. How many had seen the sacrifices he’d made? Despite trying to ignore the critics, it was nearly impossible for someone just six months into his career to remain unaffected. Li Hyori could only pray silently that Jiang Yihan would get through this phase.

Jiang Yihan turned to her with a dazzling smile, and Li Hyori nodded with a gentle smile.

After hours of singing, it was already midnight before they reluctantly settled their bill and left.

Arriving was easy; leaving was hard. A crowd surrounded them, clamoring for autographs—a scene that lasted nearly twenty minutes before it ended.

The next morning, Jiang Yihan was once again dragged out of bed at 9 o’clock by Li Ran. Besides filming, he had a very important event that day, and the crew granted him the morning off for it.

Jiang Yihan was to make a private donation to an orphanage, without any public announcement.

Both Jiang Yihan and Li Ran had always done their best for charity, whether in public or privately. Some might call public charity appearances hypocritical or mere publicity, but Jiang Yihan had a clear conscience—he knew what he was doing.

Today’s donation was at Jin Xiaoxi’s request. Upon learning about the orphanage’s situation, Jiang Yihan had unhesitatingly begun his support, and today he needed to deliver money and spend the morning playing with the children—a chance to relax, for time with children is the purest moment.

When he arrived, everyone at the orphanage rushed out. Though Jiang Yihan had been supporting them for a month, this was his first visit, and everyone eagerly awaited meeting their big brother.

“Who wants a lollipop?” Jiang Yihan called out, ignoring the director and going straight to the children with an armful of snacks.

The director had always taught the children to respect their benefactor, but seeing his warm smile and the treats in his hands, their resolve lasted only a few seconds before they flocked to him.

Playing with the children felt natural to Jiang Yihan—his hearty laughter filled the courtyard. In that moment, the world seemed so beautiful and pure, even if only for a fleeting instant.

“Hey, Jiang Yihan?” As he was enjoying himself, a voice both unfamiliar and familiar called out. Jiang Yihan turned to see a somewhat familiar face. After searching his memory for a while, he broke into a smile. It was Min Sunyi, a girl he’d once met in the practice room.

“Hey, Min Sunyi, what brings you here?” Jiang Yihan stood up, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and the children scattered to play elsewhere.

“I come here occasionally to help out. What about you? Why are you here?” Min Sunyi smiled, radiant in the sunlight.

“I’m here to help too—a friend introduced me.” Jiang Yihan walked over and sat on a bench.

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“Is that so? Most artists are so busy these days, few have time for real charitable work. There’s plenty of showmanship on TV, but what you’re doing is really rare,” said Min Sunyi, sitting a few meters away.

“Hehe, don’t say that. You’re a trainee and about to debut—you know many have the will but not the means. Of course, some do it for show, but you should believe there are artists who genuinely want to do good. You’ll be an artist yourself soon—don’t judge everyone the same way,” Jiang Yihan joked.

“Haha, that’s true. Good intentions matter, and even if it’s for show, their effort is still a contribution.” Min Sunyi tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “No reporters today, so you can really enjoy your time with the kids.”

“Yes, it’s different when reporters are around,” Jiang Yihan said, watching the children laugh. “Being with kids makes me feel pure. Their laughter has a magical power that lifts your spirits.”

They fell silent, simply watching the children play. Seeing their big brother and sister quiet, the kids soon pulled them into their games.

Happy times always pass quickly. At eleven, Jiang Yihan had to hurry back to the film crew. After saying goodbye to the children, he and Min Sunyi exchanged smiles and left.

During the brief moment at home to change clothes, Jiang Yihan encountered an obstacle.

A reporter, camera in hand, blocked the car.

“What is it? Is there something you want?” Li Ran stepped forward.

“I’d like to ask Jiang Yihan about his relationship with Miss Li Hyori,” the reporter said, a sly smile curling at his lips like a hunter scenting prey.

“There’s nothing to ask—they’re just like siblings,” Li Ran replied, not waking the sleeping Jiang Yihan but handling the matter herself.

“Siblings? Is that really true?” the reporter sneered, pulling out a stack of photos—the two of them leaving the karaoke bar the day before.

“What does that prove? They were just walking together.” Li Ran knew the reporter was fishing for trouble; the photos showed nothing but the pair walking side by side.

“They spent two hours together in the karaoke bar. The staff said they had a great time.” The reporter’s smile now carried a hint of conspiracy.

“If you’re going to make up stories just because they went to karaoke, I really don’t know what you journalists are doing,” Li Ran said, her tone turning angry.

“There have been rumors that Li Hyori is a wealthy woman supporting Jiang Yihan. Do you think there’s any truth to that?” As soon as the reporter spoke, Li Ran landed a punch to his jaw.

“You can eat carelessly, but you can’t speak carelessly. If you claim Jiang Yihan is being kept, you’d better have proof. He’s made his own way, step by step. If you want to slander someone, pick your target carefully, and don’t drag Li Hyori into it. Watch your mouth,” Li Ran growled.

“Hmph, you should know I’m a journalist. The audience doesn’t care about truth—they only believe what they see written,” the reporter said, rubbing his sore jaw.

“If that’s your attitude, I think the court will settle it. If you write something completely false, you’ll lose your job and won’t be able to pick up a pen again,” Li Ran said through gritted teeth.

The reporter glanced at Li Ran’s fierce expression and the sleeping Jiang Yihan in the car. He realized he had no evidence, and publishing would only backfire. His eyes darted, and finally he scrambled to his feet. “Tell your artists to be careful—don’t let me catch anything, or else…”

With that, the reporter grudgingly left.

Li Ran returned to the car, looked at the sleeping Jiang Yihan, steadied her breath, and shook him awake. “Lazy cat, we’re home. Go change clothes; you need to get back to the crew soon.”

Breakcat’s rambling time: Including Li Hyori in this chapter was planned in the outline from the start, so it was written smoothly. However, Breakcat wants to give everyone a heads-up: in the next three or four chapters, the writing won’t be very good—I didn’t manage the direction well, made some mistakes, but it was all part of the original outline, so there’s no choice but to push through and write it anyway. I’ll do my best to make it better. Just, please don’t be too harsh when you read it! Breakcat thanks you in advance.