As Ye Zhou prepared to go over, he saw a rare glimpse of terror in Jiang Tingyuan’s otherwise calm demeanor.
Before Ye Zhou could figure out what could make the ever-composed Boss Jiang look like that, Jiang Tingyuan tackled him to the ground, and the next moment, gunshots and a muffled grunt from the man rang in his ears.
When shocked, the brain often goes blank for a split second. Ye Zhou’s eyes widened as he stared at Jiang Tingyuan pinning him down.
Jiang Tingyuan’s lips were pale, his face rarely showing much expression. He was always composed and calm, exuding an aura of strength that seemed to provide a sense of security just by standing next to him.
That sense of security was illusory, but Ye Zhou had never doubted it.
And as it turned out, it was indeed true. Even in the second before they fell, Jiang Tingyuan remembered to shield Ye Zhou’s head with his hand to prevent him from hitting a vital spot.
Ye Zhou was dazed. He struggled to stay calm, shielding Jiang Tingyuan behind him, picking up the gun on the ground, loading it, and firing several shots at the poachers behind them.
His marksmanship was poor. In fact, until he came to South Africa, Ye Zhou’s experience with guns was limited to prop replicas. It was only after arriving in South Africa that he started learning to use firearms.
Initially, Ye Zhou thought learning to use guns was just for dealing with uncontrollable animals in emergencies to ensure personal safety. But it wasn’t until just now that Ye Zhou realized tranquilizer guns were for animals, while real guns were essential for self-defense and retaliation against poachers.
His marksmanship was poor, and he might have missed at a longer distance. But the poachers seemed to want to take him and Boss Jiang as hostages and did not fire again but aimed their guns at them and approached step by step.
At such a close range, even an amateur like Ye Zhou could riddle them with bullets.
The poachers clearly didn’t expect Ye Zhou to react so quickly. By the time they realized, two bullets had already hit the poacher’s abdomen, causing him to stagger forward a few steps before collapsing.
After confirming there were no more threats around, Ye Zhou’s momentary surge of energy dissipated, and he felt as weak as if all his strength had been drained, his gun-wielding hand trembling.
Ye Zhou took a deep breath and turned to look at Jiang Tingyuan behind him, his trembling hands trying to check his injuries. His eyes were red and brimming with tears that he resolutely held back.
“Where are you hurt? Does it hurt? First aid kit! Yes, I have a first aid kit!” Ye Zhou’s voice quivered as he yanked off his backpack and rummaged through it almost roughly.
“Alcohol, emergency anti-inflammatory drugs, gauze… gauze? Where’s the gauze? Why can’t I find the gauze!”
When panicked, emotions are easily overwhelmed. Ye Zhou rarely felt overwhelmed, even in major situations, but now he felt on the verge of breaking down just because he couldn’t find the gauze in the first aid kit.
Until his hand was clasped by someone else’s, Ye Zhou stared blankly at the long, slender hand gripping his wrist. Jiang Tingyuan’s hand was cool, while Ye Zhou’s palm was already sweating from agitation.
“Ye Zhou, look at me, look at me,” Jiang Tingyuan commanded, forcing Ye Zhou to meet his gaze. Then, with some difficulty, he unbuttoned his gray-blue coat to reveal the bulletproof vest underneath. “I’m wearing a bulletproof vest. I’m fine.”
His voice was low and firm, carrying an inexplicable convincing power that quickly calmed the overly anxious and somewhat crumbling Ye Zhou.
Ye Zhou carefully examined Jiang Tingyuan’s bulletproof vest and, upon confirming that the bullet had indeed struck the vest without penetrating his body, finally relaxed his tense nerves.
He exhaled slowly, his forehead and nose beaded with a fine sheen of cold sweat, but Ye Zhou had no time to worry about that. He looked at Jiang Tingyuan, and after a long while, before he could react, he suddenly reached out and embraced him.
The people around who heard the commotion tactfully turned away when they saw the two embracing, not forgetting to drag away the riddled body of the poacher as they left.
Startled by the sudden embrace, Jiang Tingyuan stiffened momentarily. The icy expression on his face gradually melted from Ye Zhou’s initiative, and the frost in his eyes dissipated as his entire being softened.
Jiang Tingyuan returned the embrace, resting his head on Ye Zhou’s shoulder. His free left hand reached out to stroke Ye Zhou’s hair as he said softly, “Remember, the one who fired the gun earlier was a ranger, not you.”
Laws vary from country to country. In this protected area where they were filming, a law enacted over a decade ago allowed rangers to shoot poachers on sight.
If Ye Zhou had killed the poacher, though there would be no severe consequences since poachers are universally condemned, the process would inevitably be complicated as it involved two countries.
It wouldn’t matter much if Ye Zhou were an ordinary person, but as a director, if word got out and unscrupulous media caught wind of it back home, it could cause more trouble.
Ye Zhou understood Jiang Tingyuan’s good intentions but buried his head in his embrace and mumbled, “No, it doesn’t matter. I killed that person, I did it, and I’ll take responsibility for the consequences. I won’t deny it or regret it.”
“I’m proud that I was able to shoot and protect us.” Because if Ye Zhou hadn’t acted decisively to kill the poacher, the consequences would be unimaginable if they had been taken hostage.
Ye Zhou was genuinely glad he could make that calm decision at the time.
Upon hearing his words, Jiang Tingyuan’s hand stroking Ye Zhou’s hair paused briefly before a muffled laugh suddenly reached Ye Zhou’s ear.
Ye Zhou: “…”
Can’t you give me some face? Didn’t you think that line sounded cool? I put a lot of thought into it!
Sensing Ye Zhou’s embarrassment, Jiang Tingyuan stifled his laughter and gripped Ye Zhou’s shoulders, looking at him directly and unguardedly. “You protected me. Thank you, I’m very happy.”
Perhaps because of his earnest expression, Ye Zhou felt a little shy under his gaze, awkwardly turning his head away and mumbling softly.
“It’s no big deal. You saved me too. If you hadn’t come to rescue me, you wouldn’t have ended up in a place like this.”
Ye Zhou felt uneasy under Jiang Tingyuan’s stare, but he could still pick up on these little things. He kept fidgeting, trying to alleviate the tension, but his words still came out a little stuttered.
Amusement flickered in Jiang Tingyuan’s eyes as he ruffled Ye Zhou’s hair. “I owe you one.”
“Hm?”
“Getting close to you, trying to use your heart as a bargaining chip for benefits – no matter how nicely it was phrased, that was an undeniable fact. My motives were impure. The heart issue, I owe you for that.”
“Rescuing you was voluntary, but I still owe you.” Jiang Tingyuan spoke slowly, his voice hoarse.
“I know this is hard to accept. Whatever choice you make, whether to leave or stay, I can accept it fully. This is my retribution.”
“I just hope,” Jiang Tingyuan paused, his hand stopping just a centimeter from Ye Zhou’s eyes. He clearly wanted to touch him but did not dare go further.
“I just hope you can give me another chance, to make amends and…start over.”
As he finished speaking, a hint of emotion surfaced in his eyes, usually as still and unruffled as an ancient well.
During the over two months Ye Zhou was gone, Jiang Tingyuan often thought this must be his retribution, but for him, the punishment seemed too heavy, too cruel.
If possible, Jiang Tingyuan would rather he had never appeared before Ye Zhou years ago, never mentioned the so-called sponsorship, never thought of exchanging a heart for benefits.
Without him, Ye Zhou might have faced some obstacles, but Jiang Tingyuan knew that no matter how long, he would eventually shine.
Perhaps Jiang Tingyuan would have appeared in Ye Zhou’s life another way, and like countless ordinary couples, they would start from holding hands, getting to know each other, understanding one another, and finally falling in love.
But reality has no “what ifs”. Once a mistake is made, all explanations pale before reality. When Ye Zhou left, Jiang Tingyuan didn’t even have the right to stop him.
Seeing that Ye Zhou did not respond for a long time, Jiang Tingyuan closed his eyes and said, “I understand this is difficult for you. If it makes you uncomfortable, then…”
“Okay,” Ye Zhou said.
Jiang Tingyuan froze, a rare look of bewilderment crossing his eyes. “You mean?”
“I won’t forgive you,” Ye Zhou looked at Jiang Tingyuan, and seeing the disappointment in his eyes, he pursed his lips. “But we’re even now.”
“You once sponsored me because of my heart, but after our arrangement ended, you saved me in South Africa.”
“If not for you, I might be dead now. A life for a life, so we’re even.”
“I can’t forgive you yet, but perhaps, as you said, I should give you – and myself – a chance.”
Ye Zhou looked at him and said softly, “A chance to start over.”
After a few seconds of silence, Jiang Tingyuan could no longer restrain himself. He pulled Ye Zhou into an embrace, his lips brushing against Ye Zhou’s ear as he murmured, “Thank you.”
The intimate atmosphere between them was interrupted by the camp manager. Although the manager really didn’t want to disturb them, night was falling, and even seasoned veterans wouldn’t want to be caught in the forest after dark.
They needed to return to camp before nightfall; any delay would increase the danger.
“Uh, that is, Mr. Jiang, Mr. Ye, the situation has been handled. So what’s next…” The manager trailed off midsentence upon meeting Jiang’s icy gaze that could freeze someone to death. Terrified, his heart almost stopped as he swallowed the rest of his words.
Fortunately, despite Jiang’s chilling aura, like a high-powered air conditioner, he still brought Ye Zhou to the car.
It seemed they had exhausted all their rotten luck in South Africa, as the journey back was surprisingly smooth, with no further incidents all the way back to camp.
Their scheduled flight was, of course, missed due to the poacher incident. But how could that faze the wealthy Jiang Tingyuan?
Missing the commercial flight didn’t matter—he had a private jet. Not only did they have luxurious interiors and thoughtful services, but most importantly, they were spacious and quiet.
Since they had already missed their flight, Ye Zhou decided to stay another night.
Early the next morning, they set out again for the lion king’s territory. Yesterday’s battle with the poachers had dealt a severe blow to the pride, leaving three lionesses and two cubs dead.
The only good news was that although the lion king was injured, his wounds were not life-threatening. He was still alive, and apart from a slight limp, he could even mate shamelessly with the lionesses.
This news immediately lifted the gloom from Ye Zhou’s heart. That afternoon, they left South Africa on Jiang Tingyuan’s private jet and began their journey home.
Upon returning, Ye Zhou did not move back into the villa but instead stayed at his original small apartment, which Jiang Tingyuan did not object to.
Since they had decided to start over, it was a true fresh start. After resetting their relationship progress, they skipped the “getting to know each other” stage and progressed straight to the courtship phase.
Everything seemed to have returned to the beginning, and life finally got back on track.
It’s worth mentioning that during Ye Zhou’s time in South Africa, just two days before his return, “Tears Behind Bars” won Best Picture at the Golden Wing Film Festival.
Ye Zhou later found time to watch a replay of the awards ceremony. When he saw He Feiyang take the stage to accept the award and give his acceptance speech, his initial joy immediately vanished, leaving only helplessness.
The reason was simple—in his three-minute acceptance speech, He Feiyang spent two minutes fervently praising his angel investor, referring to Ye Zhou. He spoke with such sincerity that tears poured down his face.
Ye Zhou watched with the expression of a subway-riding elderly man looking at a cellphone. Afterward, a question emerged from the depths of his heart:
Was he really as amazing as He Feiyang made him out to be? Really? Was He Feiyang even talking about him? Otherwise, how could Ye Zhou not know about it?
After “Tears Behind Bars” won the award, He Feiyang and Liu Zhao were not in City A for a while, so Ye Zhou let go of the idea of finding them. However, Ye Zhou was determined that whenever he saw them next, he would definitely get to the bottom of it.
Apart from “Tears Behind Bars,” the new season of “Devour” started. Xu Cheng’s champion team, Chenzhou, was no longer as neglected as before but had become a lucrative cash cow attracting various capital manufacturers.
Every day, people waved high-value bills, inquiring if the team was interested in endorsement deals. But the manager rejected them all without exception. Although Chenzhou held one championship, its foundation was still unstable, and many big brands were still observing cautiously.
The companies that extended olive branches first either failed to meet quality standards or had unsavory histories. In short, they had so many different tricks that it made Ye Zhou dumbfounded. Ultimately, he and the manager unanimously decided that for endorsements, quality matters more than quantity. Since money was not an issue, there was no need to tarnish the players’ reputations for a bit of cash.
“Starlight Youth” was also in full swing. With the first season nearing its temporary conclusion after a few more episodes, many companies had driven up the prices for advertising and sponsorship rights to astronomical levels.
But like Chenzhou, “Starlight Youth” was an audition program intended for the long run, not a quick cash grab. Reputation was equally crucial, especially given its high nationwide popularity—every advertising placement required careful vetting.
Additionally, Zhaixing Livestream had been operating smoothly these past few months. Apart from the nurturing program in full swing, the streamers Ye Zhou had painstakingly recruited regained solid footing in the livestreaming world after that night of controversy. They brought and retained substantial traffic for the platform.
Zhaixing even collaborated with “Starlight Youth,” inviting the current top three contestants for a livestream every week. This successfully diverted “Starlight Youth'” massive fan traffic from the variety show and social media platforms to the livestreaming app.
After ensuring these four projects were on track, Ye Zhou also chose an auspicious date to join the cast of “Thriller Circus.”
He believed his over two months of experience in South Africa would allow him to better highlight the allure of this horror film.
Oh, and Yu Qiuze, who was beaten into the ICU by Cheng Ran, had been discharged from the hospital. Reportedly, the first thing he did after being discharged was to seek out Jiang Tingyuan.
But of course, it’s not easy to meet the elusive Mr. Jiang. What a joke!
Instead, Jiang Tingyuan wired him 50 million yuan to settle the favor owed from back then.
Upon receiving the money, Yu Qiuze almost ground his teeth to dust in anger.
What infuriated him even more was that Jiang Yu somehow learned about Jiang Tingyuan giving Yu Qiuze 50 million. After a week-long struggle, he showed up at Yu Qiuze’s door with the project proposal for “Battle City 2.”
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