TCFGBH Chapter 43

The sudden system mission caught Xia Yan off guard.

He immediately called Zhao Wenxiu, but there was no answer. He then tried Zhao Wenhan with the same result.

Don’t panic, stay calm.

Xia Yan reassured himself and searched online for Zhao Wenxiu.

Since the previous scandal, Zhao Wenxiu has gained some fame. Many people call him “hubby” online, and fans track his schedules.

Sure enough, the latest news was that he was lecturing at his alma mater.

The lecture was scheduled for 3 p.m., which had already started.

Xia Yan quickly changed into more comfortable clothes and grabbed his car keys, but then he hesitated and decided to take the subway instead to avoid traffic.

He put on a mask and hat and hurriedly took the subway.

Many passengers glanced at him during the ride, but his aura of “don’t approach me” made them wisely refrain from striking up a conversation.

After a 45-minute subway ride and a 5-minute walk, Xia Yan arrived at the school around 4:30 p.m. Zhao Wenxiu had already left, and the campus was quiet and uneventful.

“?”

Xia Yan checked the system panel in his mind.

Main missions 3 and 7, related to Tu Xi’s subjective intentions, had not been completed, and he had given up on them. Side mission 1, the cheesy pickup lines, had been completed in a later variety show.

The remaining two side missions were related to the world’s pillars.

One was Tu Xi, requiring him to become an award-winning actor.

The other was Zhao Wenxiu, requiring his survival.

Was the fire not today? Was this an early warning?

Xia Yan glanced at his phone. The Zhao brothers still hadn’t replied. The cold northern wind blew, and he adjusted his mask, exhaling a puff of warm air.

The cold weather meant fewer people on campus.

He wandered around, hoping to run into Zhao Wenxiu.

After some time, dusk had fallen, and warm street lamps lighted the campus pathways. Xia Yan, bored, kicked a pebble on the roadside.

The stone rolled forward, and he kicked it again, reminiscent of the childish games he used to play.

He heard some girls’ laughter nearby.

“Look at that…”

“So cute…”

Xia Yan snapped back to reality, feeling embarrassed, and hurried forward, only to realize he was lost.

Damn it! He couldn’t tell which direction he was facing.

He looked around, but there were few people.

He pulled out his phone, opened the navigation app, followed the confusing directions, and circled back to his starting point. Seriously?

Was he going to have to call Wang Dazhuang to pick him up? That would be too humiliating.

While he was hesitating, someone suddenly ran up to him, panting slightly but trying to sound calm, “Xia Yan.”

At the same time, his long-silent phone rang.

It was a call from Zhao Wenhan.

Xia Yan quickly answered, “Hello?”

“Brother Xia Yan, sorry, I was just painting and didn’t expect your call,” Zhao Wenhan’s voice was filled with surprise and joy. “What’s up?”

“I just wanted to ask…” Xia Yan paused, “How’s Zhao Wenxiu?”

“You were looking for my brother?” Zhao Wenhan sounded a bit disappointed but quickly recovered. “He’s giving a lecture at his alma mater today and will have dinner with some shareholders afterward. He won’t be home until around nine.”

Xia Yan had never been to Zhao Wenxiu’s old mansion, but with its high security, it shouldn’t be prone to fires.

Still, to be safe, he mentioned it to Zhao Wenhan, who immediately agreed to check the entire villa. After discussing this, Xia Yan hung up and looked at the person who had approached him.

A tall man, around 1.8 or 1.9 meters, is dressed in black sportswear with a waist bag. His thick eyebrows give him a cool and handsome appearance.

“Wei Junhao, what are you doing here?”

“I’m studying here.”

Xia Yan was puzzled, “Aren’t you an art exam student?”

“…” Seeing Xia Yan’s genuine confusion, the man ran a hand through his hair in frustration, muttering, “Seems like you really don’t care about me.”

After a pause, he buried his disappointment and said, “Come on, I’ll show you the way out.”

“?”

“You’re all over our school’s forum,” Wei Junhao said with a hint of amusement, “Some junior students took pictures and asked which department you’re from, saying you’re very childlike, enjoying kicking pebbles.”

Xia Yan: “…”

“And now there’s an added comment, ‘a clueless senior who gets lost easily.’”

“…” What a day for social embarrassment.

Under Wei Junhao’s guidance, they quickly navigated the complex paths. Looking at his watch, Wei Junhao said, “It’s getting late. I’ll walk you out. Have you had dinner? Actually, you probably haven’t. Let’s grab a bite together.”
Wei Junhao appeared to decide on his own but was subtly glancing at the young man.

Seeing Xia Yan nod casually, he couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief, feeling a bit more elated.

“What do you want to eat? There’s Sichuan cuisine, Hubei cuisine, hot pot, barbecue, clay pot dishes…” Wei Junhao listed a variety of options for Xia Yan to choose from.

Xia Yan had been working less recently and didn’t want to cook at home, mostly relying on takeout. He thought for a moment and said, “Hot pot.”

It was perfect for the cold weather.

The hot pot restaurant was near the school and was quite busy. They secured a private room, and the room was so warm that it felt a bit hot. Xia Yan took off his coat and cracked a small window open.

While dining with him, Wei Junhao looked cold, but one could feel the warmth and consideration behind his silence.

“How are things with Tu Xi these days?” Wei Junhao asked.

“Not bad,” Xia Yan replied.

“Oh.” Wei Junhao fell silent again.

Xia Yan picked up a slice of beef tripe and dipped it in sauce, then asked, “Have you not been filming lately?”

“No good scripts, so I’m taking a break,” Wei Junhao said, sipping on some refreshing fruit wine. He added casually, “I noticed you haven’t been taking on any roles either.”

“My acting has always been poor; I can’t get good scripts.” Xia Yan couldn’t perform well since the original owner’s acting was subpar. There were good scripts that sought him out for his popularity, but he turned them down to avoid disappointing the audience.

He continued, “As for variety shows, the weather is cold now, so I don’t want to take those up either.”

“After all, making money is for the sake of enjoying life.” Xia Yan put down his chopsticks, resting his chin on his hands, a smile curling at his lips. The light overhead cast a shimmering reflection in his eyes.

Wei Junhao’s breath caught, as if burned, and he quickly stood up. “We’re out of small ingredients; I’ll go get some.”

Xia Yan wasn’t shy about it and instructed, “I want sesame paste with chili sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, green onions, garlic, cilantro, crushed sesame, and crushed peanuts.”

Wei Junhao stared blankly for a moment but memorized everything with his good memory.

A cold breeze blew through the window crack, carrying away the heat inside. Xia Yan glanced at his phone; Zhao Wenxiu still hadn’t returned his call.

He dialed Zhao Wenxiu again, but the cold, mechanical voice reminded him that the phone was turned off.

Really… is he that busy?

A sense of unease lingered.

He hesitated for a moment and called Zhao Wenhan. The latter answered, sounding somewhat triumphant, “Brother Xia Yan, I’ve had the fire safety systems at home checked.”

“Has Zhao Wenxiu arrived home?” Xia Yan got straight to the point.

“Not yet.”

“Can you reach him?”

“Brother sometimes has his phone with his assistant during business events, so he might miss calls occasionally,” Zhao Wenhan said softly.

Despite Zhao Wenhan’s reassurance, an inexplicable sense of crisis hung over Xia Yan.

The young man irritably opened the window wider, gazing around. In the pitch-black night, a large area of red flames was conspicuous.

“?”

It hadn’t been there before…

A fire.

Xia Yan’s breath caught. Without even grabbing his coat, he rushed towards the source of the flames, his heavy breathing audible on the phone.

“Brother Xia Yan?” Zhao Wenhan’s voice came through, worried.

“Does Zhao Wenxiu have a place to stay near the school?”

Zhao Wenhan was confused but answered obediently, “Yes, there’s an old place he used to live in while studying.”

“Give me the exact location.”

“The Huayuan Community, Building 1, Apartment 301.” Zhao Wenhan gave the address almost automatically, then realized something was wrong. “Brother Xia Yan, what’s going on? Is there a problem—”

Before he could finish, the call was abruptly cut off.

Xia Yan reached the community gate. A crowd gathered, and security guards loudly announced that the fire department had been called and that residents on the top floors should avoid jumping; they would be rescued.

Huayuan Community was an older complex with six floors without elevators. The fire had reached the fourth floor, still a few floors away from the top.

The system panel still showed the ominous dark red for Zhao Wenxiu’s side mission.

This meant he was still in danger.

[System, activate pain suppression.]

Damn it! He was determined to make it.

[Okay.]  After a brief confirmation, the system asked, [Host, do you need a protective mosaic? This way, you won’t be nauseated if you see any corpses during the fire.]

[…]  After a three-second silence, Xia Yan reluctantly nodded, [Yes, activate it.]

Many people were gathered downstairs, some bringing water. Xia Yan grabbed a bucket of water and drenched himself. Before anyone could react, he dashed into the building, ignoring the screams and pleas of the crowd.

The first floor wasn’t on fire yet; there were only a few flickers, and the situation wasn’t severe.

Ascending to the second floor, Xia Yan covered his nose and mouth with his sleeve. The flames were burning intensely, mixed with the unpleasant smell of gasoline, creating a large fire area.
Xia Yan’s heart sank.

[This isn’t an accident; it’s arson.]

With no time to waste, he quickly ascended to the third floor. The doorplates were damaged, but careful observation revealed that the fire was fiercer on the right side.

The fire had destroyed the front door. Xia Yan kicked it open with force.

The flames in the living room burned against his skin warmly, like a mild heat, somewhat numb. There was no pain; he extinguished the fire expressionlessly and rushed inside, finding Zhao Wenxiu in a weakened state.

Seeing Xia Yan, Zhao Wenxiu’s eyes widened in shock, and his voice became hoarse. “Yan Yan? Why are you here? Leave, don’t worry about me.”

“Shut up, you’re too noisy. Just do as you’re told.”

The man was clearly drugged; although his mind was clear, his body was powerless. It was evident he was meant to experience his end while fully conscious.

Xia Yan took off his damp sweater and handed it to him. “Cover your nose with this sweater. Can you manage that?”

Zhao Wenxiu numbly nodded, his dark eyes reflecting Xia Yan’s figure.

Xia Yan’s only remaining white shirt clung to his body, damp and translucent, revealing a hint of flesh color. The cuffs were already scorched, his skin reddened, and small blisters formed.

His face was also flushed from the heat, but his eyes were bright and full of vitality.

Like a brilliant meteor, burning only for a fleeting moment.

Xia Yan squatted down, lifting the man onto his back. His back wasn’t particularly broad but had enough muscle to support Zhao Wenxiu securely.

The two were very close, and Zhao Wenxiu heard him mumble softly, “Finally proving useful; all that training wasn’t in vain.”

Despite the danger, Zhao Wenxiu couldn’t help but smile.

“What are you laughing at?” Xia Yan carried him upward. The second and third floors had been soaked in gasoline and were burning fiercely, whereas the fire on the fourth floor was much less severe.

“You’re a billionaire CEO, and you didn’t think to hire more protection? Getting schemed against like this is just like a third-rate drama.” Xia Yan couldn’t help but tease, “So useless, like a scene from a cliché soap opera.”

As he spoke, it suddenly hit him.

Damn it! He was in a novel world!

“Forget it. Hold on tight, we’re going up.” The old community had poor sound insulation, and Xia Yan clearly heard the fire truck sirens approaching.

The young man’s chest felt tight, struggling to breathe.

Since entering the fire, he had inhaled too many toxic fumes.

“Zhao Wenxiu? Are you still alive?”

“Yes.”

“Once we’re out, make sure to tell Tu Xi to become the film emperor, or I’ll die with regrets.” All this effort, and if the world collapses in the end, and he doesn’t earn a single point, he’d definitely be angry.

Xia Yan’s words, like a final request, partially brought Zhao Wenxiu back to his senses.

“Yan Yan—”

“I won’t let you go. No need to say more.” Xia Yan quickly sidestepped a falling corridor light, and though the fourth floor was burning severely, the corridors, devoid of flammable materials, were relatively safer.

“Don’t move around too much, or we’ll both fall and it’ll be all over.”

Zhao Wenxiu’s body tensed.

He wasn’t afraid of death; what he regretted most was not being able to say goodbye to the young man. So, when Xia Yan appeared, he thought he was dreaming.

But now, he felt real fear.
“Yan Yan, are you okay?”

“Not really.” The fire gradually diminished as they neared the sixth floor, likely due to the firefighters’ efforts. He bent his knee and collapsed on the corner of the stairs.
Zhao Wenxiu fell on top of him, lying on his back.

“Yan Yan.”

“…”

Xia Yan crawled out from under him and turned the man onto his back, letting him sit against the wall. “It’s relatively safe here. We just need to wait for the rescue.”

Zhao Wenxiu’s voice trembled. “Yan Yan, your leg…”

“?”

Xia Yan looked down, and was startled to see a large red mosaic on his leg.

When he was dousing himself with water from head to toe, he kept his shoes and pants dry to avoid being stopped by security.

The person who plotted against Zhao Wenxiu had poured gasoline all over the corridors on the second and third floors.

The floor was covered in flames; he wasn’t a superhero and couldn’t fly. He had to run on his legs. Thanks to the pain suppression, he hadn’t felt the pain.

Only now, unable to lift his calves, did he realize the severity of the situation.

[Host, body damage is at twenty percent, with severe respiratory and lung infections due to inhaling harmful gases.] The system reported urgently: [Side Mission 3, rescuing Zhao Wenxiu, is complete. We need to evacuate this world now.]

In short, this body was beyond saving.

It had reached the maximum damage value set by the main system and would automatically withdraw to avoid further physical and psychological strain on the host.

[What about Mission 2?]

[According to the original plot, the cannon fodder was supposed to be offline long ago. After we leave, the world will continue to develop, and as long as Tu Xi wins the Film Emperor award in the future timeline, it will count as completing the side mission.]

[Understood.]

Xia Yan took a deep breath and used his final moments to instruct Zhao Wenxiu once again, “Tell Tu Xi to definitely become the film emperor. I want a film emperor boyfriend.”

“Yan Yan.”

“As for you…”

The young man glanced at Zhao Wenxiu, who had his head lowered, his gaze fixed on Xia Yan’s legs, warm tears dripping down his chin.

Such a composed person, shedding tears for him?

“Don’t feel guilty. I did this willingly.” His breathing became more labored, but his tone remained relaxed and somewhat indifferent.

He wanted Zhao Wenxiu to understand that everything he did was for himself and for the mission.

At this moment, death was merely the end of his journey.

But the more he acted carefree, the more it distressed Zhao Wenxiu. When he felt the young man’s breathing stop, an indescribable confusion overwhelmed him.

Suddenly, many unfamiliar images flashed in his mind, the impact causing him to faint as well.
After an unknown amount of time, firefighters found them.

“There are two victims here; one still has a pulse. Call for an ambulance.”

“On the way.”

In the darkened sky, falling snow covered everything.

In a distant place, in the system space.

The young man suddenly opened his eyes.

End of Arc 1

TN : Finally, 43 chapters for Arc 1. Thanks everyone for reading, there’ll be some extra of this arc in the next chapter and see you at the Arc 2!