Repeatedly broken branches

Even after the jacket incident, there was still no news about Xu Che. He seemed to have disappeared from the public eye, and even his new drama was shelved and could not be released. His fans were divided into two groups: 1. Those who remained true to their original intentions and would never stop being fans; 2. Those who stopped being fans and turned against him, and felt sorry for Pei Xi.

Pei Xi, who was Xu Che's partner, did not post anything, completely distancing herself from the situation. The company also ended the marketing efforts for the two of them and stated that Xu Che and Pei Xi had no relationship outside of work and were just former colleagues.

Some say the company is also planning to drop Xu Che.

Who told him to have such a scandal during his rising career, especially when the company was heavily promoting him and Pei Xi?

He already had scripts for a second collaboration coming his way, but now even his endorsement deals are being terminated, which means he'll have to pay a huge amount in breach of contract fees.

However, Xu Che already came from a wealthy family, so what was this amount of breach of contract fee to him?

This matter originated from himself, but ultimately it was just that Xu Che was not rigorous enough and did not take his career seriously.

They shouldn't get too involved, so she pretended not to see the messages Xu Che sent. During the turmoil, Xu Che sent several messages asking to meet, but she didn't reply.

What's the point of meeting? Things have come to this; if we meet again, wouldn't that just be giving the media something to talk about?

"Little sister, please have mercy! I haven't eaten for a week. Could you buy me a meal?"

The sound came from an old man begging by the roadside. He was covered in mud, his clothes were tattered, and his hair looked like it hadn't been styled in years. He looked extremely pitiful.

Xiao Mu felt her pockets. She had no cash left, and her phone was also empty. Actually, she had been out of money for a long time, but she was too embarrassed to say anything since she was eating and drinking for free at the base, and even more embarrassed to tell the other women.

"I'm sorry, grandpa, I don't have any money," Xiao Mu said softly to the old man in front of her, bending down.

The old man's eyes were glistening with tears; he truly looked like he hadn't eaten in a long time. He bit his lower lip, then suddenly glared angrily at Xiao Mu. "How could a young girl like you lie? Dressed so smartly, yet claiming to have no money? Who doesn't have money in their phone these days?"

"I……"

The old man suddenly sat up, grabbed Xiao Mu's trouser leg, and started acting shamelessly, saying, "I won't let you leave unless you buy me food. I'm already in such an embarrassing situation, I'm not afraid anymore!"

Xiao Mu was furious. Wasn't this forcing someone to buy him food? Was he a beggar or a robber?

She really wanted to kick this old man away, but then she thought that if she injured him, she would be held legally responsible, so she decided against it.

However, the old man's actions attracted a lot of onlookers. If Xu Che's fans recognized him, it would be bad. So Xiao Mu kept her head down and didn't dare to look up, but many people still held up their phones to film her.

Xiao Mu was both angry and anxious, but the old man just wouldn't let her go.

"Take this. Aren't you going to let go?"

A wad of banknotes was thrown at the old man. His eyes widened at the sight of so much money. He immediately let go of Xiao Mu's trouser leg, grabbed the money, and skipped away.

The onlookers dispersed, but Xiao Mu remained oblivious, still keeping her head down. However, as if she had just thought of something, she suddenly raised her head and met those phoenix eyes—eyes that she would never forget, no matter how time passed or how eras changed.

"I have a cat named Zhuzhu."

"When you come to the Western Regions, I will give you a cat."

"If you don't believe me, I'll leave."

Xie Huai, it was Xie Huai, she couldn't be mistaken. And the way he looked at her wasn't unfamiliar either, like a long-lost friend.

"What are you still staring at me for? Do you think you're still the Empress?" Xie Huai pulled her into his car, then stepped on the gas and drove away.

Xiao Mu had a lot to say, but didn't know what to say. At the same time, she had many questions to ask him, but didn't know how to ask them.

How did Xie Huai end up here? Could he also be someone who traveled back in time?

"Xie Huai, what are you doing here?"

Xie Huai glanced at her and said with a faint smile, "I don't know either. Anyway, I was already here when I woke up. Do you believe me?"

"Do not believe."

Xie Huai laughed out loud, pursed his lips, and said, "We're all dead, so we ended up here." He even sighed, and his eyes became filled with pity.

Xiao Mu wanted to know even more what was going on and what had happened.

"After leaving the palace, I returned to the Western Regions and worked as a small vendor on the border. There, I met your sister, Jiang Qi, and also the Emperor and his entourage. However, I didn't acknowledge them directly; I didn't want to get involved. But one day, when I went up the mountain to search for rare gems, it was night when I returned. The Chaoyang military camp was ablaze, so I went there to see what was happening. I saw Yin Wuchen leading a group of men setting fire to the Chaoyang military camp. It was freezing cold, and the fire burned for who knows how long. I knew the Emperor and his entourage..." While still inside, I couldn't care less about anything else; I only found the bodies of Wei Hao and Jiang Qi. Zhou Tingxi had already fainted… Later, I finally found the Emperor, who had also fainted. I rescued him and carried him on my back, dragging Zhou Tingxi as we fled towards the back mountain. However, we were pursued by Yin Wuchen, and they probably killed us all! At that time, a ceasefire agreement had been signed. Who knew he was such a villain? I only remember a very strong light enveloping us all. When I woke up again, I was already the son of the chairman of the Xie Group…”

"Wipe it off." He handed Xiao Mu a few tissues, and as expected, after hearing what he had said, she was already crying her eyes out.

Xiao Mu wiped away her tears haphazardly, so Xu Che really was Yu Yanjing, Yu Yanjing... but he forgot everything, forgot everything.

Why, why does he have to forget himself again? Forget everything between them?

How can she help him regain his memory this time? He is now a superstar in the public eye, while she is just an ordinary person. She doesn't even know how to get close to Xu Che.

So that's what they went through. How much pain he must have felt when he died. But even so, he still came to find him. No matter how far apart time is, they still met again, didn't they?

Unfortunately, he never met Xiao Ran'er, that adorable child who looked so much like him; such was his regret.

"Xie Huai, how did you find me?"

Xie Huai chuckled. "Now that I'm in this position, finding someone isn't difficult. Xu Che is the Emperor, but he doesn't seem to remember. We've met a few times, but he doesn't recognize me at all."

Xiao Mu said sadly, "I know, I've seen him before, but he doesn't remember me."

Xie Huai stopped the car, and they arrived at the seaside.

The sea breeze carries a slightly salty but refreshing scent, which can temporarily dispel sorrow. However, this is only temporary; once you leave, the sadness will return.

Xie Huai bought two cups of hot coffee. Xiao Mu took them and felt a little warmth in her hands. She looked at him and couldn't help but ask curiously, "How did you become familiar with life here?"

He smiled calmly and said casually, "At first, I was very uncomfortable. Later, Grandpa Xie gave me a lot of care. Gradually, I began to accept this place and the setting that I am the modern Xie Huai. They are very good to me and make up for the lack of care in my heart. After I got used to life here, I started to look for you, Yu Yanjing, and Zhou Tingxi."

Xiao Mu frowned slightly. "Then, Zhou Tingxi..."

Xie Huai put one hand into his coat pocket, took a sip of his coffee with the other, and said helplessly, "I can't find him. This world is so big, where am I supposed to look?"

"That's true. Then... is there any news about the others?"

Xie Huai suddenly put down his coffee, turned to look at her, his eyes filled with sorrow and grief, as if they were about to shatter at any moment. He said in a daze, "You asked so many people, but why didn't you ask me how I was doing? How did I spend my time in the Western Regions?"

Xiao Mu stared at him blankly. She had known him for so long, but she had never seen him like this before.

She was pregnant at the time. Xie Huai and You's departure left her heart empty. She would never forget everything she had experienced with Xie Huai and every place they had been. How could she not wonder how he was doing? However, it was too difficult for her and Xie Huai to say such things.

Unable to get an answer, Xie Huai walked alone to the beach, letting the waves wash over his shoes. He began to reflect that he had gone through so much trouble to come here, only to see her being affectionate with someone else. He thought it would have been better not to come at all, better to die in the past. Why bother asking the witch doctor to let them reincarnate? It would have been better to die, so that she would always remember him.

It's not a good thing to always think too highly of yourself, and to always feel that you can take it a step further is just wishful thinking.

He carried the dying Yu Yanjing on his back, along with Zhou Tingxi, over several mountains. Knowing he wouldn't survive, he sought out a shaman, his former junior brother, the person he despised most. Yet, to beg him to help him reincarnate, he humbled himself before this man he once looked down upon. He knelt before his junior brother for days and nights. At that time, he was severely injured, Yu Yanjing and Zhou Tingxi were dead, and he was barely clinging to life. Finally, his junior brother agreed to help them reincarnate, but he couldn't guarantee success.

Indeed, such a thing was a pipe dream. He went to him with his last hope, and he didn't care whether it succeeded or not, since he was going to die anyway.

But he still wanted to find her, to enter her world.

What's the use? He would never say these things aloud, he would never tell her.

"Xie Huai, we have to help Xu Che."

Xie Huai looked at the sky with a wry smile. Who would help him?

Xiao Mu walked up to him, looked at him and said, "We have to help Xu Che. Even if he doesn't remember me, I still want to help him."

Xie Huai calmly asked, "How will you help yourself?"

Xiao Mu looked at him in silence. Xie Huai had already guessed that she wanted him to help her. Now his status was no lower than that of Xu Che, the emperor in his previous life. Whether he helped or not was just a matter of a word. If she was willing to be his girlfriend, he could also acquire Xu Che's agency and promote only him.

"I can't lose him again." Xiao Muxing's eyes flickered, unable to hide the emotions in them.

You can't lose him again. What about Xie Huai? Xie Huai means nothing to you, right? Even after everything you've been through, he's still not as good as him, is he?

Xie Huai didn't speak, pretending he hadn't heard what Xiao Mu had just said, pretending he was enjoying the sea breeze, and pretending this was a moment that belonged to just the two of them.

Upon seeing Xiao Mu again, he could no longer suppress his emotions. His restraint and clarity in his previous life had resulted in him never being able to see her again until his death. How could he not feel regret? Perhaps it was just fate playing tricks on him. His half-baked junior brother, the witch doctor, had actually reincarnated him and led him to find Xia Yunzhi in this life.

Xiao Mu tugged at his sleeve and continued, "Xie Huai, I have nothing left. If Xu Che... really doesn't like me anymore, I won't do anything about it. But now that I know he is Yu Yanjing, how can I pretend not to know him?"

Xie Huai raised an eyebrow, somewhat displeased, and said, "You keep mentioning Xu Che, so what about me? I'm just a stranger."

"Of course not, you're my best friend. I really didn't expect we'd meet again. I have so much to say to you."

Hearing her say that, Xie Huai suddenly felt that no matter what, he was willing to do anything for her, even if it was to help Xu Che get through a difficult time.

They stayed at the beach for a while, and then Xie Huai took her back to her residence.

He immediately returned to the company, arranged for his secretary to find the IP address that posted the intimate photos of Xu Che and Xiao Mu, bought the IP address, deleted all posts and photos related to this topic across the internet, and used this post to write an article claiming that he was a hater of Xu Che and that the photos were fabricated.

Several days later, the controversy surrounding the incident gradually subsided, but Xu Che still did not return to the public eye, reportedly because he himself did not want to appear.

Since meeting Xie Huai, Xiao Mu has been seeing him everywhere. For example, she would run into him while going downstairs for breakfast, or she would run into him again at the convenience store.

"I'm so thirsty." Xie Huai snatched the unopened bottle of mineral water from Xiao Mu's hand and gulped down several mouthfuls.

Xiao Mu stared at him in his sportswear. She thought he looked better in ancient costumes than in modern clothes, but he still looked good.

"Thank you," Xiao Mu said, looking at him.

Xie Huai sat on a chair to the side, lazily lifting his eyelids to look at him, his eyes casual yet appraising. He said indifferently, "What's there to thank me for? You've helped me a lot before."

Xiao Mu then sat down, her eyes filled with relief, and slowly said, "Let's not talk about the past. I've figured it out now. Since we can't go back, we might as well look forward."

Xie Huai laughed. "Looking ahead is a good idea. Do you want to go check on my cat?"

Xiao Mu's eyes lit up a bit. "A cat? You keep cats here too?"

"Ah."

Xie Huai pulled her by the sleeve and got into the car.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Xiao Mu couldn't help but glance at him a few more times. Xie Huai was no longer the Xie Huai of the past. Although he was only twenty years old now, there was no trace of immaturity on his face. Instead, he seemed more mature.

Xie Huai opened a cat café in the city center, which has all kinds of cats. As soon as he entered, a chubby and cute orange cat pounced on him. He affectionately picked up the cat, gently scratched its back, and whispered, "Zhuzhu, are you alright?"

Although this cat doesn't look like the real Zhuzhu, Xie Huai's eyes clearly show extreme affection for it, and it's obvious that he considers it Zhuzhu.

The young woman helping out at the shop kindly poured her a cup of hot water and told her her name was You Ning.

You Ning is the daughter of Xie Huai's biological father's best friend in this life. She can be considered a young lady from a prestigious family. She has no job and is very free. When she learned that Xie Huai opened a cat cafe, she volunteered to help out and did not want any wages.

Xiao Mu got excited when she heard this. She was unemployed anyway, so why not come and help out at Xie Huai's cat café? But she would get paid! She couldn't let her sisters support her forever.

Xie Huai always granted Xiao Mu's requests, especially since it was just a small request to help out. So he agreed that Xiao Mu could come to work tomorrow and that she would be the store manager.

Xiao Mu held Zhu Zhu, which was strange. Even though it was their first meeting, Zhu Zhu only clung to Xie Huai and wouldn't even let You Ning hold it. But when it saw Xiao Mu, Zhu Zhu didn't resist and obediently nestled in her arms and dozed off.

Fate is truly a wondrous thing.