He Fell into His Arms

Chapter 20

"You're being far too polite. I was the one who asked you to come help, and I still haven't properly thanked you. Why did you bring a gift too?"

"Those are two separate matters, Teacher Jiang."

Ye Nanxun insisted on giving him the gift, and Jiang Yuenian had no choice but to accept it.

"Yucheng hasn't arrived yet. I'll bring him the gift you gave him later." Taking the beautifully wrapped gift box from Ye Nanxun, Jiang Yuenian led him to the lounge to rest first.

There was still an hour before the banquet began.

Ye Nanxun did not have much to do today. When the banquet began, he would perform alongside several teachers, playing a piece Jiang Yuenian had written for General Zhu Yucheng.

Though there would be live music throughout the rest of the evening, that would be handled by another band.

After Ye Nanxun and the other teachers finished the work Jiang Yuenian had asked of them, they would stay for General Zhu's birthday banquet like the other guests.

"Teacher Jiang and General Zhu have such a great relationship. Every year on General Zhu's birthday, Teacher Jiang personally composes a piece for him."

"Xiaoxun, once we're done performing, let's sit at the same table."

Ye Nanxun looked up. "All right."

Before the banquet began, guests had already started arriving at the top-floor venue.

Today's birthday banquet was not being held at Zhu Yucheng's own estate. They had booked out a hotel, using the top floor for the celebration, while the guest rooms were available for visitors to rest in overnight.

Half an hour before the banquet, Ye Nanxun and several other teachers arrived at the ballroom early to prepare.

Everyone wore matching black suits. Ye Nanxun's long black hair was casually tied behind him with a ribbon, exposing his smooth, handsome forehead. A pair of emerald-green eyes rested in his fair, striking face, lending him an air of both nobility and elegant beauty.

He was like an artist standing apart from the world, or a prince who had stepped out of an oil painting.

When the evening began, the lights throughout the hall went out.

The moment the music began, the brightest spotlight fell upon Zhu Yucheng and Jiang Yuenian, the stars of the evening.

Bathed in dimmer light, Ye Nanxun and the other teachers slowly began playing the movement Jiang Yuenian had personally composed for Zhu Yucheng.

Once the piece ended, Ye Nanxun and the others played two more songs before leaving the stage during the tea break.

Several teachers walked ahead, while Ye Nanxun followed behind. He casually swept his gaze across the ballroom.

Apart from Jiang Yuenian and the others, he did not see anyone like He Yiming.

After coming down from the stage, Jiang Yuenian soon approached with another tall, handsome alpha.

"Thank you all for your hard work today. Eat and drink as you please, and forgive us if there's been any inadequate hospitality."

General Zhu, a powerful and influential figure in the Empire, greeted everyone with a gentle expression and friendly manner.

Jiang Yuenian carried several gift bags and handed them out one by one to Ye Nanxun and the others.

Seeing that the other teachers accepted theirs, Ye Nanxun accepted one as well.

Today was Zhu Yucheng's birthday celebration. As Zhu Yucheng's partner, Jiang Yuenian needed to remain by his side at all times. The two did not stay long before hurrying off to greet other guests.

However, the guests they were greeting this time were somewhat different.

"Your Majesty, are you really not going downstairs to have some fun? Isn't it boring to stay up here alone?"

Holding Teacher Jiang's hand, Zhu Yucheng walked smilingly into a private room by the second-floor windows.

The top floor consisted of two connected levels. The first floor was a spacious ballroom, while the second held several secluded private rooms overlooking the ballroom, as well as an outdoor garden terrace.

But it was the depths of winter now, and the wind outside was biting cold. Hardly anyone would go out to the garden terrace to freeze.

The spacious, comfortable private room was dimly lit. Yan Beiyou reclined by the window, holding a wineglass with only a thin layer of wine left inside.

"Today is your special day. I won't be going downstairs."

Yan Beiyou rose and used his long fingers to pour himself another half glass of wine. "Happy birthday, Yucheng."

After the three chatted for a while, Zhu Yucheng and Jiang Yuenian went back downstairs hand in hand.

Yan Beiyou remained seated in the private room, idly watching the ballroom with his head tilted to one side.

Zhu Yucheng and Jiang Yuenian held each other in the middle of the dance floor as they danced. Others were either taking photographs together or gathering in small groups to chat and laugh.

In a corner of the ballroom, far from the center of social activity, several teachers who had just performed onstage sat around a table.

The young man who had been sitting with his back to Yan Beiyou suddenly stood up, said something to the person beside him, then turned and left his seat.

Ye Nanxun first walked out to the open-air balcony outside the ballroom.

Bonfires burned all around the open-air balcony. Some guests sat around them talking and laughing, while servers replenished wine and brought food nearby. It was quite lively.

After staying there for a while, Ye Nanxun returned to the ballroom. His long legs carried him up the stairs to the second floor, gradually leaving the splendor and bustle behind him.

The doors to the private rooms on the second floor were all closed, with no one guarding them outside.

Ye Nanxun glanced toward the private rooms, then turned and headed in the opposite direction toward the garden terrace.

Compared to the warmth and liveliness downstairs, the untended garden terrace was cold and desolate.

The moment he opened the door, the cold wind cut against his face hard enough to sting.

A puff of white mist escaped his lips. Ye Nanxun closed his eyes and took several deep breaths, then covered his face with both hands and rubbed vigorously.

Outside the door was a platform connected to several steps leading down.

Ye Nanxun stepped down two stairs, his shoes making soft sounds against the icy ground.

Just as he lifted his foot to take the third step, he abruptly froze. Ye Nanxun squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them again. Near the railing in the distance stood the vague silhouette of a tall figure.

Other than him, had someone else also come upstairs?

With the tip of his outstretched foot resting on the next step, Ye Nanxun hesitated over whether he should retreat.

Bang—

Brilliant fireworks exploded without warning in the sky close at hand, dazzling and radiant as they lit the night with startling clarity.

Ye Nanxun jumped, his body instinctively shuddering.

His footing slipped, and he staggered forward.

Clusters of fireworks burst one after another beside his ears, his vision filled with a hazy blur of mingled light and darkness.

Ye Nanxun raised his arms to protect his head, lest he strike it when he fell to the ground.

A piercing pain shot through his ankle, but his body did not crash into the cold stairs and ground as he had expected.

He fell into a warm, broad embrace, and a faint fragrance of roses filled his nose.

A familiar, gentle voice came from above his head.

"Did you twist your ankle?"

Ye Nanxun looked up. His clear eyes were like smooth mirrors, reflecting the fireworks blooming in the night sky and a man's handsome, resolute face.

His lips moved, but Ye Nanxun suddenly did not know how to address him.

Yan Beiyou clearly did not care about Ye Nanxun's answer.

He bent down, slipped his other arm beneath the young man's knees, and lifted him into his arms.