He Fell Into His Arms

Chapter Twenty

"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 instead?"

"Those are two different matters, Professor Jiang."

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

"Yucheng hasn't arrived yet. I'll send him the gift you brought later." Taking the exquisitely wrapped gift box from Ye Nanxun, Jiang Yuenian invited him to rest in the lounge 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 task Jiang Yuenian had asked of them, they would remain for General Zhu's birthday banquet along with the other guests.

"Professor Jiang and General Zhu have such a good relationship. Every year on General Zhu's birthday, Professor Jiang specially composes a piece for him."

"Xun, once we're done performing, let's sit together."

Ye Nanxun looked up. "All right."

Before the banquet began, guests had already started arriving at the rooftop venue.

Today's birthday banquet was not being held at Zhu Yucheng's estate. They had booked out an entire hotel, using the top floor as the venue, while the guest rooms were available for attendees to rest overnight.

Half an hour before the banquet began, Ye Nanxun and the other teachers headed to 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, making him look noble and elegantly beautiful.

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

When the party 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.

Ye Nanxun and the other teachers stood beneath dimmer lighting as they slowly began playing the piece Jiang Yuenian had personally composed for Zhu Yucheng.

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

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

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

After they came 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 much as you like. Please forgive us if there's been anything lacking in our hospitality."

General Zhu, one of the Empire's most powerful figures, greeted everyone with a gentle, approachable manner.

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

Seeing the other teachers accept them, Ye Nanxun accepted one as well.

Today was Zhu Yucheng's birthday, and as his partner, Jiang Yuenian needed to stay by his side at all times. They did not linger long before hurrying off to greet other guests.

But the guests they were greeting this time were somewhat different.

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

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

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

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

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

"Today is your night. I won't be going down."

Yan Beiyou rose to his feet, his long fingers gripping the bottle as he poured himself another half glass. "Happy birthday, Yucheng."

The three chatted for a while before Zhu Yucheng and Jiang Yuenian went back downstairs hand in hand.

Yan Beiyou remained seated in the private room, casually turning his head to look toward the ballroom.

Zhu Yucheng and Jiang Yuenian held each other in the center of the dance floor as they danced. Others were 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, said something to the person beside him, then turned and left his seat.

Ye Nanxun first walked out onto the large open-air terrace beyond the ballroom.

Bonfires burned all around the open-air terrace. Some guests sat beside them, chatting and laughing, while servers moved among them refilling drinks and bringing food. It was exceptionally 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 taking him away from the splendor and clamor behind him.

The doors to the second-floor private rooms were all closed, with no one standing guard 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 bustle downstairs, the neglected garden terrace was desolate and empty.

The moment he opened the door, the cold wind stung his face.

A cloud 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 hard.

Beyond the door was a platform connected to several steps leading downward.

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 faint outline of a tall figure.

So someone else had come upstairs too?

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

Bang—

Brilliant fireworks suddenly burst in the sky close at hand, dazzling and resplendent, illuminating the night sky with startling clarity.

Ye Nanxun startled, his body instinctively jerking.

His footing slipped, and he staggered forward.

Clusters of fireworks exploded one after another beside his ears, his vision a hazy blur of interwoven brightness and darkness.

Ye Nanxun raised his arms to protect his head, afraid that he would hit it when he fell.

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

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

A familiar, gentle voice sounded 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 the handsome, resolute face of a man.

His lips moved, but Ye Nanxun suddenly did not know what to call him.

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

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