Chapter 1: “My name is Jiang Chi”
Crash—
The sound of shattering filled his ears, and Jiang Chi’s consciousness suddenly snapped back.
He opened his eyes and found himself at a wedding!
Right in front of him, the champagne tower at the center of the ceremony platform had collapsed into pieces. The shattered crystal fragments reflected a dazzling array of colors. The guests, all dressed to the nines, cast subtle glances at the sparkling mess on the ground. Each of them looked preoccupied, as if harboring some kind of secret.
A strong sense of unease and dissonance swept over Jiang Chi. Something didn’t feel right.
Was this really a wedding? Why wasn’t anyone smiling?
People were whispering:
“How did the champagne tower fall? No one even touched it just now.”
“Something’s already gone wrong before the ceremony even started. That’s pretty strange.”
“A bastard child just doesn’t belong on a stage like this… Given the Qin family’s status, how could someone so unfavored and illegitimate be a match?”
“Maybe that male bride is cursed? If the ritual was supposed to bring good luck, what if it backfires and actually brings disaster instead?”
As soon as those words were spoken, it was as if a taboo had been broken. The murmurs stopped abruptly, and the atmosphere turned deadly quiet.
The sky was overcast, with no sunlight in sight. A heavy mood pressed down on the gathering.
A damp wind lifted the layers of drapes, and even the pure white roses looked particularly bleak. Their pale petals fluttered through the air like white butterflies—or funeral paper.
“Hey, handsome, you think this trick’s gonna work?” someone next to Jiang Chi asked. “If Qin Yan still doesn’t wake up, the Qin family’s stock is going to tank.”
The moment Jiang Chi heard the name Qin Yan, a cold sweat broke out across his back.
Just a few days ago, he had been reading a novel about a marriage-for-luck wedding called “Restless Longing”. The opening scene of the novel was the wedding between the two main characters.
And the protagonist’s name was—Qin Yan!
Jiang Chi looked around. Everything was completely unfamiliar—he didn’t recognize a single person here.
Where was this place?
Something was wrong. He had clearly been at home working on a revised security system design—how did he blink and suddenly find himself surrounded by the names and scenes from that novel?
Was he dreaming?
This was too bizarre. What the hell was going on?!
A server came over with a tray and offered him a drink. Bubbles rose in the tall glass and burst with a sharp fizzing sound.
Jiang Chi lowered his gaze. Through the glass, he caught a faint glimpse of his own reflection.
What he saw made him instinctively hold his breath.
The reflection on the glass had defined features—sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, and an intense air that hinted at something dangerously cutting beneath the surface. He looked like a piece of cold jade carved by nature itself. Just lifting his eyes gave off a powerful, arrogant aura that made it seem like he looked down on the world.
The face resembled his own, but the temperament was completely different.
Jiang Chi’s expression shifted slightly. At that moment, the reflection’s gaze softened instantly.
That was how he usually looked.
He turned his head and saw a young man sitting beside him, wearing gold-rimmed glasses and a rather scholarly appearance.
The man spoke to him enthusiastically, “Looks like Qin Yan’s coma has thrown the whole Qin family into chaos. No one’s in charge now, and they’re even coming up with ridiculous ideas like a ritual marriage to turn things around.”
Jiang Chi tilted his head slightly and asked, “Brother, the person marrying Qin Yan… what’s his name again?”
Without thinking, the man casually replied, “Ji Yu. That neglected illegitimate child from the Ji family.”
Jiang Chi: “…”
Wasn’t that the shou protagonist from the ritual-marriage novel?
If it were just one matching name, he could chalk it up to coincidence. But now both names were exactly the same as in the book…
He picked up the glass and took a sip of the alcohol-free sparkling water.
The bubbles popped against his tongue with a faint sting. The sensation was so vivid and real—it clearly wasn’t some surreal dream.
So… had he entered the world of the novel?
Jiang Chi lowered his eyes, concealing the shock in them, and began recalling the plot of the story.
In the novel, the powerful heir Qin Yan fell into a coma under mysterious circumstances. Orchestrated by his scheming stepmother, he was forced to marry the protagonist shou, Ji Yu, as part of a superstitious ritual to bring him back to consciousness.
Qin Yan was a man of deep thoughts and obsessive control. Even though he despised the arranged marriage, he still refused to let Ji Yu go free.
The novel’s pacing was intense, packed with emotional highs and lows, and built entirely around themes of force, possession, and suffering—both physical and emotional.
From Ji Yu’s perspective, the story was downright suffocating. Jiang Chi had only made it halfway through before giving up, unable to take the frustration. He’d heard the ending was a complete disaster—Ji Yu apparently died, and Qin Yan lost his mind.
Dying from a relationship? And then driving the other person insane? This author really didn’t hold back—they were hell-bent on emotionally wrecking every reader equally.
Thank god Jiang Chi had quit while he was ahead.
…Wait a second. Ji Yu dies?
Jiang Chi suddenly jumped to his feet and asked, “Where’s Ji Yu?”
The person next to him flinched, startled by the abrupt movement. He looked up at Jiang Chi and said, “Probably in the dressing room backstage?”
Jiang Chi gave a small nod, then strode out of the banquet hall under the bewildered gaze of his tablemates.
Someone called after him, “Where are you going? The ceremony’s about to start! What’s so urgent that it can’t wait?”
Jiang Chi didn’t stop walking. With long strides and a serious face, he shot back, “It is urgent. Life-or-death urgent!”
He was going to find Ji Yu—and tell him he absolutely could not marry that lunatic Qin Yan!
Qin Yan must’ve hit his head while he was in a coma, because that man was completely unhinged—moody, possessive, dark as night, and utterly unpredictable.
Ji Yu, on the other hand, seemed cold and delicate on the outside, but deep down he was tough and fiercely stubborn. He never backed down easily, even under Qin Yan’s domineering pressure.
But how could Ji Yu possibly win against someone like Qin Yan, who held so much power? Every time he tried to escape, he’d get dragged back and tortured all over again—both body and soul.
This couldn’t go on. Jiang Chi had to stop this marriage.
It wasn’t about stopping Ji Yu from marrying Qin Yan—it was about stopping him from marching straight into his death! Once the wedding happened, there’d be no turning back. Ji Yu wouldn’t even have the chance to run.
Ji Yu had no idea just how brutal the road ahead was. And as the only person here who knew the truth, Jiang Chi refused to sit back and watch him fall into that abyss.
Maybe he was brought into this novel for one reason—to pull Ji Yu out of the fire.
How else could he explain being suddenly thrown into a fictional world?
Jiang Chi had never felt such an urgent need to protect someone. Heart racing, he hurried up the stairs and pushed open the door to the dressing room.
Bright lights flooded the space, and the air was rich with the scent of fresh flowers.
A young man sat on the sofa, dressed in a formal wedding suit, a white lily-of-the-valley boutonniere pinned to his lapel.
His complexion was pale, his aura cold and restrained, like a sliver of autumn moonlight reflected on the surface of a river—so pure he seemed untouched by the world, as if he might vanish at any moment.
He was beautiful, no doubt about it. But it was a kind of beauty that felt detached from all emotion or desire, too ethereal to be approached casually.
And yet—on that utterly indifferent face was a pair of eyes that told a different story. Eyes filled with unspoken emotion. The moment he looked up, they shimmered like autumn water, stirring something deep and inescapable.
Jiang Chi’s heart skipped a beat.
No wonder the protagonist gong couldn’t let Ji Yu go. He was way too stunning.
Like a moon hanging high above the clouds—so out of reach that just one look could spark desire. He made you want to drag him down, crush him, claim him—make him yours, no matter the cost.
Jiang Chi had no doubts about the man’s identity. After all, the other groom was still in a coma, only expected to wake after the wedding. This handsome young man in formal wear had to be Ji Yu.
Feeling sure of himself, Jiang Chi eased his expression.
The moment Ji Yu saw him standing at the door, his face changed. He looked wary. “Who are you?”
Jiang Chi turned and locked the door behind him, then strode across the room in a flash. “I’m Jiang Chi. I’m here to save you!”
Ji Yu stared at him with a strange expression, subtly leaning away.
“…What?” he asked.
“You can’t go through with the wedding. If you do, you’ll die!” Jiang Chi said urgently.
Ji Yu’s eyes widened in open disbelief. “Die?”
Jiang Chi dropped into a crouch before him, gaze steady and serious. “But don’t be afraid. I’ll protect you.”
Jiang Chi’s features were cold and sharp like a blade, but his gaze was gentle. The collision of these two opposing auras didn’t clash—instead, it made him seem strangely dependable.
But the young man didn’t look moved at all. In fact, it was like he’d just heard the funniest thing all day. There was mockery at the corners of his eyes and lips, yet if one looked closer, his face was perfectly composed—completely emotionless, detached.
“You’ll protect me?” the young man repeated.
Jiang Chi nodded, his voice calm and steady. “I know everything you’ve been through. I understand the reasons behind your choices. Starting today, no one will force your hand again. I promise.”
In an instant, Ji Yu’s eyes darkened, his voice sharp and accusing. “What exactly do you know?”
Just then, the bell tower outside began to chime.
There was no time.
Once the twelfth bell tolled, the wedding would begin.
“No time to explain,” Jiang Chi said, and suddenly lunged forward, wrapping an arm around the young man and hoisting him onto his shoulder. “You’re coming with me—now.”
Caught completely off guard, Ji Yu felt the rush of weightlessness hit him like a wave. His thoughts scattered for a few seconds.
By the time he processed what had just happened, Jiang Chi was already sprinting out of the dressing room with him slung over his shoulder!
With his arms dangling downward and no leverage to fight back, Ji Yu couldn’t even reach the hidden gun strapped to his lower back.
Panic surged in his chest. He struggled violently. “Are you insane?!”
But Jiang Chi was far too strong. His arm clamped tightly around Ji Yu’s knees, completely locking his movement.
This was absurd.
Ji Yu had never encountered anyone so outrageous. Furious, he tried to punch Jiang Chi, but the awkward position left him powerless. Each strike landed weakly, as if a kitten were pawing at him—hardly enough to even tickle.
Feeling the feeble little punches rain down on his back, Jiang Chi grew even more certain:
The person on his shoulder was absolutely the protagonist shou, Ji Yu.
With strength like this, no wonder the novel always described him as delicate and fragile.
[The novel literally said: “Qin Yan pinned Ji Yu to the bed with one hand—he couldn’t move at all.”]
Look at this—just look at it! Jiang Chi could carry Ji Yu with one arm, and Ji Yu couldn’t move an inch. If he ever fell into Qin Yan’s hands… wouldn’t he be b*llied to death?
Jiang Chi suddenly regretted not finishing the novel.
He didn’t know how Ji Yu died in the end.
Was it illness? A sudden accident? Or… s**cide?
He had no clue. Not even the faintest idea.
But no matter what, he had to take Ji Yu away today.
Even if Ji Yu still chose to be with Qin Yan in the future, Jiang Chi was determined to keep him from walking down the same doomed path.
Jiang Chi sprinted ahead, practically flying with each step.
He spoke to the young man slung over his shoulder: “When we get back, you’re training with me. Daily workouts, on schedule. We’re adding in sanda, taekwondo—you’re learning it all.”
Ji Yu blinked. “Martial arts?”
“Exactly! You’re way too weak right now. What if you get b*llied after marriage?”
The young man’s voice was calm and flat, but there was a faint trace of resignation, like he’d given up resisting. “Didn’t you say you’d protect me?”
“Of course I will,” Jiang Chi replied. “But I can’t be with you 24/7. Even if I get revenge for you afterward, what about the humiliation you suffer in the moment?”
Ji Yu went quiet.
He didn’t struggle again.
Jiang Chi rushed to the parking lot, moving on instinct. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a Lamborghini key fob.
He paused, staring at it in surprise.
Wasn’t that the same brand as his car in the real world?
What were the odds?
Still, now wasn’t the time for that. He hit the remote and started circling the lot, looking for the car.
Ji Yu tugged lightly on Jiang Chi’s sleeve. “Put me down. I’m a little dizzy.”
Jiang Chi bent over and gently set him down.
Ji Yu really did look dizzy—and unwell in general. He held onto Jiang Chi’s arm just to stay standing. “You can’t find your car, can you?”
Jiang Chi hesitated for a second. “…Yeah.”
The young man held his forehead with one hand and gave his head a slight shake. “How does someone lose their own car?”
Jiang Chi paced back and forth across the parking lot, not even attempting to hide anything. “Because I’m not from this world.”
The young man glanced at the car keys in Jiang Chi’s hand, as if seriously wondering which mental institution this guy had escaped from.
Jiang Chi knew that explaining he’d transmigrated into a novel was going to sound insane.
If someone had suddenly told him this world was a book, he’d think they were crazy too—but Jiang Chi had no intention of hiding anything from Ji Yu.
He had to lay it all out. Honesty was the foundation of any real relationship.
The truth might sound ridiculous, but no matter how convincing a lie may be, it would always be a lie.
He couldn’t deceive Ji Yu—Ji Yu had been lied to far too many times already.
Jiang Chi turned to the young man beside him, his gaze steady and sincere. “Trust me. I won’t hurt you.”
The young man’s eyes flickered, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he kept quiet.
Finally, the headlights of a sapphire blue Lamborghini flashed.
As soon as the door opened, the young man barely had time to speak before Jiang Chi pushed him inside.
Jiang Chi moved efficiently—sliding into the driver’s seat, closing the door, shifting gears—all in one smooth motion. He even took a second to buckle both their seatbelts.
‘Dong——’
In the distance, the twelfth chime of the church bell rang out.
As the final echo faded, the Lamborghini sped off into the night, leaving behind the absurd wedding in a trail of dust.
*
Backstage at the wedding venue, Ji Yu sat in a chair in his white tuxedo, dazed.
People bustled past, the entire scene in utter chaos. Everyone wore unusually grim expressions—everyone except Ji Yu, who looked just the tiniest bit… relieved.
Someone told him, “The wedding’s canceled.”
The heavy weight that had been pressing against his chest suddenly lifted. Ji Yu feigned concern and asked, “What happened?”
They said, “Master Qin Yan ran away from the wedding.”
Ji Yu: “???”
