"Hello," Zhang Yichen greeted politely.
"Mr. Zhang, Miss Chen, good morning. May I ask if it's convenient for you to accept an interview today?"
Reporter Xiao Wang got straight to the point, his tone courteous and professional.
"I'm sorry, Reporter Wang. We'll be holding a press conference today. The location will be sent to you shortly."
Zhang Yichen's voice was calm and distant, as if he were handling a trivial matter.
Before the other side could ask anything further, he hung up.
Chen Xiaoxi stood beside him, her fingers unconsciously twisting the corner of her clothes, her gaze drifting uneasily.
She took a deep breath and spoke in a voice so soft it was almost a whisper.
"Ah Chen… are you really going to do this? I'm afraid… I'm afraid you'll get hurt."
Zhang Yichen turned to her, his eyes firm and unwavering.
He gently brushed her cheek, the warmth of his fingertips carrying reassurance.
"Xiaoxi, I told you long ago—I'll always stand by your side. No matter how strong the storm is, I'll block it for you. Don't be afraid. As long as I'm here, no one can hurt you."
Her eyes reddened instantly. Tears gathered at the corners, ready to fall at any moment.
She knew how resolute Zhang Yichen was—but she had no way to stop him.
She couldn't bear to see him destroy his future for her, nor could she bear to see him become a target because of her.
Her voice trembled.
"But… you'll be facing the entire entertainment industry. They have their own rules. They'll stand against you together."
"Rules?" Zhang Yichen chuckled softly, the corners of his lips lifting with faint disdain.
"Rules are meant to be broken. Besides, those are their rules—I walk my own path."
Tears finally slipped down Chen Xiaoxi's cheeks, falling silently.
She wiped them away and forced a faint smile.
"Ah Chen, I don't want you to become everyone's target because of me. That would make me feel like a burden."
Zhang Yichen's expression darkened instantly.
He stepped forward and held her shoulders firmly, his voice low but powerful.
"Xiaoxi, you are not a burden. You're my motivation—the person I want to protect."
Her breath caught, as if something had struck her heart.
She looked into his eyes and saw endless courage and strength.
Slowly, her fingers released her clothes and instead grasped his wrist, as if holding onto a lifeline.
"If I'm not a burden," she said softly but firmly, "then let me attend the press conference with you."
A trace of hesitation appeared on Zhang Yichen's face.
Then he lowered his head and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, the warmth making her heartbeat quicken.
He turned to Li Yue.
"Sister Yue, today's press conference—Xiaoxi and I will both attend. Please make the arrangements."
Li Yue nodded.
"Alright. I'll handle it. But the two of you should think carefully—once this war begins, there's no turning back."
Zhang Yichen smiled faintly, his gaze deep and steady.
"Don't worry, Sister Yue. We never had a retreat from the start. We chose this road long ago."
Li Yue sighed, pulled out her phone, and began making arrangements.
Chen Xiaoxi stood there, her gaze fixed on Zhang Yichen, her heart still in turmoil.
She knew she couldn't change his decision, nor stop him from walking straight into the storm.
Her hand clenched tightly into a fist, her nails digging into her palm—the pain helping her regain some clarity.
"Ah Chen," she said softly but clearly, "I'm not afraid of the storm. I'm just afraid you'll get hurt."
Zhang Yichen turned back. Seeing her pale expression, a wave of tenderness rose in his heart.
He walked over and gently stroked her hair, his movements soft yet resolute.
"Silly girl. I told you I'd protect you—I won't let you suffer even the slightest harm. As for me…"
He paused, then smiled confidently.
"I'm someone who fears nothing."
The morning passed in Chen Xiaoxi's quiet anxiety.
Even as the time for the press conference arrived, her mind remained heavy with worry.
"Xiaoxi… how about you stay home and watch the baby? Sister Yue can come with me," Zhang Yichen suggested, concerned about her condition.
"No. I'm going."
Her answer was firmer than he expected.
"Let Yue watch the baby."
Zhang Yichen sighed helplessly.
"Alright then. Let's go."
The press conference was held at Sichuan International Hotel, right next to Sichuan Residence.
It was only a ten-minute walk.
By the time they arrived, the staff had already prepared the venue perfectly.
There were more reporters than expected.
When the scheduled time arrived, Zhang Yichen and Chen Xiaoxi walked steadily onto the stage.
Below them, cameras flashed nonstop. The blinding lights made it hard to keep one's eyes open.
Chen Xiaoxi's steps faltered slightly.
She hadn't faced such a scene in a long time.
It felt unfamiliar.
Zhang Yichen, however, remained calm and composed, a faint smile on his lips—as if this were nothing new.
Once they stood firmly on stage, Zhang Yichen slowly swept his gaze across the room and spoke:
"Hello, everyone. I'm Zhang Yichen, and this is Miss Chen Xiaoxi."
He introduced them both without hesitation.
"Thank you all for coming today. Miss Chen Xiaoxi and I will now respond to your questions."
The reporters erupted instantly. Microphones shot upward as questions poured in like a tidal wave.
"Miss Chen, some netizens claim you're arrogant. What do you have to say about that?"
"Miss Chen, why did you terminate your contract with your former company when everything was going well?"
"Miss Chen, there are rumors online claiming you financially supported Mr. Zhang Yichen. Is that true?"