Jiang Yuchao tossed the lantern aside, lifted her skirt, and instantly leaped down from the steps, swiftly running to the bushes below to help the unfortunate man and his dog up.

"Hiss..." The man sucked in a cold breath and sat on the steps to the side, his foot bruised and burning with pain from the impact.

"You are... you are..." Jiang Yuchao stared at his face and attire, her gaze so intense it nearly burned through him, her voice trembling with disbelief, "Shaoyuan Hub... brother?"

"Ahem, I am Xi Zhuoyu." The renowned dog breeder of Luodu, Prince Yuling, lowered his head in embarrassment, stroking the little mutt in his arms to calm himself.

Although he appeared relatively composed on the surface, the screams in his heart were no quieter than those in Jiang Yuchao's mind.

Xi Zhuoyu, known as Xi Shaoyuan in his previous life, was a celebrity. In his youth, he entered the entertainment industry for his good looks and to make money. Although his career wasn't always smooth sailing, it was steady. After ten years in the industry, he successfully became a second-tier actor with over 30 million followers on Weibo.

Then, on the first day of filming a drama called "The Domineering Prince's Special Agent Abandoned Consort," he fell asleep and woke up as Xi Zhuoyu.

When he transmigrated into Xi Zhuoyu's body, Xi Zhuoyu was only a few years old. Although it took some getting used to initially, he gradually found joy in this new life. As the emperor's beloved nephew and the first-rank Prince Yuling, he owned a vast mansion spacious enough for horse riding, taxable fiefdoms, countless land deeds, and money without needing to work.

Most importantly, no one here controlled his dog breeding hobby or constantly monitored his personal image, forbidding him from dressing as he pleased.

He could freely wear all kinds of beautiful, colorful clothes, mix and match as he wished, and raise countless dogs, spending every day with them in utter bliss. He was so content that he nearly forgot about his previous life.

Until he heard that earth-shattering cry of "Shaoyuan Hubby," Xi Zhuoyu instantly recalled those days many years ago when he was surrounded by countless fans, one moment wanting him to be their father, the next their brother, then their husband, and sometimes even their son.

He surprisingly felt a tinge of nostalgia.

As Xi Zhuoyu stroked his dog, reminiscing about his glorious past, he suddenly heard a sob. Startled, he looked up and saw the girl beside him weeping torrentially, her tears sincere and heartfelt.

Xi Zhuoyu: "Ah—you're also a transmigrator like me. It seems you've suffered."

He thought to himself, she calls me Shaoyuan Hubby, so she must be my fan. Just not sure if she's a casual fan or—

Jiang Yuchao cried uncontrollably, her heart aching to the extreme. Grasping Xi Zhuoyu's arm with one hand, she sobbed, "You've really suffered. How... how can you also be here? Have you been living well? You must have endured hardships. What great sin have you committed to end up in a place like this, lacking in everything? How can you adapt? There's no good food, no one to take care of you..."

Xi Zhuoyu: "..." She's a die-hard fan!!!

Xi Zhuoyu: "...I'm not..."

Jiang Yuchao: "Baby! Darling! Husband! You've suffered!"

Xi Zhuoyu: "..." She's a girlfriend fan!!!

"Please calm down first. I'm doing quite well now." Xi Zhuoyu almost instinctively put back on his idol persona that he had discarded for several years.

Jiang Yuchao: "I can't calm down. My baby has gotten so thin!"

Xi Zhuoyu: "..." She's a mom fan.

The little mutt Gui Huagao in Xi Zhuoyu's arms barked a couple of times, unwilling to be ignored. Some searching maids discovered the commotion here and approached, calling out to their master. Jiang Yuchao instantly wiped the tears from her face and calmly said, "You all wait over there at a distance. Don't come over and disturb us."

The maids vaguely saw a man sitting beside their master and were all thinking, "Holy shit, is our master really going to fool around with a wild man?! This Daoist tranquility is a bit too stimulating!"

With this interruption, Jiang Yuchao finally regained her senses, but she was too excited. Her hands and feet were numb, so she simply sat down next to Xi Zhuoyu, and the two exchanged information about their identities.

"You came here many years ago, so now you're Prince Yuling." Jiang Yuchao nodded. "I arrived a few months ago and am now Xiao Jinyue, the third miss of the Prime Minister Xiao's Manor, the former Princess Consort of Prince Yu, and the female lead of this story."

Xi Zhuoyu was stunned. "Female lead? You're the female lead?"

Jiang Yuchao: "Xiao Jinyue is indeed the female lead of 'The Domineering Prince's Special Agent Abandoned Consort.' You... didn't know?"

Xi Zhuoyu really didn't know. In fact, in all these years here, he had been guessing who the main characters were. Later, he gradually forgot about it and decided to keep a respectful distance from the other princes.

"Ahem, I didn't have time to read the script. On the first day of filming, they said the script wasn't finished yet, so we should start shooting first. So I only knew that my role was the second male lead, Xi Zhuoyu. I didn't know anything else." He felt a bit embarrassed saying this, as it sounded like he hadn't done his job well.

The filming was about to start, and he hadn't even read the original novel. But he really didn't want to read the original novel after seeing this title. He procrastinated day after day, and later his manager said to just read the script when the time came.

Jiang Yuchao frowned. "Of course it's not your problem. Any sensible person wouldn't be able to read this idiotic drama. If they didn't force you, would you act in such an incoherent piece of crap? You should be on the big screen, in big productions! And they still want you to read their original work? Do they have the nerve to make you read such things?!"

Xi Zhuoyu: "Ah... Although I indeed didn't want to act in this drama, the company has its own considerations..." Ah, such a familiar tone.

Jiang Yuchao was so heartbroken that she didn't know what to say. She touched Xi Zhuoyu's hand with pity and tenderness. "Really, you've suffered so much all these years. You've already worked so hard. No one can compare to you."

Xi Zhuoyu felt a chill down his spine when she touched him, nearly jumping up. But encountering an old acquaintance, his die-hard fan who kept worrying about him, he indeed felt happy and comforted. So he endured it for now.

"I've been here for so long now, I'm used to everything. I'm really doing quite well, so you don't need to worry. I haven't suffered much at all." Xi Zhuoyu regained his normal composure and asked with concern, "What about you? You haven't been here long, have you gotten used to it? I heard those rumors before, but I didn't expect it was you. And this dog, Xiao Yunqi asked me for it to give to his sister. I never imagined you were his sister. If I had known earlier, I could have helped you out."

"It's rare to meet in this strange world, I guess we have some fate. You don't need to be polite with me."

Jiang Yuchao's eyes brimmed with tears as she thought, how could my baby be so good? He's so sincere and warm to others. How could he encounter something like this? In this messy world, there are ill-intentioned people everywhere. Who knows if he has suffered any grievances?

And when he first arrived here, unfamiliar with everything, it surely wasn't as good as he claimed.

"I'm fine, I'm doing quite well too." Jiang Yuchao showed a solemn expression to her idol. "I don't need help. As long as you live well, stay happy every day, that's good. Take care of yourself. If you're doing well, I'll be at ease."

Xi Zhuoyu looked at his die-hard fan's infatuated appearance. After holding back for a long time, he finally couldn't anymore and said with some hesitation, "You... like me... that much?" The words "like me" were spoken very softly.

Jiang Yuchao replied without hesitation, "Of course, I've liked you for nine years. I joined your fan club and supporters association. No matter what event, as long as you went, I would go to support you!"

-- A passionate, diamond-level fan. Xi Zhuoyu silently replaced the attribute again.

"Um, thank you for your support. But even though we are in this world, I don't intend to... sleep with fans, you understand?" Xi Zhuoyu spoke very carefully, his tone also quite apologetic.

This world was different from the previous one. The constraints on women were far more than on men. If they had any improper interactions, it would inevitably cause greater harm to her. Xi Zhuoyu felt it was best to clarify some things first.

Jiang Yuchao was surprised, "What are you saying? Of course I know you wouldn't sleep with fans. How could you do such a thing!"

Xi Zhuoyu felt relieved. That's good, that's good. We both don't have those intentions.

The two solemnly established a huge friendship together.

Knowing the die-hard fan girl had no designs on his body, Xi Zhuoyu's attitude became much more natural. Having been an idol for so many years wasn't for nothing. The two sat there chatting happily for quite a while, getting along well.

"Um, Master?" A man who looked like a guard asked hesitantly from not far away.

He was the captain of Prince Yuling's guard. He usually followed Xi Zhuoyu to protect his safety and incidentally put on a show for his master.

Every year during the Ghost Festival, Xi Zhuoyu would come here to conduct rites for his deceased mother and burn paper offerings alone. Although they didn't know who he was burning them for, whenever this time came, his mood would be especially low. He also didn't like his attendants following him, so they were accustomed to waiting outside. When the time came, their master would naturally come out.

However, a long time had passed today without any sign of their master coming out. Worried that something had happened, he hurriedly came in to check. Who would have thought he'd see a tall man and a short woman, two figures, sitting intimately together. One of them seemed to be his master.

This shouldn't be. Who in Luodu didn't know of the master's quirks? He only liked dogs, not women. The guard captain was shocked. He called out tentatively, "Master, has something happened?"

Xi Zhuoyu and Jiang Yuchao sat there. On one side in the distance were the maids waiting for Jiang Yuchao. On the other side were the guards waiting for Xi Zhuoyu. The two stopped talking, thinking in their hearts that this really seemed like a secret rendezvous between illicit lovers under the moonlight.

Just then, the bells and drums of Mingyue Monastery sounded, first the continuous drumbeats, followed by the clear chiming of bells.

The sky grew darker and darker. Jiang Yuchao stood up first. "It's getting late, you should head back? Be careful on the road, go slowly. You fell earlier, does it still hurt?"

Xi Zhuoyu also stood up. A piercing pain instantly shot through his leg. He almost cried out but endured it. No, he couldn't lose composure in front of a fan! Carrying the heavy burden of being an idol, he forced himself to act as if nothing was wrong. "I'm fine. You should be careful too, it being so late."

Only now did Jiang Yuchao truly feel she had indeed had a private fan meeting with her idol. She was overjoyed in her heart. Although she was a bit reluctant to part, being a fan was a mix of joys and sorrows. It's not like she could always be with her idol.

Seeing Jiang Yuchao leave, Xi Zhuoyu sat down again and tried to touch his leg, sucking in a cold breath.

"You Wu." Xi Zhuoyu waved at the guard captain who was peeking around. "Come help me up."

Captain You Wu was startled. "You're injured? Is it serious? I'll take you back right away and summon the royal physician!"

"It's nothing. I'll be fine after resting for a day." Xi Zhuoyu stood up slowly, supported by the guard.

Captain You Wu suddenly said, "Why are you holding a puppy? Did you pick up another one?"

Xi Zhuoyu: "..." ??? Oh no, he forgot to return the dog?

He held the silent little puppy in one hand. "What's going on? Why didn't you make a sound earlier? I completely forgot you were still here."

On the other side was an owner who had also forgotten about her dog. Changing from her usual indifference, she returned to the courtyard with a smile on her face.

The maids followed behind with complex expressions. After entering the room, Lan Qiao finally plucked up the courage to step forward and ask softly under the gazes of the others, "Master, we still haven't found Gui Huagao. Are we not going to look anymore?"

Only then did Jiang Yuchao react. The dog, she hadn't gotten the dog back!