Picking Up Fragments

"Old Jiang, have you been hiding your true identity all along?" Wei Shen started letting his imagination run wild.

"Are you from some hidden wealthy family, out here to experience life?"

Jiang Siming responded with an eye roll, annoyed as he said, "If I were from a hidden wealthy family, would I still need to compete in tournaments to make money?"

"You can't say it like that. Maybe you're out here on a trial, and your family has a rule that you have to earn a certain amount of money to inherit the family fortune. You're desperately making money just to defeat your brothers and take the family throne."

"Can't be bothered to deal with you, you lunatic."

Jiang Siming didn't want to continue talking to him, his wild imagination was clearly the result of being too deep in fantasies.

"Brother Jiang, can I get Lin Yoona's autograph? I really like Girls' Generation," Xiao Xingmu asked hopefully.

"No problem."

"I want one too!" Wang Duoyu immediately shouted.

Getting this kind of privilege, being close to the source, made them very happy.

Even though they felt "betrayed," with Jiang Siming around, they could get loads of Lin Yoona's autographs, something many otaku guys would kill for.

"I want one too. My daughter loves Girls' Generation," the coach spoke up, a bit embarrassed.

"Don't forget me! Both Bee and I are fans, especially her."

Wei Shen wasn't going to miss out on this chance for some perks.

"No problem, consider it hush money," Jiang Siming agreed easily.

"Aren't you going to ask her first?" Wei Shen asked.

"What's there to ask? She wouldn't dare refuse such a small request."

With that, Jiang Siming asked Lin Yoona to sign a few autographs. She obediently signed more than a dozen without hesitation.

"Captain, take a look at Brother Jiang. Now that's a real man. Then look at you, you can't even get Bee to order takeout for you," Xiao Xingmu rubbed salt in the wound.

Wei Shen didn't want to say anything. He was blue (sad), and felt like a mushroom...

After satisfying their requests for autographs, everyone decided to head out together to explore London.

Fortunately, they were in the UK and not in China or Korea, so Lin Yoona's fame wasn't as overwhelming. In less crowded areas, she didn't need to wear a mask.

The group first visited the Thames River, which runs through the entire city of London. Over a hundred years ago, due to the Industrial Revolution, the river was notoriously polluted and foul-smelling.

But after more than a century of government efforts, the Thames has been restored to a state of clarity, becoming one of London's famous tourist attractions.

For visitors wanting to enjoy the beauty of the Thames, taking a cruise is the most relaxing option.

Jiang Siming and the others had already bought tickets and boarded a cruise that could hold a hundred people, each looking for their seats.

There were many passengers on the boat, from all sorts of backgrounds, and everyone was waiting for it to fill up before setting off.

The arrival of Jiang Siming and Lin Yoona undoubtedly became a beautiful sight for the other passengers.

A golden couple like them would draw attention anywhere, but after a brief moment of awe, everyone returned their attention to the Thames.

Jiang Siming and Lin Yoona chose a seat near the rear corner of the boat, and Lin Yoona nestled against Jiang Siming's shoulder like a little bird.

It was her first time going on a date with the man she loved, and she felt nothing but happiness, almost like she was dreaming.

"Have you been here before?" Jiang Siming asked.

Lin Yoona shook her head and replied a bit sadly:

"Never. I've been to London several times, but every time it was just for work, rushing between schedules, filming, or shooting music videos."

"Why do you wear yourself out so much? I don't want my woman to be a workaholic," Jiang Siming said, feeling a bit sorry for her.

The workload for South Korean artists is incredibly heavy, so much so that nearly all 24 hours of the day are consumed.

Training started from being a trainee, with only six hours of sleep each day, and the rest of the time spent honing various skills.

The reason Girls' Generation is so popular is that they constantly present new things to the audience.

These new things are all the result of their team working overtime, day and night.

Just by looking at Lin Yoona's perfectly slim figure with no excess fat, you can tell how much pressure she's under at work.

"I don't want to either, but I'm an artist signed with the company, so I have to follow the company's arrangements."

Worried that Jiang Siming might get upset, she quickly added:

"Oppa, it's okay. I'm no longer a trainee. My conditions are much better now, and the workload is lighter."

Jiang Siming wasn't upset at all—he was just feeling sorry for her.

"How long is your contract with the company?" Jiang Siming asked curiously.

"Ten years, and this is the ninth year."

"What are your plans for next year?"

"I'm not sure yet. Maybe I'll stay with the company. Oppa, you don't like that?" Lin Yoona asked cautiously.

"How about joining my company?"

Jiang Siming suddenly had an idea. What if he started his own entertainment company?

If he had the funds and connections, starting an entertainment company wouldn't be too difficult.

Of course, at first, it would be a small company, nowhere near the level of Lin Yoona's current company.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

But this kind of thing can grow with time. The key is having access to a large pool of artists.

And he'd need professionals to handle the operations, as Jiang Siming knew nothing about this field.

"Oppa, are you starting an entertainment company? Of course, I'd be willing!"

Without asking if Jiang Siming's company would be good or bad, Lin Yoona agreed immediately, without conditions.

Jiang Siming felt touched, and with a light smile, he grasped her delicate hand and said:

"I haven't started it yet. I just had the idea. Don't you still have over a year left on your contract? I'll use this time to try it out. If I succeed, will you come and be my lady boss?"

Lady boss...

Lin Yoona's face turned crimson, but she nodded happily in agreement.

In the past, she had been all alone, with work being the sole focus of her life.

But now Lin Yoona didn't think that way anymore. Earning money had become secondary—love was the only thing she wanted to hold onto now.

"The boat is moving."

The ship beneath them began to set sail, slowly making its way along the Thames River.

They passed through the heart of London, admiring the sights along the river: Haggerford Bridge, Waterloo Bridge, the London Eye, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, and other landmarks.

All the buildings in London seem to carry the weight of history, making one feel as if they were standing in France a hundred years ago.

The calm surface of the Thames shimmered with golden light under the morning sun, as the boat moved slowly, and a gentle breeze swept across the river, dissolving any lingering worries.

Xiao Xingmu and the others took out their phones, snapping photos non-stop. They turned to see what Jiang Siming was up to.

As they looked back, they saw Jiang Siming holding Lin Yoona in his arms, the two pointing at the passing landmarks, chatting and laughing. Their eyes were full of love and affection for each other.

They didn't need makeup or special angles—no matter how they were photographed, it looked like scenes from a romance drama...

"Sigh, comparing myself to others only makes me mad. When will I ever find such a beautiful girlfriend?" Xiao Xingmu muttered, feeling he'd been fed a huge mouthful of dog food (jealousy), and even the scenery didn't seem as appealing anymore.

"Brother, you can stop dreaming. Find a girl first, and then we'll talk. Old Jiang is different—he's a freak, you can't judge him by normal standards," Wei Shen advised, speaking earnestly.

Whatever Xiao Xingmu and Wei Shen were saying, Jiang Siming and Lin Yoona didn't hear it at all. They were still lost in their own little world, even stealing a kiss when things got particularly sweet.

It was unbearable to watch! One more glance, and their eyes might go blind...