Chapter 380: Wait for Me in the Lobby at Nine!

As they got into the car, there was none of the usual excitement.

Brother Hu and Xiao Gang sat in silence, as if someone had pressed the pause button on them. Neither of them said a word.

Wang Yun didn’t know what to say either. He simply turned his head and stared out the window.

For the first time, he took in the sights of the city with real attention.

Back when he was constantly on the run, he never had the luxury of admiring the view. Every street, every intersection was just another route to memorize, another potential dead end to avoid.

Now, though, he could actually appreciate the scenery.

“The view here is really nice,” Wang Yun muttered absentmindedly, rubbing his neck after staring outside for too long.

Brother Hu, still in a daze, nodded mechanically. Xiao Gang chuckled twice, both of them looking awkward.

Wang Yun couldn’t help but laugh at their expressions.

“Come on, it’s not like we’ll never see each other again.”

He grabbed a notepad and pen from the side and handed them over.

“You two, write down your contact info. After we go our separate ways, we’ll keep in touch. When the time comes, let’s have a good drink together.”

Brother Hu and Xiao Gang lifted their heads, their expressions filled with surprise.

They never expected Wang Yun to be the one to say this first.

Inside the show, they were his right-hand men, his younger brothers. Now that the show was over, that dynamic should’ve ended.

But Wang Yun had just made it clear it didn’t end here. Not for him.

Brother Hu grinned, acting as if he were drunk. “Damn, the boss is the boss. Xiao Gang, stop looking so down. Even if we were only brothers for a day, that bond is real.”

Xiao Gang laughed as well. “Yeah, we were thinking too small. It’s been an honor sticking with the boss for this long.”

They both scribbled their phone numbers down and handed the paper to Wang Yun.

Just like that, the mood in the car lightened considerably.

The three of them continued chatting casually, for the first time without the pressure of cameras recording their every move.

For the first time, they could just be themselves.

Three hours later, they arrived at their hotel.

It wasn’t located downtown, but rather by the sea—on a private island that hadn’t been developed yet.

The ocean here was untouched, the water pristine.

The entire area was surrounded by towering coconut trees, and the only sounds were the rustling leaves, distant bird calls, and the gentle waves crashing against the shore.

It was a place that felt completely removed from the world.

The production team had rented out the island exclusively for Wang Yun’s celebration banquet.

This was also where he would receive all the rewards he had earned over the past month.

At the same time, the banquet would serve as a promotional event to build anticipation for Season Two of the show.

The hotel itself was the only five-star establishment on the island.

As the three of them stepped into the lobby, Director Li greeted them with a warm smile, three room keys in hand.

“Mr. Wang, welcome. All check-in procedures have been taken care of. The second floor has a gym, the third floor is a private cinema, and the rooftop has a sky bar. If you’re interested in fishing, just call the butler from your room. Whatever you need, we’ll take care of it.”

Director Li’s voice carried a subtle emphasis on those last words, his eyebrows raising slightly as he smiled.

It didn’t take a genius to catch his meaning.

Wang Yun, however, pretended not to notice. He had no interest in anything else right now—just a hot shower and a good night’s rest.

“Thanks,” he said casually. “We’ll head up first.”

As Wang Yun walked off, Director Li called after him.

“The celebration banquet is tomorrow at four in the afternoon, in the hotel courtyard. I’ll send someone to fetch you then.”

He also nodded toward Xiao Gang and Brother Hu, signaling that they were invited as well—though there would be no rewards for them.

However, the two of them did have an assigned role.

They were expected to publicly praise Wang Yun, highlighting how their journey together had increased his fame.

Of course, they would be given a pre-written script for that.

***

Ding!

The elevator reached the 22nd floor.

Just before stepping out, Wang Yun turned to the two of them.

“What are you guys planning to do tonight?”

“Huh?” Brother Hu blinked. “No plans.”

Xiao Gang shook his head as well. “Same here.”

Wang Yun glanced at the brand-new phone in his hand, provided by the production team. The SIM card was also newly installed.

“It’s 1:20 AM right now. We already ate on the way here, so you guys shouldn’t be hungry. Get some rest. At 9 PM, meet me in the lobby.”

Brother Hu and Xiao Gang both froze.

Wait… nine at night?

Their eyes widened at the same time.

Was he planning to start running again?