Damn it, I'm surrounded by insane Alphas!

In the latter half of the auction, an item was presented for sale.

On a velvet tray, a diamond ring reflects a dazzling yet cold light under a spotlight.

The emcee explained that this was a rare treasure passed down from a European royal family. The craftsmanship of this item was lost, making it unique and symbolizing eternal and supreme love.

Shi Ran's eyes lit up instantly, not because she was particularly moved, but purely out of curiosity about how much this was worth.

He probably couldn't afford it even if he worked since the Cretaceous period.

Gu Chen glanced sideways, a barely perceptible curve appearing at the corner of his mouth: "Want it?"

Shi Ran immediately nodded like a lackey, but then realized something was wrong. Could he just take this thing?

He quickly added, "I just...look at it, it's too expensive, just looking at it for fun."

Gu Chen didn't say anything and turned his head back.

The bidding began, and the starting price was already high. Several interested buyers raised their paddles one after another, and the price was quickly driven up to eight million.

Just then, Gu Chen finally moved.

He raised the number plate in his hand, and his voice clearly echoed throughout the venue: "Ten million."

A low murmur rippled through the room.

Many people turned to look at the young head of the Gu family.

Shi Ran was also startled and quickly tugged at Gu Chen's sleeve under the table, "Are you crazy? It's too expensive! I don't want it!"

Gu Chen let him pull him along, only saying indifferently, "A Christmas present."

Shi Ran was taken aback, not yet realizing what kind of reason this was, when the auctioneer began asking, "Ten million, the first time... ten million, the second time..."

Just as the hammer was about to fall, a voice rang out unhurriedly from the side and behind:

"Thirteen million."

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound.

The person holding the sign was none other than Yu Siran's fiancé.

He sat not far away, turning his head to look at Yu Siran beside him, his eyes so tender they could melt water.

The sound wasn't loud, but it was loud enough for everyone around to hear clearly.

"This ring suits you perfectly. How about I give it to you as our wedding ring?"

Yu Siran nodded gently in agreement, and a chorus of envious exclamations immediately rose from those around her.

Shi Ran watched this scene with a complex expression.

These two have only known each other for a short time, yet they can act so perfectly in sync?

Gu Chen remained expressionless, but simply raised the sign again.

"Fifteen million."

As soon as Gu Chen finished speaking, Lin Jianshen, who was in front of him, turned his head slightly.

His gaze lingered on Gu Chen for only two seconds before sliding to Shi Ran.

The eyes behind the lenses gleamed almost imperceptibly.

It's like suddenly spotting a vibrant work of art with completely different brushstrokes in a dull art exhibition.

Just then, Shi Ran looked up, and their eyes met head-on.

Shi Ran didn't avoid his gaze because he had forgotten to wear his contact lenses today. He wanted to see what this unlucky guy who had been tricked by Yu Siran looked like, so he could only stare at him very hard.

Little did he know that Lin Shao's unusual calmness only fueled his interest.

Lin Jianshen slowly turned around and raised his sign again: "Eighteen million."

Gu Chen didn't back down either, "Twenty million."

"Twenty-two million."

The two men clashed across half the auction hall.

The price soared amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, and when Gu Chen announced "twenty-six million," Shi Ran could no longer sit still.

He grabbed Gu Chen's hand, which was about to raise the sign, and said, "No need, no need, bro. How about I give you a plain ring another day? Let's not take it seriously."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Shi Ran froze.

A meaningful smile appeared on Gu Chen's usually expressionless face.

"Haven't you been denying it all along?"

Sometimes I feel like biting my own tongue off.

"You...you misheard!"

He vehemently denied it, his eyes darting around.

Just then, the auction gavel fell.

"Twenty-seven million, sold! Congratulations, Mr. Lin!"

Polite applause filled the room. Under everyone's gaze, Yu Siran smiled sweetly and said in a low voice, "So willing to go to such lengths, huh? My fiancé?"

"Isn't doing it all at once the easiest way?"

Lin Jianshen still wore that polite smile. He had absolutely no interest in his arranged marriage wife; the woman next to Gu Chen earlier... was much more attractive to him.

"I'm gone."

Gu Chen calmly stood up and said, "I'll make up for the gift next time."

Shi Ran nodded blankly, "Thank you, Dad."

Gu Chen turned around.

Suddenly realizing what was happening, he chuckled obsequiously, "Thank you, my patron."

Gu Chen smiled deeply, "It's alright, it makes no difference."

Shi Ran got up and left, but his phone suddenly vibrated. He took it out and saw that it was an unknown number.

He hesitated for a moment, but still pressed the answer button.

"Feed? Who?"

There was no sound from that side; the silence was terrifying.

Shi Ran frowned slightly and asked again, "Is there something you need?"

No one spoke from the other side, but faintly, one could occasionally hear heavy breathing.

The sound of breathing that was being suppressed but could not be calmed.

He was about to ask again who was on the other end of the line when Gu Chen, who was walking ahead, turned around and he quickly hung up the phone.

It's really baffling.

Gu Chen watched Shi Ran walk over. "Whose call was that?"

Shi Ran didn't take it seriously, saying, "I don't know, it's probably some kind of scam call."

Gu Chen's eyes flickered slightly as he glanced thoughtfully at the watch on his wrist, secretly noting down the time.

As the two walked out of the banquet hall along the corridor, they couldn't help but glance at the huge photo wall a few more times.

The entire wall is inlaid with freshly flown-in white roses and crystals, with Lin Jianshen and Yu Siran's names in gold foil in the center. When the lights are on, it is so dazzling that it is almost blinding.

"Making such a big fuss over an engagement," Shi Ran sighed softly. "What will the wedding be like then?"

After he finished speaking, he walked forward, only to find that the people around him had not followed.

Turning around, Gu Chen stopped in place and looked at him from a few steps away.

The light from the corridor ceiling lamp fell on his shoulder, flickering and obscuring the expression on his face.

"What's wrong?" Shi Ran walked back.

Gu Chen looked at him for a few seconds before speaking, "I was thinking about our wedding back then."

My breath hitched for a moment.

In fact, he and Gu Chen had two weddings.

The first time was a ceremony for a so-called business marriage.

Gu Chen didn't even show his face.

Shi Ran walked through the entire process alone, wearing an ill-fitting dress.

At that time, Gu Chen thought it was all utterly absurd and gave this Beta partner who had been forced upon him a friendly look.

Never in this lifetime.

But later, the person who knelt down on one knee by the lake in New Zealand's South Island, proposing with his fingertips trembling, was also Gu Chen.

Shi Ran still remembers the cold wind blowing across the lake, Gu Chen's vows that sounded like a letter to shareholders, and the tears in Gu Chen's eyes when she nodded.

At that time, Gu Chen was so overwhelmed by the sudden happiness that he even posted on his WeChat Moments, which was unprecedented for him.

He couldn't wait to show off to the whole world, to flaunt his entire world.

The second was their carefully planned wedding in Switzerland.

From the welcome sign to the invitations, from the starry dome decorations to the oath, every detail was handled by them personally.

On the eve of the wedding, Gu Chen was so nervous that he couldn't sleep.

He held Shi Ran's hand and said that everything felt so unreal.

She suddenly grasped his hand.

"At least I really am. After tomorrow, I will be completely yours."

Then it got light, and Shi Ran was gone.

Fragments of memories, sharp as thorns, pierced deeply into Gu Chen's chest.

He suddenly stepped forward and grabbed Shi Ran's wrist.

"Where have you been these past two years?" Gu Chen's voice was low.

Shi Ran stumbled as he pulled her, and when she looked up, she met Gu Chen's cold gaze.

He opened his mouth, his throat dry: "I..."

But he couldn't say anything. He didn't expect that Gu Chen would take a deep breath and mention that name to him for the first time.

"Is that Fu Yanshen?"

Suddenly, a "boom" went through his mind, and he froze completely.

How did Gu Chen know about Fu Yanshen?!

How much did he know? When did he accidentally give himself away?

Or... has Fu Yanshen already come looking for us?

If he knew about his relationship with Fu Yanshen...

Gu Chen took in every bit of Shi Ran's panic and guilt.

"If one day..."

Gu Chen's voice was hoarse, each word deliberate and agonizing, as if he were slowly torturing himself, "I want you to choose between me and Fu Yanshen."

He paused and took a deep breath.

"Who...would you choose?"

Shi Ran was completely dumbfounded.

He had never considered this hypothetical scenario.

But he could see clearly that if he didn't give Gu Chen a definite answer now, he wouldn't even survive tonight.

"You." Shi Ran heard his own dry voice. "Of course it's you, Gu Chen. What are you talking about?"

He's pretending to be stupid.

Gu Chen could see it clearly.

But he was too tired; he didn't want to, and dared not, delve into it at this moment.

He just wants this answer. Even if it's false.

Gu Chen stared intently at him for a long time before gradually loosening his grip.

"Remember what you said."

After saying that, he didn't linger and turned to walk towards the parking lot.

Little did he know that just a few days later, this answer would be completely overturned by Shi Ran himself.

The rating is a bit low since we just started using it, but please give it a good review if you like it TT