I raised stunning young ladies, but they all wanted to possess me.

Gu Yan paused slightly when she saw the man's face, and her steps faltered for a moment.

He felt like he'd seen that face somewhere before; there was an inexplicable sense of familiarity between its features.

But I can't remember it right now, it's like looking at a painting through a thin mist.

Aunt Tian strode forward, her voice so loud that it could be heard throughout the entire courtyard.

"The son-in-law is here! The son-in-law is here! Make way, make way!"

She shouted as she pulled Gu Yan's arm, pulling him between the two bodyguards.

He acted as if he wanted everyone to know he was the son-in-law of the Chen family.

She pulled Gu Yan to Cecilia's side and deliberately put his arm on the armrest of the wheelchair.

Before Gu Yan could even stand up straight, Cecilia reached out and took his arm.

The movements were so natural, as if they had been done countless times, without the slightest hesitation or awkwardness.

Her fingers were slightly cool, pressing against his arm through the thin fabric of her shirt.

Then she leaned her body closer to him, her shoulder almost touching his waist.

The white hair brushed against the back of his hand, carrying that faint, cool fragrance.

She looked up at the man who was being restrained in front of her, her icy blue eyes devoid of any warmth.

That kind of coldness wasn't feigned; it was a chill that seeped into your very bones.

"Lin Yan, this is my fiancé."

"Go back to where you came from."

Her voice wasn't loud, but every word was like an ice bead hitting a stone slab, crisp and cold.

Lin Yan's expression changed in that instant, and the muscles at the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

Gu Yan could feel Cecilia's fingers tighten a little.

She was telling the person in front of her that she was already taken.

After saying that, she turned to look at Aunt Tian, ​​her tone becoming even colder.

"Aunt Tian, ​​find out who let him in."

Aunt Tian's face also darkened, and she straightened up and wiped her hands on her apron.

"Don't worry, Miss, I will investigate thoroughly and not let a single one escape."

"I will question each of the servants guarding the gate today, and if anything is found out, I will kick them out of the Chen family."

Lin Yan stood between two bodyguards, watching this scene unfold before him.

Cecilia's arm was linked with another man's, and her shoulder rested against his side.

When she looked at that person, there was warmth in her icy blue eyes.

He had never seen that kind of warmth in her eyes, not even once.

He suppressed the surging anger and bitterness in his heart and took a deep breath.

His gaze fell on Gu Yan and scrutinized her carefully, looking her up and down.

That face was so beautiful, so pale it was almost bloodless, yet it possessed a kind of sickly beauty.

Black, wispy hair fell across her forehead; she had long eyelashes and pale lips.

Standing in the sunset, I look like a painting; standing under the ginkgo tree, I look like someone who has stepped out of a painting.

He was being held captive, his hair disheveled, his clothes wrinkled, looking as pathetic as a stray dog.

Lin Yan struggled to free her arms, which were being held captive, and found them painfully twisted.

He forced himself to put on a gentle smile and spoke with utmost sincerity.

"What is your name, sir? Celia and I are old acquaintances."

"It was indeed my fault for visiting you today, and I sincerely apologize to everyone."

"I just want to have a proper talk with Celia and be friends again, that's all."

He spoke in a gentle tone, like a freshly brewed cup of tea.

The apology on his face seemed so sincere, and the corners of his eyes even drooped slightly.

But Gu Yan noticed that his gaze lingered for half a second on Cecilia's arm that was linked with his.

For half a second, his pupils contracted, like a snake's tongue probing the air.

When the terrifying lineage of Yiluo approached him, he hesitated.

He sat in his apartment for a long time that night, the neon lights outside the window flashing.

But that sum of money was far too much; the price offered by the Yiluo family was enough for him to live on for a lifetime.

Moreover, Cecilia never let him touch her, not even her fingertips.

He offered her flowers, but she refused them; he pushed her wheelchair, but she slapped his hand away.

He was both angry and greedy, so he did it: he stole an important document from the Chen family and sold it to the Yiluo family.

He took the money and bought a new car, a new house, and a new diamond-encrusted watch.

He had one woman after another around him, and those women only cared about how much money he had in his pocket, not who he was.

He quickly spent the money, squandering it faster than he had anticipated.

Then he began to think of Cecilia, and of her sitting silently in her wheelchair.

I remember her icy blue eyes, and her face that never smiled.

I remember how close I was to the Chen family's vast wealth empire.

A tiny bit of remorse welled up in my heart, just a tiny bit, like a drop of water mixed into a glass of strong liquor.

If she can forgive him, if he can stand by her side again.

He would still have a chance to return to that decadent lifestyle; the Chen family's money would be enough for him to live on for the rest of his life.

So he came back, bought a bouquet of white roses, and stood here.

Gu Yan finally recognized the person at this moment, and the information in her mind matched up one by one.

Lin Yan was given a not-so-short chapter in the Book of the World.

Although he is labeled as a male protagonist in the Book of the World, he is an utterly disgusting creature.

Selfish, greedy, vain, and cowardly—every word perfectly describes him.

What he did was far inferior to what Bai Zikong did. At most, Bai Zikong was cowardly, hesitant, and clueless.

But Bai Zikong wouldn't steal women's things to sell, nor would he take the money and run away.

Bai Zikong is far better than him; at least Bai Zikong still has someone else in his heart.

Gu Yan looked up at Lin Yan, her lips curving slightly, the curve very faint.

"My name is Gu Yan."

Just four words, spoken in a calm tone as if saying the weather was nice today.

Lin Yan's pupils contracted sharply, and the smile on his face froze instantly.

Gu Yan, the boy who treated S-class superhumans on the street when he was only twelve years old.

That Imperial Jade, hailed by the newspapers as the youngest master of the Great Xia Dynasty.

Looking at Gu Yan's face, a tremendous pressure welled up from the bottom of his heart.

He was unwilling, so unwilling. Why was this person standing next to her?

Cecilia was his last chance to return to a life of hedonism.

He couldn't just give up; he had to think of another way.

Lin Yan forced a smile that looked more like a grimace, but her voice was still strained.

"So it's Master Gu. I've long admired your name; it's legendary."

"However, when it comes to matters of the heart, Cecilia's own choice must ultimately be respected."

Aunt Tian watched as Lin Yan stood by the archway, still bending down to straighten his tie, which had been pulled askew by the bodyguard.

His fingers rubbed against his tie, as if deliberately stalling for time.

Aunt Tian was so angry that she burst out laughing, her laughter filled with undisguised sarcasm.

She served as the head housekeeper of the Chen family for forty years, standing in this courtyard since the previous head of the family was alive.

She'd seen all sorts of situations and dealt with all sorts of people, but she'd never seen many people like Lin Yan who could stand still after being rejected twice in person.