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

"Mr. Lin, haven't you figured it out yet?"

Aunt Tian pronounced the word "son-in-law" very heavily and slowly, as if she were teaching a child who couldn't understand human speech to recognize words.

"My young lady only has her husband in her heart."

"Stop daydreaming and save yourself some dignity."

Cecilia didn't speak, and she didn't look at Lin Yan even once from beginning to end.

Her gaze remained fixed on the spot beside Gu Yan, as if Lin Yan didn't exist in the courtyard at all.

She simply hugged Gu Yan's arm tighter and leaned against him.

His white hair brushed against his shirt sleeves, creating fine wrinkles.

Her fingers gripped his forearm, her fingertips applying slight pressure, as if she were holding something down to prevent it from slipping away.

Gu Yan could feel her shoulders trembling slightly, not from fear, but from suppressed emotions.

She wasn't afraid of Lin Yan; she was angry, so angry that she didn't want to look at that person again.

Lin Yan turned around and saw Cecilia nestled next to Gu Yan.

That image was like a needle piercing the softest, most tender part of his heart.

He stayed by her side for several years, and she would frown even if he touched a single hair on her head or got half a step closer to her wheelchair.

Once, when he tried to push her wheelchair, she simply moved it away in front of everyone.

The flowers he sent were thrown into the trash by her, and the letter he wrote was returned unopened.

And now this man surnamed Gu is standing right next to her, her head resting against his side.

Her white hair brushed against his clothes, her fingers clasped his arm, and she snuggled up to him like a cat that had found its home.

Why? Why, after spending years of my life, haven't I even managed to get a kind word in return?

How could Gu Yan be so intimate with the girl of his dreams so easily?

He suppressed the surging bitterness in his heart, took a deep breath, and forced out a smile as gentle as possible.

"Celia, stop it. I know you're still angry with me."

His tone was very soft and gentle, as if he were coaxing a sulking little girl.

"I was wrong to do that. I was out of my mind. I sincerely apologize to you."

"I can understand why you found a fake fiancé to annoy me; after all, you have your own temper."

"But that's too childish, not like you. Can we sit down and talk this over?"

Cecilia remained silent, but her fingers tightened around Gu Yan's arm.

Gu Yan looked down at her and saw that a thicker layer of ice was forming in her icy blue eyes.

Lin Yan continued talking, thinking her silence meant hesitation, and he became more and more enthusiastic.

"We've known each other for so many years, don't I know your temper?"

"You never get close to anyone, you don't even want to stand close to others when taking pictures."

"How did a fiancé suddenly appear? Stop messing around, okay? Let him go."

His voice even carried a hint of amusement, as if he were accommodating a willful child.

Cecilia finally reacted; she released Gu Yan's arm and reached out to tug at the corner of his clothes.

She pinched the hem of his shirt with her fingers and tugged at it gently, a very light but firm movement.

Gu Yan looked down at her; her icy blue eyes were looking up at him.

There was something in it that he didn't quite understand, like he had made some kind of decision.

"Squat down a little."

Gu Yan was a little confused, but she still bent down, knelt on one knee next to the wheelchair, and brought her face close to hers.

This position put him at the same height as her, with their faces less than a fist's distance apart.

He could see the curve of her eyelashes and smell the faint, cool fragrance emanating from her.

Cecilia tilted her head back and gently kissed his left cheek.

Her lips were soft, and they landed on his skin like a cool petal.

It only lasted for a very brief moment, so fast that the bodyguard next to him didn't even have time to blink.

This caused Gu Yan to freeze in place, her pupils dilating slightly for a moment.

Her white hair brushed against his arm, smooth and cool.

He smelled an even stronger, cool fragrance wafting from her hair and collar.

She sat up straight again, turned to Lin Yan, and her voice was even colder than before.

The voice was like a blade just pulled from an ice cellar, leaving no room for negotiation.

"Do you believe it now?"

Lin Yan's smile finally crumbled.

His carefully maintained gentle demeanor, which he had so meticulously cultivated for so long, was now like a mirror struck by a stone.

It shattered into pieces, with fragments scattered all over the ground.

His lips began to twitch slightly, and his fingers clenched into fists at his sides, then loosened and clenched again.

But he was still unwilling to accept it; the Cecilia he knew would never kiss someone else.

Cecilia, who would impatiently look away if she made eye contact with someone for more than three seconds.

How could Cecilia, who would frown even when a nurse takes her temperature, take the initiative to kiss a man's face?

This must be an act, a performance for him.

"Cecilia, I know you're doing this to spite me."

His voice trembled slightly, not as steady as before, and the last syllable began to rise uncontrollably.

"You've never been close to anyone; you don't even want to stand close to others when taking pictures."

"This must be an act, stop joking around."

"I can wait patiently, I'm not in a hurry. I'll wait until you calm down, as long as it takes."

Cecilia looked at him, her eyes devoid of even anger.

Anger at least shows that she still cares, and at least shows that this person can still affect her emotions.

The way she looked at him now was as if he were a piece of trash that no longer existed, light and weightless.

She didn't say a word, but turned to Gu Yan again.

This time her gaze lingered on his face, from his eyes to his lips.

Then it moved slightly downwards, as if confirming something.

She reached out and grabbed Gu Yan's collar, her fingers clutching the thin cotton fabric.

His fingertips turned white from the force he exerted, and he clenched his collar, creating several fine wrinkles.

She pulled his upper body down, not with much force but with great determination.

Gu Yan was pulled forward a few inches by her, her face getting closer to hers.

Then, under everyone's gaze, she tilted her head back and kissed his lips.

Gu Yan's mind went completely blank for a moment; she had no thoughts at all.

Lifespan, system, basement, diary—everything is gone.

All that remained was a vast, white void, and the incredibly soft touch on my lips.

Her lips were soft, unlike when she kissed my cheek earlier; this time, the kiss lingered longer.

He could feel the temperature of her lips slowly rising, from slightly cool to warm.

Her eyelashes brushed lightly against his cheek, tickling him like butterfly wings fluttering on his skin.

White hair fell between their cheeks, obscuring their profiles.

It was as if a white curtain had been drawn for them, keeping the whole world out.