Having not seen each other for several years, a rift had long since formed between them, but he simply refused to admit it.

Lin Yuan exhaled a long breath, his eyes filled with complex and unreadable emotions.

Finally, he slowly released his grip on Xu Lan's hand, took a step back, and his eyes were both serious and concealed a hint of helplessness.

"Sister Xu Lan"

He called out softly, “I understand that your heart has already belonged to someone else. Now, you are under the heavy pressure of your family and have no choice in what you do. After not seeing each other for several years, it seems that an invisible chasm has formed between us.”

Upon hearing this, Xu Lan trembled slightly, a hint of wariness flashing in her eyes. She instinctively took a step back, her tone cold and distant: "What exactly are you trying to say?"

Lin Yuan gazed at her, his eyes revealing a tenderness, yet also an undeniable determination.

At this moment, all hesitation and struggle vanished.

"Xu Lan, I've always liked you. From high school until now, all these years, these feelings have always been hidden in my heart."

Xu Lan's face turned pale instantly. She stared wide-eyed at Lin Yuan in disbelief.

"Brother Lin Yuan? You...you're kidding, right?"

Lin Yuan shook his head, his eyes full of seriousness.

“I’m not joking. I know you might be surprised, or even think I’m taking advantage of you. But Xu Lan, I really like you, I’ve always liked you.”

He took a deep breath and continued, "I know you have someone else in your heart right now, and I know you're being pressured by your parents and can't make the decision yourself. But I still want to tell you that I like you, and I hope you can give me a chance."

Xu Lan's face grew increasingly grim. She gritted her teeth and spoke each word clearly.

"Brother Lin Yuan, stop messing around. I... I can't accept you."

Lin Yuan didn't catch her rejection. He continued, "Xu Lan, I know you have someone else in your heart, but I won't give up. I swear, if I have the chance to take care of you, I will treat you well and I won't let anyone else take you away from me."

Xu Lan was speechless after Lin Yuan's words, her eyes filled with anger.

She gritted her teeth, but Lin Yuan's gaze left her somewhat at a loss.

No way! They were supposed to be like siblings, but it seems everything has changed.

Lin Yuan... If that's the case, then I'll have to get rid of your entanglement sooner or later.

Lin Yuan gazed at her, his eyes gentle yet resolute, able to see into the turmoil in her heart.

"Sister Xu Lan..."

He spoke softly, but every word he uttered was firm and resonant.

“I know you are having a hard time right now. Give yourself some time to think it over. I will never force any decision on you. As long as you are willing to take that step, I am willing to dedicate the rest of my life to you, using action as my pen and time as my paper.”

Lin Yuan's confession suddenly stirred up ripples in Xu Lan's heart, creating a magnificent and profound impact.

She stood frozen in place, her eyes gradually welling up with tears, stubbornly refusing to let them fall easily, in a silent battle with her inner self.

Faced with this deep affection, Xu Lan shook her head repeatedly, her voice barely audible, tinged with struggle and reluctance, "No, Lin Yuan..."

Lin Yuan pinned Xu Lan down on the bed in the master bedroom of the rented apartment, his eyes fixed on her.

His voice was deep and magnetic.

“Xu Lan, all these years, I’ve been waiting for you. You know how I feel about you, so why are you rejecting me now?”

An awkward and tense atmosphere filled the room; the air seemed to freeze.

Lin Yuan frowned slightly and took a step forward.

"Xu Lan, please don't be like this. I know you have feelings for me. We grew up together, and heaven knows how much I love you!"

Xu Lan raised her head, her eyes filled with determination and apology.

She took a deep breath, trying to make her voice more steady.

"Brother Lin Yuan, I know you've been good to me. But... things are different now."

"It's different? No way, right?"

Xu Lan remained silent for a while before finally speaking.

"Lin Yuan, I like Li Tianyi... I really do."

A look of disbelief flashed across Lin Yuan's face for a fleeting moment.

"Li Tianyi?"

He repeated it softly, his tone full of astonishment.

The opponent was actually a bodyguard!

Xu Lan shook her head slightly, a struggle hidden deep in her eyes.

“Brother Lin Yuan, there is no such thing as good or bad in relationships. You take such good care of me, but my heart has already quietly belonged to him.”

Xu Lan slowly lowered her head, her voice barely audible: "Brother Lin Yuan, I'm not giving up on you, nor am I trying to sever this bond. I just hope you can understand my choice..."

Hearing this, Lin Yuan's face had already softened.

Just then, the system's voice suddenly rang out, breaking the silence between the two—"Ding! Host's farewell has failed. A slap-in-the-face mission has been issued: Slap Li Tianyi in the face."

Lin Yuan raised an eyebrow, a glint of light flashing in his eyes, and a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

He quickly pulled out his phone, his fingers flying across the screen as he sent Li Tianyi a message: "Li Tianyi, go buy a bouquet of roses and a box of condoms, then come right back. Urgent!"

After sending the message, Lin Yuan's expression turned cold and gloomy.

He slowly walked towards Xu Lan, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

Faced with the silent Lin Yuan, Xu Lan's expression changed slightly, and she took a step back in a panic.

"Lin Yuan, don't do anything reckless!"

Lin Yuan's cold laughter echoed from the master bedroom.

Not long after, Li Tianyi hurriedly pushed open the door, panting, holding a bouquet of roses and a box of condoms.

"Young Master Lin, the things you asked me to buy have arrived."

As soon as Li Tianyi finished speaking, he saw Lin Yuan and Xu Lan embracing tightly, lying on the bed in an extremely ambiguous position.

His face instantly turned ashen, his eyes filled with shock and anger: "What...what do you mean by this?"

Xu Lan's face also turned pale. She looked at Li Tianyi in panic, her eyes filled with apology: "Tianyi, let me explain..."

Li Tianyi didn't give her a chance to explain. He slammed the roses and condoms in his hand to the ground, his eyes filled with pain and anger: "Xu Lan, I never expected you to do this!"

Lin Yuan sneered, a hint of smugness in his eyes: "Li Tianyi, don't think too highly of yourself. Get me the roses and the condoms!"

Li Tianyi's face twisted in disbelief as he stared at the scene before him.

His breathing became rapid, and the anger in his heart erupted like a volcano.

"Lin Yuan, you bastard!" Li Tianyi roared at Lin Yuan, "How could you do this to me?"

Just then, the system's voice sounded again—"Ding! Mission successful! Host has received system reward!"

Lin Yuan didn't take it to heart. He sat up from the bed and slowly tidied his clothes.

"Pick it up, and arrange the flowers properly!"