Exorbitant breakup fees

After being manipulated by the two brothers as "Miracle An'an" and tried on countless clothes with dizzying prices, Lu Zhi'an felt physically and mentally exhausted, not only physically but also mentally numb from the heartache of the huge expenses.

He had finally made it to lunchtime and was quietly relieved that the "torture" seemed to be over for the time being, but then he remembered the exorbitantly priced menu at that restaurant last time.

Compared to buying clothes, it's probably not much cheaper.

The glimmer of light that had just appeared on his face instantly dimmed again, and he became listless and droopy once more, like a small plant lacking water.

Xiao Yuan noticed this subtle change in his emotions. He leaned down and placed a very light, almost fleeting kiss on Lu Zhian's lips, then said in a calm tone as if stating a fact:

"Don't worry about it. After we get married, these will be our joint property." His voice wasn't loud, but it reached Lu Zhian's ears clearly.

Lu Zhian: "!!!"

He looked up abruptly, his eyes wide with shock as he stared at Xiao Yuan in disbelief. Marriage? Joint property?

Under the immense impact, almost subconsciously and almost inexplicably, he first glanced quickly at Xiao Jin, who was raising an eyebrow at them, then, as if afraid of being overheard, lowered his voice and, with utter confusion and a hint of seriousness he himself didn't realize, posed a crucial technical question to Xiao Yuan:

"But... how can three people... get married...?"

The moment the question left his mouth, Lu Zhian froze, his face turning bright red as he wished he could bury himself in the ground. How could he have asked such a question?! Wasn't this tantamount to admitting... admitting to some absurd premise?!

Xiao Yuan was clearly surprised by the question. A hint of surprise flashed across his gray-blue eyes, which was quickly replaced by a playful smile.

After a brief moment of surprise, Xiao Jin chuckled softly. He reached out and ruffled Lu Zhian's soft hair, the gesture a mix of rough intimacy and affection, his grey eyes gleaming brightly.

“Idiot,” he said, his tone carrying his characteristic domineering yet with a hint of unspoken indulgence, “rules are meant to be broken. Or,” he leaned closer, his breath brushing against Lu Zhian’s reddened earlobe, “we always have our ways.”

With a dazed and confused mind, Lu Zhian was led into the restaurant by Xiao Yuan and Xiao Jin, one on each side.

He barely noticed the luxurious surroundings; his mind was preoccupied with "common property" and "how the three of them should get married."

Until, suddenly the light in front of me was blocked.

Xiao Jin tensed his muscles, adopting an absolutely protective stance to shield most of Lu Zhian's body behind him, his vigilance and hostility undisguised.

He remembered the flames of the laboratory explosion, and even more so, Gu Yingshen's eyes that seemed to see and control everything, and Lu Zhian's "disappearance" for several years afterward.

He wasn't sure what Gu Yingshen's purpose was in appearing at this moment—was it to expose him? To use him? Or was it the beginning of another scheme?

At the same time, Xiao Yuan tightened his arms, pulling Lu Zhian closer to his side and blocking Gu Yingshen's gaze.

His expression remained calm, but his eyes betrayed a deep wariness. He knew that Gu Yingshen and Lu Zhian had conspired to destroy the laboratory, and he also knew that Lu Zhian's final amnesia and feigned death were carried out by Gu Yingshen at Lu Zhian's own request. Behind this favor lay immense uncertainty and potential danger.

The air seemed to freeze, as if an invisible string was being stretched taut.

Just as the stalemate was reaching its conclusion, a voice broke the silence.

"What's wrong?"

Shen Yanzhi approached from behind Gu Yingshen, still holding his phone, seemingly having just ended a call. He followed Gu Yingshen's gaze and saw Lu Zhian being tightly protected by two tall men, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

Lu Zhian almost blurted out, "Senior?" He didn't expect to meet the gentle and kind Senior Shen Yanzhi here.

Shen Yanzhi's gaze lingered on Lu Zhian's face for a moment, then naturally slid to Xiao Yuan and Xiao Jin, who had powerful auras, beside him.

As his gaze swept across, he clearly saw two slender red threads extending from Lu Zhian's wrist. One thread was tightly wrapped around Xiao Yuan's wrist, while the other was more ostentatiously tied to Xiao Jin's finger.

The red threads were bright and deeply intertwined.

Shen Yanzhi understood; so that's how it is. He was deeply involved.

The look in his eyes as he gazed at Lu Zhian held a deeper meaning, as if to say, "I understand."

Gu Yingshen didn't care about the two people's hostility. His gaze lingered on Lu Zhian for a moment, as if confirming something, before he spoke:

Let's have lunch together.

Lu Zhian's spontaneous "Senior" dissolved most of the tension on the surface. Xiao Yuan and Xiao Jin exchanged a glance.

Xiao Yuan tightened his grip on Lu Zhian's waist slightly, then relaxed it again, regaining his composure. He nodded slightly, his voice devoid of emotion: "Since you are Xiao An's senior, of course you can."

Xiao Jin snorted and did not object.

Lu Zhian was sandwiched in the middle, feeling the control Xiao Yuan exerted on his waist, and the sense of security and pressure brought by Xiao Jin's taut back in front of him.