The Bulgari Hotel, one of Shanghai's landmarks, is ablaze with lights tonight, a dazzling spectacle.
This is a playground for high society, where every detail exudes luxury.
Crystal chandeliers hung from the high ceiling, casting dazzling light and gilding the entire space.
The guests, dressed in fine clothes, moved among the crowd, chatting and laughing, their every gesture exuding aristocratic elegance.
Lin Yuan stood at the entrance of the hotel lobby, slightly raised his head, his gaze swept over the crowd, and a faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.
He wore a dark, custom-tailored suit that perfectly accentuated his tall and slender figure.
The tie at the collar was slightly loosened, adding a touch of unruly charm.
His eyes were deep and sharp, insightful, yet carried a nonchalant languor.
Lin Shao turned around, his gaze casually sweeping over Sun Xinyi behind him, a slightly mocking smile playing on his lips.
"Xinyi, are you sure I want to bring along a burden?"
Upon hearing this, Sun Xinyi frowned slightly, her helplessness evident in her expression.
"Young Master Lin, are you really planning to go alone?"
"Bringing a female companion? That's not my style."
Lin Yuan shook his head slightly, a teasing glint in his eyes.
Li Tianyi, who was standing to the side, finally couldn't hold back and interjected, his tone laced with sarcasm.
"Boss, your standards are simply unattainable!"
Lin Yuan raised an eyebrow, his tone nonchalant.
"So what? When your standards are high, you'll naturally find it hard to find ordinary products."
Sun Xinyi and Li Tianyi exchanged a wry smile. They didn't need to say anything more; they were already used to Lin Shao's "unconventional" ways.
After all, he is Lin Yuan, and his slight willfulness is merely part of the unique charm of this chosen one.
Lin Yuan originally wanted to bring a female companion to the auction, but Xia Qingxue refused, pouting, because she couldn't wear high heels.
The two wrestled on the bed for a while, and Xia Qingxue said coquettishly, "If you want to go, then go. Why do I have to come with you? I'm not used to wearing those high heels, they'll hurt."
Lin Yuan sighed helplessly, ruffled her hair, and said affectionately, "Alright, alright, I'll go by myself. You stay home and wait for me."
Sun Yuxin, Lin Manman, and Shen Mengyao are all students; they are too inexperienced and not suitable for this kind of occasion.
Liu Xinran, Wang Qingyao, and Ning Rushuang all have their own careers to attend to and cannot spare the time.
Lin Yuan didn't want to bring a woman like Liu Qingying to such high-end occasions, lest people gossip about her behind her back.
After much deliberation, Lin Yuan decided to bring two bodyguards, Sun Xinyi and Li Tianyi.
Sun Xinyi is tall and slender with a cold and stern face and a sharp look in her eyes; Li Tianyi, on the other hand, is handsome and sunny with a strong physique and exudes a confident aura in every move.
The two followed behind Lin Yuan, like two moving sculptures, silently protecting his safety.
As soon as Lin Yuan stepped into the auction house, his gaze was drawn to one person—Xu Lan.
She wore a pinkish-purple evening gown, its hem swaying gracefully, like a blooming, thorny rose.
Lin Yuan, as the older brother, was also proud, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face.
Standing beside her was a middle-aged couple whose expressions resembled Xu Lan's; they must be her adoptive parents.
But... it looks somewhat familiar.
Lin Yuan was slightly taken aback, only then remembering that Xu Lan's parents were the famous real estate developers featured in the magazine in the lobby.
They're probably here for a land auction.
Xu Lan also saw Lin Yuan, and a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes.
She originally thought Lin Yuan was just a poor boy, so how could he possibly appear in such a high-end setting?
Taking advantage of the moment when her parents were chatting with other business owners, she secretly slipped over to Lin Yuan's side, intending to find out what was going on.
"Brother Lin Yuan, what are you doing here?" Xu Lan's voice carried a hint of surprise, and her tone revealed a touch of doubt.
However, before he could finish speaking, Sun Xinyi quickly stepped in front of Lin Yuan and said coldly, "Miss, please have some self-respect!"
Xu Lan was startled by Sun Xinyi's sudden appearance, and leaned back slightly, almost falling into Lin Yuan's arms.
Just then, Li Tianyi reacted quickly, instantly stopping Xu Lan and pulling her into his arms.
Xu Lan felt her eyes light up as Li Tianyi's sunny and handsome face came into view.
His eyes were clear and bright, like a clear lake, making one want to look at him a few more times.
His tall stature made him stand like a moving mountain, giving people a strong sense of both pressure and security.
He smiled slightly, revealing a set of neat white teeth; the sunlight was so strong it could dispel all gloom.
"Wow, that's absolutely awesome!"
Xu Lan's cheeks flushed slightly, and her eyes shone with undisguised admiration.
Li Tianyi's lips curled slightly, his tone relaxed and self-satisfied.
"Miss, you must be careful, lest this surprise turn into a fright."
Xu Lan was slightly taken aback by his words, but quickly realized what he meant and said with a hint of coquettishness, "Let me go!"
At this moment, Lin Yuan frowned slightly and gestured for Sun Xinyi and Li Tianyi to step aside for the time being.
A meaningful smile curled at the corner of his lips, and a hint of mockery flickered in his eyes.
"Sister Xu Lan, it's been a long time. How have you been? You must be wondering why I've appeared here at this time."
Xu Lan broke free from Li Tianyi's embrace, took a few steps back, and glared at Lin Yuan: "You...where have you been all this time? Brother Lin Yuan, what are you doing here?"
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
