Lin Yuan's lips curled up slightly, and his gaze fell tenderly on Xu Lan, as if he were looking at his own little sister.
"As for me, I've only just entered the business world and founded a small company called Tianyuan Investment Group. I suppose you've already heard that name."
Xu Lan's eyes widened suddenly, an expression of disbelief spreading across her face. She stared blankly at Lin Yuan: "You...you were telling the truth just now?"
Lin Yuan's smile carried a hint of barely perceptible mockery.
"Oh, I wanted to surprise you, but your mother called you first. I didn't even have a chance to tell you anything."
Xu Lan's face showed extreme surprise. She bit her lip, her voice trembling slightly, "I can't believe it. I knew Brother Lin Yuan was a very good student, but I never expected...you're this amazing?"
Lin Yuan's eyes turned cold, and a sneer curled at the corner of his mouth: "Me? Actually, I don't want to do anything, I just don't want to be looked down upon. Sister Xu Lan, this world is not as simple as you imagine."
Xu Lan's heart raced involuntarily, and a complex and unreadable emotion flashed across her eyes.
During her time at the orphanage, she and Lin Yuan and the other two were like vines, tightly intertwined and inseparable, until a twist of fate led her to a kind and wealthy couple, while Lin Yuan remained in that familiar orphanage, continuing to write his story.
Time flies, and Xu Lan once thought that they had long since become like two parallel lines, each extending its own path.
However, life is unpredictable, and fate, at this moment, in a way she never expected, tightly bound them together again.
Perhaps, Lin Yuan will be a help to me in the future.
"Brother Lin Yuan..."
Xu Lan called out softly, her voice trembling slightly, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of surprise and joy, as she confirmed the reality of what she was seeing. "You...you've really changed so much."
A gentle smile appeared on Lin Yuan's lips, his eyes filled with unwavering doting and understanding towards her.
"Lan, time flies, we're all growing up, aren't we?"
His tone was calm and warm, like the gentle spring sunshine that caressed Xu Lan's heart.
"Yes, everyone in the orphanage has grown up so much now."
Xu Lan glanced at Li Tianyi, her cheeks flushing slightly.
Then, she looked up and smiled at Lin Yuan.
"I just didn't expect you to become so amazing."
Lin Yuan's lips curled up slightly, his eyes sparkling with tender affection.
"I really didn't expect to meet you here."
Their eyes met in mid-air, and for a moment, a subtle and slightly awkward silence filled the air.
Sun Xinyi and Li Tianyi, standing to the side, exchanged knowing whispers with a hint of mockery in their eyes.
"Boss, you handled the emotional scenes quite well."
As the curtain of the auction slowly rose, Lin Yuan and Xu Lan sat elegantly in the front row, while Sun Xinyi and Li Tianyi stood guard faithfully.
Standing behind them, he scanned the surroundings with sharp eyes, ensuring that he was impeccable.
Xu Lan occasionally turned her head to look at Li Tianyi, her eyes sparkling with curiosity as well as a subtle admiration.
Li Tianyi keenly noticed this gaze, and his heart couldn't help but stir.
Xu Lan blushed slightly and said softly, "It's nothing, I just think you're very special."
Inside the auction hall, the lights shone like a galaxy, the crowds thronged, and the air was thick with the scent of money and desire.
People of all kinds moved about, some talking in hushed tones, others bidding loudly, creating a lively and bustling scene.
However, amidst the commotion, one figure attracted the attention of a leading figure in the real estate industry.
Xu Lan, dressed in a light purple dress, exuded an elegant and aloof aura.
Standing beside her was a tall and upright young man, Lin Yuan.
He was dressed in a black suit, with a handsome face and a calm and composed look in his eyes, seemingly oblivious to the noise around him.
"Brother Lin Yuan, my parents... they're here."
Xu Lan's voice was as soft as a whisper, with a barely perceptible tremor. A flicker of panic crossed her eyes, and she unconsciously gripped Lin Yuan's sleeve tightly.
Lin Yuan gently turned his head, a gentle smile curving his lips, his eyes full of doting affection.
"Don't be afraid. With Tianyi and Xinyi by our side, they won't dare to make any rash moves."
Before she could finish speaking, Xu Lan's parents were already striding close behind.
Xu Guoqiang's face was so gloomy it could be wrung out of water, like dark clouds looming overhead, foreshadowing an impending storm; while Li Shuhua was furious, her eyes sharp as knives, a mixture of wariness and deep disgust.
"Lanlan, why are you still entangled with these people from the orphanage?"
Xu Guoqiang's words were undeniably stern, and his tone carried an undisguised disappointment.
Li Shuhua sneered, her tone full of contempt.
"Isn't that the poor kid we picked up from the orphanage? He almost ruined your life back then. Now he's causing trouble again, is he trying to swindle money from the Xu family again?"
Xu Lan's face turned pale instantly.
"Mom, don't wrong me! Lin Yuan is like my own brother; he's not the kind of person you think he is!"
Lin Yuan smiled slightly, his eyes revealing a sense of composure.
“Auntie, that’s not fair. Although I, Lin Yuan, come from a poor background, I can make a name for myself through my own abilities. I’m only close to Xu Lan because I treat her like my own sister, nothing more.”
Li Shuhua, however, was relentless, scoffing, "My own sister? Hmph, what good could a poor boy from an orphanage like you possibly have? You're just after our Xu family's money!"
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
