"What kind of status and identity do our family have? I heard that Xiang Qingyuan's girlfriend comes from an incredible background, her father is a big shot at a multinational corporation, something like Lu Corporation. We're just country folk with no connections. What on earth are you playing at being so tough with them? Do you even have the capability?"
Lin Guoping was now truly scared, fearing trouble from others. It's always better to have less rather than more problems.
"I have nothing to say to you."
Lin Yan turned and left, leaving Lin Guoping behind. Her father was never the mountain she could rely on.
"Come to Yangyang's high school promotion feast with that man. Bring him along to reassure the Xiang Family," Lin Guoping called out to Lin Yan.
Lin Yan's face was filled with disappointment. To her father, Xiang Tianwen's words were like imperial decrees he wouldn't dare to neglect.
Xiang Qingyuan followed behind Zou Lili, not daring to even breathe too loudly, waiting for her to give the orders.
Regretting why he had been so soft-hearted, always thinking of Lin Yan first in any good matters.
If it wasn't for delivering clothes to Lin Yan, he wouldn't have been caught red-handed by Zou Lili.
"My dad said that after we get married, he will arrange for you to work at Lu Corporation. You don't need to prepare for the civil service exam anymore. Between the bodyguard service and Lu Corporation, which do you choose?"
Xiang Qingyuan's mouth fell open, the surprise coming too abruptly.
Still, it's better to have a capable father-in-law. The path to success was smoother.
Getting a job in Lu Corporation was even harder than securing a government position. Without pulling strings, his bachelor's degree was not nearly enough.
Xiang Qingyuan was so moved he almost wept in front of Zou Lili.
"I want to go to Lu Corporation. My wife, you are too good to me. I'm not worthy to marry you. I swear I will never betray you in this lifetime, and what happened today will never happen again."
Zou Lili snorted coldly, "Who asked you to have a face that I like? I really don't know what you were thinking back then, picking a country bumpkin that can't be presented in high society."
Xiang Qingyuan was too ashamed to speak, gritting his teeth!
His father was right; Lin Yan would become his stain.
Lin Yan returned home late, seeing a light on in the house from outside.
Coming back late and having someone leave a light on for her was nice, although she knew the light was certainly not left on for her.
The yard gate wasn't locked, and she didn't want to disturb Lu Chenyuan's rest, so she pushed the door gently and entered.
At this time, Lu Chenyuan should be sleeping.
She didn't go to her room but went straight to the kitchen instead and found that it was in the same state as when she left.
He hadn't even had dinner?
"Back from your date?" A deep male voice came from behind her.
Lin Yan jumped like a startled rabbit, her eyes red as the stainless steel basin she held fell to the ground.
"You don't make a sound when you walk, could scare someone to death," Lin Yan bent down to pick up the basin. "I wasn't on a date, I went out to get scolded," she said.
Lin Yan wasn't afraid of losing face, full of grievances with no one to talk to, "She even wanted to scratch my face."
She pointed to her face, which was whiter than milk powder, "You see how vicious she is? Amazing what rich people can do," she said.
Lu Chenyuan's eyes remained unchanged, not quite understanding the mumbling Lin Yan was going on about.
Still, he could tell that she had been upset outside and was taking a bad tone with him.
"When will she scratch it?" Lu Chenyuan asked indifferently.
Over the years, Lu Chenyuan had seen many women of unsurpassed beauty, and Lin Yan was not outstandingly gorgeous, but she was naturally pretty in a way that didn't need embellishment.
If her face were really ruined, it would indeed be a pity.
Lin Yan's lips curved as she muttered, "I don't know, why don't you take a picture of me for keepsake, to preserve my beauty."
Lu Chenyuan bit on his cigarette, bent two fingers to pinch her cheek, and mumbled indistinctly, "As long as I'm here, that won't happen."
Lin Yan froze, and Lu Chenyuan's withdrawing hand paused for a moment as he looked at the girl's face, flushed with a rosy glow.
She not only cried easily but also blushed quickly.
"Stop boasting, what do we have to compete with others? Even our survival is uncertain, and your house is about to be demolished."
Lin Yan was immensely frustrated, and instantly regretted saying those words; she hurried to explain, "I'm not questioning your abilities, it's me."
Worried that Lu Chenyuan wouldn't believe her, she pointed vigorously at herself.
"Why does the house need to be demolished?" Lu Chenyuan's focus was indeed on this.
He thought about competing with others, but who could outdo him?
Lin Yan carefully gauged Lu Chenyuan's expression, which seemed unaffected by her words.
"You live here, and this house was originally empty, no one was living in it. The village says that houses without an owner are to be demolished."
Lu Chenyuan indifferently acknowledged with a "Hmm."
Lin Yan was stupefied, "Don't you feel even a bit of a crisis?"
Lu Chenyuan retorted, "What else? Should I cry for you to see?"
Lin Yan could tell, Lu Chenyuan was mocking her, calling her a crybaby.
"If the house is torn down and you have no money, where will you live?" Lin Yan's face tightened with concern, feeling that this was a very serious matter.
Lu Chenyuan pondered, "You don't need to worry about me. If things really get bad, go find whose son was it, at least you'll have somewhere to live, wheelchair or no wheelchair."
"Zhang the Blind's son." Lin Yan grimaced.
Lu Chenyuan, watching Lin Yan's soft, pliable demeanor, couldn't suppress a delighted upward curl of his lips.
Lu Chenyuan rarely smiled, and when he did at this time, Lin Yan found it inappropriate. Didn't he understand the gravity of the situation?
"There's another option, marry me. Our village goes by the household registration, I'm a local here. If I marry you, we can save the house." Lin Yan was genuinely trying to think of a solution.
Little did she know, Lu Chenyuan abruptly reined in his smile, his expression turned solemn as he said, "What's the excuse you're giving me? Are you really worried about the house being demolished, or do you want to marry me?"
Lu Chenyuan's sudden intensity made Lin Yan shiver with fear, wondering why he was so suspicious.
"You have nothing, what is there for me to worry about? Anyway, no one wants me anymore, and after living with you for a few days, my reputation in the village is already gone," Lin Yan said resentfully.
Lu Chenyuan had always been indifferent to marriage, and even less concerned with romantic feelings. To be pressured into marriage by such a young girl, especially in his current situation.
"I don't need an extra burden. You don't understand me, even less do you know what kind of person I am. We are from two different worlds," he said bluntly.
The atmosphere grew tense, and silence filled the room. Lu Chenyuan thought Lin Yan was about to cry again.
Lin Yan bristled with goosebumps. She lowered her head, "I am not a burden. Even if we got married, you could abandon me anytime. If I moved into your house and caused you trouble, the only thing I could help with is to protect this house."
A look of disdain filled Lu Chenyuan's eyes. Such a small plot of land was of no concern to him.
He owned countless properties at Lu Corporation, on land worth its weight in gold.
An eerie silence ensued for several seconds.
Lu Chenyuan broke the silence, "Go to sleep, cover yourself with your new blanket."
Lu Chenyuan had no interest in continuing the conversation. Lin Yan's good intentions were thus wasted, and she stared at him with wide eyes, "Do you feel inferior? Are you afraid of dragging me down because of your past?"