Looking at the caption below that photo, Yan Huan's pupils constricted slightly, while Ye Lan beside him also started to smile upon seeing the photo.
"We made a promise, your mother and I, to be each other's children's godmothers, and that's always how I've explained it to Shiyu... So, Xiao Huan, I hope you can understand why your auntie was so out of sorts when we first met... I might have been a bit too eager, behaved too affectionately, and made you feel uncomfortable...
"I just... *sob*... couldn't help it when I saw your name... She always said, if she had a child, she would give him this name, because she loved to laugh, and said... the child would surely love to laugh too..."
Yan Huan handed over another tissue, but Ye Lan was already beyond noticing.
So, he had to somewhat intrusively wipe her tears himself,
"Aunt Ye..."
But Ye Lan gently grasped the hand Yan Huan extended and looked at him, asking softly,
"So, Xiao Huan, would you stay? Just stay at your aunt's house. I will treat you as my own child, take good care of you on behalf of your mother, okay?"
"..."
Looking at Ye Lan, with tears in her eyes and eager expression, Yan Huan opened his mouth, a surge of indescribable emotions filling his heart.
This was a proposal that was emotionally and logically irresistible, in the past two days it almost seemed like a natural progression...
Perhaps Yan Huan had already considered it from a "rational" perspective; the influence of being the CEO at Ye International and Lin Gate goes without saying.
This kind of windfall, honestly, even the most foolish would understand the importance of an "acceptance" that came so easily.
But everything Ye Lan just said came from an "emotional" perspective.
There was no melodramatic love triangle, no dramatic tale of love and hate.
It was just timely help in desperate times, just the prospect of long-term company.
Yet, when she recounted everything, laying bare the precious connection between them to Yan Huan, even an orphan transmigrator like him could hardly remain unmoved.
It was because he felt the sincerity of Ye Lan's emotions that he found himself hesitating now.
Feeling Yan Huan's indecision, Ye Lan's tearful eyes began to downturn uncontrollably again.
Her appearance, charged with a flood of emotions rushing toward Yan Huan, made one feel that a refusal would be an unforgivable sin in this world.
"Auntie..."
And Yan Huan, his gaze drifting downward, avoiding her earnest face.
After a moment of silence, he spoke with a bitter smile,
"I can't stay."
At these words, Ye Lan looked slightly disbelieving, blinked, and hastily asked,
"Why? Do you find your auntie difficult to get along with?"
"Of course not."
"Is it because of your sister? She's just not used to dealing with people, she's not bad at heart, I believe she would also gradually become more affable with Xiao Huan around."
"It's not because of my sister either, Auntie, I've never thought that way."
"Then why? Auntie has a lot of money and can help you solve many problems. If there's anything you're dissatisfied with, you just have to say it..."
Ye Lan's expression became increasingly puzzled, that touch of grievance and sadness overflowing more and more.
She looked into Yan Huan's eyes, chasing his evading gaze, until it reached a dead end.
Indeed...
You can't escape this, Yan Huan...
Blame those damnable modifiers, Aunt Ye, that force me to make this move.
Yan Huan kept his smile, his gaze finally lifting bit by bit, meeting Ye Lan's eyes head-on.
There was no revulsion in his eyes, only a tone so resolute.
It was Sunday evening at seven-thirty, at Ye Lan's luxurious residence in Jinghe District.
Looking at Ye Lan in front of him, he also spoke with sincere honesty,
"Sorry, Aunt Ye...
"I can't stay here, I have to go back to South District."