The abandoned daughter of the Lu family turns around and marries a celibate tycoon.

The moment the door was kicked open, flashbulbs went off wildly, blinding everyone.

"Get out of here, all of you!" Gu Yanshen pulled Lu Xiran into his arms, his voice so cold it could freeze someone to death.

The supervisor stared in disbelief as Su Wanqing, who had rushed over, was dragged away by security guards, unable to utter a single word.

Gu Yanshen released Lu Xiran from his embrace, only to realize that he had pulled too hard and dragged her collar down. A patch of fair collarbone was faintly visible, and most strikingly, there was a small, light pink mole below her collarbone, like a cherry blossom falling in the snow.

His Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.

Lu Xiran hurriedly wrapped herself tightly in the blanket and quickly jumped off his lap.

Just then, Gu Yanshen's phone rang.

"Shen Shen! Grandma saw the headline! Bring my granddaughter-in-law back so Grandma can see her!" A kind but firm voice came from the other end of the phone.

"Okay." Gu Yanshen's voice softened instantly.

After hanging up the phone, he looked at Lu Xiran, his eyes regaining their usual aloofness: "My grandmother wants to see you. If you perform well, I'll consider your suggestion."

"make a deal!"

Gu Yanshen had a pink Chanel suit delivered. Lu Xiran quickly applied light makeup and hesitated, "But... I can't reveal my identity yet."

"Don't worry, the Gu family's rule is that family matters cannot be leaked to outsiders; otherwise, you'll be expelled from the family." Gu Yanshen sneered, a hint of ruthlessness in his voice.

When Gu Yanshen brought Lu Xiran back to the Gu residence, the entire villa was eerily quiet.

The servants led the way with their heads bowed and eyes lowered, and a carefully crafted sense of oppression filled the air.

"Big brother is back."

Gu Yanxu walked down the spiral staircase, dressed in a suit and tie, with a polite smile, but his eyes were filled with ice.

Second Uncle Gu Qisheng then spoke up: "Yan Shen, your performance last quarter was quite good. However, with a few projects coming up recently, shouldn't we let Yan Xu and the others get some experience too?"

Gu Yanshen didn't even lift his eyelids: "Let's wait until they can understand the financial statements."

Silence fell instantly.

"What's there to be so smug about? It's just a..." Gu Qisheng muttered under his breath.

"Second brother!" Gu Qishan interrupted just in time, "Mom is waiting for them."

In the bedroom, Bai Fang's eyes lit up as soon as she saw Lu Xiran: "Come here and let Grandma see you! Oh my, you're so pretty, but you look so old..."

"Grandma, I'm twenty years old now, I can get my marriage certificate!" Lu Xiran said sweetly.

Bai Fang glanced at her grandson, who was quite old and still had an icy expression, and then at the pretty young girl in front of her. She suddenly felt that her grandson was a bit "disrespectful to his elders." But she couldn't help taking a liking to the girl at first sight.

Bai Fang took Lu Xiran's hand and asked, "Are you still in school?"

"So that I could be with... uh, Yan Shen." Lu Xiran subconsciously bit her tongue, cursing herself for almost saying "uncle." She glanced cautiously at Gu Yan Shen; he was still as cold as ever. "...I specifically took a leave of absence from school to come back."

"Where do you go to school?"

ETH Zurich

"He and Shen Shen are alumni!"

Lu Xiran turned her head in surprise, only to meet Gu Yan's deep gaze.

What a coincidence! Now she can easily fabricate a story!

Lu Xiran immediately switched into her dramatic persona: "Yes, Grandma! I've had a crush on Yan Shen for so long. It was because I accidentally got his class notes that I worked so hard to get into our school. I emailed him for three years, but he never replied. It wasn't until we bumped into each other at a coffee shop on a street corner in Zurich that I realized I'd never see him again if I missed my chance. I mustered up the courage to confess and chased him for three months after returning to China before he finally said yes!"

Bai Fang was overjoyed to hear this.

Lu Xiran leaned close to her grandmother's ear and whispered, "But Grandma, don't let his aloof and unapproachable demeanor fool you—he's completely smitten with me now!"

Bai Fang grinned from ear to ear: "Good, good! That's just how he is! A good man can't resist a persistent woman, so you should keep pestering him!"

"What are you whispering about?" Gu Yanshen raised an eyebrow.

Lu Xiran proudly raised her chin: "Grandma said that if you dare to bully me, she'll teach you a lesson for me!"

"Yes, yes, you mustn't bully my granddaughter-in-law!" Bai Fang asked Aunt Yun to bring over an exquisite wooden box. Inside was a translucent jade ruyi. "This is a gift from Grandma to her granddaughter-in-law."

Although Lu Xiran didn't know much about jade, she could tell from the quality that it was priceless: "Grandma, this is too valuable..."

Bai Fang held Lu Xiran's hand down. Lu Xiran turned around and saw Gu Yanshen nod, then obediently accepted the hand.

"Grandma is really looking forward to you all letting me hold my great-grandson soon!"

"Then you need to rest well, because you'll be playing with your great-grandson in the future."

Just as he stepped out of the bedroom, a middle-aged woman in a cheongsam blocked his way—it was Liu Lin, Gu Yanshen's mother.

She stared intently at the box in Lu Xiran's hand, her eyes icy cold.

"This was passed down to the eldest daughter-in-law of the Gu family. You think you're worthy? Give it to me!"

Lu Xiran subconsciously took a step back.

Gu Yanshen pulled her behind him, his voice icy cold:

"This was given to me by my grandmother; of course she deserves it."

Liu Lin said sharply, "Ha, Gu Yanshen, you've probably forgotten, you are..."

"Liu Lin!" Gu Qishan stopped her from continuing, looking thoughtfully at Gu Yanshen. "Dating is fine, but marriage is out of the question. After all, the Chenhao acquisition requires your full commitment."

Lu Xiran lowered her eyes, a chill spreading through her heart.

The Gu family doesn't seem as harmonious as the rumors suggest.

What puzzled her even more was that Gu Yanshen was already over thirty years old. Logically, the family should have been urging him to get married long ago. Why did everyone except her grandmother seem to not want him to get married?

Inside the Lu family villa, Lu Xueyan rushed into the bedroom holding her phone.

"Mom!" She pointed to the blurry figure in the trending photo, "That figure... looks so much like Lu Xiran!"

Lin Li glanced at it casually: "Don't scare yourself. Switzerland has confirmed that Lu Xiran is in the car. The procedures are underway, and the inheritance of her mother's assets is about to begin. Besides, even if she's not dead, how could there be no news of her returning to Haicheng from Switzerland?"

Lu Xueyan's eyes darkened: "Then who is this woman? How dare she..."

"Whoever she is, it's none of your business," Lin Li said seriously. "Remember, your current identity is the Lu family's daughter. Your brother's engagement banquet is the day after tomorrow, so make the most of the opportunity. As for Gu Yanshen... don't waste your time on him."

Meanwhile, inside the black Maybach.

Lu Xiran placed the box in the car: "Grandma is happy, so I'll accept it for now. You decide what to do with it."

Just as she was fastening her seatbelt, Gu Yanshen suddenly leaned over, took the buckle, and fastened it for her with a "click."

Lu Xiran was slightly taken aback and secretly glanced at Gu Yanshen out of the corner of her eye.

Admittedly, although the man was older, his sharply defined profile, illuminated by the light streaming through the car window, was breathtakingly handsome. A high, straight nose, slightly pursed thin lips, and eyes so deep they seemed to draw you in…

"Have you seen enough?"

Gu Yanshen suddenly turned his head, startling Lu Xiran, who hurriedly looked away, her ears burning slightly.

Damn it, I got caught peeking.

"Who is that idol you were talking about earlier?"

"I don't know either. I've been emailing him for three years, and he hasn't replied. But what a coincidence, you're actually my senior! How's the story I made up? Did it pass the test, senior?"

Gu Yanshen started the car, and the air suddenly became quiet.

"Uncle, if you don't say anything... I'll get scared," Lu Xiran muttered.

"Aren't you afraid?" Gu Yanshen said slowly, "The Gu family... isn't as rumored..."

"I know. But I'm not afraid." Lu Xiran looked earnestly at Gu Yanshen. "It's just that Grandma..."

"The doctor said there's nothing more they can do," Gu Yanshen said in a low voice. "She likes you a lot. I only have one request: spend more time with her and make her happy."

"You...you agree?"