Amber-colored eyes locked onto her face, imperceptibly revealing a hint of unconscious aggression.
However, An Yan didn't take this slight aggressiveness to heart.
When he asked, she earnestly replied,
"I chose you because I feel that you are truly outstanding, with exceptional looks and an extraordinary demeanor."
"More importantly, you've been isolated by those people."
"Remaining here despite being ostracized must mean you have an agenda."
"In such a situation, the probability of you accepting my proposal is much higher than with anyone else."
Li Tianyao's eyes quickly flashed with interest.
"What do you think I've been isolated for?"
An Yan said,
"Probably due to an unsatisfactory family background or something like that."
"In their eyes, without a reputable family background, even if you are personally excellent and flawless, it's not easy for you to fit into their circle."
"So they isolate you, not because you're not good enough, but because they feel your family background isn't good enough! Don't take it to heart."
The young girl's eyes were clear, her posture casual. She didn't at all seem like someone who grew up in the countryside without worldliness. On the contrary, she emanated a calm aura, as if everything was within her control.
So composed, yet she proposed to someone because of a provocative remark?
The man subconsciously rotated the Buddha Beads.
"How old is the young lady?"
"Twenty. An Zhongbo from Luocheng's An Family is my father. What about you? How old are you? What does your family do?"
"Li Tianyao from Shangjing City's Li Consortium! Twenty-three."
The man's amber eyes slightly narrowed, his gaze fixated on her face, attentively observing her reaction.
After pondering for a few seconds, the girl spoke softly,
"Sorry, I've never heard of you! I've been living in the mountains with my grandfather since I was a child; today's my first day back."
Her words conveyed apology, but her expression was indifferent, as if he meant nothing to her!
Li Tianyao habitually spun his Buddha Beads. A multitude of thoughts flooded his deep-set eyes.
BUZZ. BUZZ.
His cell phone buzzed twice, breaking the silence in the car.
The man stopped spinning the Buddha Beads, took out his phone, and his well-defined fingers tapped the screen as if replying to a message.
An Yan leaned back against the seat, slightly deflated, her delicate eyebrows faintly knitted. Her grandfather had to travel far for some business and insisted she return to the city for college to, as he put it, "experience the mortal world." She hadn't wanted to, but her grandfather had even used her mother's last wish as leverage, saying her mother hoped she could attend Luocheng University! Worried she would be bullied by her stepmother, he had also repeatedly urged her to get engaged to the Lin Family first! As it turned out, the Lin Family hadn't invited her for an engagement, but to break one off! To top it off, that scumbag's new flame was actually her stepmother's niece. Who would believe her stepmother had nothing to do with this?
The candidate she had specially picked out to humiliate that scumbag, however, had turned out to be somewhat beyond her expectations. She had initially thought he was a poor boy with a noble destiny and limitless prospects. Instead, he had suddenly transformed into a formidable figure from a prominent family! If he was already so powerful, why would he agree to her proposal? She hated when things slipped out of her control!
As she was lost in her own world, his voice suddenly rang beside her,
"What's the matter?"
An Yan snapped back to reality.
"Then, are you still willing to be my fiancé?"
An Yan pursed her lips, her fingers unconsciously fidgeting.
She hoped their relationship would end right then and there!
To her surprise, Li Tianyao confidently said,
"Of course! I always keep my word!"
An Yan stiffened.
"But, but it seems I can't fulfill any wish of yours now, can I? Anything I can do, you surely can do as well."
A faint smile appeared in Li Tianyao's eyes.
"But I can't marry myself, can I? Miss An seems quite nice. I quite like her."
An Yan: "..."
Why did she suddenly feel like she'd gone from being the hunter to the hunted?
Her phone vibrated.
A message popped up on the screen:
[I heard you're coming to Luocheng. When will you arrive? Shall I pick you up?]
An Yan clicked to reply:
[I'm going back to the An Family. No need for a pickup!]
The other party sent a shocked emoticon:
[Is there still a place for you at the An Family?]
An Yan pursed her lips and replied:
[That's my home!]
Strictly speaking, it was her mother's home, a home her mother had personally designed. Unfortunately, three years after her mother's death, her father had remarried. The stepmother had also brought a daughter with her. An Yan had been young at the time, and no one had told her these things. By the time she grew up and found out, her stepmother and stepsister had already been living in the An Family home for several years.
[That's true. Though your stepmother isn't great, your dad is still decent.]
[But your brother... it's like he's been brainwashed by your stepmother. He's a lost cause. He can't stand to hear anyone say a single bad word about your 'green tea' stepsister!]
[Anyway, stay if you're comfortable, but if you ever feel uncomfortable, just come to my place! Cute dog making a heart sign.jpg]
An Yan looked at the picture of the dog, her lips curling into a smile as she replied:
[You don't need to worry about the Lin Family's affairs anymore.]
The other side paused for a moment:
[Ah? Why? Did Lin Shang provoke you?]
An Yan pursed her lips:
[Yeah.]
[What the hell, has he lost his mind? Doesn't he know where the Lin Family's money-making formulas came from all these years? Don't worry, watch Ling Xiao vent your anger for you!]
An Yan typed:
[As you wish!]
After all, the Lin Family's luck had already run out. If Ling Xiao wanted to vent her anger for her, let him.
However, the moment she crushed that Stone Carving, she felt a sudden release in her mind, as if some new content had appeared.
It was better not to dwell on it; if she tried to focus, she couldn't grasp anything at all.
Taking advantage of the moment Li Tianyao looked down at his phone, she stealthily snapped a side-profile photo of him and sent it to Ling Xiao.
Ling Xiao replied instantly:
[Who is this scumbag? You wouldn't let me pick you up, but you got into another man's car!!]
An Yan typed:
[Li Tianyao of the Li Family from Shangjing City. I want his complete information within ten minutes!]
It took the other party over three minutes to reply:
[Li Tianyao? Are you insane? Of all people to provoke, you had to pick him? He's... but don't worry. First, tell me what you did to him.]
An Yan sent:
[He is now my fiancé!!]
[What???]
The other party sent an emoticon of someone prostrating in awe:
[F*cking awesome! Impressive!]
Then came a lengthy batch of information about Li Tianyao.
The Li Family of Shangjing City, with centuries of heritage.
And every hundred years, The Chosen One must arise.
Each Chosen One is known for their unparalleled intellect and noble, indifferent demeanor, as if holding a script while looking down on the mortal realm from above like a celestial being.
No matter how complex the situation, they always find the most suitable path, ensuring the Li Family avoids disasters and continues to prosper.
And Li Tianyao is The Chosen One of this generation of the Li Family.
Beyond his extraordinary intelligence and unfathomable methods, he also possesses a cruel, heartless, and vindictive nature, avenging every slight!
If the previous Chosen Ones were immortals uninvolved in worldly affairs, then Li Tianyao is like a demon that crawled out of hell!
Anyone who tries to stand against him, without exception, ends up boxed underground!
A stern reminder:
Be friends with him, be friends, be friends! Even if you find out he's not your ideal type and want to break up, you MUST remain friends!!
I'm warning you through a cracked wall—remember this!!!
An Yan frowned.
It seemed she really had stirred up some major trouble.