Zhong Yan's roommates greeted him with smiles. These young, bright boys were unfazed by a cold shoulder and could even compliment her beauty with a grin.
Now it was Zhong Yan's turn to look unhappy.
Zhong Yan didn't introduce her directly as his fiancée or girlfriend, worried she might be upset because his grandmother and mother had said some inappropriate things before. Su Dan Novel Network.
She had even overheard them, much to his embarrassment.
Therefore, Zhong Yan stuck to his plan, diligently studying and conducting experiments, all to achieve something in his own field, thus becoming worthy of the person in front of him.
He didn't say it directly, not out of unwillingness.
"I heard A'Yan say you've been taking care of him. Thank you. Did you find the in-flight meals to your liking?"
"Yes, yes, we did," Shi Cai quickly replied. "It was delicious, better than any airplane food I've ever had. Thank you for your hospitality, Sister."
"You are our guests, it's only right."
Zhuo Yin's attitude remained somewhat aloof, and the butler had to step in to smooth things over.
"Miss Zhou, everything is ready. We can take off now. May I ask..."
"Then let's go."
She led them to the front. During the two-hour flight, Zhong Yan's classmates didn't see them again. Many fell asleep as soon as they boarded and woke up to find they had arrived.
As everyone disembarked, they realized the airport wasn't very large. Verdant hills were visible not far away, and at the foot of the mountains lay a beautifully landscaped manor. Even from a distance, the picturesque scene of mountains and water, complementing each other, was striking and clearly delineated from its surroundings.
"What is that place? A scenic spot?"
Zhong Yan also stepped off the plane and glanced towards the foot of the distant mountains. "That's my home."
The person who spoke was instantly dumbfounded.
As the rest of the group disembarked, looking at this unfamiliar place, they clearly realized it wasn't the airport they had imagined.
Being chauffeured in luxury cars wasn't enough to demonstrate his family's wealth. Private jets were things found only in rich family dramas, weren't they?
Today, they were experiencing it firsthand.
Those who had once thought he was being stubborn and suffering unnecessarily because he refused to apply for financial aid now thought to themselves how fortunate it was that they hadn't mocked him then, only thought about it.
Otherwise, this would be a scene of the male protagonist being slapped in the face.
"Your home is amazing!"
Shi Cai patted the back of the boy from behind. "Watch your language. Sister is here."
The boy flashed a charming smile at her and walked away with his friends.
Zhuo Yin disembarked behind them. After walking out of the tarmac, a car immediately came to pick them up. They got into small vehicles resembling tour buses and, descending from the helipad on the mountaintop, stopped in front of the manor they had seen from above about half an hour later.
While viewed from the mountain, one could almost take in the entire manor, giving a very beautiful, cohesive impression. Now, standing before it, the feeling was entirely different.
Stepping into the manor was like entering a world of rustic simplicity. Its area wasn't exceptionally large, around a thousand mu. Excluding the vegetation, landscaping, and water features, most of the houses and facilities were not far apart.
So they walked in.
The ground was paved with neat cobblestones, arranged with varying sizes and placement. The flowers and trees on either side didn't look like they had been deliberately pruned; they weren't overly neat or rigid, nor did they obstruct the path.
About 200 meters in, there was a lake. In August and September, lotuses were still blooming on the water. Among the lotus leaves and interconnected with the sky, several small boats were moored. In the center of the lake was an octagonal pavilion, like the pavilion in the middle of a lake from ancient poetry, making the entire environment exquisitely beautiful and classical.
Other areas also featured blooming flowers and trees. Despite it being long past spring, this manor was still in full bloom. Although the caretakers had put in effort to create a natural feel, they could still discern some artificial touches.
It seemed to have been prepared recently.
Perhaps it was in anticipation of tonight's birthday party.
The group was captivated by the surrounding scenery, their eyes unable to take in the profusion of flowers. They walked all the way to the banquet hall, where the household servants had prepared everything.
Under the guidance of the servants, they toured most of the manor while waiting for other guests to arrive. By seven-thirty in the evening, all invited guests had arrived at the banquet hall.
Ten people per table, Zhong Yan's classmates occupied three tables, their seating in the middle, next to the villagers.
Thanks to Zhuo Yin, the entire village had long since emerged from poverty. Every household had built new houses. Combining local characteristics with charming scenery, many had converted their homes into guesthouses, and the area had effectively become a resort.
At the tables in the front rows were the most important relatives of the Ran and Zhou families, as well as key executives and partners from YL Company.
Before the banquet officially began, Zhuo Yin took the stage to give a speech, wishing Zhong Yan a happy birthday and referring to him as her fiancé.
Prior to this, only some people in the company knew that their company had a high-level executive who had never shown their face and had an unspeakable relationship with their chairman.
Hearing her introduction now, many immediately understood why this youth, who had just come of age, held such significant authority within the company.
"In addition, I have another announcement to make today."
Her assistant walked up with a document. Zhuo Yin opened the document, and a real-time projector magnified her every action for the guests to see.
"I will be gifting 18% of the shares of YL Group to my fiancé, Ran Zhong Yan. A'Yan, happy birthday. May you have peace, prosperity, and all your wishes come true."
Everyone fell silent, including Zhong Yan.
He was almost dragged onto the stage by Zhuo Yin.
Zhong Yan signed his name with great difficulty, took the microphone in a daze, steadied himself, moved his lips, and under everyone's gaze, slowly spoke.
"Thank you, A'Yin!" He looked at the woman he had admired for so long and said, "I accept your gift, I accept your love. Although I have achieved nothing yet, I apologize, but I swear that all the glory and wealth I can create in the future will be shared with you. Please wait for me; I will keep pace with you."
Zhuo Yin also spoke slowly, "I believe you."
Someone started it, and thunderous applause erupted below.
Regardless of whether these two were using this opportunity to show affection or something else, Zhuo Yin's gesture was enough to astound everyone.
As for that young man, countless people in the audience would have liked to kill him.
Zhuo Yin's position meant that partners, competitors, subordinates, or strangers with ill intentions were always trying to get close to her, to possess her, for various reasons.
But they had only ever received rejection.
Now, hearing her publicly acknowledge another man as her fiancé, and that man being a mere college student, no one could feel entirely comfortable.