Master Ming looked at Jun Yelan, trying to find traces of himself on his face, but it was difficult. He gave up, after all, Jun Yelan was his seed.
His face beamed with a smile. He never expected that at this age, he would gain a scholar son for free, and a daughter-in-law who knew how to do business.
However, Jun Yelan remained cold, clenching his fist and saying, "You've mistaken me, I'm not your son!" He detested the bloodline in his body the most, finding it utterly filthy.
Master Ming was still delighted and explained, "You look exactly like Zhi'er. your mother was my old flame. I liked your mother a lot back then, but her status was not worthy of entering my Ming Manor."
"Don't you dare insult my mother!" Jun Yelan was furious for the first time, raising his fist to strike Master Ming.
Master Ming clearly hadn't reacted when he fell to the ground from the punch, his eyes stunned.
Ming You, standing beside him, helped him up and looked at Jun Yelan, suddenly recalling Jun Yelan's past. "Jun Yelan, you were born and raised in a brothel. You're not fit to be my father's son, nor my brother."
The thought of Jun Yelan being a Ming family member sent shivers down his spine; all the Ming family's money belonged to him.
The veins on Jun Yelan's hands bulged, and he glared angrily, "Do you think I want this! Your Ming family are the people I loathe most in this world. I hate you all immensely, and I hate myself even more."
He hated that he was of the Ming bloodline, and he punched Ming You repeatedly, like a madman. Later, his hands began to bleed, crimson drops falling onto the ground from his wrists.
Lan Yan could no longer bear to watch. She grabbed Jun Yelan's arm, saying worriedly, "Yelan, that's enough. Your hands are far more precious than them."
As she spoke, a tear fell from the corner of her eye.
This tear seemed to fall into Jun Yelan's heart, making him stop. He looked at Lan Yan before him, his eyes filled with sorrow, and murmured, "Now you know my background, it's more shameful than you can imagine."
"What's shameful! I only know you are Jun Yelan, and that's all," Lan Yan said tearfully, a slight curve turning up the corners of her mouth. She took out a clean handkerchief and began to bandage his hands.
Jun Yelan calmed down, watching Lan Yan tend to him, his heart trembling incessantly. He had always been afraid to reveal his past, afraid Lan Yan would despise and abandon him.
He was abandoned by his father at birth, and by his mother when he grew up. But now he had met Lan Yan, and truly didn't want to be abandoned again. He reached out and tightly grasped Lan Yan's wrist, unknowingly applying pressure.
Lan Yan had just finished bandaging when she felt pain in her wrist. She didn't pull away, but instead placed her palm on Jun Yelan's hand, a gentle smile gracing her lips, and soothed, "Yelan, I'm here. It's okay now."
Jun Yelan gradually relaxed but continued to hold Lan Yan's hand. Only then could his heart find peace.
Master Ming and Ming You, still on the ground, didn't understand what had happened, their minds solely focused on their own selfish desires.
Seeing that the two were still trying to speak, Lan Yan directly intercepted, "Master Ming, you disdained Jun Yelan's mother back then. The moment you abandoned them, you lost your right to be his father."
"And Ming You, you've been belittling Jun Yelan. How good are you yourself now! Jun Yelan is already a scholar and has a wife who can earn money. We will live better and better in the future. And you are nothing!"
Her words were clear enough. If they continued to pester, they shouldn't blame her.
Master Ming ignored her, looking at Jun Yelan, after all, he was his son.
Jun Yelan was even colder than Lan Yan. Holding her hand, he walked through the crowd and stopped, saying, "You had no relation to me before, and you will have none in the future."
He led Lan Yan away.
The Master Ming father and son behind them were left in a state of disarray, subjected to the pointing fingers of those around them.
Meanwhile, Jun Yelan took Lan Yan to a hilltop, where a tomb stood, the burial place of his mother.
Lan Yan looked at the name on the tombstone, then at Jun Yelan's sorrowful face, and called out, "Mother, I am Lan Yan, Jun Yelan's wife. From now on, we are one family, and I will take good care of Jun Yelan."
Jun Yelan froze, looking at Lan Yan.
Seeing his reaction, Lan Yan smiled and asked, "Jun Yelan, I ask you, do you agree to marry me?"
This question Jun Yelan had asked before, asking Lan Yan if she was willing to marry him. But now Lan Yan asked him again. He reached out, pulling Lan Yan into his embrace, his eyes misting over.
At the same time, his lips and chin trembled, as if with all his might, he said, "I do. I, Jun Yelan, swear before my birth mother's tomb that in this life, I will only marry Lan Yan, and only Lan Yan."
Even for all eternity, he only wanted the person in his arms.
Lan Yan couldn't help but smile, placing her hands on Jun Yelan's back. She felt the same way.
She had come for Jun Yelan, to teach him to love himself and others, and she had received all of Jun Yelan's love.
Jun Yelan led Lan Yan to kneel, bowing three times to the tombstone, and said, "Yan'er, we have announced to heaven and told my mother. Now, the most important person to me in this world is you."
"Good, I, Lan Yan, will only be devoted to you," Lan Yan said, looking at Jun Yelan with determination.
Jun Yelan's lips curved upwards, and he pulled Lan Yan to her feet. His love was persistent, and fortunately, he met Lan Yan, allowing him to give his whole heart, and for it to beat soundly.
He crouched down and said, "Yan'er, I'll carry you down the mountain."
"Okay," Lan Yan said, leaning onto Jun Yelan's back, her arms around his neck, a smile all over her face. She recalled past events and laughed.
"At first, you were unwilling to carry me. Later, you were willing, but you were stubborn and soft-hearted, and wouldn't admit it. Now you're actively carrying me."
Jun Yelan held Lan Yan's legs, his eyes filled with doting affection, "I will carry you from now on, wherever it is, however many times. Even when our hair turns white and we can no longer walk, I will still do this."
Hearing this, Lan Yan's tears flowed down. She rested her head on Jun Yelan's back, not wanting him to hear her crying. She could only accompany Jun Yelan for ten years; she would not see him grow old.
Jun Yelan, not hearing Lan Yan's response, worried, "Yan'er, what's wrong?"
"It's nothing, I'm just a little tired," Lan Yan shook her head, secretly wiping her tears.
Jun Yelan smiled and said, "Then Yan'er, rest well. I'll take you home. Before, you always took care of me; now it's my turn. Tell me anything you want to do or need to do."
"Mmm," Lan Yan smiled again, raising her right hand high and shouting, "Let's go home."
She looked at Jun Yelan's profile, murmuring in her heart, Jun Yelan, I will protect you.