Jun Yelan nodded and put his arm around Lan Yan's waist, "He has ill intentions towards you." The thought of Pei Yuan's gaze made him uneasy.
Lan Yan's lips curved into a slight smile. She pinched Jun Yelan's cheek and laughed, "Yelan, he and I are just business partners. Whether his intentions are good or bad towards me is none of my business."
"No one is as handsome and talented as my husband, nor can they casually let me pinch their face like this." The smile on her lips deepened, making her feel even more that she had struck gold.
Jun Yelan's ears turned red. He felt Lan Yan had a point. He had never paid attention to such things, but if they could attract Lan Yan, then they served a purpose.
Seeing Jun Yelan remain silent, Lan Yan instead wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her cheek against his, and said coquettishly, "Alright, don't be angry anymore. I'll only talk business with him from now on."
Their cheeks touched, and the skin gradually grew warm. Jun Yelan froze. He realized his behavior was inappropriate, but he was reluctant to let go of Lan Yan, his body stiffening.
His voice deepened slightly, "Yan'er, do you think I'm too overbearing and shouldn't care about these things?" He knew he was acting wrongly but couldn't control himself.
He couldn't bear the pain of losing Lan Yan.
Lan Yan shook her head, cupped Jun Yelan's chin in her hands, and imprinted a light kiss on his lips. "No, I sometimes think the same way. I only want you to smile at me, to be good to me alone."
Falling in love with someone inevitably breeds possessiveness.
Jun Yelan's pupils trembled slightly. He hugged Lan Yan tightly, then, afraid of hurting her, loosened his grip a little. "Yan'er, I will do as you say, forever."
"Mm." Lan Yan understood why Jun Yelan was like this, and all she could do was her best to give him a sense of security. "Can we go home now?"
Jun Yelan smiled and nodded, taking Lan Yan's hand as they walked towards their home.
Upon arriving home, Lan Yan went to organize her things, while Jun Yelan sought out Lan Chuo.
"Big Brother, I have something very important to tell you." Jun Yelan took out the money pouch from his embrace and said, "I want to propose marriage to you, to ask for Lan Yan's hand. This is all the money I have, all for Lan Yan."
Lan Chuo froze while drinking water, confused. "Don't you already have an engagement?" He was bewildered by Jun Yelan's actions.
Jun Yelan explained, "That wasn't a formal one. It was me staying at the Lan family as a child groom. Now, I want to formally propose to Lan Yan, of my own free will. Please rest assured, Brother, to entrust Lan Yan to me. I will cherish her like a treasure."
Now Lan Chuo understood. He took a sip of water and then shook his head thoughtfully, "Yelan, you know, she's my only sister. I raised her from childhood. Although she was a bit spoiled, she's improved now."
"Since you sincerely wish to marry her, as her elder brother, of course..." He saw Jun Yelan's nervous expression and suddenly smiled, "I will naturally grant your wish."
Jun Yelan immediately breathed a sigh of relief, a slight curve forming on his lips. "Thank you, Brother. Please don't tell Lan Yan about this for now. I want to prepare a wedding for her, to make her the most beautiful bride in the world."
Lan Chuo nodded in satisfaction, "As you wish. As long as you two are happy." After marrying off Lan Yan, he would also need to prepare for his own wedding with Lin Yun.
This was truly a double celebration for the Lan family.
Meanwhile, at the Ming family's residence, Old Master Ming and Ming You sat in the front hall, both injured, sighing continuously.
"Father, do we really have no money?" Ming You asked incredulously.
Old Master Ming sighed again, his right hand resting powerlessly on the chair. His hair had all turned white. "Business has been bad these past few years, and with all the arrangements for you, we've incurred quite a bit of debt. We can't even live in this house anymore."
He stood up, his back hunched, and paced back and forth in the front hall. How glorious he had been in the past, the most sought-after courtesans were his lovers, but now, he had nothing.
He had originally hoped to have a scholar son, but that son didn't acknowledge him, leaving only this useless son! "My son, from now on, your father will depend on you."
Ming You was shocked. He was only good at eating, drinking, and causing trouble; how could he earn money to support his father! The more he thought about it, the more terrified he became. He stumbled towards the door, "No, I don't want to live like this."
Old Master Ming quickly chased after him. Without his son, how could he live?
However, as soon as they stepped out, they encountered the creditors who had come to reclaim the property. They were driven away and beaten.
The two were instantly reduced to beggars, wandering the streets.
Their stomachs growled with hunger. They saw people passing by holding pastry boxes, precisely from Lan Yan's shop.
Ming You swallowed hard and called out, "Father, Jun Yelan is your son, and Lan Yan is your daughter-in-law. They won't truly abandon you. If we go to her shop and plead, I don't believe they'll ignore us."
Old Master Ming feared Jun Yelan's gaze and also feared being beaten, but his stomach ached terribly. He gritted his teeth and shouted, "Fine, we'll try our luck."
Thus, the two limped towards the pastry shop.
A shop assistant stood at the entrance of the pastry shop. Seeing two beggars approach, he shouted, "Go away, go away! We don't have any leftovers here."
Old Master Ming and Ming You, suffering such hardship for the first time in their lives, thought of the food inside the shop and swallowed their pride. "We're not beggars. We are the owner's father-in-law and brother-in-law. Quickly call your owner out."
The assistant glanced at them suspiciously, "Our owner wouldn't have relatives like you. You look like you have bad intentions." He picked up a broom from the corner and swept towards their feet.
"Hurry up and leave. Our owner is not to be bullied."
Hatred flickered in Ming You's eyes as he looked at a vendor selling knives.
At this moment, Lan Yan, who had heard the commotion, came out of the shop. Seeing that it was the Ming family again, she called out, "I already made it clear before. We have nothing to do with you."
She turned and walked back into the shop. The Ming family's downfall was their own doing.
However, Ming You's courage grew. He grabbed Old Master Ming and knelt directly at the shop entrance, shouting, "Lan Yan, call Jun Yelan here and see if he cares about us! If he doesn't come, we're not leaving."
He would just stay there and see what Lan Yan would do!
Lan Yan stopped, turned, and glared angrily at Ming You, never having seen such a shameless person. "Don't keep saying Jun Yelan. His surname is Jun, yours is Ming. You have no relation at all."
"You won't leave? Fine, I'll have someone come drive you away. Xiao Qi, go report to the authorities that there are rioters obstructing business." Xiao Qi was an employee in her shop.
Ming You immediately panicked, unsure whether to stay or go. He turned and saw Jun Yelan approaching, handsome and refined, dressed in fine clothes, while he himself was in rags.
His eyes were filled with resentment. He took out a knife he had hidden in his embrace and lunged at Lan Yan. "All of you, die!"