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871 Words
"Ha—not to blow my own horn, but while my little You might not be the 'femme fatale' type, she is pure, innocent, and lovely!" Seeing Han Yuming’s apparent interest, Yi Bao beamed with joy, his face lighting up as he began to boast grandiosely.
"And just who does Master Yi intend to 'sell' this prize to?" Han Yuming thought to himself. It seems this old fox wants to play matchmaker. Fine, I’ll give him a glimmer of hope and see what tricks he has up his sleeve. "Er, well... haha, I suppose I should call Xiao You down first!" Feeling as though Han Yuming had seen right through him, Yi Bao laughed awkwardly and used the excuse of finding his granddaughter to make a temporary escape.
How pathetic, fleeing the moment your plan is exposed, Han Yuming mused. I’d like to see just how 'excellent' this Xiao You is, for you to stake the very survival of the Yi family on her. This game is getting more interesting by the second. I hope you don't disappoint me—Xiao You. He took a slow sip of his wine, then suddenly knit his brows, glancing at the glass with a flash of suspicion. A moment later, a knowing smile returned to his face. Escorting his beautiful companion, he walked with elegant strides toward the center of the front hall.
"Thank you all for joining us today to celebrate the return of my granddaughter, who was lost to us for many years," Yi Bao announced. He didn't want to bring up the painful details of his son’s death, so he glossed over the specifics of her disappearance and recovery. "I know you are all curious, so without further ado, allow me to introduce her."
"Ah Fu, bring the young lady down," he said to Uncle Fu, who stood ready at his side.
"Yes, Master." Uncle Fu respectfully stepped through the crowd and headed toward the young lady’s room on the second floor.
Suddenly, the lights in the hall went out. A single spotlight remained, fixed on a door upstairs. Under the collective gaze of the guests, the door slowly creaked open. Yi Lanyou stepped out timidly, trying not to make a sound for fear of drawing attention—not realizing that she was already the star of the night.
Seeing every eye in the room on her, her nerves spiked. Her palms were slick with sweat, and her fingers nervously twisted the sea-blue lace of her dress. She felt trapped, unable to move forward or back.
"Don't be nervous, Miss. I'm right here. Just walk down and go to the Master's side," Uncle Fu whispered with a reassuring smile, sensing her unease.
"Mm." Lanyou nodded softly. Taking a deep breath, she began to descend the stairs, step by step.
As she moved into the light, her features became clear to the crowd. Her skin was ivory with a hint of rose; her watery black eyes flickered like bright stars in the sky. Her dark curls bounced gently against her chest with every step, and the sea-blue princess dress accentuated her fair, slender legs. She looked exactly like a living Barbie princess.
Her beauty and purity were so dazzling that the guests froze in their tracks, silently watching this angel who had seemingly fallen to earth.
With every step, her heart throbbed violently. To hide her awkwardness and anxiety, she maintained a faint, delicate smile. She had successfully become the focus of the entire room—and had successfully captured the gaze of a certain man.
When she finally reached her grandfather's side, she let out a tiny sigh of relief, keeping her lovely smile intact. The men standing near Yi Bao had yet to recover from her ethereal aura; they stared at her blankly, completely entranced.
Feeling their intense stares, Lanyou’s cheeks flushed like ripe apples, the crimson heat spreading to her neck and ears.
"Grandfather," she whispered, tucking her hand shyly into Yi Bao’s arm and knitting her brows in modest discomfort.
"Haha! Everyone, this is my granddaughter, Yi Lanyou!" Noticing her embarrassment, Yi Bao patted her hand comfortingly and led her directly to Han Yuming.
"A pleasure to meet you, Miss Lanyou. I am Han Yuming." Han Yuming didn't even look at Yi Bao. He simply extended his right hand like a gentleman, his face wearing that same wicked, charming smile—a smile as intoxicating as a lethal poison.
"Hello, CEO Han." Can a man truly be this perfect? Lanyou wondered. He was so handsome it made her dizzy.
As Han Yuming took her soft, delicate hand in his, he couldn't resist pressing a kiss onto the back of it.
It felt like an electric shock. A numbing, tingling sensation surged from her hand through her entire body. Having never been intimate with a man before, she hurriedly pulled her hand back in a panic.
Seeing her adorable reaction, the curve of Han Yuming’s smile deepened. It was the look of a man who had just discovered a very interesting "toy."
The music began to play.
- Writer
