BOLD ITALIC illustrates Yibo's subconscious mind, where he engages in conversations with his late grandfather, Lan Wangji.
With a huff of annoyance, Yibo settled into the front passenger seat and irritably slammed the car door. He looked back in the back seat to see Ziyi's shocked expression.
"So we've met, at last," he stated, his voice showing little interest in the woman his father had arranged for him. He was there at his father's insistence. "Welcome to China," sounding rather uninterested.
"H-hi..." Ziyi said in a faint voice, unable to tear her eyes away from Yibo.
Could this be his fiancée? Oh dear! Her future husband was jaw-droppingly gorgeous! The black eyes made even blacker by the thick eyelashes seemed to gnaw at your whole being if you looked at them.
After realizing she had been gazing at the man for quite a while, Ziyi quickly lowered her head, her face flushing.
Yibo's lips curled into a mock smile. "So, your name is Ziyi," he stated, more as a confirmation than a question.
He examined the girl's overall appearance. She looked sweet and pretty and shy. He quickly caught sight of her face turning red after she had been staring at him for a while.
"Yes," Ziyi gradually looked up and shyly locked eyes with Yibo. "And you are... Lan Wang Yibo?"
"You can call me Yibo," he said with a hint of arrogance. "That's the name everyone calls me. Now, where's my driver?"
"Claiming my baggage..." Ziyi answered quickly, her eyebrows furrowing at Yibo's attitude. But before she could dwell on his unfiancélike tone, she spotted the driver.
After loading Ziyi's luggage into the back of the car, the driver hopped in. "May I drive, Sir?"
Yibo nodded. He was not in the mood to drive. "Just go straight to Lan's Building. We'll stay in the penthouse for tonight and then leave for Gusu tomorrow afternoon."
"Understood, sir."
Ziyi held the urge to ask where Gusu was. She chose to keep quiet and lean back.
While the car was running, Yibo leaned his head against the seat and closed his eyes. He had no intention of talking to the woman behind. If his father wanted him to get acquainted with this woman, so he would. But she would have to accept his attitude towards her.
And from what he can see, he won't have a hard time with Ziyi. Shy and submissive to the bone. And a virginal beauty. He wanted to laugh at that part. She was a virgin-that at least was confirmed by her parents to his father. It was one of the family traditions. A virgin wife.
But he didn't care about traditions. He had stopped counting how many virgins had passed through his palms. Virgin, but innocent no more, who wanted nothing more than to be associated with him for all the same reasons. -- his handsome appearance and great wealth. The heir to the Lan empire.
Many of them are intentionally encouraged by their mothers to form a connection with him. Most come from affluent families eager to ensure their wealth remains intact once they are linked to the Lan name.
"You are very young to be so cynical, Yibo." Haikuan remarked while he, his wife, and Yibo gathered at the bar in the Lan Hotel.
"Can't blame me, buddy. I haven't met someone like Yifei Jie." Yibo glanced and winked at Yifei.
Haikuan let out a proud laugh, wrapping his arms around his wife. "She's truly one of a kind, my dear cousin. Plus, she blessed me with a son."
"Don't believe him, Yibo," said Yifei in a serious tone. "There are many like me in this world. Look for it and when you find it, don't let go but don't lock it up. Never let money and power come between you and the one you love..."
