Two years later — at the airport.

Shi Han stepped into the terminal, a wide-brimmed sunhat shielding her face.

She pulled a small suitcase behind her, dressed in an ivory maxi dress. Her long, shapely legs and slender, graceful ankles peeked out with each step.

Though her face was mostly hidden beneath the brim of her hat, her elegant figure still drew curious glances from passersby.

She had only walked a few steps when someone bumped into her shoulder. The impact tilted her hat slightly, revealing a glimpse of her delicate, striking features.

Her gaze shifted to the man who had run into her.

White sneakers. A crisp, neatly buttoned shirt.

His sleeve had slipped up slightly, revealing a stretch of lean, well-defined forearm.

Shi Han looked up—and finally saw his face.

His eyes were deep black, carrying a cold indifference that kept people at a distance. His brows were sharp, almost unruly, giving him a hint of danger. There was something a little bad in his look… but his features were too striking, too flawless. Despite his clean, refined outfit, there was an undeniable air of restrained desire about him.

Shi Han froze for a second.

This man’s face—he was exactly her type.

“You okay?” he asked, his voice low and deep.

That voice… A rich, resonant baritone. Just the kind she liked.

But she quickly remembered she had more important things to do. Shi Han snapped out of it and shook her head.

“I’m fine.”

She’d had little interaction with men growing up, and romantic relationships had never really interested her. At most, she might occasionally admire someone from afar.

So, when she unexpectedly ran into a man who happened to match her aesthetic tastes, Shi Han simply saw it as a pleasant little encounter—nothing more.

She gave him a polite nod… and turned to leave.

Shi Han didn’t think twice about what had just happened. She had no idea how long the man behind her stood watching her go.

He remained rooted to the spot, his dark eyes unreadable—deep and shadowed, like a lion who had just discovered its territory and was patiently waiting for the right moment to leave his mark.

It wasn’t until Shi Han’s figure had completely disappeared that a sharply dressed man in a suit approached him.

He bowed his head slightly, speaking in a careful tone. “President Lu, the old madam is having another episode.”

“Mm.” Lu Yan’s cold black eyes flickered as he finally moved. “Let’s go.”

“Yes.” Zhang Yu followed behind Lu Yan, still unable to fully believe what he had just witnessed.

The man ahead of him was Lu Yan—the head of the Lu family, one of the four most powerful families. At just over twenty years old, his status was unshakable. His strength was unmatched, his mind sharp, and his heart cold.

In addition to his unparalleled abilities, his handsome looks were a constant topic of conversation in high society.

Countless young women from prestigious families in Beicheng had all but broken their necks trying to get even a little closer to him.

Over time, Lu Yan grew tired of the various schemes and tactics women used to try and get his attention.

Not long after, one woman deliberately threw herself at him.

The next day, that woman’s family went bankrupt.

When she begged for mercy, Lu Yan showed no sign of sympathy. He simply left her with one cold order: “Leave the capital.”

By the end of the night, the woman and her entire family had packed up and fled the city.

Since then, those scheming ladies finally abandoned their schemes.

Zhang Yu had been by Lu Yan’s side for nearly seven years and was used to his indifference and aloofness toward women.

But today, Lu Yan had actually disguised himself as a university student and arrived early at the airport—all just to stage a chance encounter with a woman.

What was even more startling was that Zhang Yu had just seen Lu Yan smile.

He had never seen him smile before. Maybe others wouldn’t have noticed, but after so many years by his side, Zhang Yu could clearly sense the flicker of joy just now.

While Zhang Yu was racking his brain trying to guess the identity of that woman, he suddenly felt a chill sweep over him. Startled, he looked up in a panic.

Lu Yan’s gaze fell on him.

Those cold, dark eyes seemed to see right through everything. Though it was the height of summer, Zhang Yu broke out in a cold sweat as if plunged into ice water. His mind went blank, and he didn’t dare speculate any further.

…

Meanwhile, at the Shi residence, the family was having lunch. A servant standing nearby cast a cautious glance at Shi Han, who was quietly eating not far away.

Her exposed skin was pale and cool-toned, with crimson lips and dark hair, her delicate features flawlessly sculpted. The slender, graceful fingers holding her chopsticks made every movement look like a finely painted mural.

It should have been an utterly captivating scene — yet the atmosphere in the living room was tense, charged like a drawn bowstring.

=^_^=