Gu Ting did not expect to see Lin Yan again so soon after hearing the news of her return to China.
The next time he saw her, she was dressed in a white long dress, appearing in a place he never thought she would. It was a reception before a land bidding conference. Those present were all there to acquire land use rights, with each plot costing tens of millions.
Gu Ting had arrived early. His family business had started with coal mines before venturing into real estate. He attached great importance to this bidding, hence his early arrival. It was then that he saw the person he hadn't contacted in a long time being ushered in by the reception staff.
She was still as beautiful as ever, no! She had become even more so! He had seen all her posts on makeup and fashion, so he could tell that there was a light makeup on her face. However, this makeup was merely an embellishment; her true transformation lay in the aura that emanated from within. In high school, she was like a bud about to bloom, beautiful but also youthful. Now, she was like a blooming peony, graceful and magnificent!
As she entered the hall, almost all eyes turned to her. Everyone's gaze was filled with admiration.
Gu Ting wanted to step forward but stopped himself. In what capacity could he approach her for a greeting? A high school classmate? He chuckled wryly to himself. Moreover, his fiancée stood beside him.
He composed his expression, ensuring that no one beside him noticed any anomaly. Standing next to him was his fiancée, Shen Wen Lin. They had confirmed their relationship in their sophomore year of university and held their engagement ceremony after graduation. Miss Shen's father had also been successfully promoted to a high-ranking position in the provincial government, becoming the second-in-command.
"Host, the male lead is currently at your eight o'clock, and beside him is his current fiancée, Shen Wen Lin," the system informed Lin Yan.
Lin Yan casually glanced in that direction. The moment she saw Gu Ting, she clearly froze for a moment, then instinctively smiled. However, her smile faltered when she saw Shen Wen Lin, who was holding Gu Ting's arm. Her smile then vanished. She politely nodded at the couple before turning to engage in polite conversation with those nearby.
The instant Gu Ting made eye contact with Lin Yan, his heart pounded like a drum. But then he saw her smile disappear. He desperately wanted to go up and talk to her, inquire about her well-being, and show his concern. Yet, feeling the warmth on his arm, he understood that they had ultimately missed their chance.
"Gu Ting, what's wrong?" Shen Wen Lin asked.
"Nothing, just saw a high school classmate I haven't seen in a long time," Gu Ting replied calmly.
"Then shall we go over and say hello?"
"Let's talk later. She seems busy." Gu Ting glanced towards Lin Yan, seeing her currently in conversation with an official. She had indeed changed. He wondered what she had been doing all these years and how she had managed to get into this gathering.
In his memory, her family was wealthy, but they didn't possess such connections. From her shared posts, it seemed she only shared fashion and makeup. Had she joined a company after returning to China? But that didn't seem right either.
The hall was not that large, and the two inevitably encountered each other.
"Long time no see!" Lin Yan spoke first.
"Long time no see. You're back in China?" Gu Ting replied. His fiancée, who had just met a friend, had gone to chat with someone else.
"Yes! Abroad is not home after all!" Lin Yan sighed. "Besides, my parents are both in China, so I had to come back."
"You look different!" Gu Ting sighed.
"You've changed quite a bit too. Is the person over there your girlfriend?" Lin Yan looked at Shen Wen Lin on the other side.
"Yes. You might not know, but I'm engaged. She is my fiancée, and we were university classmates." Gu Ting seemed to want to explain something, but he opened his mouth and said nothing.
"That's great. She's a very accomplished girl," Lin Yan praised. While the girl wasn't a strikingly beautiful woman, she had a pleasant appearance. Moreover, being admitted to Tsinghua University was proof enough of her excellence. However, she felt it was a bit of a waste for someone of her caliber to be paired with the male lead here. But if her father remained in a high position, the male lead would likely cherish her for life.
"What about you?"
"I'm getting engaged soon too." Lin Yan extended her left hand, and the diamond ring on her middle finger flashed, catching Gu Ting's eye. "I came back this time to have our parents meet and discuss the engagement."
Even though he already knew about this, hearing it from Lin Yan's own lips still caused a pang of pain in his chest. "Then, congratulations! What kind of person is he?"
"Lin Lin, who is that person your boyfriend is chatting with?" A girl talking to Shen Wen Lin noticed Lin Yan and Gu Ting.
"That must be his high school classmate, right? He mentioned it to me earlier." But he didn't mention that his high school classmate was so beautiful, Shen Wen Lin added in her mind.
"This classmate of his is so beautiful! But she looks a bit familiar, have I seen her somewhere before?" the girl asked, puzzled. "But why does the atmosphere between them feel a bit strange?"
"Meng Meng, I'll go over and say hello first, we can talk later!" Shen Wen Lin also sensed that the atmosphere between them was not right. After speaking to her friend, she walked towards them.
"Gu Ting, who is this?" Shen Wen Lin linked her arm through Gu Ting's.
Gu Ting stiffened, but he quickly put on a gentle smile. "This is the high school classmate I was just telling you about – Lin Yan."
"Hello, Lin Yan. I am Gu Ting's fiancée, Shen Wen Lin." She slightly loosened her grip on Gu Ting and extended her hand to Lin Yan.
"Hello, Gu Ting already told me. I heard from him that you are university classmates. From school uniforms to wedding dresses, what a beautiful relationship!" Lin Yan said with a smile.
"Then Lin Yan, are you single now?" Shen Wen Lin asked casually.
"No, I'm also getting engaged soon." Lin Yan felt the hostility from the woman in front of her.
"That's good too. You are classmates, and Lin Yan must have just graduated, right? To be considering engagement right after graduation, you must be very satisfied with your current boyfriend." Although Shen Wen Lin said this to Lin Yan, she kept observing Gu Ting's expression.
Gu Ting frowned slightly but did not interrupt her. Shen Wen Lin breathed a sigh of relief.
"Yes, he takes good care of me," Lin Yan replied, a happy smile on her face.
"Then, Lin Yan, what brings you here this time?"
"I'm here to buy some land. After all, I'm developing my career back in China, so I need my own territory." Lin Yan said very casually, as if buying land was as simple as buying a handbag.
Shen Wen Lin was unaware of Lin Yan's family background and assumed she was a young lady from a prominent family. "Then why isn't your boyfriend accompanying you?"
Beside him, the wine glass in Gu Ting's hand trembled. Fortunately, there wasn't much wine left, otherwise, it would have surely spilled.
"He's busy. After all, I haven't been back for long, and we have a lot to do!" Lin Yan understood Shen Wen Lin's implication but was unwilling to argue with her, knowing that every woman would be territorial and unwilling to let others approach her man!