The boy's face also went pale. He had spoken too rashly just now, and only realized his regret upon turning back, but regret was too late.

Liu Zhen was so frustrated she felt like spitting blood. Just as she was about to follow, two bodyguards blocked her. She could only watch as Ning Yunhuan smiled and waved at Cheng Qiaomei, inviting her into the elevator together. Gu Yingxi was still crying in her arms. Forcing down the impulse to shove Gu Yingxi away, she managed to comfort her while pushing her toward the trash cans flanking the elevator doors. Only then, under the mocking gazes of others, did she angrily walk back to the friends she had been with earlier.

Gu Yingxi felt utterly desolate. She thought of the love she could not attain, of her body being touched again and again by those men—she couldn't take it anymore. Her sister at home had just been in a car accident, requiring money for everything; she couldn't hold on any longer. Ouyang Zhentian had vanished without a trace after going abroad, and Xie Zhuoyin, her former lover, was nowhere near. Yuncheng had changed too; he drank every day. She could only juggle multiple jobs now, completely exhausted and on the verge of collapse. Yet, Qin Yi wouldn't let her go, insisting everything he had now was her fault and demanding she repay him with her body. She was too tired, so tired she was almost losing her love for Brother Jiu. Now, her only hope, the only job where she might run into Brother Lan Jiu, was gone because of Ning Yunhuan's jealousy.

The more she thought, the worse she felt. Her body had been utterly exhausted lately. Qin Yi found endless ways to torment her, and then there was that old man, Song Qingyun, constantly pestering her, making endless demands. She was too tired, but she couldn't refuse these men. Dazed, Gu Yingxi stumbled out of the Lan Ning Company entrance, seemingly into the middle of the road. She only heard the sharp screech of tires on the pavement, and screams erupted around her. A man’s voice, speaking a somewhat strange dialect of Chinese, seemed to ask if she was alright. She didn't want to open her eyes again; she just wanted to let herself sleep.

Inside a sprawling villa decorated in an opulent, palace-like Western style, a woman lay on a wide, pure white European bed. She had been cleaned up and slept like an angel. Her lips were somewhat pale and bloodless. The tall, handsome foreign man beside her, with golden hair and blue eyes, had been staring at her for a long time without shifting his gaze.

“BOSS, this young lady just had extremely low blood sugar and was severely malnourished…” A smooth male voice reported to the man nearby, his eyes showing deference. He paused in disbelief when he saw the man run his long fingers across the stranger’s face, so stunned that his words trailed off.

“Those men, they deserve to die!” Although this man’s Chinese was fluent, it carried the peculiar accent unique to foreigners. Killing intent flashed in his eyes: “If they can’t take good care of her, then don’t blame me for taking her away!”

With that, he reached out and stroked Gu Yingxi’s face. Gu Yingxi wasn't just physically weak; her lower body was severely injured, swollen and bruised, all thanks to those men’s unrestrained demands! The thought of another man having touched her nearly drove this man to jealous madness. After waving the doctor away, he returned to stroking Gu Yingxi’s face.

“My little Chinese doll, wake up quickly, look at me.” He leaned down and kissed her lips. “In fairy tales, that’s how princes wake Sleeping Beauties. Will you wake up for me?”

As he spoke, his hand reached into her chest. Under such stimulation, even if Gu Yingxi wanted to sleep, she couldn’t. She had just finished an IV drip and slept for a while, feeling much better than before. When she opened her eyes and saw a handsome man with deep features, golden hair, and blue eyes gazing at her tenderly, Gu Yingxi was startled. Instinctively, like a frightened quail, she tried to shrink back under the covers: “Who—who are you? Did you save me?”

Her response was a lingering, deep French kiss that left Gu Yingxi breathless, her cheeks flushed crimson.

Upon hearing the man’s introduction, Gu Yingxi learned he was an Englishman named Brooklyn, and that she had coincidentally run into his car, which was why he had brought her back.

In front of this gentle, kind Englishman whose gaze was deeply affectionate, and who was impeccably polite and gentlemanly, Gu Yingxi forgot why she had crashed her car but wasn't taken to a hospital, and forgot everything else. Although her heart belonged entirely to Lan Jiu, she felt helpless and shy facing this enthusiastic Englishman.

Mr. Green was simply too affectionate, often embracing her for long kisses. Gu Yingxi felt embarrassed to refuse because Mr. Green had saved her life, and besides, Mr. Green kept assuring her it was just traditional English etiquette and didn't mean anything significant.

In this palace-like villa, she savored the feeling of being held in the palm of someone's hand. From initial shyness and guilt toward Mr. Green, it gradually shifted to unease subtly mixed with a hint of sweetness.

In their interactions, his bright blue eyes were filled with adoration and tenderness for her. Gu Yingxi had never been looked at as if she were such a precious treasure. Mr. Green’s elegant bearing and refined, gentlemanly grace nearly captivated her. This feeling was something Ouyang Zhentian and the others could never give her. If it weren't for Brother Lan Jiu still residing in her heart, Gu Yingxi might have felt herself melting entirely under Mr. Green's love.

His eyes, like the sky and the ocean, made Gu Yingxi forget her troubles. She told him everything. Mr. Green was extremely wise; he always comforted her, coaxing her like a cherished lover until Gu Yingxi gradually placed her complete trust in him. Naturally, she also told him about why she crashed into his car and passed out. Brooklyn said nothing at the time, but a dangerous glint appeared in his eyes.

Half a month flew by in a flash. Ning Yunhuan hadn't paid attention to what happened after she drove Gu Yingxi away that day, but the spies watching the Gu residence reported that Gu Yingxi hadn't returned home since. Since her relationship with Lan Jiu had improved, Ning Yunhuan had nearly forgotten about Gu Yingxi. Hearing she hadn't returned, she didn't give it much thought; after all, the female lead possessed an immortality clause. Never mind disappearing for just half a month, Ning Yunhuan was sure she’d return safely even if she vanished for half a year.

Not taking the matter to heart, a few days later, Lan Biao called her: “Madam, someone from the Green Vineyard in England called. They want to advertise their wine on our television station and asked for you to personally negotiate the price with their representative.” The Green Vineyard was famous worldwide; they were an old aristocratic family whose lineage spanned hundreds of years, renowned for producing wine for over two centuries. Their vintages were favorites everywhere, and any bottle aged over five years cost five figures and was often impossible to acquire at market price.

This wine was too famous; normally, they wouldn't need advertising to ensure sales. Over centuries, they had developed a fixed clientele of the rich and powerful. Every year, the wine produced by the Green family was in short supply, and the inflated market prices only added to their demand—so why would they suddenly need advertising? Although Lan Ning Television was popular in China, it wasn't famous enough to reach the entire world. Lan Biao suspected the Green family meant trouble, so he deliberately called to warn Ning Yunhuan.

Hearing the name Green, Ning Yunhuan immediately recalled Brooklyn, who had deliberately kept her confined abroad and only allowed her to return after Father Ning passed away. She had been searching for an opportunity to find this mysterious and elusive Brooklyn, rumored to have ties to the Italian Mafia, but unexpectedly, he had delivered himself right to her doorstep.

“Arrange for him to wait at the company; I’ll be there immediately.” The moment she hung up, Lan Jiu’s call came through. Ning Yunhuan answered, but before she could speak, Lan Lingyan’s voice came from the other end: “Get out, I’ll take you there.”

Lan Biao would naturally call him first with any news, only contacting Ning Yunhuan on Lan Jiu’s instruction. By the time he received Lan Biao’s message, Lan Jiu had already left the company. Lan Biao had waited a while longer before calling Ning Yunhuan, as Lan Jiu had instructed. Thus, Lan Jiu was already at the foot of the Lan family estate.

She agreed to have the car drop her off at the entrance of the estate. Sure enough, Lan Lingyan’s car was waiting outside. A group of vigilant security guards stood next to his vehicle in the guardhouse. Ning Yunhuan got out of her car and walked straight over. The door was already open, and Lan Lingyan pulled her into the car.

“The Green family is connected to the Gu lineage.” It wasn't a question but a statement. Ning Yunhuan nodded. Hesitating, and recalling his earlier speculation that she might have gone through something, she admitted after a pause: “He will be one of Gu Yingxi’s men.” Although she didn't know why these two knew each other or how he got entangled with Gu Yingxi, fate was strange like that—or perhaps it was because the original author needed to arrange Gu Yingxi’s journey of handsome suitors, ensuring they met like princes and princesses regardless of the status gap between them and Gu Yingxi.

Lan Lingyan’s expression remained calm, but he was surprised that so many men would be willing to share one woman. It was incomprehensible to him. If anyone dared to even think about his wife, just the mere thought made him deeply displeased, let alone sharing her with others—that was absolutely impossible, even if he were dead.