Zhou Luming's gaze remained fixed on Xu Yan's profile, starting from her jawline and moving upwards. Xu Yan had a full forehead, and her profile was very symmetrical and beautiful. Her nose was straight, which she probably inherited from her parents' excellent genes.
"Are you more like your father or your mother?" Zhou Luming suddenly asked out of the blue.
Xu Yan stared at her in surprise, almost blurting out, "She looks like her mother..."
But he soon regretted telling Zhou Luming the answer.
Wang Anjing couldn't help but remind them again, "Luke is watching you from behind."
Zhou Luming didn't take it seriously. "Let him keep an eye on things. Anyway, I like Xu Yan, and I'm going to let my whole family know about it later."
Wang Anjing was stunned, then chuckled and said, "As expected, you came back from abroad."
Xu Yan pushed away Zhou Luming's head that was leaning towards her, looking disgusted. "Miss Zhou's joke is inappropriate. Luke is your fiancé."
Zhou Luming wasn't annoyed by being pushed away, and continued to smile as he said, "Xu Yan, I know that Luke has been looking for me ever since I returned to China. Why did he only show up now? Did you do something behind the scenes?"
Xu Yan said calmly, "I'm only responsible for assessing you to decide whether to leave you the inheritance. Your love life is none of my business."
But Wang Anjing in the earpiece said, "Miss Zhou, you guessed right. Actually, Xu Yan has been protecting you and standing in front of Luke for you. She went to great lengths to keep Luke away from you until now... That's one of the reasons she had you move into her house. Luke isn't a good person, but the Zhou family and the Lu family have a marriage agreement, which was arranged by the elders. As the heir, you can't go against the elders' wishes, so Xu Yan felt that she should block him as much as possible and has kept Luke from seeing you until today."
Xu Yan immediately retorted, "I didn't."
Zhou Luming reached out and covered Xu Yan's hand, turning her palm over and holding it firmly.
Xu Yan was startled as she felt the warmth of Zhou Luming's palm. This time, she turned her head to look at Zhou Luming, who returned her a sweet and gentle smile. Xu Yan was startled again, but this time she didn't rush to let go of Zhou Luming's hand, since she couldn't break free anyway.
Luke silently watched the back of Zhou Luming's head from behind, a sinister smile playing on his lips. He had initially been quite resistant to the marriage, but after seeing Zhou Luming in person, he was tempted. She was even younger and more beautiful than he had imagined, with a great figure, and she was also the heir to a fortune of billions. With such good fortune falling into his lap, he was determined to seize the opportunity and win Zhou Luming over.
However, he hadn't forgotten his other reason for coming here: to win the auction and get the USB drive. Although the veracity of the information online was unknown, he wouldn't take any risks at such a crucial moment. If the Zhou family found out what he'd done, it might affect his marriage.
He absolutely couldn't let this happen, so he had to get the USB drive at all costs.
This little incident before the auction only attracted the attention of a small group of people. Once the auction began, everyone was completely focused, almost all waiting for the USB drive to appear. It was only later that people realized that those present were mostly young people, whereas usually it was mostly older middle-aged people with some spare cash who came.
Zhou Luming leaned close to Xu Yan's ear and said, "Is this the power of hype?"
Xu Yan said, "Curiosity is human nature. People firmly believe that they will be lucky, which is why the blind box business is so successful."
Zhou Luming shook her head. "I don't believe in fate. I only believe that things can be accomplished by human effort." When she said this, her smile faded, and she became unusually serious.
Xu Yan listened attentively and kept it in mind.
When the USB drive was brought out, people both online and offline went wild.
The starting price remained at 10 yuan, but the price skyrocketed in round after round, without any restraint. It quickly surpassed the first day's auction price and continued to rise.
Zhou Luming asked, "Sister Anjing, how many Bitcoin private keys did you put in there?"
Wang Anjing: "Guess."
"Three?"
At the current Bitcoin exchange rate, even just three Bitcoins would be worth a considerable amount of money.
Wang Anjing said, "No, ask Xu Yan and see if she tells you."
Zhou Luming turned to Xu Yan and said in a coquettish tone, "Xu Yan, just tell me."
Xu Yan asked indifferently, "You want to know?"
"Um!"
"Why don't you take a picture and you'll see?" Xu Yan said, a rare smile playing on her lips. Seeing Zhou Luming being teased made her feel a little happy.
Zhou Luming said angrily, "I have no money." After thinking for a moment, he spread his hands at Xu Yan, "Can you lend me some?"
Xu Yan looked at her outstretched hand, its knuckles distinct, slender and fair. On a whim, he reached out and patted her palm. "Alright, go ahead and name your price, I'll lend it to you. Let's make a deal with a high five."
Zhou Luming was surprised that Xu Yan would agree. He stared at his palm for a moment, then remembered that Xu Yan had asked him to act as a shill to inflate the price of the USB drive. Then it dawned on him—wasn't Luke sitting right behind him? This guy was worried that there was something amazing hidden in the USB drive, so he would definitely bid desperately for it. The higher Zhou Luming bid, the more anxious Luke would become, ultimately causing him to spend a fortune.
Zhou Luming immediately felt relieved.
She had once again witnessed Xu Yan's brilliance.
"92,000." The auctioneer kept calling out the prices.
"Okay, 93,000. Anything else?"
Zhou Luming calmly raised his paddle, "95,000."
The auctioneer's eyes lit up. "It's already 95,000. Any more bids?"
"100,000." Luke raised his hand and casually called out the price.
There are now fewer than five people bidding in the auction, including a mysterious online buyer named Q.
Q: 100,000.
Luke: 103,000.
Zhou Luming: 105,000.
Luke: 108,000.
Q: 110,000.
The auctioneer was bewildered; the group of buyers had already started bidding aggressively without his intervention. However, out of professional ethics, he felt compelled to remind them, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is merely a USB flash drive with a starting bid of 10 yuan. The current auction price far exceeds its actual value. We urge all buyers to bid rationally and avoid impulsive decisions."
But Luke ignored him and raised his hand, saying, "115,000."
Just as Zhou Luming was about to make another offer, his hand was grabbed and held down by the person next to him. Zhou Luming was stunned. This seemed to be the first time Xu Yan had taken the initiative to grab his hand. Xu Yan's hand was delicate, her wrist was slender, and her thin skin revealed bluish veins.
Xu Yan calmly said, "No need to raise the price."
She noticed that Zhou Luming was looking down at his hands, seemingly lost in thought.
Xu Yan added, "Let him take the USB drive. The real show will begin after we get the auction proceeds."
Chapter 34
===================
The USB drive was eventually sold for 115,000.
Luke paid and turned around, but Zhou Luming was already gone. He felt a slight pang of regret, but he wasn't in a hurry. After all, Zhou Luming was his fiancée, and the women he set his sights on never escaped his grasp. Recalling his conversation with Zhou Luming just now, he could see her delicate earlobes, slightly red, and the long, beautiful nape of her neck revealed when she turned her head.
Luke couldn't help but swallow.
The male assistant beside him apologized, "I'm sorry, Mr. Lu, I lost him."
Luke cursed, "Useless."
The male assistant said cautiously, "However, I got some information from Ms. Zhou's landlord overseas..."
"What news?"
"It is said that Miss Zhou likes women."
Luke was taken aback, then suddenly remembered Zhou Luming and Xu Yan's intimate actions, and felt a little uncomfortable. From his perspective, Zhou Luming was a stunningly beautiful sight, but at the same time, he thought about how Zhou Luming had been smiling and talking to Xu Yan at that time. Were her sparkling eyes and the smile on her lips because of Xu Yan?
But he also knew that such behavior between women was actually quite normal. Didn't people say that high school girls even had to plan ahead to go to the bathroom together? These two might not be like that, but even if they were, he didn't think it was a problem.
Judging from Zhou Luming's appearance, he probably doesn't understand the benefits of men. Thinking of Xu Yan's cold, aloof beauty, Luke chuckled sinisterly. Although Xu Yan wasn't his usual type, it wouldn't be bad to win her over while he was at it.
Let them see what I'm capable of.
Ever since hearing that Zhou Luming had returned to China to inherit the Zhou family's vast fortune, Luke had been inquiring about her whereabouts. But no matter how much he asked, he couldn't find out where Zhou Luming lived or what she was doing after returning to China. Luke was completely baffled. What was going on with this Zhou Luming? She was so mysterious; even he couldn't find her whereabouts. After returning to China, she seemed to have vanished without a trace…
Not only was Luke at a loss, but the Zhou family was also completely baffled. All they knew was that Zhou Luming had been placed by the old man in the care of a young woman. At first, they thought she was there to work as an assistant and mentor Zhou Luming, but in the end, they discovered that the woman was no ordinary person. The old man hadn't hired a teacher for Zhou Luming; instead, he had hired a comprehensive bodyguard.
As for Xu Yan, there is not much information about her. All that is known is that she graduated from a prestigious university, has excellent professional skills, and is also very good at business. However, she is mysterious and, like Zhou Luming, it is almost impossible to find out any details about her private life. Her hobbies and personality are unknown, and she is completely a blank.
Even Sun Ren only managed to find Zhou Luming by going through the roundabout route of Zhou Luming's mother's birthday. Then an accident happened at the mall, and now he doesn't dare appear before Xu Yan and Zhou Luming anymore, perhaps out of guilt, or perhaps with other plans.
Xu Yan and Zhou Luming, who had once again become the target of public criticism, returned home unscathed. Before they could even sit down, they saw Wang Anjing, dressed in a cheongsam and with a voluptuous figure, carrying a laptop that seemed completely out of place with her. Wang Anjing immediately said, "Luke won't let this go so easily. He's become even more interested in Miss Zhou. Now that he's seen her in person, he's gone to great lengths, using all sorts of connections to find out about her private information."
Xu Yan smiled faintly, "You can stop him."
Zhou Luming greeted Wang Anjing with a smile and said, "Sister Anjing, thank you for helping me."
Wang Anjing replaced Li Li in cleaning up and blocking all network hackers for them. Now it is the information age. Without the help of computer experts like Wang Anjing, Xu Yan and Zhou Luming's personal information would probably have been compromised long ago. They wouldn't be sitting on the sofa so calmly discussing today's gains and their common opponent, Luke.
Xu Yan sat on the sofa and took a sip of water. Zhou Luming, limping, naturally leaned against her and sat down. Xu Yan shifted, and Zhou Luming shifted as well. Xu Yan glared at Zhou Luming, but Zhou Luming just grinned at her. Helpless, Xu Yan continued talking to Wang Anjing, "The auction brought in 115,000, which is about what we expected. Let's issue a reward immediately; whoever provides valid clues will get the money."
Zhou Luming asked, "If there really were clues, why weren't they provided back then?"
Wang Anjing and Xu Yan looked at her at the same time. Wang Anjing patiently explained, "Back then, Lu Gang was just a small accountant. He had to make a living and support his daughter's studies abroad. After the incident, he had to accompany his daughter to see a doctor. He even sold his house. In the end, he didn't have much money to offer a reward for clues. If you were the one who had clues and evidence back then, but had no incentive to offer any reward and was instead threatened by Luke, would you choose to step forward and become the hero to stand up for Lu Qi?"
Most people would choose to back down and avoid trouble if possible, and that's what Wang Anjing thought. But Zhou Luming said without hesitation, "If there is evidence, I will certainly provide it to them, free of charge."
Wang Anjing was surprised, and Xu Yan also looked at Zhou Luming with surprise.
In fact, the bounty was just a trigger. What truly motivated people to step forward was Xu Yan's ability to protect himself. Without strong technical and background support, even if he found this person, he wouldn't dare to show his face because the other party was Luke. Back then, Luke hired an online army to guide and control public opinion online, and at the same time, he defeated Lu Gang both economically and psychologically. If someone had stood up at that time, they would have inevitably suffered the same fate as Lu Gang. Therefore, no one was willing to step forward at that time.
Xu Yan believed that it was impossible for there to be no clues at all. Since the incident happened on campus, someone around Luke must have witnessed it, but that person was afraid to come forward.
Zhou Luming thought about it later and realized that it was true. People are all bullies who prey on the weak and fear the strong. Most people wouldn't dare to mess with a playboy like Luke. Many people have paid a high price to study abroad, and as long as trouble doesn't fall on their own heads, they won't stand up for others. Quietly completing their studies is the most important thing.
There are many cowardly people like this, and we often see people who refuse to help those in distress. But Zhou Luming is not that kind of person. If she were bullied, she wouldn't need anyone else to help her; she could save herself.
Time has passed, and most of the students from back then have now graduated and are working. This auction has caused quite a stir, and the news has spread. Hopefully, that person will bravely step forward and provide them with clues this time.
Wang Anjing quickly posted a reward notice anonymously on multiple social networks, then closed her laptop, picked it up, and said, "I'm going home. I'll let you know if there's any news. There's an important meeting tomorrow morning, so you should be able to get in touch by the afternoon at the latest."
She left suddenly, but before she left, she winked at Zhou Luming in the entryway, winking and saying, "Little Lu, good luck!"
Zhou Luming blinked slowly and confusedly, not understanding Wang Anjing's meaning for a moment. It wasn't until he saw Wang Anjing off in the entrance hall that he heard her lower her voice and add, "Actually, Xu Yan has been protecting you. She cares about you a lot. She's not as cold as she seems. You see, she didn't push you away when you came close these past few times."
Zhou Luming's ears turned red upon hearing this, realizing that it seemed to make sense. Even Wang Anjing had noticed it; how could he have missed it?
After Wang Anjing left, only Zhou Luming and Xu Yan remained in the large house.
Xu Yan remained aloof, saying she was going back to her study and preparing to go upstairs. But Zhou Luming said, "Xu Yan, wait a moment."
Xu Yan stopped at the corner of the stairs. She hadn't changed her clothes yet, but she had already put on mismatched, fluffy slippers. Her hand rested casually on the railing, her posture upright. Her double-breasted coat was loose and well-fitting, which made her look even more elegant.
"Um?"
Zhou Luming said with a smile, "Thank you for protecting me all this time."
Xu Yan's pupils contracted slightly. "I received the money."
Zhou Luming retorted, "Do you treat all customers who pay you this kindly? Do you take them in and let them stay in your house if they get injured?"