Under such circumstances, even though Lu Yan had the blood of the Lu family, he couldn't escape being criticized and ridiculed.
People's words were like sharp swords, capable of piercing a heart until it bled and was beyond recognition in a split second.
It was precisely because he had survived in such an environment that Lu Yan had developed such a calm and indifferent disposition.
Only in this way could he maintain his dignity and pride when faced with sarcasm and abuse.
This was a world that Ning Anmiao had never been exposed to.
She was the daughter of the Ning family, born into a family where her parents loved each other. She had been doted on since childhood and was the beloved little princess of the Ning family.
Ning Anmiao, who had grown up freely in the warm sunlight, naturally couldn't understand how Lu Yan, who had grown up in the gutter, had been treated.
But she could imagine.
There was an uncontrollable trace of sympathy in her eyes when she looked at Lu Yan.
"Don't look at me like that," Lu Yan smiled, but there was a hint of pain in his smile. "I don't want your pity, Miaomiao."
Ning Anmiao was taken aback, quickly withdrew her gaze, and lowered her eyes. "Sorry."
She had grown up in a greenhouse. After breaking with her family, she had been protected by Lu Yan and had hardly been exposed to the evil side of human nature.
In a way, she was also lucky.
If she hadn't broken with the Ning family, she would probably still be in that loving and sunny environment, carefree and doing whatever she wanted.
It was because her parents loved each other deeply that their daughter was so gentle and affectionate.
But Lu Yan was different.
Since he was born, he had known that his father was a complete scumbag.
It was his father who had abandoned his wife and son, forcing his mother and him to live in anonymity, a life hidden from the world.
He hated his father but felt sorry for his mother.
His mother often said that having him was enough for her. She didn't covet the wealth and status that didn't belong to them.
That was why Lu Yan had always strived to be excellent in everything, just so that his mother could rely on him.
And he had indeed achieved that.
However, the death of the legitimate wife of the Lu family and his father's sudden appearance had left the grown - up Lu Yan at a loss.
He still couldn't forget what his mother had said to him that afternoon.
"Lu Yan, the Lu family is our home. Listen to Mom. Let's go home, okay?"
With Lu Yan's ability, he didn't need to return to the Lu family at all, and there was no need for it.
But his mother needed it.
Back then, he hadn't been able to refuse his mother.
So, he had climbed out of the gutter only to be pushed into another abyss.
The Lu family, a seemingly noble and upper - class family, was actually a place full of intrigue and danger.
His appearance had made the other collateral relatives of the Lu family feel threatened. What followed was a level of scheming and deception that ordinary people couldn't even imagine.
Countless times in the middle of the night, he had wanted to take his mother and leave the Lu family.
But his mother had said, "Lu Yan, this is our home. How can we leave?"
He could tell that she didn't want to leave.
Later, in such an environment, Lu Yan not only survived but also silenced everyone. He calmly became the head of the Lu family.
From then on, no one dared to say a word.
"That year..." As Ning Anmiao listened to Lu Yan's story, her memories were gradually pulled back.
"Yes, it was the year I met you," Lu Yan adjusted his sitting posture and continued. "You always followed me, and then one day you suddenly said you wanted to date me."
Ning Anmiao: ...
Her face flushed instantly, and she wanted to punch Lu Yan. "What are you talking nonsense about!"
It was true that she had pursued Lu Yan back then, but it wasn't as shameless as he described!
She remembered very clearly that what she had said was -
"Senior Lu, I have a question I'd like to ask you."
At that time, Lu Yan had been so busy between family and studies that he hardly had any free time. He had even answered her perfunctorily. "Ask."
"May I ask what the probability of a person getting married is?" She smiled brightly.
"It could be 100% or 0%," Lu Yan replied casually. At that time, they could at least talk to each other, but he didn't take it seriously. He thought the question was boring.
But the next question surprised him.
"Then, what's the probability of me getting married to Senior Lu?"
At that time, Lu Yan had just been rejected by the Jiang family for a marriage alliance, so he was a bit sensitive to this question. "0%."
Ning Anmiao was not discouraged. "Does that mean Senior Lu doesn't plan to get married?"
Lu Yan: "..."
Ning Anmiao pressed on. "Since it's not that you don't plan to get married, then Senior Lu has a 100% chance of getting married. So, why can't that person be me?"
...
As they recalled their silly conversations from their student days, one blushed while the other coughed awkwardly and looked away.
The student - era Ning Anmiao had been passionate and brilliant, like a beam of sunlight, tirelessly warming Lu Yan, who had grown up in the dark.
As time passed, he had gotten used to Ning Anmiao's presence, to her sticking to him and asking questions, to her smiling and calling him Senior Lu...
Later, one afternoon, he didn't know who had fallen in love first and kissed the other.
After that, he had taken the crying and fainting Ning Anmiao, who had broken with the Ning family, home and spent a stormy night with her.
He had also taken her first time.
The next morning, she had gently asked him if he would marry her, and he had given an affirmative answer.
And he had indeed done so.
"Miaomiao, thank you," Lu Yan said with deep emotion after the memories ended. "Thank you for accompanying me through the most difficult days."
He had never told anyone, especially Ning Anmiao, what kind of blows and tests he had endured every day during that period.
He only knew that seeing her smiling face every day had given him a chance to catch his breath from the overwhelming pressure.
He wasn't sure if this was love.
Facing his sincere thanks, Ning Anmiao just turned her back to him and lay down. Her voice came out muffled. "It's all in the past, and besides, I was willing to do it."
She deliberately turned her back to him so that he couldn't see the mist in her eyes and the emotions she was showing.
Ning Anmiao was feeling remorseful.
Of course, she remembered that time. She also knew that Lu Yan often had a gloomy face and rarely smiled. She had thought it was just his personality.
But in fact, his situation had been so overwhelming that he could hardly breathe, yet she had been carefree and clung to him.
So simple and naive.
It's all in the past, it's all in the past.
Ning Anmiao kept repeating this in her mind, but she buried her head in the quilt, and a sense of self - blame gradually crept over her.
"Miaomiao," Lu Yan didn't know what Ning Anmiao was thinking. He thought she didn't want to listen anymore, so he sensibly stopped the topic.
"The bedtime story is over. Go to sleep."