Under the care and support of Xiao Xiaolong, she read the lesson with a sweet, clear, and beautiful voice, winning阵阵 applause from Teacher Zhang and the entire class. After class, Xiao Yuyan returned the textbooks to Xiao Xiaolong, but this big boy, who acted like a brother, wouldn't take them back—he instead insisted on taking Xiao Yuyan's textbook, which was smudged and messy, leaving Xiao Yuyan even more touched. In the village's underprivileged primary school, students' seats are not fixed during each class, so many restless children often compete for seats. As a young girl who had just joined the school, Xiao Yuyan frequently ended up sitting at the very back, making it difficult to see the writing on the blackboard. This caused her many difficulties. Once, while copying the Chinese homework problems written on the blackboard by Teacher Zhang, several characters remained unclear, so she went to the front and copied them directly, inadvertently blocking the view of other students. At this moment, the class's notorious troublemaker made his appearance, splashing a sudden burst of dust—left over from yesterday's floor-sweeping—right onto Xiao Yuanyan's head, causing her to cry right away. Then Xiao Xiaolong stepped in and immediately engaged the troublemaker in a fierce fight. The two fought from the edge of the desks all the way to the podium, and then continued their battle all the way outside the classroom, drawing the attention of countless children. Though the troublemaker was one year older than Xiao Xiaolong, the younger boy endured several solid punches from him. Yet Xiao Xiaolong displayed an unyielding determination, clenching the troublemaker's neck tightly until the older boy's eyes widened and his mouth gushed with white foam before he finally released him. At that point, Ms. Zhang appeared and delivered a stern reprimand to Xiao Xiaolong, resulting in the boy being required to stand in place for an entire week. And in return, Xiao Yuanyan never faced any more bullying again. No child ever messed up her Chinese textbooks anymore. More importantly, every time Xiao Xiaolong helped her secure the most favorable seats at the front of the classroom. Over time, the mischievous children gradually became more respectful—because the fate of the "King of Misbehavior" was clearly on display. As a result, they naturally left the two front seats empty. These two seats were always Xiao Yuanyan’s and Xiao Xiaolong’s. They sat together as classmates, reading, doing homework, and playing together—enjoying a truly joyful time. This brought Xiao Yuanyan great happiness during the most challenging period of her life. Every day, Xiao Xiaolong got up early and invited her to go to school together. After finishing their homework, they returned home together. Even when Xiao Yuanyan was responsible for cleaning the classroom, Xiao Xiaolong was always delighted to assist her, never letting her take on any heavy or tiring tasks. Here comes the question: why wouldn't Father let his daughter return to China? Because Father hoped that his daughter would marry the son of the chairman of China's largest corporate group—this union would be a powerful synergy, injecting strong momentum and strength into Zhao Wei's business and his underworld network. Yet, his daughter firmly refused, insisting on returning home. This dream had been buried for nine years—nine years! How long that felt, yet no matter how long, Zhao Yuanyan's dream would eventually come true. She would no longer live only in memories and recollections; she would return to seek the person she had longed for—her brother, Xiao Long. As Father deeply cherished his daughter, it would have been inappropriate to persistently block her path. So, reluctantly, he agreed. Thus, Zhao Yuanyan returned to China's Binhai, a place she had not seen in nine years. In the villa's grand hall, Zhao Wei was conversing with Sun Yano and Zhao Yuanyan. "I'm going! I absolutely must go!" Zhao Yuanyan's resolute voice echoed throughout the hall, her bodyguards and attendants standing on either side of her, as if the entire room were holding its breath in admiration. "Yuyan, that's a real remote mountain village! For that poor boy, are you really willing to suffer? Moreover, all these years have passed—everything has changed, yet everything is still the same." Zhao Wei patiently scolded his daughter. "I want to know where Xiaolong is now. How is he doing? Is he happy? If not, I'll go help him!" Yuyan's voice was full of determination. "Yuyan, Dad's only thinking about you! He's afraid you'll be overwhelmed when you go. We've checked the place—over the past 16 years, it hasn't changed much. It's so backward. How can you possibly go there? You're our precious daughter, our golden branch and jade leaf, our heiress—our precious little princess. Neither I nor your father would want you to suffer!" Mother Sun Yanuo, a well-mannered noble lady, always cherished her husband Zhao Wei and showed great care for her daughter Yuyan. The bodyguard and attendants standing by also chimed in at once, saying, "Madam, both the Chairman and the Mrs. are right—there's no need to go." The lady has just returned from abroad, weary from her journey, and requires rest and recuperation. "You have no say in this—I have made my decision, and no one shall alter it!" Zhao Yanyan addressed her servants and attendants with firmness. "Yes, yes, Madam!" the servants and attendants bowed in agreement. "Dad, Mom, I'm going! Please stop urging me—should you continue to do so, I shall leave the house altogether!" Zhao Yanyan's strong resolve became evident. Though her father, Zhao Wei, was a powerful figure in both business and the underworld circles, he appeared quite deferential at home, especially before his beloved daughter. After all, how could he not be so indulgent? After discussing it thoroughly with Sun Yano, he finally nodded and agreed. At that moment, at the Tian Shang Ren Jian villa, servants came and went continuously, with security personnel, attendants, bodyguards, and staff all bustling about inside and outside the premises. Chairman Liu Qingsong bid a helpless farewell to his cherished daughter, helplessly sending her off in the car and dispatching several vehicles accompanied by bodyguards. He repeatedly instructed the bodyguards, saying: "My daughter must stay with her throughout this trip. If anything happens to the lady—whether minor or serious—when she returns, I will personally hold the bodyguards accountable." The bodyguards, of course, could not possibly dissent; they nodded respectfully and agreed wholeheartedly. With his most beloved daughter, Dong Mengyao, now gone, Gao Huang felt a deep sense of emptiness. That day, I trudged to work with a listless air. As soon as I reached the company gate, I noticed everyone had gathered there, standing in quiet admiration. Three brand-new luxury cars were parked at the entrance, and a group of about ten people stepped out, all wearing sunglasses and business attire—clearly their attendants or assistants. Then, from the most elegant of the three vehicles, a beautiful young woman stepped down. She appeared to be around eighteen or nineteen, wearing sunglasses that partially covered her face. Her long, golden hair flowed smoothly and gracefully, reaching down to her waist. Her walk was poised and refined. She wore a high-end black casual top and matching high-end black tailored pants, creating an impression of nobility and elegance. Her delicate arms, contrasting beautifully with her sleek black ensemble, formed a striking visual highlight. Her grace and poise were truly remarkable. Her skin was exceptionally fair, well-maintained, with a perfectly straight figure—she looked like a model, standing about 165 centimeters tall. She wore elegant high heels, moving with graceful sway, especially her full, proud breasts, which drew quiet admiration. Beauty combined with sensuality—this was the secret weapon of this woman to captivate men. It was no surprise that new employees were simply staring at her. High-light was stunned! Who was this? He didn’t recognize her at all! Just after working for a little over an hour, someone was calling out, "Li Engineer, Li Engineer!" Hengli set down the technical proposal he was working on and looked up—there it was, Zhang Shijie, Director of the Sales and Technology Department, calling his name! Wait a minute—didn't I just receive this technical proposal from him? What's going on now? Hengli looked at Zhang Shijie, who was now smiling warmly at him, holding out his right hand. "Li Engineer! Ms. Xie from the company needs you to go to her office to provide technical clarifications for a very important client. You really need to shine! The entire Sales and Technology Department is counting on you!" "Got it—I'll be there right away!" Hengli replied, and immediately headed for Ms. Xie Ningbing's office. As he arrived, he saw Ms. Xie engaged in a conversation with a beautiful colleague—luckily, he could hear their discussion clearly. "I'm here on behalf of China's Second Group Corporation to inspect your company, supervising matters related to product quality and technology. Therefore, there are several important technical issues that your company needs to address!" The young woman produced her work ID and gently waved it in front of Xie Ningbing. Upon seeing the ID, Xie Ningbing immediately became very courteous. She quickly instructed her secretary to serve tea and invited the young woman to sit comfortably on the sofa by the tea table. With great respect, she said, "We are truly delighted to have representatives from China's Second Group Corporation visiting and conducting an inspection and supervision at our company. I will do my utmost to fully support and assist Ms. Zhao's inspection and supervision activities. Should our company indeed have any issues, we are especially eager to receive feedback and recommendations from China's Second Group Corporation, so that we can improve and enhance our operations, ensuring that our produced computer products meet the standards and requirements for export set by China's Second Group Corporation." "Listening to Xie Ningbing's words, the beautiful woman nodded slightly. She took a small sip of tea, and the way she held the cup was so graceful—full of refinement and elegance. Gao Liang was genuinely surprised. The second group company had become a household name, truly impressive. Even a beautiful, accomplished manager like Xie Ningbing had to bow and pay homage to the executives sent over. This clearly demonstrated the strength and stature of the second group company." "Now, let me get to the point—I have several technical questions!" The woman set down her cup, brushed her flowing hair with a graceful gesture, and offered a delicate, elegant smile. "So charming," Gao Liang observed from outside. Even Xie Ningbing and Dong Mengyao found it hard to match that smile. "We'll assign our most outstanding technical engineer to assist you!" Xie Ningbing said seriously. "The most outstanding?" The woman widened her bright eyes, gently brushing her hair with her delicate hands. "Actually, no need. Just call him Li—." "He's here!" Shen Ningbing spotted Gao Huang standing outside, so she continued speaking. "Good morning!" Gao Huang politely greeted the beautiful woman, who widened her eyes and stared at him intently, as though pondering something. Eventually, she asked Shen Ningbing to let her and Gao Huang have a private conversation in the visitors' office. The visitors' office was beautifully furnished, with a warm atmosphere, clean windows and tables, and numerous fine indoor plants that filled the room with a pleasant fragrance. This was Gao Huang's first visit to the visitors' lounge, and as he sat across from the woman at the large coffee table, a large goldfish tank stood beside the table, its colorful fish creating a vibrant and lively scene. The ambiance was truly excellent—Gao Huang felt truly fortunate to be able to engage in a meaningful conversation with this stranger in such a pleasant setting. The beautiful woman held a survey form and asked questions one by one, mostly focusing on product quality and technology—topics that were truly child's play for Gao Liang, this outstanding technical engineer. Her responses flowed effortlessly. The two of them exchanged questions and answers with seamless coordination. Even before the woman finished her question, Xiao Long already knew what she intended to ask, and responded naturally and politely. Gao Liang realized that Xie Ningbing had fully entrusted this task to him, and he knew he had to answer with confidence and clarity—because satisfying this key client was essential. After all, seventy percent of the company’s business came from this major customer. He had to perform exceptionally well and avoid any mistakes. He delivered an outstanding performance—undoubtedly a top-tier technology talent. Yet Gao Liang felt something off today. He sensed that the woman seemed less interested in these routine, somewhat monotonous quality and technical issues. Instead, she kept her eyes wide open, staring intently at her face the entire time—very carefully. Houang Liang had never been looked at by a beautiful woman so closely, especially at such a close distance. His face warmed up as a result. Yet he remained cautious, asking gently, "May I ask—why have you been staring at me so intently all along?" "Don't you recognize me?" The woman's reply was truly astonishing. "Are you mistaken? I don't know you at all!" Houang Liang felt utterly confused. "Have you truly forgotten our promise nine years ago?" The woman's voice was both alluring and deeply compelling, instantly pulling Houang Liang back into vivid memories. The memories of nine years ago came rushing back, vivid scenes unfolding in his mind. Childhood memories surfaced: a little girl—his own sister, Yu Yan—saying at parting, "Xiaolong brother, you must wait for me. When I grow up, I will marry you. You must absolutely wait for me!" He had personally given his only photo to Yuanyan, his younger sister, at the time of parting! Could this stunning beauty before him be the little Yuanyan from his childhood—the one who used to be bullied but always stepped forward to protect her friends? It simply couldn't be! In his childhood memories, Yuanyan had always been a rather ordinary-looking girl. Gao Liang was deeply puzzled. At that moment, the beautiful woman produced a yellowed photo from a delicate leather suitcase she had brought with her and handed it to Gao Liang. Upon seeing it, Gao Liang was greatly moved—it was indeed his own photo! Surprised that it had been preserved for over 16 years, he stared intently at Zhao Yuanyan. This time, up close, he could fully appreciate her facial features, figure, and expressions. What a perfectly poised and graceful girl! Her skin was smooth and delicate, yielding like fresh water when gently pinched. She had a perfectly proportioned figure, with a classic three-dimensional silhouette. The fullness of her breasts rose proudly, gently swaying with Zhao Yanyan's breathing. Her eyes were bright and clear, like a fresh spring stream, transparent and refreshing. Her eyebrows were arched like crescents, set against a round, graceful face—elegant and refined. There was an air of noble dignity in her expression. Her lips were shaped like cherries, softly tinted with a light rose shade of lip gloss—neither overly vibrant nor plain, but exquisitely alluring. Moreover, leaning close to her, a subtle fragrance filled the air. At first, Gao Liang thought it was the faint scent of the flowers nearby, but now he realized it was Zhao Yanyan’s own delicate body fragrance, emanating naturally from her graceful form. Gazing at such a beautiful and captivating Zhao Yanyan, Gao Liang felt as though he were dreaming—both amazed and delighted, his tone light and playful. "How could our duckling have grown into a swan! I never would have recognized her!" "Separated from our hometown for so many years, we haven't seen each other face to face—of course, you wouldn't recognize me now! Besides, I've just returned from New York, USA!" Zhao Yanyan opened up. Gao Liang was deeply astonished. How could it be that, in New York—so far abroad, with such excellent cuisine—Zhao Yanyan had transformed into such a stunning beauty. After being amazed, he asked, "Why did you come back? Isn't life abroad much better?" "Remember our childhood promise? I vowed that when I grew up, I would definitely marry you!" Zhao Yanyan looked at Gao Liang's handsome face, her voice filled with emotion. "But that promise was made back then, when we were children. So many years have passed, and everything has changed!" Gao Liang knew that there was a significant gap between their social standings. Now, he was merely a company employee in Binhai, a typical working-class professional without his own business. He felt he wasn't strong enough to match a beauty like Zhao Yanyan. "But I haven't changed," Zhao Yuyan said as she spoke, "I've been completely devoted to finding you!" "Yuyan," Gao Liang looked at the beautiful and graceful Zhao Yuyan, his heart filled with emotion, and asked, "How did you manage to find me?" "I went to your hometown, to the primary school we both attended. There, I found Mr. Zhang, who is still teaching, and I also visited your parents. From the letters you sent to your uncles and aunts, I learned about your current company—quite coincidentally, this company has close business ties with our group. So, I convinced my father to send me to conduct research and supervision at your company." Yuyan explained her journey. "Yuyan, I'm deeply moved. But I..." Gao Liang knew that Zhao Yuyan was a girl deeply committed to love—once she had made up her mind, she would never turn back. "I'd like to invite you to meet my father tomorrow. I want him to arrange your position at his company, and I'll be honest with him about our relationship—our closeness. I'll convince him to support you!" Zhao Yayan made the invitation directly, which left Gao Liang quite surprised. He knew he didn't deserve such an opportunity, and with full awareness of his own standing, he said firmly, "It's impossible. I won't go. I only see you as my sister!"