The abandoned daughter of the Lu family turns around and marries a celibate tycoon.

Chapter 246 Close Your Eyes

Sounds surged in from all directions, like a pot of boiling water, bubbling and gurgling. Some people held up their phone screens to show off to their companions, some stomped their feet excitedly, and some covered their faces in disbelief. The sounds overlapped and blended into a huge, joyful roar.

"How many people won awards?" someone shouted at the top of their lungs.

This question was like pouring a ladle of water into a boiling oil pan.

Gu Yanshen did not rush to answer. He waited for the noise from the audience to subside slightly before speaking slowly, his voice neither hurried nor slow, yet carrying a calming power.

"We read every story submitted for this event carefully." He paused, a rare gentleness in his eyes. "After reading them, our biggest takeaway was—we don't lack love, but rather the eyes to see it."

The audience fell silent. Some nodded thoughtfully.

"There are 156 stories that moved my wife."

The moment the number was announced, a collective gasp rippled through the audience. One hundred and fifty-six—not fifteen, not fifty, but one hundred and fifty-six.

"These stories, with the consent of the contributors, will be published in the 'From Beginning to End' column on the Ruijing official website." Gu Yanshen spoke slowly, as if he were making a solemn announcement. "This column will not be closed. It will become a permanent section of Ruijing."

He paused, his gaze slowly sweeping over the faces below the stage.

"As long as your story is moving enough, this event will continue."

"One hundred and fifty-six stories, each person received a voucher worth 10,000 yuan. Ruijing alone gave out 1.56 million yuan in basic prizes."

The people in the audience began to whisper among themselves.

"After company selection and final confirmation by my wife, we have selected one first prize winner, five second prize winners, and ten third prize winners."

Some people held their breath.

"First prize - the prize money has been increased to three million."

Someone in the audience suddenly covered their mouth.

"Second prize, one million."

"Third prize, 300,000."

Silence. A full two seconds of complete silence.

Then, the whole place erupted.

Three million?! Did I hear that right?

"Three million for the first prize?!"

"I should have submitted my story too! My husband and I's story is no less interesting than anyone else's!"

"Is it too late to submit my work now?"

The gasps, regrets, envy, and excitement that rose and fell merged into a massive wave of sound, surging from the front of the stage all the way to the last row of the hall. Some slapped their thighs in regret, some clapped so hard their palms turned red, and some pulled out their phones to call their friends on the spot—"Did you hear? That event in Ruijing, the first prize is three million!"

Gu Yanshen didn't say another word. He just stood half a step behind Lu Xiran, his hands in his pockets, a very faint, almost imperceptible smile on his lips.

Lu Xiran turned her head and glanced at him. The light fell on her face, and her eyes were filled with shimmering light.

He didn't look at her, but his fingers slipped out of his pocket and lightly, almost imperceptibly, touched the back of her hand.

The audience remained in a frenzy.

Applause, cheers, and murmurs rose like waves. In the center of this clamor, Gu Yanshen and Lu Xiran stood side by side, like two trees with intertwined roots, silent yet steadfast.

The cheers from the audience grew louder and louder as Gu Yanshen and Lu Xiran stood side by side in the center of the stage, receiving everyone's attention. Flashbulbs went off one after another, like fireworks exploding in the night sky, freezing their figures in light and shadow time and time again.

No one noticed the few malicious glances in the crowd.

As the celebration drew to a close, staff began guiding the guests to leave in an orderly fashion. Gu Yanshen escorted Lu Xiran towards the backstage area, with security personnel forming a moving human wall around them.

Lu Xiran was pushed forward by the crowd, her hand held tightly by Gu Yanshen the whole time. She lowered her head slightly, one hand instinctively protecting her slightly protruding belly.

"Slow down." Gu Yanshen's voice was very low, only she could hear it. His other hand had already reached behind her, blocking all the pressure that might come at her.

Just as they were about to reach the backstage area, in the most crowded area, someone suddenly pushed from the side, and the crowd fell down like dominoes. Some people staggered and others cried out in surprise.

In that instant, Gu Yanshen's pupils suddenly contracted—without the slightest hesitation, he pulled Lu Xiran into his arms.

His back was taut like a fully drawn bow, and he stood like a wall in front of her, protecting Lu Xiran even more tightly in his arms.

"Are you alright?" His voice was still low, but Lu Xiran could hear the anger suppressed beneath that calm surface—like magma from underground, ready to erupt at any moment.

"I'm fine." Lu Xiran shook her head, her fingers gripping his collar tightly. She looked up at him; his expression remained indifferent, but his jawline was taut.

Fortunately, he had arranged for people to take precautions in advance, so those with ulterior motives couldn't get close to Lu Xiran.

Gu Yanshen's gaze swept across the crowd like a knife, passing over the direction from which the commotion had occurred. He said nothing, only slightly turning his head and whispering to the security leader beside him, "Clear the area."

Then he looked down at Lu Xiran, his voice softening slightly: "Go to the lounge and wait for me. I'll come over as soon as I'm done."

"But Qiqi is still outside—" Lu Xiran was a little worried.

"I'll have Lin Chen pick her up and take her to the lounge." Gu Yanshen interrupted her, his tone leaving no room for discussion. "You go to the lounge first. Ten minutes."

Lu Xiran knew his temperament—on matters like this, he was a man of his word. She nodded and, accompanied by four female security guards, walked towards the backstage lounge.

Gu Yanshen watched her walk a few steps before turning around. The gentleness on his face had vanished, replaced by a chilling coldness. He raised his hand and called for the security chief, his voice so low that only the two of them could hear: "Check the surveillance footage. That wasn't an accident."

The security supervisor's expression changed, and he immediately nodded and left.

Lu Xiran, on the other hand, encountered trouble after walking less than twenty meters.

She stopped at the corner of the corridor, wanting to look back to see if Jin Qiqi had followed. The female security guard in front, leading the way, didn't notice her stop. In that brief moment, a figure rushed out from the direction of the restroom at the other end of the corridor.

The person was extremely fast, almost crashing straight into Lu Xiran.

The corridor was narrow, with no space to dodge on either side. Lu Xiran instinctively turned to the side to protect her stomach and closed her eyes—