C21 Zhang Yan Rejected Lee Minyu's Proposal.

Suddenly, Hsiao Rann felt a wave of dizziness wash over him, leaving him slightly disoriented. He had no choice but to let Zhang Yan guide him toward the exit.

"Freeze!" A thunderous, angry shout brought Hsiao Rann to an abrupt halt.

"What's all this about? I'm just a spectator here; this has nothing to do with me," Hsiao Rann mused.

Yet, the prospect of rejecting someone as captivating as Zhang Yan was not something Hsiao Rann could easily bring himself to do.

"Who are you?" Lee Minyu demanded, his voice seething with anger.

And why wouldn't he be livid? He had meticulously planned a beautiful proposal, only for it to veer wildly off course from what he had envisioned. Lee Minyu was nearly driven to madness by his frustration.

While Lee Minyu was incensed, Hsiao Rann was even more bewildered.

He was being mistaken for the other man. And despite his desire to leave, escape was not an option.

"Hello, I'm Hsiao Rann." Feeling uneasy under Lee Minyu's intense gaze, Hsiao Rann nonetheless knew that Lee Minyu hadn't wronged him. What else could he do?

After responding to Lee Minyu, Hsiao Rann noticed that Lee Minyu was just staring at him, without uttering a word.

"Man, at least give me something to work with. If you're going to chew me out, just do it. Then maybe I can slip away. But staring at me like this—what am I supposed to do?" Hsiao Rann thought, growing anxious.

"What's your deal? Speak up," Hsiao Rann blurted out, feeling Zhang Yan tugging at him again.

Truth be told, Zhang Yan was simply eager to make an early exit. But Hsiao Rann, in his nervous state, clung to her even more tightly. It wasn't that he was nervous; he just didn't want to be used as a scapegoat.

"Hsiao Rann, I don't believe anyone invited you," Lee Minyu stated, his voice heavy with the implication that he was the mastermind behind today's gathering.

"It was me who brought Hsiao Rann along," Hu Chuan interjected, stepping forward before Lee Minyu could finish.

Faced with choosing between Hsiao Rann and Lee Minyu, Hu Chuan didn't hesitate to side with Hsiao Rann.

"Hu Chuan," Lee Minyu said, taken aback.

Hu Chuan was well-liked and known as a stand-up guy in their circle. Although he and Lee Minyu were on good terms, Lee Minyu hadn't expected Hu Chuan to step in at this moment.

Hu Chuan's decision to stand up at that moment was, without a doubt, a betrayal to Lee Minyu.

"Hsiao Rann is my brother. Young Master Lee, I trust Hsiao. Just hold on a second; let me have a word with him," Hu Chuan addressed Lee Minyu.

Lee Minyu remained silent. He neither nodded in agreement nor voiced any opposition.

"What's the deal? Are you involved with Zhang Yan?" With Lee Minyu's silence as consent, Hu Chuan sidled up to Hsiao Rann and whispered.

"What are you talking about?" Hsiao Rann replied with feigned innocence.

"Rann, you're playing a dangerous game here. You're stepping all over Lee Minyu's pride. But enough about that. Take Zhang Yan and get out of here. I'll buy you some time," Hu Chuan offered with a sense of loyalty.

Yet Hsiao Rann had already made up his mind. He had no intention of leaving. After all, he couldn't rest easy leaving Hu Chuan behind to face the music alone.

"Chuan, you've got it all wrong," Hsiao Rann said with a hint of resignation, then turned to address Lee Minyu. "Young Master Lee, if Zhang Yan doesn't want to accept your advances, for whatever reason, as a man, you shouldn't take offense. If I were in your shoes, I'd just try again tomorrow. Maybe she actually has feelings for you but is too shy to admit it in front of all these people."

Hsiao Rann's main goal in speaking to Lee Minyu was to clear the air about his relationship with Zhang Yan.

He aimed to set the record straight about Zhang Yan, foster a peaceful vibe, and then make his exit. That was Hsiao Rann's strategy. Unfortunately, no sooner had he finished his spiel than he was outed.

The whistleblower was none other than Zhang Yan herself.

Zhang Yan clung to his arm, snuggling up to him like a clingy bird.

"Lee Minyu, I've told you before, I don't like you. It's Hsiao Rann that I have feelings for."

"This girl, could she be any more merciless? She's dead set on making me her scapegoat," Hsiao Rann thought, as a wave of cold sweat washed over him.

Before Hsiao Rann could even attempt to explain, Lee Minyu erupted, "Zhang Yan, what's this supposed to mean? How am I any less than him? Just look at him – he's a nobody. How could you possibly prefer him over me?"

Hsiao Rann couldn't help feeling downcast; he was entirely blameless in the situation. Zhang Yan had no desire to accept Lee Minyu's marriage proposal and had used the excuse of wanting to spend time with him to avoid it.

"Lee Minyu, you're in no position to judge Hsiao Rann. It's my right to choose who I like. I've already made it clear that I don't like you. Sure, you're considered quite impressive by many, but that doesn't mean I owe you anything."

Hsiao Rann silently concurred with Zhang Yan's sentiments, yet he found himself tongue-tied.

"Yan'er, is it because of this guy that you're rejecting my proposal?"

"Don't call me Yan'er. You and I have nothing to do with each other. Had I known you'd be here tonight, I wouldn't have come at all." Zhang Yan was resolute in setting boundaries with Lee Minyu that evening.

"He's nothing but a lowly commoner, a penniless nobody. What could you possibly see in him?" Lee Minyu's voice boomed with indignation.

Hsiao Rann bristled at the insult, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. Yet he remained silent, recognizing that the truly pitiable figure here was Lee Minyu, not himself.

"Hsiao Rann is a thousand times the man you'll ever be. You do nothing but squander your parents' wealth. Strip away their support, and you're left with nothing," Zhang Yan retorted, her patience worn thin.

In a fit of rage, Lee Minyu lunged forward, seizing Zhang Yan's hand as he bellowed, "I own a company. I'm worth millions. He's just a pauper. I have a PhD. Has he even finished high school? He doesn't deserve your affection. For years, I've showered you with care, giving you anything you wanted. Why won't you accept my proposal?"

Overhearing Lee Minyu's disparaging remarks once more, Hsiao Rann's fury broke free from its restraints.

"Release her hand now!" he demanded, his voice echoing with authority.

Lee Minyu was taken aback, clearly not expecting such defiance from Hsiao Rann, whom he had never considered a serious contender.

"I'll count to three. If you don't let go of Yan, I won't hold back. One, two, three."

Hsiao Rann seized Lee Minyu's arm and, with a swift motion, spun him around like a top before he tumbled to the ground.

"Young Master Lee," Zhang Yu and Lin Dong rushed to assist Lee Minyu, just as four muscular bodyguards burst through the door. Clearly, they were in Lee Minyu's employ.

"Really, Young Master Lee? Bringing bodyguards to a friend's birthday party? You must have ulterior motives," Hsiao Rann taunted, eyeing Lee Minyu still seated on the floor.

Hsiao Rann was well aware that Lee Minyu was seething from Zhang Yan's rejection. But why should that concern him? After enduring Lee Minyu's repeated insults, Hsiao Rann's patience had snapped, and he was ready to give Lee Minyu a lesson he wouldn't forget.

At the sight of his bodyguards, Lee Minyu nearly shrieked, "Kill him!" His finger quivered with rage as he pointed at Hsiao Rann.

Lee Minyu had been coddled from birth, never facing anyone bold enough to confront him as Hsiao Rann had.

The bodyguards, understanding that their employer was infuriated, knew they couldn't actually kill Hsiao Rann, but they were prepared to carry out Lee Minyu's command.

Without a word, the bodyguards charged at Hsiao Rann.

"You dare attack my brother?" Hu Chuan lunged forward, ashtray in hand, ready to defend.

Unafraid of the bodyguards, Hu Chuan aimed a blow at one's head. The bodyguard was quick to block it. Recognizing Hu Chuan, he hesitated, not daring to retaliate against him.

"What are you waiting for? Take down anyone associated with Hsiao Rann!" Lee Minyu bellowed.

Lee Minyu clearly underestimated both Hu Chuan and Hsiao Rann.

Zhang Yan drew her sidearm and aimed at the group, her voice cutting through the tension, "Stand down!"

Dressed in plain clothes yet brandishing a weapon, Zhang Yan's formidable background was unmistakable.

When the four men saw Zhang Yan pull out her pistol, they were so frightened that they immediately ceased their aggression. Though their employer's commands were important, their lives were paramount.

"What are you scared of? She won't dare to pull the trigger. Hand me her gun; I want to kill Hsiao Rann myself," Lee Minyu bellowed.

Despite another order from their boss, the four bodyguards hesitated to act this time. They weren't professional bodyguards; they were just hired muscle for Lee Minyu to push around the average folk. Agile they might be, but faced with Zhang Yan's firearm, they didn't dare to confront her.

With families of their own, the bodyguards were unwilling to follow Lee Minyu's orders, no matter how forcefully given. They could walk away from their jobs, but not from their lives.

"Whoever wrests the gun from Zhang Yan and kills Hsiao Rann will receive a million yuan," Lee Minyu declared.

For many, a million yuan was an unimaginable windfall. Upon hearing this, two of the bodyguards were tempted to try for the bounty.

One exchanged a knowing glance with the other, who caught on immediately. He feigned a step forward, his movements deliberately slow, aiming only to draw Zhang Yan's focus.

"Don't come any closer. If you do, I'll shoot," Zhang Yan warned, her hands clutching the gun, trembling. She had never imagined that she'd be pointing a gun at someone for the first time during her friend's birthday party, especially at her once-friend's bodyguard.

Their ruse was effective; Zhang Yan was distracted. Seizing the moment, the other bodyguard lunged forward.