Crossing the Line: Brother, Please Stop Pampering Me

Autumn in New York always carries a refreshing chill, especially in the early morning when the mist hasn't completely dissipated.

The Foster mansion.

"Elena, are you up? The driver is waiting downstairs." A deep, pleasant voice, as elegant as a cello, sounded outside the door.

Elena Foster drowsily stretched out a small, fair hand from the covers, rubbed her eyes, and spoke in a soft, sleepy voice: "Julian... just five more minutes..."

The person outside the door was silent for a moment, then chuckled and pushed the door open to enter.

Julian Foster wore a neatly ironed school uniform, his shirt buttoned to the very top, showing a hint of coldness amidst his rigor. But when he saw the little girl curled into a ball on the large bed, that coldness instantly transformed into helpless pampering.

He walked to the bedside and expertly "scooped" Elena out from the covers.

"Stayed up late doing problems again last night?" Julian frowned as he looked at the faint dark circles under her eyes.

Elena leaned into his arms, like a boneless kitten. "Mmm... that math competition problem was too hard. I had to solve it."

Julian's long fingers gently combed through her somewhat messy long hair. "If you can't solve it, you can ask me. Now, go wash your face, or you'll be late for the opening ceremony."

"Okay..." Elena pouted and slowly moved toward the bathroom.

Half an hour later, the two appeared at the gates of St. Lyton Private High School.

This school was the top elite private school in New York. Those who could enter were either rich or noble, but the two Foster siblings were undoubtedly the most dazzling presence among them. Julian was the genius of the senior year, consistently ranking first in the grade and serving as the student council president. Elena, on the other hand, was the beauty of the junior year, and her grades were also among the best.

As soon as they got out of the car, whispers of discussion broke out around them.

"Look, that's Julian and Elena! As expected, they're coming to school together every day again." "Even though they're siblings in name, their looks... they're just too well-matched." "Shh, keep your voice down. Don't you know how protective Julian is? Last time a guy tried to give Elena a gift, Julian made him do function problems all afternoon. I heard he left crying."

Elena held Julian's arm, completely oblivious to those gazes. She was staring eagerly at the dessert shop not far from the school gates. "Brother, I want the sea salt milk foam from that shop."

Julian looked at his watch. "You go in first; I'll go buy it. Remember to go back to your classroom; don't run around."

"Got it!" Elena beamed.

However, as soon as Elena walked into the main hall of the teaching building, several girls blocked her way. Leading them was Vanessa Lin from Class 2, who usually liked to find trouble with Elena, relying on her family's wealth.

"Oh, isn't this our Miss Foster?" Vanessa crossed her arms, her tone sharp. "I heard your brother personally brought you here again today? Elena, how old are you? Haven't you been weaned yet?"

Elena stopped her tracks and looked at her calmly. "Vanessa, if you're feeling jealous because you don't have a brother to bring you, I can understand. But if you're looking for trouble because you have too little homework, I suggest you go ask my brother. He happens to be helping the teacher organize math papers lately."

"You!" Vanessa was choked for a moment, then sneered. "What are you acting so proud of? Everyone knows Julian is just an outsider adopted by the Foster family. When the Foster family falls into your hands in the future, he'll just be an employee. You're not ashamed to be flattering him now."

As soon as she finished speaking, a bone-chilling voice came from behind them.

"It seems Vanessa is very interested in my family's affairs."

Vanessa stiffened and turned around. Julian was standing there at some unknown time, holding a cup of unopened milk tea.

His face was as cold as frost, and there was no warmth in his beautiful peach-blossom eyes. "Vanessa, the Lin family's business is currently bidding for the project in the south of the city. If your words today reach my father's ears, do you think the Lin family still has a chance?"

Vanessa's face instantly turned pale. "President... President Foster, I was just joking..."

"I don't want to hear such jokes again in the future." Julian bypassed her, walked to Elena's side, and naturally inserted the straw, handing it to her lips. "Didn't you want to drink it? Take it slow."

Elena took a sip, the sweet taste exploding on her taste buds. She looked at Julian with a smile. "Brother, you're really fast."

Julian looked at her, his gaze instantly softening. He reached out and rubbed her head. "Let's go, I'll take you to your classroom."

Vanessa stood in place, feeling the pointing gazes of the students around her, trembling with rage but not daring to say another word.

The whole school knew that you could provoke anyone but Elena Foster.

Because behind her stood a protective demon, Julian Foster. And this demon was only gentle to Elena Foster.

After the opening ceremony, the learning pace at St. Lyton High School quickly tightened.

As the top class of the junior year, Class 1's breaks were often filled with the sounds of discussing problems.

Elena Foster was buried in a pile of papers when suddenly, a crumpled ball of paper landed precisely on her desk. She looked up in confusion and saw several boys in the back row winking at her.

"Elena, there's a new arcade opening behind the school tonight. Want to go play together?" The boy speaking was named Leo Zhao, a member of the school's sports team. Although his grades were average, his family background was impressive, and he was a bit of a troublemaker at school.

Before Elena could speak, her seatmate, Sarah, pulled her sleeve and whispered, "Ignore him. Leo's been betting with people lately that he'll definitely get you out this week."

Elena frowned slightly, threw the paper ball into the trash, and responded politely but distantly, "Sorry, I have to review. I don't have time."

Leo, however, didn't plan to stop there. He walked over with a grin and leaned on Elena's desk. "Don't be like that, busy number one student. You need to balance work and play. Besides, don't you find it boring following that nominal brother of yours every day? Let me show you the world."

"Leo, please move," Elena's voice turned cold.

"What if I don't?" Leo reached out, wanting to touch Elena's ponytail.

"Bang!"

The front door of the classroom was pushed open heavily, making a dull thud.

Julian Foster appeared at the door with a cold face, still wearing the red sash of the student council, a sign of patrolling class discipline.

"Leo Zhao, ten points deducted from Class 1's discipline score for provocation and interfering with a student's studies." Julian strode over, his aura fully unleashed, exuding an intense sense of oppression.

Seeing Julian, Leo's arrogance instantly halved, but he still wouldn't admit defeat. "President Foster, isn't this a bit too much? Normal communication between classmates counts as provocation?"

"Does normal communication involve reaching for a female classmate's hair?" Julian stood in front of Elena, shielding her completely behind him, his gaze burning as he stared at Leo. "The Foster family may have a gentle reputation, but we never show mercy to those who bully us. If you think the Zhao family's business is going too smoothly, feel free to try again."

Leo swallowed hard. He knew Julian's methods. Last year, a senior tried to block Elena on her way home, and the next day, the entire family moved out of New York, never to be heard from again.

"Fine... President Foster, you're the boss. I'll leave, okay?" Leo slunk back to his seat.

Julian turned around, meeting Elena's sparkling eyes, and the chill in his gaze instantly melted.

"Are you okay?" he asked in a low voice.

"I'm fine. You noticed before he even touched me." Elena stuck out her tongue. "Brother, did you install a monitor on me? How do you always arrive so punctually?"

Julian chuckled, and his long fingers gave her forehead a light flick. "That's my intuition. Also, wait for me in the piano room after school. I'll take you to eat something good."

"Okay!"

After school, Elena took her backpack to the piano room in the multipurpose building. Before she even entered the door, she heard a fluid, flowing piano piece.

It was "Croatian Rhapsody," intense and magnificent.

Elena pushed the door open a crack and saw Julian sitting in the sunlight. The youth's profile was as exquisite as a painting, his long fingers dancing across the black and white keys as if he were glowing.

Only when the piece ended did Julian turn his head and beckon to the figure outside the door. "Come here."

Elena ran over and plopped down on the bench beside him. "Brother, you look so handsome playing the piano. Whoever marries you in the future will be so happy."

Julian's finger pressed lightly on a key, making a soft sound.

"Is that so?" He turned his head, looking at her with a deep gaze. "Then who do you think would be suitable?"

Elena tilted her head and thought for a long time. "Hmm... she has to be beautiful, gentle, and able to stand your cold temperament..."

Julian looked at her serious profile, and his eyes darkened.

Silly girl, if that person isn't you, whether she's gentle or beautiful, what meaning would it have for him?

"Let's go. I'll take you to that private restaurant you've been thinking about." Julian rose and naturally took her backpack to carry on his shoulder.

Along the way, countless girls stopped to watch, screaming at the combination of the "cold school hunk and the soft genius."

Elena walked ahead, skipping along, but she didn't know that the youth behind her never took his eyes off her figure.

She was the treasure he had guarded for ten years. If anyone dared to touch her, he'd be willing to fight for her life.

The Foster mansion.

Because their business was busy, Mr. and Mrs. Foster were away from home for most of the year. In this large villa, Julian and Elena were the only ones there most of the time.

Tonight, thunder roared outside, and the rain poured down.

Elena had been afraid of thunder since she was a child. Every thunderstorm night, she would curl up under the covers and shiver.

"Crack—"

A purple flash of lightning sliced through the sky, followed by deafening thunder.

"Ah!" Elena screamed, unable to move under the covers.

The door was knocked gently, and Julian's warm voice came through. "Elena, open the door."

Elena felt like she had caught a lifeline. She ran off the bed barefoot, pulled the door open forcefully, and crashed into Julian's arms.

"Waa... brother, it's so loud..."

Julian carried the fresh scent of someone who had just showered. He took the opportunity to pick up the shivering little girl and walked back to the bedside.

"How old are you and still afraid of thunder?" Although he was teasing, his movements were extremely gentle as he settled her at the head of the bed and sat beside her.

"I'm just afraid..." Elena held onto his sleeve and wouldn't let go. "Brother, don't leave. Tell me about when we were little. I remember the first time I saw you, you seemed to be crying."

Julian's movements stiffened for a moment, and his thoughts went back ten years.

At that time, his parents had died in an accident, and he was sent to an orphanage. That was the darkest period of his life until that little girl in a pink princess dress appeared before him.

Only five years old, Elena held a large lollipop in her hand and said to him in a soft, milky voice, "Little brother, don't cry. I'll share my candy with you, and in the future, I'll share my mommy and daddy with you too, okay?"

At that moment, a ray of light shone into his world.

Mr. and Mrs. Foster originally only went to provide sponsorship, but at their daughter's insistence, they eventually adopted Julian.

From then on, he became her shadow, her bodyguard, her... brother.

"Yeah, back then you were a little chubby girl, you'd trip just walking." Julian chuckled, his eyes full of nostalgia.

"I wasn't a chubby girl!" Elena retorted dissatisfiedly. "Mom said it was baby fat!"

"Okay, okay, baby fat." Julian's long fingers slid across her paper. "This physics problem, you've calculated it wrong three times. Elena, were you just thinking about playing?"

"No... it's just that the magnetic field induction in this part is too abstract." Elena pouted. Her original fear had mostly dissipated with Julian's company.

"I'll explain it to you again." Julian took the pen and expertly drew a model on the draft paper. "Look, when the charge enters the magnetic field..."

Under the desk lamp, their shadows intertwined.

Julian's profile was perfectly flawless. He patiently disassembled the complex formulas, his voice deep and magnetic, like some kind of hypnotic music.

As Elena listened, her eyelids began to droop.

Finally, she leaned on Julian's shoulder and fell fast asleep.

Julian stopped writing and looked at the girl leaning on his shoulder. Her eyelashes were long like fans, her breathing steady, looking completely defenseless.

As if possessed, he reached out, his fingertips gently sliding across her cheek.

"Elena..." he murmured in a low voice, so soft it seemed it would be blown away by the wind. "If only we could stay like this forever."

But he knew she was slowly growing up.

She would meet boys she liked, fall in love, and leave this home.

At the thought of this, Julian's heart felt as if it had been heavily squeezed by something.

No, he would never allow it.

Even if it meant crossing the line, even if he had to bear the nominal guilt, he would absolutely never let her out of his sight.

The rain gradually stopped. Julian tucked her back into the covers and placed a restrained and deep kiss on her forehead.

"Goodnight, my little princess."

Monday morning at St. Lyton High School.

As soon as Elena Foster opened her desk, she found a pink envelope stuffed inside.

A small heart was pasted on the envelope, and the handwriting was elegant.

"Oh, Elena, another love letter." Her seatmate, Sarah, leaned over with a face full of gossip. "Let me see who wrote it. Tsk tsk, it's actually from the genius school hunk of Class 1, Senior Year, Mark Lu!"

Mark Lu?

Elena frowned. She had heard of that Mark Lu—good family background, good grades, and a sunny appearance. He was the god in many girls' hearts.

"Elena, what do you plan to do? Mark Lu is much better than that Leo Zhao. I heard he's also preparing his application to go abroad, wanting to go to an Ivy League school." Sarah asked excitedly.

Elena casually stuffed the letter into the bottom of her backpack, her tone flat. "I'm not doing anything. I only want to get into Harvard right now; I don't want to consider these things."

However, this matter somehow reached Julian Foster's ears.

After school, Julian didn't wait for her at the agreed school gates but appeared directly at the door of Class 1, Junior Year.

At that moment, the air in the entire classroom seemed to freeze.

Julian was expressionless, but those who knew him knew this was a sign of his extreme displeasure.

"Elena, give me your backpack." He reached out, his voice a few degrees colder than usual.

Elena handed over her backpack guiltily. The two walked side by side on campus, and Julian didn't say a word all the way.

It wasn't until they got into the car to go home that Julian spoke coldly. "Where is the letter Mark Lu gave you?"

Elena was startled and murmured in a small voice, "Brother... how do you even know about this?"

"Elena Foster, answer my question."

Elena had no choice but to pull out that unopened pink envelope from the bottom of her backpack.

Julian took the letter and, without even looking at it, applied pressure with his fingertips, tearing the envelope directly in two.

"Brother!" Elena exclaimed. "How could you do that? That was at least someone's feelings..."

"His feelings will affect your studies." Julian turned his head, his gaze carrying a hint of paranoia he had never shown before. "Boys of this age have minds full of unrealistic fantasies. You want to get into Harvard; only I can help you."

"But I didn't say I was going to agree to him." Elena felt a bit aggrieved. "You're too overbearing."

"I am overbearing." Julian approached her, his perfect face enlarging in front of Elena. The distance between them was so close they could smell each other's breath. "Elena Foster, remember this: until you graduate from university, I do not allow you to have contact with any so-called 'suitors.' Do you understand?"

Elena was frightened by the surging emotions in his eyes. That wasn't a brother's concern for a sister, but a... very strong sense of possessiveness.

"Un... understood." She shrank her neck.

Julian looked at her startled appearance, and the anger in his heart instantly extinguished, replaced by a wave of regret.

He had almost lost control just now.

He wasn't ready to confess yet; he was afraid of scaring her away.

"I'm sorry, Elena. I'm just... worried about you." He restrained his aura, turning back into the warm brother.

But Elena's heart could no longer return to its original frequency.

At that moment just now, she actually thought her brother looked... very alluring.

On the other side.

Mark Lu waited at the school gates for an hour. He didn't wait for Elena, but instead waited for several men in black suits.

"Young Master Lu, Young Master Foster asked us to bring a message to you."

Mark was stunned. "Young Master Foster? Julian Foster?"

"Young Master Foster said that if you ever dare to send these messy things to Miss Elena again, the Lu family's financing for the next quarter might run into problems. Also, the Foster family has quite a bit of influence regarding recommendation letters for the Ivy League."

Mark's face instantly turned extremely ugly.

He didn't expect Julian to actually use family power for such a thing.

That madman! Does he really only treat Elena Foster as a sister?

Since the love letter incident, Julian Foster's desire for control over Elena Foster seemed to have grown even stronger.

Originally, he only occasionally sent her to and from school; now, he was inseparable. Even when Elena went to the library to self-study, Julian would bring his laptop and sit opposite her.

This Friday, the school held a campus singer competition.

As the arts representative, Elena was arranged by her homeroom teacher to perform on stage. She chose a relatively light folk song, wearing a simple white cotton and linen dress, with her long hair draped over her shoulders. She looked as pure as a lily bud about to bloom.

The stage lights shone on her, and at that moment, the breathing of all the boys in the school seemed to stop.

Julian sat in the judges' seat below the stage, his fingers gripping his pen so hard his knuckles turned white.

He looked at the amazement and admiration in those boys' eyes, and the beast in his heart almost broke through its cage.

This was his Elena. He shouldn't have let her go on stage; he shouldn't have let so many people see her beauty.

After the performance, backstage.

Elena was preparing to change her clothes when Mark Lu appeared from somewhere, holding a large bouquet of bright roses.

"Elena, you sang wonderfully just now." Although Mark had been warned by Julian, the hot blood of a youth made him want to try once more.

Elena was a bit embarrassed. "Senior Lu, thank you for the compliment, but I can't accept these flowers."

"Why? Even if we're not boyfriend and girlfriend, it's okay for a normal friend to send flowers, right?" Mark took a step forward, trying to grab her hand.

"Since you know you can't be her boyfriend, you should have some self-awareness and keep your distance."

A cold voice sounded.

Julian Foster wore a black trench coat, walking in against the light, looking exactly like a monarch patrolling his territory in the deep night.

Mark took a step back in fear. "President Foster, you... don't go too far."

Julian didn't even acknowledge him. He walked straight to Elena's side, took off his large trench coat, and draped it firmly over her shoulders, covering her bare collarbone.

"The clothes are too thin; go back and change." His tone was unquestionable.

Elena lowered her head and followed him out obediently.

As they passed Mark, Julian stopped his tracks, turned his head, and said in a low voice, "Mark Lu, last chance. If you don't want the Lu family to go bankrupt, stay away from her. My patience is limited."

Mark's face instantly turned ashen.

On the way home.

Elena finally couldn't take it anymore. She angrily shook off his hand. "Julian Foster, what on earth are you doing? Senior Lu was just giving flowers; why did you have to threaten him like that? Do you know everyone in school is saying you're a control freak?"

Julian slammed on the brakes, stopping the car by the roadside.

The space inside the car was narrow, and the atmosphere instantly became tense.

"Are you arguing with me for him?" Julian turned around, his eyes appearing exceptionally deep in the dim car, even carrying a hint of crimson.

"I... I just think you're being unreasonable!" Elena was frightened by his appearance and wanted to open the door to get out.

Julian, however, pressed her shoulder first, pinning her against the seat.

"I'm being unreasonable?" He sneered, his voice hoarse. "Elena Foster, do you have any idea how much I wanted to gouge out his eyes when I saw the way he looked at you?"

Elena was stunned, her brain going blank. "You... what are you saying..."

"I don't want to be your brother, do you understand?" Julian leaned down, his nose pressing against hers, his hot breath fanning across her face. "Elena, I've guarded you for ten years. In these ten years, every minute and every second, I've been restraining myself not to scare you, not to destroy this relationship. But now, I'm going crazy."

Elena's heart pounded so fast it felt like it would jump out of her throat. "But we... we're siblings in name..."

"You said it yourself, in name." Julian's palm supported the back of her head, his gaze paranoid and heartbreaking. "We have no blood relation, none at all. The Foster family adopted me to let me protect you. If you want the stars, I'll never give you the moon; but if you want another man, then over my dead body."

This was the first time Julian Foster had so nakedly bared his heart.

Elena was completely stunned. Looking at the man who had accompanied her for ten years, she realized for the first time what a crazed and deep heart was hidden beneath that warm shell.

"Brother..." she called out with a trembling voice.

"Call my name." Julian closed his eyes, his tone carrying a hint of pleading. "Elena, call me Julian."

The air inside the car seemed to be ignited, and Elena could clearly hear her own heart thumping like a drum.

"Jul... Julian." She moved her lips, calling out the name tentatively.

Without the constraint of the word "Brother," the name slid across her tongue, carrying a trace of inexplicable ambiguity.

Julian's expression visibly relaxed. His long fingers gently rubbed Elena's jaw, his gaze burning. "Call me again."

"Julian..." Elena lowered her head, her cheeks so red they looked like they were about to drip blood.

Julian finally let go of her and sat back in the driver's seat. He took a deep breath, suppressing the desire in his heart that almost burned him to ashes.

"Let's go home." His voice regained its calm, but the hand holding the steering wheel still had slightly white knuckles.

In the following days, the atmosphere between the two became subtle.

Elena found that she could no longer lean into Julian's arms and act spoiled without any burden as she had before. Whenever she saw him, she would think of the confession in that narrow car, and his paranoid and deep eyes.

As for Julian, he seemed to be deliberately giving her space, no longer pressing her step by step as before.

But this peace was soon broken.

This week, the junior year was having a major monthly exam.

As a strong contender for the top spot in the grade, Elena naturally received attention from the whole class and even the whole school.

"Elena, I heard there's a super hard bonus question on this math exam. Have you heard?" Sarah asked with a worried face while biting her pen.

Elena was staring out the window in a daze, her mind full of Julian's face. She replied casually, "Hmm? What?"

"What's wrong with you lately? You're always absent-minded." Sarah leaned in mysteriously. "Did you have a fight with that handsome brother of yours?"

"No... no." Elena quickly lowered her head to read.

Just then, a commotion broke out outside the classroom.

"Heavens, it's Julian Foster! Why did he come to the junior year teaching building?"

Elena's heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively looked toward the door.

Julian was wearing a black school uniform set, holding an exquisite thermos, standing at the door beckoning to her.

The gazes of the girls around her fell on Elena like knives—jealousy, envy, and surprise.

Elena had no choice but to walk out under everyone's gaze.

"What's wrong?" she asked in a small voice.

"The temperature dropped today. You left in a hurry this morning and didn't bring thick clothes." Julian draped a long cashmere cardigan over her shoulders and handed her the thermos. "This is ginger sugar water; drink it while it's hot. Don't be nervous during the exam. If you can't do that bonus question, no one in the school should be able to."

Elena held the warm cup, and the awkwardness in her heart mostly disappeared instantly.

"I know, you're more nagging than Mom." she murmured in a small voice, but her lips couldn't help but curl up.

Julian looked at her playful appearance, his eyes darkening slightly. He suddenly leaned into her ear and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Elena, after the exam, call me 'Julian' and I'll grant you one request."

"You..." Elena's eyes widened.

"Be good, go take your exam." Julian rubbed her head and turned to leave gracefully.

Leaving Elena standing there, feeling the residual warmth by her ear, her mind in a mess.

Julian...

This name felt more intimate than "Julian Foster" and had less distance than "Brother."

This man was truly too good at flirting.

The monthly exam results were out.

Elena Foster still firmly held the top spot in the grade, and she was the only student to get a perfect score on that bonus question that gave all the school's math teachers a headache.

However, along with the good grades came some unbearable rumors.

On St. Lyton High School's internal forum, a post was quietly pinned:

"Breaking news! The real relationship between the junior year beauty and the student council president—are they really 'pure' siblings?"

The post included several photos: one of Julian Foster leaning in close to Elena in the car (due to the angle, it looked like they were kissing), one of Julian draping clothes over Elena backstage, and a photo of their backs as they went home together.

The poster spoke with certainty: "According to an insider, Julian Foster is just an adopted son of the Foster family; the two have no blood relation at all. Julian's protectiveness over Elena has already crossed the line. Doesn't this 'pseudo-incestuous' behavior violate morality?"

The comments below instantly exceeded a thousand:

"Heavens, I knew something was wrong with the two of them. What kind of biological brother looks at his sister like that?" "Elena Foster usually acts so pure, but privately she's actually having an ambiguous relationship with her own brother. How disgusting." "I heard Julian Foster even threatened the Lu and Lin families for Elena; it's practically school bully behavior."

When Elena saw these comments, she was self-studying in the library. Her hands trembled uncontrollably, and her eyes instantly reddened.

She didn't care what others said about her, but she couldn't accept others attacking Julian like this.

"Elena..." Sarah ran over, looking at her with concern. "Don't look anymore. The school is already deleting the posts; it must be President Foster's doing."

Just then, the library door was kicked open from the outside.

Vanessa Lin rushed in aggressively with several girls, throwing a stack of printed forum screenshots directly onto Elena's desk.

"Elena Foster, do you have no shame?" Vanessa's voice was loud, attracting many students to watch. "And here everyone treated you like a goddess, but it turns out your private life is so messy that you won't even let your own brother go."

Elena stood up, her face pale, but her gaze was exceptionally firm. "Vanessa, speak with evidence. The photos are just an issue of angle. Julian and I are clean."

"Clean?" Vanessa sneered. "Then do you dare to swear in front of everyone that you don't have a single improper thought about Julian Foster? Do you dare to swear that you've never thought about marrying him in the future?"

Elena was at a loss for words.

Did she have improper thoughts about Julian Foster? The heartbeat in the car that night had already given her the answer.

Seeing Elena's silence, the surrounding discussions grew louder.

"She admitted it, right? As expected, she's guilty." "The Foster family raised an ungrateful wolf; this is going to be exciting."

"Who gave you the guts to discuss members of the Foster family here?"

A voice full of hostility came from behind the crowd.

Julian Foster had stood there at some unknown time. He radiated a terrifying low-pressure aura, and his usually neat collar was somewhat loose now. His whole person looked frighteningly sinister.

He strode straight to Vanessa, snatched the screenshots from her hand, tore them to pieces on the spot, and scattered them over Vanessa's face.

"Vanessa Lin, it seems the last lesson didn't help you remember." Julian's voice was very low, but carried a chilling pressure. "From now on, all of the Lin family's business will face a full-scale blockade from the Foster family. Since you like breaking news so much, go talk to a lawyer about defamation in court."

Vanessa was so scared she plopped onto the floor. "President Foster... I, I was just..."

Julian didn't look at her again but instead turned to look at the surrounding onlookers, his gaze sharp as a blade.

"As for you all, if I hear any more rumors about Elena Foster, I don't mind writing a few more names on St. Lyton's expulsion list."

The entire room was silent.

Julian walked to Elena, gently wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, and in front of everyone, pulled her tightly into his arms.

"Elena, don't be afraid. As long as I'm here, no one can touch a single hair on your head."

He looked around and announced word by word:

"Also, since everyone is so concerned about our relationship, I might as well say it straight. In this life, I, Julian Foster, truly only want to be Elena Foster's husband. Whoever has an objection, feel free to come find me."

This shocking declaration completely ignited the whole school.

The rumors of "pseudo-incest" hadn't even dissipated before another storm called "extreme favoritism" had just begun.

Julian Foster's "declaration" caused an unprecedented sensation at St. Lyton High School.

Although Mr. and Mrs. Foster were abroad, they quickly heard the news. Mrs. Foster made a transoceanic call to Julian overnight, her tone anxious.

"Julian, how could you say such things in a place like school? Do you have any idea how much this will affect your and Elena's reputations?"

Julian stood on the balcony, looking at the distant lights, his tone flat but firm. "Mom, if rumors aren't crushed head-on, they will haunt Elena forever. Besides, I wasn't lying."

The other end of the phone was silent for a long time.

"You... you've had your own mind since you were a child, but Elena is still young; she doesn't understand these things yet."

"If she doesn't understand, I can teach her." After Julian finished speaking, he hung up the phone.

Turning around, he saw Elena standing at the door of her room, looking at him timidly.

"Brother... is Mom angry?"

Julian walked over and touched her face. "Don't worry, I'm here. Why aren't you asleep yet?"

"I can't sleep." Elena twisted the hem of her clothes. "Brother, the things you said today... are they true?"

Julian stopped his movements, his gaze so deep it almost overflowed.

He took her to the back garden of the Foster mansion. The moonlight was just right, and the roses in the garden were blooming quietly.

"Elena, look at these roses." Julian pointed to the sea of flowers. "These were planted by you ten years ago, on the first day I came to the Foster family. You said you hoped our home would always be beautiful."

Elena remembered that blurred childhood memory and nodded.

"In these ten years, I've watched you grow from a tiny thing into the graceful person you are now." Julian turned around, his hands pressing on her shoulders, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Why do you think I studied so hard, why I got involved in company projects before I even graduated? It's because I wanted to become strong enough—strong enough to ignore all rules, strong enough to... possess you openly and without letting anyone point fingers."

His confession had no flowery words, but every word was heart-stopping.

"Elena, I'm not doing this on a whim, nor is it out of a sense of possessiveness. My love for you is carved into my bones and melted into my blood." Julian pulled out a small box from his pocket, containing an exquisite sapphire necklace. "I bought this with the money I earned from my first investment. It's called 'Heart of Eternity.' Elena, I want to give my future to you. Are you willing to give me a chance to be more than just your brother?"

Elena was completely shocked.

She had never thought that this brother, who was cold and almost god-like in the eyes of others, had actually done so much for her and planned for so long in the corners she couldn't see.

That ultimate depth of affection, being held in the palm of his hand, made her originally confused heart find a home in an instant.

"I... I always treated you as a brother before," Elena said softly.

Julian's gaze darkened; that was the answer he was most afraid to hear.

However, the next second, Elena stood on her tiptoes and placed a gentle kiss on Julian's cheek.

"But starting today, I want to try treating you as a boyfriend."

Julian was stunned.

He had prepared countless speeches and a long tug-of-war, but he had never expected his little girl to respond to him so bravely.

He suddenly reached out, pulling her into his arms, with a force as if he wanted to rub her into his body.

"Elena, say it again."

"I said... I like you too, Julian."

Under the moonlight, the youth's kiss fell like a storm. It was the first step across the taboo boundary, and the beginning of their new life.

The first day after confirming their relationship, Elena Foster felt like she was stepping on cotton clouds, all dizzy and lightheaded.

Waking up in the morning, she instinctively wanted to call him "Brother," but seeing Julian Foster leaning by the dining table, wearing a slim-fit white shirt, his long fingers peeling a boiled egg, the words stuck in her throat.

"Morning." Julian looked up, a smile in his eyes.

"Morning..." Elena sat opposite him, lowering her head to eat her porridge, not daring to look into his eyes.

Julian put the peeled egg into her bowl and naturally squeezed her slightly red earlobe. "Did you sleep well last night?"

"It... it was okay." Elena remembered the storm-like kiss from the previous night, and her face instantly turned red all the way to her neck.

"Your face is so red; it seems you dreamed of me." Julian chuckled, his voice so sexy it made her ears tingle.

After eating, the two went to school together as usual.

But when getting out of the car at the school gates, Julian didn't leave directly as usual. Instead, in front of everyone, he naturally took Elena's hand.

"Brother..." Elena was startled and tried to break free.

"What did you call me?" Julian raised an eyebrow.

"Julian." Elena changed her address in a small voice, but she was still a bit worried. "So many people are watching..."

"Let them watch. I want the whole school to know you are mine." Julian held her hand tighter, his overbearing nature coming out again.

Sure enough, as they walked along, all the students were stunned.

"Heavens, are they really together?" "This hand-holding posture... it's a confirmed fact!" "Although it's shocking, I have to say, their looks are really a perfect match."

Feeling the warmth of Julian's palm, Elena's original uneasiness slowly turned into peace of mind.

Throughout the day, Elena was a bit absent-minded.

Especially during the afternoon PE class, when the two classes were combined.

Elena was sitting on the bleachers drinking water when Leo Zhao approached recklessly again.

"Oh, Miss Foster, your reputation is completely famous now. Dating your own brother—how does it feel? Is it exciting?" Leo's words were extremely vulgar, and his gaze wandered over Elena's body.

Before Elena could speak, an unopened bottle of mineral water landed precisely by Leo's feet.

"Is it exciting?" Julian had stood above the bleachers at some unknown time, looking down at Leo with cold eyes. "Leo Zhao, since you like 'excitement' so much, go to the boxing gym after school today; I'll practice with you."

Leo shivered with fear. "President Foster, I... I was just joking..."

"My woman is not someone you can joke about." Julian jumped down from the bleachers, walked to Elena's side, and naturally took the water she had left over and drank it all.

This action, carrying a strong sense of privatization, made the girls on the bleachers let out a burst of screams.

Elena pulled his sleeve. "Forget it, don't bother with him."

Julian turned his head, and the coldness in his eyes instantly disappeared. "As you wish."

He naturally tucked a stray lock of Elena's hair behind her ear and said in a low voice, "What do you want to eat tonight? I'll cook personally today."

"You can cook?" Elena looked skeptical.

"To marry you, I've practiced for a long time." Julian leaned into her ear, his breath warm.

Elena felt her heart skip a beat again.

She discovered that after crossing the line, Julian's flirting index had skyrocketed. And she seemed to be sinking deeper and deeper into the feeling of being extremely favored by him.

When Julian Foster said he would cook personally, he really wasn't joking.

Back at the Foster villa, he took off his school uniform jacket and put on a gray apron. His elegant and abstinent appearance made Elena Foster gulp as she watched from the side.

"Brother... no, Julian, do you really not need my help?" Elena asked, leaning against the kitchen door.

"Stay back, don't let the oil smoke get on you." Julian expertly chopped vegetables, his movements as swift as if he were performing a precise scientific experiment.

Half an hour later, three dishes and a soup were on the table.

Steamed sea bass, sweet and sour pork ribs, blanched bok choy, and a small pot of fresh and sweet corn and pork rib soup.

Elena took a bite of a rib, and her eyes instantly lit up. "Mmm! It's even better than what Auntie Liu makes!"

"Eat slowly, no one's competing with you." Julian looked at her eating like a little squirrel, his eyes full of tenderness.

After dinner, Elena slumped on the sofa, not wanting to move, while Julian naturally cleared the dishes and went into the kitchen.

Looking at his busy back in the kitchen, Elena suddenly had an illusion of "entering married life early."

This feeling... seemed quite nice.

In the following days, Julian's pampering of Elena reached an outrageous level.

If Elena wanted a limited edition cake from that dessert shop three kilometers away, Julian would ride his motorcycle through the rainy night to buy it for her.

When Elena was under pressure from the math competition, Julian would stay up all night helping her organize all the knowledge blind spots, even personally writing a "clearance manual" specifically for her.

The whole school's teachers and students were eating their dog food every day, from the initial shock to finally getting used to it. Some even secretly formed a CP Super Topic for them.

But life isn't always smooth sailing.

The academic load of the senior year grew heavier and heavier. As a recommended student, Julian didn't need to take the college entrance exam, but he had already started taking over some of the Foster Group's overseas projects, keeping him extremely busy.

Late one night, after Elena finished her homework, she saw the light in Julian's study was still on.

She pushed the door open and saw Julian rubbing his brow, frowning at the English reports on the computer screen.

"Not asleep yet?" Elena walked over holding a glass of warm milk.

Julian took the opportunity to pull her hand, bringing her into his arms and letting her sit on his lap.

"Are you tired?" Elena touched the fatigue under his eyes with concern.

"I'm not tired when I see you." Julian buried his face in her neck, taking a deep breath, craving the faint milky scent on her body.

"Julian, why are you making yourself so tired?"

Julian looked up, his gaze deep. "Elena, you don't understand. Although the Foster family is rich, those belong to Mom and Dad. I want to give you a future that belongs completely to us, a future that no one can interfere with."

His ambition and his diligence were all for her.

Elena wrapped her arms around his neck and, for the first time, proactively kissed his lips.

"I'll always be with you. Whether it's now or in the future."

Just as the two were sharing a moment of tenderness, Julian's computer suddenly pinged.

An email from Mr. Foster popped up, the subject having only five words:

"Regarding your background."

Julian's face instantly grew solemn, and he instinctively closed the laptop.

Elena noticed his abnormality. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Julian squeezed out a smile, hiding the uneasiness in his heart. "It's late; go to sleep."

However, that night, Julian didn't sleep at all.

He had always thought he was just an adopted son of the Foster family, a poor soul whose parents had both died.

But the truth mentioned in that email was enough to overturn everything he currently possessed.

St. Lyton High School's anniversary ball.

This was the most grand event of the school every year. Girls started ordering their gowns early, hoping to stun the whole room that night.

Elena Foster didn't want to attend, but as the representative of Class 1, Junior Year, she had to be present.

Julian Foster personally picked out a light purple gradient starry sky dress for her. The hem was dotted with tiny diamonds, shimmering as she moved, making her already fair skin look even more like congealed fat.

"So beautiful." Julian helped her zip up the back, his fingertips sliding across her beautiful shoulder blades, his eyes darkening slightly.

If he could, he really wanted to hide her at home and not let anyone see her.

At the ball.

As soon as Elena appeared, she became the absolute focus.

However, on this night, there was also an uninvited guest—the eldest daughter of the White family, Vivian White, who had just transferred back from abroad.

The White and Foster families were once long-time friends, and it was rumored that Vivian had a "childhood betrothal" with Julian when they were young.

Vivian wore a red haute couture gown, with flaming red lips, looking very imposing. As soon as she entered, she headed straight for Julian.

"Julian, long time no see." Vivian smiled gently and movingly, naturally wanting to take Julian's arm.

Julian moved back a step imperceptibly and turned to put his arm around Elena, who had just walked over.

"Miss White, just calling me Julian Foster is fine." His tone was polite but distant.

Vivian's smile stiffened for a moment, and her gaze fell on Elena, carrying a bit of provocation. "This must be the 'sister' you often mention, right? She's indeed very exquisite, like a doll."

She emphasized the word "sister."

Elena pursed her lips and was about to speak, but Julian beat her to it.

"Not a sister," Julian corrected. His gaze toward Elena was full of deep affection that others couldn't intervene in. "She is my fiancée."

The whole room gasped.

Although everyone knew about their ambiguous relationship, the word "fiancée" was the first time it had come directly from Julian's mouth.

Vivian's face instantly became extremely ugly. "Julian, don't joke. How could Uncle Foster and Aunt Foster agree..."

"My life doesn't need anyone's agreement." Julian coldly interrupted her, and when he turned to look at Elena, his gaze instantly became gentle. "Elena, are you tired? Let's go sit over there."

Midway through the ball, Vivian took advantage of the gap when Julian went to get drinks and blocked Elena.

"Elena Foster, don't be too proud." Vivian tore off her disguise, her tone sharp. "You're just an outsider adopted by the Foster family. When the novelty wears off, Julian will still come back to me. After all, only the White family can help him in business."

Elena wasn't angry; instead, she looked at her with some pity. "Miss White, you're wrong."

"Where am I wrong?"

"You're wrong for treating love as a transaction." Elena straightened her back, her eyes clear. "Julian doesn't need anyone's charity because he himself is a giant. And I am not the 'outsider' you speak of; I am the only background color in his life."

"You!" Vivian was furious and raised her hand to strike.

However, her hand was caught tightly in mid-air.

Julian appeared behind her with a grim face, the strength in his hand almost crushing Vivian's wrist bone.

"Vivian White, who gave you the guts to touch her?"

"Julian, listen to me, she provoked me first..." Vivian was crying from the pain, still trying to act.

"No need to listen to you." Julian threw her aside and gently took Elena's hand to check it. "Even if she provoked you, you deserve to take it. From now on, as long as anyone from the White family appears within three meters of Elena Foster, the Foster family will fully withdraw its investment."

Vivian completely collapsed onto the floor.

Julian turned to look at everyone, his voice echoing through the ballroom:

"In this life, I, Julian Foster, have only one 'only,' and that is Elena Foster. Whoever makes her unhappy, I'll make sure they can't stay in New York."

That night, Elena truly understood what "ultimate favoritism" meant.

The sense of security he gave her was an arrogance sufficient to confront the whole world.

After the ball incident, Vivian White slunk back abroad after staying for only a few days.

But the rumors didn't completely disappear; instead, they turned in a strange direction: many people felt that the reason Elena Foster could firmly hold the top spot in the grade was because Julian Foster had pulled strings behind the scenes. After all, Julian's influence at St. Lyton was too great.

"Elena, look at those people; they're just sour grapes." Sarah said angrily while flipping through her phone. "They say your spot in this math competition was also internally decided."

Elena put down her collection of practice problems, her gaze exceptionally calm. "Since they suspect it, let the facts speak."

Coincidentally, a month later was the provincial selection for the National High School Mathematics Olympiad (CMO).

Elena proactively found the principal and made a request.

"Principal, I want to take a mock exam under the witness of all the teachers and students. The questions should be set by experts from the Provincial Olympiad Committee, and the whole process should be live-streamed."

The principal was stunned. "Elena, this... is it necessary?"

"It's necessary." Elena smiled slightly. "I don't want anyone's hard work to be buried by rumors."

As soon as the news came out, the whole school was shocked.

On the day of the mock exam, St. Lyton's auditorium was packed. All surveillance cameras were turned on, and the large screen live-streamed Elena's answer process in real-time.

Julian sat in the first row below the stage, his gaze never leaving that small figure from beginning to end.

His Elena was never a blade of grass that needed to depend on a large tree; she herself was a soaring vine breaking through the soil.

In the examination hall.

The pen in Elena's hand rustled. The first question, a geometric proof, was solved in three minutes. The second, a difficult number theory problem, filled half a page in five minutes.

When the final question, a variation of the Riemann Hypothesis, appeared, the teachers below the stage all gasped.

That was a question beyond the syllabus.

Elena paused for a moment, her brow furrowed slightly, then her eyes lit up, and she began to calculate rapidly.

Twenty minutes later, she put down her pen.

"I've finished."

When the paper was passed into the hands of the expert from the Provincial Olympiad Committee, the sixty-year-old professor was so excited his hands were trembling.

"Genius! An absolute genius! This solution is even more concise than the standard answer we provided!"

The whole room erupted into thunderous applause.

Elena walked down the stage, bypassing the gazes that had once questioned her, and strode straight toward Julian.

"Julian, I didn't embarrass you, did I?" She winked playfully.

Julian rose and, in front of everyone, picked her up in a horizontal carry.

"My Elena is always my pride."

Those comments about "internal decision" and "academic fraud" completely vanished in the face of absolute strength.

This counterattack not only proved Elena's status as a top student but also let everyone see that this "sibling" pair from the Foster family not only had heavenly looks but also IQs sufficient to crush everyone.

And Elena finally understood that the best love is not one-sided dependence, but meeting at the peak together.

Although he was in the Foster family and had no worries about food and clothing, Julian Foster knew deeply that only the power held in his own hands was the solid shield to protect Elena Foster.

Ever since he sensed that there might be variables in his background, he had accelerated the pace of his secret entrepreneurship.

"Julian, why have you been so mysterious lately?"

After school today, Elena waited at the school gates for half an hour before she saw Julian's car slowly driving over.

Julian got out of the car, his expression carrying a hint of fatigue that was hard to detect, but the moment he saw Elena, he immediately became spirited again.

"Sorry, Elena, there was some urgent business to handle at the company." He helped her fasten her seatbelt. "I'll take you somewhere tonight."

The car drove to the most bustling CBD area of New York and stopped in front of a skyscraper.

The top floor.

Outside the giant floor-to-ceiling windows were the lights of ten thousand homes, while the interior was a minimalist tech style.

"This is..." Elena looked at the striking logo on the wall—"Julian-Elena Tech."

"This is an AI research and development center I founded with several seniors using all the savings I've accumulated over the past three years." Julian hugged her from behind, his voice deep. "Currently, we already hold three core patents. Next month, we will officially receive the first round of one billion dollars in financing."

Elena turned her head in shock. "Three years ago? How old were you then..."

"From the moment I realized I liked you, I was preparing." Julian kissed the top of her head. "Elena, the Foster family is my home, but I don't want to be the 'adopted son' of the Foster family forever. I want to be a man worthy of the eldest daughter of the Foster family."

"But Mom and Dad won't care about these things..." Elena touched his cheek with concern.

"They don't care, but the people outside do." Julian's gaze became sharp. "I want you to be referred to as 'the lady of Julian-Elena Tech' instead of 'the little princess of the Foster family' wherever you go in the future. I want to give you a unique betrothal gift."

This betrothal gift was a business empire belonging to the two of them.

Elena's eyes grew slightly red.

She had always thought she was well-protected by him, but she didn't know how much pressure he was under in the places she couldn't see, clearing the path for their future.

"Julian, I'll work hard to get into the computer science department at Harvard. In the future, I'll help you write code, okay?"

"Okay." Julian smiled dotingly. "My Elena is so smart; she'll definitely be our company's most expensive architect."

Just as the two were sweetly planning their future, Julian's phone rang urgently.

It was the person he had sent to investigate his background.

"Mr. Foster, we found it. Your biological father... didn't die in an accident, but it was related to that business competition of the Foster family back then. Also, it seems Mr. Foster senior has sensed that you are investigating this matter."

Julian's smile froze on his face, and his gaze instantly became as cold as frost.

The originally warm atmosphere instantly dropped to freezing point.

He knew that the storm was coming.

Mr. and Mrs. Foster returned to the country early.

The return date, originally set for next month, had to be moved forward because of the widespread rumors and Julian Foster's recent series of abnormal actions.

The Foster living room.

The atmosphere was suffocatingly heavy. Mr. Foster sat in the primary seat, his face solemn; Mrs. Foster sat to the side, her eyes slightly red.

Julian held Elena's hand, standing calmly before the two.

"Julian, tell me yourself, what is going on?" Mr. Foster suddenly slapped the table, and several newspapers fell onto the surface, the headlines all about the scandal involving the two.

Julian's grip on Elena's hand tightened, his tone neither humble nor arrogant. "Dad, Mom, it's just as you see. I love Elena, and I want to be with her as a lover."

"Confused!" Mr. Foster scolded angrily. "She is your sister! Even if there's no blood relation, legally and ethically, you are siblings! Do you have any idea that if this matter isn't handled well, the Foster family's reputation will be completely destroyed!"

"I don't care about reputation." Julian looked directly into Mr. Foster's eyes. "I only care about her. All these years, I've given everything I could for the Foster family and for Elena. Now, I just want to take what I want most."

Mrs. Foster walked over, sobbing, and took Elena's hand. "Elena, you're still young. Have you been... misled by Julian? He just loves you too much; you can't distinguish between family affection and love..."

"Mom." Elena refuted her mother firmly for the first time. "I'm very clear. I love Julian, and this love is completely different from family affection. Without him, I truly feel like I wouldn't be able to live."

Mr. Foster trembled with rage. "Good, very good! Since you insist on this, then Julian, you leave the Foster family right now. All the Foster Group shares, credit cards, and the keys to this house you hold—leave them all!"

Elena grew anxious. "Dad!"

Julian, however, was exceptionally calm. He pulled out his wallet from his pocket and placed it on the table.

"Fine. These things were originally given to me by the Foster family, and I'm returning them to you now."

He turned around and looked at Elena with deep affection. "Elena, are you willing to go with me? I have nothing now, no halo of the eldest young master of the Foster family. We might have to live through some hard days."

Elena didn't hesitate at all. She tightly held his hand back and looked at her parents. "Dad, Mom, I'm sorry. But I can't leave him."

"If you dare take one step out of this house, never come back!" Mr. Foster roared from behind.

Elena's footsteps paused for a moment, and tears burst from her eyes, but she still followed Julian out.

The sky outside was already dark, and the north wind was howling.

Julian took off his coat and draped it over Elena, pulling her tightly into his arms.

"Are you afraid?"

"I'm not afraid." Elena buried her head in his chest. "As long as you're here, anywhere is home."

Julian looked back at the brightly lit villa, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

He didn't blame Mr. and Mrs. Foster. But he had to take this step.

Only by completely severing the bond outside of blood with the Foster family could he truly marry his girl as a man.

Moreover, he still had "Julian-Elena Tech." That was the retreat he had left for them, and the beginning of the counterattack.

The first night after leaving the Foster family, Julian Foster took Elena Foster into a small apartment in the city center.

He had bought this secretly in his own name. It was less than sixty square meters, and although simple, it was very warm.

"Elena, you've suffered." Julian looked at the simple bedroom, his heart full of guilt.

Elena, however, acted as if she had discovered a new world, spinning around in the small house. "I haven't suffered at all. Look at this sofa, it's so soft, and this small balcony—we can plant so many flowers."

The more sensible she was, the more Julian's heart ached.

"When the financing arrives, I'll change to a large house for you." He hugged her from behind, his voice hoarse.

However, Mr. Foster's actions were even faster than they had imagined.

Early the next morning, Julian received a call from the investor.

"Mr. Foster, I'm very sorry. The Foster Group has put pressure on us. If we invest in your 'Julian-Elena Tech,' they will join forces with several other major financial groups to withdraw all funds under our banner. You see..."

Julian sneered. "I understand."

It seemed Mr. Foster truly wanted to drive him into a corner, making him have to bow his head and admit his mistake, crawling back to the Foster family to continue being that obedient "adopted son."

But Julian was never the kind of person who would compromise.

"Julian, did something happen?" Elena sensed his mood.

"Nothing, just a small trouble." Julian hid the killing intent in his eyes and said softly, "You review at home; I'm going to the company."

After Julian left, Elena received a secret call from Mrs. Foster.

"Elena, listen to Mom, come back. Your father is currently blocking all of Julian's paths. He not only has no investment, but even his bank loans have been cut off. If this continues, his company will go bankrupt, and he'll be saddled with huge debts."

Elena's hand holding the phone trembled slightly. "Mom, why are you doing this?"

"We're doing this for your own good! You're still young; you'll regret it in the future!"

"I won't regret it." Elena hung up the phone.

She walked into the study and opened the computer.

Although she was only in her junior year, her mathematical talent and programming level had reached professional standards.

Since those investors wouldn't invest, she would help Julian optimize that core algorithm once more, making its value double—double to the point where even the Foster family couldn't block it!

That whole day, Elena sat in front of the computer, forgetting to eat and sleep. The code jumping on the screen was the final confidence she gave to Julian.

In the middle of the night, Julian returned with a chill.

Seeing the hardworking little girl in the study, his eyes reddened.

"Elena..."

Elena looked up and pointed to the screen with excitement. "Julian! Look, I've doubled the response speed! Now our technology leads the world by at least five years! If those investors don't invest, it's their loss!"

Julian walked over, picked her up from the chair, and kissed her heavily.

"Elena, thank you."

The most correct decision he had made in his life was taking her with him.

With her by his side, even if it were hell, he would dare to venture into it.

Three years later.

Elena Foster successfully entered the computer science department at Harvard and graduated early with excellent grades.

And "Julian-Elena Tech," after that optimization, completely broke through all blockades. Even if the Foster family no longer obstructed them, those keen-scented capital giants had already scrambled to bring money to their door.

The current Julian Foster was no longer the adopted son who needed to depend on the Foster family. He was a rising star in New York and the youngest godfather in the tech circle.

After witnessing the unbreakable relationship between the two and Julian's astonishing growth speed, Mr. and Mrs. Foster finally let go of their prejudices this year and tacitly accepted their relationship.

Tonight, the night sky of New York was suddenly lit up by countless drones.

Thousands of drones changed formations in the sky, finally converging into one sentence:

"Elena, will you marry me?"

Everyone in New York looked up at this ultimate romance.

Elena was standing in the highest revolving restaurant in New York, holding a glass of juice, completely stunned in place.

Julian had changed into a sharp black tailcoat at some unknown time. He held a custom ring box and slowly walked up to her.

The surrounding guests automatically dispersed, leaving space for this dazzling couple.

"Elena." Julian knelt on one knee, his usually cold voice carrying a clear tremble at this moment. "From the moment you handed me that lollipop ten years ago, my life has had only one goal left."

He opened the box, and a large pink diamond reflected a dreamlike light under the lamps.

"I once guarded you in the name of a brother; now, I want to love you for a lifetime in the name of a husband."

Elena covered her mouth, tears bursting from her eyes.

The hard work of these three years and the deep affection of these ten years were all rewarded at this moment.

"I do!" she choked out and stretched out her hand.

Julian rose, gently put the ring on her finger, then leaned down and placed a sacred and deep kiss on her lips.

Outside the restaurant, fireworks went off simultaneously.

This proposal stunned the whole city and announced that the once-controversial "pseudo-incestuous" love had finally reached its fruition.

The next day, all the headlines were:

"From Adopted Son to Tech Giant, Julian Foster Uses a Hundred Billion Net Worth to Exchange for a 'I Do' from the Foster Family's Little Princess."

That wasn't just a proposal, but a man's promise.

The day after the proposal.

Elena Foster woke up in Julian Foster's large villa. Sunlight fell on the silk sheets, and she looked at the shimmering diamond ring on her finger, still feeling like she was in a dream.

Julian was sitting by the bed reading documents. Seeing her wake up, he put down the iPad in his hand and leaned over to kiss her forehead.

"Awake? Mrs. Foster."

Elena shyly shrank into the covers. "We haven't registered yet; why are you calling me Mrs. Foster?"

"I've already had my assistant prepare the documents. We're going to the Civil Affairs Bureau this afternoon." Julian's actions were as swift and decisive as ever.

Elena was startled by his speed. "So fast?"

"I've already waited ten years; I don't want to wait a single minute or second longer." Julian scooped her out of the covers and pulled her tightly into his arms.

After getting ready, Julian took her back to St. Lyton High School.

Although they had graduated for years, their legend still circulated in the school.

As the two walked on the empty sports field, Julian suddenly pointed to the row of camphor trees not far away and said, "Elena, do you remember the anniversary ball in your junior year? You told me under this tree that you wanted to get into Harvard."

"I remember." Elena nodded.

"At that time, I had already planned out what our wedding would look like in my heart." Julian pulled out an old small notebook from his pocket and handed it to Elena.

Elena flipped it open and found that it was densely filled with records of every little detail about her:

"September 10, 20XX: Elena wants to eat osmanthus cake from the south of the city today. Noted." "November 5, 20XX: Someone gave Elena a love letter. Feeling very uncomfortable, want to handle that person." "June 1, 20XX: Elena is eighteen. I can finally tell her I love her. But I'm afraid of scaring her."

Every page was Julian's unspeakable deep affection.

As Elena read, her eyes grew red again.

"So... you've had a secret crush on me for so long."

"It's not a secret crush." Julian stopped his tracks and looked at her seriously. "It's planning. I planned for ten years to let you fall completely into my trap, so you can never leave again."

Elena laughed like a child and threw herself into his arms.

This grand secret crush, having gone through rumors and family obstacles, finally bloomed the most brilliant flower at this moment.

In this place where their dreams began, the two held hands tightly.

There was no more "crossing the line," because from today on, they were each other's most legitimate other half.

Married life was even sweeter than Elena Foster had imagined.

Although Julian Foster's work was very busy, he never missed any important moment in Elena's life.

On the day Elena graduated with her master's degree, Julian originally had a ten-billion-dollar negotiation overseas.

But when Elena walked out of the auditorium in her academic gown, she saw that familiar figure, holding a large bouquet of sunflowers, smiling at her in the sunlight.

"Aren't you in New York?" Elena ran over in surprise.

"No matter how important New York is, it's not as important as my wife's graduation ceremony." Julian naturally took her certificate and kissed the tip of her nose in front of everyone.

The surrounding classmates let out envious sighs.

Everyone said that Elena must have saved the galaxy in her past life to be so pampered by a man as perfect, deep, and powerful as Julian Foster.

However, in this world, there are always some discordant voices.

This autumn, the Foster Group encountered an unprecedented business crisis. Due to a strategic error by Mr. Foster, the capital chain broke, and the Foster Group faced the risk of being acquired.

Those who used to flatter the Foster family were now avoiding them like the plague.

Mr. Foster fell ill, and Mrs. Foster washed her face with tears all day.

Elena looked at her parents, feeling distressed.

"Julian, can I..." Elena hesitated to speak.

"Silly girl." Julian touched her face. "I know what you want to say. Although the Foster family once tried to break us up, they are ultimately the ones who raised you. As long as it's your wish, I will help you achieve it."

The next day, Julian entered the Foster Group forcefully with a large amount of capital and a professional management team.

His methods in the business world were swift and decisive. In less than three months, he pulled the Foster Group back from the mire and even took the opportunity to swallow several competitors who were eyeing the Foster Group.

When Mr. Foster saw Julian again, he was moved to tears.

"Julian, I was an old fool back then..."

"Dad." Julian interrupted him, his tone still flat. "This is all for Elena. As long as she is a princess in the Foster family for even one day, I will not allow the Foster family to fall."

He was her lifetime backer.

No matter what happened, no matter how the world changed, as long as he was there, Elena could forever be a carefree little princess.

This year, Elena became pregnant with their first baby.

After Julian learned the news, he cancelled all social engagements for the entire year to focus on accompanying her at home during the pregnancy.

He proved with his actions that the pampering he gave her never had an upper limit.

After a grand spring rain, the wedding of Julian Foster and Elena Foster was held in a private castle on the outskirts of New York.

This wedding was called the "wedding of the century" by the media.

All the details were personally designed by Julian. Every corner of the wedding was filled with Elena's favorite roses.

Elena wore a custom handmade pure white wedding dress, her long train trailing on the white marble floor.

Mr. Foster took her hand and walked step by step across the long red carpet to Julian.

Mr. Foster handed Elena's hand to Julian, his voice hoarse. "Julian, I only have this one precious daughter. From now on, I'm completely entrusting her to you."

Julian nodded solemnly. "Dad, don't worry. My life is hers."

Witnessed by the priest, the two began to exchange vows.

"I, Julian Foster, in the name of love, take Elena Foster to be my wife." Julian looked at the little girl before him, the deep affection in his eyes almost melting her. "From today on, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, I will be your most solid shield, your warmest harbor. I will pamper you, love you, and guard you until my very last breath."

Elena's voice also carried a choke. "I, Elena Foster, also in the name of love, marry Julian Foster. Thank you for these ten years of waiting, and thank you for taking me across those taboo boundaries. From today on, I am no longer your sister, but your only Mrs. Foster."

The two exchanged rings.

When that ring representing eternity slid onto her finger, thunderous applause erupted from below the stage.

Julian lifted her veil and kissed her gently yet firmly.

This kiss spanned ten years of time.

This kiss also announced that all the waiting and effort had reached fulfillment at this moment.

At the banquet.

Julian drank quite a bit of wine, but he held Elena's hand tightly throughout, refusing to let go for even a moment.

"Elena." He leaned into her ear, slightly tipsy, his voice low and hoarse. "Do you know how I feel right now?"

"How do you feel?"

"I feel like I've won the whole world." Julian pulled her into his arms and danced under the moonlight. "No, you are my whole world."

That night, the moonlight was gentle, and the fragrance of flowers filled the air.

All the rumors had dissipated, leaving only a perfect couple making a lifetime promise under the moon.

In the blink of an eye, several years passed.

In the back garden of the Foster mansion.

A small figure was waddling after a butterfly, shouting in a soft, milky voice, "Daddy, Daddy, look, I caught it!"

It was their son, Liam Foster.

Julian Foster walked out of the study, bent down to pick up the little fellow who was already sweating from running, his eyes full of affection.

"Liam, being naughty again? Where's Mommy?"

"Mommy is taking a nap." The little fellow pointed to the swing set not far away.

Julian looked in the direction of his son's hand.

Elena was lying on the swing chair, covered with a thin blanket. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves and fell on her face, making the scene as quiet as a painting.

Even though she was already a mother, in his eyes, she was still that little princess who needed his careful protection.

Julian walked over with his son in his arms, sat gently beside the swing, and placed the little fellow on the carpet to play by himself.

He reached out and gently brushed away the hair scattered on Elena's cheek.

Elena opened her eyes drowsily and, seeing Julian, her lips instinctively curled up. "Are you finished with your work?"

"Yes, finished." Julian pulled her into his arms along with the blanket, his chin resting on her shoulder.

"Look at Liam; he looks more and more like you." Elena looked at her son rolling on the grass, her sense of happiness overflowing.

"It's good that he looks like me; that way, when he grows up, he can protect the girl he loves just like I do." Julian chuckled and kissed her cheek.

In these years, "Julian-Elena Tech" had become the world's largest tech company, and Julian had repeatedly topped the Forbes rich list.

But to him, these empty titles were nothing compared to the scene before him.

"Julian." Elena suddenly called his name.

"Yeah?"

"Thank you for being so brave to cross that line back then. Otherwise, I might still be worrying about an arranged marriage now, and I'd never have encountered such a wonderful love."

Julian's arms tightened, his voice deep and charming:

"Elena, the person who should say thank you is me. It was you who gave me a complete home and the courage to live in the sunlight."

He was once the Foster family's unnoticeable adopted son, and it was she who pulled him out of the mire with that lollipop.

So, he was willing to use all the luck and effort of the rest of his life to exchange for her a lifetime of being carefree.

"Daddy, Mommy, I want a hug too!" Liam Foster, seeing the two hugging, rushed over and squeezed into their embrace.

The family of three hugged tightly under the setting sun.

This was the best ending.

No intrigue, no life-and-death partings, only the long-flowing deep affection and a lifetime of favoritism.

This grand secret crush that crossed the line finally condensed into eternal happiness in the passing years.

—(The End)—