Yi An listened as the person in the back seat made phone calls—to friends at Peking University.
After two calls, a somewhat weary voice came from behind: “To Peking University!”
Yi An responded promptly: “Right away, Mr. He!”
…
While Cong Yue and Tian Beibei were chatting idly in their dorm, they suddenly saw the dorm supervisor enter.
“What’s going on?” What was the dorm supervisor doing here so late at night?
“Lan Die’s family is here to pick her up!” the dorm supervisor said, heading straight for Lan Die, who was lying on the bed.
“What’s the situation? Explain clearly! You can’t just take her away like that!” Cong Yue and Tian Beibei hurriedly tried to stop her.
Lan Die’s only family was her grandmother and younger brother—one elderly, the other sick. How could they possibly come to pick her up so late at night?
If it were Kang Jian, both of them knew him and understood he was Lan Die’s emotional burden. He wouldn’t just show up without a call.
A call? Could it be…?
While Cong Yue went to look for Lan Die’s phone, the dorm supervisor dashed to the bedside, scooped Lan Die up in a princess carry, and rushed out.
“Damn!”
Tian Beibei was no match for the burly dorm supervisor. Pushed aside, she stumbled and fell by the bed.
The dorm supervisor was both determined and bewildered.
Late at night, she had received instructions from a high-ranking school official to bring Lan Die from a certain dormitory downstairs and deliver her to a specific car.
To think she could be connected to such a high-ranking official—she never dreamed of it!
The dorm supervisor was determined to complete this task flawlessly!
Cong Yue and Tian Beibei chased after her, only to see the dorm supervisor run up to a man and hand Lan Die over to him.
In the dim, mottled light of the night, they could only make out that the man was exceptionally tall, with a well-proportioned and upright figure.
As they drew closer, they got a clearer look at his face.
Tian Beibei couldn’t help but gasp: “(⊙o⊙) Wow!”
His handsome, refined features blended perfectly with a mature, dignified aura. His serious, aloof, and unapproachable presence made the two young women’s eyes sparkle with admiration.
“Who… who are you?” Cong Yue was the first to regain her composure.
“I’m here to pick up Lan Die and take her home.”
The man’s voice startled Cong Yue—it was the same voice she had heard on the phone, the one called “Lan.”
“Home? Why have we never heard Lan Die mention you?” Tian Beibei also snapped back to reality.
He Canglan glanced at the drowsy girl in his arms.
When the dorm supervisor handed Lan Die over to him, the girl seemed to half-open her eyes and softly murmur, “Daddy,” while her slender, pale arms instinctively wrapped around his neck.
Her voice and actions made his heart tighten instantly.
He Canglan held her a little tighter. “No time to waste. We’ll talk later.”
With that, he carried Lan Die into the car.
As the car started, Cong Yue caught sight of the license plate: Jing AG… She pursed her lips and tugged Tian Beibei’s arm.
“Stop staring. Let’s go back.”
“That’s the Maybach!” Tian Beibei suddenly remembered something.
Cong Yue said nothing.
As a child of a well-established middle-class family in Beijing, she understood the significance of that license plate.
Especially after seeing the man just now—his demeanor and presence gave her a sense that he belonged to a level far beyond their reach.
Lan Die’s rare beauty had attracted countless admirers and those seeking to keep her as a mistress. Since Cong Yue had known her, there had been no shortage of such attention.
She had always either refused or given the cold shoulder, and no one had ever heard her mention anything related to “Lan.”
Unable to figure it out, and seeing Tian Beibei’s curious expression, she immediately turned cold:
“Beibei, you must keep this matter confidential!”
It concerned Lan Die’s reputation, and the man’s identity was still unclear.
Tian Beibei nodded, “But that man, oh my, how can someone look so captivating? I’ve never seen a man like that before! He completely changed my perception!”
A sharp, cold glare shot from Cong Yue’s eyes. Tian Beibei rolled her eyes and fell silent on her own.
…
The man in the Maybach held Lan Die tightly in his arms.
Despite the nearly 30°C weather outside, the small hands she had reached out with earlier were icy cold.
The dormitory aunt must have been in a hurry—Lan Die wasn’t even wearing shoes.
He Canglan held her fair, delicate feet in his hands. They were as cold as her hands.
“Turn off the air conditioning!”
Yi An responded with a “Yes” and quickly switched it off.
He held Lan Die close, trying to warm her with his body heat.
As for her small feet, He Canglan didn’t hesitate to cradle them in his palms, rubbing and massaging them to generate warmth.
Lan Die woke up in the middle of the night, parched!
Her stomach felt much better, but what was that large hand on her abdomen?
She bit her lower lip tightly, holding back the scream rising in her throat.
It was a man’s hand! And the man was lying right beside her!!
One of his hands was pressed firmly against her abdomen, and beneath his palm, through her close-fitting clothes, she could feel a warm patch.
His other arm rested casually over her, holding her close!
She glanced in disbelief at the face of the man sleeping soundly beside her.
How had she ended up here, and how had she ended up sharing a bed with him?!
At that moment, Lan Die felt her mind go completely blank, as if she had lost her memory!
Perhaps her slight movements disturbed the man. He Canglan frowned and opened his eyes. “Awake?”
“I want some water!” Lan Die didn’t dare move, answering meekly.
He Canglan immediately saw her fear. A faint smile touched the corner of his lips, but he didn’t call her out. Instead, he got up quickly.
“Wait!”
He was always sparing with words, never saying more than necessary.
Before Lan Die could fully process what was happening, he returned with a glass of water.
As Lan Die tried to sit up, a strong force pressed against her back. He Canglan half-lifted her, adjusted the pillows, and propped her against the headboard.
Lan Die blushed slightly and whispered, “Thank you.”
He Canglan ignored her, handing her the glass. “I tested it. Drink it while it’s warm.”
Lan Die took the glass and, before even drinking, caught a strong whiff of ginger. It was brown sugar ginger tea with jujubes.
“There’s ginger? I don’t really want to drink it,” she said, frowning.
“Hmm?” He Canglan’s expression remained neutral, but his voice carried a dangerous edge.
Seeing him about to step closer, Lan Die quickly raised the glass and gulped the tea down in one go.
He Canglan didn’t say anything, but a hint of amusement flickered in his eyes. “Go back to sleep.”
“He Canglan!”
“Hmm?”
“How did I end up here?” Lan Die was gradually figuring out his temperament—soft persuasion worked better than confrontation—so she kept her tone as gentle as possible.
“I brought you here.”
That was stating the obvious! It was as good as saying nothing. It wasn’t like Lan Die had flown here on her own!
Lan Die rolled her eyes. “Couldn’t you have slept in another room?”
He Canglan’s lips curved slightly. “You’re sleeping in my bedroom.”
“Then I’m leaving!” Lan Die hurriedly got out of bed.
The tall figure blocked her path: “You don’t get to decide!”
“You…”
In Lan Die’s life, this was the first time she had encountered someone like this—domineering and unyielding!
She had no idea how to deal with him.
“Be good, I won’t touch you!”
…