Time seemed to blur, and gradually, the surroundings fell back into silence.
In the dimly lit hallway, only the girl’s soft, muffled whimpers could be heard—as if she were biting her lips tightly, yet unable to hold back the mischievous notes that escaped.
And then, there were He Canglan’s uneven breaths, sometimes light, sometimes heavy.
It was just a kiss, yet he found himself drowning in it, unable to break free. That elegant and distinctive orchid-like fragrance stirred all the restless elements within him, making him willingly lose himself in the moment, as if nothing else mattered.
Her freed hands pushed against his waist and abdomen, resisting him once more…
He stood up, took a moment to steady himself, and glanced at his watch. It was already past midnight.
Looking down at Lan Die, who was still clinging to him, he saw the girl’s eyes heavy with sleep.
If he hadn’t kissed her fiercely, occasionally biting her lips to keep her from crying out, she would have likely drifted off long ago.
“Come home with me?” he asked her once more.
And once again, Lan Die refused: “No!”
“I’ll walk you upstairs.”
“I have legs!” Lan Die struggled to get down.
He Canglan, of course, didn’t give her the chance. He simply lifted her up, hoisting half of her body over his shoulder.
This man! He was infuriating.
Lan Die stifled a gasp and clung tightly to his shirt in fear. “Be careful!”
The corner of He Canglan’s lips curved upward. “Which floor?”
“202.”
Effortlessly, he carried Lan Die, who weighed less than ninety pounds, to the door of 202 and gently set her down.
He Canglan leaned in and kissed her forehead. “Lan Die, goodnight.”
“Mm, hurry up and leave!”
“You go in first.”
Lan Die glanced at him, noticing his mischievous grin as he stared at her face. She quickly rolled her eyes at him, turned around, and opened the door to go inside.
He Canglan took out his phone. Even in the middle of the night, there were still countless missed calls.
More than half were from his friends inviting him out for a late-night gathering.
He ignored them and scrolled to the contact of the company executive he was scheduled to visit the next day, dialing the number back…
Back in her room, Lan Die kept her voice as soft as possible, careful not to disturb her family resting in the bedroom.
She had intended to go straight to her room, but as if guided by some unseen force, she found herself walking to the bay window in the living room. Gently pulling back a corner of the curtain, she peered down and could just make out his car parked by the roadside.
The man gradually came into view.
Under the night sky, his figure appeared particularly tall and slender, with the perfect proportions of broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and long legs.
Especially earlier, when she was in his arms and felt the smooth yet firm lines of his muscles—the collision of softness and hardness—Lan Die suddenly felt her face burning with heat.
She couldn’t quite articulate her feelings for him, and she was even beginning to feel a little confused about herself.
He Canglan was still on the phone. As he reached his car, he turned and glanced up at the small but warm window on the second floor.
Faintly, he thought he saw a figure flash by, and the curtain was quickly pulled shut, sealing the window tightly.
The man’s lips curved into a smile. In the somewhat stifling early June weather of Beijing, his mood was exceptionally bright.
By the window, Lan Die hadn’t expected He Canglan to look up. She hurriedly closed the curtain and fled the scene.
As she reached her bedroom door, she heard coughing from her grandmother’s room. Quickly washing her hands and pouring a glass of water, she gently knocked on the door. “Grandma, I brought water!”
When Lan Die entered the room, she found her grandmother already sitting up in bed, having woken up at some point.
Feeling inexplicably guilty, she hurried over with the water. “Grandma, here’s some water.”
Grandma sized up Lan Die and gestured to the spot beside her. “Sit!”
“The hospital fees have been settled by someone, and Lan Tian has also found a suitable bone marrow match.”
Lan Die jumped up in shock. “Grandma, are you serious? Is this confirmed news from the hospital?”
Grandma smiled and nodded. “Xiao Die, have you started dating someone?”
“No!” she denied almost instantly.
Lan Die gently pressed her lips together, suddenly realizing they were swollen again. In the middle of the night, she was still dressed in jeans and a knit sweater.
“Finding a suitable bone marrow match is very difficult. Ji’an searched for so long but never found the right person.” Grandma’s gaze was gentle, her tone soft.
Lan Die lowered her head, lips pressed together, unsure of what to say for a moment.
She was thinking that this was probably He Canglan’s doing. She still didn’t know exactly what he had been doing behind the scenes.
But everything would gradually come to light, one by one, until in the end, Lan Die wouldn’t even have the slightest chance to refuse.
“Grandma,” Lan Die nestled obediently against the elderly woman. “Let’s get Lan Tian matched as soon as possible, okay? As long as Lan Tian can recover, I’m willing to do anything!”
In the faint light of the night, grandmother and granddaughter leaned against each other.
The road ahead was uncertain, but with that faint trace of Pine Scent, Lan Die’s drifting heart seemed to catch a glimpse of the distant lights of a safe harbor.
Yet, she was unsure for whom those lights could truly illuminate the way forward. She felt lost, insecure, and even considered it a distant hope.
He Canglan hadn’t expected that one event would keep him busy for nearly half a month.
This visit was crucial, as it was related to the upcoming high-profile international multi-nation conference.
The conference was set to take place in Melbourne, Australia.
His father, He Jianbo, and his eldest brother, He Wanlan, both attended as representatives of the highest national caliber. Naturally, He Canglan, his father’s beloved youngest son, was brought along.
Not only that, but he was also tasked with delivering speeches and presentations as a representative of the nation after the conference. It kept He Canglan so busy that he hardly had time for proper rest.
Speeches, receptions, social engagements, visits, and signing cooperation agreements with relevant enterprises from other countries, discussing investments together…
After half a month, Old Mr. He joked that his son had accomplished great things but had lost ten pounds in the process.
Though he said it lightly, his eyes were filled with praise.
When He Canglan finally received his return flight ticket, he could finally let out a sigh of relief!
Looking at his reflection in the car window—a well-dressed, successful man—he noticed two obvious dark circles under his eyes, clear signs of sleep deprivation.
He lazily leaned back in the rear seat, took out his phone, thought for a moment, and tossed it aside.
Two weeks had passed. Due to security concerns during the major conference, he often had to keep his phone turned off.
Even during the busiest times, he would squeeze out moments to think of her, like wringing water from a sponge.
He wondered what she was doing, whether she was foolishly working outdoors in such hot weather again.
But she hadn’t called or sent a single message.
He Canglan wondered: If he stopped reaching out first, would she really drift away from him, their lives becoming like two parallel lines?
Clearly, she was struggling now, crushed by debt and barely able to breathe.
Yet she never bowed her head or sought help from those who could lift her burden. Instead, she passively endured, time and time again.
Perhaps, for the once gentle yet resolute Princess Lan Die, passive endurance had already been her limit!
He Canglan irritably lit a cigarette, but in the end, he couldn’t help but call her.
“You really know how to keep your cool!” He Canglan said with a tone of annoyance.
“Shh, keep it down. I’m giving someone a lesson right now,” Lan Die whispered softly.
“What lesson again?”
“At your place, teaching Nannan ballet!”
…