Hearing that voice, Lan Die’s heart still ached sharply.
Kang Jian stood directly in her path.
The two women playing the guzheng and violin simultaneously sized up the man who had suddenly appeared.
Tall, refined, gentle as jade, he embodied the perfect aura of an elegant nobleman, his eyes brimming with tender affection.
They cast admiring glances at Lan Die, their expressions filled with curiosity and envy.
Lan Die smiled awkwardly. “You two go ahead. Don’t wait for me.”
Once the two women had walked away, Kang Jian reached out to take her hand.
Lan Die seemed startled, quickly stepping back and tucking her hands firmly behind her.
Kang Jian was amused by her exaggerated reaction, but after a moment, his eyes softened with pity and sorrow.
“How long do you plan to avoid me?”
“I’m not avoiding you,” Lan Die replied weakly, her gentle voice even more delicate.
“I’ll say it again—I don’t agree to break up!” Kang Jian’s tone remained gentle. “We’ve grown up together. Do you really think I care about you as the heiress of Lan Sheng Group and not as the beautiful, elegant Lan Die?”
Lan Die remained silent.
She understood Kang Jian’s feelings for her.
It was only because the Kang family hadn’t yet intervened that he could freely express his love for her.
Once the Kang family took action, given Kang Jian’s compliant nature, he would inevitably yield to their arrangements. And what about her? She would become nothing more than a laughingstock, seen as someone trying to climb the social ladder.
So, Lan Die chose to be clear-headed.
At least this way, Kang Jian wouldn’t be embarrassed, and they could preserve the beautiful memories of growing up together.
Lan Die looked up. “Brother Jian, I’ve always seen you as an older brother. My parents are gone now, so let’s just treat the engagement they arranged as a memory.”
Kang Jian’s expression darkened. Just as he was about to step forward and forcefully take her hand, the sound of high heels clicking echoed from the corridor.
“Oh no!” A woman’s startled cry rang out as her heel seemed to catch on something.
Lan Die stepped aside, calmly watching the woman who had fallen, rubbing her ankle and calling out in a delicate voice:
“Brother Jian! I think I sprained my ankle.”
Kang Jian glanced at Lan Die. “Wait for me. Don’t leave. I’ll go check on her.”
Lin Yi was clearly angered by Kang Jian’s words, but she showed no sign of it on her face.
“Xiao Die, what a coincidence! What are you doing here? Oh, right—I just heard someone say there was a ballet dancer performing here. Everyone knows you’re the ballet princess, and I was wondering who could possibly have invited you. It really is you!”
Lan Die stood quietly to the side, watching the woman’s brilliant performance.
Lin Yi was truly ruthless! She had actually sprained her ankle.
“Let’s get you to the hospital,” Kang Jian said, glancing at her swollen ankle.
“Help me up first, Brother Jian. I can’t get up on my own.”
Kang Jian looked at Lan Die. “What are you standing there for? Come help her up!”
Kang Jian absolutely would not help Lin Yi up himself—that would only make things harder to explain to Lan Die.
Lin Yi had been pestering him every day, and it was already annoying enough.
Lan Die replied softly, “I’m sorry, but I need to collect my payment. If I’m any later, they won’t wait for me. Take care, Brother Jian!”
“So it’s all about making money through connections. How pitiful Xiao Die has become!”
Lin Yi’s voice echoed from behind.
Her acting was convincing enough that everyone believed she was Lan Die’s dear sister, remaining steadfastly by Lan Die’s side even after the Lan family fell into misfortune.
Turning around, Lan Die’s tears began to fall.
She heard Kang Jian calling out to her from behind, but she dared not stop.
At first, she walked, then she broke into a light run.
As she ran, she suddenly collided with a solid chest.
Just like that day, the unique Pine Scent instantly flooded her nostrils.
The man suddenly lifted her upright, swapping their positions.
He turned his back to Kang Jian and Lin Yi at the end of the corridor, while Lan Die faced them directly.
Before she could even gasp, a pair of cool, soft lips suddenly covered hers, carrying a faint grassy fragrance as they forcefully invaded her mouth.
The man stood a full 190 centimeters tall, his body as hard as rock, making one wonder if it was flesh and blood or carved from stone.
His strength was astonishing; with just one arm, he firmly held the slender and delicate Lan Die against his chest.
His other hand gripped the back of her neck fiercely, preventing her from evading, leaving her no choice but to passively endure his kiss.
The kiss came with overwhelming force, carrying the arrogance and dominance of an invader.
She couldn’t even make out his features clearly, only able to smell that unique Pine Scent.
She seemed to hear Kang Jian’s voice: “Who are you? Let go of Xiao Die!”
While kissing her, the man managed to speak between breaths: “Get lost, all of you! This is my woman!”
Before Kang Jian could rush over, the man swiftly disappeared with Lan Die in his arms.
A dimly lit room, even in broad daylight, was so dark she couldn’t see her own hand in front of her face.
Lan Die was still held upright in the man’s arms, gasping for fresh air.
Everything had happened too suddenly, leaving her completely dazed.
Just as she began to struggle, he pinned her against the wall again, and a scorching kiss descended upon her fiercely.
Her body was completely immobilized, the only part she could move was her mouth.
She bit him hard! The taste of blood spread between them.
The man wasn’t angry; instead, he chuckled softly:
“I helped you, and you show no gratitude? Instead, you bite back! A beautiful snake, huh?”
His voice was like the deep, resonant notes of a cello, carrying a soothing tone. It was cold, yet exceptionally pleasant to the ear.
Especially that lingering, melodious ending note…
“Who asked for your help? Let go of me!”
Lan Die resisted the urge to call him a “pervert”; she truly wasn’t the type of woman who knew how to curse.
He didn’t let go!
He watched with amusement as she struggled and fought in his arms, clawing and hitting—a stark contrast to the gentle, graceful woman he had just seen.
The corners of his lips remained slightly curved.
This was his first kiss! The initial taste of it had left him somewhat enchanted.
After enjoying her commotion enough, he restrained her in his arms once more and captured her lips again.
This time, he wanted to try the effect of sucking on them forcefully.
That elegant orchid fragrance was utterly intoxicating to him!
Realizing her resistance was futile, Lan Die grew unusually quiet.
She had been sucked numb, lacking even the strength to speak.
The only thing she could do was cling tightly to his waist, afraid she might fall from that Pine Scent-filled embrace.
If it weren’t for the man’s phone ringing incessantly, Lan Die didn’t know how long he would have kept kissing her.
He gently smoothed her disheveled hair and placed a light kiss on the corner of her mouth:
“Lan Die, wait here. Someone will come for you in five minutes!”
“Just who are you?”
The woman in the darkness spoke softly, her words striking deep into his heart.
He could tell she had been kissed into exhaustion, worn down until her temper was gone.
The man said nothing. After straightening his clothes and ruffling her hair, he turned and left without looking back.
Lan Die fumbled for her phone, turned on the flashlight, and groped around until she found the switch. She flicked it on.
It turned out to be an exquisitely decorated dressing room.
She hurried to the mirror. The woman reflected in it had lips that were tender and swollen, clearly bruised…