Chapter 16: The Concert Prelude

Chapter 16: The Concert Prelude

"Love?" Aaron King mulled over the word repeatedly, a bitter laugh escaping his lips as he slammed the crystal spoon onto the plate. He shot Lydia Moore a scornful glance and asked mockingly, "Do you still believe in such a thing?" He even doubted if they had ever truly loved him. Since his eighth birthday, he had vowed never to believe in true love again.

Otherwise, how could they have treated him so cruelly? As he grew older and dated countless women, he saw through their various ugly traits—shallow and hypocritical. They would go to any lengths, use any tricks, and exhaust every effort to get close to him, driven solely by his appearance, noble status, and wealth. The so-called "love" was merely a cheap tool they used to satisfy their insatiable desires. If one day he lost everything, who would still "love" him?

"I believe that true love still exists in this world." Lydia Moore's voice was firm, her gaze unwavering as she looked into his scornful and indifferent dark eyes. A warm, radiant smile spread across her lips. "And one day, you will believe in it too. Because one day, you will meet a girl who truly loves you, who is willing to give everything for you. She will be worth you letting go of all your insecurities and fears to love. She will teach you what true love really is."

She was wearing a light-colored t-shirt and apron, her fair skin glowing as she looked at him and laughed softly. Her lips curled up, revealing a cute, white canine tooth on the left side.

His fingers curled, blue veins lightly swelling, and a fleeting confusion flashed in his deep, dark eyes.

In that subtle moment of eye contact, he seemed to see a bright, warm ray of sunlight streak across the blue sky, with white flowers blooming on the lush green vines.

The sun shone down on the quiet summer street corner, with blue and white clouds drifting like light gauze across the bright sky. The air was so hot it felt like flowing flames, and the breeze brushed against the dragonfly's transparent wings among the branches, the shimmering light making one forget the scorching heat of midsummer, as if they were in a beautiful, dreamlike world.

After noon, the scorching sun made the earth drowsy, and the shady, sloping path leading to the Bella Rose girls' dormitory in the Sakura district offered a rare bit of coolness in the blazing summer heat, thanks to the towering sycamore trees lining the road. The lush, dewy green grass and the swaying clusters of verdant banana trees created a scene full of life, with swarms of bees busily working among the flowers.

Humming a cheerful tune, Lydia Moore pedaled her beloved bicycle with determination, focused on conquering the hill ahead. Just then, several luxurious black cars roared forward in a convoy, their sudden appearance and imposing presence drawing the attention of the students on the roadside.

Lydia turned her head, only to see the lead black car heading straight towards her without any intention of stopping. Panicked, she swerved to the right, her bike wobbling violently before nearly crashing into a sycamore tree by the roadside.

"That was close! I almost got hit." Still shaken, Lydia wiped the cold sweat from her forehead and took a deep breath. By the time she had calmed down, the cars had already sped away, leaving only a cloud of dust in their wake. It seemed that the arrogance of the wealthy truly knew no bounds. Lydia shrugged helplessly and continued pedaling towards the dormitory.

After struggling to ride her bike back to the dorm and park it, she was startled to find that the cars that had nearly run her over were now parked in front of the dormitory building. A dozen burly bodyguards in black suits stood in a neat line by the cars, waiting. The sight made Lydia gasp in astonishment. "Wow! Even if they're looking for someone, this seems a bit over the top, like something out of a movie." It appeared that the rumors about the high status of Sakura's students were true. Carrying her cake, Lydia climbed the stairs, idly speculating.

From the A5227 dormitory on the fifth floor, Lydia could hear the sound of people talking—both male and female voices. The girl's voice was low, as if she was trying hard to suppress her anger. The hallway was empty and silent, so quiet that even the faint sound of footsteps could be heard clearly.

It was the hottest part of the day, and every room in the dormitory was tightly shut, except for room 5227, which was wide open. "Huh? Why is the door open? Elena Rivers hates the heat; why would she leave the door open?" Lydia wondered to herself, feeling a bit uneasy at the thought that something might have happened. This guess made her anxious, and she quickened her pace. As she reached the doorway, she saw two bodyguards in black suits blocking Elena Rivers.

"Miss, the master insists that you must return this time. Please don't make things difficult for us." The bodyguard spoke respectfully with his head lowered, but his arms remained firmly crossed in front of Elena, leaving no room for negotiation. His tone carried an undeniable pressure, and the atmosphere in the room was tense. The oppressive heat only made the situation more stifling, as the cicadas outside chirped incessantly, adding to the unease.

"I'll say it one last time—I'm not going back." Elena Rivers' usually composed face was now filled with anger, her voice no longer calm. Seeing that they still hadn't moved, she shot them a cold, dark look and reached out to push aside the hands blocking her path. But the bodyguards remained steadfast, unmoved by her struggles.

"Miss?" "Master?" Could this be some sort of family conflict? Like the plots in those TV dramas, where wealthy families always seem to have all sorts of issues? Lydia pieced together bits of their conversation and her own imagination to form a rough idea. Should she help Elena? But... this was a family matter, and she was an outsider. It seemed rude to intervene without knowing the full story.

She hesitated, unsure whether to get involved, when suddenly Elena's sharp voice and the sound of a glass shattering inside the room jolted her into action. Taking a deep breath, she was about to step in when someone pulled her to the far end of the hallway.

"You..." Startled, Lydia turned to find herself face to face with Judy, who was wearing a s*xy, silver silk nightgown and glaring at her with her arms crossed. "Do you need something?" Lydia asked, not understanding why Judy had dragged her here. Her expression was different from usual; she didn't seem to be looking for trouble. However, Lydia's mind was too preoccupied with concern for Elena Rivers to dwell on it.

"Were you really stupid enough to think about going in there? Do you think you have the power to get involved in Kingston Group's affairs?" Judy's tone was scornful, masking a concern that she herself didn't want to admit. She had initially planned to let Lydia go in, watch her make a fool of herself, and then mercilessly ridicule her for overstepping her bounds.

But just as Lydia was about to step through the door, Judy had inexplicably pulled her away. Was she worried about Lydia getting hurt? No, she was just pitying her, not wanting her to embarrass herself and Sakura. Otherwise, she wouldn't have helped her, Judy thought stubbornly.

"Kingston Group?" Lydia wondered aloud. It sounded like Elena's family wielded significant power. Was Elena Rivers raised in such an environment? Was that why she was so distant and difficult to approach now? "Can you tell me what's going on?" Lydia asked. She realized that she had never truly understood Elena Rivers. Perhaps if she knew more, she could help her—maybe even become a real friend to her.

"You don't know anything?" Judy was surprised. Lydia had been living with Elena Rivers for almost a month and knew nothing about her family. But then again, Judy thought, it wasn't something to be proud of, so it wasn't surprising that Elena never mentioned it. If it weren't for her family's business dealings with Kingston Group, Judy herself might not have known either.