Chapter 399: Chapter 399: Kiss Me and I’ll Let Go
Living room.
Dong Xiaoxiao came downstairs with Hu Yunqin after changing into a new set of clothes.
When she saw Lan Yan, her eyes were full of hatred.
Lan Yan met her gaze, looking completely puzzled.
It wasn’t even her who knocked Dong Xiaoxiao unconscious and threw her in the bathroom. If anyone deserved blame, shouldn’t it be the man sitting next to her?
Honestly, she was dragged into this mess for no reason.
Lan Yan turned her head and glared at Xiao Si.
Xiao Si guiltily rubbed his nose.
Hu Yunqin took Dong Xiaoxiao’s arm and led her to sit opposite them.
Dong Xiaoxiao was still wearing a hat on her head.
Lan Yan could already guess what Xiao Si might have done.
After all, Dong Xiaoxiao’s attempt to conceal it was way too obvious.
Still, she had to admire Xiao Si’s ruthless tricks—he truly took things to the extreme!
But in all fairness, this was just Dong Xiaoxiao’s bad luck. Of all people, why would she provoke him?
She was basically asking for trouble!
Dong Xiaoxiao gazed at Mr. Dong with an aggrieved expression and said, “Dad, you have to stand up for me.”
As she spoke, she raised her finger, pointed at Lan Yan, and glared at her fiercely.
“She had someone shave off half my hair and dumped me in the toilet!”
Dong Xiaoxiao got angrier the more she spoke. Just thinking about her hair made her heart ache.
And the fact that she woke up with half her head dipped in a toilet bowl—one half shaved, the other half soaking wet—felt to her like utter humiliation!
Throughout her life, she had never suffered such an insult. But now…
When Lan Yan heard this, she genuinely wanted to laugh but managed to hold back.
She hadn’t expected to guess correctly. Shaving someone’s head was obviously the kind of wicked idea only Xiao Si could come up with.
Even Mr. Dong hadn’t anticipated the situation to be like this.
Then, Lan Yan spoke, “Sister, the way you’re phrasing this sounds like I was the one responsible. But after I went back to my room last night, I only came out once to grab a towel. After that, I didn’t leave the room again. Your servants can testify to this.”
As soon as she finished, the man beside her added, “I can also testify to that because she got the towel for me.”
But Dong Xiaoxiao insisted, claiming, “Stop trying to argue—of course it was you!”
Nonetheless, she was well aware that Xiao Si was the one who had knocked her unconscious.
But she couldn’t admit it. Admitting it would mean confessing to her father that she had tried to seduce Xiao Si last night, only for her plan to backfire spectacularly.
Even if she’s unwilling to tell the truth, it doesn’t mean others wouldn’t press her for details.
Lan Yan maintained a calm demeanor and said indifferently, “Sister, if you’re going to pin this incident on me, I don’t have much to argue. However…”
Her tone shifted abruptly as she asked, “Sister, could you at least explain why you passed out in my fiancé’s room? And perhaps clarify what reason I would have to treat you like that? If you’re going to accuse me of committing a crime, there needs to be some basis for your claims. Otherwise, I won’t accept the blame.”
When Xiao Si heard her refer to him as “fiancé,” his back straightened involuntarily, and his eyes gleamed with a hint of amusement.
Lan Yan continued, “After I had showered last night, he came downstairs to find me, claiming his room was haunted and that he was too scared to sleep there. So he ended up crashing in my room. It was late, and I didn’t want to bother the servants, so I didn’t inspect things upstairs—who knew I’d find you in his room this morning? Sister, could it be that the ghost sneaking into his room last night was actually you?”
Lan Yan turned to Xiao Si and asked, “Don’t tell me it was you who knocked her unconscious last night?”
Through this question, she steered the situation firmly back into their control.
Her tactic was simple—turn the tables on her enemy and leave them no way out. A classic move: “let the thief call for justice.”
The man played along seamlessly.
With an entirely calm and composed demeanor, he said, “How could it possibly be me? I’ve never hit women. Besides, Miss Dong already mentioned someone shaved her hair. Such immoral behavior isn’t my style. If I had done it, I’d admit to it. But since I wasn’t involved, don’t try to pin the blame on me.”
Lan Yan glanced at him, her eyes flashing with the faintest hint of a smile. This man’s tongue was truly sharp—so sharp, he’d even mock himself.
Their collaborative performance left Dong Xiaoxiao at a loss for words.
Whatever she might say, it was clear that her advantage had disappeared.
“In that case, sister, if you want to accuse me of wrongdoing, you’d better present solid evidence. Otherwise, we can always let the police handle the matter,” Lan Yan said, her tone steady and measured.
The two of them appeared completely calm and unbothered.
Lan Yan was naturally not worried—after all, she wasn’t the one responsible.
As for Xiao Si, he knew perfectly well how to avoid leaving incriminating evidence. Since he wasn’t afraid, she had no reason to be concerned either.
Just as Lan Yan finished speaking, Mr. Dong interjected, “No need to escalate such a trivial matter by calling the police.”
Hu Yunqin added, “Exactly, there’s no need to make this a big deal.”
Dong Xiaoxiao looked aggrieved and insisted, “Dad, Mom, I…”
“Alright, Xiaoxiao, stop talking,” Mr. Dong interrupted her firmly.
Xiao Si turned to Mr. Dong and offered his advice, “Uncle Dong, I have to say, your house might really be haunted. Perhaps you should hire a spiritual master to check it out. These things are often a case of whether you believe in them or not, but sometimes it’s better to err on the side of caution, lest your home falls into chaos.”
Lan Yan couldn’t help but admire his ability to stir up superstition so effortlessly.
Mr. Dong nodded in agreement and said, “Xiao Si makes a good point. I’ll invite someone over to evaluate the place soon.”
Together, the two managed to shift all the blame onto ghosts.
Even if Dong Xiaoxiao disagreed, she could only swallow her grievances silently.
And just like that, the issue was swept under the rug.
After having breakfast, Lan Yan and Xiao Si left the Dong household together.
Xiao Si hadn’t driven himself over; Peng Yiming had given him a ride.
So now, he had no option but to ride in Lan Yan’s car on the way out.
His minor schemes didn’t escape Lan Yan’s notice.
He was the type to seize even the tiniest opportunity and never let it go.
“Where do you want to go? Home or the hospital?” Lan Yan asked.
Xiao Si adjusted his seat, reclining slightly so he could lie down.
He hadn’t slept at all last night. Despite the blanket he’d laid on the floor, the hard surface made it impossible to get comfortable.
He was picky when it came to his sleeping arrangements.
“To the hospital. Let me nap for a bit—you can wake me up once we’re there,” he said, his dark, tender eyes lingering on her profile.
Lan Yan knew he hadn’t rested well the night before and chose not to say much.
“Got it—sleep then,” she replied.
While their atmosphere was relaxed and warm, the mood at the Dong household was far gloomier.
Not long after the pair left, Dong Xiaoxiao began throwing tantrums.
Back in her room, she kept smashing objects angrily.
The servants avoided her entirely, fleeing as far as possible.
In the living room, Hu Yunqin and Dong Jian sat together, listening to the sounds of destruction coming from upstairs.
Hu Yunqin wanted to go upstairs to calm Dong Xiaoxiao down, but Dong Jian stopped her.
“Don’t bother—it’s better to let her vent her anger fully,” he said.
Hu Yunqin replied, “Dear, about this whole issue, I think…”
Dong Jian interrupted her, “We don’t need to discuss it further. Regardless of who’s right or wrong, it’s not important. She has to swallow this bitter pill; no one can help her now.”
Deep down, everyone understood the reality.
But it simply couldn’t be addressed openly.
“It was her own foolishness—she lacked restraint when making plans in advance. She has no one to blame but herself,” Mr. Dong remarked.
Hu Yunqin heard his statement and breathed a silent sigh of relief. As long as he wasn’t pursuing the matter further, she wouldn’t dig into it either.
“How’s Haohao doing?” Mr. Dong asked.
Hu Yunqin responded, “I contacted the doctor two days ago. While his condition is currently stable, we still need to arrange for a bone marrow transplant as soon as possible. The hospital has been actively on the lookout for a match.”
Mr. Dong asked, “How much longer will it take here?”
Hu Yunqin hesitated; she couldn’t predict Lan Yan’s frame of mind, which fluctuated unpredictably. It made her hard to figure out.
“I’m not confident yet. If Lan Yan finds out, I’m not sure whether she’ll agree to the matching. But I’ve set up a recognition banquet for New Year’s Eve,” she explained.
Before Hu Yunqin married him, she never disclosed to Dong Jian that she already had a daughter. Eventually, she had to confess when their son’s illness necessitated the truth.
Surprisingly, Dong Jian didn’t hold her deceit against her. Still, because of her previous hiding of the truth, she treated him far more carefully now.
In the past, Dong Jian had spoiled her, letting her keep her dignity before him and the rest of the Dong Family. But things had changed.
Suddenly, Dong Jian said in a heavy tone, “If you want to reveal Lan Yan’s identity, you can only announce that she’s your niece rather than your daughter.”
Hu Yunqin froze slightly, “Did something happen?”
He had initially agreed to the disclosure, contingent on following Luo Jian’s proposed strategy.
Now, however, he’d clearly changed his mind.
His sharp eyes flashed as he sternly replied, “The company is undergoing a round of financing soon—there can’t be any mistakes!”
“You, as Mrs. Dong, are tied to the Dong Family brand. Public gossip about your past could only harm the company, creating endless trouble,” he said.
Hu Yunqin frowned, “But we already planned our countermeasures for this situation…”
Dong Jian remained firm, “There’s always room for unexpected problems. This decision isn’t up for negotiation. Either you wait until after the financing round wraps up to announce it or follow my instructions for disclosing her relationship as your niece!”
“Don’t you care about your son’s health?!” Hu Yunqin challenged.
Dong Jian replied, “I checked with Haohao’s attending physician before coming here. He’s doing fine; there’s no urgency. The financing process will be over in three months—by March next year. Hao can last until then without issue.”
“And besides, isn’t a bone marrow match contingent upon her cooperation? There are countless ways to proceed—surely you’re not set on just one approach?!”
Hu Yunqin felt deeply uncomfortable upon hearing this.
She hadn’t expected him to value the company’s affairs above their son.
…
Outside the hospital, Lan Yan parked the car and glanced at the man in the passenger seat, whose eyes were still closed.
“Doctor Xiao, we’re here,” she called out.
But the man didn’t react at all.
Lan Yan frowned slightly. Did he really sleep so deeply?
She unbuckled her seatbelt, leaned forward, and prepared to call his name again. Just as she was about to speak, the man suddenly opened his eyes.
Startled, she froze for a moment.
The next second, Xiao Si grabbed her wrist and gently tugged her forward. She landed against his chest.
Aware of her position, she immediately tried to pull away, but his hands tightened around her waist.
In this confined space, she had nowhere to go.
Their faces were exceedingly close, separated by barely an inch.
“Let go!”
“Yanyan, were you trying to steal a glance at my captivating looks?”
His tone was teasingly light.
Lan Yan: “…”
“Don’t be so narcissistic,” she shot him a sharp glare. “Let me go right now.”
She repeated herself firmly.
After all, they were parked at the hospital entrance, with countless people coming and going.
She refused to stand out like a spectacle attracting curious gazes.
Xiao Si, embodying rebellion, said, “What if I don’t want to let go?”
Lan Yan gritted her teeth and coldly called out his full name: “Xiao Si!”
With criminally cocky ease, he smirked and suggested, “I’ll release you only if you give me a kiss.”
Lan Yan furrowed her brows, glaring darkly at him.
The expression on her face essentially spelled out, “Are you dreaming?”
Xiao Si pretended not to notice.
“A single kiss, that’s all it takes,” he insisted.
Lan Yan snapped, “Xiao Si, stop pushing your luck.”
Xiao Si pointedly replied, “But you’ve already admitted earlier that I’m your fiancé.”
She scoffed, “That was purely for show—an act for the Dong Family. Surely you understand?”
“I don’t care—you’ve acknowledged it, and that’s enough for me,” he countered.
His shameless attitude irked Lan Yan to no end, making her want nothing more than to hit him.
“Don’t force me to resort to violence.”
“Go ahead. You know what they say—hitting someone means affection, and scolding them means care,” he added with irreverence.
“…”
She closed her eyes briefly, taking a deep breath before softening her tone. “Doctor Xiao, don’t you have work in a bit? Aren’t you worried about being late?”
Xiao Si replied, “Not at all—I’m not in a rush because I swapped shifts today.”
“You…”
“Come on, just a quick kiss—I promise I’ll let go afterward. Don’t be shy.” His tone was gentle, almost coaxing.
Lan Yan: “…”
He was acting as though he had nothing to lose, entirely unbothered and unrelenting.
Furthermore, in the small confines of the car, her movement was restricted, leaving her in a helpless position.
He banked on this advantage, giving him room to act recklessly.
Lan Yan stared at him, weighing her options internally.
One quick kiss wouldn’t hurt—it’s not like he specified where she had to kiss.
If this dragged out any longer, people would inevitably stop and look.
Unlike him, she didn’t have the audacity to ignore others’ judgment.
“Alright, just so we’re clear, you promised to let go once I kiss you.”
He grinned triumphantly. “I guarantee it.”
Lan Yan tilted her head slightly, aiming toward the right side of his face.
Her subtle movements didn’t escape Xiao Si’s observant gaze.
Just as her lips were about to land on his cheek, he shifted subtly—and their mouths met again.
Xiao Si swiftly cupped the back of her head with his hand, deepening the kiss.
Lan Yan’s mind went blank once more.
He tricked her again!
Xiao Si leaned in, breaking through her defenses with ease.
His cool tongue teased hers lightly, generating unfamiliar sparks that tingled up her spine and set her nerves alight like an electrical current. It was overwhelming, and she forgot how to breathe.
Her slender fingers instinctively clenched tightly.
She could feel her heartbeat accelerating uncontrollably.
Xiao Si didn’t prolong the kiss, noticing that she had stopped breathing entirely.
As he pulled away, Lan Yan remained dazed.
Xiao Si embraced her gently and patted her back. Bringing his lips to her ear, he murmured, “Next time, remember to breathe.”
Watching the deep blush creep across her ears, he stopped prodding her further.
Someone usually so confident and outspoken turned bashful and inexperienced during intimate exchanges—it was surprising but amusing.
More importantly, it confirmed one thing: she had never been in a relationship or held experience with matters of romance.
Lan Yan let herself stay in his arms, unsure of how to react.
She wished she could disappear entirely.
It was a peculiar sensation. It didn’t feel repugnant—in fact, it was slightly delightful.
But even that fleeting delight had vanished before she could fully grasp it.