Top Soldier Pursued by a Beauty

This was East Lake in East Sea City.

East Lake was the city's scenic lake, surrounded by several university towns and upscale residential complexes. On an ordinary day, it was a popular place for strolls. However, this place held a special meaning for Zhao Dong and Ding Lan. When they were dating in college, they had little money, so places like this became their regular dating spots.

There was a guesthouse by the lake where Ding Lan had given Zhao Dong her precious first time. East Lake... it meant far too much to them both.

Things were different now. Returning to this place, Zhao Dong felt a bit dazed.

It was already ten o'clock at night. The strolling crowds were long gone, making everything feel even more tranquil.

After they got out of the car, Ding Lan retrieved something from the vehicle and walked toward the grassy bank by herself. Zhao Dong hesitated for a moment before following her.

When they reached the grass, Ding Lan sat down. Zhao Dong stood two meters behind her, gazing at the serene lake. "This place hasn't changed," he murmured.

"East Lake is the same... but we're not," Ding Lan's voice was soft, like the gentle night breeze.

The evening wind caressed her long, smooth hair, revealing her stunning profile. She wore a white, body-hugging dress paired with white leather boots, making her look exceptionally beautiful and captivating.

Ding Lan was gorgeous. She had been one of the campus goddesses at East Sea University, and the number of sons from wealthy families and powerful officials pursuing her could have filled half the sports field. But she hadn't given any of them a second glance, choosing to be with Zhao Dong instead.

Memories of their past flooded his mind. Zhao Dong sighed and pulled out a cigarette, lighting it.

The item Ding Lan had been carrying was a pack of beer. She tore open a can.

Tilting her head back, she took a large gulp. A trickle of beer ran down her snow-white neck and disappeared into her collar.

Zhao Dong frowned slightly. "Did you bring me here just to drink?"

Ding Lan shook her head, cupping her rosy cheek in her hand as she stared blankly at the lake. "I don't know... I don't know why I brought you here."

Zhao Dong fell silent. Ding Lan was acting strangely tonight, and he didn't know what to say. The entire East Lake Park was deserted except for them; not another sound could be heard.

"Zhao Dong, do you remember that little pavilion? We carved our names on it with a nail clipper..." Ding Lan suddenly let out a soft laugh, tinged with self-mockery.

Zhao Dong remained silent for a moment before speaking slowly, "That's all in the past..."

"Yes, it's all in the past... It's all in the past!" Ding Lan's mood suddenly shifted. She grew agitated, grabbing the beer can and hurling it at the lake. Her body began to tremble, and Zhao Dong couldn't see her face clearly.

"Zhao Dong, 'it's all in the past'... that's a line for me to say to you! You have no right to say it to me!" Ding Lan whipped her head around to face him, the corners of her eyes glistening with tears.

Zhao Dong was silent.

Ding Lan gave a bitter smile and slowly turned back, her gaze drifting toward the guesthouse across the lake. Her body trembled slightly, and her pleasant voice became hoarse. "Zhao Dong, do you remember that guesthouse? In that tiny room, I gave you my first time... Do you remember what you said to me back then?"

"Ding Lan, stop bringing that up," Zhao Dong said, his voice low. "You were the one who walked away from it all, not me."

"Zhao Dong, I hate you! I hate you..." Ding Lan buried her face in her arms and started to cry. Her sobs made Zhao Dong's chest feel tight.

"Ding Lan..."

"You said... you said you would always be good to me. You said you would give me happiness, a future... You said we would definitely get married and have a home... But why did everything change? Why did you change, too?"

At some point, she had lifted her tear-streaked face. The reflection of the lake's surface shimmered in her eyes, a heartbreaking sight.

Zhao Dong took a deep drag from his cigarette. "I said all those things, but you never gave me the chance to make them a reality. You were the one who broke up with me."

With tears in her eyes, Ding Lan offered a poignant smile. "Why didn't you ever ask me why I broke up with you?"

"I didn't need to ask, and I don't want to hear any of your excuses. All I know is that two people who truly love each other and are willing to fight for one another will end up together. If they don't, there's only one possibility."

"What possibility?"

"That one of them didn't love enough. That she was lying."

Ding Lan's body shuddered. Her face slowly turned pale, and she lowered her head, mumbling, "Didn't love enough... Was I the one who didn't love enough?"

"Yes!"

"Zhao Dong... you never understood me! You never tried to see things from my perspective. You don't even know the real reason I broke up with you..."

"It all comes down to money, doesn't it? I was broke. I couldn't give you the future you wanted, so you abandoned me for money. It's that simple."

Ding Lan laughed at herself, a look of desolation on her face. "Zhao Dong, is that the kind of woman you think I am? If I really cared so much about money, why didn't I date one of those rich kids back then instead of choosing you?"

"Love in school and love in the real world are two different things. The Ding Lan from our school days isn't the same person as the Ding Lan in society."

Ding Lan said no more. She ripped open another can of beer and downed it in one go. This time, she choked, coughing so hard that fresh tears streamed down her face.

"Zhao Dong, I know you don't want to hear my explanation, but I still want to tell you... I had no choice but to break up with you."

"Are you saying you were forced to do it?"

"If I said yes, would you believe me?" Ding Lan looked into his eyes, her gaze heartbreaking.

Zhao Dong remained silent.

Ding Lan laughed mockingly. "I knew you wouldn't," she said, her voice filled with sorrow. "If only you were rich, Zhao Dong..." she murmured.

Zhao Dong frowned. "What difference would that make?"

"If you were rich... I could have ignored all the pressure and stayed with you. I would have had a choice in that situation, instead of helplessly giving up on the person I loved to do something I never wanted to do... Zhao Dong, love is selfless and pure, but reality is dirty and unforgiving. I wish you could understand me..."

Zhao Dong scoffed. "Understand you? Understand why you got together with Zhang Shaowen for money?"

Ding Lan's face went white. Her lips trembled as if she had a million things to say, but in the end, all that escaped was a sigh. "Zhao Dong, I was desperate when I got with Zhang Shaowen. We were together for almost a year, and I never crossed any lines with him..."

"That has nothing to do with me," Zhao Dong said indifferently.

Ding Lan's shoulders trembled slightly, and tears welled in her eyes. She was getting drunk, and her gaze began to wander.

Zhao Dong's frown deepened. "You're drunk. It's time to go home."

"I've been drinking..."

"Call a designated driver."

"I... I don't have a number for one. Could you... take me home?"

Zhao Dong glanced around at the pitch-black surroundings. He didn't want to get involved; his first instinct was just to call a ride for her. But he couldn't bring himself to leave a woman this drunk all by herself late at night. He probably would have agreed even if a complete stranger had made the same request.

He sighed in resignation. "Alright, get up. We'll sort it out in the car."

Ding Lan pushed herself up and staggered to her feet, but she stumbled and fell after just two steps. With no other choice, Zhao Dong went over and helped her up. She looked at him gratefully. "Thank you..."

Zhao Dong remained silent, supporting her toward the car. She was truly drunk, stumbling as she clung to his arm for support.

It was the first time in years they had been this close. The lavender scent of her hair was as pleasant as he remembered, yet it felt strangely unfamiliar. As he helped her, he inadvertently brushed against the soft curves of her body. His heart beat a little faster, and he forced himself to calm down.

After finally getting her settled in the passenger seat, he glanced over, sighed, and asked, "Where do you live?"

"In East View Garden... Building 23, apartment... 603."

Zhao Dong said nothing more and pressed the accelerator, heading for East View Garden.

When they arrived at the apartment building, he looked at Ding Lan. "Wake up. We're here."

Ding Lan groggily opened her eyes. She took in her surroundings, then looked at Zhao Dong. Her gaze was filled with an indescribable mix of emotions: reluctance, guilt, sadness, and tenderness. "Zhao Dong, thank you."

"Don't mention it. You can get up on your own."

"Okay... It's so late, it'll be hard for you to get back. Just take my car. You can return it whenever you have time."

"No, I'll grab a taxi."

Ding Lan didn't press the issue, opening the door and getting out of the car. Just as she stepped out, a figure approached from the darkness.

"Lan? Why are you just getting back now?"

Ding Lan looked over, her expression changing instantly. It was Zhang Shaowen