Lila Hart's heart jolted.
She only dared to demand tickets from Lu because of the Voss family—not because of her own power, or her parents'.
She was riding on Kael's name.
Kael had come to give Director Lu some fruit as a small thank-you for the concert tickets.
It was his family's business, and Lu was just an executive, but etiquette mattered.
He frowned at Lila.
"What are you doing here?"
Director Lu's face lit up the second Kael walked in.
This was his chance to suck up.
"Young Master Voss! Miss Lila came to ask for ten front-row tickets for tomorrow's Lau show. I'm arranging them right now for her!"
Lila tried to stop him, but it was too late.
The words spilled out.
Kael's eyes narrowed.
He asked one sharp question.
"Did she pay for them?"
"N–no…"
Lu was stunned.
Did he really have to charge his own fiancée?
At that moment, the Divine Choice System activated.
Option 1: Take back all ten tickets. Reward: Lila's Hatred +5.
Option 2: Smash the fruit bag on Lila's head. Reward: Lose one bag of fruit.
Option 3: Ignore her completely, triggering strong emotional chaos in Lila. Reward: Complete Combat Mastery.
Ten tickets meant nothing to Kael or the Voss family.
But he couldn't let this girl keep abusing their family name.
The thought of breaking off their engagement had already formed in his mind.
As for the tickets… he didn't care.
Kael set the fruit on Lu's desk.
"Thanks for holding our tickets, Director. I'll head out."
"Of course! Of course!" Lu hurried to show him out. "Take care, Young Master! Come back anytime you need tickets!"
Lila stood frozen by the door, arms wrapped around herself, dazed.
When Lu returned, he blinked in confusion.
"Miss Lila… what's wrong between you and Kael? He didn't even glance at you."
Lila panicked.
"N–nothing! We just… argued a little. I'm getting these tickets so we can all hang out and fix things. Don't worry, we'll be fine."
Lu didn't doubt her.
Everyone in the circle knew how crazy Kael had been for this girl.
He told her to sit and wait—the tickets would be ready soon.
When Kael returned to his seat, Lina Ba immediately pestered him.
"Where did you go?!"
"I brought some fruit to the director who got us our tickets," Kael said calmly.
Lina gushed and gave him a thumbs-up, saying he was so mature and polite.
She even told Second to take notes.
College students always loved acting grown-up.
Soon, Han Leina's concert began.
Pipa, guzheng, bamboo flutes—over a hundred musicians with traditional Chinese instruments.
The scene was grand, the melody elegant. This was the sound of ancient China.
The first piece was Three Variations on Plum Blossom.
Calm, refined, peaceful.
Aurora closed her eyes and listened quietly.
She deeply loved traditional music—slow, gentle, full of quiet beauty.
When the piece ended, the hall erupted in applause.
It was a small hall, but everyone here truly appreciated the art.
Han Leina stood up from the guzheng and took the microphone.
Another teacher took her place at the instrument.
The next song: the classic Jasmine Flower.
Aurora didn't love this one as much, but Lina Ba was practically glowing.
After the performance, she was still buzzing.
"Ms. Han was amazing! She's a national treasure!"
The people nearby nodded in agreement.
But then Lina couldn't resist putting down modern music.
"Nowadays young people only like stupid pop and rock. No taste at all."
No one agreed with her out loud.
Even if they thought it, they wouldn't say it.
Lina noticed the silence and frowned.
She turned directly to Second.
"Aisha! Tell me I'm not wrong!"
Second was completely whipped.
He hadn't understood a single note.
But he nodded wildly.
"You're right! Totally right!"
"Then tell me—why are pop and rock worse than folk music?"
"Uh…"
Second froze. He had no idea. He couldn't even tell the three genres apart.
Lina gave him a disgusted look, then turned to Kael.
"You're from the big city—you know more. Tell me I'm right!"
Kael glanced at her, then quietly checked Aurora's expression.
It didn't matter what Aurora wanted to hear.
What mattered was leaving a real impression.
"I think you're wrong," he said calmly. "Pop, folk, rock—there's only difference, not superiority."
Aurora immediately turned her head toward him.
She didn't say anything, but her eyes showed she was listening.
Lina puffed up her cheeks in anger.
"What do you know?! Folk music is Chinese! It's the real high-class music!"
"Folk is universal, yes. But have you ever thought—pop and rock are other people's folk music?"
It was true.
Pop, rock, rap—all originally came from Black communities in America.
In a way, they were their folk music.
Aurora tilted her head, thinking. It made sense.
But Lina refused to listen.
"That's not true! Chinese music is the best!"
"Chinese culture is inclusive. It can hold all kinds of styles—even pop can be Chinese-style."
Lina was from the grasslands.
Her dream was to sing grassland music to the whole country, so she hated foreign genres.
"You talk so big! Sing something for me then!" she snapped.
Aurora quickly held her back.
"Lina, even we students of folk music can't just compose something. Don't be mean."
"He's acting like a know-it-all! If he can't sing, he's just lying!"
It was the break between performances.
Everyone was speaking quietly—except Lina, who was loud enough to draw stares.
Kael stayed elegant.
"Sorry. I only sing for people who are worth it."
"Then sing for me! If you're that good, I'll make it worth it!" Lina shouted, too worked up to think.
But Kael didn't look at her.
He turned to Aurora, his voice soft and clear.
"Aurora… would you like to hear me sing?"
Aurora blinked, then smiled gently.
"Yes."