Dreaming of

After a long day at work, Su Yun finally allowed herself to relax, and exhaustion swept over her. Interpreting demanded utmost concentration, her mind constantly engaged; coupled with poor sleep these past days, her body was thoroughly drained.

Seeing the fatigue etched on Su Yun's face, Li Ruocheng abandoned the idea of having dinner together and drove her straight home. Back in her room, Su Yun removed her makeup, washed up quickly, and climbed straight into bed. The room was as warm as spring—an earthly paradise.

She closed her eyes, her gaze shifting beneath the lids as He Mian's face surfaced in her mind—specifically, the look he had when desire overcame him and he pressed himself over her. Su Yun pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling something was amiss; it was one thing to think of him, but why did she always recall him in bed with her? Her cheeks flushed. She opened her eyes abruptly; she couldn't let her thoughts wander any further.

Her phone vibrated. It was a message from Li Ruocheng, saying he had arrived home and urging her to rest early. Su Yun replied politely. Returning to her chat list, she saw He Mian's profile picture in the second spot. He had added her back on WeChat, and she could only resign herself to it—how infuriating it was to be so easily manipulated.

He Mian's WeChat was spotless, or perhaps she had been blocked—there was nothing in his Moments. Was He Mian from Nanqing? Su Yun suddenly noticed his location was set to Nanqing; so they were from the same hometown?

Her emotions grew complicated. Normally, running into a fellow countryman abroad would evoke at least a sense of kinship, if not bring tears to one's eyes. But when it came to He Mian, words failed her. She felt like a tragic heroine from an old melodrama, noticed by the male lead, threatened with compromising photos, forced to submit with no right of refusal.

In those stories, there were usually two endings: either the male lead repented, begged for forgiveness in a so-called “pursuing the wife through fire and water” scenario, and the heroine forgave him in the name of love; or the second male lead rose to claim her heart. But this was real life, not a novel. Su Yun reminded herself to stay clear-headed. She and He Mian were but passing figures in each other's lives—encountering for a while, destined to forget each other one day.

She set her phone aside, lay flat, and her eyes gradually closed. Perhaps He Mian’s persistence was just a man’s primal instinct. A favored son like him had seen countless women fall at his feet; encountering someone like her, who avoided him like the plague, must have piqued his curiosity, causing him to cling a little longer.

She couldn’t outmatch him, but as a modern woman, she knew to bend when needed. She would endure. She’d just treat He Mian as a warm body to share the bed.

—

Su Yun was awakened by He Mian’s kiss. The room was dark except for the bedside lamp. Drowsy and muddled, she wondered if she was dreaming—why did He Mian appear even in her dreams?

Still, the dream version of He Mian seemed far less exasperating. Su Yun smiled at him.

He Mian felt his heart stir—that smile was the perfect catalyst. The club’s hostesses had tried everything to move him, but a single smile from Su Yun was enough to set his blood racing.

Suddenly, Su Yun rolled over, and their positions reversed in an instant. She cupped He Mian’s face in her hands—this was her dream, she would take charge.

After a while, He Mian reclaimed the initiative. It was the kind of dream that left cheeks flushed and hearts pounding.

...

The alarm rang. Su Yun stretched out from under the covers to silence it. In the haze of waking, her arm felt cold and goosebumps rose on her skin; she quickly retreated back beneath the quilt.

She vaguely remembered dreaming last night—dreaming of...

Su Yun awoke fully at once. The contents of that dream were not fit for contemplation—she was turning into a wicked woman.

As she pondered this, the space beside her shifted. An arm snaked around her waist, bare skin meeting hers, the hand creeping higher.

Su Yun froze—there was someone else in her bed!