“Qingqing, Qingqing…”
His lingering, intimate murmurs made her legs go weak.
Wave after wave of heat rolled over her, as though it were about to swallow her whole. Luo Qingqing moved with him, rising and falling with his rhythm. She trembled as she begged him for mercy, only to receive an even more intense response from him.
At the final moment before she slipped into unconsciousness, she looked at the man above her. His face was blurred, and she could not make out his features.
She only remembered that when their bodies were entwined, there seemed to be a red mole on the inside of his thigh. She remembered no other distinguishing mark.
The next morning, her alarm rang, jolting her awake.
It was that dream again.
She had been having it for an entire week now, and every time, it was the same man.
That unfamiliar man always liked to lean close to her ear when his emotions were running high and softly call her name.
Luo Qingqing opened a question-and-answer app and posted:
“I’m single and have never been in a relationship. I’ve been dreaming about doing indescribable things with a man for an entire week. What should I do?”
After posting the question, she got up and went to the bathroom. The sticky sweat covering her body made her feel rather uncomfortable.
Ding—ding—ding!
Her phone kept vibrating on the table.
After showering, Luo Qingqing came out and picked up her phone, scrolling through the replies one by one.
“I have a friend who wants to know exactly what these ‘indescribable things’ are.”
“I suggest the original poster get herself a boyfriend!”
“It’s spring, and everything is coming back to life. This is perfectly normal!”
“Find yourself a man!”
“I second this!”
“+1.”
…
“I heard Lingyin Temple in City A is very accurate when it comes to praying for love. You should go there and make a wish!”
Luo Qingqing’s finger stopped on that comment.
She thought about it seriously.
It would take about two hours to drive there.
Maybe she should give it a try. If she kept having dreams like these every day, she was afraid her body wouldn’t be able to take it!
At three in the afternoon, she arrived at the entrance of Lingyin Temple.
There were still plenty of people. She waited in line for nearly an hour before finally entering the main hall.
Luo Qingqing knelt down devoutly.
“Your devoted believer has always maintained a balanced diet of meat and vegetables. I hope you can bless me with a man!”
After making her wish, she knocked her forehead against the floor three times, leaving it red.
The master inside the hall gave her a meaningful look before slowly saying, “Miss, your sincerity has moved Heaven. Surely the heavens will favor you.”
Luo Qingqing clasped her hands together and bowed to him.
“I’ll take your blessing, Master!”
Back in her car, she habitually opened her audiobook app.
Recently, she had been following a novel called The Ninety-Ninth Time the Madam Climbed Over the Wall and Ran Away.
Here was an excerpt from the book:
“Luo Qingqing, go to hell! Repent for your sins! I want you to be unable to enter the cycle of reincarnation ever again. After death, you will be condemned to the animal realm for all eternity!”
His eyes were bloodshot, as though he wished he could tear her flesh apart and drink her blood.
Hearing this, Luo Qingqing shuddered several times.
Who could blame her? The vicious female supporting character had the exact same name as her.
She was now experiencing some serious secondhand empathy.
“Does this author even know how to name characters? No! Let me do it!”
She couldn’t listen anymore. Annoyed, she pressed the button to turn off her phone, and the steering wheel accidentally swerved.
Bang!
She had rear-ended another car…
Warm blood trickled down from her temple and into the corner of her eye.
Her consciousness sank into darkness.
“Cough, cough, cough!”
Luo Qingqing was awakened by a bitter taste.
The moment she opened her eyes, she was greeted by a soft, adorable little round face.
“Sister-in-law, you’re finally awake!”
Luo Qingqing stared at the girl, and the two of them looked at each other with wide eyes.
Shouldn’t she be in a hospital?
And this house…
And the little girl’s clothing…
Could it be…
No way!
A jolt of electricity seemed to flash through her mind. She felt uncomfortable and instinctively raised a hand to rub her forehead.
“Ding—
Mission activated: Welcome to the world inside the book!
Host Luo Qingqing has been automatically bound to the system.
Primary mission: Raise the male protagonist Gu Jing’an’s favorability toward you to 100 and assist him in reaching the highest position in the imperial court.
Only by accomplishing this can you re-enter the cycle of reincarnation and leave the world inside the book alive.”
“Why was I chosen? Is it because we have the same name?”
The system replied, “That’s only a secondary reason. Wasn’t it you who said you wanted to come here? I’m a legitimate system. I never force people into contracts they don’t want.”
“…”
A bloody lesson.
She would never casually run her mouth again.
“Then how high is his favorability toward me right now?”
“Negative ten. Host, don’t be discouraged. Once his favorability reaches certain levels, you’ll receive rewards. The more you work, the more you get! All right, I have to go handle the next assignment. I’ll contact you if anything happens. Good luck!”
“…”
So even systems had performance targets to meet.
“Sister-in-law, have some more medicine. Auntie Wang said this is very effective for treating a cold.”
A timid voice interrupted Luo Qingqing’s thoughts.
“I’m better now. Thank you, Xuanning.”
She looked toward the bowl of medicine beside her.
So that was what had woken her up with its bitter taste.
“No need, no need!”
The little girl blushed and waved her hands.
Sister-in-law is so gentle today!
“Can I take a bath?”
The clothes on Luo Qingqing’s body were soaked with sweat and clung uncomfortably to her skin.
“I’ll go heat some water for you, Sister-in-law.”
The little girl turned and ran toward the kitchen, her footsteps light and cheerful.
Luo Qingqing picked up some clean clothes and, relying on her memories, pushed open the door to the bathhouse.
Steam swirled inside.
At this hour, there shouldn’t be anyone here, right?
Gu Jing’an was at the academy, while Gu Qiran was in his room.
So who could be inside?
Curiosity got the better of her, and she slowly walked forward.
When she saw the scene before her, Luo Qingqing froze.
Was this something she could watch without paying?