In her sleep, a woman with a gentle smile held the hand of a little girl as they walked down the tree-lined path of a park, the girl hopping and skipping about, occasionally looking up to make a face at her mom.
“Mommy, Mommy…”
Her ears filled with the little girl’s clear, bell-like calling, Qin Yuji instinctively thought that it was herself.
What did Mom actually look like?
A longing she had never felt before surged in her heart.
Qin Yuji strode towards the mother and daughter, but the faster she walked, the farther away they became, until finally, they disappeared from sight.
“Don’t, don’t leave me, please don’t…”
Shouting loudly, she awoke from her dream to darkness, the only light the tears sliding down from the corners of her eyes like a string of rolling fire beads, scorching all the way into her chest.
It felt like she was clutching something in her hand.
Qin Yuji turned her head and saw Chi Jingxuan, his brows softened with tenderness and pity, but that emotion was fleeting, soon turning cold again.
The man said nothing, got up, and brought over a glass of water.
Qin Yuji silently accepted it and took a few sips, holding the glass she whispered a thanks.
“Go back to sleep, it’s still early…”
Darkness fell over her as the man’s warm, dry palm landed on her forehead.
Feeling the temperature was normal, the man withdrew his hand and turned to leave.
The room quieted down, and Qin Yuji, feeling her clothes already soaked through, went to the bathroom.
There was no bathrobe in the closet, so after her shower, Qin Yuji could only wrap a large bath towel around herself.
Crawling back into bed, she immediately felt more comfortable.
She fell deeply asleep.
When she woke again, it was already light outside.
Sounds were coming from outside the door.
Qin Yuji quickly closed her eyes and pretended to sleep.
In the next instant, the door opened and Chi Jingxuan walked in with measured steps.
With one touch, the temperature was still normal.
He turned to leave but, seeing the young woman’s eyelashes trembling slightly, Chi Jingxuan paused in his footsteps, his handsome face slowly leaning towards her lips.
As expected, the young woman not only held her breath, but her head also imperceptibly pressed down into the pillow.
A small curve formed on Chi Jingxuan’s lips.
The footsteps that had been about to leave now hesitated.
Realizing the man hadn’t left immediately, Qin Yuji’s mind raced.
She’d been working at Golden Age for only a few nights when she encountered someone drugging her and being openly threatened.
Such things could happen again in the future.
Rather than be ruined by others, at the very least, this man before her was her lifesaver.
And she didn’t dislike him, that was enough.
With that thought, Qin Yuji began to relax.
When faced with Chi Jingxuan’s kiss again, she wasn’t as resistant as before.
Chi Jingxuan felt Qin Yuji’s reaction immediately.
A thrill of surprise shot through him, every cell in his body growing excited.
But in an instant, the last of Chi Jingxuan’s rationality snapped back into place.
She was feverish, still sick.
All motion came to a halt, and Chi Jingxuan buried his head in her neck, steadying his own disordered and eager breathing, all the while doubting the self-control he’d always prided himself on.
He’d already lost control twice with her.
The man seemed lean, but lying on top of her, he felt as heavy as a mountain; Qin Yuji felt like she was about to run out of breath.
Stiffening her body, she moved her legs slightly, and in the next instant, Qin Yuji was met with the man’s dangerous and sharp gaze, “Dare to move again and see what happens…”