That night.
Dominic Fairwind knew clearly that he was dreaming.
A cold, mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
【System connection successful. Dreamscape Instance loading…】
【Mission generated: Your lover is adorably drunk. Try to pry a little secret from him.】
Dominic stood still, frowning. His silver-white eyelashes cast faint shadows beneath his eyelids.
What system? What lover?
A strange and absurd dream.
As if sensing his confusion, a large pink arrow glowed in the distance, indicating that “here” was a point of interest.
Within his line of sight, everything around him was shrouded in a hazy, grayish hue. Only the direction pointed by the arrow was enveloped in a soft yet warm glow.
Beneath that light was a small round table where two people sat. One of them was unmistakably Wen Zheng, whom he had just met during the day.
In the dream, Wen Zheng wore casual clothes, his expression one of undisguised focus, even carrying a rare hint of gentleness. The tips of his ears were tinged with a suspicious red as he stared unblinkingly at the person opposite him.
And the one across from him, holding a glass of wine, cheeks flushed with a peach-blossom pink, eyes hazy and shimmering with moisture, gazing at Wen Zheng with a foolish, intoxicated smile…
It was actually the young man he had briefly encountered in the infirmary during the day.
Dominic’s ice-blue eyes narrowed slightly.
The so-called “lover” couldn’t possibly refer to Wen Zheng.
Dreams were bizarre and unpredictable; it wasn’t unusual for people seen during the day to appear. But why him of all people?
He remained where he was, not immediately stepping forward.
Yet the so-called “system” in this dream seemed particularly fond of Xi Ting. The beam of light still stubbornly shone on him, illuminating the young man’s drunken expression, so different from his usual demeanor.
His warm-toned fair skin glowed with a pink flush, his honey-colored eyes brimming with moisture, hazy and unfocused.
Wen Zheng noticed the additional gaze and turned to look. Upon seeing Dominic, the gentleness on his face instantly froze, transforming into a concealed astonishment.
Dominic didn’t miss the subtle hostility Wen Zheng couldn’t quite hide and felt a touch of bewilderment at this animosity.
His pace unchanged, he maintained his usual composed stride as he approached the table bathed in light. Sensing Dominic’s arrival at the target location, the beam of light vanished.
“Why did you take so long to get here?”
Wen Zheng seemed quite angry to see him. Though his words asked “why so long,” they sounded more like an accusation of “what are you doing here?” His gaze shifted between Dominic and Xi Ting. While his words were directed at Dominic, his eyes quickly returned to Xi Ting’s face as he demanded righteously, “Is this how you take care of him? Letting him get this drunk?”
Dominic glanced at him, his tone flat and detached, carrying just the right amount of distance: “How should I have taken care of him?”
Wen Zheng, having imagined something in his mind, fell silent, his expression darkening.
Their conversation stirred Xi Ting, who had been lost in his own world.
He turned his face slowly, his dazed gaze settling on Dominic. After a few seconds of stillness, his alcohol-moistened eyes gradually brightened, and the corners of his lips instantly curled into a smile. His voice, drawn out by drunkenness, spread sweetly:
“Domi~ You’re here.”
He called Dominic “Domi,” an extremely intimate and affectionate nickname, spoken with a natural, sugar-laced tenderness.
Wen Zheng's face darkened completely.
Dominic did not respond, but a faint trace of doubt flickered deep within his ice-blue eyes. He scrutinized the young man before him.
Why had he dreamed of him, and in such an intimate manner? Could it be that, deep in his subconscious, he harbored some inappropriate thoughts about the person his cousin cared for?
This conclusion struck him as somewhat absurd, and he began to reflect rigorously on his own sense of morality.
Seeing him remain silent and simply standing there quietly, Xi Ting seemed somewhat puzzled. He tilted his head, straining to open his eyes wider to get a clearer look at Dominic's expression, but due to his drunkenness, the world remained veiled in a thin haze.
He simply stood up, his steps unsteady as he moved closer, tilting his face upward until he was almost touching Dominic's nose, focusing intently on his eyes.
The distance between the two abruptly narrowed.
Dominic did not interrupt his actions, wanting to see what this drunkard was up to.
He lowered his gaze, and what met his eyes was the young man's magnified face.
A warm pink flush spread from his cheeks to the corners of his eyes, and his long, thick eyelashes were damp with fine droplets of moisture, trembling slightly with each breath.
Only then did he notice that the young man had honey-colored irises, within which his own blurred outline was reflected. Yet deep within, a haze of intoxication still lingered, moist and glistening, as if a gentle touch could cause ripples.
Too close.
Close enough to catch the faint scent of alcohol on his breath, mingled with the clean, slightly sweet fragrance of the young man. Close enough to feel the warmth radiating from his body.
Dominic's gaze shifted almost imperceptibly, momentarily captivated by the misty haze in those eyes, allowing this overly intimate proximity to persist for two seconds.
Their noses were nearly touching.
"Hey!"
Wen Zheng suddenly spoke up, his voice not loud but carrying an unmistakable note of exasperated irritation, shattering the eerie silence. He stared at the two who were almost pressed together, his tone dripping with enough acidity to be wrung out: "Enough already? This is a public place, can't you be more mindful of appearances!"
Xi Ting, who had been completely absorbed in his observation, was startled by the sudden voice. His already unsteady footing gave way, and he stumbled, colliding with Dominic's broad, firm chest.
He simply wrapped his arms around the other's neck without any intention of pulling away, his movements natural and relaxed.
Due to their height difference, he had to stand on his tiptoes, making the embrace somewhat strenuous. Naturally, he entrusted his entire weight to his lover, nestling completely into the other's embrace, his cheek unconsciously nuzzling against him.
Dominic stiffened.
He disliked physical contact with others and had almost immediately wanted to push the young man away the moment he collided with him. His palm lifted, separated only by a layer of fabric, and the sensation transmitted through his hand.
Warm, soft, even able to vaguely discern the shape of the shoulder blades, and the slightly faster heartbeat of the young man in his arms, transmitted through his chest.
That warmth seemed to seep through his palm into his skin.
For some reason, the motion to push him away stalled mid-air.
The person in his arms paused there, likely feeling quite comfortable, and grew still and quiet. His warm, soft breath brushed against the skin of Dominic's neck, sending a faint shiver through him.
Dominic's Adam's apple bobbed ever so slightly.
He spoke calmly, intending to help him stand upright:
"Stand properly on your own."
"Dizzy…" Xi Ting buried his face in the crook of his neck, his voice muffled and nasal, as if whining. The arms wrapped around his neck tightened even more, adopting a posture of complete dependence, unwilling to leave his lover.
Wen Zheng watched this scene, the nameless fire in his chest burning even fiercer. He knew full well how possessive Dominic usually was toward the person in his arms, yet now, seeing the other’s seemingly impatient and indifferent demeanor, something in him snapped. Without thinking, he blurted out:
“If you don’t want to hold him, give him to me.”
The words left his mouth before he could stop them, and even he was taken aback, feeling he had been too obvious. He immediately turned his face away, but the tips of his ears flushed uncontrollably.
Yet he didn’t take it back.
Dominic’s ice-blue eyes swept calmly over Wen Zheng’s face—a face that thought it concealed well but was in fact written all over with blatant longing—then lowered to glance at the defenseless youth sleeping soundly in his arms.
So, what was this situation?
Fighting over a drunkard in a dream, playing out a rivalry with his cousin.
Why would he have such an illogical dream?
Since Wen Zheng wanted him so badly…
Dominic barely hesitated. With a slight shift of his arm, he transferred Xi Ting from his own embrace to Wen Zheng’s.
The movement was decisive, even carrying a hint of detached indifference.
“Take him.” His voice betrayed no emotion.
Wen Zheng clearly hadn’t expected him to actually let go. Flustered, he caught Xi Ting.
As the youth’s body settled into his arms, his entire frame tensed. His arms stiffly encircled Xi Ting, his grip light for fear of dropping him, yet firm enough not to hurt him. The face that usually wore an air of defiance was now filled only with careful nervousness and a trace of barely noticeable delight.
He adjusted his posture, letting Xi Ting lean more comfortably against him, his movements so gentle they seemed unlike the Wen Zheng Dominic remembered.
As for Xi Ting, he didn’t seem to mind the change of embrace much. Still drowsy with drink, he unconsciously nuzzled his cheek against “Domi’s” neck, finding a cozier spot. He mumbled something indistinct, his long lashes fluttering as if he were about to drift off again.
Dominic took it all in.
The dependent posture in Wen Zheng’s arms was no different from how he had been in his own just moments before.
Watching Wen Zheng’s expression—as if he had stumbled upon a priceless treasure, hardly daring to breathe—a flicker of cold mockery passed through Dominic’s eyes.
Pathetic.
But Wen Zheng had no mind to notice Dominic’s expression. All his attention was focused on the person in his arms, feeling the real weight and warmth, his heartbeat quickening.
Suppressing the surging excitement, he tried to keep his voice steady, injecting a tone of feigned casualness as he looked up at Dominic, who was being uncharacteristically generous today:
“You two…” He paused, his gaze burning, the heat in it almost overflowing. “Are you finally going to break up?”
The question was blunt. Anyone could hear the expectation in his words, and no one would doubt that if Dominic nodded at that moment, Wen Zheng would eagerly become Xi Ting’s next partner in the next second.
Dominic met his gaze, his thin lips parting slightly. This was an inconsequential dream—what harm was there in indulging him here?
How obsessed Wen Zheng was with this youth, even Dominic, who paid little attention to such messy affairs, had occasionally heard his mother mention it.
But just as the words reached his lips, his slightly parted mouth closed again.
For some inexplicable reason, he didn’t want to answer that question.
Fortunately, before he could respond, the familiar electronic tone echoed in his mind once more.
[Detected that the Capture Target has fallen into deep sleep, unable to probe for secrets. Mission failure determined.]
【Regression Program Activated.】
【3, 2, 1.】
Wen Zheng's face, filled with urgent anticipation for an answer, the peaceful sleeping profile of the youth in his arms, the elegantly arranged small garden—all instantly twisted, stretched, transformed into blurred patches of color, and finally collapsed into a single point of light.
Snap.
The moment his senses reconnected, he felt the familiar, warm, soft, and drunken weight in his embrace.
Author's Note:
None.