“Ah Bite harder!”
A soft, seductive voice tinged with intense desire drifted from the half-open bedroom door. The overly enchanting and beautiful woman, caught between dreams and wakefulness, was fantasizing about a tall, handsome man in her mind.
In the dream, the man’s muscular arms gripped her slender waist tightly, as if he wanted to snap it in half.
He leaned down, his voice low and husky, carrying a rough, desire-laden tone: “Want more? Hmm?”
“Hmm, yes…”
She wanted him…
The man chuckled softly, but suddenly—bang, bang, bang—urgent and annoying knocks came from outside the apartment.
Nan Yin was abruptly pulled from her dream. She jolted awake, her forehead, neck, and body covered in a fine layer of sweat.
No doubt about it—she’d had that kind of dream again.
The stunningly beautiful woman rubbed her temples irritably, licked her dry lips, shook off the lingering images from her dream, and got out of bed.
She tossed her sweat-dampened pajamas into the laundry basket, changed into fresh clothes, and finally went to answer the door.
When she opened it, it was her assistant, Wen Ling, who had brought breakfast to check on her. The moment Wen Ling saw Nan Yin, she looked like she was about to cry: “Nan Jie, are you really quitting? What will we do?”
“That’s the studio you worked so hard to build yourself! How can you just hand it over to Yang Li?”
“I feel so wronged on your behalf. Just because you don’t see eye to eye with him? Can’t you… talk it out properly…” Wen Ling complained, her voice filled with sadness and frustration. But Nan Yin’s heart remained completely unmoved. Her beautiful brow was relaxed, and even her brown eyes were calm and undisturbed.
Work was never something she worried about.
Her talent was all in her mind.
Yang Li couldn’t take that away.
“Finished?” Nan Yin asked, her lips curving into a charming smile as she tilted her head slightly. Her soft, curly long hair fell from behind her ear, swaying gently against her cheek, giving her an alluring, captivating aura.
No wonder Nan Yin was known as the “Female Daji” in the design circle.
Too beautiful.
Too bewitching.
Any man who caught a glimpse of her would want to bring her down and ravage her mercilessly.
Wen Ling pouted, looking deflated and defeated: “Oh, I’m done.”
“What’s the big deal? If he wants it, let him take it.” Nan Yin’s eyes curved into a smile as she crossed her arms and leaned against the table, her beautiful lips smiling faintly at Wen Ling.
Wen Ling was momentarily speechless, struck by her beauty. She cleared her throat and said, “Wuwu, Nan Jie, are you really giving up just like that?”
“And going back to your hometown?” Wen Ling genuinely wondered if her Nan Jie had been bewitched.
Otherwise, why would she give up a studio earning tens of millions a year to return to her hometown?
She reached out and touched Nan Yin’s forehead—it felt a bit sticky.
So warm?
Wasn’t the air conditioning on in the room?
“Ah, Nan Jie, your forehead is all sweaty, but the room isn’t hot. Are you okay?”
Nan Yin casually pushed her hand away, turned to the table, picked up an e-cigarette, and put it between her lips. She took a puff, waiting for the peach-flavored vapor to escape before she spoke slowly: “I was having a wet dream. I want a man.” Nan Yin said it bluntly.
Wen Ling’s face flushed instantly.
A wet dream?
This—she—
Wen Ling had had a boyfriend before, though they’d broken up, so she naturally understood such matters. As soon as Nan Yin said it, she caught on and exclaimed with a laugh: “Nan Jie, you should’ve said you wanted one sooner!”
“Want me to introduce you to some quality men?”
Nan Yin waved her hand, her pink-painted nails swaying gently: “No need. There’s a man I want to pursue.”
She’d been in the capital for a few years now.
Indeed, she had reached that age, her body was ripe, and she needed a man.
But none of the men here appealed to her. Deep in her heart, she had always harbored feelings for one man.
If it weren’t for the fact that, some time ago, this man had come to the capital for a product exchange event with his low-altitude aircraft, and his photo had been captured by the media and circulated online…
She had stumbled upon it while browsing the web and recognized him at a glance.
Short-cropped hair, sharp and coolly handsome features, an aura that was both formidable and domineering.
Since graduating high school, when they had gone their separate ways, Nan Yin hadn’t seen him for many years.
She had only heard scattered rumors about him: he had been admitted to Tsinghua University, served in the military for two years, and then returned to start his own business.
Now, he was involved in the low-altitude aircraft industry.
He had done quite well for himself and was likely still single?
In a prosperous place like Su City, a young man who had ventured into the low-altitude aircraft industry independently and built his company into one of the top three nationwide was undoubtedly one of the city’s elites.
And so, she had been thinking about him for half a month. During that time, she dreamed of him every night.
In her dreams, he was rough, fierce, as if he wanted to tear her apart.
Indeed, his damnable hormones.
Even through a screen, he had her utterly captivated.
She had a man she wanted?
Heavens.
Wen Ling was a bit shocked. Her Nan Jie, this femme fatale of the design world, was famously picky. Previously, when their studio collaborated with the film industry on costume design…
A young and handsome film emperor had taken a liking to her, but she hadn’t been interested.
She even called him effeminate.
This??
Who was the man who could catch her eye? Was he really that charming? Enough to make her have such dreams?
“Sweetie, how about coming back to my hometown with me to start a business? We can make a fresh start,” Nan Yin said with a bright smile, looking at the adorable Wen Ling. “Anyway, you’ve just broken up. Maybe back in my hometown, you’ll find a second chance at love.”
Thinking of her scumbag ex, Wen Ling puffed up her cheeks and said, “Fine, it’ll be a good way to clear my head.”
Nan Yin nodded. “Go back and pack your things first.”
“I’ll sort things out on my end too.”
Wen Ling nodded. “Alright, I’ll go with you. Wherever you go, I’ll follow.”
After all, she was just drifting in the capital.
Only by sticking with Nan Yin could she gain a foothold in the design world. This trip back to Su City with her might just bring new opportunities.
Once she decided to return to her hometown, especially knowing that the man had settled and was developing his career in Su City, Nan Yin didn’t waste a single day. That very afternoon, she took Wen Ling on a flight back to Su City.
In the height of summer, Su City’s bustling and crowded garden-lined streets were densely shaded by lush sycamore leaves.
Scorching sunlight filtered through the curved leaves.
Threads of light, like scattered stars, fell upon the cement pavement, which shimmered faintly with a thin layer of rising heat.
Nan Yin, carrying her suitcase, hailed a taxi with Wen Ling and first headed to the studio her high school best friend, Ruan Yu, had rented for her in advance.
The studio was located on Gusu Street, near a small river. It had two floors: the ground floor for work and the upper floor for living.
Opening the window, they could see the deep, emerald-green Gusu River outside.
It was beautiful.
Nan Yin and Wen Ling stepped inside, looked around, and were quite satisfied, especially Wen Ling. It was her first time in Jiangnan, and she fell in love with this ancient city, brimming with millennia of cultural charm, at first sight.
Indeed, her Nan Jie was right. Just when things seemed bleak, a new path opened up. Coming to a new city to develop might just bring new romantic encounters and hope.
“Sis Nan, this place is really nice, let’s live upstairs together.” Wen Ling dropped her suitcase, utterly satisfied.
She couldn’t wait to start organizing this studio.
However, Nan Yin had no plans to stay here.
She had returned to Su City to fulfill her promise to her mother—to find a man through arranged meetings. She certainly couldn’t disappoint her dear old mother.
“Sweetie, you stay here. I have a place to live.” Nan Yin’s crimson lips curved slightly as her fingertips played with a small Pi Xiu figurine on the edge of the table.
Her expressive brows and stunning beauty were beyond compare.
No wonder the boys from Su High had been crazy about her back then—she truly lived up to her reputation as the school’s renowned beauty.
Though Nan Yin had been exceptionally beautiful in high school, her uncle’s loan-sharking business and her own wild streak—often accompanying her cousin to collect debts—had led everyone to believe her family was involved in organized crime. Few high school boys dared to approach her, and she had never dated anyone.
Fortunately, time is a skilled craftsman, polishing the once radiant girl into something like a ripe, glistening lychee—full of allure and temptation.
“Ah? Sis Nan, where are you staying?” Wen Ling had no idea she wasn’t planning to share the apartment.
She wondered where Nan Yin would live instead.
Just then, Nan Yin’s high school best friend, Ruan Yu, arrived. Ruan Yu and Nan Yin were two different types of beauties—the former pretty and outgoing, the latter as vibrant and captivating as a dew-kissed rose.
Thorny yet irresistible.
“Yinyin, I’m here.” As soon as Ruan Yu entered, Nan Yin caught the faint scent of pear blossoms on her—pleasant and soothing.
“Yu Bao, long time no see.” Nan Yin turned and saw her, immediately walking over to embrace her. “Thank you for helping me sort all this out.”
Ruan Yu was even more excited to see her, nearly lifting her off her feet in a hug. “Baby, we’re best friends. I’m so happy you’re back.”
“Is this place to your liking?”
Nan Yin nodded. “Yes, it suits me perfectly. Thank you.”
“What about my place?”
Ruan Yu knew exactly what she was asking and smiled softly. “It’s all ready.”
“Come on, I’ll take you to see it.”
Nan Yin blinked. “My Yu Bao always gets things done. Thank you so much.”
“Don’t mention it.” Ruan Yu leaned in close to her ear. “Are you really going after Fu Shi?”
At the mention of this man, a flicker of lively, spring-like anticipation stirred in Nan Yin’s bright eyes. “Yes, I want to reel him in.”
In truth, her purpose for returning was clear.
Since she had to go through with the arranged meetings anyway, she might as well try to hook this man.
If she succeeded, she wouldn’t lose out.
Even if they didn’t marry, she would have no regrets.
Fu Shi had been the secret crush of her high school years. Back then, she had felt the urge to pursue him, but seeing his ambitions to test into Tsinghua or Peking University and join the military, she didn’t want to distract him and held back.
Now, things were different. She didn’t want to carry the regret of an unfulfilled crush for the rest of her life.