As dawn slowly broke, the first rays of rosy light on the horizon spilled softly across the window lattice like scattered crystal candies.
Lin Ya slowly awakened, as though drifting out of a sweet dream, and blinked her still-drowsy eyes. The spacious and luxurious furnishings of the room gradually came into view, leaving her somewhat dazed.
The room felt both familiar and strange. The luxurious furniture glimmered softly in the morning light, and every detail exuded an air of refinement. It looked practically like a presidential suite in a hotel!
But the moment she remembered the unbelievably beautiful wet dream she had the night before, that slight sense of unfamiliarity was immediately tossed to the back of her mind.
In her dream, the man’s figure was like the most dazzling flower in spring. His face was rugged yet captivating, while his physique was absolutely flawless, every line perfectly sculpted into a sight that made her heart race.
That dream had felt unbelievably real, as though her hand had actually wandered over the man’s firm chest muscles. Even after waking up, a faint blush still lingered on her cheeks, while her heart continued to pound like a startled deer, refusing to calm down.
However, as a seasoned homebody, Lin Ya knew very well the difference between reality and dreams. She gently shook her head, trying to drive those unrealistic fantasies from her mind. Then she slowly stretched, hoping to wake herself up completely.
Who could have expected that the moment she moved, a sudden sharp pain came from between her legs. The sensation was so real that she immediately lowered her head in panic, her eyes widening at once when she noticed something was wrong with her body.
“Oh my God!”
She turned her head, and good heavens, there was actually a man lying on the bed with his back toward her, sleeping soundly!
Her heart nearly leaped out of her chest, and she was so shocked that it felt as though the sky itself had collapsed.
Her heart pounded wildly as countless questions flashed through her mind like scenes in a movie. Who was he? How had she ended up here? What on earth had happened?
Moving as quietly as a little cat, she carefully climbed out of bed, making every movement as light as possible for fear of waking the man.
Once she was off the bed, she secretly glanced at the man’s back, her heart fluttering nervously. She had no idea what kind of person he was, much less how the two of them had ended up sharing a bed and supposedly “spending the night together.”
However, her instincts told her that her current situation was extremely delicate, and she had to get away as quickly as possible. Otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable.
The moment she stepped out of the hotel, a cold wind blew against her face. The chill made her shiver, but it also helped clear her confused thoughts somewhat.
The street was lined with shops, yet there were very few pedestrians. Every now and then, someone hurried past, never looking sideways, as though everyone in this city was rushing around just to make a living and had no time to pay attention to anyone else.
Across from the hotel, apart from that quaint little inn, there were rows of shops with their rolling shutters tightly closed. They seemed to be sleeping as well, waiting for the beginning of a new day.
The shop windows displayed all kinds of goods, from clothing and electronic products to food and household items. There was practically everything one could want, but at this hour, they all sat quietly waiting for customers to arrive.
Lin Ya looked around, an indescribable sense of fear and unease welling up inside her. Yet the scene before her only left her even more bewildered. The unfamiliar streets, hurried pedestrians, and flickering neon lights were completely different from the small county town she was familiar with.
“Where am I?”
She murmured to herself, overwhelmed by a deep sense of helplessness, while her body felt extremely uncomfortable.
Just then, her gaze fell upon the seemingly run-down little inn across the street. Although its appearance was unimpressive, at this moment it seemed to have become her only refuge.
The inn’s wooden door looked old-fashioned and sturdy. The paint had already peeled and faded in places, exposing the natural wood beneath, while an iron door knocker completed the rustic appearance. At first glance, it gave off an inexplicable sense of security.
Without thinking much about it, Lin Ya hurried across the street and pushed open the slightly heavy wooden door of the inn.
The interior was dimly lit, and the air was filled with a musty, aged smell. The large sliding glass windows inside looked terribly flimsy. This strange combination of Chinese and Western decor was obviously something the owner had later hired someone to renovate themselves. What a shame to see such an old building altered like this.
But Lin Ya had no interest in gossiping about it at the moment. All she wanted was to find somewhere to take a shower, get some proper sleep, and sort out exactly what was going on with her.
The middle-aged woman at the front desk had a long, sullen face, with narrow, sharp eyes that always carried a scrutinizing gaze. Her lips were thin, but her mouth was quite large, and she kept muttering something under her breath. Her hair, however, was neatly combed, with several cheap metal hairpins stuck into it.
She was somewhat plump, but squeezed into a tight-fitting qipao, she looked even fatter. It was obvious that she was doing her best to dress herself up like a wealthy lady.
At this moment, she narrowed her eyes and looked at Lin Ya with disdain, as though she were no different from one of those street prostitutes soliciting customers.
Fortunately, Lin Ya noticed two things. Apart from the bruises covering her body, the spot where the woman was standing also gave her a direct view of the entrance to the hotel across the street.
The woman at the front desk lazily raised her head, gave Lin Ya a sidelong glance, and asked, “Got kicked out? Someone like you who sells herself is only good enough to rent a little single room here!”
As she spoke, she quickly registered Lin Ya’s stay and handed her a heavily rusted key.
“Auntie, no matter how much you stare at that fancy hotel across the street, it’s still never going to be yours.”
Lin Ya shook the key in her hand and teased the woman with a faintly mocking smile. Before the woman could respond, she took the key and walked through the narrow hallway and up the stairs until she found her room.
The room was small, with only a bed and a table, but it was more than enough for her.
She closed the door, locked it from the inside, then took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. Yet her thoughts remained a complete mess, and her head felt dizzy and hazy.
After shaking her head hard, she walked into the bathroom and turned on the faucet, letting the hot water pour over her body in a steady stream as she tried to wash away all the discomfort and confusion.
Amid the rising steam, she began recalling what had happened the previous night, but her memories were like torn scraps of paper that refused to fit together.
She remembered sitting in front of her computer as usual late at night, playing the Plants vs. Zombies game that had been especially popular a few years earlier. There had been several cocktails beside her, promotional drinks she had received from a shop downstairs, and then…
After that, everything became hazy.
After finishing her shower, she wrapped herself in a towel and walked out of the bathroom. She sat on the bed and turned on the television.
The morning news was playing on the screen, showing several people who had contracted rabies running around and biting others, but Lin Ya’s thoughts were nowhere near the television.
She walked over to the window and looked out at the deserted street. Only a few streetlights that had already gone dark swayed in the wind.
Behind the building was a narrow alley piled high with garbage, and every now and then, the faint cries of cats could be heard.
Lin Ya’s gaze fell upon the crisscrossing pipes and electrical cables outside the building. They resembled countless spider webs spreading across the old structure, making the entire place feel somewhat oppressive.
Her room had a large sliding window, but the track seemed to have rusted, making it extremely difficult to slide open or shut. Some of the window seals had also fallen away, allowing cold air to seep through the gaps from time to time and making her feel a little chilly.
She returned to the bed and picked up her phone, only to discover that it had long since run out of battery. She searched around for a charger but couldn’t find one anywhere in the room.
She decided to go downstairs and ask the woman at the front desk.