Ding dong.

Hearing Jiang Chen’s footsteps leave the room, Ye Mian finally poked her head out from under the blanket. In just a short while, a thin sheen of sweat had broken out on her smooth forehead. The mountain wind howled relentlessly outside.

She sat on the bed, dazedly scanning her surroundings.

The last time she had woken up was two days ago. She and Jiang Chen had been in a strange place, with a long-haired man holding a pendulum swaying before her eyes. Wisps of smoke curled from the incense burning on the table. She had thought she was dreaming.

Unable to move her body, she felt a sharp headache. After staring at the pendulum only a few times, irritation made her close her eyes and let it swing. The scent of incense filled her senses, and then she lost consciousness again.

But a dream... how could it have pain?

Just as she pondered this, her pupils dilated. Instinctively, she curled up, but the movement pulled at her injured foot. The brief pain snapped her back to clarity.

Now Ye Mian had two guesses. First, maybe she had a mental illness. But she felt her mind was stable enough to rule that out. Second, Jiang Chen had likely wanted to hypnotize her that day, which was why he had just asked if she remembered anything.

Moreover...

These events had happened in her past life. Because of that, she had forgotten many things, kept having those strange recurring dreams, and gained a prophetic memory fragment. Everything suddenly made absurd yet reasonable sense.

The only difference now was that she was certain the memories in her mind could be connected day by day. She had not been hypnotized.

“This is hopeless, this is ridiculous,” Ye Mian covered her face, anxiously glancing left and right, feeling as though she was losing her mind.

Though she hardly dared to believe it, Jiang Chen’s reaction moments ago was a frantic hint that this was exactly the case.

She hugged a pillow, curling up in the corner, hearing her heartbeat pounding loudly.

Besides a flicker of panic, she recalled Jiang Chen in the dream saying that before she even knew him, he had already liked her.

Now, waking up, Jiang Chen had actually confessed to her.

She truly hadn’t expected it to be so sudden.

It felt more like a daydream at this point!

After lying still to calm herself for a while, she turned over and slowly shuffled to the edge of the bed, picking up her phone. There were dozens of missed calls—all from Jiang Yuan.

Ye Mian froze for a moment, then hurriedly opened the chat to reply.

[Good Sleep: What’s wrong? What happened?]

Jiang Yuan’s replies came fast and in rapid bursts.

[Jiang Yuan: You? Ask? Me? What? Is? Wrong?]

[Jiang Yuan: Where have you been these days?]

[Jiang Yuan: Why didn’t you answer calls or reply to messages?]

[Jiang Yuan: I felt guilty covering for you! I told your dad you’ve been at my place these days—remember that, don’t let it slip! If your dad comes over for tea, you’re done for. Hurry home and show yourself.]

Ye Mian glanced over the messages, then paused, belatedly remembering her elderly father waiting at home.

She had grown used to handling things alone all these years, always thinking only she needed to know.

She bit her lip, puzzled.

[Good Sleep: Thanks, Yuan Yuan. How did you know I wasn’t home?]

Jiang Yuan was furious. Sitting up from the sofa, she put down the remote and furiously typed on her phone.

[Jiang Yuan: You still have the nerve to ask!]

[Jiang Yuan: Are you even my sister?]

[Jiang Yuan: If you need help, why did you have Jiang the Big Shot call me!]

[Jiang Yuan: Do you know how stressed I get taking a call from the Big Shot in the middle of the night!]

She even sent a crying cat emoji.

Ye Mian understood.

So Jiang Chen had contacted Jiang Yuan on her behalf.

That was why her father hadn’t called.

It was incredibly considerate.

But when it came to showing up at home, Ye Mian lowered her gaze, feeling a mess of emotions she couldn’t quite name.

That scoundrel was probably fine and wouldn’t dare complain to her father.

Yet the grudges from the previous generation and what had happened that day left her unsure how to respond.

It was like a nightmare falling upon her, throwing all her rhythms into chaos.

After some thought, she sent Jiang Yuan another message.

[Good Sleep: Please keep covering for me for two more days. I can’t go back yet. Don’t worry about me—I’m safe, just hurt my foot. I don’t want my dad to worry.]

“Ding dong—”

Jiang Yuan’s message came again, this time switching from teasing to urgent.

[Jiang Yuan: Huh? Which hospital are you at? I’ll come see you.]

Ye Mian smiled faintly.

[Good Sleep: No need, no need. I’ll be fine in a couple of days.]

[Jiang Yuan: Okay then, rest well. I’ll handle your dad.]

With those arrangements settled, Ye Mian switched to her work chat.

Management and operations were going well. Daily schedules and incomes and expenses were all neatly organized. Nothing had gone wrong during her recent silence.

Only a few minor issues, with Zhou Yan asking questions but not pushing since she hadn’t replied.

The room was quiet and comfortable.

Ye Mian bowed her head, leaning against soft pillows, methodically sorting through the work matters.

She felt she had truly grown over these two years. Facing such a disgusting situation, she could still calm down and think about work.

In the past, she would have been unable to eat or sleep.

Outside, the wind had stopped at some unknown time, leaving only faint insect chirps and the rustling of water—sounds completely drowned out by her immersion in work.

At one point, a waiter brought breakfast upstairs. She took it hurriedly but didn’t eat, only sipping the accompanying coffee.

So when Jiang Chen returned, his gaze immediately fell on the untouched food.

—

Ye Mian hadn’t noticed Jiang Chen’s footsteps at all, not even the polite knock. Her hands didn’t stop tapping on the screen as she raised the coffee cup and took a shallow sip.

The bitter taste mixed with cream spread across her tongue, and only then did she realize there was another breath in the room.

Turning her head, she saw Jiang Chen propping his chin on his hand, sitting on the single armchair, watching her with an inscrutable smile—as well as the coffee in her hand.

She froze, then held out the coffee toward him.

“Want some?”

Jiang Chen smiled faintly: “No, thanks.”

Ye Mian leisurely took another sip, then casually set the cup on the nightstand.

She glanced at Jiang Chen twice. It was her first time in love—she had no experience and didn’t know what to say.

Moreover, her mind was heavy with so many secrets.

Her gaze flickered restlessly, fingers swiping the screen but unable to focus on the work spreadsheet.

The air shimmered with the fragile emotions of a young girl, her wandering eyes darting in front of Jiang Chen.

His lips were subtly pulled upward by her small motions, uncontrollably curving into a smile.

Jiang Chen’s gaze was lazy as he slowly raised his hand.

When his fingertips reached out in front of Ye Mian, her eyes curved like crescents.

What was this? A boyfriend’s hand to hold?

Wuwuwu, it’s really sad—no five-star reviews, no votes.

(End of chapter)