In the dimly lit room, Zhou Zuizui frowned tightly, and from time to time, soft moans escaped her lips. Her body felt incredibly hot… she sensed a pair of large, burning hands pressing against her, with long, strong fingers slowly trailing down her fair, delicate skin… She tilted her head back, gasping for breath, feeling as if even the curtains were rising and falling along with her.

Suddenly, her body jerked violently.

With a start, Zhou Zuizui woke up, her eyes wide open as she stared in disbelief at the wooden ceiling, focusing intently on the unique little chandelier above her.

After a while, she slowly sat up, leaned against the headboard, and reached for the glass on the side table, downing all the cold water inside. The coolness brought her back to her senses.

She didn’t know what was going on with her lately, dreaming of that person so frequently.

A man she had only met less than ten times but had married.

Thinking about it, Zhou Zuizui sighed softly and glanced at her phone to check the time. February 14th, 4:10 AM.

No wonder.

She let out a small laugh and turned her head to look outside the window. Though the window was tightly closed, she could occasionally hear the howling wind outside, a sound that was somewhat eerie.

The wind continued to whistle, making the wooden window creak, reminding her that today was Valentine’s Day and also her second wedding anniversary.

Of course—

It might also be mocking her for not having seen her husband in two years.

After waking up, Zhou Zuizui found it hard to fall back asleep. She picked up her phone and switched it from airplane mode to normal.

She feared being disturbed, so she either kept her phone on silent or in airplane mode while sleeping to avoid disruptions and radiation.

As soon as her phone connected to the signal, it started dinging with incoming messages.

She skimmed through them one by one without replying, until she saw a message from a certain someone that made her smile helplessly.

It was from her friend Xia Wen, the only person who knew she was married.

The message read: “Happy second wedding anniversary to our beautiful lady, and happy Valentine’s Day too! Here’s my most sincere wish: I hope your marriage, which seems to exist in name only, makes some progress soon!”

Zhou Zuizui smiled and replied: “Thanks for your kind words.”

Xia Wen: “???? You’re actually awake?”

Zhou Zuizui: “Mmhmm, I woke up from a dream.”

Xia Wen teased: “Dreaming of a man?”

She was just guessing, but to her surprise, Zhou Zuizui admitted it so straightforwardly.

Zhou Zuizui: “Mmhmm.”

Xia Wen’s eyes widened as she immediately called her in concern.

“Hello.” Zhou Zuizui’s voice was cool and clear, like a stream flowing through a mountain valley, but there was a hint of laziness in her tone.

Xia Wen swallowed, probably imagining a picture of a beauty lying in bed.

She cleared her throat and got to the point: “No way, you really dreamt of a man?”

Xia Wen asked anxiously, “So are you planning to cheat or get a divorce? Let me tell you, cheating is wrong. By the way, was the man in your dream handsome? When did you meet him? To appear in your dream, he must be something special, right?”

Listening to her rambling, Zhou Zuizui quickly put an end to her fantasies.

“Stop.”

“You might be disappointed.”

“What do you mean?”

“The man I dreamt of doesn’t require me to cheat or get a divorce.”

Upon hearing this, Xia Wen instinctively thought that the man wasn’t real.

She sighed dejectedly, losing interest in the gossip: “Alright, if he’s not real, then there’s nothing much to talk about.”

“But!” She suddenly shifted the topic, lowering her voice: “Zuizui, does dreaming of a man mean you’re really feeling lonely lately?”

Talking to herself, she continued, “Well, you’re twenty-seven, so it’s normal to want a man. After all, you’ve gone two years without any… you know. Speaking of which,” Xia Wen suddenly got excited again, “Zuizui, why don’t you share with me your first time with your husband? They say soldiers have great stamina. I’m curious if it’s as good as they say, making you willing to stay celibate for two years.”

She bragged, “Hey, if one experience can last you two years, his skills must be top-notch.”

Zhou Zuizui: “…Get lost. I’m going to sleep.”

The conversation was getting more and more absurd. Zhou Zuizui didn’t want to listen to Xia Wen’s nonsense anymore, so she hung up the phone and tossed it aside, pulling the blanket over herself to go back to sleep.

But as soon as she closed her eyes, a figure suddenly appeared in her mind.

He was very tall, with a particularly good build—lean and muscular, not in the intimidating way gym trainers look, but just the right amount. His skin was bronze, his features handsome and chiseled, with a high nose bridge and deep-set eyes. He had a buzz cut of jet-black hair, giving off a cold aura.

His lips were also very attractive… perfect for kissing.

The man’s every move exuded the charm of a mature man, yet there was occasionally a hint of roguishness about him—a contradictory figure.

When he looked at you, his eyes seemed to carry deep affection, as if they were drawing you in, making you want to give him everything.

Perhaps it was because of his appearance that Zhou Zuizui impulsively made her decision back then.

After thinking for a while, Zhou Zuizui suddenly realized something. Why was she even thinking about this? She wasn’t really that lonely!

She closed her eyes, pushed the image from her mind, and tried to lull herself back to sleep.

…

The dawn was just breaking. Qingyue Ancient Town, nestled in the south of Lin City, was bathed in the morning sunlight, making it a perfect place to wake up to a good mood with the first light of day.

This was a tourist town where the climate was spring-like year-round, attracting countless visitors each year. The town’s proximity to minority ethnic regions gave it a unique charm, drawing people in.

However, as with many tourist towns, it was somewhat chaotic, and it had been the subject of numerous social and legal news stories. Despite this, the flow of visitors never ceased.

There were those who came specifically to sightsee, students who came to sketch, and others who came to try their luck at stone gambling.

Qiuqiu was the receptionist at the “Drunk on Your Company” tavern, and she was always the first to wake up, guarding the entrance.

Now, she looked at the person already sitting at the reception desk in astonishment. “Sister, why are you up so early?”

Zhou Zuizui responded with a hum, propping her head on her wrist as she drowsily said, “I woke up and came down because I was hungry.”

Qiuqiu: “…”

Seeing Zhou Zuizui in her current state, Qiuqiu couldn’t help but laugh.