“Really?”
I nodded vigorously. “Really! Believe me!”
He froze, a tear rolling down his cheek.
“I thought… you hated me for forcing you to marry me…”
“How could I hate you? I’m over the moon just to have you!”
“I thought… you didn’t want me anymore, either…”
My voice caught. “How could I ever leave you?”
“I thought…”
Before he could finish, I rose onto my tiptoes and kissed him clumsily.
Tống Dịch stood stock-still, staring blankly, even forgetting to breathe.
“Tống Dịch…” I closed my eyes and said his name, taking his hand and pulling him into an embrace. “Hold me…”
Tống Dịch trembled all over. A moment later, his arms went around the back of my neck, holding me tight—more passionately than before.
The kiss was hot and lingering…
…
Exhausted, I drifted off. In my dream, I saw Tống Dịch timidly reach out, wanting to hook pinkies with me, only for “me” to slap his hand away.
“Get lost! Don’t touch me! You’re disgusting!” “I” scolded him while rubbing my hand, then turned and walked away.
Tống Dịch stood there like a block of wood, watching “my” retreating figure, his expression lonely and helpless.
Suddenly, some invisible net dropped over me. I burst into tears and instinctively called his name: “Tống Dịch!”
In a daze, I felt someone gather me into his arms and pat me comfortingly. “I’m here…”
Surrounded by the familiar warmth of his presence, I gradually calmed down.
Before long, I sank into another dream. The scene changed abruptly. The place was noisy and bustling.
“Sở Duyệt, didn’t you like that stepson? Why are you hanging around our Tinh Trì now?”
“Hahaha, you must regret it now, huh!”
Someone whistled. “Brother Tinh Trì, Miss Sở has a great figure and a pretty face. You could have some fun with her!”
Tống Tinh Trì kicked the guy, swirling the wine in his glass. “Sở Duyệt, remember what you said when I confessed to you? Want me to remind you?”
Everyone exchanged awkward glances. A few of them seemed not to know about this.
Here’s what happened. Back then, Tống Tinh Trì lost a game and had to confess to me as a forfeit. I turned him down flat. The young master was embarrassed, so he slung an arm around my shoulders and leaned in close. “You dare reject me? Say that again!”
I’d never met anyone so rude. I shoved him away, furious. “I’d rather jump from here than go out with you!”
And that’s how we became enemies.
“You said you’d rather jump off a building than say yes to me. Changed your mind?” Tống Tinh Trì came over to stand in front of me, wineglass in hand, smirking. “But what do I need with another woman? Why pick up someone else’s discarded toy after they’re done playing with it?”
With that, he raised his glass and tipped it, slowly pouring red wine over “my” head. “I” was drenched, looking like a drowned rat. He burst out laughing. “Hahaha, keeping a dog around can be fun. Crawl over here and drink every last drop on the table, and maybe I’ll reconsider.”
Everyone around us looked at “me” with contempt. But “I” didn’t feel humiliated at all—in fact, “I” seemed to enjoy it. “I” knelt down and chugged glass after glass until I couldn’t swallow anymore and my stomach cramped in pain.
I wanted to fight back, but an invisible net held me fast. Panicked, I longed for a familiar embrace.
Suddenly, someone patted me gently on the back. My panic vanished, but anger flared in its place. I couldn’t hold back any longer and blurted out, “Tống Tinh Trì, you—”
The comforting pats stopped. The invisible net came down over me again.
“Damn it…”
Before I could finish, I was swept into another dream.
In a private room, Tống Tinh Trì was playing cards. “I” sat beside him.
He took a long drag on his cigarette, scowling. “Fuck, what do you want?”
“Your Tống family switched the groom on me at the last minute.”
“Like I’m that desperate to get married?”
Tống Tinh Trì snorted and grabbed “my” chin. His breath reeked of cigarette smoke. “You think you’re worthy?”
“I” shrugged, completely nonchalant. “Yeah, I’m not worthy.”
“Then get lost.”
“I” gave a faint smile. “But now I think… being your sister-in-law and you my brother-in-law… is a lot more fun.”
Tống Tinh Trì froze, his face twisting. “Are you crazy? I don’t pick up trash, okay?”
The smile vanished from “my” lips, and a cold glint flashed in my eyes. “You hate Tống Dịch, don’t you? I just called and told him I was in trouble, and made him come within twenty minutes. Imagine what he’ll think when he gets here and sees me getting cozy with you.”
Tống Tinh Trì smirked. “Well, now that sounds interesting.”
Before long, Tống Dịch came rushing in, his face pale. The panic on his face froze when he saw “me” sitting on Tống Tinh Trì’s lap, beaming.
The whole group burst out laughing.
“Haha, you actually believed that prank?”
“What a moron. Like some kind of idiot.”
Tống Dịch understood. His eyes went blank. “Duyệt Duyệt, come home with me.”
“I” wrapped my arms around Tống Tinh Trì’s neck and laughed defiantly. “I’m not done having fun.”
“Come home with me.” He repeated himself. When I didn’t move, he stepped forward and tried to pull “me” away.
“I” was dragged a few steps before wrenching my hand free, snapping, “Get away from me. This is none of your business.”
Tống Tinh Trì bounced his leg, his voice dripping with disdain. “Hey, your wife’s my dog. She won’t leave even when I kick her out. Such a cheap slut…”
Before he could finish, Tống Dịch threw a punch and sent him sprawling. It happened so fast that everyone froze.
Tống Tinh Trì jumped to his feet, swearing loudly. “Fuck, you dare hit me?”
The two men lunged at each other and started trading blows.