We spent the entire afternoon playing music and singing together, carefree and happy. Sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm, dappled glow across her face. Every time she sang, her eyes curved into little crescents, her smile clean and radiant like a girl untouched by the world. It had been so long since I felt this kind of peace, like the shadows hanging over me for months were finally swept away.
Yet even in the midst of such joy, a part of me couldn't help but worry—how long would this dream last? We'd shared lunch, spent the afternoon in laughter and harmony, and now evening was approaching. What would happen after dinner? When night deepened and silence crept in, would she still be here? Or would I open my eyes and find everything gone?
I shook my head and gave my forehead a little knock. "Don't overthink it," I told myself.
"What do you want for dinner?" I asked, trying to shift the mood.
She leaned in suddenly, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "You," she said.
I froze, then burst into laughter. "You think you can handle that much food?"
"Wanna try and see?" she replied, her voice playful but her gaze unwavering.
I pretended to unbutton my shirt. "If I strip, you better be ready to take responsibility. I might turn into a beast."
She crossed her arms, undaunted. "Do it. Let's see who backs down first."
So I pulled off my shirt in one swift motion, revealing my decently toned torso. "Not bad, right? All those workouts finally paid off."
She gave me a once-over, then nodded approvingly. "Hmm, not bad. I'd give it… eighty out of a hundred."
"Only eighty?" I feigned disappointment.
"The rest depends on your performance tonight."
She said it so casually, but it made my heart skip a beat. We'd joked like this online, sure, but saying it face-to-face—it hit differently. My pulse quickened.
"Top down or bottom up?" I teased again, pushing my luck.
"You're incorrigible," she laughed, giving me a playful tap on the chest. Her fingertips were warm.
I seized the moment to lean in closer, lowering my body just enough to make her lean back slightly. But she didn't pull away. She held my gaze, that same spark of playful trust shining in her eyes.
"You really want me to eat you?" she asked, her voice low and laced with amusement.
"Of course," I replied, smirking. "I'm a gourmet meal, carefully prepared."
"Well, in that case… I don't eat anything sour." She wrinkled her nose in mock disgust.
I sniffed under my arm on reflex—and instantly regretted it. "Oh no... I forgot—I haven't showered in two days!"
She burst out laughing, her shoulders shaking with mirth. I raised my hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright! I'll go shower right now."
I grabbed a towel and headed for the bathroom. For a moment, I considered taking clean clothes, but then changed my mind. A towel would do. It's… uh, more breathable that way.
After the shower, I felt like a new man. My hair was still damp, and I was toweling it off as I walked back into the room, wondering if she was still there.
She was.
She lay quietly on my bed, curled like a sleeping cat. Her profile, lit by the warm lamp, looked peaceful—almost unreal in its beauty.
I sat down softly beside her, just watching for a while. Her hair draped gently across her cheek, not a strand out of place. One arm tucked under her head, her skin smooth and fair like ivory. I couldn't resist the urge to lightly brush my fingers along her arm. So soft, like silk.
The cheongsam she wore hugged her figure perfectly. The slit along her thigh revealed just a hint of long, fair skin. My eyes caught sight of a thin purple strap peeking out from under the hem.
My heart skipped a beat.
Look away, I reminded myself.
She isn't a fantasy. She isn't some toy. She's someone I truly care about.
I gently pulled a blanket over her and whispered, "Good night, Xiaowei."
Then I sat down at my desk and watched her sleep, my heart filled with a strange mix of warmth and sorrow.
If she were only a dream, why did she feel so real? And if she was real… why me?
Outside, the city fell quiet. Time itself seemed to pause.
I listened to the steady rhythm of her breathing, like a lullaby that soothed every lonely corner of my heart.
I didn't dare fall asleep—not yet. I was afraid that if I closed my eyes, she might vanish.
But she was still there.
At least for now, she was here.
And in this moment, she belonged to me.