In that moment, her entire being froze—her breath caught, her body locked in place, and her heart felt as though someone had seized it in an iron grip. The pain gripped her so tightly it stole the air from her lungs, rippling through her chest and limbs like a wave of suffocating cold. Even the "her" in the dream could feel that crushing anguish.
What followed was a long, icy night—an endless darkness stretching around her like a void. And then came a dream even more terrifying than the last.
Ye Ruihuan jolted awake from that nightmare, her body still trembling with the pain she couldn't quite describe. Even now, fully conscious, she could feel its lingering echo.
Confusion clouded her mind. The latter half of the dream was fragmented and strange—an erratic swirl of emotions and events that defied logic. And the message within it… What did it mean? Had their breakup really been caused by that party? Ye Ruihuan didn't think so. Yet with the dream offering no clear answers, and with memories scattered like shards, she was left without clarity.
For some reason, she suddenly thought of Dong Yulan. Could it be because of her? It was true that Ye Ruihuan's initial approach had been impure—something she was painfully aware of. Knowing Lin Ruijiao's personality, it was entirely possible she'd found something out.
But Ye Ruihuan didn't want to jump to conclusions. The dream had given her too little. Deep down, she had a strong feeling—there would be more. She believed she would dream of what came next. She had to believe.
Back at home, Ye Ruihuan wandered aimlessly, not without trying to gather information. She'd already asked Xiao Li to look into Lin Ruijiao's schedule, but it was all minor appearances or variety shows—places Ye Ruihuan had little interest in being. In the end, she could only scroll endlessly through news and updates about her little bunny online.
"Sister Ye, XX Magazine just sent an invitation. They'd like you on the cover…"
"Great. Take it," Ye Ruihuan answered without hesitation. It had been ages since a proper job offer came her way. Of course she'd go.
Xiao Li continued to report on other gigs, but most were disappointing. Ye Ruihuan waved her hand dismissively.
"Also… Sister Lin was invited by XX Magazine as well."
Ye Ruihuan raised an eyebrow. "Perfect. We'll go together." Her eyes lit up instantly.
She hadn't expected her little rabbit to be doing this well in the industry. Already invited by one of the world's four major magazines? A strange surge of pride warmed her chest.
She didn't know what Lin Ruijiao had been up to lately—she hadn't returned home in days. The thought brought a soft sigh from Ye Ruihuan's lips. For some reason, she felt like a lonely old woman abandoned in an empty nest.
Time crawled without Lin Ruijiao around. Only five days had passed, yet it felt like an eternity. Finally, the day of the shoot arrived. Ye Ruihuan, ever punctual, had gotten ready early and arrived on set… only to wait. Half the day had passed, and there was still no sign of her little rabbit.
"Xiao Li, are you sure she's scheduled to be here today?" she asked lazily, sipping her coffee.
"Her name's on the list. Maybe she's just stuck in traffic?" Xiao Li dabbed at nonexistent sweat on her brow. Her intel was solid—Lin Ruijiao was definitely meant to be here.
Still, with all the twists between Ye Ruihuan and Lin Ruijiao lately, she couldn't help feeling uneasy. Quietly, she texted Jing Jing to double-check.
Just then, a crowd entered the studio. At the center was a face Ye Ruihuan had dreamed about day and night—Lin Ruijiao, her smile radiant and graceful. But before Ye Ruihuan could fully react, her eyes landed on the woman beside her. A stranger, close in proximity, close in manner. Intimately close.
Ye Ruihuan's eyes dimmed.
Her brows furrowed ever so slightly as she took in the unfamiliar woman's features. Something about her seemed vaguely familiar, but the name escaped her.
"That's Chen Yin from A Entertainment," Xiao Li quickly whispered. "She was in the Phoenix production with Sister Lin."
Lin Ruijiao had immediately felt a familiar gaze on her the moment she entered. Looking up, she saw Ye Ruihuan sitting right there.
"She's here too?"
Ye Ruihuan was notoriously picky about her appearances, and their career trajectories were worlds apart. What were the odds? Then again, this was XX Magazine, one of the industry giants. Anything could happen.
Chen Yin was an old acquaintance from the Phoenix set. They'd seen each other through several events, and over time, developed a solid friendship.
"Ruijiao, Sister Ye's here. Let's go say hi," Chen Yin tugged at her gently.
Online gossip had been rampant for weeks. Chen Yin had asked Lin Ruijiao directly about her relationship with Ye Ruihuan and learned the truth was nothing like the rumors. And with a senior present, etiquette demanded they greet her together.
"Hello, Sister Ye," Chen Yin said sweetly, her smile perfectly poised.
"Hello, Sister Ye." Lin Ruijiao followed softly. In public, she kept their connection deliberately vague. To her friends, she said simply: They're not close, but not distant either.
So, a greeting was just good manners.
"Mm," Ye Ruihuan acknowledged the gesture, but her gaze never left Lin Ruijiao. Her eyes gleamed with an unreadable emotion. They lingered on the two women's intertwined arms.
In that instant, Ye Ruihuan's eyes darkened again. She had never been that physically close with her little bunny. "Why her? Why is it okay for her?"
Everyone else could hold her affection so easily, but Ye Ruihuan could not. The disparity clawed at her, fierce and relentless. Whenever she encountered Lin Ruijiao outside, there was always a strange discomfort—awkward, guilty, uneasy.
She'd never expected to meet Ye Ruihuan like this, not here. Flustered, she quickly pulled Chen Yin away.
Xiao Li instinctively took two steps back. Moments like this called for invisibility. Sister Ye was clearly jealous—it was practically radiating off her. Jing Jing met her eyes across the room and nodded subtly. A silent understanding passed between them.
Soon, the stylists rushed in to begin makeup. Thankfully, the hair design was simple: straight black locks, tied with traditional pins into elegant shapes. The makeup, however, was bold—deep hues in a rich, distinctly Chinese aesthetic.
When Ye Ruihuan stepped out in costume, the other two were already filming.
Their outfits were stunning—antique, lavish, and intricate. One wore black with golden embroidery, the other white with silver thread. Jade ornaments hung at their waists, each detail exquisite.
Together, they looked like a pair of twin blossoms—visually arresting and utterly ethereal.
Especially Lin Ruijiao, cloaked in white. She looked more delicate than ever, pure and radiant, like a white lotus standing in serene waters—untouched, untainted, a beauty too sacred to defile. Ye Ruihuan was momentarily transfixed. Her world blurred at the edges, all sound fell away. In her eyes, there was only Lin Ruijiao—dazzling and pristine at the center of it all.
She wanted nothing more than to walk up and take her into her arms.