"Old classmate" extinguished the flame that had ignited in Liang Yufeng's heart. He took a sip of Sprite and said dismissively, "There's nothing to say about the past."
"Alright, are you happy now?" Lan Lan already had an answer in her heart and didn't need him to reply. "I remember you never had any desire to be a leader before."
He was a contented person, without ambition, going with the flow. Back then, Lan Lan's breakup with him was partly due to this reason. However, she didn't look down on Liang Yufeng for it. She simply felt that their pursuits were different, and if he found someone whose pace matched his, their lives would likely be very comfortable.
Liang Yufeng's ability to get into a key major at Nanda was undoubtedly extraordinary. Even if he were more laid-back, he wouldn't be unable to find a job.
Liang Yufeng understood what Lan Lan was implying. He said mockingly, "That was the past. Don't act like you know me so well."
"Ok, ok," Lan Lan's emotions were not affected by his indifferent attitude. "Then let's not talk about it anymore. Let's eat."
Liang Yufeng, however, became sulky again because of her nonchalance. Lan Lan considered herself sensitive, but she couldn't fathom the reason for his anger. They ate skewers in silence, and Lan Lan even felt indigestion before finishing her meal.
Liang Yufeng silently paid the bill. They got into the car and returned to the hotel. As soon as they entered the room, Liang Yufeng dragged her to the floor-to-ceiling window and pulled off her skirt.
From the window to the bathroom, and finally to the bed, Lan Lan was initially angry. Later, she was so worn out by him that she lost her temper, her mind becoming hazy.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered, her voice weak, "What did I do to offend you, my ancestor?"
"Power is good, isn't it?" he replied, avoiding her question. His deep, dark eyes stared intently at her, his strong fingers gripping her shoulders so tightly they almost left marks. "If not for power, you wouldn't be lying beneath me now."
Only at this latter half of his sentence did Lan Lan understand. However, Liang Yufeng didn't give her a chance to speak and covered her mouth the next moment.
Before she fell asleep, Liang Yufeng's words kept playing in her mind, causing them to echo in her dreams that night.
The protagonist of the dream was, of course, Liang Yufeng. They were back in college, but it was the later stage of their relationship. By then, she had grown tired of him, while he was still as passionate as he had been at the beginning. She never compromised, so she proposed to break up. Then, the heavy rain reappeared in the dream. The difference was that she saw him collapse in the downpour with her own eyes.
The scene then shifted. The disheveled and humble man suddenly appeared in a suit and tie, like an intruder, entering her world. He ruined her job, cut off all her contact with the outside world, locked her in a basement, and tormented her day and night.
She asked him "why" in despair, and he told her, "Of course, it's for revenge."
He also said, "No wonder you love power so much. I love it now too. Without it, how could I have gotten you?"
After he uttered the words, "You'll never escape my grasp in this lifetime," Lan Lan woke up from this nightmare, drenched in sweat.
It was not yet dawn outside. She sat up abruptly. Her tense body only registered the lingering soreness from the previous night a few seconds later. The man beside her also woke up due to her sudden movement.
Liang Yufeng sat up and looked at the person sweating profusely beside him. "What's wrong?"
Lan Lan, still caught in the nightmare, instinctively took a step back upon seeing Liang Yufeng. "Don't come near me! Get away!"
Liang Yufeng: "..."
After her outburst, Lan Lan realized her失态. She rubbed her forehead and explained, "I had a nightmare. I'm going to get some water to calm myself down."
As she was about to get out of bed, Liang Yufeng held her back. "I'll get it for you."
Lan Lan's waist and legs were sore and weak, and she indeed lacked strength, so she let him. Before long, Liang Yufeng returned with water. As Lan Lan drank, Liang Yufeng began to wipe her sweat. This thoughtful gesture reminded her of the past.
She had been feeling increasingly off lately, constantly recalling memories of their relationship back then. This was not her usual style; she disliked dwelling on the past.
"What was your nightmare about?" Liang Yufeng had never seen Lan Lan wake up from a nightmare looking so unwell.
Lan Lan played with her water glass and recounted her dream to Liang Yufeng. After finishing, she asked, "Mr. Liang, you wouldn't be this twisted, would you?"
She had expected a definitive "no" from him. To her surprise, Liang Yufeng pondered for a moment and then said, "I think this dream is quite good."
Lan Lan: "?"
"If you don't behave, I'll lock you in the basement," Liang Yufeng said seriously, as if discussing a work plan. "I'll shackle your wrists and ankles, and your daily task will be to be x-ed by me." This would also prevent you from finding other men outside.
"You're a pervert!" Lan Lan warned him. "Get that idea out of your head. Breaking the law is not allowed."
"It depends on your behavior," Liang Yufeng said. "If you make me unhappy, I'll lock you up."
He seemed serious, with no hint of joking. Lan Lan felt a chill down her spine. This was undoubtedly more terrifying news than the nightmare. Liang Yufeng, after years of family struggles, had truly become a madman.
The sympathy and pity Lan Lan had felt for him in recent days vanished with these words. She hoped Liang Yufeng would get tired of her sooner rather than later...
The trip to Runcheng lasted for a week. Upon returning to Nanjiang, Lan Lan's life returned to its usual routine.
Liang Yufeng had left his work for a week, and a backlog of tasks had accumulated, which also gave Lan Lan some peace.
This Friday at noon, Lan Lan received a message from Liang Yufeng informing her that she didn't need to come over that evening, as he had plans for the weekend. Lan Lan couldn't have been happier and made plans to go shopping with Lin Mei and Feng Feng that evening.
A weekend alone meant she could indulge herself. Lan Lan slept until noon. If not for her hunger, she could have slept straight through to the evening.
After getting up, she saw a WeChat message from Gu Xiao, asking her to walk the dog again. She hadn't been able to go last time, but this time Lan Lan agreed. An hour later, she went to the park, where Gu Xiao had already arrived with his dog.
Upon seeing Lan Lan, Baozi rushed towards her. After petting the dog for a while, Lan Lan and Gu Xiao took their dogs to the riverside. As Baozi played in the water, Gu Xiao suddenly asked her, "Last week I went to your company, and they said you were on a business trip?"
"Yes, I had some matters to attend to and was sent out," Lan Lan replied, not mentioning Liang Yufeng.
However, Gu Xiao had already heard the gossip within Xinhe. He casually asked, "Have you and Liang Yufeng made up?"
"Not really," Lan Lan said. "You could say we're just casual sex partners."
The answer was within Gu Xiao's expectations. "As your ex-boyfriend, I shouldn't meddle, but I can't stand by and watch you get into trouble. Be careful lately."
Lan Lan: "Huh? What's wrong?"
Gu Xiao said, "Someone from the Xu family investigated you."