She Comes Into My Dreams Every Night - Chapter 26

Chapter 26: Don’t Be Afraid

Dinner was ready.

Because Lin Jue had been here for lunch, Su Huaiwang had consciously made a rich and elaborate meal. She didn’t know how Lin Jue found it, but she herself had eaten until she was stuffed.

In comparison, dinner was much simpler, just a bowl of clear soup noodles with few ingredients.

Even this, Su Huaiwang ate distractedly.

She simply wasn’t in the mood to eat.

She couldn’t be blamed; anyone who suspected they were caught up in a supernatural event and questioned their own sanity would lose their appetite.

The result was that she only ate half a bowl of noodles, not even touching the poached egg buried at the bottom. Fortunately, she had two dogs at home. Cleaning it up and giving it to them as an extra meal wasn’t a waste of food.

As she poured the noodles into the dog bowls, Lin Jue’s image flashed through her mind.

Earlier today, Lin Jue had been doing the same thing, helping her feed the three pets.

Su Huaiwang stood up, drifting away vaguely. Dahui and Xiaohuang, who hadn’t yet received her feeding command, followed her, whining anxiously.

But Su Huaiwang seemed unaware.

She floated to her phone and opened a social media app as if sleepwalking.

She didn’t have many contacts on her social media. Aside from some miscellaneous group chats, only Tu Zhuozhuo and Lin Jue had a message history with her.

A swipe of her finger and Lin Jue’s name appeared.

Their conversation stopped two days ago, when Su Huaiwang asked if they should see Tu Zhuozhuo off together. It wasn’t a long exchange, and Su Huaiwang quickly ended it with an emoji.

Now, she lingered on the screen, her fingers unconsciously tapping the screen, opening and closing the input box repeatedly, agonizing over what to do.

How could she politely, yet distantly, ask a new neighbor she’d only known for a month—who had just spent the night at her place—to spend the night at her house again tonight?

Especially considering she’d gotten drunk last night and dragged the other person onto her bed. How should she phrase this message to make it clear she wasn’t interested in the other person’s body and wasn’t looking to pursue a romantic relationship?

Slap! Su Huaiwang’s hand hit her face hard, covering half of it.

Her brain must be broken, she must have been driven crazy by the wet dreams.

She lowered her hand, her gaze resolute.

She couldn’t send this message. The reason: the best way to keep a secret is not to do it in the first place.

Given the current situation, a romantic relationship was unlikely, but saying she wasn’t interested in the other person’s body was clearly impossible.

This was a fact that could not be concealed, no matter how eloquently she tried to talk her way out of it.

Su Huaiwang sighed, put down her phone, and looked at the clock on the wall.

Eight p.m. The sky outside was completely dark. Su Huaiwang glanced briefly at the menacing darkness, which seemed ready to devour someone, and quickly withdrew her gaze.

In the past two years, she had lived here without ever feeling this afraid.

She pursed her lips, retrieved her phone, and hesitated on the contacts page.

It wasn’t until a melancholic bark sounded beside her that she remembered what she was doing. She quickly said, “Eat.”

The two dogs, who had been anxiously waiting, wagged their tails and went to their bowls.

Su Huaiwang watched them eat with a bit of apology, then withdrew her gaze and focused on her phone again.

The originally blank page had changed; a new message had appeared.

It was from Lin Jue.

【Lin Jue】: What’s wrong?

Su Huaiwang’s heart skipped a beat, and she sent back a question mark.

【Lin Jue】: The page kept showing ‘typing…’ What’s going on?

Su Huaiwang felt somewhat defeated. It seemed the other person had been watching her agonize over this the whole time.

【Su Huaiwang】: Nothing, just wondering what you thought of the wine last night.

Su Huaiwang quickly came up with an excuse.

【Lin Jue】: It was quite good.

【Su Huaiwang】: Do you want to take a few bottles? I have many, and I can’t finish them all.

【Lin Jue】: Sure, but it’s a bit late now.

Upon seeing Lin Jue’s message, Su Huaiwang’s heart instantly chilled.

Based on her experience, the other person was about to say she would come tomorrow, and the help she sought tonight would be in vain.

【Lin Jue】: It’s not safe for you to come out. Should I come over? Are you free now?

The new message came out a little late. In that moment, Su Huaiwang genuinely wanted to hug Lin Jue tightly and kiss her twice.

Lin Jue was too kind!

Her typing hand was trembling slightly.

【Su Huaiwang】: Sure, come over. Be careful!

It was actually a little funny. Two people living less than a hundred meters apart felt unsafe walking that distance, and if Tu Zhuozhuo saw this, she would surely roll her eyes and call it a couple’s game.

After she sent the message, Lin Jue simply replied with a concise “Okay” and no further messages.

Inside the villa, the two dogs’ eating sounds were audible. Su Huaiwang restlessly paced back and forth, feeling a bit excited.

The doorbell rang quickly. Lin Jue’s speed was astonishing.

Su Huaiwang didn’t act rashly; she first sent Lin Jue a message.

【Su Huaiwang】: Are you at the door?

【Lin Jue】: Yes, it’s me.

Few people use periods when communicating online. Occasionally, a period can even be perceived as passive-aggressive. But for Su Huaiwang now, seeing the period at the end of Lin Jue’s sentence was immensely reassuring and touching.

She scurried to the door, peeped through the peephole to see Lin Jue holding something, and quickly opened the door.

“Come in, come in quickly!” Su Huaiwang was unusually excited. After letting Lin Jue in, she quickly shut the door with a speed that suggested she was trying to keep something out.

Lin Jue looked at her curiously: “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, nothing. Just excited to see you,” Su Huaiwang said with an awkward laugh.

Lin Jue’s eyebrows relaxed. Although she knew the other person was just joking, the statement was very effective on her: “Is that so? Then perhaps I should also look a little excited.”

“Uh, uh, that… there’s no need for that…” Su Huaiwang belatedly felt embarrassed, her face turning crimson.

She glanced at the item in Lin Jue’s arms and quickly changed the subject: “You didn’t have to bring anything when you came over.”

Her diversion worked. Lin Jue looked down and held up the bag: “I brought you some oranges. Citrus fruits can help with a hangover.”

A pile of bright yellow oranges rolled around in the bag. Although it was a kind gesture, Su Huaiwang felt even more awkward, recalling the series of what could only be called sexual harassment acts she committed while drunk last night.

“Th-thank you,” Su Huaiwang accepted the oranges, blushing.

“Oh, and this,” Lin Jue fumbled around on her body, pulling out a short, thick white candle from seemingly nowhere: “It’s an aromatherapy candle. It helps with sleep.”

“Why did you suddenly bring me this?” Su Huaiwang asked, taking the candle with both hands, somewhat stunned.

The beautiful girl in front of her smiled: “When I slept with you last night, I felt you seemed to have some trouble falling asleep, so I thought this might help, even if it’s just for psychological comfort.”

“Thank you.” Su Huaiwang’s wildly beating heart calmed down. She was genuinely touched now. Not only was the other person not angry about her rudeness last night, but she also thoughtfully brought her an aromatherapy candle.

Although Su Huaiwang had tried these candles before and they had no effect on her, the other person’s sincerity was invaluable.

She leaned in to smell the candle. It was a strange yet familiar scent, one she had never encountered in other aromatherapy products.

It was a bit like… Lin Jue’s own scent: sandalwood mixed with a cold feeling, refreshing, but completely different from mint. More like the wind blowing on a cold night.

Suppressing the restless emotions in her heart, Su Huaiwang thanked Lin Jue again.

Looking up, she saw Lin Jue watching her with concern.

Lin Jue took a step forward, her voice filled with undisguised worry:

“What’s wrong? You look so pale. Is your head still hurting? Is your stomach okay?”

Facing those amber eyes, which seemed to contain a hint of moisture, Su Huaiwang felt dizzy, making her wonder if the un-metabolized alcohol was surging again.

“I’m fine…” Su Huaiwang murmured, shifting her gaze away from her.

Lin Jue reached out and gently hooked her little finger. Su Huaiwang showed no outward signs of resistance, but internally, a massive storm was brewing.

“Remember to tell me if anything is bothering you.” Lin Jue smiled again, but this time with a hint of testing: “Remember? Good neighbors are better than distant relatives.”

Unfortunately, Su Huaiwang’s attention was entirely focused on their touching fingers, completely missing the subtle nuances. She only nodded perfunctorily in agreement, her gaze uncontrollably drifting to her own stiff little finger.

Lin Jue released her hand and took a step back, the unusual element in her smile disappearing: “That’s good. Didn’t you say you wanted to give me some wine? Take me to get it, then?”

As a result, under Lin Jue’s deliberate guidance, Su Huaiwang quickly fulfilled the excuse she had used to call her over and watched Lin Jue walk out the villa door.

Her true goal remained unachieved. Su Huaiwang slumped onto the sofa, wishing she could cry.

Lin Jue had come over and shown her so much care; how could she possibly ask anything more of her?

Even someone with Tu Zhuozhuo’s brazenness probably couldn’t bring herself to say it!

After lying on the sofa with her face covered for a while, Su Huaiwang decided to accept reality.

At ten p.m., Su Huaiwang was lying in bed, having uncharacteristically left a small nightlight on—something she hadn’t done since she was a child.

Even the three pets were allowed to sleep in the bedroom with her tonight. Mimi was currently curled up at the foot of the bed, its furry rear facing her.

The moment she closed her eyes, all sorts of memories and thoughts churned together, boring into her nerves.

It seemed windy tonight, howling as if someone was knocking on the windowsill.

Su Huaiwang forced her eyes shut, her heart pounding.

The clock ticked by, minute by minute. Half an hour passed. Sleepiness had completely slipped away. Su Huaiwang was experiencing insomnia again.

She sat up in bed, went to the bathroom, drank some water—a practiced routine. Sitting back on the bed, she stayed put, spacing out for a while.

Then she got up and left the room. When she returned this time, she was holding something in her hand.

Lighting the aromatherapy candle Lin Jue had given her, Su Huaiwang let out a long sigh, uncontrollably thinking of Lin Jue amidst the dim darkness and the lingering scent.

Lin Jue, her new neighbor, new friend, with a beautiful face, kind personality, skillful abilities, well-developed aesthetic sense, and… fingers like carved jade?

Su Huaiwang’s eyes snapped open, her chest heaving.

A moment later, her eyes closed again.

In the darkness caused by her eyelids, the light from the nightlight faintly and shallowly spread.

It was strange. Why weren’t the wet dreams fading away without a trace?

Why did they repeat in her sleepless mind, tormenting her body, yet filling her with an uncontrollable sense of anticipation and excitement?

Something was throbbing, yearning for spring. The things Lin Jue did to her in the dream played out frame by frame in her mind.

Fear and unease had been completely expelled. Now her mind was only filled with…

Su Huaiwang opened her eyes, turned her head, and looked directly at the inconspicuous cabinet.

She bit her lip. The pain couldn’t stop the surging urge in her body; instead, it intensified it.

She felt like she was going crazy.