Under the cold, pale moonlight, Mu Qi's eyes darted back and forth in his sleep, his brow furrowed slightly.
Suddenly, Mu Qi jolted awake and looked at the empty space beside him.
"Niannian," Mu Qi sat up abruptly from the bed.
After Mu Qi's voice faded, the room seemed even more vacant and silent. Mu Qi, his face grim, panted a few times, and without bothering to put on his slippers, he was about to rush out.
A refined scent of trees, mixed with a hint of the ocean's brininess, wafted from behind Mu Qi, successfully stopping him in his tracks.
Mu Qi turned to look at the slightly ajar one-way glass door behind him. This door led directly outside.
Mu Qi's handsome brows deepened as he hurried over.
"Niannian!"
Yun Shuyuan hadn't gone far, and Mu Qi quickly spotted her figure lying on the ground.
Mu Qi's pupils constricted sharply. He dashed to Yun Shuyuan's side and scooped her up from the ground.
Yun Shuyuan did not stir at Mu Qi's voice. She lay quietly in his arms, only the rising and falling of her chest indicating that she was alive.
"Niannian, Niannian, wake up." Mu Qi gently shook Yun Shuyuan, but she seemed oblivious to her surroundings, remaining motionless.
Mu Qi, his face etched with anxiety, picked Yun Shuyuan up in his arms and placed her back on the bed.
"Niannian."
Mu Qi looked down at Yun Shuyuan, cradling her face with one hand, trying to wake her.
However, no matter how much Mu Qi called out, Yun Shuyuan showed no sign of waking.
Mu Qi released Yun Shuyuan and, with trembling hands, took out her phone from her bag.
...
Mu Qi?
At this moment, Yun Shuyuan, lost in slumber, seemed to have entered another complete world.
In front of Yun Shuyuan was a person with Mu Qi's face. Except for long hair, they were otherwise indistinguishable from the Mu Qi she knew.
At this moment, Mu Qi was playing chess under a phoenix tree. Yun Shuyuan was hiding behind a large tree, secretly watching him. The person with their back to her was indistinguishable.
Yun Shuyuan wanted to observe her surroundings, but for some reason, her eyes were fixed on Mu Qi, unable to look away.
"Zhaoxue, the Divine Daughter's ten-thousand-year birthday is approaching. Have you thought about making an appearance at the Heavenly Emperor's side these days?"
"The Wine Immortal is joking."
Yun Shuyuan saw Mu Qi lower his gaze and utter this sentence before looking up again.
Who was the Divine Daughter?
Even though Mu Qi showed no reaction to the Divine Daughter mentioned, seeing Mu Qi's exceptionally handsome and unparalleled face, Yun Shuyuan's heart was filled with a deep pang of bitterness.
"It's getting late, so I won't disturb the Wine Immortal from seeking good wine in the mortal realm." Zhaoxue placed the chess piece back into the box, then cupped his hands and turned to leave.
The Wine Immortal quickly swallowed the wine in his mouth, pointed at Zhaoxue's retreating back, and leaned back, saying, "It's not even dark in the mortal realm yet! How can you just dump this responsibility on me?"
Zhaoxue ignored the Wine Immortal and quickened his pace.
The Wine Immortal retracted the hand pointing at Mu Qi, then held his wine pot with both hands, taking several large gulps, and let out a sigh of relief.
As Yun Shuyuan, who was hiding behind the tree, watched Mu Qi's figure walk further and further away, she finally moved when his figure completely disappeared. She walked in the opposite direction of Mu Qi.
What kind of dream was this? Why did it have self-awareness, yet her body was not under her control?
Yun Shuyuan looked at the hazy scenery caused by her walking, feeling a sense of mystery that was both familiar and strange.
Yun Shuyuan didn't know what the current situation was, so she could only remain still.
Soon, Yun Shuyuan's body arrived at a residence filled with osmanthus trees.
Yun Shuyuan's body calmly walked in. Beautiful women on either side bowed and said, "Your Highness."
Yun Shuyuan nodded slightly.
Yun Shuyuan's body proceeded directly into a tea room. Upon seeing Yun Shuyuan arrive, the attendants immediately curtsied and then moved to the tea table to begin preparing tea for Yun Shuyuan.
The tea was soon ready. Wisps of white mist floated above the teacup. Yun Shuyuan didn't know what material the cup was made of, but it didn't feel hot to the touch.
Holding a cup of tea, Yun Shuyuan looked out the window, her gaze distant, lost in thought. She drank cup after cup of tea, becoming more and more alert.
Suddenly, the tea room door opened. Yun Shuyuan turned towards the sound and saw a small white Pekingese dog with curly fur, carrying a chrysanthemum in its mouth, come bounding in.
A white dog with a yellow chrysanthemum.
Hmm, something felt a bit off.
Yun Shuyuan looked down at the little Pekingese wagging its tail happily and circling around her. Yun Shuyuan was still... still speechless.
"Go, play by yourself." Yun Shuyuan lifted her foot slightly but controlled herself so as not to touch the little Pekingese.
As Yun Shuyuan's body turned back, her heart filled with warmth.
"Little Fairy."
As if fate didn't want Yun Shuyuan to drink tea until late at night, a mature female voice came from behind her not long after.
Yun Shuyuan's crescent eyes transformed into a pair of crescent moons.
Yun Shuyuan turned and saw a familiar figure.
Ling Xue?
Yun Shuyuan instinctively became defensive, but her body, against her will, took light, brisk steps towards Ling Xue.
"You haven't visited me in Qing Qiu for a while. Little Immortal, have you forgotten your sister?"
The person who looked very much like Ling Xue provocatively lifted Yun Shuyuan's chin. Her seductive and teasing demeanor sent shivers down Yun Shuyuan's spine.
Yun Shuyuan's body, along with the so-called "sister," sat down.
"This is new tea my father brought me. Sister, please try some."
Yun Shuyuan watched with extreme resistance as her own body personally poured tea for "Ling Xue" and then personally handed it to Ling Xue.
Yun Shuyuan: "Sister, why do you have time to visit me today?"
The "sister," who was looking down at the tea, raised her head. "Naturally, it's because I haven't seen my dear sister for a long time, and I miss you dearly."
Yun Shuyuan looked up and saw that "Ling Xue's" expression was not one of sadness, but of seduction. She thought, beautiful people are indeed skilled at deception.
Yun Shuyuan said no more and drank her tea sip by sip.
A moment later, "Ling Xue," her face partially covered, drank the tea.
"This tea..."
"Ling Xue's" tone was extremely slow, as if savoring it.