Chapter 292: A Young Dream
Sang Zhe didn’t really like being forced to drink.
Because every time he was pressured to drink, it would unconsciously remind him of his previous life, dealing with social gatherings.
He was a small leader back at the company and often got called out to drink with clients.
Surrounded by guys who pretended to be best friends despite having no real friendship, as if not drinking enough meant they weren’t close enough.
The problem was, by the end of the night, he really felt terrible; his stomach hurt, his head hurt, and his throat hurt too.
Sang Zhe would rather go to a bar by himself, order a couple of cocktails, get a bit tipsy, then comfortably head home for a good night’s sleep.
…But this time, he didn’t want to disappoint Tang Yubbing.
This world, compared to his last, made it convenient not to drink to the point of feeling like dying. Worst-case scenario, he could use his spiritual energy to force the alcohol out of his body.
But most of the time, once he started drinking, it was either feeling nothing or blackout.
Sang Zhe usually spent most of the time feeling nothing, then suddenly blacking out at some random second.
Right now, he didn’t want to force the alcohol out at all.
He just wanted to lay there drunkenly. Absolutely still.
“…Yubing sister, hic, as long as you’re happy…”
Sang Zhe lay on the table, his words a bit slurred: “Before coming here, I was worried… I’ve never seen much of the world, and I’m not good with etiquette. Will I… upset your parents?”
Tang Yubbing fell silent, quietly wiping Sang Zhe’s forehead with a wet towel.
Her beautiful eyes were filled with unexplainable pity and heartache.
“How was it… I didn’t embarrass Yubing sister… did I?”
Sang Zhe’s voice grew softer.
But his snoring got louder.
Tang Yubbing stopped wiping his forehead, lost in thought as she looked at his side profile, sitting beside him.
…When exactly did it start?
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t remember.
Tang Yubbing could still clearly recall the first time she saw Sang Zhe.
…Here, I’ve handed him over to you.
Her sect leader had tossed a bloodied, bony, and dirty boy at her without even taking off her hooded cloak.
He had already passed out, his body still displaying horrifying wounds, both new and old, making it hard to imagine what he had endured.
Back then, she didn’t pay much attention to this boy who looked like a stray dog. She even complained about her sect leader’s strange habit of picking up things randomly. The Demon Cult wasn’t a stray cat and dog rescue center.
Tang Yubbing also remembered that the next day, when Sang Zhe woke up and saw he was lying naked in the pool, the wary and dangerous look in his eyes.
He looked just like a scared stray animal.
…It’s okay now. You’re safe.
From now on, you’ll work as a helper in the Punishment Department. Comforting him like this.
These memories were very clear for Tang Yubbing.
Remembering how, in the first few days after he arrived, he wouldn’t even speak.
Then gradually, he started to whisper to her, “My name is… Sang Zhe…”
Soon after, the Punishment Department was filled with his diligent figure running around.
And finally, almost every day at work, she could see that bright smile of the boy greeting her.
“Yubing sister, good morning!”
In her memory, Sang Zhe had always been this way.
A bit fragile, introverted, antisocial, and shy.
Although he would show his sincere and kind side to acquaintances, deep down, it felt like he always hid a lonely little beast.
That little beast stayed hidden in a place where no one could see, silently licking its fresh and old wounds, unwilling to look up at the outside world.
Sometimes, seeing Sang Zhe’s smile, Tang Yubbing would feel a bit strange and uncomfortable.
Like she had never truly seen the real side of the boy, that elusive feeling of distance always made her a bit lonely.
…
But.
When did it start?
No matter how she tried to remember, she couldn’t.
Maybe it happened overnight.
Or perhaps over a long period she didn’t notice.
He was no longer the boy who only wanted to survive and earn money.
He had grown taller than her. The softness of his youthful round face had sharpened into defined angles.
His smile remained carefree, almost childlike.
But Tang Yubbing knew, he was no longer that boy who waited in the office every day, enthusiastically calling her “Yubing sister.”
He had become exceptional. Dazzling. Strong and mysterious.
The people around him were increasing.
Tang Yubbing felt like she was watching a flawless magnet, seeing everyone around her being drawn to him, circling around him.
…Except for herself.
It felt like she was still living in that time.
That time when she eagerly awaited going to work, just to hear the boy’s cheerful voice.
That time when, no matter where she was in the office, there was always a little tail following her closely.
That time when it seemed like she could turn around and hear his familiar voice: “Yubing sister, do you have work for me?”
“I can do it! I’m not afraid of getting tired!”
…
Tick-tock.
Tang Yubbing suddenly noticed, she didn’t know when, that her eyes were slightly moist.
She quickly wiped her eyes, suddenly remembering that the whole room only had the sleeping Sang Zhe next to her. Even in her messiness, no one would notice.
She recalled this afternoon when Sang Zhe had unexpectedly taken her hand in front of everyone.
…I swear for the rest of my life.
…To marry Tang Yubbing as my wife, to stand by each other, growing old together.
…To never let you down.
That scene always felt strangely familiar, like a dream she’d had before.
So when Sang Zhe publicly said those words, Tang Yubbing was momentarily dazed.
She could barely tell if this was really happening or if she was still dreaming.
Was she still at home? Sleeping at her desk?
Was that hand-holding boy, proclaiming he would marry her, the same one who would gently pat her shoulder when he woke up?
…Yubing sister? Are you awake?
…Is there any work for me this afternoon? I’m super fast at running errands!
——
——
In the room, Sang Zhe snored like thunder.
Even in sleep, Sang Zhe’s profile bore a smile, looking somewhat ridiculous and adorable.
Tang Yubbing didn’t even realize when her hand gently touched his cheek.
The movement was soft, as if touching a fragile sheet of paper.
In the reflection of the paper, the skinny boy curled up into a ball no longer looked at her with wary eyes.
Instead, he smiled and held her hand.
“Ah.” Tang Yubbing suddenly murmured softly.
“So… this is how it is.”
So it turns out.
The person who held her hand in the dream.
And the boy who smiled at her, trailing behind her in her memories.
Were, all along, one and the same.
He was the boy from the past, gradually grown up.
He was her past dream.
…Blooming and sprouting.
