Chapter 14: Rain Dream

The rain started again, unnoticed.

Unlike the day’s sudden showers, this one was gentle, steady, as if it meant to fall all night.

The thick-browed boy leaned against the wall, head tilted, seemingly asleep.

A pang in your chest snapped you out of your daze, your gaze settling on him.

Stepping off the chair, the cool wooden floor touched your feet.

The real sensation reminded you that you were still alive.

Your dangling hair made you nauseous, but you pushed through, walking slowly to his side.

Even knowing some things about the future, he hadn’t lost hope.

Always bright, always optimistic—as if without a care, sleeping when tired.

But that youthful energy would fade.

You knew too well—the future you carried too much pressure, unable to smile freely or sleep easily. Closing your eyes, memories flashed, relentless.

In those quiet nights, sleep was impossible.

Even before that happened, work’s weight often made you want to cry out.

But you rarely did. And when you did… it was after drinking.

When did living become so exhausting?

You didn’t know.

Just as you couldn’t recall when your mindset aged, or when your face became that of a true middle-aged man.

Coming to, you were beside him.

You hesitated to reach out—not unsure about waking him, but unwilling to see your own pale, delicate arm.

You looked away, imagining it as a rough, ordinary man’s arm, then gently patted his shoulder.

No response.

He didn’t wake.

Instead, he tilted back, falling into your arms.

You held his head, looking at a face both familiar and strange. For some reason, you wanted to laugh and cry.

You didn’t understand yourself.

Maybe in decades of life, you never had.

Jing Hong Ye…

What kind of person was he?

For the first time, the self in your heart felt so foreign.

Still, you knelt slowly, letting him rest his head on your lap.

Unaware of your own faint smile, you simply felt the moment was warm.

With that woman, you’d longed to lie on her lap when exhausted, but she’d push you away with a laugh or dodge with faint disdain.

You were never angry.

You even found her plain face—unremarkable but for youth—beautiful from every angle.

You couldn’t fathom your own foolishness then.

Just as Sang Shen couldn’t grasp why the future you held such deep resentment.

His soft snores broke your thoughts. Looking down, you saw he slept more soundly on your lap.

Maybe it really was comforting.

You thought this, gently stroking his wild, messy hair.

In your heart, you told yourself:

Jing Hong Ye, no one in this world will love you. Unless that person is you.

Jing Hong Ye, no one in this world is worth your love. Unless that person is you.

But…

This heart was already broken.

Was it still worth loving?

Could it still love others?

***

Sang Shen had a terrifying dream.

In it, he walked through a bustling city. People surrounded him, yet none seemed human.

Especially the women.

Each was like a Van Gogh painting—abstract, beastly, walking upright in human clothes.

He moved among them, unable to stop, no matter how horrific the sights.

He passed through scenes:

On a train, a man helped a young woman lift luggage to the rack. Her timid smile hid mocking thoughts.

“He’s only helping because I’m pretty. Gross middle-aged man, stay away. His eyes are lewd, his smile creepy. He’s up to no good. Men are all trash.”

Sang Shen’s eyes widened in shock.

He kept moving, uncontrolled.

A boy jumped into water, dragging a girl to shore, only to sink, exhausted.

She stood on the bank, watching him drown, cold.

In her heart:

“I didn’t ask him to save me. He just wanted my beauty. He touched my private parts while saving me—disgusting! He deserves to die.”*

Sang Shen couldn’t believe a teenage girl could think this.

Worse, he couldn’t fathom why this plain girl thought herself beautiful.

Scenes shifted faster, voices flooding his mind.

Fast, yet every word was clear.

[“First, the Vietnam Metro Company should apologize to women, not hide behind the police! Second, even if a woman kills on the subway, dragging her out like that is wrong—she’s human!”]

[“Your wife cheated, and you divorce her? What kind of man are you!”]

[“…Regarding recent online news, our city’s police confirm it was consensual love.”]

[“…No violating women’s will!”]

[“I apologized, didn’t I? What more do you want? He wasn’t filming, but so many men do. So what if I falsely accused one?”]

[“We women don’t need men’s help. Men, mind your own business!”]

[“Men, where are you when we need help? Cowardly, disgusting creatures.”]

[“Petty over small things—aren’t you a man?”]

[“All men should die.”]

[“A driver stabbed multiple times by a female passenger. Investigation confirms she had a depressive episode. After mediation, both apologized.”]

[“A 35-year-old woman and an 8-year-old boy fought; she nearly lost her face.”]

[“All men are potential r*pists!”]

[“Only castrated men are good men.”]

[“Jing Hong Ye, I’ve awakened. I shouldn’t stay with you, suffering. I deserve better, and you can’t give it.”]

[“Haha, Jing Hong Ye, I say you’re a r*pist, so you are. The judge ruled in favor of me—got anything to say?”]

[“I won’t face karma, but you? A useless man, not long to live.”]

[“If I’d known you were this pathetic, I’d have dumped you sooner. A few million for a house is barely compensation for my youth.”]

[“What do you mean I’m not the old me? I’ve awakened. I won’t let men oppress me anymore!”]

His heart sank, filled with despair and sorrow.

What was wrong with that society?

How did it become like this?

Why was there only scheming, no trust, between people?

The world shouldn’t be like that.

It shouldn’t…

But what could a speck of history’s dust do?

He couldn’t even protect himself…

***

Sang Shen’s eyes snapped open.

The room’s light was still on.

The rain outside pattered steadily.

Not much time had passed.

The dream felt like a fleeting hallucination.

His face was wet, as if rained on.

He touched it—cool, faintly salty.

Not rain, but tears.

Pale green hair dangled, tickling his nose.

He realized he was lying on Yin Xing’s lap.

Her thighs were soft, warm.

Somehow, knowing he’d had that dream on her lap eased the despair a little.

She didn’t talk much, seemed weary of the world.

Yet, unintentionally, she showed a gentleness buried deep inside.

That instinctive warmth was comforting.

Her green lashes fluttered as the elfin girl opened her eyes.

Their gazes met.

Sang Shen smiled sheepishly, reluctant to move from her lap.

“Ahem, you fell asleep sitting here too?”

“…You too.”

“I don’t even remember. I was reading newspapers, then passed out.”

Sang Shen took a deep breath.

“And I had a dream. Messy, but terrifying…”

“Really.”

“I think… it wasn’t just a dream. Maybe your memories? Is the future like that?”

“Yeah.”

“If it’s really like that, I’d rather the world end…”

Sang Shen gave a bitter smile.

“We… can’t do much.”

“Yeah, but… I can protect those close to me. And you, you can change the future, stop those things from happening to you.”

Yin Xing didn’t reply. She stared blankly into his eyes.

“…Leg’s numb.”

“Oh! I’ll get up!”

Sang Shen scrambled up, apologetic.

“Sorry, didn’t think about your body…”

“…”

“I didn’t crawl onto your lap myself, did I?”

“…You did.”

Yin Xing looked away.

“Wandered to your lap in a daze? Ahem… didn’t know I sleepwalked…”

Sang Shen coughed.

“Leg still numb? Rest a bit before standing, so you don’t get dizzy. Oh, I made rice balls. Hungry? Want some?”

Yin Xing stood, leaning on the wall, tossing out, “Tired,” and shuffled to the door, pushing it open.

“I’ll walk you to your room! Don’t fall.”

“…”

Yin Xing didn’t answer, letting him hold her shoulder.

The midnight rain was inky black. Her hair lifted and fell in the damp breeze—

Unable to resist, it swayed as the wind willed…

For a moment, Sang Shen felt the breeze carried more than just air.