Chapter 39 Part 1: A Nightmare of Rejection

The gentle sunlight cast down softly, making Duan Yan’s face appear hazy and elusive in the interplay of light and shadow.

But her cold tone was like the harsh wind of winter, sharp and piercing, cutting straight to the heart.

“You have feelings for me?” Duan Yan’s tone was flat, as if discussing an insignificant matter. “Sorry, I don’t feel the same way about you.”

Song Jin looked incredulous, putting on an appearance that she thought Duan Yan would find most irresistible.

“But, didn’t you say before… that you had feelings for me? Your eyes, your smile, I thought all of that was…”

Duan Yan did not show any of the expected tenderness, remaining like a heartless stone sculpture, unwilling to even grant Song Jin an extra glance.

She turned on her heel, leaving behind a single, light sentence: “When was that? How come I don’t remember at all?”

Song Jin’s anger, like a lit fuse, instantly exploded.

“What do you mean by that? You kept saying you liked me, that you had a crush on me, and now that I’ve mustered the courage to tell you my feelings, you treat me like this?”

Duan Yan seemed completely unmoved by Song Jin’s words, her expression as calm as an autumn pond, without the slightest ripple.

Burning with anger, Song Jin strode forward, tightly gripping Duan Yan’s wrist and pushing her against the wall with almost all her might.

Duan Yan’s back hit the wall, but because Song Jin had cushioned her head with her hand, she wasn’t hurt.

Song Jin’s actions were no longer restrained as she kissed Duan Yan fiercely.

A look of resistance flashed in Duan Yan’s eyes.

“I’m going to punish you. You clearly like me, so why are you rejecting me?”

Song Jin’s eyes held grievance, unwillingness, and a hint of indescribable desire, her voice choked with sobs, yet her actions were forceful.

Duan Yan’s eyes were helpless, devoid of any passion, as she looked at Song Jin coldly. “I’ve never liked you. I really only see you as a junior.”

“Liar.”

Song Jin’s voice was filled with urgent questioning, her heart full of grievance. She felt as if she had been cruelly toyed with, tears welling up in her eyes, yet she fought to keep them from falling.

Not receiving the expected response, Song Jin’s patience instantly shattered.

Her eyes were wide and round, glistening with tears, looking pitiful.

She was the one doing something wrong, yet her expression was one of extreme grievance.

Duan Yan was caught off guard by this series of actions from Song Jin and, for a moment, was actually subdued by her.

Having gotten her way, Song Jin still looked wronged, her tears continuously falling onto Duan Yan.

“Quick, tell me, do you like me?”

Duan Yan gave a helpless smile, trying to explain.

“Where did you get that misunderstanding? Although we’re competitors, at most, I just care for you as a senior would for a junior. Where would any love come from?”

A flash of impatience crossed Song Jin’s face, and she blurted out, “I heard everything. You clearly told Auntie Lian that you like me.”

Duan Yan’s expression immediately turned serious. “You were eavesdropping on our conversation?”

Duan Yan’s face darkened, a hint of displeasure in her eyes as she stared at Song Jin coldly, as if she had been greatly deceived.

“No, I was just passing by.”

Song Jin hurriedly explained, but her voice still betrayed a hint of guilt.

Taking advantage of the moment, Duan Yan gently pushed Song Jin away, straightened her own clothes, and then gave Song Jin a cold look. “That was just something I said to brush someone off.”

Duan Yan’s tone revealed an unquestionable resolve, like a solid rock, her voice calm and steady, as if telling Song Jin that everything before was just a misunderstanding, not to be taken to heart.

With a loud “bang,” the door shut tightly, the sound hitting Song Jin’s heart like a heavy hammer, making her feel a wave of suffocation.

The moment the door closed, Song Jin felt the air around her become oppressive and heavy.

In that instant, the world lost its usual vibrancy, turning gray and blurry, like a painting that had lost all its color.

Song Jin stood frozen in place, the shock and helplessness in her heart rendering her immobile, unable to believe that she had actually been rejected by Duan Yan.

In the silence, tears slid down without a sound, like the long-suppressed emotions deep within Song Jin’s heart finally finding an outlet.

The teardrops gently traced a path down her cheeks, dripping onto her collar and leaving a series of faint, wet marks.

Song Jin awoke from the dream with a start, her heart pounding like a drum, her eyes wide as if still struggling to break free from the dream’s shadow.

Growing up, Song Jin had never experienced rejection; she was always the one waving a hand and easily rejecting others.

Besides, Duan Yan was clearly the one who pursued her first, how could she treat her like this?

‘Did she lose interest after she got me?’

Although it was just a dream, it revealed Song Jin’s deepest fears.

Startled by her rapid breathing, she slowly opened her drowsy eyes and asked in a gentle voice, “What’s wrong, Xiao Jin?”

The composed person slightly raised her chin, trying her best to hide it. “Just a dream, nothing serious.”

“What kind of dream?”

Duan Yan’s gaze fell on Song Jin’s face.

Song Jin took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, then slowly spoke. “Some issues about feelings.”

“Dreamt of an ex?”

Duan Yan lowered her head slightly, it was unclear what she was thinking.

Song Jin’s eyes suddenly widened, a wave of inexplicable panic rising in her heart.

‘Oh no, she almost forgot about that lie she had casually made up.’ To test Duan Yan’s attitude, she had fabricated a non-existent girlfriend.

Now, she could only bite the bullet and nod vaguely, trying to bluff her way through.

Duan Yan noticed Song Jin’s reaction, and her suspicions grew more certain.

She hadn’t expected Song Jin to still be upset over that fictional ex, and a sense of injustice welled up in her heart.

‘Was that person really worth this from Song Jin?’ In Duan Yan’s eyes, she was clearly not.

“It was just a dream. Everything is in the past. That kind of person isn’t worthy of your affection.”

She gently wrapped her arms around Song Jin’s shoulders, the warmth of her fingers transmitting through the fabric, bringing an inexplicable sense of security.

Hearing this, Song Jin didn’t know whether to confess or not, and in the end, she silently accepted Duan Yan’s comfort.

Duan Yan’s fingers were like a warm stream, slowly flowing through Song Jin’s heart.

With the two of them so close, Song Jin could almost feel the subtle changes in Duan Yan’s every breath.

That cool breath brushed gently against her neck, carrying the faint, elegant scent of lotus, making one involuntarily sink into this tranquil atmosphere.

Although she was rejected by Duan Yan in the dream, the two of them had still done such intimate things.

Recalling the tender affection from the dream, a blush like a spreading evening glow appeared on Song Jin’s earlobes. The blush seemed alive, dancing on her fair skin, reflecting her shyness and fluttering heart.

From this angle, Duan Yan’s neck was like white jade under the moonlight, fair and delicate, its lines elegantly tracing a perfect curve before disappearing beneath her collar, sparking endless imagination.

Thinking of the faint bite marks and fiery kiss marks left in the dream, Song Jin’s eyes flickered, and she hastily averted her gaze, afraid her hidden thoughts would be exposed.

“Mm, thank you, Duan-jiejie.”

Song Jin’s voice was soft, carrying a hint of barely perceptible shyness, and then she explained, “I’ve already broken up with her. We will absolutely not get back together.”

Duan Yan nodded gently, then slowly released the hand stroking Song Jin’s hair, glanced at the clock on the wall, and said softly, “It’s only four in the morning.”

“You can still sleep a little longer. Go on, sleep.”

She gently patted Song Jin’s hair, her movements soft and full of affection.

Song Jin nodded lightly, obediently lying back down on the bed, closing her eyes, relaxing her body, and gradually sinking into dreamland.