Chapter Forty-Seven: Together Again in Slumber—A Dance? Noga’s Extra Update

Exhausted and drowsy, I closed my eyes and felt myself slip back into the dream. Someone pressed down on me, a hand sliding quickly downward, stopping just below my abdomen. His voice was alluring and melodious: “Don’t worry, don’t worry.”

I had no strength in my body, my mind dizzy as I grasped his hand, trying hard to see his face, trying to remember something, yet at the same time wanting to forget. There was a devilish smile on his face as his hand continued its movement. I began to tremble all over, my mind a swirling haze.

All I could sense was the coolness of his body, which felt strangely pleasant. No, something was wrong—clearly, I could feel a part of him growing larger. The rest of what happened is a blur; the only thing I remember is crying out and then losing consciousness.

I was jolted awake by blinding sunlight. Turning over, I gave a startled cry. My head throbbed with pain. Lifting the covers, I saw that I was naked, my body covered in bruises and marks of varying depths. Wrapping myself in the sheet, I screamed again when I noticed a half-dried patch of blood on the bedsheet. I slapped Du Fanchuan across the face: “You wretch, what did you do to me?”

He woke with my slap, staring at me in shock for several seconds before understanding what had happened. Panic flooded his face, turning it pale as he looked at me in silence.

I tried to recall the events of last night. It seemed I’d gone to a bar with him, we’d drunk together, gotten drunk, and then...

And then...

I shook my head. It seemed someone had entered my bedroom later and done something unforgivable to me. But I couldn’t remember clearly if that person was really Du Fanchuan.

Another face flashed through my mind, but if it truly was someone else, then why was Du Fanchuan the one lying beside me now?

At that moment, the bedroom door was kicked open. My father stood at the threshold with Yi Huayang, Rong Luozheng, Uncle Du, and Aunt Du.

Du Fanchuan was so frightened he tumbled out of bed. My father took one look at the shredded clothes strewn across the floor, then at my disheveled state, and immediately understood what had happened. Furious, he rushed over and began beating Du Fanchuan.

I jumped out of bed, clutching the sheet around me, and shielded Du Fanchuan, glaring fiercely at my father. “Don’t you dare hit him.”

My father raised his hand as if to strike me, then turned away in exasperation. “Put your clothes on.”

I helped Du Fanchuan to his feet. Tears brimmed in his eyes. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, I was drunk, I…”

I shook my head. “It’s alright, don’t apologize. I don’t blame you.”

Aunt Du was sobbing uncontrollably as she asked, “What on earth happened?”

Yi Huayang spoke with a mocking tone, “Isn’t it obvious? Two people who still aren’t over each other ended up back in bed together.”

It was the first time I’d ever seen Aunt Du lose her temper. She was usually the picture of a gentle music teacher, always smiling, her words like a serenade. But now she shouted at Yi Huayang, “You shut your mouth! Who do you think you are? If it weren’t for you, would things have turned out this way? You’re the shameless one, you broke them up, and now you have the nerve to jeer.”

Yi Huayang was momentarily stunned by her outburst. She wanted to retort, but Rong Luozheng held her back, shaking his head to signal her to let it go.

Yet how could she let it go? She was never one to swallow her pride. She sneered, “Aunt Du, I don’t care for your words. Back then, Du Fanchuan and I were together willingly, but his heart was always with Yi Lanshan. If you were in my place, could you tolerate a man who thought of another woman while he was with you?”

Aunt Du replied, “So you couldn’t wait to accept another man’s proposal, is that it? Why make yourself out to be the victim? I was unhappy from the very start—you were never fit to be part of our family.”

Yi Huayang tried to argue further, but Rong Luozheng dragged her out.

She shouted, “You think I care about being your daughter-in-law? You think your son is worthy of me? Dream on!”