NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 5: Chapter 4
Yang Ji Department, Zhong Hai, May 29, 2024, China
As the first rays of morning light filtered through the curtains in Yang Ji's room, bathing the room in a golden glow, she half-opened her eyes with difficulty. A pang of pain shot through her head, probably the result of the exhaustion from the night before. She wanted to sit up, but then she felt something soft around her that stopped her. Confused, her gaze lowered and saw the face of a sleeping woman, half buried in her pillow. It was the drunk woman she had brought home the night before, and for a moment her mind tried to connect the scattered fragments of memories before she let out a sigh of relief.
The stranger's delicate arm wrapped around her waist like a vine, while beneath the blanket, she could feel the warmth of a body pressing against hers. The impact of that contact was disconcerting; her soft curves seemed such a vivid contrast to the roughness and brutality she was used to in her life. Yang Ji lowered her gaze even further and noticed how a pair of snowy, silky thighs instinctively wrapped around her leg, shamelessly revealing the delicate line of hips that exuded sensuality. Yang Ji felt a chill running down her spine, the remnant of a night that seemed too perfect to be real.
The woman was, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful women Yang Ji had ever seen in his entire life. Her skin was like porcelain, flawless, and her features were sculpted with an elegance that seemed to have come straight out of a dream. She could easily compete with the lovers he had once had; in fact, she surpassed most, if not all of them. Watching her for a few more seconds, Yang Ji felt the shadow of a smile curve her lips. What an unusual situation, she thought.
However, just as she tried to get out of bed to make some breakfast, something caught her eye. At the end of the bed, on the white sheets, was a red, dried blood stain. A detail that, although small, made her body tense. She instinctively looked down at her right hand and found a faint reddish stain. A grimace appeared on her face. The reality that the woman in front of her was a virgin hit her mind like some sort of uncomfortable revelation. Although what happened the night before was completely consensual, the thought of what that meant created an unexpected awkwardness.
Yang Ji sighed deeply, observing the serene features of the sleeping woman. Would she be angry? Would she be furious upon awakening? She had never been particularly good at dealing with emotional situations, let alone such delicate ones. Regardless, she knew that facing the woman's reaction would be inevitable. Forcing herself not to think too much, she carefully got out of bed, allowing the coolness of the sheets to slide over her skin as she left that nest of confusion and reconciliation behind. A hot shower, she thought, would be just what she needed.
In the bathroom, as the hot water fell on her body with a soothing roar, Yang Ji let the heat dissolve some of the weight she felt on her shoulders. The vapors filled the room, transforming it into a warm, enveloping cloud. Her thoughts, however, could not help but wander to the one still sleeping in her bed. It was fascinating how life threw such bewildering situations at her. She felt as if the fragility of that woman was disconnected from the violent and pragmatic world Yang Ji had lived in for so many years.
When she stepped out of the shower, wrapped only in a towel, she noticed that the woman was still asleep, her face calm and almost angelic. She decided to take advantage of the calm to get dressed. Rummaging through her closet, she chose an outfit that was less formal than usual. Black leggings that perfectly accentuated her toned legs, a sports shirt that showed off her flat, well-defined stomach, and black and white sneakers. In front of the mirror, she tied her hair into a high ponytail and for a moment she couldn't help but smile at herself. Even on disconcerting days, she always found some vanity to lift her spirits. That was her: confident, in control, a "hottie" as some would surely say.
Moving almost stealthily, she left the room and headed for the kitchen. The sunlight streaming through the windows filled the space with a warm, welcoming clarity. She decided to make rice congee, a simple but comforting recipe. As she stirred the rice in the pot, a delicate aroma spread through the kitchen. She activated her mobile phone and let Taylor Swift's "Anti-hero" fill the silence with its catchy melody. She hummed as memories of the previous night continued to crowd her mind.
The sound of the door opening brought her out of her thoughts. The woman appeared at the entrance of the kitchen, fully dressed, her bag hanging from her arm. Unlike what Yang Ji expected, her face was neither angry nor happy, it was an impenetrable mask. Yang Ji felt the atmosphere become tense, even uncomfortable. Not wanting to remain immersed in silence, she took the bowls she had prepared and placed them on the table.
"Good morning," she said with a restrained smile. "I hope you rested well. Look, I made congee for breakfast."
The woman didn't answer immediately. Her eyes stayed locked with Yang Ji's for a few eternal seconds, then she nodded briefly and sat down silently to eat. Yang Ji did the same, though she couldn't help but feel the awkwardness. The only sound in the air was the occasional clinking of spoons against ceramic bowls. Yang Ji watched the woman furtively; for some reason she couldn't quite take her eyes off her.
When they both finished, the woman put her bowl on the table and, after a long sigh, spoke without looking directly at her:
"Thank you for breakfast. However, I'm afraid I have to go."
Yang Ji raised an eyebrow, she letting out an air of flirtatiousness in her response.
"Sure, honey, it was a nice night we shared. I'd love to invite you to stay, talk some more, and get to know each other better, but we both know this was a one-night stand, no strings attached. So... it was nice meeting you."
The words seemed to hit the woman in an unexpected way. Her jaw visibly tightened and a shadow darkened her expression. Without another word, she turned around, opened the door, and walked out with a loud slam. Confusion washed over Yang Ji as she continued to stare at the closed door.
"What was that reaction about?" she muttered to herself, feeling a pang of guilt she couldn't justify.
At that instant, something caught her attention. She, whose hearing was remarkably sharp, detected a faint sobbing sound coming from the hallway. Although the woman was trying to hide her vulnerability, it had not escaped Yang Ji's sensory radar. She momentarily closed her eyes and let out a long sigh.
"I guess it was more complicated than it seemed..." she whispered as she went to collect the dirty dishes from the table. Deep down, the awkwardness didn't go away entirely.
Suddenly, the sound of her cell phone broke the quiet. It was Rose. A spark of relief appeared in her eyes as she answered.
"Yes, dear?" she asked in a soft tone, expecting a relaxed conversation.
But Rose's voice, serious and restrained, interrupted those expectations.
"I have a job for you."
The transformation into Yang Ji was immediate. Her face lost all expression of carefreeness and her tone became cold, calculating and professional.
"Details," she replied firmly, mentally preparing himself for whatever was coming next.