C3 An Unfamiliar Man

A knock echoed from the door, Yuh Jinnian's voice seeking entry. He was pleading for Ruan Ruan's forgiveness. But Ruan Ruan was beyond hearing him now. In this world, there's no cure for regret; a wrong can't be righted by simply asking for forgiveness.

No number of apologies could mend a heart riddled with scars, especially one betrayed.

She had cried for so long, the knocking at the door a distant, persistent sound, that when Ruan Ruan finally looked out the window, she was met with the pitch-black of night. In the city, the stars remained hidden.

Rising, she moved toward the bedroom, her clothes still damp, her cheeks streaked with dried tears. She crawled into bed, pulling the blanket over herself, her body shaking with cold as if she were encased in ice.

She drifted into a fitful sleep, uncertain if she was truly resting or merely reliving memories with her eyes closed. She harbored a wish to wake up to the realization that it had all been a dream—that they were still the ones she trusted most, her dearest boyfriend, her closest friend. But it was just a dream, a vivid one.

The soft light of dawn filtered in, and the sunflower on the windowsill greeted the day with open petals. Ruan Ruan watched, her mind empty, only aware of the sun's dazzling brilliance.

She stepped out of bed, noticing she was no longer in yesterday's wet clothes but a favorite white nightgown, plain cotton that she found immensely comfortable.

Confused, she examined her clothes, certain she hadn't bathed or changed the day before. She peeked inside her collar and saw that even her undergarments had been switched.

She was sure she hadn't changed. What had happened?

Could she have been sleepwalking? With a sense of unease, Ruan Ruan left her room to find the house eerily silent and empty.

Shaking her head, she dismissed the confusion. She must have bathed and changed before bed, her grief so overwhelming that it had slipped her mind.

She had never been the sharpest, and now, soaked from the rain, she felt her wits duller than ever.

Ruan Ruan entered the kitchen, hoping to rustle up something to eat. She opened the refrigerator only to find it brimming with vegetables, which was odd since she hadn't bought any in a long time. Just yesterday, the fridge had been completely bare.

Puzzled, Ruan Ruan shut the refrigerator door. What was happening? Could she have bought these items while sleepwalking? That explanation seemed far-fetched and did little to satisfy her curiosity.

Her mind immediately went to Jinnian. She grabbed her phone and dialed his number.

Jinnian answered promptly, starting off with an apology and asking her to meet him.

Hearing his voice, Ruan Ruan couldn't help but cry. Some people can inflict deep wounds without ever wielding a blade.

"Jinnian, were you at my place yesterday?" Ruan Ruan managed to ask through her tears, her voice tinged with a cry she couldn't conceal.

"Ruan Ruan, I'm sorry. I need to explain that I..." Jinnian began, but she cut him off.

"I just want to know if you were at my house," she insisted, not wanting to delve into any matters concerning Xuerong.

"No, Ruan Ruan, what's wrong? Did something happen?" Jinnian's voice was laced with urgency, and she could hear the clinking of bottles in the background.

"Understood," Ruan Ruan said curtly, ending the call before Jinnian could say another word.

She glanced down at her clothes, wondering who could have changed them if not Jinnian.

Her thoughts drifted back to an incident from half a month ago, which was strikingly similar to her current predicament.

Ruan Ruan had rescued a man on the street, and the next day, it was as if nothing had happened. She had convinced herself it was all just a vivid dream.

Was it possible she was experiencing something paranormal?

"I saw you, come out," Ruan Ruan said aloud, though she felt ridiculous doing so.

The area was silent except for the gentle breeze carrying the scent of flowers. Ruan Ruan scanned her surroundings, feeling foolish. After all, ghosts don't just appear in broad daylight.

On the balcony stood a man, a faint smile tracing the corners of his mouth as he listened to Ruan Ruan's voice. His dark eyes gazed into the distance, his thoughts a mystery to all.

"Hey, I saved you, so if you've got any grudges, please don't come after me. And if you're missing something down there, just let me know in a dream," Ruan Ruan said to herself, though she was well aware that ghosts didn't exist. Her words were merely for her own peace of mind.

"No need for dreams—I can talk to you right now," came the man's voice from the balcony, pleasant yet tinged with a cold detachment.

Ruan Ruan's face drained of color at the sound. The presence of another person in her home, be it human or ghost, was a terrifying thought to her.

She clutched at her clothes instinctively, her face growing even paler as she thought about her attire. Surely he hadn't been the one to change her clothes, had he? To think he might have even bathed her and changed her underwear was unsettling.

She had been with Yuh Jinnian for three years, yet their most intimate moments had been nothing more than kisses on the forehead or lips. Jinnian had made it clear he wouldn't go further before marriage, fearing she wouldn't feel secure.

These thoughts brought a pang of sorrow to Ruan Ruan, as she began to understand why he might have ended up in bed with Shi Xuerong.

"Who are you?" Ruan Ruan steadied herself, discreetly reaching for her phone with the intent to call the police.

As the man entered from the balcony, Ruan Ruan was taken aback by his appearance. She had never encountered someone so strikingly handsome, not even Jinnian could compare.

His features were as if crafted by the finest sculptor, flawless and defined. His visage was cool and aloof, creating an immediate sense of distance. With a straight nose and deep-set eyes, his gaze was intensely dark, like a black hole that threatened to pull her in.

He stood there, devoid of any expression, as if he belonged there and Ruan Ruan was merely an interloper in her own home.

"Why are you in my house?" Ruan Ruan asked, her voice quivering slightly. The man before her exuded a powerful presence. Merely standing there, he had not made a single move, yet Ruan Ruan was gripped by fear.

His gaze was that of a hunter eyeing his prey.

"You're afraid of me," he stated, piercing through her facade with a single glance.

Ruan Ruan stepped back, furtively attempting to dial the police.

But before she could place the call, her phone rang. It was the special ringtone she had set for Yuh Jinnian.

She inwardly cursed Yuh Jinnian. Why did he have to call now, as if it weren't bad enough that she had to deal with this once, now there was a second time.

The man watched Ruan Ruan, who stared at the phone screen, wanting to answer but simply gazing at it instead. Her face was etched with sorrow, her pale complexion revealing her vulnerability, to the point where she seemed to overlook his presence entirely.

Was that man truly so important to her? An inexplicable sense of irritation welled up inside her.