The soft morning sun seeped through the curtains, wrapping the room in a gentle golden warmth. The air was quiet, still holding the hush of dreams. Xu Jia stirred awake, eyelids fluttering, fingers twitching slightly as if they were trying to grasp something—something slipping away.
He blinked up at the ceiling, his breath uneven.
His heart… ached. But he didn't know why.
It felt like he had just lived an entire life in his sleep. A beautiful, painful, vivid life—full of love, ambition, and heartbreak. It lingered like fog in his chest, heavy and inexplicable.
A dream?
That's all it could be. Just a dream. Right?
But why did it feel so real?
He slowly sat up, rubbing his face. Sweat clung to his back, and his heart pounded like he'd just returned from some faraway journey. He didn't remember the details, but the feelings remained. Achingly familiar. Achingly warm.
Then his gaze shifted beside him.
Tang Rui.
She was curled up beneath the sheets, her lashes resting against her cheeks, the corners of her lips relaxed in a peaceful smile. A few strands of hair clung to her forehead. Her hand reached out, instinctively seeking warmth even in sleep—and landed on his thigh.
The breath caught in Xu Jia's throat.
She was here.
She was real.
He stared at her for a long time, heart thundering in his chest as something swelled—grief, joy, longing. It rushed over him in a tidal wave, too big to name.
"Rui…" he whispered hoarsely.
In a single motion, he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers.
Soft. Desperate. Full of unsaid words.
Tang Rui stirred, eyelids fluttering open as she slowly returned to the waking world. Her eyes met his—still hazy, still confused.
"Mmm… what's gotten into you?" she mumbled, voice thick with sleep.
Xu Jia didn't answer.
He kissed her again.
Harder this time.
With the full weight of everything he didn't understand. With all the emotions left behind in that nameless dream. His hands cupped her face as he deepened the kiss, pulling her in like he needed her to breathe.
Tang Rui gasped softly against him, her hands wrapping around his shoulders, fingers tangling in his shirt.
His body moved on instinct—years of love compressed into a moment.
He tugged the covers away, and their bare skin met with a flash of heat. He kissed her jaw, her neck, her collarbone, whispering her name like a prayer between each touch.
Tang Rui responded with a moan that sent shivers down his spine.
"Jia…" she whispered, breath catching as his hands traced her curves, his lips claiming every inch of her. "You're different today…"
"I just—" His voice trembled as he pressed his forehead to hers. "I feel like I almost lost you. Like I woke up from a life where you weren't with me."
Her eyes softened. "Idiot. I'm here. I've always been here."
And then words no longer mattered.
Their bodies entwined, hearts beating as one. It was slow, intense, raw—filled with heat, but also with tenderness. Every movement was a promise. Every breath, a vow.
He worshipped her like he was trying to memorize her all over again. She welcomed him like he was her home.
When they reached the peak together, it wasn't just pleasure—it was release. Of pain. Of longing. Of everything unspoken.
Afterward, tangled in the sheets, their skin slick with sweat and limbs draped over one another, Xu Jia held her tightly.
No matter what that dream was, this was real. This woman, this warmth, this morning.
He buried his face in her hair and breathed her in.
"I love you," he whispered, voice raw.
Tang Rui kissed his collarbone and closed her eyes. "I love you too."
Later that day, the sunlight turned to afternoon gold as they sat on the balcony, sipping coffee in oversized T-shirts.
Their lives had changed quietly but beautifully over the years.
They had already passed Central Capital University with honors. Xu Jia had developed more games, each better than the last. The recognition, the praise, the awards—they were nice, but the true joy lay in building something meaningful.
Together.
He founded his own company, and she supported him at every step—sometimes handling finances, sometimes giving design ideas, always being his pillar.
They didn't chase the world. They built their own.
And soon, the world would grow again—because just a few weeks from now, Tang Rui would place his hand on her belly and say with a trembling smile, "There's a heartbeat."
But for now, they just sat together, soaking in the breeze and sipping coffee.
"Do you still feel weird?" she asked, nudging his side.
Xu Jia smiled.
"Not weird. Just… thankful."