Chapter Twenty-One: Misconduct

“Zhou, wake up! Don’t sleep!” In her drowsiness, Zhou Hongxian felt someone pat her shoulder. She snapped awake and looked around.

“Huh?” Her gaze landed on a vast, bright ceiling, rows of uniform office desks and computers, and beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, towering buildings and a bustling overpass. The scene was both familiar and strange.

Her mind stalled for a moment. She turned to her computer, and the black screen reflected a delicate yet unremarkable face. Eyes widening, she touched her face from top to bottom, murmuring in surprise, “I’ve changed back?”

“Well, well, Zhou, I didn’t expect you to be so vain!” The voice was amused, with a rough edge and a hint of familiarity. Zhou Hongxian turned to see a middle-aged man in the next seat grinning at her, about thirty, with a tangled nest of hair, stubbly beard, and a dirty sweatshirt stretched over a body best not looked at too closely.

“Wang?” Zhou Hongxian gaped in disbelief.

“What’s got you so worked up? Why so surprised to see me?” He pushed up his sleeve, pointing to a digital watch emblazoned with Rolex. “Look, it’s already two in the afternoon. You should be working. If the boss catches you slacking, your pay will be docked. Don’t say I, the senior employee, didn’t warn you!” Without another glance, he turned back to his keyboard, typing away.

“But I—” Zhou Hongxian was still confused.

“Enough, get back to work! You’re single and you spend all day daydreaming instead of trying to find someone. What’s the point?”

“So it was all just a dream?” All afternoon, Zhou Hongxian was distracted. She—no, now he—could not fathom why the dream had felt so endless, why twenty years of memories seemed so real.

“Ah, finally six o’clock! Another productive day!” Wang stretched, packed up his laptop and stuffed it into his backpack. “Hey, Zhou, why are you still spacing out?”

“Ah, so it was a nightmare after all. Waking up feels wonderful!” Zhou Hongxian thought to himself, then snapped back, “What is it, Wang?”

“It’s quitting time. Why aren’t you leaving?”

“So soon?”

“Soon?” Wang frowned. “You must be addicted to overtime.”

“Heh, no, just got carried away daydreaming.”

“Shh! Keep your voice down! You fool, do you want someone to overhear and report you to the boss?”

Zhou Hongxian scratched his head and smiled.

Wang continued, “By the way, are you free tonight?”

“Yeah, do you need something?”

Wang attempted a suave flick of his messy hair. “It’s like this: an old classmate set me up with a girl. She’s shy—it’s her first time meeting, so she’s bringing a friend. I figured going alone would put me at a disadvantage, with all the questions. So I want you to come along for moral support!”

“That’s not ideal. It’s normal for the girls to come together, but it’s weird if you bring me.”

“True enough. Fine, I’ll just rehearse more myself!” With that, Wang slung his pack and left, pulling out a photo as he walked, grinning to himself. “Too bad, the other girl’s single too, and even prettier than the one I’m supposed to meet. If only she was the one for me!”

“Hey, wait, Wang!”

“What?” Wang turned back, puzzled.

“I’ll come with you after all!”

“Isn’t that weird?”

“It’s fine, good buddies should stick together!”

“Uh, alright! But let’s split the bill fifty-fifty.”

“Deal.”

Zhou Hongxian followed Wang into the elevator and down the company building. The two hopped onto Wang’s electric scooter, and Wang gunned the motor, zipping onto the road.

“Ah—slow down! Wang, even if you’re meeting a girl, you don’t need to ride this fast!”

“Zhou, why is your voice so sharp, like a girl’s?”

“Is it?”

“You don’t notice? Actually, it’s kind of catchy!” Wang chuckled.

Zhou Hongxian fell silent, watching the dazzling cityscape and neon lights whiz past. Returning to the modern city felt wonderful. He said, “Wang, do you know how fortunate it is, living in the present, being a person—being a man?”

Wang looked surprised. “Where’s all this coming from? I don’t feel that way at all. Every day’s the same, pretty dull.”

“Ordinary is good enough.”

Wang sighed, “Good? You’re younger than me, so you haven’t felt how exhausting it is for losers like us. Finally bought a house, now I have to pay it off. Work’s unsatisfying, but I can’t quit because I don’t have enough savings to last six months. Have to buy a car, get married, raise kids, and if something goes wrong at home, it’s endless trouble. I used to dream of being a dashing man, traveling the world, charming beautiful women, and saving the world as a side gig. Now I just realize how childish I was.”

Surprised that his casual remark prompted such a monologue, Zhou Hongxian ran a hand through his hair, smiling. “You’re right, Wang. I still dream like you do. Reality’s tough, but there’s beauty too. Like this blind date—maybe we’ll each end up with a girl, true love even. That’s why I think I’m happier now.”

“So that’s why you changed your mind—hoping for a two-for-two!” Wang laughed, then stopped, puzzled. “Hey, why did you say ‘happier’?”

“Nothing, nothing, just a slip of the tongue! Hahaha!” Zhou Hongxian laughed heartily.

“Damn, it’s raining!” Before Zhou Hongxian could finish laughing, Wang exclaimed.

“Raining?” Zhou Hongxian frowned, a bad memory stirring.

“Yeah! Damn, it’s pouring and we didn’t bring an umbrella. What now?”

“Then ride even faster!”

“Alright! Damn, that Audi ahead—rich people, huh? Blinding me with high beams!”

As Wang spoke, Zhou Hongxian suddenly felt a dazzling light ahead, so bright he couldn’t keep his eyes open. He instinctively raised his hand to shield them.

“Darling, don’t be shy—your smile just now was beautiful!” A sudden voice whispered in his ear. Zhou Hongxian opened his eyes again to find himself surrounded by darkness. Only an oil lamp and an irritating face in front of him were illuminated.

He was still stunned, but cold swept through him, making him shiver and hug himself. He finally sensed something was wrong, so he glanced down at his body, aided by the lamp.

“I’ve changed back again—so it wasn’t a dream?” Zhou Hongxian couldn’t accept it. Yet, thinking carefully, he realized the previous scene had been the dream. She was herself once more, and now, covering her face, she wept.

“Don’t cry, darling, you’ll melt my heart!” The man in front of her said, voice oily and flirtatious.

“Who are you?” Although she disliked his tone, she couldn’t help but ask.

“I’m Yang Shouxin, darling. We met earlier today!”

“You’re Yang Shoucheng’s brother?”

“Ah, so you remember me now! I’m delighted!” Yang Shouxin wasn’t ugly, even a bit handsome, but his smile was annoyingly sly.

Zhou Hongxian said coldly, “Why are you here? Want to kill this fox demon to avenge your brother?”

Yang Shouxin grinned, “You misunderstood, darling. Though everyone says you killed my brother, I don’t believe it. I’m here to rescue you!”

“Rescue me?” Zhou Hongxian was confused. “Are you really so kind-hearted?”

Yang Shouxin laughed. “Don’t doubt me, darling—watch me act!” Without waiting for her reply, he stood, grabbed a hammer, and began prying up the wooden boards atop the cage.

Zhou Hongxian was both anxious and suspicious, but she had no reason to refuse, so she decided to wait and see.

The rain had stopped long ago, and Yang Shouxin didn’t need an umbrella; he just set the lamp aside for light and worked efficiently. Soon, he had removed several boards from the cage roof and tossed them aside.

“Darling, you can stand up now!” He reached in and helped Zhou Hongxian to her feet. She, drained of power and strength, had squatted for hours, so her legs were unsteady and she staggered as she stood.

Yang Shouxin was quick, catching her and laughing, “No need to worry, darling, I’ll carry you out!” Without waiting for her consent, he scooped her up.

Zhou Hongxian let out a startled cry, “Where are you putting your hand?” It turned out that while he held her waist, his other hand was awkwardly placed over her chest.

Yang Shouxin was startled, too. He carried her out of the cage, signaling her to hush. “Don’t shout, darling, I’m rescuing you. That was just an accident