Xiao Yiquan woke up to find himself lying in bed, with a woman beside him.
She lay on her side, a small portion of the quilt draped over her waist. Her shoulders, upper back, and most of her legs were exposed, snow-white.
Xiao Yiquan's mind went blank. Thinking he was dreaming, he pinched himself. The pain confirmed it wasn't a dream.
But what was going on?
He clearly remembered his old classmate Zhu Wenxiu returning from Haicheng, bringing along his girlfriend Tian Tian and a friend named He Xue, inviting him out for drinks.
The reunion with old classmates had been enjoyable. He seemed to have gotten drunk, and couldn't recall anything after that.
Getting drunk and blacking out was understandable, but why was there a woman here?
"Who is this woman?"
He cautiously leaned closer to see her face and instantly froze in horror.
The woman was He Xue.
"How did I end up with He Xue..."
Xiao Yiqian was completely dumbfounded.
He tried to think, but nothing came to mind.
Yet he didn't need to ask—the situation before him was crystal clear.
Seeing He Xue still asleep, Xiao Yiquan quietly slipped out of bed, pulled on his clothes, and tiptoed toward the door.
Just as his hand touched the doorknob, He Xue's voice came from behind him: "Just leaving like that?"
Xiao Yiquan froze instantly, frozen stiff like a rabbit struck by lightning.
"Sis He, I... I..."
Xiao Yiquan turned around, about to explain, but He Xue sat up. The quilt slid down, and Xiao Yiquan's gaze lingered. He hurriedly turned back, but his movement was too abrupt—his head collided with the door, producing a dull thud.
"Giggle..."
He Xue laughed.
Xiao Yiquan clutched his head, unsure what emotion stirred within him.
Her reaction... something wasn't right.
Just then, his phone rang. Seeing an unfamiliar number, he hesitated whether to answer before the ringing stopped.
"This is my number," He Xue said. "Write it down."
"Okay." Xiao Yiqian nodded quickly.
"Alright, you can go now."
Xiao Yiquan heard it like music to his ears. He quickly unlocked the door and stepped outside, carefully closing it behind him.
This was Zhu Wenxiu's home, on the second floor. He went downstairs; no one was on the first floor.
Xiao Yiquan didn't dare call out to Zhu Wenxiu. He left the building alone. Outside, the sky was still dark.
Back home, he took a shower, his body now radiating a pleasant fragrance.
During the shower, He Xue's image floated before his eyes again.
"So white," he thought.
Zhu Wenxiu and the others left early the next morning.
She didn't say goodbye to Xiao Yiquan.
Neither did He Xue.
Xiao Yiquan was dazed, his mind a jumble.
He'd been drunk, but how had he ended up in He Xue's bed?
And He Xue's reaction afterward had been off too.
Now that she was gone, what would happen?
Would she call the police to arrest him?
Probably not.
He Xue's laughter still echoed in his ears—if she were going to report him, she wouldn't have laughed like that.
"Why did she make me write down her number? What does she want? Could it be…"
He dared not dwell on the possibilities—it was too crazy—yet he couldn't stop himself from thinking about it.
For days afterward, Xiao Yiquan lived in constant dread. Sometimes he imagined the police bursting through his door, slapping handcuffs on him.
Other times, he pictured He Xue calling him.
But nothing happened.
Time slipped away, and months passed in the blink of an eye.
Not only He Xue, but Zhu Wenxiu hadn't made a single move either—no calls, no texts.
That night felt like a springtime dream; once awakened, it was gone.
Xiao Yiquan himself was nearly forgetting it. When he occasionally recalled it, only a woman's silhouette remained—as white as snow.
Until one night, close to midnight, Xiao Yiquan had already gone to bed when his phone suddenly rang.
He glanced at the caller ID: Snow White.
Xiao Yiqian jolted awake.
This was He Xue's number. He'd originally saved it as "Sis He," but after no response, he'd changed the nickname to Snow White.
Snow White needed a prince's kiss to awaken. He didn't know if he was He Xue's prince, but she was the Snow White of his dreams.
"He... Sister He..."
His throat felt dry from nervousness.
"Xiao Yiqian, where are you?"
He Xue's voice sounded soft, with a hint of magnetism, still as pleasant as ever.
"I... I'm at home."
"Still in the county?" He Xue said. "Come to Haicheng."
"Go to Haicheng?"
"Yes." He Xue hummed in acknowledgment. "Come over the day after tomorrow. Once you arrive, find the Seven Seas Grand Hotel. They're hiring security guards. Go apply. Got that?"
"Huh?"
Xiao Yiqian was momentarily stunned.
"That's all for now," He Xue said. "Once you get the job, text me."
With that, she hung up immediately.
Xiao Yiquan stared blankly at his phone for a long while.
He Xue wanted him to go to Haicheng and apply for a security guard job? What did that mean?
Was she just trying to get him a job?
Or did she have something else in mind?
Xiao Yiquan barely slept that night.
Deep inside, it felt like a wildfire was burning.
By dawn, he'd made up his mind. He packed a bag and boarded the long-distance bus to Haicheng.
It was 2012, and the high-speed rail hadn't reached Shuangwan yet—supposedly coming next year.
He arrived after dark, checked into a hotel, and the next day found the Seven Seas Hotel. Sure enough, a sign stood at the entrance: Security Guards Wanted.
Tall and just the right age at twenty-five, Xiao Yiquan got the job.
He started that same day. Security captain Ma Jinbiao briefed him on the rules and assigned him to the night shift.
The night shift ran from 7 PM to 7 AM.
Xiao Yiquan worked the entire night under Ma Jinbiao's guidance, who also gave him some instructions along the way.
At 7 AM the next morning, after handing over the shift, Xiao Yiquan finally texted He Xue: "Sis He, I got the job."
Around 8:30, He Xue replied with three words: "Got it."
Then, no further message.
Xiao Yiqian didn't dare text He Xue again, forced to wait passively.
He didn't even know what he was waiting for.
Had He Xue called him over with ulterior motives? Or was it simply because of their one-night fling that she'd arranged this decent job for him?
Xiao Yiqian couldn't fathom it.
Women's hearts were hard to read, especially someone like He Xue.
Zhu Wenxiu was also in Haicheng, working at a pharmaceutical company.
Xiao Yiqian hadn't contacted Zhu Wenxiu.
Although Zhu Wenxiu had grown up with him since childhood, she was no longer the same person after getting into college and landing a job in the big city.
The main reason was He Xue.
He had come to Haicheng at He Xue's direct request, bypassing Zhu Wenxiu entirely.
Xiao Yiquan suspected He Xue might not want Zhu Wenxiu to know about his visit.
Another month passed like this. One day, just after nine o'clock, Ma Jinbiao suddenly called out to Xiao Yiquan: "Xiao Yiquan, you have a driver's license, right? Come to the entrance."
After graduating high school, Xiao Yiquan had worked various jobs, including driving long-distance buses, so naturally he had a license.
Xiao Yiquan hurried over. Ma Jinbiao said, "A guest has been drinking. Drive her car and take her home."
A red Mazda 6 was parked ahead. Xiao Yiquan approached and saw a woman slumped in the driver's seat, her face flushed from excessive drinking. It was Tian Tian.
Tian Tian was about six or seven parts drunk, not unconscious but dizzy and weak in the limbs. She dared not drive but remained lucid.
Spotting Xiao Yiquan, she recognized him immediately. Her half-closed eyes widened in surprise. "Xiao Yiquan?"
"Sister Tian."
Xiao Yiquan hadn't expected such a coincidence and greeted her.
He didn't know Tian Tian's exact age, but he was a few months younger than Zhu Wenxiu. Calling Zhu Wenxiu's girlfriend "sister" was appropriate.
"It really is you." Tian Tian blinked twice. "You're in Haicheng?"
"Yeah." Xiao Yiquan nodded. "I'm working as a security guard here. If you don't mind, I can drive you."
"Get in." Tian Tian moved to the passenger seat herself.
Xiao Yiquan climbed in.
"Go to Jinxiu Villa." Tian Tian gave the address. " Know the way? Exit here, head east on Qingsong Road."
Xiao Yiquan had been working as a security guard for over a month, but he hadn't been idle. With free time during the day, he'd explored every corner of Haicheng, getting a solid grasp on the general directions, main highways, and landmark buildings.
"Got it." Xiao Yiquan steered the car out.
"Why did you come to Haicheng?" Tian Tian was curious.
"Looking for work," Xiao Yiquan replied.
"Sister He must have sent you, right?"
Tian Tian's tone dripped with obvious gossip.
Xiao Yiquan didn't know how to respond.
He couldn't lie to Tian Tian easily, because he wasn't sure what her relationship with He Xue really was. If he deceived her and she found out later, she'd definitely be angry with him. That would mean offending someone, and adding Zhu Wenxiu to the mix.
"Sister He, huh? Keeping a secret lover hidden away?"
Xiao Yiquan's silence was tacit admission. Tian Tian clenched her little fist excitedly.
Her choice of words left Xiao Yiquan both amused and exasperated. But then again, what exactly was Sister He's motive for summoning him?
He couldn't quite figure it out himself.
"You guys are..."
Tian Tian stopped mid-sentence.
Her curiosity was palpable. Already flushed from the wine, her face now glowed bright red with excitement, like the sunset glow of a spring evening.
Xiao Yiquan understood her, but he truly didn't know how to explain.
He could only offer an awkward smile.
But Tian Tian misunderstood.
She nodded, not pressing further, and instead pumped her tiny fist excitedly.
Petite and not as tall as He Xue—who stood nearly 5'5"—she was only about 5'3", yet her hands were plump. Clenched into a fist, they resembled a rosy dumpling.
When they arrived at Jinxiu Villa, parked the car, and entered the compound, Tian Tian said, "Xiao Yiqian, help me up."
She didn't mind, and Xiao Yiqian couldn't refuse. He took her arm.
Tian Tian's legs felt weak, and she leaned heavily on him. Eventually, Xiao Yiqian had no choice but to wrap an arm around her waist.
Tian Tian lived on the sixth floor. She unlocked the door, stepped inside, changed into slippers, and handed a pair to Xiao Yiquan. "Xiao Yiquan, you should change too."
"Is Zhu Wenxiu not home?" Xiao Yiquan asked. They lived together as an unmarried couple, and Zhu Wenxiu had boasted about it before—Xiao Yiquan knew.
"She's on a business trip," Tian Tian replied. "She won't be back for a few days."
"Then maybe... I should head back."
With Zhu Wenxiu absent, Xiao Yiquan felt awkward.
"What are you afraid of?" Tian Tian turned to look at him. "Close the door."
Seeing her slightly annoyed expression, Xiao Yiquan couldn't refuse. He turned and shut the door behind him.
The moment the door closed, Tian Tian suddenly leaned forward, throwing herself into his arms.
Xiao Yiquan jumped in surprise. Thinking she was drunk and unsteady, he hurriedly supported her waist. "Sis Tian, are you okay?"
Unexpectedly, Tian Tian's arms wrapped around his neck.
This wasn't just losing her balance.
Xiao Yiquan froze, his entire body stiff as if struck by lightning. He dared not move an inch.
Tian Tian giggled. "Are you scared? What are you afraid of? Zhu Wenxiu? Or He Xue?"
"I... I..." Xiao Yiquan didn't know what he was afraid of.
He had no idea how to answer, because this situation was so utterly beyond reason.
"Don't be afraid of Zhu Wenxiu. I'm not scared, so why should you be?" Tian Tian giggled. "As for He Xue? She's divorced."
Her arms wrapped around his neck, her body pressed against his chest like a plaster.
"Don't you want a little romance? Don't you crave some extraordinary excitement in your life? When you're old, won't you want special memories?" Tian Tian called out, "Carry me into the inner room."
"No... that's not right." Xiao Yiquan's mind exploded. "You... you're Xiu Cai's wife. Once you're married, I... I'll have to call you sister-in-law..."
"Isn't there a saying? Nothing beats dumplings for taste, nothing beats a sister-in-law for fun?" Tian Tian threw herself into his arms, giggling and wriggling against him.
To Xiao Yiquan, it felt like holding a ball of fire.
"No... I can't..." He tried to push her away.
But Tian Tian clung tighter.
"You have two choices," Tian Tian said with a sweet smile, though her words were anything but. "One, carry me inside. Two, you leave, and I call the police immediately."
As she spoke, she suddenly reached out and yanked open her own collar.
She wore a red gauze blouse. The force of the tug was so strong that the buttons popped open, and Xiao Yiquan was instantly met with a flash of white.
Xiao Yiquan was utterly terrified: "Sis Tian, don't do this... uh..."
Tian Tian pressed her lips against his.