Chapter 4
Damp, briny air flooded my nose.
When I opened my eyes again,
I was standing on the deck of a cruise yacht.
Nearby, Wen Yan’s friends were gathered around Yang Zhen, showering her with compliments.
“At last, Zhenzhen’s home! Do you have any idea how much Wen missed you? He was going out of his mind.”
“He kept a substitute around to ease the longing, but a substitute’s always a substitute. How could she compare to the real thing?”
“Now that you’re back, someone’s little fantasy is about to come crashing down.”
Only then did I remember.
This was a year ago.
The day after Yang Zhen returned to the country.
Wen Yan had chartered a yacht especially to welcome her home.
Before they set out, he’d even made a point of calling me.
Telling me not to be late.
Of course I knew what they wanted.
On this trip, my sole purpose was to be their entertainment, someone to torment for fun.
By putting me down, Wen Yan could prove his dream girl was the only woman in his heart.
And Yang Zhen was happy to go along with it.
Before she went abroad, she’d been a rich heiress.
In just a few years, her family’s business had collapsed. Her only chance of staying in this circle was to marry Wen Yan and become Mrs. Wen.
The yacht trip was lavish and extravagant, but none of that was for me.
Because their idea of a prank was to throw me belowdecks.
I spent three days in a pitch-black cargo hold.
And came out with claustrophobia.
I returned to the present and looked at Wen Yan.
His legs suddenly gave out. He fell to the deck, his hands instinctively clutching the wound that wasn’t there in his abdomen.
Exactly the position he’d died in during loop three.
He was drenched in cold sweat.
His friends laughed, trying to smooth things over.
“What’s wrong, Wen? So happy to see Zhen you can’t stay on your feet?”
Across the crowd,
our eyes met.
Wen Yan’s face filled with absolute terror.
Someone called to me.
“Where’s the lapdog? Can’t you see your master’s fallen? Hurry up and help him!”
I didn’t move.
Instead, I stared at him without blinking and spoke the words that had become a curse.
“Wen Yan, can I be your girlfriend?”
Everyone burst out laughing.
The sea breeze carried it into my face.
“You really have no idea what you are, do you?”
“Zhen’s back now. You think there’s any place left for you?”
“Exactly. Wen’s been waiting for her this whole time. You’re just a toy to pass the time with.”
Yang Zhen looked equally scornful.
Waiting for me to be put in my place.
Only Wen Yan, sitting on the deck, remained shaken.
He breathed hard.
Struggling to settle the fear inside him.
Then he glanced around.
The enormous yacht.
The flat deck.
The ocean stretching beyond sight.
There were no sharp weapons within easy reach.
And there were many of them, but only one of me.
Everyone was waiting for Wen Yan to mock his lapdog.
Ready to join in humiliating me.
Wen Yan slowly rose from the deck.
He took two unobtrusive steps back.
Something dark and resentful flickered beneath the terror in his eyes.
Then,
he said something completely different from the first three loops.
“All right… I… I agree.”