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Andy, staring at the man in front of her, felt her mind go blank, oddly thirsty. Her body instinctively leaned into his, subconsciously craving more, yet with an undercurrent of nervousness and unease. "Andy, are you going to pay for me?" Andy wrapped her arms tighter around his neck, the pressure increasing, suppressing the sounds rising from her throat. "I'll give you a discount." Charlie's body was solid, like a silent presence enveloping her, mixed with a familiar and intoxicating scent. "Charlie, you didn't turn off the light..." Now tinted with desire, his features remained striking, yet their invasiveness seemed to intensify. "Turn off the light?" His voice was deep, tinged with a trace of amusement. "Then how would you still see me?" The story begins with Andy, curious to finally see the legendary, breathtakingly beautiful star of the club. To her surprise, the irresistibly charming "star" turns out to be the owner of the club. Yet, she bluntly states her intention to pay for his company. Charlie, "This is a club, not a brothel." Later, by a twist of fate, Andy ends up sharing an apartment with Charlie, a high school classmate she once rejected. Their peaceful routine comes to an end one night when Andy learns from Charlie that she has been sleepwalking recently. Feeling a little embarrassed and unsure how to react, Andy asks, "Last night was the first time you saw me sleepwalking, right?" Charlie replies lazily, "There was another time." Andy falls silent for two seconds before hesitantly asking, "Did I... do anything?" "You suddenly ran out and hugged me." "?" Charlie raises an eyebrow and casually adds, "And you kissed me, touching me over."
On a rare day off, Andy stayed up late watching a horror movie.
The eerie atmosphere relied entirely on the background music and screams, with no truly terrifying scenes-bland as plain water. Due to her obsessive tendencies, she forced herself to finish it, barely keeping her eyes open.
As soon as the ending credits rolled, Andy actually felt a sense of relief. She closed her eyes, and drowsiness immediately wrapped around her thoughts. Just as she was about to drift into sleep, suddenly, the door was pounded heavily.
Bang!
Andy's eyes snapped open.
Through the sliver of moonlight seeping through the curtains, she looked toward the door. Outside, she could clearly hear the thick, slurred voice of a drunken man and the unsteady footsteps staggering away in another direction.
Then came the sound of a door opening and closing.
The noise was mostly cut off.
She stared at the door for a few more seconds.
Only after everything went completely silent did Andy finally relax.
She pursed her lips, feeling a delayed surge of irritation.
How many times had this happened just this week?
Once her sleep was interrupted, it was hard for Andy to doze off again. She turned over, closed her eyes again, and idly let her thoughts drift back to the movie she had just watched.
Hmm.
Was it a ghost movie?
A low-budget horror flick that thought it could scare people.
...
Half-asleep, a ghostly face from the movie inexplicably surfaced in her mind.
Three seconds later.
She shot up abruptly and switched on the bedside lamp.
-
For the rest of the night, Andy slept fitfully. In her half-conscious state, she kept feeling as if a bloody ghost face was staring at her.
It wasn't until daylight fully filled the room that she finally managed to fall into a proper sleep.
The next day, Andy was woken up by a phone call.
Due to staying up late and lack of sleep, her head throbbed with a fine, needling pain. Irritated, she groggily reached for her phone and answered.
A low voice from her childhood friend, Sara, came through, "I'll call you back later."
"......"
Andy's eyelid twitched, her brain lagging for two seconds.
She had been woken up by a sudden phone call.
Fine, that was whatever.
But it wasn't even the main event-just a trailer.
Her morning grumpiness exploded instantly. "Are you-"
Before she could finish, the call was already cut off.
It felt like throwing a punch into cotton. Andy opened her eyes and let out a muffled sigh of frustration. After lying in bed for a while longer, she finally picked up her phone and checked the time.
Almost 2 PM.
Andy stopped lazing around, grabbed a jacket, and got out of bed.
She walked into the bathroom.
As she was brushing her teeth, her phone rang again. She freed a hand to slide the screen and put it on speaker.
Sara spoke first, "Damn, I just ran into a high school classmate. My hair's all greasy, and I'm not wearing any makeup-so embarrassing!"
"You won't actually die from that," Andy mumbled through a mouthful of foam, her words barely intelligible. "You're just looking for sympathy."
"......" Sara was silent for three seconds, too lazy to argue. "Wanna go out tonight? Andy, my dear journalist, you've been working overtime for a whole week. If you don't take a break, I'm afraid you'll drop dead."
"Mm. Where to?"
"How about somewhere near your workplace? Not sure if you've been there. My coworker said there's a bar there, and the owner is ridiculously-" Sara paused, then suddenly asked, "Hey, why do I keep hearing water running? Are you washing dishes?"
Andy, "Washing up."
Sara was shocked, "You just woke up?"
Andy hummed lazily in response.
"It's already 2 PM. Even lunch breaks are over." Sara was puzzled. "What were you doing last night?"
"Watched a horror movie."
"What's it called?"
"Awakening to See Ghosts."
Sara clearly knew this movie and choked, "You call that a horror movie?"
"I watched it and then went to sleep," Andy said as if she hadn't heard the sarcasm. She grabbed a towel and wiped the water off her face. "Then in the middle of the night, I suddenly woke up, and just like in the movie, I actually saw a ghost."
"......"
"So I spent the whole night fighting it."
Sara was speechless. "Why are you suddenly bringing up such an R-rated topic?"
Andy raised an eyebrow. "How is that R-rated?"
"What kind of fight lasts all night?"
"......"
"Enough, stop fooling around with ghosts. Let's go fool around with men." Sara grinned. "Handsome, alive, warm-blooded men."
"Then I'd rather stick with ghosts." Andy picked up her phone and walked out of the bathroom. "At least they're free."
Sara, "Who said men cost money? We can have them for free too."
Andy, "Hm?"
"We can use our eyes."
"......"
-
After hanging up the call, Andy sent another message to her landlord on Facebook, bringing up last night's incident again. After a moment of hesitation, she added that she might not renew the lease once the contract ended.
Two months ago, she had moved from Chicago to New York City.
Her current residence was a place Sara had helped her find. There weren't any major issues-except that it was a shared rental. The landlord had divided an 80-square-meter apartment into three independent rooms, each with its own bathroom, but there was no kitchen or balcony.
Still, the rent was cheap.
Andy didn't have high demands for a living space. Besides, the location was convenient, and the surrounding area was lively. She had even considered staying long-term.
Until one day, when she happened to run into the man next door as she was leaving.
That was when everything started to change.
Unknowingly, the sun had set, draping the small room in darkness. The city's lights gradually flickered on, illuminating the night in another way, while the night markets bustled to life.
Seeing that it was about time, Andy changed her outfit and put on some light makeup.
Sara had been bombing her with messages on Facebook.
Grabbing the small bag from the coat rack, Andy replied with a voice message, "Heading out now." She stepped outside, instinctively glancing at the opposite door before quickening her pace down the stairs.
The two had agreed to meet at the subway station.
Their destination was the bar Sara had mentioned earlier-a place located across from Red Square. Passing through an alleyway, they were soon greeted by a string of neon lights glowing above various storefronts.
A place that only came alive at night.
New York City's famous bar street, often referred to as "Degenerate Street."
Having never been there before, they spent quite some time searching until they finally spotted the bar nestled in a small corner.
The name was quite interesting-"Overtime."
Its sign was surprisingly simple, a solid black background with squared, neatly arranged white letters glowing against it. Among the gaudy, flamboyant neon signs surrounding it, it stood out with an understated presence-like a small hair salon hidden in the midst of the chaos.
"This is actually a good idea," Andy stared at it for a moment before commenting. "A hair salon in a bar street-guys coming here to pick up girls can get a quick styling first."
Sara's mouth twitched as she dragged Andy inside. "Stop talking nonsense."
To their surprise, the interior was not as deserted as Andy had imagined.
They had arrived early, before peak hours, yet more than half the seats were already occupied.
On the stage, a woman with a guitar sat with her head lowered, singing in a soft, soothing voice. At the bar, a blond-haired bartender was skillfully tossing cocktail shakers like a performer, moving with practiced ease.
After settling into their seats, Andy ordered the cheapest drink on the menu.
Sara scanned the bar with a hint of disappointment. "Is the owner not here? I don't see anyone particularly handsome."
Andy rested her chin in her palm and replied absentmindedly, "Maybe it's that bartender."
"Bullshit!" Sara was immediately offended. "My colleague, who basically lives on Degenerate Street, swears this bar's owner is the hottest guy here."
"Maybe he just calls himself that."
"?"
Noticing Sara's hostile glare, Andy sat up a little straighter and clarified, "I mean, maybe."
Sara huffed.
They chatted idly for a while before Sara brought up what happened earlier in the day. "By the way, I ran into my high school vice class president at lunch. He also went to Cambridge for college-same dorm as Charlie, apparently. But I don't think I ever met him."
Hearing that name, Andy's fingers stilled for a moment.
"Speaking of which, do you still remember-" Sara's gaze wandered casually before suddenly locking onto the bar. "Hey, check ten o'clock-do you think that's 'Degenerate Street's poster boy'?"
At the same moment, Andy heard someone call out, "Brother Charlie."
She followed Sara's line of sight.
At some point, a man had appeared beside the bartender.
The dim lighting of the bar cast shadows across his figure. He leaned against the counter with his back facing the bar, head tilted slightly as he spoke to the bartender. He wore a simple black jacket, his tall frame carrying an effortless presence. Even as he hunched slightly, he still stood taller than the bartender beside him.
His eyes were dark, lips tugging into a faintly careless smirk.
The shifting hues of the overhead lights traced across his face, leaving fleeting streaks of color.
Andy recognized him in an instant.
"Holy shit." Sara's voice shot up in pitch, equally stunned. "Girl, the poster boy is Charlie!"
"..."
"The moment I mention him, he appears... Do you still remember? Before you transferred schools, he used to-"
Before she could finish, a sudden clatter interrupted her.
A waiter, seemingly startled, had accidentally bumped into someone. The tray in their hands tilted, sending a glass of alcohol toppling over.
-Spilling right onto Andy's left shoulder.
The cold liquid, along with ice cubes, soaked into her loose-knit sweater, seeping through to her skin. A shiver ran down her spine.
Andy inhaled sharply and instinctively stood up.
Though the bar's music was loud, the commotion wasn't small either.
The waiter turned pale with fright, repeatedly apologizing.
Sara got up as well, brushing ice off Andy's clothes with a frown. "You okay?"
"I'm fine." Andy's voice trembled slightly from the chill, but she wasn't angry. She turned to the waiter. "It's okay. Just be more careful next time."
Then, to Sara, she said, "I'm going to the restroom to clean up."
As she finished speaking, she lifted her gaze-
And locked eyes with someone.
Dark, unreadable, and indifferent.
Their gazes met for two seconds.
Andy looked away first, striding toward the women's restroom.
Inside a stall, she took off her sweater, leaving only a fitted inner shirt underneath.
Fortunately, most of the liquid had been absorbed by the outer layer.
Andy clutched the sweater and walked to the sink, dabbing a tissue with water to clean up as best as she could.
Once she was done, she stepped out.
From the corner of her eye, she noticed someone standing in the hallway.
She instinctively looked over-and froze.
Charlie leaned against the wall, a cigarette held loosely between his lips, his posture lazy and relaxed. Unlike before, he had taken off his jacket, now holding it casually in one hand.
Only a black t-shirt remained on his body.
It had been six years since their last meeting.
Andy wasn't sure if he had recognized her. And she didn't know whether she should greet him.
She hesitated for barely a second before lowering her gaze, deciding to pretend she hadn't recognized him either. She continued walking forward, stiffly determined to pass him by.
The dim hallway was lined with sleek, dark marble tiles, their irregular patterns reflecting the scattered light. From here, she could still hear the singer's voice-soft, lingering, full of wistful longing.
She drew closer.
She was about to walk past him.
At that moment-
"Hey."
His voice was languid, almost careless.
Andy stopped, turning her head slightly.
Without warning, Charlie tossed his jacket at her, covering most of her vision.
Andy froze before pulling it down, puzzled.
Charlie still hadn't looked up. Lowering his gaze, he stubbed out his cigarette in the nearby trash bin.
Neither of them spoke first.
Seconds stretched out.
Then, Charlie slowly lifted his eyes, meeting her gaze-his expression distant.
"Let's talk," he said.
The gentle twilight cast a soft glow on Alexander's face. His striking features seemed sculpted by the gods. He was the same age as Sunny's dad, Lucas, and yet why was Alexander so gorgeous and young? Sunny had always believed her father Lucas was already impossibly handsome. But compared to Alexander, her dad suddenly seemed dimmed. "Uncle Alexander, what are you doing here?" Alexander replied gently, "Waiting for someone."Sunny tilted her head. "Who are you waiting for?"Alexander said softly, "Someone who may never come." There was a faint sadness in his eyes as he spoke, and something about it pierced Sunny' s heart. A wave of sorrow surged through her, tightening her throat and bringing tears. Sunny asked, "If the one is never coming back, why keep waiting?"Alexander looked at her and said seriously, "Because I promised her I would." Alexander then asked, "Sunny, have you ever fallen in love with someone?"Sunny answered,"Nope. My dad doesn't let me date early."Alexander smiled faintly."I did. I fell in love young."Sunny looked at him curiously, and Alexander added with a subtle smile,"Loving her was the happiest thing in my life. She means my world." Before turning twenty, Sunny had always been the apple of her billionaire father Lucas's eyes, until he was ruined overnight by his nemesis, trillionaire Alexander, the cold-blooded rising king of Chicago. Not only did this ruthless tycoon destroy Lucas's corporation, he even took Lucas's daughter Sunny back to his luxurious mansion...Then came an accident, and Sunny was back to the time when her father Lucas was still a teenager. She watched, stunned, as her father laughed wildly, hanging out with a group of reckless boys. And there he was, gripping Alexander by the collar, patting his cheek,"Admit it, Alexander, you lost, huh?" Everyone at school knew there were two people you couldn't mess with. Lucas, the heir to a powerful family, arrogant, fierce, born to be bad; Alexander, stunning, silent, stoic, with fists as hard as steel and bones even harder. They were sworn enemies. Lately, the school prince Lucas had a teenage girl trailing behind him, named Sunny, who looked 90% like him, always following in his footsteps. One day, Lucas, completely exasperated, shoved some cash into her hands. Lucas, "This is the last time. Stop following me. We are almost the same age. I can never be your dad!" Sunny was in tears, "Dad..." After that, Sunny really stopped following him. And Lucas found himself weirdly missing Sunny. Until he saw his archenemy Alexander pinning Sunny to the wall, asking coldly, "Do you like me?"Sunny blushed. "Y-yes... I do." Lucas gaped. His Sunny, dated with his nemesis Alexander? He was so furious he nearly exploded. Alexander smirked, "Admit it, Lucas, Sunny likes me, not you." Lucas, "..."
In San Francisco, everyone knew that the always cold and aloof daughter of The Green family had married a crippled man from a wealthy family. Three years into the marriage, she remained childless, and outsiders mocked her, saying she was still a virgin. But no one knew- For three years, she had been unable to sleep every single night. Due to a car accident, a top billionaire became disabled, and his lover left for abroad. Cathy had no choice but to marry Lucas, being his wife at night and his caretaker during the day. Until one day, there was hope for his legs to recover, and his first love returned. Cathy overheard him saying that he would definitely divorce her. Cathy fulfilled her duty and took good care of him. Since he wanted a divorce, she turned and left without hesitation. Three years of marriage? She considered them a moment of misplaced responsibility-just a good deed to make up for the past.
For the three years he was my live-in husband, there was no physical contact between us. He was like my most loyal butler, servant, and caretaker. But when he became my financial backer, we were intimate all the time, indulging in passion every night. "I've been thinking about you for a long time..." In the darkness of the night, the man kissed me recklessly. He was my live-in husband. Thus, as the precious daughter of a wealthy family, I had no choice but to let this destitute man marry into my family and become my husband. Out of resentment, I humiliated him repeatedly, mistreated him, and even resorted to physical abuse. Yet, he never got angry, always maintaining the appearance of an obedient and gentle man. But just as I was slowly falling for him, he suddenly asked me for a divorce. The once gentle and submissive man turned into a cunning and terrifying figure overnight. In an instant, my family fell into ruin, while he rose to power. The man I once trampled underfoot had transformed into my financial backer.
The Tragic Fate of Alex, the Rise of Diana The head of the top US consortium, Alex, met an untimely demise, and all his assets were transferred to Diana. The real heiress of The White Family was found after eighteen years. Yet, everyone mocked her, calling her uncultured, useless, and nothing more than a pretty vase. However, at the wedding of the century, when the wife of the young head of The Smith Family was revealed to be none other than the "vase" Diana, the socialites of New York City were left pounding their chests in disbelief-How could she deserve this?! After Alex's death, Diana not only had to face the covetous gazes of The Smith Family but also play the role of a leader among various powerful organizations. Alex's subordinates assured her, "We will handle everything; you just need to sit on the throne." But later... When Diana was in danger, she wielded a gun, stepping on her enemy with a dazzling smile, "Be good, and I'll give you a quick death." When her loved ones fell ill, the legendary medical master personally visited and admitted-she was Diana's senior disciple! The renowned racing legend willingly became Diana's personal driver, calling her "Boss" at every turn. Alex's subordinates were in utter disbelief, "Wasn't she supposed to be a weak little white flower, a soft and obedient golden canary?!" But Alex wasn't entirely dead. When his consciousness awakened, he found himself soul-bound to a plush doll-one that Diana had designed in his likeness. Now, he not only had to endure being dressed and undressed by Diana but also be at her mercy, bathed and squeezed in her hands... Watching her reveal one hidden identity after another, Alex was utterly dumbfounded. Even the woman he admired and respected the most-was her?! [Mini Theater 1] Alex, now in plush doll form, was held against Diana's soft, snowy chest as she stood before a mirror. Staring at his own ridiculously extravagant appearance, his expression cracked- "Is this really how she sees me in her heart?!" Diana's fingers teasingly unfastened his tiny clothes, one button at a time. Alex shut his eyes, his mind filled with only one thought- "I want to die." [Mini Theater 2] Diana stared at the dust-covered plush doll, frowning, "My doll is precious-I have to wash it myself." Alex's inner monologue, "Stay away from me!" After an intense round of scrubbing and kneading, his soul burned with shame, his spirit flushed red, on the verge of tears. Diana, completely satisfied, gave him a kiss-he turned even redder... They said Alex had a cleanliness obsession, high standards, and was impossible to please. But now? He felt that... maybe staying dirty wasn't so bad after all. [Mini Theater 3] Once back in his real body, Alex trapped Diana against the wall, his gaze burning as he questioned, "You took so much advantage of me, destroyed my innocence-how are you going to repay me?" Diana's eyes gleamed mischievously. "That bad, huh? How about you cry for me first?" Alex, "..."
"Rose, do you have to be this shameless?" He yanked her hair tighter, forcing her to lift her face. She stared straight into his eyes and let out a cold laugh. "Yeah, I'm shameless. But what, you think you're any better? Talking about marriage one minute and pounding into me like crazy the next. We're just a pair of filthy lovers, aren't we? So stop pretending to be so righteous!" Alexander is aloof and arrogant; she is wild and unrestrained. For revenge, she meticulously approaches him, shamelessly flirts with him, and cunningly schemes against him. She disrupts his engagement party, drives away his first love, and repeatedly steps on his bottom line. One late night, he corners her against the wall. "Rose, what other tricks do you have that I don't know about?" And just like that, she barges into his world, does whatever she pleases, and drags him down from his throne step by step until she completely devours him... Upon returning home, Rose discovers that CEO Alexander who just gave her a sky-high breakup fee is actually her half-sister's fiancé. He broke up with her because he got engaged to her half-sister. To make matters worse, Rose's biological mother had also met her tragic fate because of her stepmother. Her mind remained clear at all times. Now, her goal was no longer as simple as forcing Alexander to call off the engagement. Her desire had grown. She wanted to possess him completely-body and soul-to conquer him, to make him entirely hers. Only his powerful status and background could truly help her reclaim everything she had lost. She had always known what he wanted. She had always known how to provoke his anger, make him compromise, lure him into indulgence, make him lose himself-until he became a puppet of her.
At first sight, in order to create a bond with Angela, Frances risked his life and deliberately staged a car accident. Angela was the adopted daughter of the Moore family. On the night she was kicked out of the house, her fiancé was already on the entertainment headlines, holding her sister in his arms. Later, Angela was caught up in endless scandals because she had gotten involved with the most powerful man. Everyone mocked her, saying she was nothing more than Mr. William's fleeting amusement. Little did they know that from the moment Frances first laid eyes on her, he had only one thought-to steal her away! To take her from the hands of her fiancé. Everyone was waiting to see Angela make a fool of herself, deliberately asking about her relationship with Frances. He merely smiled and said, "Perhaps I haven't tried hard enough. After being married for so long, Mrs. Williams still refuses to acknowledge me publicly and give me a proper title." That night, the air was damp. Angela was breathless as he pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply. His breath was scorching. "Mrs. Williams, have I tried hard enough?" Angela gritted her teeth. He was trying... far too hard!
The day Raina gave birth should have been the happiest of her life. Instead, it became her worst nightmare. Moments after delivering their twins, Alexander shattered her heart-divorcing her and forcing her to sign away custody of their son, Liam. With nothing but betrayal and heartbreak to her name, Raina disappeared, raising their daughter, Ava, on her own.Years later, fate comes knocking when Liam falls gravely ill. Desperate to save his son, Alexander is forced to seek out the one person he once cast aside. Alexander finds himself face to face with the woman he underestimated, pleading for a second chance-not just for himself, but for their son. But Raina is no longer the same broken woman who once loved him.No longer the woman he left behind. She has carved out a new life-one built on strength, wealth, and a long-buried legacy she expected to uncover.Raina has spent years learning to live without him.The question is... Will she risk reopening old wounds to save the son she never got to love? or has Alexander lost her forever?
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law. After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her. Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her. When their paths crossed once more, Kallie had already found new happiness. For the first time, he pleaded humbly, "Please don't leave me..."Â But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"
The whispers said that out of bitter jealousy, Hadley shoved Eric's beloved down the stairs, robbing the unborn child of life. To avenge, Eric forced Hadley abroad and completely cut her off. Years later, she reemerged, and they felt like strangers. When they met again, she was the nightclub's star, with men ready to pay fortunes just to glimpse her elusive performance. Unable to contain himself, Eric blocked her path, asking, "Is this truly how you earn a living now? Why not come back to me?" Hadley's lips curved faintly. "If you’re eager to see me, you’d better join the queue, darling."
In her previous life, Kimberly endured the betrayal of her husband, the cruel machinations of an evil woman, and the endless tyranny of her in-laws. It culminated in the bankruptcy of her family, and ultimately, her death. After being reborn, she resolved to seek retribution against those who had wronged her, and ensure her family's prosperity. To her shock, the most unattainable man from her past suddenly set his sights on her. "You may have overlooked me before, but I shall capture your heart this time around."
For two years, Ashton had poured his heart into his marriage, yet Emalee's heart remained cold. Despite his dedication, Emalee presented him with divorce papers. She bluntly stated she could not remain married to a man whose net worth was less than a million dollars. Ashton signed the papers, closing one chapter of his life and stepping into a new beginning. Then, Ashton revealed his secret identities: a music mogul, a medical expert, and a martial arts master—each persona impressive enough to stun the world. As Ashton’s true capabilities came to light, Emalee was overwhelmed with deep regret.
Iris grew from an orphaned child to the adopted daughter of the Stewart family at age ten, finding warmth in her nominal uncle Vincent's kindness. Seven years later, she became his secret lover. When Vincent's engagement was announced, gossip spread about the notorious playboy CEO finally settling down. But only Iris knew the extent of his cold, two-faced nature. Iris fell for Vincent and, through tears, begged, "Marry me," only to be met with his frosty refusal. Defeated, she accepted a lawyer's proposal, sparking public excitement. Then, on her wedding day, Vincent pleaded desperately, "Don't marry him…"