Rebirth: Seven Years in a Great Dream

Chapter 20: Cheating Brings a Surprise

The two went to the northern end of Lotus Street, to a small Shandong cuisine restaurant. Both Mu Dong and Xiao Xiao loved this restaurant’s honey-glazed meatballs and lotus-scented fish head. The lotus-scented fish head was especially delicious—the fish was generously coated with various sauces, wrapped whole in a lotus leaf, and grilled for 30 minutes. When it came out of the oven, a delicate fragrance filled the air, and the flavor was absolutely exquisite. As night fell, the two, having eaten their fill, strolled hand in hand along Lotus Street. Lotus Street is the busiest pedestrian street in Quancheng, lined with a dense array of snack stalls and accessory shops. The air was filled with the diverse aromas of delicious food, and the lively shouts of street vendors filled their ears—the bustling yet natural atmosphere of everyday city life washed over them. Xiao Xiao was in a rare good mood. She tugged Mu Dong along to browse various accessory shops, mostly just looking but not buying much. In the end, relying on his memory, Mu Dong picked out a large magnifying makeup mirror and a pair of genuine leather gloves for her. Xiao Xiao truly loved both of these items; Mu Dong had hit the nail on the head. Xiao Xiao was a little surprised, and a sense of mutual understanding suddenly welled up in her heart. She looked up at Mu Dong as he paid, and a warm, familiar feeling began to grow within her. They had been in love for six years; during the passionate early days, they’d been so smitten they’d wanted to be glued to each other. Over the years, their relationship had stabilized, and they’d each worked hard toward a shared future. Even when Mu Dong left Quancheng to return to Southern Shandong, they missed each other deeply but had come to accept this separation. But at this moment, Xiao Xiao felt a different kind of emotion welling up inside her. Perhaps it was the joy brought on by their engagement, or perhaps it was the thoughtfulness Mu Dong had inadvertently shown. Xiao Xiao suddenly felt a strong sense of connection to this relationship. Yes, it’s him—he’s the one I want to grow old with. Thank you, younger me, for choosing the right man. “I am his woman, and I will remain his woman,” Xiao Xiao silently resolved. Xiao Xiao might not have realized it yet, but this feeling was called familial affection. As for Mu Dong, the thoughtfulness he had inadvertently shown was just a little “cheat” on the part of the time traveler. Mu Dong didn’t know that this little “cheat” had brought him a pleasant surprise. Hehua Street wasn’t far from their home, so the two strolled leisurely back. Xiao Xiao was swept up in the moment; she practically clung to Mu Dong, even taking the initiative to ask for a kiss several times in the dimly lit spots. This wasn’t at all like Xiao Xiao’s usual style—it was exactly how Mu Dong used to act a few years ago. At first, Mu Dong was a bit puzzled—this girl was getting this excited just because of an engagement? But after it happened a few times, Mu Dong realized something was off. Xiao Xiao’s eyes shimmered like a moonlit spring, brimming with warm, deep affection that seemed ready to spill over at any moment. The moonlight shattered on the water’s surface, transforming into clusters of tiny flames rising from the water. Water and fire shone in harmony within Xiao Xiao’s eyes. Even with his memories from another timeline, Mu Dong had rarely seen Xiao Xiao look like this. In this timeline, Xiao Xiao was more often shy, steadfast, or resistant. Mu Dong suddenly remembered—he had seen that look before. In that other timeline, on their wedding night, hadn’t Xiao Xiao had exactly that same look? Between water and fire, where love runs deepest. Mu Dong understood—this meant… a surprise was coming! Mu Dong, too, was overcome with passion. Having endured life like an ascetic for so long since returning from his journey through time, his physical desires had reached a fever pitch. Once inside the room, the two kissed passionately, their breathing rapid and heavy. The October weather wasn’t cold, and they were wearing very little. Soon, Mu Dong had stripped Xiao Xiao down to just her two pieces of underwear. Her skin was instantly exposed to the air, sending a slight chill through her body and making her body hair stand on end. Xiao Xiao clung tightly to Mu Dong, stopping him from going any further, and murmured in his ear, “Go take a shower. Go take a shower.” “All right, I’ll go take a shower.” Mu Dong hurried into the bathroom, quickly rinsed off, and then burst back out wearing only his boxers. At that speed, he could probably set a record—and it would probably be approved. He was in such a hurry, afraid Xiao Xiao would change her mind. Xiao Xiao, her face flushed, wrapped herself in a towel and entered the bathroom. Xiao Xiao was indeed having second thoughts. Was she really going to give up the principles she’d held onto for so long tonight? Who knows what’s gotten into her tonight. Xiao Xiao touched her flushed cheeks as she let the shower wash over her slender body. Her mind was a blur. She didn’t know how much time had passed when a knock on the door rang out, accompanied by Mu Dong’s anxious voice from outside: “Xiao Xiao, are you okay? Are you okay?” This thoughtful man—even now, he was worried about her well-being. Xiao Xiao was moved once again. Gritting her teeth, Xiao Xiao stepped out, wrapped only in a bath towel. If she had to die, so be it—she’d be his sooner or later anyway. She walked out with her head down, one hand clutching the towel, freeing the other to wrap her arm around Mu Dong’s. She walked to the bed, sat down slowly, looked up at Mu Dong with sparkling eyes, and whispered, “Be nice to me.” It was as if a starting gun had gone off; Mu Dong was instantly ignited and sprang into action. “The flower-lined path has never been swept for a guest; today, for the first time, this humble door opens for you.” The two young bodies became entwined… As a middle-aged man who had traveled through time, Mu Dong’s stamina and skill were naturally off the charts, but he knew that Xiao Xiao’s delicate body was still new to such experiences, so he had to treat her with tenderness. Moreover, he knew her preferences and what turned her on; apart from the initial sting, this physical encounter provided her with nothing but a perfect experience. As the passion subsided, the two—who had been on the go all day—embraced each other and drifted into a deep sleep. In a haze of drowsiness, Mu Dong felt as if he were a feather, slowly floating upward. A gentle breeze carried him lightly, drifting him higher into the air. Mu Dong looked down and saw “himself” and Xiao Xiao still sleeping soundly in each other’s arms on the bed. Was this an out-of-body experience? Or was he—about to die? Or perhaps his journey through another world had ended, and he was about to return. But where would he return to? Back to the scene of that car accident? It felt as though the wind had picked up, swiftly sweeping him upward into the sky. Under a clear, cloudless sky, Mu Dong could clearly see the earth, the buildings, and the rivers below him, looking down upon the landscape just like a bird. The wind grew stronger and stronger; he could no longer keep his eyes open, and the gusts stung his face. He could only feel himself tumbling rapidly as he soared upward at breakneck speed. Suddenly, the wind stopped, and his body came to a halt. Mu Dong opened his eyes to find himself surrounded by a vast, white sea of clouds; mist was rising, and everything was hazy and indistinct. In the distance stood a complex of palace-like buildings, also a pale white. Dazed, Mu Dong walked toward the complex. As he drew closer, he heard the cheerful chatter and laughter of children. “Is this a kindergarten?” Mu Dong wondered. Just as he neared the entrance, a woman wearing a snow-white long dress emerged, leading a child. The child was also dressed in a white short dress, but her face was hidden in the mist. All he could hear was the child laughing and shouting, “Daddy’s here to pick me up! Daddy’s here to pick me up!” As he drew even closer, Mu Dong could make out the child’s face. It’s Xinyu!!! It really was Xiner!!! Tears suddenly streamed down Mu Dong’s face. He ran a few steps toward her, intending to embrace Xiner. But suddenly, his feet slipped, and his whole body plummeted rapidly downward. Mu Dong screamed, struggled, and wept bitterly—but it was all in vain. Everything faded like a mist, growing fainter, more distant, until it vanished from sight. Mu felt himself crash heavily into a pitch-black place, a sharp pain shooting through his body. “Mu Dong, Mu Dong, Mu Dong…” He felt as if someone was calling his name, pushing him. But his eyelids felt incredibly heavy. His ethereal soul struggled to control his heavy body, and finally, slowly, he regained a sliver of sensation—he was back. He opened his eyes to see Xiao Xiao, half-naked, her face flushed with worry. Seeing that Mu Dong had woken up, she hurriedly asked, “What’s wrong? Why are you crying?” Mu Dong wiped his face—it was wet. He realized the tears from his dream had carried over into reality. But he couldn’t go into too much detail about this. So he brushed it off, saying, “I had a bad dream—I dreamed you didn’t want me anymore, so I was crying behind you.” Xiao Xiao suddenly grew anxious, as if she’d actually done such a thing. She sat up abruptly and blurted out, “That’s nonsense! I’m not that kind of person.” She felt a chill on her chest, looked down at herself, blushed, and quickly burrowed back under the covers, snapping, “I knew you were just letting your imagination run wild.” Mu Dong gently pulled Xiao Xiao toward him, holding her face-to-face with their skin pressed together, his fingers slowly running through her hair. He whispered, “Dreams are the opposite of reality—this just shows how much you care about me.” The two said nothing more, simply holding each other in a warm embrace for a while. The alarm went off, and Xiao Xiao got up to go to work. Mu Dong got up with her, and as she got dressed, he couldn’t resist a few playful touches, taking a few small liberties. Xiao Xiao dodged his advances here and there, which was actually quite amusing. They both washed up, went downstairs together for breakfast, and then Mu Dong rode his scooter to take Xiao Xiao to school. Afterward, he went to the morning market and bought various meats, eggs, and vegetables. Mu Dong planned to stay in Quancheng for a while, so he needed to stock up on food supplies. He then returned home and gave the house a thorough cleaning, inside and out. Then he organized his lottery numbers, getting ready to buy tickets that afternoon. The “Seven-Color Lottery” draws take place every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday night—and today happened to be Wednesday. When it came to the lottery, Mu Dong had already decided to keep a low profile. First, he wouldn’t buy tickets for multiple draws—that would attract too much attention. He decided to skip the idea of sticking with the same numbers across multiple draws. Second, he had two possible sets of numbers, and he planned to buy just one ticket for each set. Mu Dong remembered that the last time he won, he’d had several winning tickets. He could have bought more tickets to take up some of the quota reserved for others, but in the end, he decided against it—better to keep a low profile. Also, in addition to buying these two sets each time, he’d mix in a few others—either randomly generated or made up on the spot—spending about a few dozen yuan each time. Finally, regarding when to buy the tickets, Mu Dong felt it was best to follow the habits of most people and go in the afternoon on the day of the drawing. That’s when the lottery counters are the busiest, and he’d be least likely to attract attention. As for whether he’d win, Mu Dong had hopes, but he was also prepared for the possibility of losing. How does the saying go? It’s called “one heart, two preparations.” Although time travelers can “cheat,” it still takes some effort to make it work. After jotting down a few sets of numbers, Mu Dong tucked the slip of paper into his pocket. Strolling out, he decided to swing by the Northern Company to see Han Yong. Since he was back, he figured he should at least update Han Yong on the situation at the construction site. Whether Han Yong listened or not was up to him, but whether Mu Dong spoke up was a matter of his own attitude. He called Han Yong on the way; Han Yong happened to be available, so Mu Dong went straight to his office. When Mu Dong knocked and entered, Han Yong was playing a video game. As a branch of a state-owned company, the main business wasn’t particularly hectic, so the general manager naturally had plenty of time for leisure. Han Yong used to play video games as well, but whenever a subordinate knocked on the door, he would always put on a show. Now that Mu Dong’s status had changed—he was no longer a subordinate but a business partner and a brother—there was naturally no need to keep up appearances. Mu Dong teased, “Brother Yong, that’s not fair. While I’m back home working my butt off to make money for you, you’re sitting here so leisurely—that’s not right, is it?” Han Yong laughed too and said, “There’s just nothing major going on right now. How about you—you must be exhausted from all the hard work lately, right? You look a lot tanner.” Mu Dong spent most of his time working at the yard, and with the late-summer sun beating down on his face every day, he’d naturally gotten a bit tanned. However, this actually made Mu Dong look much more mature. The two chatted and laughed as Mu Dong briefed Han Yong on the latest developments at the storage yard. When Han Yong heard that the total funds had now reached over two million, he was taken aback. It seemed he hadn’t misjudged the situation—Mu Dong was indeed quite capable, given that so many people were willing to get involved. When he also heard that sales had already begun through truck deliveries and that the profits were looking good, Han Yong was even more pleased. However, Mu Dong actually seemed reluctant to sell, which puzzled Han Yong a bit. But when he thought about the two pieces of news Mu Dong had mentioned—which hadn’t been made public yet—he figured there was likely even more room for price appreciation, so he felt much more at ease. At lunchtime, the two found a nearby restaurant to eat, and Han Yong treated him. It happened to be right at the end of the workday, so when some colleagues saw Mu Dong and Han Yong together, they greeted them warmly. At the same time, they couldn’t help but wonder: This Mu Dong really is something—even after leaving the company, he still has such a good relationship with the boss. It looks like they’re going out to eat together. Truly, a capable person can do anything. During lunch, Mu Dong asked about the report again. Han Yong said, “I read your report carefully—it’s very insightful. I’ve already submitted it to headquarters. Later, the HR department at headquarters suggested rehiring you to work directly at headquarters. But I know your situation—I know your girlfriend is in Jinan—so I made the decision for you and turned them down. I told headquarters that you’re running your own business now; you’re a big boss, ha ha ha.” Mu Dong laughed too: “What kind of big boss am I? Just messing around, making a little money.” Han Yong said, “Modesty is a virtue—stay low-key, stay low-key.” He paused for a moment, then added, “Headquarters still wanted to talk to you a few days ago—they said it was the CEO’s arrangement. If all else fails, you might have to come with me to Beijing.” Mu Dong replied, “I really don’t want to go, but if I absolutely can’t get out of it, then I’ll go with you.” After dinner, the two went their separate ways. Mu Dong called Cheng Qiang, invited him out for tea, and asked him to set up a meeting with Cai Jiaojiao. Cai Jiaojiao was working the night shift today, so she happened to be free. An hour later, Cheng Qiang arrived at the teahouse with Cai Jiaojiao. As soon as Cheng Qiang saw Mu Dong, he complained, “I’ve been studying at home for my exams—I have to register by the end of the month. You’re bothering me right now? You’re ruining my big plans! If this affects my career, I’ll hold you accountable.” Before Mu Dong could say a word, Cai Jiaojiao couldn’t take it anymore. She pursed her lips and said to Cheng Qiang, “Career? You haven’t even made a dent yet. Don’t get too cocky.” Cheng Qiang deflated instantly, like a balloon pricked by a needle. Mu Dong just laughed. Sure enough, there’s a remedy for everything—just like brine setting tofu. Amid the banter, he stood up, motioned for the two to take a seat, and poured them some tea. Mu Dong had invited Cheng Qiang purely out of friendship—just to catch up and shoot the breeze. As for Cai Jiaojiao, it was a different story—he needed to specifically discuss the operations at the storage yard with her. Mu Dong went over in detail for Cai Jiaojiao the same report he’d given to Han Yong that morning. Cai Jiaojiao’s reaction was essentially the same as Han Yong’s. She just felt an added sense of relief: Mu Dong was indeed outstanding, and having a friend like him was a stroke of luck for Cheng Qiang. Mu Dong had his own reasons for formally briefing Han Yong and Cai Jiaojiao on the yard’s situation. Trust must not be betrayed, and it must be reinforced. Mu Dong’s actions had already achieved the desired effect. The three of them spent a leisurely afternoon together, and at 4:00 p. m. , they went their separate ways. Mu Dong strolled over to a nearby lottery outlet. People’s craving for wealth manifested in a unique way at the lottery outlet. Several people were passionately discussing trend charts, betting strategies, “hot” and “cold” numbers, and other information, their enthusiasm soaring as if the data they were analyzing would lead to a jackpot win any moment. Mu Dong had once gone through the same mental journey, so he could fully understand this fervor. “You’ve got to have dreams—what if, by some miracle, it actually happens?” He pretended to glance around at the trend charts and such, then pulled out the slip of paper he’d prepared, bought his lottery ticket, and strolled out. Time to go home and cook dinner for my wife. His wife works to make a living, while he just hangs around—doesn’t he have to show her he’s worth it? In another timeline, Mu Dong had honed his cooking skills quite well and had several signature dishes. Most importantly, he knew exactly what Xiao Xiao liked to eat—so he could “cheat” a little. Mu Dong started by simmering a black-bone chicken—he’d bought it specifically at the morning market today to help his wife regain her strength. He also prepared two vegetarian dishes, prepping the ingredients so he could stir-fry them fresh when Xiao Xiao got home—that way, they’d be piping hot. Once he was done with that, Mu Dong rolled up his sleeves, gathered his tools, and set about taking the bed apart! Yes, taking apart the bed. Last night, all the bumping and stumbling while trying to make room had made Mu Dong absolutely hate this bed. Cheng Qiang had helped buy the bed when Mu Dong was injured. Cheng Qiang really didn’t mind spending money—it cost over two thousand yuan. But you really do get what you pay for. Made of pine wood, it had two tiers: the lower bunk was 1. 6 meters wide, and the upper bunk was 1. 2 meters wide. One advantage of this bed was that the upper bunk could be completely removed, turning it into two separate beds—one large and one small. Mu Dong was pretty handy; an hour later, the top bunk had been dismantled into a pile of wooden slats of various sizes. Since the apartment was small, he decided to take it apart into pieces and store them on the balcony for now. When Xiao Xiao walked in, she saw Mu Dong tidying up that pile of wooden parts. She glanced at the now-empty large bed, her face flushing as she silently grumbled to herself: “This guy—he’s up to no good.” Mu Dong called out, “My wife’s back! I’ll be done in a minute—go wash your face first.” After saying that, he quickly tidied up the wooden pieces and went to the kitchen to stir-fry some vegetables. Ten minutes later, the meal was on the table. When Xiao Xiao saw the black-bone chicken soup, her face flushed again, but her heart warmed. This ordinary, warm, and cozy little life made Xiao Xiao’s heart feel as sweet as honey, radiating that sweetness from the inside out.