Chapter 24: The Aloof Heiress Part 1

“Where… is this?”

Jiang Li floated lightly in the air, still unsure where she was.

【Yo, you’re awake.】

The voice of 123 chimed in. Jiang Li gazed puzzled at the 123 hovering right in front of her before glancing down at her own condition.

Her brows furrowed tight. She was in her divine soul state.

Jiang Li scowled as she carefully pieced together her memories. She had been taking a stroll with Luo Yihuan. Once they’d finished, Luo Yihuan confessed her feelings to her. And then she rejected her.

What happened next? Jiang Li’s eyes narrowed as she finally recalled the events right before blacking out—

Luo Yihuan had knocked her unconscious.

That mad dog had actually knocked her out!

Insane.

Clenching her teeth, Jiang Li could never have imagined that Luo Yihuan would have the guts to clock her right there in public. How bold could this woman possibly be?

【Heh, looks like it’s all coming back to you.】

123 clearly knew the full rundown on Jiang Li’s predicament, its tone laced with gleeful malice. Out of basic decency, it presented her with a multiple-choice dilemma.

【I’ve got good news and bad news. Which do you want first?】

Jiang Li’s mind was already churning with irritation. “Just spit it out already. Quit yapping.”

【Good news it is.】 123 planted itself in place, extending a paw like a cat with five claws out as it gravely informed Jiang Li, 【Your innocence is still very much accounted for.】

The corner of Jiang Li’s mouth twitched. For a split second, she actually felt bad for expecting any actual good news from this cat.

Luo Yihuan was crazy, sure, but not so deranged that she’d do anything to someone lying there peacefully asleep. Exactly what kind of monster did 123 think she was?

“Thanks. So, what’s the bad?”

【You failed the time-limited task. Punishment time, incoming.】

Jiang Li just shrugged. “Hit me with it.”

It was only her divine soul taking a jaunt through Luo Yihuan’s dream realm for the night. Compared to the cruelty of accepting Luo Yihuan’s love only to abandon her in the end, this was nothing.

At the sight of her utterly unbothered expression, 123 stuck to its role as the system and gave a thorough rundown of the dream realm awaiting her.

In the dream realm, Luo Yihuan held total sway—Jiang Li’s divine soul would be at the mercy of whatever Luo Yihuan dreamed up.

In other words, if Jiang Li happened to drop in while Luo Yihuan was having a naughty dream…

123 bit back the thought at the sight of Jiang Li propping her chin in defeat, fully resigned to her fate.

Nah. Jiang Li’s luck couldn’t possibly be that rotten.

After hauling her back, Luo Yihuan had just sat by the bed and stared. No moves made.

If Luo Yihuan hadn’t laid a hand on the flesh-and-blood version of her, there was no way she’d get frisky with some dream phantom.

With that in mind, 123 kept that risk to itself— no sense fretting her out unnecessarily.

【Ding. Time-limited task failed. Entering punishment phase now.】

【Punishment: Tasker Jiang Li will spend one night in the dream realm of target Luo Yihuan.】

A blaze of white light swept over her, forcing Jiang Li to squeeze her eyes shut as she threw an arm up to shield her face.

Hm?

An overwhelming wave of drowsiness crashed over Luo Yihuan out of nowhere. Her fist clenched the bedsheet so hard her veins bulged.

She shook her head fiercely, trying to fling the fatigue aside, gritted her teeth to fight off sleep—but then an electric jolt ripped through her.

The current was ferocious, surging wildly through every cell in her body. Her grip slackened, and Luo Yihuan collapsed asleep at the bedside.

Her other hand clamped tightly over Jiang Li’s, cradling it in her palm.

【Punishment commencing.】

When Jiang Li opened her eyes again, pitch darkness met her.

She scowled and tried calling out to 123 a few times. No answer. She gave up.

Unsure what sort of dream Luo Yihuan had conjured, she couldn’t just hover in place forever. Cautiously, she pressed forward.

Heart in her throat, she inched her feet along. She couldn’t make out a thing around her, but the ground felt solidly real beneath her soles.

Her nose twitched. Wary, she clapped a hand over her face, but she couldn’t block the floral fragrance saturating the air.

The scent hung thick everywhere, wafting from all directions, carried on a breeze blowing from ahead. With each tentative step of her toe, wind mingled with flowers in a sweet, rhythmic melody that tugged at her heartstrings.

She heard no breathing but her own.

Where was Luo Yihuan?

This was supposed to be Luo Yihuan’s dream realm, wasn’t it?

Harboring her questions, Jiang Li shuffled slowly onward. She couldn’t see the path ahead or spot any obstacles.

Every so often, some rogue branch would smack her right on the forehead. Clutching her brow, she hissed in pain—then barely caught the faintest patter of footsteps ahead.

Feather-light, nearly drowned out by her own yelp.

But Jiang Li’s senses snagged it. She went rigid, throttled her breathing, and deftly shifted direction.

She had to dodge her.

Even if it was Luo Yihuan’s dream realm, staying uncaught meant staying in control.

One thought dominated her mind—

Run! Get as far as you can! Absolutely do not let Luo Yihuan catch you!

In the enveloping blackness, Jiang Li held her breath and strode swiftly away. No clue if it was paranoia, but right after she started evading Luo Yihuan’s position, a ghostly soft chuckle drifted to her ears.

Low and husky, laced with chilling menace.

Gone in an instant.

It felt just like some demon dogging her heels. Jiang Li didn’t let up, zigzagging through several sharp turns, but that sinister gaze never left her. It bored into her relentlessly.

Everywhere. Constant. Like sticky slime glued fast, the cold, clammy sensation magnified endlessly in the dark.

Pervert.

Jiang Li cursed under her breath.

Luo Yihuan pulled all the strings here. She was blundering around like a headless chicken, and while that woman’s eyes tracked her every move, Luo Yihuan herself refused to show.

Just toying with her like some pet on a stroll.

Screw running. Jiang Li whipped around, her voice booming through the unidentified space. “Bastard! Show yourself!”

Flames of fury leaped in her eyes, her shout ringing out clear and piercing, carrying far and wide.

So far that her own echo bounced back. God only knew what kind of spot Luo Yihuan had picked.

As her emotions flared from the oppressive surroundings, a delighted laugh echoed from the shadows. Jiang Li’s sharp glance whipped that way, but she caught no silhouette.

The lingering laughter hung there, but the numbness crawling from her waist up to her midsection sent a true shiver down her spine.

When did that happen?!

In disbelief, she glanced down. Sure enough, it was that familiar pair of hands clamping onto her—the same ones that had knocked her lights out and dragged her away.

They squeezed tighter and tighter. Numbness spread inch by inch like electric shocks racing through her, pleasure blooming hot and fast from her waist. Her knees buckled.

A soft, muffled whimper slipped from her throat. Jiang Li clamped her lips shut, desperate to stifle any more.

At least Luo Yihuan seemed content just to cinch her waist, Jiang Li figured.

The next instant, though, a ruthless hand slammed over her mouth, palm grinding down to seal it.

Luo Yihuan! You—

Her eyes bulged wide, but Jiang Li didn’t dare twitch.

The hand at her waist merely rested lightly—nothing compared to the iron grip on her mouth. A little wiggle, and she could slip free of the embrace.

But she couldn’t move an inch.

Her waist and belly skin was tender to begin with, hypersensitive. Even a graze from the ridges on that palm’s pad sent shivers of excessive pleasure zipping through her. It took every ounce of willpower to fight it back.

She froze obediently, letting Luo Yihuan hold her fast with her mouth muzzled into silence.

That compliant pose coaxed a stream of soft chuckles from behind her—sinister and mocking, enough to raise goosebumps unbidden.

Once satisfied with her laughter, Luo Yihuan dipped down, resting her chin on Jiang Li’s shoulder, her breath quivering faintly. “Baby, aren’t you just the picture of obedience right now.”

“But back then, when you so ruthlessly ditched me and walked off alone, where was all this good behavior, hm?”

Her lips brushed the tender patch of skin behind Jiang Li’s ear, rubbing back and forth obsessively.

All the while murmuring on, voice crystal clear yet dripping with grievance.

It was genuine hurt. Dream or not, hearing Luo Yihuan’s accusations tugged Jiang Li’s thoughts back to the knockout—and guilt flickered in.

She had planned to ditch her right there today, after all.

“I even said I’d be good for you. I’d listen to everything you say.”

“You promised me. You promised we’d get married, travel the world together.”

“But.” The voice turned frigid. Luo Yihuan sank her teeth into the lobe hanging before her—hard.

Payback: Jiang Li chomped down viciously on the soft meat of the palm in front of her.

A stinging itch like ants burrowing hit her earlobe—not unbearable agony, but Luo Yihuan deliberately raked her teeth over it like filing them.

Unbearably ticklish. Jiang Li’s body went rigid, afraid to budge.

“You don’t want me anymore.” As Luo Yihuan spoke those words, Jiang Li could’ve sworn she caught a quiver, like tears.

Was she crying?

Jiang Li wavered, her bite easing off for a moment.

The instant she loosened up, though, Luo Yihuan mashed her palm back in forcefully, voice pleading. “Li Li, bite me. Bite me harder, okay?”

There had been real tears, and Luo Yihuan spotted Jiang Li’s softening resolve in a flash, pressing her advantage shamelessly.

Her cries rang out eager and pitiful, chin grinding against Jiang Li’s shoulder nonstop. She shoved her palm forward insistently for more bites, whining all the while at the lack of real force.

That palm twisted cunningly in front of Jiang Li’s face, positioning every bit for her teeth.

And she was getting off on it.

Something stuck in Jiang Li’s chest, turning the satisfying chew sour.

She released her bite on her own, lips parting to let the hand slip free—but then—

Luo Yihuan suddenly balled her fist, protruding knuckles seizing the moment to wedge one finger past Jiang Li’s jawline.

It coiled around that timid, warm tongue, drawing it into a dance.

The move was lightning-quick—too fast for Jiang Li to react. Before she knew it, her mouth held a finger. Her tongue tip flicked instinctively, drawing a contented groan from nearby.

Wet tongue in sweltering cavern, the soft tip gliding over the pad—it was Li Li taking initiative. Pleasure wrapped Luo Yihuan’s heart tight, a satisfied sigh rumbling from her throat.