"You-approached me with intricate plans, what exactly is your intention? Do you want... to dig out my heart? To take my lungs? Or... do you want to drain, drain my blood?" My vision was blurry, not seeing clearly, but I felt like Daniel Carter’s handsome face was frozen, looking at me utterly amused, staying still. After a long time, he asked me with an extremely surprising tone, "I’m not a butcher. Why would I want to dig out hearts, lungs, and drain blood?" "That’s a question for you... How would I know? You’re acting strange, and your mother is strange too... You both are inexplicably kind to me; it’s terrifying—" I shook my head, waved my hand weakly, muttering, "Terrifying..." Daniel Carter asked, "So you think we are kind to you because we want to take your organs, drain your blood, and that’s why you suddenly distanced yourself from me?" I leaned softly on the sofa, answered in a muffled voice, "No... not entirely... You are so good at bewitching people’s hearts; it’s too dangerous..." Daniel Carter chuckled indulgently and countered, "What did I do that would be considered dangerous? You tried to force a kiss on me in the car earlier, but I dodged; maybe you’re the dangerous one?" "No, I am not dangerous... I’m just a pushover, anyone can bully, anyone can pinch and trample—" I recalled my own tragic circumstances and murmured to myself. "Well, no more, Lily Miller... If you want, I will protect you from now on." Daniel Carter looked at me and said solemnly. Then I asked again, "So why exactly... do you want to be kind to me, protect me?" Daniel Carter slightly turned around, looked at me seriously, and asked, "Lily Miller, do you really not remember me at all?" I replied, "Of course I remember... you are Daniel Carter, Second Master Carter, high above... just like The Exile in the sky, sigh... we ordinary people can’t compare..." Daniel Carter sighed helplessly, "Never mind, you’re so drunk, and I’m still hoping you’d remember me." Half awake, half asleep, I kept babbling. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ ⓝovelFire.net Daniel Carter stood up and walked away, soon came back with a blanket in hand. "Lily Miller, you’re reeking of alcohol, don’t sleep on the bed, make do with the sofa for the night." He spoke, but to me, it sounded like mosquito buzzes, indistinct, not responding. I felt him lay me down, helped me take off my shoes, and stretched me out on the sofa. He bent down and carefully draped the blanket over me. When the blanket reached my shoulders, I instinctively opened my eyes and smiled, "You’re really handsome... so handsome that one wants to kiss..." Then the hand holding the blanket suddenly froze. "Do you want to try?" It’s in human nature to appreciate beauty. It’s natural to desire pleasure. Intoxicated, I had lost all reason, my most primal desires released. I returned to that dream, where I kissed Daniel Carter. Only this time, the sensation was more real, more intoxicating. I kept kissing and babbling my commentary, "Your lips... so soft, like jelly—if only I could kiss them daily, that would be great..." "Lily Miller, do you know what you’re doing?" The man’s voice was low and husky, as if restraining something. "Of course I know... It’s not the first time; we’re married... A kiss is nothing—" "Is it? A kiss is nothing? Then I won’t hold back." Daniel Carter’s words seemed to break free from moral constraints. I felt a shadow pressing down on me, the fresh and rich scent of forest enveloping me— Yet, at that moment, a wave of nausea surged. "Ugh!" My whole body rose like a wave, and the figure quickly pulled a trash can to catch it. I vomited so fiercely, the whole world spinning. After vomiting, I was like an empty shell, completely falling asleep... What happened next, I didn’t know. I vaguely remember vomiting a couple more times. I never noticed when the man taking care of me left. After days of insomnia, even sleeping pills couldn’t bring rest. That night, under the influence of alcohol, I slept like a dead pig. Until the sun reached high midday, and I fell from the sofa when turning over, waking up abruptly from a heavy dream. I sat on the ground, bewildered, glanced around, feeling my brain had evaporated. Trying to recall last night’s events, I only remembered Wennie Lane organized a birthday party for me and invited a bunch of younger guys to liven up the party. Everyone was having fun, drinking obliviously. I have no memory of what happened afterward or how I got home. But I vaguely remember seeing Daniel Carter again and snuggling, kissing him. No doubt, I was dreaming again. So, this is what blackout drinking feels like. Like the memory in my brain was rebooted. My head throbbed painfully as I struggled to get up from the floor, my body feeling like it was falling apart, slumping on the sofa, dazed. The phone rang, awakening my muddled mind. I reached for my bag, found my phone; it’s an assistant calling. "Hello... Cherry, yeah... I’m not feeling well, resting half the morning, yeah, I’ll talk again this afternoon, okay, bye-bye..." After hanging up, I realized there were six or seven missed calls. Cherry’s, Wennie Lane’s, company department executives’, and Jason Miller’s... I suddenly remembered, it’s Monday; according to Jason Miller, there was a scheduled board meeting this morning to announce my shareholding and control over the company. Seems it needs to be rescheduled. Opening WeChat, there were loads of unread messages. Checked the time; it was ten thirty; it’s no wonder everyone was worried, having been out of contact for so long. The group of girlfriends from last night had a group chat, over 500 unread messages. As I opened it, it was all last night’s crazy party videos and photos. Scrolling through them, my face turned more... cracked. Oh my, was I that crazy last night? Actually snuggling those younger guys, singing, dancing, and even lining them up to smear cream on them one by one? Even through the phone screen, and even though I was alone at home, I felt the embarrassment to the point of curling my toes, covering my face, not daring to look any further. It was utterly disgraceful and indecent. They were chatting in the group, saying because I hadn’t stirred, I must still be sleeping, some suggesting whether to check on me at home... How could I face people, so I promptly popped up in the group chat. [I’m awake, no need to worry, everyone.] Once I appeared, Nora Saunders and the others immediately @ me, urging to review last night’s videos and photos, to keep them for later remembrance. I was too embarrassed to reply, using a hangover headache as an excuse, asserting I need to sleep more, opting out of group chat. After lying on the sofa for a while, I couldn’t stand the stench of alcohol on me and got up to shower. Once refreshed, I went to the table to pour water to drink. Then I noticed a paper pinned under the kettle. Pausing, I picked it up and examined it closely, suddenly struck by thunder! [Kitchen has hangover tea and plain congee, eat some after waking, don’t go hungry.] Signed, Daniel Carter. What? Daniel Carter!!! Staring at those words, my already muddled brain was shocked into complete disarray! Only after a while did the buzzing chaos in my head slightly quiet down. How could it be? Did Daniel Carter really come last night? Was it him who brought me home?