Entering a Dream

“Mmm…”

A faint, broken moan seeped from within the gauze curtain.

It was like a soft feather, trailing across the tip of his heart, making each breath heavier than the last.

A slender neck, perfectly proportioned, led down to sharply defined collarbones that curved in delicate arcs.

And at the edge of that hollow, a tiny black mole rested.

As the neck turned slightly, the mole quivered.

It was just a small dot, but it was bewitchingly seductive.

A pair of long, powerful hands with distinct knuckles; now the joints unconsciously turned white.

The moment his fingertips touched his skin, a soft sensation shot through his entire body, and the moan from within the curtain suddenly pitched higher.

Softer, more trembling, it lingered around his ears.

Gu Yanzhou felt his heart pound painfully against his ribs, his gaze glued to that collarbone and the tiny black mole.

He craved this enticing allure, his fingertips wanting to rub again, to get closer.

But the next moment, the world spun.

“Huh!”

Gu Yanzhou abruptly sat up in bed, chest heaving, a thin layer of sweat on his forehead, disheveled hair stuck to his brow.

The soft sensation from his dream, the seductive moan—every detail was etched into his mind, impossible to shake off.

A raging fire surged through his body, leaving him restless.

He got out of bed and rushed into the bathroom.

Half an hour later, he emerged in a silk robe, his face devoid of satisfaction.

To be precise, the fire hadn’t been quenched.

An undeniable presence protested more strongly beneath the smooth robe.

In the study, under dim light.

Gu Yanzhou opened the rightmost drawer of his desk.

A light gray handkerchief lay flat and still.

After a long time, the faint groans in the study finally ceased.

On the desk, the light gray handkerchief was stained and crumpled beyond recognition.

“Click”

A tiny spark suddenly burst open, carving a trembling shaft of light in the thick darkness.

The flame licked the tobacco, its orange glow flickering at his fingertips, illuminating half his silhouette.

In the dim light, Gu Yanzhou’s expression was unreadable.

White smoke swirled.

He stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray and left the study.

“Good morning, Master Gu.”

Uncle Xu looked at the man coming downstairs and glanced at the dining room clock.

It was already nine o’clock.

For three consecutive days now, his young master had been waking up at this late hour.

For someone who was always punctual, whose daily routine was as precise as a clock, this was extremely abnormal.

His biological clock never woke him later than seven in the morning.

Gu Yanzhou nodded in acknowledgment.

“Make me a cup of coffee.”

“Yes, sir.”

Uncle Xu looked at the man at the table.

Dark circles shadowed his eyes.

‘Can’t sleep again?’

Uncle Xu made a cup of coffee and placed it on the table.

“Your iced Americano, Master Gu.”

Gu Yanzhou took a sip and frowned slightly.

He didn’t really like the taste of coffee, but he had an important meeting today and needed it to stay alert.

“Master Gu, you haven’t slept much these past few days. Should I ask Dr. Jiang to come over?”

Uncle Xu handed the pressed suit to him at the entrance, his voice full of concern.

Gu Yanzhou only replied two words: “No need.”

His voice was cold, devoid of any warmth.

As he finished speaking, the door clicked shut, completely separating inside from out.

Uncle Xu stood in the empty hallway, shaking his head slightly.

He had served at Yanshan Residence for ten years.

He had seen his master calm and decisive, but never like this—insomniac and restless all night.

The anxiety and emptiness hidden deep in his eyes startled even this old servant.

At Hengrui Group Tower, as soon as Gu Yanzhou stepped into his office, he saw a man lying on the sofa in a slovenly sleeping posture.

He slammed the documents on the table heavily.

“Master Lin, if you want to sleep, go back to Lin Group!”

The man on the sofa suddenly jumped up, wiped the drool from his mouth, and yawned repeatedly.

“Sorry, I stayed up late at the banquet last night.”

“But heavens know! For today’s meeting, I came very early. Since you weren’t here yet, I just dozed off.”

If his old man hadn’t sent someone to drag him over early, he would still be drunk in the banquet hall.

Today was the negotiation between Hengrui and Qin Group, the leading real estate company in the capital.

Pre-land-purchase financing, post-purchase mortgage financing—Hengrui was the invisible moneylender in the capital’s land auction market.

And Lin Group, as Hengrui’s public capital operation platform, handled fund channels, mezzanine financing, and project trusts that couldn’t be conducted directly.

Hengrui held the funds, Lin Group acted on the surface, and Qin Group provided the land and development qualifications.

The three had long formed an impenetrable chain of interests.

Behind the scenes, Hengrui set limits, controlled risks, and collected high interest.

Lin Group provided guarantees, signed agreements, and managed all public relations.

Qin Group, relying on Hengrui’s continuous capital infusion, swept the land auction market and secured the top spot in the capital’s real estate.

As they spoke, an assistant knocked on the door: “Mr. Gu, CEO Qin is here.”

“Come in.”

Qin Shifeng’s gentle voice accompanied the door opening: “Yanzhou, sorry I’m late.”

Gu Yanzhou glanced at his watch indifferently.

“Not late.”

Qin Shifeng turned to Lin Muze: “Oh? Muze, you’re early today.”

Lin Muze rolled his eyes.

“Of course! I was the first to arrive today!”

Qin Shifeng raised an eyebrow, looking at Gu Yanzhou in the main seat, a trace of surprise in his eyes.

He himself was late due to something unexpected, but it was unusual for Gu Yanzhou to be later than Lin Muze.

After the meeting, people gradually left the conference room.

Qin Shifeng closed the project proposal and glanced at the weary Gu Yanzhou.

“Yanzhou, didn’t sleep well?”

Lin Muze then looked up carefully and gasped: “Damn, you’ve got dark circles! Were you also at the banquet last night…”

Before he finished, he was cut off by a sharp look from Gu Yanzhou.

Gu Yanzhou leaned back in his chair, rubbing his throbbing temples, his voice deep: “Keep an eye on the west city project these two days. I have some personal matters and need to go out for a while.”

Lin Muze stared at Qin Shifeng across the table in disbelief, as if confirming whether he had heard correctly.

Qin Shifeng waved his hand gently, his tone calm: “You heard right.”

Lin Muze pressed: “Where are you going?”

In Gu Yanzhou’s world, nothing was more important than work, especially a core project just finalized.

But this time, he was really leaving.

To Jiangcheng.

To find someone.

Someone who had appeared in his dreams for three consecutive nights.

Because earlier that morning, that handkerchief had been stained.

After washing it, only the faint scent of laundry detergent remained.

And it was useless from then on.