Obsessive Pleasure - Chapter 1
The night Liang Yun met Chen Yang, the moon was hidden behind a thin layer of clouds, casting an ambiguous veil of light.
She was fresh off a breakup, and her friend had dragged her, against her will, to a school alumni mixer. She felt completely unprepared, both physically and mentally.
Liang Yun settled down at an empty table by a window, watching her friend flit about like a social butterfly, navigating the crowds and mingling with practiced ease.
About ten minutes later, Chen Yang walked in, laughing and chatting naturally with two men and two women, seemingly oblivious to everyone else.
He was strikingly different: tall and imposing, with impeccably polite manners. Yet, Liang Yun could subtly sense a heavy pressure radiating from him.
Chen Yang appeared not to notice Liang Yun, walking straight past her table. However, he paused his step ever so slightly in the process.
Liang Yun felt an inexplicable wave of discomfort, a sense of being invaded, as if a compelling force was covertly bearing down on her.
A sharp, probing gaze skimmed lightly over her body, like the tip of a blade, piece by piece stripping her bare.
Liang Yun’s face burned as if scorched by fire, and the frantic pounding of her heart echoed in her chest.
Even though she hadn’t clearly seen his features, she instinctively lowered her head, afraid to meet his eyes.
Chen Yang sat down at the neighboring table, chatting openly and easily with the people around him. He seemed to possess a natural, inherent leadership; no matter where he was, he was the focal point of the crowd, even when silent.
Compared to the reverence surrounding him, Liang Yun felt like an ignored side dish, left to cool naturally on the counter.
“May I buy you a drink?” A young man sat across from her, his smile a little shy as he politely asked.
Before Liang Yun could answer, she suddenly felt a strange, scrutinizing gaze engulf her.
She looked up and saw Chen Yang standing not far away. Backlit by the source of light, he was shrouded in a full halo, like a deity, staring at Liang Yun without restraint. He wore an undeniably condescending smile.
Just by being watched by him like this, Liang Yun felt hot all over, even a little terrified.
“I’m sorry, I… I have… to go… outside… for something.” She suddenly felt like she couldn’t breathe. She stood up and quickly walked out into the hall corridor.
The air temperature here was cooler, thankfully easing the burning sensation on her cheeks.
It must be because the heating inside was set too high, Liang Yun thought.
He’s not right for you. Chen Yang’s voice suddenly broke the silence. Startled, Liang Yun spun around, nearly crashing into his chest.
The man’s lips curved slightly in an ambiguous smile. He nonchalantly grasped her hand and pressed a business card into her palm.
Liang Yun froze there as if mesmerized, momentarily forgetting her pride, forgetting to resist. She watched him turn around without uttering another word, his graceful figure disappearing into the crowd.
A long time passed, and the business card in her palm still seemed to hold his body heat.
“And you are?” Liang Yun muttered under her breath once he was truly gone. “Do you even know me?”
A person’s loneliness isn’t caused by a lack of peers around them; it’s when one’s individual desires are besieged by conventional societal views. The environment might seem bustling, yet you cannot connect with anyone who truly empathizes.
Both the senses and the mind generate a feeling of floating in a void with no point of attachment.
Until another individual, one who shares your essence, suddenly pierces that boundary, sending their power like an electric flash to bite into your numb nerves.
It stings, but it brings the joyful surprise of awakening.
On the drive home, her friend spent the entire time complaining.
First, she righteously warned Liang Yun that Chen Yang was a notorious player, known for flirting with countless women but refusing to commit to any long-term relationship, and sternly advised her to be cautious. Then, her friend awkwardly started asking for his number, beating around the bush to find out if Liang Yun had known Chen Yang previously; otherwise, why would they seem so familiar on their first meeting?
Familiar? Not at all.
Liang Yun drove on, remaining silent.
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