Dream and Reality

Yue stayed at the second level of the mobile house.

She opened a book, tried to read, and from time to time glance at the lake.

She would fall into contemplation, seemingly not reconciled that she wasn't able to further play by the waters.

She would sometimes imagine a fresh fat fish dangling by the air, wanting to escape from its fate of being eaten.

After a little more thinking, Yue decided to head out and try fishing.

Once she got down, she looked got Yyan but the man was surprisingly missing.

Since he didn't inform her, it's possible that he will be back soon, and so Yue happily headed to the lake.

The equipment is still in place.

Yue tried to remember the things that Yyan taught her earlier then she hooked the bait and threw the line.

This time she managed to throw it properly. Perhaps she was just flustered in the presence of Yyan and without him, she was able to do things properly.

Satisfied with her work, she took a seat.

They said fishing is an activity that can temper your patience, so Yue was ready to wait.

But her patience only lasted for a bit. She was easily distracted by the disturbance in the water and will get excited then disappointed once she saw that the fish won't take the bait.

Fortunately, no one could see her else they might think she's crazy jumping off the chair, going back and forth antic.

Finally, Yue decided to focus on other things while waiting.

Recently, there was a game that caught her attention.

As a designer, she was really fascinated with the creativity of the developers, for such a free imagination was really admirable.

It was a dress-up game. The advertisement kept popping up on her phone whenever she browses through the internet so she decided to try it. It also has a storyline that one could read whenever the character leveled up. So far, she was anticipating more and more of the story development. She would even sometimes forget that it was supposed to be a dress-up game.

The setting was during ancient times so the dresses have a touch of history. Nevertheless, the designs were not confined with just the treasured style of the olden days but were incorporated with a dash of fantasy. Light, floating fabrics, colorful and detailed embroidery, and such magnificence of the designs that are only possible within the realm of modern technology is truly a satisfying scene.

Soon enough, Yue was lost with leveling her character and doing guild chores that she let the time pass by.

It was not until Yue heard a big splash did she manage to turn her head away from the smartphone.

The rigorous flailing of the fishing pole told her that a fish finally took her bait.

Yue tried to reel in the fish.

But she surely underestimated the difficulty of getting the fish off the water. She keeps struggling with the naughty fish.

Water kept splashing everywhere, and Yue took one wrong step and she just found herself slipping being dragged towards the lake.

But before she gets swallowed by the waters, she fell into a firm embrace. She can hear the erratic beat of the other party's heart but that surprisingly brought her a good feeling.

"Let it go" A deep magnetic voice passed through her ears and she almost released the fishing pole she was steadfastly holding. If she had done so in the first place, she wouldn't be dragged so embarrassingly but she stubbornly holds onto it. She didn't want to let the fish get away.

The man noticed her intention and didn't insist on his instruction, instead, he stabilized her position and hold onto the fishing pole together with her.

It didn't take long before they fished the creature out of the water.

Yue was expecting a lake monster after all that struggling but was greatly disappointed when she saw the half foot long fish.

Yue begrudgingly watch the fish wriggle inside the pail.

"What's your verdict my dear Yue" Yyan softly patted her head.

"A delicious ending" Yue will make sure she eats every single bit of the fish.

"Let me execute thy judgment my princess" Yyan chuckled and looked at the fish murderously, but Yue didn't see it.

"Ehh…you can cook?" her focus turned to this aspect. A young lady that can cook is already rare, much more a young master.

"Just one of my talents" Yyan didn't really think much about it. One of his training involved living in the wilderness. He had to learn cooking since he doesn't like eating raw.

"How many more are you hiding?" Yue curiously stared at Yyan.

"You'll learn them one by one as the days go by" -as long as you're willing to look at me. There was a bit of longing incorporated in those words that didn't escape Yue.

Clues keep piling up, but should she let herself hope for more?

"Then I'll be looking for the upcoming days" Yue decided to let out a bit of her hope and gave a stunning smile, but afterward escaped by running back.

Yyan walked back carrying the pail with the lone fish which was shocked still by his murderous gaze.

He didn't see Yue, she was probably hiding in her room.

He started preparing for dinner; of course, he placed emphasis on their main dish.

He mercilessly cut through the fish and remove its innards.

He produced two fillets and had it pan-fried after rubbing some seasonings.

Bone and head were thrown into a pot ready for making broth.

He prepared several more side dishes.

When all are set and done, he knocked onto Yue's room. No one answered and the door is open, the next action would be to obviously invade her room.

He found Yue sleeping with her phone open on the recent game she was playing.

Stray hair had gotten to her face, across her nose which made her scrunch in her sleep.

Yyan really found such action cute. In the end, he still removed the strands and tucked it in her ears.

Yue probably felt the movement and opened her eyes.

She was dreaming of Yyan, and being suddenly woken up she still had yet to separate dream from reality.

Yue reached out for Yyan's face and pinched it.

"You cheeky brat, didn't I tell you not to sneak to sister's room. Don't think you can start bullying me now that you've grown taller" Yue squinted and tried to look intimidating while she was lecturing Yyan. In her dreams, she was the elder sister and Yyan was the naughty little brother who always brought her headaches.

Yyan was curious about what Yue is dreaming about, but knowing that he was a part of her dreams brought unparalleled joy in his heart.

"What are you smiling about? Do you think I'm like those girls who would fall for your charm? Yue noticed that her little brother was not taking her seriously so she got a bit mad.

"Hmm, tell sister, who among those girls you like?" she also realized that since he grew up, he may have started liking girls. This brought her a sour feeling but she set it aside since they were siblings.

"I only like sister" the boy who suddenly became a man answered. Such abnormality was easily dismissed since Yue thought she was still dreaming. But upon hearing his answer looking like the real person made her heart beat violently.

"Flattery will get you nowhere" but Yue is already furiously blushing.

"But little brother is serious. I only want sister in this life. Those girls won't even enter my sight, not when I had the most beautiful woman in front of me" Yyan responded with the half-awake Yue. Since she wasn't aware, he was able to freely express his inner thoughts. This also helped him probe his actual standing in her heart.

"Does sister also like little brother?" Yyan decided to continue probing deeper.

"Hmm like, you're my little brother of course I like you" Yue answered almost instantaneously. Yyan's heart fell from what he heard.

"Ohh, what if I'm not your little brother? Would you still like me? Or could it be that you already like someone else?" Yyan suddenly stepped into dangerous water. He carefully observed Yue, so he didn't miss it when she froze for a second before getting back to normal. But he never got to listen to her response because she fell back into full sleep mode.

So much for sleep talking, he will let her get away for now.