Peppermint Candy (Seven) Across the ocean, Nicole Yang was having an online meeting with Director Jin on time. The trailer for "Dream Addiction" had received an unexpectedly enthusiastic response. The dance video had even gone viral on X and TikTok, sparking a wave of global celebration. Everyone at the company was very excited and decided to strike while the iron was hot by releasing another batch of viral videos before the film festival. Nicole Yang came up with several plans. For some reason, Jin Jingyao seemed somewhat distracted. He stared at the screen, his gaze gradually becoming deep and dark. On the other side of the video call, a few people exchanged glances, all a bit nervous, thinking they hadn't done well enough. Nicole Yang called out softly, "Director Jin." Jin Jingyao snapped back to reality and calmly pointed out a few detailed issues in the plan, as well as a spelling mistake. Nicole Yang was filled with respect and quickly apologized to him, discussing with the others how to make the corrections. Jin Jingyao continued to let his mind wander. He rarely got distracted at work, but today was an exception; he found it hard to concentrate. Even while staring at the computer screen, what he saw before his eyes were still the enchanting scenes: the white bed, the rolling folds, the beautiful body amidst the waves. Even now, he still felt as if Li Ling was in his arms. The sensation was so real, so close. Her body was suspended, forced to wrap her arms around his neck, her face buried in his chest. Her palms were sweaty, sticking to him. Her hot and rapid breaths beat against his skin like the waves under the moonlight. That scene made him feel infatuated and adoring. It also awakened his instinctive, bad desires. In the dim room, he gazed at Li Ling's sweet sleeping face, drawing a mermaid resting on the sea at sunrise. But what surged in his heart was an uncontrollable, malicious impulse—to capture, to hunt, a giant fishing net covering her, leaving her nowhere to escape, only to be enjoyed by him. He did it on purpose. He deliberately drew such a pure picture and left it in the room, thinking it would soften her heart. But she took the drawing and did not forgive him. He had miscalculated. Thinking this, Jin Jingyao lowered his head, took off his glasses, and sent a message to Li Ling, asking pitifully, "Are you feeling better?" The bad news was, she didn't reply. The good news was, she hadn't blocked him either. It sounded like there was more good news than bad. Jin Jingyao felt slightly comforted and, after a while, sent a sticker of a kiss and hug with a blank expression. Good, still not blocked. Nicole Yang on the other side of the video call sensed that the director's mood had improved a bit when he put down his phone. She continued to report, "Luo Mingqing had an accident while attending a brand event in New York and ended up in the hospital..." The word "accident" was rather euphemistic. In fact, it was now well-known in New York nightclubs that this Chinese superstar had been beaten up for snatching someone else's girlfriend. Jin Jingyao nodded and skillfully said, "Next time you see Li Ling, you can tell her about this." Nicole Yang didn't understand why she should tell Li Ling about this but obediently said, "Okay." Jin Jingyao remembered that Luo Mingqing had once made a harassing phone call to Li Ling one afternoon, which was late at night in New York. His mood improved even more. "He's in the hospital; we should show some concern," he said. "Send him a wreath." Nicole Yang was stunned for a moment and said, "A wreath?" "Yes," Jin Jingyao's tone was calm yet friendly, "It's a Chinese custom, wishing him a speedy recovery. Remember to buy a white one."Nicole Yang believed it to be true, thinking that white symbolized a pure and sincere blessing. She nodded and said, "Okay, I'll arrange it right away." Nicole Yang was inexplicably tricked and suffered greatly. Later, when her boss Jin Jingping fell ill, she also sent a white wreath to his home and was almost fired. But that's a story for another time. As the video conference drew to a close, the atmosphere gradually became more relaxed. Someone boldly asked Jin Jingyao why Li Ling didn't join the meeting. They were all her fans and really wanted to see her. Jin Jingyao glanced at his phone and said, "I think I made her angry." He looked dejected, evoking sympathy. The enthusiastic Americans offered him a flurry of advice. The most important piece of advice was to bravely admit his mistake, be sincere, and correct it once he knew he was wrong. Jin Jingyao deeply agreed. So, when the two of them were sitting in the dimly lit car, he held her hand, constantly rubbing her fingers, and confessed to her, "I couldn't work properly just now." "I kept thinking about you." "Please don't ignore me." His fingers were warm, entwining with hers every second, making it impossible for Li Ling to break free. She averted her gaze and said seriously, "Control yourself." Jin Jingyao barely listened to what she was saying. He stared at her white teeth and her slightly parted, rosy lips. His gaze was like a hook, making him restless and unable to calm down. How could he control himself? After trying it once, everything became synonymous with desire. She was so close to him. Her breath hit his skin like a whip. Sweet and painful. His blood surged. Even now, he wanted to press her against the seat and pin her down hard. He reverted to that young boy in London. Wanting to see her, wanting to touch her. Every pore opened, craving her. Every second without her felt like a long, meaningless decade. Li Ling felt that his gaze on her had become frightening again. She silently moved back a little. A car passed by, and Jin Jingyao's face briefly sank into shadow before lighting up again. His voice was lower, almost hoarse, as he said, "I washed your nightgown." "Can we do it again?" Li Ling: "..." Thinking of that nightgown that had gotten so dirty, her face flushed, but she was more speechless than anything. "What do those two sentences have to do with each other?" she pretended to be calm and retorted. "They're not related," Jin Jingyao said. "I just want you to agree." Li Ling: "..." She felt he had changed for the worse. He never used to speak so directly. Li Ling looked up and saw his profile overlapping with the shining fountain sculpture at the hotel entrance. There was a glimmer in his eyes, like a Fellini black-and-white film. This face always looked so clean. Even when tainted by desire, in the most frenzied and self-forgetful moments, it still looked clean. Ah, what a magnificent face. Li Ling's breath hitched, her heart softened again. She touched his profile and said, "Let's go home first." If she had known in advance that these simple three words would make Director Jin speed all the way, almost getting a speeding ticket... She would never have said them. To be precise, Li Ling hadn't actually agreed to do anything with Jin Jingyao. She just softened for a moment and agreed to sit at his place for five minutes. He was humble and sincere, with a good attitude in admitting his mistake, and he even offered to give her a massage. Li Ling's muscles were indeed still very sore, so she agreed. She was clearly very cautious, insisting that the service be done on the sofa. As for how they moved from the sofa to the bedroom, from a clothed massage to... She was really foolish, truly. She only knew that when a beast couldn't find food in the mountains, it would come to the village; she didn't know that a beast could peel a person open and eat them, front and back, from head to toe. She didn't know how it happened, but in a daze, it happened again. Maybe more than once. Time lost its meaning. The room turned into a sea at dawn. He held her and sat down, caressing her smooth back inch by inch from behind, as if hunting a fish hidden beneath the sea surface. Fine beads of sweat reflected the warm yellow light, like the dorsal fin of a mermaid, faintly visible and glistening. The glass of the floor-to-ceiling window turned into a mirror, faintly reflecting everything. In any case, her experience was still very poor, not as good as he had promised. He was indeed a dog. A fierce, disobedient, biting but silent kind of dog. The next day, Li Ling woke up with lifeless eyes in the young man's arms. She felt her eyes were very swollen, her whole body puffy. They had moved back from the guest bedroom to the master bedroom, and at this rate, they would soon have no room left to sleep in. Jin Jingyao held her tightly, like hugging a plush toy. Both arms wrapped around her from behind, pressing her towards him. Even through the pajamas, his body heat was very noticeable. Li Ling felt very uncomfortable and moved slightly. The arms immediately tightened, like a possessive child clinging to his plush toy. Warm breath brushed against her, sticking to the back of her neck. They used the same shampoo and body wash, making her smell like him from head to toe. He rested his chin on the top of her head, contentedly rubbing against her, finally settling down. Li Ling: "..." Great, now she couldn't move at all. Knowing he was still breathing steadily, still asleep, his instinctive action was to hold onto her. Maybe the last experience left him feeling insecure, worried she would sneak away home again. Li Ling sighed, feeling inexplicably soft-hearted. She wasn't used to sleeping while hugging someone. But the young man clung to her like a conjoined twin, refusing to let go even an inch. His skin radiated waves of heat, as if returning to a dark and warm womb. She closed her eyes, drowsily falling asleep once more. When she woke up, Li Ling groggily felt something sliding gently down her back. It was itchy, uncomfortable. She moved instinctively. The fingers obediently moved away, but were replaced by something warmer. His lips pressed against her. His short hair pricked her smooth back. Li Ling was startled: "What are you doing?" Jin Jingyao mumbled, "Sorry, did I wake you?" He said sorry, but he probably didn't feel any remorse. Otherwise, his actions wouldn't have become more excessive. "I want to write my name here," he said. "And you signed your name for me too." Li Ling had no recollection of such a thing. But she was emotionally intelligent, knowing that telling the truth at this moment would put her in a dangerous situation. She tugged at his short hair, saying, "That's enough." Jin Jingyao: "Not enough." Li Ling: "If you keep this up, I'll really call the police." "Go ahead." He was open-minded, accepting, and encouraging of her suggestion. While calling her "madam" in her ear. He quietly slipped his hand under the blanket. A few days later, Jin Jingyao held another online meeting. Nicole Yang's team looked eagerly at the other side of the camera. Li Ling still did not appear. Jin Jingyao said dejectedly, "I've upset her again." For some reason, no one comforted him this time.