In the living room, a crisp and pleasant sound of shattering glass woke Long Yang and the others, who had stayed up late the night before and were still in a daze.
Though the three were sleeping in different rooms and directions, they all rushed toward the scene of the incident at the same time.
Long Yang, the first to arrive at the scene, froze in place as he saw a girl sitting on the large sofa just a yard away from him, dressed in strange clothing that didn't belong to this era. He stood there like he had been struck by lightning, causing Bai Haoran and Lei Jie, who were still rubbing the sleep from their eyes behind him, to crash into his rigid back, sending them into disarray.
"What the hell!" Bai Haoran cursed, "Long, what are you doing? If you're going to stop, at least give me a heads-up! I almost ruined the pride of my life—my nose!" He rubbed his reddened nose and grumbled, "Damn it! If anything happens to my nose because of this, I'll make you pay for it!"
For the first time in his life, Long Yang was utterly at a loss, his eyes glued to the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. Just one glance, and she was permanently etched in his mind. She was astonishingly beautiful!
Her long, satin-like black hair cascaded casually over her shoulders, and her fair, porcelain-like skin seemed to invite touch, radiating a mesmerizing allure. Her dreamlike starry eyes—long, curled lashes framing her dark, expressive gaze—overflowed with vitality, dreaminess, and passion, just like her beautiful red lips that exuded an aura of purity and sensuality. It was as if an angel had accidentally fallen into their midst, with a face so exquisite that the world could not produce a second one, both elegant and cute yet finely detailed.
A long-buried thirst and desire surged within Long Yang. Gazing at the girl's innocent face, he felt a twinge of shame for experiencing such a physical reaction.
Sanni, snapping back to reality from her shock at the broken vase, opened her round, wide eyes and stared at the strikingly handsome man before her, who stood over 180 centimeters tall, not blinking for what felt like both a moment and eternity.
Wow! He's incredibly handsome, utterly cool! Sanni praised silently in her heart.
Although there were countless handsome men in their twenty-third century, none compared to him—he embodied the elegance of a god and the devilish allure of a seducer, a man whose presence was unmatched, radiating an aura of power without needing to raise his voice.
Even though he was only wearing a black robe, it didn't mask the danger he radiated.
This man should be placed in a museum, Sanni thought, so that future generations from the twenty-third century could admire such a perfect human specimen.
At that moment, Sanni made a significant decision: she would use her silver tongue to persuade him to become an embalmed mummy after he died, ensuring that heaven's creation of him wouldn't go to waste—just to be appreciated, hehe.
"Oh my God! Can someone tell me if I'm still dreaming? Otherwise, how could an angel appear in our hall?" Bai Haoran pushed past Long Yang, and upon seeing the girl on the sofa, his eyes widened in disbelief as he murmured.
Then, turning around quickly, as if needing to prove he wasn't dreaming, he pinched Lei Jie hard, causing Lei Jie to tear up from the pain, nearly shouting out loud.
It wasn't that Lei Jie was so fragile; it was just that Bai Haoran had pinched him in a particularly sensitive spot—his eyelid—making it understandable that such a towering man was in agony.
"Bai Haoran!" Lei Jie gritted his teeth, "What did I do to deserve this? You better give me a reasonable explanation!" He glared at him, annoyed that this guy always seemed to pick on him.
"Okay! But first, you have to tell me if it hurts when I pinch you," Bai Haoran asked curiously.
"Duh!" Lei Jie shouted, almost throwing a punch.
Bai Haoran laughed, clearly pleased, his mouth almost splitting from ear to ear, "Great! It hurts! If you feel pain, that means what I'm seeing is real and not some daydream. This is fantastic!"
Lei Jie was furious, "Damn it!" he cursed, glaring at Bai Haoran. "If you need proof, why don't you pinch yourself? Why drag me into your experiments? Have you lived too long and grown impatient?"
Suddenly, Lei Jie's expression changed, and a more terrifying, eerie smile crept onto his face. "Hmm, I get it—are you trying to send me to my doom right now?" He threatened while cracking his knuckles and glaring at Bai Haoran.
Seeing things escalating, Bai Haoran quickly attempted to placate him. "My dear Lei Jie—" he mimicked the girl's sweet voice, sending shivers down Lei Jie's spine.
Bai Haoran flashed a cheeky grin at him, continuing, "You're so magnanimous, you can forgive my unintentional offense. I promise I won't ask if there's a next time; I absolutely…"
He paused and smiled at Lei Jie, flashing his white teeth.
"What will you absolutely do?" Lei Jie asked, his voice cold.
Bai Haoran grinned a dangerously sweet smile, "I'll make sure to pick a place that won't hurt as much, to ensure your dignity and rights. What do you think?" He laughed triumphantly.
Realizing he had been played, Lei Jie's face turned dark, his eyes narrowing dangerously, his irritation bubbling within him.
He admitted that if Bai Haoran didn't suffer a week-long beating, he wouldn't rest easy!
Just as Lei Jie was about to unleash his formidable punch on Bai Haoran's fair face, a string of melodious laughter stopped him. He set aside his heavy fist and turned to look at the source of the laughter.
"Haha, this is so funny!" Sanni laughed uncontrollably, then realizing the two had paused their bickering because of her laughter, she hurriedly waved her hands. "Don't mind me! You guys continue your argument; don't stop on my account!" she encouraged them, her expression one of pure enjoyment, still relishing the scene.
Lei Jie almost choked on his own frustration. What the hell! He looked at her in disbelief. Was this girl crazy? Did she have a bloodthirsty streak? Otherwise, how could she go against the grain, urging them to fight instead of reconcile?
"Beautiful lady," Bai Haoran seized the moment, approaching her with a friendly smile and bowing in a gentlemanly manner. "To bring you joy and earn your lovely smile is our greatest honor and delight. So after seeing us, you don't need to worship us too much; just a few resounding kisses to show your encouragement would suffice." He pointed at his cheek playfully, "I'm not greedy; just a kiss here would satisfy me…"
Before he could finish, a kick landed on his rear end.
Pouting, he turned around to find that it was none other than Long Yang, who had been standing quietly to the side, looking foolish and on the verge of drooling. Bai Haoran couldn't help but smile mischievously as he teased Long Yang.
"Oh, it's you! You finally woke up! I was beginning to think I'd have to call a Taoist priest to help collect your wandering soul!" Bai Haoran grinned wickedly.
Long Yang ignored his mockery, reclaiming the spot where he had been standing, crouching down to meet the girl at eye level.
"Hi! Can you tell me your name?" His voice was deep, yet charmingly lazy, perfectly complementing his striking appearance.
"Me?" Sanni beamed a radiant smile. "My surname is Sang; my name is Sanni. You can call me Sanni or Sunshine, like my friends do."
"Hmm—" Long Yang looked at her with admiration. "A unique and vibrant name."
"What about next?" Sanni smiled at him.
What's next?" Long Yang wondered.
"You really have no manners!" Sunny playfully made a face at him. "Don't you know that before asking someone's name, you should introduce yourself first?" She pretended to adjust her waist, mimicking a teacher instructing a student.
Not just Long Yang, but even Bai Haoran and Lei Jie, who were lazily sitting on the sofa, showed a hint of surprise, but it didn't take long before they couldn't help but laugh.
What a peculiar little girl! Long Yang thought to himself. He had never encountered someone so bold as to tell him what to do. This extraordinarily beautiful girl was so genuine, so straightforward and unpretentious; it made him like her all the more.
Long Yang raised a meaningful smile, sincere and from the heart, preparing to give a thorough introduction.
"My surname is Long, and my name is Long Yang. You can call me Long or Long Yang, either is fine. I'm thirty-four years old, born in the Year of the Dragon, blood type O, and currently unmarried. I have a wide range of interests—be it racing, horseback riding, swimming, I can do it all; as for…" He flashed a mischievous smile, suddenly inspired to play a prank, "The two people sitting on the sofa opposite you, the one looking like a giant polar bear is called Lei Jie; the one with a sharp face, looking like a wild monkey is Bai Haoran."
"Alas!" Long Yang sighed dramatically, a barely noticeable hint of amusement in his eyes. "You have no idea, those two are so old they're practically on their last legs, let alone any great ambitions. But if I had to say what their hobbies are, they're probably just as lazy and sleepy as pigs in a sty. So, there's really nothing worthwhile to engage with them; you can just remember everything about me."
As Long Yang finished speaking, there were two loud thuds as the pair fell off the sofa, which became the only sound in the spacious hall. Even Bai Haoran and Lei Jie, who had still been somewhat sleepy, were forced to wake up.
"What on earth?" They groaned as they painfully climbed back up, their faces flushed with indignation.
"Hmm! I'd like to ask our beloved president of the Dragon Gate Society to explain what you mean by 'having nothing good left to squeeze out'?" Bai Haoran rubbed his sore backside, biting back his anger. "I really can't understand where we've offended you to deserve this kind of insult!" He shot a glare at Long Yang. "I think you've been away from the underworld for too long, forgetting what brotherly loyalty even means!"
Then, Bai Haoran shook his head theatrically in despair. "Alas, what a waste of time we've spent following you all these years. What a shame!"
"Exactly! Well said, I feel the same." Lei Jie nodded, his usually cold face now full of agreement. "You introduced yourself in such detail that you almost revealed your entire ancestry, yet when it came time to introduce me and Bai Haoran, you could only insult us. You even told Sunny not to mind us! Alas…" He shook his head and sighed heavily.
"Both of us are truly unfortunate, poorly matched, bad at choosing friends, and blind to the truth… and so on, to have wasted the most precious years of our youth with someone like you, who specializes in betraying the loyal, harming the innocent, selling friends for personal gain, being heartless, consuming without remorse, and cursing without restraint." Even Lei Jie, who usually spoke little, could become quite sharp when necessary.
"Right! I want you to return the youth we wasted on you!" Bai Haoran exclaimed, waving his hands angrily and joining in on the antics with Lei Jie.
Sunny was laughing so hard at their comical expressions and funny banter that tears streamed down her face. It was just too entertaining!
What a wonderful bunch of quirky people to meet on her adventure in the twentieth century! If she could stick with them for a while, her time-traveling experience would definitely be colorful, and she wouldn't have to worry about finding someone to joke around with.
Yes, instead of wandering aimlessly like a headless fly or ending up on the streets with nowhere to go, it was far better to cling to them. Who knows what she might get to witness that she had never seen before?
Thus, Sunny secretly made up her mind; regardless of whether they would agree to take her in, she had decided she wasn't leaving.
As for the flower vase she had broken earlier, she stuck out her tongue guiltily. If they brought it up, she would just deny it, claiming it had fallen due to an earthquake or that the wind outside had blown it over.
After all, according to her research on twentieth-century documentaries, people in this era valued both witness and material evidence. She hadn't left any evidence behind, and there was no way anyone had seen her accidentally break that vase, so, weighing her options, Sunny decided it was better to keep a low profile.
Oh! What a pity for such a beautiful vase. To atone for it, she would surely mourn for three minutes.
"Alright, stop the commotion. If anyone outside finds out that the president of the esteemed Dragon Gate Society is being belittled by you two useless vice presidents, you can prepare to pack your bags and go home to eat by yourselves!" Long Yang said, adopting a serious tone.
Little did he know, this would only spark another round of lively banter, which had Sunny laughing so hard she couldn't close her mouth until the hall finally quieted down.
Though Long Yang and the others were sprawled across various spots, all three sets of eyes were focused on Sunny, who had fallen asleep on the sofa, whether from exhaustion or from laughing too hard.
"Long, how do you think she got in here?" Lei Jie asked, genuinely curious.
Long Yang cast a casual glance at him. "I don't know." His mind was also quite chaotic at the moment.
Lei Jie was surprised to hear that. He raised an eyebrow slightly, "Is it really that simple? Just four words?" It didn't sound like Long Yang's usual style at all!
He glanced toward the door and noticed that the lock had not been tampered with since they went to bed last night. Moreover, they were on the twenty-eighth floor, the most secure level, where even a mosquito wouldn't be able to get in. How could someone as seemingly fragile as the beautiful girl before them, who appeared completely defenseless, have slipped into a deep sleep here?
What was even stranger was that she managed to enter the hall without triggering their latest, exclusive, and precisely designed security system, which was truly mind-boggling.
"What do we do about her now?" Bai Haoran raised an eyebrow, deep in thought. "We can't just let her sleep here. So far, all we know is her name; we have no idea where she came from or why she's here. Should we wake her up and ask her?" He spoke practically.
"No! Don't wake her, let her keep sleeping." Long Yang said casually, stopping him. "We can address those questions when she wakes up. There's no rush."
His tone had an imperceptible gentleness that made Bai Haoran and Lei Jie exchange surprised glances.
They had known Long Yang for over a decade, and they were well aware that women didn't hold much allure for him. He could simply smile or wave his hand, and thousands of women would willingly flock to his bed, just like the woman from the Zhenming Group, Jin Haini, who had spent the night with him just a few days ago. Those encounters were merely outlets for physical desires and held no significance for him.
However, what they were witnessing now was entirely different. The expression on Long Yang's face—both puzzled and cautiously hopeful—was directed at a girl he had known for less than an hour. They couldn't help but find it utterly unbelievable, yet they didn't dare jump to conclusions.
"Long, honestly, you can't be…" Lei Jie furrowed his brow, looking at him.
"Don't ask me; I don't know anything."
This was the second time he had given such an answer that day. Long Yang frowned, feeling increasingly uncomfortable with the lack of clarity. He was usually someone who could control everything.
However, this only confirmed for Bai Haoran and Lei Jie the conclusion they had hesitated to voice.
Both of them understood perfectly well that this president, known for his cold and ruthless demeanor, had indeed been struck by Cupid's arrow and was experiencing love at first sight! In other words, he was smitten.
They exchanged glances and shared a helpless smile. It seemed that Long Yang was still in a daze, unable to sort out his feelings and stubbornly resisting the truth. It looked like they were in for a good dose of romantic drama in the days to come!
As Sunny awoke from a sweet dream, she opened her eyes, still groggy and unsure of her surroundings.
Furrowing her brows, she thought back and carefully pieced together her memories. Finally, as if a light bulb had turned on, she brightened up—yes! She remembered!
Heaven had not forsaken her after all; her time machine, which she had spent five years researching and inventing, had finally worked!
Oh my goodness! This was simply unbelievable. If it weren't for the fact that everything around her was exactly as she had studied from countless detailed records about the twentieth century, she would have thought she was dreaming!
Sunny curiously scanned the room, finding everything to be reminiscent of scenes from an old movie: the television, sound system, telephone, wardrobe, and... she excitedly picked up a cute animal-shaped alarm clock from the bedside, like a child discovering a peculiar gift under a Christmas tree. She eagerly began to play with it.
But this time, Sunny was extremely careful because she hadn't forgotten about the vase she had accidentally smashed upon her arrival.
Her hands itched as she turned a small dial on the back of the clock, and she instinctively began to disassemble it piece by piece, curious to study its intricate mechanisms. When she returned to the twenty-third century, she wanted to replicate it exactly.
Just as she was having a blast and thoroughly enjoying the disassembly, a sudden "knock! knock!" at the door startled her, causing her to almost drop the clock like she had with the vase earlier.
Oh no! What should she do? Why did someone have to knock at that moment? If only they had waited another minute or half a second, she could have finished putting the clock back together.
Heaven help her! If anyone discovered she had taken apart the clock, considering the earlier vase incident, she would be doomed!
In a panic, she hurriedly placed the almost reassembled clock back in its original spot, with the back facing out. Then, she quickly covered the few remaining disassembled parts with the silk blanket and pulled it over her head.
"Forgive me! Oh poor clock, I promise I'll secretly put your hands back together before anyone realizes they're missing!" Sunny whispered to the clock from beneath the blanket.
"Who are you talking to?" Long Yang leaned casually against the doorframe, holding a large tray. His beautiful eyes fixed intently on Sunny, who was almost suffocating herself under the blanket, and he chuckled.
"No one! I wasn't talking to anyone." Sunny lifted a corner of the blanket and pretended to be clueless as she looked at him. "I was just wondering how I ended up here."
Then, she playfully raised an eyebrow and half-sat up, "Did you carry me in?"
Sunny secretly stuck out her tongue, feeling as if Long Yang's gaze was already aware of her mischief! No, she couldn't let her nerves get the better of her; she had to remain calm and not let him discover that she had ruined the clock.
"What do you think?" Long Yang asked with an amused expression.
Sunny made a silly face. "Could it be that I sleepwalked in here while dreaming?" She laughed it off.
Long Yang was completely defeated by her! He shook his head, looking at her with keen interest. "You've been sleeping for a while; you must be hungry, right? I brought you some food."
"Isn't that too much trouble?" she said, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"No! It was delivered here; I just brought it in for you. I didn't find it troublesome at all," Long Yang said with a faint smile, placing the large tray in front of her. "But if you don't hurry and eat, it'll get cold." He looked at her with a smile.
Sunny was the first person he had ever cared for so attentively. It was no wonder he had been mocked earlier by someone outside for receiving unfair treatment.
Sunny swallowed hard, her eyes widening in hunger as she stared at the beautifully presented food that she was reluctant to consume.
"Why aren't you eating? Aren't you hungry?" Long Yang asked, puzzled, his expression filled with suspicion. Then, as if he remembered something, his eyes lit up with a playful smirk. "Oh, I guarantee there are no additives in there; you can trust me completely. Go ahead and eat!"
Sunny's face turned beet red. "You misunderstood!" she said softly, embarrassed. "I just can't bear to eat something that looks so exquisite." She spoke timidly.
Seeing Long Yang's surprise, she stuck out her tongue and quickly gave him a silly smile.
Before long, she began to devour the food in front of her.
In the twenty-third century, there was no such luxury as food. This was due to the need to conserve the Earth's remaining resources and protect endangered animals and edible plants. Whenever they felt hungry, they could simply consume a small food pellet about one centimeter in size, which would sustain them for over twenty days, so there was no need to eat real food.
In less than five minutes, she had cleared the entire tray. Satisfied, she patted her full belly and looked at Long Yang.
"Is that enough? Do you want more?" Long Yang's expression shifted from surprise to a smirk filled with indulgence.
Sunny shook her head. "No, I'm full now." This was the best meal she had ever eaten in her life.
"Well, since you're full and well-rested, can you tell me where you're from, where you live, and how you got in here this morning?" He caught her off guard with a barrage of questions, his deep eyes fixed intently on her.
Sunny froze. "Um…" She hesitated, unsure how to explain. "It's kind of hard to say!" She certainly couldn't tell him that she had come here through the time machine she invented!
Heavens! She wasn't a fool; if she told him that, he would surely think she had escaped from a mental hospital. After all, a time machine was merely a product of people's dreams.
Dreams! Because they stemmed from fantasies, they could never truly come to fruition, which is why they were always so alluring to dreamers and inventive minds filled with scientific curiosity.
Long Yang smiled at her. "Why don't you try to tell me? I promise I'll try to understand."
He was relentless, wasn't he? It seemed her only option was to take it one step at a time. God, she hoped she could joke her way through this!
"If I told you I don't even know how I got here, would you believe me?" Ugh, she didn't need him to answer; she already knew what he would think because even she found that excuse utterly ridiculous.
As expected—
"Are you trying to play a riddle with me?" He raised an eyebrow, looking a bit displeased.
Sunny's face fell instantly; she knew that wouldn't work.
"Honestly, I don't know how to explain it. It just happened so inexplicably. All I know is that when I opened my eyes, I found myself here. That's basically it. Believe it or not!" She pouted, feeling like she was just trying to get out of the situation.
Long Yang was at a loss for whether to laugh or cry. What kind of answer was that? Vague and unclear, it seemed she was just trying to muddle through! He looked at Sunny helplessly.
Well, forget it! Since he couldn't get anything out of her, he didn't want to press further.
Long Yang smiled lightly, his gaze filled with resignation. "Alright then! You can at least tell me what you plan to do next," he said, leaning casually against the wall.
Sunny let out a big sigh of relief. Thank goodness, she had made it through that! Now she could manage!
She raised an eyebrow, smiling cutely and innocently. "I haven't thought that far ahead yet!"
Hehe, if she said she hadn't thought much about it, that would be a lie; she had already made up her mind to shamelessly stick around them.
"Don't you have any relatives or friends you could rely on?"
"No," Sunny answered honestly.
If she did, that would be a disaster! After all, all her family and friends were in the twenty-third century. If she guessed correctly, no one had realized she was missing yet. Whenever she entered her lab, she would stay inside for one or two months without stepping out, so no one would know she had completed the time machine and traveled through time to the twentieth century.
Long Yang furrowed his brow slightly. "You…"
Sunny quickly cut him off. "Could you temporarily take me in?" She pleaded, trying to evoke his sympathy. "If you don't, I really won't have anywhere to go."
Long Yang gazed at her silently, his thoughtful expression difficult to read.
Should he agree to her request? He struggled internally. Once he agreed, there would be no turning back; he would be destined to fall into the quagmire of love. But could he really refuse her? Wouldn't he regret it for the rest of his life?
Although he had known Sunny for less than half a day—less than an hour if you deducted the time she had spent sleeping—this girl was the first to easily stir something deep within him. Just a glance from her, and he knew he was lost!
In Long Yang's view, women were beautiful beings worthy of admiration and care. However, this only applied before they revealed their intentions to permanently bind him to them. As soon as they showed that desire, he would leave without hesitation.
There was no particular reason for this; it was simply because he had seen countless beauties, had enjoyed the warmth and passion they offered. But that was just a game between adults—a willing game. He participated for the thrill but never got trapped.
Indeed! Though he often lingered among many flowers, he always knew what he wanted. Only those women who caught his eye had the right to stay by his side permanently. For everyone else, it was just for fun, without true feelings, even cold-hearted. But when the woman he truly desired appeared, she would belong to him, and he would give her everything, devoted forever.
Now, his sunshine had arrived. Was he really going to resist this feeling of connection?
No! Long Yang trembled; he absolutely could not. He had to admit that his drifting soul was destined to be tied to the girl before him.
Yes, yes! It was indeed that peculiar encounter this morning that had captivated his soul—a girl named Sunshine had utterly enchanted him!
Seeing Long Yang lost in thought, Sunny playfully waved her finger in front of his face.
"Come back to your senses! The Taoist priest of Maoshan is here; Long Yang, return to us!" Sunny looked at him with sparkling eyes, giggling brightly.
Long Yang caught her mischievous finger and gazed at her gently.
"Stay here! You can stay as long as you like; no one will chase you away," he said in a deep voice.
"Really!" Sunny exclaimed, and within moments, she was so delighted that she danced around with energy that made it hard for anyone watching not to smile.
She excitedly jumped off the bed and leaned up to give Long Yang a big, smacking kiss on his cheek, her little face glowing like the morning sun.
Long Yang froze at this sudden kiss, his hand instinctively reaching to touch her soft, shiny hair.
"Are you really that happy?" he asked lightly, amused at how easily satisfied she was.
Sunny looked up, her smile radiant and beautiful. "Of course! How could I not be happy to be taken in?"
Seeing her so joyful made Long Yang smile too, and he felt an unbidden lightness in his heart.
God as his witness, even if he had to take care of Sunny for a lifetime, he would gladly accept it, without regret, because she was the warm sunshine in his dark life!