◎Bed of Desire◎
How would he reply?
Li Xia tossed her phone aside and pondered quietly.
Would he be surprised and reserved, or smoothly dive into flirtation?
Would he reject her, or play along?
Would he be aloof or enthusiastic? Or maybe pretend he hadn’t seen it?
Perhaps F would think she was pulling some lame joke again and just laugh it off.
Come to think of it, Li Xia had left plenty of cheeky comments in F’s usually quiet feed before, all in her unmistakably mischievous style—nothing subtle about it.
F posted a soothing landscape photo—
Li Xia: This shot is so good, I wanna write a whole essay praising you.
F: Go ahead.
Li Xia: [Omitted: 1500 words]
F posted a pic of a meal he’d cooked—
Li Xia: I feel so powerless, like my mouth can’t reach through the screen.
F: If you want to eat it, I can tell you how to make it.
Li Xia: Nah, if it’s not made by you, I’m not eating.
F posted a back-view shot, not a hint of his face—
Li Xia: Got something on your mind?
F: ?
Li Xia: Turn around, lemme see your face.
…
Li Xia scrolled back through old posts and realized that after they’d followed each other for a while, F had started commenting on her stuff too.
Like when she posted about something exciting at work—it was the first book she’d handled since entering the industry, and F had commented below: “Awesome, congrats.”
Or when she shared a screenshot of some music, F replied: “Just listened to it live, sounds great.”
She posted her new skateboard graffiti, and F said: “Cool!”
Oh, and one more.
Li Xia had only just noticed: a few days ago, while doomscrolling, she’d seen the poster for Stranger Things 5 and some Las Vegas promo. In a burst of excitement and envy, she’d posted: 【Gonna watch it three times! Can’t wait to see how blissfully happy I’ll be as a little girl seeing Stranger Things season five!】
And there was F’s comment below: 【Found my people. I’ve watched it four times.】
He was a fan too.
She must’ve missed replying at the time, so she quickly added one now:
【Gotta catch up to you!】
By the time she scrolled that far, it was nearly dawn.
Li Xia switched off her bedside lamp, letting the darkness swell her pink fantasies until she drifted into sleep, she didn’t know when.
Thanks to F, Li Xia slept like a baby that night. It was a miracle cure for the insomnia that had plagued her for over half a month, thanks to her low mood.
No wonder Freud said dreams are the fulfillment of desires—Li Xia’s dream could’ve been straight out of one of those blush-inducing pink sites.
She couldn’t make out his face in the dream, but she clearly remembered forcing him to lift his shirt hem with his teeth, baring a smooth, defined expanse of abs. The man sank to his knees before her, his lean waist rising and falling with each breath.
The sight was too tempting. Li Xia nudged his broad shoulder with her knee, her fingers threading through his warm hair to stroke it—until a pair of veined hands seized her ankle.
Li Xia felt a sudden weightlessness as they tumbled together into the bed of desire.
…
The next morning, the alarm blared for nine straight minutes—twice—and shattered Li Xia’s sweet dream. She blinked awake in a daze. Damn, it was Monday.
Luckily, last night’s good sleep meant she dragged herself out of bed with less struggle and less irritation than usual.
But hating Mondays had nothing to do with her energy levels.
Li Xia sighed.
On workdays, the working stiff wakes up to one thing: resigning herself to fate.
She shuffled her weary soul into the bathroom, splashing ice-cold water on her face to boot up her brain. When she looked up again, the mirror reflected a face even more sullen than hers.
Li Xia blinked.
Oh—
It was her early-rising college kid sister, Li Chun.
Li Chun went to school in the city and usually came home on weekends, but Monday mornings at six a.m. for the subway commute were pure agony. She always looked utterly defeated.
Li Xia burst out laughing. “Eaten breakfast?”
“Yeah, Grandma made soybean milk and toon-egg pancakes—your favorite.”
Li Xia nodded at her. “Forget something?”
“Lemme borrow some sunscreen.”
Li Xia opened the medicine cabinet door and handed over a new bottle. “Broke?”
“Nah, forgot to buy more.”
“Here, take it.”
“Thanks, sis.”
Li Chun squeezed out some lotion, spread it on, then twisted the cap back on and returned it. She checked the time—still before seven.
“You’re up early today,” Li Chun said.
“Yeah, thinking of doing my makeup.”
“Huh?” Li Chun scooted closer. “Changed your mind?”
“About what?”
“Chasing that guy!” Li Chun perked up. “Get all dolled up, snap a pic for Instagram, lure him into liking it. Be real—is that the plan?”
Li Xia scoffed. “Eight words not even crossed, and you want me up early primping to please some dude?”
“Not a chance.”
“Then why the makeup?”
Li Xia flicked some water at Li Chun’s neck. Li Chun yelped at the cold and dodged, laughing. “Did I say something wrong?”
“Totally wrong! I’m doing makeup to cheer myself up.” Li Xia stressed.
“?”
“Cheer myself up for work.”
“So, you gonna tell Mom?” Li Chun asked curiously.
“Of course, eventually. But right now, no good timing, right?” Li Xia paused. “Not like it’s urgent for today or tomorrow.”
Remembering last night’s dream, she poked Li Chun. “You’re just a kid—mind your own business.”
“Fine, fine.” Li Chun looked exasperated. “Can’t control you anyway. Just a reminder, sis: wield that beauty of yours, and it solves fifty percent of the impossibles.”
Really?
Li Xia smiled and checked herself in the mirror.
You know, that fake fulfillment of desire didn’t just help her sleep—it banished her dark circles too. Good rest improved her complexion, which lifted her mood. Her skin looked smooth and radiant this morning; no need for a face mask before makeup.
Men really were a short-term stimulant, Li Xia thought.
The cabinet door hung open, revealing a neat row of perfumes on the shelf—clear glass, elegant bottles. Li Xia had stashed them inside before to keep dust and light off.
She hadn’t used them in ages. On a whim, she picked a floral one, sniffed it, then capped it again.
“Why not spray it?” Li Chun asked.
They used to have a dog at home, so no perfumes back then, but now there was no dog to walk. Li Chun found her sister’s actions odd but didn’t dare bring up anything “puppy”-related.
That was off-limits.
Li Xia seemed a bit reluctant too. She swapped bottles, sniffed another, then spritzed some on Li Chun’s jacket before saying, “I want to, but one of my coworkers is pregnant—better not.”
“Pregnant women can’t wear perfume?”
“Probably not. Don’t wanna bother anyone.” Li Xia finished brushing her teeth, wiped her mouth, and hung up the towel. “Working while pregnant sounds tough.”
Li Chun nodded and sneaked a glance at her.
Had her sister really moved on from that heartbreak?
She wasn’t sure and didn’t dare ask.
She just hoped Li Xia was genuinely happy, not faking it.
Before leaving, Li Chun whispered in her ear about being her wingwoman for chasing the guy. Li Xia laughed and shooed her out.
–
The entire morning, Li Xia pored over the proofs for a new book proposal. Too much incomprehensible dialect; her head felt like it was smoking.
Finally, noon hit, and the cafeteria had decent food. Li Xia sprang from her desk and dashed to grab a tray.
She ran into her pregnant coworker Chu Xiaowen, who’d arrived even earlier. Pregnancy made her hungry all the time; she had to snack constantly. She often chatted eats with Li Xia and shared her latest snack hauls.
They loaded their trays and sat face-to-face to chat. Soon, two more coworkers claimed the empty seats beside them.
“Morning, Editor Chen,” Li Xia greeted politely.
“Little Xia, was looking for you.”
Editor Chen was Li Xia’s boss. She startled. “What’s up?”
“Not work,” Editor Chen said with a beaming smile, crow’s feet crinkling at the corners of his middle-aged eyes. “You’re single, right? Want me to set you up?”
Li Xia smiled. “Sure, why not? Tell me.”
“This kid’s my classmate’s son—only child, house, car, stable job.”
Li Xia poked at her carrots, then looked up. “Handsome? Got a pic?”
“You kid, what do you need handsome for?”
“So… not handsome?”
“Average looks.”
Li Xia narrowed her eyes. “Sorry, Editor Chen, I’m kinda shallow. I like ’em good-looking.”
The table erupted in laughter. Chu Xiaowen knew Li Xia’s tastes best. “For real, Xia Xia—if you hold out for your crush standards on a blind date, odds are basically zero.”
Editor Chen, being older, didn’t catch the slang and piled on: “What crossover city? He’s local.”
“Hahaha.” Everyone cracked up.
Chu Xiaowen explained: “English slang. Crush means a short-term infatuation.”
Li Xia swallowed her rice quick, stifling a laugh. “Put it this way: Crush used to be loving one person for life. Now? Two subway stops, and I’m crushing on three.”
“Hahaha,” Editor Chen chuckled too. “Didn’t peg you for such a wild one.”
Li Xia grinned on the surface, but thinking of last night’s DM, would F think she was wild too?
Otherwise, why no reply yet?
Only now did she realize her tossed pebble had sunk without a ripple—probably ghosted.
Expected, really.
After lunch, Li Xia supported Chu Xiaowen as they strolled back to their workstations. The two chatted and laughed, discussing the weeks of pregnancy. Chu Xiaowen complained that she’d put on more weight lately. Even with her half-swollen belly protruding, the curves of her figure were still visible.
Li Xia insisted that this wasn’t fat at all. “It’s your body glowing with both maternal radiance and girlish charm. You’re beautiful beyond words.”
“Oh, you’ve got such a sweet mouth.”
“Hehe.”
Chu Xiaowen tilted her head to peer at her. “You’ve been in a pretty good mood lately.”
Li Xia hummed in acknowledgment, knowing exactly what she meant. A faint smile curved her lips. “Gotta pull myself out of it eventually.”
For a stretch there, her mood had been rock-bottom, leaving her shuffling through two weeks like a zombie. Now she smiled as she teased herself. “With weather this gorgeous, I can’t just mope around looking half-dead every day.”
It would be an insult to the sunshine.
Chu Xiaowen gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.
“As long as you’re pulling through, that’s what matters.”
They were almost back at their desks when Li Xia swiftly grabbed the lumbar cushion and positioned it just right for Chu Xiaowen. Chu Xiaowen eased herself down, supporting her waist until she was settled, then waved a hand. “You really don’t have to baby me like this.”
“I’m babying the little one.”
Li Xia’s enthusiasm and thoughtfulness shone through. During the lunch break, when she went to fill her water bottle, she grabbed a cup for Chu Xiaowen too. Settling back at her own workstation, Li Xia cradled her phone and began scrolling.
That very afternoon, F’s message suddenly popped up on her screen.
Li Xia nearly fumbled her phone.
She tapped into the private chat and peered at it, then burst out laughing.
F: 【?】
F: 【Is this the real you?】
Li Xia: 【Yes】
She had been the one to toss the pebble into the pond at first, but now her heart was the water itself. One word, and ripples spread.
F: 【Why ask that out of nowhere?】
Li Xia skirted a direct answer, circling playfully: 【The question itself is why】
Her bold opener—”Hey, looking for a girlfriend?”—still blazed at the very top.
Unabashed. Flirty.
The other side went quiet for a full minute.
F: 【Yes】
She hadn’t expected him to be so straightforward.
Li Xia’s eyes went wide as she sat bolt upright.
She glued her gaze to the screen, barely containing the giddy squeal bubbling inside her, waiting for him to drop the bombshell that would shatter the pond’s surface.
Fine, she admitted it—she was a dizzy little fish right now.
But no reply came from him.
Li Xia seized the initiative: 【So, what’s required to apply on this end?】
F: 【Someone I like】
Bravely, Li Xia fired back: 【And if it’s someone you like?】
F: 【You sure about this?】
This time, Li Xia sent the question mark: 【?】
F: 【Jumping straight to being my girlfriend without even verifying we’re real?】
Li Xia: 【How do we verify?】
F: 【However you want】
The conversation was veering into territory straight out of last night’s steamy dream. Li Xia felt a surge of daring, ready to crank the flirtatious wordplay to its limit: 【?]