Glossary
- Āyí - Auntie
Elder Brother for a Husband
1. Spring Dream
In the darkness, nothing can be seen clearly. The small space was a mess of sweat and other bodily fluids and sounded of a man’s low breathing and a woman’s delicate cry.
“Ah—you, who are you?—hey!”
Under the man’s large body, Xú Wǎn bit her lips and asked again as he thrust into her.
“Soon, very soon you will come back to us.”
It was a male’s voice, low and stifled with lust. Deeply chilled, Xú Wǎn could not understand what he meant. She wanted to ask again but his strong arms lifted her waist upwards and he thrust into her once again before coming inside of her.
It was only when the jet of hot liquid splashed deep inside her did the invisible bonds that held her began to disappear. Dizzy with exhaustion, she used the last of her strength to reach out, wanting to grab a hold of the blurry figure next to her bedside.
“Ah!”
Waking up in the midst of her dream, Xú Wǎn sat up on her bed. She looked up at the bright crystal ceiling light, still breathing harshly, the trepidation caused by her nightmare still lingering.
Xú Wǎn grabbed her phone from the bedside table and turned it out. Everything was the same as the previous nights; neither too early nor too late, it was only half past midnight.
The fact that she had been waking up at the same time every night made chills go down her back. In an almost subconscious manner, Xú Wǎn looked down at her nightdress. It was still intact. Even so, as if it was more than a dream, she she could still feel the slight trembling of her bare, pale legs. And in between them, there was an indescribably swelling in her intimate spot and her waist was very sore and uncomfortable.
“Just this dream is enough...”
Wanting to drink some water, Xú Wǎn got up from her bed and wiped off the cold sweat on her forehead. Dizzy, she almost fell down several times. These past couple of evenings, Xú Wǎn had been having the same dream. Unfortunately, immediately after waking up, she could not tell the difference between dreams and reality.
Her unsteady mindset continued on even through work the next day. It was hard to concentrate and Xú Wǎn’s lack of sleep was obvious from the dark circles under her eyes. After catching the third mistake in her report, she was admonished by the team leader.
Dejected from the scolding, Xú Wǎn headed back to her seat only to be stopped by her friend, Jiāng Shāshā. “Xú Wǎn, what has been going on with you these past couple of days? It’s like you’re distracted. Tell me honestly, is it because of a man?”
With a low voice, she said, “You’re over-thinking it. I just didn’t get a good rest, that’s all.” After saying that, Xú Wǎn couldn’t help but think back to her dreams. She blushed suddenly at the memory her complexion was quick to return to normal.
Jiāng Shāshā was an extremely skillful woman. Besides, having known Xú Wǎn for more than ten years, she could tell what Xú Wǎn was thinking with a single glance. “Little Xú Wǎn, if you dare keep a man a secret from me, I’ll expose ugly photos of you from when you were ten!”
Those photos were Xú Wǎn’s weakness. “I’m really not lying to you,” she said helplessly as she grabbed onto Jiāng Shāshā. “Stop thinking foolishly. Let’s get dinner together after work.”
Unfortunately, Jiāng Shāshā had already disappeared before work even ended. Someone as pretty as she was, it was unsurprising that there would be such a feverish pursuit for her attention.
Xú Wǎn headed out alone. The company was located in the busy city center surrounded by various commercial buildings. It took ten minutes of walking down the streets before she finally reached her favorite small restaurant.
Since it was the time when everybody was getting out of work, the small restaurant was already filled with people. After ordering her favorite stir-fried mushroom and chicken dish, Xú Wǎn could only randomly find herself a place to sit.
“Young lady,” a well-dressed woman in her seventies sitting next to her called out. She smiled and motioned to the jade bracelet on Xú Wǎn’s wrist. “Your bracelet is very beautiful.”
It was currently summer so Xú Wǎn was wearing a short-sleeved dress, which easily revealed the white jade bracelet around her wrist, cool to the touch. She stared at it blankly; this bracelet was something she had found around ten years ago in her hometown. She was immediately fond of it; translucent, yet also bright and shiny so she had put it on.
But quickly realized she couldn’t get it off.
At that time, she had hurriedly made a call to her mother who was living abroad. When she asked about the origins of the bracelet, her mother did not tell her anything as it was probably too old. But she did tell her that it was a good thing and for her to just wear it.
Unfortunately, the bracelet was too heavy for her tastes and it took her a few days before she got used to it. When she had first worn it to work, it immediately caught the attention of her manager who loved to collect such trinkets. Her manager had stared at the bracelet lovingly and wanted to buy it for a high price. But had to give it up after failing to remove it from Xú Wǎn’s wrist.
“Thank you, grandma.”
“If the young miss does not mind, how about allowing me a closer look?” The old lady’s tone was faint, and was not excessive in its flattery. Xú Wǎn did not mind and wishing to display goodwill, she extended her arm out. The old lady’s wrinkled hand gently stroke and picked at the watery-colored jade bracelet.
Suddenly, the translucent bracelet quickly flashed a blood-scarlet color. But the color disappeared just as quickly as it came
“Ah!” The previously cool bracelet was suddenly hot to the touch. Xú Wǎn yelped, moving to pull it off but when she touched it again, it had returned to its original cool temperature.
What just happened?
“Young miss,” the old lady said, her voice a soft whisper. “Has anything strange happened after wearing this bracelet?”
By the time Xú Wǎn recovered, the old lady had already pulled her hand back. She looked down at her bracelet, fear lingering in her gaze.
“Strange things?” she repeated. “No—actually, yes!”
Thinking back, she realized that her strange dreams started only after she had put on the jade bracelet. Before that her dreams had been very pure!
The old lady watched as Xú Wǎn blushed and smiled in understanding. “This is a blessing, not a disaster, but the disaster must be avoided.” Her gaze lingered on the jade bracelet and she said, “If nothing happens after the fiftieth day of wearing that bracelet, come to Táng Lè Village’s West Street to find me.”
Finished speaking, the old lady got up from her seat and left. Still confused, Xú Wǎn had no appetite to finish her meal. After paying her bill, she immediately rushed outside but was unable to catch sight of the old lady’s figure.
This is a blessing, not a disaster, but the disaster must be avoided...
Xú Wǎn suddenly felt a chill run down her spine.
“Hey, young miss!” A waitress at the restaurant called out, chasing after her. “Why are you running so fast? I haven’t even managed to give you your change yet!” She handed over the change in his hand only to notice that Xú Wǎn’s expression was slightly off. “Ah, were you just talking to Lǐ āyí (1) earlier?”
“Lǐ āyí?” Xú Wǎn quickly asked, her eyes lighting up.
The waitress nodded; that unusual customer, she was naturally aware of. “She lives at Number 46 Táng Lè Village. But don’t listen to what she says, she has some problems here.”
Unfortunately, Xú Wǎn was in the midst of leaving while thanking the waitress so she did not see the waitress gesturing towards her own head.
“Ah—you, who are you?—hey!”
Under the man’s large body, Xú Wǎn bit her lips and asked again as he thrust into her.
“Soon, very soon you will come back to us.”
It was a male’s voice, low and stifled with lust. Deeply chilled, Xú Wǎn could not understand what he meant. She wanted to ask again but his strong arms lifted her waist upwards and he thrust into her once again before coming inside of her.
It was only when the jet of hot liquid splashed deep inside her did the invisible bonds that held her began to disappear. Dizzy with exhaustion, she used the last of her strength to reach out, wanting to grab a hold of the blurry figure next to her bedside.
“Ah!”
Waking up in the midst of her dream, Xú Wǎn sat up on her bed. She looked up at the bright crystal ceiling light, still breathing harshly, the trepidation caused by her nightmare still lingering.
Xú Wǎn grabbed her phone from the bedside table and turned it out. Everything was the same as the previous nights; neither too early nor too late, it was only half past midnight.
The fact that she had been waking up at the same time every night made chills go down her back. In an almost subconscious manner, Xú Wǎn looked down at her nightdress. It was still intact. Even so, as if it was more than a dream, she she could still feel the slight trembling of her bare, pale legs. And in between them, there was an indescribably swelling in her intimate spot and her waist was very sore and uncomfortable.
“Just this dream is enough...”
Wanting to drink some water, Xú Wǎn got up from her bed and wiped off the cold sweat on her forehead. Dizzy, she almost fell down several times. These past couple of evenings, Xú Wǎn had been having the same dream. Unfortunately, immediately after waking up, she could not tell the difference between dreams and reality.
Her unsteady mindset continued on even through work the next day. It was hard to concentrate and Xú Wǎn’s lack of sleep was obvious from the dark circles under her eyes. After catching the third mistake in her report, she was admonished by the team leader.
Dejected from the scolding, Xú Wǎn headed back to her seat only to be stopped by her friend, Jiāng Shāshā. “Xú Wǎn, what has been going on with you these past couple of days? It’s like you’re distracted. Tell me honestly, is it because of a man?”
With a low voice, she said, “You’re over-thinking it. I just didn’t get a good rest, that’s all.” After saying that, Xú Wǎn couldn’t help but think back to her dreams. She blushed suddenly at the memory her complexion was quick to return to normal.
Jiāng Shāshā was an extremely skillful woman. Besides, having known Xú Wǎn for more than ten years, she could tell what Xú Wǎn was thinking with a single glance. “Little Xú Wǎn, if you dare keep a man a secret from me, I’ll expose ugly photos of you from when you were ten!”
Those photos were Xú Wǎn’s weakness. “I’m really not lying to you,” she said helplessly as she grabbed onto Jiāng Shāshā. “Stop thinking foolishly. Let’s get dinner together after work.”
Unfortunately, Jiāng Shāshā had already disappeared before work even ended. Someone as pretty as she was, it was unsurprising that there would be such a feverish pursuit for her attention.
Xú Wǎn headed out alone. The company was located in the busy city center surrounded by various commercial buildings. It took ten minutes of walking down the streets before she finally reached her favorite small restaurant.
Since it was the time when everybody was getting out of work, the small restaurant was already filled with people. After ordering her favorite stir-fried mushroom and chicken dish, Xú Wǎn could only randomly find herself a place to sit.
“Young lady,” a well-dressed woman in her seventies sitting next to her called out. She smiled and motioned to the jade bracelet on Xú Wǎn’s wrist. “Your bracelet is very beautiful.”
It was currently summer so Xú Wǎn was wearing a short-sleeved dress, which easily revealed the white jade bracelet around her wrist, cool to the touch. She stared at it blankly; this bracelet was something she had found around ten years ago in her hometown. She was immediately fond of it; translucent, yet also bright and shiny so she had put it on.
But quickly realized she couldn’t get it off.
At that time, she had hurriedly made a call to her mother who was living abroad. When she asked about the origins of the bracelet, her mother did not tell her anything as it was probably too old. But she did tell her that it was a good thing and for her to just wear it.
Unfortunately, the bracelet was too heavy for her tastes and it took her a few days before she got used to it. When she had first worn it to work, it immediately caught the attention of her manager who loved to collect such trinkets. Her manager had stared at the bracelet lovingly and wanted to buy it for a high price. But had to give it up after failing to remove it from Xú Wǎn’s wrist.
“Thank you, grandma.”
“If the young miss does not mind, how about allowing me a closer look?” The old lady’s tone was faint, and was not excessive in its flattery. Xú Wǎn did not mind and wishing to display goodwill, she extended her arm out. The old lady’s wrinkled hand gently stroke and picked at the watery-colored jade bracelet.
Suddenly, the translucent bracelet quickly flashed a blood-scarlet color. But the color disappeared just as quickly as it came
“Ah!” The previously cool bracelet was suddenly hot to the touch. Xú Wǎn yelped, moving to pull it off but when she touched it again, it had returned to its original cool temperature.
What just happened?
“Young miss,” the old lady said, her voice a soft whisper. “Has anything strange happened after wearing this bracelet?”
By the time Xú Wǎn recovered, the old lady had already pulled her hand back. She looked down at her bracelet, fear lingering in her gaze.
“Strange things?” she repeated. “No—actually, yes!”
Thinking back, she realized that her strange dreams started only after she had put on the jade bracelet. Before that her dreams had been very pure!
The old lady watched as Xú Wǎn blushed and smiled in understanding. “This is a blessing, not a disaster, but the disaster must be avoided.” Her gaze lingered on the jade bracelet and she said, “If nothing happens after the fiftieth day of wearing that bracelet, come to Táng Lè Village’s West Street to find me.”
Finished speaking, the old lady got up from her seat and left. Still confused, Xú Wǎn had no appetite to finish her meal. After paying her bill, she immediately rushed outside but was unable to catch sight of the old lady’s figure.
This is a blessing, not a disaster, but the disaster must be avoided...
Xú Wǎn suddenly felt a chill run down her spine.
“Hey, young miss!” A waitress at the restaurant called out, chasing after her. “Why are you running so fast? I haven’t even managed to give you your change yet!” She handed over the change in his hand only to notice that Xú Wǎn’s expression was slightly off. “Ah, were you just talking to Lǐ āyí (1) earlier?”
“Lǐ āyí?” Xú Wǎn quickly asked, her eyes lighting up.
The waitress nodded; that unusual customer, she was naturally aware of. “She lives at Number 46 Táng Lè Village. But don’t listen to what she says, she has some problems here.”
Unfortunately, Xú Wǎn was in the midst of leaving while thanking the waitress so she did not see the waitress gesturing towards her own head.