Summer always carries a sticky hint of heat. It’s the worst kind—not hot enough for AC, too warm for just a fan. Sleep won’t come.

In a daze, I sat up. I meant to cool off on the balcony. Then my eyes snagged on the landscape painting hanging inside. The beauty in the painting smiled at me. I rubbed my eyes and stared again.

“Weird? I remember she was admiring the scenery. Since when did she smile?” Half the night, I stared at a painting. Maybe I’m not right in the head. Strange… my head’s spinning.

Hee-hee… hee-hee-hee. Who’s laughing? Sounded like a girl’s. It was so pretty. Where is she? “Come on~ I’m right here! Come play with us!” Where did that big sister come from? Am I hallucinating from being single too long?

In a haze, I felt someone gently take my hand and lead me on. My eyes stayed shut from exhaustion. After a while, I wiped at them and finally saw. The sudden change made me jump. Where am I? I was sleeping at home. How did I end up in the wild?

A flagstone path threaded the mountain. Dense bamboo crowded both sides. Birds called now and then. A light breeze brushed away the leftover heat. A brook ran into the deep woods. Odd. It’s broad daylight. Did I time-travel again?

There was only one road, so I kept walking. After five minutes, a not-so-tall building appeared. More a two-story courtyard in old style. Pink ribbons hung outside. On both sides of the gate hung carved wooden couplets—[The flower path was never swept for guests] [This humble gate opens for you today]. I touched the boards. So I wasn’t dreaming.

“Where does this traveler hail from?” The shut door eased open. A woman in ancient dress stepped out. She wore a rose-pink robe, sweet with scent. A hint of cleavage showed at her chest. Her skin was smooth as jade. Cherry lips were red without rouge. A slim waist, fine brows. Shy on her face. Her bright eyes rippled like a clear autumn pool. Playful, yet with a hidden depth. Lustrous black hair held a golden phoenix pin at a slant. Two locks beside her dimples stirred in the breeze. She was otherworldly. I just stood there, stunned.

“Traveler, what’s wrong?”

“Uh… this humble scholar was just passing by. May I ask, big sis, what place is this?” Our eyes met. I realized I was staring too hard. Even my words slipped into nonsense. What era is this, and I’m saying “this humble scholar”?

“Heh-heh~ you’re funny. My Peach Blossom Tower is usually closed. Today I opened the door and found you touching my couplets. That counts as fate. The flower path was never swept for guests; this humble gate opens for you today. Come in.” She lifted a sleeve to cover half her face and smiled demurely, then invited me inside.

How could I refuse a great beauty? Of course I went in to see. The interior was simple, yet soothing. A few finely carved peachwood beds. A guqin on a stand. Several screens. A faint peach-blossom scent made you want to linger.

“Miss, may I ask where this is?”

“Isn’t saying your name first the basic manners before asking someone a question?”

I patted my thick skull. I was a bit rushed.

“I’m Qiuyuchen. I was resting at home. Somehow I strayed in here. Please show me a way home.”

She didn’t answer. She sat before the guqin and began to play.

“Don’t you see— a beauty’s face, a dewy flower; a jade tree’s glow lights the rear court. Blossoms open and fall, never for long; fallen red returns to silence…”

Slim fingers plucked the strings. Plain and elegant. The notes lingered in the air. It flowed like a mountain spring. I closed my eyes and savored the song and the music. It was so good, I didn’t notice when the playing stopped.

“Guest, meeting here today is fate. Why don’t we…” One of her hands rested lightly on my chest. I jolted and snapped my eyes open. I wanted to dart away, but her face was much too close. The light peach scent left me at a loss.

“Uh, miss, we’re not at that level yet, right?”

“You don’t seem that ‘young’ yourself. I’m only sixteen this year. Calling me ‘big sis’ might not be right!”

So, a sixteen-year-old maiden. No wonder she was unreal. But a girl living alone in the wilds… Could she be…

“Miss, some things shouldn’t be done. You’re so pretty, and your music is so good. Why choose that kind of work? Please cherish your body.”

The beauty pressed her lips together, teary, and pushed me aside.

“I thought you were different. You think I’m one of those brothel girls? To this day, I’ve never used my body to please any man. I… I just want someone to talk to. A kindred spirit who’ll listen when I play and sing. But you… called me a painted courtesan from the Pleasure House!”

As she spoke, tears fell like pearls. No matter how I tried to soothe her, she wouldn’t answer me, and cried harder.

“Miss, I was really wrong. I’ll do anything you want. Just please stop crying, okay? I’ll buy you lollipops, all right?”

“Loll… lollipops? What’s that?”

Was she joking with me? Who hasn’t even had a lollipop in this day and age?

“It’s a kind of candy. Strawberry flavor, watermelon, peach too. It’s really good, trust me.”

“Is it like candied haw skewers? The kind with lots of fruit coated in sugar?”

“Not quite. But it’s way better. Next time, if I get the chance, I’ll bring you two—no, five!”

Great. At least she stopped crying. I can’t handle girls’ tears at all. If a few lollipops can settle it, that’s easy.

“Come watch the stars with me.”

“But it’s broad daylight. Where would stars come from?”

The moment I spoke, the sky went dark. Several old-style lanterns lit inside the Peach Blossom Tower. They weren’t fancy, but I could see fine.

The ancient-dressed beauty took my hand and led me upstairs. We were in the heart of the woods. Not far off, a broad river ran. Stars and a bright moon crisscrossed into a river of light in the sky. Their reflection lay on the calm water. It looked like an earthly paradise. Or like two lovers parted by twin star-rivers, one above and one below.

“Guest, how’s the view?”

“Beautiful. Too beautiful.”

“A pity. Such beauty unchanged through all four seasons grows tiring to the eye.”

The view was indeed gorgeous, yet lacked a breath of life. I blinked and looked at her face beside me.

“Is this a dreamscape?”

“Are you happy with me?”

It was our first day meeting. With someone this pretty, what man would say no? I nodded quietly.

“If you’re happy, why care whether it’s an illusion? Drink this.”

She offered me a cup of purple-red liquid. It looked like wine. I meant to refuse, but my mouth was already dry. In the end, I couldn’t resist and drank it down.

My head started to spin again. Heat flared through my body.

“So hot! Ugh—”

“A spring night is short, one wakes when the sun is high. From then on, the king skips morning court~”

I lay on the bed, strength gone. I felt tired, yet strangely light. The floral scent in the air made me drunk. My eyes drifted closed… I’ll just sleep.

[10 a.m., see you at Xincheng Wuyue Plaza.]

“No way! I promised my classmate we’d meet at the plaza today! I can’t stay here!”

A chill ran down my back. I shot upright. My mind cleared a lot.

“It seems you have matters you must attend to. In that case, this humble one won’t keep you. Go.”

Go? Go where? I didn’t even know where this was!

Riiiing—

I was jolted awake by my phone alarm. When I opened my eyes, I was lying on the lounge chair on the balcony. I was holding that landscape painting.

Oh man, it’s already almost nine-thirty. If I don’t go now, I’ll be late!

I re-hung the painting on the wall. I did a quick wash, skipped breakfast, and rushed out.