Chapter 1

It was a beautiful morning for a flight. The rising sun colored the sky pink, and clouds parted gently between my fingers. As my heart slowed to a steady, peaceful rhythm, I increased my speed and let my long hair stream out behind me. There was nothing that could make me feel better in this place. Nothing that could lead to my discovery. A lovely smile warmed my face as I closed my eyes.

This time I wasn't going to come down. I'd found my paradise. I'd found my serenity.

until...

A fire poured down from above, a thousand screams ripped the skies apart. I tried to hide my head and get back to the ground, but I knew what was about to happen.

Many times previously, the dragon had attacked.

I ducked and rolled through the smoking clouds, dodging molten streams of death, until all at once, the beast was upon me. And it was MASSIVE! My eyes widened to terrified saucers as I gazed up in sick horror. The monster opened its mouth, almost like it was smiling at me. But just as it drew up a final breath to smite me once and for all—

—it turned into a puzzle and dissolved into a million pieces.

Wait…what?

As particles of plaster and dust misted from above, I peeled open my eyelids and squinted up at the ceiling. The rafters shook with a predicted sliding thunk, and I covered my face with a sigh. Mr. Liyu was doing Zumba a little earlier today than normal. My alarm hadn’t even gone off.

Then it went off

“You are going to be late again. You silly, irresponsible guy. You are going to be late.”

Talk about the devil. It began to recite the same line over and over. I slapped the top of the clock against the wall and cursed the cosmic forces once again for putting me in this place. It wasn't simple to find a place to live in Beijing, China that was both affordable and convenient. Certain dreadful compromises had to be made. Mr. Liyu early morning Zumba class was just the beginning. There were also insects, gas leaks, police helicopters, and the stink of urine baking up from the sidewalks. But what about my reoccurring dragon dream...?

To be honest, I had no godly idea how that fit in.

With an undignified thud, I shimmied out of bed and landed on the ground. My industrial-grade fan—aka "my personal savior," aka did I mention there was no air conditioning?—shot all my hair back like a shock, and I quickly angled it away with my toe as I pushed myself up to full height and cast a wary glance into the mirror.

It had to be this when they said they were "trying to make it in Beijing." I felt like the poster guy.

Short auburn hair, pale creamy skin, a lovely face, and a svelte figure I'd be a stunner, a star in any other place. But, for whatever reason, I was one in a million in this metropolis built on the parking tickets and rent traps of other small-town celebrities. And not in a positive sense.

I leaned in with a familiar sigh to see what the damage was today. Eyes were red, but not puffy. Dark rings were beginning to fade. After a night of excessive drinking, it's not horrible. On the other hand, what about my liver? It was preferable better not to think about it.

It seems like there had been a lot of these nights recently. My roommate Xiaoyan and I had begun it as a ritual. We would get together over a bottle of tequila and turn on a Netflix fest as we wallowed and swallowed our grief every time we didn't get a part we auditioned for (this included being turned away from the casting beforehand because the coveted two-line role had been filled sometime in the six hours we were standing in line), and every time we didn't get a part we auditioned for (this included getting turned away from the casting beforehand because the coveted two-line role had.

It was honestly quite enjoyable. Much more enjoyable than standing in line for hours at the castings. Xiaoyan wasn't having as much fun as I was, as evidenced by a muffled retching from the bathroom.

As I walked out into the corridor, I slipped on a pair of scrubs and grabbed my Chapstick. My cat, Dubu, trotted past me, following a Tasmanian twister of dust sent up by my fan. As I walked to the bathroom, I tripped over his knobby back, causing him to yowl.

“I apologize, dubu. I'll tell you what. I'll go get some milk for you.” On a dish, I poured a smidgeon of milk and placed it on the floor. “Do you think I'm forgiven?”

He purred. I gave him a kiss on the head and leaned in to listen to him purr. He was a stray that I found. I had no idea if he had been in an accident, but we all adored him nonetheless. He may be grouchy at times, but it only added to our affection for him.

After pulling on my shoe, I knocked softly on the door. “You okay in there?”

A half-strangled gurgling noise answered me. Something that actually sounded uncannily like our cat. The toilet flushed, the sink ran, and a second later, I heard Xiaoyan slide down against the other side of the door.

“That was the last time,” he moaned. “I’m serious.”

“Yep,” I agreed, as I was certainly expected to. “Well, I’m off to work, okay?”

“How can you even think about work at a time like this?”

I rolled my eyes with a grin. The predictable answer of a spoiled cul-de-sac prince.

“I love it,” I answered bitingly. “I wish I could be there all the time.”

He snorted on the other side of the door. I could almost picture him laying his clammy cheek against the cool tiles on the floor. It was a comfort move both of us had done many, many times. It was also the reason we kept the bathroom impeccably clean.

“Was that Deevus that wailed earlier?”

“Yep.” I pulled on my other shoe. “I gotta go—I’m going to be late.”

“Did you get that guy’s phone number last night? He was hot.”

I blew out a long breath.

“Did you mess it up again?” she asked.

“No. Well, kind of. I started talking about how upset I was that Mr. Liyu had taken such a bad turn. I guess it was too deep for him. But I’m worried about the woman. She’s been my patient for months and we’ve grown quite close. She might not make it to next week. I’m so worried about her.”

“Talking about death isn’t the way to go when you first meet someone.”

I bit my lip hard. “You’re probably right.”

“You’re working in hospice. You know these people are near the end. And it’s great that you give them so much love and support, but you have to be able to let go.”

“I get so attached to every single one of my patients.”

“I know you do. And that’s why you need an understanding man. I’m going to find you the most understanding and compassionate man in all of Beijing.”

“There will be no more blind dates.”

“I swear, this one is going to be different. What are your thoughts? There's Edward there. He still lives with his mother, but he's such a sweetheart.”

“Late,” I remarked once more. “On my way home, I'll stop by the store, do you need anything?”

“Yes and no.” He stomped his foot against the closed door. “Wait, yes. Get some more of those caramel things from the store that we had last week. “The ones in the shape of a frog?”

I nodded absently while typing on my phone. “Frogs. You've got it. Okay, I've got to get going.” I slammed the door shut with my hand.

“I'll see you tonight if you feel better.” When he called weakly to me halfway out, I was halfway out.

“Zhefan?”

I took a breather. “Yeah?”

“Add tequila to the mix.”

“It was already there.”

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