Love, hate, and all the other tangled feelings of life can give rise to obsessions. Those obsessions, in turn, give birth to dreams, trapping both the living and the dead inside, unable to free themselves. Such places are called "Dream Prisons."
Because humanity's delusions have persisted for thousands of years, the mysterious national agency staffed by Dream Spirit Masters, the Dream Prison Bureau, has grown ever more powerful. It's become the stable government job so many young people dream of landing.
But it's not a job just anyone can get.
From the age of eighteen to twenty-three, Shen Ling submitted dozens of applications to the Dream Prison Bureau's internship department. Even the dimwitted neighbor's kid got in, while he, a renowned top student of spiritual power studies, was turned away every time. He never even got an interview.
Shen Ling realized that the internship department's director might be targeting him, and swore that from then on, the two of them would be mortal enemies.
Before joining the Dream Prison Bureau, Shen Ling heard that the internship director was a disgraced former official, a cantankerous old man.
After joining, Shen Ling discovered that only the part about his bad temper was true. This stunningly beautiful "old man" was still trying to get him kicked out of the Bureau.
Not knowing why, Shen Ling felt both wronged and angry, and genuinely hated his guts.
But after they worked together to solve several Dream Prisons, and the "old man" protected Shen Ling so thoroughly that not a hair on his head was harmed, his "hatred" gradually began to change into something else.
And just as Shen Ling started getting butterflies whenever he saw the "old man," the other man was still entirely focused on driving him away, coming up with ever more original methods.
The "old man": "Lingling, do you have a partner? I can introduce you to someone. Go home, get married, and have kids."
Shen Ling: "You're so old, keep them for yourself."
The "old man": "Lingling, go on a blind date at the First Division tomorrow. I asked the division chief to set you up with someone."
Furious Shen Ling: "No! I'm gay!!!"
The "old man," thoughtful: "I see..."
The "old man": "Lingling, you seem pretty close to that big guy in the Second Division. Do you like that type?"
Fed up Shen Ling: "Yeah! That's exactly my type! I love them!"
The "old man" looked at his own less-than-bulging biceps, went home, and silently picked up a barbell.
Reader's guide:
1. A silver-tongued, deceptively formidable, sharp-tongued gong with a soft heart x an honest, innocent, sweet, hot-tempered, sharp-tongued shou who loves and hates with his whole heart.
2. Seems like an older-younger pairing, but is actually younger-older. HE.
3. The story centers on solving Dream Prisons, with multiple self-contained stories that gradually reveal the main characters' central storyline.
4. A few of the episodes are mildly scary. This is the author's first time writing mystery and horror, so the stories may not be that thrilling. Just enjoy them for fun.
5. The logic behind all plot devices is made up, with a bunch of original worldbuilding. Don't overanalyze it.
6. The author is a little sensitive, so please go easy if the writing isn't great. If you like it, please add it to your favorites. Thank you, dear readers!!!
Theme: Love and kindness can transcend time and become eternal.
(Quietly) Chuchu come on and code words