With a hopeful intent, Olivia walked back to the room she had been locked in before.
As she passed the corridor where she had threatened the maid earlier, Olivia wasn't surprised to see the maid and the huge man still standing there, looking somewhat dazed.
Walking past them, Olivia heard the maid call out to her.
"Miss Jolene!"
Olivia stopped but didn't turn to look at her.
Taking this as a cue to continue, the maid began, "I apologise, Miss Jolene. My concern was primarily for the Fifth Young Master."
Olivia didn't respond, and instead, she continued to walk away.
However, the maid called out again, trying to make amends with the young miss in the hope that her impudent behaviour wouldn't be reported to the Fifth Young Master.
"Miss Jolene, I just want you to know that I'll schedule an appointment with the history teacher. I'll need to discuss it with the Fifth Young Master."
Olivia's attention was now piqued.
Olivia turned around, her eyebrows furrowed, wondering exactly what the maid meant.
Seeing the questioning look on the young miss's face, the maid walked closer to Olivia and began to explain.
"It is about the gift the old woman gave you, Miss Jolene," the maid said cautiously, wary of offending the young lady again.
Olivia's brows furrowed, signalling her need for further explanation, as she couldn't see how scheduling an appointment with a history teacher was related to the gift the old woman had given her.
"The book, Miss Jolene," the maid continued carefully. "I opened it, and it appears to contain historical information."
"In history?" Olivia pondered, still not entirely sure how this connected.
Before the maid could elaborate further, Olivia had already walked past the corridor and headed to the room.
Once inside, Olivia spotted the large old book on the bed and approached it.
Taking the heavy book in her hands, Olivia opened it, only to find that the words inside were in a language she couldn't understand.
The only recognizable word was the title, 'Red Fireflies.'
Intrigued, Olivia settled down on the bed with the book on her lap, examining the images of people drawn within, hoping to decipher their meaning through visuals.
As she did, something strange began to happen.
The words Olivia found incomprehensible gradually transformed into clear Chinese characters she could understand.
Olivia's brows furrowed, her fascination with the book deepening.
Olivia lost track of time as her interest grew.
It was Sebastian's name that appeared repeatedly in the book that captured her attention.
It didn't take Olivia long to realise that the old woman had truly given her a guide of some kind.
According to what Olivia had read and the familiar names she had seen, it would be sensible to say that this old book, displaying pictures and character dialogues, was essentially a written form of the world she found herself in.
In other words, Olivia had been transmigrated into a comic book!
From her reading, Olivia learned that the character she currently inhabited, Jolene, was the first child of Williams Yu. However, Jolene's mother had tragically passed away after giving birth to a boy.
Williams Yu eventually remarried and adopted the daughter of his new wife, Allison Yu.
Allison, who was three years older than Jolene, harboured resentment because she believed herself more suitable to inherit the family business.
Being the firstborn, Jolene was the expected heir and in a prime position to take over her father's business upon his eventual retirement.
This fact didn't sit well with Allison Yu, who considered herself smarter and believed that her age should make her the rightful successor.
Their father, Williams Yu, owned a prestigious luxury hotel chain with properties in major cities across Country V.
This hotel chain was renowned for its luxurious accommodations, impeccable service, and its hosting of high-profile events.
As Olivia delved deeper into the comic's narrative, her curiosity was piqued even further.
There were also two recurring characters; Seraphina Xu and Blade Li, who appeared frequently.
Olivia somewhat ignored them though as they weren't of her immediate concern.
For some unknown reason, which surprised Olivia herself, she began to feel a growing concern for Jolene.
Witnessing the physical suffering and vulnerability that had earned her a reputation among others, Olivia found herself clenching her fists in sympathy.
As she continued reading, Olivia gradually pieced together more about the world she had transmigrated into and the character she now inhabited, Jolene.
However, the one thing that remained a mystery to her was how Jolene and Sebastian had become a couple. It wasn't written in the comic, or perhaps she hadn't reached that part yet.
Taking a deep breath, Olivia was brought back to the present when a knock echoed on the door, reminding her that it was now a clear morning.
Though the knocking persisted, Olivia chose to ignore it, refocusing her attention on the old book.
Olivia felt an inexplicable magnetic pull towards the book, despite the romantic world it portrayed.
After a brief moment, the door swung open, revealing Sebastian entering the room with a frustrated expression.
Sebastian paused when he saw Olivia sitting on the bed, engrossed in the book.
However, he paid her no mind and instead let his anger show on his face.
Olivia question, "Young man, I see that you are back. Is the old woman dead yet?" only further fueled Sebastian irritation.
Ignoring her once more, Sebastian removed his shirt and headed to the bathroom.
Olivia simply shrugged, understanding the implications of his actions.
The old woman was dead, leaving Olivia to fend for herself in this unfamiliar world.
With no one else to trust, she needed to find her own way back.
A way back to Xi Village.