Gazing at the flickering candlelight, the silhouette of a person outside the gauze window drifted by. Qíngwén, now in the twilight of her years, felt that her life resembled a farm-based novel, or rather, a fanfiction involving time travel and agricultural endeavors. Yes, Qíngwén was a time traveler, finding herself in the body of a lowly maid in the Red Mansion. Her original name was Lǐ Píng.
Lǐ Píng, with an ordinary appearance and an unremarkable life, hailed from humble parents and a modest family. During her school days, she only became noticeable when her name, Lǐ Píng, repeatedly appeared in the English textbook. Indeed, Lǐ Píng was diligent, but her mediocre grades and timid personality made her forgettable. Even as she entered the workforce and strove to prove herself, the ordinary Lǐ Píng remained inconspicuous. She spent her 25 years in this unremarkable and busy manner.
However, these two individuals, with vastly different personalities and destinies, became connected through the phenomenon of time travel. Despite daydreaming about rebirth and time travel while reading novels during her school days, Lǐ Píng realized, upon entering society, that everything was just a fantasy, and survival was perpetually grounded in reality.
Lǐ Píng felt fortunate that her time travel occurred at an opportune moment. The original occupant of this body, Lǐ Píng's parents, had recently passed away, leaving the host bedridden due to the shock. This made it easier for Lǐ Píng to adapt to the changed personality without raising suspicions. Moreover, the original Lǐ Píng's family had just arrived in the capital to seek refuge with distant relatives in the Jiǎ Mansion, ensuring a lack of familiar faces. Thus, Lǐ Píng comfortably lay in bed, organizing the memories of the original host.
Years of professional experience, albeit as a mere office worker, taught Lǐ Píng the importance of possessing a skill or craft for better survival, even in ancient times. Reflecting on how the original host gained favor with Lady Jiǎ and secured a place by showcasing her embroidery skills, Lǐ Píng began practicing embroidery during her convalescence. Simultaneously, she reminisced about the stories in the Red Mansion. Planning her future survival strategy, she decided to adopt a high-profile approach to tasks but maintain a low-key persona.
The term "high-profile" meant preserving Qíngwén's bold image, essential in the hierarchical and judgmental Róngguó Mansion to avoid bullying and, importantly, to stay unnoticed by fellow time travelers. It's noteworthy that the Red Mansion, long turned into a sieve through the constant influx of time travelers, wasn't expected to host only one. Lǐ Píng wouldn't foolishly shed tears when meeting someone from her hometown, nor would she play the saintly rescuer for Lin Xiānzǐ.
She never believed in anyone being someone else's foil or unique, and there were no protagonists or supporting roles. Each person was the protagonist of their destiny, with individual choices, influenced only by the observer's perspective.
From a young age, Lǐ Píng had a hobby—observing the diverse people around her and trying to fathom their psychology and behavior. Due to her ordinary and reticent nature, she often saw more facets of human nature than others. Close friends who seemed trustworthy might unintentionally reveal the "pitiable" experiences of your life behind your back, and a kind boss shamelessly stole your project. Lǐ Píng had grown accustomed to these things.
She never believed in absolutes in the world, whether regarding people or objects. It was this perspective that helped her narrowly escape being used as a pawn by Lady Jiǎ. Lǐ Píng's idea of "keeping a low profile" was preparation for the future, anticipating her expulsion from the Jiǎ Mansion. Specifically, it meant saving money and acquiring useful skills. As the saying goes, having many skills doesn't burden oneself. Lǐ Píng was an excessively cautious person, and often, somewhat timid individuals exhibited an exceedingly prudent side.