Feng Ruyi's eyelashes slowly fluttered open as warm morning sunlight streamed through the window, casting a gentle glow across her face. She blinked, disoriented, her mind groggy with remnants of her dreams. "How long have I been sleeping?" She wondered. The last thing she remembered was reading her favorite novel before dozing off. Stifling a yawn, she stretched and opened her eyes fully—only to freeze in sudden realization.
"Oh crap! I'm gonna be late for work!" she exclaimed, bolting upright. As she hurriedly threw off the covers and attempted to jump out of bed, her feet tangled in an unfamiliar fabric. She tripped and landed face-first onto the hard wooden floor. Groaning, she propped herself up and looked down at herself, only to find she wasn't wearing her usual blue checkered pajamas. Instead, a flowing white gown draped over her, made of soft, luxurious silk that shimmered faintly in the morning light. The delicate material, cool and light against her skin, felt leagues beyond anything she could ever afford with her modest office salary. The sleeves hung gracefully off her shoulders, pooling at her wrists, while the fabric flowed around her like a cloud, embroidered with fine silver threads that caught the light.
Her gaze drifted around the room, and she gasped. This was not her room. Gone were the plain white walls, small desk, and neatly stacked bookshelves of her apartment. Instead, she was in an opulent chamber straight out of an ancient Chinese drama. The room was expansive, with carved wooden panels depicting dragons and clouds along the walls, and paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling, casting a soft, golden glow. A large, intricately carved rosewood bed lay behind her, draped with silk bedding embroidered in shades of red and gold. Delicate porcelain vases, a polished bronze mirror, and beautiful paintings adorned the space.
"Where… where am I?" Ruyi muttered, struggling to make sense of her surroundings.
Suddenly, a cheerful voice broke through her confusion. "Miss? You're finally awake!" Ruyi turned to see a small young girl standing in the doorway, no older than sixteen, dressed in a delicate pink gown with her hair styled in two neat buns. Her face was round and lively, with a pair of sparkling eyes and a shy smile that made her look almost doll-like.
"Who… who are you, little girl?" Ruyi asked, taken aback.
The girl giggled softly and walked over. "Miss, please stop joking! It's me, Liqin, your favorite and best maid." She puffed up proudly as she spoke, clearly amused by what she assumed was her mistress's playful mood. Who's she calling a little girl? She's only a year older than me, Liqin thought to herself with a playful pout.
"Liqin…" Ruyi echoed, her mind racing. That name… where have I heard it before? Then it hit her. Liqin! Feng Ruyi's adorable maid in the novel! Ruyi's heart began to race as she glanced down at her silken gown and back to the lavish, unfamiliar room.
"No… this can't be… This must be a dream," she mumbled, giving her cheeks a sharp pinch in a desperate attempt to wake up from what she hoped was a vivid hallucination. But the room remained, solid and real.
With a surge of panic, Ruyi scrambled up and ran to the nearest mirror, her silk gown trailing behind her. She came to a stop in front of an ornate bronze mirror, its surface polished to a bright sheen, framed by intricate carvings of peonies and clouds. Her heart pounded as she looked at her reflection—and gasped.
It was her face, but not the 28-year-old face she was used to seeing. Staring back at her was a much younger version of herself, with smooth, radiant skin and a natural glow she hadn't seen in years. Her cheeks were rounder, her complexion clear and fair, with a soft blush. Her wide brown eyes sparkled with a youthful luster, framed by long, thick lashes that brushed against her cheeks when she blinked. She touched her face in disbelief, feeling the softness of her skin and the faint warmth rising in her cheeks.
She looked… delicate, like a porcelain doll, with an ethereal beauty that made her almost unrecognizable to herself. Her features were softer, more refined—her high cheekbones, straight nose, and full lips gave her a gentle elegance, while the silk gown's ivory color only added to her otherworldly appearance. Her dark hair was styled in long, flowing waves that cascaded down her back, partially pinned with a single white hairpin adorned with a delicate jade flower.
"This… this is me? But… I look seventeen!" she whispered, running her fingers over her own face, struggling to believe what she was seeing. She looked as she had in her youth, before years of late nights and office stress had taken their toll.
Ruyi took a deep breath, feeling the sheer strangeness of her youthful beauty and the strange, luxurious surroundings. She looked every bit the young noblewoman she'd read about in novels—a delicate, refined girl of a different time and place.
"L-Liqin… Who am I?" she stammered, hoping against hope that there was some other explanation for this impossible situation.
Liqin chuckled, deciding to play along. "Why, you're Feng Ruyi, of course! The eldest Di daughter of the Left Prime Minister of Qilin Country."
Ruyi felt her heart sink. No… She thought back to the novel, recalling every detail with dread. I said I wanted to be the protagonist… not the villainess! Before she could gather her thoughts, her vision swam, and the shock was too much. Darkness closed in around her, and, with a faint gasp, she fainted.