"What? Grandma, you've traveled through time before?"
Su Qianqian looked at her grandmother, who was sitting in a rocking chair, in shock. Usually, the old lady either doesn't recognize anyone or mistakes an apple for an onion.
But today, her eyes were unusually clear. She held Su Qianqian's hand tightly and whispered, "Qianqian, when I was young, I also traveled through time. The blood in your veins carries the gene of a time traveler. Go look for it, the inn that was part of my dowry, there is a secret hidden there…"
Su Qianqian was stunned, her mind going blank. Had her grandmother's Alzheimer's suddenly healed, or had her condition worsened to the point where it included fantasy powers?
"Mom! Mom!" She suddenly snapped out of it, shouting as she rushed to the kitchen, "Grandma said she traveled through time, and asked me to find her dowry inn! Quickly, give me the key and the address!"
From the kitchen, the sound of a spatula clashing with the edge of the pot came. Then her mother poked her head out, holding a wet towel, with an impatient expression on her face as if asking, "What's going on? You startled me!"
"Grandma said she traveled through time and asked me to find her dowry inn! Please ask her where the key is!" Su Qianqian panted, her voice filled with urgency.
"Enough, your grandmother's condition has flared up again," her mother rolled her eyes and continued wiping the pot.
"But she spoke so clearly!" Su Qianqian was so anxious that she was pacing back and forth. When she turned to look at her grandmother again, the old lady had already lowered her head, fiddling with the buttons on her clothes, muttering to herself, "These buttons are really beautiful…"
Helpless, Su Qianqian and her mother began rummaging through boxes. Eventually, they found a rusty key and a yellowed note in her grandmother's old trunk.
"Some city, Some street, Some inn…" Su Qianqian read the address aloud, her mind full of doubts.
…
A few hours later, she stood in front of the dilapidated inn, looking up at the weathered signboard. She took a deep breath. "Grandma, if this is a trap, I will definitely write about this experience in a novel as a cautionary tale for future generations."
She tightly grasped the rusty key, her emotions mixed as she inserted it into the lock and turned it gently. The door creaked open slowly with a sound.
The air was thick with the smell of dampness and mold, as though the inn had been asleep for years, waiting for her arrival to reveal its hidden secrets.
The next morning, the outside of the inn was filled with the fresh scent of damp earth, and the air was tinged with a slight wood fragrance. The rain from the night before had washed the cobblestone road clean, and the willow trees along the roadside hung low, occasionally shedding a few yellow leaves.
Su Qianqian stood at the door, lazily stretching.
"This place is so deserted, not even a ghost is around," she muttered, about to head to the market to buy some fruit when she suddenly froze.
When she arrived last night, it had been a modern street scene, but now… She rubbed her eyes to make sure she wasn't seeing things. The people on the street were all dressed in ancient clothing!
Men in wide-sleeved robes and headscarves wandered around, while women had their hair styled in traditional hairdos, wearing long gowns and robes, their steps light and graceful.
Everyone seemed immersed in their own world, completely oblivious to the "oddity" standing on the street—a modern woman wearing slippers.
Su Qianqian's head buzzed. Could it be… time travel?
Instinctively, she ran back inside, charging up the stairs, and pushed open the door to her room, heading straight for the wardrobe.
When she arrived last night, she had been full of expectations, searching for hidden passages and secret mechanisms. But after a long night of searching, she had found nothing—except for an old box in the wardrobe.
When she opened it, her finger was pricked by a button, causing a sharp pain that made her jump. The drop of blood was absorbed by a wooden piece and disappeared without a trace.
She waited for a long time but saw no signs of the world spinning or any time travel effects. She could only helplessly climb into bed and fall asleep.
To her surprise, when she woke up today, she had truly become a part of the "ancient world!"
"Grandma, your trick didn't deceive me after all…" she sighed lightly, excitement mixed with apprehension in her eyes.
Taking a deep breath, Su Qianqian opened the suitcase she had brought with her, relieved that she had made some preparations.
She pulled out a newly bought traditional Chinese dress and hurriedly put it on. Then, she adjusted her hair in front of a shabby copper mirror, doing her best to make herself look like a person from the ancient world.
However, without suitable shoes, she gritted her teeth and wore a pair of brand new sneakers, silently praying that no one would notice.
"First day in the ancient world, keep a low profile, keep a low profile," she murmured softly, feeling nervous as she pushed the door open and stepped out onto the unfamiliar cobblestone path.
The streets were bustling with people, all dressed in wide-sleeved robes and long skirts. Su Qianqian curiously observed her surroundings while trying to appear calm.
But she couldn't help herself. Her gaze kept scanning the people around her, marveling at their exquisite appearances: their hair was neatly styled, and their clothes were all hand-embroidered—far more elaborate than what she had seen in TV dramas!
Just as she was getting lost in her observations, the sound of hooves echoed in her ears. Instinctively, she jumped to the side, and saw a beautifully crafted sedan chair come to a steady stop beside her. The curtain was lifted, revealing a breathtakingly handsome face.
The man's eyebrows resembled distant mountains, his eyes as cold as stars, and his lips slightly pursed, exuding an aura of chilling authority. He didn't speak, but simply cast a sharp glance at her before signaling to someone else.
Before Su Qianqian could react, she suddenly felt several people rush at her! She screamed, "Hey! What are you doing? Don't touch me!" But her struggles were in vain as strong hands like iron pincers grabbed her arms and waist, lifting her and tossing her into a cart full of vegetables.
The whole process took less than ten seconds, and she was completely stunned.
Sitting in the cart full of cabbage and radishes, Su Qianqian felt her mind go blank. She stared wide-eyed as the sedan chair's curtain fell again.
"Who am I? Where am I? Why am I the target?!"
She frantically tried to climb out of the vegetable pile but didn't dare jump out of the cart.
The mixed smell of vegetables and the bumping of the cart filled her senses. Her mind was full of regret:
"Am I crazy? Why did I come to this lawless place? A society with laws would be so much better! Kidnapping people is illegal! I should report it to the police!… Wait, there are no police here!"
Looking down, she saw her sneakers were covered in mud, and her heart sank. Those were the limited edition designer shoes she had saved up for half a month to buy!