After rushing out of the office, Xia Yuqing's mind was a blur. Her feet carried her on instinct. She didn't know where she was going—only that she needed to get away. Away from the suffocating tension, from the lingering fear and all the emotions that threatened to consume her.
She needed to breathe. She needed air. It was all too much.
The poison. Her death. Her transmigration into this strange new body and world. And Lu Jinchen—the man who looked so much like the emperor.
Her fingers trembled as she clutched her arms, her breath hitching. If he had been the emperor...
A violent shudder racked her body. No. She couldn't even think about it.
Her past life had been a prison—chains bound by an oath of absolute obedience. The emperor's word was law, his desires an unshakable command. He owned her. He was her Master. She had belonged to him from the moment she was born. She was his to command, to love, to destroy, and to kill. If he had ordered her death, she would have delivered it without hesitation. If he had commanded a kiss, she would have given it without protest.
Because she had no choice.
Her soul still carried the imprint of that oath. It could still be activated if she ever met the emperor. But he wasn't here. This was a different world. Lu Jinchen was not him. He did not possess the birthmark.
He just looked like the emperor. That's all.
Releasing a slow, shaky breath, Xia Yuqing sat down on an empty bench. Her gaze drifted aimlessly to the grass in front of her, though her mind was a million miles away.
In this world, she could be free. For the first time in her life, she could live for herself. She could be whoever she wanted, do whatever she wanted. She could make her own choices, something she didn't have in the past.
No one could control her, no one could stop her.
Unlike the women in her previous life, who were bound by ancient customs and expectations, women in this world had choices. They were free. They could choose to stay or leave, to love or to walk away, to chase careers, or to live independently. There were laws to protect them. They could stand on equal ground with men.
Sure, there were still those who clung to outdated beliefs, who looked down on women, but even they were becoming the exception. Yes, this world was also full of crimes and cries, but compared to the suffocating existence she had endured before, this was simply a haven for her.
This body, coming here into this world was her gift. And she would never take that for granted. She would live for herself, she would chase her own happiness. As long as the emperor never appeared...
A cool evening breeze brushed against her skin, snapping her back to the present. She blinked, glancing around. The once-busy park had emptied, the sky now tinged with hues of deep orange and purple.
How long had she been sitting here?
She sighed, rubbing her cold palms together. It was time to go home.
Just as she stood up, a delicious, savory aroma drifted through the air. Her stomach growled in response. She followed the scent without thinking, and her eyes landed on the cart. A sign hung from the front, promising warm, freshly steamed buns.
The elderly vendor behind the cart looked up, smiling kindly. "Miss, what would you like?"
Xia Yuqing's gaze flickered to the food, her hunger growing. It was only now that she realized she hadn't eaten a single thing since arriving in this world. "Two steamed buns," she said quickly. "One pork, one beef please."
She eyed the buns curiously, wondering how they would taste. Though they were also available in ancient times, but they only had one or two types of fillings. Here, in the modern world, the options were vast.
She couldn't help but wonder whether they would taste the same as the ones from her time. Or would they be different? The thought made her smile, her anticipation building.
She reached for her bag but froze.
Her bag was gone. No, it hadn't disappeared—it was still at Lu Jinchen's office, along with her phone.
Her face flushed with embarrassment, but then she quickly searched in the pockets of her pants for any spare money. Her fingers brushed against the fabric, and finally, with a bit of luck, she found a ten yuan note.
Relief flooded her as she handed it over, and in return, the old man placed two warm buns in her hands. "Thank you," she murmured, clutching them like precious treasure.
Biting into the first one, she was greeted by a surprisingly delicate flavor. The pork filling was tender, and the bun was softer than she expected, the taste richer than what she remembered. Also, the texture of the bun and shape was different.
It was a little different but in a good way.
She stepped out of the park, biting into her bun, her mouth chewing like a hamster. For a moment, she completely forgot where she was. Without thinking, she stepped onto the road. Lost in the taste, she nearly forgot all about the traffic rules of the modern world.
Suddenly, a loud sharp honk pierced the air.
Her heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, she couldn't move. Her mind screamed, but her body was frozen in place. She snapped her head to the side, her blood running cold. A black car was speeding toward her. Too fast. Too close.
Her breath hitched. Move. MOVE!
Panic surged through her as she instinctively tried to move. But it was too late. The last thing she saw was her bun slipping from her hand and falling to the ground.
Then— BAM!
Pain exploded through her body as her body was flung backward. The world spun around her. Everything around her seemed to freeze as her body numbed. She heard the screech of tires, the sharp gasp of a few bystanders, and the frantic clatter of heels rushing toward her.
And then, everything went black.