WebNovels

Chapter 11 - Falling for the heroine in the 1970's.

She dried herself with the thin towel, changed into a fresh set of plain clothes, and felt more human again. Her hair, still a little damp, stuck to her neck, so she tied it back loosely with a ribbon.

By then, she was hungry. She called the innkeeper and ordered a few simple dishes: steamed rice, a plate of fried vegetables, and a bowl of clear soup. The food wasn't fancy, but when it arrived, steaming and fragrant, she ate slowly, savoring each bite.

"Mm, this tastes decent," she said aloud without really meaning to.

The system immediately chimed in, teasing, "See? I told you simple food tastes better when you've been starving your brain with overthinking."

Ji Yu picked up another spoonful of soup and sipped it calmly. "I wasn't starving. Just… conserving energy."

"That's what starving people say," the system laughed.

Ji Yu didn't argue, only continued eating. She chewed every mouthful carefully, as if she had all the time in the world.

When she finally set her chopsticks down, her stomach warm and full, she leaned back and let out a quiet sigh. It wasn't satisfaction exactly, but something close to it.

"Host, don't forget," the system said after a pause, "you need to keep track of your health. Food, sleep, rest. You can't start any plans if you collapse."

Ji Yu gave a slight nod. "I know."

After finishing her meal, she cleared the dishes to the side table and lay back on the bed. The mattress was thin, the blanket rough, but it was still softer than a soldier's cot. She spread out the newspaper she had picked up earlier in the city and began flipping through it.

The pages smelled faintly of ink, the texture rough beneath her fingertips. The paper crinkled whenever she turned a page, a soft whisper filling the quiet room. She scanned the bold headlines, one after another, her sharp eyes taking in every word.

But nothing held her interest.

Corrupt officials being shuffled between posts. Grain prices rising and falling like waves. Small fires breaking out in distant neighborhoods. Petty crimes.

"Boring," she muttered under her breath.

The system agreed instantly. "Yeah, not worth your brainpower. Just noise."

Ji Yu's eyes lingered on one article about a minor official caught taking bribes. The system scoffed, "You know what's funny? People treat this like big news, but you've seen worlds fall apart, Host. Empires crumble. This is like ants fighting over crumbs."

A faint smile tugged at her lips. She flipped another page slowly. "True. But sometimes, ants can tell you which direction the sugar is in."

"Ooh, poetic," the system teased. "Still, don't waste too much time. None of this chatter changes your life right now."

Ji Yu didn't answer, but she felt her eyelids growing heavier. The endless lists of names and numbers blurred together. Reading all this unimportant chatter made her more tired than walking through the city. She set the paper aside, folding it neatly on the bedside table, and stretched out.

"I'll take a short nap," she murmured.

"Yes, good idea!" the system said, its tone playful. "I'll keep watch for you. If someone suspicious shows up, I'll shout in your head."

Her lips curved faintly again, though her eyes were already half-closed. "That would be… noisy."

"Better noisy than dead, Host," the system said matter-of-factly.

Ji Yu let out a small, soundless laugh, then pulled the shawl closer over her shoulders and sank into the mattress.

But just as her breathing began to steady, a knock sounded on the door.

Knock. Knock.

Her eyes opened instantly. She didn't move for a moment, only listening.

The system whispered sharply, "Host. Someone's here."

"I can hear," she said calmly.

The corners of her lips curved into a faint smile. It wasn't warm—it never was—but it carried meaning. A knowing smile, the kind that hinted she already understood the reason behind this visit.

The knock came again, firmer this time.

"Persistent," the system muttered.

Ji Yu rose slowly from the bed. She didn't rush. She adjusted her shawl, draping it over her shoulders, making sure it covered her plain clothes. Her movements were unhurried, precise. She might as well have been preparing for a casual walk rather than an unexpected guest.

"Host, should I scan them?" the system asked quickly.

"No need," Ji Yu replied, her voice steady. "I already know who sent them."

She walked to the door, her bare feet making soft sounds against the wooden floor. When she reached it, she placed her hand lightly on the handle, paused for a heartbeat, then pulled it open.

Standing outside were two guards, the same ones she had noticed earlier at the Li Mansion gate. Their faces were stiff, their posture rigid. Nervousness flickered in their eyes, though they tried to hide it.

Between them stood a tall man in a well-fitted black suit. His gold-rimmed glasses caught the light, making his eyes seem sharper behind the lenses. He looked scholarly, almost bookish, but his straight posture and steady gaze spoke of authority and discipline.

"He doesn't look like a soldier," the system whispered, curious. "More like a banker. Or a professor."

"Neither," Ji Yu replied silently in her mind, her eyes locked on his. "But not ordinary either."

The guards bowed slightly, their voices in unison: "Master Xu, this is her."

Ji Yu didn't flinch. Her expression remained calm, unshaken. She looked directly into the man's eyes and spoke with quiet certainty.

"Did Li Mingxuan send you to find me?"

The man adjusted his glasses and smiled faintly, not at all offended by her casual tone. His voice was warm yet controlled.

"Yes. Miss Ji, I am Xu Ming. I was present at your and Master Li's wedding ten years ago."

Ji Yu's lips curved, her tone light but edged with steel.

"You seem to be forgetting something. Until and unless I divorce Li Mingxuan, I am Madam Ji to you—and to everyone around him."

Her eyes shifted slightly, glancing at the two guards. That one look was enough to make their hearts tremble. Their faces stiffened as regret washed over them. The mocking words they had thrown at her earlier in the day now seemed like sharp blades pressed against their own throats. They wished they could take them back, but it was already too late. All they could do was pray that Madam Ji would not remember their offense for long.

.

.

.

To be continued.

More Chapters