The heavy rain poured over Seoul that night. Han Eun-bi was busy typing on her laptop, instant coffee at her side, her hair tied up messily. She was writing a dramatic scene in her romantic novel.
"Ah, if only I could really be born in the Joseon era… I'd surely find a kind, rich, romantic man, living in a traditional setting… without office drama and unpredictable rain," she muttered, sipping her coffee.
Suddenly, the rain intensified, and a flash of lightning struck right outside her window. The electricity went out immediately. Everything was pitch black. Eun-bi staggered from her chair, her laptop fell, coffee spilled, and she shut her eyes.
Silence.
"Am I dead? Why is it so dark?" she whispered to herself.
She tried to open her eyes and… she was submerged in water!
Eun-bi struggled to swim to the shore, but the river's strong current made it difficult. The cold water bit into her skin, and the rain made her shiver even more. Panicked, she called out for help.
Suddenly, a warm hand grabbed her arm. Eun-bi gasped in shock as she was pulled to the shore. She stumbled on the damp ground, nearly out of breath.
"Oh my, are you alright, miss?" a gentle voice asked.
The middle-aged woman who had saved her looked worried. She guided Eun-bi to a safer place and covered her with a blanket she had brought.
Eun-bi shivered, staring at the woman, panicking.
"Where am I? Wait! I was writing my novel… why am I here?!"
"Calm down, miss. You almost drowned," the woman said.
Eun-bi looked around and saw that the woman was wearing a hanbok. Is this a dream? Am I dead? Where am I? she thought.
"Where… are you from? You don't seem to be from here," the woman said.
"Yes, I'm not from here! Where is here? Why am I in a river? I was just writing in my apartment… why am I here now?" Eun-bi panicked.
"Calm down, miss. An apartment? Is that some kind of place in a faraway land?"
"What? You… what year is this? It's 2025, right?" Eun-bi asked, panicking.
"2025? What is that? I've never heard of it," the woman said, confused.
Eun-bi was shocked. "…Miss, am I dead? This isn't 2025? You're kidding, right? Are you filming a movie? You're acting? This is 2025! The year of the Wooden Snake!"
"Wooden Snake? You're mistaken, miss. It's still the year of the Horse," the woman said, making Eun-bi even more shocked.
"Ye… ye… yes?" Eun-bi couldn't believe it.
"Yes, I think you might have lost your memory or hit your head on a rock in the river. Come, we have to leave. It's not safe for you here—you could be taken to the palace if you cause trouble," the woman said, pulling Eun-bi away from the river.
Eun-bi still couldn't believe it. Why am I here? How do I get home?
"…Wait! Miss, you said the palace? Year of the Horse means this is during King Gojong's reign?" Eun-bi asked, trying to confirm.
"Yes, that's correct! This is King Gojong's reign, the 26th ruler of Joseon," the woman replied.
Eun-bi was speechless. She froze. The woman gently held her arm and guided her away from the river… toward her home.
So I really came back to the Joseon era? The year, this river… it's like the novel I wrote… did my own story pull me in? God, is this a dream? Everyone is staring at me strangely. Why? Their clothes, their hairstyles… I really went back to Joseon?
Eun-bi could only talk to herself in her mind. She couldn't believe her writing had stranded her here. This is really my story? I wrote this? Can I go home? She repeated these thoughts with a resigned expression.
"Miss… you're not going to take me to the king, are you?" Eun-bi asked.
"Why would I take you to the palace? You wouldn't do well in the palace with behavior like this," the woman said, continuing to walk.
"Why… why is this happening? I need to go home! I have work, and my novel… I have to finish it!" Eun-bi muttered, ruffling her wet hair.
"Shh… be quiet, miss! If you keep talking like that, the villagers might start asking questions," the woman said firmly, but her eyes were kind. "My house isn't far from here. You can dry yourself and rest there."
Eun-bi stared at her with wide eyes, still in disbelief that she had returned to the past.
Soon, they arrived at a simple but tidy house. The wooden door opened, and the smell of simple cooking greeted Eun-bi. The warmth of the fireplace added to the cozy atmosphere.
"Come in, miss. Sit here, but don't get too close to the fire," the woman said, guiding Eun-bi to a wooden bench.
Eun-bi looked around the house in awe—all neat, orderly, and comfortable, completely different from her apartment in Seoul.
"Is this… a Joseon-era house? Am I… really here?" Eun-bi muttered, eyes wide but still panicked. She wanted to ask more, but she knew she had to wait.
"Take this clothing, you need to change," the woman said, handing her a hanbok.
Eun-bi took it. "Thank you, miss…" she said politely, resigned despite her disbelief.
"You might be younger than my daughter, and you probably don't know much about the world… go change your clothes and rest," she said with a warm smile.
"Miss… who are you?" Eun-bi asked softly.
"Oh, I almost forgot… I'm Seo Mi-sun. You don't have to be too formal with me. Think of this as your own home," she said kindly.
Seo Mi-sun? I've never written that name in my novel, Eun-bi thought.
"Alright, Miss Seo. I'm Han Eun-bi, 24 years old… thank you for saving me in the river and letting me stay in your home," Eun-bi said.
Seo Mi-sun smiled. "You're about the same age as my youngest son. Go change your clothes."
"Alright!"
Eun-bi changed into the hanbok, still unable to believe she had to adapt to life in Joseon. She looked at Seo Mi-sun warily. Is she really kind? Or… not? But she seemed warm, having welcomed Eun-bi into her home. But who exactly is she?