Ruan Jinxiang realized something strange had happened to her.
Her heart pounded “thump-thump-thump,” nearly leaping out of her throat.
An unfamiliar, otherworldly place, and a wave of intense fear washed over her.
Though this place was prosperous, it was not her home.
Her Ya Ya and Tiedan were still waiting for her in their thatched hut—how could she return?
Ruan Jinxiang grew so anxious that a layer of fine, cold sweat broke out on her forehead.
Wait—she had just fallen earlier. What if she fell again? Would that take her back?
She hurriedly tested the idea, leaning backward and falling to the ground with a thud.
The pain made her groan softly, “Mmm~”
Aside from her sore bottom, the scene before her eyes remained completely unchanged.
Frustrated, she spun around in circles on the spot.
In her panic, she randomly picked a direction and ran into the area filled with tall buildings.
After running for a while, the tall buildings all seemed identical, and she quickly lost her bearings. Growing even more desperate, she began to sob.
Hu Xingxing had lived in this old residential area for over ten years. Last year, she finally finished renovating her new home.
It was also nearby.
Her whole family had moved there a few days ago.
As for this old house, she planned to tidy it up and rent it out to help ease the burden of her mortgage payments.
Today was Saturday, and she didn’t have work, so she came over early in the morning.
Old fitted sheets, sofa covers, and worn-out quilts.
Along with various odds and ends from the kitchen that were no longer needed—she bundled them all up in a fitted sheet and threw them downstairs.
Thinking that there might be people who scavenged through trash, and perhaps they could still find some use for these items, she placed the bundle on the ground beside the trash bin.
Even though these were unwanted items, she had washed them clean. Throwing them directly into the trash bin would only dirty them again.
She clapped her hands clean and turned around, only to see a strangely dressed woman.
She was darting around like a headless fly.
While running, she sobbed “woo-woo-woo” so pitifully, heading straight toward Hu Xingxing.
Hu Xingxing quickly dodged to the side and steadied the stumbling Ruan Jinxiang.
“Oh, are you alright?”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry~” Ruan Jinxiang, having nearly collided with someone, hurriedly apologized.
Her gaze was drawn to a large bundle on the ground.
Using such a large piece of cloth to wrap things up, yet leaving it so carelessly on the ground—wasn’t she afraid it would get dirty?
Hu Xingxing followed her gaze and, assuming she was a scavenger, quickly said, “These things are all unwanted.”
Huh? Unwanted? What a waste!
This place truly was prosperous.
But she had no mind to dwell on such thoughts now. Hearing the gentle, kind voice of a woman, she quickly looked up.
Carefully studying Hu Xingxing for a moment, she thought this woman looked kind and gentle, likely with a good heart.
She hurriedly bowed respectfully and pleaded, “Madam, do you know how to get to Shibao Village?”
Everyone here wore new clothes, their skin glowing with health—only wealthy families or officials could afford such a lifestyle.
But strangely, there were no servants here? Then who served the masters, madams, young ladies, and young masters?
This woman appeared to be around thirty years old. Being polite and addressing her as “Madam” surely couldn’t be wrong.
Earlier, she had mustered the courage to ask an official for directions, but he was so fierce, calling her a “big idiot” and a “lunatic.”
That had frightened her into hiding far away, nearly colliding with this madam.
Hu Xingxing thought she was hearing things.
Seeing the strange woman seemed unsteady on her feet, she quickly supported her again.
“Miss, what did you say?”
This woman was dressed so oddly, like the ancient refugees she had seen in period dramas.
She looked to be around twenty-four or twenty-five years old, probably a recent graduate from film school, only able to work as an extra, and hadn’t changed out of her costume yet.
There’s a park nearby with an ancient pagoda—are they filming around here? She really hadn’t heard about it.
But the makeup and styling for this production crew are truly impressive.
That large scar on the face looks so realistic—this drama is worth looking forward to.
Taking a closer look at Ruan Jinxiang, Hu Xingxing couldn’t help but secretly marvel.
Those who get into film schools are genuinely beautiful.
Even with this dusty, plain makeup, a careful look reveals those large almond-shaped eyes, that delicate and perky high nose bridge, and perfectly proportioned facial features—truly outstanding.
“Miss, what TV drama are you filming?”
“Sister? Drama? Wh-what?” Ruan Jinxiang stumbled over her words, unable to understand what this lady was saying.
She cautiously asked again, “Madam, do you know how to get to Shibao Village?”
Hu Xingxing heard it clearly this time.
Seeing the confusion, panic, and fear in Ruan Jinxiang’s eyes, along with the way she addressed her, Hu Xingxing’s mind raced. Five seconds later, it suddenly clicked.
This young lady has mental issues!
She guessed blindly: this young lady must have graduated from some film and television academy, a newcomer with no background, no experience, and no roles to act in. The entertainment industry, as rumored online, is truly chaotic in its own ways.
Perhaps something happened to this young lady, something she couldn’t handle, which led to her mental instability. Still obsessed with acting, she dressed herself up like this.
As an ordinary person, there are countless injustices in the world—how could she possibly handle them all? Still, since she had encountered this situation, she couldn’t just let the young lady wander off. She had to contact her family.
“Miss, is Shibao Village you mentioned your home?”
“Yes, yes~”
Hu Xingxing took out her phone and searched on DeQueQue Maps.
Shibao Village, Shibaozi Village, Shibao Town… Several related results popped up. Some were even in other provinces.
“Miss, does your family live in Shibao Village, Beihe City?”
“Beihe? City?”
Seeing the confusion in Ruan Jinxiang’s eyes, Hu Xingxing was also puzzled.
Do people with mental issues forget even the most basic things?
Then she looked at Ruan Jinxiang’s attire and suddenly understood.
She had heard that when people suffer from mental disorders, they might live in their own fantasies. This young lady might have had an accident while filming some historical drama and had been living in the storyline ever since.
Tentatively, she asked, “Beihe Prefecture?”
Ancient cities were called prefectures, right? Or were they called circuits? Circuits seemed to be similar to provinces.
Ruan Jinxiang’s eyes lit up. “Madam, my home is in Qizhou Prefecture!”
Her father had told her that.
Hu Xingxing: Guessed right!
But, Qizhou Prefecture?
With the rise and fall of historical dynasties, a single place might have changed names multiple times. For example, she knew of Jinling, Langya, Chaoge, Yunmengze—names so beautiful, now called… well, also beautiful~
Historical knowledge was beyond her expertise.
Forget it, better call the police.
Hearing Ruan Jinxiang’s stomach growl—”gurgle~ gurgle~”—she bought a steamer of beef shaomai from the breakfast shop downstairs, along with a bottle of mineral water.
“Miss, have some shaomai to fill your stomach first. After you finish, I’ll take you to the public security bureau to help you find your home.”
Seeing the clarity return to Ruan Jinxiang’s eyes, she slapped her forehead. “Take you to find the yamen runners, have them escort you home.”
Upon hearing that Hu Xingxing intended to send her to the yamen, Ruan Jinxiang panicked and waved her hands frantically.
“Thank you, madam, but I’d better find my own way.”
Commoners feared officials the most—even the village head was intimidating enough, often threatening to beat people with boards, sometimes even to death.
Terrified, Ruan Jinxiang turned and ran.
“Hey~ hey~ miss, where are you going~ stop~”
Hu Xingxing shouted and chased after her, but by the time she reached the next building, Ruan Jinxiang had vanished without a trace. She could only give up helplessly.
Ruan Jinxiang had actually played a little trick. She was too hungry to run far, so after rounding a building, she hid behind a small metal shed.
Peeking out cautiously, she watched Hu Xingxing run past and let out a long sigh of relief.
She had avoided being sent to the yamen and locked up, but now she was worried again—how could she ever get home?
Crying inwardly, “I want to go back!”