C1 A Flying Object from Outer Space

"Ah!"

"Bang!"

A massive splash erupted like jade, and a young girl clad in a resplendent pink traditional gown emerged from the water.

Zhao Sitong, still reeling from the shock, wiped the water from her face and looked around, only to find herself the center of attention, with pairs of astonished eyes fixed on her.

"Ah!" she cried out again, stumbling backward. "Bang!" And with that, Zhao Sitong tumbled back into the water.

My goodness, where am I? Why are there so many odd people around? The men were bare, save for a modest cloth around their waists, their body contours embarrassingly visible. The women wore what could hardly be called bras—merely cups of fabric secured with thin straps across their chests, and a scant piece of cloth below that barely preserved their modesty. Out here in the open, their indecency was utterly scandalous!

Hold on, could these be barbarians?

Zhao Sitong paused, her mind racing with images. Six months ago, Mr. Chen had captured a barbarian deep in the wilderness, who, like these people, wore nothing but a loincloth. She had been taken to Barbarian Country.

Several young men and women in the opulent swimming pool were dumbfounded by the unexpected intrusion, frozen in place. Rong Xiaoyi was the first to snap out of it, exclaiming, "Damn, what's happening here?" He then dove into the water and hauled up the mysterious "visitor."

"Who is this?"

"Did she just fall from the sky?"

"What in the world? Why is she dressed like that?"

"She's quite the looker, too!"

"Rong Xiaoyi, are you sure this is your private pool?"

...

As they regained their composure, the onlookers stared incredulously at the person Rong Xiaoyi had pulled from the water, each voicing their bewilderment.

"Cough, cough..." Zhao Sitong coughed violently until she finally caught her breath. Looking up, she saw a "wild man," stark naked, gripping her arm.

"Ahh!" Zhao Sitong's eyes widened with panic as she wriggled her arm free, shaking all over like a startled rabbit. "Don't eat me! Stay away!"

Laughter erupted from the people in the pool.

"What's she saying?"

"Eat her? Rong Xiaoyi, what on earth did you do to that girl?"

"Rong Xiaoyi, even if you're desperate to lose your virginity, you can't just take anyone!"

"Right, she's clearly underage."

Rong Xiaoyi, amidst his friends' ribbing, spread his hands and shrugged, a mix of laughter and frustration on his face. He was completely misunderstood. Did this girl's brain get waterlogged when she fell in? He had only tried to help her, and now she thought he wanted to 'eat' her!

Was he really that desperate? The girl was attractive, no doubt, but her outfit was just begging to be mocked!

Zhao Sitong couldn't decipher Rong Xiaoyi's expression. She had no idea what these "wild men" intended to do next. She needed to make a quick getaway. Liuer must be worried sick by now at Moon Watching River. Zhao Sitong cautiously started to back away.

"Ah!" Zhao Sitong screamed in terror as she collided with a muscular body.

"Hey, girl, where did you come from? So eager to fall into someone's arms?" Su Qi said with a smirk, wrapping his arms around Zhao Sitong who had bumped into him.

"Ah! Barbarian, release me! Or don't blame me for being impolite!" Zhao Sitong protested, her dignity affronted as Su Qi held her. She was of noble birth; she couldn't be manhandled by these brutes. A noble could be killed but never insulted! Even if it meant being devoured, she would maintain her pride!

The crowd in the pool laughed even harder at Zhao Sitong's words.

"Barbarian? Su Qi, she called you a barbarian!"

"She's delusional, calling herself royalty? Why doesn't she claim she's a time traveler from the ancient past?"

"It's not out of the question. She might actually be a time traveler!"

"You've been reading too many of those time-travel novels."

"Maybe she's an actress who fell from a set while filming a historical drama?"

"That could be it. Perhaps she's so deep into her role that she hasn't snapped out of it yet."

"I haven't heard of any film crews working around here."

"But where on earth did she come from?"

...

The people in the pool began to wildly speculate.