C1 This Time It Was Trendy!

Late at night.

A rare torrential downpour had cast the vast city into a gloomy haze. Sheets of rain poured from the sky, accompanied by flashes of lightning and booming thunder that made hearts race. Every household had shut its doors, anxiously waiting for the unusual storm to pass.

In a dilapidated temple on the outskirts of the city, rainwater seeped through the roof's cracks, the icy drops splashing onto the face of a woman in red, rousing her from unconsciousness.

“Ugh...”

The soft groan brought a flicker of relief to the man sitting nearby. He quickly moved closer, gently calling, “Are you awake?”

Bai Liyuv frowned, feeling utterly drained, unable even to lift a hand. Someone nearby was incessantly buzzing in her ear, more annoying than a fly.

“Shut up!” What should have been a sharp rebuke came out soft and slightly hoarse, carrying an inexplicable allure that made the man's throat tighten, his gaze on her growing increasingly intense.

“Are you awake?” he murmured, reaching for her shoulder, his otherwise handsome face betraying an undeniable greed.

Bai Liyuv suddenly snapped awake, her eyes flying open to see a strangely dressed man reaching out to touch her like some kind of creep. The anger from being ambushed was impossible to suppress. Known for keeping her emotions in check, she let a cold smile play on her lips, her eyes narrowing with a fierce glint. Her right hand instinctively moved to her waist, but instead of finding the silver needles she expected, she felt a sharp pain in her chest. A metallic taste filled her mouth, and she spat out blood.

Checking her pulse, Bai Liyuv couldn't help but grind her molars in frustration—she had been poisoned! Her face, already pale, turned even whiter, almost like paper. Her dark eyes were intense, and her lips were as red as the blood she had just coughed up. With her hair disheveled, she looked almost ghostly, which quickly extinguished any romantic notions Soong Qingyuan had. The person who had once captivated him now seemed eerily frightening.

Despite his hidden, unsavory intentions, fear was not a luxury he could afford. He steeled himself and reached out, intending to pull her into his arms as he usually did, hoping to proceed with his plan. But before he could make a move, she kicked him hard, sending him sprawling backward in shock and confusion.

Bai Liyuv didn't pay him any mind. She looked down at herself with an unreadable expression. She was dressed in a vibrant red gown with wide sleeves and a cinched waist, her feet in embroidered shoes. Her long, black hair cascaded loosely over her shoulders, reaching down to her waist. Even her hands were different from before; they were now delicate and smooth, without the calluses she once had. Her mind felt muddled, like it was filled with paste, flashing images of places she'd never been—places with an old-world charm.

After a while, she rubbed her aching temples and took a deep breath. Thunder rumbled outside, and a cool breeze carried rain into the temple, chilling her to the bone. Yet, her back was covered in a fine layer of sweat, and her forehead was damp.

In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Bai Liyuv had gathered her thoughts. She glanced at Soong Qingyuan, who was watching her with a peculiar expression, and felt like laughing out loud. Just when she thought she'd been outmaneuvered and was done for, fate had other plans. She had been transported to this strange new world called Xuanlong Country, becoming someone that others despised and wanted to get rid of.