In her dream, Qingqing felt increasingly uncomfortable, as if many people were quietly surrounding her, then lifting and carrying her away. They seemed to throw her down heavily and then hurriedly left. Qingqing felt increasingly cold, wondering why her maid, Hong Mama, hadn’t come to cover her with a blanket today… After some time, she sensed a pair of eager eyes looking at her with pity. She tried to open her eyes but couldn’t; her body felt like it was about to vomit blood from the turmoil…
Then, she knew nothing more. Outside the window, the scent of chicken congee wafted through, and occasionally, the clear call of birds could be heard. Qingqing breathed in deeply, enjoying the fresher air than usual, stretched lazily, and opened her eyes, “Hong Mama… what delicious thing have you made today…” Before she could finish, she was stunned. She was not in her spacious but empty room at the Lin Mansion; this room was bare, with only a bed and a table, all made from bamboo. Outside, an endless bamboo forest stretched, explaining the abundance of bird songs. The silence outside was terrifying, and Qingqing was both startled and scared, hoping it was just a dream.
“You’re awake?” A man’s voice, sharp and slightly arrogant, startled Qingqing as she stepped out. She snapped back, “Who is it? Sneaking around, come out now!” She seemed to forget she was in someone else’s territory, speaking so boldly. The man, surprisingly, complied and stepped out.
