Side Story: Back to Modern Times

As dusk fell, candles were already lit in the study in the backyard of Sushan Xiaoji, casting a warm glow throughout the room.

Pei Qingwu put down his calligraphy brush and rubbed his slightly sore wrist.

The accounts have been checked, and the list of ingredients needed for tomorrow has been prepared.

Everything was in perfect order. She looked up and gazed out the window.

Gu Heng was sitting there, intently carving a piece of wood in his hands by the bright candlelight.

It was a fine piece of boxwood, and its rounded and lovely shape gradually emerged between his slender fingers.

A cute little rabbit is a gift prepared for Lianlian to play with.

He seemed to notice her gaze, looked up, and his features appeared particularly gentle in the warm light: "Are you done with your work, sister?"

"Hmm." Pei Qingwu got up, walked over and sat down next to him, naturally resting his head on his shoulder, his gaze falling on the wooden rabbit that was beginning to take shape: "When Lianlian sees it, she will definitely jump for joy."

Gu Heng put down his carving knife, put his arm around her shoulder to make her more comfortable, and chuckled softly, "That girl is getting more and more resilient. The other day she was pestering me to make her a little wooden horse to ride."

Pei Qingwu closed her eyes, the crisp pine scent emanating from him filling her nostrils, a fragrance that brought her immense peace of mind.

She reached out and gently took his other hand, which was resting on his knee, their fingertips intertwining.

"Aheng," she called softly, her voice tinged with weariness yet filled with dependence.

"I'm here." Gu Heng closed his fingers, completely enveloping her hand in his palm, warm and strong.

He turned his head and gently rubbed his chin against the top of her head: "Rest if you're tired. We still need to go to the branch in the west of the city tomorrow."

Pei Qingwu gave a vague reply. Such a night was peaceful and ordinary, yet it was the most cherished sense of fulfillment she had experienced after a life of constant wandering.

She has a career to strive for, partners she treats like family, younger relatives she loves dearly, and Gu Heng, who knows her, understands her, loves her, protects her, and is a soulmate to her.

The candle flame crackled and popped, creating a tiny spark.

Gu Heng carefully helped her up: "Sister, it's time to rest."

Pei Qingwu let him lead her to the bedside.

As he had done every night before, he carefully tucked her in before blowing out the candle and lying down beside her.

In the darkness, he instinctively reached out and pulled her into his arms, his palm resting on her back, gently patting her as if soothing a child.

In this reassuring atmosphere and rhythm, Pei Qingwu's consciousness gradually blurred, and he sank into a peaceful dream.

...

The pungent smell of disinfectant filled my nostrils, replacing the comforting scent of pine.

The rhythmic beeping of the medical equipment filled her ears, along with a suppressed, choked cry: "Qingwu... Qingwu... Can you hear Mommy? Qingwu..."

That voice... is it Mom?

Pei Qingwu tried with difficulty to open his eyes, but his eyelids felt as heavy as mountains.

She felt as if she were trapped in a chaotic fog. The ancient candlelight, Gu Heng's gentle eyes, the hustle and bustle of Sushan Market... all receded quickly like the receding tide, replaced by a dull ache and weakness in her body.

With all her might, her eyelashes trembled, and she finally managed to open a crack.

My blurry vision gradually focused, and what came into view was a blinding white—a white ceiling and white walls.

Then, turning her stiff neck, she saw a face filled with anxiety and weariness—a face she knew all too well, the face of her mother.

"Mom..." She opened her mouth, her throat was terribly dry, and her voice was as weak as a mosquito's buzz.

"She's awake! She's awake! Doctor! Doctor, my daughter is awake!"

The mother suddenly stood up, so excited she was incoherent, tears welling up instantly. She gripped her daughter's hand tightly, stroking it repeatedly: "Qingwu, how are you feeling? Does your head still hurt? Is there anything else that's bothering you? You scared your mother to death!"

Soon, doctors and nurses in white coats came in. After a thorough examination, they confirmed that her vital signs were stable and she was conscious, but she was weak and needed to rest.

The mother, as if utterly exhausted, sat back down on the edge of the bed, holding her hand tightly and refusing to let go, nagging, "Why did you rush back, child...? The shop is busy enough... If something were to happen to you, how would your mother live..."

So much time had passed that Pei Qingwu had forgotten that the reason she had transmigrated was because she was in a hurry to get home to help her mother at her dessert shop and hadn't been paying attention to where she was when a driver suddenly appeared out of nowhere and sped away.

After being thrown into the air, her head hit the curb and she lost consciousness on the spot.

This coma lasted for three days.

Could it be that the long and real ancient years she felt were just a dream during her coma?

Seeing that she was still in a daze, her mother thought she hadn't recovered yet, so she placed her warm hand on her forehead and asked carefully, "What's wrong, Qingwu? Are you still feeling unwell?"

"No, no..." Pei Qingwu realized what was happening and quickly comforted her mother, "I'm fine now, Mom, don't worry."

Of course, the mother wasn't truly at ease. She kept asking Pei Qingwu's attending physician and nurse for a long time before finally confirming that her daughter was out of danger, and only then did she breathe a sigh of relief.

"Alright, alright, it's good that you're alright." She ruffled Pei Qingwu's hair and pulled her into her arms.

The day I was discharged from the hospital, the sunlight was a bit too bright.

Sitting in his mother's car, Pei Qingwu looked out the window at the concrete jungle, skyscrapers, and bustling traffic, and felt a strong sense of dizziness and unreality.

Her phone kept vibrating. There were emails from her supervisor asking about her situation, messages from classmates inquiring about her condition, and invitations from friends to go out and calm her nerves.

Everything reminded her that this was her real world.

After resting at home for a few days, she returned to school and the library, carrying thick legal books and case studies.

Classes, papers, group meetings... my days are incredibly busy.

When she doesn't have classes or isn't too busy, Pei Qingwu goes to help out at her mother's dessert shop.

I put on an apron, stood in front of the workbench, whipped cream, baked cake bases, and decorated them with frosting...

These movements carried an unusual familiarity, as if she had truly done similar things day after day.

Watching her efficient movements, her mother would occasionally smile and say, "Our Qingwu has really grown up. She's getting more and more efficient at her work, and when she's entertaining guests, she really does look like a little boss."

Pei Qingwu simply smiled and did not answer. A bitter ripple stirred within him.

In that long dream, she was the owner of a small market in Sushan, a self-reliant woman, and the Lady of Jianing, personally bestowed by the emperor. Her reputation as a business prodigy and an extraordinary woman spread throughout Qinzhou and Huzhou.

The knowledge about ingredient ratios, cooking time, and business management is clearly imprinted in her mind, even more firmly than she remembers certain legal provisions.

But who can I tell all this to?

It is said that while she was in a coma, she traveled to an alternate ancient time and space, where she struggled to survive, established a family business, and made a fortune. She even brought in a son-in-law named Gu Heng.

No one would believe it; they would only think that she had suffered brain damage from the car accident or had been reading too many novels.

She could only bury that memory deep in her heart, like a precious secret that she could not share with anyone.

Occasionally, in the quiet of the night, she would take out paper and pen and, relying on her memory, carefully trace Gu Heng's eyebrows and eyes, the backyard of Sushan Xiaoji, and the little wooden rabbit that he had not yet finished.

As I painted, my eyes welled up with tears.

All of that was so real and unforgettable.

The warmth of Gu Heng's palm, the gentle tone when he called her "sister," the undisguised love and starlight in his eyes when he looked at her... how could it all be a dream?

But if it's not a dream, why is she here?

One day, a doctoral student who had always had a good impression of Pei Qingwu "bumped into" her and her friends on their way back to their dormitory.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, he cleverly suggested, "My two junior sisters must be tired from the meeting. How about we go grab a bite to eat together? I know a newly opened place near the school that serves good pork rib soup."

Pei Qingwu's friend nudged him lightly with his elbow, his eyes full of mischievous amusement.

This senior had previously expressed his feelings for her. He was handsome, gentle, and his friends had always thought highly of him.

Pei Qingwu could only manage a forced smile before politely declining, "No, Senior Brother, I don't have time... Thank you..."

My friend's eyes widened immediately.

The senior brother was a respectable person. After understanding the implied meaning, he didn't dwell on it and left with a smile.

"No way, is my favorite couple going to break up?" My friend asked, looking disappointed.

"Don't talk nonsense about couples," Pei Qingwu said reproachfully.

She recalled Gu Heng's gentle eyes in her dream.

The pressures of reality followed one after another.

With graduation approaching and the pressure of her thesis looming, she felt immense pressure. Although her mother didn't say anything, the dessert shop business was highly competitive, and she hoped to help her mother share some of the burden.

At the same time, at her mother's suggestion, she also began to prepare for the civil service exam, seeking a stable and respectable job.

Life is filled with studying, working, and preparing for exams, leaving almost no time for sentimentality.

Only in very rare moments, such as when she sees an old man selling handmade wood carvings on a street corner, smells the familiar fragrance of osmanthus in the air, or is kneading dough in a shop, will that deep-seated melancholy and longing suddenly surge into her heart, causing her to be momentarily lost in thought.

It feels like a lifetime ago.

Yes, that is, separated by an entire time and space, by an insurmountable chasm.

Whether that experience was real or a dream, she can never go back.

The sun was shining brightly that afternoon.

Pei Qingwu sat by the window in the dessert shop, with a collection of past exam questions for the Administrative Aptitude Test and a thick set of law notes spread out in front of him.

Soft music played in the shop, and the air was filled with the sweet aroma of coffee and desserts.

My mother went out to buy groceries, so she'll be minding the shop alone for the time being.

There aren't many customers at this time, so it's a good time to study quietly.

She rubbed her temples, forcing herself to focus on the complex logic puzzle.

Just then, the shop door was pushed open, and the doorbell rang with a clear "ding-dong".

Pei Qingwu subconsciously raised his head, a professional smile habitually appearing on his face: "Welcome..."

Her words stopped abruptly the moment she saw the person's face clearly.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

A young man walked in, dressed in a simple white T-shirt and jeans, with a tall and upright posture and a clean-cut demeanor.

His appearance... his appearance...

Pei Qingwu's heart clenched suddenly, as if gripped tightly by an invisible hand, and his breath abruptly stopped.

That face, the contours of its eyebrows and eyes, the lines of its nose, those slightly pursed lips… it was clearly…

Gu Heng!

How could it be him?!

What is he doing here?! Dressed in modern clothes, appearing in this 21st-century dessert shop?

A wave of shock and disbelief washed over her, leaving her stiff and her blood seemingly frozen.

She could only stare blankly at him, her gaze fixed on his face, unable to look away even for a moment.

The young man seemed to notice her overly direct and unusual gaze.

He paused slightly, turned his gaze to her, and their eyes met directly.

A faint hint of doubt flashed in those familiar eyes, and then the gaze lingered on her face for a moment, as if the person was also stunned.

Their eyes met.

Separated by brightly lit shops, by flowing music, by nearly a thousand years of time, by the illusion of reality.

Silence.

(The story concludes on November 22, 2025)