Chapter 1: Unexpected Encounter

Today is July 1, 2015, marking my second month in this parallel universe.

Yes, my name is Meng Xian, a dimension traveler.

Discovering that I had traveled through time was shocking. I repeatedly asked myself how and why this happened. But after the initial shock, I accepted the reality calmly.

After all, I didn't have many ties in my original world, and due to my health, I was slowly dying. I had already taken steps to ensure my affairs were in order; I found a professional lawyer to draft a will as soon as I became an adult. Upon my death, all my inheritance would be automatically donated to the welfare home that adopted me.

Yes, I was an orphan.

Perhaps that's why I could accept all of this calmly and embrace the reality I found myself in.

The reason I concluded that I had traveled to a parallel universe was not only the striking similarity between this world and my original one—modern technology like cell phones and the internet existed here without a hint of magic—but also the uncanny fact that the original owner of this body shared my name, face, and background. The only real difference was our professions. In my previous life, I was a writer, a career I chose because my poor health kept me confined to my home, where I found solace in reading and writing.

I'm certain that my time travel wasn't triggered by a sudden death. My last memory was of reading a novel.

Having no worries in my old world doesn't mean I was ready to die. My desire to survive remains strong.

So, was this a common setting in novels, the exchange of souls in parallel worlds? Since I was an avid reader of novels, anime, and manga, I considered the possibility. After all, it had already happened to me.

I believed in parallel worlds and infinite timelines.

I took stock of the benefits of this time travel: a healthy body and a good job.

Although money is tight now, I have no plans to return to my old job.

In my previous life, I was a writer. My poor health made it difficult to do anything else, so I chose a career that aligned with my love for reading books and novels. Now, in this new life, I have inherited a different identity and a different job.

But I'm happy to go with the flow and start anew. My new body is in good health, allowing me to do more and explore more than I ever could before.

This new job, classified in the IT industry, has me working as a hardware design engineer. I've been in this role for two and a half years, according to the memories of the body I now inhabit.

It's a stark contrast from my past life as a writer. In this industry, hardware design engineering is predominantly male-dominated, making it quite rare for a woman to pursue this path.

The original owner of this body had a decent talent for this job and had already mastered PCB (printed circuit board) design, starting to control the circuit schematics of various products.

It sounds grand, but I, who have inherited most of these memories, know that this job gives me new experiences. Despite being a writer before, I find this new role fascinating.

In this field, social skills are crucial. Hardware designers work in close collaboration with different peers, project managers, subcontractors, and more. It's a far cry from the solitary nature of writing, yet I enjoy the new experiences and challenges it brings.

Controlling schematic designs is often just a nice-sounding term. In many cases, you don't need to design these schematics from scratch. You copy reference designs from various manufacturers. After the reference design schematic is created, the next step involves long assembly and debugging processes.

This is not unlike the work of assembly line workers – there are no core skills required, and insufficient professional ability can determine the success or failure of the project.

In summary, I have only one suggestion for the profession of a hardware design engineer: Understand that hardware designers have complex yet intriguing tasks to perform.

However, you must be cautious while fulfilling your duties. Any mistake can lead to product failure in real-world environments, costing you or your organization dearly. If this field isn't for you, it's best to cut your losses in time and change careers as soon as possible.

Fortunately, I have no ambitions for promotion or salary increases at the moment. A month as a corporate worker has taught me how to skillfully slack off—of course, only after completing my job.

Today is July 1, 2015, Wednesday—a regular weekday in my new life.

After exporting the circuit schematic file, I took a moment to breathe deeply, feeling the subtle satisfaction of a task completed.

I opened WeChat and sent the schematic file to the original manufacturer's Field Application Engineer (FAE), who is now providing the hardware technical support that comes with a promotion from my previous role as a schematic design engineer.

The process had been meticulous, but it was finally done. I couldn't help but think, "Finally finished."

I stretched my body, feeling the satisfying pull of muscles working out the stiffness from hours of sitting. I stood up and grabbed my cup from the table to make some coffee.

"You can make some coffee if you want, too," I said to a colleague nearby, more out of habit than expectation of a reply.

I love coffee. Even in my past life, coffee was my constant companion. As a writer, it kept me awake to finish chapters, though it often resulted in insomnia.

In this new body, I still can't let go of my coffee habit. I guess it's part of me. They say coffee lovers are a breed of their own, and I suppose I'm one of them.

The cup itself is a light brown cream in color, a cherished memento from my childhood. The front is adorned with an image of Mickey Mouse, one of the most iconic characters from the 20th century.

Mickey's smiling face, with his eyes curved into joyful crescents, is paired with the whimsical touch of him blowing sparkling soap bubbles. This design captures a sense of childhood nostalgia and innocence that I hold dear. Mickey's cheerful demeanor always brings a smile to my face.

Filling the cup with hot water, I watch as the black coffee I had prepared earlier floats up to mix with the water. I add a splash of milk to balance the sweetness and bitterness, letting the creamy liquid swirl together.

The aroma of the coffee fills the kitchen, and I stir the mixture slowly, savoring the process.

Once the coffee is ready, I take a tentative sip. The taste is perfectly balanced, neither too sweet nor too bitter.

I hum in satisfaction, feeling a warm smile spread across my face.

At 24 years old, I am on the cusp of turning 25, a milestone that has prompted me to reassess my habits.

Recognizing the importance of maintaining my health, I have incorporated exercise and meditation into my routine. Although I still indulge in coffee, I've moderated my intake, striving for a healthier balance. The sense of well-being I now enjoy is something I am determined to cherish, especially given my previous health struggles.

At work, my Mickey Mouse cup and my health-preserving practices have drawn curious glances from my colleagues, most of whom are women. They often ask about my exercise routine and how I maintain my figure.

Their curiosity is genuine, though it's often mixed with a touch of playful teasing. Many of them comment on the "childlike heart" that the Mickey Mouse design seems to symbolize, while others admire my dedication to staying fit

Despite working in the same company, most relationships here are superficial.

Colleagues are little more than strangers we acknowledge in passing. We exchange pleasantries and occasional small talk, but meaningful connections are rare.

It's reasonable, I suppose, given the nature of our work and the professional boundaries we maintain.

I returned to my workstation, cradling my beloved lighter brown cream cup, and settled into the cool comfort of the air-conditioned office.

The gentle hum of the air conditioner was a welcome reprieve from the summer heat, and I was looking forward to enjoying my coffee in peace.

But just as I was about to get comfortable in my chair and take that first sip, my brief moment of relaxation was abruptly interrupted.

A colleague knocked politely on the door twice before pushing it open.

"Is Meng Xian here?" he called out.

Before I could respond, he stepped into the office and announced, "Sir Wei asked you to go to the meeting room!"

Sir Wei, or rather Zhen Wei, our department head, was one of those people who was always referred to by the middle character of his name, a quirk that had become almost a tradition in our department.

"Okay. Got it," I responded softly, my voice barely above a whisper.

I took a moment to stuff a gel pen and a notepad into my pocket, feeling the familiar weight of these tools against my side.

After the colleague called out a few more names, I grabbed my coffee cup and headed towards the door.

As we walked down the corridor, I asked,

"Are you going to discuss something important?"

"It's nothing major," the colleague replied

casually. "

The first batch of fresh graduates from the spring recruitment have reported to the company. Sir Wei wants you to go over and have the old graduates guide the new ones."

The way he phrased it—"I can now slack off while getting paid in a legitimate way"which was a nice little perk. The thought lifted my spirits, and I couldn't help but feel a bit happier about the interruption.

When we arrived at the meeting room, it was already occupied by five people who had presumably arrived before me.

The colleague who had delivered the message left as soon as we entered, leaving me to find a seat.

I opted for a spot at the back of the row, sitting down comfortably. The room buzzed with the low murmur of conversation, and I caught snippets of chatter about the new hires. The topic seemed to be how many girls would be among the new batch.

The ratio of female hardware engineers was somewhat higher than that of programmers, but it was still a minority. Most women in this field preferred roles less math-intensive, perhaps gravitating towards health-related sectors.

The discussions about dating and marriage were another common theme. Many of my colleagues seemed more interested in finding a romantic partner within the company than in the actual work.

I had been approached more than once about this, but I declined every time. I wanted to savor the chance to enjoy life to the fullest, especially given the fresh start and healthy body I now had.

Independence was important to me, and I wasn't ready to give that up for the sake of companionship, even if the prospect seemed tempting at times.

The benefits of companionship are clear – understanding each other's work nature and sharing time that is otherwise lost to work. Still, I value my independence and the freedom it brings.

I held my cup, closed my eyes, and let my thoughts drift for a few minutes.

The comforting warmth of the coffee in my hands was a small consolation for the interruption. After about three minutes, the sound of footsteps grew louder and denser.

When I opened my eyes, I saw Sir Wei leading a group of eight young men and women into the conference room.

The group's youthful energy contrasted sharply with the usual office demeanor.

I glanced around the room, taking in the scene. There didn't seem to be anything particularly concerning, just the usual setup for an introduction.

I glanced around the room. The other "old-timers" seemed to be sizing up the newcomers with interest, their eyes following the new faces. I couldn't help but sigh at the familiar scene.

Sir Wei motioned for the newcomers to take seats opposite the experienced staff. He then approached the microphone at the conference table, his voice commanding attention.

"Quiet, please. We'll start with introductions. New colleagues The first one…"

There was a brief pause before a voice filled the room.

"Hello, everyone. I'm Zhou Mingrui…"