First, Rebirth

"Boom!" A violent explosion sounded, and flames shot into the sky.

Luo Shu only had time to feel a tearing pain before darkness enveloped her...

Am I dead? Why can I still feel pain? Luo Shu furrowed her brows and slowly opened her eyes, only to see a pitch-black ceiling above her. A white incandescent bulb dangled from the central wooden beam, connected by wires at the point where the beam met. A large spider web hung there, with a dark grey spider quietly perched upon it, waiting for its prey.

The walls, built of red bricks, were pitted and patchy from years of neglect.

On the side, a dilapidated five-drawer cabinet held a white enamel cup.

"Where is this..." Luo Shu sat up, enduring the headache. She remembered accompanying Uncle Lu to an international diplomatic conference. Not long after they had gotten into the car, there was that intense explosion.

Thinking of Uncle Lu, a wave of sorrow washed over Luo Shu. From the first time she had visited Uncle Lu with her father, she had been captivated by his cold and proud demeanor, and since then, her heart had beaten only for him.

To get closer to him, she gave up her job as the chief physician at the hospital and begged her grandfather to allow her to work alongside Uncle Lu as his personal physician. To her, being able to see him every day was the greatest happiness.

She loved him. Countless times she had nearly confessed her feelings to him, but each time she held back. She knew that in his eyes, she was just his personal physician, a younger relative.

When the explosion occurred, her only regret was not having expressed her feelings to him. Now that she hadn't died, he must be okay too. Once she returned, she was determined to reveal her feelings. Even if he got angry, she didn't want to leave any regrets.

"You lazy girl! How long are you going to laze around? Get down here and start working!" A sharp voice came from outside the door.

Luo Shu turned to look and saw a middle-aged woman, wearing a grey cloth outfit with her hair up in a bun, walking in with an impatient expression.

Seeing Luo Shu motionless and staring at her, Wang Liying's anger surged, "Didn't you hear me? Hurry up and get down here!"

Luo Shu frowned, "Who are you?" She looked around once more, puzzled. Logically, she was supposed to be in the Northern Federation, but this place was clearly in Yan Country. Even an explosion couldn't blast her to Yan Country, and surely, Yan Country didn't have such backward places.

Wang Liying was taken aback, then yelled loudly, "You lazy wretch, don't give me excuses to slack off. Hurry up, or I'll beat you to death today." As she spoke, she had already walked up and reached out to hit Luo Shu. Over the years, she had grown accustomed to beating Luo Shu and her siblings; if she went a day without hitting them, her hands would actually itch.

Luo Shu's eyes narrowed slightly as she dodged Wang Liying's hand. Right now, her head hurt and she felt weak. However, the years of training under her father and brother were not for nothing.

Seeing Luo Shu dodge her hand, Wang Liying's fury intensified, "You wretched girl! You even dare to dodge? Have you grown wings? I will beat you to death today, you little wench."

Catching Wang Liying's swinging hand, Luo Shu looked at her coldly, "Touch me again, and I'll break your hand." It was her first time encountering such a senselessly quarrelsome person.

Confronted with Luo Shu's icy gaze, Wang Liying involuntarily shivered. What was different about this wretched girl today?

She didn't know that the Luo Shu in front of her had already changed profoundly and was no longer the same Luo Shu who used to submit to her beatings. Furthermore, the current Luo Shu came from a distinguished background, and her aura was not something ordinary people could compare with.

"Let go, or I'll tell your dad, and see if he'll break your legs," Wang Liying said, trying to sound brave, but she was somewhat shaken inside. She was sure this wretched girl was most afraid of her father. Just one word from her father, and the girl would obediently listen.

"Dad?" Luo Shu was stunned by the unfamiliar term. Everything since waking up seemed bizarre. Thinking back to the explosion and then looking around, a bold speculation formed in her heart. Could it be that she had experienced the legendary time travel?