Chapter 20: Collaboration

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Shi Nian lay sprawled on the ground, drenched and coughing incessantly.

Su Geng asked, “Why did it take so long? Are you alright?”

She waved her hand and looked up, realizing she was back in that garden, beside the towering rockery. It was still night, just like the night she left. For a moment, Shi Nian thought everything in between had been a dream—that from beginning to end, she had never left this place.

But the clothes on her body reminded her: she had truly just returned from the Han Dynasty.

Nearby, Nie Cheng and Lu Zhiyao looked as if they had just been pulled from the water. Lu Zhiyao ruffled his messy short hair; both he and Nie Cheng had worn head coverings while in the Han era, but now they could finally remove them.

Lu Zhiyao lay on the ground, jubilantly shouting, “Grandpa’s back!”

Shi Nian also lay on her back, feeling utterly exhausted, as if all the strength in her limbs was draining away with the dripping water. In a haze, she saw Nie Cheng seemingly walk over and look down at her. She smiled faintly and murmured, “Don’t make a fuss. I want to sleep for twenty-four hours straight. No one is to bother me…”

Shi Nian wasn’t sure if she managed to sleep that long. When she awoke again, glaring sunlight streamed through the window lattice, casting patches of light on the floor. She rubbed her head and found herself lying in an unfamiliar room.

An intricately carved bed with plain curtains adorned the space, decorated in an antique style. Opposite was a dressing table in a classical design, the mirror reflecting her confused face.

What... was happening? She had traveled back again!

A chill ran down her spine as she leapt from the bed and dashed outside. Opening the door, sunlight flooded the entire courtyard. She stood in one of the small yards, where a wisteria trellis was set up. The flowers bloomed beautifully at this season, cascading in clusters like a purple waterfall pouring down from the sky.

Su Geng sat beneath the wisteria, typing on a laptop resting on her lap. Hearing the noise, she looked up and smiled, “You’re awake?”

The last time, she had been the one waiting for Shi Nian to wake up, so Shi Nian was no longer surprised. She smiled and said, “Yeah, I’m awake. You really scared me just now.”

Su Geng understood immediately and explained, “After acquiring this courtyard, we renovated it to better suit modern living. But since it’s a two-hundred-year-old house, we chose a classical style. It fits our work well—everyone prefers to stay here before and after missions.”

Two men suddenly walked past the corridor. The taller one glanced at Shi Nian, his expression shifting, “Awake?”

The younger, boyish-faced man added, “Finally! Sister Geng made porridge for you all night. If you don’t eat it soon, it’ll spoil. Hungry now? Help yourself.”

Shi Nian stared at them. Nie Cheng wore a white polo shirt and pants, while Lu Zhiyao sported a white T-shirt and jeans. Having been accustomed to their Han-era attire, their modern look felt strange. Su Geng had changed into a pale blue dress, and Shi Nian wore a beige knee-length nightgown. She recalled their many meetings in the Han Dynasty, surrounded by pavilions, bustling streets, and horse-drawn carriages. Now, an iPad casually left on the stone table, an air conditioner unit hidden beneath the window, and towering skyscrapers in the distance all confirmed she was truly back.

Back to the world she had known and lived in for over twenty years.

Shi Nian suddenly laughed. Lu Zhiyao looked puzzled, not understanding what was so funny. Shi Nian said, “Nothing really. I just find it amazing that I actually went on a time-travel trip with people…”

And met so many famous figures like Emperor Wu of Han, Chen Ajiao, Wei Zifu, and Wei Qing. It was a pity she hadn’t seen Huo Qubing...

Nie Cheng grinned, “You didn’t just travel there for fun.”

Shi Nian blinked, and Nie Cheng said, “The timeline has fully stabilized.”

Su Geng added, “After we returned and ran tests, we found that Emperor Liu Che married Wei Zifu the second year after we left. Everything afterward followed the original history.”

Lu Zhiyao whistled, “So, a complete victory.”

Shi Nian, caught up in their excitement, was about to celebrate when Nie Cheng’s expression turned serious. “Miss Shi, I want to formally discuss you joining our team.”

Shi Nian was taken aback. Of course—he had said before this was an interview. Whether she truly joined depended on this mission’s performance.

So she passed his test?

Joy surged within her, pleased her efforts were recognized. Yet, looking at their faces, she paused, then shook her head, “Sorry, I’m afraid... I can’t join your team.”

Lu Zhiyao and Su Geng exchanged glances. Su Geng said, “Is it because they treated you badly? Don’t take it to heart—they’re just like that. They don’t dislike you, and once you’re in, they definitely won’t target you. Little Lu, what do you say?”

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Lu Zhiyao glanced at Shi Nian, unsure if he’d scared the girl away, growing slightly impatient but restraining himself, “Tch, don’t worry... I won’t bully you!”

Who’s afraid of you bullying me!

Shi Nian said, “It’s not that I don’t like them, and they’re not that important. It’s just... this job is way too dangerous. I almost lost my life this time and barely made it back. I’m just an ordinary person, and my history knowledge isn’t even good enough. If I keep doing this, I’m really afraid I’ll curse myself across dimensions...”

After speaking, she felt a bit cowardly and lowered her head, trying to slip away. Nie Cheng suddenly said, “Who told you you’re ordinary?”

Shi Nian looked back. The man stood beneath the wisteria, half-smiling, “Anyone we recruit is far from ordinary. You have extraordinary talent—do I need to remind you?”

Su Geng sighed, “Actually, none of us, including me, wanted this job initially. But we had no choice. It’s our mission. To save others and ourselves, this is the path we must walk.”

Shi Nian recalled the theory about the timeline. If the distorted history wasn’t corrected, the timeline couldn’t settle, and perhaps they would all be wiped out...

Nie Cheng put one hand in his pocket, “This time, having you helped us complete the mission smoothly. Shi Nian, you not only changed Wei Zifu’s fate but saved all of us.”

Shi Nian’s expression shifted.

No one had ever given her such honor, nor had she ever felt so useful. Her heart surged with emotion.

Nie Cheng studied her face then laughed, “Ask yourself honestly—do you really dislike this job?”

Honestly, she... loved it!

The wondrous scenes of time travel were vivid in her mind. This was what she had longed for since childhood—the reason for her uniqueness. Now, she finally had the answer.

Like others with special powers, traveling through time and space to fulfill their innate mission. Such a dramatic concept thrilled her as a lover of magical girl stories. She nearly nodded in agreement. But her survival instinct stopped her. She turned her head, almost painfully, “I think it’s enough for you all to save the world. I’ll cheer for you... But, sorry, I want to go home.”

She tried to sneak away again, but a voice stopped her, “Weren’t you looking for a job?”

Shi Nian paused. Nie Cheng said, “As far as I know, you’ve been job hunting for three months with no progress.”

Though she knew they had investigated her, she was annoyed. Plus, with his repeated interruptions, her tone grew sharp, “I’ve been looking, but I have standards. Besides cross-time travel, what else does your company offer to attract me?”

“Monthly salary of 100,000 yuan, year-end bonuses, and outstanding performance during missions earns you extra bonuses starting at 150,000 yuan with no upper limit. Food and lodging included. After three years, you get a car and house. Oh, and you’re from out of town, right? We can help with Beijing residency if needed.”

The courtyard fell silent, no one moved.

Shi Nian faced away, but her trembling shoulders and inability to step forward revealed a fierce inner struggle.

Nie Cheng leisurely added, “Let me calculate your pay for this mission. Intern salary is 80%. We’ve been here two months—that’s 160,000 yuan. Plus your bravery entering the palace, capturing Emperor Wu, and arranging his marriage to Wei Zifu... I think 500,000 yuan total is reasonable. The higher-ups won’t object.”

Like the last straw breaking the camel’s back.

Shi Nian turned around, cleared her throat, and said calmly, “I just thought about it. Saving the world is every citizen’s duty and can’t be avoided. Where’s the contract? Let’s talk details.”

Man dies for money, bird dies for food!

She never expected to take this path. Though scared, Nie Cheng’s offer... was irresistibly tempting. Who could refuse?

After all, she wasn’t okay!

Shi Nian returned to her rented apartment outside Beijing’s Sixth Ring Road. This time, she didn’t take the subway—she splurged on a taxi. It was a carefully considered decision; after all, now that she had half a million yuan, she had to live up to her worth!

By the time she arrived in Changping, it was afternoon. The house was quiet. Shi Nian looked around and saw Zhou Xiaohui carrying a cup from the kitchen.

“Hey, you’re back?”

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Shi Nian hadn’t seen her in two months and suddenly burst into tears, rushing over, “Xiaohui! Long time no see! I didn’t think I’d live to see you again!”

Zhou Xiaohui was baffled, “What are you going crazy for? Hey, careful, you’re about to spill my milk tea!”

Shi Nian was forced to let go, feeling her enthusiasm was unrewarded. She complained, “Why are you like this? I was gone for two whole months, and you act like you don’t care!”

Zhou Xiaohui was confused, “What are you talking about? You were only gone three days. You said you were going to Tianjin to meet a friend and even sent me a text.”

Shi Nian was shocked. She pulled out her phone and saw a text history. She knew who sent it, but had no time to dwell. She hadn’t noticed before—she left on March 21st, but the screen now showed March 24th!

So... she had stayed in the Han Dynasty for so long, but only three days had passed here?

Zhou Xiaohui thought she was joking and didn’t pay it much mind, sitting back at the computer. Shi Nian sat blankly on the sofa, suddenly feeling the whole recent time was unreal, and everything she experienced was so unreal.

Could it all just be her imagination...

Zhou Xiaohui was pondering how to arrange a new story’s romance when Shi Nian suddenly asked, “Xiaohui, do you know Emperor Wu of Han?”

She laughed, “I’m not you, but of course I know him. Not only that, I’ve even written fan fiction about him and Wei Qing...”

“Really? What do you think of him?”

Zhou Xiaohui rested her chin on her hand and began casually commenting, “A scoundrel, a cad. He’s widely criticized in our fan circles and other romance communities!”

Shi Nian seemed to smile. Seeing her genuine interest, Zhou Xiaohui exited the writing program and opened a folder. “This is the material I collected when writing about Emperor Wu. Want to see?”

Shi Nian placed her hand on the touchpad, opening files one by one. Besides text, there were photos of unearthed artifacts. As she looked, her fingers suddenly paused. “This is...”

Zhou Xiaohui said, “Huh, what’s that? It wasn’t there before... Looks like women’s clothing. Since it’s in this folder, it should belong to a royal family member from Emperor Wu’s time, though no one knows exactly who. Haha, maybe one of Liu Che’s consorts, like Chen Ajiao or Wei Zifu...”

Shi Nian stared at the photo. A pale yellow ruqun with a translucent outer gauze robe, preserved remarkably well after over two thousand years, though colors had faded. The caption noted this gauze represented the highest textile technology of the Han era and was a national treasure.

Her mind flashed back to that morning, when the young man brought a carefully prepared gift. It was the most precious treasure he could find, given to the girl in his heart, hoping to win her favor.

But she didn’t know.

She had been thinking only of going home, unaware of the gift’s value or the hope in his eyes.

If she could do it over, she would tell him his gift was wonderful and that she liked it very much. Perhaps she would even try it on for him then, take his hand, and roam Chang’an together, enjoying the blossoming spring and endless winds.

Shi Nian smiled wistfully and stood to leave.

Zhou Xiaohui asked, “Not looking anymore?”

Shi Nian said, “No. Want to get some shaved ice? My treat.”

Zhou Xiaohui exclaimed joyfully, “Wow, did you get rich? Okay, okay, let’s go!”

The door closed behind them, the girls’ laughter fading into the distance, leaving only the computer screen still displaying that photograph.

The stunningly beautiful garment had turned to smoke and clouds, and those bygone days were sealed in history, never to be known again.