It's not too late to meet in the book

Su Xiaoxiao's eyes snapped open, surrounded by an unfamiliar darkness. Only the faint moonlight filtering through the window barely outlined the general outline of the room. Startled, she instinctively reached for her phone on the bedside table, but found nothing. The surface beneath her hand felt cold and rough, a stark contrast to the soft, large bed she usually slept on.

She sat up abruptly and looked around. The rustic furniture exuded a sense of calm and solemnity in the dim light. In a corner, an oil lamp lit, its faint flame flickering as if ready to go out at any moment. The air was filled with a faint scent of sandalwood, a stark contrast to the modern perfume and car exhaust, leaving Su Xiaoxiao feeling dazed.

"Where... where is this?" she murmured to herself, her voice echoing in the empty room, sounding exceptionally clear.

She rose from the bed, the floorboards beneath her feet creaking softly, as if telling of the passage of time. She walked to the window and gently pushed open the lattice. A cool night breeze blew across her face, carrying a hint of moisture and the fragrance of earth. She peered out, only to see a tranquil courtyard beyond. Moonlight streamed across the bluestone pavement, casting dappled shadows on the trees. In the distance, several quaint buildings loomed in the night, like a vision from another world.

Su Xiaoxiao was stunned. All of this seemed so unreal, yet it was happening so vividly before her eyes. She rubbed her eyes, trying to wake herself up, but the scene before her remained unchanged.

"Could it be... I've traveled through time?" She felt an indescribable sense of astonishment and unease. Once the thought had occurred, it couldn't be shaken off. She recalled reading a time-travel novel about ancient life before bed. Could it be that she'd been so engrossed in it that she'd actually traveled to ancient times?

She took a deep breath, trying to calm her inner turmoil. Since she was already here, she might as well accept this fact. She turned back to the room and began to carefully examine this unfamiliar space.

The room wasn't large, but it was elegantly furnished. Hanging on the wall was an ink painting, its landscapes seemingly alive and refreshing. The desk was furnished with the four treasures of the study: rice paper, brushes, inkstone, and inkstone, ready for a moment's ink-splashing. On the bedside cabinet sat an exquisite porcelain vase, a few withered flowers in it, yet still emitting a delicate fragrance.

Su Xiaoxiao walked to her desk and gently picked up a brush, feeling its delicate texture and heavy weight. She couldn't help but test it on paper, only to find her technique was rusty, not at all like someone who often writes. She gave a wry smile, thinking that even though she was a clerk in the modern world, she usually typed on a computer, so how could she possibly write with a brush?

Just as she was lost in her thoughts, she heard footsteps outside. Her heart tightened, and she quickly put down her brush and turned to look at the door. A woman dressed in ancient costume and a hair ornament pushed open the door, holding a tray filled with delicate porcelain bowls and chopsticks.

"Miss, are you awake?" The woman saw Su Xiaoxiao, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, and then turned into a gentle smile. "I am Cuilan, a maid in this courtyard. The master has instructed that if you wake up, you should have some midnight snack."

Su Xiaoxiao was stunned for a moment, then realized that this must be a servant from this era. She nodded, trying to make her tone sound natural, "Thank you, Cuilan. I... I am indeed a little hungry."

Cuilan placed the tray on the table and began serving Su Xiaoxiao the dishes. Su Xiaoxiao looked at the exquisite dishes. Although she didn't recognize what they were, they smelled very tempting. She picked up her chopsticks and tentatively picked up a piece of food, and immediately felt a burst of deliciousness bloom on her tongue.

"This dish is so delicious!" she couldn't help but exclaim.

Cuilan smiled even more happily when she heard this: "As long as you like it, young lady. This is specially prepared for you, using the best ingredients in the mansion."

As Su Xiaoxiao ate, she chatted with Cuilan, trying to learn more about this era and the Su Mansion. Though a mere maid, Cuilan was knowledgeable and well-informed about the affairs of the mansion. She explained that this was Yecheng, Daliang State, and that the Su Mansion was a renowned and wealthy family. The master was an official of the current dynasty, and the wife also came from a prominent family. As for why Su Xiaoxiao was there, Cuilan wasn't entirely sure, but she heard the master mention that it seemed to be related to an item Su Xiaoxiao had on her person.

After hearing Cuilan's words, Su Xiaoxiao became even more confused. She didn't know what item on her body could allow her to travel to this strange era. She decided to ask the master when she had the chance.

After finishing her midnight snack, Cuilan cleaned up her dishes and prepared to leave. Su Xiaoxiao suddenly called her: "Cuilan, can you tell me what year it is now?"

Cuilan was stunned for a moment, then replied: "It is the twenty-third year of Daliang Guojinghe, young lady."

Su Xiaoxiao nodded, silently memorizing the year. She knew she had traveled to ancient times, but she needed more time to understand and adapt to how far this era was from the modern times she was familiar with.

After Cuilan left, Su Xiaoxiao walked to the window again, gazing at the bright moon. A wave of inexplicable emotion welled up in her heart. She didn't know how long her journey would last, nor what difficulties and challenges she would encounter. But she knew that now that she was here, she must cherish this experience and work hard to adapt to life here.

She gently closed the window and sat down beside the bed. The rustic wooden bed exuded a faint fragrance, as if soothing her restless heart. She lay down, closed her eyes, and tried to drift off to sleep. She knew that when she woke tomorrow, a whole new world and an unknown journey awaited her.

In her dream, she seemed to see herself in this ancient world, wearing gorgeous clothes and intertwined with all kinds of people. She didn't know whether this dream would come true, but she was willing to believe that as long as she took a brave step, she would be able to find her place in this strange era.

As the night deepened, Su Xiaoxiao fell into a deep sleep on the quaint wooden bed.