Floating life reflects two lotuses

As Chu Wanlian stepped onto the subway station stairs and looked down at her phone, a familiar, deep voice came from behind her: "You've been working too late, haven't you? I remember you rarely take this line."

She looked up abruptly and saw Li Chenyao holding a document, a faint smile on his lips. His gaze seemed casual, yet it held a subtle hint of scrutiny.

"You're here too?" Chu Wanlian tried to remain calm, speaking in a relaxed tone, but was secretly on guard.

Li Chenyao nodded slightly and casually flipped through the documents: "Yes, I just came back from a client meeting, and it just so happens to be on my way." His voice was as steady as ever, but his gaze seemed to linger for half a second longer when it swept over Chu Wanlian's wrist.

Chu Wanlian was about to give a perfunctory reply when her peripheral vision caught sight of the document in his hand, where several familiar symbols vaguely appeared. The symbols, with their winding lines, bore a striking resemblance to the runes on her bracelet. Her heart skipped a beat, and she tentatively asked, "Director Li, is this document about the company's new project?"

Li Chenyao seemed surprised that she would ask the question. His eyes flickered slightly, but he quickly regained his composure: "Yes, it's an interdisciplinary project about spacetime theory. We've been expanding into new research areas recently."

"Spacetime theory?" Chu Wanlian forced a smile, outwardly appearing nonchalant, but inwardly she was in turmoil. Could it be that the company had really ventured into these fields? Perhaps... even had some connection to the bracelet?

Inside the subway car, Li Chenyao stood sideways, still intently gazing out the window. Just as Chu Wanlian was hesitating whether to press further, his voice rang out again, gentle yet carrying a certain meaning: "If you have time, perhaps you could participate in this project. I always felt that your intuition and judgment were sharper than most people's."

Chu Wanlian's heart skipped a beat. She looked up and met his deep eyes. She forced a calm smile: "Thank you for your trust, Director Li, but... this field is still somewhat unfamiliar to me."

Li Chenyao smiled slightly, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes: "You always have a special quality about you, and you seem to be very good at handling complex things. Perhaps, this is exactly what the project needs."

As they spoke, the subway arrived at the station. The two stepped out of the carriage one after the other. Chu Wanlian's steps faltered slightly, alarm bells ringing in her mind: "What exactly is he hinting at? Is it a coincidence, or... has he really discovered something?"

In her mind, Xiao Jinlian's voice suddenly rang out, carrying a hint of dissatisfaction and vigilance: "Chu Wanlian, isn't his attention to you a little too obvious?"

Chu Wanlian did not answer, but simply gripped her bag tightly, hurriedly said goodbye to Li Chenyao, and disappeared into the night alone.

Revise:

Before dawn, the princess's residence was shrouded in a thin mist. Xiao Jinlian sat alone in her study, clutching a white jade bracelet tightly in her hand. The aftereffects of breaking the formation last night had not yet dissipated; the cracks in the runes on the bracelet faintly glowed, as if foreshadowing an even greater danger approaching. Outside the window, the occasional gust of wind swept by. Her gaze was fixed on the bracelet, a deep coldness creeping into her eyes.

"Jinlian, can you feel it? The cracks are spreading and worsening." Chu Wanlian's voice sounded urgent in his mind.

“Yes,” Xiao Jinlian replied in a low voice, her eyes as cold as water. “Although the formation was broken last night, the changes in the bracelet prove that this is far from over. The mastermind behind Consort Yan is no ordinary person.”

Just then, Silan hurried into the study, holding an old parchment scroll in her hands: "Princess, this is what I found last night when I was searching the storeroom. It is said to be a star map passed down from the royal family. Perhaps it can decipher the runes on the bracelet."

Xiao Jinlian took the scroll and unfurled it. The patterns on the sheepskin appeared ancient and mysterious in the candlelight. The densely packed celestial symbols on the map bore a striking resemblance to the cracks in the bracelet. She raised an eyebrow and whispered, "This star chart…could it be another part of the bracelet?"

“The combination of astrological signs and runes might hold some hidden information,” Chu Wanlian said in a calm and clear voice. “Try matching it with the runes on the bracelet; perhaps we can unlock more secrets.”

Silan stood to the side and asked softly, "Princess, should we inform the general about this? Perhaps he can mobilize more resources to help you understand the situation."

“No,” Xiao Jinlian shook her head, her voice calm but with a hint of vigilance. “It’s not convenient for Li Heng to reveal his whereabouts right now. Consort Yan’s surveillance of me is becoming increasingly tight. If we alarm her, it will only arouse her suspicion.”

Chu Wanlian sat in front of her computer, browsing the second email from "Z". The email was brief and direct:

"A private museum houses antiques related to your bracelet. Head over to investigate."

Her fingertips tapped lightly on the table, her gaze lingering on the flashing text on the screen. Xiao Jinlian's voice echoed softly in her mind: "There are places like this in modern times? Are you sure this isn't a trap?"

Chu Wanlian's lips curled up slightly: "There's only one way to find out the answer, and that's to go and see for yourself."

Just as she was about to leave the company, Li Chenyao appeared in front of her. He was wearing a well-tailored dark gray suit, holding a thick document in his hands. His expression remained normal, but his eyes revealed a hint of scrutiny.

"Xiao Jinlian, do you have time? We might need your participation in the discussion of the new project." His voice was deep and powerful, with an irresistible charm.

Chu Wanlian was slightly taken aback, then smiled and said, "Of course. I will definitely cooperate with the time you arrange."

Li Chenyao's lips curled slightly, a hint of meaning in his voice: "Then come with me."

Inside the meeting room, Li Chenyao spread out the documents and lightly tapped a page with his finger: "This is a spacetime research project that our company will soon be collaborating on, involving the analysis of some cross-disciplinary artifacts. The symbols and patterns here are the difficulties we are currently facing."

Chu Wanlian looked down, and the symbols came into clear view. Her gaze flickered slightly, for these patterns bore a striking resemblance to the runes on the bracelet.

“These symbols… look like some kind of ancient language?” Chu Wanlian asked tentatively.

Li Chenyao nodded: "That's right. According to the experts' preliminary analysis, these symbols may be related to 'node connections' in spacetime theory. In other words, they may be a kind of bridge."

In his mind, Xiao Jinlian's cold voice rang out: "Nodes? Is this the reason the bracelet was modified?"

Chu Wanlian casually flipped through the documents, trying her best to hide her inner turmoil: "Director Li, are there any substantial research directions for these symbols?"

Li Chenyao's gaze lingered on her for a moment, then he said in a low voice, "If you are interested, I can arrange for you to participate in this project."

"Thank you for your trust." Chu Wanlian nodded, a formulaic smile playing on her lips, but her heart was filled with questions: Who exactly is Li Chenyao, and what is his connection with these runes?

Returning home that night, Xiao Jinlian placed the star chart and bracelet on the table. The symbols on both began to intertwine, and a hazy starlight appeared in the room. The runes, following the movement of the light, vaguely formed an ancient script.

“This text… mentions the ‘Key to Time and Space’,” Xiao Jinlian murmured, her brows furrowed.

Silan held her breath and focused: "Princess..."

Xiao Jinlian said seriously, "It seems that this bracelet not only connects two worlds, but may also collapse completely due to improper use."

"Collapse?" Chu Wanlian's voice betrayed a hint of fear. "What does that mean?"