Shi Yao approached Li Yuan's house cautiously, his steps soft against the quiet street. The house carried the same modest charm he remembered—its faded paint and creeping vines exuded a sense of warmth and history.
As he knocked on the door, it opened slowly, revealing Li Yuan's grandmother. Her expression shifted from polite curiosity to quiet astonishment as her eyes fell on Shi Yao. For a fleeting moment, her gaze lingered on him, as though she were looking at someone else entirely.
Why is she looking at me like that? Shi Yao wondered, but the grandmother said nothing. She simply offered a kind smile and ushered him inside.
The house was simple but welcoming, filled with the faint aroma of freshly cooked food. The warmth of the space contrasted with the sharp elegance Shi Yao associated with Li Yuan, but it felt fitting in its own way.
"Li Yuan is out working," the grandmother said gently as she moved toward the kitchen. "Would you like something to eat?"
Shi Yao hesitated, unsure whether he should accept, but the grandmother didn't wait for his answer. She returned with a plate of food, her movements slow yet steady.
As Shi Yao ate, he felt her watch him with quiet curiosity. Her gaze held a depth he couldn't quite place, as though she were searching for something unspoken. He brushed off the feeling and focused on the meal, grateful for the momentary distraction from his swirling thoughts.
After finishing, Shi Yao stood and thanked her, but he chose not to ask further about Li Yuan's whereabouts. Her uncertainty about her grandson's absence was clear, and there was no point in pressing the matter.
Left to his own devices, Shi Yao wandered subtly through the house, his curiosity leading him into Li Yuan's room. The space was neat and unassuming, with few personal items giving clues to its occupant's life.
That's when his eyes fell on the box.
Shi Yao froze, his heart skipping a beat. The box resembled the one he had received in his original world—the one that had pulled him into this strange reality. Its design, its markings, even the faint aura it seemed to exude were all unmistakable.
What is this doing here? Shi Yao thought, a wave of disbelief washing over him. He stepped closer, his fingers brushing against the cool surface.
He hesitated for a moment, but his curiosity burned too strongly to resist. Slowly, he opened the box, his breath hitching as the lid creaked upward.
A sharp click sounded, breaking the silence of the room.
Shi Yao barely had time to react before the floor beneath him split apart.
Not again, he thought bitterly as the world tilted and he fell, the box slipping from his grasp as darkness consumed his surroundings.