With a loud bang, Sian, our female protagonist, fell hard on something. It wasn't pleasant to sit on at all.
With a groan, she pushed herself up and looked back—only to see that she had landed on a pile of broken wood. Her palms were scratched badly, and blood trickled from them.
For a moment, her thoughts scattered. The bright light she had just seen was still burned into her mind.
It was so dazzling, she felt like she might go blind from it.
Looking around, an unfamiliar scene slowly came into focus. Everything felt unreal, like a movie she had once watched.
Everyone who passed by stared at her. The elderly muttered about how indecent the younger generation had become, while mothers pulled their children away, whispering not to stare or point fingers.
Everything—absolutely everything—was strange. Both to her and to the people looking at her.
Suddenly, she heard hurried footsteps and voices calling her name.
"Madam Yi Sian!!!"
One was a boy, a little younger, and beside him was a girl who looked slightly older. Both of them rushed toward her, panting heavily.
"Huff… Huff… Miss, what are you doing here? We've been searching for you everywhere! And—oh my god, you're hurt!!" The girl exclaimed as she ran to her side, tearing a piece of cloth from her dress to bandage Sian's bleeding hand.
The boy panicked at the sight of the wound and quickly helped support her so she wouldn't fall again.
The girl tied the bandage with care, then noticed a black leather bag lying near Sian.
"Miss, is this bag yours?" she asked, holding it up.
Until now, Sian had stayed silent, still trying to process everything—their faces, the strange atmosphere, and the impossible fact of her sudden arrival here. She was not inexperienced in these matters. When she was little, she had always planned what she would do if she ever transmigrated into another world: what to bring, what to prepare, and how to survive.
Her backpack was always with her, filled with important things.
If she had been a child, she might have been excited. But she was nineteen now. She had responsibilities, plans for her future—and transmigration was the last thing she expected.
But one thing was clear: she had transmigrated into her little sister's favorite novel.
And she knew this because the name "Yi Sian" belonged to a minor character in that very story. Her sister always teased her about the similarity between their names.
In the novel, Yi Sian was the daughter of a low-ranking governor official. She had three older brothers, two older sisters, and two younger siblings. Born of a concubine, she was neither favored by her father nor noticed by her family. With plain looks and no talent, she was mostly ignored.
When her father was promoted and moved the family to the capital, he left Yi Sian behind with only two servants. Later, even those servants left her to return to their hometowns.
Her sole role in the story was to host the main leads in her small house for a while, giving them a safe place to hide from danger. After that, she disappeared from the narrative.
And now, with these two servants calling her "Miss Yi Sian," there was no doubt—she had become that very character.
The silence broke when the girl touched her bag.
"Don't touch that!!" Sian's voice rang out sharply.
Both servants froze, staring at her in shock.
Sensing the heavy atmosphere, she quickly added, "I-I mean… don't touch it because… because I caught a dangerous s-snake inside. Yes, a snake!"
"Ahhh! What the—" the girl yelped, dropping the bag instantly and stepping back in fear.
Sian hurriedly caught the bag before it hit the ground.
The boy frowned. "But Miss, why would you catch a snake? You hate those creatures."
Trying to keep her calm, she forced a smile. "I-It's for research. I-I read about it in a book and wanted to try it myself."
The girl, still shivering, asked, "But Miss… didn't you run away because you were upset about your father's punishment?"
Sian stammered, "Th-that… I was, b-but then I realized I shouldn't let small things stop me. I'm not a child anymore. So I decided to let the past go and… try something new. That's when I found this bag and caught the snake."
The boy's eyes lit up with curiosity. "Then… what will you do with it?"
"You'll find out later." She quickly ended the topic. "Anyway, let's head back. Everyone's staring at us."
"Alright. Miss, do you need help walking?" the boy offered, though his small frame suggested he couldn't support much weight.
Sian gave him a soft smile and patted his head. "No, I'm fine."
"Okay!"
The truth was, Yi Sian had always been close with these two siblings. They had served her since childhood, and their bond had naturally grown into friendship.
As they walked slowly—Sian limping from her injuries—she took in her surroundings.
People wore traditional clothes, and the streets were lively with both small stalls and large businesses.
She herself was dressed the same, though the modern backpack slung over her shoulder set her apart. She was grateful she had it—it carried her weapons, gadgets, and documents. Everything she might need to survive.
The boy's worried voice broke her thoughts. "Miss, please take better care of yourself, even when we're not around. Seeing you hurt like this… I really don't like it."
"Sorry," she said softly. "I got careless."
Looking down at her clothes, she realized they were dusty and torn. She still had no idea how she ended up falling on that pile of wood. Nothing like this was mentioned in the book.
Two possibilities crossed her mind: either she was being chased, or she had simply been careless.
Whatever the reason, her whole body hurt.
Her legs, arms, and back throbbed with pain, and her cuts stung with every step.
Sian couldn't help but complain in her heart. ' If I was going to transmigrate, why couldn't it be as someone better? Why this no-name side character with such a pitiful fate? '
Still, Yi Sian wasn't exactly a bad person. But the suffering that came with her identity definitely was.
In the novel, Yi Sian was quiet and withdrawn, so it wouldn't be hard for her to act the same and avoid suspicion. Pretending to forget things could cover the gaps in her knowledge.
Soon, they reached their destination—the Yi family residence.
The moment she saw it, her heart sank. This was the period before Yi Sian was abandoned. Which meant… she still had to deal with the entire family.
Her father's indifference, her siblings' bullying, the constant punishments.
Sian felt like running away right then and there.
She longed for a peaceful life, not to be dragged into some soap opera drama.
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To be continued…
To know how her first encounter with the Male Lead will unfold, please look forward to the next chapter!
Thank you for reading!!!
To be continued.......