A Modern Meal and Startling Revelations

The takeout arrived swiftly. Taking the package from the delivery person’s hands, Qin Yan couldn’t help but wonder why a takeout ordered from JD.com was delivered by someone in a yellow vest, emblazoned clearly with the words ‘Meituan’. This incongruity baffled even Qin Yan, though he conceded it wasn’t entirely unexpected in the grand scheme of things.

Qin Yan placed the takeout on the table, his gaze falling upon Xiao Miao, who was thoroughly drenched. Her body was subtly curled inward, clearly shivering from the cold. It then struck him that on Earth, spiritual energy did not exist; cultivators couldn’t project it outward to ward off the chill.

However, his home contained no women’s clothing, for he was, after all, a bachelor. Yet, this predicament wasn’t entirely without a solution. Qin Yan entered his bedroom and retrieved a short-sleeved shirt.

”You should change your clothes,” he offered. ”You must be freezing.”

Qin Yan extended the shirt towards her, speaking softly.

Xiao Miao’s lips parted as if to speak, a silent question forming: how could a woman like her possibly wear a man’s attire? Nevertheless, considering their peculiar circumstances, she realized that refusing would only make her appear overly delicate.

‘Alright, as long as Qin Yan doesn’t mind…”

She reached out, accepting the garment, then glanced from the room Qin Yan had just exited back to him. The man before her simply nodded.

Without further ado, the young woman stepped into the room to change her clothes.

In mere moments, Xiao Miao emerged, now dressed. Her damp hair cascaded over her shoulders, and the short-sleeved shirt, somewhat oversized on her slender frame, revealed a hint of her delicate calves. She appeared quite charming.

”You look very good,” Qin Yan remarked.

Qin Yan observed the scene, a quiet affirmation forming in his mind: indeed, a young woman in casual wear truly possessed a captivating appeal.

”Very good-looking, you say…”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Miao found herself at a loss for a reply. It wasn’t primarily due to shyness, though a touch of it might have lingered, but rather a profound sense of helplessness. As a woman, being complimented on her appearance while wearing a man’s clothes felt undeniably strange.

”Let’s eat,” Qin Yan interjected, ”and put an end to this talk.”

Qin Yan reached out and gently took the young woman’s wrist, guiding them both to sit before the small table.

He didn’t want Xiao Miao to feel the need for any formality in his presence. To be blunt, given their current predicament, he was truly the only one who could offer solace to the young woman before him. Furthermore, if he himself appeared awkward, it would only make her more reserved.

”There’s no need to be polite; simply treat this as your own home,” Qin Yan began. ”Perhaps we’re even living through a dream right now, who’s to say? Still, I’m grateful to finally be back in modern life. Days without the internet, honestly, are barely fit for human existence.”

Qin Yan grumbled, opening the takeout boxes as he spoke.

Xiao Miao listened to Qin Yan’s words. ‘A dream?’ she mused. Yet, as she gazed at Qin Yan before her, she couldn’t shake the feeling that if this truly were a dream, he seemed almost too real. It was an intuition, a sense that, at least on the surface, Qin Yan was far more talkative than she remembered.

As the takeout boxes were opened, a savory aroma swiftly filled the small room. Rain pattered outside the window, while inside, the scent of food created an atmosphere of unparalleled comfort.

”Don’t be shy, eat as much as you like,” Qin Yan urged. ”I’m not sure if it’ll suit your taste, but it certainly suits mine.”

Qin Yan spoke with genuine lack of pretense. He opened the rice container for Xiao Miao, then handed her a pair of chopsticks, hoping to prevent any further hesitation from the young woman.

Witnessing Qin Yan’s unreserved demeanor, Xiao Miao indeed felt many burdens lift from her heart.

She looked at the still steaming white rice before her, picked up her chopsticks, and took a small taste. Qin Yan, reaching into a vibrant red bowl, began to scoop some dishes onto her plate.

Such gestures truly left her feeling overwhelmed with unexpected kindness.

‘‘Thank you, thank you—” Xiao Miao murmured, unable to stop her gratitude.

”Don’t mention it, just eat,” Qin Yan replied.

He responded, acknowledging that the young woman before him hailed from a prominent family, her etiquette impeccable. A polite young woman, after all, always left a favorable impression.

As he spoke, Qin Yan paid no further mind to Xiao Miao, instead pulling out his phone.

‘Right,’ he thought, ‘how could one possibly eat without something to scroll through?’

Despite his apparent distraction, Qin Yan covertly observed the young woman. When he saw Xiao Miao, tongue out and face flushed crimson from the spice, he couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly, even acknowledging the slight impropriety of his amusement.

Xiao Miao, oblivious to Qin Yan’s hidden smirk, found the meal before her spicy, yet imbued with a unique flavor. She had never tasted anything quite like it before; it wasn’t unpalatable, and in fact, proved surprisingly addictive.

”Of course,” he mused. ”With the sheer ingenuity of modern technology, every bite is packed with additives. How could it not be addictive?”

”Oh, right! I almost forgot,” Qin Yan exclaimed.

As if struck by a sudden thought, Qin Yan rose and walked to the small refrigerator in the living room. He opened it, retrieved two cans of iced cola, and presented them to the young woman.

Mimicking Qin Yan’s actions, Xiao Miao opened the cold cola. She observed the dark liquid within, then watched as Qin Yan tilted his head back, took a gulp, and a look of pure contentment spread across his face.

She, too, ventured a sip. It was the first time the young woman’s palate had encountered the sensation of soda. Her mouth felt as though it were exploding, and she nearly spat it out immediately.

Ultimately, she managed to hold it in, placing the can aside with a wary expression.

”It’s alright, it’s alright,” Qin Yan reassured her. ”It’s normal not to be accustomed to it the first time. This is a drink, like juice, you understand? Except it’s infused with a lot of carbon dioxide.”

Having uttered those words, Qin Yan instantly felt foolish. Why was he explaining carbon dioxide to someone who seemed to have stepped straight out of ancient times?

”Never mind, never mind,” he quickly amended. ”It’s fine if you don’t understand. I’ll pour you some water. I only have one cup at home, so I hope you don’t mind…”

Qin Yan bustled about once more. Xiao Miao watched him, a faint sense of apology stirring within her heart as he fussed over her meal. As for why she might object to using Qin Yan’s cup…

Gazing at the cup swiftly placed before her, adorned with an adorable panda, Xiao Miao swallowed, then immediately chided herself for being overly petty. She shook her head gently, casting off the unwarranted thoughts, and delicately took a small sip from the cup.

She observed Qin Yan’s profile as he ate, engrossed in his phone. ‘Surely, no one else has ever seen Qin Yan with such a personality,’ she mused. ‘Perhaps not even his senior sister...’

”What the— This world has gone completely insane!” Qin Yan suddenly exclaimed.

Through the internet, he had stumbled upon things he’d never encountered before: discussions about men needing to ‘stand up for themselves,’ advice on how men could avoid sexual harassment, and terms like ‘incel’…

‘Indeed,’ he thought, ‘I haven’t traveled back at all. This must all be a dream, surely?!’

Just then, Qin Yan’s phone began to ring.