Chapter 9: Can I Not Come Back?

Discovered? How did he find out?

Because of her guilt and nerves, Lian Meng’s hand trembled involuntarily as she held her glass of milk. As expected of a university professor—his mind really was exceptional. But how was she supposed to explain such an unscientific phenomenon as time travel?

“If I’m not mistaken, you probably suffered a head injury when you fell, resulting in dissociative identity disorder,” Lu Ming said seriously.

“Hm?” What nonsense was this?

Lu Ming’s lips curled into a smug smile. “I’m right, aren’t I? You’re not the original Lian Youyou. Because you lost your mother early and were bullied by your father and stepmother, you developed a new personality to protect yourself. Subconsciously, you began to imitate your mother, Lian Meng, but your imitation isn’t quite convincing.”

…Was he really a university professor?

It seemed she had worried too much. Ordinary people would hardly believe something so unscientific, let alone an intellectual like him.

Lian Meng had no desire to continue this conversation with the clueless professor. She stood up and said, “Professor, I’m a bit tired. I’ll go rest now.”

“Youyou, if you’re interested in shooting commercials, why not try out for the open audition to become the ambassador of the online game ‘Chronicles of the Martial World’?” Lu Ming’s voice sounded from behind her.

Online game? Chronicles of the Martial World?

Returning to her room, Lian Meng wasted no time in switching on the computer and searching for Chronicles of the Martial World.

Chronicles of the Martial World was an MMORPG with traditional Chinese aesthetics, developed over five years by the country’s top game company, Vast Technology. It was an outstanding domestic online game.

Lian Meng opened the official website. Sure enough, a prominently highlighted recruitment ad for the ambassador search hovered at the top of the homepage.

The newly opened page detailed the requirements for the ambassador selection. Seeing that there was only a week left before the deadline, Lian Meng set aside her fatigue and hurriedly downloaded the application form as required. She took out the ID card her daughter had left in her coat pocket and carefully filled in all the details according to the information.

After completing the form, she found she also needed to upload an electronic ID photo and a lifestyle photo, which posed a new problem.

The ID photo was simple enough; she could get that taken tomorrow. But for the lifestyle photo, since it was a traditional-style game, it would be best if she had a photo in period costume.

She certainly didn’t have the money to get a professional photoshoot done in traditional dress.

She decided to go home the next day and look for some of the casual photos her daughter must have taken before. Surely a girl her age would have some decent pictures! While she was there, she could also check if her daughter had any bank cards or savings books at home.

Early the next morning, Lian Meng caught a ride with Lu Ming to his office, and he dropped her off at her home.

She wasn’t even sure if this was really her home—it was the address Lu Ming had found in the student records.

After ringing the bell, the housekeeper came to open the door.

The housekeeper stared at the girl in front of her for a full minute before speaking hesitantly, “Are you… Miss Youyou?”

She had worked for the Fan family for many years and had seen Lian Youyou once before. But if she remembered correctly, Lian Youyou had always seemed timid, dressed in out-of-date, unfashionable clothes.

The girl before her, though her clothes didn’t seem to fit quite right, stood tall and straight, radiating youth and beauty. Her large, lively eyes sparkled with confidence.

“That’s right,” Lian Meng said, raising an eyebrow at the housekeeper, who seemed frozen in place. “Am I not allowed to come home?”