I Crossed Over with My Enemy, Only to Find Him Running the Empire - Chapter 20

Chapter 20: The Flashlight

It took another fifteen minutes for Li Qiaoqiao to wash up and change into clean clothes. She patted the quilt: “Hey, I’m done.”

Wu Ya poked his head out from under the blanket, glanced at her, and froze for a split second. A bathed Li Qiaoqiao looked much more refreshing; her wet hair clung to her cheeks, making her skin look exceptionally fair and clean.

However, he quickly withdrew his gaze and snorted: “Finally, you don’t look like a smelly beggar.”

Li Qiaoqiao couldn’t be bothered to argue. She pointed at the floor: “You sleep there tonight.”

Wu Ya’s eyes widened: “On what grounds?”

“On the grounds that you bullied me just now!”

“You brought that on yourself!”

They traded a few more barbs, but eventually had to face reality: the floor was still damp from the mopping and was impossible to sleep on. In this room, other than this kang bed, there wasn’t a single other place to rest.

“I’m warning you, keep to your side!” Li Qiaoqiao reluctantly yielded half the space.

“I should be the one saying that!” Wu Ya replied stubbornly, though his body was honest enough to lie down immediately.

The kang wasn’t large; they each stuck to an edge, leaving enough room for a third person in the middle. However, there was only one quilt, so they were forced to share.

“Don’t hog the blanket!” Li Qiaoqiao warned.

“Just don’t crowd me!” Wu Ya shot back.

As the night deepened, the sound of insects drifted through the window. The oil lamp had been extinguished, leaving only the moonlight filtering through the paper panes, coating the room in a soft silver glow. Li Qiaoqiao, exhausted from the day, fell asleep quickly.

Wu Ya, however, was wide awake. Having played the fool all day—doing nothing but eating and napping—he was full of energy. He rolled onto his side, using the moonlight to study the woman beside him. Asleep, she looked much more peaceful, lacking the sharp claws she displayed during the day. Her long eyelashes cast shadows under her eyes, her nose was slightly upturned, and her lips…

Wu Ya abruptly yanked his gaze away, cursing himself for letting his thoughts wander. It must be because she’s so pitiful, he told himself. A modern woman transmigrating to a place like this only to be a child bride to a “fool”—it really wasn’t easy.

…

The Tug-of-War

In the dead of night, a freezing wind whistled through the cracks of the Wu family’s dilapidated house. Li Qiaoqiao instinctively curled up in her sleep, seeking warmth, but she hadn’t realized her “heater” was a habitual quilt-thief.

Having slept alone for years, Wu Ya had mastered the art of cocooning. In his deep sleep, he unconsciously rolled himself into the quilt, leaving nothing for anyone else. Li Qiaoqiao woke up shivering, her teeth chattering. She reached out for the blanket only to touch the cold wall.

Seeing Wu Ya wrapped up like a spring roll, she was livid. She pounced, trying to wrestle her share of warmth back.

“Wu Ya! Give me back the quilt!” she hissed, pulling with all her might.

Feeling the external force, Wu Ya gripped the blanket tighter and rolled over, inadvertently dragging Li Qiaoqiao down on top of him. In the struggle, Li Qiaoqiao’s hand swung out—SLAP!—landing squarely on Wu Ya’s face.

Wu Ya jolted awake, clutching his cheek. “Li Qiaoqiao! You dared to hit me?”

“Look for yourself!” she pointed, shivering in her thin pajamas. “You took everything! I’m freezing to death!”

His anger dissipated slightly as he realized he was indeed a cocoon. “Can you blame me? My family is so poor we only have one quilt! If we had two, this wouldn’t be an issue!”

His complaint made Li Qiaoqiao burst out laughing. Wu Ya rubbed his nose sheepishly and shared the blanket. “Fine, fine. My bad. I’ll be careful.”

…

The Second Crossing

Neither could go back to sleep. Li Qiaoqiao turned to him: “Since we’re awake, why don’t we try the Heart-to-Heart Lock again? Maybe we can go back for a bit?”

Wu Ya hesitated but eventually agreed. They retrieved the mysterious lock. Keeping their movements perfectly synchronized, they merged the two halves. The familiar world-spinning sensation returned, and they found themselves back in Li Qiaoqiao’s modern apartment.

“Success!” she whispered. “Hold the lock tight, don’t move too much. Keep the scene stable!”

They moved with frantic efficiency. Li Qiaoqiao grabbed a large sack and headed for the kitchen.

The Loot: Frozen dumplings, canned goods, chocolate, and biscuits.

The Discovery: As they worked, the lock began to glow faintly, and tiny cracks appeared on its surface.

The Pivot: “The energy is running out!” Li Qiaoqiao gasped. She abandoned the food and grabbed a flashlight from her nightstand. Wu Ya snatched a fleece blanket from the sofa.

The energy hit zero. A massive pull yanked them back to the ancient shack.

…

The Strategy

Back in the Wu house, they sat panting on the floor.

“The lock has a lifespan,” Wu Ya noted, seeing the cracks. “Carrying items consumes more energy. We can’t waste any more trips; we need a list.”

They began to unpack. To hide the evidence, they stripped the modern plastic packaging—which would be impossible to explain—and transferred the food into ceramic jars and cloth bags.

“These wrappers… we’ll take them back next time. I don’t want to mess with the future’s archaeology,” Li Qiaoqiao joked.

Suddenly, she felt the call of nature but dreaded the outdoor pit toilet. Wu Ya offered to accompany her. “We can test your flashlight.”

…

A Midnight Secret

They slipped out. Li Qiaoqiao kept the flashlight on its lowest setting—enough to see the snowy path but not enough to draw attention.

After she finished, it was Wu Ya’s turn. While waiting, Li Qiaoqiao idly panned the light toward the back of the yard. The beam caught a figure moving stealthily toward the back gate.

It was a woman in a dark cloak. She wasn’t headed for the toilet; she was making a beeline for the exit, her movements suspicious and hurried in the pre-dawn darkness.