53、第 53 章

    时晴wokeuptothesoundofherphonebuzzingonhernightstand.Sheslowlyopenedhereyes,groggilytakinginhersurroundings.Shewaslyinginfortable-lookingbed,withsoft,whitesheetsandaplushduvetcoveringher.Theroomwasdecoratedinasleek,modernstyle,withlargewindowsthatletinplentyofnaturallight.

    Asshesatupandlookedaround,shenoticedasmalltablebesidethebed,withalaptopopenonit.Amessageonthescreencaughthereye:“Weeback,timetraveler.Youhavebeenbroughthereforareason.“

    Timetraveler?Whatdidthatevenmean?Sherubbedhertemples,tryingtorememberhowshehadgottenhere.Thelastthingsherememberedwasreadingaromancenovelinbed,andthen...this.

    Shelookedaroundtheroomagain,takingintheunfamiliarsurroundings.Everythingseemedso...modern.Wherewasshe,exactly?

    Suddenly,thelaptopscreenflickeredbacktolife,displayingamessage:“Youarecurrentlyinaworldwherethemainplotrevolvesaround‘runningwiththeball‘.Youwillneedtonavigatethroughkeyeventsthatcannotbeavoided.“

    “Uh-huh,“shemutteredtoherself,tryingtomakesenseofitall.Whatdidthatevenmean?Shehadnoideawhat‘runningwiththeball‘referredto.

    Justthen,therewasaknockatthedoor.“Comein!“shecalledout,hopingsomeonewouldanswer.

    Thedooropened,andatall,handsomemanwalkedin.Hesmiledather,andshefeltajoltofelectricityrunthroughherbody.

    “Hello,“hesaid,hisvoicedeepandsmooth.“I‘mgladyou‘reawake.MynameisEthan,bytheway.“

    “Ethan?“sherepeated,feelingalittlemoreawakenowthatshehadsomeonetotalkto.

    “Yes,“hereplied,sittingdowninthechairoppositeherbed.“So,what‘syourstory?Howdidyouenduphere?“

    Sheshrugged,feelingalittleself-conscious.“I‘mnotreallysure,“sheadmitted.“OneminuteIwasreadingthisromancenovel,andthenextthingIknew,Iwashere.“

    Ethannoddedthoughtfully.“Well,you‘recertainlynotfromaroundhere.Butdon‘tworry,we‘llfigureitouttogether.“

    Justthen,herphonebuzzedagain,displayingamessage:“Reminder:YouarecurrentlyinWorld1.Themainplotrevolvesaround‘runningwiththeball‘.Keyeventsincludemeetingyour‘ball‘andnavigatingthroughkeychallenges.“

    Theball?Runningwiththeball?Whatwasgoingon?

    Ethannoticedherconfusionandleanedforward.“Don‘tworry,it‘sallpartofthestory,“hesaidreassuringly.“You‘llgetusedtoitsoonenough.“

    Butasshelookedintohiseyes,shefeltashiverrundownherspine.Therewassomethingabouthimthatmadeherfeel..nnected.

    “Well,thanksforexplainingthings,“shesaid,tryingtosoundcalm.Butinside,shewasfreakingout.Whathadjusthappened?Andwhatdiditallmean?

    Ethansmiledagain,hiseyescrinklingatthecorners.“Noproblem,“hesaid,standingupandwalkingovertoherbedsidetable.“Ithinkwehavealotofworktodo.“

    Ashehandedheraglassofwater,shefeltasenseoftrepidationwashoverher.Whatlayahead?