Tong Meng’s dream in life is to open a guesthouse at a scenic spot off the beaten path and ease into a semi-retired life.
Since it’s a little-known destination, there won’t be too many guests. She can relax and chat with them, experience the wonderful moments in their lives, and, when she has some free time, draw illustrations, edit videos, and do whatever interests her.
A month before the guesthouse was due to open, three little mochi-like dumplings suddenly landed on Tong Meng.
They said she was a princess from a fairy-tale world who had been left behind in an accident. They were the Queen’s aides, sent at the Queen’s request to bring her home, if she agreed.
Tong Meng silently stared at the three little dumplings, each smaller than her palm, hopping around and making smacking sounds as they walked. Green, pink, and blue. They reminded her of the Ram pets she’d raised as a child while playing some mole game.
You call these aides? I’d say this fairy-tale world is about to be thrown into turmoil.
“The Queen said we have to follow this route to take you back to the royal capital, so we’ll start here and head west.” The green dumpling somehow produced a crumpled map and unfolded it for Tong Meng.
“I’m not going back,” Tong Meng said firmly.
Tears instantly welled up in the three dumplings’ eyes, trembling in their sparkling gaze.
“W-why?” the blue dumpling asked tearfully, holding back its sobs.
“I have a shop to open. How am I supposed to open one if I’m going on a westbound pilgrimage with you?” Tong Meng matter-of-factly dubbed their journey west “the pilgrimage to the west.”
“We’re very powerful. We can take you back and forth! And the Queen said that once we light up the map, next time we can take you straight to the glowing spot,” the pink dumpling pleaded.
Tong Meng thought of how she’d had no inspiration for her illustrations lately. Every night she sat in front of her computer with nothing left, so frustrated she was about to pull all her hair out.
Maybe going after all wasn’t such a bad idea.
Going to another world to spark some inspiration and gather some reference material might be nice.
“Oh! Right! The milk in our world is incredibly delicious! You can put it in your shop!” the blue dumpling said excitedly.
Tong Meng’s eyes lit up. It was settled. She was going!
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Blurb written on May 6, 2025.
There is a male lead, but little romance.
Theme: The meaning of life
