What Should I Do If I Time-Traveled Forty Years Later and My Lover Has Become an Old Man? - MLFYL: 09

Yu Yao had spent part of the night engaged in games, yet she rose remarkably early the next morning.

Jiang Zhonglin was busy warming the soy milk when he noticed her descending the stairs and asked with mild surprise, “Why are you up so early? Did you not sleep well?”

With a gentle smile, she assured him it was nothing, then entered the kitchen to help warm the buns.

After they finished their breakfast, Jiang Zhonglin received a call and excused himself to the study. Meanwhile, she remained in the living room, holding her personal terminal as she checked her messages.

Beside her, a video call with Yang Yun was ongoing, showcasing her three-year-old grandson’s chubby, adorable cheeks.

Yu Yao gazed at the images a few times, “He’s quite adorable.”

The two exchanged casual words, their conversation light and warm, while they playfully tugged at each other. As Yang Yun was about to leave, Yu Yao ended the call, then stood to pour herself a glass of water.

Passing by the study door, she noticed it was slightly ajar, and she peeked inside.

Jiang Zhonglin was engrossed in writing on the illuminated screen, the glow casting a gentle light as he worked.

In today’s world, numerous methods exist for inputting information into electronic devices—whether through typing or voice commands, both of which are remarkably convenient and swift. Yet, Jiang Zhonglin prefers handwriting input.

Unlike traditional handwriting recognition, his chosen method preserves the original font as he writes, rendering it indistinguishable from handwritten script.

His handwriting is notably exquisite; Yu Yao still fondly recalls the love letter he once penned to her.

The words on that letter were particularly graceful and beautiful. She had kept it tucked away beneath her marriage certificate and other important documents, though she was uncertain if it remained there.

Noticing her gaze, Jiang Zhonglin paused his writing and asked gently, “Is something bothering you? Do you need something?”

His gesture suggested he was about to rise.

Yu Yao raised her hand and shook her head, “It’s nothing. Please continue.”

With that, she moved back into the living room. There, a clock hung on the wall—not the modern, fully intelligent digital clock that displays various information like time, weather, temperature, and humidity, but a simpler, more understated piece.

It was an ordinary round wall clock, and the second hand moved step by step.

After all, she was born more than half a century ago, and she still retained the habits of the past, such as the habit of using this kind of clock. In a sense, she was also a nostalgic old person.

When the shortest hand of the round wall clock pointed to 9 o’clock, she packed up and got up to go out.

Jiang Zhonglin was still writing in the study, and she went to meet him, “I’m going out for a while.”

He immediately raised his head, “What’s wrong? Do you need me to go with you?”

Yu Yao said nonchalantly, “No, you continue to work. I’m going to the fresh food supermarket in the community to buy some vegetables. I’ll cook today.”

He stood up immediately after hearing this, still holding a pen in his hand, “No, I’ll go buy it right away, you can rest at home.”

He thought for a moment and said, “Didn’t you buy a game last time and haven’t finished it yet?”

Yu Yao initially thought it was nothing, but when she saw the nervousness hidden in the depths of his eyes, she was stunned, “… You can’t be afraid of ropes for ten years after being bitten once. I don’t think I’m that unlucky to travel through time again just for food.”

He offered no words, merely gently replaced the pen cap before quietly stepping out, his demeanor suggesting he was accompanying her.

Yu Yao watched as he changed his shoes, crossing her arms with a gentle smile, “It’s been several days since I returned, and I still haven’t gone out to buy groceries. From now on, you don’t need to accompany me every time.”

Jiang Zhonglin paused briefly, a wistful sigh in his heart. Though he understood her intentions, a subtle pang of unease stirred when he heard her say she’d venture out alone.

“Since it’s your first time, I’ll accompany you to help you get familiar with the place. Next time, I won’t go with you,” he replied softly.

Together, they stepped outside. The day was bright and warm. The community was predominantly filled with elderly residents and children, with few young adults in sight. The sunlight filtered through the gaps of tall sycamore trees, casting dappled patterns onto the quiet pathway.

She strolled at a gentle pace, her gaze subtly shifting from one courtyard to the other on either side.

After about ten minutes of this measured walk, Jiang Zhonglin tactfully remarked, “It’s such a short distance. I’m accustomed to walking this way. It typically takes me ten minutes to reach the grocery store.”

Yu Yao: “…”

Oh, I slowed my steps to care for the elderly, yet you still consider my pace too sluggish.

She quickened her steps gracefully, walking with the effortless ease of a gentle breeze, and soon the community supermarket came into view at the end of the street.

Today, nearly every neighborhood boasts a dedicated supermarket, transforming daily shopping into a swift and convenient experience unlike ever before.

Yu Yao had previously explored the surrounding shops and perused their images, but now, seeing the market firsthand, she was struck by the vibrant display of fresh, abundant produce—an enticing sight that naturally stirs the desire to purchase.

Following the example of several middle-aged women engaged in lively conversation, she pushed a small cart and headed straight to the meat section.

Jiang Zhonglin mentioned that he was there to help her familiarize herself with the layout, yet Yu Yao needed no such guidance.

Her selections and choices appeared intuitive and confident, and even the array of unfamiliar vegetables and fruits did little to surprise her, demonstrating her innate ease and comfort within this familiar setting.

Jiang Zhonglin watched her engaging effortlessly in conversation with the fish-killing clerk, as if they were old friends, and suddenly recalled that, in their youth, Yu Yao had been the more adaptable of the two.

While he still struggled to memorize the layout of new environments, she could readily navigate the surrounding streets, find places to buy food, drinks, and supplies, and even recognize neighbors within just three days.

Compared to her, Jiang Zhonglin was less adept in this regard, a trait that had persisted since childhood. He could immerse himself in academic pursuits, yet lacked the quick adaptability to new surroundings and social circles. However, now that he was older and more experienced, he appeared more composed than he had in his youth.

He also remembered a trip they took together before marriage—a short journey to a renowned ancient town in China, as neither of them had much free time.

His seniors had remarked that this trip was, in fact, a test for him—an assessment of whether he was truly suitable for marriage, based on how he handled the challenges and experiences of that brief adventure.

This journey served as a pivotal trial—an opportunity to determine whether he could envision a future with his beloved.

Overwhelmed by nerves, he feared that any misstep might jeopardize their relationship upon their return. Diligently and earnestly, he researched the route and crafted a detailed plan.

However, upon arrival, he was taken aback to find that much of his painstaking preparation proved unnecessary.

In contrast, Yu Yao approached the trip with a relaxed confidence; it was her first visit to this place as well, yet she quickly identified a bus that would take them near their hotel.

After settling into their accommodation, she suggested they seek out some food. Jiang Zhonglin, eager to impress, pulled out his carefully prepared itinerary and led her to a highly-rated restaurant, only to find the meal overpriced and lacking in flavor—an obvious rip-off. Yet Yu Yao remained unfazed.

Sensing the enticing aroma from a nearby small shop, she confidently led him inside, claiming that the delicious scent hinted at the tasty food within. And indeed, the food was truly delightful. After that, Yu Yao almost finalized the itinerary.

Jiang Zhonglin didn’t have to worry about anything except moving the luggage. Later, under her leadership, he also forgot the nervousness before departure and had a great time.

He visited all the famous and unknown historical sites, and also found a place with beautiful scenery but not many people, and stayed there for an afternoon to enjoy the scenery.

After the short journey, he thought about everything he had done and felt that he was a failure.

As a result, when Yu Yao heard what he said, she cried and laughed, “What exam? I just have time to come out and play with you, you think too much. Also, who says that you have to take care of me as long as you are my boyfriend? I am three years older than you, little brother, in this case, shouldn’t I take care of you? Why are you so discouraged? Wait until you are three years older than me, then you can take care of me.”

With a gentle smile and a lighthearted joke, she casually eased into conversation.

Now, it was clear that he was thirty-seven years her senior.

Jiang Zhonglin, having resided in this neighborhood for many years, was familiar with the clerk at the fresh fish counter—yet today marked the first time he discovered that she had a son studying at Hainan University of China.

He regarded his wife with newfound admiration, finding her even more captivating than before. After purchasing their vegetables, the two stepped outside.

She pointed to a different street, “Can we go back this way?”

Jiang Zhonglin nodded, “Yes, though I rarely take this route.”

Deciding confidently, she said, “Then let’s go this way.”

She was meticulous in knowing all the streets within the five-block radius of her home.

Jiang Zhonglin adjusted his glasses and followed her, carrying a bag of grapes.

“Let me help carry some more vegetables.”

In return, Yu Yao handed him a fish as a token of gratitude.

“I can handle it; I can carry the ribs too,” Jiang Zhonglin suggested.

She chuckled, “Why do you talk so much?”

Jiang Zhonglin: “…”

“Forget it,” she said softly, pulling out two more corns from her bag and placing them into his hands. “Then you can take these two.”

He looked at the large bag in her hands and chose to remain silent, touched by her thoughtfulness.

This road was half the length of the one they had taken, and in the middle of it stood a nursery, now a kindergarten. The nursery had been built in the residential area, and all the children there lived nearby, from toddlers to those as young as five or six.

These children did their morning exercises on the artificial turf, each one resembling a large white radish planted in the ground. Every now and then, one of them would lose their balance and stumble, falling onto the soft grass and rolling like a ball.

Despite their cute appearance, when these little creatures started crying, the entire nursery would turn from heaven to hell, and the winged angels would transform into tiny monsters with terrifying screams.

Yu Yao watched the children flailing their arms and kicking their legs outside the fence and said to the old man beside her, “I see that many professions have disappeared in the past, but fortunately the nursery still exists, and I won’t have to remain unemployed in the future.”

Prior to her transmigration, she was a dedicated kindergarten teacher. In her youth, she was a rebellious, non-conformist girl—defiantly standing her ground against male classmates and local troublemakers, often appearing indifferent to the opinions of others.

However, following the passing of her grandmother, she experienced a profound transformation, genuinely turning over a new leaf and embracing a more compassionate and refined path.

Honoring her grandmother’s final wish, she excelled in the college entrance examination and went on to pursue a degree in early childhood education. She then successfully embarked on a career as a kindergarten teacher, dedicating herself daily to nurturing and caring for young children.

Three years after graduating, her former classmates gathered for a high school reunion. When they learned that she had become a kindergarten teacher, they were taken aback, as if struck by a sudden revelation.

It was almost too incredible to believe—the girl who once arranged fights and disputes had now transformed into such a gentle and dedicated educator. Yet, Yu Yao’s journey of transformation was undeniable.

Today, she is not only a kindergarten teacher but also the most beloved figure among her students. The children affectionately call her “Teacher Yu,” and many of them often weep when saying goodbye.

Yu Yao has come to realize that nearly every child she once cared for is now old enough to be her elder.