What Should I Do If I Time-Traveled Forty Years Later and My Lover Has Become an Old Man? - MLFYL: 19

That evening, as she shared a bed with her husband after a lengthy separation, the old man unexpectedly chuckled for a prolonged moment.

Yu Yao’s sadness was softened by his laughter, and ultimately, she found herself longing to playfully scold him.

The following morning, Jiang Zhonglin awoke before her. The old man had risen early, blinking away sleep as he felt something against his shoulder.

Lowering his gaze, he glimpsed a dark head nestled beside him—an unmistakable reminder that his wife had slept beside him the night before.

Though time had passed, he vividly remembered her commanding sleeping habits: when she slept alone, she would take up the entire bed, tossing and turning. When they shared a bed—particularly in warm weather—she refused to let him draw near, occupying most of the space herself. Conversely, in colder weather, she would prevent him from sleeping on her side, compelling him to cling to her, her head buried in his chest, utterly still and content.

Currently, if he were to stir, she would awaken abruptly, as if jolted from a vivid dream of falling from a great height, instinctively flailing her hand or kicking her leg in her sleep.

When they first married, he found her nightly routine charming and endearing. Every morning, he would wake earlier than her, intentionally shifting away to observe her as she stirred—her eyelids fluttering open in a dazed state—before reaching out to pull him back into her embrace.

During summer nights, he would secretly lower the air conditioner’s temperature just enough before bed, prompting her to seek his side and sleep beside him, rather than dismissing him for the heat and choosing to sleep alone.

The playful mischief of his youth had long since faded.

Jiang Zhonglin lay quietly, listening to Yu Yao’s gentle breathing beside him, feeling a touch of disorientation. During the period after her sudden disappearance, sleep eluded him; even when he did manage to doze off, he would awaken abruptly, glancing to her side, as if her presence still lingered—his shoulder still pressed against hers, as if she were there.

The weight of that touch was like a long-lost dream.

He looked at the window letting in the morning light, sighed softly, and closed his eyes again.

Yu Yao finally woke up. She pulled her head back, turned away, and buried herself in the blanket again. Jiang Zhonglin thought that she was not fully awake yet, so he got up to change his clothes and wash his face.

But when he returned and saw that she was still covering her head, he walked over, “Are you awake? We’re going out to have breakfast.”

“I’m not hungry,” she poked her head out from under the blanket, her whole body lying limply on the bed, frowning slightly.

She was in a bad mood: her head was throbbing with pain, her chest was tight, she felt nauseous, and she didn’t feel like eating at all.

Maybe it was because she had just taken a shower last night and had been standing by the lake in the breeze for too long, Yu Yao just thought of this and reached out to touch her forehead.

Jiang Zhonglin saw her touching her forehead and quickly reached out to touch it as well, “What’s wrong? Are you dizzy? Do you have a fever?”

The forehead was not too hot, and he was worried that he couldn’t feel it, so he stood up, “Wait a minute, I’ll go find the thermometer.”

He took the thermometer back and found that she was not in bed, and there was a sound of vomiting in the bathroom. He hurried over and saw her standing by the sink rinsing her mouth.

He said worriedly, “Why did you vomit? Do you really have a fever? Let’s go and take your temperature first.”

Thermometers forty years later are very convenient. Just stick them on the forehead for three seconds.

Yu Yao watched him put the flat thermometer on his forehead, “Maybe it was because of the breeze by the lake last night. I don’t seem to have a fever, but I don’t know why I feel a little uncomfortable.”

Jiang Zhonglin took the thermometer and found that she did not have a fever, “Then you rest for a while, cover yourself with the quilt first, I’ll get you something to eat, eat before going to sleep.”

After she vomited, she felt better, but she was still too lazy to go out, so she nodded in agreement.

Jiang Zhonglin brought back a simple breakfast. She did not have much appetite, so she drank half a bowl of porridge, ate a small steamed bun, and went back to sleep.

He was worried about her, so he sat next to her to accompany her in case she felt uncomfortable and wanted to drink some water or something.

Yu Yao slept quietly for two hours and felt much better. She was full of energy after getting up.

Jiang Zhonglin was still a little worried and took her temperature again, “Okay, it’s okay.”

She didn’t care about this little thing at all, “Let’s go, let’s go to the orchard over there. We didn’t see the orchard nearby yesterday.”

Reluctantly, he found himself leading her to the orchard.

Among the trees, ripe oranges hung in abundance. They observed members of the association diligently harvesting fruit with their families, a scene both lively and harmonious.

Yu Yao strolled beneath the low-hanging branches, her gaze fixed on the clusters of oranges weighed down by their bounty. With a quick jump, she reached for the largest one nestled on a branch.

Though most of the fruit still bore a yellow hue, a subtle patch of green hinted at its ripeness—a delicate gradient of green fading into gold, creating a scene of quiet beauty.

She carefully peeled open the orange, savored a segment, then offered it to Jiang Zhonglin.

He took a bite, shook his head gently, and remarked, “This one isn’t quite ripe; it’s a little tart.”

She chuckled softly, “That’s alright; I don’t find it sour.”

As she enjoyed her snack, two young girls nearby, who had been gathering oranges, waved enthusiastically and called out to her, “Mr. Jiang’s Wife.”

These were the same curious children who had peppered her with questions during their bath last night, their innocent inquisitiveness reflecting their fondness for her.

“Mrs. Jiang, I have just been informed by the elder in the garden that the oranges within are now fully ripe—larger, sweeter, and more luscious than before. Would you care to join us in harvesting them?”

“Certainly,” Yu Yao responded, her curiosity piqued, and she accompanied them silently.

As expected, the orchard was ahead of schedule; the oranges had turned a golden hue, with some glowing like lanterns in the sun, boasting a striking red color.

Intrigued by the crimson fruit, she plucked one and sampled it.

The sweetness was quite pronounced, almost overwhelming, so she ate two segments before offering it to Jiang Zhonglin, “This one is especially sweet—please, do enjoy it.”

He accepted and savored it.

Turning her gaze, Yu Yao noticed two young girls nearby, exchanging whispers with eager glances.

Smiling, she inquired, “What are you two talking about?”

The girls giggled and chuckled, “Oh, we were just saying how sweet it is! Truly, these oranges are so delicious!”

Yet, their expressions hinted at something more—perhaps a playful secret in their excitement.

After walking around the orchard for a while, everyone saw that it was almost time, so they went back to have lunch.

The farm prepared a sumptuous meal for them, which even included wild rabbits raised in the mountains. Nowadays, almost all food is farmed artificially or mechanically, and anything with the word “wild” seems to be rare.

Yu Yao ate several oranges in the orchard and had been feeling a little hungry, but as soon as she entered the hall, she smelled a greasy meaty smell, and her stomach suddenly churned.

She walked out of the restaurant with a tense face, took a few deep breaths outside, and suppressed the anger that surged in her heart.

Seeing her face change, Jiang Zhonglin hurried out and followed her, “Are you still not feeling well?”

“No, we have to see a doctor.”

Within the bustling dining hall, those awaiting their meals also observed Yu Yao’s unusual demeanor.

A young student glanced around and inquired softly, “What’s wrong with Mr. Jiang’s wife? Is she unwell?”

An elderly gentleman responded thoughtfully, “Old Jiang was searching for a thermometer this morning. I do hope she isn’t running a fever.”

Coincidentally, a family member of an esteemed senior professor was a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine. Noticing the situation, he rose promptly and offered to examine Yu Yao.

Jiang Zhonglin expressed his intention to return to the hospital in Hai City for a proper consultation. Yu Yao, meanwhile, regarded the concern as an overreaction, thinking it a minor matter. The two debated whether to depart immediately or seek further assistance.

At that moment, someone from the doorway called out, “Mr. Jiang, your wife isn’t feeling well. You should bring her to see Teacher Ling Yu.”

Ling Yu, a gentle and compassionate Chinese medicine practitioner in her fifties, approached warmly, introduced herself, and kindly took Yu Yao’s pulse to assess her condition.

Initially, Yu Yao remained unaware of any underlying issue. However, as Ling Yu delicately took her pulse, she suddenly emitted a soft, curious “huh,” and gently pressed her wrist, her expression contemplative. She remained silent for a long moment, a subtle sense of oddity stirring within her.

Jiang Zhonglin watched attentively, concern flickering in his eyes.

When Ling Yu finally released her hand, he inquired softly, “Is something wrong? Is she unwell?”

Ling Yu then looked at Yu Yao, then at Jiang Zhonglin, and after a brief cough and a gentle laugh, she revealed, “No, she is… pregnant.”

The small gathering of onlookers, initially concerned, was struck silent in shock.

Yu Yao herself was utterly stunned, momentarily at a loss. Even Jiang Zhonglin, a man in his sixties known for his calm, virtue, and artistic sensibility, was visibly shaken.

“Pregnant?” he echoed in disbelief, adjusting his glasses with a puzzled expression before lowering his gaze to Yu Yao, whose own face was blank with astonishment.

It was only then that a flicker of clarity seemed to return to him, and the weight of the revelation settled into their minds.

“Is she truly pregnant?” He needed to confirm once more with Ling Yu.

The doctor nodded confidently, “Yes, it’s been nearly two months.”

During these past two months, Yu Yao had been traveling, and the two of them had not been together at all. So, was she already pregnant before she left? Or was she just discovering it now?

The realization seemed to momentarily dull Old Jiang’s usual composure.

He gazed into the distance for a long moment, his mind racing, before turning his gaze back to Yu Yao, a tumult of emotions swirling within him.

“I recommend you visit the hospital for a thorough check-up. Yu Yao’s situation isn’t ordinary—her experience crossing over makes everything more complicated. Regardless, it’s best to have a comprehensive examination. And, of course, congratulations to both of you.”

This unexpected news forced Yu Yao and Jiang Zhonglin to halt their vacation and promptly return to Hai City.

He recognized several students from his past teachings at the First Hospital of Hai City. He had previously sought treatment there during a period of illness, and now, once more, he returned to facilitate a comprehensive physical examination for Yu Yao.

The results were promptly delivered, revealing that Yu Yao was in excellent health and that her pregnancy was progressing smoothly. At nine weeks gestation, the fetus was developing robustly.

Upon calculating the timeline, she realized that this moment coincided precisely with one or two days before her transmigration. It appeared she was stranded at that particular point in time. When she traveled across dimensions, she was uncertain whether she could truly be considered pregnant—yet the timing suggested that her journey was anchored right at that pivotal juncture.

Given her history of irregular menstrual cycles, it was quite normal for her to go two months without menstruating. When she suddenly experienced such a significant change, she attributed the absence of her period to her fluctuating mood, and thus paid little attention to it. Additionally, her time travel was instantaneous, yet she was constantly reminded that forty years had elapsed, leading her to subconsciously dismiss the possibility of pregnancy.

Furthermore, she and her husband had been married for a year without employing any contraceptive methods. Although she had never been pregnant before, she now found herself expecting, making the situation seem remarkably coincidental.

Even she was taken aback by this development, and Jiang Zhonglin, who had been a bachelor for forty years, was utterly unprepared. It was already a shock when his wife returned; discovering that he was about to become a father was an even greater surprise.

Holding the test results, Old Jiang—who had lost his wife in his youth and was now a father in his old age—stood utterly stunned, overwhelmed by the profound turn of events.