What Should I Do If I Time-Traveled Forty Years Later and My Lover Has Become an Old Man? - MLFYL: 26

In the depths of the Hainan University Forum, there existed a mystical realm where campus drama, romantic entanglements, and juicy rumors reigned supreme.

From the highest echelons of national leadership to the stray cat that frequently sauntered into the girls’ dorm, every topic under the sun was fair game for discussion—the kind of explosive, attention-grabbing posts that painted a vivid picture of the mind-numbing boredom that plagued the daily lives of Hainan University’s students.

On that particular afternoon, students who stumbled upon the school forum out of sheer boredom were met with a bewildering sight: a plethora of posts devoid of any discernible content or theme, leaving everyone scratching their heads.

The crux of these posts seemed to be the authors’ utter bewilderment, with phrases like “I’m losing my mind, I’m seriously losing it, have you seen this?” and “I refuse to believe what’s happening!” giving way to frantic declarations of “Which girl is this mysterious sister who just popped up out of nowhere?”—all punctuated by a cacophony of “Ah ah ah”s that only served to further perplex the onlookers.

“What’s the tea, siblings? Can you just spit it out already? Why are you teasing us with these cryptic messages?” Someone couldn’t resist asking in a post, and it seemed like they weren’t the only ones who were fed up with the vague updates.

Plenty of others chimed in with similar sentiments, “OMG, I know, right? I saw it too, and I’m still trying to process it!”

The excitement was palpable, but it was clear that these posters and floor owners were speaking in code, leaving the rest to wonder what on earth they were talking about.

As the curiosity turned into frustration, more and more people began to post, begging for someone to spill the beans.

That’s when the tech-whizzes stepped in, tracing the IDs and addresses, and stumbled upon a peculiar connection: all the posters and floor owners who were acting strange were from the Department of Literature.

“So, what’s going on with the literature department? Have they all lost their minds or something?” One person asked, sparking a flurry of concerned comments.

“My roommate’s in the literature department, and she’s been acting super weird since she got back from class today,” someone shared. “She was totally zoned out, and when we tried talking to her, she just didn’t seem to register it. I thought maybe she was going through a rough breakup or something, but then I found out that another girl from the literature department in the next dorm was exhibiting the same bizarre behavior.”

The comments took a darker turn when someone revealed, “Our next-door dorm is basically a literature department sorority house, and let me tell you, it’s been a wild night. I heard a blood-curdling scream coming from next door, and now it sounds like they’re, uh, enthusiastically rearranging the furniture or something—the bed frame is literally shaking, bang bang! It’s freaking me out, to be honest.”

“Hey, upstairs, are all the girls in your literature department possessed or something?” someone jokingly asked, but at this point, it wasn’t entirely clear what was going on or what was causing this strange behavior.

“It seems like the guys in our dorm have lost their minds. Our dorm’s resident intellectual, who’s always got his nose buried in a stack of literary classics and speaks like he’s reciting from a novel, just pulled off something totally bizarre. He came back from class, silently merged our tables, broke out the white paper, and started brush-painting this massive character for “Buddha” before hanging it on our wall. Now we’re all huddled around, wiping down the tables while debating whether he has had some kind of existential crisis and is considering a career change to monkhood.”

“Meanwhile, the two lit majors in our dorm have been acting pretty weird themselves, constantly sneaking peeks at their department’s private forum—you know, the one that’s off-limits to non-lit majors. They’re always browsing in silence, exchanging these super subtle glances that make the whole scene feel kind of… intense. As a straight guy, I gotta admit it’s all a bit too much for me to handle.”

“You’re making me more and more curious by the minute—what’s going on that’s got everyone so worked up? Is there some kind of literary bombshell that’s too explosive to share with the rest of us? I’m seriously dying over here, so if someone from the literature department could spill the beans, I’d really appreciate it.”

“Okay, so I’m not exactly plugged into the lit department, but my roommate gave me the lowdown, and now I’m feeling pretty stunned—I’m still trying to process it all, to be honest.”

“Come on, don’t let the guy upstairs slip away—someone needs to share the tea with the rest of us!”

“It seems the drama is already unfolding, and the literature department girls are spilling the tea—their private forum has descended into chaos, with everyone losing their minds…”

As the buzz grows, more and more people are clocking the weirdness emanating from the Department of Literature.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of the university’s resident gossips, the source of the chaos has been tracked down to an online teaching class that went down earlier that afternoon. Insiders are hinting that it’s all about Professor Jiang, and the whisper is that it’s a super sensitive secret.

So, who’s this Professor Jiang, anyway? Is it the infamous Professor Jiang Zhonglin? Not every student at Hainan University is familiar with him, considering how different departments can be like parallel universes. But here’s the thing: Professor Jiang has been teaching at Hainan University for ages, and the literature students absolutely adore him—he’s basically their ultimate male crush.

Some keen fans have even dug up old photos of the professor from back in the day, and let’s just say his youthful handsomeness has made him a household name, even outside the department.

That one photo of him rocking a white shirt and a subtle smile still hangs proudly on the unofficial campus list of hottest teachers, curated by students, of course. Every year, when the school’s “most eligible bachelor” list comes out, someone always posts that photo, and it never fails to garner a ton of admiration and adoration for the professor’s younger self—the OG male god.

“What’s going on with the old male god Jiang—why won’t anyone just spill the beans already? I’m dying to know what kind of news could possibly be linked to him. As someone who frequently hangs out in the teachers’ building, I’ve had the chance to observe him, and let me tell you, he always comes across as this gentle, upright, and modest gentleman. So, what could he possibly have to hide? Don’t freak me out, but if even he can turn out to be a total fake, I’m never believing in love again.”

“Apparently, some girls from the Literature Department were caught dishing about something, and it sounded like they were talking about Professor Jiang, a home, a young girl, and a husband—now that’s some juicy gossip. It’s got me wondering, could Professor Jiang Zhonglin really be having an affair with some young girl? I mean, the guy’s 65, and I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that he’s allegedly on the prowl for someone way younger. If this is true, it’s going to be one hell of a scandal, especially if she’s one of his students.”

“I’m not buying it, though—Professor Jiang just doesn’t seem like that kind of guy…”

“You never really know what’s going on behind closed doors. As they say, the more put-together someone looks, the more messed up they might be on the inside. And let’s be real, there are plenty of old perverts out there.”

As the rumors kept spreading like wildfire, the school’s main forum quickly descended into chaos. Everyone was clamoring for more information, and some people were even making some pretty twisted guesses.

Before long, a full-blown forum battle erupted, with all sorts of crazy theories and accusations flying around.

The air was electric as a massive crew of literature students swooped in, their witty banter and sharp tongues leaving the haters in a cloud of dust. These word warriors were on a mission to shut down the slander aimed at Professor Jiang, and they didn’t hold back.

Some crafted clever, curse-free comebacks that were more like elegant takedowns, while others unleashed a barrage of creative insults that left their opponents reeling. It was like a masterclass in verbal sparring, with the literature students effortlessly blocking and tackling the negativity from other departments.

As the drama unfolded, bystanders watched with bated breath, some even snapping screenshots of the most epic battles to share with the world.

The crowd was wowed by the literature students’ verbal virtuosity, with many sighing in admiration, “Only the literature department could make insults sound so poetic” and “This feisty young writer is a total rockstar—I’d hire her in a heartbeat to take down my Weibo trolls, she’s that fierce and talented.”

But amidst all the cheering, a lone voice piped up, “Ugh, this is just sad. One guy against a hundred—it’s just not right. He was just speculating, didn’t even say anything that bad. This is total overkill.”

“You’ve got no idea, Professor Jiang is the crown jewel of their literature department—a treasure trove of knowledge that’s been imparting wisdom to students for years. He’s taught a multitude of students, and many of the past professors were his protégés, so dissing him is like poking a hornet’s nest—you’ll get stung, and there’s no escape from the backlash. Even a subtle jab on the forum can ignite a firestorm, and you’ll be lucky to emerge unscathed.”

“Yeah, Professor Jiang is the OG literary god of their department. My friend, a bookworm with a penchant for the dramatic, never usually loses her cool, but just now, she stormed onto the forum, guns blazing, and tore into others with a ferocity that was downright terrifying. I had no idea she had such a savage streak—when she unleashes her fury, it’s a sight to behold.”

“After all the drama, we still have no clue what sparked the maelstrom. I’ve been watching from the sidelines, and my curiosity is piqued. I’m tempted to sneak into the faculty building to catch a glimpse of the enigmatic Professor Jiang—the man at the center of the storm.”

“Don’t even think about it, dude—Professor Jiang stepped down as director of the literature department last year and now holds a ceremonial post, only popping up on campus to teach the occasional class. The rest of the time, he’s holed up at home, so your chances of spotting him are slim to none. And let me warn you, if you do manage to cross paths with him, you’ll be so intimidated that you’ll be reduced to calling him ‘professor’ with the same wide-eyed reverence you had for your grade school teacher—it’s a humbling experience, to say the least.”

“Isn’t the hype surrounding Professor Jiang a bit overblown? Honestly, I’ve barely caught a glimpse of him during my two years at Hainan University—the guy’s ridiculously low-key. If it weren’t for this recent incident, I’d have had no idea that someone of his stature was even teaching at our school.”

“Yeah, Professor Jiang definitely a man of few words—he never bothers with forums or self-promotion, opting instead to dedicate himself to his craft as a senior scholar. He’s like a rock, steady and unshakeable, with a depth of knowledge that’s simply oceanic. And despite his impressive reputation, he’s surprisingly kind and tolerant…”

“The person above is undoubtedly a Literature Department student.”

“Whoa, I just took a glance at your literature department’s online presence, and it looks like you guys are running some kind of cult. The fanatical devotion is actually kind of intimidating!”

“Hey, I’m not some crazed fan or anything, but as students and heirs to the literature department’s legacy, it’s our duty to look out for Professor Jiang and preserve his reputation.”

“Absolutely, let’s protect our beloved professor at all costs!”

The main forum was abuzz with speculation for an entire day, but despite the chaos, no one from the literature department was willing to spill the beans, leaving everyone to marvel at their impressive ability to keep a secret.

As curiosity got the better of them, a bunch of students stumbled upon the faculty homepages of Hainan University, searching for the elusive Professor Jiang.

It turns out that every professor and teacher at the university has their own intranet homepage, loaded with basic info and a space for posting updates, where students can also leave messages and engage with their instructors.

Some of the younger, more vibrant teachers even share snaps from their personal lives, while others use the platform to showcase their hidden talents—like the German teacher who’s also a French cuisine guru, or the math whiz who’s passionate about photography. And then there are those who use their homepages to crack jokes and share adorable pet pics.

But amidst all these lively and colorful homepages, Professor Jiang Zhonglin’s stands out for its stark simplicity and rigor.

Just scrolling through his literary materials, teaching resources, and impressive list of titles, it’s clear that this is a no-nonsense kinda guy—an old-school gentleman who’s all about keeping it real, if a bit dull.

After digging through Jiang Zhonglin’s homepage, the consensus was clear.

“I shouldn’t be so quick to judge this distinguished old gent—I’ll just wait patiently for the final verdict.”

Another student chimed in, “Same here—Professor Jiang’s homepage has left me feeling pretty humbled, and I’m not about to make fun of him anytime soon… I’m actually feeling a little ashamed.”

“I’ve got to admit, I’ve stumbled upon some old photos of this gorgeous male god in his youth, and I’m talking jaw-droppingly handsome—the kind of guy you’d totally want to spend the rest of your life with. But then I saw the current Jiang male god, and let me tell you, he’s still got it—that temperament is on point, and he’s got a certain depth to him that’s way more appealing than any young buck.”

After a day of utter madness, the literature department’s forum on the campus network finally returned to a sense of normalcy.

Meanwhile, over on the general forum, a slew of senior students from the literature department—all of whom had already graduated—made a surprise appearance, banding together to post a joint statement that aimed to set the record straight.