What Should I Do If I Time-Traveled Forty Years Later and My Lover Has Become an Old Man? - MLFYL: 29

As Yu Yao caught Jiang Zhonglin scrolling through his personal terminal, she couldn’t resist sneaking a peek, noticing it was his student group chat.

Her curiosity got the better of her, and she tugged on the quilt, leaning in to get a closer look. She playfully swiped up on the screen, and when she saw the previous conversations, her face lit up with excitement.

Snatching the terminal from his hand, she exclaimed, “Let me handle this, I’ve got it, let me take care of it.”

Jiang Zhonglin relinquished his grip, allowing her to take the reins.

As Yu Yao scrolled through the chat, she chuckled at the lively discussions and teased him, “Your students are quite the energetic bunch, aren’t they? This Guo Tong guy is hilarious—he got so spooked by you that he ditched the group chat altogether, haha!”

He responded with a knowing smile, “I’m sure he’s currently having a private chat with his junior brother, wondering why on earth he added me to the group in the first place.”

It was clear that the teacher had a deep understanding of his students’ dynamics.

Her curiosity was piqued, and she asked, “You seem to have a soft spot for this Guo Tong kid—what’s the story behind why you love to tease him so much?”

Jiang Zhonglin’s expression turned nostalgic, and he shook his head, recalling, “When he was younger, Guo Tong was a bit of a handful—always getting into trouble and pushing people’s buttons.”

Yu Yao was fascinated by the tales of Jiang Zhonglin’s past, which she hadn’t been a part of, and pressed him for more information, “What did he do that left such a lasting impression on you?”

“This kid once busted into my room and swiped a bunch of books from me.”

Yu Yao raised an eyebrow, “You mean he picked your lock?”

He continued, “Back then, I was living in the school’s dorm, which was just a stone’s throw from the student dorms.”

Yu Yao kind of thought it was no big deal, she’d done some crazy stuff herself, but she still put on a disapproving face for his sake, “Did he ever come back and return your stuff?”

Jiang Zhonglin chuckled, “Yeah, after showing off, he brought everything back and even replaced the lock with a new one, telling me the old one was super easy to pick and a total security risk.”

“Oh, and get this,” he added, “on Teacher’s Day, he gave me a box of strawberries and was all like, ‘Hey, eat these!’ But when I took a bite, I couldn’t even chew through it—the kid had made the whole thing out of some weird material. He just laughed and took off, what a little troublemaker.”

“You’re a saint for not killing this kid on the spot, given how patient you are.”

Jiang Zhonglin just burst out laughing at the memory, “And then when he graduated, he went on the school radio and read this super cheesy, cringeworthy poem he’d written himself to thank his teachers—it was so bad, and he read it not once, not twice, but three times. My colleagues were teasing me about it for months.”

As Yu Yao delved into the past, she envisioned her old Jiang surrounded by a vibrant group of students—some mischievously playful, others intensely emotional and smart. This mental picture stirred up a deep sense of unexplainable emotion and relief within her

Luckily, life was filled with a kaleidoscope of emotional connections that went beyond romantic love. He wasn’t alone, and that thought brought her comfort.

She felt a surge of gratitude towards the students who had been by Jiang Zhonglin’s side over the years.

Her smile was warm and gentle as she asked, “Have you had many students like this who were a blast to hang out with?”

Jiang Zhonglin’s hands moved to adjust the quilt behind her, his voice low and soothing, “There are plenty of obedient and sensible kids, but I’ve taught so many students that most of them have become a blur. They come and go with each new class, and to be honest, I struggle to recall many of them. Sometimes when I’m out and about, and someone calls me ‘teacher,’ I draw a blank—I just can’t place who they are. It’s only when I take a moment to think back that I can vaguely remember the impression they left on me, and how different they look now compared to when they were younger.”

There was a tinge of melancholy in his tone, a subtle hint of wistfulness that was reminiscent of watching summer fade away, leaving behind a garden where flowers had bloomed and withered. Even though you knew they’d bloom again the following summer, it was hard not to feel a pang of sadness and reluctance—after all, next year’s flowers would never be the same as this year’s.

It’s crazy how many students still look up to you, Yu Yao thought as she scrolled through the terminal screen, where the group chat was now buzzing with excitement. Everyone was speculating about the baby she was carrying and what name Jiang Zhonglin would ultimately choose.

Jiang Zhonglin couldn’t help but smile at the thought, “Honestly, I just hope they’re all doing well and living their best lives—they don’t need to worry about me.”

Yu Yao shot off a quick message, getting the group chat lively again, “So, the baby’s probably going to arrive in April next year, and as for the name, Teacher Jiang is still totally undecided.”

She added a playful emoji to lighten the mood.

The group fell silent for a moment before someone hesitantly asked, “Wait, is this really the teacher’s wife we’re talking to?”

Someone else jumped in, “No way, it’s gotta be Teacher’s wife using his terminal—he never chats with us unless it’s something super important!”

The group erupted into a frenzy of messages, with everyone suddenly becoming super enthusiastic and chatty. In this virtual space, people seemed to shed their formalities, and Yu Yao found herself getting overwhelmed by a wave of ‘juniors’ spanning all ages.

As they chatted, though, her easy-going tone and joking nature quickly put everyone at ease, and the students started to relax around her.

One of them suddenly blurted out, “Teacher’s wife, you have no idea—Teacher Jiang is super protective of you. He won’t even let us meet you, and he went so far as to get a confidentiality agreement. Your name and info are nowhere to be found, even in the news, and when we try to shut down rumors, it’s all just within the school.”

“I recall the time traveler who came before our teacher’s wife—the one with the paralyzed legs. He was a real attention-seeker, never bothering to sign a non-disclosure agreement, and instead, he chose to live-stream his experiences to the entire world, landing interviews on numerous websites, and becoming an overnight internet sensation. For a while, he was everywhere, with his photos and interviews plastered all over the internet, making him a household name. He was like a rockstar whenever he stepped out in public.”

“But, as it often does, his fame was short-lived. He had exposed himself way too much, and eventually, the public lost interest. It’s been two years since we’ve heard anything about him, and it just goes to show that no matter how unique something is, it’ll eventually lose its luster with time. He clearly had a thing for being the center of attention, but it ultimately led to his downfall.”

“If teacher’s wife were to start live-streaming, she’d definitely blow that guy out of the water in terms of popularity. I mean, have you seen how stunning she is?”

“Junior sister, you’re playing with fire by convincing our teacher’s wife to show her face on live broadcast. You’re basically asking for a beating from Teacher Jiang, who’s super protective of his wife.”

Just as everyone was joking around, Jiang Zhonglin, who had been quietly observing from the sidelines, dropped a bombshell, “That time traveler with the disabled legs took his own life two years ago, but the news was never made public. I only found out through other channels.”

Yu Yao’s eyes widened in shock as she quickly grasped what he was implying, “You’ve been digging into the stories of those time travelers, haven’t you?”

As Jiang Zhonglin nodded, his words spilled out slowly, “This guy was just an average Joe, but when he first time-traveled, he was living the high life, courtesy of the public’s insatiable curiosity. However, as time passed, he became yesterday’s news, and no one gave him a second glance. He hadn’t bothered to learn any skills to make a living, and to make matters worse, he was alone, having left his relatives behind. One day, out of the blue, he took his own life.”

His gaze locked onto Yu Yao’s eyes, and he gestured with his fingers before continuing, “Then there was the time traveler who came before him, a guy who was on his deathbed, battling late-stage lung cancer, with only a few days left to live. But after traveling through time, he managed to get his hands on some cutting-edge meds that prolonged his life. Still, the treatment was a grueling process, and he eventually succumbed to his illness. The kicker was that his kids had grown up to be around his age, and their relationship had become pretty strained. He was forced to rely on government subsidies to cover his medical bills and spent his final days alone in a hospital bed, which ultimately led him to take his own life.”

The day Yu Yao returned home, he had discreetly inquired about the other four transmigrators, and the more he learned, the more he couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease. He was terrified that Yu Yao would meet a similar fate as her predecessors.

Sleepless nights became the norm, with Jiang Zhonglin often waking up in the dead of night, getting out of bed, and making his way to the staircase, where he’d stand outside her closed door, before quietly returning to his room to try and catch some rest.

Yu Yao was completely oblivious to his inner turmoil, as he kept his anxiety hidden from her. He didn’t want to burden her with his worries, hoping to create a sense of normalcy in her life, just like any ordinary person. By doing so, he believed she’d be able to adapt more smoothly to this new world and minimize her emotional distress.

Yu Yao fell silent, her mind racing with the ominous fact that the four time travelers before her had met their demise.

It was then that the pieces clicked into place, and she tossed the terminal aside, her hand instinctively reaching for Jiang Zhonglin’s, “So, you’re freaking out, worried I’ll lose my grip on reality, that I won’t be able to adapt and will get caught up in my own thoughts, right?”

His response was nonexistent, his eyes fixed intently on hers, etched with concern.

“You’re a rock, Yu Yao. I genuinely believe you’re stronger than I am. I’m not worried,” he said, his voice laced with a hint of reassurance.

She let out a laugh, her tone playful, “Save it, Jiang Zhonglin. You’re totally lying. I’m sure you’ve been losing sleep over me, sneaking up to check on me in the dead of night to make sure I’m holding it together.”

Jiang Zhonglin’s silence was deafening, and Yu Yao had no idea she’d just hit the nail on the head.

Her smile began to falter, and she tightened her grip on his hand, her eyes locking onto his with a serious intensity, “I’m going to make it through this, no matter what. The fates of those other travelers have nothing to do with me. I won’t let their outcomes dictate my own.”

“I promise you, Jiang Zhonglin, I’ll outlive you,” she said, a fierce determination burning within her.

Jiang Zhonglin’s expression remained stoic, his eyes calm and serene, like the still waters of a lake, with a deep tenderness lurking beneath the surface, “Living a long life isn’t everything, Yu Yao. What I want for you is to be happy, to truly live and enjoy every moment.”

In a swift, affectionate gesture, Yu Yao pressed her palm against his face, her voice taking on a gentle, teasing tone, “You’re already getting wrinkles, so stop frowning, okay?”

Jiang Zhonglin’s face was smeared with a thick layer of cream, and he tilted his head, “…People develop wrinkles as they age.”

Yu Yao sprang up from the bed, a sly grin spreading across her face, as she pinned his shoulders down, “Hold up, lie back and stay still.”

With that, she slipped on her slippers and headed to the bathroom, returning shortly with her own facial mask, which she then applied on him.

She said, her smile dripping with mischief, “Come on, come on, let me give you a little hydration.”

After finishing the application, she swiftly grabbed her terminal and snapped a photo of himself, then burst into uncontrollable laughter at the image.

She also shared the picture in Jiang Zhonglin’s student group, aiming to freak out the students, “Sharing a pic of Teacher Jiang rocking a face mask.”

The students who caught sight of the photo in the group were utterly shocked, with some having such a violent reaction that they dropped their water glasses and files, while others stumbled and nearly fell down the stairs. Some were even holding kids and came close to dropping them, and those walking their dogs were so startled that they let go of the leash and had to frantically chase after their pets.

“What the hell is this? Is this really Teacher Jiang? No way, Teacher’s wife, why are you putting teacher through this? He looks so pathetic, hahahaha! Why isn’t teacher even putting up a fight, hahahaha?”

Check out Professor Jiang, lounging on the bed in a pair of old-man pajamas, giving the camera a sidelong glance—it’s a real sight to behold. His eyes, usually so wise and understanding, now seem to be screaming “help me” with a mix of tolerance and desperation that’s just too rich.

It’s almost impossible to put into words just how ridiculous this is—the dignified image they all had of him as a respectable professor has pretty much gone out the window, and honestly, it’s kind of hilarious.

There’s something undeniably adorable about it, and they can’t help but wonder what other awkward situations this poor old guy might find himself in.

The next day, Yu Yao was inundated with gifts from all corners of the country, courtesy of students who’d been told by Jiang Zhonglin to keep their distance.

Despite the no-visitors rule, the presents just kept on coming—and they were all kinds of interesting. There were health supplements for seniors, nutritional goodies for expectant moms, and enough facial masks to last a lifetime. We’re talking boxes and boxes of the stuff—it was like they wanted to make sure their Teacher Jiang had a steady supply of face masks to keep him looking his absolute best.

Yu Yao was holding up a few of these boxes, unsure whether to burst out laughing or just cry at the absurdity of it all.

Seriously, did these students really expect Jiang Zhonglin to be rocking a facial mask every single day? And what’s with the cute little bear and bunny designs—were they trying to make him look like some kind of geriatric cartoon character or something?

“Hey, Old Jiang, look what your students got you,” she said, waving one of the facial masks in the air for him to see.

This was a first for the old professor—he’d never received a gift this… unusual before, and he was left speechless for a pretty long time, just staring at the facial mask like it was some kind of alien artifact or something.