What Should I Do If I Time-Traveled Forty Years Later and My Lover Has Become an Old Man? - MLFYL: 34

As the Spring Festival approached, Yu Yao had picked up a few potted plants adorned with vibrant red charms, scattering them throughout her home. A petite kumquat plant had claimed its spot in the living room, while a larger wintersweet plant stood proudly outside.

Her study was now home to a beautiful narcissus plant, and she’d also acquired a stunning strawberry plant, its pot overflowing with over a dozen tiny, thumb-sized strawberries that were irresistibly cute. She had placed this particular pot on her bedside table, where she could admire it every night.

That evening, as she gazed at the pot of luscious red strawberries, she couldn’t resist the urge to pluck one and pop it into her mouth. The sweetness that exploded on her taste buds was unexpected, and she found herself reaching for two more in quick succession.

As she turned around, she caught Jiang Zhonglin standing beside her, a look of helpless amusement on his face as he watched her sneaking a snack.

She burst out laughing and casually slipped the small strawberry from her hand into his mouth.

“Give it a try, it’s really sweet,” she teased.

His gaze drifted to the strawberry plant, now noticeably bald on one side from Yu Yao’s snacking.

“Didn’t you buy some bigger strawberries? If you’re craving them, there are some in the fridge—I can go wash them for you?” he asked, already making a move to get up.

But Yu Yao pulled him back, wrapping an arm around him, and then swung a leg over him, pinning him down.

“You just don’t get it,” she said with a grin. “While the big strawberries you bought are delicious, there’s something about picking those tiny strawberries right next to me when I sleep that’s just irresistible. It’s not about being greedy; it’s just that my hands get restless.”

Jiang Zhonglin wasn’t buying her reasoning, though—his attention was focused on her belly, which had grown noticeably rounder.

“Be careful, don’t twist around so fast, or you might get a cramp,” he warned, his eyes still fixed on her midsection.

As Yu Yao’s belly continued to expand, she found herself increasingly uncomfortable sleeping on her back, constantly feeling like something was weighing down on her chest. She resorted to sleeping on her side, but even that became a challenge after a while, forcing her to flip over and massage her belly to find some relief. The moment she shifted positions, Jiang Zhonglin would stir, gently touch her head, and inquire about her comfort level.

Despite being a pregnant woman who didn’t sweat the small stuff, she was surprisingly calm throughout her pregnancy, with the exception of the initial morning sickness.

Her baby, it seemed, was a laid-back little thing that didn’t like to kick up a fuss. The only other issue she faced was the occasional leg cramp, which would leave her wincing in discomfort.

Jiang Zhonglin, ever the attentive partner, was quick to notice when her leg would cramp up, and he’d immediately get out of bed to massage the affected area. However, she would vehemently refuse his help, finding the sensation too intense and itchy.

The thought of someone touching her leg, even if it was meant to be soothing, made her squirm—shexd rather endure the pain than risk being tickled or poked.

In an effort to alleviate her discomfort, Jiang Zhonglin shifted his focus to ensuring she got her daily dose of calcium supplements and made it a point to have her soak her feet every evening before bed. And, after a while, the cramps did start to subside.

One evening, as Yu Yao lay back on the bed, her legs exposed and sans quilt, she turned to him with a mischievous glint in her eye and asked, “Do you think my legs look like a pair of plump, white radishes?”

Her legs had indeed taken on a slightly swollen, radish-like appearance since her pregnancy, but Jiang Zhonglin wasn’t having it—he promptly covered her with the quilt, more concerned about her catching a chill than appreciating her humor.

As the quilt was draped over her, her belly became even more noticeably rounded.

She ran her fingers over it, letting out a sigh as she said, “This watermelon is getting bigger by the day.”

With a gentle curve of her fingers, she tapped on her belly, producing a deep “dong dong dong” sound.

“I guess this watermelon still needs some time to ripen,’ she added with a chuckle.

The next instant, the spot where she’d tapped began to bulge slightly, prompting her to exclaim, “It’s moving again! Easy does it, little one, don’t move, go back to sleep, Guagua.”

From the moment her belly started to show, she had jokingly referred to it as a melon that was slowly growing, and as time passed, the nickname Guagua had stuck—not just for her, but for Jiang Zhonglin as well, who had taken to calling the unborn child by the same affectionate name.

“Alright, time for some prenatal education,” Yu Yao said, getting comfortable as she waited for Jiang Zhonglin to take the stage.

His plan had been to read some beautiful poetry, but Yu Yao had other ideas—she wanted him to read from a first-grade textbook, just to see how it would sound. And so, with a hint of mischief, she had him start reading from a low-grade Chinese textbook.

As he began to read aloud, his smooth, gentle voice brought “Goose, Goose, Goose,” “The Grass on the Prairie,” and other classics to life. But every time he got to the part where he said, “Mommy, Mommy, the little ducklings ask Mommy,” Yu Yao just couldn’t help but burst out laughing—it was like he was the embodiment of joy, and she was happy to soak it all in.

It’s pretty clear that Mr. Jiang’s attitude towards the kid’s mom didn’t faze him, and he continued to engage with the child in a super serious and dedicated way—it’s almost as if he’s reading a bedtime story, and sometimes these interactions can be so soothing they could literally lull you to sleep.

Back in her early twenties, Yu Yao was a total night owl, never hitting the hay before midnight, but after getting together with him, her habits did a complete 180—she started sleeping way earlier, and now, thanks to his influence, she’s been going to bed ridiculously early, like she’s already embracing that whole “early to bed, early to rise” vibe.

That pot of strawberries on her bedside table? Yeah, Yu Yao devoured the entire thing in just two days, and Teacher Jiang just couldn’t resist her strawberry cravings before bedtime.

When she gazed longingly at the pot, now nothing more than a bunch of green leaves, he decided to wash a fresh plate of strawberries just for her—it was basically an enablement of her strawberry addiction.

“Hey, don’t eat strawberries before bed, it’s not great for your teeth,” Yu Yao said, completely unashamed, as if she’d forgotten all about scarfing down that entire strawberry plant a few days prior—it was a pretty bold move, even for her.

As the New Year approached, the couple got their place all decked out in festive red decorations—couplets, the character “Fu”, window decorations, the whole shebang.

When it came time to put up the couplets, Yu Yao volunteered to stand on a stool to do the honors, and Jiang Zhonglin almost had a heart attack when he saw her climbing up, her stomach all covered and whatnot. Luckily, he managed to persuade her to stop, and he ended up doing it himself, but she still handled the rest of the decorations—the “Fu” character and the window decorations all got put up by her.

After that, the two of them spent some quality time cleaning the house and prepping some snacks for their Spring Festival guests, just chillin’ and getting ready for the celebrations to come.

As New Year’s Eve dawned, a spry seventy-one-year-old man, Qu Rufeng, arrived on the scene, his trusty cane in hand—not so much a necessity for walking, but more a symbol of his no-nonsense attitude, a warning to those who dared cross him. With his elegant attire and imposing aura, he commanded respect, and it was clear that this was a man not to be trifled with.

As Jiang Zhonglin’s cousin and closest living relative, Qu Rufeng had always been a steady presence in his life, and their bond was built on a foundation of mutual respect and admiration. In fact, it was Qu Rufeng who had inadvertently played matchmaker, bringing Jiang Zhonglin and Yu Yao together when he had asked him to accompany him on a blind date with Yang Yun, Yu Yao’s friend.

As Qu Rufeng stood before them, his serious demeanor was palpable, his years of experience as a CEO evident in the way he carried himself.

“This year, I expect you both to join me for the New Year’s celebrations,” he said, his tone firm but not unkind, particularly when it came to Yu Yao, whom he treated with a warmth that belied his tough exterior.

Jiang Zhonglin, too, held his cousin in high esteem, grateful for the guidance and support he had received over the years. However, with Yu Yao’s pregnancy, he was hesitant to accept the invitation, worried that the chaos of a large family gathering might be overwhelming for her. Despite this, Qu Rufeng’s words hung in the air, a gentle but firm command that would be difficult to ignore.

As his cousin extended the invitation, Yu Yao swiftly stepped on her husband’s foot under the coffee table, flashing a warm smile as she accepted, “Now that you’ve made the effort to come in person, we’d be happy to join you. Our only concern was imposing on your family.”

The old man’s expression noticeably softened upon hearing her agreement, though his tone remained stern, “What imposition could you possibly be? You’re family, after all.”

The middle-aged man sitting beside the old man, his eldest son, had been quiet until then, having only greeted his uncle and aunt initially.

Now, he chimed in with a gentle smile, “Aunt, please, don’t stand on ceremony with us. My father is overjoyed that you can make it this year. You’re more than welcome to join us every year for New Year’s celebrations—it’s always more vibrant with everyone together.”

The old man beamed with approval at his son’s words, nodding in agreement, “Yes, it’s wonderful to have you back, Yu Yao. Zhonglin here has always been a bit of a stubborn scholar, particular about every little thing. I’ve had to invite him multiple times, only to have him decline most of the time. You’ve been back for a while now, and I’ve asked him to bring you to my place several times, but he’s always come up with excuses. I’ve had to take matters into my own hands and come collect you myself—it’s really too much.”

Jiang Zhonglin couldn’t help but smile wryly at the old man’s words.

With the decision made, the old cousin took charge, “I’ve driven all the way here, so let’s get going. We’ll celebrate the New Year together and spend the next two days at my place—the rooms are all ready for you.” With that, he whisked the trio away, along with their car.

As Yu Yao leaned in, her whisper to Mr. Jiang was barely audible, “Your cousin seems to be stuck in his ways, hasn’t changed one bit.”

He cleared his throat, a subtle cough, before responding, “If anything, my cousin has grown even more resistant to criticism with age, more so than ever before.”

He’s a relic of a bygone era, a true embodiment of the old feudal patriarchal mindset.

The elderly Mr. Qu and his wife resided in the upscale Yuhai District with their eldest son’s family, in a stunning villa boasting an enviable location and not one, but two beautifully manicured gardens, one in the front and one in the back.

As the car came to a stop, a flurry of activity erupted from within the house, with several children and men and women of various ages spilling out into the open, drawn by the sound of their arrival.

As the patriarch of the family, Old Master Qu had two sons and a daughter, all of whom had started their own families and had children of their own. Now, with the Spring Festival in full swing, the entire family had gathered together, creating a vibrant and lively atmosphere, teeming with adults and children.

The sheer number of people was a stark contrast to the more subdued environment of Jiang Zhonglin’s residence, where the noise of just a few children was enough to create a sense of commotion.

Everyone was already well aware of Yu Yao’s presence, affectionately referring to her as the aunt-in-law, and they all greeted her with warm, genuine smiles.

Several of the older family members, each of whom was older than her, addressed her as “aunt-in-law,” a term she had grown accustomed to, despite the fact that she was being treated as an elder by people who were, in fact, older than her.

She returned their greetings with equal warmth, feeling a sense of familiarity with the situation.

The younger children, however, simply called her “Auntie,” a term that, while endearing, also served as a poignant reminder of her newfound status as a member of the older generation.

As she was referred to as the great-aunt-in-law, a title that signified the highest level of seniority she had ever held since her transmigration, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia wash over her, as if she had suddenly become very old, a true matriarch, a grandmother figure.

Finally, there was the wife of her cousin, a woman in her seventies who had managed to maintain a remarkable level of poise and elegance, exuding a sense of refinement and temperament that belied her age. She had met this cousin-in-law before, having attended their wedding just before she disappeared.

However, despite her own memories of the event, she was well aware that this cousin-in-law, who had not seen her in over forty years and was not familiar with her, would not remember her, a fact that filled her with a sense of melancholy.

As Yu Yao stepped into the warm glow of the family gathering, her cousin-in-law, a woman with a truly exceptional temperament, approached her with a gentle smile, taking her hand in a comforting grasp, “You must be Yu Yao, right? Don’t worry about formalities with me, dear—come on in, let’s catch up, and get out of this chill. Be careful, though, those steps can be tricky, especially in your condition.”

Just then, the old man’s daughter slipped up beside her, mirroring her mother’s affectionate gesture by taking Yu Yao’s other hand, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

“Aunt, have you found out if the baby’s a boy or a girl yet?” she asked, her voice bubbling with excitement.

Yu Yao seemed to effortlessly slide into the rhythm of this boisterous family, chatting with them as if she’d known them forever, “Honestly, I haven’t checked, and to be frank, I don’t think it matters—Jiang Zhonglin isn’t fussed either way. Let’s just see what happens, shall we?”

The older woman nodded thoughtfully, a hint of a smile playing on her lips, “I think it’s a good idea to know what to expect, but you’re right, of course—it’s not like the old days, where boys were preferred. We’re living in a different time now, and girls are just as wonderful, if not more so.”