What Should I Do If I Time-Traveled Forty Years Later and My Lover Has Become an Old Man? - MLFYL: 35

The atmosphere in the room was incredibly cozy, with the massive TV screen glowing as it played out a vibrant children’s animation—the legendary seven-colored little fairy on a quest to save the enchanted magic kingdom.

The table was a treasure trove of snacks and fruits, a colorful spread that seemed to stretch on forever.

Yu Yao found herself being gently pulled onto the plush sofa by her host’s mother and daughter, the softness of the cushion beneath her feet and the pillow behind her enveloping her in comfort.

As she settled in, a cousin around her age approached, a warm smile on her face, “Aunt, would you like to try some of these? My husband brought them back especially, and I just can-t get enough of this one—it’s absolutely divine.”

The cousin piled a selection of snacks in front of her, who couldn’t help but feel a little pampered.

Meanwhile, Jiang Zhonglin was being dragged away to the study by his cousin, a look of concern etched on his face.

But Yu Yao was quick to reassure him with a subtle glance that seemed to say, “Don’t worry, I’ve got this—just go.” And with that, he reluctantly followed his cousin upstairs, leaving her to bask in the warmth of the gathering.

For her, scenes like this were nothing out of the ordinary. Growing up, her family had been small and intimate, just her, her parents, and the occasional visitor. But every Lunar New Year, her father would take her on a journey to visit various relatives and friends, bearing gifts and well-wishes. She had learned from a young age to navigate these social situations with ease, distributing gifts to the elderly and chatting with strangers as if they were old friends.

As for her own relatives, Yu Yao’s family tree was a bit more complicated. Her father had been adopted, and his adoptive father had long since passed away.

On her mother’s side, there was a maternal grandmother who adored her, as well as an uncle’s family—although they had never been particularly kind to her or her mother.

So, every Spring Festival, Yu Yao would make it a point to visit her loving grandmother, but she always made sure to keep her visits to her uncle’s house brief, preferring to steer clear of any potential tension.

In a charming, old residential neighborhood where community spirit was alive and well, and neighbors frequently dropped by each other’s homes, the age-old adage ‘a close neighbor is better than a distant relative’ really rang true. As a result, folks in the area didn’t hesitate to ask their neighbors for a helping hand whenever they needed it.

Come Spring Festival, Yu Yao would spend her days hanging out with the neighborhood kids, going from door to door, spreading New Year’s cheer to all the households in the area. The kid who could charm the most smiles out of the adults would, of course, score the most snacks and candies—and she was always the undisputed champion.

Her gift of gab, even at a tender age, had her mom a bit worried that she might just chat up strangers at their front door and, worst-case scenario, get taken in by some shady characters. But as time passed, Yu Yao’s people skills only seemed to get sharper.

Like the time Jiang Zhonglin emerged from his study with his cousin in tow, only to find she had already clicked with his cousin’s wife, niece, and the other wives, all of them chatting like they were old friends.

Before he could even get a word in edgewise, his second cousin’s nephew jumped in, inviting the ladies to get their mahjong on, “The machine’s all set up, ladies—let’s get this game going!”

In an instant, the women were clustered around the mahjong table, raring to go.

Yu Yao, her pregnant belly proudly on display, snagged a seat and got ready to take on all comers.

Her cousin jokingly warned her, “Hey, my sisters-in-law are mahjong pros, so you’d better watch your back, Aunt!”

Yu Yao just smiled slyly, her eyes glinting with competitive fire.

Jiang Zhonglin couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight—it reminded him of their early days as a married couple, when she would come over for the holidays and whip the other mahjong players into shape. She was a force to be reckoned with, a true general on the mahjong battlefield.

“Don’t sweat it, Aunt, my sister-in-law and I are all about keeping it light—we’ll go easy on you.”

The two nieces-in-law flashed a sly grin, exuding the confidence of seasoned mahjong pros.

Yu Yao’s pearly whites gleamed as she chimed in, “Alright, I can relax then—my mahjong skills are just mediocre, or so I thought.”

But as soon as she joined the game, she went on a tear, racking up four consecutive wins.

What the others didn’t know was that she had been honing her craft since childhood, watching and learning from the old-timers in her neighborhood who’d gather to play cards and mahjong.

She’d pick up tips and strategies in no time, and before long, she was even offering advice to the seasoned players. Her dad, however, wasn’t too thrilled about her new hobby, so she’d only get to indulge during the New Year, when she’d sneak in and observe the games.

As she got older, she rebelled against her dad’s rules, and her skills skyrocketed. For her, though, mahjong was just a casual pastime, a way to kill time with family and friends. But as word of her prowess spread, people started leaving her out of their games—it was a lonely existence being the best.

The other players at the table were stunned as Yu Yao’s winning streak continued, their smiles twisting into bitter grins.

As they handed over their chips, they joked, “Aunt, you’re being way too humble—you’re a total dark horse.”

Yu Yao’s sister-in-law quipped, “I guess my sister-in-law and I were just showing off before the real champion arrived.”

Yu Yao brushed off the praise, pushing her winnings to the side with a smirk, “Just a lucky streak, that’s all.”

This guy who thought she was on a hot streak ended up winning three more games in a row.

The cousin’s card skills were mediocre, and she was on the verge of getting annihilated by the others, so she threw in the towel and pushed her own mom, the elegant old lady, to take her place and keep the game going. Don’t let the old lady’s refined and composed demeanor fool you—she’s a force to be reckoned with at the card table.

As the night wore on, people came and went, each with their own share of wins and losses, but Yu Yao remained the biggest winner.

The other husbands either sat or stood beside their wives, watching the game, but Jiang Zhonglin didn’t join them—not that it stopped him from keeping a close eye on the action. Every time Yu Yao made a move or said something, he couldn’t help but want to laugh, mainly because she’d catch his eye and give him this smug, self-satisfied look that screamed, “I’m a total rockstar, right?”

Eventually, her skills became so ridiculously good that the other players accused her of cheating, and the old sister-in-law and the two cousins’ wives unanimously voted her out of the game.

She ended up sitting on the sidelines, taking a break.

The mahjong game continued on one side, while Jiang Zhonglin and Yu Yao sat on the sofa on the other, sipping water.

As they listened to the sounds of the game, she suddenly said, “I miss mom.”

The “mom” she was referring to was Jiang Zhonglin’s mother, and despite the often-delicate relationships between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law, she and her mother-in-law got along amazingly well.

Maybe it was because her own mom had passed away when she was young, but she had a soft spot for kind, gentle older women—and Jiang Zhonglin’s mom was definitely one of them.

The memories of that Spring Festival visit to the Jiang family still lingered vividly in her mind. She recalled how Mother Jiang had been utterly trounced at mahjong by their guests, her lack of skill on full display. But Yu Yao had swooped in, taken her place, and dominated the game, even taking the time to teach Mother Jiang a thing or two.

As it turned out, Mother Jiang was a complete novice, her playing style laughable. After watching her stumble through a couple of rounds, Yu Yao had intervened, gently nudging her son aside to take the prime spot behind her daughter-in-law. And when Yu Yao emerged victorious, Mother Jiang was over the moon, beaming with pride and applauding wildly, almost as thrilled as Yu Yao herself.

“Wow, Yaoyao, you’re a mahjong genius! I mean, who can win with a hand that bad?” She gushed.

“You’re incredible, Yaoyao! How did you pick up the game so quickly? I’ve been playing for years and still can’t seem to get the hang of it. Every time I play with someone, I end up losing.”

“Come on, Yaoyao, mom will whip up something delicious for you later. Help mom get her revenge and win back all the money those folks have won from me over the years!”

As Mother Jiang watched Yu Yao with adoration, holding her hand and cheering her on from behind, even Father Jiang couldn’t help but chuckle. A kind and gentle soul himself, with a quick wit and a love of teaching, he was the perfect match for his open-minded and enthusiastic wife. Together, they had created a warm and loving home, one that had nurtured a child as bright and sunny as Jiang Zhonglin.

It was clear that only parents like them, with their infectious warmth and kindness, could have raised a son with such a carefree and gentle spirit.

To be honest, after that fateful blind date, Yu Yao had found herself smitten with Jiang Zhonglin’s goofy charm. He was like a lovable, bumbling landlord’s son—harmless, respectful, and ridiculously polite. It was as if he had been plucked straight from a fairy tale, and she couldn’t help but wonder how someone so adorable could exist in the real world.

When she tied the knot with him, she couldn’t help but wonder if she’d be able to vibe with his mom. But after their first meeting, those worries just melted away. The whole family had a blast together, with Father Jiang cracking jokes that left everyone in stitches—his wife, son, and daughter-in-law all laughing together like they’d known each other for years.

But then, Mother Jiang dropped a question that’s been a classic dilemma for ages, “Son, if your wife and I were both drowning, who would you save first?”

The room fell silent, with Yu Yao and Jiang Zhonglin both taken aback. He was totally clueless about why his mom was putting him on the spot like that.

But before he could even respond, his mom jumped in with her own answer, deadpan serious, “Obviously, you’d save your wife. I’ve got your father to save me, so I don’t need you to rescue me. It’s only fair that each person saves their own spouse, don’t you get it?”

Jiang Zhonglin just stood there, speechless.

His mom turned to Yu Yao, seeking her validation, “Yaoyao, don’t you think I’m right?”

Yu Yao played it cool, responding with a completely straight face, “Honestly, Jiang Zhonglin can’t even swim, but I can. So, if we’re being real, it’s probably more likely that I’d end up saving him.”

Mother Jiang beamed with delight at her response, revealing a surprising twist, “As it turns out, his father can’t swim either. Back in the day, I was the only one in our little family of three who knew how to swim. Every time we went to the lake, I’d worry about what would happen if my husband and son both ended up in the water at the same time—who would I save first? But now, with Yaoyao on board, we’ve got a family of four, and she can swim too. We can finally enjoy the lake without any fears. It’s perfect—each of us can save one person.”

The way she delivered these lines was so somber, so devoid of humor, that it was actually a little unsettling.

The father and son standing next to her couldn’t help but exchange a complicated glance, clearly taken aback by her words.

As Mother Jiang dug deeper into the family archives, she pulled out some hilarious photos of Jiang Zhonglin as a kid, including one of him learning to swim. The little guy was rocking a duck-shaped flotation device, his chubby body and big, round eyes—which looked like two shiny black grapes—making him almost irresistible. He stood there, looking adorably obedient, like you just wanted to scoop him up, squeeze him tight, and shower him with kisses.

“Check out this little munchkin,” Mother Jiang cooed, “when we took him for swimming lessons, he was more like a duck out of water, splashing around and having the time of his life. While other kids were busy learning to swim, he was too busy drinking the water—literally. He’d come back with a belly full of it, and in the end, he still hadn’t mastered the dog paddle.’

Jiang Zhonglin’s face turned beet red as his mom dished out the embarrassing stories from his childhood, clearly enjoying his discomfort.

“Aw, look at this one—he’s even younger here, taking a bath in a tiny basin like a little turtle, burying his face in the water and gulping down his own bathwater… haha!” Mother Jiang was on a roll, and her daughter-in-law was eating it up.

“Mom, that’s enough…” Jiang Zhonglin protested, his face burning with embarrassment.

“Hey, get out of here, you’re ruining the fun,” his mom and wife chimed in, playfully pushing him away.

Meanwhile, Father Jiang was watching the whole exchange from the sidelines, laughing so hard he was crying, his teeth gleaming with amusement.

…

As Yu Yao reflected on her feelings, she realized she had a deep affection for Mother Jiang, but after traveling forty years into the future, Jiang Zhonglin’s silence about his parents led her to assume the worst—that they had likely passed away.

This unsettling thought made her hesitant to broach the subject with him.

It wasn’t until she confided in Yang Yun and others that she learned the devastating truth: Mother Jiang and Father Jiang had indeed passed away, one after the other, just a few years prior. The news left her with a lingering sense of discomfort for days, yet she couldn’t bring herself to mention the elderly couple to him.

In hindsight, it seemed that Jiang Zhonglin should have been the one grappling with even more emotional turmoil than her.

It wasn’t until now, in this moment, that she finally mustered the courage to mention Mother Jiang in front of him for the first time.

As she glanced at him, she was taken aback by his remarkably calm demeanor. It was as if he had intuited her thoughts, and in a gentle gesture, he reached out to take her hand.

“My mom spoke about you before she passed away,” he revealed, his voice low and soothing. “She missed you deeply.”

Yu Yao forced a faint smile, her voice laced with concern, “Does she…does she hold me responsible for leaving you alone all these years?”

The weight of Mother Jiang’s potential disappointment was crushing, as any mother would be distraught to see her son endure such a long period of solitude.

Jiang Zhonglin’s response was immediate, his head shaking in a gentle negation. “You know how much my mom adored you. She could never blame you. Her worry for you was just as profound as mine. Besides, I chose this path of solitude—it’s not your fault to bear.”

As her eyes welled up with unshed tears, she blinked rapidly, dispelling the stinging sensation.

Her voice barely above a whisper, she confessed, “I truly miss her.”

The silence that followed was palpable, until Jiang Zhonglin broke it, his words tinged with a deep sense of longing, “I miss her too… If she knew you were safe and sound, she would be overjoyed.”

What Yu Yao didn’t know, however, was that this kind-hearted mother had still been thinking of her in her final days, a poignant reminder of the enduring power of love and memory.