Time Travel Begins the Moment I Divorce My Wife - Chapter 3

Ji Xunchi was dizzily led home by Cheng Xinli.

The whole way, she was in a daze. It wasn’t until she followed Cheng Xinli into an unfamiliar house that Ji Xunchi snapped out of her thoughts and mustered the energy to take in this home she had never seen before.

From the memories of this small body, she learned that this was Haishi.

So, their home was also in Haishi.

Ji Xunchi toddled through the door on her short little legs, her small head swiveling as she looked around.

It was a standalone house with a courtyard in the alley, its blue-tiled brick walls bearing the mottled traces of time, appearing both quaint and serene.

During her university years, Ji Xunchi had traveled a lot, and for a while, she had been particularly fond of visiting ancient buildings that carried the marks of history. Looking at them always gave her a special feeling in her heart.

But at this moment, upon learning that this two-story detached house was her home, the first thing she felt wasn’t joy but utter confusion.

How come she remembered her family not being in Haishi and never having such a house?

This was just absurd.

On the way, Ji Xunchi had secretly checked herself in a mirror and found that she now looked exactly like she had as a child big eyes, long lashes, fair and tender skin, truly an exceptionally cute little kid.

And her mom was still her mom, and Hua Jiangyu’s mom was still her mom. Nothing had changed.

Having read so many novels and watched so many dramas, Ji Xunchi, with her rich experience as both a reader and a writer, quickly concluded that she might have been reborn.

As for the trigger of this rebirth?

Ji Xunchi rubbed the back of her head with her chubby little hand.

She could still recall the excruciating pain when her head had hit the ground. Thankfully, there had been a carpet at home, or it would have hurt even more.

So it was very likely that she had fallen to her death.

Ji Xunchi really didn’t want to admit this possibility, but given her state before passing out and the current state of the world after waking up, it was almost certain that this was the reason.

She fell, died, and then was reborn.

Except she seemed to have been reborn into a parallel world.

Ji Xunchi tilted her little head up to watch a few birds flitting across the square patch of sky, then pouted.

Someone tapped her head.

“What are you looking up at? Didn’t you say you were hungry? Didn’t Mom teach you? You must wash your hands before eating.”

The sadness she had been brewing was abruptly interrupted.

Ji Xunchi looked at Madam Cheng Xinli’s familiar posture, familiar mannerisms, and familiar tone. The nostalgic emotions she had been vaguely feeling were like a balloon being punctured pfft, pfft and deflated completely.

After washing her hands, Ji Xunchi sat in her special child-sized chair, struggling to bite into a freshly baked sesame cake.

It was fragrant and crispy, but a bit hard on the teeth.

Ji Xunchi huffed and puffed as she worked at it, but her little mouth couldn’t hold everything, and some crumbs inevitably fell.

That wouldn’t have been a problem, except her hands were too small to catch them all.

Madam Cheng Xinli even teased her from the side, “Do you need a bib?”

Ji Xunchi: “…”

Her face flushed.

She silently gritted her teeth, tore off another bite with great effort, and protested wordlessly.

Cheng Xinli wiped her mouth with a tissue and patted her little head. “Sit here and eat nicely. Mom will make dinner for you.”

Ji Xunchi nodded, feeling a bit awkward from her actions.

Even though she knew her mom was treating her like a child now, Ji Xunchi still felt a little uncomfortable.

After all, she had grown accustomed to her mom’s indifferent attitude. This sudden wave of gentle care would take some getting used to.

Ji Xunchi lowered her head and slowly nibbled on the fragrant sesame cake.

Crunchy!

Crunch, crunch.

Why was she in the same city as Hua Jiangyu?

Crunch, crunch.

Could it be that she had both time-traveled and been reborn?

Crunch, crunch.

What about the her in that world? If she had suddenly died, Hua Jiangyu would surely be terrified, right? Her parents would also be heartbroken.

Crunch, crunch, crunch.

Such an unsolvable problem!

Crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch.

Crunch, crunch, crunch.

Crunch, crunch.

For a while, the quiet living room was filled with the crisp sounds of Ji Xunchi munching on her sesame cake.

Mr. Ji Zhangping was on night duty today, so it was just Ji Xunchi and Cheng Xinli for dinner.

After dinner, Ji Xunchi heard Cheng Xinli mention while clearing the table that she would be starting kindergarten in a few days.

“Mom already bought you the Snow White backpack you insisted on. Now that you have it, you have to go to school properly and not make a fuss, understand?”

Ji Xunchi, who remembered this from the little body’s memories, obediently nodded.

This little one was clearly just as smart as her, knowing from a young age that going to school wasn’t a good thing.

And for the exact same reason!

Cheng Xinli was a very responsible homeroom teacher who often brought home stacks of ungraded homework. Sometimes, while working, she would tell the young and naive Ji Xunchi that these were the assignments written by the diligent students at school, and that she should grow up to be a good, obedient student too.

Thus, from a young age, Ji Xunchi’s impression of school was that it was a terrible place.

You had to write so much homework! Her mom even had to grade assignments after she went to bed!

Goodness, how late would she have to stay up to finish her homework? Until sunrise?!

So when this little one heard she had to go to kindergarten, the smallest school she covered her hands and shook her head like a rattle drum, refusing to go.

In the end, Madam Cheng Xinli had to bribe her with the Snow White backpack she had been coveting.

Recalling this, Ji Xunchi rolled over and propped herself up on her sleepy eyelids, thinking that she didn’t really want to go to kindergarten either.

So many kids, so noisy, so chaotic, it was bound to be exhausting.

“Waaah!”

“I want to go home! Mom, don’t leave!”

“Dad, waaah!”

“Do you like Magic Little Blue? I’ll tell you, Magic Little Blue is so cool!”

“I once saw someone who could come back to life like Magic Little Blue! She has superpowers!!”

“Wow! You’re amazing!!”

Ji Xunchi clutched the straps of her backpack, which was filled with her favorite snacks. She stared with wide almond eyes at the chaotic yet somewhat orderly scene at the kindergarten entrance, already foreseeing that her future kindergarten life would be utter pandemonium.

Would Cheng Xinli agree if she said she wanted to skip straight to middle school?

Ji Xunchi pondered whether her current knowledge, years after graduation, would be just right for middle school.

It would also be a chance to play up the genius angle, though she’d eventually blend in with the crowd.

Looking down at her tiny body, Ji Xunchi decided to take it easy for now.

“Can we be friends?”

“What’s your name?”

“You’re so pretty! Can we get married?”

“Move aside, I was here first! Be my wife, and I’ll give you all my favorite chocolates!”

Drawn by these clear declarations, Ji Xunchi really wanted to see which kid was so charming.

Such a charming kid must be really good-looking. Come here and let Auntie take a look!

Ji Xunchi: “?”

Hua Jiangyu?

She saw Hua Jiangyu dressed in a pink lace princess dress, her soft hair adorned with a golden tiara, making the already beautiful little girl look like an oversized Barbie doll.

The limited-edition princess kind.

Hua Jiangyu saw her too.

The proud little princess, who had been tilting her chin up with flushed cheeks as a crowd of adorable kids surrounded her, froze on the spot.

The next second, she bolted like a startled rabbit.

Watching her pink retreating figure, Ji Xunchi touched her own face. Was she that scary?

Didn’t they say she had superpowers? Shouldn’t they be envious and curious?

Cheng Xinli patted her head approvingly. “Listen to your teacher at school. Mom will pick you up in the evening.”

Orange Heart Kindergarten accommodated working parents by having the children eat lunch and nap at school after morning classes, only letting them go home when afternoon classes ended.

Ji Xunchi nodded obediently again.

Once most parents had left the kindergarten entrance, the children were led into the classroom by several gentle and kind teachers.

Throughout the morning classes, aside from bathroom breaks, Ji Xunchi spent the whole time propping her chin in her hands, bored out of her mind as she watched the educational cartoons playing on the screen.

So boring. So noisy.

But some of the cartoons were kind of interesting.

As she watched, Ji Xunchi tilted her head, the eleventh time that morning and caught Hua Jiangyu sneaking glances at her.

The other girl immediately averted her eyes, her fair little face tense as she sat up straight.

Hua Jiangyu was clearly very well-behaved. All morning, she had been like a graceful little princess, no crying, no tantrums, completely different from the other overly energetic kids.

So well-behaved that you just wanted to pinch her soft, bouncy, squishy little cheeks.

But every time this thought crossed Ji Xunchi’s mind, the image of the adult Hua Jiangyu would appear in her head, staring at her with those deep, soulful eyes and murmuring, “No divorce, no divorce, no divorce.”

Like a mantra.

It scared Ji Xunchi out of any further thoughts.

At lunch, Ji Xunchi and Hua Jiangyu happened to be seated next to each other.

Their plates held identical food.

Ji Xunchi silently stared at the pile of green spinach on her plate.

After a while, she turned. “Xiao Hua, do you like vegetables?”

Hua Jiangyu looked at Ji Xunchi, who resembled Magic Little Blue, and said softly, “No.”

Huh? But the future you loved them.

Vegetable salads were practically your favorite.

Ji Xunchi: “Can you finish the vegetables on your plate?”

Hua Jiangyu tilted her little head. “Yes.”

Mom said not to waste food.

Ji Xunchi nodded in satisfaction.

A moment later.

Hua Jiangyu clutched her cartoon spoon, staring at the extra piece of spinach on her plate, unsure what to do.

Beside her, Ji Xunchi scooped up a spoonful of shrimp and rice, smiling. “Is it enough? If not, there’s always next time.”

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