Time Travel Begins the Moment I Divorce My Wife - Chapter 5

The child blushed and said, “Only Chi Chi can kiss me.”

Chi Chi herself looked at the chubby little face and didn’t push her away immediately.

To be honest, most real children are quite adorable and likable.

Of course, there’s a qualifier to that, it’s other people’s children.

Ji Xunchi didn’t lean in to plant a kiss on her as Hua Jiangyu had imagined. Instead, she gently pinched the plump little cheek and firmly refused, “No.”

Not only did she say no, but she also took the opportunity to educate little Hua Jiangyu: “If you like someone, hugging is enough. You mustn’t kiss them casually, okay?”

But at home, Daddy often kisses Mommy, and Mommy kisses Daddy too.

And Mommy and Daddy always kiss her as well.

Hua Jiangyu blinked her big eyes, her rosy cheeks showing unmistakable confusion.

Mommy said she shouldn’t kiss boys, but girls were okay.

Chi Chi is a girl, and she likes pretty Chi Chi too so why can’t she kiss her?

Ji Xunchi found it hard to explain this to Hua Jiangyu, who wasn’t even four yet.

When she first met Hua Jiangyu, she had been instantly drawn to those long, slender legs. Before even seeing her face, just the sight of those legs had made Ji Xunchi’s heart race.

And when she finally looked up and saw that face, radiant under the sunlight, her heart skipped a beat.

Ji Xunchi had seen plenty of beautiful people on screens since childhood, and Hua Jiangyu’s face was far from unfamiliar to her. Every feature her brows, her eyes, her lips was perfectly proportioned, creating an intoxicating beauty on that flawless face. As someone who adored beauty, Ji Xunchi couldn’t help but be captivated.

But in that little fishing village, as Hua Jiangyu stood beneath the lush green trees waiting for the small fishing boat to arrive, the sunlight filtering through the leaves in scattered beams fell upon that mesmerizing face. Yet, Ji Xunchi found herself inexplicably drawn to her eyes.

They were eyes full of stories, peach blossom eyes that should have been alluring and lively, yet carried a quiet, mysterious depth that begged to be explored. Enchanting and profound, Ji Xunchi was instantly entranced.

Later, she learned that Hua Jiangyu had been contemplating a script she was about to take on.

In any case, that was the day Ji Xunchi fell in love at first sight.

Even though the other was a dazzling superstar, Ji Xunchi decided to give it a try.

Perhaps it was the gentle sun of the fishing village, the natural glow softening the brilliance of Hua Jiangyu’s starlight. In many fleeting moments, Ji Xunchi felt she was just an extraordinarily beautiful ordinary person.

She didn’t know how she had won Hua Jiangyu’s heart, but naturally, they fell in love in that little fishing village far from home.

Back then, same-sex marriage laws had just been passed. Though societal attitudes had largely shifted, invisible mental shackles still lingered over people’s heads. Yet Ji Xunchi faced almost no obstacles in pursuing Hua Jiangyu.

That alone proved one thing, Hua Jiangyu had always been attracted to women.

No matter which group it is, there will inevitably be some bad apples. If in the future, Hua Jiangyu naively kisses a friend she simply likes, but the other person interprets her kiss with desire, it would be too much for the innocent Hua Jiangyu.

Ji Xunchi didn’t want Hua Jiangyu to suffer harm in this regard.

Even if she was just a little child now.

Even if educating children wasn’t her responsibility.

Even if the future Hua Jiangyu would grow cold and distant, naturally learning to protect herself well.

But she had witnessed it now.

Even if it were another child, Ji Xunchi would say the same thing.

Meeting Hua Jiangyu’s pure, untainted gaze, she smiled and uttered a familiar phrase: “You’ll understand when you grow up.”

Forgive her for having no experience in educating children this was all she could say.

Ji Xunchi released her chubby little hand from pinching Hua Jiangyu’s plump cheeks. “Got it?”

Hua Jiangyu tilted her head, the fluffy clip on her hair swaying gently in the breeze. She pouted, completely unfooled by Ji Xunchi’s evasion. “But you’re tiny too.”

Straightening her little chest, Hua Jiangyu recalled the numbers she had secretly calculated after the teacher’s explanation. “I’m two months older than you.”

She held up two short fingers in a “V,” her eyes expectantly fixed on Ji Xunchi, who was just a tad taller adorable and sweet. “I’m the older sister. You should listen to me.”

If she said kisses were okay, then kisses were okay.

Ji Xunchi: “…”

Wow, learning to take advantage at such a young age.

Ji Xunchi herself was completely unaware that earlier, she had been addressed as “older sister” several times. If anyone was taking advantage, it was her, biologically speaking.

Shaking her head, Ji Xunchi pretended not to hear and turned to leave, hands clasped behind her back.

Seeing Ji Xunchi’s refusal, Hua Jiangyu’s eyes instantly reddened again.

Sniffling, she deliberately sidled up to Ji Xunchi and loudly declared, “Hmph! Fine if you won’t call me that! I don’t even care!”

Then, with a stomp-stomp-stomp, she ran off on her short little legs.

Ji Xunchi: “?”

What a temper not just big, but also prone to saying one thing and meaning another.

How did she grow up into an ethereal fairy who seemed to survive on dew and avoided worldly affairs?

Her childhood personality was so much cuter.

Ji Xunchi shook her head and sighed dramatically.

Unbeknownst to her, the sight of this three-heads-tall little kid mimicking an adult’s profound sighing and head-shaking amused several teachers watching from a distance.

Kids these days are so entertaining.

Ji Xunchi had marveled countless times at how strong children’s ability to imitate truly was.

Whether it was scenes and plots from TV or the roles of people around them in daily life, if they saw it and found it interesting, they would effortlessly incorporate it into their timeless game of make-believe for self-amusement.

And she realized that watching a group of kids play house was even more entertaining than watching cartoons.

Now, Ji Xunchi’s daily afternoon routine had unwittingly shifted to observing them take on various roles and play different games during free time.

Yesterday’s performance was a chain of “Gourd Brothers Saving Grandpa.” A few kids even tried to recruit Ji Xunchi to play the big bad snake demon. When asked why, they actually said it was because Ji Xunchi “looked really strong.” She firmly refused in the end.

Just because she looked strong, she had to play the villainous snake demon?

No way!

She wanted to be an audience member, enjoying these hilarious and captivating performances for free.

Today, they were putting on another play about kings, princesses, and princes, with a plot that seemed cobbled together from various sources.

Ji Xunchi noticed that Hua Jiangyu had a natural talent for acting at such a young age. While other kids often forgot their lines or messed up the order of scenes, Hua Jiangyu stayed in character, never laughing randomly or saying the wrong lines never breaking character during the performance.

Impressive.

No wonder she was destined to become an award-winning actress in the future.

Ji Xunchi rested her chin on her hand, watching the busy little actors.

During free playtime, Hua Jiangyu got along well with the other kids, but the moment the play ended, she would always scamper back to Ji Xunchi’s side.

After a while, Ji Xunchi, who prided herself on being observant quickly figured out why Hua Jiangyu clung to her so much.

Because, aside from Hua Jiangyu herself, Ji Xunchi was the prettiest kid in the kindergarten!

This little brat was such a sucker for good looks!

She’d been like this since childhood.

Ji Xunchi clicked her tongue in amusement.

She touched her own flawless skin and couldn’t help but feel pleased.

Meanwhile, Hua Jiangyu today’s princess tiptoed and glanced at Ji Xunchi, who was leisurely sipping juice under the shade of a tree. She tugged at her brand-new princess dress, specially worn for the occasion.

A little boy nearby looked at her expectantly, waiting for her to announce who would play the prince today.

Even though Ji Xunchi had once threatened them with her fists, warning that even if they played the prince, they weren’t allowed to kiss anyone, the shallow little brats still longed to be Hua Jiangyu’s prince.

After all, Hua Jiangyu was the prettiest girl in the kindergarten!

The boy chanted silently in his heart: Pick me, pick me, pick me!

“Ji Xunchi!” Hua Jiangyu cupped her hands around her mouth like a megaphone and called out, “Chi Chi! I want Chi Chi to be Flower Princess’s wife to be the queen!”

The kindergarteners erupted into chaos.

“Chi Chi can’t marry you! No way, no way!”

“The princess should pick a prince! Pick a prince! Little Hua, look at me!”

“Little Hua, choose again! Chi Chi doesn’t even play with us!”

But tiny Hua Jiangyu stood stubbornly in the crowd, her gaze fixed on Ji Xunchi, who was resting.

With unwavering determination, she declared, “I only want Chi Chi.”

Ji Xunchi, drawn by Hua Jiangyu’s loud call, blinked in surprise. She looked at the little princess in her sparkling dress, who ignored the chattering protests of the other kids and insisted on having her.

Is this how all kids are?

When they like someone, they want to do everything with their best friend first.

Though some of her logic was muddled, it was still undeniably adorable.

Ji Xunchi could never refuse a cute, delicate, and earnest little kid.

She patted her pants and walked over, watching as Hua Jiangyu’s eyes sparkled at her approach. A faint dimple appeared at the corner of her lips as she said, “A princess’s wife can only be another princess. The queen is either her mother or her stepmother.”

So, while the queen was a female role just as prestigious as the prince it didn’t mean she was the counterpart to the prince.

Little Princess Hua frowned in confusion. “You want to be the princess?”

Ji Xunchi smiled and shook her head. “No, I want to be the king, the boss!”

“Wow!”

“You can do that?!”

“Chi Chi doesn’t want to be a fairy, she wants to be the boss!”

“Can girls even be kings?”

“Of course, of course! Chi Chi’s gonna be one!”

“Princesses can marry princesses too! Next time I want to be a princess too! There can be two princesses!”

The children’s voices chirped like little birds, their alternating exclamations making it impossible not to laugh.

Princess Xiao hua stared dumbfounded at Ji Xunchi, who wanted to be the boss, and remained stunned for a long time.

She, she wants to be the boss too.