Though the rice paper was crumpled from being folded, the painting revealed a beautiful scene once opened. The houses and trees appeared to be shrouded in mist, with well-handled details. At first glance, the artwork was eye-catching, and even the tiny figures expressed distinct emotions—whether they were crying, laughing, or calm.

After examining her work, Song Zhen nodded with satisfaction. “Not bad, I see you didn’t slack off.”

Tian Jiao beamed with happiness, her cheeks slightly flushed as she replied, “Master, Uncle, I brought you some food. Let me see…”

However, even though she was mentally prepared, her heart sank when she opened her school bag. She had bought a lot of food, but only a third of it remained.

With a wooden expression, she took out the remaining snacks, feeling quite disheartened. It seemed she had lost track of when the food had disappeared.

But it had been long enough that she should have been used to it by now.

Song Zhen and Old Man Li knew that she often misplaced things for unknown reasons, but they didn’t mind. They enjoyed every piece of cake she offered.

Xiao He had lost interest in those treats; he usually preferred staple foods. Since he couldn’t absorb much anyway, he focused on the most nutritious options to avoid wasting food.

The moment Tian Jiao walked in, his gaze was fixed on her. With a gentle smile, he slid his notebook toward her.

The young boy had handsome features; his face had become more defined and attractive. Though he rarely ventured out to work, his skin remained fair and smooth. When seen by the older villagers, they would often shake their heads and mutter about how he resembled Xu, the woman who had gone mad and disappeared long ago.

Xiao He looked at her with seriousness, displaying the same determination he had as a child, but with a different intensity now.

Tian Jiao lowered her gaze but smiled brightly. “Xiao He, you’re amazing! You made so much money again today!”

Xiao He didn’t attend school; his circumstances prevented him from leading a typical life. Ordinary interactions took a lot of patience for most people. However, Old Man Li communicate easily with him due to his genuine interest in teaching. Back then, Xiao He was eager to learn, using education as a way to understand the world better. Thus, when someone offered to teach him, he was quick to accept, prioritizing learning above all else.

Over the years, the small group had formed a family-like bond, especially Xiao He, who relied heavily on his two grandfathers for support.

Old Man Li imparted all his knowledge and life experiences to him. Once Xiao He learned, he ventured into business. Though he could not speak, his appearance often led people to underestimate him, making it surprisingly easy for him to succeed.

He communicated through writing, and the notebook Tian Jiao looked at contained a record of his earnings from the past week.

Xiao He’s eyes lit up with joy at Tian Jiao’s praise. He pulled out a silver bracelet from his pocket and placed it on her wrist.

The bracelet was exquisitely crafted and considered a valuable item for their small community, which also meant it came with a higher price tag.

Tian Jiao was thrilled yet concerned. “Is it for me? It’s really expensive, isn’t it?” She gazed at the bracelet in her hand, her lips curling into a smile.

Her beauty shone through as she smiled, her cheeks rounding and her skin glowing. Xiao He stared at her, momentarily caught off guard. He nodded slowly, then shook his head.

“Come on, let me have it,” Tian Jiao said with a grin.

Xiao He’s smile widened as he carefully placed the bracelet on her wrist.

Her slender wrist looked delicate, and Xiao He’s touch was gentle as he accidentally brushed against her warm skin, causing her cheeks to flush. A hint of shyness flickered in her eyes, yet they sparkled with happiness.

Tian Jiao propped her chin on her hand, watching him as he secured the bracelet.

…

Across the room, the two old men exchanged glances, observing the scene unfold before them with a mix of amusement and envy. They remained quiet, not wanting to interrupt, but their hearts were filled with joy at the sight of the two children they cared for getting closer.

Old Man Li especially regarded Xiao He as his own grandson. It was evident that Xiao He was reluctant to communicate with anyone but Tian Jiao. He only interacted with the older men for the sake of learning. What would he do in the future?

After fastening the bracelet, the silver piece sparkled against Tian Jiao’s flawless skin. She waved her hand playfully in front of the two grandfathers. “Does it look good? Does it look good?”

“It looks good!” Song Zhen nodded enthusiastically.

Old Man Li nodded as well, though he couldn’t help but add with a tinge of jealousy, “It looks good, but it’s a shame my apprentice doesn’t have a gift himself. I’m feeling a bit sad…”

He was just teasing; being older, he merely wished that his skills wouldn’t go to waste and didn’t truly care about material possessions.

But Xiao He took this seriously. He frowned deeply, especially when Tian Jiao looked at him, his brows furrowed tightly as if they could pinch a fly to death.

Tian Jiao blinked. “What’s wrong?”

He pursed his lips, lowered his head, and began to write seriously in his notebook with a pen: [You can’t wear it for now, so I bought you some food.]

Old Man Li saw this and chuckled. “Master, it’s your fault. I forgot you bought us so many delicious foods.”

Hearing this, Xiao He’s brows relaxed, and he glanced at Tian Jiao again.

Tian Jiao affectionately rubbed his head as she used to when they were younger. “Great, Xiao He is getting better and better!”

Xiao He rubbed her palm in satisfaction, resembling a contented cat.

****

That night, the world fell silent.

Tian Jiao lay on her new bed.

Beside her was Zhang Yanran, and on the other side, her Aunt Xu Qiu. The room was quiet, and Tian Jiao kept her eyes open, lost in thought. She finally drifted into a deep sleep when the others were already asleep.

In her dream, she resumed a narrative she had started earlier.

The dream was set several decades into the future, in a world where technology had advanced tremendously, and people were increasingly focused on their spiritual needs.

Tian Jiao particularly enjoyed the leisure and entertainment aspects, which provided a pleasant escape from the grind of everyday life.

In her dream, she was engrossed in a book titled *A Time Travel Through the Sixties*. The story followed a girl who traveled back in time to the 1960s and grew up from childhood. Along the way, she experienced much and discovered a love that was hard to find in the fast-paced modern world.

The protagonist’s name was Zhang Yanran.

In the story, she lived in a military area and shared a deep affection with her childhood sweetheart. However, when she was thirteen, her father, Zhang Dong, had an accident and they were forced to return to their hometown, separating her from her beloved.

During this time, Zhang Yanran relied on her modern skills and future predictions to excel in her studies. The college entrance examinations were reinstated that year, and relaxed policies on private business followed the next year, prompting her to start a business with her uncle.

Zhang Yanran possessed remarkable business acumen and an uncanny sense for future policies. She smoothly built her fortune, amassing considerable wealth by the time she reached college.

Her uncle, Zhang Rui, who partnered with her, also became quite wealthy.

Moreover, during her years in the village, she taught two elderly men who had been demoted there for rehabilitation: Song Zhen, a master of traditional Chinese painting whose works commanded sky-high prices, and Li Mu, a tycoon capable of turning stones into gold.

With their mentorship, her path became much smoother.

However, there was a notable incident from her youth: when she first arrived in this time period, she helped a boy her age. When that boy was about to be beaten to death, she rushed him to the hospital, and from that moment, he fell deeply in love with her.

That boy was Xiao He.

The author vividly described Xiao He, perhaps because he was a favorite character. His tragic past had left him somewhat autistic, but he was exceptionally talented, particularly in mathematics.

Eventually, the boy emerged from his autistic state and began to thrive. Zhang Yanran helped him on a few occasions, but their meetings became infrequent. When she reunited with her childhood sweetheart at college and they began to understand one another, Xiao He interfered.

His love for Zhang Yanran meant he wouldn’t let her marry anyone else, leading him to create all sorts of trouble. His interference intensified the relationship between the protagonist and her hero. However, the author’s affection for Xiao He meant he struggled to balance his character’s development.

Xiao He’s swift rise in power became overwhelming for both the heroine and her love interest, pushing them to the brink of defeat.

Ultimately, the author resorted to an emotional climax, having Xiao He’s autism resurface. After being rejected by the heroine once more, he tragically committed suicide.

This was how the story concluded.

Tian Jiao was deeply affected by Xiao He’s character and felt a profound sympathy for him. She even entertained the thought of traveling into the book to help him.

As a result…

She found herself traversing time and space, arriving in an ancient realm.

In this world, Hua Xu had stepped in the footprints of the Thunder God and became pregnant. Now, the Heavenly Dao accidentally birthed a soul and nurtured it back into human form.

The father, Tian Dao, lived as a man in this world, denying his role in the child’s birth.

Tian Jiao had lost her memory at that moment, knowing nothing. She only recognized the man in front of her had a close connection to her. After imitating the word “daddy” once, she unconsciously focused on him, treating him as her father and calling him that.

Reflecting on this made Tian Jiao break into a cold sweat. She felt incredibly fortunate that her father, Tian Dao, hadn’t harmed her when her soul entered his body.

Tian Dao determined that her chance lay in this world; thus, meeting the real protagonist was essential for her memory to return.

After a long dream, Tian Jiao opened her eyes to the dark sky. She smiled slightly and mouthed silently, “Tian Dao Dad~~~”

A gentle breeze rustled by.

Tian Jiao’s smile deepened, her racing heart calming. She glanced at Zhang Yanran, who was still asleep. Since it was still early, she thought about going back to sleep.

But this time, sleep eluded her. In her memory, was the boy who had been madly in love with Zhang Yanran truly Xiao He?

Feeling a wave of melancholy wash over her, Tian Jiao remained in that state for a long time, eventually drifting into slumber only when she faintly heard a rooster crowing.

When she woke again, it was already bright outside. The room was empty, and she could hear faint voices coming from outside.

Tian Jiao got dressed in a daze and stepped outside, only to realize it was not just bright but already noon, the sun shining brilliantly.

The weather was exceptionally clear that day.

Zhang Rui spotted her waking up and came over, pinching her cheek playfully. “Oh, you finally woke up! I thought you were going to sleep until night!”

Seeing that she was tired from school, Zhang Rui hadn’t disturbed her rest and even kept Dabao from waking her, allowing her to sleep in peace until now.

Tian Jiao smiled shyly and looked at the young man again. He felt both familiar and strange to her. It was really sad. When she woke up, she realized she was now twenty years old, and her mind had matured instantly.

Thinking back on her time in this world, she saw how she had lived with a much more childish mindset. She had done many things that only kids would do. However, her honesty made her feel embarrassed when she thought about it now.

Zhang Rui noticed her strange expression, so he squeezed her hands a bit harder and said, “What’s wrong? Are you still waking up?”

“Dad!” The pain on her face snapped her back to reality. Tian Jiao quickly slapped his hand away. She stomped her feet in frustration and ran off to wash up.

Zhang Rui chuckled as he watched the little girl come alive again. He continued with his tasks.

Just a moment ago, this little girl gave him strange feelings, as if she had grown up overnight. He felt scared. Maybe she was still adjusting to having a new girl in the family. He could only keep teasing her.

After his teasing, the child returned to her usual self.

It was noon, and after everyone had been busy for a while, the smell of food filled the air. If they hadn’t finished the meat from the night before, they could eat it today. The tender pork was a real treat in the countryside. Tender pork from a wild boar was something special, and no one would waste it except for their family.

Li Mizhen walked by with dishes in hand and saw Tian Jiao still washing up. She smiled and said, “Come eat quickly. I made it the way you like, with chili. It’s delicious.”

“Okay.” Tian Jiao nodded quickly, moving her hands faster. The cold water splashed on her face, waking her up completely.

When they sat at the table, Uncle was brought out in a wheelchair and sat beside Zhang Dagen. Li Mizhen didn’t sit down. Xu Qiu came out with bowls and chopsticks. Dabao hurried to sit next to Tian Jiao, chopsticks in hand, looking eagerly at Rourou. But when the adults didn’t start eating, he didn’t either.

Tian Jiao looked around and noticed someone was missing from the house.

Xu Qiu asked, “Where did she go? Why hasn’t she come back yet?”

Zhang Rui quickly said, “Jiaojiao, go call your sister.”

“Okay.” Tian Jiao nodded and ran outside.

She knew this village very well. Xu Qiu wanted to follow her, but Zhang Rui stopped her, so she had to stay behind.

Tian Jiao walked around but felt too shy to shout through the village like before, so she just looked around.

She thought Zhang Yanran was unfamiliar with the area and wouldn’t enter someone else’s house.

After walking for a bit, she arrived at the small square near the village entrance and saw two half-grown teenagers, one boy and one girl.

Xiao He, who couldn’t speak and rarely communicated, pointed toward Old Zhang’s house, as if giving directions.

Zhang Yanran smiled and thanked her. She turned around and saw Tian Jiao, her smile growing wider as she ran over.

Tian Jiao bit her lip as she looked at the pretty girl and the boy with bright eyes behind her, feeling a bit unhappy.