When Shen Zhihuan arrived, Wang Baotian’s son, Wang Chungeng, had just hitched the ox to the cart. Upon seeing her, he quickly spread a burlap sack on the cart’s rear plank.

“Hop on! The sun’s going to get unbearable soon,” he urged.

“Brother Chungeng, is Uncle Wang busy? Why are you driving today?” Shen Zhihuan asked as she climbed aboard, deftly placing her basket by her side.

“The team’s cow is about to give birth. My father has to stay back to watch it,” Wang Chungeng replied with a grin. With a flick of the whip, the old yellow ox began to plod forward.

The bumpy rural path shook the cart incessantly. Before long, Shen Zhihuan felt like her already bony backside—practically just skin and bones—was about to split apart.

“Zhihuan, are you heading to town to buy something?” Wang Chungeng glanced at the basket beside her.

“No, I plan to forage for some wild vegetables in the east mountain if I get back early enough,” Shen Zhihuan replied with a smile.

She’d given the same excuse to Li Qiuhua before leaving home.

“You need to take care of yourself. Don’t let your body weaken just to save a little grain. It’s not worth it,” Wang Chungeng said with a sigh. After a moment of silence, he added, “Have you heard about Zijie’s mother?”

“Xiao Pang (little fatty) mentioned it,” Shen Zhihuan couldn’t hold back a laugh.

Hanging herself only to break her leg?

That joke alone would keep her entertained for a year.

Once they reached the town entrance, Shen Zhihuan hopped off the cart and thanked Wang Chungeng. Slinging her basket onto her back, she made her way straight to the bus stop.

The town where she now lived was the last stop on this bus line, with a bus arriving every hour. Missing one meant a long wait for the next.

Although it was market day, the sweltering heat seemed to have kept many people away. There weren’t many passengers waiting at the stop.

Shen Zhihuan chose a seat near the back by the window, her mind wandering as she stared at the blue sky and white clouds outside.

Time travel…

Those two fantastical words, something she had always dismissed as a plot device in novels or melodramatic TV dramas, now defined her reality.

If someone had mentioned time travel to her before this, she would have rolled her eyes, sarcastically suggested they visit the neurology department at the local hospital, and dismissed it entirely.

But now?

If she ever found a way back, she’d write a book about her experience and call it:
I Became a Walking Skeleton.

The thought made her glance disdainfully at her own chest, which was utterly flat. Before she could sink further into self-pity, a flash of olive green caught her attention from the corner of her eye.

“You heading to the city?”

The clear, cool voice came from directly above her, snapping her out of her reverie.

Shen Zhihuan looked up, only to lock eyes with a sharp and defiant gaze.

Su Ziyu.

Her brows furrowed slightly as she watched him take the seat beside her. She glanced around the bus, noting the numerous empty seats before scowling deeper.

Was this guy not hot enough already? Did he need to sit so close and make it warmer for both of them?

“Are you going to the city to buy something?” Su Ziyu’s gaze fell on the empty basket she had placed in front of her.

“…A classmate of mine is sick. I’m going to check on them,” Shen Zhihuan said, forcing a smile.

Just her luck. She must not have checked the calendar before heading out today.

“How’s Auntie’s hand?” Su Ziyu continued.

“Much better,” she replied tersely. Turning her head away, she closed her eyes.

The less said, the better.

Especially with someone as sharp as Su Ziyu. A single glance, a fleeting expression, or even an unconscious movement could lead to him crafting an entire thesis-worthy analysis.

Ten minutes passed, and the passengers began to grow restless.

“Hurry up and get moving already!”

“Yeah, let’s go!”

The conductor stepped off the bus to check if anyone else was boarding. After scanning the area and seeing no one approaching, he signaled to the driver. The driver immediately started the engine, and the bus finally lurched into motion.