Chapter 12: The Male Lead

After making sure no one was around, Anran exited her space and headed to the address the old lady had given her. When she arrived, she saw the woman already waiting at the door. Anran quickly picked up her pace and followed her into the courtyard.

The place was worn down—weathered blue bricks and tiled roofs bore the clear traces of time.

The woman smiled gently and said,
“Young man, just call me Aunt Feng. I have to say, I really got the better end of the deal this time.”

Anran replied politely,
“Aunt Feng, you’re being too modest. These pieces of jewelry will be worth a fortune in the future. I’m the one getting the bargain.”
As she spoke, she set her basket down on the ground.

“These are all the things we agreed on,” she continued. “And I added an extra piece of pork—so Uncle can have some dumplings.”

Aunt Feng was visibly moved. She wiped her eyes and murmured,
“It’s not every day you meet someone kind. Thank you, child. Thank you.”

Anran quickly shook her head.
“It’s really nothing. I don’t lack these things. But I do love the jewelry pieces. Um… I hope it’s not too forward of me to ask, but—what illness does Uncle have?”

She thought that if the medication in her space could help, she’d lend a hand.

Aunt Feng’s eyes reddened.
“Cancer. There’s nothing that can be done.”

---

After leaving Aunt Feng’s home, Anran placed the jewelry box in her space. But her heart felt heavy, as if stuffed with cotton. She found a quiet place, wiped off her disguise, and changed back into her regular clothes. Then, she filled her basket with pastries, snacks, and powdered milk before exiting the space again.

When she arrived at the group’s meeting spot, Anran was clearly off—listless, lacking her usual energy. The others noticed and asked what was wrong.

She brushed it off with a vague excuse.
“Just tired, that’s all.”

Nearby, Wang Xixi made a strange “tsk” sound with her tongue. Anran turned her head slowly and looked directly at her—eyes sharp, expression serious.

Wang Xixi flinched and quickly fell silent. Anran looked away without a word, not in the mood to argue.

Wang Xixi rolled her eyes dramatically and strode ahead.
Wang Mingzhi, ever the eager puppy, caught up to her immediately, his voice oozing with concern:

“Comrade Wang, do you want me to carry your basket for you? You’re so delicate—don’t overdo it.”

The two pretended to go back and forth a bit before Anran saw Wang Mingzhi eventually carrying Xixi’s basket on his back.

---

Back at the Educated Youth Station, Anran waved them off:
“I’ve already eaten. Just a bit tired—I’m going to rest.”

Once she got back to her small room and lay down, an overwhelming wave of exhaustion hit her. Her grandmother had also died of cancer. She could still remember watching her grow weaker each day, kept alive by oxygen alone, and feeling utterly powerless. Just thinking about it made her heart ache like it was being pricked by needles.

Anran entered her space—and finally let herself break down in sobs.

Maybe everything that happened today had been the final straw. In this unfamiliar time period, with no one she knew, no friends, no family—she had been afraid all along.

After crying herself out, she felt surprisingly light, as if a burden had been lifted.

In her heart, she whispered,
“Grandma, An’an is living in another time now, but I’m trying my best to live well. Don’t worry about me, okay? I can take care of myself now. Even though you’re gone, the life you prepared for me is still here. So I’m not afraid anymore. You’ll be watching me live happily, right?”

---

Coming out of her space, she realized she was hungry.
“Hmm… Let’s have some crab stew today. And maybe some crayfish. I’ll pour the broth over noodles. Ooh! And I’ll watch a food show while I eat. Perfect.”

And with that, the decision was made.

---

The Next Morning

The familiar work bell rang—late, but unmistakable.

After breakfast, they headed to the drying yard to receive work assignments. As soon as they arrived, two unfamiliar men stood out immediately. Everyone was crowded around them, chatting them up with enthusiasm.

Even without seeing their faces, their height—each well over 185 cm—made them impossible to miss. In a time when the average man barely cleared 170 cm, they stood out like giants.

At the tool distribution area, Anran finally heard who they were.

“Oho, the male lead has finally appeared. Guess the plot is kicking in now.”

Behind her, two village women were whispering excitedly:

“The Xiao family really hit the jackpot. Having a soldier in the family really makes a difference. Only Xiao Laosan is unlucky—three daughters, all worthless.”

“Exactly. None of them are even married yet. I’ll ask Jian’guo’s mom and Cheng’an’s mom later. I’ve got a niece who’s just right for one of those soldiers. Gotta put in a word.”

The other woman scoffed.
“You? With your looks, I bet your niece’s no beauty either. Those soldiers wouldn’t look twice at village girls.”

“What’s wrong with how I look? My niece looks just like me!”

And just like that, the gossip brigade dissolved in disagreement.