Chapter 12: As Expected, It’s Trending

Pushing the stroller and following Qin Haiyu to take out the trash, Yu Zhile, who had been quietly observing all along, discovered something rather headache-inducing: the trash actually had to be sorted!

It seemed he would need to find some time to look up information about waste sorting online. While at it, he should also familiarize himself with other aspects of daily life in this world; otherwise, having suddenly crossed over into this parallel universe five years in the future, many things would be hard to get used to.

Take, for example, the “picking up the groceries” Qin Haiyu mentioned earlier—this was already something that struck Yu Zhile as novel. They had collected their groceries from the parcel building in the residential complex. In this building, each resident had a parcel locker numbered the same as their apartment. Deliveries and packages were usually brought here, signed for by the property management, and deposited in the lockers.

Beforehand, Qin Haiyu had shopped for meat and vegetables on an online supermarket, just like ordering takeout. The supermarket’s delivery staff prepared the order and delivered it promptly, placing the goods in the parcel locker.

Yu Zhile found these lockers quite interesting. They were essentially refrigerators, with sections for refrigeration, freshness, and regular storage. Unless the package was too large, just about everything could be stored inside.

While the system seemed novel, Yu Zhile didn’t act like some bumpkin who had never seen the world. After all, it wasn’t so different from ordering takeout. The only really new thing was that every household in the neighborhood had one of these lockers. He was also curious about how online-purchased meat and produce could be kept fresh and safe.

But when he saw that it wasn’t just them picking up groceries—several older women were also retrieving vegetables from the lockers—he figured it must be fine. It had probably already become a daily habit for most.

At the same time, Yu Zhile realized just how luxurious their villa community was—clearly a standard of living not meant for ordinary people!

He couldn’t help but wonder: just how wealthy was he now?

A mansion like this would easily cost tens of millions, wouldn’t it? And the two cars parked at the entrance seemed to be worth over a million each. That would mean he was at least a multimillionaire now, right?

On top of that, Qin Haiyu was a singer and celebrity! Even though she was past her prime, back in her heyday she could easily have earned tens of millions a year.

Carrying the groceries, Yu Zhile let Qin Haiyu push the stroller with their daughter inside, watching her graceful figure from behind. He was full of curiosity and speculation, pondering what lay ahead in this new life.

Qin Haiyu, walking ahead, glanced back at her husband, noticing the troubled look on his face, and immediately felt a wave of distress herself.

Her husband really couldn’t bring himself to stop writing!

Her heart ached for him.

He had been writing for five years, devoted to his craft. It was because of his first novel that they had met in college, fallen in love, and eventually married.

But now, for the sake of their family, her husband no longer had the energy to write. He had been forced to abandon a promising new book and put down his pen.

Looking down at their beloved daughter in the stroller, Qin Haiyu was wracked with guilt—not at her daughter, of course, but at herself for being so eager to have a child.

In truth, waiting another two years before starting a family would have been wiser; it wouldn’t have disrupted their work and careers. Although their life as a family of three was happy, their professional lives had suffered greatly.

She herself was now thoroughly out of the spotlight. Even when news broke that she was going to appear as a challenger on “I Am a Singer,” it barely caused a ripple online.

And ever since the child came, her husband’s updates to his novel had become sporadic. Nearly all his time was consumed by family and their daughter, and now he had even announced he was quitting for good.

Qin Haiyu was silently overcome with guilt. Behind her, Yu Zhile was lost in thought, then shook his head.

Forget it, he thought. No point in overthinking. The best approach was simply to adapt, little by little, to this new life. Dwelling on things would only add to his worries.

He quickened his pace to catch up with Qin Haiyu, only to see her troubled, sorrowful expression. Surprised, he asked, “What’s wrong? Are you upset about losing the singing challenge?”

The moment she heard Yu Zhile’s concern, Qin Haiyu’s eyes filled with tears. Trembling, she sobbed, “You’re always like this! [sniff] Clearly you’re more upset than I am, yet you pretend everything’s fine just to comfort me…”

What?

Why was she crying again? And how was he supposed to be the one who was upset?

He wasn’t upset at all!

Yu Zhile felt his head spin. What was this all about now?

Wait—could it be that when she saw him lost in thought earlier, she imagined he was heartbroken about quitting writing?

Silly woman!

Holding the groceries in his left hand, Yu Zhile reached out with his right to gently touch the back of Qin Haiyu’s head, saying, “I’m not upset at all! I was just a little distracted, feeling a bit sorry to let down my readers, but I have no regrets about my decision. I’ve already come to terms with it.

Besides, my wife is a singer. Now that I’m not writing novels anymore, I’ll have time to create music with you. That’s the life I really want!”

“Really?”

Qin Haiyu was already in tears.

It was only now that Yu Zhile realized how easily she wept. With her pitiful, heartbroken appearance, anyone passing by might have thought the couple was about to divorce.

Just then, the little one in the stroller suddenly started wailing.

These two were perfectly matched, mother and daughter both.

Yu Zhile said, “Look, the baby’s crying now because she saw you cry! As a mom, you need to set a good example for your daughter—no more tears, all right?”

Qin Haiyu wiped her face, then stopped to pick up her daughter, soothing her gently. “Alright, mommy won’t cry, and baby won’t cry either. There, there, mua~” She kissed the little one’s soft, round cheek. Though she still felt guilty and a bit sad, the tears soon dried up.

Yu Zhile, one hand holding the groceries, the other pushing the stroller, watched the mother and daughter, unable to help but smile with a kind, aunt-like affection.

Back at home, Qin Haiyu set the now-cheerful baby down on the carpet in the living room to crawl, took the groceries from Yu Zhile, and said, “Honey, I’ll cook. You watch the baby—no slacking off!”

“Okay. Thank you, darling.”

Yu Zhile sat down where he was and picked up the little one, letting her stand on his thighs. Seeing her adorable face so close, he couldn’t resist the urge to nibble her cheek.

Qin Haiyu went into the kitchen to cook. Yu Zhile let the child crawl on the carpet, then picked up his phone and checked Weibo.

“So this is Weibo five years later? Aside from a few changes to the interface, everything else seems the same.”

The trending topics…

Yu Zhile glanced over them and spotted a striking phrase at number seventeen: “Qin Haiyu’s Husband Quits Writing.”

So it had made the hot search, after all.

He tapped the topic, but as he became absorbed in his phone, the baby, moving like a little snail, was already on her way to the kitchen door…